This week we talk to Ness Wilson, a seasoned leader who shares her journey of balancing faith, resilience, and leadership, especially through personal and professional adversity. Ness discusses her beginnings with Open Heaven Church, emphasising the importance of accountable and transparent leadership. She reflects on how communal support and setting personal boundaries enabled her to navigate intense challenges, including the grief of losing two children and facing significant health issues within her family. Ness highlights the role of faith in these hardships, underscoring the importance of grieving openly and leading by example.

She also speaks about a "slow awakening" in the church, marked by a renewed spiritual hunger and increased engagement, which she finds deeply encouraging. Ness advocates for an authentic and accountable church culture, with leaders who embody both strength and vulnerability. Her insights offer guidance on how to lead with both resilience and humility, inspiring listeners to maintain a deep connection with faith amid life’s trials.

Follow Ness on X: @nesswilson and on Instagram

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In this episode of the Leadership Podcast, Ed Perry and Sim Dendy engage in a deep conversation with Archie Coates, exploring his journey from leading a church in Brighton to taking on the role of vicar at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in London. The discussion covers various themes including the challenges of transitioning leadership, the importance of building trust within a congregation, fostering innovation and risk-taking in church settings, and the significance of personal well-being for leaders. Archie shares insights on how to navigate change in established churches while maintaining a focus on evangelism and caring for the poor. He emphasises the need for leaders to have confidence in the gospel and to inspire their congregations to engage in outreach and community service.

Takeaways from this episode:

• Archie emphasises the importance of taking risks in leadership.
• Building trust is critical for effective leadership.
• Nurturing the gifts of team members leads to a flourishing environment.
• Transitioning leadership can be more challenging than starting anew.
• A strong sense of identity in Christ is essential for leaders.
• Innovation requires a culture of safety where risks can be taken.
• Effective communication is key when navigating change in established churches.
• Personal well-being and resilience are vital for sustaining leadership.
• The future of the church relies on confidence in the gospel and community engagement.

Follow Archie on X: @archiecoates and on Instagram

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Anne Calver is an inspirational speaker and visionary leader who has a real heart for the Church and how it can be released. She leads the Unleashed Church movement, a radical network of church communities calling people into a new kind of family that seeks to be like the Early Church in the book of Acts.

In this episode, we hear about her personal struggle to start a family and what she learnt through her experiences; the way God has led her through a variety of seasons into her current role, and her passion for the Church and its future.

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Steve Uppal, along with his wife Esther, have been the senior leaders of the multi-cultural and multi-campus All Nations Church since 2001.

Steve is also recognised as the Apostolic leader of the growing All Nations Movement which gathers churches and leaders together with the vision of turning nations back to God through prayer, church planting, repurposing existing churches and equipping leaders.

He has authored a number of books, with his most recent release entitled 'Revival Ready – Rethinking Kingdom, Discipleship & Church'.

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Describing himself as a ‘lapsed catholic’, Cormac is passionate about politics and policy and the intersection with faith. When he's not serving on Gordon Brown's team, helping to develop policy and financial reform, he works in the City. He has sat on various boards and committees, including chairing the Hope not Hate campaign for ten years.

He has an incredible story of his journey away from faith into politics which helped him rediscover his faith once again.

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Joy Blundell oversees Social Justice and Influence at Alive Church, a multi-site church in the East of England, and is Location Pastor of Alive Lincoln North with her  husband Paul.

She has a heart for the restoration and transformation of cities through the mobilisation of the local church and seeing people find wholeness and purpose in Jesus.

Joy is the founding Director of  Acts Trust, a Lincoln-based charity connected to Alive, which has the aspirational vision of poverty alleviation in the city.

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Carl Beech is a leader who likes to let his actions do the talking! He is President of Christian Vision for Men and as part of that role he founded The Gathering in 2014 in Swindon, which now attracts around 2000 men each year. He has written a number of books, writes regularly for a variety of magazines and hosts several podcasts.

As a habitual pioneer, Carl founded Edge Ministries which supports some of the most forgotten people in his local area and aims to bring transformation to forgotten places as Carl and his team share with them the love of Jesus. He has also been living alcohol-free for over a year and is passionate about plants.

In this podcast, Carl talks about how God broke his heart for the men and their families in his local community. He considers his experiences of how vision often moves to mission through a slow and repetitive process, and how both he and the projects have been refined along the way.

Carl looks at the wealth of work with which he is involved and how his digital presence reflects his in-person character. 

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Lucy Grimble is a song writer and worship leader with a heart to create space for people to encounter the love of God. She writes songs that carry a message of freedom, hope and identity. Based in London, Lucy’s latest album God’s Heart Explodes was released in 2020.

