The Surge Network Podcast

Leadership Development with Tyler Johnson

In this episode, Tyler Johnson talks about leadership development as a lifelong relationship in which the mentor helps the protegee reach his/her potential.

Listening to the Global Church in Arizona - Michel Duarte - January 19 All Region Gathering

Three things we can learn from the global/immigrant church in Arizona

Unity and Reconciliation - Jason Turner - East Valley Breakfast

Unity and Reconciliation - Jason Turner - East Valley Breakfast

Surge Lunch - February 2018 - Discipleship in a Disenchanted World

Team building, creating a culture of shared leadership, and developing cohesion around mission is essential for leaders. Strong churches and teams also need vision and direction from leaders. Sometimes these realities feel in tension with one another. We are all gifted differently as well as have different philosophies of ministry and yet whether we thrive more as independent leaders or within a team, shared leadership is important.

Surge Lunch - November 2017 - Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership

Team building, creating a culture of shared leadership, and developing cohesion around mission is essential for leaders. Strong churches and teams also need vision and direction from leaders. Sometimes these realities feel in tension with one another. We are all gifted differently as well as have different philosophies of ministry and yet whether we thrive more as independent leaders or within a team, shared leadership is important.

Surge Lunch - October 2017 - Mission Improv: Making Wholistic Disciples

"Our aim as Christ’s Social Body is to “follow in his steps” (1 Pet 2:21); to “walk in love as Christ loved” (Eph 5:1); “to speak and do the truth” (4:15, 21; 1 John 1:6); to “grow up together” (Eph 4:15) in the One who embodies “mature humanity” (4:13).  In the drama of discipleship, the local church “puts on” Christ’s pattern of covenantal fidelity, not with the definitive weight of Christ’s unique fulfillment, but in his ways, after his likeness." -Dr. Greg Perry

Interview with Frank Switzer

Dennae Pierre talks with Fran Switzer about the challenges and opportunities of pastoring people well in the age of social media. 

Surge Lunch - August 2017 - The Way of The Dragon Or The Way of The Lamb by Jamin Goggin

In this book, Pastor Jamin Goggin and theology professor Kyle Strobel invite readers on a journey to uncover Jesus’ seemingly contradictory way to power: weakness. Why do so many rock-star pastors implode under the spotlight? Why do modern-day churches become so entangled in growing their brand that they lose sight of their true purpose? Because, according to Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, Christians have succumbed to the temptations of power and forgotten Jesus’ seemingly contradictory path to power—first giving it up. In The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb, Goggin and Strobel paint a richly biblical vision of power through weakness and offers a compelling vision of the way of Jesus that will challenge both individual believers and the church as a whole. Our prayer and hope is that churches in Arizona would be full of leaders and pastors who are committed to the Jesus-way of power and that pastors would recognize where the idols of power and prestige have gotten a foothold into our affections for Christ and leadership decisions so that we might turn toward embracing weakness.

Surge Lunch - May 2017 - Partnering with the church

Partnering with the church

At this Surge lunch, we will be hearing from Anna Ho, President of Reconciled World. This lunch is intended to provoke questions and ideas for what it looks like to be pastors and leaders who are seeking the Spirit’s help to identify lies that trap us as leaders that keep us from being light in the midst of darkness and seek God’s power to embrace all areas of mission he has called us to.

Anna has spent over 20 years in ministry internationally and has sharp insights into how God’s word calls us to effectively address brokenness, walk with the vulnerable, mobilize local resources, and, above all, depend on God.

Anna speaks with deep theological insight to the capability of the local church around the world to see their communities transformed by Jesus and a biblical worldview when they are freed from lies that cripple the church. Anna desires to see the church respond to God and watch as he brings healing to brokenness and builds His church in both numbers and depth.

Speaker: Anna Ho

Anna Ho, together with her husband Nam are the co-founders of Reconciled World. Originally from New Zealand, Anna Ho has lived and worked in Asia since 1995. Anna joined Food for the Hungry in 1996, working with them until 2013. In 2004 Anna started a program, Truth-Centered Transformation to see if people could really move out of poverty as they understood and applied a Biblical Worldview. The results were beyond anything they ever imagined, with hundreds of communities moving out of poverty. In 2013, Nam and Anna followed God’s leading to launch Reconciled World–based on bringing transformation by applying Biblical truth to all areas of brokenness. Anna currently holds the position of Executive Director of Reconciled World. She is based in Asia but spends at least half the year on the road.

Surge Lunch - April 2017 - Creativity vs. Consistency

Creativity vs. Consistency

One of the most significant tensions that leaders must manage is that balance between creativity and consistency. On one hand, we were created in the image of a creative God who invites us to engage the complex problems of the world with creativity. On the other hand, God is faithful, unchanging, and consistent. We display his character when our work is marked by a long obedience in the same direction. 

For the April Surge lunch, we will explore the tension between creativity and consistency, we will address questions such as: 

• When do you choose creativity? When do you choose consistency?  
• How do we cultivate a creative mindset in life and leadership?
• How can we approach problem-solving with greater imagination?
• How does the Gospel sustain faithfulness in a world that esteems newness? 

Join us for a free meal, time of fellowship, panel discussion and an important conversation about the tension between creativity and consistency. 
 

Speaker: Ken Wytsma

Ken Wytsma is a leader, innovator, and social entrepreneur respected for his insight and collaborative spirit. He is the president of Kilns College, where he teaches courses on philosophy and justice. He is the founder of The Justice Conference—an annual international conference that introduces men and women to a wide range of organizations and conversations relating to biblical justice and God’s call to give our lives away.
Ken is a consultant and creative advisor to nonprofits and a sought after speaker on justice, church, and culture. A church planter and lead pastor at Antioch Church, Ken lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Tamara, and their four daughters.
Ken’s is the author of, Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things, The Grand Paradox: The Messiness of Life, the Mystery of God and the Necessity of Faith, and Create vs. Copy: Embrace Change. Ignite Creativity. Break Through with Imagination.