The church is in a ‘strategic moment’ to reach a generation hungry for truth. In this episode, Todd Unzicker sits down with Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board, to talk about how God is at work among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Generations Z and Alpha are often marked by their values of authenticity and transparency, and their cause-driven motivations. Shane Pruitt joins Todd Unzicker to unpack the current traits of these two young generations and the church’s opportunity to connect with them in their search for answers. Their general tendency to mistrust and counter cultural narratives opens doors for ministry leaders to share the gospel and disciple them. From embracing your role as a mentor to letting young people serve and lead, Shane shares practical insight for discipling the next generation to declare and demonstrate the gospel. 

What does it really mean to belong to a local church? Pastors Josh Wredberg and Matt Capps join us to talk about their new book Every Member Matters, exploring why church membership is a joyful opportunity to grow, serve and join God’s mission together. They unpack how committed membership strengthens discipleship and fuels the church’s mission.

In this episode, Josh Wredberg, lead pastor of Redeemer Community Church in Fuquay-Varina, and Matt Capps, lead pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, join Brian Upshaw, director of N.C. Baptists’ Ministry Strategies group. Wredberg and Capps wrote a new book called Every Member Matters: Why Your Church Needs You and Why You Need Your Church. 

In this conversation, the pastors share a compelling vision for church membership as more than just names on a roll, but active participation. They present a vision of membership that centers on discipleship, community and living on mission together. They talk about the biblical pattern of membership, the joys and challenges of being part of a committed body of believers, and how strong membership can lead to powerful mission.

In today’s cultural climate, many people – even in the church – view faith as a tool for personal fulfillment rather than a life transformed by Jesus. Author and ministry leader Trevin Wax joins Todd Unzicker to explore how churches can break through expressive individualism, build a counter-cultural community, and engage an increasingly open yet spiritually confused world.

In this episode, Trevin Wax, vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board, unpacks the cultural shifts shaping how people react and respond to the gospel today. He explains how the dominant story of “expressive individualism” influences even faithful churchgoers, often distorting biblical teaching into a version of the American dream with a Christian appearance. 

Wax shares practical ways for pastors and leaders to create a church culture distinct enough to influence the surrounding community, while recognizing the surprising openness many people have toward spiritual conversations. From redefining “abundant life” to leveraging everyday conversations, this discussion equips church leaders to be salt and light in a changing world.

If your church faced legal trouble, would it be ready? In this episode, Seth Brown sits down with Isaiah Turner of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)’s Church & Ministry Alliance to talk about how churches can be both faithful and legally prepared in today’s shifting cultural landscape. 

From restroom policies to youth retreats and staffing questions, Turner shares real-world legal challenges churches are facing across the country. He explains how the ADF Church & Ministry Alliance helps local churches stay protected and aligned with their biblical convictions, so you can stay focused on the Great Commission.

Alliance Defending Freedom, a trusted partner of N.C. Baptists, offers tools to help churches steward their mission, documents and policies. Through the Church & Ministry Alliance, churches gain access to religious liberty assessments, legal reviews, and attorney support — all at a discounted rate for partnering N.C. Baptist churches. This service helps ensure your church is equipped to live sent, stand firm and keep proclaiming the gospel. Take a listen to hear how your church can be ready before a challenge ever arises.

This summer marks Merrie Johnson’s 25th year serving as N.C. Baptist student ministries strategist and leading the BeDoTell team. In this special episode, she and Todd Unzicker explore the grounds of Fort Caswell, which this year celebrates 75 years as an N.C. Baptist retreat and conference center.

Tune in as Merrie Johnson shows Todd Unzicker places where she’s prayed for every new week of summer camp, connected with students on their questions about faith, and where students have returned to remember where their lives were changed. Merrie reflects on why staying rooted in a relationship with the Lord is essential for anyone in student ministry, and how she’s learned to watch for God at work every single day. She also shares ways you can pray for this summer’s youth weeks. Take a listen to be encouraged and challenged to never miss what God is doing around you.

If the Bible mentions money more than 2,000 times, why do many pastors find it challenging to preach about? If finances affect every person in the pew, with many struggling in some area of their finances, there is a significant need for discipleship around money and generosity in churches.

What makes financial generosity a difficult spiritual discipline for many Christians? In this episode, Todd Unzicker sits down with Art Rainer, founder of Christian Money Solutions, to unpack why generosity should matter to Christians, what the Bible teaches about giving, and the resources available to N.C. Baptist partnering churches. Listen in as they explore the heart behind the “8 Money Milestones” curriculum, and learn more about how your church can benefit from a new partnership between N.C. Baptists and Christian Money Solutions.

How can you live out Acts 1:8 in simple, practical ways? In this episode, Todd Unzicker sits down with Scott Hildreth, professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of the new book, A Short Guide to Evangelism and Missions. The two discuss how Christians can be obedient to Jesus’ command to make disciples. Hildreth offers insights on finding confidence to share the gospel, equipping people for evangelism, and making the most of gospel opportunities, like Easter Sunday on April 20. Their conversation also considers how pastors can lead by example when it comes to sharing their faith, and how churches can prepare for Easter and the upcoming Fill the Tank baptism initiative.

This spring will see the overlap of several prayer, evangelism and baptism initiatives – all with the same shared goal of reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus. 

As the Week of Prayer for North American Missions kicks off this week, Todd Unzicker sits down with Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, to talk all about it. The two discuss sending culture, prayer, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, 3:16 on 3/16 and Fill the Tank. 

In this episode, listen and discover how to measure a legacy in church planting, what first step to take to foster a heart for planting and how churches can participate in two upcoming intentional initiatives for evangelism and baptism – 3:16 on 3/16 and Fill the Tank on April 27. Take a moment to celebrate 46 new N.C. Baptist church plants in 2024, and how North Carolina Baptists’ leading generosity has played a part in planting more than 11,000 churches since 2010.

North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the United States and is predicted to have doubled in population over the last three decades by 2030. Three significant trends in the state’s demographic shifts are: the rise of cultural and religious diversity; the rise of Gen Z’s influence on society; and the rise of post-retirement possibilities. 

In this episode of the On Mission Together Podcast, Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker sits down with Keelan Cook, director of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Center for Great Commission Studies. They dive into the key causes and sources of population change and how they shape the mission field right here in North Carolina. Listen in and consider what these shifts mean for how your church engages with your community and makes disciples.

Disciple-making isn’t only about individuals growing deeper – it’s about multiplying. With the 2025 Disciple-Making Conference just weeks away, this episode unpacks characteristics and metrics of disciple-making and why multiplication is at the heart of the Great Commission.

In this episode of the N.C. Baptists Podcast, Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker talks to J.D. Greear, lead pastor of The Summit Church and this year’s keynote speaker. Listen in as they discuss Jesus’ call to make disciples, how to evaluate multiplication in a church’s disciple-making strategy, and cultivating a sending culture. Plus: A sneak peek at the upcoming Feb. 25 conference, where you’ll walk away with a practical plan for multiplication.