Barna

07 | Mike Kelsey on Leading Through Pressure & Political Division

July 02, 2026

In this episode, Ashley LaLonde sits down with Mike Kelsey, pastor at McLean Bible Church in the DC metro area, to explore new Barna data on pastoral burnout — including that 38% of pastors who have considered leaving full-time ministry cite political divisions as a primary reason. Together, they unpack what it looks like to lead a multi-ethnic congregation through charged cultural moments, the difference between righteous anger and algorithm-driven outrage, and why the church must choose to be discipled by the Word rather than the world.Episode Links