IN ALL THINGS PODCAST
“In All Things” is a podcast of the Office of the General Assembly, hosted by Stated Clerk Dean Weaver. Each week, Dean and his guests discuss topics related to the EPC and the greater Church. Episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, and many more. Search “In All Things” on any of these services.
Click the blue play button to listen to any of these audio files.
EPISODE 96: THE CRISIS OF THE MODERN-DAY PASTOR
Doug Resler, Senior Pastor of Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Parker, Colorado and adjunct professor at Denver Seminary joins host, Dean Weaver, for this new episode of “In All Things”.
Dean and his guest discuss the current condition of the post-pandemic modern-day pastor and the common struggles pastors everywhere are facing as they lead their church during turbulent times.
EPISODE 95: DEAN AND JOI WILLIAMS, RULING ELDER AND A NEW MEMBER OF THE NLT
Joi Williams, Ruling Elder at Hope Church in Richmond, VA and Professor of Applied Engineering Technology at Virginia State University joins host, Dean Weaver, for this new episode of “In All Things”.
Dean and his guest discuss her journey to become a Ruling Elder as well as her thoughts and initial impressions as a new member of the EPC’s National Leadership Team.
EPISODE 94: NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH ROSEMARY LUKENS AND VICTOR JONES
Rosemary Lukens, Chairman of the National Leadership Team and Ruling Elder for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, and Victor Jones, Moderator-elect of the 43rd General Assembly and Ruling Elder for Westminster Presbyterian Church join Host, Dean Weaver, for this new episode of “In All Things”.
Dean and his guests discuss a variety of topics related to how God is working with the denomination at the National level.
EPISODE 93: EPC AUTHOR AND FORMER MORMON LISA BROCKMAN, PART 2 (ENCORE)
In the conclusion of a 2-part conversation, Dean Weaver and Lisa Brockman discusses her path as a sixth-generation Mormon to accepting Christ as a student at the University of Utah. She relates how her decision to follow Christ affected her relationships with Mormon family members—especially after she wrote her book, Out of Zion: Meeting Jesus in the Shadow of the Mormon Temple. Brockman serves with Cru and is a Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE 92: DEVOUT MORMON TO EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN (ENCORE PRESENTATION)
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Lisa Brockman, Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. In part one of a two-week conversation, the two discuss her path from a devout Mormon childhood—including her dream of a Temple marriage—to accepting Christ as a student at the University of Utah. She recounts how her spiritual journey was influenced by Josh McDowell, Larry Crabb, and James Spencer. She also describes coming to the realization that the biblical God is the only God who will not abuse His authority.
EPISODE 91: PAIN AND SUFFERING HAS A PURPOSE (ENCORE PRESENTATION)
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Bryn MacPhail, Senior Pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau, Bahamas, and author of Purposeful Pain: What Your Troubles Achieve. The two discuss how God uses suffering to make believers more like Jesus, and how repeated pain and suffering—unlike manual labor that develops strength and durability—results in a heavy burden that only being yoked to Christ can relieve.
EPISODE 90: FORMER IMAM’S JOURNEY TO CHRIST (ENCORE PRESENTATION)
Dean Weaver and Mark Christian, member of the EPC’s Covenant Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and author of The Apostate: My Search for Truth. The two discuss Christian’s upbringing in Egypt in a family of the Muslim Brotherhood, becoming an imam at age 12, and how a journey of questioning the claims of Mohamed for a deeper understanding of Islam resulted in a failed attempt on his life and ultimately to faith in Christ.
EPISODE 89: EPC AFRICAN MINISTRY PARTNER SAMUEL SESAY (ENCORE PRESENTATION)
Dean Weaver and Samuel Sesay discuss Sesay’s journey to faith from a Muslim background within the syncretic religious environment of Sierra Leone. Sesay also describes the mission and vision of EduNations, which operates 15 Christian schools with more than 3,500 students in predominantly Muslim villages in the West African country, as well as how the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone—which has witnessed more than 1,000 baptisms in the past eight years—was birthed from the ministry of EduNations.
Sesay serves as a missionary evangelist with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone and is the President of EduNations.
