Kevin Kowalski began his career as an offensive lineman, but is now the lead pastor of CrossFields Church, a new church plant in North Royalton, Ohio. We sat down with Kevin to talk about his journey from the NFL to church planting.

CrossFields Church officially launches on Sunday, September 7, 2025, and there are already some exciting things happening there. Listen now as Kevin shares their story and offers a few ways you can pray leading up to, and continuing beyond, launch Sunday.

Check out CrossFields Church online.

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

We spoke with Andy Sikora (Pastor at Renew Communities and Director of Church Multiplication for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ) following the UB National Conference. In the first part of our conversation we dove into the ins and outs of The Movement System that many of us were introduced to at conference. Then we turned a corner for a conversation about church planting, which Andy oversees for the denomination.

Over the course of the next 4 episodes we will speak to three others who are planing churches and have a shared launch date of September 7, 2025.

Subscribe to the podcast now so you don't miss those episodes when they are available.

Connect with Andy and Renew Communities.

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

I sat down this summer at the United Brethren National Conference to have an impromptu conversation with Brent Leichty, pastor of Rising Hope Church in Shippensburg, PA. We put a couple mics in front of us not knowing where the conversation would go, and the result was a great conversation about discipleship in the everyday moments of life.

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Recently, Bishop Todd Fetters, UB Global Director Frank Yang, and Assistant Director David Kline, traveled to the southern border of the United States on a trip hosted and led by the National Association of Evangelicals. While there, they spoke with representatives from the US Border Patrol, leaders of local charities, and several families south of the border who are seeking asylum.

In this episode of UB Now, Todd, Frank and David discuss what they experienced on their trip, what they learned from it and what it means for the larger UB family. This is a valuable conversation that you will find to be both challenging and encouraging.

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Andy Sikora is no stranger in the UB Church. He grew up here, attended Huntington University (College), planted a church as a UB pastor and until recently he's served as the assistant director of church planting. He now serves as the Director of Church Multiplication. In that role, even as he continues to serve as the senior pastor at Renew Communities (Berea, OH), he is helping to develop and launch a number of church planters in 2025.

Check out this episode and let us know what you think. Send us a note to [email protected].

If you have been around the Church of the United Brethren in Christ for any amount of time, you likely know Cathy Reich. She's served in a number of different roles at the national office and has her fingerprints all over many of the ways we operate and the events we create. Cathy retired earlier this year, but before she did I had a chance to sit down with her to hear more of her story.

If you would like to share any words of encouragement or show your appreciation to Cathy, send us a note to [email protected].

John Authenreith never anticipated becoming a senior pastor, but after spending years as a tech director and worship leader in a couple local churches, he began to sense a call to the pastorate. He now serves as the senior pastor at Cochranton Community Church in Pennsylvania where there are a lot of great things happening. In this episode of UB NOW, John talks breifly about his story and what the Lord is up to in Cochranton, but our conversation focuses primarily on a unique summer camp experience they host that involves 200 teenagers and adults serving nearly 400 kids in their community.

Key Topics

• John's journey from Tech Director to Senior Pastor
• A unique summer camp for kids
• Staying connected to the community through coffee and film

Connect with John at Cochranton Community Church:

Website, Facebook, YouTube

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Matt Kennedy is the lead pastor at Dillman Church in Warren, Indiana. He accepted that assign in the fall of 2013 with much excitement about what could be, but quickly learned not everyone was as excited as he was for a new direction. In this episode, Matt shares what he's learned about leading a church through conflict and what he's learned about himself in the process, including a change in perspective from "faithful and effective" to "good and faithful."

Key Topics

• Moving from suburban to rural
• Moving back to mission
• Moving toward good and faithful

Connect with Matt at Dillman Church:

Website, Facebook

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

Free Breath by Moire

License code: V5ZOFRI75J9BWIKC

Josh Good, pastor of Hillsdale United Brethren and current member of the Executive Leadership Team of the United Brethren Church, is our guest for this episode of UB Now. Josh and I (Brian) go back to our days on the UB Youth Ministry Team, but Josh's UB roots are much deeper than that. He grew up in a UB church and has served UB churches his entire career (except for one short year which you will hear about in this episode). He shares how that background has uniquely prepared him for his current role at Hillsdale along with a few exciting ways the people at Hillsdale UB are engaging their peers and co-workers for the sake of the Gospel.

Key Topics

• Josh's United Brethren roots
• Developing young leaders
• Surrounding yourself with great teammates (staff, volunteers)
• Relational discipleship

Connect with Josh and Hillsdale United Brethren Church:

Website, Facebook, YouTube

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

Free Breath by Moire

License code: V5ZOFRI75J9BWIKC

Banner Church in Byron Center, MI, recently celebrated their 100th anniversary and things did not go quite as planned. Byron Spear, the senior pastor at Banner, shares that story in this episode of UB Now. Byron also talks about the church's focus on equipping and sending out young leaders. He advises young pastors to be patient, listen to the congregation, and surround themselves with wise leaders.

Key Topics

• Banner's 100th anniversary
• Equipping and sending young leaders
• Advice for young pastors

Connect with Byron and Banner Church:

Website, Facebook, YouTube

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Host: Brian Biedenbach

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

Free Breath by Moire

License code: V5ZOFRI75J9BWIKC