Episode 72 - How To "Crush It!" In Leadership When Beginning A New Ministry

This is today's podcast guest, Dave Ronan, in a partially unclassified, doctored picture, to keep locational confidentiality, while with Jeff at their super-secret Pastor's Retreat somewhere in the woods of western Pennsylvania.

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This is a great episode on leadership and how to start a new ministry! Here are some things to keep in mind as you listen, because we did not do a very good job giving out enough details on this episode - we were too excited! Here are some details to keep in mind:

• We had just attended commencement and received degrees from Bethel Seminary two days before recording this intro.
• We had spent the previous two to three weeks killing ourselves finishing up all of our class requirements.
• Jonny had finished his thesis, which was a huge accomplishment for him.
• Jonny received a Master of Arts in Christian Thought, and Jeff a Master of Divinity.
• The content of this episode is a conversation Jeff had with Dave Ronan.
• Dave and Jeff had attended the same pastor's retreat in April of 2014, and Jeff jumped at the opportunity to record this conversation while there, in Rob Tarnoviski's Ford Expedition, dubbed the "Luxurious and opulent mobile studio of the 200churches Podcast."
• Dave Ronan currently teaches foreign military advisors for the U.S. Air Force.
• Dave has a Ph.D. in intercultural studies. He loves understanding cross cultural situations - and - pastors in new churches are often huge cross cultural situations!
• If you click on Dave's picture below, you can see his entire, and very interesting bio on his LinkedIn page.
• Dave was a delight, a blast, and pure joy to talk with all weekend, and Jeff just had to hit record and share him with all of you pastors - he has some great lessons for us!
• Dave Ronan is smarter than he can ever imagine he is, and just as humble. He has a real heart for people, for God, for pastors, and for the local church.

When us pastors arrive at a new church, we sometimes begin a little off balance. It's a new church, a bunch of people we don't know, a new environment, a different culture in the community and church, unspoken expectations, we want to make a good first impression, we want to build trust, yet accomplish much right out of the gate, etc. etc.

Dave drills right down in this conversation on the most important things we should be thinking about and focusing on in our new church. If pastors could get this message, and understand these principles, there would be a lot more home runs on the first pitch of the ministry tenure! If you know of a fellow pastor just starting in a new church - share this episode with them! Bless them with it! They will thank you.

If you want to get in touch with Dave, please connect with him through LinkedIn.

Enjoy the podcast!

Click on Dave's picture to see his biographical sketch on LinkedIn!