The Rebuilt Parish Podcast
The Rebuilt Parish Podcast exists to equip pastors and parish leaders to help make church matter in their community.
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
What does it look like when a diocese truly walks alongside parishes in renewal?
In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson talks with Edward Herrera and Julie St. Croix from the Institute for Evangelization at the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Together, they share how their Emmaus Teams accompany pastors and parish leaders through prayer, trust, leadership development, staff culture, pastoral council formation, and parish transition.
This conversation offers a practical and hope-filled look at evangelization from the diocesan level, not as programs handed down from a distance, but as real partnership rooted in relationship. Edward and Julie unpack what distinguishes a parish that is simply maintaining from one that is actively living its mission, and they offer encouraging wisdom for pastors and leaders who want to take the next faithful step toward renewal.
If you have ever wondered how dioceses and parishes can work together in a way that truly strengthens mission, this episode is full of insight.
Looking for a practical next step? Our free Grow Wider Self Evaluation will help you reflect on how your parish is reaching new people and where there may be room to grow.
Key Takeaways
Evangelization begins with relationship, trust, and accompaniment
Healthy parish renewal starts by supporting the pastor and leadership team
Stronger parish culture requires shared vision, prayer, and co-responsibility
Missional parishes are marked by welcome, discipleship, and community presence
Renewal does not begin with doing everything at once, but with taking the next step faithfully
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
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parish renewal, Catholic parish leadership, evangelization, Catholic leadership podcast, Archdiocese of Baltimore, Emmaus Team, accompaniment in ministry, parish staff culture, pastoral council renewal, Catholic diocesan leadership, Rebuilt Parish podcast, Catholic mission, disciple making, parish evangelization, church leadership, missional parish, Catholic ministry leadership, Julie St. Croix, Edward Herrera, Institute for Evangelization
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
Thursday Mar 05, 2026
How does a parish actually grow wider?
In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson welcomes back Ed Bradley to take a deep dive into the Grow Wider Anchor - what it means, where parishes often get stuck, and how to start making measurable progress.
If your parish wants to bring people back to church, reach young families, and build a culture of invitation, this conversation will give you both clarity and practical next steps.
And be sure to listen through to the end—Ed shares exactly where he would recommend a parish start in the next 90 days.
Grow Wider Self Evaluation: https://download.rebuiltparish.com/widerevaluation
Key Takeaways
Growing wider starts with a clear burden for those who aren’t coming.
Define your target audience intentionally - know your mission field.
Friendly is not the same as strategically welcoming.
Your digital presence is often your first impression.
Next-gen ministry can be a powerful growth strategy.
Parishioners need confidence and tools to invite others.
Start with intentional hospitality systems, not just good intentions.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to the Grow Wider Anchor02:00 – Understanding the Four Anchors and Discipleship07:30 – Where Parishes Commonly Break Down11:00 – Defining Your Target Audience16:00 – Friendly vs Strategically Welcoming20:30 – Weekend Experience and First Impressions23:30 – Digital Presence as the Front Door26:00 – Leveraging Next-Gen Ministry31:30 – Teaching Parishioners to Invite35:00 – Where to Start in the Next 90 Days
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
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facebook.com/rebuiltparish
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parish renewal, Catholic parish renewal, grow wider, Rebuilt Parish, Rebuilt model, parish growth, growing church attendance, bring people back to church, Catholic evangelization, evangelization strategies, parish evangelization, parish outreach, welcoming parish, hospitality ministry, church hospitality team, welcoming newcomers, first time guest experience, weekend Mass experience, improving the weekend experience, Catholic Mass experience, discipleship pathway, making disciples, parish discipleship, Great Commission Catholic, invite a friend to church, invest and invite, invite people to Mass, parishioner invitation, how to get parishioners to invite, newcomer follow up, welcome desk church, new parishioner welcome, church engagement path, engagement strategy church, parish engagement, church digital presence, parish website best practices, church social media strategy, Catholic church marketing, live stream Mass, first impressions church, attract young families, next gen ministry, children’s liturgy of the word, kids ministry Catholic, youth ministry Catholic, Catholic family ministry, grow younger parish, parish leadership team, Catholic parish leadership, parish culture change, Timonium Tim, Church of the Nativity Timonium
Thursday Feb 26, 2026
Thursday Feb 26, 2026
What happens when three parishes merge, cultures blend, Mass schedules shift, and emotions run high?
