Shows / Pivot Podcast
Pivot Podcast
Over the past few years, church leaders have been forced to respond to several global crises in the blink of an eye. In a moment with little information and lots of uncertainty, churches reinvented nearly every aspect of church. Season 5 of the Pivot podcast explores the changing landscape of the church. Our co-hosts will dig into difficult questions that faith leaders are asking now, and provide an understanding of the deeper cultural shifts that account for the unraveling of inherited models…
Episodes
- Pivot Podcast
What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do (with Dr. Angela Gorrell)
Religious decision making can feel overwhelming when you're caught between equally important values or facing an uncertain future. In this episode, Dr. Angela…
- Pivot Podcast
Why This Church Traded Their Biggest Event for a Coffee Shop (And What Happened Next)
What if the solution to declining church participation isn't better programs, but joining neighbors where they already are? Pastor Shannon Kiser, Senior…
- Pivot Podcast
How Fresh Expressions Saved This Pastor's Ministry (And Her Sanity)
Many church leaders find themselves exhausted by traditional programming that no longer connects with their changing neighborhoods. In this episode, discover…
- Pivot Podcast
Has Religion Become Obsolete? with Christian Smith (Part 2)
Has Religion Become Obsolete in American Culture? In this second part of our conversation with sociologist Dr. Christian Smith, we explore his groundbreaking…
- Pivot Podcast
Has Religion Become Obsolete? A Conversation with Christian Smith
What's Really Behind America's Religious Decline? *Rebroadcast on Oct. 30, 2025 - Top episode* If you're watching church attendance declining at your…
- Pivot Podcast
Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root Part 2
The New Evangelism Message That's Changing Everything. What if reframing evangelism isn't about getting more people in church, but about learning to meet Jesus…
- Pivot Podcast
Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root (Part 1)
Many church leaders feel caught between uncomfortable extremes when it comes to how to evangelize - either instrumental strategies that feel manipulative or…
- Pivot Podcast
Being Church During Community Crisis
When devastating wildfires swept through Pasadena in early 2025, La Fuente Ministries faced a test of what it means to be church in community crisis. Pastor…
- Pivot Podcast
One Vine, Many Branches: Why Your Church Needs Multiple Models to Thrive
In this thought-provoking episode of the Pivot Podcast, we dive deep into the concept of "one church multiple models" with returning guest Dwight Zscheile…
- Pivot Podcast
What Do Jazz and Biblical Preaching Have in Common? Finding Your Improvisational Voice
Biblical improvisation offers a compelling framework for preaching in today's complex cultural landscape. In this thought-provoking episode of the Pivot…
- Pivot Podcast
From Harbor to Breakwater: How This Church Turned $150K into $6 Million in Community Impact
Is your church struggling to meaningfully engage with your community? In this transformative episode of the Pivot Podcast, host Dwight Zscheile interviews…
- Pivot Podcast
What Today's College Students Are Really Seeking in Spiritual Communities
In this compelling Pivot Podcast episode, we explore effective Gen Z spiritual formation through the lens of campus ministry. Eric Huseth, Executive Director…
- Pivot Podcast
The Radical Relief of Grace: Where Churches Find Freedom Beyond Achievement
In a culture driven by performance and achievement, ministry leaders often feel immense pressure to fix declining institutions and busy congregations with more…
- Pivot Podcast
Setting the Sails to God's Spirit: A Father and Son's Journey in Church Leadership
Mike and Danny Housholder from Lutheran Church of Hope in Iowa share their journey in multi-site church ministry spanning several communities across Iowa. At…
- Pivot Podcast
Holy Week: Slowing Down the Journey
Holy Week marks the most pivotal moments in the Christian faith, but how often do we rush to get to Easter morning? In this thoughtful 7-minute reflection…
- Pivot Podcast
Stop Fixing Everything: Rediscover Your Church's Purpose
In this quarterly Q&A episode, our hosts tackle one of the most common struggles church leaders face: knowing what to focus on when everything seems important…
- Pivot Podcast
You Don't Have to Do Youth Ministry Alone: The Freedom of Church Collaboration
In this episode of the Pivot Podcast, hosts Katie Langston and Dwight Zscheile explore how collaborative youth ministry is revolutionizing the way churches…
- Pivot Podcast
Tending the Garden of Faith: Christian Mysticism for a Disenchanted Age
Dr. Jennifer Wojciechowski joins the Pivot Podcast to explore how Christian mysticism offers profound wisdom for today's spiritual seekers. In her new book…
- Pivot Podcast
Planting in Jesus’s Way: Leading as Apprentices
In this episode of the Pivot Podcast, the Rev. Dr. Christian Selvaratnam shares how he caught the church planting vision and has spent 25 years developing…
- Pivot Podcast
“God Is Running the Universe, Not Me”: A Lenten Reality Check
What is the true meaning of the Lenten season for today's church leaders? In this reflective episode, the Rev. Blair Pogue explores how traditional Lenten…
- Pivot Podcast
How Coffee and Laundry Transformed a Congregation
Many churches struggle with creating meaningful church community service initiatives that authentically connect with neighbors. In this episode, Nancy Dyson…
Pivot PodcastIs Your Church Too Tame? Embracing the Wild Spirit
What if our instinct to manage and control church life is actually holding us back from authentic community building? In this episode of the Pivot Podcast…
Pivot PodcastThe $0 Ministry Experiment that Reached Hundreds of New People
Is your church struggling to connect with neighbors beyond your walls? In this episode, Rev. Canon Dave Male, Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church…
Pivot PodcastWait, Who’s Actually Growing Churches in the West?
