EFCA East
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EFCA East episodes

  • Being A Non Anxious Presence with Trent Williams

    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

    Listen to more Church Chat episodes.

    Connect with EFCA East

    • efcaeast.com
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    59 min
  • Developing A Reservoir of Well-Being with Michael Martin

    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.

    Listen to more Church Chat episodes.

    Connect with Michael:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Connect with EFCA East

    • efcaeast.com
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    1 hr 9 min
  • People Need Help with Dr. Jim Meyer

    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


    Listen to more Church Chat episodes.

    Connect with EFCA East

    • efcaeast.com
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    1 hr 11 min

About EFCA East

From the publisher's feed

EFCA East is a district of the Evangelical Free Church of America. The EFCA is a movement of like-minded leaders who are committed to multiplying transformational churches among all people.