The Hacka Podcast

What does excellence in church production actually look like? Is it about better sound, better cameras, better lighting and more expensive gear, or is there something deeper behind great church production?

In this episode, I sit down with Vito Di Giovanni of DiGiovanni Technologies and Benjamin Cashen of Cashen Creative for a conversation about church production, worship ministry, leadership, sound, video, media teams, mentorship and pursuing excellence in ministry.

Vito and Ben have worked in production environments ranging from local churches to major conferences and arenas. But when we start talking about excellence, the conversation quickly moves beyond equipment.

We discuss the difference between excellence and perfectionism, why production leaders need to develop people instead of simply filling positions, and how creating a culture of mentorship can strengthen your team and prevent everything from depending on one person.

Vito and Ben also explain why your sound engineers, camera operators, lighting teams, ProPresenter operators and media volunteers shouldn't think of themselves simply as technicians—they are part of the worship team.

One of the biggest ideas from this conversation is simple: before production is about technology, it is about people, worship and ministry.

Extended show notes - https://hacka.org/2026/10/05/234-vito-digiovanni-benjamin-cashen/

What does it take to stay faithful in ministry for decades, and continue reaching new people in a rapidly changing world?

In this episode, we are joined by Kent Elliott, pastor of Faith Tabernacle in Manchester, Connecticut, and founder of FaithWorks. Kent has served at the same church for 34 years, including 26 years as senior pastor, and shares lessons from decades of Apostolic ministry, church growth, leadership, evangelism and perseverance.

We talk about Kent’s calling to ministry at 16, the importance of staying when ministry gets difficult, the disciplines that have sustained him, and the remarkable growth Faith Tabernacle has experienced in recent years.

Kent also shares practical advice for pastors leading churches that feel stuck or stagnant. We discuss creating a church culture that genuinely expects guests, preparing for growth before it happens, involving new believers and understanding the pastor’s role in shaping church culture.

Finally, we dive into digital evangelism and the story behind FaithWorks and Faith Funnels. Kent explains how churches can use digital marketing, social media advertising and intentional follow-up to reach people they might never encounter through traditional outreach.

Kent’s challenge is simple: the message never changes, but methods do.

Extended show notes -

Dr. Talmadge French joins The Hacka Podcast for an in-depth conversation about Oneness Pentecostal theology, the identity of Jesus Christ, biblical Greek, church history, Jesus Name baptism, and the worldwide growth of the Apostolic movement.

Dr. French is an Apostolic pastor, author, biblical languages scholar, and theologian who has spent decades studying Greek, Hebrew, New Testament theology, and the history of Oneness Pentecostalism. But his story began in Trinitarian Pentecostalism.

In this episode, he shares the journey that eventually convinced him to be baptized in the name of Jesus—and why his years of academic study have only strengthened his Apostolic convictions.We discuss what Dr. French believes is the strongest biblical case for the Oneness of God, how he understands John 1:1, what Greek can reveal that English translations sometimes obscure, and his perspective on the historical development of Trinitarian theology.

Dr. French also shares fascinating findings from decades of researching the global Oneness movement. His original research identified hundreds of Jesus Name organizations and an estimated 15–20 million believers. Today, his ongoing research estimates that number could be around 40 million worldwide.

We also discuss the need for greater unity among Oneness Pentecostals and hear the remarkable story of a Tibetan monk who embraced Acts 2:38 and went on to baptize thousands.

Whether you're an Apostolic Pentecostal, pastor, Bible student, ministry leader, or simply interested in the biblical and historical discussion surrounding the Oneness of God and the Trinity, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Extended show notes - https://hacka.org/2026/09/10/232-dr-talmadge-french-from-trinitarian-preacher-to-oneness-scholar/

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Oneness Teaching Session: Oregon District - https://youtu.be/ghAhnJgpuXY?si=Ruq2pSA7yFAoLXFx

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Books - https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/french-talmadge/

How do you raise kids who actually love God, love church, and develop a faith of their own?In this clip from The Hacka Podcast, Dr Tom Trimble shares practical Christian parenting advice from his experience raising three children while serving in ministry. We talk about raising Christian kids, balancing ministry and family, making church enjoyable, putting phones away, creating meaningful family memories, and teaching children how to hear the voice of God for themselves.Rather than simply creating rules for his children, Dr Trimble wanted to help them develop spiritual discernment and learn to listen to the Holy Ghost as they navigated life.📖 Dr Trimble is the pastor of Restoration Church in St. Charles, Missouri, and author of Digital Dominion.

