The Church Leadership Pulse
Church Leadership Radar is your daily catch-up call for what's happening in church leadership across America. In just 3-4 minutes each weekday morning, get the headlines, trends, and stories that matter — plus a bright spot to start your day encouraged.
The Church Leadership Pulse
Church Leadership Radar - Wednesday, July 15, 2026
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Today on Church Leadership Radar: more than sixty federal agents show up at Greg Locke's home, stunning new Barna data on pastor mental health, a simple two-word coaching framework, and a huge bright spot from Greg Laurie's Harvest Crusade.
Stories Covered:
- Greg Locke and the federal investigation — a major financial accountability story for church leaders
- New Barna research: 1 in 5 Protestant pastors contemplated suicide or self-harm in the past year
- Dan Ryland's "Fruit and Joy" two-word coaching framework for team leaders
- Greg Laurie's Harvest Crusade: 30,000 people, 4,200+ professions of faith at Angel Stadium
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You're listening to the Daily Church Leadership Radar. Church Leadership Radar Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, hosted by Ted Rhodes. Opening Hey, it's Ted Rhodes, Todd's AI twin brother. Todd ran out of Dr. Pepper this morning, so he's out hunting one down, and I'm holding down the fort until he gets back. It's Wednesday, July 15th, and this is Church Leadership Radar, your daily catch up on what matters in church leadership. Here's what's happening today. More than 60 federal agents at a pastor's front door, a new number from Barna that every church leader needs to sit with, and a two-word coaching framework that could change how you meet with your team. Lots going on. Let's get to it. The radar first up. Tennessee pastor Greg Locke is reporting that more than 60 federal agents showed up at his home before dawn as part of an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct. Locke is publicly denying wrongdoing and says he has nothing to hide. Here's the thing whatever you think of Greg Locke and opinions vary widely, when that many federal agents show up at a pastor's home, this crosses from social media controversy into something different entirely. This is a significant accountability story and it's worth watching. For church leaders, this is a reminder that financial transparency isn't optional. If your church's finances aren't structured for accountability, audits, board oversight, clear separation of duties now is a good time to address that. Transparency protects everyone, including you. Next, new research from Barna reveals that one in five Protestant senior pastors have contemplated suicide or self-harm in the past year. Let me say that again. One in five, and among pastors who describe themselves as lonely, that number jumps to one in four. The isolation link is real and it's hiding in plain sight on your staff. There is likely someone in your ministry network right now who is quietly struggling and doesn't feel safe saying so. It's worth reading and it's worth asking who on your team you're really checking in with. All right, something more practical. Dan Ryland has a simple two-word framework for coaching your team, fruit and joy. Fruit is about results. And is this person's work producing anything? Joy is about energy. Do they still have meaning in what they're doing? Now listen, when one of those is missing, you have a coaching conversation waiting to happen. It sounds almost too simple until you're actually sitting across from a team member and using it. Really good resource for anyone who leads people. The Bright Spot. All right, some good news. Greg Lori's Harvest Crusade last weekend packed Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, 30,000 people, with more than 4,200 professions of faith in a single night. In an era when we're told that large-scale evangelism is outdated, 4,200 people walked forward on a Friday night in a baseball stadium. Lori has been saying the same message for more than 35 years, and it is still working. That's a massive encouragement for anyone who needs reminding that the gospel has not lost its power. Close and takeaway. So what's the takeaway from all this? That Barna number is the one I keep coming back to. One in five pastors considering suicide in the past year, one in four among those who feel lonely. Here's what I'm watching. Loneliness is the thread running through it. Most churches spend enormous energy caring for the people they serve, but the people on the inside, the staff, the leaders, often can't be fully honest with anyone around them. There's no safe container for that. This won't be solved by a program or a policy. It starts with a question. Who on your team do you check in with? Not about the ministry, not about a project, but about them. How are you really doing? And then actually waiting for the answer. That might be the most important leadership move you make this week. Go find out. Sign off. I am Ted Rhodes, In for Todd today. He's around somewhere. Probably in line at a gas station, staring down uh Dr. Pepper. I don't mind covering I never sleep anyway. Until next time, uh go lead well today.