The Church Circle Podcast

Brief Introduction: In this episode of the Church Circle Podcast, Reuben Rohard sits down with Corbin Phillips, worship leader at Bayside Church and a core voice behind Thrive Worship. Corbin shares wisdom on spiritual formation, songwriting for the Church, and how worship leaders can stay rooted through seasons of growth, family life, and ministry demands. Takeaways: Songwriting is about serving the local church, not chasing streams. Your health as a worship leader matters more than your stage presence. Spiritual formation fuels long-term creativity and leadership. Team leadership happens through intentional discipleship and consistency. Balancing family and ministry requires ruthless prioritization and rhythm. Key Moments: 2:10 - Corbin shares his early days leading worship and how Thrive Worship organically formed from the heart of the local church. 7:55 - He unpacks how songwriting is more than creativity—it’s discipleship and theology. 12:48 - Corbin discusses how life stage and family life shift how you approach ministry and leadership. 18:25 - He talks about how rhythms and routines help him remain spiritually anchored. 25:10 - He explains how Thrive writes songs that reflect real life in the church, not just radio hits. 33:40 - Corbin offers encouragement to leaders who feel unseen or overwhelmed—reminding them that the quiet seasons are where depth is built. Practical Tips: Write songs that your local congregation can sing—not just what sounds trendy. Set personal spiritual rhythms that keep your heart soft and your spirit full. Build team culture through one-on-one moments, not just Sunday rehearsals. Prioritize family health—it’s your first ministry. Embrace margin in your schedule; space is sacred for creativity and growth. Guest Information: Thrive Worship on Spotify Instagram: @corbinphillips

Brief Introduction: In this episode of the Church Circle Podcast, Reuben Rohard sits down with Angel and Kari Acevedo—co-founders of the brand God Is a Designer. As a married creative duo, they share how they build a purpose-driven business, balance marriage and design leadership, and honor God through excellence and authenticity in everything they create. Takeaways: God Is a Designer began with a single post and grew into a global brand fueled by faith and vision.Healthy creative partnership in marriage starts with clear roles, boundaries, and mutual respect.Excellence in design can glorify God just as much as church ministry does.Rhythms like “Make Day” protect creative momentum and reduce burnout.Starting is more important than being perfect—obedience unlocks opportunities. Key Moments: 1:35 – Angel & Kari share how they met and discovered their shared love for creativity. 6:40 – The backstory of God Is a Designer and how it unexpectedly gained momentum. 12:55 – Navigating business and marriage together: communication, clarity, and conflict resolution. 21:10 – Why they choose slow growth and value-aligned clients over quick wins. 29:45 – Stewarding their faith through design: what it looks like to infuse purpose into your work. 35:22 – How rest, sabbath, and family rhythms fuel long-term creative excellence. 41:40 – Final encouragement: God honors what you put your hands to—just take the first step. Practical Tips: Set boundaries between personal and professional roles when working with your spouse. Establish a weekly rhythm like “Make Day” to focus deeply on creative projects. Build in regular time for rest—burnout kills your ability to serve and create well. Keep your message clear and your design aligned with your values. Focus on impact over aesthetics—ask what your creativity is pointing people toward. Guest Information: Founders of God Is a Designer www.godisadesigner.com Instagram: @godisadesigner

Brief Introduction: In this episode, Reuben sits down with long-time friend Sam Milchem, co-leader of Altitude Mission, a ministry reaching young adults and professionals in the French Alps through ski culture and hospitality. From youth ministry to mountain mission, Sam shares how God can use our most unexpected passions—like skiing—to reach those far from church walls. You’ll hear powerful stories, leadership insights, and practical encouragement for living out your faith beyond Sunday. Takeaways: Your God-given passions aren’t random—they may be the key to your calling. Mission doesn’t just happen inside the church—it thrives where people are already living life. Spiritual health in nomadic or mission-driven work depends on rhythm, rootedness, and relationships. Creating something you love (even ministry) brings joy, energy, and sustainability. You don’t have to be ready to lead—just obedient and faithful to take the first step. Key Moments: 01:15: Sam’s journey from church staff to ski ministry 10:00: Why unique passions are powerful tools for mission 15:56: The birth of Altitude Mission 25:00: Daily rhythms of life and outreach in the mountains 35:10: Real-life rescue and gospel stories from the slopes 44:50: Staying spiritually grounded while outside the local church 47:08: Advice for anyone feeling called to non-traditional ministry Practical Tips: Don’t ignore what brings you joy—God may want to use it. Establish spiritual habits before entering a new environment or season. Build trust and community through intentional rhythms, even in mobile lifestyles. If you feel a tug toward ministry in an unexpected space, start small and test it. Keep your local church connection strong—even when serving elsewhere. Guest Information: Sam Milchem Co-leads Altitude Mission, a Christian outreach to young adults working and skiing in the French Alps. Website: altitudemission.com

