Podcast Summary: Going Big! with Kevin Gentry

Episode: Going Big with Rev. John Yates: Faith, Calling, and Transformational Leadership

Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Kevin Gentry
Guest: Rev. John Yates

Overview

This episode of Going Big!, hosted by Kevin Gentry, features a deeply insightful conversation with Reverend John Yates, former rector of The Falls Church Anglican in Virginia. With over 40 years of transformational ministry in church renewal, leadership development, and family life, Rev. Yates shares his personal story of calling, lessons from building a thriving congregation, the power of mentorship, balancing family and leadership, and pivotal moments in shaping modern Anglicanism in America. This rich dialogue explores what it truly means to “go big” in service, faith, leadership, and community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Essence of "Going Big" and Calling

• Defining "Going Big":

  • Rev. Yates emphasizes living a life of service and making a difference in one’s community and nation rather than seeking personal gain.
  • "I want to encourage people to live a life where they make a difference in the community and in the nation… try to find ways that you can serve other people and pursue them, whether it’s through your work or just through your volunteer activities." — Rev. John Yates [00:25 & 91:20]

• Calling and Self-Discovery:

  • Yates describes his journey, being expected to enter the family business but ultimately feeling called to ministry in his twenties, against family expectations.
  • He is an advocate for supporting people in finding their "calling and contribution" and pursuing it boldly. [04:49–06:48]

The Faith Journey—From Doubt to Conviction

• A Life-Altering Decision:

  • Yates candidly discusses early doubts, familial expectations, and the influence of Vietnam-era uncertainty, culminating in a year at Princeton Seminary to “get questions answered for life.”
  • Influenced by Christian youth organizations and pivotal mentors, he and his wife Susan discerned a calling to foster renewal in the mainline church. [07:25–12:31]

    "It was just like God said to me, 'I might be able to use you, boy, but you need to put me first in your life.'" — Rev. John Yates [08:20]

• The Role of Mentors and Models:

  • Mentoring is a central theme; Yates reflects on having six pivotal mentors (mostly pastors or missionaries) and learning both from their direct investment and from role models like John Stott and Billy Graham. [17:37–24:00]

    "A mentor is someone who cares about you and believes in you, someone who sees gifts in you … and he encourages you. I've always said my mentors were cheerleaders for me." — Rev. John Yates [18:07]

• Practical Advice on Mentoring:

  • Listeners are encouraged to take the initiative in seeking mentors: “If you meet someone who strikes you as ... significant, don't be afraid to introduce yourself, to say, 'could we have coffee? I'd like to learn from you.' That's pretty flattering." — Rev. John Yates [24:23]

Renewal and Leadership at Falls Church

• Responding to a Difficult Call:

  • The move from Pittsburgh to a struggling Falls Church was difficult yet divinely confirmed. The first years were marked by resistance and controversy (“putting Bibles in the pews was controversial!”), but persistent relational work and a focus on renewal paid off. [25:48–31:07]

• Vision and Congregational Transformation:

  • Yates’ vision wasn’t programmatic, but relational and practical—he wanted a congregation that was “self-feeding,” could “grow on their own,” and would become "saintly" in daily life. He prioritized youth, families, and making faith relevant for all, especially children. [31:07–34:48]

    “I wanted them to become saintly, what I would call self-feeding. … I wanted them to experience this sense of calling in life.” [31:07]

Leadership Principles & Multiplication

• Empowering Others:

  • Yates details his “listen first, lead second, then empower” approach:
    1. Listen to the visions others bring.
    2. Encourage finding a core group of supporters before launching new ideas.
    3. Lead by example, then gradually hand off ministry to others.
  • "If you turn responsibilities to others, you've got to be really sure they can do it right." [39:14–39:45]

• Development of Key Ministries:

  • Launched a robust men’s ministry, deep small group networks, and numerous other programs by empowering and mentoring lay leadership.
  • The power of prayer and community support was illustrated through structured prayer groups (hundreds of men praying for him) and his annual week-long prayer retreat for every member’s needs. [41:16–47:07]

Reflections on Family and Balance

• Hard Lessons in Balance:

  • Yates openly admits struggling with work-life balance, crediting his wife Susan’s patience and their arguments about “time together” as the most painful but formative challenge.

    “Honestly, I'd have to be honest to say that over the years by far the most, and the most painful arguments we had were about time together, not being around as much as she needed me.” [51:04–51:30]

• Priorities for Leaders:

  • He stresses prioritizing one’s relationship with God, maintaining connection with a spouse and family, and being nourished spiritually in order to serve others best. [51:30–53:30]

    “The Lord came first, my wife and family came second, and then the work came after that.” [53:05]

The Power of Community & Multiplication

• Fellows Program:

  • Yates founded the highly influential “Falls Church Fellows,” a yearlong leadership program for recent graduates, combining faith formation, vocational mentorship, community, and real-world work experience.
  • “The word began to spread. It was so helpful for these kids ... we would connect each of these young people with a mentor for the year.” [56:45–60:31]

• Planting and Sending ("The Timothys"):

  • Conceived a strategy to train young clergy leaders and send them out to plant new congregations (“Timothys”), multiplying the impact far beyond Falls Church.
  • "We would bring them in ... then we began to send them out one at a time with a group ... and the rest made it and they are, they're thriving." [62:43–67:53]
  • The approach even challenged the “fixed pie” mindset about membership (“When you’re doing something like this, it’s like pruning a tree. You’re actually spurring greater growth.” — Gentry [66:36])

