Episodes

When Jimmy Scroggins stepped into leadership at a struggling legacy church in West Palm Beach, the odds were stacked against him. Financial collapse, reputational damage, and years without a pastor created a make-or-break moment for both him and the congregation. In this episode, Jimmy unpacks the hard lessons learned from rebuilding Family Church—from selling property and cutting programs to developing leaders and launching 20 neighborhood campuses across South Florida. He and Sean discuss urge...

In this episode, Sean Morgan sits down with pastor and author Glenn Packiam to talk about what may be the beginnings of revival, especially among younger generations, and how church leaders can steward this moment well. Glenn unpacks new Barna data showing a rise in commitment to Jesus, explores the cultural shifts from militant atheism to curious skepticism, and shares how pastors can respond with humility, connection, and prayer. From hybrid discipleship models to the growing priority of authe...

In today’s episode, Sean welcomes Danny Anderson, lead pastor and author of How to Grow Your Church Without Losing Your Soul. Danny shares the heart behind his new book, shaped by his own leadership journey and a desire to help pastors avoid burnout, moral failure, and misplaced identity. Together, Sean and Danny unpack the importance of soul care, Sabbath, healthy friendships, and leadership practices that sustain both personal integrity and church growth. This conversation is a candid and prac...

In this episode, Sean Morgan sits down with Josh Rhodes and Tim Haring to discuss the succession journey at Chestnut Ridge Church. After 40 years of ministry, founding pastor Tim reflects on preparing the church for life beyond his leadership, while Josh shares how their long-term relationship and shared heartbeat for reaching people made the transition possible. Together, they explore humility, outside counsel, and the intentional communication strategies that helped their church navigate succe...

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with Joel Thomas, Lead Pastor at Buckhead Church and senior leader at North Point Ministries. Joel shares his unique journey into ministry, lessons from his time at North Point and Mission Community Church, and the leadership insights he’s gained along the way. From the power of investing in young leaders, to discerning between turnaround and realignment, to navigating succession in a large church context, Joel offers wisdom for l...

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with author, counselor, and leadership mentor Chip Dodd to unpack the “Five Pitfalls of Leadership.” Drawing on decades of experience leading leaders and running the Center for Professional Excellence, Chip explores how work can become confused with worth, why performance often overshadows presence, and how leaders slip into isolation and secrecy. He unpacks the role of humility, healthy dependency, and vulnerability in sustaining...

In this episode, Sean Morgan welcomes back Aaron Brockett, Lead Pastor of Traders Point Christian Church, for a transparent and wisdom-packed conversation on leadership growth through seasons of ministry. Aaron shares candid reflections on lessons learned from church planting, staff alignment, team culture, and navigating organizational challenges. From culture as "the oil in the engine" to handling conflict with clarity and grace, this episode offers practical wisdom for leaders in any season. ...

In today’s episode, Sean sits down with Ted Coniaris and Dave Ferguson of COMMUNITY to explore healthy succession plans in church leadership. Ted, a former church planter turned lead pastor apprentice, shares his journey from Greek Orthodox roots to executive leadership. Dave, the founding pastor and now CEO of Exponential, reflects on stepping back, championing Ted, and why a leadership handoff rooted in humility, clarity, and trust works. Together, they reveal the intentional 18-month apprenti...

In this episode, Sean welcomes back Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World. Together, they unpack the complex reality of leading during the worst global hunger crisis in over 50 years. Eugene reflects on his unexpected entry into this season of leadership, the global challenges impacting food security, and the Church’s vital role in advocacy and compassionate engagement. He also shares personal rhythms for staying healthy, strategic, and spiritually grounded in high-capacity l...

In Part 2 of the team momentum series, Sean Morgan talks through the essential topic of alignment—what it looks like, why it matters, and how leaders can cultivate it within their teams. Drawing from real-life leadership challenges, Sean outlines three core causes of misalignment and offers practical strategies to bring clarity, prioritize what matters most, and install or improve systems that support team momentum. Plus, he shares a bonus insight on dealing with people who are misaligned and ho...

In this solo episode, Sean Morgan explores the foundational steps of building and maintaining a high-horsepower team that drives momentum instead of losing it. Drawing from personal leadership reflections and ministry insights, Sean unpacks five key practices that separate stagnant teams from thriving ones. Whether you're leading a church staff, a volunteer crew, or an executive board, these principles will challenge and equip you to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. This is part one of a...

In this episode, Sean Morgan talks with Randy Frazee, a seasoned pastor with over 36 years of ministry experience. They explore the challenges and opportunities of pastoral transitions, from overcoming the fear of identity loss to finding purpose beyond the pulpit. Randy shares insights on building a healthy church culture, maintaining a strong marriage in ministry, and setting up a successful succession plan. If you're navigating a leadership transition or preparing for a new season in ministry...

