Most churches don’t think about their bylaws…until something goes wrong. In this episode, Pete and Sarah sit down with “ordained attorney” and longtime ministry leader Phil Kell to unpack why bylaws, boards, membership records, and minutes are not just “paperwork,” but essential tools for protecting your church, your people, and your Gospel witness. If you’ve ever wondered who really has authority in your church, what your members can (and can’t) vote on, or how dissolution and deed restrictions actually work, this conversation will help you get your house in order before a crisis hits.

Related Resources:

· Listen to Phil’s earlier GC Collective episode on church legacy planning: https://gccollective.transistor.fm/s1/9

· Read Phil’s “ABC” article on corporate records and compliance: https://csbc.com/resource/keeping-in-compliance-with-corporate-records/

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Email the podcast team with questions or episode ideas at [email protected].

Get ready for a quick listen! Recorded live from the International Family Festival at New Vision Church in Milpitas, this episode shares the energy and encouragement of our CSBC Annual Meeting. Join Sarah, Pete, and Jason as they reflect on key moments, celebrate God’s work across California, and look ahead with unity, both in prayer and on mission. Big thanks to New Vision Church and their volunteers. Save the date for our 2026 meeting: October 20–21 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Highland.

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In this episode of The GC Collective, Bay Area Send City Missionary James Westbrook joins Sarah Graham and Francis Chung for a thought-provoking conversation on how globalization is transforming the landscape of ministry in California. From the shifting identities of urban and rural churches to the call for pastors to think like missionaries, James challenges leaders to see the Great Commission not as a distant assignment but as a local one. Together, they unpack what it means to engage the harvest in our rapidly changing communities—and why “go and tell” must replace “come and see.”

Don’t forget to subscribe to This Week @ CSBC for more stories and resources that equip you to reach your community. And if you have a question or topic idea for the podcast, email us anytime at [email protected]

Annual Meeting is here! We preview everything you need for Milpitas including registration tips, Pastors’ Conference details, major business items on the docket, must-do auxiliary events, the new CSBC app rollout, exhibit hall hours, and the family festival. Register messengers & guests at https://csbc.com/2025-annual-meeting/

*To clarify what was said in the podcast: Our Annual Meeting dates are Fri Oct 24 - Sat Oct 25. The Oct 23 -24 dates mentioned in the episode, apply to the Pastors Conference sessions. The Annual Meeting sessions begin at 10 AM on the 24th and conclude at 9:15 AM on the 25th to be followed by the International Family Festival.

Subscribe to TW@CSBC (This Week at CSBC) for updates, resources, and events. https://csbc.com/subscribe/

Email: [email protected]

Pete Ramirez, Sarah Graham and Jason Robertson assemble to launch Season 3 from our new GC Collective studio. We recap listening sessions with church planters, share highlights from the Executive Board meeting, and offer a preview of the CSBC Annual Meeting in Milpitas.

Hear about the 2026 $5.1M CP objective, why decentralizing CSBC’s headquarters strengthens ministry statewide, and how churches are catching the vision to reach California together. Read the full board recap story here

Next episode: Annual Meeting preview - don’t miss it!
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Wondering if you should opt back in to social security? How should churches and pastors think about retirement, Medicare, and long-term planning, especially for younger leaders just getting started and for seasoned pastors who feel behind? Season two wraps with a practical, boots-on-the-ground conversation every church needs. Sarah and Jason welcome CSBC CFO Marc Tempesta to talk about the “dollars-and-sense” side of ministry, so pastors and church staff can serve well today and finish well tomorrow.

Whether you’re a pastor, finance committee member, or staff leader, this show brings a stewardship tune-up with all the kingdom impact.

Visit Guidestone.org to talk to experts in Southern Baptist life about your family’s financial security today!
Be sure to subscribe to This Week at CSBC or email us at [email protected].

Burnout, anxiety and depression are real struggles church leaders face. On this episode, Pete and Sarah talk with Pastor Chuck Padilla, a discipleship pastor and licensed therapist. With decades of experience in ministry and counseling, Chuck brings a deeply practical and deeply biblical perspective to the conversation around mental health in ministry, and about how leaders can spot the warning signs, find trusted support, and stay rooted in Christ while carrying the weight of ministry. This is a conversation every pastor (and every church) needs to hear.

For the National Suicide Hotline, call 1-800-273-8255 or simply dial 988. To contact Chuck Padilla at CMP Counseling, call (559) 994-1383.

Be sure to subscribe to This Week at CSBC or email us: [email protected]

Welcome back to a lively conversation mixed with gratitude, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes history as Pete and Sarah welcome former CSBC Communications Director Terry Barone to the table. Together, they celebrate the impact of California Mission Offering (CMO) dollars while Terry shares decades of insights on promoting CMO well, funny mishaps from his video production days, with a few moving stories sprinkled throughout. If you’re new to CMO or a long-time supporter, we hope this will inspire you to champion missions right here in California.

CMO resources for your church can be found at the CSBC Website.
Be sure to subscribe to This Week at CSBC or email us: [email protected]

Every church experiences seasons of growth, plateau, and sometimes decline. In this episode, Sarah and Jason invite Dr. Jimbo Stewart (yes, we said Jimbo) from the North American Mission Board’s Replant Team to talk about what it looks like to lead with wisdom through each stage. Learn about Renew California, a new network designed to help churches assess their current season and move forward with clarity and purpose.

From revitalization and replanting to practical coaching and demographic tools, this conversation is full of insight for pastors who want to stay healthy, lead well, and equip their people for the long-term mission.

Check out RenewalMovement.com for Resources, assessments, and pathways for renewal.
Request your MissionInsite Report from the CSBC Church Matters toolbox
Learn about the ReplantSummit.com
Be sure to subscribe to This Week at CSBC or email us: [email protected]

In this lively episode, the podcast gets both of CSBC’s ethnic ambassadors in one room—and the conversation doesn’t disappoint. Mark Gayden (Long Beach Harbor Association) and Nestor Amaya (Sequoia Association) talk about the unique role of the Black and Hispanic church in California. From succession planning to embracing technology, this episode explores the cultural richness, challenges, and kingdom opportunities in reaching every community for Christ.

Subscribe to This Week at CSBC at https://csbc.com/subscribe, and write to us at [email protected]
To reach out the Mark Gayden, email [email protected]
To reach Nestor Amaya, email [email protected]