Gen Z Church Attendance & Young Adult Ministry: The Great Return to Church | Leading Smart Podcast S3E2 Discover why Gen Z and millennials are now the most regular churchgoers, outpacing older generations for the first time in decades. In this episode of the Leading Smart podcast, hosts Tim Stevens and Holly Tate explore groundbreaking Barna research on church attendance trends, young adult ministry, and Generation Z spiritual formation. Read more in this article: https://www.barna.com/re...

Welcome to Season 3 of The LeadingSmart Podcast! Join co-hosts Holly Tate and Tim Stevens as they tackle the real, unfiltered challenges facing church leaders today in real-time. With decades of combined experience consulting with churches across the country, Holly and Tim bring honest conversations about what's actually happening in ministry leadership right now. Season 3 dives into the hot-button issues you're thinking about but might not be discussing openly—starting with women in leadersh...

Officially launching Season 3, October 28! This season is all about leading in real-time. Tim Stevens and Holly Tate tackle the biggest leadership challenges facing executives and managers today bringing you timely leadership insights as events unfold. This season focuses on real-time leadership strategies, practical management tips, and proven frameworks for navigating rapid organizational change. What You'll Learn This Season: ✅ How to run effective executive team meetings and leadership ...

After 40 years in full-time ministry, what keeps someone from becoming bitter, burned out, or cynical? In this final episode of Season 2, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate dive deep into guarding your heart in ministry and maintaining faith for the long haul. Most ministry leaders either give up, burn out, or become resentful within their first decade of service. So how do you make it 40 years while still loving Jesus, loving people, and staying passionate about the mission? Tim shares hard-wo...

Welcome back to Episode 11. This episode isn’t just another ministry story — it’s an honest, emotional reflection on leadership, growth, burnout, community, and soul health after decades in ministry. The Lead Team during the high-growth years at Granger Community Church reflect on the exhilaration of that season — and the parts that were sometimes soul-crushing. Together, they share candid lessons about what it meant to lead through rapid growth, the loneliness of leadership, the cost of succ...

In this episode of LeadingSmart, host Tim Stevens—with 40 years of leadership experience—continues sharing his 40 Lessons in 40 Years. Joined by cohost Holly Tate, Tim unpacks four powerful lessons that every leader needs to hear. From learning how to “take your fun with you” in ministry, to remembering that your best ideas won’t come from behind a desk, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and encouraging stories. Tim and Holly also discuss the importance of staying curious as a lead...

What happens when church boards don’t adapt as the church grows? Frustration, stalled momentum, and pastors ready to walk away. In this episode, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate talk about one of the most overlooked but critical topics in church leadership: board governance. Based on Tim’s 40 Lessons in 40 Years, they break down seven shifts every board needs to consider—from moving beyond doing the work themselves to actually overseeing it, to shifting from protecting relationships to protecting t...

What causes great leaders to fade—and how can you avoid it? In this episode of the LeadingSmart Podcast, Tim Stevens unpacks 40 Lessons in 40 Years of ministry and leadership, focusing on why leaders lose influence and how to stay strong by investing in the next generation. 7 practical ways to invest in younger leaders: Give them a voice at the tableGive them room to try (and fail)Speak words of belief into themLend them your credibilityInvest in their developmentMentor them intentionallyLear...

Welcome to The LeadingSmart Podcast Episode 7: Why Systems Can Be the Most Pastoral Part of Leadership Most leaders think of systems as boring—but what if they’re actually one of the most pastoral things you can create? In this episode, Tim and Holly unpack why church systems, staffing strategies, and budgeting processes aren’t just logistics—they’re acts of leadership care. Drawing from 40 years of experience as an executive pastor, Tim shares practical lessons on hiring, mission and vision ...

This episode of The LeadingSmart Podcast is one of my favorites yet—because I get to sit down with all four of my kids. We talk about the good, the bad, and the funny moments of growing up in a pastor’s home—from staff parties in the backyard to the challenges of living life in the spotlight. You’ll hear their honest reflections on faith, family, and what it was like to be raised in ministry. Whether you’re raising kids while leading in the church, or you’re just curious about what happens ...

