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Why do some LCMS churches thrive—and others decline?
Pastor Thomas Marcis, 36-year pastor of Zion in Bismarck and a Synodical Reconciler, joins Lead Time to talk about church health, conflict, rural ministry, next-gen engagement, and why pastors must get out of their bubble and into the community.

From coaching high school soccer to navigating LCMS conflict processes to preparing for pastoral succession after nearly four decades, Pastor Marcis shares practical, hard-won wisdom every pastor and church leader needs right now.

In this episode:
• The real reasons churches get stuck
• Why conflict shouldn’t surprise us—and how to handle it biblically
• What suburban pastors don’t understand about rural ministry
• How community engagement changes congregational culture
• Generation Z: what they’re really looking for
• Why long-term pastorates create both blessings and blind spots
• Preparing a congregation for pastoral transition
• What the LCMS gets right—and where we need reform

If you care about the future health of the LCMS, this conversation is essential.

This channel does a deep dive into the scriptures so as to teach what it means to be...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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(bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
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In this episode, Dr. Jamison J. Hardy, President of the Concordia University System, joins Tim to discuss the exciting progress being made across LCMS universities — from record growth in church work enrollment to new scholarship initiatives and strategic partnerships.

Dr. Hardy unpacks the $5,000 Church Work Scholarships, the refocus on Lutheran identity, and how the CUS is working with Set Apart to Serve and the seminaries to strengthen pathways for the next generation of pastors and teachers.

They also discuss:
- The latest on Concordia Ann Arbor
- The push to unite around mission rather than division
- Transparency in the “prior approval” process
- What it really means to uphold “Lutheran identity”
- How the LCMS can move forward together in love, truth, and courage

This candid, hope-filled conversation models how LCMS leaders can engage tough topics with both conviction and grace.

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Information and Registration:
https://www.psd-lcms.org/koinonia-gathering

This special bonus episode of Lead Time features Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, President of the Pacific Southwest District (LCMS), joining Pastor Tim Ahlman to announce a historic upcoming event — the Koinonia Gathering, January 7–8, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Koinonia Gathering isn’t a debate. It’s a moment for honest, face-to-face conversation among pastors and lay leaders across the LCMS — a space for listening, understanding, and unity in Christ.

Tim and President Gibson unpack:
- The heart and history of the Koinonia Project.
- Why open, charitable dialogue is essential for our Synod’s health.
- What participants can expect from this Las Vegas gathering.

Whether you agree or disagree on issues like pastoral formation, this is an invitation to talk, not type — to model Christlike love in disagreement and pursue the harmony our Synod longs for.

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(bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
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What if we could see how the LCMS is really doing — district by district?
Today, Pastor Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Jonathan Buescher, who compiled a comparative data study on all 35 LCMS districts — revealing surprising insights about membership, budgets, schools, and new church starts.

They explore:
- Which districts are growing and which are declining
- How funding and schools correlate with church vitality
- The future of circuits and district collaboration
- Why contextualization (not compromise) is key to mission growth
- What the data means for pastors, lay leaders, and the future of the LCMS

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The LCMS is wrestling with a familiar question: are we keeping distinctions or breaking barriers?

What does healthy leadership look like in today’s church?
Dr. Ben Haupt, Global Executive Director of PLI (Pastoral Leadership Institute), joins Tim Ahlman to unpack the powerful “Square and Tower” metaphor — a framework that exposes the tension between movement and institution, freedom and structure, and mission and maintenance in the Church.

Together, they discuss:

- Why both the Square and the Tower are necessary for a thriving LCMS
- How Jesus modeled Kingdom leadership beyond institutional control
- What the early church teaches us about multiplying leaders
- How PLI is equipping thousands globally to lead with courage and adaptability
- The dangers of over-centralization, control, and “over-resourcing”
- Why the next era of ministry demands entrepreneurial discipleship

This episode is a masterclass in adaptive, Spirit-led leadership — especially for pastors and church leaders navigating tension between innovation and tradition.

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The LCMS is wrestling with a familiar question: are we keeping distinctions or breaking barriers?

Pastor Tim Ahlman, Jack Kalleberg, and Pastor Jonathan Dinger return to one of Lead Time’s most popular conversations—this time reframed around access.

- What does it mean to create access to the Gospel without compromising theological depth?
- How do local contexts—from Arizona to Idaho—shape the way churches live out the confessions?
- And what happens when fear, control, or mistrust shape our leadership more than faith and freedom?

👀 Listen till the end for insight on pastoral formation, SMP and CMC programs, and the future of Lutheran identity heading into the next Synod Convention.

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Pastor Andy Greer went from fundraising for the Nebraska Cornhuskers to preaching from the pulpit at Messiah Lutheran Church. His story shines a light on one of the most controversial discussions in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod: the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program.

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Tim and Andy tackle the ongoing tension between residential seminary training and SMP pathways, the need for new leadership models in growing churches, and how to stay centered on Christ and His mission amid theological division.

They also touch on the recent tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the church’s response to political violence, and the call for unity in a polarized time.

Whether you’re a pastor, lay leader, or simply care about the future of the LCMS, this conversation is a must-listen.

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Are emotions a weakness—or a vital part of faith?

💡 Grab Bill & Kristi’s new book, Deeply Loved, here:
👉 https://soulshepherding.org/deeply-loved-book
Also available wherever books are sold.

In this episode of Lead Time, Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Dr. Bill & Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding and authors of the new book Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God’s Great Empathy for You, to explore how Lutheran culture—and the broader LCMS—may have misunderstood emotions.

For decades, many in the church have lived as if “faith over feelings” is the only faithful approach. But what if Jesus Himself shows us a better way—one that embraces both truth and empathy?

You’ll hear:
- Why emotional health and spiritual maturity go hand in hand
- How empathy transforms leadership and relationships
- The difference between sympathy and biblical empathy
- What happens when we repress emotions in the name of doctrine
- And how to recover a faith that truly feels like grace

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