From Young Life to The Holy Post + Chicago Fellowship
I want my work to include inviting people to join with God restoring the world to how it was created to be. I want to be working toward the flourishing of all people.
For many years I have wanted to be an entrepreneur. To run a startup, for profit business. I just never had an idea I was passionate enough to start. (And I probably didn’t have the courage to start something totally from scratch)
I used to say I want to run for political office on the platform of nuance and acknowledging complexity. (I am not running for office but I appreciate that The Holy Post brings nuance into polarizing topics)
I want to be in relational ministry.
I want to invest in the city of Chicago.
I am unwilling to move.
I never dreamed I could do all of these at once. The combination of leading the Holy Post as CEO (Full Time) and Chicago Fellowship as Director (Part time) allows me to do all of these at once.
Decision Making
After years of wrestling with my calling, and then being presented again with this opportunity from the Holy Post, I spent a focused day of solitude seeking the Lord’s direction. I was not committed to coming out of that day with an answer but ultimately I did. These are my notes that were written originally just for Annie and I so they are honest and candid. I am sharing them with you as a window into my heart and mind.
Overview
I want my work to be directly related to joining with God to restore the world to how it was created to be. More specifically I want to be working toward the flourishing of all people, especially marginalized people.
I believe this happens most powerfully through Christians living faithfully into who God calls us to be.
One great way to do this is working with Young Life which I have poured my heart into for 27 years (21 on staff).
Another way is by expanding the influence of The Holy Post so that their voices and the voices they platform shape the future of the American church.
I was earnestly seeking the Lord’s direction for a long time and didn’t have a crystal clear answer. Therefore as Ignatius of Loyola would say, “I was choosing between two goods.”
I have now accepted the position of the CEO of The Holy Post.
Why I am making this decision:
I trust that my restlessness for multiple years has been a stirring from the Lord and not from my false self, or unhealth. I am grateful for this timing as compared to 18 months ago when I was in a less mentally healthy place and had less intimacy with the Lord. (The first time this was offered)
My reading today and a regular prayer of mine is from Psalm 51:1
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
I am trusting that the stirring is coming from a pure place.
This feels consistent with me; a calculated risk. I want to be a person who takes risks. I am clearly not a huge risk taker, that wouldn’t be true to me, but neither is being cautious.
I have consistently believed enthusiasm is a necessary ingredient for effective leadership. I have had to muster up enthusiasm too frequently for too long. My love for the mission hasn’t changed. My love for the organization hasn’t even changed. My enthusiasm for the work in front of me each day has decreased. I have worked and prayed to change that for a long period of time. Chicagoland YL Regional Director is a great job and deserves someone who doesn't have to muster up enthusiasm.
I screenshotted this quote from Jay Wright press conference on April 22nd because I resonated so deeply
I screen shotted this from from Quinn Snyder press conference on June 5th because I resonated so much.
I am leaving feeling great about Young Life. The organization and the people have been so good to me. I believe in the leadership and the direction. This is a rare opportunity to leave in this way. It took me a long time to disconnect my desire for YL to flourish with my need to be a part of leading that. I can (and do) want YL to thrive more than ever, but that does not mean I have to be leading that.
I have consistently said and journaled that I want new challenges. I would rather be scared than bored.
Developing new skills and having a more full resume creates the potential for other future possibilities if this doesn’t work long term for some reason.
The main thing that is holding me back from doing it is the fear of letting people down (Chicago YL staff, YL colleagues, donors, my kids) and this doesn’t feel like it is the way the Lord would work. .
The combination of this role with my continuing role with Chicago Fellowship allows me to still do relational ministry and still allows me to be invested in the city of Chicago. I am a relational person and will continue to find ways for this to be a part of what I do.
I believe in a “long obedience in the same direction,” and this feels like it continues that.
“A recent study found that 40 million young people raised in the Christian faith are likely to walk away from a life with God by 2050. I encounter these young people every day. In my experience, most do not reject the teachings of Jesus. Instead, they question the plausibility of following him because so many of the Christian communities they've inhabited do not seem to take Jesus seriously. The church may talk about love, justice, and fellowship, but what these young adults actually see are Christians consumed by anger, fear, and partisanship. As a result, American Christianity isn't facing a crisis of disbelief, but a crisis of disillusionment.” - Skye Jethani
Holy Post addresses two of my foundational ministry beliefs
Remaining Fears (and their antidotes)
YL has been so good to me, for me and for my family.
