Best Todd Rhoades Podcasts (2025)

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True North (Part 2) 7:24

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12h ago7:24

7:24

We unveil "True North," a modern epistle designed to encourage and guide church staff with timeless wisdom for ministry leadership. This four-chapter resource draws from hundreds of podcast conversations to address the challenges unique to those serving in church settings. • Written in the style of a biblical epistle but addressing contemporary min…

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Truth North (Part 1) 6:24

1d ago6:24

6:24

Todd Rhodes introduces a special week-long series featuring an AI-generated "epistle" created by feeding all 366 episodes of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast into ChatGPT. The resulting 15-page document called "True North for Church Leaders" synthesizes years of ministry wisdom into a biblical letter-style format that offers encouragement and persp…

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Your Staff Isn’t Lazy. They’re Spiritually Disconnected 6:33

5d ago6:33

6:33

Church staff displaying signs of disengagement might not be lazy but spiritually disconnected and malnourished. The real issue is often soul erosion resulting from constant ministry hustle without adequate time to abide in Christ. • Warning signs include emotional flatness despite busyness • Loss of compassion, creativity, and conviction about mini…

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Why Staff Exit Interviews Are Too Late to Save Your Culture 12:36

6d ago12:36

12:36

Churches often discover staff culture issues too late, only learning painful truths during exit interviews after resignations have already occurred. • Exit interviews function more like autopsies than checkups, revealing issues when it's too late to fix them • If team members only speak truth on their way out, that signals a culture problem, not ju…

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When Your Church Staff Is a ‘Family’… Until It’s Not 9:34

7d ago9:34

9:34

We explore why the common practice of calling church staff a "family" can create unhealthy dynamics that undermine accountability and mission. This seemingly biblical and warm approach often leads to avoiding necessary conversations, protecting underperformers, and creating exclusive in-crowds that damage church culture. • Family systems prioritize…

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When Burnout Looks Like Revival (But It's Actually Exhaustion) 9:23

8d ago9:23

9:23

We explore the dangerous tendency for churches to confuse burnout with revival, and how overwork disguised as faithfulness is damaging the souls of ministry staff. This continuing conversation on burnout examines why ministry teams feel depleted even when church metrics are thriving. • Churches often celebrate busyness and overloaded schedules, cal…

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Why You Shouldn’t Be Proud Your Staff ‘Doesn’t Take Vacation 7:18

9d ago7:18

7:18

Church leaders should recognize that staff who never take vacations are displaying a significant red flag, not dedication, as this mindset breeds burnout, decreased effectiveness, and eventual departure from ministry. Healthy churches thrive when leaders are physically and spiritually refreshed, following Jesus' own example of prioritizing rest dur…

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2025-05-25 Elisa Parmer - Audio 24:22

9d ago24:22

24:22

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Elisa Parmer

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2025-05-25 Elisa Parmer - Video 24:22

9d ago24:22

24:22

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Elisa Parmer

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Why Southern Baptists Are Shrinking—And What It Means for Your Church 7:02

12d ago7:02

7:02

Church membership in Southern Baptist churches has hit a 50-year low while attendance is actually increasing, revealing a complex picture of modern church engagement. This paradoxical trend isn't limited to Baptist churches but represents a broader shift occurring across evangelical churches nationwide. • Membership in SBC churches dropped below 13…

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Churches Are Quietly Using AI—and It Might Just Save Ministry 11:25

13d ago11:25

11:25

Churches nationwide are experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance ministry operations while preserving theological integrity. Far from replacing pastoral roles, AI is helping churches streamline routine tasks so staff can focus more on meaningful ministry with their congregations. • Churches currently use AI for writing devotionals, newsl…

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How to Make Church Staff Meetings More Engaging and Less Painful 8:35

14d ago8:35

8:35

Most church staff meetings lack energy and purpose, wasting valuable time and missing opportunities for team building and vision alignment. We explore six practical strategies to transform these gatherings from boring obligations into energizing huddles that your team will actually look forward to attending. • Rethink the purpose - treat meetings a…

