The EquipCast

Episode 201: Where is God Leading You? An Ignatian Approach to Setting Goals

Episode  |  December 9th, 2025  |  1 hr 20 secs

archdiocese of omaha, archdiocese of omaha podcast, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, christian goal setting, discernment tools, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and goals, goal setting with god, ignatian spirituality, ignatian-inspired process, lisa kelly, living with purpose, making disciples, prayerful planning, spiritual clarity, spiritual discernment, spiritual growth, the spiritual path book

Feeling stuck and longing for clarity? I invite you to take a moment to pause, pray, and discern where God is calling you. Today’s guest, Lisa Kelly, leadership coach, author of The Spiritual Path, and expert in Ignatian spirituality, shares an Ignatian-inspired process that helps you slow down, notice what’s stirring in your heart, and make choices with clarity and peace. If you’ve ever wondered, “Where is God leading me?” this conversation will give you hope and courage for the road ahead.

Episode 198: The Key to More Vocations: Creating Safe Spaces for Faith to Flourish

Episode  |  November 4th, 2025  |  45 mins 11 secs

archdiocese of omaha, authentic relationships, calling, catholic, catholic community, catholic education, catholic ministry, catholic parents, catholic podcast, catholic schools, catholic storytelling, catholic vocations, discernment journey, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, eucharist, evangelism, evangelization, faith and culture, faith formation, fr. scott schilmoeller, jim jansen, making disciples, mentoring youth, newman center, prayer life, priesthood, religious life, safe spaces for faith, small groups, spiritual growth, vocation discernment, vocational crisis, vocations, young adults, youth ministry

Episode 194: When Missionaries Stall-out: My Clear Path Talk at SEEK 2025

Episode  |  September 23rd, 2025  |  28 mins 37 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic community, catholic evangelization strategy, catholic podcast, church culture change, church leadership, clear path to discipleship, equipcast, evangelization, faith formation, focus missionaries, jim jansen, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, parish transformation, personal apostolate, seek conference, small group ministry, spiritual growth

What happens when a parish full of on-fire missionaries still stalls out? I saw it happen—and it taught me something big: even the most passionate disciples need a clear path and a culture that supports mission. In this episode, I share why real change is worth the discomfort, and how parishes can shift from “cruise ship mode” to “fire station mode”—where mission is normal and conversion is celebrated.

Episode 192: How to Lead Change Without Losing Your People

Episode  |  September 9th, 2025  |  48 mins 48 secs

adaptive change, archdiocese of omaha, brian miller, catholic, catholic ministry, change management, christian podcast, church innovation, church leadership, coach approach ministries, coaching ministry, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and change, jim jansen, leadership development, leading through uncertainty, making disciples, managing change, organizational change, pastoral leadership, religious leadership, spiritual growth, temptation bundling, vision casting

How do you lead change when you don’t know where you are going (yet)? Today I sit down with Brian Miller, a change management expert from Coach Approach Ministries, to talk about adaptive change. Adaptive change is when you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what the solution is. It’s not just fixing a broken pipe—it’s realizing the whole plumbing system might need to be rethought. It’s the kind of change that requires people to shift their values, beliefs, and behaviors, not just learn a new skill. And that’s why it’s hard—because it’s not just about doing something different, it’s about becoming someone different. When you lead this kind of change, the danger isn’t just that people leave—it’s that they check out. So Brian focuses on the following things: keep the pace people can handle, invite them into shaping the vision, really listen to the voices of concern, and anchor the change in habits and identity. That way, people don’t just stick around—they stay engaged in the mission.

How to Choose (Part 3): Faith Formation

Episode  |  August 19th, 2025  |  56 mins 53 secs

adult faith formation, archdiocese of omaha, catechesis, catholic, catholic coaching, catholic discipleship, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, catholic small groups, church ministry tools, clear path to discipleship, discernment rosary, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, kerygmatic catechesis, making disciples, missionary disciples, parish ministry, parish renewal, small group ministry, spiritual growth

What if your parish’s faith formation is creating consumer Catholics instead of disciples? In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with my team to unpack what faith formation is really supposed to do—and why so many parishes get stuck. We talk about the difference between just teaching information and actually forming hearts and habits. You’ll hear why small groups matter, how to spot a healthy ministry, and what it takes to move people from simply learning their faith to living it—and then going on mission. We talk about launching apostolates, forming others, and becoming the kind of disciples who don’t just consume content but live it out with joy and purpose. Plus, we share some honest stories, practical tools (like the Discernment Rosary), and plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right ministry for your clear path to discipleship—or how to fix the one you’ve got—this one’s for you.

