We Are Vineyard

In this episode of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay talks with Robb Morgan about the principles of order and abundance and how they apply to organizational health and flourishing. They also discuss Vineyard USA’s ReOrg and the ways in which we are working towards ensuring the Vineyard is a vibrant association of churches that can be handed off to the next generation. 

Robb Morgan is the Managing Director of Vineyard USA. Robb grew up in Danbury, CT before going to college at The Ohio State University. In 1998, following a very dark and difficult few years, Robb encountered Jesus while on a business trip to Southern California. Over the course of one week, a bartender at the hotel where Robb was staying, and who happened to attend a Vineyard Church, proclaimed the love of God and demonstrated the power of Jesus. At 2am on September 1, Robb surrendered his life to Jesus – just a few hours before hopping on a plane and going back to Ohio.

Robb and his wife, Julie, have been involved in church planting, including the Delaware City Vineyard, where Julie continues to serve as Lead Pastor. Throughout his time in the Vineyard, Robb has served as an Area Leader, a Missions Partnership Leader, on the Multiply Vineyard team, and in a variety of other translocal roles and task forces. Robb has spoken at regional and national events with Multiply Vineyard and Vineyard Justice Network. 

Robb and Julie are the parents to two young adult daughters, Emma and Via. As a family, they enjoy good music, good food, and the great outdoors. Currently, they are working hard to raise some chickens, shelter some kittens, and prepare for spring gardening and orchard planting.

Show Notes: 

Listen to Andy Crouch’s “Order and Abundance” talk from Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference (Part one and Part two) 

Learn more about Ordination with Vineyard USA

Giving Tuesday: December 2, 2025 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Becky Olmstead and Karen George about how they started working together, and why they took on the enormous task of hosting National Kids Conferences. They discuss cultivating volunteer teams, what keeps them invested in the work, and what they dream about for kids, kids ministries, and kids conferences. 

Becky Olmstead is a passionate advocate, writer, and national voice for the next generation. With nearly 40 years of pastoral experience—serving alongside her husband at Vineyard Church of the Rockies and as a longtime Kids Pastor—Becky brings deep wisdom and heart to every conversation. She’s a former global leader with the 4/14 Movement and currently serves as the National Kids Director for Vineyard USA, where she’s helping shape a Spirit-led, Jesus-centered movement for children across the nation. Becky’s heart beats for seeing kids empowered by the Holy Spirit and being recognized in the Church as vital voices.

Karen George is a creative leader and next-gen advocate with over 20 years of experience as a Kids Pastor and Creative Pastor. She serves as the Vineyard Kids USA Coordinator and helps develop Vineyard Kids Worship Music, creating meaningful moments where kids connect with God.

Karen has been part of the global 4/14 Movement and is passionate about seeing a generation change the world with the love and power of God. She also runs a creative agency that helps businesses, churches, and ministries bring bold ideas to life through branding, events, and experiences, and when she’s not dreaming up something new, she’s hanging with her husband and two rad kids.

Show Notes: 

Register for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference

Hear more of Becky’s story on We Are Vineyard

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Christian Weber about her experience of change over the past 20 years with Vineyard USA. They talk about some of the logistics involved in hosting large events, the Kingdom components of event planning, and her desire to balance the spiritual and relational elements with the logistics. 

Christian Weber is the Events Director for Vineyard USA.

Christian grew up in the Houston area and started attending the Sugar Land Vineyard church as a teenager. She had never heard the words “now and not yet” or “kingdom theology” until she came to a Vineyard church. Through her involvement in that youth group, the Holy Spirit captured her heart, and she knew she had found a home in the Vineyard.

In 2005, Christian began working for Bert Waggoner, National Director for Vineyard USA at the time, as Events Director and Exec Admin. She continued to serve in this role during Phil Strout’s tenure as National Director before transitioning to the role of Events Director in 2021. Jesus has given her a heart for the Vineyard and the pastors and leaders she gets to serve.

Christian and her husband, Ben, met and married at the Sugar Land Vineyard, where he was on staff as the Youth Pastor for about 8 years before becoming an attorney. They have three awesome children, Chloe, Atticus, and Ivy. When they aren’t acting as a car service for said kids, they really enjoy concerts and great food!

 

Show Notes: 

Register now for Vineyard USA’s National Conferences: Melody and Harmony

Hear more of Christian’s story  

Email Christian

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Glenn Packiam about growing up in Malaysia and his parents’ path into ministry. Glenn shared about his awakening to different layers of spiritual formation and how deep reflection enhances theological and Kingdom practices. They discuss leading as a bridge builder, pursuing the “radical middle”, and the joy of being a perpetual learner.  

Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is also the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, co-authored with his wife, Holly, The Intentional Year.

He earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, and is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. Glenn has written over 65 worship songs published with Integrity Music, including “Your Name”, co-written with Paul Baloche.

Glenn and Holly have four children and live in Orange County, California.

 

Show Notes:

Register now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference! 

Glenn’s website 

Rock Harbor 

Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by hearing from three Asian American women in ministry: Mary Anne de la Torre (leader of our AAPI Association), Susan Van Riesen (lead pastor of Palo Alto Vineyard), and Sabrina Chan (national director of Asian American Ministries for InterVarsity). 

Susan talks about feeling connected to her Korean culture despite growing up as a minority in Oregon, her family’s reaction to her choosing a life of ministry, and how that compares to her perspective now as a parent. Susan also shares about what’s giving her hope for the next generation of Asian American leaders, and how her Korean heritage enhances the diversity of tools in her leadership toolbox. 

Sabrina shares about the challenges she faced growing up in Richmond, VA and how she came to understand a healthier view of what it means to be Chinese American. They also discuss the tenderness of vocation for many Asian Americans, and how InterVarsity’s Asian American ministry tackles the diversity within the Asian Community. 

Susan Van Riesen has been serving as Palo Alto Vineyard Church’s Lead Pastor since 2017. She served on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 16 years at 6 different college campuses before spending time as a full-time mom of three very energetic, passionate children. She has great love for adoption, children with special needs, and gardening.

Rev. Sabrina Chan is the national director of Asian American Ministries for InterVarsity, and a daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong. She is an author of Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation (IVP, 2022). She worked as a computer network engineer after graduating from Rice University. She has led campus ministries and supervised staff teams in Texas and the San Francisco Bay Area. Sabrina loves preaching and consults and trains in leadership development and ethnic and racial development and justice. Sabrina earned her Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary, helped planted a church, and is an ordained minister. Sabrina is a bike commuter and an avid tea drinker. Find her on social media @sabrinachanwrites 

 

Show Notes: 

Register for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference! 

Following Jesus Without Dishonoring Your Parents by Jeanette Yep, Peter Cha, Susan Cho Van Riesen, Greg Jao, and Paul Tokunaga

Learning Our Names by Sabrina S. Chan, Linson Daniel, David de Leon, and La Thao

Susan’s blog

STAT

InterVarsity: Asian American Ministries

Vineyard USA’s AAPI Association

 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Christina Lowery discuss last week’s episode with Mark Batterson, including what Christina loves about their ministry approach. They also talk about why leadership development and succession plans are vital for the Vineyard today, how and why they created Vineyard Leadership Essentials, and some other effective pathways for discipleship. Christina shares about some of the new stuff coming in the Fall for pastors who have just come in as successors, some of what’s happening with NextGen and how she’s working to resource what God’s doing, and what she’s encouraged by as she meets with Vineyards around the country.

Christina Lowery is the Associate National Director for Church Health and Development.

Early in her ministry career, Christina served as the Events Director for a large student internship at Teen Mania Ministries (Acquire the Fire) in Tyler, TX.  In 2001, she and her husband Joel joined a local Vineyard Church there, and served on the pastoral team for several years until they were called to move back to Virginia and plant Crossroads Church.    

Christina and Joel have co-pastored Crossroads Church in Fredericksburg, VA since 2008. As a Lead Pastor, Christina has been a big-picture thinker and creative visionary, responsible for communicating and driving the vision and mission of the church forward. She finds great joy in preaching and teaching, leadership development, and building systems that foster church health and growth.

In addition to her local leadership at Crossroads Church, she has served in other leadership roles with the Vineyard, such as an Area Leader in Northern and Central Virginia for ten years (2009-2019) and on the Vineyard Women in Leadership Team for the past three years (2018-2021). 

Joel and Christina have been married for 23 years and have 3 amazing kids – Hannah, Caleb, and Zoe.  The Lowery family loves to travel and so far, their favorite destination is Maui, with its warm sun and beautiful island beaches. 

Show Notes:

Register Now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conferences

Listen to Christina’s previous episode 

Listen to Mark Batterson’s episode 

Vineyard Leadership Essentials

Project Timothy

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Mark Batterson about the value of failing as a church planter, some of the realities of building a church in a transient city, and the things they would tell their younger selves about church leadership. Mark also shares about using their church property to engage the community and the way the Lord has multiplied the ministries they’ve planted and watered. 

