Influence Podcast

"Jesus is up front with us that there is a cost to following him," writes Craig Keener. "From God's side, the gift of him in him is free—or rather, already paid for by what Christ suffered for us. But we live in a world that challenges our faith, so from the world's side our faith is bound to cost us hardships. Yet God empowers us by his Spirit to maintain our witness for Christ in this world no matter what." In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Keener about how Pentecostal Christians should think about suffering. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Craig Keener is F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and author of Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life, published by Baker Academic. NOTE: This will be the final Influence Podcast of 2025. Episode 411 — the first podcast of 2026 — will drop on Thursday, January 8.   ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to

Donna Barrett is retiring at the end of this year from her position as general secretary of the Assemblies of God. Elected unanimously by the executive presbytery in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of her predecessor, Jim Bradford, then elected twice by the General Council in 2019 and 2023, she is the first woman to hold executive office at the national level in the history of the AG. Full disclosure: I am one of Barrett's direct reports. But I can honestly say that she is universally regarded by her employees, fellow executives, district officials, and ministry peers as a woman of God, conscientious leader, good friend, and great boss. In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Barrett about her unique perspective on topics such as women's leadership, the grind of ministry, and the necessity of prayer. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Barrett is the 11th general secretary of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Her final day in office is December 31, 2025. ———

"Young men are leading a religious resurgence," wrote Erica Pandey in a May 10, 2025 report on Axios.com. "Within older generations, there's a consistent gender gap among Christians, with women more likely to be religious than men," she explained. "Within Gen Z, the gap has closed, as young men join the church and young women leave it. If the current trajectory sticks, the gender gap will flip." Are churches ready to minister to the young men returning to church? Are they ready to minister to men at all? And if they are, what are the best ways to do so? Those are the kinds of question I discuss with Rick Allen in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Rick Allen is an ordained Assemblies of God minister and national director of Men's Ministries and Light for the Lost. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 30 Under 30. In 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard from

The season of Advent begins this Sunday, November 30, and ends, appropriately enough, on Christmas Eve — Sunday, December 24. No doubt many churches will sing Isaac Watts' "Joy to the World" throughout this season, especially on Christmas Eve. But did you know that Watts wrote that song to celebrate the Second Coming, not the birth of Jesus Christ? Advent celebrates both in the Christian tradition. It looks backward to the First Coming and forward to the Second Coming. It is a thoroughly historical and end-times holiday season. In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Allen Tennison about the relationship between Advent and eschatology. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Tennison is theological counsel of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family's relationships with God and each other with these easy-to

This past Tuesday, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God announced that Brad Kesler will succeed Donna Barrett as general secretary of the Fellowship. Kesler's first day in office is January 1, 2026. He will serve the remainder of Barrett's unexpired term. Kesler has been an ordained AG minister since 2000. He has served as a youth pastor in Sitka, Alaska, and a senior pastor in Juneau. For 15 years, he worked as business administrator in the Alaska Ministry Network and nine years as district secretary. Since 2024, he has served as assistant to the general secretary, providing that office with administrative and technical support. In Episode 406 of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Kesler about his life, ministry, and the duties of his new office, as well as his forthcoming book on ministerial ethics, Trusted with Treasure, published by Gospel Publishing House early next year. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is br

The goal of the Church Health Partners is clear. "To foster healthy, vibrant churches by equipping pastors and their teams with the tools, strategies, and support they need to lead effectively and fulfill their unique calling. We want to see a healthy church in every community, led by empowered and passionate leaders, making a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God." In Episode 405 of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Gerad Strong about what a healthy church is, why churches become unhealthy, and what to do to get them back to health. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Gerad Strong is director of Church Health Partners, a ministry of the Assemblies of God. He is author of Multiplication Mindset, forthcoming in [month, year] from [GPH?]. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 13: Leadership is More Than Luck. As the thirteenth general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay reflects on the powerful lega

"In many Christian theological circles, especially in Pentecostal circles, the person who has the role of pastor is the one who is supposed to have the spiritual answers, and so this [spiritual and social] shutdown [due to trauma] is counterintuitive to the position they hold," writes Dale Sanger. "The challenge for Pentecostal pastors is that they have an underlying theology of glory which does not appropriately consider personal trauma." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Dale Sanger about the reality of clergy trauma, and what Pentecostal ministers should do in response. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Dale Sanger is adjunct professor at Bridges Christian College in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Vanguard College in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as chaplain at a homeless men's shelter. He is author of When Ministry Hurts: Triumphalism and the Crisis of Trauma among Clergy, published by Wipf & Stock. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brou

