A Beautiful Church

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Joining Adam for Season 5 is Micki Ann Harris, the Spiritual Formation Director at the Chattanooga House of Prayer. In this episode, Micki Ann shares how her life experiences led her to Chattanooga and ChattHOP, and she and Adam talk about their Rhythms Retreats and why these spiritual practices are invaluable for Christians.Although Micki Ann became a Christian as a 9-year-old, she found her calling in ministry when she rededicated her life at 20. After moving across the country several times and serving in many church and ministry roles, Micki Ann helped found the Chattanooga House of Prayer in 2010. Her current role is the culmination of years of growing in intimacy with God and feeling a personal need for the beautiful and life-giving spiritual practices that she teaches to others. These spiritual rhythms are the backbone of the retreats Micki Ann leads at ChattHOP, and although there are various rhythms (as you'll hear in this season!), the goal of each one is fostering deeper intimacy with God. Listen in to this episode to find out some of the specific rhythms that Micki Ann and Adam will be discussing this season. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:19] Introduction to Micki Ann[6:34] How a difficult season deepened Micki Ann's intimacy with Christ[9:56] Micki Ann's calling and growth in ministry [14:59] Adam's observations and encouragement to twenty-somethings[16:04] The relationship between action and formation[20:04] Micki Ann's history with ChattHOP[23:48] Current role as Spiritual Formation Director[25:30] The inception of Rhythms at ChattHOP[29:47] What retreats at ChattHOP look like[33:30] Some of this season's topics/rhythmsSilence and solitudeCultivating intimacy with GodMeditative approach to ScriptureSabbathForms of prayerUnderstanding worth of human bodiesRule of life[39:11] Why one should attend a ChattHOP retreat Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayResources from the Chattanooga House of PrayerCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Welcome to Season 5 of A Beautiful Church Podcast! For the past four seasons, we've brought you ecumenical voices from across the greater Chattanooga area through Adam's conversations with pastors, priests, and ministry leaders – all with the goal of showing the beauty within the diversity of God's Church and how there's more that unifies us than divides us. Unity is at the core of ChattHOP's mission, and in this season, we're highlighting a different way of building unity by exploring spiritual disciplines that the Church has used for centuries.If you want to go deeper with these spiritual practices, check out the Retreat Guides on our website's Resources page.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayResources from the Chattanooga House of Prayer Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Ken Sauer knew he was called to be a pastor from a young age, but it took a radical experience with a cult, ten years of depression and spiritual wandering, and the MTV Video Music Awards to get him to start his ministry journey. Now, Ken is the pastor of Red Bank United Methodist Church, a congregation with a long history and a reputation for its food bank ministry. In the final episode of Season 4, Ken and Adam talk about the strengths of Methodism, how Red Bank UMC is doing post-pandemic, and what Ken sees happening in Chattanooga and across the nation. Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:42] Ken's background and long road to ministry[1:00] Journalism career[2:24] Call to ministry and lifestyle in highschool[4:33] The impact of events in college[7:03] Opening a heavy metal t-shirt shop after losing his faith[11:11] Turning point: MTV VMAs[14:09] Seminary and reflections on the previous 10 years[15:41] Ken's long struggle with faith and depression[20:28] Church location, service times, connection information[21:57] History of Red Bank UMC[24:58] Red Bank UMC's role in the community[28:06] Ken's experience running food pantries[35:28] Unity and division in the United Methodist Church[44:27] What it means to be a connectional denomination[49:28] More historical and general information about the UMC[56:52] How Red Bank UMC is doing post-pandemic[1:02:55] Sociological trends in the US and the dwindling of church culture[1:09:03] Final exhortation to believers Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayRed Bank UMC website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Pastor Terry Evans knows what God has called his church to do – minister to the community. Grace Pointe Assembly of God has found ways to serve local oncology patients, homeschool groups, special needs kids and their families, and more. Alongside its outreach, Grace Pointe makes space for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as demonstrated by two miracles of healing that happened at a recent church revival.Listen to this episode to hear Terry and Adam discuss Terry's call to ministry, the structure of the Assemblies of God, and Grace Pointe's current outreach focus.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:28] Church location, service times, connection information[3:05] History of Grace Pointe[6:07] How Terry came to be a pastor[10:26] Comparing onramps to ministry in different denominations[14:10] Overview of Assemblies of God[18:17] Comparing disciplinary methods in different denominations[23:16] Grace Pointe's outreach to Chattanooga[29:56] Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Grace PointeHappens in addition to works of faith (outreach)Two recent healings[33:08] Theology of healing[43:19] What God is doing at Grace PointeFocus on young familiesThe importance of small groups[53:39] Dealing with challenges as a pastor[57:19] Final exhortation to believers Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayGrace Pointe Assembly of God website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.From coming to the Lord at six years old at a revival at the church to leaving a thriving ministry in Indiana to return as its senior pastor, Dr. Ternae Jordan's life and ministry have been undeniably connected to Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Following in the footsteps of his father, the previous pastor, Ternae keeps Mount Canaan focused on serving the community, even through the recent pandemic. Listen in to this episode to hear Ternae talk about his church philosophy, his experience in inner city Fort Wayne, and his thoughts on the black church.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:16] History of Mount Canaan Baptist Church[4:21] Ternae's attitude toward ministry[7:24] Ternae's church and street ministry in inner city Fort Wayne[12:34] More on Ternae's ministry in Fort Wayne and his transition back to Chattanooga[22:08] Mount Canaan's role in Chattanooga[27:55] Church location, service times, connection information[29:52] How 2020 affected Mount CanaanIncreased viewershipFacilitated racial reconciliation events Advocating for COVID-19 help for underserved communities [35:34] On African-American church tradition [45:02] Why Ternae joined the Southern Baptist Convention[51:21] Final exhortation to believers Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayMount Canaan Baptist Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Association with any denomination comes with both pros and cons. Although The Crossing changed its name to attract those who might have a negative view of the Church of God, this congregation has not strayed from its Pentecostal roots. In fact, Pastor Chad Harris has made it a point not just to understand the history of the church but to make sure The Crossing continues to offer an “authentic Pentecostal experience” that is grounded in sound theology and the Word of God. Check out this episode to hear Chad talk about how Pentecostalism is expressed at The Crossing and how he came to be their pastor and to listen as Chad and Adam discuss teaching and ministering to the next generation.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:49] About Pastor Chad Harris[3:01] History of The Crossing[4:52] Hereditary pastorship in the Church of God[6:52] Reason for the church's name change[9:02] Church location, service times, connection information[10:18] What Chad learned during a lunch with the church's longest memberThe church has always been Holy Spirit-focusedThe church always began to die when it wasn't addressing the next generation[15:42] Adam talks about catechisms[19:53] More on the Pentecostal history of The Crossing[21:28] Chad's vision for The Crossing[28:38] The challenge of changing a church's culture[35:44] The Crossing's prayer culture[43:36] Chad's experience at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary[45:13] How an individual can “responsibly” seek a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit[53:29] On how Pentecostals miss out by not teaching theology to their children[57:08] What Chad sees God doing in Chattanooga and across the nation[1:05:03] Exhortation to not be consumer-minded with church Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayThe Crossing Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Pastor Melody Winderweedle's call to ministry came in the form of a dream – two dreams, actually. In 2015 when the founding pastor of Ekklesia was called to another state, he asked Melody and her husband, Bud, to take over the pastorship. When they both had prophetic dreams on the same night, they realized that this is what God was leading them to. Ekklesia, a Vineyard-associated church, makes space for the Holy Spirit to move, dreams (and healing!) included. In this episode, Adam and Melody discuss personal and biblical experiences of God's power, what it's like to be a Vineyard church, and how Ekklesia has been advocating for local students.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021. Ekklesia has since changed locations. For more information, please visit their website.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[2:44] Church location*, service times, connection information[3:10] How Melody and Bud came to be the pastors of Ekklesia[8:50] Prophetic dreamsMelody and Bud's prophetic dreams that lead them to accept the role at EkklesiaAdam's examples of dreams from the Bible and his own experiences[17:05] What Melody's ministry has looked like in the past five years[19:18] Difficulties of pastorship and the importance of community support[23:00] Background information on the Vineyard Movement[26:46] Praying for healing/theology of miracles[33:17] Melody's healing story[42:45] More information about the Vineyard Movement[48:25] Ekklesia's place in Chattanooga[55:59] What Melody sees God doing in Chattanooga[1:01:38] Exhortation to “humbly listen to one another*Special note*: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021. Ekklesia has since changed locations. For more information, please visit their website.Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayEkklesia Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.City Church seeks to be just that – a church for the city. Even though it isn't the oldest or largest congregation in Chattanooga, City Church has a reputation of being a “mother church” due in part to how they live out their mission. Lead Pastor Shannon Chapman says that City Church doesn't need or want to lead every outreach opportunity in the city – “we just want to be involved.” But what really makes City Church unique is how they value both the experience of the presence of God and the Word of God. Listen in to this episode to hear more about City Church's culture and what Shannon sees God doing at City Church and in Chattanooga in this season.