Organic Outreach Podcast

Today's topic is all about the Great Commission, but we will be looking at it from a different angle as we talk about what Jesus meant when He talked about the ends of the earth. On today's podcast Greg Kelley interviews Pastor Kevin Harney who serves as head pastor of Shoreline Church in Monterey, California. Pastor Harney has a passion for outreach; he and his wife, Sherry, co-founded Organic Outreach International. You will hear his heart to reach every person with the love of Jesus. Make sure to listen to today's podcast to hear more about free resources that will help you make Jesus known to the world.

Today's topic is all about the Great Commission, but we will be looking at it from a different angle as we talk about what Jesus meant when He talked about the ends of the earth. On today's podcast Greg Kelley interviews Pastor Kevin Harney who serves as head pastor of Shoreline Church in Monterey, California. Pastor Harney has a passion for outreach; he and his wife, Sherry, co-founded Organic Outreach International. You will hear his heart to reach every person with the love of Jesus. Make sure to listen to today's podcast to hear more about free resources that will help you make Jesus known to the world.

As we approach the holidays, we want to be ready to share the love of Jesus in a way that draws people in and invites more conversation. If you long to live the kind of life that attracts others to Jesus, listen as Kevin Harney, founder of Organic Outreach®, explains how to love genuinely, live authentically, and speak naturally about our Savior!

Pastor Walt Bennett is our host today with Dr. Jim Kraemer, the lead Pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Jamestown, North Dakota and formerly the Church of the Nazarene District Superintendent in the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Illinois. In this episode, Dr. Kraemer shares how he brought Organic Outreach® to the churches in the Illinois district.

Wes Dupin and his wife, Claudia, had it in their hearts as high school sweethearts that they wanted to see people's lives transformed through the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. God used them to start Daybreak Church with 25 families in 1989. Wes is Lead Pastor of Daybreak Church, member of the Organic Outreach International board of directors, and co-author of Almost Chosen. Listen as he shares how Organic Outreach® has influenced their operating system.

Jan Unfried is an author and speaker whose passion is to encourage people to stay grounded and keep connected to God and each other. Retirement from education has not stopped Jan from seeking new God-purposes in her life. She writes, mentors new teachers, travels, serves in her local church, and plays with her eight grandkids as often as possible. Jan enjoys Jesus, people, and coffee, and she loves to see how those three loves work together in exciting and organic ways! Her latest book, Solid Ground, Coffee Shop Chronicles, is now available on Amazon. Listen as she describes her journey of sharing her faith naturally through everyday encounters.

Pastor Sudhir Mekala is the Lead Pastor of Spirit of Christ Community Church in Visakhapatnam, India, and the president of Charitas Foundation. He is also the national Organic Outreach® leader and trainer for Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Listen as he shares how the churches in India have embraced the importance of reaching out with the message of salvation through Jesus.

Welcome to the sixth episode in our Pandemic Podcast Series. Today's guest is Dr. Jim Kraemer, lead pastor of Jamestown First Church of the Nazarene in Jamestown, North Dakota. They are reaching more people than ever through their livestream services and online classes. People are hungry for authentic relationships, and as they connect with the church it brings new opportunities to share the Gospel and to build community. Dr. Kraemer shares how Jamestown First Church of the Nazarene is already finding ways to help them connect on a deeper level with the church long into the future.

Welcome to the fifth episode in our Pandemic Podcast Series. Today's guest is Wayne Clevenger, Lead Pastor of Mansfield Community Church of the Nazarene in Mansfield, Illinois. During this time when people are craving community with others, Pastor Wayne and the leaders at Mansfield Community Church are finding ways to connect with people. While technology has certainly been a great way for them to connect with their congregation and the community, they have found that simply taking the time to pick up the phone and have a conversation with people has had a bigger impact now more than ever.

Welcome to the fourth episode in our Pandemic Podcast Series. Our guest today is Jason McEachran, Lead Pastor of Faith Community Church in California. Organic Outreach® is firmly rooted in Faith Community Church's operating system. When the Faith Community Church board convened to discuss how they would respond to COVID-19, their focus was on continuing to reach out to their community, sharing the Gospel, and developing new relationships. Pastor Jason describes how the Faith Community Church congregation has found new opportunities to reach out to each other, as well as to those in their community who are hungry for connection.

