What happens when the traditional path to ministry isn't an option? For Pastor Eli Thomas, the journey to becoming an LCMS pastor meant navigating uncharted waters through the colloquy process while balancing family responsibilities, work, and education over eleven challenging years.

What began as a winding path through different denominations ultimately led him back to Lutheran theology through his rediscovery of the real presence of Christ in the sacraments.

• Taking 11 years to complete undergraduate and seminary education while working and raising a family
• Navigating the challenging colloquy process to become an LCMS pastor
• Finding joy in interactive Bible study that transforms both teacher and students
• Serving two congregations simultaneously, including one with an average age of 80
• Moving from lecture-style teaching to dialogue that helps people experience Scripture
• Reflecting on convention experiences and hopes for the future of pastoral formation
• Discovering God's faithfulness when facing unexpected challenges

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Joe Willmann shares his journey from wrestling coach to Lutheran Church Extension Fund leader, revealing how his perspective on leadership transformed from rigid systems to recognizing individual gifts and abilities. He explains that excellence should replace perfection as our aim in life and ministry, highlighting the difference between these mindsets.

• Moving beyond perfectionism to excellence creates space for growth while maintaining high standards
• The concept of "tending and keeping" provides a biblical framework for understanding our vocations
• True leadership flows naturally from being deep followers of Jesus rather than adopting leadership techniques
• The three greatest needs in churches today: embracing biblical stewardship, aiming for excellence, and letting non-essential things evolve
• Key behaviors for Christian leaders: developing winsome witness, adopting a posture of reception rather than critique, and loving difficult people
• LCEF partners with congregations and districts to start, sustain, and strengthen ministries through financial and strategic partnerships
• Changing a 30-year men's Bible study time resulted in attendance growing from 12 to 40-50 men

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Tim Ahlman welcomes Rev. Dr. Michael Eckelkamp, who shares transformative leadership insights from his experience as Senior Executive Director at Christ Lincoln Church and Schools and mentor to countless leaders.

• Two early mentors shaped Michael's approach to leadership: his third-grade teacher who helped him learn to read, and a man named Herbie who invited him to weekly dinners
• Understanding leadership and self-deception requires recognizing when we're "in the box" toward others, justifying our behavior by blaming them
• Trust operates like deposits in a bank account—consistent small investments create a reserve that allows relationships to weather occasional withdrawals
• Every congregation asks two questions about a new leader: "Will he love me?" and "Will he let me love him?"
• Young leaders need mentorship to develop character at the same rate as content knowledge
• Creating healthy rhythms (Michael swims at 4 am daily) provides capacity to handle leadership challenges
• High invitation coupled with high challenge creates environments where people grow spiritually and emotionally
• Curiosity (from Latin "cur" meaning heart) keeps us humble and open to what God is doing
• Leadership requires incremental 1% improvements in physical, emotional, spiritual and familial dimensions

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Tim sits down with Brian Stecker, associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, Minnesota, and creator of the "On the Line" podcast, to explore theological leadership in today's changing religious landscape. They discuss how traditional Lutheran theology can engage with contemporary culture while maintaining its rich intellectual tradition.

• CS Lewis's powerful influence as a bridge between classical education and modern thinking
• The importance of story in cultivating Christian imagination and faith formation
• Brian's unexpected journey from business to pastoral ministry through Tolkien's stories
• On-the-job pastoral learning and the value of theological "soft skills" in difficult situations
• Understanding the pastor's role as a leader within proper theological frameworks
• The LCMS's significant opportunity to expand its digital media presence
• How intellectually substantive content is attracting audiences contrary to conventional wisdom
• The "unfair advantage" of traditional theology as younger generations seek deeper roots
• Building unity within the LCMS while engaging diverse perspectives

Connect with Brian's work at ontheline.net or visit Trinity Waconia's website to learn more about their ministry.

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What happens when we apply biblical language to modern business concepts? Attorney Colin Hoffman joins Tim and Jack to challenge how Christian leaders use marketplace terminology and offers a refreshing biblical perspective on leadership development.