On this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Fr. Andres Mendoza, pastor of Saint Benedict of Núrcia in Wallingford, Connecticut. With multiple worship sites, a parish school, and a richly diverse community. Fr. Mendoza has navigated complex transitions with one clear priority: prayer comes first.
In this conversation, Fr. Mendoza shares how grounding every meeting, decision, and difficult conversation in prayer has shaped not only leadership, but culture. From empowering staff to pray aloud, to inviting parishioners into spontaneous, in-the-moment prayer, to leaning deeply into the Benedictine spirit of ora et labora inspired by Saint Benedict of Nursia, Fr. Mendoza offers a powerful witness: prayer and work are not separate - they are one.
If you're leading through change, feeling stretched thin, or wondering how to build unity across different communities, this episode offers practical encouragement and spiritual clarity.
Get our FREE Leadership Evaluation here: rebuiltparish.com/leadershipevaluation
Key Takeaways
Start every meeting with prayer Make consultation with the Holy Spirit the foundation of every decision.
Teach people how to pray Don’t assume comfort; model simple, sincere dialogue with the Lord.
Pray in the moment Move from “I’ll pray for you” to “Can I pray with you right now?”
Lead mergers through discernment, not fear Invite the Holy Spirit into emotionally charged decisions.
Guard your personal prayer time Even 15–20 intentional minutes daily anchors leadership.
Unite prayer and action Inspired by Saint Benedict of Nursia, remember that work and prayer belong together.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Fr. Andres Mendoza
02:30 A Parish with Multiple Worship Sites and a School
06:00 Why Prayer Became the Foundation of Leadership
09:10 Teaching Staff How to Pray with Confidence
12:30 Personal Prayer Rhythms for Busy Pastors
16:30 Navigating Parish Mergers Through the Holy Spirit
20:00 Overcoming Fear and Resistance in Times of Change
23:00 Encouragement for Overwhelmed Parish Leaders
26:00 Ora et Labora and the Unity of Prayer and Work
29:00 Final Reflections and Blessing
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/
https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
Catholic parish leadership, parish merger, prayer in ministry, prayer first culture, Catholic church leadership, Holy Spirit discernment, parish renewal, Catholic pastor interview, ora et labora, Saint Benedict spirituality, Latino Catholic ministry, building unity in parishes, leadership through change, Catholic parish growth, examination of conscience, sacrament of confession, prayer in staff meetings
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
When a message series really takes hold, it does more than shape a homily. It begins to shape hearts, conversations, and culture.
In this episode, Father Benoît St-Onge shares a simple but powerful conviction: you have to step inside the message series yourself. When leaders allow the Word of God to first speak into their own lives, it naturally finds its way into the life of the parish.
Father Benoît reflects on how vulnerability, honesty, and shared humanity open the door for Scripture to become personal and practical. Drawing inspiration from how message series are lived out at Church of the Nativity, he reminds us that renewal doesn’t require creativity for creativity’s sake. Often, it’s about faithfully adapting what already works and trusting God to do the rest.
As Father Benoît puts it, this isn’t magic. It’s truth. And when pastors and leaders lean in together, the Word of God does exactly what it promises to do.
Get FREE access to our Sample Content Library: https://www.rebuiltparish.com/offers/6ViPVzNg/checkout Get the “Heal” Homily Series for your parish for Lent: https://www.rebuiltparish.com/lent
Key Takeaways
Message series work best when leaders live them first. When pastors and staff allow the Word of God to speak into their own lives, preaching becomes more authentic and relatable.
Vulnerability builds trust. Modeling humanity from the ambo invites parishioners to see themselves in the message rather than feeling preached at.