Welcome to the third episode in our Pandemic Podcast Series. Our guest today is Mark Snodgrass, Lead Pastor of Bentonville Community Church in Arkansas. During this unique time, we have opportunities to meet the needs of others but we need to take the initiative. Pastor Mark shares how Bentonville Community Church is focusing on the assets God has given and turning them into outreach opportunities. He cautions us not to look at what others are doing but to look at what God has given you and use it to bless others. Listen here.

Welcome to the second episode in our Pandemic Podcast Series. Our guest today is Jeff Ludington, Lead Pastor of Generations Church in Cerritos, California. People have a true desire to gather during this time - both those who are connected to the church and those who aren't. One of the biggest lessons he has learned is that there are online resources and tools that they have not yet used to their full potential. During their discussion, Pastor Jeff shares how they are learning to use online tools continue to reach out to their community during this time.

Welcome to the Pandemic Podcast Series. Over the next six weeks, we'll be speaking to local pastors across the country to find out how they are keeping the outreach momentum going, while finding ways to stoke the fires to even greater heights in the midst of dark distractions. Our first guest is Kevin Harney, Lead Pastor of Shoreline Church in Monterey, California. We hope the conversation encourages and inspires you. Listen here.

Bruce Bugbee is the Regional Executive for the Far West Region of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and a long time friend of Organic Outreach International. In their conversation, Bruce and Kevin Harney, Organic Outreach International's co-founder and visionary leader, discuss mobilizing the church for evangelism.

Jason McEachron is the Lead Pastor at Faith Community Church of the Nazarene in Clovis, California. In 2017, Jason engaged his church leaders in Organic Outreach® after attending a Church of the Nazarene District Event. Listen as he describes the journey of transformation they have experienced as they have engaged their ministries and congregation in living out their faith naturally.

Ben Patterson is the author of many books, a long-time pastor, and a minister to college students at Hope College and Westmont College. In this episode, Adam and Ben talk about leading with courage. Ben had the opportunity to lead a revival of spiritual life at Hope College over seven years that still continues today, twenty-five years later. You don't want to miss this episode.

In this episode, Walt Bennett is joined by Pastor Tom Green, Outreach Influence Team Leader for Shoreline Church in Monterey. Pastor Tom has worn many hats in the church, and after a successful career as a building contractor he accepted Kevin Harney's invitation to serve as Shoreline's OIT Leader. Pastor Tom and the team have developed many of the OIT Resources available on the Organic Outreach International website (www.OrganicOutreach.org) by working directly with Shoreline's Outreach Influence Team and with OIT Leaders around the world. Because the materials have been developed through experience with Organic Outreach® teams, the resources have been field tested and are not theoretical. We hope you enjoy their conversation.

Craig Springer is the Executive Director of Alpha USA, a program that runs in over 6,500 churches across every major denomination and 500 prisons throughout the country. Alpha mobilizes over 50,000 volunteers and 360,000 participants annually in the US and over 1.3 million globally. Alpha is a simple idea of a great meal, a short talk and a meaningful discussion about life and faith over ten weeks. Craig has been a leader and pastor in influential churches in Chicago and Denver, one of which was named Outreach Magazine's 2014 Fastest Growing Church in America. Craig and his wife, Sarah, also spent a number of years church planting in Prague, Czech Republic. Craig lives in the Denver area and is a passionate hack at every mountain sport you can name. He and Sarah have been married for 19 years, have two, full-hearted children and one very spoiled beagle. He recently published How to Follow Jesus: A practical guide for growing your faith.

In this episode of the Organic Outreach® Podcast, Kevin Harney, Organic Outreach® Co-founder and Visionary Leader leads the discussion with Adam Barr, host of the Organic Outreach® Podcast Thought Leaders podcast. Adam is an author and pastor of Peace Church in Middleville, MI. In today's discussion, Pastor Adam will discuss his experience as a pastor leading his church in Organic Outreach®.