Brief Introduction: In this episode, Reuben sits down with longtime friend and creative powerhouse Matthew Pahl, Executive Creative Director at Liberty University. From humble MySpace layout beginnings to leading a large multidisciplinary creative team, Matthew shares practical and personal insights on what it means to lead creatives well. If you’re building, leading, or part of a creative team, this conversation will equip and encourage you with real-world leadership wisdom, heart, and humor. Takeaways: Creative leadership is personal. You’re stewarding people’s identity, not just their output. Clarity builds confidence. Creatives thrive not with total freedom but with clear direction and autonomy. Trust is built in action, not just words. Leaders must model consistency and emotional intelligence. Excellence and grace must co-exist. Great leaders push for quality while protecting people. Feedback must be thoughtful. Highlight what’s working, clarify what needs to shift, and do it with empathy. Culture is owned by everyone. From party planning to heat checks, Liberty’s team is built on shared responsibility.Y our faith should be the center. Not just something you carry—it drives every area of leadership. Key Moments: 04:00 - Matthew’s creative journey: from MySpace layouts to Liberty University 09:30 - Why creative leadership requires emotional intelligence 11:20 - How subjective feedback can kill innovation 15:30 - Building trust through individualized leadership 20:10 - Excellence vs. grace: how to give feedback without crushing identity 26:00 - Avoiding burnout: systems that sustain healthy teams 32:00 - “Party Time” culture and the importance of celebration 36:00 - Books that shaped Matthew’s leadership: Herding Tigers & Developing the Leader Within You 41:00 - Why faith must be central—not just carried into your work 44:00 - What to do if you feel called to lead but don’t feel ready Practical Tips: Don’t micromanage. Give your creatives clarity, then trust them to execute. Use tools like personality tests and “heat checks” to understand and serve individuals uniquely. Celebrate what’s working first before offering critique. Distinguish between objective misses (brand/brief) and subjective preferences. Watch for burnout signals like disengagement or isolation—and act early. Build culture systems: check-ins, feedback surveys, party planning committees. Read Herding Tigers and Developing the Leader Within You to grow your creative leadership lens. Root your leadership in your spiritual growth—don’t confuse being around spiritual things with being spiritually fed. Guest Information: Instagram: @matthewcrtv Liberty OSD: @libertyosd

Brief Introduction In this episode, Reuben sits down with Andrew Lennon—aka Saint Lennon—to unpack his inspiring journey from freelance designer to full-time church planter and pastor. What started as a bedroom art hobby turned into an international design brand and eventually a thriving Spirit-led church in Lynchburg, VA. They dive deep into calling, capacity, creative identity, and what it means to take ownership of your God-given assignment—especially when the path doesn’t look like you expected. Takeaways Calling requires ownership, not just obedience.Creativity never leaves, it simply finds new forms of expression.Your capacity is limited—learn which “cup” to pour into each season.Balance in ministry means honoring spirit, soul, and body.Sustainable impact is better than constant output.The Holy Spirit plays a central role in discernment, design, and direction. Key Moments 03:00 – How a tattoo design hobby became the Saint Lennon brand 07:20 – Accidentally planting a church & building Breakthrough 13:45 – When God called him to plant in the most churched city 21:10 – Why design and pastoring aren’t competing callings 29:50 – The burnout wake-up call: why balance matters 36:00 – Establishing Sabbath & boundaries as a family 42:15 – The role of the Holy Spirit in creative leadership 47:40 – How to discern when it’s time to release something 53:00 – The misunderstood truth about calling 1:00:00 – Staying open-handed when you don’t know what’s next Practical Tips Track your capacity with the “cups” analogy—what are you pouring into? Build rhythms (like weekly Sabbaths) to protect family and longevity. Ask: “Will this call bring me closer to Jesus?” Let that guide your yes or no. If you’re multi-passionate, accept that you can’t give 100% to everything. Choose wisely.Don’t glorify grind—prioritize doing things well over doing things fast. Guest Information Instagram: @saintlennon Church: Breakthrough Church – Lynchburg, VA