Power Hour | Ep. 17 | Special Guest Bambi Hoover | The Leader You Didn’t See Coming

What if the leader God wants to use most is the one nobody expected? 

In this episode of the Power Hour Podcast, Pastor Ty sits down with Pastor Bambi to talk about the power of second-chair leadership, faithful ministry, and how God develops leaders behind the scenes before bringing them into greater influence.

Together, they unpack what it means to lead with humility, serve without needing the spotlight, and stay faithful in the hidden seasons of life and ministry. Whether you’re serving in church leadership, ministry, business, or simply trying to discover your calling, this conversation will encourage you to stop disqualifying yourself and step into the purpose God has for you.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, unqualified, unseen, or unsure of your role, this episode is a powerful reminder that God often uses unlikely people in extraordinary ways.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Our Hour. I'm Pastor Kai.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

I'm Pastor Bambi.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

That's right. It's not Pastor Kyle today. He's still in a foreign country somewhere. I'm not really positive which one. And Pastor Bambi has kindly offered to step in for the week.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

I was forced to.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Yeah, that sounds more accurate. That does sound more accurate. So I thought it'd be kind of fun for many of us to get a chance to ask her a few questions, talk about some of her journey, some strengths, and just overall get to know you better, Pastor Bambi. I'm really excited for this.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

I'll do my best to open up and let people try to get to know me. I struggle with that.

SPEAKER_00 0:49

I was gonna say, you know, out of the all the things I know about you, you being open is probably like the first thing I learned about you is you're just as open as a book.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

That's right. Wear my heart on my sleeve.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

There you go. Um, well, no, I I really wanted to focus our conversation on two different things. And the first one was, man, I I think of ministry. And ministry, I think, is very similar in leadership style to a lot of other jobs. Is everybody wants to be the top dog, right? Everybody wants to be the man in charge, the CEO, the you know, the general, the manager, whatever it is, um, in our case, lead pastor. And I'll even say personally, I've I've struggled in seasons where I was a support pastor, I was a youth pastor, worship pastor, associate pastor, wherever it was, when I wasn't in the number one chair. And so somewhere I've seen you really shine as being a what I like to call second chair leader, someone that is a leader, but in that in that support leadership role. I just want to give you an opportunity to maybe talk to us a little bit about what that looks like for you, maybe some suggestions, some tips if people um want to do that. You know, maybe they don't feel cut out to be the number one, but maybe they have the strengths to be number two. You can talk a little bit about uh working for me, you know, a guy that has a lot of ideas and not a lot of uh attention to detail. Uh I just want to kind of open the floor for you.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Okay. Well, I I don't know. I'm just, I think, made to be somebody that's not like that that top person. That's just not how I think I'm my makeup is in my prof professional life. I'm a licensed social worker as well, and I've gone to school and had different um opportunities uh in my career field. I've had opportunities where I have been the the director, the main, the main leader, uh training people, and then had opportunities where I just I was staff and was there to support whatever um the the leaders was doing. So I've worked both roles and I'm just someone that is okay to be kind of in the background and help where needs to be helped, but not necessarily have that drive or that that desire or need to be like classified or seen as the top dog or the top person. It's just not who I am. Yeah. And the world needs those of us. Definitely, definitely are those people. Um, I think that as far as Powerhouse goes and the the church being that that second chair or that support is has been pretty important as um I think you guys have talked in your your podcast before that you came into Powerhouse and there was already kind of a church there. Powerhouse has been the only church that I've ever known. I was saved there in 2007 under under Pastor Steve.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

You know, I was still in youth group back then, baby.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

You were in youth group. Let's go. So old. Um and uh just have kind of grown there with uh Pastor Steve as my my first pastor, and then his the succeeding pastor was Pastor Curtis, helped me grow a little bit more. Um, and so then when he stepped down and we were looking for a pastor, and you came along, there was a lot of growing that needed to be done for myself as well. Um, just because I was like, I don't know, what's this gonna be like having a pastor who is younger than I am? Pastors had always been father figures to me. And so that was gonna be a weird.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Are you saying I'm not your father figure? You're not my father figure. Okay, well, you just ruined my whole day.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