Episode 184: When God asks, how do you answer?—The Power of “Yes” with Christina Semmens

Episode  |  May 27th, 2025  |  1 hr 4 mins

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic daily life, catholic discernment, catholic encouragement, catholic evangelization, catholic inspiration, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, catholic spirituality, charisms, christina semmens, daily faith, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and purpose, holy spirit, living your calling, making disciples, personal mission, say yes book, spiritual encouragement, spiritual growth

Coach's Corner 20: Healthy Roots Equal Abundant Fruits – Church Growth Explained

Episode  |  May 13th, 2025  |  8 mins 16 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, church community, church growth, church leadership, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, fruit tree metaphor, healthy ministries, making disciples, ministry success, missionary discipleship, parish ministry, root and branches, spiritual growth, vibrant church

What’s the one thing that can produce lasting fruit in our parish ministries? If we want to see real growth in areas like attendance, vocations, and community life, we must focus on making and maturing disciples. There are no shortcuts—superficial fixes won’t yield lasting change. True fruitfulness comes from healthy individuals, thriving ministries, and a clear vision rooted in mission. In this episode, I break it all down using the metaphor of a fruit tree—and show why discipleship is the key to everything.

Coach's Corner 19: Four Metaphors for a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 1st, 2025  |  11 mins 22 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, christian podcast, church ministry, clear path of discipleship, communal faith, disciples, discipleship, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, faith inspiration, faith journey, making disciples, metaphors for discipleship, ministry framework, missionary disciples, podcast, religious education, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, youth ministry

Have you ever thought about how discipleship is like a school, a training table, or even an operating system? Probably not—but I love a good metaphor (maybe too much!). In this episode, I share four powerful ways to think about building a clear path of discipleship as well as the importance of creating a communal context where people can grow, mature, and ultimately be sent out as missionary disciples. If you're looking for a fresh way to approach ministry—or just love a good analogy—this episode is for you. Give it a listen and let me know: What’s your favorite metaphor for discipleship? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Episode 176: How Curiosity Transforms Evangelization + A New Resource to Elevate! Your Small Groups

Episode  |  February 25th, 2025  |  34 mins 24 secs

andy dejka, archdiocese of omaha, building community, catholic, catholic ministry, christian podcast, curiosity in evangelization, deeper conversations, disciples, elevate small group resource, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization tools, faith sharing, making disciples, meaningful relationships, small group discussions, small group evangelization, small group ministry, spiritual growth

What’s the secret sauce to evangelization? Aside from the Holy Spirit, it's curiosity—genuinely wanting to know and understand the person in front of you. When you show sincere interest in someone's story, experiences, and thoughts, you create space for authentic connection. This curiosity builds trust and opens the door to deeper conversations where faith can be shared naturally. Evangelization isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being present, listening, and letting relationships grow organically. To help you do this, our team has developed Elevate!, a new small group resource designed for meaningful conversations with friends who aren’t ready for a traditional Bible study. In this episode, I sit down with Andy Dejka, the mastermind behind Elevate!, to explore how it fosters deeper dialogue. We discuss its unique four-week, four-person, four-question format, leadership requirements, and the heart behind its creation. Andy also shares his personal call to mission, including how running a stand at a local farmer’s market shaped his approach to evangelization. Join us for this insightful conversation on building real relationships and drawing people closer to the Lord.

Coach's Corner 18: 12 Tips to Revolutionize Your Rosary

Episode  |  February 11th, 2025  |  10 mins 24 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, catholic prayer, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith inspiration, making disciples, meditation, our lady of lourdes, prayer habits, prayer techniques, praying the rosary, rosary mysteries, rosary tips, spiritual growth, spiritual life

Do you ever get distracted while praying the rosary—or even, dare we say, find it boring? The rosary is a powerful tool to deepen your relationship with Jesus and Mary, a beautiful way to converse with God and invite His grace to transform your life. Join me for a Coach’s Corner where I share 12 practical tips to revolutionize your experience of the rosary and make it more meaningful than ever.