Podcasts about alpha usa

Send us a textWhat changes a life more - an argument or an open table? In this episode, Lisa sits down with Tre' Giles to explore his powerful journey from rebellious youth in Colorado Springs to Christlikeness, shaped by radical hospitality, authentic mentorship, and the transformative power of being truly seen and heard. Through stories of mentors who welcomed him in, professors who recognized his potential, and encounters in West Africa that taught humility, Tre paints a picture of faith that is rooted not in certainty but in openness, empathy, and belonging. His storytelling is rich with quotes and lived wisdom that will leave you both challenged and inspired.Tre Giles: National Director of Campus Engagement at Alpha USA.Contact Info:Website: https://alphausa.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/trelgiles

Psalm 126Dr. David Thomas serves as Senior Advisor to New Room and Vice Chair of Alpha USA. A former United Methodist pastor, he has spent decades calling individuals and churches back to the transforming power of prayer and the reality of revival. His ministry with New Room has mobilized countless believers to pray boldly for God's kingdom to come, and through Alpha he helps create spaces where people can explore faith and encounter Jesus in a personal way. Known for his clarity, warmth, and focus on the Holy Spirit's work, Dr. Thomas brings a timely message for all who long to see God move.First Methodist Church of Opelika is an exciting, historic, and growing Methodist church that is inviting our community to find and follow the Spirit-led life in Jesus. Founded in 1837, First Opelika has a rich history of influencing and impacting families in the Opelika/Auburn and surrounding community. The church is currently in a season of revitalization and is laying the foundation for effective ministry in the next season of her life as an independent Methodist church.For more information, check us out at www.firstopelika.org or www.facebook.com/firstopelika

Mark Lebrun shares how he built a thriving YouTube channel that replaced his corporate income and now discusses strategies for video production businesses to leverage YouTube, create targeted offers, and use AI to work more efficiently while maintaining authentic connections with clients. Key Takeaways Create YouTube content that addresses specific pain points your ideal clients face, then naturally incorporate offers that solve those problems Instead of sending everyone to your homepage, build targeted landing pages for different niches and track which ones convert best • Experiment with lower-priced offers (like a $19 download or $1,000 virtual coaching session) to serve people who aren't ready for your premium services Use AI strategically for SEO optimization, content planning, and business strategy while maintaining your human touch for client relationships About Mark Lebrun Mark Lebrun is a Digital Influencer and Strategist, and the founder of Digital Influencer Co. — a creative powerhouse helping faith-driven leaders and purpose-filled entrepreneurs grow their platforms and monetize their message. He has worked alongside high-impact leaders like Isaac Frere and April Lewis, and has partnered with organizations such as Alpha USA, Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, and Freedom From Within to help them scale their digital presence. With a combined following of over 320,000 across platforms, Mark has built an engaged community by blending bold faith, sharp strategy, and authentic storytelling. Mark is also the visionary behind Hood Proverbs, a brand rooted in community transformation through the gospel, and the founder of YouTube Influence Academy, a program equipping creators to grow their channels, monetize their influence, and create with conviction. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [04:13] Meet Mark Lebrun [08:09] Why YouTube Is Gold [14:28] Marketing Through Ads [18:13] Having Multiple Landing Pages [26:57] Developing Systems to Avoid Burnout [31:47] Utilizing AI In Your Business [46:21] Connect with Mark [48:24] Outro Quotes "The creative economy is evaluated to be a $500 billion industry by 2027. And right now it's a $250 billion industry in 2025... You guys are the people who embody the creative economy. And let's just say, we put in an extra 1% more effort... you could get a piece of this pie." - Mark Lebrun "If you are drained as a YouTuber, as someone who's on social media, you might be doing it wrong. Because you need to have systems in place that prevent burnout... I don't want to see entrepreneurs burn out in this digital economy." - Mark Lebrun "When we put this kind of pressure on ourselves to continue to outdo, outperform... we should be on a slow ramp to improve and to be more efficient in those things... my heartbeat in doing this brand was that I want to help filmmakers be more fulfilled and less drained." - Ryan Koral Guest Links Find Mark Lebrun online Learn more about Mark Lebrun's Academy Learn more about Digital Influencers Co. Follow Mark Lebrun on Instagram | YouTube Follow Hood Proverbs on Instagram Links   Find out more about 10xFILMMAKER   Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Check out the full show notes