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:22] Church location, service times, connection information[2:10] History of City Church[5:31] City Church's heart for Chattanooga[6:20] What it means to be a Church of God church[9:25] City Church's emphasis on the presence of God[14:23] Stewarding spontaneous moments with order[18:43] Balance between Scripture and experience[22:13] Knowing how to steward the experience after it happensAdam's examples from ScriptureExperiencing the Word of God to know that it's true[29:04] City Church's role in the city of Chattanooga[30:41] Shannon: “God is stirring things in the heart of Chattanooga”Urgency, hunger for GodHow Shannon is learning that “God meets us at our level of desperation”[34:18] The origin of City Church's heart for Chattanooga[38:04] City Church's prayer culture[43:55] What God is doing in City Church[50:49] Back to Shannon's observations on what God is doing in Chattanooga[52:49] Exhortation to create quiet space Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayCity Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Tony Walliser has what he calls a “small-church-pastor heart” despite being the senior pastor of one of Chattanooga's largest churches. During his twenty-six years on staff, Tony has seen Silverdale Baptist Church grow into four venues and thousands of members. But Silverdale's current discipleship initiative is not for the sake of adding to those numbers. Listen to this episode to find out why Silverdale is starting home churches, how Tony came to Christ and how God has dealt with his insecurities, and what three things make up the backbone of Silverdale's culture.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:51] Tony's early years and introduction to the gospel[6:52] Church location, service times, connection information[8:23] Background on Silverdale[11:44] On staying at Silverdale for so longTony's “small-church-pastor heart”Tony on realizing when he's taking on a yoke that isn't his[16:20] How God has addressed Tony's insecuritiesChildhood insecurity: “there's nothing that you have to say that anybody wants to hear”God's promise to Tony from Exodus[23:52] Missions and worship, growing, and serving as Silverdale's emphases [34:53] Information about Oaks Coffee House[36:30] Silverdale's prayer culture[42:37] Silverdale's current focus on discipleship through a home church model[51:53] Exhortation to be doers of the Word[53:48] Tony's vision for Chattanooga to be a “city on a hill”  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todaySilverdale Baptist Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Right in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, you'll find City Collective, a community that not only doesn't shy away from sticky topics but asks the questions many Christians are afraid to ask. Lead by pastors Matt Moore and Brookes Jones, City Collective attracts the unchurched, de-churched, and disillusioned with the goal of building a true family that pursues not just faithful deconstruction but also reconstruction into a “humble orthodoxy.”In this episode, Matt and Brookes explain what deconstruction means and how it leads to scriptural adherence. Listen in to hear them tell Adam about deconstruction within Scripture, issues with fundamentalism, and how confession and repentance are helping their church grow into a family. Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:58] Introduction to pastors Matt Moore and Brookes Jones[1:29] Church location, service times, connection information[3:10] What does it mean to contextualize the gospel?[5:53] The church culture of City CollectiveMatt: recognizing the place of City Collective within the Church as it exists in ChattanoogaBrookes: City Collective is made up of people who are tired and who don't think the Church is doing what it's supposed to[13:35] City Collective's culture of embracing questions and strugglesMatt: we should be having the conversations everyone else is havingBrooks: why wouldn't we engage issues of post-modernity and deconstruction?[21:04] DeconstructionDefinition and why it's significant in the 21st century (Brookes)How Jesus deconstructed culture via Scripture[25:03] Faithful deconstruction and the role of the prophetic voice (Matt)[28:41] On discipleship/spiritual formation and expressions of fundamentalism (Brookes)[32:23] How City Collective creates space for both grace and forward movementAdam: On how the reformed tradition handles correction within the bodyMatt: Jesus's vision for the ChurchBrookes: Confession and repentance[42:15] On healing and confession in the family context of the church[48:40] Final exhortations to believersBrookes: “stay”Matt: practicing empathy like JesusLinks and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayCity Collective website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Even though he knew God had called him to one day be a senior pastor, Michael Lindon didn't expect to step into that role at the age of twenty-five. Michael planted Living Faith Church in Hixson, Tennessee in 2006, and since then, he has been leading his congregation to “save lives, empower believers, and further the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Through copious scripture quotations, Michael gets to the theological root of the Word of Faith movement and explains the connection between faith, grace, and the Word of God. Listen in to this episode as Michael tells Adam about planting a church, the diversity of Rhema churches, and the question he thinks ministry leaders should be asking.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:38] Church location, service times, connection information[3:36] How Michael came to plant Living Faith Church[11:30] Living Faith's purpose[13:22] Challenges in developing a team[18:51] Excellence as a value at Living Faith[24:23] On the need for a team[26:02] Michael and Living Faith's association with Rhema [28:28] How Living Faith highlights listening to God in a faithful context[31:35] On the Word of Faith movement[43:58] Diversity in Rhema churches[51:45] Michael's encouragement to ministry leaders to simply ask God, “Show me your glory” Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayLiving Faith Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.From becoming a Christian in his early twenties to serving as a pastor focused on community and justice, Elder and Senior Pastor Troy Brand's life story and ministry is packed with intensity and a devotion to the word of God. Challenged by an ultimatum from his girlfriend (now his wife), Troy joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church while in the Marines. Now, as the Senior Pastor of Orchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chattanooga, TN, Troy leads his family and his congregation in intentionally honoring the Sabbath and serving the community with compassion and justice.Join Troy and Adam as they explore some of the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and what Troy and Orchard Park do to lift burdens and fight for justice in Chattanooga.Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:52] Troy's childhood and background[8:17] How an ultimatum from Troy's wife (then girlfriend) brought about his conversion[15:08] Church location, service times, connection information[16:58] Some basics on Seventh-day Adventists[18:26] All about the Sabbath[18:46] What Seventh-day Adventists believe about the Sabbath[23:02] How the Sabbath is observed[25:17] Theological context of the Sabbath[34:44] What Friday nights look like for Troy's family[38:33] On being like Jesus[41:11] Background information on Orchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church and their place in their communityChattanooga Purpose CenterUnburdening people to be able to worship[52:40] Brief aside on Troy's pursuit of knowledge and admonishment to not judge Seventh-day Adventists based on only a few distinctives[54:47] The role of Troy and Orchard Park in justice and anti-racism initiatives[58:09] The reputation for high-quality music in the black Seventh-day Adventist Church[1:00:48] The prayer culture of Orchard Park[1:05:34] How God has been blessing Orchard Park[1:08:23] What Troy sees God doing in the city of Chattanooga[1:12:45] Troy's final exhortation to believers  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOrchard Park Seventh-day Adventist Church websiteChattanooga Purpose Center websiteLEAD Pledge websiteThe LEAD Anti-Racism Challenge book Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Although he grew up at Ridgedale Baptist Church, Doug Plumlee spent thirty years away from this Chattanooga, TN congregation before returning eight years ago as Senior Pastor. In this episode of A Beautiful Church, Doug tells Adam about his background, his church's emphasis on community and outreach, and his vision for Ridgedale. That vision is centered around discipling believers to equip them to go into their communities as missionaries for Christ. During this conversation, Adam and Doug discuss how Southern Baptist churches spring into action in times of crisis, the growing emphasis on prayer at Ridgedale, and what God is doing in Chattanooga and at Ridgedale specifically. Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:13] General information for Ridgedale Baptist Church and Doug's backgroundChurch location, service times, connection informationHow Doug grew up at Ridgedale and how he ended up as Senior Pastor[4:29] Doug's call to ministry while earning an electrical engineering degree[9:07] Ridgedale's focus on making disciples[12:46] How expository preaching and community groups foster discipleship[17:12] Challenges to Doug's vision of discipleship[20:41] Adam asks Doug what would have helped during his first years as pastor[24:53] How Ridgedale and Southern Baptist churches in general excel at crisis response[28:20] Ridgedale's small groups[31:09] Adam's experience listening to the Bible in lieu of other media[32:50] How Doug is trying to grow the prayer culture at Ridgedale [37:23] How God is using Ridgedale in this season[39:41] Doug's observations on how God is using ChattHOP and the teamwork of various churches in Chattanooga[46:27] Doug's encouragement for believers to identify their callings and then go out as missionaries for Christ  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayRidgedale Baptist Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.New Monumental Baptist Church isn't just a “church in the community” – it's “the community church.” That's how Reverend Dr. Greg Odom characterizes his church, a 129-year-old congregation in the Woodmore neighborhood of Chattanooga, TN. In this episode of A Beautiful Church, Greg tells Adam about his background and call to ministry as well as the history, worship style, and ministry focuses of New Monumental.As Greg and Adam unpack the legacy of the church, Greg explains the challenge of changing outreach styles to youth and the strong, generational faith that keeps the New Monumental community