EPISODE 88: TRAGEDY, SUFFERING, GRIEF (ENCORE PRESENTATION)
Dean Weaver and Jennifer Prechter discuss her journey to hospital chaplaincy, and how her ministry provides opportunity for addressing deep questions of life with unchurched people across a wide spectrum of life experience. Prechter also discusses how “longing and lament” can help people process tragedies such as a child with a terminal illness, or the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Prechter is an EPC Teaching Elder who serves as a palliative care chaplain at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE 87: PODCASTING AS EVANGELISM
Dean Weaver and Brandon Queen discuss Brandon’s involvement in the EPC’s Westminster Society, how he launched his podcast as a tool for evangelism, as well as his desire to use the podcast as a means of racial reconciliation.
Queen is a Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and host of the podcast “E.A.R.: Evangelical and Reformed.”
EPISODE 86: MINISTRY TO ABUSED AND TRAFFICKED WOMEN
Dean Weaver and Bonnie Gatchell discuss how God led her to begin a ministry to strip club dancers in Boston, and Route One Ministry’s efforts to train church leaders on how to minister to victims of trafficking, trauma, and abuse. Gatchell also describes the qualities of a “safe church” and some of the resources on trauma and abuse that Route One Ministry provides.
Gatchell is a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of the East and Executive Director of Route One Ministry in Boston, Massachusetts.
EPISODE 85: RURAL MINISTRY AND LOCAL HISTORY
Dean Weaver and Stephen Morefield discuss his spiritual path as a covenant child of the EPC to urban church planting to rural church ministry. Morefield also describes some of the joys and challenges of serving as an introverted solo pastor in a rural setting, how “falling in love with the community” is essential to rural outreach, and how writing the historical novel But the Blood: A Novel Based on the True Story of America’s Bloodiest County Seat Battle based on events in Leoti, Kansas, in the 1880s has built bridges for ministry in the community.
Morefield serves as Pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Leoti, Kansas.
EPISODE 84: THE EPC IN THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN STORY
Dean Weaver and Don Fortson discuss how his most recent book, Reformed and Evangelical, fills a need for a comprehensive, current Presbyterian history, as well as how it traces the symbiotic relationship between Presbyterians and evangelicals. In addition, Fortson describes the Presbyterian heritage of evangelistic renewal, and how the EPC may be uniquely positioned to respond to revivals such as what occurred in early 2023 at Asbury University in Kentucky. Fortson also describes how gifts of the Spirit and the ordination of women are examples of how the EPC lives out its motto of “In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty.”
Fortson serves as Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology at the Charlotte, N.C., campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books on Presbyterian history, including Reformed and Evangelical Across Four Centuries: The Presbyterian Story in America, and Liberty in Non-Essentials: The Story of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
EPISODE 83: 43RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY REFLECTIONS
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, and Michael Davis, Assistant Stated Clerk, reflect on the just-concluded EPC 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit—the “tornado Assembly”—held June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
EPISODE 82: TRAINING LEADERS AMONG THE LEAST-REACHED
Dean Weaver concludes a four-week series with the worship service speakers for the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. He and Mike Kuhn discuss how Kuhn’s spiritual heritage of a missions passion growing up in North Carolina led to several decades serving in Morocco and Egypt among Muslim-background believers, as well as in Jordan during the Syrian refugee crisis. He also describes how his experience in the Middle East illustrated the biblical definition of hospitality as “loving the other,” as well as how ITEN trains Christian leaders among least-reached peoples.
Kuhn serves Director of the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) of EPC World Outreach.
EPISODE 81: PASTORING A GROWING RURAL CHURCH
Dean Weaver continues a four-week series with the worship service speakers for the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. He and Aaron White discuss the joys and challenges of pastoring a growing church in a rural community and how White intentionally harnessing the cycles of the year for discipleship. White also previews his General Assembly sermon from 1 Corinthians 12, and highlights the GA presentations of the Westminster Society, an EPC networking group that seeks to promote confessional churchmanship in the denomination.
White serves as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in South Charleston, Ohio.
EPISODE 80: AN EAST TEXAS VINEYARD MODELS JOHN 15
Dean Weaver continues a four-week series with the worship service speakers for the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. He and Shelley Kral discuss her path to ministry from Southern California to a Lutheran college in the Pacific Northwest to Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando to Longview in East Texas. Kral also describes a vision she and her husband had for a pastoral retreat center eventually resulting in the creation of Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard & Winery near Longview. She also explains how the vineyard illustrates the truths of John 15.
Kral serves as Associate Pastor for Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas.