What do you do when God says “no” to your prayer? In this clip from The Hacka Podcast, Ryan Neer shares powerful biblical wisdom about answered prayer, discerning the will of God, God’s timing, spiritual growth, ministry calling, and learning to trust God when the answer isn’t what you expected.

Ryan explains that God answers prayer with yes, no, or not right now—and sometimes the “no” you receive today is simply an “underdeveloped now.” How we respond when God closes a door can determine whether we’re prepared when He eventually opens it.

We also explore why Christians can remain stuck in seasons God has already ended, the difference between correction and rejection, and what Joseph’s story teaches us about spiritual gifts. Joseph had the gift early, but God had to mature how he used it. Our gifts aren't given for our own validation or elevation—they're given so we can serve and bless others.

If you’re praying for direction, waiting on God, navigating a closed door, or trying to understand His will for your life, this conversation with Ryan Neer will encourage you to trust the process.

In this powerful clip , Bishop Ric Gonzalez shares his remarkable testimony of growing up in gangs, dealing drugs, and having two contracts on his life before a single church service changed everything.Bro Gonzalez recounts the moment he walked into an Apostolic church, responded to God's presence, received the Holy Spirit, and discovered that Jesus had a completely different plan for his life. He also shares the unforgettable prayer that marked the beginning of his journey:"If You'll give me one shot, I'll serve You."This is a testimony of God's mercy, transforming power, and the life-changing reality of a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ.

Why is it so hard to put your phone down?In this clip from The Hacka Podcast, Dr. Tom Trimble explains why endless scrolling isn't simply a lack of willpower. Social media platforms are designed to capture and keep your attention, making self-control one of the greatest spiritual challenges of our generation.Together, we discuss algorithms, dopamine loops, TikTok, the attention economy, and why Christians must intentionally take back control before technology begins shaping us more than Scripture.If you've ever caught yourself reaching for your phone without thinking, this conversation is for you.In this video:- Why social media is so addictive- The attention economy explained- How algorithms keep you scrolling- Why self-control is a spiritual discipline- Taking back control of your attention📖 Get Dr. Tom Trimble's book, Digital Dominion: https://a.co/d/081itC0w

What if one of the greatest keys to revival isn’t another strategy, program, or method, but humility?Evangelist Dan MacLeod returns to The Hacka Podcast for a powerful and challenging conversation about the role humility plays in revival, ministry, leadership, and the life of every believer.Beginning with Jesus’ triumphal entry in Matthew 21, Dan traces a thread of humility through Scripture—from the borrowed donkey and garments laid before Jesus to the cleansing of the temple and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. He challenges us to consider whether we can have the right actions while carrying the wrong attitude—and whether excellence without humility can become little more than human production.We also discuss pride in ministry, surrendering our reputation, social media and image culture, materialism within the Western church, selfish ambition, and why revival in the church must begin with revival in the individual.If we truly want God to move in our lives, families, churches, and cities, perhaps the question isn’t simply what more we need to do—but what we need to surrender.

Is baptism a work? It's one of the most common objections raised in conversations about salvation, but is it what the Bible actually teaches?In this clip, Simeon Costa explains why many Christians today view baptism differently than the early church, tracing the discussion back to the Reformation and unpacking what Paul and James actually meant when they spoke about "works."Together, we examine passages like Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 22, and James 2 to answer an important question: Is baptism simply a symbolic act, or is it part of responding to God's grace through obedient faith?Whether you've wrestled with this topic before or are hearing these arguments for the first time, this conversation will challenge you to go back to Scripture and consider what the apostles actually taught.

What would you do if you found out you were having triplets while serving as missionaries on the other side of the world?In this clip from The Hacka Podcast, Aaron and Tiffany Anderson share the emotional moment they discovered they were expecting triplets while serving in São Paulo, Brazil. They talk honestly about fear, uncertainty, and the overwhelming responsibility they felt, while also sharing how God's grace carried them through one of the hardest seasons of their lives.If you're facing something that feels impossible, this conversation is a reminder that God's calling always comes with God's grace.