Congratulations to Lead Chaplain Steve Crowder, who received the Broomfield Police Department’s Meritorious Service Award on October 3, 2026, in recognition of his exceptional dedication and selfless service to department employees and their families for the past seven and a half years. Since joining as a volunteer chaplain in March 2019, Steve has contributed more…
A Leadership Reflection for Pastors and Ministry Leaders in Venture Church Network.From VCN Midwest Director Brad Little. In leadership, especially pastoral leadership, there is constant pressure to make decisions quickly. Sometimes that pressure is justified. Urgency can be real. Crises happen. Windows of opportunity open and close. But more often than not, the pressure we…
By Dave Whitaker & Jason Lehman(Venture Church Network + Keenly) In a recent conversation between us (Dave Whitaker from Venture Church Network and Jason Lehman from Keenly) we found ourselves naming the same pattern we’ve both been observing while working with churches across the country. Different contexts. Different denominations. Different sizes of churches. Same issue.…
A Story of Church Planting, Partnership, and Gospel Impact in Goodyear Arizona.From VCN Southwest Director Steve Engram. Sometimes the most powerful stories in ministry don’t begin with strategy documents or master plans. They begin with prayer, obedience, and a willingness to step into what God is already doing. That was the case for Desert Springs…
Why would we use the phrase relationally connected and make that a value of Venture Church Network? Over the years, we’ve seen that even though there’s often a nod given to relationships, we haven’t always been very good at practicing them. We tend to focus on the central office or denominational leadership becoming the core…
This is a short article leadership for pastors and leadership teams within Venture Church Network. We want to talk about fatigue. One thing I’ve discovered, and you’ve probably experienced this too, is that we often carry many things that people around us are completely unaware of. Demands feel higher. Expectations can be unclear. And the…
A recent Barna study (2023) found that nearly one in four pastors hope to retire by 2030. For many, that transition opens the door to new questions about calling, purpose, and how their experience might continue to serve the Church. One path some pastors are beginning to explore is interim ministry. Coming alongside churches during…
Twenty-four years ago today, we woke up to the evil of the mass murder of thousands of our fellow countrymen on 9/11/2001. Yesterday, we saw the murder of a young man on a college campus. In the last few weeks, we learned of the brutal murder of a young woman on a train and heard…
Who: Chaplain David KuntzWhat: One-on-One with Secretary of VAWhen: 11 August 2025Where: Central Ohio VA, Columbus, OH Why: I was truly humbled and honored to have a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Secretary Collins to discuss the work of pastoral care at the VA hospital in Columbus, OH. We shared a meaningful conversation about our military…
Standing Together in Prayer Dear VCN Family, We are deeply grieved by the tragic school and church shooting in Minneapolis. Violence of this kind, especially against children, is both horrific and heartbreaking. In moments like these, it is natural to ask why. Yet even when answers do not come, we know where to turn: to…
Get Regular Updates From VCN
Stories of encouragement, ministry tips and helpful resources
We are careful with your data and only use your email to communicate VCN related news and information to help your church.