In this episode, Sean sits down with Danny from Three Crosses Church to explore how God births fresh vision in the heart of a leader—and what happens when that vision begins to take root. Danny reflects on the evolution of his leadership after seven years as lead pastor, the sabbatical that created space for new direction, and the spiritual and strategic clarity that followed. Together, they discuss the tension between patience and boldness, the challenge of stewarding legacy churches with missi...

In this candid episode, Sean sits down with Steve Clifford and Jay Kim to unpack the multi-year leadership transition at Westgate Church. With honesty and humility, Steve and Jay share how they navigated timing, succession, and the evolving dynamics of leadership, both spiritually and practically. They talk about the emotional tension of letting go and stepping up, the importance of relationship and trust, and what it really takes to support the incoming leader. Plus, they reflect on how embraci...

In this powerful episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean sits down with Bert Crabbe, lead pastor of True North Community Church on Long Island. Bert opens up about two decades of ministry, the challenges of pastoring through personal hardship, and the importance of leading with humility and authenticity. He shares his unique approach to preaching preparation, the power of coaching, and why pace, presence, and perseverance matter more than polish. Whether you’re navigating a hard season or looki...

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan welcomes back researcher and church leadership expert Warren Bird for a candid conversation on what makes ministry leaders resilient over the long haul. Drawing from decades of experience and groundbreaking research, Warren unpacks the transformative impact of intentional peer groups, the dangers of isolation, and the importance of shifting from solo leadership to shared, team-based leadership models. Whether you're a lead pastor, planter, ...

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean welcomes Johnson Bowie, lead pastor of Victory Church, to share his leadership journey. From stepping into the lead role during the chaos of 2020 to navigating staff transitions and fostering a culture of humility, Johnson offers candid insights on leadership, church transitions, and the weight of words in executive roles. Whether you’re a pastor in transition or leading a team, this conversation is packed with wisdom on faithfulness, leadership c...

In this episode, Sean sits down with Jason Mitchell, lead pastor of LCBC Church, to discuss his leadership journey, the challenges of succession, and the evolving role of the church in today's culture. Jason shares his personal faith story, the intentional process behind his transition to lead pastor, and the importance of emotionally mature leadership. He also highlights the current spiritual hunger in communities and LCBC’s focus on reaching Pennsylvania, investing in the next generation, and ...

Church leadership transitions are complex and require intentionality, humility, and a clear vision. For Adam and Diego Mesa, their transition was shaped by a long preparation period, a willingness to embrace change, and a commitment to mission over methods. They address leadership shifts that must be handled with care, clarity in roles and expectations, and the role of trust and humility. While challenges inevitably arise, a well-structured transition that prioritizes the church’s long-term heal...

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Jim Sheppard joins Sean to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing churches today: attendance is up, but giving is not. Jim shares insights from decades of experience helping churches develop a culture of generosity. They dive into why giving must be seen as a discipleship issue rather than a financial transaction, how churches can shift the conversation in practical ways, and what pastors should and shouldn’t delegate in stewardship leadership. W...

Today, Sean welcomes Sandy Millar, a renowned figure in the Holy Trinity Brompton movement and the Alpha course. Sandy shares his remarkable journey from law to ministry, driven by transformative experiences with the Holy Spirit. He reflects on the foundation of the Alpha course, the rise of charismatic renewal within the Anglican Church, and the significance of humility and loyalty in leadership. Sandy underscores the essence of faith-led ministry, offering insights for pastors navigating chall...

"The beauty of leadership is knowing when to embrace both change and continuity, molding the future while honoring the past." Meet Glenn Packiam, lead pastor at Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa. In this episode, Glenn shares his journey as a lead pastor, his transition to Rockharbor, and his philosophy on leadership and vision casting. He reflects on the unique challenges of leading a church with a rich history while crafting its future identity. Glenn also discusses the weight of leadership, the...

"When you’re not clear on your vision, your culture, or your strategy, and things get out of alignment, bringing it back into alignment will come with a lot of pain. But once you get there, you’ll wonder how you ever existed without that alignment.” Meet Jesse DeYoung, Executive Lead Pastor of Flatirons Church. Today’s discussion is all about the critical topic of organizational doubt and its impact on church leadership. Jesse shares insights from his experience at Flatirons Community Church, wh...

“The moment you allow your margin to be given away is the precise moment your church will ask more from you, and you won’t have anything left to give them.” If you’re just hanging on until your next sabbatical, you might be missing the point. True rest isn’t something you find on vacation—it’s something you build into your daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms. In this episode, Sean explores how to reset your work/rest cycle with practical steps: admit things aren’t working, evaluate expectations in...