EPISODE 79: SHARING THE GOSPEL IN DISSIMILAR CONTEXTS
Dean Weaver begins a four-week series with the worship service speakers for the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. The two discuss Cherry Hills’ excitement in hosting this year’s Assembly. Taylor also describes his path to Colorado and the EPC from Texas, including some of the challenges and opportunities in sharing the gospel in those two culturally different parts of the country. He also relates some ways the church can address division in culture.
Taylor serves as Senior Pastor of Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado—host church for the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit.
EPISODE 78: LEARNINGS FROM SERVING AS MODERATOR
Dean Weaver and Rosemary Lukens discuss how serving as Moderator has strengthened her faith, as well as served as an encouragement for women across the EPC to be involved in the life of the church. Lukens also reflects on her enthusiasm for accessible theological education in an ever-changing vocational ministry pipeline landscape, funding for the mission of the larger church, and the importance of building relationships in ministry leadership.
Lukens, served as Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly and is a Ruling Elder for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington.
EPISODE 77: CHURCH PLANTING AS EVANGELISM STRATEGY
Dean Weaver and Dave Strunk conclude a 5-episode series on Church Planting by discussing Strunk’s journey to the EPC from a Baptist background, including how he started Church of the Redeemer and how church planting is a viable evangelism strategy for established churches. In addition, Strunk reflects on his service on the EPC’s National Leadership Team from 2019-2023 and how trust serves as a form of leadership currency.
Strunk is the planting pastor of Church of the Redeemer in suburban Knoxville, Tennessee, and served on the EPC National Leadership Team from 2019-2023.
EPISODE 76: INFAITH SERVING THE UNDERREACHED
Dean Weaver and Jerry Iamurri discuss how inFaith ministers among the most underserved and underreached communities in the U.S., as well as how the organization serves church planters with a variety of administrative support functions. In addition, Iamurri describes how governance serves mission and vision, and how his experience as Assistant Stated Clerk informs his leadership at inFaith.
Iamurri is a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of the East and serves as Executive Director and CEO of inFaith, a missions agency ministering among the underserved and underreached in the United States. He served as EPC Assistant Stated Clerk from 2017-2022.
EPISODE 75: GOD’S GLORY, GENEROSITY, AND JOY IN CHURCH PLANTING
Dean Weaver and Abe Radmanesh discuss how an established church can begin a church planting movement, based on Radmanesh’s experience at Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. Radmanesh also describes how his experience in the business world provides fresh perspective in church planting, the value of entrepreneurial skills in church planting, and the benefits that established churches receive by starting new churches.
Radmanesh is a member of the EPC Church Planting Team.
EPISODE 74: CHURCH PLANTING “PARENT, PATRON, PARTNER”
Dean Weaver and Shawn Robinson discuss how Robinson planted Clayton Community Church near Oakland, California, in 1996 as part of the EPC’s Key Cities Initiative. Robinson also describes the EPC’s strategy of “every EPC church a parent, patron, or partner of church planting” and how people loving their neighbors is foundational to maintaining an outward focus as a church.
Robinson serves as Pastor of Clayton Community Church in Clayton, California.
EPISODE 73: TRAJECTORY OF EPC CHURCH PLANTING
Dean Weaver welcomes Jack Cathey and Tom Ricks, founding members of the EPC’s National Church Planting Team, who recount how church planting in the EPC has gone from being aspirational to operational. They also discuss steps churches can take to get involved in starting new churches, and how relationships are the key to successful church planting.
Cathey is a Ruling Elder for the Lake Forest family of churches in Charlotte, North Carolina; Ricks serves as the EPC’s National Director of Church Planting.
EPISODE 72: EASTER WEEKEND MESSAGE
EPC Stated Clerk Dean Weaver shares an Easter weekend message about the raising of Lazarus as recorded in John 11:38-44.
EPISODE 71: PALM SUNDAY/HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONAL
EPC Assistant Stated Clerk Michael Davis shares a Palm Sunday/Holy Week devotional from John 12:12-18.
EPISODE 70: WORLD OUTREACH SERVING EPC CHURCHES
Dean Weaver and Jordin Greer discuss her role serving EPC congregations as well as World Outreach global workers. In addition, Greer describes how a mission trip to Guatemala crystalized her call to ministry, as well as her desire to empower local churches to fulfill the Great Commission globally and how World Outreach partnerships with churches facilitate long-term relationships. Greer serves as Assistant Director of EPC World Outreach.
