Ministry Without Hating It

Ministry Without Hating It A ministry of Odyssey Haven offering Resources, Coaching & Counseling for Ministry Leaders.

05/21/2026

What started as a throwaway, icebreaker question, has officially become an entire episode. For this roundtable conversation, we brought in NextGen Pastor and Spice Girls Super Fan, Salina Gordon, along with MWH’s very own AJ Williams, to answer a question that’s deeper than you might think.

Asking, “Were the Spice Girls a good team,” actually opens up an entire discussion around team dynamics, individual personalities, balanced vs. specialized roles, running lanes, team goals, sustainability and what actually defines a “good team”. Like we said, it’s deeper than you think. Join us, it’s time to “Spice Up” this podcast!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com or wherever you get your podcasts

05/12/2026

We want to be safe people. We might think that we are safe people, and oftentimes we do become very safe for people. But pastoring is not a safe experience. In this episode we kick off our first Brave Conversations Episode in collaboration with Church Well Co, and BrianJames McMahon.

Together we unpack the truth that just because we say “this is a safe space” within relationship, it does not necessarily mean others automatically feel safe. Let's discover what the journey to “Becoming Safe(r)” really means in our life and leadership.

04/16/2026

How do you lead when you are ultimately not the one in charge? In this episode we sit down with Starla Smith, who serves as an Executive Pastor, to break down what leadership from the 2nd chair looks like. Starla shares stories from her ministry journey of unexpectedly finding herself in roles of authority, what she’s learned from seasons of transition and her intentionality to keep touch points with people just as important as the tasks of the role.

Get your thinking emoji loaded up for this one, because the 2nd chair matters!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com and wherever you get your podcasts.

ICYMI: As a ministry leader, if you were asked “Who are you discipling,” how would you answer? What if we said preaching...
04/16/2026

ICYMI: As a ministry leader, if you were asked “Who are you discipling,” how would you answer? What if we said preaching and leading classes don’t count? Starts getting real, real fast! In this episode, Timmy Hensel & Melissa Brotherton return for a round table discussion about why this question can be uncomfortable, yet so necessary to keep at the forefront of our ministry. We’ll get practical in implementing discipleship practices, what gets in the way of actually doing it, creating a discipleship culture in our church, shifting away from the shame of asking the question, and ultimately measuring fruitfulness in the process.

Whether we stay on script, or not, this Shop Talk is for you–er, I mean, your friend!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

03/02/2026

In this episode, we sit down with the ever-positive Pastor Lesli Klingenmeier! Through the lens of her decades in Children’s Ministry, and as a denominational leader, Lesli shares wisdom on the value of bi-vocational ministry, the changing landscape of Kids Ministry and the importance of always sharing stories. Lesli believes that when navigating through the challenges of ministry, the path to greater positivity is as simple as shifting our focus to what could be, over what is.

Lesli also gets BONUS points for incorporating her own pastoral alliteration in the interview. Let’s fire it up!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com and wherever you get your podcasts

01/15/2026

If I love hard, it’s going to cost me something. That's what our first guest of Season Five, Foursquare Central District Supervisor and Pastor, Antonio Sims, leads with as he jumps all into the ministry set before him. In this episode, Antonio shares how his desire to love well comes from a history of pain points, and how it has translated into his roles as a church planter, pastor and denomination leader. If I truly love others, I should feel it–and expect a praise report.

We also definitively mark the best decade, and certainly date ourselves doing it, so let’s fire this season up!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com and wherever you get your podcasts

12/18/2025

Is it possible to get to a place in ministry where things seem easy, and less challenging? Bi-vocational Pastor, Chad Halverson, says, “Yes”. But it’s not the promised land that you might think. In this episode, Chad recalls the major shift he experienced going from only ever being in full-time vocational ministry to moving cross country twice within a year, picking up two marketplace jobs, and all the lessons he is still learning from stepping outside of the insecurity of what is "safe".

You’re getting two Chad’s for the price of one for this season’s finale, so let’s get to it!

Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com or wherever it is that you podcast!

11/18/2025

Ministry is a lot like bull riding. Each day you wake up, and you never know which bull you’re gonna get. In this episode Pastor and Church Planter, Jesse Lambert, unpacks the adventure that has been his journey to serve God’s Church. Jesse talks about how he’s learned to walk out practically, “this is God’s church, made up of hurting people and I am a tool to bring healing.” And that journey may not take you to where you thought you were going.

We’re doin’ the blue for this one, so let’s get at it! Available now at WithoutHatingIt.com and wherever you get your podcasts

10/15/2025

If the Lord asked you to lay everything down tomorrow, could you do it? It’s a self-awareness leveling question our guest, Pastor Timmy Hensel, now asks frequently. In this episode Timmy shares how he had never experienced what feels like and means to lay everything down until he recently took a sabbatical. Leaders, you have permission to rest. And this isn’t just for your benefit–laying things down empowers others and ultimately builds our future together.

Timmy also drops some pastoral alliteration like a pro–you gotta hear it! Listen now at WithoutHatingIt.com & wherever you get your podcasts

10/15/2025

There’s nothing harder than serving the NextGen Ministry. At least according to our guest, Pastor Joe Martin. In this episode, Joe shares how being a second generation NextGen focused Pastor isn’t just a role, but a continued obedience to God’s call in his life. Together we unpack the challenges and current trends of NextGen ministry, and discuss how getting back to the basics will reach the next generation.

We’re bringin’ the serious ‘stache to this one, so listen up! Listen now at WithoutHatingIt.com & wherever you get your podcasts!

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