In this podcast episode, Dr. Trent Lambert chats with Nirup Alphonse, Lead Pastor of Lifegate Church in Denver, Colorado. The conversation highlights the importance of pastoral health, revealing how leaders can avoid burnout through rhythms of rest and having genuine relationships outside their congregation. Nirup details his own preaching style, exploring the transformative power of narrative preaching to help pastors thrive and effectively cast vision through the art of storytelling.

Nirup Alphonse is the Lead and Founding Pastor of Lifegate, a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural church in Denver, Colorado. Born in Singapore to missionary parents, Nirup was then raised in South India before moving to Chicago, Illinois to for High School. He graduated with an Accounting and Economics degree from Trinity International University and moved into full time ministry a few years later. He is married to his wife Hannah and together they have four sons.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

This episode features Bob Fetterhoff, an experienced pastor and the Director of Ministry Partnerships for Grace Theological Seminary’s Deploy program. Fetterhoff shares his personal faith journey, highlighting how his family’s spiritual legacy and his lengthy marriage have shaped his four decades of ministry. The conversation then delves into eschatology and the biblical importance of supporting Israel, as Fetterhoff leads a nonprofit called Walk the Bible. He advocates for pastors to teach prophetic scripture and recounts his extensive history of leading educational tours to the Holy Land.

Bob Fetterhoff serves as the Director of Ministry Partnerships & Mentor Coordinator for the Deploy program. In this capacity, Bob assists with onboarding new ministry partners and provides touch-and-go support to Deploy’s ministry and formation mentors. Bob has over forty years of pastoral ministry experience–36 as senior pastor of Wooster Grace in Wooster, Ohio, and has hosted weekday radio broadcasts and led semi-annual trips to Israel. Bob served two terms as the Executive Director of the Charis Fellowship, and now serves as the Executive Director and Board Chair of an educational entity called Walk the Bible.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

This podcast features a conversation between Dr. Trent Lambert and Virgil Tanner, the Executive Director of One Tree Ministries. The discussion highlights One Tree Ministries' mission to help global religious leaders transition from merely surviving to thriving in high-stress environments. Tanner details his unique personal journey from a martial arts background to international missions, explaining how he uses the "One Tree" approach to address the epidemic of pastoral burnout. By focusing on holistic soul tending and spiritual discernment, the organization provides targeted support through guided sabbaticals and specialized training events.

As the Executive Director of OneTree, Virgil is responsible for leading the team to help mission, marketplace, and ministry leaders thrive holistically, do beautifully integrated work, and become everything God dreamed them to be, believing this to be a primary means for stewarding the reviving life of God through His people into the world.

Virgil holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.A. in Religion and Cross Cultural Studies, and an MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction. He is presently working on an EdD in Christian Leadership.

Virgil has ministered in Spain and Central Asia as a disciple-maker and in organizational leadership. He began his journey in mission work after serving in a church in Nashville for nine years.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Conversations, Drew Scholl addresses the importance of workplace ministry and explores the vital question of how leaders can dismantle the cultural divide between the sacred and the secular. The discussion also examines the framework of missional leadership, asking how both the church and the marketplace can better equip leaders to leverage their unique gifts and ensure Jesus remains at the center of every professional story.

Drew Scholl is an entrepreneur and executive leader with over 25 years of experience in business and missional leadership. He is the founder of the coaching company Leaders on Fire and the author of the book, All In: A Revolutionary Call to Missional Leadership. His unique professional perspective is shaped by a diverse background that includes time spent as a professional musician in Nashville and three years serving as an overseas missionary in Papua New Guinea.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Conversations, we bring back Lonnie Anderson, pastor for over two decades and a Doctor of Ministry graduate, who offers insights into the lessons he learned in the early years of preaching and discusses the challenges of sustaining a preaching ministry over time. The conversation also explores various preaching styles like expository preaching and the influence of formal training and education on a preacher's spiritual growth and effectiveness.

Lonnie Anderson has served as the Senior Pastor of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Kokomo, Indiana, since 2002. Under his leadership, the church has experienced significant growth. He founded the F.D. Reese Christian Academy in 2009 and authored Partnering with Pastors and Church Leaders in 2015.​

​Pastor Anderson holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Christian Education and Pastoral Studies, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and a Master of Divinity. He completed his Doctorate in Ministry in 2024, focusing on challenges for Black male millennials in the church.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Conversations, join Dr. Cristian Rata, a seasoned Old Testament scholar and pastor, as he offers essential insights on the critical importance of preaching the Old Testament for theological grounding and discipleship, while also sharing practical advice for ministry leaders.

Dr. Cristian Rata serves as the current Professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Cristian has a rich background in Old Testament studies, Hebrew language and literature, and theological education. Based in Texas, he also serves as an International Trainer for Training Leaders International, imparting knowledge on Old Testament studies and Hebrew to diverse audiences globally. His extensive academic journey and pastoral experience reflect a deep commitment to biblical scholarship and church ministry.

Dr. Rata's career exemplifies a dedication to integrating rigorous academic research with pastoral care and global ministry, making significant contributions to both the scholarly community and the church worldwide.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Conversations, Dr. Trent Lambert sits down with Kent Nighswander, Pastor of Kingdom Collective Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The conversation focuses on Kent Nighswander's journey from a corporate IT career into full-time ministry, detailing his experience navigating significant and difficult ministry transitions and the importance of finishing his business degree for future leadership. Key topics covered include the necessity of leadership and courageousness during times of change, the vital role of personal conviction in preaching, and advice to leaders on mentorship and defining success.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Conversations, Dr. Trent Lambert welcomes Megan Johnson to discuss her personal walk of faith and vocational journey, exploring her roles as a church planter's wife and the Director of Discipleship at Journey Church. The conversation focuses on the distinctive challenges and needs of pastors' wives, the fundamental principles of multiplying discipleship leaders, and the importance of health and rest within demanding ministry rhythms, including the mission of the Thrive Pastors Wives Network.

Megan Johnson is the Director of Discipleship at Journey Church in Warrington, PA. Journey Church is a part of the Charis Fellowship of churches. Journey Church exists to help our neighbors DISCOVER, be DISCIPLED in, and DELIVER the good news of the Gospel to our communities and the rest of the world.

This podcast is sponsored by The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.

The Center for Thriving Leaders assists local churches to flourish by serving church planters and helping local churches renew and revitalize. The Charis Collective Center for Thriving Leaders is based in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace Theological Seminary.