EPISODE 69: DISCIPLESHIP AND COACHING FOR CHURCH HEALTH
Dean Weaver and Brandon Addison discuss how a healthy church helps its members have a healthy understanding of discipleship. Addison also describes how a church is a relational system, the value of inter-generational connection, and the value of coaching for both pastors and congregations. Addison serves as Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of the West and ministry coach with Tin Man Ministries.
EPISODE 68: DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Dean Weaver and Andy Koesters discuss how discipling the next generation is critical to church health. Koesters also explains how God’s “Plan A” is for parents to be the primary disciplers of their children, as well as some key steps churches can take to develop a discipleship culture for children, students, and families. Koesters serves as Pastor to Churches and Families for FamiliesAlive and Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of the New River.
EPISODE 67: CHURCH REVITALIZATION PRINCIPLES
Dean Weaver and Ritchey Cable discuss Cable’s experience leading revitalization efforts in two churches. Cable also shares three revitalization principles from Revelation 2, and explains how and why he wrote the screenplay for the motion picture “The Author.” Cable serves as Pastor of Gashland Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of Mid-America.
EPISODE 66: INTERSECTION OF CHURCH HEALTH AND CHURCH PLANTING
Dean Weaver and Marc de Jeu discuss a variety of avenues for church health, including the role of a mentor in the life of the pastor, how healthy churches are those that are outward-focused and relational, how mission catalyzes community, and how church health and church planting intersect under the EPC’s goal for churches of “faithfulness in the neighborhood.” Marc de Jeu serves as Church Health Coordinator and Mission Mobilizer for the Presbytery of the Alleghenies.
EPISODE 65: PERSONAL EVANGELISM’S ROLE IN CHURCH HEALTH
Dean Weaver and Mark Farrell discuss the impact of a high school coach on Farrell’s faith journey, as well as how his 22-year Air Force career prepared him to serve both as a pastor and as Church Health Coordinator for Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean. Farrell also explains how to develop an evangelistic culture in the church; how the 3 Circles method is a fully biblical, effective tool for personal evangelism among all ages; and how to incorporate the 3 Circles in a variety of avenues in the church. Farrell serves as Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Florida.
EPISODE 64: BUILDING AN EVANGELISTIC CHURCH CULTURE
Dean Weaver and Stefan Bomberger, Pastor of Manoa Community Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania, discuss three aspects of church health in the EPC—evangelism, revitalization, and transitional pastorates. In addition, Bomberger explains how and why Manoa Community Church went into “growth mode” during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how the denomination’s Church Health Team helps congregations develop an evangelistic culture. In addition to serving Manoa Community Church, Bomberger is the Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of the East.
EPISODE 63: BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, STEWARDSHIP OF EPC RESOURCES
Dean Weaver and Earla Bethel, Ruling Elder for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau, Bahamas, discuss her faith journey, as well as how St. Andrew’s and Lucaya Presbyterian Church in Freeport, Bahamas, came to the EPC from the Church of Scotland. Bethel also describes how she applies the principle of Luke 12:48 as a business owner. The two also discuss the background behind the EPC funding formula conversion from Per Member Asking (PMA) to Percentage of Income (POI), and how the Office of the General Assembly stewards those resources. Bethel serves on the EPC National Leadership Team as Chair of the Finance Committee.
EPISODE 62: DEVELOPING FLOURISHING CHURCHES AND PASTORS
Dean Weaver and Dana Allin, Synod Executive with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, discuss some of the fundamental principles for how churches flourish, area of collaboration between ECO and the EPC, how ECO’s Flourish Institute of Theology meshes theological education with practical application, and how ECO is defining itself as a church for its second decade and beyond.
EPISODE 61: INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
Dean Weaver and Kim Wells discuss how inclusive leadership does not necessarily mean racial diversity but is the discipline of seeking information from a variety of sources, listening, pausing, and then reflecting. Wells serves as Executive Director of Executive Education and the Center for Career Excellence at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
EPISODE 60: EPC CHAPLAINCY
In the second episode of season 2, Dean Weaver and Mark Ingles discuss the various ministry opportunities for chaplains in both the military and civilian institutions, as well as his how his role helps facilitate those pursuing chaplaincy ministry in the EPC. Ingles also recounts his path as the son of an Army father to his own calling as an Air Force chaplain.
