With a focus on the balance between effective operations and mission-driven ministry, this episode features insights from Kate Wood, the Director of Operations and Community Life at Resurrection Church. Drawing on her legal background and experience in risk management, Kate Wood shares strategies for building robust systems, fostering volunteer excellence, and creating safe environments that serve both the heart and the business of church life. The conversation highlights practical innovations, such as leveraging technology and community assets, while underscoring the foundational importance of safety, security, and thoughtful leadership in ministry settings.

Catastrophic losses -- those events causing widespread, multimillion-dollar damage -- are becoming more frequent and varied, impacting ministries regardless of their direct involvement in a disaster. Zach Mize, a senior agent and partner with Lightwell Insurance Advisors with nearly two decades of experience insuring churches, explores how ministries can identify their most significant risks, develop proactive insurance strategies, and ensure organizational continuity even when disasters happen. The episode aims to empower churches and nonprofits with practical steps and crucial coverage insights to weather both expected and unexpected storms, underscoring the importance of tailored planning and strong local agency relationships.

Denise Bailey, Director of Operations for the South Carolina District of the Wesleyan Church, provides ministry and church leaders with practical advice on navigating insurance decisions, emphasizing the importance of developing strong relationships with insurance representatives and making informed choices that balance stewardship with appropriate coverage. She shares first-hand experiences in reviewing policies, handling claims, and proactively reducing risk through preventative maintenance. The discussion highlights actionable strategies to ensure ministries are well-protected while freeing leaders to focus on their core mission.

Brotherhood Works was launched to provide ministries with comprehensive solutions that go far beyond traditional insurance offerings. By uniting payroll, HR, employee benefits, background screening, and missions support under one brand, Brotherhood Works aims to relieve administrative burdens and empower ministries to focus on their core mission. Gabriel Brown (Sales and Operations VP for Brotherhood Works) and Michael Brown (Employee Benefits Producer, IL, IN, MI, Lightwell Insurance Advisors) highlight how these ministry-specific services, developed through decades of direct ministry engagement, uniquely equip churches, camps, and schools to thrive in operational excellence and compliance.

Key Points/Topics Covered

1. The Origin and Purpose of Brotherhood Works
2. Ministries’ Non-Insurance Needs: HR, Payroll, and Employee Benefits
3. Specialized Ministry Services: Background Screening, Abuse Prevention, and Missions Care
4. The Ministry-Focused Approach and Customization of Solutions
5. Access and Next Steps for Ministry Leaders

Pastors and ministry leaders, particularly those juggling multiple roles or feeling burdened by the demands of shepherding a congregation, need encouragement. Through the lens of Kimmett Bellows’ unique experience as both a pastor and an agent for Lightwell Insurance Advisors in Texas and New Mexico, the conversation emphasizes the importance of focusing on one’s calling rather than results, balancing practical safety with spiritual care, and sustaining heart for ministry in challenging seasons. Also discussed: concrete risk management tips to help leaders steward their ministries safely and effectively.

Focused on empowering churches and ministries to pursue international missions confidently, this episode highlights the importance of having the right insurance protection for mission travel. Drawing from firsthand experience and industry expertise, Jonathan Norton unpacks key misconceptions about personal and church insurance coverage, emphasizes critical policy features like emergency evacuation, and encourages ministries to partner with knowledgeable advisors. The aim is to ensure mission teams can focus on serving and advancing the kingdom, knowing their risk management needs are thoughtfully addressed.

Key Points/Topics Covered

1. The role of mission travel insurance and common misconceptions about coverage
2. Essential features and benefits of mission trip insurance, including emergency evacuation
3. Navigating high-risk destinations and understanding policy exclusions
4. Real-world examples illustrating the impact of proactive vs. reactive risk management
5. Practical advice for planning, selecting, and maximizing insurance for mission trips

The episode explores the crucial role of mission travel insurance in supporting church and ministry teams as they serve around the world. Tyler Ward (Sales Manager with Brotherhood Works) and Logan Kruse (Specialty Sales Lead of Global Mission, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company) share practical insights and real-life stories, illustrating how appropriate coverage can protect against unforeseen challenges, empower leaders with peace of mind, and honor the responsibility ministries have toward their travelers. The discussion highlights how Faith Ventures Mission Trip Insurance, backed by a specialized team, bridges practical risk management with the greater mission of advancing God’s kingdom globally.

Explore the balance between fostering a welcoming environment and maintaining robust safety and security practices within church ministries. Craig Cable (Director of Ministry Safety and Strategic Partnerships for Lightwell Insurance Advisors in Colorado, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming) addresses the practical steps and mindset shifts ministries need to implement to right-size their perception of risk, empower teams, and align safety practices with their mission. Through real-life examples and expert advice, listeners are given actionable tools to move beyond fear-based reactions and create secure, caring spaces for their congregations, and to be open to learning what you don't know that you don't know.