What started as a throwaway, icebreaker question, has officially become an entire episode. For this roundtable conversation, we brought in NextGen Pastor and Spice Girls Super Fan, Salina Gordon, along with MWH’s very own AJ Williams, to answer a question that’s deeper than you might think.

Asking, “Were the Spice Girls a good team,” actually opens up an entire discussion around team dynamics, individual personalities, balanced vs. specialized roles, running lanes, team goals, sustainability and what actually defines a “good team”. Like we said, it’s deeper than you think. Join us, it’s time to “Spice Up” this podcast!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Salina at Illuminatemuncie.com
• Connect further with AJ at churchoftheopendoor.snappages.site

Guest Bio:

Salina Gordon has served as the NextGen Pastor at Illuminate Muncie (Muncie, IN) for the last three years, bringing plenty of “Spice Up Your Life” energy to every team and ministry she leads. Through children’s ministry, camp directing, and D.IV.E. team leadership, she’s learned that if you “Wannabe” a strong leader, you have to build people up, encourage collaboration, and know when to “Stop” playing it safe. She believes in taking “risks” on leaders, because friendship never really ends when a team is growing together with purpose. Whether helping volunteers find their voice or guiding students through leadership development, Salina works to make every ministry space a little more “Viva Forever” — full of growth, confidence, and passion for the next generation.

AJ Williams is the Associate Pastor at Church of the Open Door in Clinton, Iowa, and serves as the Iowa NextGen Regional Mobilizer for the Foursquare Central District. Alongside his beautiful wife, Taylor Rel-Williams, and their daughter, Billie Rae-Ann Williams, AJ is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus in a way they feel seen, heard, and so loved that they are also sharing who Jesus is to those around them.

Having served in NextGen ministry across Iowa since 2018, AJ eventually returned to his hometown to continue serving the community that helped shape him. His heart for ministry is centered on helping people discover that they are seen, loved, and created with purpose by God.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
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Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

We want to be safe people. We might think that we are safe people, and oftentimes we do become very safe for people. But pastoring is not a safe experience. In this episode we kick off our first Brave Conversations Episode in collaboration with Church Well Co, and BrianJames McMahon. Together we unpack the truth that just because we say “this is a safe space” within relationship, it does not necessarily mean others automatically feel safe. Let's discover what the journey to “Becoming Safe(r)” really means in our life and leadership.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Church Well Co Website
• BrianJames Therapy Website
• https://churchwell.co/articles/safe-communities
• Connect further with BrianJames at Instagram: @brianjamesmcmahon @church_well_co

Guest Bio:

BrianJames McMahon is a pastor, counselor, and founder of both Church Well Co, and BrianJames Therapy. He works with pastors, churches, and communities to develop safe(r) relational and emotional spaces for healing and connection.

BrianJames cares deeply that the Church of Jesus embodies the person of Jesus with beauty, bravery, and connection.Never one to shy away from messiness and pain, he has committed his life to helping leaders honestly face the pain present in their lives and callings and to walk into the fullness of the life Jesus has for them in honesty, openness, and bravery.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

How do you lead when you are ultimately not the one in charge? In this episode we sit down with Starla Smith, who serves as an Executive Pastor, to break down what leadership from the 2nd chair looks like. Starla shares stories from her ministry journey of unexpectedly finding herself in roles of authority, what she’s learned from seasons of transition and her intentionality to keep touch points with people just as important as the tasks of the role.

Get your thinking emoji loaded up for this one, because the 2nd chair matters!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Starla here

Guest Bio:

Executive Pastor · Author · Overcomer, Starla Smith is a wife, mother of two, and proud grandma — or "Lala," as her four grandkids call her. But beyond the roles she treasures most, she's also a pastor with a story few would have predicted.

An unlikely minister by her own admission, Starla's journey in faith began simply — serving in youth groups at the very church where she now leads as executive pastor. She didn't chase a title; she was faithful to each open door, and those doors led her further than she ever imagined.

A writer, adventurer, teacher, and lover of deep conversation, Starla brings her whole self to every room she enters. Her heart beats for one thing above all: encouraging others to live fearlessly — no matter what they're facing.

"To live my life as an example of one who overcomes — sharing my story to encourage others to live fearlessly in the face of every struggle, that I might be faithful in all He asks, moving forward through trusting in His love."

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.