In this episode we hear from Lucy about her story, how she leads others in worship, and how she keeps her creativity fresh.

She shares with us how she sees worship as an act of service and the responsibility worship leaders have to show others the way to God. She shares her thoughts on how to lead creatives, and her advice for church leader on how to best interact with your worship team.

Finally she looks forward to Spring Harvest with excitement for what God will do there.

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Cris Rogers is Rector of All Hallows Church Bow in East London and Chair of the planning group of Spring Harvest. He is also an author of several books and runs a podcast called We Are Making Disciples.

In this conversation we explore with Cris his experiences of leading church through COVID, we hear about his passion for leading people in the ways of Jesus, and how he likes to see us like cracked pots carrying the glory of God but leaking everywhere we go.

We also hear what it means to be part of the planning group at Spring Harvest, and what’s in store for this year’s event.

This season we are partnering with Spring Harvest, the well-known national Christian event that takes place in the UK every Easter. Sim personally got some of his first leadership opportunities at this event and across this season on the Leadership Podcast, we’ll be talking to some of the inspiring people that lead the event.

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This season we are partnering with Spring Harvest, the well-known national Christian event that takes place in the UK every Easter. Sim personally got some of his first leadership opportunities at this event and across this season on the Leadership Podcast, we’ll be talking to some of the inspiring people that lead the event.

Abby Guiness is the director of Spring Harvest and is responsible for putting on this event every year. As well as directing Spring Harvest, she’s a published author, engaging speaker and experienced performer, particularly in theatre and presenting audio books.

She’s about to return to work after having her 3rd child, but she kindly took some time out to talk to us about family, her role at Spring Harvest and some tips on Leadership.

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In this last episode of our series on Leadership and Justice, Sim and Ed take a look back at the interview with Tim Morfin, and discuss:

- How do we stay humble and focussed as leaders?

- Leadership and vulnerability - How do we do that as leaders and maintain credibility?

- How to draw a balance between maintaining vision and the day to day grind of working towards it.

To hear more of TLG’s inspirational story, you can get your hands on a copy of Tim’s book ‘Out of the Ordinary’ for free here.

We’ll be back in the new year with a brand new series.

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In this episode of the Leadership Podcast, Sim Dendy and Ed Perry engage in a deep conversation with Katharine Hill, the director of Care for the Family. They explore Katharine's early life experiences, her journey through family law, and her current role in promoting family wellbeing. The discussion delves into the challenges of parenting in a technology-driven world, the importance of mental health for children, and the need for resilience. Katharine shares insights from her books, emphasising the significance of being present and the value of ordinary lives. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of community support and the mission of Care for the Family.

Takeaways from this episode:

• Katharine's early experiences shaped her understanding of vulnerability.
• Family law requires a balance of compassion and professionalism.
• Care for the Family focuses on preventative measures for family wellbeing.
• Technology poses challenges for modern parenting.
• Mental health issues among children are on the rise.
• Resilience is a crucial quality for children to develop.
• Ordinary lives can be extraordinary in their own right.
• Parents are role models for their children's technology use.
• Community support is vital for families in crisis.
• Finding stillness in a hectic world is essential for wellbeing.

Follow Katharine Hill on X: @KatharineMHill and on Instagram

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Tim is the award-winning founder and Chief Executive of TLG who was recognised as the Sunday Times Best Charity Leader in 2019. Under his inspirational leadership, the organisation has grown from a small church project to a national movement of churches across the UK. With his previous experience of organisational development in a large multinational company and his comprehensive understanding of the charity sector, he has pioneered TLG as a dynamic organisation known for it’s innovation and development of leaders. Tim is an author, popular speaker and advisor, continually sharing his passion for the Church to be active in every community, bringing hope and a future to struggling children.

To hear more of TLG’s inspirational story, you can get your hands on a copy of Tim’s book ‘Out of the Ordinary’ for free here.

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Have you ever wanted to partner with another organisation but haven’t been sure how to go about it or been worried that your offer to collaborate will be abused or taken advantage of?

In this episode Sim and Ed look back at the interview with Debra Green and take a deeper delve into some of what Debra spoke about:

- The importance of collaboration and how to do it well

- How to strike a balance between prayer and action

- How do you make sure that you get competing priorities of leadership and family life in the correct balance.

Don’t forget to check out all the resources and book recommendations on the Leader’s Hub

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Debra is the National Director and Founder of Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) which brings organisations together towards the work of social transformation.

In this episode Sim and Debra talk about balancing leadership with family life and how she juggles leading a major charity with family life, and how God spoke to her on her wedding day and how that led to her becoming a Christian.

Debra also shares about what it was like growing up as a woman leader in the church and breaking through some of the barriers to being in that space and how she’s now viewed as a pioneer, trailblazer and mentor of women in leadership.

