Hosted by John McGee, Senior Director of Watermark Resources, the Church Leadership Podcast discusses relevant topics for church leaders to encourage and equip them for ministry at their own churches.
Episode: 205Jul 22, 2026
A Conversation with Chuck Swindoll
About the Episode At Church Leaders Conference 2026, John McGee sat down with Chuck Swindoll for a meaningful conversation on ministry, faithfulness, and finishing well. With decades of pastoral leadership behind him, Chuck shares memorable stories, hard-earned wisdom, and honest encouragement for church leaders who want to remain faithful for the long haul. This conversation is a timely reminder to serve with humility, joy, and endurance wherever God has called you. Whether you joined us at CLC 2026 or are hearing it for the first time, we believe this interview will encourage and strengthen your ministry. Church Leaders Conference 2027 - We would love to see you in the room at CLC27!
Church Leaders Conference
Discipleship
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Teaching & Theology
Episode: 191Jan 7, 2026
1 Timothy 1:1–2 | A Church Leader’s Identity & Calling
About the Episode The Church Leadership Podcast is officially on video, and we’re kicking off 2026 with a brand-new series through 1 Timothy. You can now watch on YouTube and Spotify—or listen wherever you stream podcasts—as we step into this next season together. In this first episode, John McGee and Dave Bruskas reflect on what faithful leadership looks like when it’s rooted in our identity and the grace of God.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Teaching & Theology
Episode: 190Dec 17, 2025
Five Ways to Finish the Year Well
As this year comes to a close, we want to share one final conversation with you—not to give you more to do, but to offer a moment to pause.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 185Nov 12, 2025
Finish Your Race with Great Joy
Ministry can feel a lot like running a marathon—long, demanding, and full of moments when you wonder if you can keep going. In this week’s Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee shares what the New York City Marathon taught him about the race of ministry. From finding a sustainable pace to staying faithful in each season, he unpacks how leaders can endure—and even enjoy—the miles ahead. John reminds us that finishing well is about crossing the finish line surrounded by people you love, at peace with your relationships, and full of joy.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 184Oct 29, 2025
How to Lead Better by Saying No
In this episode of Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee shares why learning to say “no” may be one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop as a church leader. He offers practical wisdom and real-life lessons on creating margin so you can say yes to what matters most and use your unique gifts to build up the body of Christ.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 179Aug 20, 2025
Cultivating Zeal in Ministry
Zeal is more than emotion. It’s an abiding passion for Jesus that sustains us in both fruitful and difficult seasons of ministry.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 175Jun 25, 2025
The State of Your Heart and Calling
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Timothy Ateek, Lead Pastor of Watermark Community Church, shares his opening talk from the 2025 Church Leaders Conference. In a room full of ministry leaders, TA invites us to pause and reflect on three powerful questions: What’s the state of your heart? What’s the status of your calling? What’s the real win in ministry? Through 1 Chronicles 28, TA offers honest encouragement for leaders who may feel spiritually stuck or stretched thin. Whether you’re running strong or feeling weary, this episode is a timely invitation to return to your first love and reignite your passion for the work God’s called you to.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 171Apr 30, 2025
You Have Everything You Need to Glorify God
Have you ever felt like you needed just one more thing to truly make an impact? In this solo episode, John McGee shares a refreshing reminder from his years in ministry: you already have everything you need to glorify God—and to lead with joy. Whether you’re dealing with tight budgets, limited staff, or facility space, this episode is for you.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 163Jan 8, 2025
The Power of Urgency
Urgency can make or break a leader. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee unpacks the topic of urgency and why it is the secret weapon of great leaders by driving motivation and action. Tune in for encouragement and practical steps to help you lead with urgency, embrace meaningful goals, and move your organization away from complacency.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 162Dec 18, 2024
If No One Has Told You Yet...Thanks
In the final episode of the year, host John McGee expresses gratitude to listeners for their selfless service to Christ and others. He acknowledges their impactful work and extends heartfelt thanks for their dedication, both seen and unseen. We will see you all in 2025!
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 150Jun 26, 2024
How to Lead Yourself After the Fall of Another Leader
When news of a pastor’s moral failure breaks, it’s appropriate to grieve for the pain the sin has caused and the damage God’s reputation has suffered. On this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Dave Bruskas wrestle with their own complicated feelings about recent scandals and explore how we can lead ourselves well—avoiding self-righteousness and reorienting ourselves to truth.
Care & Recovery
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 149Jun 12, 2024
Sowing Seeds of Ministry
None of us are capable of making ministry fruitful, but we’re still charged with putting in the work and waiting in faith for God to bring the growth. In a special message at the Church Leaders Conference this Spring, John Elmore encouraged us to work alongside God’s Spirit and His other faithful workers in this great “co-mission.”
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