EPISODE 59: DISCIPLESHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE
In the first episode of season 2, Dean Weaver and Nate Dreesmann discuss discipleship in the post-pandemic church, as well as the importance of the members of a congregation understanding theology. Dreesmann also provides insights on developing a discipleship program and discipleship culture in light of research that reveals 90 percent of American churches are experiencing a decline in attendance. Dreesmann serves as Executive Director of Ecclesiastical Support with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
EPISODE 58: NEW YEAR’S CHALLENGE
Brad Strait offers a challenge for 2023 from Psalm 46. Strait serves as Senior Pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, Colorado, and is the current Chairman of the EPC National Leadership Team.
EPISODE 57: CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL
Dean Weaver shares a brief Christmas devotional from chapters 1 and 15 of John’s gospel.
EPISODE 56: FROM THREE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS TO SERVING CHRIST
Dean Weaver and Cathy Flores discuss her journey from three suicide attempts while growing up with an alcoholic mother to being a teenage unwed mother herself to committing her life to Christ as an adult. Flores also recounts her experiences during a recent mission trip to Cuba in which she led two marriage conferences. Flores serves as Benefits Administrator for EPC Benefit Resources, Inc. (BRI).
EPISODE 55: SIXTH-GENERATION MORMON NOW EPC RULING ELDER
In the conclusion of a 2-part conversation, Dean Weaver and Lisa Brockman discusses her path as a sixth-generation Mormon to accepting Christ as a student at the University of Utah. She relates how her decision to follow Christ affected her relationships with Mormon family members—especially after she wrote her book, Out of Zion: Meeting Jesus in the Shadow of the Mormon Temple. Brockman serves with Cru and is a Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE 54: DEVOUT MORMON TO EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN
In part 1 of a 2-part conversation, Dean Weaver and Lisa Brockman discusses her path as a sixth-generation Mormon—including her childhood dream of a temple marriage—to accepting Christ as a student at the University of Utah. She recounts how her spiritual journey was influenced by Josh McDowell, Larry Crabb, and James Spencer. She also describes coming to the realization that the biblical God is the only God who will not abuse His authority. Brockman serves with Cru and is a Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. She is the author of Out of Zion: Meeting Jesus in the Shadow of the Mormon Temple.
EPISODE 53: 1 THESSALONIANS 5 THANKSGIVING DEVOTIONAL
Michael Davis, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk, shares a brief Thanksgiving devotional from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.
EPISODE 52: FROM PRISON TO PLANTING CHURCHES
Dean Weaver and Sean Boone, Pastor of Woke Bridge Community Church in Ferguson, Missouri, discuss Boone’s journey from gang life and prison to freedom in Christ, and from an independent, historically Black church to planting a Southern Baptist church to planting Woke Bridge in the EPC. Boone explains how Woke Bridge Community Church got its name, and his vision for how the gospel can transform Ferguson and grow a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural congregation.
EPISODE 51: ETHNIC IDENTITY, BELONGING, THE ANTIOCH ROOM
Dean Weaver and Marcos Ortega discuss his journey to the EPC from a since-rejected Dispensationalist theology, and his involvement on the ad-interim committee writing a Pastoral Letter of Racial Lament and Hope. Ortega also describes The Antioch Room, a fellowship of EPC Teaching Elders of color designed to foster cultural and theological discussions in which ethnic minorities are the primary voice. Ortega serves as Lead Pastor of Goodwill Church’s Beacon campus in Beacon, New York.
EPISODE 50: GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, CHURCH REVITALIZATION
Dean Weaver and Doug Resler discuss the benefits a congregation receives when its pastor is involved in ministry beyond their local church, as well as Resler’s passion for church revitalization and the importance of that process starting with a revitalized pastor and Session. In addition, Resler describes how global engagement helps the church minister to the world that is coming to the United States in increasing numbers. Doug Resler serves as Senior Pastor of Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Parker, Colorado.