Join Tim Stevens, founder of LeadingSmart, and Holly Tate in this powerful episode about navigating the toughest seasons of leadership. If you've ever felt stuck in middle management, wondered how to gain influence without authority, or questioned whether your leadership efforts are making a difference - this episode is for you. Tim's raw honesty about leadership failures and the long journey of rebuilding will encourage any leader in a difficult season. What You'll Learn: How to lead authent...

Welcome back to Episode 4 on The LeadingSmart Podcast, Tim Stevens (founder of LeadingSmart) and Holly Tate dive deep into what might be the most crucial leadership responsibility: building the right team. After 40+ years in ministry leadership and consulting on thousands of teams, Tim reveals why getting this wrong costs organizations massive time, energy, and mission impact. The Harsh Reality: One wrong hire can consume 80% of your leadership energy, stealing focus from your highest-capacit...

Welcome back to Episode 2 of The LeadingSmart Podcast! Tim's wife, Faith shares the raw reality of 35 years of marriage while serving in ministry. From their first meeting at Bible camp to navigating four major life transitions, they reveal the struggles and victories that shaped their relationship. Key Topics Covered: • How they met and the "knight in shining armor" rejection story • Why their move to Granger Community Church was their hardest transition • The brutal ...

Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate dive deep into one of the most crucial aspects of ministry leadership: longevity and playing the long game. After 40 years in ministry (with 20 of those at one church!), Tim shares hard-won wisdom about what it really means to build for lasting impact rather than burning out trying to "win the quarter." What This Episode Covers ✅ The beautiful benefits of long-term ministry relationships ✅ How to recogni...

Welcome to Season 2 of LeadingSmart! In this special premiere episode, we're switching gears from pastoral succession to something deeply personal - Tim Stevens shares his 40-year ministry journey and the lessons he wishes he'd known starting out. What this episiode will cover: ✅ Tim's unconventional path from 18-year-old gap year to ministry leader ✅ 9 years with Life Action Ministries (including how he met his wife!) ✅ 20 transformative years at Granger Community Church ✅ Building teams at...

In the final episode of Season 1, Holly and Tim wrap up the series on pastoral succession by tackling a topic that’s often overlooked—but critical: staffing and structure in a new season of leadership. Whether you're an executive pastor, board member, or senior leader, this episode will help you think clearly and strategically about what your team should look like after a new senior pastor steps in. From aligning your structure with the new leader’s strengths to preserving a healthy culture ...

Join hosts Tim and Holly on the LeadingSmart podcast as they dive deep into one of the most critical aspects of pastoral succession: creating the perfect senior pastor profile. In this essential episode, discover why having a written profile is non-negotiable for successful church leadership transitions. Key Topics Covered: • Why every church needs a detailed senior pastor profile before starting their search • The four primary leadership styles: Preacher, Leader, Shepherd, and Sy...

Who Should Be On Your Transition Team and What Do They Actually Do? In this episode of LeadingSmart, hosts Tim and Holly discuss one of the most critical components of pastoral succession - the transition team. If you're a church leader wondering how to navigate this important process, this episode is packed with practical insights you won't want to miss! What You'll Learn: - Why "transition team" is better than "search committee" - The ideal size and makeup of your transition team (spo...

Welcome back to LeadingSmart Podcast! This season, hosts Tim and Holly are diving deep into pastoral succession, and in Episode 7, they tackle one of the most critical aspects: communicating the transition effectively. What You'll Learn: ✅ When to announce - the pastoral transition to your congregation ✅ Cone of silence vs. going public - pros and cons of each approach ✅ The four key audiences you need to consider in your communication plan ✅ Common communication mistake...

Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! Your hosts Tim and Holly tackle the topic that most people tend to avoid. Nobody wants to talk about church finances, but ignoring them during succession is a recipe for disaster. 🔑 What Tim and Holly cover: The three critical financial areas that can make or break your successionWhy pastors stay too long (hint: it's often about money, not ministry)How to close the financial gap when your founding pastor isn't retirement-readyThe sticker shock of payi...