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Leading Your Church in Chaos: 5 Steps to Survive and Thrive 11:01

15d ago11:01

11:01

Crisis doesn't knock politely at your church's door—it kicks it in without warning. Whether it's a leadership scandal, church split, natural disaster, or financial impropriety, how you respond in those critical first moments will shape your ministry's future. This episode unpacks four essential steps for navigating church crisis with wisdom and pas…

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10 Church Staff Myths That Are Hurting Your Team 9:02

16d ago9:02

9:02

Church staff are professionals deserving of recognition, fair compensation, and work boundaries—not just volunteers with fancy titles. Breaking these 10 common misconceptions about church staff culture is essential to building sustainable ministries where teams thrive rather than merely survive. • Church staff are real professionals who need proper…

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2025-05-18 Food Insecurity - Arelis Perez, Julie Rhoads & Zach Zook - Audio 26:38

16d ago26:38

26:38

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Food Insecurity - Arelis Perez, Julie Rhoads

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2025-05-18 Food Insecurity - Arelis Perez, Julie Rhoads & Zach Zook - Video 26:38

16d ago26:38

26:38

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Food Insecurity - Arelis Perez, Julie Rhoads

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Church Job Interview: Red Flags That Scream “RUN!" 9:32

19d ago9:32

9:32

Church job interviews are a two-way street where candidates must protect their calling by identifying red flags before accepting a position that could lead to burnout and regret. Proper due diligence through strategic questioning can reveal hidden problems and save ministry professionals from walking into toxic environments. • Ask to see the church…

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5 Digital Surprises That Build REAL Church Community 9:51

20d ago9:51

9:51

We explore five unexpected ways to build vibrant church community through digital discipleship, from virtual small groups to personalized engagement strategies that turn online interactions into meaningful relationships. Churches that embrace these approaches are seeing significant results while those hesitating are missing crucial connection oppor…

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Why People Are Quietly Leaving Megachurches—and What Your Church Can Learn 9:06

21d ago9:06

9:06

A growing number of church attendees are quietly walking away without announcing their departure, feeling disconnected and unnoticed after years of faithful attendance. This silent exodus happens across churches of all sizes and stems from systems that count people without truly knowing them, performance-driven cultures that prioritize polish over …

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Replanting a Megachurch: The Bold Move That Saved Bethlehem Baptist 5:40

22d ago5:40

5:40

Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis chose to completely replant itself as City Church Minneapolis after facing declining attendance following founding pastor John Piper's retirement after 40 years. Their story demonstrates how legacy churches can choose gospel-centered renewal over nostalgia when faced with the question of whether their best da…

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When Church Members Sue Their Pastor: The Second Baptist Crisis Explained 9:42

23d ago9:42

9:42

A billion-dollar megachurch faces a lawsuit after members claim their bylaws were secretly changed to eliminate congregational voting rights. This case at Houston's Second Baptist Church offers crucial lessons about transparency, governance, and proper succession planning that apply to churches of all sizes. • Church members filed a 123-page lawsui…

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2025-05-11 Todd Friesen - Video 13:12

23d ago13:12

13:12

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Todd Friesen

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2025-05-11 Todd Friesen - Audio 13:12

23d ago13:12

13:12

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Todd Friesen

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Hiring Church Staff Shouldn’t Look Like The Bachelor… But It Does 8:21

26d ago8:21

8:21

Many churches approach hiring like The Bachelor – making decisions based on flashy first impressions and shallow questions, then experiencing regret months later. This episode explores a better approach to church staffing that prioritizes discernment over drama. • Too many churches hire based on "vibes" rather than substantial evaluation • Ministry…

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Ministry Staff Need Margin—Here’s How to Build It In 9:50

27d ago9:50

9:50

The most mission-critical staffing strategy for churches might be slowing down and incorporating Sabbath thinking into your organizational culture. When we treat Sabbath as a structural element of staffing rather than just a personal spiritual discipline, we create sustainable ministry that prevents burnout instead of reacting to it. • Sabbath isn'…