listening to God.Note: This podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:50] Introduction and background on Reverend Dr. Greg Odom[7:27] How Greg's involvement in ministry started with music[11:20] Church location, service times, connection information[12:13] What services are like at New Monumental Baptist Church[17:14] Historical background of New Monumental[20:14] A brief digression on how Greg's approach to ministry has been impacted by his parents' roles in church[21:28] More on the history of New Monumental[24:13] New Monumental's impact on the community[29:37] On the challenge of reaching youth and young adults[35:44] Faith as a major quality of New Monumental○  The difference between African-American Southern Baptist churches and white Southern Baptist churches○  The generational and communal aspects of faith[43:33] The prayer culture of New Monumental[48:07] Greg's take on what God is doing both at New Monumental and the Church universally in this season[50:00] Greg's exhortation to take everything to God in prayer and to trust HimLinks and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayNew Monumental Baptist Church websiteThanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church - both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Why should a twenty-first century Christian explore one of the oldest branches of Protestantism? In this episode of A Beautiful Church, Reverend Phil Hanner explains the importance of historical liturgical worship as practiced by the Anglican Church and, more specifically, at Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Chattanooga, TN. As Adam and Phil discuss both church history and the history of Redeemer, Phil makes the case for a worship experience that depends on a liturgy that can trace its roots back beyond the Apostolic age.While Phil explains how liturgy keeps us focused on Christ and connected to God's story, he and Adam discuss the differences between Anglicans and similar denominations, what services are like at Redeemer, how the Anglican Church changed with the Reformation, and more.Note: This podcast was recorded earlier in 2021. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:08] An overview of Anglican Church of the Redeemer[4:54] How worship at Redeemer emphasizes awe and reverence[10:14] How kids tend to respond at Redeemer[12:30] Church location, service times, connection information[14:38] History of Redeemer[17:29] The consistency/longevity of Anglican worshipHow a familiar liturgy helps you to focus on God and fights against individualismObservations on changes in church worship due to revivals and other events and how different worship styles might affect discipleship[25:58] The relationship between the Anglican Church of North America, Redeemer, and other Anglican churches[30:13] Differences between Anglicanism and CatholicismRespect for the Catholic church and the necessary changes brought by the ReformationBrief note about transubstantiationThoughts on John Calvin/Calvinism[35:11] Redeemer's contribution to the body of Christ in Chattanooga[43:32] Prayer culture of Redeemer[47:48] Phil's final exhortation to pray as a home Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayAnglican Church of the Redeemer websiteThe Book of Common Prayer Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church - both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.On this episode of A Beautiful Church podcast, we're continuing to talk to Father Kevin Rigdon who founded and serves at St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church in Cleveland, TN. If you haven't listened to part one of our conversation, be sure to listen here! He shares some interesting thoughts about what the Orthodox Church brings to this region, the prayer culture of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church, a bit of ancient church history, and more. Fr. Rigdon discusses how God is teaching his mission “the one thing needful” in this season - “mission” being a word they use to call their church.Fr. Rigdon expresses how he believes that God has used Covid to provide us the opportunity to die to ourselves on behalf of other people and to teach us to become more like Him. Listen in to our conversation and hear how Kevin continues on the importance of practicing thanksgiving.Note: This podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation[0:42] What Orthodoxy brings to the table for the Church in this regionBreakdown of what “Church” is to Orthodox communitiesA bit of ancient church historyBeing the church for the Orthodox is a rightly glorifying life - which means dying to yourself.[15:23] Orthodoxy stands as a reminder that there is an unbroken continuity, not simply with the first century church, but all the way back [to the beginning].[22:44] How Orthodoxy does an outstanding job tying everything back to history[23:33] Breaking down the prayer culture of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church and how personal prayer is rooted in liturgical prayer[25:17] For the Orthodox families, there is a dedicated space or altar in their homes called the icon corner or “the beautiful corner”.[29:05] How God is teaching the congregation of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church “the one thing needful”[30:54] A quick tangent on whether or not we will be hungry in heaven[31:38] How God has used Covid to provide us the opportunity to die to ourselves on behalf of other peopleHow God is teaching us how to become like HimHow God is allowing us to be more intentional about who, why and where we are[34:40] What Kevin feels like God is doing in Chattanooga as a whole[35:21] The importance of practicing generosity and practicing thanksgivingThe distinction between giving thanks to God in all circumstances vs for all circumstancesTo live a right glorifying life requires thanksgiving.Everything that we give thanks for - God has taken it, received it, filled it with His divine power and then He gives it back to us as communion.[44:44] An exhortation to practice thanksgiving to God, no matter the emotion you are feelingLinks and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todaySt Maria of Paris Orthodox Church websiteAncient Faith RadioThe Orthodox Church by Timothy WareThanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church - both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.On this episode of A Beautiful Church podcast, we're talking to Father Kevin Rigdon who founded and serves at St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church in Cleveland, TN. He shares some interesting thoughts about what makes the Orthodox Church different including their “unit” service format, their hierarchy, and more. Fr. Rigdon dives into the difference between the western “legal (judge/jury)” paradigm and the eastern “hospital” paradigm and expresses the unique calling of their mission - their “mission” being a word they use to call their church.Fr. Rigdon breaks down some of the challenges he and his mission have faced in living out this calling and perhaps one of the biggest challenges the western Church faces today. Listen in to our conversation and hear how a posture of thanksgiving and offering unto the Lord has continued to bless this community.Note: This podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation[2:00] Differences and appeal of Orthodoxy[3:50] Kevin's backstory and how he became an Orthodox priest[9:29] Church location, service times and how to get connected[10:27] How Orthodox services happen in “units” and why liturgical anticipation happens frequently[14:21] The importance of understanding Orthodoxy[15:07] Additional ways to get connected and learn more about St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church[15:29] How St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church started[17:00] Difference between a mission and a parish and a breakdown of the hierarchy of the Orthodox ChurchHow Orthodoxy is sometimes mistaken for Catholicism.Some recent statistics on the Russian Orthodox Church[24:42] The unique calling or responsibility of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church, Being the Church, into two parts:1. Kevin talks about how humans are the priests of creation. Our purpose is to offer the creation that God has given us back to God - to offer the matter of our lives (vocation, family, friends, enemies) to God in thanksgiving.2. Being a hospital. Kevin dives into the difference between the western “legal (judge/jury)” paradigm and the eastern “hospital” paradigm.[34:52] Some challenges Kevin's mission has faced in living out this calling and perhaps one of the biggest challenges the western Church faces todayLinks and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todaySt Maria of Paris Orthodox Church websiteAncient Faith RadioThanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

On the last 3 seasons of A Beautiful Church podcast, we've discussed A LOT of theology. While theology is included in season 4 by default, this is a season about people: pastors. In Chattanooga, we have way more than our fair share of incredibly talented and devoted pastors. We feel that the conversations and content in this season have been some of the best yet.We asked strategic questions to hear the honest strengths and unique qualities of their churches. We wanted to hear firsthand the heartbeat behind some of the practitioners of faith in our community. We hope that this encourages you and gives you perspective to see the beauty and diversity of God's Church - both in Chattanooga and the Church at Large.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.In the final episode of this season, the conversation takes a downward turn – into hell, that is. Adam, Joey, David, and Keith finish discussing the purpose of Jesus's death before turning to the subject of God's character and what hell is like.Athanasius may emphasize God's goodness, but is that how modern Christians describe God? This issue bookends a discussion of various ideas about hell in light of God's character. The group characterizes hell as an experience caused by a negative response to God's love instead of being a punishment for sins committed; however, the fact of God's wrathfulness cannot be ignored, and Joey and Keith wrestle with how justice fits into the picture. This concluding episode is not only full of eruditeness but funny anecdotes about Martians, asbestos, and Sunday school. Listen in to hear the end of the discussion of Athanasius' On the Incarnation!About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:07] Adam's intro[2:33] How Athanasius emphasizes God's goodnessConnection to several heresiesGod isn't just wrathful[4:55] Athanasius' optimistic/comprehensive view of Jesus's deathYou have to “opt out” of God's redemptionDoes God make the choice for us to go to hell or do we?