After 172 episodes over the past few years, it's time to shift our focus. We have really loved doing this show and the community that has gathered around it. Thank you all for listening and for all the feedback you have shared. At this point, we think we have said all we should say, and are shifting our focus to a new endeavor, The Catholic Dad Show! The Catholic Dad Show will release wherever you listen to podcasts every two weeks AND on YouTube. The trailer and first episode are already up....

Matt and Chris are joined by Dr. Richard DeClue from the Word on Fire Institute as they discuss the “best kept secret” of Catholicism: Catholic Social Teaching. Learn more about what the church teaches on hot topics like Immigration, Fair Wage and more. Connect with Dr. Richardhttps://www.wordonfire.org/resources/press/accomplished-scholar-and-professor-richard-declue-to-lead-academic-initiatives-for-bishop-robert-barron/32920/...

Chris and Matt discuss the importance of retreats when building your ministry team. Even just a simple one day retreat can help energize and inspire your ministers. Listen to today's episode on how transformative these outpourings can be and get tips on planning your own retreats. Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze Ministries...

Chris is joined this week by one of his teens from 20 years ago who has become a quite successful in leadership in the business world. Jonathan Schmitz is a leader in sales and business coaching. He and Chris discuss the key elements of the things that he has learned and how they apply to ministry leaders. Connect with JonathanMyLeadershipLegacy.com (http://MyLeadershipLegacy.com) "My Leadership Legacy" Facebook Group Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion...

Holly Ordway joins the show to share about her love of Tolkien and the importance of the imagination in our faith. She discusses with Matt and Chris how imagination is crucial for evangelization and answering questions about the faith.   Connect with Holly http://www.hollyordway.com (http://www.hollyordway.com)   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin)) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/...

Chris, Mandi and Kris in a padded room! Bartlett is joined by fellow Ablaze Missionary Mandi Whittaker and Kris Frank, the Vice President of Vegabond Missions. Vegabond Missions is a ministry that may be a little different than many of us have experienced. Their mission is to go outside of the Church's building and reach inner city kids. Mandi and the guys share stories of taking the leap to share the Gospel is "unordinary" circumstances. Some times it didn't go well, other times it did and...

America's favorite youth ministry hero joins the podcast IN PERSON this week! Dr. Bob Rice was in town for the Ablaze training week and joined Matt & Chris to discuss youth and young adult ministry. He has been influential in calling for a new USCCB document on youth ministry and is now helping to plan for and guide that document. Bob is hilarious, engaging and a thought leader in Catholic youth ministry. This is a can't miss episode   Follow MLA on Twitter...

The age old problem...sports vs. Church functions. Whether is kids missing youth ministry to play sports or dads missing Mass to watch football, it's been an issue forever. But how should we as ministry leaders approach this age old question with fresh answers? Matt & Chris have some ideas.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze Ministries...

Recruiting and training of volunteers can often be lather, rise, repeat from the previous year. Matt and Chris share their flops and their successes in the avenue of training volunteers for the ministry year...starting with not calling it training(what!?!) They share the five essentials for what we need to communicate to our ministry teams.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders...

Matt and Chris continue their conversation from last week about the Life Cycle of a ministry. This week, they focus on the "death" stage of a ministry and what that means as well as the "growth" stage which is where most of us find our ministries.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze Ministries (ablaze.us)   Subscribe/Rate Never miss out on the...

This week, Matt & Chris start a two part series on the Life Cycle of a ministry. They share about the stages a ministry should go through and how it often gets stopped short for many reasons. They'll share their insights into how to fix this issue and grow our ministries to new heights.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze Ministries...

Oftentimes important messages are miscommunicated because everyone is using different terms for things or have different understandings of terms. This can happen a lot in ministry with our teams, volunteers or with those we are ministering to. Matt & Chris discuss the practice of finding common language so that everyone can be clear on the mission of your ministry and better communicate/achieve your vision. Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on...

We always hear that we should be constantly growing and improving as ministry leaders, but with the large list of to-dos and demands on our time for ministry, it is often hard to find time for that. This is why Ablaze has created a new project called Equipt: a book summary program to give you 10 minute overviews of the best spiritual and leadership books ever. Check it out today at https://www.getequipt.us (https://www.getequipt.us).   Follow MLA on Twitter...

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. From our favorite childhood memories, to our first breakup, these memories are powerful and we can still be brought instantly back to those feelings from long ago. Chris and Matt talk about how these memories affect how we lead as ministry leaders and how we can approach ministry with these powerful moments in mind, to leave people with a positive outlook on the Church.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook...

Robert Mixa from Word on Fire joins the shows to discussion atheism and how to work with people who have doubts or are combative towards faith. This is one of our "big brain" episode that goes deep into theology and methods for best walking with people struggling with belief in God. Enjoy! Connect with Roberthttps://www.wordonfire.org/author/robert-mixa/ Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry...

The amazing Deacon Ralph Poyo joins the show the week to share his story of conversion over many years, the importance of docility to the Holy Spirit and how he has stayed in ministry for over 40 years. Come sit at the feet of one of the best ministry leaders in the country. Connect with Deacon Ralph(https://nem.training (https://nem.training)) Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders...

Leadership guru Tim Dumas joins the show to share his expertise on leadership. He shares his 20 year journey of finding out what leadership really is, dreaming big and course correcting as a leader.   Connect with Tim(https://www.linkedin.com/in/servusleadership/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/servusleadership/)) Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze...

Crystal Marchand from ProjectYM joins the show to continue last week's discussion on what keeps people in ministry. She brings her expertise from years of supporting youth workers to share the three C's of longevity in ministry. Connect with ProjectYMInstagram: @project_ym Sign up for the Thrive Community for free https://www.thrive.rs Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous...

Matt and Chris ask the age old question of what sustains people in ministry for the long haul. We have an epidemic of tremendous people leaving ministry and we all know a lot of the reasons. But by focusing on those who have stayed, what can we learn about being able to stay in ministry for the long haul? Tune in for some great reminders and insights.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry...

Some places are opening up. Some aren't. Some people want in person ministry. Some don't. Matt and Chris discuss the "light at the end of the tunnel" for Covid in many places across the country but also how many others are still dealing with tough realities. How do we show each other kindness and respect and do the best ministry we can. We can all still agree...Covid still sucks.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook...

Chase Crouse rejoins the show with Chris to tackle the topic of how often ministry leaders abuse themselves physically, mentally and spiritually by overworking and taking care of everyone else except themselves. Chase, a professional nutrition and health coach, chats about the things we can all do to keep ourselves healthy in ministry to increase our effectiveness and longevity in God's call to minister to His Kingdom.   Connect with Chase: Website: https://www.hypurofit.org Instagram:...

We all carry our own baggage into ministry. Whether difficult things from our personal life or wounds we've picked up from failures in ministry or hurtful things people said, we all have them. How do we find healing from those things and continue to grow as a ministry leader? And how do we help others realize their potential? Tune in to find out!   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry...

Chris and Matt share the three primary things that should be in place to make your job easier than ever before...and they may not be what you think. Tune in to make your life easier and grow your potential as a ministry leader.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze Ministries (ablaze.us)   Subscribe/Rate Never miss out on the craziness of each...

Chris and Matt discuss Pope Francis' recent trip to Iraq and particularly about a homily he gave about the cure for discouragement. The answer is especially important for ministry leaders. If you've felt discouraged in the past year or are helping others through discouragement, this is the episode for you.   Follow MLA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nxtlvlmin) Join the Discussion on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlapodcast/) Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a production of Ablaze...