A. Trevor Sutton is a pastor, author, scholar, husband and father. He pastors a growing multi-site congregation in Lansing, MI. His published books look at the deep connection between faith and modern culture. Be sure to check out his book Clearly Christian: Following Jesus in this Age of Confusion

Dr. Michael Staples served as the President of Scripture Union USA and is now assisting them in their transition to new leadership. As President, he was entrusted to lead the organization's efforts to help children, young people, and those of all ages meet God daily in His word and in prayer. Michael is particularly passionate about seeing our current generations of young people and children discover a relationship to Christ and become His disciples. Michael brings a broad background of experience to this position as a missionary, educator, community development director, and mobilizer of church volunteers to work with youth and children over a 25+ year span. A graduate of Grove City College, Erskine Seminary, and Fuller Seminary where he earned a doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Development, Michael has served as both a teacher/trainer of others as well as spearheading projects for youth and children throughout Africa, Asia, and the US.

In this episode of the Organic Outreach® Podcast, we are launching a new focus on practitioners of Organic Outreach®. Adam Barr will also continue hosting the Thought Leaders episodes once each month, but guests in this new stream will be pastors, denominational leaders, Outreach Influence Team Leaders, church board members, and congregational members – all from the context of implementing Organic Outreach® in their churches. In this inaugural episode, Walt Bennett, President/CEO of Organic Outreach International, introduces this additional focus in a conversation with Co-Founder, Visionary Leader of Organic Outreach International, and Lead Pastor of Shoreline Church in Monterey, CA, Rev. Dr. Kevin G. Harney.

Ben Sobels is the lead pastor at Cypress Community Church in Monterey California. He's married to Joni. Together, they have five kids, four of whom are out of the house! Ben grew up in Australia and got saved while caddying on golf's PGA Tour in 1995. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree in 2000. Ben became our senior pastor in 2010. He is passionate about preaching the gospel, making disciples, and planting churches. He recently wrote a book with his good friend, Bill Hull, that is titled The Discipleship Gospel.

In this episode of the Organic Outreach® Podcast, we have the chance to sit down with Derrick Puckett, a young leader with an amazing story and on-the-ground insights into what it means to promote Gospel-centered diversity. Derrick is the founding pastor of Renewal Church of Chicago, and his story is amazing. Derrick Puckett grew up near Chicago in Gary, Indiana, spending chapters of his youth between the two neighboring cities. As a high school student, Derrick was introduced to Christ through a relationship with a young woman, Kaley, who would later become his wife. They matriculated at Indiana University and quickly became involved with Campus Crusade Ministries while they earned their degrees. Blessed with a natural ability to lead others, the couple eventually became leaders within Campus Crusade. Both Derrick and Kaley were burdened by the division they saw on campus along racial lines. So Derrick created a new ministry for Crusade within the Impact Movement that reached out to African-American students on campus. The creativity of this new ministry would soon be reduplicated on every college campus where both Campus Crusade and the Impact Movement were present. After college, Derrick and Kaley moved to Indianapolis, IN to work on staff with Campus Crusade and helped develop a ministry in the inner city of Indianapolis where churches, college students, and high school students worked together. This ministry brought about needed community in the city while giving churches a natural way into the colleges and high schools in Indianapolis. This work in Indianapolis is where Derrick and Kaley's heart became burdened for the local church. After a few years in Indianapolis, the couple moved to Memphis, TN, where Derrick earned an MDiv at MidAmerica Baptist Theological Seminary while serving in the Residency Program and as a Campus Pastor at Fellowship Memphis Church. It is at this multiethnic church where Derrick deepened his passion for seeing the Gospel's power to reconcile people of all walks of life. Providentially, Derrick and Aaron Brockett, the pastor of Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, became great friends. This relationship led to Derrick partnering with Orchard Group, a church planting ministry, and the rest, as they say, is history. Derrick and Kaley relocated to Chicago in the Fall of 2013. They have four beautiful girls and one little man: Ramiyah, Elyana, Isabelle, Nalah, and Derrick III.

