Lead Time

Hosted by Unite Leadership Collective

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Episodes

443

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Lead Time is a podcast of the Unite Leadership Collective, hosted by Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg. The ULC envisions a future in which all congregations fully equip the priesthood of all believers through world-class leadership development at the local level. Lead Time taps into biblical wisdom for practical solutions to today's burning issues. Each podcast confronts real-time struggles facing the local church in a post-Christian culture. Step into the action with the ULC. This is Lead Time

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October 30, 2026Episode 17553 min

Have We Let Culture Shape Christian Funerals?

What do our funerals say about what we believe? ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ After this public conversation, Beth stayed on for a short, candid discussion about women, teaching, and the LCMS. She shares her experience pursuing theological training, encountering limitations, and finding opportunities to use her gifts in service to the church. Join Lead Time+ to watch the private bonus episode and support these conversations ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Tim Ahlman welcomes Dr. Kent Burreson and Dr. Beth Hoeltke, coauthors of "Lay Me in God’s Good Earth: A Christian Approach to Death and Burial," for a conversation about practices many Christians have taken for granted. Together, they explore cremation, embalming, natural burial, and the church’s role in caring for the bodies of those who have died. They also discuss practical ways pastors can help members prepare for death, why our language around grief matters, and how the promise of bodily resurrection shapes Christian hope. RESOURCES Lay Me in God’s Good Earth — Kent Burreson and Beth Hoeltke: https://www.ivpress.org/lay-me-in-god-s-good-earth “Life, Death, and Life Again: Natural Burial and Resurrection Promise” — Beth Hoeltke, Verba Vitae: https://verbavitae.substack.com/p/life-death-and-life-again-natural Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 27, 2026Episode 1741 hr 8 min

Are We Fighting the Wrong Battles in the LCMS?

Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) Are we spending more time debating how church should look than loving the people Jesus calls us to reach? Pastor Derrick Hurst of Living Word Lutheran Church in Galena, Ohio, joins Tim Ahlman for an honest conversation about unity, leadership, and ministry beyond the church walls. Derrick shares his unexpected journey through church planting, selling luxury cars, and a devastating church fire just four days before Easter—and how the surrounding community helped the congregation reopen for Holy Week. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 23, 2026Episode 17345 min

“The Great Seminary Sorting” | An LCMS Take

Join Lead Time+, to discuss topics like these with our growing community of pastors and lay leaders Is change possible in the LCMS without compromising what we believe? Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg explore the future of seminary education through Dale Coulter’s article, “The Great Seminary Sorting.” https://protestantmind.com/p/the-great-seminary-sorting They discuss declining enrollment, the rise of nondenominational churches, and how online and hybrid programs are changing theological education. Could the LCMS expand access to strong confessional teaching while preserving rigorous training and pastoral accountability? What changes would you like to see in how the LCMS prepares future church leaders? Join the conversation in the comments. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 20, 2026Episode 17237 min

The LCMS Giving Crisis: What We Missed | David Fiedler

Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) Where does LCMS giving actually go—and how can it strengthen your local church for generations? LCMS Foundation President David Fiedler joins Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg to revisit our conversation about the LCMS giving crisis and share another side of the story. David explains why local congregations are central to donors’ estate plans and how the Foundation distributed $70 million to more than 1,000 LCMS ministries last year. Learn more about the LCMS Foundation: https://www.lcmsfoundation.org Subscribe to Lead Time for conversations about leadership, mission, and the future of the LCMS. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 16, 2026Episode 17150 min

What Are We Afraid Of? An Honest LCMS Conversation

Join Lead Time+, to discuss topics like these with our growing community of pastors and lay leaders Pastor Anthony Celia joins Tim Ahlman for an honest conversation about pastoral formation, burnout, and trust in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Now serving St. Paul Church and School in Westport, Connecticut, Anthony shares his journey from an unbelieving teenager to worship leader and pastor through the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program, a master’s degree, and General Pastoral Certification. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 13, 2026Episode 17051 min

LCMS: Overlooked Resources into Lasting Ministry Impact

Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) What opportunities could your church be missing—in the building it already owns, the generosity of its members, and the plans nobody has started? Patrick Carlove of Legacy Deo joins Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg to explore how LCMS churches can turn overlooked resources into lasting ministry impact. From legacy giving and estate planning to Christian school scholarships and creative uses for church property, this conversation challenges congregations to think beyond the next budget cycle. Connect with Legacy Deo: https://www.legacydeo.org/ Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 9, 2026Episode 1691 hr 0 min

Is there a Gap Between LCMS Seminary and Parish Life?

Join Lead Time+, to discuss topics like these with our growing community of pastors and lay leaders. What does it take to prepare a pastor for the realities of parish ministry? Pastor Ryan Roehrig joins Tim Ahlman to share what ten years of ministry in Iowa—and four years supervising vicars—have taught him about pastoral formation. Ryan reflects on the value of residential seminary, the need for deeper spiritual habits, and why knowing Lutheran theology and understanding a Lutheran congregation aren’t always the same thing. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 6, 2026Episode 16859 min

This Lutheran School Nearly Closed—Then Grew 240%

Tim Ahlman sits down with Sam Seefeld to explore the turnaround at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistadt, Wisconsin—and what churches and schools across the LCMS can learn from it. Sam shares how building a joyful, Jesus-centered culture, empowering leaders, and expanding services for students with special needs helped transform the school. They discuss why reputation matters, how to navigate difficult conversations, and why pursuing growth doesn’t have to mean compromising Lutheran identity. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

October 2, 2026Episode 16755 min

New LCMS Survey Reveals Two Very Different Visions for the Church | Zach Zehnder

The conversation doesn’t end with this video: In our Lead Time+ continuation, Zach Zehnder gets more direct about the LCMS’s future leadership, the divisions reflected in the survey, and how pastors and laypeople can speak up and participate. Join Lead Time+ to watch the full extended conversation, available now! In this episode of Lead Time - Zach Zehnder joins Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg to unpack the findings, from surprising common ground in worship and sacramental life to disagreements over pastoral formation, women reading Scripture, and congregational freedom. They also explore why younger respondents lean more traditional, how presidential candidate preferences align with other answers, and why convention decisions can feel disconnected from local congregations. Throughout the conversation, one question keeps surfacing: How can Lutherans with different perspectives learn to understand one another and keep walking together? Explore the survey results: https://lcmsdata.com Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

September 29, 2026Episode 1661 hr 10 min

Should the LCMS Take Bitcoin Seriously? | Jacob Klug

What does Bitcoin have to do with your local church? For Jacob Klug, the conversation starts with families struggling to make ends meet, church workers facing rising housing costs, and ministries trying to fund their mission. Tim Ahlman welcomes Jacob, a lifelong LCMS member and former parish administrator, to explore his case for why the church should reconsider its relationship with money. They discuss inflation, stewardship, and Jacob’s vision for church-based Bitcoin federations—communities where members could give, save, and transact through a shared financial framework. Tim brings beginner’s questions: Would this make the church a bank? What about trust, debt, and everyday purchases? And how much can a different monetary system really change when the human heart remains sinful? Whether you’re curious or skeptical, this conversation invites you to consider how money shapes our life together—and what it means to love our neighbors through the resources entrusted to us. Recorded June 15, 2026, before the LCMS convention. References to convention proposals reflect that recording date. Support the show ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Care about the future of the LCMS? Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org