You're my father figure. I think I think I had attributed it to Pastor Steve was like my grandpa. Pastor Curtis has been kind of like my dad, and you've kind of been like my little brother. Let's go. Let's go. That's how it's been. Um, but I think that we grew together. You allowed me to ask a lot of questions when I didn't understand your your vision or where things were going. Yeah. Um, or when I just needed more details um on how we were gonna get there, kind of kind of thing.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yeah, no, that's so good. I I think that something that probably I think a good amount of people know in the church, I try to share it and those that pay attention, but some people may not know is that man, Bambi, you do a lot more than I think people realize is, you know, I get the great part of being the front guy, the idea guy. I get to share the message, kind of say we're going. And a lot of times you're the one that ends up trying to figure out how we're gonna make that happen. I like to call you the nuts and bolts pastor. And man, you're so good at just the day-to-day running things, the things that um that I struggle with, that my weakness of leadership. So it's really been a really cool situation. And uh, I think when you said you asked a few questions, I think you're underselling it. I think I think if I got paid by the questions you asked, I might be a rich man.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

It was it was a lot of questions.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

But no, I thought it I thought it was really good. And I always comment or some of you may not know, but the church, I would say is fair in the last two or three years has dynamically shifted, not just in I would say the direction we're going, but in how we systematize everything, how we follow up with everything. Just overall, I'd say, besides the name and hopefully the heart, most things have changed about the church. And you've just done a great job of not just, I would say, rolling with the punches, but really being a champion of that change.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

And I think that that speaks to uh the relationship that we developed early on, that working relationship of uh trust and respect and feeling comfortable and asking questions when I didn't understand the the why. Um I think that when when you came into Powerhouse, we were at a position where we had been without a pastor for almost a couple years. And um I got the privilege, or I don't know, I don't know if it was a privilege to um to kind of be the the person that kind of kept things going while we were doing that search. Um and so I had a lot of rapport with the people who were already at at Powerhouse.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

And uh so in in building relationship with you was and and asking those questions was able to help me understand and help sell things or help explain things to some of the the congregation that was already there who may have been struggling with some of the the changes that were happening as well. Because I mean, nobody, nobody likes change ever. That's fair. Um, and so that was able to to happen, I think, because we had that rapport and I was able to help um sell some of that stuff. And I think that that's a good quality for that that second in commands gotta have the the lead pastors um back understand the vision, know, know all the ins and outs. So you have to ask all of those questions so that you can help other people to understand who might be struggling with that change as well.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

No, I think that's really good. I I agree with you. I think it takes a lot of both humility and confidence on both sides of that because I know, I know sadly, a ton of, you know, like lead pastors or number one chair people, whether it's in church or secular world, that are too insecure and they struggle when there's, you know, there's there's a strong leader underneath them and is maybe, you know, strong where they're weak and stuff and can't handle that and don't see it as the gift it could be. And on the other side, there's a lot of people that struggle accepting that maybe they're designed to be a number two role, and you know what I mean. And I actually think the the world doesn't have enough enough number two support leaders in it because I think there'd be, I don't know, there'd be a lot of great organizations if a number one and a number two could really learn to work together. I always find it fascinating that in a lot of uh, you know, in a lot of places, like I I worked sales for a long time, and for some reason they just say, Hey, if you're a great salesman, you're gonna make a great manager. And those are very different skill sets, you know what I mean? And yeah, I think uh a lot of times people take um, hey, if you're a good number two, you'll be a great number one, or if you're a great number one, you'll be a great number two. And that's not always the case, you know. I think God designed us uniquely, and I I think that's really powerful. Well, with that said, I I kind of want to talk a little bit about the the the work up to where you are now. I know you had said you've been going to the church, got saved in 2007. Bambi, I was 17 when that happened. We could talk about what movies and what music were popular at the time, but that's okay. Uh that's okay. But uh I really want to talk a little bit about your progression into leadership. Because would you say it's fair to say you kind of maybe, maybe this is a maybe, maybe you'll think it's too strong, but I kind of think it's funny. But you kind of came into ministry leadership a little bit, kicking and screaming. Would you say that's fair?

