NCC Unplugged

This week on NCC Unplugged, Jeff and Matt dive into one of the most personal and impactful parts of ministry: officiating weddings and funerals.

Jeff shares real stories, wisdom, and some behind-the-scenes insight on what it’s like to walk with families through both the joyful highs and the difficult lows of life. From premarital counseling to writing personalized funeral messages, you’ll hear how our church approaches these moments with intentionality, conviction, and grace.

Topics include:

Why we take weddings seriously (and what premarital counseling looks like)

Church policies on who we marry (and why)

The evolving role of ministers in weddings today

The sacred weight of funerals—and how we offer hope without assumptions

Funny moments (yes, even in the rain), awkward slip-ups, and meaningful memories

Whether you're planning a wedding, grieving a loss, or just curious about the pastoral side of things, this episode is packed with authenticity and heart.

🎙️ Welcome to the NCC Unplugged Staff Roundtable – Summer 2025 Edition!

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at what summer really looks like for the Norwin Christian Church staff. From VBS chaos (yes, with cardboard bears and custom trading cards) to CIY trips, mission work in Arizona, and even skydiving plans 😳—this episode is full of laughs, ministry insights, and genuine conversation about what it means to serve, grow, and rest well as a church family.

👥 Featuring: Jeff Terpstra, Jonathan Slatt, Joshua Persall & Matt Mastroianni

What’s new for VBS 2025 (and what nearly broke the stage)

Family mission trips & youth group summer events

Why one staff member may or may not survive a skydive

Bike gangs, dad jokes, and...pogo sticks?

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of NCC Unplugged – where real conversations meet real community.

📌 Learn more about Norwin Christian Church at:

📅 Join us for worship:

#NCCUnplugged #ChurchPodcast #VBS2025 #CIY #FaithAndFun #ChristianLife #YouthMinistry #ChurchBehindTheScenes #FunnyChurchStories

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff Terpstra and Brion Elliott take a reflective look back at NCC’s recent sermon series on Sacrifice. From heart, mind, and time to money—this series challenged the church to go deeper in surrendering every aspect of life to God.

Jeff shares the struggle of writing the final sermon on time and how it unexpectedly shifted direction. Brion opens up about the balance between worship leadership and heartfelt praise. Together, they explore Jesus’ teachings, prayerful moments in service, and the power of preparing both spiritually and practically.

They also tease what’s coming next: a new sermon series on Intentional Discipleship—what it means to follow Jesus and help others do the same.

💬 Topics include:

The Holy Spirit’s surprising work through feedback

Why praising God is meaningless without sacrifice

Creating authentic worship moments beyond performance

Loving correction in the church family

Where NCC is headed this summer

🔗 Scripture Highlights:

🙏 "There's no praise without sacrifice."

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Matt is joined by Jeff and Joshua for a candid conversation about current trends in church attendance and engagement across America—and how those trends are playing out at Norwin Christian Church.

They unpack:

📉 The nationwide decline in church attendance—and why it may have finally leveled off

📊 Surprising stats about millennials vs. boomers and their church habits

🏛️ Why non-denominational churches are on the rise

🧭 How NCC is adapting to meet people where they are—without gimmicks

🤝 What it means to walk with Jesus and be part of a local church

Whether you're a committed churchgoer, a spiritual seeker, or someone wrestling with church hurt, this episode is full of insight and heart. It's not about the numbers—it’s about the people behind them.

👉 Subscribe and share this episode if you found it helpful.

#ChurchTrends #NCCUnplugged #FaithAndCulture #MillennialsInChurch #ChurchGrowth #RestorationMovement #NonDenominational #ChurchHurt #FaithIn2025

This Week on the Podcast:

In this episode, Jeff, Matt, and Joshua have an open and honest conversation about how Jesus talked about money—a lot more than we realize—and what that means for us today. From cultural discomfort to church baggage, we unpack why money is such a sensitive subject and how we can approach it with a fresh perspective grounded in trust, sacrifice, and discipleship.

You’ll Hear Us Talk About:

Why Jesus taught about money more than heaven and hell combined

How NCC made a big shift—removing offering plates and trusting people’s hearts

The difference between pressure and purpose when it comes to giving

How sacrifice is more than 10%—it’s about surrender

Moving from fear and “what ifs” to generosity and faith

Why This Matters:

Scripture Highlight:

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

Looking Ahead:

Join Us at Norwin Christian Church:

As Christians, navigating our relationship with culture can be challenging. While we're called to be "in the world but not of it," finding the right balance between cultural engagement and maintaining our distinct Christian identity requires wisdom and discernment.

