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How can our churches reach out to families with autistic members in such a way that the Gospel is good news for them? And how might we need to adapt the way we do church in order to be good news for those with autism in their families?

Dr. David Quel, adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary--and father to three autistic sons--reveals strategies for creating a welcoming environment in our churches for families with autistic members, how to adapt our ministries to meet their needs, and the emotional and spiritual journey of parenting autistic children.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• David Quel shares how he and his wife discovered that not just one, but all three of his sons were autistic.
• It was difficult for David Quel and his wife to find the kind of family and church support they needed as a family with three non-high-functioning autistic children.
• David Quel underscores the essential need for emotional, spiritual, mental, and compassionate awareness of autism in church ministry.
• David Quel shares a story about his church setting up a sensory room designed specifically for children with autism.
• This sensory room included items like big fluffy pillows, beanbags, and sensory toys to ensure children's safety.
• David Quel discusses challenges and solutions in creating worship services tailored for children with autism.
• Traditional formats like responsive readings and long sermons are challenging for children with autism.
• David Quel highlights the need for music that is more upbeat to engage children with autism compared to traditional hymns.
• Efforts by David’s church to create separate worship services showed significant commitment but also revealed the struggle to let go of traditional practices.
• David Quel recommends the book Autism and Your Church by Barbara J. Newman for further guidance.
• Interviewing families to understand their specific needs and triggers is crucial to contextual ministry.
• Identifying willing volunteers with relevant experience or a willingness to learn can make a significant difference when adapting your church ministry to families with autism.
• David Quel emphasizes seeing individuals with autism as God’s creations, deserving of love and support.
• Steps churches can take to support families with autism:
  • Set up sensory rooms
  • Tailor specialized worship services
  • Interview and understand families with autism
  • Identify and train volunteers
  • Promote inclusivity

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• BeADisciple.com
  • Autism and the Church Part 1
  • Autism and the Church Part 2
• Wesley Theological Seminary
• Books mentioned:
  • Autism and Your Church, by Barbara J. Newman
• Related Episodes:
  • Tackling Adaptive Challenges in Your Church, with Angie Ward
  • Exploring New Forms of Church, with Shannon Kiser

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger explore the concept of power within the framework of discipleship and adaptive leadership, inspired by a quote from Michael Rhodes. They discuss how power, when used responsibly, can prevent harm and support the vulnerable, such as orphans, immigrants, and widows. The conversation delves into the transformative potential of Jesus' use of power, emphasizing that true leadership requires the release and sharing of power to foster justice and love. They conclude with reflections on the societal challenges of redefining power in ways that uplift and protect the most vulnerable in the community.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Michael Rhodes in Ep 200, The Justice Feast:

“How does our discipleship help us become people who faithfully exercise power in community, particularly on behalf of the orphan, the immigrant, and the widow?”


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tod Bolsinger explores the concept of power and its importance in preventing evil and harm.
• Discipleship involves using power to protect the most vulnerable, such as orphans, immigrants, and widows.
• Adaptive leadership emphasizes transformation and inclusivity, drawing from many voices within a community.
• Jesus demonstrates ultimate power by sacrificing himself for others, illustrating love and justice in the kingdom of God.
• Effective leadership requires adapting and redefining traditional views of power and authority.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Here in the U.S. the impact of the election and the campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are inescapable.

In this episode, Tim Alberta, author of The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, discusses the unsettling trend of political polarization in the church, the role of pastors in responding to the pressure to reclaim a "Christian America," and the importance of having diverse relationships as we navigate this season of polarization.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tim Alberta shares his story of being criticized for his political views while at his father's funeral.
• Tim Alberta expresses concern over the perceived decline of "Christian America."
• Alberta warns about the losses incurred when churches self-select into narrow ideological spaces.
• Diverse relationships are necessary for spiritual growth and addressing complex issues.
• Markus Watson mentions Allen Hilton and Andrew Hanauer’s organizations working to address political polarization. These organizations bring different churches together to facilitate conversations and humanize each other.
• Alberta discusses how American Christians often view the U.S. as a nation set apart or a new Israel in covenant with God. This belief leads to a conflation of defending America with defending God.
• Some Christians view political opponents as cultural and spiritual adversaries, treating political warfare as spiritual warfare.
• There seems to be a fear among evangelicals of losing status, indoctrination of children, and being targeted by the government.
• Alberta discusses the shift from a culture sympathetic to Christian ideals to one perceived as hostile, creating a siege mentality.
• There seems to be a sense of entitlement within the evangelical community, akin to the belief of the ancient people of Israel..
• Tim Alberta highlights the difficulty for Christians to relate to scriptural suffering due to comfort and wealth in America.
• Some Christians compromise their virtues to reclaim a "Christian America," engaging in unethical behavior for a perceived greater good.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Tim Alberta:
  • www.bytimalberta.com
  • The Atlantic
  • Twitter/X - @TimAlberta
• Books mentioned:
  • The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, by Tim Alberta
  • American Carnage, by Tim Alberta
• Related episodes:
  • Tackling Toxic Polarization in Your Church, with Allen Hilton and Andrew Hanauer
  • Leading Your Church Through Political Division, with Allen Hilton
  • Grace-Filled Politics, with Aaron Schafer

