Collective Leadership
Exploring spaces for leaders to discover, collaborate, and prepare together for God's work in the world. A series of conversations from the Metro District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, for churches, pastors, and leaders in the Metro District and around the world who are looking to impact their communities with Spirit-led leadership and kingdom values for multi-ethnic, multicultural expressions of the gospel.
Collective Leadership
Joel Koenigsberg - Spiritual Listening
In this episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast, Interim District Superintendent Omar Niebles sits down with Joel Koenigsberg, Director of Leadership Development, to explore the transformative practice of spiritual listening. Joel opens up about his personal journey—from struggling with distraction and the constant urge to fix problems, to discovering the profound impact of truly listening to God, others, and even himself.
Drawing from his experiences with spiritual direction and the wisdom of James 1:19 ("be quick to listen, slow to speak"), Joel shares how spiritual listening has reshaped not only his personal walk with God but also his approach to church leadership. He discusses the power of asking "curious questions" rather than jumping to solutions, the importance of creating space for the Spirit to speak through conversations, and how slowing down can actually accelerate spiritual growth in both individual lives and congregational settings.
Joel also addresses the unique challenges church leaders face—the pressure to have answers, the temptation to fill every silence, and the courage it takes to simply be present with people in their struggles. Whether you're leading a church, serving on a team, or simply wanting to become more present in your relationships, this conversation offers invaluable insights on how spiritual listening can transform the way we connect with God and others.