In my prayer time today I was struck by Psalm 81:13,16
“If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
…..
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
If we are being obedient there will be sweet honey in this season too.
Our kids not having YL camp experiences. This has been one of the most unique blessings of our life.
Kylie has had the full experience. Nick will soon not like assignments.
Nick, Rae and eventually Lucy have discovered Honey Rock.
I will miss the people. Nearly all of my relationships are in some way connected to Young Life.
Part of what the Lord (and Nader my counselor/spiritual director) has been teaching me to trust is in the deeper part of my identity. I am learning to trust that people will like me and not just my performance. (Some) Friendships will remain and I will make new ones.
Annie’s involvement with TFS has been so refreshing– we know there are great people who are not connected to YL… but gosh this has been good.
I am susceptible to flattery. Could this be that I am simply flattered that Skye, who I respect so much, wants me to come do this rather than the voice of the Lord?
I have turned down other things. I said no once to this. I have earnestly sought the Lord.
Disappointing people. It is not just the initial disappointment of others but also that I love (in healthy and unhealthy ways) helping others and the affirmation that comes from that.
The Lord has been consistently working on me to die to the approval of others.
I am afraid people will feel abandoned by me. Especially teammates in the city.
I am so pleased with the direction of the mission. There are things around diversity, equity and belonging that I used to be fighting up stream on but there is now no fighting up stream. This is now the trajectory of the mission.
The Lord has been and always will be the one providing the finances- not me.
“Wasting” twenty years of institutional knowledge and relational capital.
I had similar fears leaving Indianapolis that feel silly now.
I want to be a ministry leader– not selling ads for a podcast.
I have always been able to connect the dots between the things I do and the ministry it makes possible. Right now I spend a great deal of time and effort on fundraising, budgets, HR etc.
Skye has assured me this will be the case
I wonder if I should be involved more directly in justice or community development work.
Those opportunities have not presented themselves and generally should be led by people within the community.
This still has an impact on justice issues.
Concluding Discernment Thoughts
I am still scared. My heart races in a good way when I type this out. I believe this is what God is calling me to, but it still feels easier to stick with the good and familiar thing I am doing.
What is The Holy Post?
In one sentence:
The Holy Post is a multi media company that uses whatever medium necessary to present a positive vision of life with God in a post Christian culture.
Vision:
Expand The Holy Post into a multi-media brand where the disillusioned gather and grow into Common Good Christians.
Sharing a positive vision of life with God through whatever means necessary.
The Holy Post is nimble enough to match the medium to the message. Podcasts. Videos. Website. Events. Books. Social Media.
What is the Holy Post currently?
A multi media ministry that is run as a for profit company. The current offerings include;
The flagship is “The Holy Post” podcast that has between 85,000-100,000 downloads per episode (with a limited strategic marketing plan)
Another monthly podcast (French Fridays) that also averages 85,000+ downloads per episode
Periodic multiple week mini series’ (Jesus and John Wayne, Where in the World)
Occasional timely videos like this one on Race in America.
The dream is to expand into a more robust multi media company that includes a full network of podcasts, more frequent videos, and in person events.
If you are into sports and pop culture think The Ringer.
If you are into politics think The Dispatch and VoxMedia.
If you are into Christian news think Christianity Today but more nimble (and fun)
We also hope to add more ways to connect the growing Holy Post community (Holy Post convened civil rights tour as just ONE example)
This slide show was created two years ago when I first considered this position, it remains incomplete but gives a glimpse of where we are headed.
The revenue model includes
Ad sales
“Freemium” content (most content is free but you pay for some premium content) this has already generated 3600 monthly patreon supporters to date.
Merchandise sales
The expansion is being funded by one investor (at this time) with the likelihood that once we have proven even greater proof of concept by growing the audience and revenue that we will add investors for accelerated expansion.
Who is on the team?
The main players to date have been Phil Vischer and Skye Jethani.
Phil is best known as the creator of Veggie Tales and Skye is a well known author, speaker and former pastor. Christian Taylor and more recently Kaitlyn Schiess also co host the flagship show. Like any great team there is also a growing number of behind the scenes players in the production of the show.
I believe The Holy Post and the people they platform will be some of the most important people to shape the future of the American church and I want to be a part of that.