Jim Jansen
Host of The EquipCast
Meet Jim Jansen
True church renewal isn't a theory we read about in books—it’s a reality we’ve lived out on the ground for more than 25 years.
Jim Jansen’s journey started right in the heart of the Midwest, growing up a cradle Catholic in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1999, while at Benedictine College, a simple invitation from his roommate to join one of the very first FOCUS Bible studies changed everything. That moment launched an 18-year tenure on staff with FOCUS, where Jim served on the founding missionary team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and later as a team director and regional director, shaping the apostolate's foundational years of growth.
Driven by a desire to bring these proven strategies to the wider Church, Jim returned home to Omaha in 2017 to lead the Archdiocese's strategic efforts in coaching pastors and training disciples for the mission. Through those years of walking with leaders, he saw firsthand how easy it is to get caught spinning your wheels in empty parish activity. To meet that national need, Jim launched Anchor Consulting full-time in 2026, alongside hosting The EquipCast and authoring A Clear Path.
Today, Jim and his wife, Kim, are raising their six children—ranging from grade school to young adults—giving him a deep, personal appreciation for what it takes to pass on the faith in the modern world. When you partner with us, you aren't getting generic consulting; you are getting a seasoned companion who knows exactly what it takes to break through the default, stop managing decline, and build a clear path to discipleship.
Education & Credentials
- M.T.S. in Pastoral Theology – Madonna University (in partnership with Ave Maria University)
- Certified Christian Leadership Coach (CCLC) – Coach Approach Ministries (CAM)
- Author of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish
- Host of The EquipCast
- B.A. – Benedictine College
Jim Jansen has hosted 248 Episodes.
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Episode 15: Digital Church
Episode | May 26th, 2020 | 49 mins 34 secs
One thing is for sure, the digital church is not going away. Many have tasted its potential and while our buildings begin to open up, our online churches should not be shutting down. For those who want to take full advantage of the potential that digital church offers, it will require more strategy, more thought, and more planning than merely pointing a camera at your in-person events and services. Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen offer answers to questions like "Which metrics matter?" and "How do we reach the unchurched online?"
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Episode 14: Church Money - Raising Givers
Episode | May 18th, 2020 | 48 mins 4 secs
As a young associate, Fr. Lorig asked Fr. (now Bishop) Hanefeldt, “As a priest, am I supposed to tithe?” Fr. Hanefeldt responded, “You know? The more I give, the more I receive.” While he didn’t directly answer the question, he got to the heart of the issue. Money influences our relationship with God, and it’s in a competition with Him for our hearts. Most of us in ministry hate to touch the topic of money, but if we want to raise disciples, we have to also start raising givers. Jim Jansen and Fr. Lorig discus what he is going to do differently after reading the book ChurchMoney: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission.
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Episode 13: 5 Myths of Evangelization
Episode | May 11th, 2020 | 59 mins 12 secs
Evangelization has been a buzzword in the Church for the past few decades, but many of us still don’t know what it means. It conjures up images of knocking on doors and standing on street corners. We know it’s necessary to do. After all, weren’t we commissioned to “Go and make disciples of the nations”? But, for some reason it’s hard to begin.
In today's EquipCast, Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen discuss the hang-ups that many of us have when it comes to evangelization, and they leave us with a few tips to get started.
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Episode 12: The Ideal Parishioner
Episode | May 4th, 2020 | 46 mins 1 sec
Sometimes the consumer culture of the United States creeps into our parish life. When this happens, the ideal parishioner becomes the loyal customer who shows up to all the events or the person who “does their time” volunteering. Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen suggest that the ideal parishioner is instead the person who comes alive because they are engaged in the mission of the Church. The ideal parishioner thrives because they say yes only to the things that give them life. Tune in for some tips on discernment and for ways to draw others into the mission.
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Discipleship - What it looks like in real life.
Episode | April 22nd, 2020 | 20 mins 47 secs
Whenever Jesus calls someone to be a disiple, he doesn't stop at "follow me", he says, "and I will make you fishers of men." We cannot separate the call to be a disciple and the call to be a missionary. But how does one create missionary disciples? Jim Jansen spoke at SEEK 2020 unpacking the everyday experience of forming others for mission.
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Episode 11: Don't Be a Hero. Be a Hero Maker!
Episode | April 21st, 2020 | 54 mins 42 secs
Doing leadership doesn't mean doing everything, and delegation doesn't mean giving away tasks. Leadership means giving your superpowers to someone else.
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Episode 10: Why Best Practices aren't the Best
Episode | April 20th, 2020 | 46 mins 49 secs
Everyone is crazy about best practices. Conventional wisdom says if you want to be successful at anything, particularly in ministry, you need to implement best practices, but they don't always lead to success. Join Jim Jansen, Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, as he shares his insights on the topic of best practices.
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Episode 9: Post Virus Hopes
Episode | April 20th, 2020 | 49 mins 24 secs
Most of us realize that everything we're going through now will probably have long term effects on the culture and the Church. What hopes do you have for the Church when this is all over? Join Fr. Jeff Lorig and Jim Jansen share their insights and dreams for the Church that could be.