Josh Newell
1,000,000 YouTube Views Per Day, Digital Next Steps, and the Shadow Side of Growth
About The Episode
In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean Morgan sits down with Josh Newell, Executive Director of the Jesus Film Project, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, growth, and global evangelism in the digital age. Josh shares how shifting from a centralized model to a partnership-driven approach has unlocked greater scale and impact, especially through digital platforms that connect people to real discipleship pathways. He opens up about the challenges of leading through growth, including getting ahead of your team, cultivating belief, and learning to wait on God’s timing. The conversation also explores why animation is a critical next step in reaching younger, global audiences and how leaders can build healthy, high-performing teams by balancing vision, patience, and trust. Ultimately, Josh points leaders back to dependence on Jesus as the foundation for lasting impact.
Welcome to Episode 160 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.
Insights from Josh
- Scaling impact requires partnership, not control.
What once required fully managed, in-person processes has shifted into a model where collaboration with local churches and organizations is essential. True scale happens when leaders embrace partnership as the pathway to both reach and discipleship.
- Digital reach is only meaningful if it leads to discipleship.
Millions may engage with content, but the real goal is helping people take a next step with Jesus. Effective ministry connects views to transformation through intentional follow-up and clear pathways.
- Growth has a shadow side, especially for leaders.
Leaders can easily get ahead of their teams, creating confusion and misalignment. Vision without shared understanding leads to friction, making it critical to bring others along at the right pace.
- Belief is the currency of leadership.
You can only move at the speed of your team’s belief. Cultivating that belief takes time, communication, and trust, especially when leading large initiatives or organizational change.
- Rushing decisions—especially around team and structure—can backfire.
Early in leadership, the pressure to act quickly can lead to unnecessary disruption. Taking time to understand people and culture builds a stronger foundation for long-term success.
- Waiting is part of the leadership process.
Vision often comes before fulfillment, and that gap is where leaders are refined. Learning to wait on God’s timing shapes both character and team alignment.
- Delegation fuels growth, but faith fuels impact.
Empowering others is key to building strong teams, but the greatest leadership stretch comes when assignments require dependence on God, not just skill or experience.
8. Animation is a strategic tool for reaching the next generation.
With a young global population and shifting media consumption habits, animation provides a culturally flexible, engaging way to communicate the story of Jesus across demographics.
9. Competition and collaboration can coexist in healthy leadership.
The desire to win can be aligned with team success when leaders define winning as collective impact rather than individual achievement.
10. Lasting leadership impact comes from dependence on Jesus.
Strategies and systems matter, but real breakthrough happens when leaders rely on God rather than their own ability, trusting Him to accomplish more than they can imagine.
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 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 Josh Newell?
Josh Newell has served with Jesus Film Project for 26 years. He first joined the organization in 1998, and one year later began traveling the world as part of the JESUS film short-term recording team producing new language versions of the 1979 film. This work took him to 35 countries. In 2013, after receiving his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Josh served as director of the Marketing and Communications team, a position he held for five years. He recruited a team that launched a fresh brand strategy, positioning the organization as a media ministry for the 21st century. In 2017, Josh added co-leadership of the U.S. Strategy team to his responsibilities, working with the team to explore the use of new film content in social media. In 2018 he became the organization’s executive director. Josh is passionate about changing the world through building partnership, casting vision, and developing strategies that work in diverse contexts. He combines his passion and skills in an effort to help amplify the message of Christ’s love across the globe. Josh is a writer, keynote speaker, a husband and father.
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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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