We're excited to share this conversation with Hannah Gronowski. Hannah is the Founder and CEO of Generation Distinct (www.GenerationDistinct.com), a nonprofit that exists to empower young adults to discover the wrong they were born to make right, leading them to experience who Jesus really is. She has a passion to use her voice to empower others to become leaders God can use to create real change in the world. She has spoken at Conferences, Churches, College Campuses, and Youth Events around the country and is a Speaker with the Women Speakers Collective. Hannah is also an author, with her first book to be released in 2020 with NavPress Publishers. She is also a regular contributing writer for Ed Stetzer's blog "The Exchange" for Christianity Today and the Global Leadership Summit Blog.

During this 2019 Outreach Summit Main Stage session, Kevin and Sherry share practical insights on how to incorporate evangelistic vision and action in every ministry in a church.

Dr. Glen Smith is the Chief Advocate/Professor of Urban Theology & Missiology / Christian Direction at the Institut de Theologie pour la Francophonie. Since 2006, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of IVCF: Canada. Glenn is the co-author of the book, Espoir pour la ville, Dieu dans la cité (Hope for the city, God in the city) His forth-coming book is entitled, City Air Makes You Free: To Transform the city through a fresh, biblical hermeneutic. Dr. Smith is the author of numerous articles on urban mission. He was a Senior Associate for Large Cities with the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and was the director of the afternoon program for the 3rd Congress of Lausanne that took place in Cape Town in October 2010. We had a chance to meet recently and talk about secularization in North America. I'm excited to share his insights with you!

Pat and Tammy McLeod serve as Harvard Chaplains for Cru, an interdenominational Christian ministry. Tammy is also the Director of College Ministry at Park Street Church in Boston. She received her MA in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Pat holds an MA in Theological Studies from the International School of Theology, and an MA in Science and Religion and a PhD in Practical Theology from Boston University. Pat and Tammy have been married for more than three decades and are parents to four grown children. The McLeod's endured tremendous loss, but have also experienced God's nearness throughout their grief journey. We're honored to share their story with you today on the podcast. We also encourage you to learn more about it in their book, Hit Hard.

Josh Laxton is a native of Tennessee and has been serving the local church in vocational ministry for almost twenty years mainly as a Lead Pastor replanting and revitalizing churches. He is a scholar-practitioner who is passionate about mobilizing the church to effectively participate in the Missio-Dei. Josh has worked with and written for LifeWay Research, Ed Stetzer, NewChurches, and Outreach.com. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Billy Graham Center and Lausanne North American Coordinator at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. We had a chance to sit down and chat at the annual Amplify Conference on evangelism. I'm excited to share this with you.

Santes Beatty is a native of Raeford, NC. In his undergraduate studies, he earned a B. S. in Sociology with concentrations in Psychology and Peace and Conflict Studies from Guilford College. Beatty went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Huntington University and accepted a position at his alma mater as the Bonner Scholars Coordinator, eventually becoming the first Director of African American Affairs and later the Director of Multicultural Services. In June of 2014, he accepted a position at The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters as the Director of Multiethnic Ministries. In this role, he serves approximately 1600 churches and 30 districts in North America. He is a pastor, an advocate and a leader who spends time thinking about the intersection of Outreach and Reconciliation. I think you'll enjoy this conversation!

How do music and missions intersect? Find out in this episode of the Organic Outreach® Podcast. In this episode, Adam interviews. Dr. Katherine Morehouse. Katherine and I had a chance to connect at the Amplify 2019 conference in Wheaton, IL. I learned some fascinating things about her and her work: She is an ethnomusicologist specializing in ethnodoxology and global engagement. She has researched African drumming and church music in Guinea, West Africa and has studied Hindu, Muslim, and Christian festival music in Kerala, India. She serves on the worship team at Blue Ridge Community Church. She has won several teaching awards, travel grants, as well as the Liberty University Illuminate grant, which helped provide instruments for Liberty's African Music Ensemble, which she directs. What I found most fascinating was her work with up and coming missionaries, helping train them to raise up new songwriters and worship leaders among indigenous peoples around the world. You're going to love this episode!