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The Paradox of Choice: Why Fewer Options Might Help You Hire Better 8:22

28d ago8:22

8:22

Having too many candidates can actually kill your church staff hiring process by creating paralysis and an endless search for the non-existent "perfect candidate." Fewer choices and clearer criteria might be the key to unlocking your next great hire. • The perfect candidate doesn't exist – only people with unique strengths, weaknesses, and callings…

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Why “Jacks-of-All-Trades” Might Be the Key to a Healthy Church Staff 8:24

29d ago8:24

8:24

The most valuable member of your church staff might be the person who doesn't fit neatly into traditional ministry roles. These multi-potentialites—staff who possess diverse skills and can work effectively across multiple areas—often serve as the connective tissue that holds ministry teams together. • Multi-potentialites can handle various tasks fr…

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What Amazon Gets Right About Onboarding (That Your Church Might Miss) 8:31

30d ago8:31

8:31

Amazon's precision-focused onboarding process offers four powerful lessons for churches that frequently welcome new team members with vague expectations and minimal guidance. By implementing these key principles, church leaders can transform chaotic first days into strategic foundations for staff success. • Emphasize clarity over chaos by creating …

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2025-05-04 Sunday School Panel - Audio 18:38

1M ago18:38

18:38

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Sunday School Panel

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2025-05-04 Sunday School Panel - Video 18:38

1M ago18:38

18:38

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Sunday School Panel

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How Weird Questions Can Make Your Church Hires Way Better 8:50

1M ago8:50

8:50

Unconventional interview questions can reveal more about potential church staff members than their resumes ever could. Todd Rhodes explores how asking creative, even strange questions can lead to better hires by revealing personality, self-awareness, and cultural alignment. • Zappos asks "How weird are you?" during interviews to evaluate cultural f…

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Why Apple Geniuses Might Make Great Youth Pastors 8:22

1M ago8:22

8:22

Churches could learn valuable hiring lessons from Apple, which selects employees based on communication skills and emotional intelligence rather than just technical abilities. This approach to staffing could transform youth ministry by prioritizing the ability to connect meaningfully with students rather than simply being young and entertaining. • …

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Why the “Superhero Pastor” is Hurting Your Church 8:26

1M ago8:26

8:26

The superhero pastor myth poses one of the biggest threats to church sustainability and health. Ministry was never meant to be a solo act, as Scripture consistently demonstrates shared leadership models from Moses to Jesus to Paul. • One person carrying the church's mission creates unsustainable pressure • Shared leadership prevents burnout while r…

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The Chick-fil-A Hiring Secret Every Church Should Steal 7:10

1M ago7:10

7:10

What if churches applied Chick-fil-A's hiring mindset to strengthen their Sunday morning teams? Todd Rhodes explores three powerful shifts to make church teams stronger, sharper, and more spiritually aligned. • Hire for character, not just competence – look beyond skills to find people with heart, empathy and humility • Consider promoting high-perf…

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Why People Are Leaving Christianity (And What Churches Can Do About It) 5:50

1M ago5:50

5:50

Nearly one in four Americans raised Christian no longer identifies with the faith according to recent Pew Research, representing a significant drop from 90% Christian identification in the 1970s to about 66% today. • Religious switching is one of the most influential factors shaping the future of faith in the US • Many leaving Christianity aren't s…

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2025-04-17 Angelina Horst - Audio 7:03

1M ago7:03

7:03

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Angelina Horst

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2025-04-17 Angelina Horst - Video 7:03

1M ago7:03

7:03

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Angelina Horst

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What Every Pastor Needs to Know About AI in Ministry 9:12

1M ago9:12

9:12

Artificial intelligence has arrived as a transformative tool for church ministry, with companies now creating AI platforms specifically designed for churches and nonprofits. This technology promises to free ministry leaders from administrative burdens while helping them communicate more effectively with their congregations. • New AI platforms for c…

