In this episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast, Pastor Mike Glenn sits down with ministry veteran Jim Wideman to talk about the heart of mentorship, generational leadership, and what it really means to pour into others. From his early years in children’s ministry to decades of coaching pastors and church teams, Jim shares wisdom on raising up the next generation of leaders - reminding us that “every Paul needs a Timothy, and every Timothy needs a Paul.”

Many believers encounter Jesus, join a church, and serve faithfully - yet never truly build a coherent theology. In this conversation, Mike Glenn sits down with author and LifeWay editor Mary Wiley to talk about how we can better understand who God is, how He reveals Himself, and how to pass that truth on to the next generation.

Pastor Lyle Phillips (Legacy Church, Nashville) joins Mike Glenn to trace a 20-year journey from the mission field in Mozambique and Andhra Pradesh—rescuing children and serving the poorest—to planting Legacy in East Nashville, and dreaming toward a 12-city church-planting vision.

In this episode, Mike sits down with author and thinker Brett McCracken (The Wisdom Pyramid, Scrolling Ourselves to Death) to talk about preaching and pastoring in a skeptical, hyper-online world. Brett makes a clear case for why information ≠ wisdom and how leaders can build a healthier “diet” for their souls and churches-starting with Scripture, rooted in the Church, refreshed by creation, deepened through books, and formed by beauty - with technology in its proper place.

From three kids to 300, and from the youth room to a church plant. This week, Joel & Mikayla Kelly share how God moved them from serving at Conduit (inspired by a mission-first DNA) to launching Exodus Church in Springhill, Tennessee. It’s a candid story of calling, healing church-kid wounds, and learning that the pastor’s job isn’t to do all the ministry—but to develop leaders (“be one, make one”), build ownership, and send people.

In this candid conversation, three former pastors—Tim Harlow, Michael Easley, and Mike Glenn—share hard-won wisdom on shepherding in a changing world. From overhead projectors and cassette tapes to livestreams and AI, they trace how technology has always rattled the church—and how to use new tools with integrity: attribution over plagiarism, outlines that aid but never replace soul-deep preaching, and tech that informs without trying to transform.

In this powerful conversation, a Nashville pastor shares a hard-won journey of calling, healing, and hope. After leading through the 2019–2020 crucible-personal family strain, ministry stress, and a season where every decision drew critique-he stepped away without a next role and spent a year letting God rebuild his soul. He opens up about that healing year and the surprising door God then opened to The Gospel Church in Nashville.

In this powerful conversation, Jonathan Pitts shares his remarkable journey of faith, loss, and resilience. A pastor, father of four daughters, and leader in ministry, Jonathan’s world was turned upside down when his wife, Winter, suddenly passed away at the age of 38. He opens up about navigating grief while raising his girls, moving to Franklin, Tennessee, and discovering God’s sustaining presence through unimaginable hardship.

This episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast features an inspiring conversation with Chris Brown: pastor of The Well in Columbia, TN, former Ramsey Personality, and leader passionate about the next generation. Chris once held the kind of role many would envy—speaking on big stages, shaping curriculum, and being part of the nationally recognized Ramsey Solutions team. But even in the middle of success, he felt a deeper call from God: to invest in the local church. That call led him and his family to Columbia, Tennessee, where a small youth group in his living room eventually grew into a thriving church led by students and fueled by a vision for reaching the next generation.

This episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast features a powerful conversation with Joey Lankford: missionary, leader, and founder of Cul2vate. Joey had what most people chase after: the nice house, the nice family, the nice salary, and all the “stuff” that comes with the American dream. But beneath the surface, he felt drained, empty, and hungry for something more. That restlessness eventually led Joey and his family to leave behind the familiar comforts of Nashville for the poorest communities of South Africa. There, Joey helped launch job-creation initiatives through greenhouses and farming, discipling and equipping men and women to find dignity, purpose, and sustainable work.

This special episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast features a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Amy-Jill (AJ) Levine, world-renowned scholar, author, and teacher of New Testament and Jewish Studies. In this timely episode, Professor Levine joins Pastor Mike Glenn to address common mistakes pastors make in preaching, particularly the tendency to take Jesus out of His Jewish context. With humor, clarity, and depth, she reminds us that Jesus always looks good, but to understand Him fully, we must also understand the Jewish world that shaped Him.

What can the church learn from Alcoholics Anonymous, and how can we join the conversation? In this episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast, Mike Glenn sits down with a longtime member of AA to explore the deep connection between faith, recovery, and community.

In this episode of ECN Weekly, Mike Glenn sits down with Mike Harder the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Spartanburg to explore what it means to lead with love, humility, and a long-term vision in a historic church context. As a former Brentwood staff member and missionary kid, our guest shares candid insights about stepping into a church with nearly 200 years of legacy, following a beloved long-term pastor, and discerning what to change—and what not to.

This special episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast features a powerful conversation with Dr. Charles Lawless, a respected leader, author, and professor in the field of church leadership and spiritual formation.

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Grammy-winning artist BeBe Winans—not to talk music, but to talk discipleship. BeBe shares how joining a Wednesday morning men’s group changed his life, helped him find real community, and challenged him to grow in accountability, vulnerability, and joy.