Culture encompasses the beliefs, values, art, media, politics, language, and social norms that shape how people live and act. It's impossible to completely escape culture's influence - even isolated communities like the Amish are affected by the broader culture around them.

From the beginning, God intended humans to create and engage with culture, as seen in Genesis 1:28's mandate to "be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." Culture itself isn't inherently negative - it's how we engage with it that matters.

There are three main approaches churches typically take:

The balanced approach allows churches to maintain their distinct Christian identity and mission while still meaningfully engaging cultural issues when appropriate.

Key factors to consider:

This week, consider:

Questions for reflection:

Remember: Culture isn't the enemy - sin and Satan are. We're called not to hide from culture or attack it, but to engage it with Christ-like love and wisdom while maintaining our distinct identity as followers of Jesus.

In this special episode of NCC Unplugged, we introduce you to the newest member of our staff, Brion Elliott, who recently joined Norwin Christian Church as our Worship and Tech Minister. Brion shares his story—from growing up in Virginia and attending Bible college to how God gradually led him into full-time church ministry. Get to know his heart for worship, his family, his hobbies (including his love for pickleball!), and what he's most excited about in this next chapter.

Brion's upbringing in a close-knit church in Virginia

His education journey through Clark Summit and Lancaster Bible College

The pivotal moment that led him from marketing to ministry

How Brion met his wife Miranda and their growing family (yes—they're expecting!)

What excites and challenges him about stepping into full-time church ministry

A look into his dual role overseeing worship and tech

His vision for building a worship family at NCC

Brion’s role blends leading worship on stage and supporting behind-the-scenes technology, ensuring a smooth and meaningful Sunday experience. He’ll be coordinating with volunteers, scheduling services, planning themes, and helping our tech team thrive.

Be sure to say hello to Brion and Miranda at one of our services:

Thursdays at 7:00 PM

Sundays at 8:45 AM & 10:30 AM

Visit us at norwinchristianchurch.com

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, we dive deep into Christian higher education and its impact on ministry and faith. Join hosts Jeff Terpstra, Matt Mastroianni, and Garrett Crawford as they explore theological studies, the challenges facing Christian colleges, and Garrett’s journey toward his PhD. They discuss deep theological questions about God's sovereignty, human free will, and how quantum mechanics serves as an analogy for understanding determinism.

From personal experiences in ministry education to the future of Bible colleges, this episode is packed with insights for anyone curious about theology, education, and faith. Whether you’re considering seminary, questioning free will, or just love a good discussion, this episode is for you!

🔹 The purpose and challenges of Christian higher education

🔹 What it takes to earn a PhD in theology

🔹 Understanding determinism and free will through physics

🔹 The future of Christian colleges and alternative training options

🔹 How churches can partner with education institutions to develop future leaders

#ChristianEducation #Theology #BibleCollege #MinistryTraining #FaithAndScience #QuantumMechanics #FreeWill #GodsSovereignty #ChurchLeadership #NCCUnplugged #ChristianPodcast

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Garrett Crawford, the minister of outreach and small groups at Norwin Christian Church, shares his journey of being called into ministry and his recent decision to transition to another church. Garrett reflects on his initial resistance to ministry, his growth and experiences at NCC, and the confirmation he received from God to move to a new role closer to his family. The discussion highlights the challenges and emotions involved in following God's call, the importance of being open to His guidance, and the impact of mentorship and community in shaping one's ministry journey.

Join us as we discuss:

✅ How Garrett first felt called to ministry

We’ll miss Garrett at NCC, but we know God has big plans ahead! Be sure to reach out with your well wishes and prayers.

🎧 Listen now and be encouraged in your own walk of faith!

Additional Notes:

🌐 Learn more at norwinchristianchurch.com

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe to help us spread the message!

#NCCUnplugged #MinistryCalling #GarrettCrawford #FaithJourney #GodsPlan #ChurchLeadership #ChristianPodcast #PastoralMinistry #NorwinChristianChurch

In this episode of NCC Unplugged Rewind, we take a look back at an interview with one of our first outside guests, Patsy Sassano from the First Christian Church in New Salem. The topic was Christian Unity. Enjoy!

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Today's episode features an important conversation about Christian unity, the importance of connections and relationships with other Christians within and beyond the walls of one church. Allison, Jonathan and Patsy discuss the significance of making connections, the challenges of disunity, and practical ways to foster unity. They also share personal insights and experiences related to building connections and maintaining unity within the Christian community.----more----Key Topics:

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#NCCUnplugged #NormanChristianChurch #ChristianUnity #CommunityAndCulture #FaithConnections #YouthMinistry #ChildrensMinistry #ChristianPodcast #BuildingBridges #ChurchFamily #FaithJourney #CampChristian #GrowCurriculum #UnityInChrist