EPISODE 49: HURRICANE RELIEF, SMALLER CHURCH MINISTRY
Dean Weaver and Bill Crawford, Pastor of the First Presbyterian churches in Thibodaux and Houma, Louisiana, discuss Crawford’s call to small church ministry and his 21 years in south Louisiana, including some of the challenges and opportunities for the small church. Crawford also discusses his experience with disaster relief beginning with back-to-back hurricanes his first year in Thibodaux in 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Ida in 2021, and how he brought that experience to Fort Myers, Florida, following Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Weaver also shares how listeners can contribute to relief efforts by donating to the EPC’s Emergency Relief Fund at www.epc.org/emergencyrelief.
EPISODE 48: SMALLER CHURCH, TRANSITIONAL PASTOR MINISTRY
Dean Weaver and Suzanne Zampella discuss how her sense of calling to the ministry was awakened when she was ordained as a Ruling Elder. She also talks about serving in an ECO—Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians—church, and how the role of a Transitional Pastor is as a change agent, helping a congregation know who they are and what they want to be. She also reflects on the EPC’s Small Church Summit, held October 11-13 in Orlando, and how it not only provided opportunity for pastors to build relationships with each other, but also demonstrated that the denomination values and supports pastors of smaller churches. In addition, she discusses some of the challenges and joys of serving the small church. Suzanne Zampella is an EPC Teaching Elder serving as the Transitional Pastor for First Presbyterian Church in Monett, Missouri.
EPISODE 47: PASTORAL STRESS POINTS
Dean Weaver and Annie Rose discuss her path to ministry as the child of a Complementarian church, as well as how serving as a presbytery stated clerk provides avenues to observe pastoral stressors. Rose provides counsel for both pastors and elders based on those observations, and also talks about her involvement on the Pastoral Letter interim committee and how the group understands that love has to be the basis for biblical lament. Rose serves as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes and is a member on the interim committee writing a Pastoral Letter of Racial Lament and Hope.
EPISODE 46: RURAL CHURCH MINISTRY, MDIV-LESS ORDINATION OPTIONS
Dean Weaver and Kent Mathews discuss strategies and resources for preparing pastors to serve in small churches and rural churches, including how Commissioned Pastors and the EPC’s CEEP (Candidates Educational Equivalency Program) serve the church by offering a pathway to ordination for prospective ministers who do not have a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. Mathews serves as President and Academic Dean of Heartland Theological Seminary in Kansas City and Director of the EPC’s Mentored Apprenticeship Program for seminary students.
EPISODE 45: THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION, RURAL CHURCH PASTOR PIPELINE
Dean Weaver and Kent Mathews discuss the challenges and opportunities in preparing people for vocational ministry, and how Heartland Seminary and the EPC Mentored Apprenticeship Program combine rigorous academic preparation with practical, mentor-partnered application. Mathews also describes the need to develop a pipeline of ordination candidates for ministry in rural churches—including the benefits of serving in rural communities—and how small churches can be better equipped for fostering community. Mathews serves as President and Academic Dean of Heartland Theological Seminary in Kansas City and Director of the EPC’s Mentored Apprenticeship Program for seminary students.
EPISODE 44: REFLECTIONS ON MEMPHIS TRAGEDIES
Dean Weaver and Assistant Stated Clerk Michael Davis discuss a week of tragedy and grief in Davis’s home city of Memphis, Tennesee, following the murder of Eliza Fletcher and a series of shootings in the days following. The two also reflect on the commitment of EPC churches in the city to continue to proclaim the gospel in their community.
EPISODE 43: HOW POLITY SERVES THE CHURCH
Dean Weaver and Bob Garment discuss his path to the EPC from his former denomination, including how a newsletter from an EPC church in Louisiana started the process. Garment also describes how his relationship with the late Howard Shockley, longtime Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, resulted in his own service for more than 30 years as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean, and how polity serves the mission of the church. Garment is the EPC’s Chief Parliamentarian.
EPISODE 42: MULTICULTURAL SPANISH MINISTRY
Dean Weaver and Luis Quiñones discuss his spiritual journey from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, to serving as pastor in Philadelphia, Pa., to planting Nación Santa in Central Florida, and how prayer in an EPC Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean meeting solidified the decision to transfer the church to the EPC from its previous denomination. Quiñones also describes the challenges of sharing a facility with another congregation, as well as how Nación Santa lives out Revelation 7:9 as a Spanish-language congregation but with multiple Latin nationalities and cultures in its membership. Quiñones serves as pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Evangélica Nación Santa (Holy Nation Evangelical Presbyterian Church) in Haines City, Florida.
