Church Chat

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking about Josh's new book - Embracing All Of It: How Our Faith Makes Us Feel Better. We chat about why Josh chose to write a book in the first place, giving the gift of seconds, why feelings are so hard to navigate, flexing your feelings muscles, breaking the mental and physical cycle of doing, the importance of baby steps, the paradox of feelings and more!

Josh Ott, is the Lead Pastor of Grace Free Church in Schuylkill County, PA. With over 22 years of ministry experience, Josh is known for his dynamic preaching and insightful teaching, connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to his pastoral work, he is a sought-after speaker, coach, and strategy specialist.

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Mentioned In This Episode:

• Emotional Claustrophobia and The Power of Silence with Ashley Welborn
• Concepts That Permeate and Nurturing Your Own Soul with Tony Hunt
• Cedrick fails at 2 Truths and A Lie
• Take a vacation from your problems - What About Bob clip

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Thanks to our episode sponsor:

• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Cedrick Brown, Lead Pastor of Commitment Community Church and one of our District Superintendents here at EFCA East. We chat about being a preacher who doesn't enjoy talking, being bi-vocational, how working in the public sector influences ministry leadership, unhealthy expectations we place on volunteers and employees, good time management tips and more!

Cedrick Brown, a Compton, California native, excelled in football at Washington State University (1982–1986) before signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles under coach Buddy Ryan. After a brief career in the hotel and restaurant industry, Cedrick spent 15 years in executive sales management with Alcoa Inc., overseeing $500 million in sales across 33 states.

Now a public speaker and District Superintendent for EFCA’s Eastern District, Cedrick is also the founding pastor of Commitment Community Church, one of New Jersey’s most diverse churches, where he has served since 1996. He holds degrees from Cairn University and Slidell Baptist Seminary and is the author of several books, including Influencing Your World and Act Like a Man – Woman Can You Help Me?

Cedrick and his wife Lisa, married for over 30 years, have three adult children: Joshua, Jessica, and Jaime.

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Thanks to our episode sponsor:

• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're joined by Derek Hodne, Program Director at Camp Orchard Hill, to add some levity to your holiday season. Christmas is often a stressful time for ministry leaders. So let's laugh a little - at ourselves and the wild ways Christmas can go awry in the church.

Derek Hodne graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University in 2002 with a degree in Biblical Studies and Elementary Education and thought he would have a long career in teaching. But in 2006, after 4 fun years teaching 6th grade in Somerset, NJ, God clearly called him back to Camp Orchard Hill to serve in the full-time Program Director position.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Camp Orchard Hill
• Derek on Church Chat
• Bethlehemian Rhapsody
• Abe Lincoln's Pyrotechnic Christmas Pageant

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Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Kevin Kompelien, 17th president of Trinity International University about the future of denominations, the paradox of grace and truth, developing clear values, leading in the midst of conflict, the practice of stepping away, how to pivot in leadership, and more!

Kevin Kompelien is the 17th president of Trinity International University.

He served as the president of the Evangelical Free Church of America for nine years, from 2015-2023. Before that time, he was the international leader for the Africa Division with ReachGlobal (the international mission of the EFCA) and a senior leader of the mission.

A graduate of TEDS (MDiv ’83), Kevin served over twenty years as pastor of two EFCA churches. In addition, he served on the North Central District Board, chairing the church planting committee, and on the Central California District Board (now EFCA West). In June 2019, President Kompelien was presented with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. A native of Thief River Falls, MN, Kompelien and his wife Becky have been married for 42 years. They have four grown, married children and nine grandchildren.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Josh's breakout session at EFCA East ONE Voice conference.
• Kevin's values talk.
• They Smell Like Sheep by Dr. Lynn Anderson

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Thanks to our episode sponsor:

• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Jeff Martin, Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church, about the difference between relational and organizational problems, making big changes the simple way, ministering in a transient community, being a flexible leader, what the world needs in a hyper partisan environment, how to combat the one-way sermon, being a majority leader in a diverse community, attracting the younger generation, developing a replace yourself mentality and more!

Jeff Martin grew up in northern New Jersey and attended Miami University (OH) where God changed his life’s ambitions through the ministry of Cru. He joined Cru staff where he met Mary, and they served for 23 years together. Seven of those years were spent in Bulgaria helping to launch collegiate ministries. Back in the States, Jeff served as the Regional Director for Cru in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to his RD role, Jeff had the privilege of training hundreds of Cru staff members in Christ-centered preaching, through the Institute for Biblical Studies. Jeff has an MDIV from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 

Since 2013, Jeff has served as the Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church in Rockville, Maryland. His love for ministry leaders has recently led him to pursue certification with the Society of Church Consultants. In July of 2024, he launched JTM Ministry Coaching with the vision of helping leaders build healthy, gospel-centered ministries.

Jeff loves sports, intense conversations, making people laugh, and creating boating videos on his YouTube channel. He and Mary have been married for 33 years and have two daughters, two sons-in-law, one son, and one grandson. They currently reside in Olney, Maryland. 

