Leading By Following Episode 1: Pastor John Dukes
Leadership transitions in churches can be (almost always are) challenging. Why? Because change is hard.
Jody longs to love Jesus more.
Serving as Lead Pastor of Chapin Christian Community Church [formerly Chapin United Methodist Church] in Chapin, SC from 2001 through 2025, he watched God grow that amazing family of Jesus followers from 300 to 3000 worshipers weekly.
His focus now is to help local churches everywhere experience renewal and revival for the glory of Jesus!
Interested in having Jody speak at your church? Meet with your church’s leadership?

In conjunction with Forged Alabama, Forged Georgia, Forged Illinois, and Forged Mississippi, the churches that make up this network have indeed been forged together through various forms of adversity to bring us to a place to allow God to shape us to serve in a new era together. We believe all we’ve been through has both prepared and clarified God’s preferred future for us as we now look forward to all God now wants to do through us together!

That’s right.
Whether you’re a student or a senior adult, a busy stay-at-home mom or dad with 3 kids, a single with no kids, a retiree or a hourly employee — whoever you are someone is looking to you to get their cues about life, about faith.
That makes you a leader.
And since we’re all leaders, who we follow matters.
I’ve always tried to lead by following Jesus. I got that approach from the Apostle Paul who once said, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” [1 Corinthians 11:1]
So, check out my new podcast, where I sit down with different leaders and discuss various topics relating to life, leadership, and faith.
New episodes come out the 4th Thursday of every month.
You can listen on all streaming platforms and watch on YouTube. If you prefer reading, each episode will have an accompanying blog as well.
My prayer is that the Lord uses this podcast to help make us a little better at following Jesus, because better followers make better leaders!
Leadership transitions in churches can be (almost always are) challenging. Why? Because change is hard.
Shaking the Gates is a weekly online prayer gathering. Join Pastor Jody Sunday nights at 7:30. We invite you to engage with other Gateshakers in the text chat.
You can also listen and pray along via the STG Podcast which is released each Thursday wherever you get your podcasts!
The name “Shaking the Gates” comes from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, he said: “Give me one hundred people who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.”

Chapin Christian exists to help you connect with the saving love of Jesus, grow in full devotion to Him, and share His love with the world!