IMF Service Station

Welcome to Unscripted with IMF Leaders, where we dive deep into the heart of global Christian ministry, engaging with inspiring leaders who are on the frontlines of serving others. This podcast, hosted by the International Ministerial Fellowship (IMF), is dedicated to supporting the 100,000 Christ-centered leaders we aim to equip worldwide. 

Our guest in this episode is a preacher, pastor, and founder of Giving Ministries: Jason Oehrlein! Jason was born and raised in Minnesota. He is happily married to his loving, godly wife Ellie. Pastor Jason was radically saved by the Lord Jesus Christ in 2013 and was supernaturally f...

Tune into this special episode of our podcast where we sit down with IMF Staff members George and Becky Gilmour for a deeply personal, inspiring, and casual conversation with IMF’s very own Staff members George and Becky. They share their powerful faith testimonies and recount the pivotal moments that led them to a profound relationship with Christ after tragedy. 

In this discussion they open up about the journey from pain and sorrow to finding true comfort and care through the Lord and his community of believers and how leaders like you can benefit from key inspirations tha...

In this episode of Unscripted with IMF  Dr. John Braland sits down with Rev. Eric J. Hall, the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Spiritual Care Association. With a rich background in spiritual care and a profound commitment to advancing the role of spirituality in healthcare, Eric Hall brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation.

Join Dr. Braland and Rev. Hall as they explore the vital role of spiritual care in supporting patients and families during times of illness and crisis. They discuss the impact of spiritual care on overall well-being, the challenges faced b...

Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of leadership in the church and nonprofit sectors. In this episode, we delve into the transformative shift from traditional command and control leadership to a more transparent and servant-hearted approach. Today's leaders are challenged to uphold integrity and transparency while making critical decisions that impact their organizations and communities. We discuss the importance of avoiding isolation and echo chambers, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives and collaborative decision-making.

Discover practical insights on how to build and sustain effective teams by investing in people and fostering a healthy organizational culture...

In this episode we welcome two extraordinary leaders Aye Chananan, the National Director of Sisters of Grace and Emily Leatherbarrow the President and Founder. Join us as we dive into the incredible work being done by Sisters of Grace- a ministry providing a sanctuary for young girls in the perilous and impoverished villages of Northern Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. The grim reality is that human trafficking has become more profitable than the drug trade with children as young as four or five being sold into slavery. Aye and Emily share their inspiring journey and the unwavering leadership that fuels...

In this episode, we are honored to have Ron Sellers, President of Grey Matter Research & Consulting here with overview of research on evangelical Christians, and the Spiritual Journey we see in the Christian life and families.  The Spiritual Journey covers how old today’s adult evangelicals were when they came to faith, what were some of the most common influences on their decision to accept Christ, and whether they can recall a specific point of decision or whether it was gradual.  There is discussion on the level of spiritual engagement evangelicals show currently in Bible readership and study, worship atte...

In this episode, we engage in a discussion about family-friendly entertainment and the integration of Christian values in the media industry with Dr. Ted Baehr. Dr. Ted Baehr is the Founder and Publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment and serves as the Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry. He is also widely recognized as a critic, educator, speaker, and media pundit. His mission is to utilize media as a tool for promoting values while educating audiences on the importance of discernment in choosing their entertainment. Check it out!

Podcast Guest Links

In this episode, we dive into the transformative work of Reverend Carl Wesley Anderson, an internationally renowned equipping evangelist and documentary filmmaker. With a unique blend of itinerant ministry and media missions, Carl's vision is to ignite passion for discipleship and amplify the voice of God in believers worldwide.

As the author of "LOVE SPEAKS" and the creative force behind the acclaimed "LOVE SPEAKS" and "FROM HISTORY TO HOPE" series, Carl discusses the power of storytelling in conveying spiritual truths and fostering spiritual growth. Through his role as the Executive Director of Born To Blaze Ministries, he...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Michael A. Rivera Jr., MDiv, BCC, CPES, the CPE Director and Civilian Chaplain Endorser at IMF. In this episode, Michael shares his some of his personal journey as a chaplain and discusses the exciting Clinical Pastoral Education Program offered by IMF.