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C. One church in multiple locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, and the Capital Turnaround. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 24 books. His newest books include A Million Little Miracles and The Best Worst Day Ever, the third children’s book he’s written with his daughter, Summer. He and his wife reside in Washington, D.C.

Show Notes:

Register Now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conferences

Mark’s website

Mark’s books 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with John Kim about the ways in which generative AI are impacting our world, and the potential for impacting our future. John shares about a perspective shift in viewing AI in terms of Genesis instead of Revelation, how to get started using AI constructively, and some ideas about how you can use it to multiply your ministry efforts. John and Jay also chat about some of the limitations of AI, and the two questions it forces us to ask. 

John Kim is the founder of Karamaan Group, an investing firm that oversees his family interests through passive and active interests in public and private companies, mostly in the software, technology and blockchain industries. Prior to this, John was a partner at the DFO- the family investment of Michael Dell and his family. He received his PhD in economics from MIT in 1998 and his AB from Harvard in 1995. John and his family reside at Coram Deo: A House of Worship and Entrepreneurship located in midtown Manhattan. He serves on the board of Vineyard USA.

He is a long-suffering NY Knicks fan as the Knicks last won a title when John was in his mother’s womb.  He believes that will change this year.

Show notes: 

Hear more of John’s story 

ChatGPT

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Nicole Dill about how she came to the role of Communications Director for Vineyard USA, and the ways in which the role is different than she expected. Nicole shares some of the complexities of resourcing such a diverse movement, the ways that advancements in technology and AI have changed the landscape of comms and social connection, and also how AI might be used by pastors to eliminate some busy work and open up time for personal connection and flourishing. They also discuss the ways in which our online conduct impacts our relationships and our witness to unbelievers, and the direction the Lord is leading our movement, which drives Nicole’s work. Finally, Nicole gives an overview of this year’s National Conferences, an explanation of the theme, and her hopes for our time together. 

Nicole Dill is the Communications Director for Vineyard USA. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where she came to faith as a teenager, and quickly found a church family at Vineyard Columbus in Joshua House, the young adult ministry. In 2002, she moved to Colorado to help plant the Arvada Vineyard (which became a part of the Mile High Vineyard). While helping lead at this growing church plant, Nicole finished her degree in Photography at the Art Institute of Colorado. In 2008, Nicole planted and pastored the first multisite church for the Mile High Vineyard in downtown Denver with a team from the Arvada Vineyard. After several years of pastoring there, she handed the site off to another pastor and helped several other Vineyard church plants and established churches in the Denver area.

Nicole has also worked extensively outside the church, leading creative teams at Anthropologie as a store designer, as Chief Operations Officer for TEDxMileHigh, the largest TEDx in North America, and for the White House as an Advance Associate for the President. She consults many growing organizations around their creative, operations, and HR needs in the nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors. Nicole is thrilled to be on the National Team, pairing together her passion for creativity, the church, and spreading the message of Jesus to the world around us.

She lives in Arvada, CO with her husband Jason, and two daughters, Vera and Rosalie, and attends the Arvada Vineyard.

Show notes: 

Hear more of Nicole’s story

Jay's talk at the Leadership Council Meeting 

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt 

The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch 

Notebook LM

Perplexity.ai 

Aiforchurchleaders.com

Subscribe to the Vineyard USA Monthly 

5-Step Prayer Model Training 

Vineyard USA’s Reporting System 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Super Regional Leader John Elmer chats with Lindsay Mizell about growing up in Young Life camps, connecting with a Vineyard church after college, and finding language for her experiences with the Holy Spirit. Lindsay shares about being invited to pastor a multisite church, wrestling through her identity as a female pastor, and how “on-the-job training” has been a hallmark of her life. Lindsay talks about her experience as an Area Leader for Vineyard USA and shares an incredible story of the healing she experienced this year. 

Lindsay Mizell is the pastor of Vineyard Springbrook in Alcoa, TN. She grew up in a ministry family, running around Young Life camps and believing she could be part of things God was up to in the world. She is married to Daniel and they have 3 sons. Lindsay serves on the Women’s Association national team and is an Area Leader in the southeast. 

Show Notes: 

Register for Vineyard USA’s National Conference: Melody and Harmony 

Register for Vineyard Women’s Conference: More. 

www.vineyardspringbriok.org 

Instagram: @vineyardspringbrook