Creativity doesn’t require starting from scratch. Faithful adaptation and thoughtful reuse of proven ideas can be just as effective as creating something new.
The Word of God does the work. Renewal isn’t about clever techniques. When Scripture is applied honestly to real life, it bears fruit.
Parish renewal happens in community. Asking for help and learning from others is not weakness. It’s how healthy parishes grow.
Catholic parish renewal, message series planning, Catholic preaching resources, parish leadership, homily preparation, discipleship in parish life, Church of the Nativity, Rebuilt Parish, parish culture change, Catholic small groups, living the Gospel, pastoral leadership, applying Scripture to daily life, Catholic evangelization, parish ministry strategy
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/
https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson is joined by Colleen Droney, a longtime leader at Church of the Nativity and a key member of the Rebuilt Parish team, for a practical and deeply encouraging conversation about making prayer the center of parish and staff culture.
Colleen shares how prayer has shaped her leadership across both parish and ministry settings, why prayer is never optional in times of growth and decision-making, and how the Rebuilt team is learning to pause, listen, and surrender together, even as a fully virtual staff. From staff-wide prayer rhythms and adoration to creative uses of technology and Bible plans, this episode offers parish leaders concrete ways to root their teams more deeply in prayer without adding more burden.
This is an honest, hope-filled conversation for pastors and parish leaders who feel stretched thin but long for deeper spiritual grounding in their teams.
Want to see how your whole parish can Grow Deeper in their faith? Complete our self evaluation: https://download.rebuiltparish.com/deeperevaluation
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Why prayer must be the agenda, not just an agenda item
How leadership immersion with Acts 29 renewed Rebuilt’s commitment to prayer
Translating in-person staff prayer into a virtual environment
Creating consistent, non-negotiable rhythms of prayer
The power of pausing and listening before making decisions
How Bible plans build vulnerability and trust among staff
Practical examples of prayer shaping parish culture at Nativity
Simple first steps any parish can take to begin praying together
Practices Highlighted in the Episode
Weekly staff prayer as a non-negotiable rhythm
Virtual adoration (“Holy Zoom”) for distributed teams
Scripture-based prayer before meetings
Staff Bible plans using the YouVersion Bible App
Prayer challenges and seasonal devotions
Ministry huddles and praying over parish spaces
Empowering champions to lead prayer without adding burden to pastors
Key Leadership Takeaway
Healthy parish culture flows from prayerful leadership. When pastors and parish teams make space to pause, surrender, and listen together, prayer becomes the foundation for unity, clarity, and fruitfulness. You don’t have to do everything at once. Start small, be consistent, and trust God to build the culture over time.
Chapters
00:00 – Introducing Colleen and the focus on prayer
00:57 – Why prayer is essential in busy seasons of ministry
02:19 – Lessons from Acts 29 and adoration
04:25 – Translating staff prayer into a virtual environment
06:10 – Creating space for silence and surrender
08:39 – Prayer as permission to pause
11:11 – Building prayer into parish staff culture
12:54 – Using Bible plans to deepen team connection
16:17 – Creative prayer rhythms within ministry teams
19:27 – First steps for parish leaders who feel stretched thin
24:01 – The pastor’s role in cultivating a prayer culture
31:07 – Why prayer must be non-negotiable
Featured Rebuilt Bible Plans on YouVersion
Rebuilt Faith - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/62006-rebuilt-faith Breathing Room - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/64604-breathing-room
Grace & Truth - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/64135-grace-truth Baggage: A Journey of Forgiveness Heal (coming for Lent)
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/
https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
parish prayer culture, Catholic parish leadership, staff prayer, adoration, virtual ministry, Acts 29, Church of the Nativity, YouVersion Bible App, parish staff formation, Rebuilt Parish Podcast, prayer in ministry
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
Thursday Feb 05, 2026
In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Tom Corcoran returns to the studio with Melissa Wilkinson to reflect on how God has been opening unexpected doors through Rebuilt Parish. Their conversation centers on Rebuilt’s growing partnership with YouVersion, the global reach of the Bible App, and what it looks like to move forward in faith while trusting God with the results.