We have partnered with the Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training (ICPT) to launch our CPE center. The program is distance learning, leveraging technology, and is accredited-recognized by the US Department of Education. At IMF, we believe that every ministry member (not just Chaplains) can benefit from at least one...

In today's episode, we have the privilege of hosting a renowned author, speaker, and expert in the megachurch world, Warren Bird. Join us as Warren shares insights from his latest book on Team Resilience. Listen to explore the intriguing question: What could God do if every member of a team was operating at their best, supporting one another, fostering a high-trust environment, and achieving peak effectiveness? Get tuned in for a conversation that will inspire, challenge, and reshape your perspective on team dynamics and resilience.

Warren Bird, Ph.D., researches cutting-edge churches and works with their leaders...

In this episode, we are honored to have Greg Ligon, a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in serving churches and leaders as our guest.

Greg is the founder of The Ligon Group a dynamic organization dedicated to maximizing kingdom impact through leadwell cohorts, consulting, and brand strategies. Greg is actively involved in various cohorts, recruiting for the spring season. These cohorts include Senior Pastors in their 30s, Executive Pastors, and Senior Pastors Finishing Well (55+), offering consulting services such as Smart Succession, Multisite Next, and What's Next Strategy. Greg also provides coaching for personal and professional...

Hannah Fordice, the founder of House of Faith and Freedom, is a writer and advocate with a passion for ending intimate partner violence. She developed House of Faith and Freedom to help equip individuals, churches, and ministries to prayerfully and effectively deal with abusive situations in their congregation and surrounding community.

Hannah has a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Human Services  Forensic Behavioral Health. She has experience working with various non-profits and government agencies around the areas of domestic violence, victim services, and community outreach and education. Join in on the conversation of b...

In this episode, we are honored to have Dr. Langston as our guest, a seasoned Seminary Professor and Chaplain with a rich background in law enforcement, sports, healthcare, and military settings. He brings great wisdom into the world of chaplaincy, exploring the trends that shape this vital field.
 
Dr. Langston shares his journey in establishing the Chaplaincy program at CIU’s Seminary & School of Ministry, and his role in crafting the PhD in Practical Theology. Drawing from his extensive experience as a Law Enforcement Chaplain, Sports Chaplain with NASCAR, Healthcare Chaplain, and Military Chaplain, he sheds light on...

Join us on this episode of Unscripted with IMF with our Guest Larry Osborne. He shares on the impact of fostering genuine discipleship through information and relationships, sharing the growing discipleship trends that are sticking since covid, and how to maintain and propel discipleship while experiencing church growth and church expansion.

Larry Osborne is a pastor, author, mentor, and leadership consultant who has trained and coached thousands of top-level leaders in both the non-profit and profit sectors. Recognized as one of America's most influential pastors due to his pioneering work with concepts like sermon-based small groups, pastoral...

Join us in this inspiring episode with our guest, Pastor Londa Lundstrom, a true multi-talented disciple maker, communicator, evangelist, pastor, and so much more.

Discover how the power of the gospel provided a firm foundation for Londa's sacred calling and shaped her remarkable journey. From her parents founding Lowell Lundstrom Ministries in 1957 to her own ministry today, Londa's passion for reaching the lost for Christ shines through.

Londa provides valuable insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of leading oneself before leading others. Learn from her wisdom as she highlights the significance of life long learning...

Join us on this episode of Unscripted with IMF as we dive into an important topic: Soul Care and Boundaries in ministry leadership. Our guest speaker, Anna Brant, brings her wealth of experience and expertise to shed light on  prioritizing your own well-being while effectively leading and serving others.

Anna Brant's journey in ministry first began at Freshwater, where she served in various roles such as Women's ministry, greeting, and kids ministry after first attending in 2005. Over time, she emerged as a leader and underwent training through Pastoral Leadership Institute, further solidifying her passion for full-time ministry.

