95Podcast 304 Summary – Learning How To Lead Differently (w/ Russ Ewell)
“Move from a leadership mindset to a father mindset. You have many instructors but not many fathers.”
Real guidance for pastors navigating the challenges of everyday ministry.
Leading a small or midsize church comes with unique pressures. From burnout and soul care to church strategy and team development, our articles and podcast guides address the issues church leaders face every week.
“Move from a leadership mindset to a father mindset. You have many instructors but not many fathers.”
“If you hold on to unforgiveness, it turns into bitterness…and it permeates everything.”
“If we’re not helping people practice the Word, we’ve failed as disciple makers.”
“We’ve become very sophisticated in our Christianity—and sometimes our sophistication is the enemy of the simplicity of the gospel.”
95Network’s mission is to connect churches to health-building resources resulting in equipped leaders that equip. Our vision is to bring healthy change to every church in America.
Mistakes often go unnoticed by leaders but are evident to staff, volunteers, and others impacted by them. Poor leadership behaviors can cause severe collateral damage if they go unchecked. Find out how to identify them.
It’s time to address the internal barriers in the hearts of spiritual leaders that keep them from reaching out for help. I hope you can overcome them if I help you identify them in your heart.
I saw the most traction in discipleship growth through intentional one-on-one and one-to-few relationships. If my older self (who still disciples others) could give my 30-year-old self some advice about discipleship, here are a few things I would say.
I was undoubtedly their campus “mom” but without the benefit of a lifelong relationship to help guide them. Yes, discipleship was messy, and as I look back on those days, I see where I could have used a different perspective. Here are three of my biggest mistakes:
Each of us has an identity fashioned by our personality, cultural background, social influences, and acquired preferences. Our organizational identity also includes our skill sets, experiences, needs, and interpretations of our roles.
I’m referring to more about what’s been happening to me internally over the last two years as I try to find the proper balance between what influences me and what I influence.
Having a host of commitments always reminds me of these wise words, “If you don’t control your calendar, your calendar will control you.” What gets scheduled gets done, and what doesn’t get scheduled gets left behind.

Discouraged. It’s how every leader has felt at one point or another when we want to be somewhere we’re not. Dale navigated his own experiences of disappointment in himself and uncovered key truths about leadership in ministry that can anchor and guide us today.
Dale Sellers of 95Network believes this trend is largely due to discouragement among our pastors. Many church leaders begin ministry with dreams of making an eternal impact. But years of striving, stress, and strain have left them feeling defeated, disillusioned, and stalled.
Thankfully, there is hope that ministry can turn around for the discouraged pastor. As a former minister who’s been in the trenches, Dale Sellers reveals that:
In STALLED, you will discover your sweet spot and realize you are closer to being “there” than you know.
All episodes will be posted here on the website, and are also available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Caralee Culpepper and Dale Sellers, our executive director, and a former small church pastor, our 95Network podcast is a wealth of information specifically for small-church pastors—delivered in a candid, kind, and concise way. We cover pressing topics in modern ministry, annual trends, and more.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
Have the Conversation Before There’s a Problem. You can’t wait for something negative to happen before talking to volunteers. Schedule regular check-ins not just about their area of service but about their lives.
The personal God gets personal with us. Biblical counseling explores the active, desiring heart beneath behavior and connects it to Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s present ministry.
America’s churches are over-inspired and under-trained. People hear great messages but don’t know how to actually do ministry. The solution is creating workshop environments where people learn by doing, not just listening.
With a possible 160,000 churches facing pastoral transitions in the next decade, there’s a critical shortage of developed leaders ready to step into these roles.
Advanced preparation eliminates urgency. It will also free up a great deal of time for you once you’ve paid the dues to get started.
We regularly share practical insights for pastors leading small and midsize churches. If you’d like our latest articles, podcast episodes, and resources delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for the 95Network newsletter.