SPEAKER_01 9:32

I I would say that's fair.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

And uh, and so now I I think you're awesome. You're you're you're a pastor at our church, you're working on your credentialing, you're about to to get uh credentialed in the next year or so uh through the assemblies. And you I would say like in this last even before I got here, because you were kind of over you were kind of leading the church uh for the two years that they were looking for a pastor, I'd say in these last four or five years, you've really stepped up in your leadership. But I know there was a lot of background behind that, and maybe some listeners today have been a little reluctant to jump into leadership, you know what I mean, reluctant to step more into whether it's the church or their work, you know what I mean? Maybe they don't feel like they're the most qualified person because maybe they don't feel like they're charismatic enough, you know what I mean, or they're not the center of attention. And I kind of want to give you an opportunity to share a little bit about that journey for you, where you started, kind of how things shifted through the years, where you are now, and you know, what that looked like, and maybe some encouragement for people in that situation.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

Okay. So yeah, kicking and screaming is a good way to do that. Um, I I'm one of those people that was constantly like, are you sure? Are you sure maybe there's there's somebody else? There's somebody else that's better. I was one of those people that had a lot of um maybe excuses. Um I I grew up and like everybody kind of had it had a past and and past hurts in your childhood. And so I learned that I maybe didn't matter or I wasn't important. Um my ideas didn't didn't matter to anyone. And so as and I learned to just kind of be that person in the background. If I could make myself hide and nobody noticed me, then I that was a success for the day. Uh, and when I started coming to church, that's that's how I started. Back back in the very back row, tried to avoid everybody that I possibly could. Um, and slowly, you know, slowly God worked on me and got me saved. And that that changed a little bit. I my very first um serving in the church was on the worship team.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

Um, which was a a surprise to me. Um because I was that person that didn't want to be be noticed. Yeah. But uh someone had mentioned to Pastor Steve at the time that I sang in high school choir. And he's like, hey, somebody told me this, and would you join us for worship practice? And I at first was like, no, I don't think so. And he said, just come come to practice. So I came to practice and remember shaking very much so. And after practice, he's like, Okay, I'll see you Sunday. And like, wait a minute, I just came to practice and so just kind of threw in there. Um, and so I was on the worship team from that point on till gosh, till what, 15, 16 years or so was was on the worship team. Um, that led also into women's ministry. I was the women's ministry director for many years. Again, that just started with a the person leading women's ministry at the time said, Hey, can you plan a game for this event? So I planned a game and that somehow led into congratulations, you are the new women's ministry leader.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

Um, and not that I felt like it was my calling, or that um it's what I need, I just felt it was what I needed to do. I'm one of those people that if I see a need, or if I see like, oh, somebody else isn't doing it, if I have the skill, then I'll I'll step up and I'll do my best to make sure that it gets done.

