David Wilson serves as the Executive Pastor at Harvest Downtown in Colorado Springs CO. He has served in para-church organizations that brought him into close proximity with prominent evangelical leaders who wielded political influence nationally. He helped them organize and fundraise. He served with them personally. But today he is more convinced than ever that the local church is God's Gospel messenger to reach lost people.
This is David's story, about his move to full time pastoral ministry, his experience with chronic disease, and his current ministry mobilizing volunteers for discipleship and ministry. This is an unedited conversation between Jeff and David in the front seat of Jeff's mobile studio - the 200churchesmobile! Enjoy! 
This conversation Jonny and I had with that Jonny and I had with Christena Cleveland was eye opening and enlightening. It helped us to see the world from another person's perspective.
Before Tamir Rice, George Floyd, and so many others - we had this conversation with Christena. We know you'll be encouraged and learn... Christena's book - DisUnity In Christ - Uncovering the hidden forces that keep us apart... is HERE. 
Paul and Peggy Schlieker are lay people who have never let that status keep them from committed service and ministry for Jesus! They are disciples who make disciples in their church and community, and they challenge and empower regular people toward the highest levels of commitment and calling for Christ.
Paul shares his discipleship philosophy, and believe me, any pastor who listens will be challenged by the depth of thought and strategy that the Schliekers have put into their approach to raising up followers of Jesus. They have provided FREE resources for you at 200churches.com/402. They are ebooks from their four volume discipleship series titled "Open Your Heart". Books 1, 3, & 4 are free downloads, and there is a link to Book 2 for purchase on Amazon. You're going to love Paul's style - a financial services guy with a heart for ministry, and the sweat equity to match it... Enjoy! 
This episode is with Andy Dykhouse, the Executive Director for Camp Rivercrest in Nebraska. If you are not involved in the summer camp world, this episode is for YOU! Enjoy it, and then get your kids involved in something that will be absolutely life changing!
Check out Camp Rivercrest or a great Christian Camp in your neck of the woods. 
Jeff and Jonny are LIVE together on this episode, catching up after a long summer, reminiscing over the last 400 episodes, and recalling some of the very memorable guests over the years, with cameo appearances by John Lynch, Kay Warren, Vinny Provenzano, and N.T. Wright.
This was a blast to record, and you will enjoy this CLASSIC episode! Here are the links to the full episodes we reference in Episode 400: John Lynch - Episode 61 Kay Warren - Episode 226 Vinny Provenzano - Episode 286 N.T. Wright - Episode 200 Vinny's Website - We Chose Love.com 
He is a church communications and branding episode, who is actually the REAL DEAL. He has the heart of an evangelist, and has a craving for churches to reach people for Jesus. Sometimes us pastors can't get out of our own way - my words (Jeff) not his!
But Mark MacDonald helps us say less so our community will listen more. As a corporate communications and marketing guy - who was also a Christian - Mark realized that church leaders did not understand how to, in a ministerially and spiritually appropriate way, market their ministries. He wondered how he could help them get more of what people need (the Gospel) to the actual people who need it (the community). Mark's organization is called, BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING. Mark did not seek me out, I found him online, and realizing he was the real deal, asked him to join me on the podcast. You are going to LOVE this! You can check out Mark's book, Be Known For Something, right HERE! 
Dave Jacobs and I talk about some things that pastors might want to reconsider. They come from his book, Second Thoughts - 100 things small church pastors need to reconsider.
Dave recommends we:
Enjoy! 
The church was waist deep into a Capital Campaign for a major church renovation, and mere weeks from engaging all the construction work... and then the pandemic hit. Ugh.
They had over a million dollars already contributed with millions more pledged. The vision had been cast, all the hard work of strategic planning finished - they had waded into the pool. Shutdown. What to do? "God!!?? What do we do?!" Here's what the lead pastor did of this multisite church... (Suzanne was also on Episode 242, if you want to hear some real back story exactly five years ago to the week, check it out - it's a good one!) 
Andrew Root, Ph.D. is a professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul MN, and an author who writes about pastors and churches in the secular age for Baker Academic Publishing.
Jeff and Andy talk about his passion and message - that churches don't really have a relevance or resource problem, it's a very different challenge they are up against. Andy lays it out - you WILL enjoy this and grow from it! Find Andrew here! And Check Out His Podcast Here! 
Jeff talks with Paul Golden, on staff at Clarks Summit University, founder of Post Game with Paul Golden - A Sports + Faith Podcast and owner of PaulGolden.org.
Paul grew up in a pastor's home, attended Bible College and Seminary, has an M.Div., is the Chaplain of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Hockey Team, and has literally spent his entire life in and around ministry. Paul talks about the coaches and athletes he's interviewed on his podcast, training pastors and Christian workers in the 21st century, and so much more. You're going to enjoy this conversation! |
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