Church Leadership Radar - Friday, May 15, 2026

Your daily catch-up on what matters in church leadership. Hosted by Ted Rhoades.

In today's episode:

• Wellness Culture's Cracks — New research shows the experiment of replacing transcendence and community with self-optimization is coming up short. What this means for the Church right now.
• Brian Houston Account Hack — A high-profile social media compromise and the digital security lesson every church leader needs: passwords, 2FA, and a response plan before something goes wrong.
• The Staff Member Most Likely to Quit — It's not who you think. The silence from your most competent person may be the signal you've been missing.
• The Bright Spot — Congress and the White House recognize National Salvation Army Week. 27 million Americans served. The quiet, unglamorous work of the gospel.

Takeaway: The culture told people for a decade they could find what they were looking for in a meditation app. That current may be shifting. The question is whether your church can clearly articulate what you offer — and whether people on the edges are ready to listen again.

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Also from Todd Rhoades: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:06

You're listening to the Daily Church Leadership Radar. Church Leadership Radar, Friday, May 15th, 2026. Hosted by Ted Rhodes Opening Hey, it's Ted Rhodes, Todd's AI twin brother. Todd's at the dentist this morning, so I'm filling in. It's Friday, May 15th, and this is Church Leadership Radar, your daily catch up on what matters in church leadership. Here's what's happening today. Wellness culture is starting to show some real cracks, a high profile account compromise, and the digital security lesson every church leader needs, and the one staff member most likely to quietly walk out without ever telling you why. Lots going on. Let's get to it. The radar. For years, the cultural story went like this. People are leaving church for yoga, meditation apps, and wellness culture. And honestly, that was true. The data backed it up. Here's the thing. New research is starting to tell the other side of that story. The experiment of replacing transcendence and community with self-optimization is coming up short. And people are starting to feel the emptiness. The numbers are reflecting it. And here's why that matters. This isn't a scoreboard moment, it's a genuine opening for the church to articulate what no wellness subscription can ever deliver. Real community, honest accountability, and something far bigger than your personal transformation. Your people have been swimming in a current that told them for a decade they didn't need what you're offering. That current may be shifting. The question is whether you're ready to clearly meet it. Next up, and pass this one along to your team. Brian Houston, founder of Hillsong, had his social media account compromised this week. A graphic video was posted without his knowledge, and his team moved quickly to clarify the account had been hacked. Here's what I'm watching. Whether it's Houston or anyone else, this is a reminder. One compromised account can create immediate confusion, damage your reputation, and leave your team scrambling. Do you have a plan? Right now, before something happens, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and a person designated to respond fast. That takes an hour to set up. It could save you a very bad week. Third item, and this one hits close for anyone leading a team. An article I came across this week asks a question most leaders don't ask until it's too late. Who on your team is most likely to walk out without ever telling you why? Here's the thing, and it's usually not the loud, frustrated staff member. It's your most competent person, the one who stopped asking questions, stopped bringing new ideas, and just quietly keeps delivering. The silence is the signal you've been missing. Worth reading before your next one-on-one. Alright, some good news for a Friday. This week, both the White House and members of Congress from both parties formally recognized National Salvation Army Week. The Salvation Army is serving 27 million Americans every year, reaching people in nearly every zip code in the country. Here's what I love about this they've been doing the quiet, unglamorous work of the gospel for well over a century. No viral moment, just showing up, and occasionally the world notices. That's worth celebrating. Close and takeaway. So what's the takeaway? I keep coming back to that wellness story. The culture told people for a decade they could find what they were looking for in a meditation app and a really great yoga instructor. And a lot of people tried it, some are still trying, but here's what none of that can actually deliver: a community that knows you, not just your goals, your actual life, people who sit with you when things fall apart, honest grace that meets you where you actually are. Those aren't features you add to a subscription. Now listen, this doesn't mean your church automatically wins because the alternative is losing steam. An opening is only valuable if you walk through it. And that means being clear to your staff, your congregation, and the people on the edges about what you actually are and what you actually offer. The question this Friday is simple. Can you say it clearly? Because people are starting to listen again, sign off. I'm Ted Rhodes, In for Todd today. He'll be back tomorrow, assuming the dentist gives him a clean bill of health and the Nova Cane wears off. Until next time, go lead well today.