Growing Together

Apr 27 2021 32 ep. 16 mins 12

Growing Together Podcast artwork

The typical church in the United States is growing older and growing smaller. Research indicates that as many as half of the people growing up in Christian churches today will end up walking away from their religious affiliation. The Growing Together Podcast is all about honest and hopeful conversation with leaders who are challenging the narrative and creating thriving Seventh-day Adventist Churches for all generations. The current state of the church today is not the end of the story, and you can be part of the change. Listen, learn, be inspired, and share with your network. We are stronger together.

Religion & Spirituality

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Reconciliation: What to do When our Young People Fail Us

Apr 27 2021 15 mins

In the Season 2 finale, Benjamin Lundquist and Kaleb Eisele return to discuss the elephant in the room - how to handle the mistakes and failures of young leaders in our communities. Some of the greatest examples of how to handle mistakes take them back to Jesus' relationships with his disciples. In the words of Benjamin, sometimes the most meaningful thing you can say is, "You may

We're Being Watched - Leading Ourselves Well

Apr 20 2021 23 mins

Trusting our leaders has less and less to do with what they say - and far more to do with how we see them live. Benjamin Lundquist and Kaleb Eisele return to talk about how to develop healthy habits and how to lead effectively both on and off the stage. Leading yourself well isn't just about "not doing bad things" - sometimes it's about learning to carve out enough time to rest and

Being the Best Neighbors, Part 3

Apr 13 2021 18 mins

Connecting across social and cultural barriers has proven to be one of the greatest obstacles for the Christian church today. In this episode, Dr. Heather Thompson Day takes us back to the Bible - back to the stories of Jesus - to explore how best to navigate those relationships.

Being the Best Neighbors, Part 2

Apr 06 2021 15 mins

In September of 2020, a rash of wildfires tore through the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Benjamin Lundquist and Kaleb Eisele return to talk about neighboring in disaster and times of need. How can we show up when our community needs us most - and what happens when we do?

Being the Best Neighbors, Part 1

Mar 30 2021 16 mins

Connecting with young people already in your church is important - but how can we connect effectively beyond our church walls? One tip from Alina van Rensberg - "Get in your car. Drive around the neighborhood and see who's there. See what people are up to and what's important to them. Get to know those people and put yourself in places where you're actually finding out what the nee

Get Creative: Rethinking Youth Socials

Mar 23 2021 12 mins

"While we need to meet people where they are, it's better to do it with them than for them." How do we create meaningful relationship-building social events in a rapidly changing world? Are the methods we used in the past sufficient for today? Martin and Alina van Rensberg return to give insights on what seems to work... and what doesn't.

Prioritizing Young People Everywhere, Part 3

Mar 16 2021 14 mins

What happens when you give young people a voice of their own? For Pastor Terrance Taylor, it mean allowing them to offer criticism. In one especially poignant interaction, Pastor Taylor's daughter told him, "This church isn't ready for me to invite my friends." This episode focuses on the wrestling process - and offers insight into how to navigate some of the hardest intergeneratio

Prioritizing Young People Everywhere, Part 2

Mar 09 2021 17 mins

Pastor Terrance Taylor returns to share how his church began implementing the Growing Young principles locally - and how simple, intentional efforts began to result in lasting change. In pastor Taylor's words, "People are drawn by relationships - they need to be loved and to know people." Taylor's church started simply - by sitting down and listing out every young person they could

Prioritizing Young People Everywhere, Part 1

Mar 02 2021 17 mins

"If they wanted to come back, what kind of church would they want to come back to?" Pastor Terrance Taylor was challenged to reshape his church culture in a time where he himself was disconnecting with the church he was pastoring. Today, their church is a safe place where even teens are coming to on their own. Pastor Taylor shares the steps his church took to change their culture,

Fueling Warm Community, Part 3

Feb 16 2021 15 mins

The internet is a place of its own. In a world ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, the internet is also a place where many communities begin. In some cases, it's a lifeline for people to connect to each other. Dr. Heather Thompson Day returns to explore how to build healthy, inviting community online.