[Podcast] Episode 251: Mistakes That Ministry Leaders Make with Charles Nieman (Part 1)

What if the biggest threat to your leadership isn’t failure—but comfort? On this episode of The AVAIL Podcast, Pastor Charles Nieman, founding pastor of Abundant Church, unpacks a lifetime of lessons from over 48 years of ministry. With wisdom forged through real-world experience, Charles shares the most common (and costly) mistakes leaders make—from entitlement to ego to neglecting personal growth. If you're ready to lead with humility, resilience, and long-term faithfulness, this conversation is your roadmap.

00:00 Introduction with Charles Nieman

2:53 List of mistakes that leaders make

5:28 Mistake #1: Treating people as resources

10:12 Mistake #2: Expecting commitment you don’t make yourself

15:01 Mistake #3: Disrespecting others' time

18:04 Mistake #4: You don’t continue to get better

22:11 Mistake #5: Living with a sense of entitlement

29:03 Mistake #6: Forgetting you are the face of the church

34:00 Finding Charles and grabbing resources

35:29 AVAIL Journal

35:57 Final words