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.
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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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