Ryan sits down with VJ Williams, the online pastor at Highland Park Church in Lakeland Florida. His story of salvation is one for the books, and his insight into marketing, online ministry, and reaching the lost is inspiring! VJ is authentic, humble, and brings so much of his personal journey to his ministry, it’s not hard to see why he’s had such a powerful impact! He co-hosts a podcast with his friend and pastor Kevin Jack called “The Leading Hope Podcast”, and that is well worth your time to check out! Visit their site here: https://leadinghope.online

Brett Rickey is currently the District Superintendent of the Oregon Pacific District in the Church of the Nazarene.  From the district’s website:

“Brett Rickey became the District Superintendent of ORPAC in January, 2022. He has served for 22 years in ministry, following 11 in the finance and insurance world. He led a new church start in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that thrived for his 8 years of ministry there, and most recently served for 13 years as lead Pastor of Highland Park Church in Lakeland, Florida.

Brett has been married to Mindy since 1986, and they have 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. He is the author of 3 books, Chasing Cool, Stay in the Yard, and Boomerang, and has published articles in numerous publications. He loves to fish, golf, and attempt to stay in shape.”

Ryan sits down with Brett to discuss his call to ministry, lessons learned along the way, and to spend some specific time around the topics of prayer, healing, and hopeful future for the church!

Pastor Ryan sits down with Pastor Dale Schaeffer, District Superintendent of the Florida District in the Church of the Nazarene.

Dale was elected to the position of District Superintendent for the Florida District in 2019. Prior to this he was the lead pastor at Medford Oregon First Church of the Nazarene. He founded and lead the BridgeWay Community Church in Pekin, Illinois in 2005, and it continues to be a thriving ministry. A passion for church planting is a strategic part of his ministry.

Dale's story, passion, and leadership have shaped many pastors along the way, and you'll see in this conversation why!

Dave Anderson is Lead Pastor at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene in Kankakee IL.  During their interview Dave and Ryan talk about his journey of faith, and his call to ministry.  They also spend some time diving into his passions for leadership, prayer, and developing a disciple making vision.   Dave is inspiring, heartfelt, and full of innovative ideas that you’ll love hearing about!  

Pastor Ryan sits down with Nathaniel Marshall to discuss holiness, call, spiritual practices, and ministering as a plumber for the glory of God.

From Christianity Today:

 Nathaniel Marshall is a licensed journeyman plumber. He is also a Benedictine oblate and worships at Christ the King Anglican Church in Marietta, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.

Pastor Ryan sits down with Pastor Kris Beckert of Table Life Church.

From her bio on Table Life’s Website:

Pastor Kris grew up in the Philadelphia region and was trained as an environmental scientist before God changed her plans and called her into ministry. In addition to being known as the “Pastor of Fun,” you may see Kris running around New Cumberland or playing hockey. She is always up for a good cup of pumpkin spice coffee and conversation about life and faith.

Brian Wangler is currently serving as the District Superintendent of Indianapolis District in the Nazarene Church.  Prior to that Brian served at First Nazarene in the Chicagoland area.

In July of 2012, Brian accepted the call to Chicago First Church of the Nazarene (C1) in Lemont, Illinois. Chicago First is a 111 year old church desiring to reach the more than 67,000 people with no faith affiliation living within a 5 mile radius of the church. Since 2012, building on her rich tradition, C1 has walked through a 3 year refocus process resulting in the strategy “Clarify, Simplify, Multiply.” This unique approach has doubled the number of first time unchurched guests, multiplied ministry to 4 other locations, and established discipleship systems which guide new believers deeper into their faith. Under his leadership, Chicago First has intentionally sought out young leaders to engage and equip in an effort to multiply the important work of the church. Part of that strategy involves the creation of an Executive Team whereby he has decentralized leadership and shared authority.

In 2019, Brian was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Olivet Nazarene University for his leadership in the local church and multiplication of leaders and ministries.

Prior to service at Chicago First, Brian was blessed to serve as lead pastor at Ottawa First Church of the Nazarene, (OFC).  Over 12 years OFC, now CrossBridge Community Church of the Nazarene, committed itself to reach and serve others resulting in growth from 200 to more than 900 in weekend attendance. Hundreds of people made first-time commitments to Christ during this season. Under his leadership, OFC launched their first multi-site video campus in 2010, and invested in additional churches through restarts and church plants in Northwest Illinois.

Brian has authored a devotional for new believers called “God Time: Your First 31 Days” and is currently writing "Before you Quit" a devotional for leaders.

On this episode Pastor Ryan sits down with the amazing Pastor Michaele LaVigne!

Rev. Michaele LaVigne is a mom, wife and pastor who believes that what we do is a direct result of who we are. This belief has fueled her own journey of spiritual formation, and her work to aid the formation process for others. She is passionate about helping people discover joy, freedom, and their true identity in the way of Jesus. Many of the formation practices written for her own congregation are available in her first book, Living the Way of Jesus: Practicing the Christian Calendar One Week at a Time. She is also a contributing author for My Life with Jesus: 365 Devotions for Kids, and The City: Urban Churches in the Wesleyan Holiness Tradition

It's a great and challenging conversation!

Pastor Dave Roberts has been in ministry for over thirty years; most of that time he has been pastoring Montrose Church in Montrose, California.  During those years Montrose Church has grown from thirty members to a ministry where more than 750 plus people call this church home.

Pastor Dave has been invited to share his message of a graceful and loving God in a variety of venues in the greater Los Angeles community, across the United States and internationally through Montrose Church’s Mission partnerships.  He is also the author of an amazing book “Healing Conversations: Talking Yourself Out of Conflict and Loneliness” that is fit for our time!

Pastor Ryan sits down with Pastor Jeff Stark to talk about his amazing salvation story, call to ministry, and the blessed messiness of leading God people!  

Dr. Jeff Stark became a Jesus follower at age 25 in Macedonia. While deployed with the U.S. Army,  Jeff was met by God in a powerful way, calling him from addictions and destructive life choices. His life was changed. One month later, his wife, Angie, was saved at Clarksville First Church of the Nazarene. There Jeff and Angie began their journeys and ministries with Jesus. Jeff served on staff at Clarksville First for about seven years, filling multiple associate roles. Called to Erin, TN in October 2009, Jeff and Angie served a great church for nearly five years.

Bridgeway Community Church of Pekin, IL welcomed Jeff, Angie, and their two sons, Derek and Chance in July 2014. Jeff committed himself to the passionate strategy of missional multiplication and church planting, Bridgeway's vision to "Ignite a Movement of Culturally Relevant, Radically Loving, Rapidly Reproducing Churches Spreading Hope throughout the World."

He earned a D.M. in Missional Theology and Spiritual Formation from Lipscomb University (2018), a M.A. in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School (2010), a M.A. in Religion from Trevecca Nazarene University (2006), and B.A. in English Literature from Otterbein University (1998). He served in the U.S. Army as an Arabic Linguist.

At Olivet he serves as the Director of the Center for Theological Leadership and Associate Professor