[6:15] David: God is somewhere in the middle of our benevolent and wrathful pictures of HimGod's love is still shown by people existing in hell as non-existence is worseWhy God wouldn't force people into heaven[8:31] David: heaven and hell are “the same reality perceived differently”Analogy of loving/hating an embrace[10:09] Keith: Orthodox view of hell is hating God's love for you[10:50] David: hell is emotional separation from God[11:42] Rabbit trail on Lewis and accents[13:37] Joey: Protestants agree that righteousness is love of “the things of God” and wickedness is opposing those things[14:24] Debate about whether God is punishing and wrathful or loving and if those attributes can coexist or are contradictory[15:46] Joey: God's justice is an important part of His characterKeith: punishment is not the same as justiceConsequences vs punishment[18:52] God's character and the Reformation[19:52] The “how” of God's redemption is simply Him taking a body[20:40] Doctrine of justification developed laterKeith: it's overexplainingJoint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification in the 1990s[21:41] More on God's motivation for redemptionBook recommendation from DavidStories from Sunday school Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministryJesus Shock by Peter Kreeft (book recommendation from David) Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Don't let the jokes at the start of this episode fool you – the conversation gets intense as the group debates different emphases on God's redemptive plan.In On the Incarnation, Athanasius explains that God chose to send Jesus Christ “for the sake of His [own] name.” But, as Keith and Adam discuss, modern evangelicals typically say that God's redemption was because of mankind's sinfulness. Through examples from their own church backgrounds, Joey and David help show how both answers are correct, and the group generally agrees that God redeemed man for His own honor/glory AND to address sin. But why do we need to understand both reasons? The group gives some insightful answers about how God redeeming for God's sake lines up with the rest of Scripture, how by abolishing death God dealt with sin and its consequence, and how these reasons together give a more complete picture of the gospel. Bonus: listen to this episode to find out the origin of the word “erudite!”About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:40] Adam's intro[3:34] General goofiness, jokes and notes about southerners and various denominations[10:41] Why did God redeem mankind? For the sake of His name[12:00] Keith: for modern evangelicals, God's redemption is all about the forgiveness of sinsGod sent Christ to bring us into union with HimselfGod's reason is divine, not individualisticWe are tied to His glory[13:49] Adam: yes, evangelicals do emphasize God sending Jesus for our sinsKeith: correct, but incompleteKeith: would evangelicals disagree with Athanasius?[15:17] Joey: difference between a “two-chapter gospel” (fall, redemption) and a “four-chapter gospel” (creation, fall, redemption, new creation)Four-chapter gospel closer to what Athanasius is sayingGod redeems us not just “legally” but to be made new[16:20] David: original grace, corruption, elevated grace[19:21] Why the emphasis (on people or on God) matters pastorally[19:58] Joey: emphasis on God as the cause is consistent with how God is talked about in the BibleGod's goodness is primary, not His anger/wrathOpposes our narcissistic tendencies [22:37] Keith: “death was defeated by death”[22:46] Joey: more complete view of the gospel[25:12] Adam's outro, disclaimers, recap Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Last week, the group began looking at Athanasius' relationship with reason and philosophy, debating whether or not he was strategically using philosophy in On the Incarnation and what place philosophy has in modern apologetics. This episode continues the conversation and moves into a rousing discussion about whether or not an encounter with Jesus Christ is a sufficient introduction to the faith or if reason is needed as well. After revisiting how context affects the perception and use of philosophy within the Church, the group responds to Keith's claim that On the Incarnation is exclusively using the person of Jesus as its argument, not philosophical reasoning. Joey and David contend that Athanasius uses reason to prepare the audience for an encounter with Christ, but Keith makes a historical argument that people experienced Jesus through the church itself. This opens the door for general discussion about how people come to faith: by experiencing Jesus, or through reason, or both. This episode is rich in theological dialogue with real implications about how we ought to live and evangelize. Listen in to hear Keith's take on how Christ can be encountered, how this connects to Jesus's disciples and the saints, and more!About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:05] Adam's intro and recap[3:12] Argument that there's only one God because of one creation[4:23] Protestant tendency to be “Biblicists” [6:05] Using philosophy might be about culture, not education[7:01] Argument that God sent Jesus at a specific time when people had a reasonable capacity for receiving the Incarnation [9:06] Different church traditions have different standards for what can be used in addition to scripture[11:25] Keith: Athanasius is using Jesus as his apologetic, not reason/philosophy[13:37] Pastoral task is to return to putting Christ at the center as On the Incarnation does[14:49] Using reason can obscure Jesus' power to affect us directlyWhat's needed in our modern contextManifested in the Church, Eucharist, miracles[17:00] Joey: Athanasius is using philosophy to “clear the ground” to get people from an experience with Jesus to deeper faith[17:37] David: Scripture says to “always be ready to have a reason for your faith”[18:20] Keith: not accurate to Athanasius' context; Christ is manifested in the ChurchModern approach doesn't trust Jesus to be enoughLooking for reasons/arguments outside the Church ignores existing ways to “enter into the life of Christ”[21:09] Joey: the mind/reason engages at some pointProblem: we get it backwards by addressing reason firstDavid: sainthood isn't about knowledge[23:17] On encountering Christ[25:30] Joey: the mind must be involved in experiencing Jesus, especially to record those experiences in wordsKeith: those experiences came out of ascetic practice, not intellectual David: “the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth”[26:55] Keith: experience with Christ doesn't have to involve reason/philosophyExample of brother's work with special needs kids“The way we know God is without words”Words are not totally excluded: prayers, Bible, etc., but Christ is at center[30:23] Keith: we're drawn to Athanasius because of his emphasis on Christ[31:22] Drawing connections to Athanasius' work The Life of St. Antony[33:04] Becoming more like Christ = becoming more fully human Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Is Scripture or philosophy (reasoning) more useful in defending the faith? For both Athanasius and twenty-first century Christians, the answer is, “it depends.” In this episode, the group looks at Athanasius' use of philosophy in On the Incarnation and discusses why we should use the same approach today. Along the way, they discuss philosophy's place in Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant doctrine. Although Athanasius uses Scripture aggressively in the portion of the book addressed to the Jews, On the Incarnation starts out with more philosophical arguments. There is some discussion about whether or not Athanasius is doing this on purpose, but David quotes directly from the text to show how the author is intentionally referencing Greek philosophy to appeal to a non-Christian audience. The group agrees that reasoning from Scripture is useful only if the audience knows and adheres to Scripture, but because our culture is largely “biblically illiterate,” philosophical reasoning is more appropriate and more convincing. The Catholic church in particular has formally embraced the use of philosophy in apologetics. Listen in to this conversation to hear more about Catholic and Protestant takes on philosophy and how Scripture itself promotes this form of reasoning.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:44] Adam's intro and disclaimers on episodes 5-8 (technically 6-9)[4:20] Significance of Athanasius using philosophy[5:45] Addressing an un-Christian audience, similarly to modernity[6:56] Shows Christian faith can go toe-to-toe with other schools of thought[8:04] Is Athanasius intentionally using philosophy?[8:22] Issue of semantics[9:41] Issue of how different traditions use reason and philosophy[11:20] Identifying Athanasius' audience[12:30] Quotations of Athanasius' use of philosophy[14:05] Brief aside on philosophy and Catholic dogma[15:07] Using truth as found in secular philosophy for reasoning to a secular or pagan audience[16:23] Protestant issue of only using Scripture[17:34] Example of Nicene Creed wording[18:41] Example of modern arguments[19:50] Adam's summary and outro Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.In this episode, the conversation takes a deep dive into theology! The group goes through an overview of On the Incarnation before turning to the topic of deification.On the Incarnation is broken down into five sections. The first three sections deal with different “divine dilemmas” (life and death, knowledge and ignorance, the death and resurrection of Jesus). The last two sections are refutations, one to the Jews (using Scripture to show how the Old Testament points to Jesus) and one to the Gentiles (explaining more about the importance of the incarnation and showing how the Christian faith had already influenced Greco-Roman culture). This last section contains a famous quote that is paraphrased as “God became man that man might become God,” and this becomes the jumping-off point for the group to discuss deification. One major difference between how deification figures into Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant doctrine is whether it indicates the process of becoming united with Jesus (especially with regards to his human side) or with the Trinity. Broadly, all parties agree that deification is like (but not the same as!) sanctification in that we become God-like (but not God in essence) only by grace through Jesus Christ.Listen in on this conversation to hear Keith and Joey explain the nuances of deification in Orthodox and Protestant belief as well as how some of Athanasius' other works add to this discussion. Bonus: find out if Adam invented the word “nerdery.”About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[2:14] Brief overview of On the IncarnationThe divine dilemma regarding life and deathThe divine dilemma regarding knowledge and ignoranceThe death of Christ and resurrection of the bodyThe refutation of the JewsThe refutation of the Gentiles[9:26] Brief explanation of deificationVery important to the Orthodox ChurchDifference between sanctification and deificationRoles of free will and grace[14:15] Agreement between Catholics and Orthodox Christians on deification[16:08] Protestant emphasis on union with Jesus and his humanity[17:40] Points of disagreement[19:04] Catholic perspective on deification and the fall[20:01] More on deification from an Orthodox perspective[23:30] How Athanasius' accompanying works help to flesh out deification[25:05] Summary of deification discussion by JoeyPoint of agreement: grace and JesusPoint of disagreement: details about the incarnation Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.A few episodes ago, Adam, Joey, Keith, and David all gave reasons for why you should study the patristics. In this episode, they'll convince you why On the Incarnation specifically is both helpful and impactful. The group shares how they've used this book in their various ministries and discuss some of the major themes and features of this work. From usefulness in preaching to supporting the lyrics of a popular worship song, On the Incarnation has had very practical applications for this group of ministry leaders. And there's no doubt that Athanasius has influenced the churches each of them belong to – there's a baby in David's parish named after Athanasius, and this church father is, as Keith notes, a hero in the Orthodox church.The conversation also underscores the deep and sometimes personal insights of each contributor. One theme is that the tone and content are not just optimistic but “triumphalistic” as Athanasius explores the importance of Christ's physical body, the fall, and more. Listen in to this episode to find other highlights from the book, learn about Keith's hospitality ministry, and hear Adam and the crew geek out about more words.