Vicar Meseret Gobena joins Tim to share his journey from Ethiopia to the LCMS, the missionary legacy of his grandmother, the growth of the Ethiopian Lutheran church, and what the LCMS can learn about evangelism, prayer, hospitality, and courage.

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Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, communicate, learn, and even think about what it means to be human. But how should Christians respond?

In this episode of The Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann, professor of systematic theology at Concordia University, St. Paul, to talk about AI, trust, technology, ethics, and the future of Christian life in a digital age.

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Rev. Dr. Mark Hoehner joins Tim to talk about Lutheran catechesis, testimony, liturgy, emotion, and why young people need more than memorized answers — they need to encounter Jesus through Scripture, doctrine, and the life of the church.

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Visionary leadership can be a gift to the church — but without feedback, healthy systems, staff care, and grounded spiritual rhythms, vision can quietly become a burden for the people trying to follow it.

In this episode of The Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Candice Hilse of Holy Business to talk about leadership development, organizational culture, and what churches can learn from healthy business practices without losing their biblical foundation.

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In this episode, Tim Ahlman talks with Bekah Buchterkirchen, author of Seeing in the Unseen, former seminary dean of students, pastor’s wife, and co-host of the podcast Truth & Tone.

Find Bekah's Book and more!
https://www.bekahbuck.com/book
https://www.bekahbuck.com/spiritual-practices-for-parents-guide

What begins as a conversation about motherhood, the Psalms, and spiritual disciplines becomes a much deeper reflection on formation, church leadership, social media, joy, and how Christians can recover gracious discourse in a divided age.

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Pastor Kevin Scott joins the Tim Ahlman Podcast for a vulnerable and powerful conversation about church revitalization, mental health, childhood trauma, PTSD, dissociative amnesia, forgiveness, and the healing grace of Jesus.

Together, Tim and Kevin discuss why mental health is still stigmatized in the church, why Christians should not be afraid of emotions, how trauma affects the brain, and how pastors and congregations can better support people who are carrying unseen wounds.

If this conversation resonates with you, please leave a comment, share it with someone who may need encouragement, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, healing, and the future of the church.

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The LCMS won’t reform until we stop saying “they” and start saying “we.”

In this episode of The Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Rev. Dr. Stephen Oliver, a longtime missionary, theological educator, Navy chaplain, and New Testament professor at China Lutheran Seminary in Taiwan.

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Stay up to date by Joining the LCMS Current!
(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent
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Dr. Oliver shares stories from his ministry journey — from parish ministry to Navy chaplaincy to decades of mission work in Taiwan — and reflects on what the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod can learn from global mission, theological formation, and humble Christian dialogue.

At the heart of this conversation is a deeply Lutheran call to repentance. Dr. Oliver argues that real reform does not begin with blaming “them,” but with confessing that we are all saints and sinners. From mission practice to leadership culture, from theological education to pastoral formation, this conversation asks whether the LCMS can recover a healthier balance of truth and love, conviction and humility, doctrine and Christlike character.

Tim and Dr. Oliver also discuss China Lutheran Seminary, Mission of Christ Network, LCMS mission dynamics, lay-led mission work, the priesthood of all believers, and the need for robust but charitable conversation inside the church.

This is not a conversation about abandoning doctrine. It is a conversation about whether orthodox Lutheran theology is being practiced with the spirit of Jesus.

Topics include:
LCMS mission work, China Lutheran Seminary, Taiwan, Mission of Christ Network, Lutheran theology, repentance, pastoral formation, leadership humility, the priesthood of all believers, theological education, mission practice, and the future of the LCMS.

Learn more about Mission of Christ Network:
https://missionofchrist.org/

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In this episode of the Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Dr. Bruce Hartung—former seminary professor, counselor, and expert in family systems—to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the Church today: polarization, anxiety in leadership, breakdown of empathy, and the subtle ways spiritual warfare is dividing believers.

Drawing from decades of experience in pastoral care and leadership development, Dr. Hartung explains why:

- Pastors today feel like they have a “target on their back”
- Political identity is reshaping theological conversations
- “Neural overload” is exhausting our ability to love people well
- And why triangulation (gossip) is quietly destroying church unity

This conversation dives deep into family systems theory, anxious leadership, and the call for Christians to become truly countercultural—not just in belief, but in behavior.

If you care about the future of the Church, pastoral health, or navigating conflict with wisdom and love—this episode is essential.

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(LCMS Current Events Newsletter)
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