24. What I Wish My Senior Pastor Knew with Ben Mandrell

Kids Ministry Calling with Jana Magruder

Every year, children’s pastors from across the country gather for the Children’s Pastors Conference—a time to grow, connect, and be reminded of the incredible calling to reach the next generation. This year, our producer Nikki Ogden walked the halls with one question in mind: “What’s the one thing you wish your senior pastor knew about your ministry?” The answers were honest, heartfelt, and deeply insightful.

In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources—and a former senior pastor himself—to explore that very question from the other side of the conversation. Ben offers a powerful perspective on how senior leaders can champion children’s ministry in meaningful ways, showing up with presence, purpose, and passion. If you’ve ever longed for stronger support from your church leadership—or wondered how to build that bridge—this episode is for you.

If this episode encouraged you or gave you a new perspective on the role of leadership in kids ministry, we’d love for you to take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us reach more ministry leaders and make a greater impact. And don’t forget to share this episode with your pastor, leadership team, or anyone passionate about seeing children’s ministry thrive. Thanks for listening—and keep showing up for the next generation with purpose and heart.

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