PASTOR • SPEAKER • COACH • AUTHOR
NEW BOOK
EMBRACE THE TENSION:
Choosing the Radical Middle Instead of Picking a Side
a Jesus-centered framework for people who are tired of the culture war and ready to become a healing force in their community, their church, and their world.
The church is more divided than ever. Left vs. right. Progressive vs. conservative. Social justice vs. biblical truth. But what if there's another way?The Radical Middle isn't centrism. It's not avoiding conflict or refusing to take stands. It's meeting in the middle to wrestle with truth together. It's being radical about Jesus—so radical that you embrace tension, confront hypocrisy, and love people who think you're wrong.
This is the book I needed 20 years ago.
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A guidebook for those who refuse to pick sides but are committed to radically following Jesus.
What's Inside:
✓ A framework for reading Scripture from the margins
✓ How to lead when you don't fit either political camp
✓ The theology of embracing tension instead of tribal thinking
✓ Practical steps for building authentic community
✓ Real stories from 25+ years in the trenches
MEET TOMMY
The Future Is Here—And It Demands Leaders Who Can Navigate the Tension
Tommy Nixon helps leaders move beyond tribal thinking to embrace a radical way of following Jesus.
Author of Embrace the Tension: The Radical Middle (IVP, Sept 2026) | CEO of Urban Youth Workers Institute | Host of The Future Is Here & The Radical Middle podcasts | 25+ years in urban ministry | Thousands of leaders trained | $25M+ raised for Kingdom work
I've walked the path between worlds for 25+ years—too liberal for conservatives, too conservative for liberals. I've led in urban contexts, trained thousands of leaders, and discovered that the best way forward isn't picking a side. It's radically following Jesus by embracing tension instead of avoiding it. If you're tired of polarization, exhausted by culture wars, and searching for a path that actually works—you're in the right place.
How Tommy Helps
Leaders & Organizations Grow
Clarity. Strategy. Leadership that lasts.
Speaking & Keynotes
Transform Your Event.
Strengthen Your People.
I’ve Spent 25+ Years Leading in the Tension
Too liberal for some. Too conservative for others.
That’s been my reality for a long time.
But what I’ve learned is this:
the way forward isn’t picking a side—
it’s radically following Jesus in the middle of it.
I’ve spent decades in urban ministry, training leaders, and helping organizations navigate real complexity—not just talk about it.
When I come speak, I’m not bringing hype.
I’m bringing truth that holds up in real life.
Topics I Speak On:
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Leading beyond polarization
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Building multi-ethnic ministry that works
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Sustainable leadership in high-pressure environments
For Churches:
If you’re looking for someone to open Scripture in a way that’s clear, grounded, and relevant for your people—I’d be honored to serve your church.
If you’re ready to lead with clarity in a divided world—let’s talk.
Let’s build something that actually lasts.
Position Your Organization for What’s Next
The future is young, urban, and multi-ethnic.
The question is—are you ready for it?
For over two decades, I’ve helped churches and organizations navigate real-world complexity—demographic shifts, cultural tension, and the challenge of reaching the next generation.
This isn’t theory.
It’s practical, lived experience—paired with strategy that actually works.
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What We Do Together:
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Honest assessment of where you are and what’s changing
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A clear roadmap for engaging the next generation
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Fundraising and sustainability strategies that support the mission
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Practical steps to implement—not just ideas to discuss
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Frameworks for leading across culture with intelligence and humility
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Guidance for leadership transitions and long-term health
If you’re feeling the pressure of what’s changing—but aren’t sure how to respond—this is where we start.
COACHING & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Become the Leader You Were Created to Be
Leadership today is complex.
Many leaders feel stuck between worlds—
burned out by the work, carrying more than they can hold,
or navigating tensions that don’t have easy answers.
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That’s where coaching comes in.
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I work with leaders to build clarity, resilience, and a way of leading that’s sustainable—not just effective for a season.
(Certified through the Center for Advanced Coaching)
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Focus Areas:
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Identity beyond impact — who you are, not just what you produce
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Sustainable leadership in under-resourced environments
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Navigating polarization and competing pressures
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Strengthening teams, culture, and organizational health
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You don’t have to carry it alone.
There’s a better way to lead—and to live while doing it.
The word “RADICAL” is often imbued with negative connotation, and you can’t blame those who are uncomfortable with this three-syllable word. But we want to begin to reclaim it because #JesusChrist was a radical in all he preached and accomplished. Likewise, we have to be radical in our faith. No, residing in the ‘Radical Middle” does not mean being staunchly indifferent and passive to the matters that plague our world. Rather, it means being radical enough in our faith in Christ so that navigating those traditionally unapproachable topics, within the Church, become approachable. This is what we want to accomplish with “The Radical Middle,”
While it’s a fun and light-hearted show, it is also challenging and provocative. It gets in the dirty, messy spaces of tension that the Church tends to turn a blind eye to. But here’s the thing, Christ calls into us these spaces. Maybe you have realized in your journey that there is much more nuance to the world and to following Christ, that things are not always either/or but both. That’s an odd feeling to navigate, but this space is for you. I invite you to jump into the Radical Middle friends... Enjoy!
Imagine a vibrant movement of passionate urban youth that are living out the Gospel in cities around the world and leading the next revival and iteration of the Church. The time for that is now. We welcome you to The Future Is Here Podcast where UYWI's CEO Tommy Nixon, along with many relevant leading voices, dive deep into what the future of the church looks like—future that is here, young, multi-ethnic, and a reflection of God's Kingdom.
Subscribe & Listen To The Latest Episode: iTunes , Stitcher , Google Podcast , Spotify