Field Notes for Transformation

Leading in the Direction of Relationship with Wendy Hu-Au

Summary In this conversation, Pastor Wendy Hu-Au invites us into the story beneath the title—her unexpected and deeply formative journey into serving as senior pastor at Metro Hope Church. What emerges isn’t just a leadership story, but a picture of what happens when faith is lived in real community. We talk about the early moments that shaped her, the people who formed her, and why she’s so drawn to the idea of microchurches—not as a strategy, but as a way of being with people. Wendy keeps bringing us back to this: transformation happens in proximity, in honest relationships, in showing up. She names the tension of leadership with refreshing honesty—the vulnerability it requires, the questions it surfaces, and the courage it takes to stay open when easy answers aren’t there. And woven throughout is this quiet but steady conviction: the church has a role to play in pushing back against what diminishes people and partnering in what brings life. Takeaways * The gospel has to touch real life, or it’s not good news yet.  * Faithful leadership stays open, even when the answers have not been revealed yet.  * Resisting empire involves creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices.    Episode field note: Leading Without All the Answers There’s a moment in leadership most people try to avoid, but most of us live in: I don’t know. The world is not getting simpler. And leadership that depends on certainty is going to keep collapsing under the weight of real life. Maybe faithful leadership isn’t about closing the gap between question and answer. Maybe it’s about becoming the kind of person who can stay in the gap—and not leave others there alone.   Resources and links Hope Metro Church NYC [https://www.metrohopenyc.org/about] Apex for Youth [https://apexforyouth.org]                             Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc [https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/] to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.

How is it with Your Ambition? with Ryan Tinetti

Summary In this conversation, Ryan Tinetti invites us to reconsider ambition, moving away from pressure and performance toward something quieter and deeper. Through personal stories, Scripture, and lived wisdom, he offers a vision of life and leadership anchored in rest, shaped by humility and faithfulness over productivity.   Episode field note: Clarity Over Cleverness When you’re leading change, resist the urge to be subtle. People don’t need hints, they need clear direction. Say it plainly, repeat it often, and make the path forward obvious. It may feel like over-communicating, but in moments of change, clarity is what helps people move.   Resources and links Ryan’s Book: The Quiet Ambition [https://www.ivpress.com/the-quiet-ambition?srsltid=AfmBOorDYFt3rxXMOPtxTCRn_kLlF4G8c-_9lIE3NbIVFSVnWqQ2NynU] (IvPress)  Slow Productivity by Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/slow-productivity-chapter-commentary/]  Godspeed (Documentary)  [https://www.livegodspeed.org/watchgodspeed] 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4:11-12]                         Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc [https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/] to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.

You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone with Eun Strawser

Summary:  We’ve normalized something that was never meant to be normal: leading alone.  Rev. Dr. Eun K. Strawser invites us into a conversation about the gift of shared leadership. We talk about the ways we hold onto power, how our metrics are shaping the wrong outcomes, and why the environments we build may be working against the very transformation we long to see. What if shared leadership is exactly what the church was always meant to embody?  Shared leadership isn’t just theory or a strategy. It’s biblical, practical, and transformational to the leader, the church and community.    Takeaways * We don’t have a leadership shortage, we have a maturity gap. * What you measure is what you’re forming (so measure wisely).  * Healthy churches are rooted in people, place and community, not just growth. * Formation happens in place, not just in programs.   Episode field note: Take an honest inventory- Who do you actually share power with? Most of us can answer that pretty quickly. And for many leaders, the answer is… we don’t. We may delegate tasks, but we’re not truly sharing power. So the deeper question becomes: Who do you want to share power with and why?   Resources and links Eun’s book: You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone: The Power of Sharing Leadership [https://www.ivpress.com/you-were-never-meant-to-lead-alone?srsltid=AfmBOoos7W55p6At7iQOp_9J5vyTX5B5nk1PPdw4hryWX8aBxR2xr9j8] with IVPress [https://www.instagram.com/ivpress/] Eun’s website [https://www.iwacollaborative.com/ekstrawser]                  Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc [https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/] to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.

Ep 25: There is No Playbook (and that's the point) with Angie Ward

In this episode, Dr. Angie Ward invites us into a rich conversation about leadership in uncharted place, where identity, and adaptive courage matter more than ever. She reflects on how her own journey has shaped the way she leads and teaches, and why the internal work of a leader is inseparable from the external work we’re called to do. We explore the shifting landscape of ministry and the kind of emotional intelligence leaders need to navigate change with wisdom and grace.   Takeaways   * Leadership begins with who you are. Identity formation and the internal work you’re willing to do shape every decision, relationship, and moment of influence. * Today’s landscape demands adaptive courage. With no clear playbook, leaders must normalize change, embrace uncertainty, and respond with creativity rather than anxiety. * Presence matters as much as strategy. Emotional intelligence and a non-anxious posture create the conditions for clarity, trust, and transformation.    Episode field note: Do your inner work.  Do your work so you can show up whole, honest and fully yourself in every space you lead.    Resources and links: Angie’s website [https://angiewardphd.com/about/]   Angie’s Book: Uncharted Leadership  [https://www.amazon.com/Uncharted-Leadership-Studies-Ministry-Uncertainty/dp/0310143039/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=]             Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc [https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/] to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.

Ep 24: The Future of Worship is Both/And with Michael Huerter

In this conversation, Michael Huerter opens up about his unexpected journey into worship and music ministry and the way hybrid worship is reshaping the life of the church. He names both the beauty and the tension of weaving technology into our worship practices—how we can use new tools without losing the human connections that make church feel like church. Michael talks honestly about the challenges leaders face right now: the overwhelm of adapting to online spaces, the pressure to “keep up,” and the fear of getting it wrong. But he also points us toward the opportunities, for example, how music can create connection even through a screen, how creativity can build real community, and how relationships will always matter more than platforms. Takeaways * Technology can open surprising doors for connection, but it should never replace the sacred gift of human relationships—it’s here to serve community, not define it. * For leaders feeling the weight of constant change, the invitation is simple and steady: focus on relationships first. The tech will follow. * Hybrid worship isn’t a stop-gap anymore; it’s a real and lasting expression of church life when we approach it with intention.   Episode field note: Technology and online ministry aren’t replacing relationships but they’re deepening them and reminding us we’re not alone. Even though the pace of new technology can feel overwhelming, this moment is also opening unexpected doors for connection and support in ministry. Online spaces, Zoom calls with mentors, glimpses into a friend’s worship service, shared creative work can actually strengthen the relationships we nurture in person. Instead of choosing between online and offline, we’re invited to see them as a hybrid whole and lean into the creativity, curiosity, and community this season makes possible.   Resources and links Michael’s book: The Hybrid Congregation [https://www.ivpress.com/michael-eugene-huerter?srsltid=AfmBOorVwDO5Iho6HS6TpgRnLg_wQgfW0CEdsbKy6AZrFuymkHLiVT0y]    Follow Michael on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/michael.huerter/]                           Follow SLI: @spiritualleadershipinc Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc [https://www.spiritual-leadership.org/] to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.