"How did you go bankrupt?" one character asks another in Ernest Hemingway's The Son Also Rises. "Two ways," the other character responds. "Gradually and then suddenly." But as Mark Batterson points out in his new book, "That's also how you get out of debt. That's how you start a business, write a book, or run a marathon — and a thousand other things." "Regardless of craft or career, dreams don't become reality overnight," he writes. "Reverse engineer any success story, and I daresay it happened two ways — gradually then suddenly." In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Mark Batterson about how to succeed in ministry, based on insights from his new book. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Mark Batterson is lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington, DC, and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. A New York Times-bestselling author, his newest book is Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy, publishe

Which way are American young adults going when it comes to religion? Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Survey reports that only 45% of Americans 18–29 years old identify as Christians, compared to 54% of those aged 30–49, 72% of 50–64, and 74% of 65+. Barna Group's State of the Church initiative reports that young adults are leading "a resurgence in church attendance." Gen Z (born 1999–2015) and Millennials (born 1984–98) attend church 1.9 and 1.8 weekends a month, respectively. By contrast, Gen X (born 1965–83), Boomers (born 1946–64), and Elders (born pre-1946) attend 1.6, 1.4, and 1.4 weekends monthly, respectively. So are American young adults secularizing or experiencing a revival? It's impossible to say for sure. The only way for Christians to find out is to do the work of evangelism and discipleship. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Josh Wellborn about ministry to the next generation of adults. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Josh W

The Preamble to the Assemblies of God “Statement of Fundamental Truth” says: “The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us …. The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.” This Preamble serves as the epigraph of Mike Ivaska’s new book, A Basis of Fellowship, which contains sermons he preached about the “Statement of Fundamental Truths” at Vachon Island Community Church in the Fall of 2024. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Ivaska about why and how he preached those sermons, and why and how AG ministers should do something similar. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Mike Ivaska is pastor of Vashon Island Community Church in Washi

“Christians are called to be ‘in the world’ and ‘not of the world’,” says a new Assemblies of God position paper, citing John 17:11–16. “We must embrace our identity as Christian citizens, as public witnesses, and as salt and light,” it continues, “Believers must also maintain their Christian character while engaging in politics. We prioritize our calling in Christ and do not condone the demonization of fellow citizens with whom we disagree. Such negative conduct can detract from the mission of Christ and the aligned Assemblies of God mission to evangelize, worship God, build disciples, and show compassion.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Allen Tennison about “Christians and Citizenship,” a new position paper adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God during its August 2025 meeting. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Allen Tennison is theological counsel of the General Council of the Assemblies of God and chair of its Commission on Do

“The Assemblies of God was founded as a cooperative fellowship that honors the calling and gifting of all Spirit-filled believers, not as a clerical hierarchy,” says a new Assemblies of God position paper. “As we seek to cultivate healthy spiritual leadership,” it continues, “we must resist any drift toward positional superiority and instead affirm diverse models of leadership found throughout the global church. To walk in step with the Spirit, we must honor the voices of those God has raised up from within, not just those with titles. The nature of spiritual leadership listens, learns, and leads in discernment within community.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Allen Tennison about “Misuse of Spiritual Leadership” (also in Spanish), a new position paper adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God during its August 2025 meeting. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Allen Tennison is theological counsel of the General Council of the Assem

What is the center of Paul’s theology? Traditionally, Protestants taught that justification by faith was the center. More recently, scholars proposed reconciliation, union with Christ, and transformation as the center. In The Affections of Christ Jesus, Nijay K. Gupta proposes love as the center. “The language of love in one form or another occurs over one hundred times in the Pauline corpus,” he writes. “Furthermore, every single letter contains love language — that cannot be said for other contenders for the so-called center of Paul’s thought.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Gupta about what love is and why it may be “the bull’s-eye center” of Pauline theology. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Nijay K. Gupta is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is editor of Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.), The State of Pauline Theology, and most recently, The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul’s T

“Christian ministry includes fully supported church workers, those bivocational only out of financial necessity, and those who have chosen to serve covocationally. All should be honored, but one’s attitude makes a difference.”  So writes Richard D. Oliver in his new book,  A Covocational Attitude: Sharing the Motivational Convictions of the Apostle Paul. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Oliver regarding the apostle Paul’s attitude to receiving financial support, and how the apostle’s attitude should influence our own. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influencemagazine and your host. Richard D. Oliver is an ordained Assemblies of God minister with five decades of experience as a bivocational pastor in Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri. A Covocational Attitude draws on research from his Doctor of Ministry project at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of 30 Under

