Podcast
What does it look like for a church to pass the baton well?
In this episode of The Red Letter Disciple Podcast, Zach Zehnder sits down with his dad, Mark Zehnder, a longtime LCMS pastor and founder of Always Forward Ministries, to talk about one of the most urgent issues facing the church today: pastoral succession planning.
After 45 years in ministry and a healthy pastoral transition at King of Kings, Mark now helps churches navigate the complex, messy, and deeply important process of leadership handoff. Together, Zach and Mark unpack why so many churches stop, split, or stall during vacancy, why succession is more than just replacing a pastor, and how churches can pursue a better path forward.
They also dive into the growing LCMS pastor shortage, shrinking leadership pipelines, the importance of raising up younger leaders, and why the future of the church depends on reaching the next generation. Mark shares practical wisdom for older pastors nearing retirement, younger leaders preparing for long-term ministry, and congregations wondering how to make a faithful and effective transition.
This conversation is honest, practical, hopeful, and deeply relevant for pastors, church leaders, call committees, elders, and anyone who cares about the future of the church.