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!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Lesli Here
• Info on the Cornerstone Project

Guest Bio:

Lesli often jokes that she’s a bit of a poster child for the Foursquare Church. Her grandparents were part of the founding families of the Amherst Foursquare Church in Ohio, and Lesli grew up through the church attending kids camp, youth camps, and whatever Foursquare event she could find.

She first sensed a call to ministry as a teenager, especially through her experiences at summer camps. But after some loving encouragement from her parents to get a “real career,” Lesli went to college, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She worked as an occupational therapist for five years before God made it clear it was time to step away from a stable career and follow His lead into full-time ministry. Making that decision at 28 was both terrifying and freeing.

Her first ministry role was part-time as a Children’s Pastor at her home church, where she ended up serving for 12 years and watching God do incredible things in both the church and the community. From there, Lesli served for 10 years as the NextGen Coordinator for the Northeast Atlantic District, working with and training leaders across 15 states as well as coordinating youth and kids camps and young adult retreats.

Since 2020, Lesli has returned to local church ministry at GrowPoint Church in Amherst. She describes herself as a “utility pastor,” helping wherever needed, with a primary focus on leading Kids Ministry and Women’s Ministry, two areas she deeply loves. Lesli also serves as a Lead Coach for the national Foursquare Cornerstone Project where she coaches NextGen leaders across the U.S. in leading their churches to deepen their focus on family discipleship.

At the heart of everything Lesli does is a passion to see people of all ages grow in their love for Jesus and become thriving followers of Christ for a lifetime. Lesli's favorite season of the year is summer and loves anything summer-related, especially golf, and can usually be found on the course every Friday playing in a local women’s league.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

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If I love hard, it’s going to cost me something. That is 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!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• To connect further with Antonio click here

Guest Bio:

Antonio Sims is the Foursquare Central District Supervisor and an ordained Foursquare pastor with a deep passion for transformation at every level, within organizations, cities, and individuals. As the founder and co-pastor of True Worship Church, Antonio and his wife, Nina, are dedicated to serving the Detroit community.

With a heart for leadership development, Antonio mentors and coaches church planters, equipping them to build thriving, impactful ministries. His leadership extends beyond the local church, having served on the board of the Foursquare Church and currently on the board of the International Hope Center.

Antonio holds an MBA with a ministry focus and a Master’s in Human Services Counseling with a concentration in Executive Leadership. His diverse experiences include serving as a U.S. Marine, bringing a unique blend of discipline, resilience, and strategic vision to his work. Born in Vietnam and raised in Detroit, Antonio is deeply committed to both his faith and his family. He and Nina are proud parents of six children and grandparents to one beautiful grandson.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

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!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Chad at wintersetfoursquare.org

Guest Bio:

Chad Halverson has served in the Pastoral ministry for over 30 years. Since leaving full time vocational ministry in 2022, he and his family have settled in Winterset, IA where he is an assisting minister in the Winterset Foursquare Church. He vocationally works for a large farm coop, but continues to have a heart for the local church, church health and pastoral care.

Growing up in the Midwest, he attended Life Pacific University and has been a licensed Foursquare Pastor since 1996. He is married to his beautiful wife, Kerri, of 23 years and has four (mostly) amazing kids. This new bi-vocational chapter in his life has been a challenge, and a great reminder of God’s desired presence in the secular, everyday, mundane Monday through Friday weekly life.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.