On this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Doug and Erin sit down with Sean Kelly, Lead Pastor of Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, Indiana, for a candid conversation about succession, silos, and what it really takes to bring alignment back to a growing church.

Sean shares his journey in Ohio to stepping into a historic, multi-generational church, navigating a leadership transition. Together, they unpack why churches drift into siloed ministry, how misalignment slowly creeps in, and what practical leaders can do to realign their staff, systems, and preaching around the Great Commission.

From staff trust-building tools like the “Four Helpfuls,” to cross-functional VIP teams, to using preaching as a catalyst for radical alignment, this episode is full of actionable insight for senior pastors, executive pastors, and church leadership teams who want to move from good activity to unified mission.

If you’re leading through transition, or sensing your church has energy but lacks clarity, this conversation will help you diagnose misalignment and take your next faithful step forward.

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Timestamps

00:00 – “If we were fired tomorrow…”: why change feels harder than it is
00:22 – Welcome to the Intentional Churches Podcast
00:35 – Erin returns after a major generosity initiative
01:29 – Meet Sean Kelly: background, family, and pastoral journey
02:43 – Ministry context: Youngstown, Ohio and multi-campus leadership
04:28 – Why Sean said yes to Mount Pleasant Christian Church
06:18 – Leading through succession: what went right (and why it mattered)
09:47 – Context matters: understanding Greenwood & the Indianapolis area
11:43 – The Restoration Movement and Christian Church distinctives
13:11 – First impressions: culture, DNA, and early warning signs
16:47 – Why silos form—and how leaders unknowingly reinforce them
18:02 – The “Four Helpfuls” tool: right, wrong, missing, confused
21:49 – From good to great: aligning people, roles, and accountability
24:07 – What is a VIP (Very Important Project)?
26:45 – Building alignment through cross-functional teams
29:01 – Low-hanging fruit and momentum-building wins
30:08 – Using preaching to drive Radical Alignment (Erin’s approach)
34:23 – Sean’s preaching framework: mission-anchored sermons
37:21 – Aligning ministry programs with the pulpit
39:02 – Discernment rhythms and organizational focus
42:34 – Final encouragement + Radical Alignment book mention

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

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