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:36] Intro/fasting and feasting/man buns/Chattanooga and Dante's Inferno[6:22] Practical and personal applications after reading On the Incarnation[7:10] Joey: used Athanasius while preaching on Hebrews 2[8:35] David: useful for sermon prep, quotations[9:14] Brief rabbit trail Athanasius' name and “kerygmatic”[10:30] Keith's name chosen at baptism and his hospitality ministry[13:12] Return to practical and personal applications[13:12] Adam: how Athanasius helped him defend a line in a Hillsong song[14:53] Keith: insights increase with each reading[16:11] Reflections on the whole book[16:34] Joey: Athanasius' holistic approach[17:29] Keith: challenging ideas/concepts[19:23] Adam: triumphal tone[21:34] Keith: the incarnation[22:00] Aside on apophatic theology[25:49] David: Athanasius' triumphalism  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Why Athanasius? In this episode, Adam, Joey, Keith, and David answer this question by discussing Athanasius' reputation in the church, his historical context, and his tenacity for orthodoxy.As one of the first great theologians to write after the Christianization of the Roman Empire, Athanasius is considered a pillar of the church for his works on basic doctrine such as the divinity of Christ. Athanasius' life involved a lot of movement: he fled persecution in Alexandria as a child, spent time with monks in the desert, and was exiled five times. But in spite of physical dangers and heretical opposition, Athanasius remained persistently committed to defending the faith.Listen to this episode to find out more about St. Athanasius including how he compares in height to Adam and how he almost got exiled over a non-theological issue.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:32] Intro and musings on the word “erudite”[1:29] Why read Athanasius?[3:57] Why Athanasius is a pillar of the church[5:46] Physical description of Athanasius[7:32] Events that made Athanasius “doggedly determined”Challenge of Arian heresyPersecution in AlexandriaAnthony and other monks[14:11] On failure and suffering[19:23] Brief note on Athanasius' “side hustle” Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.If you've listened to any episode of this podcast, you know we focus on the things that connect believers from different denominations and backgrounds. And even though we might disagree on a thousand points, one of the things that connects virtually everyone in the body of Christ is the foundational theology crafted hundreds and hundreds of years ago by the fathers of the church.On Season 3 of A Beautiful Church, Adam is joined by three local ministry leaders from various ecumenical backgrounds to look at St. Athanasius' work On the Incarnation. You'll hear reasons for reading patristic works, the life of St. Athanasius, discussion and application of his work, and more!

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What happens when a Presbyterian pastor, an Orthodox layperson, and a Catholic rector record a podcast? Don't worry, there's no punchline ahead, just plenty of conversation both enlightening and entertaining. In this episode, Adam introduces season three's guests, and they immediately dive into what the patristics have to offer twenty-first century believers.This season, Adam isn't the lone Presbyterian; he's joined by Joey Sherrard, an Associate Pastor at Signal Mountain Presbyterian who has a PhD in systematic theology from the University of St. Andrews. Although he's no longer a pastor (and no longer Baptist), Keith Kettenring also has a PhD in educational studies from Biola University in California. Finally, returning to A Beautiful Church podcast is Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, who is, among other things, licensed in Canon Law. Together, these ministry leaders set up the rest of this season by discussing why it's important to study Christianity's theological foundations as crafted by the church fathers, the reliability and applicability of the patristics, and how these writings fulfil both an intellectual and a spiritual need. Listen to this episode to hear more about why this group has chosen to read the church fathers and why you should too.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:29] Introduction: Pastor Dr. Joey Sherrard[0:55] Introduction: Dr. Keith Kettenring[2:01] Introduction: Father David Carter[3:05] Patristics and Prayer group[4:09] Why should we study patristics?UnityReturn to foundational beliefsParticipating in centuries-old conversationPatristic writings closer in time to when Scripture was writtenConnection between early AD unchurched audience and modern post-Christian audienceUseful for evangelism[11:54] More on historical scholarship[15:26] Why modern scholarship isn't necessarily better[18:12] On the continuity of Christianity[20:17] Patristic writings address mind and heart simultaneously[23:50] The importance of revisiting the fundamentals Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOn the Incarnation (Adam's recommended edition)Joey Sherrard's ministryKeith Kettenring's ministryDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What motivates two people from very different church backgrounds to get together and talk about theology? If you've listened to the rest of this season, you know the answer: unity. In this epilogue, Adam describes his and David's friendship, how their ministries overlap, and how they reject potential antagonism even while they disagree about theology and doctrine. There's plenty of differences between Protestants and Catholics, but as this season has shown, there's also shared beliefs. As Adam says, “Unity is compelling, it's life-giving, it's important.” Whether you're Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or from another Christian tradition, the goal is the same: spreading the gospel of hope throughout the world. And when we can do that together, we can truly be a beautiful church.   About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What do Catholics and Protestants believe about the Eucharist/Communion? For Catholics, this may be the most important episode of this season, and it's certainly one of the most theologically complex. Adam and David discuss the commonalities and disagreements among various church traditions as they explore transubstantiation.Like many of the topics covered this season, there's significant agreement between Catholics and Protestants about the Lord's Supper: both believe that Jesus' sacrifice transcended space and time, and both believe that Communion has a physical and a spiritual component. But unlike most Protestant denominations, Catholics believe that once the bread and wine of the Eucharist are consecrated, they become both physically and spiritually the body and the blood of Jesus Christ through transubstantiation. Listen in on this episode to hear Adam and David dispel myths about how and why the Eucharist is observed. Bonus: don't miss equally interesting discussions about shampoo and Bible editions.   About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[2:00] Intro – “The Catholic bugbear”[2:38] Mischaracterizations of the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist[3:51] Anamnesis[5:00] Disclaimers and discussion of various editions of the Bible[7:33] Four main theological positionsCommunion is a memorial/signCommunion elements are physically bread and wine, spiritually Christ's body and bloodCommunion elements exist alongside Christ's body and blood (consubstantiation)Communion elements are physically and spiritually Christ's body and blood (transubstantiation)[10:16] Explanation of transubstantiationAccidents vs substance before and after consecrationOverlap with other traditions/denominations [15:15] The significance of the Last Supper and Jesus' death being outside of time[18:40] Adam's summary and explanation[20:33] Appeal to emphasize Communion as a “means of grace”[21:55] Nuances of the memorial perspective and anamnesis[24:41] Historical precedents and arguments[27:30] Connection between the Eucharist and the priesthood  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Last episode, Adam and David began their discussion about justification and found points of agreement between Catholic and Protestant theologies. In this episode, they consider grace and works and explore different articulations of the relationship between the two.Both Protestants and Catholics agree that we are saved by grace, not by works; however, as Adam mentioned in the last episode, doctrinal emphases can be as much of a “bugbear” as doctrinal differences. This is evident as David stresses our volitional responsibility for works (as illustrated in the parable of the talents) while Adam describes works as the fruit that comes from Christ's transforming power. Fortunately, the conclusion of both sides of this argument is the same: grace precedes works. Listen in on this episode as Adam and David continue to pursue unity by revisiting the effects of the Reformation and addressing modern misconceptions in both traditions.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:39] Recap of last episode[2:55] Misconceptions of Catholic beliefs concerning justification by grace[5:08] What it means to be saved by grace[5:49] Salvation vs justification and worksParable of the talentsThe mortal sin of omissionAnalogy of grace/works and driving a car[9:57] Protestant understanding of works and the “utter gratuitousness of grace”[11:58] Adam's summary of points of agreement about grace and works[13:23] The transformative aspect of salvation[15:29] Misunderstandings about God's character[17:55] More thoughts on disunity and historical context Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.At the heart of the Reformation and the division between the Catholic and Protestant churches (and therefore, on some level, this season of A Beautiful Church Podcast) is the subject of justification. Although this was Martin Luther's primary doctrinal issue, over the years, ecumenical dialogue has found much unity in theology between Protestants and Catholics. In this episode, Adam and David discuss some of those points of agreement.Unfortunately, much of the division in the Church is due to decades-old political disputes and semantic issues. Or, as Adam and David point out, sometimes what is perceived as a difference in doctrine is really just a difference in emphasis. There's common ground concerning justification, especially when it comes to hell, objective truth, and the salvation that comes exclusively through Jesus Christ.Adam and David discuss these points and more in the first of two episodes on the subject of justification. Tune in to episode 9 to hear them continue the conversation by exploring the relationship between grace and works. