The Bad Pastors Podcast

Ministry Mantras- Whatever is Happening Now Will Not Keep Happening S1 Ep14

In this Ministry Mantra episode of Bad Pastors, Bob Hyatt speaks directly to leaders navigating anxious, unsettled times. When the pressure is high and the noise is loud, it’s easy to forget a simple but grounding truth: whatever is happening now will not keep happening forever. This episode reminds pastors and ministry leaders that seasons change—both the good ones and the hard ones. Our calling isn’t to ignore difficulty or minimize pain, but to help people see what God may be forming in them through it. Hope doesn’t deny reality; it anchors us in God’s presence within it. Whether you’re tempted to panic in hard times or grow complacent in good ones, this mantra offers perspective, steadiness, and reassurance: God remains our refuge and strength, no matter what chaos swirls around us.

The Preposterous Parable of Pastor Ponzi S1 Ep13

What do you get when a Florida pastor starts quoting Luke 6:38 like it’s a financial prospectus? You get one of the biggest religious Ponzi schemes in American history. This week, we’re diving into the unbelievable story of Gerald Payne — the founder of Greater Ministries International, who promised believers their money would “double for the Kingdom”... and somehow forgot to mention it was being used to pay off earlier believers. It’s a story of greed in a choir robe, Scripture turned into sales pitch, and what happens when a pastor decides to tithe to himself. This is The Preposterous Parable of Pastor Ponzi — a cautionary tale about what happens when ministry starts serving the minister.

A Priest's Secret Life S1 Ep 12

When a pastor has a secret life, it’s almost always a disaster. Almost. In this episode of Bad Pastors, we tell the true and wildly unexpected story of Fray Tormenta—a Catholic priest who secretly lived a double life for more than twenty years. By day, he celebrated Mass. By night...? Well, you'll have to listen and find out! But be prepared- you won't believe where this one goes!

The Shadow at Willow Creek S1 Ep11

Bill Hybels didn’t set out to become a bad pastor. He set out to reach people nobody else was reaching. And for a long time—he did. In this episode, we explore how one of the most influential pastors of the modern era built a movement that reshaped American church life… and how that same drive for excellence slowly created the conditions for harm. This isn’t a story of hypocrisy; it’s a story of insulation. Of a system so efficient it stopped working on the one who built it. From seeker-sensitive innovation to allegations that shook an entire movement, The Shadow at Willow Creek asks what happens when the pursuit of impact replaces the practice of integrity—and what it costs to lead without accountability.

The Bling Bishop S1 Ep10

In this episode of Bad Pastors, we head to Brooklyn to meet Lamor Whitehead — the self-styled “Bling Bishop” who turned the pulpit into a platform, the platform into a brand, and the brand into a federal indictment. When faith meets flash and the side hustle starts looking holier than the gospel, what happens next isn’t just a scandal — it’s a sermon illustration. We’ll unpack how good intentions can drift into deception, why pastors should never monetize trust, and what it looks like to stay faithful in a culture obsessed with the grind. Spoiler: shepherds don’t fleece the flock — they feed it.