By Andy Hale

What does it take to nurture young adults, sustain a thriving ministry organization and cultivate meaningful mission partnerships around the world? This week on the CBF Podcast Conversation, Andy Hale sits down with three Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders whose work offers a window into the many ways CBF equips people and congregations for ministry: Colin Kroll, Young Adult Ministries Manager; Jeff Huett, Chief Operating Officer; and Dianne McNary, Director for Mission Support Development with CBF Global Missions.

Across three conversations, Colin reflects on the questions young adults are asking about vocation, faith, leadership and belonging, while challenging churches to listen carefully to a generation navigating a rapidly changing world. Jeff takes listeners behind the scenes of CBF, exploring the leadership, relationships and organizational infrastructure that allow ministry to flourish across the Fellowship. And drawing from years of cross-cultural ministry, Dianne shares how global missions continues to evolve and why relationships, mutuality and partnership remain essential to participating in God’s work around the world.

Together, these conversations offer a glimpse of a Fellowship shaped by people whose ministries may look very different but share a common purpose. From investing in emerging generations to strengthening the systems that support ministry to connecting congregations with global partners, Colin, Jeff and Dianne remind us that the work of the church is deeply interconnected. And stick around for the speed rounds, where the conversation gets a little less official and a lot more personal.

 

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CBF’s podcast shares stories from across the Fellowship and innovative practices of those working to renew God’s world. The vision is to share ideas, stories, and innovations from ministers, authors, and practitioners.

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Sponsorship

This podcast is presented by:

  • Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work: Social workers can be found addressing the full scope of the human experience in churches, schools, prisons, government agencies, senior living centers, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies.
  • Baptist Seminary of Kentucky: BSK equips leaders through their Homegrown Initiative, offering ministry leaders training and growth that fits into their busy schedules.
  • The Gardner-Webb School of Divinity: The Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity aims to equip, nurture, encourage, and support men and women for their very best service in the Kingdom of God.
  • The Center for Congregational Health: Strengthening congregations through consulting, leadership coaching, and intentional ministry.
  • The Baptist House of Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary: Exists by God’s grace to educate, inspire, and support generations of bold, faithful servant leaders as they seek actively to participate in God’s mission in the world.
  • Community Transformation Center: Through educational opportunities, community conversations, and research initiatives in collaboration with universities and local leaders, PBACTC is at the forefront of integrating spiritual care into holistic community development.
  • Creation Justice Ministries: Creation Justice Ministries equips churches to turn conviction into faithful action with Scripture-based resources, worship guides, and community support to pursue environmental justice and care for God’s creation.
  • Dawnings: Through prayerful discernment, storytelling, and collaborative visioning, Dawnings helps churches rediscover their calling and imagine their next chapter—guided by trained facilitators and grounded in God’s ongoing story.
  • Congregational Ministries Team of CBF Global: Through coaching, resources, and collaborative support, CBF’s Congregational Ministries Team helps churches and ministers cultivate the five traits of thriving—Rooted Relationships, Compelling Clarity, Holy Tenacity, Strategic Agility, and Dynamic Collaboration—for faithful and flourishing ministry.
  • Karis Parenting: Looking for a gift for new families, resource options for Children’s Moments, or even just a beautiful book to read at home with your preschoolers? Karis Parenting is here to help. Karis Parenting is an independent publisher from First Baptist Church of Asheville.
  • Faith X: We work with congregations, judicatories, and denominational bodies to assess their strengths and weaknesses, explore missional opportunities and challenges in the neighborhoods they serve, and leverage their strengths to engage community issues. We achieve this through data-grounded consulting, training, and coaching approach.

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 Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.