EPISODE 41: REGIONAL CHURCH MINISTRY, INTEGRATING FAITH AND WORK
Dean Weaver and Case Thorp discuss his spiritual roots in evangelistic camp meetings in Georgia, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando’s church planting efforts and commitment to urban community outreach, and his ministry in Orlando through missions, evangelism, and leadership of The Collaborative—designed to help people bridge the secular-sacred divide by integrating their faith and their work. Thorp also previews the World Reformed Fellowship’s sixth General Assembly, to be held October 27-30 at FPCO, and The Collaborative’s podcast, “Nuance,” launching in mid-September. Thorp serves as Senior Associate Pastor of Evangelism for First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida.
EPISODE 40: CHURCH PLANTING DNA IN THE EPC
Dean Weaver and Michael Flake discuss his church planting DNA in the EPC. Flake recounts his childhood at then-church-plant Hope Church in Memphis, followed by involvement with during his college years with EPC church planter Mike Moses at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, N.C., and culminating after seminary by serving as Lake Forest’s first church planting pastor at the Lake Forest Davidson campus—which localized as Storyhill Church in December 2021. He describes how the EPC’s vision of every local church being a parent, partner, or patron of church planting is embedded in Storyhill, including possibly planting churches in other college towns. Flake also discusses how he bridges the generation gap as a 38-year-old pastor with the large Davidson College student population that attends Storyhill, and their perspective as Christians in a culture that is increasingly antagonistic toward Christianity. Flake is the planting pastor of Storyhill Church in Davidson, North Carolina.
EPISODE 39: DENOMINATIONAL LEADERSHIP INVOLVEMENT
EPISODE 38: EPC FINANCES, FISCAL YEAR, FUNDING FORMULA
EPISODE 37: EPC AFRICAN MINISTRY PARTNER SAMUEL SESAY
EPISODE 36: PAIN AND SUFFERING HAS A PURPOSE
EPISODE 35: FORMER IMAM’S JOURNEY TO CHRIST
EPISODE 34: PASTOR AND SPOUSE CARE
EPISODE 33: INNOVATION IN MINISTRY
EPISODE 32: CHRISTIAN FANTASY LITERATURE
EPISODE 31: 42ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
EPISODE 30: 42ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PREVIEW
EPISODE 29: MARKETPLACE MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM
EPISODE 28: SERVING AS MODERATOR, NLT CHAIRMAN
EPISODE 27: TRAGEDY, SUFFERING, GRIEF IN LIGHT OF UVALDE (TEXAS) SHOOTING
EPISODE 26: MISSIONS MOBILIZATION AND STUDENT MINISTRY
EPISODE 25: NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM REFLECTIONS
EPISODE 24: EVANGELISM, AFRICA BAPTISMS
EPISODE 23: CHURCH PLANTING THROUGH COMMUNITY BUILDING
EPISODE 22: EPC UKRAINE RELIEF EFFORTS
EPISODE 21: GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE FROM PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11
EPISODE 20: EPC FRATERNAL RELATIONSHIPS
EPISODE 19: PIR MINISTRIES
EPISODE 18: TEACHING ELDER ORDINATION PROCESS, PASTOR HEALTH
EPISODE 17: GENEROSITY, CHURCH PLANTING, FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
EPISODE 16: LOVING MUSLIM PEOPLE
EPISODE 15: EPC CHURCH PLANTING
EPISODE 14: SHORTER CATECHISM BILINGUAL FAMILY DEVOTIONAL
EPISODE 13: RAISING ADAM: WHY JESUS DESCENDED INTO HELL
EPISODE 12: CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY
EPISODE 11: CHURCH HEALTH AND EVANGELISM
EPISODE 10: EPC WORLD OUTREACH OPERATIONS
EPISODE 9: EVANGELISM AND MINISTRY IN THE INNER CITY
EPISODE 8: HUMAN RESOURCES AT THE OGA AND IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
EPISODE 7: EPC COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL STRATEGIES
EPISODE 6: EPC CHIEF COLLABORATIVE OFFICER
EPISODE 5: EPC ASSISTANT STATED CLERK
EPISODE 4: THEOLOGY COMMITTEE
EPISODE 3: EPC WORLD OUTREACH
EPISODE 2: EPC BENEFIT PROGRAMS
EPISODE 1: EPC NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
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