By Andy Hale
This week’s episode features Dr. Kara Powell, executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute and professor of youth and family ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Kara joins the podcast to talk about her new book, Future-Focused Church, co-authored with Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang. At a time when many congregations feel stuck between denial and panic, Kara invites us to rethink what innovation looks like in the church—not as a rejection of the past but as a faithful response to an evolving landscape. Drawing comparisons to the rise and fall of Blockbuster, she calls attention to churches’ resistance to change and offers a hopeful, actionable vision for intergenerational ministry and long-term impact.
One of Kara’s most compelling insights in the conversation comes when she shares, “The future is not yet written. But the actions we take today—how we listen, who we empower, the risks we take for the sake of love—will determine the kind of future we get to live into.” With clarity and compassion, she reminds us that the “expiration date for the church is not drawing near,” and that vibrant, purpose-driven congregational life is still possible. Listen in to hear how churches can move from imagination to activation—and why your community might be more ready than you think. You can listen to the episode here.
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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.
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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.