Ministry Leaders Anonymous

Ministry Leaders Anonymous hosted by Matt Rice & Chris Bartlett

About the show

Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a podcast produced by Ablaze Ministries hosted by Matt Rice & Chris Bartlett. Matt & Chris have over 40 years experience working & leading in ministry. They want to take the experience & skills they have developed over decades and offer them to ministry leaders everywhere. The work of ministry leaders, whether it is a youth minister, a director of religious education, a volunteer coordinator, or an unpaid retreat director, is a powerful and sometimes lonely mission. Ministry Leaders Anonymous is here to remind you that you are not alone, as well as to provide a moment of sanity during a busy week of ministry.

Matt & Chris have just about seen it all, and they are ready to dive into & bring to light the hurts, hopes, & hungers of all ministry leaders. Ministry Leaders Anonymous will feature topics important to maintaining physical, spiritual, & mental health. They will discuss habits & proven successes for all kinds of ministries, as well as inviting insightful guests who bring important discussions & expertise.

Ultimately, Ministry Leaders Anonymous is a place for all ministry leaders to find laughter, support, & community. Come join us every Thursday at your nearest podcatcher

Episodes

  • Episode 29: Can You Be Too Silly in Ministry?

    October 4th, 2018  |  25 mins 27 secs

    Boy, oh boy, does this episode have a lot in store for you! You are about to learn so much about Chris & Matt, at many points you may feel like it's too much. But don't give up! Stick around through all the entertaining stories to learn all about the d...

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    Episode 28: Getting the Church on the Offensive

    September 27th, 2018  |  25 mins 46 secs

    Too many times, our faith feels like it is constantly on defense. Unless we are in our comfort zone, we fear talking about what Jesus is doing for us out in the world. This week, Chris & Matt discuss the importance of going outside the building and put...

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    Episode 27: The MLA Variety Show!

    September 20th, 2018  |  24 mins 18 secs

    This week, Matt & Chris try something a bit different. They discuss completely unrelated things in what they've decided is the first MLA Variety Show! This show mostly revolves around the "voluntolds" and Matt's dark sinful alter ego (not really,

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    Episode 26: Asking for Help

    September 13th, 2018  |  22 mins 54 secs

    Asking for help can be very difficult. Especially if you're supposed to be the leader of your program and/or ministry. But adversity and challenge is how we all grow, and helping others when they ask for help allows us to grow in our own talents and st...

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    Episode 25: Ministry Is Temporary

    September 6th, 2018  |  25 mins 5 secs

    What happens after the retreat, after the bible study, after the youth night? The faces within your ministry change as they move on to what God has called them to do. But have you prepared them to continue their faith life without your ministry?

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    Episode 24: The Introverted Leader

    August 30th, 2018  |  26 mins 24 secs

    It's the battle of all time: Introverts vs. Extraverts! Who will win?! How about both? This week, Alyssa Trutter returns with Matt Rice to talk about the beautiful harmony that can be achieved by a ministry built from extraverts & introverts.

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    Episode 23: Responding to Scandal

    August 23rd, 2018  |  29 mins 57 secs

    Sadly, when someone hears the Catholic Church in the news, they most likely expect to hear about the brokenness and often atrocious acts of those who abuse their power and office. But how do we, the ministry leaders that are working every day to show t...

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    Episode 22: Pride's Place in Ministry

    August 16th, 2018  |  23 mins 17 secs

    Pride is necessary for leaders of all types, but ministry leaders tend to swing between unnecessary insecurity and excessive pride. This week, Matt & Chris talk about staying true to the ministry leader God has called you to be as well as recognizing y...

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    Episode 21: The Immeasurable Fruits of Ministry

    August 9th, 2018  |  25 mins 19 secs

    There is no greater feeling than seeing the fruits of your labor in ministry. But 99% of the time, we don't see how God is working in the hearts of those we serve. This week, Chris & Matt talk about how badly they wish that we could have accurate minis...

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    Episode 20: Perfecting Games for Every Ministry with Gwen Bartlett

    August 2nd, 2018  |  32 mins 6 secs

    Often, we only associate games & icebreakers with children & youth ministry. But Gwen Bartlett joins Chris this week to talk about WHY games succeed in youth ministry and how important they are to ministries of all ages.

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    Episode 19: Becoming the Guide, Not the Hero

    July 26th, 2018  |  28 mins 27 secs

    This week, Chris & Matt talk about the StoryBrand Process by Donald Miller and how it can be used in your ministry. We know that sometimes we believe that our ministry or our job is to save those we serve. But no one sees themselves as the victim in th...

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    Episode 18: Taking the Time to Volunteer

    July 19th, 2018  |  22 mins 29 secs

    We know that many ministry leaders have volunteered and that's how they became responsible for their ministry. But for all of the paid ministry leaders, do you take the time to do what you ask many others? Do you volunteer your time outside of work & r...

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    Episode 17: Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

    July 12th, 2018  |  24 mins

    How often do we let our insecurities control our ministry? This week, Chris shares a recent event where he lost sleep over his own shortcomings, and Matt & Chris talk about re-framing our insecurities and faults around the mission of our ministries & G...

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    Episode 16: Super Volunteers with Laura Gonzalez

    July 5th, 2018  |  30 mins 15 secs

    What is a super volunteer? Where do you find them? How do you keep them? What makes them super? These are all questions that EVERY ministry leader asks, because we all need incredible volunteers for our ministries.

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    Episode 15: When Things Fall Apart

    June 28th, 2018  |  25 mins 43 secs

    Chris is back! And man, does he have a story to tell. It's inevitable that in ministry something will not go according to the plan. But how do we as leaders react. What are some of the emotions that we feel, and how can God work through the situation.

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    Episode 14: Don't Squash the Punks with Alyssa Trutter

    June 21st, 2018  |  32 mins 58 secs

    In this largely youth minister-focused episode of the show, Alyssa Trutter from Ablaze Ministries joins Matt to talk about being merciful in ministry, specifically restraining the urge to just squash those punks.