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger explore how to discern and join in what God is doing in the world. They discuss the importance of humility, recognizing God's ongoing work beyond the church, and adopting practical spiritual disciplines. Tod shares personal practices, like evening prayers of gratitude and a mindset that sees God's activity through the night, to better align with God’s work. They emphasize listening to both God and others to understand the broader context of God's presence and action.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Tim Soerens in Ep 204, How to Cultivate Presence in Your Community:

“What is God up to? And how do I join in it? And what are the practices and postures and prompts that we need to keep asking ourselves in order to join in what God's doing?”


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tod advises starting the day with the mindset that God has already been at work throughout the night.
• Tim Soerens' quote emphasizes the need to discern what God is doing rather than trying to get God to join in our own plans.
• Markus encourages listening to the people in our communities to understand their hopes and fears.
• Tod highlights the importance of praying for God's kingdom to come on earth as it already exists in heaven.
• Markus reframes the perspective of a megachurch to see itself as a small part of the larger body of Christ.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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How does Jesus go about transforming individual lives and entire societies? And what role do we play in that work of transformation?

Yolanda Solomon, author of Discipleship as Holy Collaboration, helps us get clarity on these questions as she shares her insights on how to build a nurturing community in the Church, the challenges of modern discipleship, and the importance of addressing marginalized groups through a radically inclusive kingdom perspective.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Yolanda Solomon discusses the importance of collaboration and companionship in the Christian faith.
• Hebrews 10 underlines the importance of being known and spurring one another on to good works in discipleship.
• Markus Watson and Yolanda Solomon discuss the challenges of leadership today and how Jesus' teachings can guide leaders to serve and esteem those most margnalized.
• Discipleship is about followers of Jesus following in his footsteps, learning from him, and being invited into a new community of divine love to live and love like Jesus and continue his mission on earth.
• Discipleship is a holy collaboration with Jesus and involves empowering individuals through the Holy Spirit to imitate Jesus.
• Yolanda Solomon believes there is a discipleship problem in the church due to church hurt, the hierarchical church structure, and the misconception that discipleship is about behavior modification.
• She admits her past attempts at discipleship focused on modifying people's behavior, but she has since shifted to a discipleship strategy grounded in Jesus' educational approach.
• Yolanda Solomon highlights different ways of teaching and learning, mentioning how Jesus involves his disciples in the miracles he performs.
• Disciple-focused education should include practical involvement, such as Jesus' example of telling the disciples to feed the five thousand.
• Markus Watson and Yolanda Solomon emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in heart transformation.
• Both Yolanda and Markus express the importance of addressing systemic oppression and social injustice.
• Yolanda Solomon shares a story about Jesus' forgiveness and its impact on systemic oppression, emphasizing that societal injustice affects both the oppressed and the oppressor.
• Yolanda Solomon highlights Jesus' rejection of worldly power and his call for sacrificial, inclusive love, underscoring the need for both heart and structural change in society.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Yolanda Solomon:
  • www.yolandasolomon.site
  • Instagram - @yolanda.solomon.bk
• Books mentioned:
  • Discipleship as Holy Collaboration, by Yolanda Solomon
  • Kingdom, Church, and World, by Hoqard A. Snyder
• Related episodes:
  • Building a Multi-inclusive Church, with Efrem Smith and Dan Kreiss
  • Unlearning Old Paradigms for Kingdom Leadership, with Terry Walling
  • From Sunday Services to Real Transformation, with E.K. Strawser
• The Muppets, “She Drives Me Crazy”

