Danny Strange
Finding Fresh Vision
About The Episode
In this episode, Sean sits down with Danny from Three Crosses Church to explore how God births fresh vision in the heart of a leader—and what happens when that vision begins to take root. Danny reflects on the evolution of his leadership after seven years as lead pastor, the sabbatical that created space for new direction, and the spiritual and strategic clarity that followed. Together, they discuss the tension between patience and boldness, the challenge of stewarding legacy churches with missional urgency, and the dream of seeing 35 new gospel expressions across the Bay Area by 2035. Whether you’re wrestling with vision, longing for renewal, or wondering if it’s time for something new, this conversation will stir your soul.
Welcome to Episode 133 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.
Insights from Danny
- Clarity Comes Through Rhythm, Not Panic
Danny didn’t rush his vision. He waited, prayed, and created margin, especially through a sabbatical. That patience set the stage for clarity to surface without burnout or anxiety. - Your Past May Be Preparation in Disguise
The vision God stirred in Danny was not brand new. It had been planted in him 15 years prior—and God simply brought it back into the light. Leaders, don’t overlook old dreams. Sometimes they just need to marinate. - Healthy Teams Are the Launchpad for Bold Vision
Danny was able to dream because his church was healthy. Fires weren’t raging, and his team was strong. Vision doesn’t grow in chaos—it grows in a culture of trust, empowerment, and readiness. - Real Vision Includes Real Burden
This wasn’t just an exciting idea—it was a weight. As Danny looked across the East Bay, he saw both the spiritual opportunity and the massive gap in gospel access. He didn’t want to just preserve old church buildings—he wanted to reclaim ground for the Kingdom. - Vision Without People Isn’t Vision Yet
Danny noted that vision becomes reality when God raises up leaders—financial supporters, church planters, pastors, creatives, and even baristas for local hubs. Without people, vision stays theory.
Episode Links
If you’re a leader approaching a succession or transition, or maybe you’re a few years in and beginning to see how complex transitions leadership is… go to The Art of Pastoral Succession and check out my brand new course in partnership with Carey Nieuwhof.
Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon? Check out our cohorts and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/
Who is Danny Strange?
Danny Strange leads 3Crosses Church in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he has been serving as Senior Pastor since 2019. His journey with 3Crosses began much earlier—he was saved there as a high school student in 1997 when classmates prayed for him daily and persistently invited him to youth group. Danny heard God’s unexpected call to ministry while applying to business school at UC Berkeley, and he hasn’t looked back since. After joining the 3Crosses staff in 2000, Danny served in various capacities including 10 years in Student Ministries before transitioning to Family Pastor and Executive Pastor roles. His education includes a BA in Sociology from UC Berkeley, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Western Seminary, where his dissertation merged the fields of Story Formation with Expository Preaching—research inspired by a lead storyboarder from Pixar who attended his church. Danny and his wife Jessica have been married since 2003 and are raising six children together: four biological boys ranging from middle school to college age, and twin girls they adopted through the foster care system in their county.
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsor: OneHope: OneHope’s mission is to reach every child and youth in the world with God’s Word through the global church. In 35 years of ministry OneHope has reached more than 2 billion young people with the Gospel. Learn how you and your church can get involved by visiting onehope.net/learnmore/.
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About the Host
Sean Morgan is a coach and speaker with a national reputation as a catalyst of fresh vision. His passion is to help ministries navigate obstacles and turn them into opportunities.
Throughout his career, Sean has pioneered initiatives impacting thousands of leaders across the country. He started out serving as Executive Pastor and CFO at New Life Church in northern California.
As host, Sean gives you access to amazing conversations, hard-won wisdom, and poignant insights from world-class leaders in intimate “living room” settings.
Your Host
Sean Morgan
Leaders in Living Rooms
Craft & Character
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