Tom shares a leadership reflection rooted in Exodus, exploring the tension between waiting on God and taking faithful action. Together, Tom and Melissa unpack how Rebuilt’s Bible plans are now reaching tens of thousands of people across the world, how parishes can repurpose message series for deeper daily engagement, and why holy discontent can be a gift rather than a flaw in parish leadership.
The episode also includes reflections from the YouVersion Beyond a Billion celebration, powerful reminders about sowing seeds even when we never see the harvest, and encouragement for pastors and parish leaders to keep preaching, teaching, and creating with faithfulness and hope.
Want to see how your whole parish can Grow Deeper in their faith? Complete our self evaluation: https://download.rebuiltparish.com/deeperevaluation
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
How Rebuilt Parish became a content partner with YouVersion
Why leadership often requires movement before clarity
The global impact of Rebuilt Bible plans across 150+ countries
How parishes can extend Sunday messages into daily discipleship
A reflection on holy discontent and perseverance in ministry
Takeaways from the Beyond a Billion worship celebration
Why sowing seeds faithfully matters, even when fruit feels slow
Featured Rebuilt Bible Plans on YouVersion
Rebuilt Faith - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/62006-rebuilt-faith
Breathing Room - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/64604-breathing-room
Grace & Truth - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/64135-grace-truth
Baggage: A Journey of Forgiveness
Heal (coming for Lent)
These plans can be used individually, in small groups, or alongside your parish message series to create daily spiritual touchpoints beyond the weekend.
Key Leadership Takeaway
Faithful leadership lives in the tension between trust and action. God opens seas, but He often asks us to step forward first. Whether you’re leading a parish, preaching a message, or building ministry systems, the call is the same: keep sowing seeds, keep moving forward, and trust God with the growth.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and episode overview
01:24 – Doors God has opened through Rebuilt Parish
03:12 – Leadership, Exodus, and moving forward in faith
05:31 – How the YouVersion partnership began
12:48 – What the Bible App is and why it matters
14:38 – Global reach of Rebuilt Bible plans
17:45 – Using Bible plans for parish discipleship
19:48 – Reflections from the Beyond a Billion celebration
24:04 – The parable of the sower and ministry perseverance
29:13 – Meeting leaders and artists at the VIP gathering
33:56 – Stewarding influence without losing a pastoral heart
36:16 – Closing encouragement
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
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https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Tom Corcoran, YouVersion Bible App, parish leadership, Catholic discipleship, Bible reading plans, ministry partnerships, holy discontent, parish renewal, evangelization, sowing seeds, leadership faithfulness
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
In this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Father Joel Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Maple Shade, New Jersey. After nearly five years in Rebuilt coaching, Father Joel shares the honest story of leading a parish through significant financial debt, the painful decision to close a longtime parish school, and the renewal that followed.
Together, they reflect on how data, both quantitative and qualitative, can inform better decisions without replacing trust in the Holy Spirit. Father Joel walks through how his parish collects and reviews metrics, how a strategic plan helped clarify mission and priorities, and why courage, prayer, and clarity are essential for parish renewal.
This conversation offers encouragement for pastors and parish leaders who feel overwhelmed by numbers, uncertain about next steps, or hesitant to pause long standing programs in order to create space for deeper discipleship.
Get our FREE Leadership Evaluation here: rebuiltparish.com/leadershipevaluation
🔑 Key Takeaways
Why closing a parish school can be both a loss and an opening for new life
How attendance, giving, and engagement data can support better decisions
The value of qualitative data and faith stories alongside metrics
Using SWOT analysis in parish strategic planning
Why “pause” can be more pastoral than “stop”
How small groups, grief ministry, and youth pathways fuel discipleship
Teaching stewardship as worship and first fruits, not obligation
Trusting God first while letting data guide wise action
⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Father Joel’s parish context
02:10 Parish culture, service mindset, and closing the school
05:05 Early metrics and financial challenges
08:00 Leading the parish with transparency and courage
09:45 Collecting attendance, giving, and engagement data
12:00 Livestreaming and qualitative data stories
16:30 Strategic planning and SWOT analysis
19:50 Measuring momentum and stewardship growth
25:00 Youth, young adults, and discipleship pathways
30:20 Start, stop, and pause decisions in ministry
33:45 Reimagining parish initiatives through mission
36:40 Encouragement for leaders intimidated by data
39:00 Closing reflections and blessing
🙏 Final Encouragement
Renewal does not begin with perfect data or flawless plans. It begins with prayerful leadership, honest assessment, and the courage to take the next faithful step. Whether you are just beginning to track metrics or discerning a major decision, this episode is a reminder that God works powerfully through clarity, trust, and intentional action.
