Hi Reader,
If you’ve ever wondered whether the tough, dysfunctional early days of ministry are normal, today’s episode is going to encourage you more than you expect.
I’m joined by David Ashcraft—longtime senior pastor of LCBC in Pennsylvania, a church that grew from a handful of people to more than 22,000. But what’s most refreshing about David is this: he didn’t start in a thriving environment.
In fact, his early years were filled with opposition, control battles, music wars, board blowups, and one particularly vocal critic named Abe who stuffed the church mailboxes with weekly commentary about David’s failures.
Sound familiar?
In this conversation, David and I go deep on how to outlast dysfunction, lead through resistance, navigate growth barriers, build healthy cultures, and steward longevity over decades of leadership. He also shares candidly about succession, humility, and what it takes to finish well.
If you’re leading in a small or struggling church—or simply trying to stay faithful over the long haul—you won’t want to miss this one.
🎧 Listen now and take the next step toward healthier leadership. Watch it on YouTube or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is brought to you by...
State of the Church
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