Connect with Jeff:

• YouTube: Eternity's Shore
• Email: [email protected]
• JTM Ministry Coaching

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Rock Creek YouTube
• Cru
• Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Gieger
• Start With Why by Simon Sinek
• How To Change An Unchangeable Church by Josh Ott
• Asana
• Things
• EFCA East Cohorts

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Thanks to our episode sponsors:

• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
• Christian Investors Financial

Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Steve Anderson, Pastor of Student Ministries at Mountain View Community Church, about how podcasting has made him a better youth pastor, the isolation of ministry, longevity in ministry, the evergreen needs of students, maintaining a vibrant relationship with your spouse, finding good team members, how to get along with your senior leader and more!

Steve Anderson is a youth ministry veteran of nearly 30-years, and has been at Mountain View Community Church since 2000!

He is a graduate of Grove City College and Denver Seminary, where he received his MDiv with an emphasis in Youth and Family Studies. After many years of raising their own teens, Steve and his wife, Karen, are now the proud parents of three young men. Steve loves to read great books, binge watch good shows, and play golf, basketball, or tennis. Born and raised in Western PA, he bleeds black and gold and is a passionate fan of all Pittsburgh sports.

He's also the founder and co-host of the Youth Ministry Sherpas Podcast.

Steve's spiritual passion is helping teenagers discover their place in God's amazing story and raising up the next generation of leaders.

Connect with Steve:

• Instagram
• Blog
• Podcast

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Derek Hodne, Ryan Bailey, and Tony Hunt episodes of Church Chat.
• Youth Ministry Sherpas: Coast to Coast
• 5 of The Best Leadership Podcasts for Youth Pastors
• How To Know A Person by David Brooks
• Daisy Jones & The Six
• Heavyweight podcast
• Electric Neck Warmer
• Paige Brown

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Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today Josh and Emily are joined by Trent Williams, student ministries pastor at Tristate Fellowship in Hagerstown, MD. They talk about foster care, what's changed in Trent's ten years of youth ministry, what volunteer recruitment looks like, the danger in trying to replicate other ministries, the fear of failure, Trent's battle with anxiety, leading while suffering, the practice of moving toward health, raising kids in today's culture, being a non-anxious presence, leading in community and more!

Trent and his wife Katie joined the Tristate Fellowship family in June, 2014 as the Pastor of Student Ministries. Trent has his BS in Youth Ministry with a Biblical Literature Minor from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is extremely passionate about building relationships with students and families, challenging them to grow in their faith along the way. He loves sports, hearing people’s stories and spending time with friends and family.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Renewal Retreat
• EFCA East Cohorts
• How Church Leaders Can Be A Non Anxious Presence

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Welcome to Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today Josh and Emily are joined by Michael Martin, lead pastor of Stillmeadow Community Fellowship in Baltimore, Maryland and Pastor Support Associate here at EFCA East. They talk about why leaders struggle with rest, the difference between hurry and rushing, developing a reservoir of well-being, warning signs of burnout, advice for the next generation of leaders looking to establish healthier rhythms in their lives, the importance of rediscovering the Holy Spirit, systematic things that need to change in the church world and more!

Michael serves at Senior Pastor at Stillmeadow Community Fellowship. He has had significant involvement in the work of church health and church diversity both while serving locally as a resource and nationally in denominational work within the EFCA.

As a recording artist, (MichaelStevenMartin), he has been fortunate to have music he has written heard in a variety of venues in Christian and secular formats. He considers music an amazing means of speaking truth and joy into any life. His current project is JOY lifeStories vol. 2.

He is proud of the fact that Gail, his wife of over 35 years, still seems to like him. They have a daughter, son, son-in-law and 3 grandsons. Raised in a large, loving, extended family in Flint, Michigan; his upbringing in the church has shaped many of his values and commitments today.

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• Facebook
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Welcome to Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today Josh and Emily are joined by Jim Meyer, co-pastor of Pocono EFC! They talk about why counseling has gotten a bad reputation among believers, what we often miss about Psalm 23, the polarizing views on medication, finding a balance between body and soul, when to refer your parishioners to a professional, how to ask good questions, how you know it's time to seek professional help yourself, how to raise kids in the fish bowl of ministry, the pains pastors are facing and more!

Dr. Jim taught at Cairn University from 1996 – 2019 and continues to pastor the Pocono EFC in Tannersville, PA since 1996. He also offers biblical counseling, discipleship, consulting, and coaching to pastors and missionaries through a ministry called Biblical Counseling Resources (BCR). BCR is a ministry of Pocono Evangelical Free Church.

Jim has been serving continuously with the EFCA since 1984. He resides near Martins Creek, PA with his wife Kathy. They enjoy canoeing on the Delaware River, hiking and being grandparents.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Larry Crabb
• Jay Adams
• Cairn University
• Foundations
• Karl Benzio

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Welcome to Church Chat, the show where we have the conversations about ministry you wish we were having. Today Josh and Emily are joined by Dan Spino, Discipleship Pastor at West Shore Free Church in Mechanicsburg, PA! They talk about why clarity is important, how the corporate world can benefit the church, ministering from your wounds, results vs. systems, leveraging feedback, valuing people over the organization, being addicted to our ideas, church culture shock and more!

Dan provides strategic leadership for many ministries at West Shore. He has a diverse background in organizational talent and culture and has a Master’s Degree in ILR, and a Master’s of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dan and his wife, Stephanie, reside in downtown Mechanicsburg. For fun, he enjoys working on house projects, traveling, visiting coffee shops and getting to the ocean.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Deep Discipleship by J T English
• Church Chat 2 with Matt Saxinger
• EFCA East Cohorts

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