Debra talks about the balance between prayer and action and how praying for the police and and against crime has led a 75% reduction in anti-social behaviour in Bolton, and the power of bringing organisations and services in the community together to provide solutions and share resources.

Check out the work of ROC on their website

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*Updated Audio* There were some issues in the original audio with Sim and Ed talking over each other, that has now been rectified!

In our first Leadership Lessons episode of season 2, Sim and Ed look back at the interview with Mike Royal and take a deeper look at some of the issues raised, including:

• How as leaders do we have stamina to continue to tackle big issues of justice.
• How do we avoid performative ally-ship, and make sure we are not just virtue signalling.
• The value of pushing into discomfort and bringing lasting change.

You can check out all the books and thinkers mentioned in the episode on the Leader’s Hub

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We’re back with our second season on Leadership and Justice. This season we’ll be hearing from 3 new interviewees on how to lead consistently in an inconsistent and unfair world.

October is Black History Month so we start this season talking to Mike Royal, the Co-chief Executive of Cinnamon Network and is recognised as one of the  top black male Christian leaders having an impact in the UK.

In this interview we hear from Mike about how coming to faith gave him hope as a young black man and how that then led him to start TLG and go on to lead Cinnamon Network and inspire the church to get involved in social justice. Mike also spoke about and challenged us on racial justice following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, and how he sees last year as the most important year for Racial Justice in his lifetime.

Login to the Leader’s Hub for free to get links to all the people, books and resources that Mike mentioned to start hearing more from black thinkers, or check out the following on social media:

Anthony Reddie - Twitter: @AnthonyGReddie
Selina Stone - Twitter: @SelinaRStone
Mike Royal - Twitter: @_mikeroyal

Do check out Cinnamon Connect if you’re looking for tools and resources to serve your community.

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Have you ever wondered just how other people manage to be so together and sorted? We loved the interview with Patrick Regan, where he explored just that, and how in reality what most people are projecting is not what's really going on. How do we deal with tough times? And, perhaps more importantly, how do we emerge from them better, bouncing forwards with the strength and learnings having endured them, rather than wishing we could bounce back to how we were before?

In our final leadership lessons episode of Season 1, Ed and Sim take a deeper look back at the interview with Patrick Regan, and explore their own experiences of resilience - looking at The Resilience River exercise and sharing what keeps their resilience levels high. We also discuss values and priorities, learning to be vulnerable as a leader and the idea of leading from our own weakness.

We’ll be back in a few weeks with a new season focusing on Leadership and Justice with three more interviews. In the meantime, please subscribe and share the podcast with others. Do follow us on social, so we can let you know when the next season drops and check out the resources on the free Leader's Hub.

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We talk to Patrick Regan about how to develop resilience, the importance of knowing our own values and priorities, and being grateful for what is good in our lives and our world.

Patrick Regan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kintsugi Hope, which came about following a series of personal trials and ill health which affected Patrick and his family. Prior to that Patrick founded and led XLP, an urban youth charity for over 20 years.

Patrick has travelled to over 40 countries working with and on behalf of the poorest communities and is a regular contributor on TV and Radio on the subject of justice and wellbeing. He has received the Mayor of London Peace Award and was also awarded an OBE from her Majesty the Queen for services to young people.

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We talk to Dr Kate Middleton about how to lead in a crisis like the global pandemic we continue to live through, the effect that can have on our mental wellbeing, and how one of the most important things is to look after ourselves through it so that we can support others.

Dr Kate Middleton is a psychologist with a particular interest in the way our emotions effect us. She’s passionate about helping people stay emotionally healthy in spite of what life throws at them, making sure they reach their full potential. She’s a church leader and author, and project leader of Headstrong, an online wellbeing space for young people, which was created in partnership between Mind and Soul Foundation and Youthscape.

Dr Kate Middleton spends a lot of time explaining that she’s not married to Prince William, but does enjoy reading about her good dress sense in the newspapers!

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In this episode of the Leadership Podcast, Sim Dendy and Ed Perry speak with Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, who shares her unique journey from growing up in Iran to becoming a prominent leader in the Church of England. Bishop Guli discusses her early life experiences, the challenges of adapting to a new culture as a refugee, and her unexpected path to ordained ministry. She reflects on her role as a bishop, emphasising the importance of embodying the diocese and fostering a supportive community. Throughout the conversation, she offers insights on leadership, work-life balance, and her confidence in the future of the church amidst current challenges.