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger unpack a poignant quote from Adam McHugh, discussing the often-overlooked grief experienced during life transitions such as career changes and identity shifts. They reflect on Adam's personal journey from pastoral ministry to becoming a wine sommelier, emphasizing how letting go of deeply ingrained identities can be a difficult yet necessary process for embracing new seasons of life. The conversation underscores the importance of grief in these transitions and challenges the notion that Christians should always be joyful, highlighting that genuine grief prepares the way for new beginnings and deeper hope.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Adam McHugh in Ep 208, Letting Go in Leadership to Move Forward in Life:

“You know, we talk about grief when you lose a loved one or when you lose something very specific. But there's a real grieving process, I think, that comes along with life transition, with career loss, with job loss, with identity loss."


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Adam McHugh emphasizes the importance of grieving life transitions to move forward.
• Tod Bolsinger highlights that Christians often struggle with grief, favoring joy instead
• Tod says letting go of identity is difficult but necessary for embracing new life chapters.
• Markus Watson points out that Christians tend to skip over the grieving of Holy Saturday.
• Tod asserts that genuine grief prepares us for the new promises God holds for us.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Tod Bolsinger, Executive director of the Church Leadership Institute, discusses how to maintain a commitment to your mission even in the face of resistance. He also unpacks the importance of trust in leadership, as well as how to craft and use a powerful mission statement guide you in your church’s or organization’s decision-making.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tod Bolsinger introduces the "Disagree and commit" concept, highlighting its importance in leadership.
• Leaders need to earn trust for effective mission adherence.
• Trust alone isn't transformation, but foundational for it.
• Tod Bolsinger emphasizes the necessity of investing in transformation over merely relying on trust.
• Trust and transformation are connected; transformation involves investing trust.
• Tod Bolsinger discusses his series of four books on ministry leadership, addressing common leadership mistakes.
• The first book, "How Not to Waste a Crisis," tackles the mistake of outworking the changing world.
• Markus Watson shares his church's challenge in pleasing crucial stakeholders during change.
• Tod Bolsinger stresses that organizations should thrive in crises, not just survive.
• Tod Bolsinger explains the "disagree and commit" approach as essential for leadership teams.
• Mission statements should be rooted in the church's context and community.
• Clear, 8-word mission statements with verb, target, and impact are vital for decision-making.
• Tod Bolsinger explains the significance of verbs, targets, and impacts in mission statements.
• Good leaders rally stakeholders together for a bigger cause, but can fall into the trap of making decisions to keep everyone happy.
• Mission statements should be tools for making decisions, not just taglines.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Tod Bolsinger:
  • Church Leadership Institute
  • Fuller Theological Seminary
• Books mentioned:
  • How Not to Waste a Crisis: Quit Trying Harder, by Tod Bolsinger
  • Invest in Transformation: Quit Relying on Trust, by Tod Bolsinger
  • Leading Through Resistance: Quit Pushing Back, by Tod Bolsinger
  • The Mission Always Wins: Quit Appeasing Stakeholders, by Tod Bolsinger
• Related episodes:
  • Canoeing the Mountains, with Tod Bolsinger
  • Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership, with Tod Bolsinger
  • The Spiritual Life of a Leader, with Tod Bolsinger
  • Forming Leadership Resilience, with Tod Bolsinger

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

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Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss a quote from episode 216 with guests Brad Strawn and Warren Brown. The quote highlights the perception that contemporary Christianity in the United States is more known for what it opposes than for what it supports. Tod Bolsinger explores this phenomenon, attributing it to the psychological tendency to focus on fears rather than potential gains. The discussion delves into how this fear-based mindset influences church leadership and community actions, emphasizing the need for churches to rally around positive and constructive goals rather than being driven by anxiety and opposition.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Brad Strawn in Ep 216, Overcoming ‘Puny’ Spirituality:

"I think one of the sad things about the state of contemporary Christianity in the United States is that we're known for, not what we do, but what we're against."


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Brad Strawn's quote highlights how contemporary Christianity focuses more on what it opposes than what it supports.
• Tod Bolsinger explains that fear motivates people to reject potential gains, influencing church behavior.
• The conversation reveals that pastors often worry about negative outcomes, leading congregations to prioritize protection over potential.
• Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger discuss how anxiety drives leadership to control rather than inspire.
• Tod Bolsinger calls for Christians to unite around positive community impacts rather than opposition to unfavorable elements.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!