61 | Jesus the High Road Leader

In this episode of the GrowLeader Podcast, Pastor Chris Hodges sits down with Pastors Levi and Jennie Lusko, founders of Fresh Life Church, for a deeply personal conversation about grief, mental health, marriage, ministry pressure, and finding God's goodness in life's hardest seasons. Drawing from their latest books, Blessed Are the Spiraling and Fresh Mercies Every Day, Levi and Jennie share how walking through unimaginable loss, hidden emotional struggles, and seasons of personal crisis reshaped their understanding of faith, leadership, and what it truly means to be blessed. From the heartbreaking loss of their five-year-old daughter, Lenya, to navigating anxiety, marriage challenges, and the pressure of leading a growing church, the Luskos open up about the struggles that often remain hidden behind successful ministries. Levi and Jennie also share practical lessons about protecting their marriage, changing unsustainable ministry rhythms, and finding the courage to ask for help when they needed it most. This conversation is a powerful reminder that being a healthy leader doesn't mean never struggling, it means learning how to walk through struggle without losing what matters most. Whether you're a pastor navigating ministry pressure, a leader experiencing burnout, or someone walking through grief or uncertainty, this episode will encourage you to find hope in God's faithfulness and remember that your identity is found in who you are in Christ, not what you accomplish for Him.

How can churches build a healthy culture of generosity without pressuring people to give? In this episode of the GrowLeader Podcast, Pastor Chris Hodges sits down with Pastor Lee Domingue and Johnny Hodges for an incredibly practical conversation about church finances, biblical stewardship, generosity, and preparing for year-end giving. Fresh off GrowLeader's Church Finances One Day, the team shares some of the foundational principles that have shaped Church of the Highlands' approach to finances, from building healthy financial systems to creating a place for people with the spiritual gift of giving to use that gift for Kingdom impact. Pastor Chris also shares one of the foundational principles that has shaped Highlands' approach to giving for more than 25 years: don't ask people for money, ask God, and trust Him to speak to people. Instead of creating pressure, leaders can clearly communicate the opportunity, cast vision, and encourage people to simply ask God what He wants them to do. Whether you're preparing for a year-end offering, developing a generosity ministry, or simply trying to steward your church's resources with greater wisdom, this episode provides practical principles you can begin implementing immediately.

What if becoming a better leader starts with becoming a healthier, more positive person? In this episode of the GrowLeader Podcast, Pastor Chris Hodges sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Habits, for a practical conversation about positive leadership, healthy culture, personal transformation, and the habits that shape great leaders. Jon shares his own journey from negativity and personal crisis to discovering the practices that transformed his mindset, marriage, faith, and ultimately his calling. He also pulls from years of working with some of the most successful coaches, professional sports teams, businesses, and organizations in the world to reveal what separates healthy leaders and winning cultures from the rest. Jon reminds leaders that culture isn't simply something you build, it's something you become. If you want a healthier team, stronger culture, and greater impact, the transformation has to begin with you. Whether you're leading a church, business, team, or family, this conversation will challenge you to examine your habits, strengthen your relationships, deepen your faith, and become the kind of leader others want to follow.

What if the biggest productivity problem on your team isn't effort, but attention? In this episode of the GrowLeader Podcast, Pastor Chris Hodges and Matt Minor unpack the Productivity Principle and share a practical framework Church of the Highlands is using to help its team reclaim focus, eliminate distractions, and spend more time on the work that actually moves the mission forward. In a world of constant notifications, unnecessary meetings, emails, and digital distractions, leaders can stay busy all day without accomplishing what matters most. Pastor Chris explains why winning back your team's attention isn't simply a productivity issue, it's a leadership and stewardship issue. If your team is working hard but still feels distracted, overwhelmed, or unclear about what winning looks like, this episode provides a practical tool you can implement immediately. Because when leaders create clarity around what matters most, teams can stop simply being busy and start making meaningful progress toward the mission.

In Part 2 of this special conversation, Pastor Chris Hodges and Dr. Rob Hoskins, CEO of OneHope, move from understanding today's culture to answering one critical question: What should the Church do next? Drawing from decades of global ministry, research, and leadership development, Dr. Hoskins shares practical strategies for reaching the next generation, strengthening families, and preparing churches to disciple children and students in an increasingly complex world. The conversation also takes a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant leadership transitions in recent church history as Pastor Chris reflects on passing the leadership of Church of the Highlands to Pastor Mark Pettus and the biblical principles that made it possible. Whether you're a senior pastor, youth pastor, children's leader, or ministry volunteer, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building healthy churches, raising strong leaders, and preparing the next generation to carry the gospel forward. Episode Resources: One Hope: https://onehope.net/