In this episode of Lead Time, we respond to the “Giving Crescendo” conversation and break down what’s really happening beneath the surface: an aging church body, a historic wealth transfer, and a short window of opportunity that could either fuel mission—or accelerate decline.

Here’s the reality: money won’t save the church. In fact, it may expose just how unprepared we are.

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Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current!
(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
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We explore:

- Why a surge in giving is coming—and why it won’t last
- The 3 paths churches will take (and why most lead to decline)
- How endowments can quietly kill mission
- Why reaching young families is no longer optional
- The leadership and pastoral pipeline crisis ahead
- What district and national leaders must do right now

This is not a financial conversation.
It’s a leadership test.

The future of the LCMS will not be decided by how much money comes in…
but by what we do with it.

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In this episode, we respond to a recent seminary podcast discussing residential training and pastoral formation.

WATCH THE PODCAST HERE

While we deeply respect our seminaries and their leaders, we ask the hard questions many pastors and church leaders are already thinking:

Why are pulpits still empty?
Why are churches closing?
And are we training pastors in a way that actually meets today’s mission?

Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current!
(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

We'll break down:

The real strengths of residential seminary
Where the current model may be falling short
The rise of hybrid and local training approaches
Why EQ (not just theology) matters more than we admit
The urgent need for church planting and scalable leadership pipelines

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In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Texas District President Jon Braunersreuther to discuss:

• The growing pastor shortage in the LCMS
• The debate surrounding SMP pastoral formation
• Why the size of the harvest should change how we think about leadership
• How First Article Gifts (reason, leadership, strategy) can be faithfully used in the church
• Leadership lessons from Jim Collins’ Good to Great

Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current!
(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

With 30 million people in Texas and an estimated 22 million far from Jesus, the question becomes unavoidable:

Is the church preparing enough workers for the harvest?

This conversation challenges pastors, church leaders, and lay leaders to think bigger about mission, leadership, and the future of the church.

Support the show

Visit uniteleadership.org