Tim's Book - Confessing Jesus' Mission is finally out! Find it here:
http://amazon.com/Confessing-Jesus-Mission-Pastors-Prayer-ebook/dp/B0FZW7MSTV

This is a very special episode of LEAD Time.

On launch day of Confessing Jesus’ Mission, Tim Ahlman joins the podcast for a different kind of conversation—not to defend a book, but to ask a deeper question facing the church today:

Have we lost a shared sense of why the church exists?

In this episode, Joe Beran interviews Tim about the growing fragmentation within the LCMS, the false binary between confession and mission, and why fear has quietly replaced courage in many of our conversations. Together, they explore how tribalism has shaped church discourse, why the Missio Dei must once again drive our priorities, and how the church can move from playing defense to faithfully going on offense for the sake of the lost.

The conversation also touches on pastoral formation, leadership development, and why strategic thinking does not undermine Lutheran identity—but can actually serve it when rooted in Christ, the Means of Grace, and love for neighbor.

This episode is not a manifesto. It’s an invitation:
- To leaders who care deeply about the future of the church
- To pastors and lay leaders willing to have honest, collegial conversations
- To anyone longing for unity without compromise and mission without fear

Tim also shares who the book is for, who it’s not for, and how it’s meant to be read—not in isolation, but in community, as a catalyst for deeper conversation and renewed clarity around the mission God has already given His church.

If you’ve felt the tension between faithfulness and fruitfulness, confession and mission, or tradition and innovation, this episode is for you.

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Is there really a spiritual openness emerging among Gen Z—and if so, how should the church respond?

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg are joined by Mike Jessop, Director of Christian Education at Christ Greenfield, to unpack recent Barna findings on Gen Z, discipleship, and the future of the church. Together, they explore why Gen Z may be more spiritually open than previous generations, what authenticity really means to young adults, and how technology, loneliness, and cultural instability are shaping the next generation’s search for meaning.

See research here:
https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/

If you care about LCMS health, leadership development, and long-term faith formation, this episode is essential listening.

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

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Want to take part in the private Zoom Call with Pastor Tim??
40 Spots remain! Your Purchase is your ticket to the event!
https://pci.jotform.com/cglc/confessing-jesus-mission-order-form

What does faithful mission look like in today’s fractured, post-Christian culture?

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman is joined by Pastor Brandon Boos, missions pastor at Faith Lutheran Church (Oakville, MO) and one of the youngest pastors in the LCMS. Together, they explore how the church can remain deeply confessional while actively engaging the world—especially young adults who are searching for meaning, community, and truth.

This is an honest, thoughtful discussion for pastors, church leaders, and anyone who cares about the future of Lutheran mission in North America.

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Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Scott Kirchoff to explore one of the most defining — and often misunderstood — aspects of Lutheran identity: the centrality of the Sacraments.

Drawing from decades of pastoral ministry, federal prison chaplaincy, and work on death row, Pastor Kirchoff challenges a subtle shift happening in American Christianity — where sermons become the high point and the Sacraments quietly move to the margins.

This episode is especially relevant for pastors, church leaders, and thoughtful members within the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who are asking hard questions about identity, formation, and faithfulness in a changing cultural landscape.

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

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Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(bi-weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics from Pastor Tim)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

Many churches feel tired, conflicted, or stuck—but can’t quite explain why.

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Kurt Senske, longtime LCMS leader and governance expert, to talk about something most churches never examine: how decisions actually get made.

From endless meetings and pastor burnout to stalled mission and internal conflict, this conversation explores how church structure can either support the Gospel—or quietly undermine it.

You’ll hear:
- Why many churches feel harder to lead today than ever before
- The hidden cost of outdated church decision-making models
- How healthy governance frees pastors to be pastors
- Why conflict avoidance is hurting congregations
- What faith-filled, mission-driven leadership can look like in the LCMS

This isn’t about importing corporate models into the church. It’s about stewarding leadership wisely so the mission of Jesus can flourish.

Whether you’re a pastor, elder, board member, or longtime church member, this episode will help you see your congregation with fresh eyes.

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

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Stay up to date on what is happening in the LCMS!
(weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman sits down with theologian and PhD candidate Will Fredstrom to explore AI through the lens of Christian theology, vocation, and embodied life.

This is not a fear-based conversation — it’s a thoughtful, hopeful, and deeply theological exploration of how Christians can live faithfully in a rapidly changing technological world.

Whether you’re a pastor, leader, parent, or simply wondering how AI is shaping your life, this episode will challenge and ground you.

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Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

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Join the LCMS Current to receive the final edition of 2025!
(weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

What does faithfulness look like when the culture around the Church changes?

In this episode of LEAD TIME, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with ATK Ministry founder Josh Atkinson, whose Christ-centered hip hop ministry on the north side of Milwaukee is reaching young people many churches struggle to connect with.

Josh shares the story of how a Lutheran high school chapel turned into a thriving nonprofit—complete with recording studios, artist development, after-school programs, Echo Nights concerts, and real fruit: baptisms, discipleship, and transformed lives.

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

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What happens when faithful Christians disagree—and refuse to caricature one another?

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor David Bukes for an honest, brotherly conversation about some of the most sensitive and debated issues in the Lutheran Church—without turning it into a fight.

This is not a debate episode.
It’s a listening episode.

Together, they explore:
- Where disagreement is genuinely adiaphora—and where it isn’t
- How “liturgical pietism” and “it’s just contextual” can both miss the mark
- Why drawing lines too tightly or too loosely can damage unity
- The pastoral tension between hospitality and faithfulness, especially around the Lord’s Supper
- What faithful disagreement actually looks like when everyone shares the same confession
- Rather than trying to “win,” this conversation models something increasingly rare: theological conviction held with humility, charity, and love for the Church.

If you’ve ever felt skeptical of church conversations that seem polarized, dismissive, or reactionary—this episode is for you.

If you care about unity without compromise—this episode is for you.

If you believe the Church is strengthened by honest dialogue rooted in Christ—this episode is for you!

Our hope is not that you leave with every question answered, but that you leave encouraged to wrestle together, grounded in the gospel, for the sake of Christ’s Church.

Join the LCMS Current!
(weekly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

Visit uniteleadership.org