Project Pastor Podcast

What if the church, specifically the Western American church fuly embraced its role? What would society look like? How would it change? We discuss this and more with Pastor Jesse Bradley at Grace Community Church in the Seattle area.

He's a former professional soccer goalkeeper (played in Zimbabwe Africa, Aberdeen Scotland, and Minnesota), radio host, author, and speaker. A graduate of Dartmouth College, his curiosity about faith and Jesus began there. In an Introduction to World Religions course, he began to read the Bible for the first time. Jesse graduated with a Master's Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Jesse really enjoys authentic conversations with people of all ages and cultures. After surviving several close calls with death, Jesse is truly grateful for every new day and opportunities to encourage people in their journey and faith. Adoption and God's greater work of unity in the Sound and the nation are close to his heart. Jesse and his wife Laurie have four children and a fun dog named Bella.

John Lynch is a speaker, author, and former pastor. After 27 years as the teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona, John joined Trueface in 1997 and began speaking nationally and both authoring and coauthoring many resources such as The Cure and TrueFaced, and his own story in On My Worst Day. As an outlet for his love of writing and performing, John co-founded and was both a playwright and actor for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus.

John and his wife Stacey have three grown children and a growing troupe of grandchildren.

Tony Miltenberger is the lead pastor of Restoration Church Centerville, a thriving United Methodist congregation in Ohio. He is also the host of The Reclamation Podcast, a show that "helps busy people reclaim good practices of faith and life," and the co-author of "UnBreakable: Forging a Marriage of Contentment and Delight," one wife 3 kids. which is based on his own marital struggles, and his experiences spearheading workshops for soldiers returning from deployment away from their families.

Scott and Troy discuss pastoral isolation. They talk about the why's and how's of becoming isolated and some ways to embrace our own humanity which can lead to healing. By embracing our weaknesses we come to rely on Christ as well as community. We take a quote from Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobels book The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb

We also reference the interview Troy did with Jamin and Kyle it's episode number 85

Lo Alaman is a spoken word poet, writer, preacher, and He is the Director of Community Life at The Harvest Church in The Woodlands, Texas, but his passion and gift is bringing words to life His most recent creative work is We Sang a Dirge on the subject of lament, and he shares with us the inspiration behind this project, and more on the intersection of art and holiness.

David Zach is the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Remedy Drive as well as an advocate in the fight against human trafficking. The band has recorded two concept albums to shine a light on slavery and to celebrate the modern day abolition. The band's community and fan base has contributed around $350,000 in donations and in-kind donations to the counter trafficking organization The Exodus Road.

We talk about losing our lives in order to really live. How we're all creative, and how we can use our creative ways to love ourselves and others well.

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He's been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan. His first book, The Deeply Formed Life, is now available wherever books are sold.

Adam Weber lives in Sioux Falls (that's in South Dakota). He's the founder and one of the pastors at a multi-site church called Embrace. He quips that he still can't believe he's a pastor. He's written two books Talking With God and most recently have Love Has A Name.

He's married to his beautiful wife Becky and has 4 kids: Hudson, Wilson, Grayson, and Anderson. He likes typewriters, drives a 1936 Chevy, cheers for the Cincinnati Bengals, has a collection of animals including, seven chickens, two dogs, & three fish, but what he really wants is a sheep.

Scott and Troy discuss how covid has changed the way we approach ministry. Some of it's challenges, with not meeting in person to our often reliance, maybe even addiction to the building we met in.

What Now, What Next Video link.

Through writing, speaking and leading, Thom has served the faith community for 40 years. He's the founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café. He's the author of many books, including "Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore." Thom also directed the documentary film "When God Left The Building." And he's the founding director of Group Serves, which organizes volunteer mission experiences to help disadvantaged families throughout the world.