What if everything you think you know about how to evangelize is about to change? In this provocative episode, Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, a Malawian missiologist and…
Pivot PodcastIs Your Preaching Actually Reaching People?
Most preachers spend hours on sermon preparation - studying scripture, crafting illustrations, and polishing delivery. But research shows there's a crucial…
Pivot PodcastBeyond Church-Centric Ministry: Anchor Church's mission to make a great city
What does it truly mean to be a missional church in post-Christian America? Bryan Halferty, lead pastor of Anchor Church in Tacoma, Washington, discovered that…
Pivot PodcastMLK's Beloved Community: Your Church's Guide Through Divided Times
As we approach both Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day 2025, many church leaders are wrestling with how to offer hope while addressing the deep…
Pivot PodcastWhat If Sermon Prep Could Transform Your Spiritual Life?
Struggling with how to write a sermon that connects with your congregation while maintaining your own spiritual well-being? Rev. Dr. Lisa Cressman, founder of…
Pivot PodcastMinistry Education in Crisis? Why Seminary Leaders Are Actually Hopeful
The landscape of ministry education is undergoing dramatic change. Traditional seminary enrollment is declining, fewer churches can afford full-time pastors…
Pivot PodcastAdvent Hope: A Gift We Receive with Rolf Jacobson
"Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down!" This cry from Isaiah 64 expresses humanity's deep longing for hope. In this special Advent…
Pivot PodcastWhen Church Change Feels Hard: Your Questions Answered
"I lost five council members when I tried to make changes." This candid admission from a church leader captures the real challenges of leading congregations…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 106: Beer Church and Beyond Creating Spiritual Community in Breweries, Parks, and Public Spaces with promo
What does church look like when it moves from traditional sanctuaries to breweries, hiking trails, and pizza shops? In this episode, Bryan Willkom, founder of…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 105: Reclaiming Advent - Simple Church Activities for Sacred Presence
Tired of endless church Advent activities that leave everyone exhausted? In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason shares a revolutionary approach to the…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 104: Can the West Be Converted?
American pastors want things fast, large, and famous... but the kingdom of God comes slowly, in small and mostly unrecognized ways." In this paradigm-shifting…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 103: Church Community Building: How a Café Created a Church
How do you build authentic church community from scratch? In this inspiring episode of the Pivot Podcast, pioneer lay minister Fiona Mayne shares her…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 102: Political Theology Reimagined: Dr. Joel Lawrence on “Sabbath Politics” in a Polarized World
In this thought-provoking episode of the Pivot Podcast, Dr. Joel Lawrence, president of the Center for Pastor Theologians, offers a fresh perspective on…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 101: Reformation Day Wisdom for the 21st Century Church
This Reformation Day, join hosts Dwight Zscheile and Terri Elton for a transformative conversation with the Rev. Dr. Mark Tranvik, professor of Reformation…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 100: Church Planting Reimagined: Nick Warnes on Discernment, Adaptability, and Inclusive Leadership
In this episode of the Pivot Podcast, we dive deep into the world of church planting with Nick Warnes, founder and executive director of Cyclical Incorporated…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 99: The Future of Church Planting: Innovating for God's Mission with Len Tang
Dive into the evolving world of church planting with expert Len Tang in this transformative episode of the Pivot Podcast. Len, director of the Fuller Church…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 98: Reimagining Contemplative Practices for Modern Life: From Wall Street to Renewal
In this enlightening episode of the Pivot Podcast, Westina Matthews, a spiritual director with a background in Wall Street, challenges our understanding of…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 97: Innovative Church Fundraising Ideas: Transforming Spaces into Sustainable Income
Explore innovative church fundraising ideas in this inspiring episode of the Pivot Podcast. Hosts Dwight Zscheile and Terri Elton sit down with Grace Pomroy…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 96: Missional Leadership Reimagined: JR Woodward’s Four Spaces of Belonging
Discover a revolutionary approach to church leadership with Dr. JR Woodward in this eye-opening episode of the Pivot Podcast. Author of "The Scandal of…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 95: Fresh Expressions of Church and the Mixed Ecology
