Season TWO:
40 Lessons From 40 Years in ministry
Honest conversations & practical insights from Tim Steven’s 40 years in ministry.
Tune into
the leadingsmart podcast
This year marks 40 years since I started full-time ministry. So for Season 2 of the LeadingSmart Podcast, Holly and I decided to take a look back. Not to reminisce (okay, maybe a little), but to reflect on the lessons I’ve picked up along the way—some the easy way, most the hard way.
Tune in for the mistakes I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.
“With 40 years of ministry under my belt, I’ve found myself reflecting. Not just on memories, but on the patterns, themes, and hard-won truths that have carried me through. The lessons that stuck. The ones I wish I had learned sooner.”
Meet Your Hosts
meet Tim Stevens
Church leadership coach, author, and the guy who helped a cornfield church grow to 6,000 strong. He’s led at Granger, rebuilt at Willow Creek, and shaped hiring strategy at Vanderbloemen. Now with LeadingSmart, Tim brings decades of experience helping churches navigate pastoral succession and leadership transitions with clarity and heart.
He’s written seven books, loves Notre Dame football, pickleball, and road trips with his wife of 35 years. He’s got four adult kids, a son-in-law, and a borderline zoo of grandpets. Buckle up—this podcast is where smart leadership meets real-life ministry.
meet Holly Tate
Executive coach, growth strategist, and passionate champion for ministry leaders. With over a decade of experience, Holly has helped churches and organizations turn potential into performance.
She’s the founder of The Ready Network, a certified Working Genius Facilitator, and a Forbes Council contributor with a sharp eye for leadership and culture. When she’s not coaching execs or building strategies, she’s in Houston with her husband Elliott, daughter Iris, and their spirited pup, Scraps. Get ready to grow—Holly brings the clarity and courage leaders need to thrive.
