In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Miles Terry, managing partner of Gideon Law Group, to unpack why many churches struggle not because they aren’t growing, but because they aren’t prepared for growth. From outdated bylaws to unclear leadership and lack of accountability, Miles explains how internal misalignment often creates the very problems churches fear most.

Elliott Cherry, pastor of Midtown Fellowship in Nashville, joins the conversation to explore what it means to follow the real Jesus in a culture that often prefers a convenient, life-hack version of faith. Drawing from his experience leading a diverse, “purple” church in the heart of a rapidly changing city, Elliott unpacks the tension between cultural Christianity and true discipleship, the challenge of navigating faith in a polarized world, and the opportunity to reintroduce people to the authentic, transformative Jesus many have misunderstood or left behind. From stories of redemption to reflections on leadership, this episode invites pastors and leaders to move beyond being right and instead lead people toward a deeper, kingdom-centered way of living.

Catechisms have been used for centuries to help Christians clearly understand and articulate the core truths of the faith. In this conversation, Mike Glenn sits down with author and editor Trevin Wax to explore what a catechism is, why it has played such an important role in Christian formation throughout church history, and why it may be especially valuable in today’s cultural moment. They discuss how simple question-and-answer statements of doctrine can help believers recognize the difference between the story of the gospel and the narratives shaping the wider culture, while also offering practical ways churches, families, and small groups can use tools like the Gospelway Catechism to strengthen discipleship and theological clarity.

Ministry Back to the People is more than a catchy phrase, it is a recovery of what the Church was always meant to be. In this conversation, Mike Glenn sits down with longtime friend Sandy Hamilton to celebrate a story of calling unfolding over decades and to explore why the “second reformation” is about releasing ministry to everyday believers. Sandy shares how prayer, discernment, and coaching helped her step into a new season of leadership, and why coaching is becoming essential for discipleship, leadership development, and even gospel conversations in a polarized, distracted culture. From helping people uncover what they already know to creating a coaching culture that strengthens pastors, equips leaders, and forms the next generation, this episode is a practical look at how churches can identify, train, and release the body to accomplish the mission God has given.

Mike Glenn sits down with singer, songwriter, and speaker Matt Hammitt for a candid conversation about fatherhood, presence, and what it really means to lead at home. Matt shares the story behind his hit song “Lead Me,” the unexpected success that followed, and the moment he realized his calling as a husband and father required a different kind of decision. Together they explore the pressure many men feel to be perfect, the challenge of balancing calling and family, and why simply showing up matters more than getting everything right. It is an honest and encouraging conversation about faith, responsibility, and the quiet but powerful work of fatherhood.

This Week Mike Glenn sits down with licensed pastoral therapist Chris O’Rear to talk about a topic most leaders don’t realise they’re starving for: therapeutic friendship. The kind of soul-level relationship that brings healing, grounding, and real connection in a world marked by isolation.

Ian Simpkins joins Mike Glenn to talk about what it looks like to lead a local church with a missionary mindset, where discipleship isn’t something you attend once a week, but you live at every “table” God places in front of you. Ian shares the surprising story of how he moved from a thriving ministry in Chicago to The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and why the people, marked by humility and hunger made it impossible to ignore God’s invitation.

As we step into a new year, the Shepherds Without Sheep panel sits down to talk honestly about ministry, momentum, and the soul work pastors often avoid. From navigating post-Christmas exhaustion to rethinking what truly matters in January, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how seasoned pastors approach the start of a new year with wisdom.

In this Christmas episode of the ECN Podcast, Shepherds Without Sheep, a panel of seasoned pastors talk honestly about ministry during the holidays-the scars, the joy, and the lessons learned along the way. With humor and humility, they share stories from decades of preaching Christmas and discovering that trusting the Word matters far more than big productions.

We’re bringing you a special Best of ECN collection featuring some of the most impactful conversations of the year. From leadership to spiritual formation to navigating real-life challenges with wisdom, these moments represent the heart of why ECN exists: to strengthen pastors, encourage leaders, and build healthier churches.

In this week’s episode of Empowered Leaders and Thriving Churches, Mike Glenn sits down with School of Ministry student Jay Cleveland - a Nashville entrepreneur whose journey to Christ is anything but ordinary. Jay opens up about his past marked by gangs, addiction, violence, and years inside the criminal justice system. From finding God in a jail cell, meeting Jesus in a homeless shelter, and encountering the Holy Spirit on his living-room couch, Jay shares how the Lord interrupted his life again and again to rewrite his story.

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.