Today, we're excited to share this conversation with a great friend, fellow pastor and co-writer. Ron Citlau is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Church of Orland Park, IL. He's shared his story and biblical wisdom in two different books. I had the privilege of co-writing his first book, Compassion Without Compromise and he wrote a follow up book called Hope for the Same Sex Attracted. Ron is a man deeply committed to the Gospel and to seeing Christians actually live out the Kingdom Life that Jesus died to give us. Enjoy the conversation.

This episode, we get to speak with Sudhir Mekala, an Organic Outreach® partner in India! Since 1996, the Mekala family has answered God's call to minister to those in need in their native Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India. Through their children's home, public school, medical facilities, and ministry outreach, they have been a beacon of hope to thousands of orphan children, tribal people, and hurting individuals. Their facilities in the outskirts of Vishakaptnam can house 200 orphan children, while providing education to an additional 600 children from surrounding villages. Charitas Foundation was incorporated by Sudhir Mekala as a way to continue the work at their established campus in a sustainable, thoughtful way. This includes expanding the reach of the children's home, reopening the public school, and developing a dairy providing in high-demand milk to that region of the country as a way to support the ministry objectives.

Have you ever had a sneaking suspicion that someone or something was too good to be true? If you did, what did you do about it? Did you ask questions? Did you search for answers? Or did you kind of just look the other way and think, "Give it time and the truth will come out. For now, don't rock the boat." When it comes to our questions about God and life, many people maintain a "Don't Ask, Don't tell" policy. In other words, bury the questions and just keep a smile on your face. Our guest today doesn't take that approach. Joshua Ryan Butler is a pastor, author and speaker who helps people take a look at their toughest questions and come to see that they only lead us to love a God who is even better than we imagined. He has two amazing books: The Skeletons in God's Coset and The Pursuing God

Today, we have the chance to hear from someone who has had a huge impact on my life, personally. Dr. Joe Stowell has used his voice to speak for truth in a confused world. But he has done it in an incredibly winsome way. He possesses a brilliant mind, but he can connect and encourage anyone. Above all, he is a man who embodies the things he talks about. We're honored to have him on the program today as we talk about ministry in a world that sometimes leaves us feeling marginalized. An internationally recognized conference speaker, Dr. Stowell is not only the President of Cornerstone University, he has written numerous books, including Following Christ, The Trouble with Jesus, and Redefining Leadership: Character-Driven Habits of Effective Leaders. His life is marked by a deep love for Jesus which is reflected in his desire to value people regardless of gender, race or class; to aid the poor and marginalized; to build a strong and vibrant community where the presence of Christ is evident, and; to govern and lead in ways that engender mutual confidence and trust.

In this episode, Adam has the chance to talk about the connection between marriage and outreach with Dave and Ann Wilson. Dave and Ann are co-founders of Kensington Church, a national, multi-campus church that hosts more than 14,000 attendees every weekend, and authors of Vertical Marriage. For the past twenty-five years, they have been featured speakers at Family Life's Weekend to Remember®, and have also hosted their own marriage conferences across the country.

Jim Burns is President of HomeWord and Executive Director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. He is the author of numerous books and an expert on marriage and family ministry. His most recent book, Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out, provides an incredible blueprint for how you can continue to have influence and input into your adult child's development. He answers questions like: Is it OK to give advice to my grown child? What's the difference between enabling and helping? What boundaries should I have if my child moves back home? What do I do when my child doesn't seem to be maturing into adulthood? How do I relate to my grown child's significant other? What does it mean to have healthy financial boundaries? How can I support my grown children when I don't support their values? In this episode, we address a basic question: How can we reach out to our kids when they seem to have left their Christian upbringing in the rearview mirror?

In this episode, we hear some exciting news about all things Organic Outreach International. God is at work in his church around the world!

