MyBLVD Podcast

The Collapse of Image-Driven Leadership

In Episode 4, Kenny Petty joins us for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, platform, and the subtle temptation of being noticed.
In Esther 1, we see a kingdom that looks powerful on the outside but is hollow underneath. A leader obsessed with image. Lavish displays. Public approval. Yet deeply insecure when challenged.
And that raises the question:
What happens when public image outpaces private character?
Kenny shares his own journey—from planting the first BLVD church, to experiencing the pressures of visibility, to learning what it means for the gospel to move from theory to embodiment.
We talk about:
Why leadership without character eventually collapses
How social media feeds the desire to be noticed
The subtle shift from feeding the Kingdom to feeding the ego
What unseen disciplines keep leaders rooted
Why the gospel frees us from hiding
If you serve in urban ministry, lead in visible spaces, or feel the pull of platform culture — this conversation is for you.
Because the real work isn’t what feeds you.It’s what feeds the Kingdom.

Finding Providence in the Shadows

Everybody wants to be seen.Everybody wants influence.But what if calling begins long before visibility?
In Episode 3 of Season 6, we explore Esther 2 and the quiet, hidden formation that happens before the spotlight ever turns on.
There are no miracles. No public declarations. Just preparation.
Missie and Dhati sit down with music artist and BLVD missionary Morgan Allen to talk about:
• Hidden seasons and unseen faithfulness• The tension of belonging before visibility• Not being defined by other people’s boxes• God’s providence before the platform• Encouraging young leaders in an influencer culture
In a world chasing validation, Esther reminds us: belonging precedes visibility. And unseen formation is never wasted.
This conversation is for every missionary, leader, creative, and believer who has ever wondered, “Lord, what are You doing in this season?”
You’re not forgotten.You’re not overlooked.God is still writing your story.
Season Theme: For Such a Time as This
👉 Like, Subscribe, and share with someone walking through a hidden season.
#ForSuchATimeAsThis #UrbanMission #Faithfulness #HiddenSeasons #Esther #ChristianLeadership

Between Worlds: Code-Switching, Calling & Gospel Identity

What does it mean to live faithfully between worlds?
In this episode of Season 6, we explore the tension of serving in spaces where you don’t fully “belong.” Like Esther—Jewish in a Persian palace—many missionaries and leaders today navigate multiple cultures, languages, and expectations.
Is code-switching wisdom? Or is it compromise?When does adaptation become contextualization… and when does it threaten our identity in Christ?
Joined by BLVD missionary Brian Crawford, we wrestle with what it means to show up authentically while remaining grounded in the gospel. This conversation pushes us to ask:
Is my identity primarily cultural—or in Christ?
When does speaking truth require courage?
How do we pursue unity without surrendering principle?
If you serve in urban ministry, majority-minority spaces, or leadership across cultures, this one is for you.
Because for such a time as this… God has placed you exactly where you are.

Ep 92: The Kingdom and the Crown: Power, Ego, and Leadership in Esther 1

Power doesn’t always corrupt loudly.Sometimes it corrodes quietly—through ego, fear, and the need for validation.
In the first episode of Season 6, we begin our For Such a Time as This journey through the book of Esther by looking at leadership before courage ever shows up.
What happens when influence grows, but humility shrinks?When platforms expand, but accountability fades?
Joined by BLVD Missionary Thomas Cotton, we unpack the warning signs of unhealthy leadership, the pressure to perform for validation, and why humility—not visibility—is the foundation of faithful impact.
This isn’t theory.This is street-level leadership, lived out in real communities.
🎧 Listen now

A Season to Remember: Strength, Family, and the Work Ahead

As we close out Season 5 of MyBLVD, we pause to reflect, celebrate, and give thanks for all that God has done.
This final episode isn’t just a recap—it’s a moment of remembrance. We look back on the conversations that shaped this season: honest dialogue around urban missions, deconstruction and faith, family, manhood and womanhood, loss and resilience, and the beauty and tension of ministry in minority-majority contexts.
Missie and Dhati share personal reflections on the year behind us—words that defined their journeys, lessons learned through hardship and joy, and the strength God has formed in them along the way. We also celebrate the heart of MyBLVD: our missionaries—74 missionaries serving faithfully across 43 cities—whose commitment, community, and shared mission make this work possible.
As we prepare for Season 6, this episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and carry forward what matters most: staying rooted in Christ, committed to the mission, and connected to community.
Thank you for walking with us this season. We’ll see you soon.