SPEAKER_00 13:24

Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Um, and then that's how I started in kids ministry was uh the the lady that had been teaching, I noticed one Sunday that she seemed to be up there every week. And so I asked if she needed a break. Um and she needed a break. So I started in kids ministry and is still doing kids ministry. Next thing you know, you were the one that needed a break, right? That's right. I ended up being being the break. Um one thing that I will say as as that number two, or having that personality type of just wanting to make sure that every every box is checked, that everything's taken care of. Um I do get myself into trouble sometimes where I take on too much uh too much. Take it on because I'm like, oh yeah, I can do that. Sure, I can do that. And just because you can do something, I'm learning as a grown-up now, just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean that you should or that you have to. And that's a um that's a big lesson to learn.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Yeah, no, I I've always loved the to point out to people it says that God prepares good works for you to do, but not every good work is your good work, right? So sometimes we need to let things fall so that others can come and pick it up. And I think you've you've grown in that a lot over the years that I've known you. And I just want to talk a little bit to listeners that maybe um you've been hesitant. I'll I'll say when I first came into the church, Bambi was running everything for the two years they were without a pastor. I show up, and the first thing you said to me is like, Oh, are you okay now? Good, I quit everything. You know what I mean? Like, I'm gonna sing, and that's all you get out of me. And I was like, Well, we'll see, you know what I mean? And uh even before I came watching the live streams, watching things, I could see uh how God had gifted you. I could see how uh how you were being used, and I just believed there was more for you. And so I laughed because you know, you said that, and I think it was like what two, three months later that I was like, hey, I'm looking to hire a part-time kids person, you should really consider this. You said no. And I was like, all right. Then I waited about another month and I was like, hey, I'm looking for a part-time kids person, you should consider this, and you're like, no. And then I said, I think the third time how I actually convinced you is like, oh, you don't have to do it forever. It's just do it until I hire someone else. And you're like, okay, I'll do it until you hire someone else. Yeah. I haven't hired anyone else yet, Bambi, just so you know. So you haven't known it for a while. But it started with that and eventually took on a few other things, and your your portfolio began to grow. And I what it was probably six months ago, you came to me and you're like, hey, uh, my job's coming to an end. You know, your your other job, you're working for super part-time. And I remember uh asking you, uh, for those that know our church is you know far from rich, but we do what we can. And I remember in a spot where I was like, hey, we don't have the money to bring you on full-time, but we're gonna take a risk of faith and we're gonna make we're gonna do our best and uh watched you lean into that and and and accept that. And now I uh I don't know, we'll have to rock, paper, scissors to decide who does more around the church now, me or you, you know what I mean? But uh it's it's been amazing. And so I just want to encourage you if you're somebody that's listening that maybe uh has been hesitant, you know what I mean, just take those steps. You never know where God might lead you if you just take that one step of faith. And for those that maybe see the call of God in others, continue to pray for them, continue to encourage them and continue to call greatness out of them because uh, you know, Bambi gets to hear this about herself all the time and she gets embarrassed, but I'm gonna let everyone else know here is like Bambi's amazing, and one day Bambi's gonna uh outgrow my leadership and outgrow our church, but she's gonna stay anyways because she loves you guys. But uh, I'm very thankful for her. But Pastor Bambi, I I think that's all I had. Is there anything else you wanted to add before we call this episode to a close?

SPEAKER_01 17:00

I just want to say real quick, your for any like lead pastor or lead person, your good number two is gonna be someone who's not out there saying, Hey, I want to do this, I want to do this, I want to do this. You're gonna see the calling in them. And then you have to help them realize that, hey, maybe they're called to do this. That's right. It takes a lot of encouragement because we're not we're not somebody to really jump and be like, yes, we're more, are you sure there's not a better person?

SPEAKER_00 17:31

No, that's so good. Uh yeah, and I I I think it shows itself in a lot of ways that people don't know is I think of even, you know, I I don't know when we're I know when we're recording this, I don't know when it's gonna play, but this last Sunday, I was like, I want to do churro Sunday, and we were looking at it, and you're like, hey, we don't have the budget set aside for that. So you made all the churros that we had on Sunday, and so it made it happen. Yeah, so Lee pastors, you never know, like um, you know, what what person your church might just be making cookies or something like that, that God's got a higher capacity for them, and maybe they don't recognize it in themselves, and maybe you don't know until you continue to stretch that and grow. And I uh I like to think of the fairball. Someone's paper with one, give them two. You don't need it, continue to grow, and it just kind of seems like that. So I think that's really good. Well, I think that's all we have for you guys today. I hope you learned a lot. I hope you appreciate hearing from Bandy and after Kyle will decide if you do the three before we get back.