The boys are sorta back!

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In this bonus episode of Staircase to Nowhere, the hosts talk about parsonages, church-owned housing, and living where you minister.

Drawing from personal experience, they explore the benefits and challenges of church-provided housing and ask whether churches should still be investing in homes today.

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In this episode of Staircase to Nowhere, the hosts discuss church buildings, affordable housing, and the housing crisis—asking whether churches should use their land to help meet community housing needs.

The conversation explores zoning laws, gentrification, sacred space, and the risks and responsibilities of churches building or hosting affordable housing. 

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Video: Can Churches End the Housing Crisis? (YIGBY)

It’s our 2025 WRAPPED episode! We look back on the year with top personal ministry moments, favorite books, and the podcasts/creators we spent the most time with. Then we zoom out to bigger ministry + culture trends we noticed (Bible engagement, Gen Z in church, pastor/worship influencer culture), a few major cultural flashpoints from the year, and we finish with goals and predictions for 2026.

We would love to hear from you! [email protected]

Books mentioned:

The Wood Between the Worlds

The Grapes of Wrath

White Flight

Leadership and Self-Deception

Why We’re Polarized

Abundance

Podcasts mentioned:

Working It Out with Mike Birbiglia

Theology in the Raw (feat: Nijay Gupta)

The Resilient Pastor Podcast

The Ezra Klein Show (NYT)

Johnny Harris

James Humphrey

“Take our country back” is a rallying cry among conservative Christians as Christian nationalism gains popularity. Noah’s roommate Michael returns to the show to discuss from history and the New Testament why building a theocracy is not the point of Jesus’ Kingdom which is not of this world.

Doug Wilson interview referenced

Book referenced: Political Worship by Bernd Wannenwetsch

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The boys reflect on their time in youth ministry—what worked, what burned out, and why so many youth pastors only last two years. With help from Sustainable Youth Ministry, they unpack systems, parent engagement, and how to build something that lasts. Plus: camp pranks, merch drops, and the magic of a well-timed bedtime prayer.

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In this episode, we turn the spotlight on Noah and learn about his role as Director of Local Outreach and Student Discipleship! We talk through the path that got him here, what the job actually looks like, and some of the challenges that come with full-time ministry in the local church.

We also reflect on what “success” in ministry really means, especially in contexts where resources are limited and results are hard to measure.

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After a short paternity leave (generously offered by the Staircase to Nowhere HR department), the boys are back on the mic — and they brought a couple of babies with them. In this episode, David introduces his newborn son Samuel Neel (not named after Sam... allegedly), and Sam announces his own exciting news: baby Carroll is on the way!

Welcome back to your ministry and culture podcast. It’s good to be here.

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In this episode of 'Staircase to Nowhere,' hosts Noah, Sam, and David explore the themes presented in Jonathan Haidt's book 'The Anxious Generation,' discussing the impact of social media on Gen Z's mental health and the importance of unsupervised play in childhood development. They engage with listener emails, addressing the role of Christians in culture and the need for community support in implementing reforms for healthier childhood experiences. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of managing personal technology use as parents and encourages real-life engagement over online presence.

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Hosts and Podcast
02:11 Discussion on 'The Anxious Generation' Book
08:02 Engagement with Listener Emails
10:41 Navigating Social Media as Christians
20:14 The Impact of Technology on Childhood
24:39 Historical Context of Parenting and Safety Concerns
25:07 The Illusion of Safety and Freedom
29:00 Childhood Independence: A Lost Art
30:05 The Importance of Free Play
35:07 Understanding Gen Z's Challenges
38:11 Community Commitment to Change
45:11 Practical Steps for Parents and Educators

On this bonus episode, Noah and David banter their way around Taylor University. There is little (arguably zero) substance in this episode, but we hope it entertains some of you. 

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