Pastor John and Troy Hillstrom dive into the fascinating ways technology has shaped and revolutionized the church in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. From livestreamed sermons to virtual prayer groups, discover how digital tools have brought congregations together, transcending physical barriers and redefining the way we worship. Join us as we explore the impact of technology on the church's outreach, community engagement, and spiritual growth, and how these changes are shaping the future of faith in a rapidly evolving world.

Pastor John Braland takes a deep dive with Pastor Stephen Black on a highly controversial topic in today's world: Finding Freedom from Homosexuality and Living A Life Free from Labels.

Pastor, Speaker, and Author, Stephen Black, Gives Hope Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Sexually & Relationally Broken.

Stephen was called by God into ministry through the healing he received himself. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he was wounded and confused during his teenage years, drawn into homosexuality; and lived gay-identified for 8 years.   Acquainted with the grief of sexual sin and abuse, S...

There can be a lot of controversy surrounding women in church leadership. It makes sense that it would. A church's view on the topic impacts how it operates in very real and practical ways. The Bible emphasizes how important the role of women in the Church is, and it also implies how men should do their roles similarly to how Christ loved the Church. Both play a huge part in making the Church a success.

In today's episode Pastor John and Heather Precht chat with Dr. Dawn Lundgren on this matter. Gain wisdom on the topic of...

In this episode, Pastor John Braland and Pastor Bill Goodwin speak with Pastor Javon Ruff, our keynote speaker for the 2023 Chaplain Training Event.

Javon Ruff is a leader of men. He stirs the hearts of champions. As pastor of a large, diverse congregation in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Javon speaks truth and light into the pervading darkness. He is a man that carries a deep passion for Jesus and produces an infectious passion for people to be set free in Christ.

Javon has served at Free Chapel for the past 21 years collectively at the Gainesville campus (8...

Luke Barnett is a charismatic pastor, husband, father, author, international speaker and visionary. Luke and his wife, Angel, have been married over 25 years and have two daughters, Aubrey and Annalee. Luke is Senior Pastor of Dream City Church (DCC), with eight campuses and a church body of over 30,000 people. He is driven by a God-inspired vision to see Arizona become known as a Christian state.

Pastor Luke is a passionate advocate of human trafficking rescue and
humanitarian relief. According to the U.S. State Department, Arizona is the
main destination and transit point for labor...

In today's episode, Pastor John dives into succession planning with Dave Travis.

Succession is the intentional transition of power, authority and responsibility from one primary leader to another. In most of these cases the Senior Leader seeks to productively transition their own ministry and the life of the church to a new season. Many of these are founders, or “founder-like” in that the ministry has significantly grown over many years of ministry. The church is often ill-prepared to deal with the situation because of the size of the church. Copying another church’s process is often not the be...

People talk a lot about diversity today-ethnic, gender, and income diversity. But there is an elephant in the room. A different kind of diversity exists: generational diversity. This session explores the characteristics of each generation working today and how to leverage them to be your competitive advantage. Too often we stereotype, taking mental shortcuts and profiling young or old team members. This session offers practical strategies to bring out the best in each generation.
 
Dr. Tim's expertise on the emerging generation and generational diversity in the workplace has garnered media coverage in The Huffington Post, T...

President and Founder of Sister's of Grace, Emily Leatherbarrow, received her bachelors in Church Leadership from Southeastern University in 2004. In 2006, Emily was ordained with the Assemblies of God. Reverend Leatherbarrow now holds her ordination with the International Ministerial Fellowship. Emily and her husband, James were married in 2002 and have three children, Juliet, Camille and Everett.

An accomplished author and speaker, Reverend Leatherbarrow has dedicated her life to fighting human trafficking, poverty and abuse. Over the last 20 years Emily has traveled and preached around the world, sharing about the horrors of human trafficking and raising awareness for the...

Today Pastor Bill and Heather dive deep into the testimony of Diane Brask. If you are in ministry and need encouragement, check out this incredible story of God’s love and faithfulness. 

Diane Brask is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Seed Planters. Her passion is to bring the Good News of Jesus to the least reached, most underserved rural communities….to the ends of the earth.

When she is not in some remote village of the world….you can find Diane at home on her farm where she grew up. It’s where her story...