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From Burnout to AI: 10 Trends Reshaping Church Ministry in 2025 8:50

1M ago8:50

8:50

Ministry is changing at an unprecedented pace through 2025, with ten game-changing trends reshaping how churches operate and engage their communities. Pastors and church leaders who understand these shifts will be positioned to lead with greater impact and sustain their ministries through challenging times. • Burnout remains "the elephant in the sa…

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Is Religion Dying in America? The Truth Every Pastor Should Know 9:02

1M ago9:02

9:02

Religious affiliation in America is undergoing a seismic shift, with the "nones" (religiously unaffiliated) now representing 28% of Americans—surpassing evangelical Christians as the largest religious category. This isn't the death of religion but rather an evolution and an opportunity for churches willing to focus on authentic relationships, meani…

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How This Megachurch Pastor Became a Cartel Drug Mule 12:19

1M ago12:19

12:19

When a megachurch pastor with a flair for dramatic sermon illustrations spirals into drug addiction and becomes a cartel drug mule, we witness one of ministry's most shocking falls. John Bishop's journey from leading 20,000 people to federal prison offers crucial warnings for every church leader. • Pastor John Bishop led Living Hope Church in Vanco…

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The Dark Side of Church Positivity No One Talks About 8:58

1M ago8:58

8:58

Your relentless positivity might be hurting your church team more than it's helping them. When positivity becomes a requirement rather than a byproduct of church health, it creates pressure for staff to hide negative emotions like grief, disappointment, and burnout. • Toxic positivity often arises when leaders use positivity as a shield to protect …

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2025-04-20 Elisa Parmer - Audio 15:37

1M ago15:37

15:37

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Elisa Parmer

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2025-04-20 Elisa Parmer - Video 15:37

1M ago15:37

15:37

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Elisa Parmer

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Forget Icebreakers—This is How Church Staffs Actually Build Trust 8:27

2M ago8:27

8:27

Trust, not talent, is the foundation of a thriving church staff. When relationships are strong and vulnerability is modeled from the top down, ministry teams can overcome challenges and fulfill their mission effectively. • Make vulnerability normal by having leaders go first and demonstrate that asking for help isn't weakness • Create safe spaces w…

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How ChatGPT Is Quietly Boosting Mental Health in Ministry 9:19

2M ago9:19

9:19

Following yesterday's discussion on AI's addictive qualities, we explore the positive potential of ChatGPT for pastors and church leaders. Recent OpenAI research reveals users experience emotional support and improved mood even during routine interactions with the AI assistant. • OpenAI study found ChatGPT users feel less judged, more validated, an…

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Is ChatGPT Making You Addicted? 11:16

2M ago11:16

11:16

AI companionship is revolutionizing how we seek information and emotional support, but it comes with hidden psychological costs. Recent studies reveal that heavy ChatGPT users often experience increased loneliness while simultaneously developing an emotional dependence on these systems, exhibiting addiction-like behaviors that could impair real hum…

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Is America Losing Its Faith? Shocking New Pew Study Reveals the Truth! 8:29

2M ago8:29

8:29

The latest Pew Research religious landscape study reveals dramatic shifts in American faith practices, with belief in God, prayer, and church attendance all showing significant declines. These trends present both challenges and opportunities for churches to reach people in meaningful ways through innovation and adaptation to contemporary spiritual …

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How to Stay Strong as a Church Leader (Even When You Feel Weak!) 9:02

2M ago9:02

9:02

Ministry leadership can feel isolating and exhausting, but even the Apostle Paul admitted feeling despair under pressure—which means it's okay when you do too. The key to enduring leadership isn't never feeling weak but knowing where to find strength when you do. • Isolation is a silent killer in ministry—Jesus sent disciples out two by two for a r…

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2025-04-13 Todd Friesen - Audio 16:47

2M ago16:47

16:47

Welcome to East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church!By Todd Friesen