Hi Reader,
What does it take to lead a church you didn’t start and keep it healthy for 14 years? Rich Villodas knows. He took over from Pete Scazzero at New Life Fellowship in Queens at age 32, with Pete staying on staff, and has been leading what is now a church of 80 nations ever since.
In this conversation, we dig into what it actually takes to be the next leader. We discuss the skills required, the shadow you’re stepping into, and why ego and insecurity are the real threats to a healthy handoff.
Rich even shares the full story of how Pete himself nearly derailed the transition and what his humility taught Rich about the kind of leader he wants to be.
We also get into something every pastor is wrestling with right now: how to lead a politically divided congregation without losing half of them.
Rich’s approach is disarmingly simple and harder than it sounds: division is fundamentally an emotional problem, not a political one. And the answer starts not with a sermon to your church, but with your board.
🎧 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...
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