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:17] Adam's disclaimer and opening comments about unity[2:54] Context for discussion of justification[5:31] David's caveat[6:28] Political/geopolitical and linguistic/semantic issues in the Reformation and beyond[8:56] Doctrinal emphasis vs doctrinal differences[10:20] Rabbit trail about pronunciations[12:25] Original sin[13:45] On the existence of hell[15:35] Evangelical Protestants and objective truth[16:43] Conversion experiences and discipleship[21:14] Mortal sin vs venial sin[25:40] The real significance of Jesus' death[28:15] Various perspectives on hell[33:43] Jesus Christ is the only Savior Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministryThe Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (free PDF from the Lutheran World Federation)The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of Justification Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What's the difference between divorce and annulment? And what does it mean for marriage to be a sacrament? Adam and David answer these questions and more as they discuss how the Catholic Church handles marriage and separation. If you want to understand the Catholic perspective of marriage, you have to understand sacraments. As Adam and David explain, a sacrament is “an incarnational moment” where God acts on a supernatural level at the same that man acts on a material level. As two people are joined together in a marriage ceremony, God joins them together spiritually, giving weight to Jesus' words, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Although physical separation is sometimes necessary and encouraged (for example, in the instance of spousal abuse), the Catholic Church does not recognize divorce. An annulment, which is the process of declaring a marriage “unlawful,” is the only option for a Catholic to have their marriage dissolved. Listen in to this episode to hear David's grace-filled advice for Catholics who are separated or divorced, and, of course, Adam and David engage in more wordplay.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:31] Thoughts on unity and “catholicity”[3:27] Opening thoughts on marriage and morality[4:21] God's creation of marriage[6:59] Explanation of the sacramentsExample of baptismProtestant view of the sacramentsMatter and form[11:59] Sacrament vs covenant[14:26] Why separation is accepted but divorce isn't[16:32] Conditions for annulments[19:39] Matthew 5:32 and “sexual immorality”Translation issuesPremarital intent to be unfaithfulJesus' amplification of Mosaic divorce[25:34] Divorced Catholics[25:53] How to live as someone who has been abandoned by a spouse[27:40] Options for living as someone who has divorced and remarried  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministryThe Gift of Self by Maria Pia Campanella  Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Not everyone is called to celibacy, and not everyone is called to marriage, but these lifestyles don't receive equal attention in many Christian circles. In this episode, Adam and David examine celibacy, how it's handled in Christian culture, and why it's an important part of the Catholic witness to the world. Celibacy among Catholic clergy isn't just a legalistic requirement, or a way to sidestep sexual temptation, or a convenience for those who aren't particularly interested in marriage (in fact, David was told, “if you wouldn't have made a good husband and father, you shouldn't be ordained as a priest”). It's a radical declaration that what is eternal is more precious than “the goods of this world” and a sacrifice to serve the church in lieu of a spouse. But celibacy is not as celebrated or supported as it should be, particularly within the Protestant church where marriage is idolized. “The world needs celibacy now more than ever,” especially in response to the effects of the sexual revolution. Listen in to this conversation as Adam and David talk about the priestly life, types of celibates, and the difference between asexuality and celibacy.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:45] The life of a Catholic priest[4:08] The “radical witness” of celibacy[6:14] Why celibacy is needed in the 21st century[8:40] How celibates are viewed in Protestantism and Catholicism[10:50] Sexual morality and same-sex attraction[12:29] Lack of attention in churches towards celibates and singles[14:07] Life for married priestsWhat clergy can be marriedReformation issues with unmarried clergy[17:18] The effective witness of dissimilarities among Christians [19:21] Sexuality in modern cultureDifference between asexual and celibateCorrelation between the sexual revolution and pedophilia among clergy[22:45] Sexual issues in marriage and mutual witness[24:54] Different types of celibates[28:21] About those who are celibate/single for a time[30:07] Closing thoughts Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.One of the hallmarks of Catholicism is the intercession of the saints. Although this practice is not shared by Protestants, Christians can at least agree on most of the theology about why this may even be possible. With sufficient Greek and Latin tangents, Adam and David explore what Catholics say about those who have passed on and how this is practically applied. Undergirding this type of prayer is the belief that Christians who have died are now alive in Christ, living with Him, and capable of affecting what happens in our world through their connection with God. Catholics may pray to the saints directly and remember them with icons and relics, but this isn't the same as worshipping them. The communion of saints represents, among other things, the community of the church (both the living and the dead) and the ancestry of Christians.Listen in to this episode to hear Adam and David address common objections to praying to the saints, superstition, and the importance of death and tradition.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[2:03] What it means to pray to the saints[4:08] Brief aside, Adam's “cultural question”[4:51] What it means for the saints to be “alive in Christ”[5:55] Scriptural references of talking to those who have passed on[8:43] How the saints represent community and heritage[11:41] Lack of rootedness/continuity in Protestantism[12:23] Secular vs Christian views of deathMeaning of “the communion of saints”Saints are alive in Christ[14:10] Flippancy and superstition vs sacramentality[16:19] Protestant and Catholic responses to issue of superstition[17:42] The intercessory role of the saint[20:40] Why pray to a saint instead of Christ?[22:57] Scriptural basis of saints' authority[24:45] The liturgical significance of praying to the saints[27:12] Issue of tradition in Protestant churches[29:10] Quote from the Catholic catechism on intercession of the saints[29:51] The mystery of the method and remembering heroes of the faith Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.By now, you know that Father David serves at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. And even if you haven't seen it in downtown Chattanooga, you probably have a picture in your mind of what a Catholic church looks like – beautifully designed, highly decorated, even awe-inspiring. In this episode, Adam and David explore the purpose behind Catholic architecture, criticisms, and alternatives.From ancient temples to medieval cathedrals, there's a precedent for beautifully constructed places of worship both inside and outside of Christendom. But specifically for Catholics, churches have a very symbolic quality; they represent what Catholics believe about God and reflect who they are as Christians. The permanence and visibility of such buildings embody what the Church should be in a way that house churches and church plants just can't, according to David. Listen to this episode to hear more about the theology of architecture as Adam and David discuss basilicas, monuments, and doctrine.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:41] What is a basilica?[2:45] Episode preface[3:16] The liturgical importance of Catholic churches[5:49] The Basilica of Saint John Lateran[9:36] Dedication of a new altar at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul[10:22] When the ideal building isn't feasible[11:56] Why beautiful church buildings are worth the money[15:45] What about house churches?[21:43] The importance of things that create a permanent physical memory[25:28] Criticism of the church planting movement[26:53] Reasonable criticism of focus on architecture[27:50] Summary and thoughts from Adam[29:51] Extending thoughts on rootedness to doctrinal issues Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Confession is prescribed in the Bible, but how well do Christians practice it? Although their system may be disputed by others, Catholics excel at this spiritual discipline. In this episode, Adam and David explore how the Catholic Church does confession and why every Christian should have a confessor in their life. Although it looks similar to accountability, confession is not quite the same thing; Adam describes it as “giving an account” and “admitting you are not who you want to be.” For a Protestant, this looks like finding someone who can provide a safe space for this level of vulnerability. For a Catholic, this process is built into the life of the church through designated times, spaces, and confessors. But the dispute is typically about whether or not the church has the authority to offer forgiveness – and you may be surprised at what Scripture has to say.Join David and Adam to hear more about the power to forgive sins, the difference between mortal and venial sins, and to find out just how reverend David really is.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:15] Reverend vs. very reverend[3:58] Appeal to Protestants concerning confession[5:09] Confession vs. accountability[5:48] Who to confess to[7:06] Effects of confessionSins are forgiven Help to be holier[10:08] Legal protection for confessors[14:00] Can the church forgive sins?[14:51] Story of paralytic healed by JesusJesus had the power to forgive sinsJesus gave the power to forgive and retain sins to the apostles [17:59] Point of agreement: Jesus gave humans the power to forgive sins[22:51] Protestants should practice confessionAdam's experience[24:27] Issues with authorityConfession got discarded by Protestants when the church splitWhy confession should happen with a mediator [28:42] Mortal vs. venial sin Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.If you're Catholic, you're familiar with the deuterocanonical texts. If you're Protestant, you probably know these books as the Apocrypha. And if you're a Christian, regardless of tradition, these books may be worth reading. In this episode, Adam and David discuss what Scripture is and what makes up the different canons.After discussing the New Testament, David and Adam briefly explain the historical context of and requirements for canonization. This topic generates both agreement and disagreement: although both parties concur that there are that must be excluded, the Catholics accept the deuterocanonical texts and include them in their Bible while Protestants do not and often view them critically. However, Adam offers several reasons why Protestants should at least read this collection of books, especially if the goal is a unified Church. There's much more to this episode than debating what texts are Scriptural. Listen to this conversation to hear Adam and David talk about the formation of the New Testament (which is accepted by both traditions), the connection between Jesus and the deuterocanonical books, and what it means for Scripture to be inspired and inerrant.