🎧 Listen now and share this episode with your leadership team or pastoral council.
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/
https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
Parish strategic planning Catholic parish renewal Parish data and metrics Stewardship as discipleship Small groups ministry Youth and young adult engagement Financial leadership in parishes Rebuilt coaching
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Ron Huntley from Huntley Leadership returns to the Rebuilt Parish podcast to share the heart behind his new book, The Road to Renewal. Ron and Melissa talk about why renewal stories matter right now, why the problems facing the Church are often the same across the world, and what it takes to build leadership teams that actually move a parish forward. You will hear practical frameworks, honest behind the scenes moments, and a clear reminder that renewal is impossible without a real dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Key Takeaways
How this book began as a prompting in prayer while Ron was on vacation, and why he let go of a different book he had planned to write
Why a multi author book helps dismantle the objection: “That works there, but not here”
Why “feeling it” is often the spark that launches renewal, and how Nativity’s story helped set the tone
Why prayer is not a box to check, but a culture of reliance on the Holy Spirit
Ron’s coaching framework for the five phases of missional momentum, including the reality of the “danger zone”
What healthy leadership looks like: honesty, emotional maturity, shared responsibility, and healthy conflict
A behind the scenes leadership meeting story that turned into a surprising witness to visiting priests
Why pastors should not walk the road alone, and what changes when shared leadership becomes real
Why self awareness tools and gift based teams matter for ministry alignment
A frank conversation about diocesan culture and the call to be peacemakers, not critics
Links and Resources
Huntley Leadership: HuntleyLeadership.com
Ron Huntley’s new book, Road to Renewal: https://a.co/d/1yorrO6
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Introducing The Road to Renewal
01:00 Why This Book, Why Now
02:20 The Church’s Pioneers and the Power of Shared Stories
04:25 Collaboration Over Competition
06:15 Leadership Is Ownership
07:45 Recognizing Gifts and Divine Providence
09:40 Why the Book Begins With Feeling It
12:00 Repetition, Perspective, and Shared Themes
14:00 The Same Problems Everywhere
15:25 Prayer First and the Work of the Holy Spirit
19:00 Putting the Pen Down
20:30 Discouragement and Holy Expectation
21:00 The Five Phases of Missional Momentum
26:20 Helping Other Parishes After Renewal
29:20 Niceness, Greatness, and Truth
30:35 What Actually Moves the Needle
34:30 The Leadership Meeting That Went Sideways
38:00 Defining Leadership in the Parish
42:30 Why Pastors Should Not Walk Alone
44:35 Building Teams With Different Gifts
50:15 Where to Get the Book
51:30 Closing and Gratitude
Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!
https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
facebook.com/rebuiltparish
instagram.com/rebuiltparish
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/
https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish
Parish renewal, Catholic leadership, parish leadership teams, Rebuilt Parish, Ron Huntley, Huntley Leadership, The Road to Renewal, Divine Renovation, Acts XXIX, Father Michael White, Tom Corcoran, leadership development, church coaching, pastoral leadership, diocesan renewal, evangelization, discipleship, Holy Spirit, prayer and discernment, Alpha Catholic, small groups, stewardship, finance council, spiritual gifts, charisms, CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, APES assessment, Alan Hirsch, high performance teams, healthy conflict, team culture, missional momentum, sustainable fruitfulness, intentional generosity, collaboration over competition, discouragement in ministry, vision and ownership