“Churches in North America face an uncertain future,” writes Joseph Lear. “Seventy percent of churches have an average weekly attendance of under 100 people, which means that should nearly three-quarters of the churches in America lose a few families, they’d face a financial, volunteer, and leadership crisis.”  “God is not done with the small church,” he writes. “The kingdom of God is still present, which means there’s a path forward for renewal. It’s not going to come with marketing campaigns and managerial ingenuity. It’s going to come when small congregations get back to the basics of worshipping in Spirit and truth.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with Lear about what he calls “slow burn revival.” I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Joseph Lear is pastor of theology and preaching at Resurrection Assembly of God in Iowa City, and director of theology and global church ministries at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He is author of Resurrect

Doug Clay is the 13th general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, which explains the title of his most recent book —13: Leadership Is More than Luck. The book explores leadership principles and stories from Clay’s predecessors in that office. “As I studied the lives of our past general superintendents, I was inspired by their timeless insights and timely sensitivity to the Lord. Though each faced his own set of challenges, placing hope and trust in the Lord was a hallmark of each former leader,” Clay writes. “We have been called by God for this moment. If we will have the humility to learn from our history and the faith to press ahead, we will see the Lord’s favor and anointing upon our Fellowship for decades, until he comes,” Clay concludes In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Clay about leadership principles and stories from his book, but also about the state of the Assemblies of God. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. ————— This episode of the Infl

“Few would argue against the proposition that Paul’s letter to the Romans is his magnum opus,” writes Glen Menzies. “Romans is an exceedingly important book. The impact it has made is literally incalculable, for it is impossible to imagine how Christianity would have developed without it.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Menzies about how to interpret Romans. We start with introductory issues about the letter and its recipients before moving on to points of debate about Romans specifically and Pauline theology generally. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Glen Menzies is an ordained Assemblies of God minister. For 27 years, he served as professor of New Testament and Early Christianity and dean of the Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is now retired. He is author of A Pentecostal Commentary on Romans, published by Wipf & Stock. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is bro

“According to research, approximately 61 percent of U.S. teenagers never read the Bible, and 74 percent don’t attend church regularly. That means well over half of middle and high school students in our nation aren’t disciples and likely haven’t put their faith in God. As followers of Jesus, what are we going to do about this?” asks Lee Rogers. He goes on to say: “Today in our nation there are over thirty-three million students in over sixty-nine thousand middle and high schools. Only 23 percent of those schools are known to have a campus missionary or a gospel-sharing club present. That leaves over fifty-three thousand schools with no known gospel-sharing presence. As Spirit-empowered witnesses, what are we going to do about this? In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Rogers about how to train students to evangelize their peers. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Lee Rogers is director of Student Evangelism for Assemblies of God Youth Ministries and is gen

“My college basketball coach, Coach High, used to talk about two types of pain — the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. In basketball (as well as life and ministry), pain is inevitable. No one can avoid it, even if we try. But in some cases, you can determine the pain you will live with,” writes Steve Svoboda. He goes on to say: “When it comes to your life as a minister, choose the pain of discipline. Live a life devoted to becoming the best version of you possible, because the greatest version of you will inevitably have the greatest impact in the Kingdom.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Svoboda about how to develop the right disciplines in five key areas of life. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Steve Svoboda is director of Strategic Partnerships for Called, an Assemblies of God ministry to help discover and equip young people with a call to vocational ministry. He is author of Rhythms, forthcoming from Gospel Publishing House. ————— This

“It behooves us as Christians to think theologically and ethically about what it means to live as humans in the age of AI and about the potential opportunities and challenges that may arise from its widespread adoption, both in the short-term and long-term future,” writes Todd Korpi. “Contrary to popular belief, technology is not acultural, neutral in its orientation, or immune from pitfalls that can harm vulnerable populations. We therefore must think ethically about technology from a Christian perspective.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Korpi about how to think Christianly about AI. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Todd Korpi is missiologist at OneHope, dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian leadership Fuller Theological Seminary, and director of Digital Ministry Consortia at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. He is author of AI Goes to Church, published by InterVarsity Press. ————— This episo