Leading Well

How do you stay grounded, resilient, and faithful when your identity, performance, and future are on the line in competitive sports? In this episode of Leading Well, Steve sits down with two exceptional young athletes: Christian De Vaal (New Zealand record-holding track/cross-country runner at the University of Wisconsin) and Zoe Doughty (Former U.S. Div 1 goalkeeper currently playing semi-professional football for Fencibles United). Together, they share their personal stories of navigating the high-pressure world of collegiate and semi-professional athletics while keeping Jesus at the centre of their lives. Christian and Zoe speak candidly about the harsh realities of competitive sports - from dealing with injuries and unexpected benchings to managing the friction of non-Christian locker rooms and overcoming the natural temptation toward envy when teammates succeed. Through every setback and unexpected door, they offer a powerful look at how to lead with humility, maintain Christian community away from home, and view your everyday sport or career as a primary space to serve God. Whether you are a young athlete, a student, a professional, or someone navigating an unexpected valley in your calling, Christian and Zoe’s refreshing honesty and faith offer invaluable wisdom for living well.

When you give your life to Jesus, how do you learn to lead without letting ambition, performance, or position get in the way?In this episode of Leading Well, host Steve Green sits down with Hayley Lafaele for a raw, funny, and deeply insightful chat about the highs and lows of ministry. Hayley shares her incredible story of coming to faith at 18 through a Brooke Fraser song, and how that moment set off a journey into leadership, theology, and deep discipleship. Together, Steve and Hayley dive straight into the hard questions: How do we properly interpret Scripture regarding women in leadership? What is the difference between having a spiritual gift and actually building Godly character? And how do we resist the trap of trying to force or manufacture our own success?Whether you are navigating your own calling, grappling with theological questions around leadership, or seeking encouragement to remain faithful in the background, Hayley’s deep wisdom and humour offer a powerful roadmap for every disciple.

What does it look like to step into the role of a spiritual father, and why is one-on-one mentorship so critical for the health of our leaders and churches?In this episode of Leading Well, host Steve Green sits down with his very dear friend, Paul Webber, recording directly from a brand-new studio space, Paul’s own home. Reflecting on a deep friendship spanning nearly two decades, Steve and Paul pull back the curtain on their journey together, tracking how a relationship that began in youth ministry evolved into a vital, life-giving partnership of mentorship and spiritual fatherhood. Paul shares his personal journey of faith, from making his first stand for Christ at age 12 while listening to the 1969 Billy Graham crusade over a telephone landline, to a powerful recommitment after hearing the testimony of Apollo 15 astronaut James Irwin. He also unpacks his career transition into accounting and business after a distinct calling from God, sharing his heart for using business as a tool to resource and empower the wider Kingdom."There are many leaders, but there are not many fathers. The wealth of experience and wisdom from a generation ahead is a massive resource just waiting to be shared."Whether you are a young leader looking for a voice of wisdom, or a seasoned believer wondering how you can use your home, business, or life experience to build up the next generation, this conversation is an inspiring call to step into the power of spiritual fatherhood.

In this powerful episode, Steve Green sits down with Tammie Parker to walk through a story of radical transformation that proves no one is ever 'too far gone.'After moving to Australia at a young age, Tammie eventually found himself spiralling into the world of organised crime. He shares openly about his descent into a life defined by gangs, drugs, and extortion, a path that ultimately led to time behind bars and his deportation to New Zealand. Tammie discusses the raw reality of being stripped of everything he knew, only to find the one thing he truly needed: a relationship with Jesus.Steve and Tammie dive deep into the "ins and outs" of starting over. They discuss why walking away from this lifestyle is impossible in our own strength and how true, lasting change only comes through the power of God. Today, Tammie is a man on a mission, and he shares about his heart for outreach and street ministry, his experiences hearing God’s voice, and his passion for reaching those who are currently where he used to be.

In this episode, Steve Green is joined by Adam Frost and Don Lafaele, two Lead Pastors from our Elim Christian Centre team. We begin by diving into their personal faith journeys, exploring the pivotal moments and "God-encounters" that led them to Christ and eventually into full-time ministry leadership.The conversation then shifts to the practicalities of the multisite church model. Adam and Don share honest insights into what it’s like to lead a specific campus under a wider vision, discussing the benefits, the challenges, and the leadership dynamics required to make it all work.Whether you’re leading a team or simply curious about how our church operates across multiple locations, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the heart and strategy of our movement.