The Crisis and Renewal of the Anglican Movement

• The Departure from the Episcopal Church:

  • As the Episcopal Church drifted theologically, Yates and colleagues led the parish through discernment, ultimately deciding to leave even at enormous cost—losing buildings, assets, parsonage, pensions, all “on principle.” [69:44–73:09]

    “We were quite surprised. We were very disappointed. But… what do you do? You’ve done everything you can. The answer is no. Are you going to go cry? Curse? Be angry? None of that would have been worthwhile.” — Rev. John Yates [73:09–74:07]

  • Instead, the congregation marshalling resilience, worshipping as “tabernaclers” in temporary locations for seven years, and ultimately being blessed unexpectedly by the Roman Catholic diocese and generous donors. [77:01–82:50]

    “I learned two things. I learned again that God is faithful. And secondly, I learned that if you are trying to raise money for something good people believe in, they will give.” [83:51]

Final Transition and Succession

• Securing a Future:
  • The church purchased a unique office property to redevelop as its new home within the D.C. beltway, a “mind-blowing” provision. Yates humbly guided the transition and intentionally stayed out of the search for his successor.
  • “It was a great blessing to be able to introduce him [Sam Ferguson] to the congregation that day and turn over the reins of leadership to him.” [87:00]

Parting Encouragement and Life Lessons

• Advice for Young Leaders & Anyone Seeking Purpose:

  • Love, listen to, and pray with your spouse first.
  • “Learn what you do best... Try to find people who have gifts that you don’t have. Have close, trusted friends who will give you honest feedback.” [87:27–89:57]

• On Stepping into Calling:

  • “You can’t drive a parked car. You’ve got to start move... You might as well think as big as you can and try to discern where you have passion and pursue it.” [90:17]
  • Live a life that is “helpful to other people... always have relationships with people... try to figure out ways that you can help.” [91:20]

• Ultimate Encouragement:

  • “Life is hard. Don’t kid yourself about that. But God loves you... If you’re willing to step out in faith, pray big, seek the help of others—you may end up accomplishing a lot more than you think you can… Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t be discouraged. Keep growing.” [93:33]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Purposeful Living:
  • “I would say you want to live a life that is helpful to other people. If you just want to make a lot of money and take care of yourself, God bless you. That’s not what I’m interested in.” — Rev. John Yates [00:25; 91:20]
• On Mentoring:
  • “A mentor is someone who cares about you and believes in you, someone who sees gifts in you ... and he encourages you. I've always said my mentors were cheerleaders for me.” — Rev. John Yates [18:07]
  • “If you meet someone who strikes you as, ‘gosh, this is a significant person,’ don’t be afraid to introduce yourself … If you say, 'I’d like to learn from you,' that’s pretty flattering.” — Rev. John Yates [24:23]
• On Leadership in Uncertainty:
  • “A call is not always fun. It’s not always something you expected.” — Rev. John Yates [26:10]
• On Prayer:
  • “If it’s a concern to you, it’s a concern to God.” — Rev. John Yates [44:45]
  • "You may not get what you ask for, but God will answer." — Rev. John Yates [44:45]
• On Loss & Resilience:
  • “We lost all the church buildings. We lost all the prayer books, all the Bibles, all the equipment. ... I remember my daughter actually brought a cake ... and she said, 'Welcome, it’s yours now.' … We tried to be gracious.” — Rev. John Yates [74:23–75:09]
• On God’s Timing:
  • “What I am doing now you do not understand. But one day you will understand.” — John Yates quoting Jesus (John 13), on the pain of loss and the hope of understanding in time [75:09]

Important Timestamps (Segment Highlights)

• 04:25 – 06:48: The concept of “calling,” family expectations, and discovery
• 07:25 – 12:31: Spiritual wrestling, seminary, early influences
• 14:59 – 24:00: Role of Billy Graham, John Stott, mentors, and modeling
• 25:28 – 31:07: Accepting the call to Falls Church, leadership challenges
• 34:48 – 39:45: Building an alive church for families and young people, leadership lessons
• 41:00 – 47:07: Men’s ministry, prayer for congregants, power of communal prayer
• 51:04 – 53:30: Candid discussion of balancing family and ministry
• 56:45 – 61:05: The Fellows program — vision, national impact
• 62:12 – 67:53: Planting new churches (“Timothys”), multiplication principles
• 69:44 – 73:09: The church’s split from the Episcopal Church; legal and spiritual challenges
• 77:01 – 82:50: Tabernacling, finding new worship spaces, unexpected blessings and setbacks
• 83:51 – 87:00: New building, succession, and ending well
• 87:27 – 93:33: Closing leadership advice for pastors and all listeners

Memorable Moments

• The honesty about struggling with balance and the humility in admitting mistakes.
• The story of relinquishing the church property, Yates’ children sitting on the front row in tears, and congregational resolve in adversity. [77:42–78:54]
• The “miracle” stories of people donating communion silver and $100,000 during a period of “wilderness.” [80:31–82:50]
• Yates’ wife welcoming the incoming minister with a homemade cake, embodying grace in loss. [75:09]

Final Takeaways

• Find and pursue your calling with courage—even when unexpected or costly.
• Mentorship and deep relationships are vital—seek them, nurture them, and become one for others.
• Principled leadership, even in the face of profound loss, bears enduring fruit.
• Never go it alone—life and leadership are meant to be shared.
• “You can’t drive a parked car.” Start moving, serve others, and trust the journey.

For more inspiration and resources, visit goingbigpodcast.com.