Practical conversations for small and midsize church leaders.
Hosted by Dale Sellers, Executive Director of 95Network and former small church pastor, the 95Podcast addresses the real challenges pastors face every week—from church health, leadership clarity, to the everyday realities of leading without large staff or large budgets. These are straightforward conversations rooted in experience, not theory.
New episodes release every Tuesday wherever you listen to podcasts or delivered straight to your inbox.
Marriage is designed to point to God and His Kingdom. Our marriages should reflect Christ’s relationship with the church. As men, we must take ownership of our marriages and work diligently to create a place of protection for our wives.
Always ask yourself, “What did God say?” You can do anything if you’re confident that it’s what God has told you to do. When we delight ourselves in the Lord and commit to His ways (Psalm 37:4-5), we can go forward boldly, knowing He will be with us.
In the modern age of social media scrolling, you only have a small amount of time to get someone to stop and listen. Use those few seconds to craft something engaging and intriguing.
Identify your audience, and then provide the content they’re looking for. If you want to sell a product, you have to understand your audience. The same is true for your church. Ask yourself who you’re speaking to, and identify what those people are looking for. Then, work to provide that content for them.
Great performers are prepared for the encore. Performers know they’ll be remembered for their encore, not their primary performance. The encore portion of your life is the most important, so take advantage of the opportunities God has given you.
God doesn’t need our help. God can accomplish whatever He wants, and He certainly doesn’t need us to do that. However, He wants a relationship with us. His plan all along has been for us to do ministry FROM Him and not FOR Him.
Understanding and honesty are key components in diverse relationships. As you pursue a relationship with someone of a minority, communicate what you want to learn and be honest about it in your conversations.
One of the first things you can do is foster a spirit of grace and kindness that permeates your church culture: squash divisiveness, judgment, and discontent.
Each day, the Ten Minute Bible Hour podcast provides listeners with a “fast, fun, deep dive” into the Bible.
We’re talking a lot about the wave of new people coming to church and how we can provide a welcoming place for them. Tony has some encouraging and constructive advice about how to navigate change and how to be intentional and faithful about making bold moves in your church.
Social media isn’t inherently wrong or evil, but it’s also not inherently neutral either. While the algorithms that social media uses don’t recognize what desires are “good” or “bad,” they are designed to draw us more deeply into our desires rather than to deliver us from them.
Jeanette Yates talks to us about how Text In Church software can help you reach out to and engage with your visitors. She gives us some valuable tips on how to connect with first-time guests and provides us with great strategies for finding what works for your ministry when it comes to guest follow-up.
Fault leads to shame; responsibility leads to freedom. Responsibility shows you what you can actually change and release what you cannot control.
Discernment stays human. AI can help refine communication, brainstorm, or summarize—but leaders must verify and own what’s shared.
Connection starts with God first. If leaders are not connected to God, they will not lead people into meaningful connection.
Kids ministry deserves top-tier support. If the mission includes evangelism and disciple-making, the next generation should be resourced accordingly.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
Preparation beats panic. Healthy leaders build a plan before the crisis—then execute calmly when disruption hits.
Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
Prayer isn’t the warm-up—it’s the engine. Ministry strength doesn’t come from personal drive; it comes from dependence on Jesus and consistent prayer.
“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.