A Time for Everything: Discerning Seasons, Stewarding Time, and Trusting God’s Process

What season are you really in—and are you living like it?
As we close out Season 5, we slow down to reflect on what it means to discern seasons, steward time faithfully, and trust God’s work even when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3, the story of Joseph, and lived ministry experience, this conversation explores the tension between planning wisely and surrendering fully to the Holy Spirit. We talk about the difference between chronos (time passing) and kairos (time redeemed), why obscurity is often God’s training ground, and how faithfulness—not visibility—shapes lasting impact.
From navigating transitions, disappointment, and delayed outcomes to cultivating rhythms of reflection, rest, and obedience, this episode invites you to stop merely surviving your season and start walking with God in it.
Whether you’re in a winter of pruning, a spring of anticipation, or a season that feels confusing and unfinished, this conversation will help you name where you are—and remain anchored in Christ as you move forward. Because every season has purpose… and none of them last forever. 

Advent in the Real World: Holding Joy & Sobriety Together

Advent isn’t just candles, carols, and cozy liturgies—especially for those doing ministry in the urban context.In this episode, Dhati & Missie step into the real tension of the season: how do we cultivate joy without ignoring the weight we carry? How do missionaries and leaders stay emotionally present, spiritually anchored, and resistant to despair when neighborhoods feel heavy, resources feel thin, and the world feels overwhelming?
Drawing from Scripture, lived experience, and the incarnation itself, they unpack why celebration can be a form of resistance, how Advent helps us reset our souls, and why Jesus’ first coming—and promised return—gives us a hope that is palpable, not theoretical.
Whether you grew up observing Advent or never heard the word until adulthood, this conversation invites you to slow down, grieve honestly, remember deeply, and lean into the hope laid up for us in heaven—a hope strong enough for missionaries, pastors, community leaders, and anyone serving in hard places.
You don’t have to choose between sober-minded and joyful. Advent calls us to both.Lean in with us.

Work, Hustle, and Holy Tension

In this episode, Dhati and Missie dive into one of the biggest shifts shaping the modern workforce: the gig economy. From serious side hustles to remote flexibility to “I need this job to fund my real dream,” more and more people are redefining what work is — including in ministry spaces.
But with that comes new tensions:
How do pastors and ministry leaders steward limited resources when staff have multiple jobs?
What are the ethical boundaries when someone wants flexibility… but not necessarily accountability?
How do we lead well in an era where 1 in 2 workers will be gig workers within five years?
And what does Scripture say about work, worship, rest, and motivation?
 
Missie brings the real-world ethics. Dhati brings the pastoral tension. Together, they ask the honest questions most leaders are afraid to voice.
This conversation is for:
pastors
urban missionaries
ministry leaders
young adults navigating calling
anyone juggling multiple jobs while trying to be faithful
If you’ve ever felt the tension between calling, capacity, and hustle culture — this episode brings clarity, conviction, and grace.

Is A.I the new tower of Babel?

Technology has always shaped how Christians share the gospel—from the printing press to podcasts. But artificial intelligence is different. AI isn’t just a new tool… it’s positioned to change the very basis of how human beings live life. In this conversation, Dhati, Missie, and Sho Baraka sit down to wrestle through the ethical, spiritual, and practical implications of AI for ministry leaders and everyday disciples.
We talk about:
the ultimate ambition of AI and what's at stake for humanity • How AI is changing writing, leadership, creativity, and spiritual formation
Whether pastors should use AI for sermon prep, discipleship, or storytelling
Where the line is between “productive tools” and “spiritual shortcuts”
Why the call of the Christian is not simply production but abiding
Why the church has historically been slow to adopt new technology — and whether that’s good
The difference between ethical use and unhealthy dependence
Otter.ai, Siri, Alexa, deep learning, automation & more
Could AI replace human creativity? Should Christians be worried?
And of course… some classic Sho humor along the way
 
This episode isn’t about fear-mongering or blind excitement — it’s about wisdom. How do we live faithfully in a world shaped by AI while still depending on the Spirit, not the algorithm?

Reclaiming Manhood: Identity, Responsibility & the Way of Jesus

What does it really mean to be a man today? In a world caught between toxic stereotypes, soft extremes, and constant cultural confusion, Dhati and Missie take a deeper look at how Scripture offers a better way.
In this conversation, Dhati unpacks a biblical vision of manhood shaped by identity—not insecurity. Drawing from Jesus’ life and character, he walks through the four anchors of godly manhood: rejecting passivity, accepting responsibility, leading courageously, and investing eternally.
Together they explore:
Why so much of modern masculinity is rooted in insecurity
How identity as image bearers frees men from cultural performance
Emotional health, vulnerability, and the loneliness epidemic among men
How strong men and strong women can thrive together without competition
The dangers of overcorrection—from soft masculinity to toxic dominance
Why Jesus is the clearest picture of what real manhood looks like
For missionaries, ministry leaders, and anyone discipling men in urban contexts, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a Christ-centered path forward.