Takeaways from this episode:

• Bishop Guli's upbringing was shaped by her unique cultural background in Iran.
• Resilience in children is fostered by love and security at home.
• The Church's future cannot be controlled but must be embraced with faith.
• Bishop Guli embodies the diocese rather than just managing it.
• Leadership involves being gentle with oneself and learning from mistakes.
• The Church is both a human institution and the body of Christ.
• Confidence in one's identity is crucial for effective leadership.
• Assuming the best in others fosters a collaborative environment.
• Different aspects of life inform and enrich one another.
• The Holy Spirit can work effectively when given space.

Follow Bishop Guli on X: @Guli_FD

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In our first Leadership Lessons episode we re-visit what Dave Smith said regarding our health and the impact not looking after it can have on those around us. Sim and Ed delve deeper into that and take some of your questions including: 

- How to assess the different aspects of wellbeing

- The personal things we do that have an impact on our own wellbeing

- How to find time to retreat as a church leader - and deal with guilt associated to that

- Numbers in church! How to be focused on the process and not the outcome

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We welcome Dave Smith to the podcast who challenges us to be intentional with our Christlikeness, Wellbeing and Health, to make small steps now that so that we can look back in a few years and realise how far we've come. 

Dave Smith is the Senior Pastor of Kingsgate Church Peterborough, and author of God's Plan for your Wellbeing, a book offering 50 daily readings to help us reflect on how God sees our wellbeing.

Dave is an avid Manchester City supporter; he also loves to read, cycle, and spend time at the gym, which is where he gets the best opportunities to share his faith. In 2013, KingsGate celebrated its 25th anniversary, and all these years later, Dave is as excited as ever at all that lies ahead – the best is yet to come!

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In this episode we're joined by Jo Frost, the Director of Communications at the Evangelical Alliance. With a rich background in working with various Christian charities and a master's in public communications, Jo shares her journey into the heart of leadership and discusses the challenges and triumphs of advocating for faith in the modern world.

Jo delves into the complexities of leadership, communication, and the importance of being authentically connected with both the message and the audience. She sheds light on her personal approach to navigating the digital landscape, where every word can be scrutinized, and the balance between being open and maintaining necessary privacy. Through her experiences, we explore the critical role of integrity over mere authenticity and the nuanced decisions that leaders must make in today's fast-paced, information-rich society.

The episode also touches on Jo's leadership style, emphasizing thoughtfulness, the willingness to embrace both strengths and shortcomings, and the importance of providing space for emerging voices in the community. Jo's reflections on mentoring, the impact of leadership on personal and professional relationships, and her commitment to fostering unity and understanding across diverse groups offer valuable insights for anyone in a leadership role, whether within the church or in broader societal contexts.

Jo is on twitter: @jofrosty

You can find out more about Being Human here

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This week we’re chatting with John Kirkby - or Johnny Boy as he prefers to be known. Together with his wife Lizzie, they founded Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 1996. Over 25 years, God used this incredible organisation to lead 20,000 people a year out of debt and release them from poverty.

In Spring 2023, John felt called to start a new ministry - Isaiah 61 Movement - to empower and resource Christians in sharing their faith.

John’s grounded character and passion for the Word of God will leap out as you listen to our conversation with him. With plenty of interesting stories and a wealth of leadership wisdom to share, this episode is a must.

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Steve and Angie Campbell are the Senior Pastors of the C3 Church and National Directors of the Global Leadership Network in the UK and Ireland.

With many years of church leadership under their belts, in this episode they talk about how they have sought to stay true to the mission and ministry to which God first called them, alongside launching a series of new initiatives to support their local community.

Join us as Steve and Angie also discuss the tough side of church leadership and how to navigate times of rebuilding with grace and truth when difficult situations arise.

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Sir Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, has been a politician for over 30 years. A devoted Christian, he is Chairman of the all-party group of Christians in Parliament and has been especially supportive of new MPs as they arrive at Westminster.

In this episode, Gary talks us through how he knew he’d been called into politics by God, and how he navigates bringing his faith into the political arena.

He also has some great advice for young people considering pursuing a career in politics.

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Listen in as Sim introduces his brand new co-host, Ed Perry.

Having worked for Alpha International and now the founder of a growing communications and digital consultancy, Ed brings a fresh perspective on leadership from the world of Christian business. Ed shares his thoughts on the importance of partnership working and learning from one another so that everyone benefits.

In this new series, Ed and Sim will be exploring what healthy leadership looks like, and by asking hard, honest questions, consider how Christian leaders can better protect themselves from burnout and breakdown to thrive in a tough arena.

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Join Sim and Ed as they introduce the brand new second series of the Leadership Podcast.

In this episode, our hosts explore the unhealthy and unrealistic expectations on church and Christian leaders, and how it has fueled their desire to create a podcast where vulnerability, brokenness and tough topics can be discussed.

As increasing number of leaders are buckling under the pressures of individualism, temptation and fear of failure, come and find a community intent on nurturing healthy and honest leadership values.

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