Backstage Pastors Episode 9: Why Healthy Churches Need Better Systems w/ Tim Stevens

In this episode of Backstage Pastors™️ Podcast, Phil and Tyler welcome veteran executive pastor and leadership consultant Tim Stevens for an in-depth conversation on ministry leadership, organizational health, and sustainable service in the second chair. Tim reflects on nearly 40 years of ministry experience spanning nonprofit leadership, Granger Community Church, Vanderbloemen, Willow Creek, and now Leading Smart.

The conversation explores the evolving role of the executive pastor, including the tension between being highly executive-minded versus deeply pastoral. Tim shares insights from his e-book 40 Lessons in 40 Years: Wisdom for the Long Haul, unpacking lessons about visionary leaders and integrators, why systems are actually pastoral tools, healthy governance, leadership burnout, and managing energy for long-term ministry health.

Tim also gives listeners an inside look at stepping into Willow Creek during one of the church’s most difficult seasons and explains how focusing on “the next right thing” helped guide the rebuilding process.

 

Guest Resources

🗣️ Follow Tim – https://www.instagram.com/timastevens?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

📕 40 Lessons in 40 Years: Wisdom for the Long Haul by Tim Stevens – https://www.leadingsmart.com/lessons

💻 ⁠Right Roles Assessment – https://www.leadingsmart.com/right-roles-assessment

💻 LeadingSmart.com

🎙️ Tim’s Podcast – https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast

📅 Leading Smart 2026 Gathering – https://www.leadingsmart.com/chicago26 

 

From Our Partners

💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources.

Connect with Phil Taylor

✉️ ⁠Get Phil’s Newsletter

✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠

📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠

💻⁠ backstagepastors.org⁠

💻 ⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠

 

Connect with Tyler Drewitz

✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠

💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠

💻⁠ ridgelineprinting.com⁠

 

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CHAPTERS

[04:05] Introducing Tim Stevens

[07:18] Tim’s Ministry Journey and Leadership Background

[10:18] Executive Pastor Wiring and Leadership Styles

[13:42] 40 Lessons in 40 Years

[15:26] Why Visionary Leaders Need Integrators

[18:01] Why Systems Are Pastoral

[22:00] Sustainable Leadership and Managing Energy

[26:06] Board Alignment and Healthy Governance

[30:30] Leaving Church Ministry for Vanderbloemen and Leadership Consulting

[34:10] Rebuilding Willow Creek Through Crisis

[39:58] How Leading Smart Helps Churches Thrive

 

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.