Revived and Kickin' (Survival to Revival: A Forty Day Journey Through the Wilderness), an amazing book by Joel de Jesus, is ideal literature for today's leaders. Hear his story in this week's Next Step Leadership podcast with Tracy and Chris. Pick up his book and read about what his wilderness experiences were--and are—like. Have you ever felt God was silent? Have you ever obeyed God, and the outcomes of your decisions did not go as you expected? Have you faced major health issues and wondered when God would bring healing? Have you risked all to follow Jesus? In this world we do have tribulations and troubles. In leadership roles we also serve to help others as they endure their won tribulations and troubles. Learn from Joel's story of pain, questions, and hope. Let his forty images help you walk through the next forty days of your life. Take time for reflection (Why me and why this?), reaffirmation (What do you know for sure?), repentance (What's love got to do with it?), and revival (Have you found what you're looking for?).

https://www.amazon.com/Revived-Kickin-Survival-Revival-Wilderness/dp/1960024361

Author and business leader Joel de Jesus tells a story you don't want to miss. Listen to his testimony of difficulties, potential success, obedience to God, conflict, rejection, disaster, and hope. Yes, God places hope in the middle of life's storms. Leaders—and everyone in any role—often assume healing comes when all the external circumstances are resolved, when conflict concludes, when healing comes, when all the needs are met. But that is not biblical. And that is not how things happen. Joel de Jesus tells Chris Maxwell, Tracy Reynolds, and all those listening that becoming "revived" might occur during the journey through a wilderness. His book Revived and Kickin' (Survival to Revival: A Forty Day Journey Through the Wilderness) is the perfect material during today's seasons of uncertainty and disappointment and pain. Welcome his courage and endurance. Receive his hope. Your story isn't over yet. You are being revived during the journey.

https://www.amazon.com/Revived-Kickin-Survival-Revival-Wilderness/dp/1960024361

Chris and Tracy continue their conversation with Pastor Randy Hill. Randy served in production and business for many years, and he now continues working in pastoral ministry. Through his seasons of mourning and grieving, joy and pain in ministry, seeking God and obeying the Father, Randy knows about death and sadness while also knowing the miracles of God. His story is so needed in today's world of leadership. Hear his desire to follow Jesus. Even during pain, we can lead while following Jesus. In this episode, Randy emphasizes the importance of knowing why we are here. God has plans for each of us. We should learn what we are called and empowered to do. We are to "go after" that vocation—whatever it is—empowered by God. We are to serve as partners with the Holy Spirit. What can we do this week to help people encounter God? How can we help those around us smile? We are so often seeking to control our church services that we fail to allow time for God. As leaders, let us lead others to the altar. Believe God is at work in us and in those we lead. Welcome God's plan for each of us.

https://www.gtchurch.net/staff/pastor-randy-bonnie-hill/

https://www.facebook.com/jrandyhillministries

Randy Hill serves as a pastor, seeking to make a positive difference in the lives of other people. Randy also serves in denominational leadership. Through his years of pastoring, Randy has learned many lessons. Tracy and Chris enjoyed hearing Randy's story of growing up in church and seeing many miracles. Do we still believe in miracles? If so, why? If not, why? As a young child Randy traveled with his father who was leading revivals--his dad was also training Randy for ministry. Randy knew when he was young that the Lord had called him to preach. Even when he wasn't living as he should, he knew. Through the years he has learned many lessons of how to not do ministry. Like many people, he saw the hypocrisy. Like many people, he was looking for reasons to stay out of ministry. He worked for a ministry while trying to stay out of a preaching vocation. Through God's miracles and reminders, Randy said yes to the Lord. Listen to his reluctance and his obedience. Listen to his heart for God and people. Listen to the sadness of his wife passing away. Listen to hope amid the sadness. Learn what ministry can be like from Randy's perspective.

https://www.gtchurch.net/staff/pastor-randy-bonnie-hill/

https://www.facebook.com/jrandyhillministries

Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell hope this second episode in their interview with Jeff McCoy continues guiding you through his journey from pain to healing. It is not just a few steps to success type of process. It is not just a learn-this-lesson-quickly-and-all-will-be-simple. No, our stories include conflict. They include terrible decisions. They include times of asking God questions we never thought we would ask Him. And, they can include healing and restoration. They can include community and redemption. They can move us into new seasons of deep, true, holy worship. Amid our wounds and our limps, let us make the choice to rejoice. Stories like Jeff’s remind us why we refuse to quit and why we do make that choice to rejoice.

Interview with Jeff McCoy, Part 1 - Season 5, Episode 10

This week and next week Pastor Chris and Pastor Tracy invite you to listen to a story of both deep sadness and true joy. As they engage in a conversation with their dear friend Jeff McCoy, they believe we all can learn important life lessons from his testimony. Jeff tells of his early years—life with God and family and friends and music. God and music have been, and continue to be, key parts of Jeff’s story. He also guides you through times when life was not so fun, so joyful, so clear. Hear his narrative and think about your own story. What has helped you know the truth of God’s love? What wounds have hindered you along the way? How have you responded to those scars? What lessons did you learn from them? Are there ways you have become closer to God after the storms? Jeff’s story might be the ideal story for you during this season of your life.

Welcome to the second episode of Chris and Tracy’s conversation with the amazing staff from Living Hope Church in Lenoir, NC. Pastor Keith Gilliam and his servant leaders invite you to listen in as they continue their dialogue is this installation that lasts a little longer than the normal weekly Next Step Leadership Podcasts. They discuss key topics related to leading a congregation together rather than apart, applying biblical principles in a church setting, what has worked well for them through the years, how God has helped them when situations were not simple, and how they continue living out the biblical calling in this hurried and busy world. No, church isn’t just the way it was years ago. No, people aren’t all just alike. But the biblical calling to make disciples is still the same. Churches like Living Hope and ministers like those who serve in this team offer hope during uncertain times. Listen to their love for God and for one another, and you’ll notice that their hope is real, it is living, and it is just what we all need as we lead.

https://www.livinghopelenoir.com/

Each one of the Next Step Leadership Podcasts for the last few years lasts only a little over twenty minutes. Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell know listeners are in a hurry, so they try to provide important information in a brief segment of time. But today’s episode is the first in a two-part conversation with a church staff—and both chats will be about twice the length of time the podcasts normally last. Why? Not just doing something different. But to allow audiences to “listen in” as a church staff talks about how they’ve created a healthy church environment, how they work together and work together well, how they stay true to their biblical purpose, and what lessons they learn from each team player. Remember, this podcast is titled Next Step Leadership for a reason. Discussions like this help all of us find ways to be sure our next steps—whatever the size of our churches and businesses, however many paid or volunteer staff we work with, wherever we are in our expeditions—are our best steps. And we believe that is most likely to happen when we work together rather than alone. The Living Hope Staff and their lead pastor Keith Gilliam welcome you to hear the story of their honor of working together for God.

https://www.livinghopelenoir.com/