The people of God have always lived in tension with the prevailing culture. On one hand, we have to engage. On the other, we are called to be distinct and holy. Dr. Mike Wittmer is a theologian and author of several books that help us think through these issues. He also helps raise up a train a new generation of leaders for the Church in his role as a professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. I'm excited to share our conversation with you today.

In this Focus on the Family radio interview, Kevin and Sherry offer practical suggestions for sharing the Gospel with neighbors, friends and extended family.

In this episode, we're excited to introduce you to Jeff Ludington. Jeff is an Organic Outreach International Teaching Team member and lead pastor of Generations Church, a generationally and ethnically diverse church intentionally city-focused. He leads breakout sessions at the annual Organic Outreach® Conferences, is an adjunct member of the Organic Outreach® Intensive Training Team, and is a certified Organic Outreach® Cohort Leader. He also helps coach, train, and send pastors and church planters throughout Southern California, and enjoys national participation in denominational and network roles. Jeff's unique giftings include helping declining churches become vital, healthy churches that reclaim the powerful message of the gospel and reach the lost in their community. He is pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry focused on Church-Based Theological Education, and has recently published his first book, Frustrated: How the Bible Resolves Life's Tough Questions (Lucid Books) .

Happy New Year! We're helping you kick off 2019 with an episode about being intentional. If you look that word up in a dictionary, you'll see a picture of our guest, Kevin Harney. That's right! We get a chance to hear from the founder of Organic Outreach® who also has a new book coming out in February, No is a Beautiful Word. You're going to love it!

Today's guest really needs no introduction. His writings and resources have influenced millions of people to consider and reckon with the claims of the Gospel. They have led people to confess Jesus Christ as Lord. And they have helped Christians everywhere to live a more confident faith. We're talking about Lee Strobel, the author of many books, most famously, The Case for Christ, which tells the story of Lee's investigation into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That search led Lee from committed atheism into faith and ultimately, a life lived telling others about the Savior who changed him.

In this episode, we welcome guest Wes Dupin, pastor of Daybreak Church and author of Almost Chosen. Wes is a pastor with the pounding heart of an evangelist! After spending some time with Wes, I've come to the conclusion that over the last thirty years, he has led and organized his church with one constant question driving him: What can we do to open closed hearts? As you will hear, Wes is not afraid of the unconventional. He is not deterred by, "It's never been done that way before." But the driving force of this willingness to try something new is the call to bridge the gap from the found to the lost. You will be inspired and stretched.

How can we make prayer a bigger part of our lives? What's the connection between prayer and outreach? In this episode, we chat with Sherry Harney, author of Praying With Eyes Wide Open and co-founder of Organic Outreach International. Sherry is an international speaker, author, editor, and has served the local church in the areas of staff leadership, women's ministry and children's ministry for over three decades. Listen for a taste of her passion for sharing the love of Jesus as she lives her everyday life in the presence and power of God. Learn more about Sherry at her website: www.sherryharney.co

In this episode of the Organic Outreach® Podcast, we talk with Steve Murray, lead pastor of Lifezone Church in Tauranga, New Zealand–home of soaring mountains, pristine waters and Hobbit homes. Lifezone is a central hub for Organic Outreach International. Steve is a pastor who understand what it means to reach out with the Gospel in a secular culture. He also the challenges of leading a church to embrace people and communities that might stretch our comfort zone. You're going to enjoy this conversation! P.S. Just a reminder, be sure to email to become part of the Organic Outreach® Media Squad and help us get the word out about our podcast. The first fifty subscribers get a cool free coffee mug!

In this episode, we talk with Bob Bouwer, pastor of Faith Church (RCA) in Dyer, Indiana. Over the last 20+ years, Bob led Faith through an amazing process of revitalization and multiplication. As of this recording, Faith Church is a growing, multi-site congregation, 1 church in 6 locations. Today's episode will inspire us to put all our eggs in the local church basket! God is still moving as local congregations move out in mission. You can learn more about Bob's journey in the book he co-wrote with Kevin G. Harney: The U-Turn Church: New Direction for Health and Growth. For hands-on coaching and growth, visit uturnministries.org