This is the second conversation Tracy and Chris have with Tez Brooks. Tez is an author, life coach, missionary, filmmaker, and servant leader. His story and his wisdom are a perfect fit for Next Step Leadership. Tez brings a new perspective of the word “missionary.” His story offers the podcast’s audience a fresh view of mission work and ministry. For those who feel unqualified, God does His work through various skill sets. The needs are large. The key is willingness to serve. Now as the National Communications Director for a ministry in Australia and through his writing, Tez offers his wisdom to people around the world. His latest book, Adult-o-Nomics: How To Nail It On Your Own, is a collection of 500 short quotes, scriptures, and suggestions for those leaving home for the first time. The book’s insight is ideal for today’s audiences.

https://tezbrooks.com/

Tracy and Chris interview Tez Brooks in this episode of Next Step Leadership. Tez brings a unique, but fitting perspective for the podcast’s audience. An author, life coach, missionary, filmmaker, and servant leader, Tez tells his story. He knows about family, divorce, raising children by himself while in ministry, departing for a season from vocational ministry, working in law enforcement, and adjusting to drastic life changes. He’s done a wonderful job letting God guide him through a variety of endeavors, while developing many skills in the process. Tez remarried and began serving with Cru and the Jesus Film Project. Through his leadership, communication, and writing, Tez has influenced many lives. Learn from his wisdom, his compassion, and his willingness to develop new skills. Let his story bring positive changes into your own life. Find ways God can tell His story through you, just as He has through Tez.

https://tezbrooks.com/

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Sandra Glahn talks again to Tracy and Chris. Her knowledge offers deep, biblical, and practical insight for this podcast’s audience. As a Professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and as an author or editor of over twenty books including Nobody's Mother, she brings a perspective today’s church leaders need to hear. Sandra is a frequent podcast guest and retreat speaker whose areas of expertise include Artemis, Ephesus, Bible books and backgrounds, women’s history and issues, the history of ideas about gender, sexuality and ethics, and writing for publication. Dr. Glahn and her husband, Gary, have been married for more than forty years, and they have a married adult daughter, who joined their family through adoption. She is honest about her beliefs and her disappointments. Female leaders need to listen to her thoughts. All leaders need to gain from her insight. Learn from her wisdom on mentoring, on giving away power instead of holding on to power, on shepherding, on preaching as teams, and on how there is no room for pride among today’s leaders.

https://sandraglahn.com/

Chris Maxwell has known author and professor Sandra Glahn through their connection with the Evangelical Press Association. Tracy Reynolds joins Chris in inviting Sandra to you. Sandra Glahn, PhD, is a journalist and the author, coauthor, or editor of more than twenty books, including Vindicating the Vixens, Earl Grey with Ephesians, Sanctified Sexuality (coeditor), and Sexual Intimacy in Marriage (coauthor). She serves as Professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary. Her latest book, Nobody's Mother, lays a biblical foundation for men and women serving side by side in the church. During these days of disappointment and division, listen to Dr Glahn’s story. Life doesn’t always go the way we wish. Pain is a part of each person’s story. Her wisdom and compassion are needed for today’s leaders who continue learning to trust God whatever the season.

https://sandraglahn.com/

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Tracy and Chris continue their conversation with Karl Vaters. Karl is a minister and author who is getting much attention these days. He speaks up for small churches—the often forgotten culture. He offers wisdom and encouragement to pastors who struggle to get churches to follow every new trend and quickly become larger congregations. He wrote about the key points in his latest book De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. Pastors, lay leaders, ministry students, and all followers of Christ can gain a better grasp of Pastor Karl’s teachings during this week’s podcast. His words need to be heard. His wisdom needs to be applied. His humility needs to be followed. Listen and learn. Take the right next steps suggested from a leader like Karl Vaters.

https://karlvaters.com/

Pastor and author Karl Vaters is a key voice for today’s spiritual leaders. In a culture highlighting big churches and impressive stats, many ministers feel like failures. But what about tiny churches in small towns? What about the average size church which chooses to send ministers out instead of holding more people inside and hiring a huge staff? Too many great pastors are leaving ministry because of the pressure toward cultural success. Pastor Vaters brings deep knowledge from years of studying and pastoring. He learned how to define success in ministry without numbers attached to it. Through Karl’s speaking and writing, he offers better views toward church health. Defining church success with numbers is relatively new in church history. American church development has historically moved from stages of revival to management to activism. During the present activism season, Karl states the things which matter most. His book—De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next—provides a healthy perspective for why the church is truly created. His conversation with Chris and Tracy is just what is needed during these days.

https://karlvaters.com/

This episode of Next Step Leadership offers the second part of the conversation Tracy and Chris had with Pastor Justin Blankenship. As Senior Pastor of Landmark Church in Purcell, OK, Justin discusses how he serves in ministry during these difficult days. Many pastors are leaving their profession. Some are even questioning or departing the faith. Followers of Christ are choosing to abandon church. Stories like Justin’s are just the type of optimism, honesty, and hopeful narratives today’s audiences need to hear. Pastor Justin knows the hurts and wounds of church and ministry. But he serves with the heart of Jesus. Hear that heart through his words. Decide how you can also serve like Jesus in these days of division.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Justin-Blankenship-100095258405089/
https://landmarkchurchok.com/our-team-v2/

Pastor Justin Blankenship is an ideal guest for Chris and Tracy’s Next Step Leadership podcast. Justin serves as Senior Pastor of Landmark Church in Purcell, Oklahoma. He also is a preacher’s son. He knows all the stories of churches and movements and trends and pastors’ families. He also knows about letting family be a priority, keeping goals in place, and truly caring for others. Through his deep love for God and people, Justin sets a wonderful example for the type of clergy desperately needed in today’s society. Listen to the conversation. Hear Justin’s heart. Learn from his gentle wisdom. Think of what you can gain and apply from his story.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Justin-Blankenship-100095258405089/
https://landmarkchurchok.com/our-team-v2/