• Integrating faith in the marketplace through daily devotionals and Christ-centered business practices
• Using biblical language instead of business terminology – how "name" in Scripture relates to modern concept of "brand"
• Name changes in the Bible (Abraham, Israel, Peter) represent divine identity transformation similar to baptism
• John 17 as a perfect model of project management and leadership handoff from Jesus to God the Father
• Implementing Christian principles in legal practice through mediation clauses based on 1 Corinthians 6
• Creating high-trust business relationships by applying biblical wisdom to contracts, client relationships, and conflict resolution
• Christian business leaders serving as shepherds to employees and missionaries in places traditional ministry cannot reach.

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What if everything we thought about leadership was backward? In this thought-provoking exploration of "The Genius of Jesus," we unpack how Christ established the most effective leadership development movement in history—not through controlling hierarchies but through radical trust and empowerment.

• Jesus exemplifies genius by seeing connections others couldn't see and establishing an upside-down kingdom
• The Pharisaical tendency in leadership seeks identity in power over others rather than empowerment
• Healthy organizations foster innovation through teams rather than bureaucratic hierarchy
• Trust functions as currency—when present, it propels ministry forward; when absent, it creates resistance
• Effective leadership balances high trust with high accountability through transparency
• Decentralized decision-making requires clear values and principles that guide but don't restrict
• Leadership thrives when principles rather than rigid rules govern behavior
• Effective leaders instill thirst for mission rather than merely creating manuals and procedures

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What does it mean to be "free" in a Lutheran context? Join us as we explore that question with President Micah Hjermstad of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations. President Micah Hjermstad shares the history, structure, and vision of this distinctively autonomous Lutheran body. The conversation explores how congregational freedom and collaborative ministry can flourish together when centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• History of the AFLC traces back to Norway in the 1800s as a reaction against state church control
• AFLC formed in 1962 when 40 congregations chose not to merge with the American Lutheran Church
• Now encompasses over 250 congregations across 26 states with international ministries
• Unique polity based on 12 fundamental principles that establish congregational autonomy
• National offices support rather than govern congregations through five separate corporations
• Congregations answer only to "the Word and the Spirit" without hierarchical authority
• Vision focusing on maintaining biblical authority while leaning into "the freedom of the gospel"
• Leadership development primarily occurs at the congregational level with new national initiatives
• Majority lay representation required on all national boards
• Creating environments for gracious disagreement while maintaining unity
• Lutheran theology "embraces tension" rather than forcing artificial resolution of biblical paradoxes
• Different Lutheran denominations reach different people with the same gospel

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Dr. Jon Braunersreuther joins Tim Ahlman to challenge one of the most persistent false dichotomies in Lutheran circles: the notion that being "confessional" and "missional" represent opposing priorities. Drawing from his role as Director of District-Wide Strategy for the Texas District LCMS, Jon presents a compelling alternative—a reciprocal and reinforcing relationship where strong theological convictions naturally fuel passionate mission work, and authentic mission efforts necessarily depend on doctrinal clarity.

• Conviction implies connection between cognitive understanding and affective heart response that moves us to action
• True Lutheran confessional convictions naturally lead to missional cause—sharing these beliefs with those who don't yet know Jesus
• The false dichotomy of "confessional vs. missional" can be replaced with a reciprocal, reinforcing relationship model
• Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession (justification by grace through faith) has powerful missional implications
• 1 Timothy 4:16 demonstrates the biblical foundation for watching both "life and doctrine closely"
• The Book of Concord preface states doctrines are preserved "to be kept and spread"
• Luther himself emphasized that faith "will not do for each one hearing the gospel to go his own way" but must be extended
• The Texas District aims for 500 new leaders in 500 new places by 2031, inspired by Ethiopia's Mekani Yesus Lutheran Church
• First Article gifts (reason and senses) should be used for mission planning without fear of "programming the Holy Spirit"
• The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) demonstrates how the early church discussed mission problems and reached consensus

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