In this groundbreaking episode of the Pivot podcast, we turn the tables on our regular host, the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, to explore the revolutionary concept…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 94: Fresh Expressions of Church: Exploring Churros, Chocolate, and Christ
Fresh Expressions are revolutionizing how we think about and do church in the 21st century. In this compelling episode of the Pivot Podcast, hosts Rev. Drs…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 93: Beyond Church Growth Strategies: Is Innovation a Helpful Category for the Church? Part 2
In this compelling follow-up episode, the Pivot Podcast dives deeper into the heart of church leadership and innovation. Dr. Andy Root, Dr. Michael Binder, and…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 92: Innovation: Hype or Hope (1 of 2)
Are conventional church growth strategies falling short in today's changing religious landscape? In this episode (first in a two-part discussion), we dive deep…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 91: Fruit of Evangelism
In episode 91 of the Pivot podcast, hosts Dr. Terri Elton and Dr. Dwight Zscheile talk with the Rev. Canon Dave Male, a pioneering leader in innovative…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 90: Faith and Justice: Lessons from Ferguson with Rev. F. Willis Johnson
In this compelling episode of the Pivot Podcast, hosts Dwight Zscheile and Terri Elton welcome the Rev. F. Willis Johnson, who shares his experiences leading a…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 89: Faith and Politics: How to Lead with Wisdom
In this timely episode of the Pivot Podcast, hosts Dr. Alicia Granholm and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile tackle the challenging intersection of faith and…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 88: Preventing Pastoral Burnout: Insights and Strategies from Rev. Nicole Bullock
Pastoral burnout is a silent epidemic in church leadership. In this crucial episode of the Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Rev. Nicole Bullock, a church…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 87: Unleashing Lay Leadership: Vicki Elfers’ Lay Leadership Success Story
In this compelling episode of the Pivot Podcast, we dive into the emerging importance of lay leadership in today's church. Our guest, Faith+Lead’s School for…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 86: The Practical Discipleship Revolution: Mark Scandrette and the “Jesus Dojo”
In this transformative episode of the Pivot Podcast, internationally recognized spiritual formation expert Mark Scandrette shares his journey of reimagining…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 85: Is Your Church Ready for Lay-Led Ministry?
In this thought-provoking episode of Pivot, hosts Rev. Dr. Terri Elton, Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, and Dr. Alicia Granholm dive into the shifting landscape of…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 84: Building Beloved Community in Challenging Times with Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
In this enlightening episode of the Pivot podcast, hosts the Rev. Dr. Terri Elton and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile explore the concept of beloved community…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 83: Discipling the Disillusioned: Christian Authenticity with Yolanda Solomon
Explore the power of Christian authenticity in discipleship with Yolanda Solomon, author of "Discipleship as Holy Collaboration," in this compelling Pivot…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 82: Biblical Justice: Bridging the Gap Between Scripture and the Streets
In this compelling Pivot podcast episode, pastor, church planter, scholar, and justice advocate Inés Velasquez-McBryde joins hosts Dr. Alicia Granholm and Rev…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 81: Changing Church Culture Through Spiritual Practices
How can church leaders introduce change and new spiritual practices in resistant congregations? In this episode of the Pivot Podcast, Dr. Jinna Jin shares…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 80: The Future is Lay-Led: How Lay Ministry Training is Transforming Churches
In this episode of the Pivot podcast, the Rev. Clara King, an Anglican priest and researcher who has worked extensively with small, rural churches in the…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 79: Bonhoeffer’s Secret to Faithful Discipleship with Tripp Fuller
How can the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who resisted the Nazi regime, inspire and challenge church leaders today?…
Pivot PodcastEpisode 78: Church Leadership Q&A: Insights and Strategies for Pastoring Today
All your questions answered in this Q&A session about making space for reflection, leading people who are in conflict during an election year, and the essence…