FRAMEWORK CATEGORY

Shift Ministry Models

Christian communities need to harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, social entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.

Filter by Content Type
Pivot Podcast | Episode 140. Image description reads: The Leadership Trap Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Alicia Granholm, and Terri Elton

#140: Church Leadership Today: Cultivating Encounters with the Living God

Hosts Terri Elton, Dwight Zscheile, and Alicia Granholm tackle some key church leadership challenges facing pastors and ministry leaders today.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 139. Image description reads: Reimagining Church Spaces Feat. Tim Anderson, Tabitha Montgomery, and Dwight Zscheile

#139: Reimagining Church Spaces: How to Transform Underutilized Buildings into Community Hubs

Tim and Tabitha share the inspiring story of transforming a unused church basement from 1985 into the thriving Center for Belonging.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 138. Image description reads: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Churches Feat. Stephen Presley, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#138: Maintaining Christian Identity in a Post-Christian Society: What Early Believers Can Teach Us About Cultural Engagement

Dr. Stephen Presley reveals how early Christians maintained their identity in pagan culture and their "third way" for today.
Episode 137 Why Smart People Make BAD Religious Decisions episode thumbnail

#137: Religious Decision Making: Dr. Angela Gorrell’s Guide to Faithful Discernment When You Don’t Know What to Do

Dr. Angela Williams-Gorrell shares her framework for religious decision making when facing difficult choices.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 135. Image description reads: Fresh Expressions Changes Everything Pt. 2 Feat. Shannon Kiser and Dwight Zscheile

#136: Fresh Expressions: From VBS Burnout to Vibrant Community Ministry (Part 2)

Shannon Kiser reveals how fresh expressions transformed her church from event-driven ministry to authentic neighborhood relationships.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 135. Image description reads: Fresh Expressions Changes Everything Pt. 1 Feat. Shannon Kiser and Dwight Zscheile

#135: Fresh Expressions: From VBS Burnout to Vibrant Community Ministry (Part 1)

Dwight Zscheile and Shannon Kiser explore how churches can grow vibrant fresh expressions to reach changing neighborhoods.
photo of a stack of old photos

God’s Spirit Transforms Nostalgia

Memory is strong, but hope is stronger
Pivot Podcast | Episode 134. Image description reads: Why Religion Went Obsolete (Pt. 2) Feat. Christian Smith, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#134: Has Religion Become Obsolete? with Christian Smith (Part 2)

Has religion become obsolete in American culture? In this second part of our conversation with sociologist Dr. Christian Smith, we explore his groundbreaking research on why traditional religion has lost its cultural relevance for post-Boomer generations.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 133. Image description reads: Why Religion Went Obsolete Feat. Christian Smith, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#133: Has Religion Become Obsolete? A Conversation with Christian Smith (Part 1)

Dr. Christian Smith explores why religion feels outdated in modern culture, citing shifts in family, institutions, and technology as key causes.
A Different Approach to Evangelism

A Different Approach to Evangelism

by
Meeting Jesus in the midst of sorrow
Pivot Podcast | Episode 132. Image description reads: Reframing Evangelism (Pt. 2) Feat. Andy Root, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#132: Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root (Part 2)

In part two of our conversation with Andy Root, we explore a radically different approach to sharing faith that moves beyond happiness-hunting strategies to embrace God's presence in brokenness.
people in a bible study

Bodybuilding: Equipping God’s People for Ministry

The deeply collaborative New Testament vision for ministry
stained glass windows

Stewardship and the Mixed Ecology

Figuring out a sustainable way forward
Pivot Podcast | Episode 131. Image description reads: Reframing Evangelism (Pt. 1) Feat. Andy Root, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#131: Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root (Part 1)

Dr. Andy Root shows us how to evangelize through what he calls "a theology of consolation" - being present with people in their sadness and brokenness, because that's where Jesus shows up.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 130. Image description reads: Being Church During Community Crisis Feat. Feat. Alicia Granholm, Dwight Zscheile, Marcos Canales, and Nina Lau

#130: Being Church During Community Crisis

With Pastor Marcos Canales and Nina Lau Branson, discover how being church in a community crisis goes far beyond emergency preparedness.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 129. Image description reads: One Church Multiple Models Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, and Alicia Granholm

#129: One Church, Multiple Models: How the Mixed Ecology Approach Transforms Ministry

In this insightful episode of the Pivot Podcast, we talk with Dwight Zscheile about the concept of "one church multiple models" through what he calls a "mixed ecology" approach.
photo of people in b&w

The Myth of Homogeneity

by
How embracing diverse expressions of church unlocks new vitality
Pivot Podcast | Episode 128. Image description reads: Finding Your Preaching Rhythm Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, and Mark Glanville

#128: Biblical Improvisation: How Jazz Music Transforms Preaching in a Post-Christian Society

Discover biblical improvisation with Dr. Mark Glanville—where jazz meets Old Testament insight to craft sermons that resonate in today’s post-Christian world.