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[1:23] Preview of current and future topics[2:16] Vatican II document Die Verbum[3:07] Catholic view Scripture as a “mirror to the lived faith of the Church”Example: New Testament[7:53] Issue of canonization and defending the Church against heretical textsAgreement on being “Jesus-based Christians”Examples of Gnostic gospelsProcess of canonization“Almost” canonical books[13:45] The SeptuagintExplanation of protocanonical and deuterocanonicalThe ApocryphaThe relative importance of different books of different canons [18:06] Addressing Protestant sentiments on the deuterocanonical booksUnfair accusations leveled at CatholicsJesus' relationship to these booksProtestant argumentsPaul's quotations from SeptuagintThe issue of fear[22:11] Scripture as inspired and inerrantWhat inerrancy meansDead Sea Scrolls and old arguments against the validity of Scripture[29:00] Adam's summary and outro Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministryDei Verbum (document from Vatican II) Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Latin enthusiast, Canon lawyer, and – pilot? These are some descriptions of Reverend Father David Carter, but his most important role is as priest and rector. Educated during the reign of Pope John Paul II, David entered seminary at a time when the tenor of Catholicism was shifting, particularly in academia.  In this episode, you'll not only get to hear about David's hobbies and his time in Rome, but you'll also get a preview of some of this season's topics as Adam and David discuss the “why” of this season, touching on the Reformation, Vatican II, and more.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Jump Through the Conversation:[0:35] History of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul[1:49] David's love for Latin[3:17] Goals for podcast[4:15] Addressing potential reactions from Catholics and Protestants/disclaimers[7:24] David's education and why it matters[11:04] The influence of Pope John Paul II[14:51] What it means to be a conservative priest[16:40] Unity and the effects of the Reformation[17:12] Magisterial Reformers[18:03] Reformers never intended to split[19:30] Could the split have been prevented?[21:25] Problems that arise when Christians fight each other[23:07] More fun facts about David Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministry Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.It's no secret that the Church is full of division – in the local church, amongst denominations, and between different Christian traditions. This division creates hostility in the Church and thwarts its witness to the world; unity is needed for the Church to be as effective as possible.Season 2 is one step in that direction. Adam is joined by Reverend Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Through their conversations each week, Adam (a Protestant) and David (a Catholic) will elucidate some misunderstandings about the Catholic church and highlight the connections between these two traditions.About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayDavid Carter's ministryCatechism of the Catholic Church Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Even with working a full-time job and pastoring a church, there's one thing Zach makes room for on his schedule every week: praying with other ministry leaders. In this episode, Zach shares his transformative experiences (and ordinary experiences) from his pastoral prayer group.Before Zach joined this prayer group, the success and survival of his church plant bore heavily on him. By sharing his burdens, being prayed for, and praying for other pastors, Zach's spiritual and emotional health improved, and he's seen God work in his church and personal life. But this doesn't mean that every meeting produces miracles; as Zach and Adam both point out, it's the constancy in community, prayer, and confession that makes the difference.Listen in to this episode to hear more about the efficacy of pastors bearing each other's burdens and working on their character in community.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:13] Adam's intro about pastors[1:56] Disclaimers[2:43] How a pastors' prayer group helped Zach become healthy[4:57] Why consistent attendance matters[7:56] The “cord of three strands” principle [8:53] The importance of sharing with other pastors vs spouse[9:40] The power of praying and sharing[11:54] The spiritual discipline of attendance[14:17] Confession and refining character in community Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOrchard Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What Orchard Church may lack in size is made up for by the blend of families and individuals in the congregation. In this episode, Zach and Adam discuss how to attract different types of people to your church and how sometimes, all it takes is one person.There's three things Zach has done to cultivate a diverse church. First, he's led by example in loving others well, encouraging his congregants to do the same. Second, Zach has intentionally put pastors on staff who aren't the same ethnicity as himself, encouraging other non-white individuals and families to attend. Last, Orchard Church deliberately pursues low-income families, not just for the sake of outreach, but to let them know they're welcome and valued in the church.Listen in to this episode to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of Orchard's generational diversity, and find out why “anchor” families and individuals are so important when it comes to attracting different kinds of people. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:12] Adam's intro comparing Zach and other pastors to Paul[4:19] How Zach has led and influenced the congregation[6:40] How diversity in leadership leads to diversity in the church[7:46] Outreach to lower-income families[9:20] Preaching vs practicing diversity[10:30] Getting over the awkwardness[11:27] Generational diversity [13:51] Being “anchor” people[17:26] Adam's closing exhortation  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOrchard Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.From Orchard Church's first service, Zach has witnessed God's favor and providence for this church plant. In this episode, Zach walks through the evolution of Orchard from a family Bible study to a small but purposeful congregation.When his pastor suggested starting a church, Zach balked – and then God began to show him the people in his life who needed the kind of church he was going to plant. With the support of his family, Zach began meeting with others in his parents' house until the opportunity arose to meet at a local YMCA. God had told him that Orchard would be a place for those who had never been to church or had been hurt by the church, and that's exactly who showed up to the first official service.Listen in to this episode to hear more about Zach's calling, and find out about his niche small business. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:17] Disclaimers to this episode[2:10] Comparing Zach's church plant vs a denominational church plant[4:39] Zach's life before starting a church, including his pet marker business[8:51] Zach's call to plant a church and encouragement from pastor and father[13:33] The start of Orchard Church[16:32] Early growth at Orchard Church[17:41] Zach's advice to start taking up an offering[18:57] How God's hand was evident in the people He brought to Orchard Church[21:41] Adam's epilogue on bivocational pastorship  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOrchard Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Reverend Zach de Vaux is no ordinary pastor. Not only does he lead a church plant in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, but Zach also works a full-time job AND is an entrepreneur (more on that in the next episode). In this episode, Zach talks about his background and how he manages being a bivocational pastor.Zach already owned a business when he was called to plant a church as a twenty-five-year-old. Without significant training or mentorship, he and his wife, Becky, started Orchard Church. Although the process has been painful at times, over the years, Zach has learned how to measure success and manage his stress for a sustainable life as pastor, husband, and dad.This interview was recorded at the dealership where Zach works during the day, so over the next four episodes, you'll hear background noise fitting for Zach's stories of life as a bivocational pastor.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:16] Adam's preface and thoughts on how pastors view themselves[1:55] Disclaimer about recording and introduction to Zach and Orchard Church[6:05] How Zach has learned to manage being a bivocational pastor[9:43] How more support might have helped[10:38] Zach's advice to other bivocational pastors[13:36] Saying “no” and stewarding time[15:25] How sustainability for Zach has resulted in sustainability for Orchard Church Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayOrchard Church website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.In the final part of their conversation, Adam asks Seth why he chooses to stay at Fairview Church of the Nazarene, and they discuss how to live from the position of the cross of Christ. Listen in to hear Seth talk about what God is doing at Fairview as well as an epilogue from Adam. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:25] Why Seth stays at Fairview Church[3:47] Living from the theology of the cross[5:39] Seth's excitement for God's work at Fairview[7:11] Adam's closing thoughts on Seth and community Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayFairview Church of the Nazarene website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.What keeps people from getting involved at churches like Fairview Church of the Nazarene? In this episode, Adam and Seth talk about preaching from the lectionary before exploring how a consumerist mentality influences how Christians and pastors view church and even their faith.As Seth describes it, consumerism asks the question, “What's in it for me?” When churchgoers have this mindset, they look for places with satisfying and exciting experiences and avoid churches like Fairview where opportunities to serve abound and rubbing elbows with messy people is guaranteed. And when Christians fail to choose a kingdom perspective over a consumerist one, they can make the mistakes of compartmentalizing their faith and putting themselves before others. Pastors aren't exempt from this mentality: the pressure to focus on numbers and attendance instead of discipleship is something Seth and other leaders have to fight against.Listen in to this episode to hear more about what a kingdom mindset looks like and learn why Seth preaches from the lectionary.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[2:04] How and why Seth preaches from the lectionary[6:11] Adam on filling up and flowing out[7:13] Why consumerism keeps volunteers, donors, and exemplary families from flocking to churches like Fairview[11:45] Judging churches by the wrong criteria [14:22] Consumerism expressed in how we use our time[16:20] Consumerist mindset vs a kingdom mindset[18:24] How to get parents to let their kids mingle with “those” kids[19:41] How consumerism affects a pastor's definition of success[22:10] Qualitatively vs quantitatively measuring success [25:14] Focusing on making disciples Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayFairview Church of the Nazarene website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Love God and love others – that's Seth's approach to ministry. But as anyone who's worked in a church or nonprofit knows, outreach is rarely easy. In this episode, Seth explains how his church has served the community and discusses some struggles with church programming.Low-income retirees, recent convicts, and children from rough households all live in the area that surrounds Fairview Church. Figuring out how to serve these different groups can be challenging, but it can also happen organically. A relationship with two children and their grandfather led to Fairview starting an after-school program to address learning issues for kids who lacked support and supervision.Listen in to this conversation to hear Seth talk about how this program ended and why pastors often struggle to accept seasons of rest. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:56] Loving others even when it's hard[6:48] Specific groups of people Seth and Fairview minister to[8:17] Story of building relationships two kids and their grandfather [11:35] Creating an after-school program to meet observable needs[14:45] Why it's ok for church programs to naturally end and why that can cause pastors to struggle[18:55] Why rest and sabbath are important Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayFairview Church of the Nazarene website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.He may not be one of the Avengers, but as you'll hear in this interview, Pastor Seth Thompson is a hero to Adam and many others. In this episode, Seth shares some of the challenges he faces in ministry and what he does to deal with the weightiness.Born and raised at Fairview Church of the Nazarene, Seth studied at Trevecca University before returning to his childhood church as a pastor in 2015. Since its foundation in 1951, Fairview has remained a small, country church in an underprivileged part of the greater Chattanooga area. The focus of Fairview's outreach is the families and children who live in trailer parks and other rough neighborhoods around the church. This is an incredibly challenging avenue of ministry, so Seth keeps himself surrounded by other pastors who provide encouragement and discipleship and help safeguard against the temptation to rely on the self.Listen in to this episode to hear more about Seth and why he thinks it's critical to find your identity in the cross of Christ.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:15] Introduction to Pastor Seth Thompson and Fairview Church of the Nazarene [5:04] The community context of Fairview [7:29] Seth's education and the demographic of Fairview [10:44] Some of Seth's ministry challenges[12:32] How to find your identity in the cross of Christ[16:36] Friendship, support, and accountability with other pastors[21:00] Our egocentric nature vs Jesus's kingdom mindset Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayFairview Church of the Nazarene website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.“He descended into hell.” This line from the Apostles' Creed is the subject of the final part of Adam's interview with Jason. In this “bonus” episode, Jason and Adam look at different translations for “hell” and discuss why using the right word is so important.Where did Jesus go when He died? Although the Book of Common Prayer translated the name of the location to “hell,” Jason points out that early forms of the creed use “hades.” While this may be the most accurate term, Jason and Adam agree that saying “He descended to the dead” or “the place of the dead” is the best wording because of how it shapes our understanding of Jesus's death.Listen in to this episode to learn about hades from both Jewish and Greek linguistic perspectives and to hear about the Old Testament Jewish understanding of the afterlife. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:48] In the Apostles' Creed, did Jesus descend to the dead, to hades, or to hell?[5:10] Why “place of the dead” may be the most accurate translation[6:29] Issue caused by translation in the Book of Common Prayer[8:14] The difference between hades and hell[10:27] How the Jewish people understood hades, paradise, and the afterlife[11:50] Correct translation matters because it emphasizes Jesus's actual death[14:51] Nuances of hell and Tartarus[15:41] The ecumenical importance of the Apostles' Creed[16:40] The importance of affirming that Jesus actually died[17:48] Presbyterians and the Lord's Prayer Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayThe House website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.How can the Church help students through the major transitions of young adulthood? In this episode, Jason gives advice to pastors and parents about preparing their high school students for the next step, and he and Adam look at some of the existential challenges students face in college.Part of the work of spiritually preparing students for college is to be realistic about the challenges and questions they'll encounter and letting them practice wrestling with these things before they leave home. And when they do leave, pastors can help students transition to college by connecting them with a Christian community and continuing (even to a small degree) a supportive, hope-filled relationship with them. The more difficult transition, however, is when a student leaves the “biosphere” of college as a suddenly independent twentysomething.Listen in to this episode to hear how college life makes the transition out of it more challenging and what Jason thinks the church can do to help. About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:·       [2:04] Embracing the many expressions of the Church in receiving and sending off college students[5:59] Why younger generations aren't attracted to church[7:59] How churches and youth pastors can do a better job about handing off students to college ministries[9:03] The difficulty of the transition to life beyond college [11:33] How parents and youth pastors can prepare high school kids for collegeExpose them to new ideasEncourage abstract thinking[15:07] Anecdotes from Jason and Adam[17:18] What is the purpose of the university?Expectations and promisesThe college biosphere[20:44] Jason's two questions to college studentsHow is this degree preparing you for life after college?What do you want?[23:09] How churches and youth pastors can help high school kids transition to collegeHelp them find Christian communityKeep in touch with themGive space and hope when they wrestle with faith Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayThe House website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Every generation faces new challenges, and the current generation of college-aged young adults has to reckon with how smartphones, social media, and targeted marketing affect their lives – sometimes for better, but often for worse. In this episode, Adam and Jason talk about how technology plays a role in the lives of college students and how the current and previous generations respond to each other.Through several anecdotes, Jason reveals that college students truly feel “enslaved” to their phones. From the decision fatigue caused by a constant demand for attention to the deliberate manipulation of addictive inclinations, phones (and social media and entertainment apps) generate a host of psychological and spiritual issues for Gen Z (and some Millennials). These two generations are often characterized as phone-addicted industry-ruiners, but as Jason points out, every generation tends to view the next one critically.Listen in to this episode to hear more about generational tension and how college students are responding to the negative effects of technology.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[0:55] Contributing factors to anxiety and depression in the lives of college students[1:57] Story about taking a break from screen time[4:13] How we're impacted by the immoral use of technology Story about question posed to designersExploiting addiction[7:03] Adam's observations about smartphone addictionMark 4:19 and spiritual implicationsDecision fatigue [12:18] Smartphones and the demand for attention[14:32] Gen Z's response[17:54] How Jason teaches about technology and social mediaAdvice to college guys after first datesDelayed gratification, risk, and vulnerability[22:47] The cycle of how generations view and respond to each other[27:01] How Gen X responded to the major events of the late 20th century[29:13] How Millennials have responded to Gen X[29:43] The remedial changing of institutions  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayThe House websiteThe Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God's Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.Although Jason Leonard never planned on a college ministry career, he's become a seasoned mentor for students during his fourteen-plus years of work at The House. In this episode, Jason shares some of his insights as he and Adam delve into the world of college ministry.Jason moved to Chattanooga from Seattle in 2005 to work for The House, a ministry for college students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. As the Executive Director of this nonprofit, Jason not only tends to his “congregation” of students – he also works with the churches, foundations, and donors that fund The House. But fundraising isn't Jason's only challenge. In a ministry with a high turnover rate, Jason and his team have to be careful in how the steward their relationships with college kids while walking with them through some of life's toughest moments.Listen in to this episode to hear more about Jason's story and the beginning of Adam and Jason's discussion of technology and social media.  About Adam WhitescarverAdam is passionate about seeing God's people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children. Jump Through the Conversation:[1:27] Who Jason is and how he ended up working at The House[4:10] Jason's plans vs God's plans[7:18] Running a nonprofit[9:43] Challenges in communicating generosity to students[12:43] Having the right perspective in a ministry with frequent turnover [17:56] When students stick around[19:46] Addressing anxiety, depression, and social media in college ministry[23:54] Social media and the loss of intentionality[26:49] Brené Brown/“crappy” first drafts  Links and Resources:A Beautiful Church websiteChattanooga House of Prayer websiteGive todayThe House website Thanks for listening! Don't forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.