John Wentz leads Alpha USA. Alpha is in over 150 countries and in the past thirty years about 35 million people have participated in Alpha groups. Last year over two million people went through their program. Alpha works in a prison cell, a refugee camp, a bar, a school, a neighborhood home, or a church. The secret to their evangelism success is asking questions and caring for people. On today's episode of The Evangelism Podcast you will hear some amazing testimonies about what God has done through Alpha. The Alpha program creates a safe, non-judgmental space for people to explore the Christian faith through meals, short talks, and open discussion. Alpha has been effective at reaching people outside the church by genuinely listening to their questions and struggles. Testimonies show how the welcoming community and focus on relationship rather than doctrinal correction can lead to life-transforming encounters with Jesus, even among the most resistant participants. Alpha's approach of empowering ordinary believers to invite friends and create this kind of environment has enabled its rapid global expansion and lasting impact. Questions we talk about: What is Alpha? What are some of the hard questions that people talk about in Alpha groups? What are some testimonies of how people are being reached through Alpha and perhaps you could share some statistics about the impact Alpha is having? What is your testimony? How did you come to know the Lord? How did you get involved with Alpha? Describe the philosophy behind how Alpha functions.  How did Nicky Gumbel change Alpha from a course for new believers into a course for people outside the church? What is it about our culture today that makes Alpha's approach so effective? If someone wants to start an Alpha group or support your ministry, what would be the best way for them to get connected with you?

David Thomas was a business professional before becoming an ordained pastor, serving in both the local church and on staff with Seedbed Publishing and the New Room Conference. He serves on the Board of Alpha USA and helps to steward a new movement on college campuses called The Awakening Project. I've known David for years and can attest to his passion for seeing an awakened spirit in the Church of Jesus Christ. Today, we talk about a piece he wrote that got my attention and interest on Methodism as an awakening movement. 

Mariah Humphries wraps up Season 8 of Peace Talks with a post-election episode with Bishop Todd Hunter, founder of the Center. They discuss a range of topics but begin with an article that was written by Bishop Hunter the morning after the election and some feedback given to him about the message and the timing of that messageThe Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others and founder of The Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. He is past president of Alpha USA, former national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He is the author of Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins, Our Character at Work and Deep Peace.» Subscribe to PEACE TALKS Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-talks/id1590168616About the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace:Justice and peace come from the inside out—from the overflow of a transformed heart. This belief led our founder, Bishop Todd Hunter, to start the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace in 2021. The Center brings together a diverse, interdenominational community of people who want to be formed in love to heal a broken world. Because “religion” is often part of the problem, we've created a brave, Jesus-centered space for dialogue, questioning, creating, and exploration. PEACE TALKS introduces you to women and men who are working to undo oppression, leading to lives of deeper peace for all.*Connect with The Center Online!*Visit The Center's Website: https://centerfjp.orgFollow The Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerfjpFollow The Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CenterFjpFollow The Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerfjp/Support the show

In Ryan Kenedy's debut novel, The Blameless (University of Wisconsin Press 2023 ) we meet Virginia, an exhausted adjunct professor and divorced mother of an autistic five-year-old, whose father only takes him for one weekend a month. Virginia is lonely and struggling to make a living as an adjunct professor of English. When she learns that the man who murdered her father has been released from prison despite a life sentence, she decides to confront him and mete out his just punishment. She traces Travis Hilliard to a remote place in the Mojave Desert. He's inherited his uncle's trailer on an isolated strip of land and is trying to rebuild his life outside of prison. Because Virginia doesn't have anyone to care for her little boy, she brings him along for the confrontation. Ryan Kenedy was born and raised in the working-class neighborhoods of California's Central Valley. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from California State University, Fresno, and has taught writing and literature for over twenty-five years, both as an adjunct instructor and as a tenured faculty member. He currently teaches at Moorpark College. His short fiction is forthcoming in the North Dakota Quarterly and has appeared in North American Review, The Greensboro Review, Sou'wester, and The San Joaquin Review. His debut collection of short fiction, Don't Let Them Fall, will be published in 2025 by Johns Hopkins University Press. When he's not teaching or writing, Ryan likes strumming his Gibson guitar and watching the Dodgers on television, biking and kayaking with his wife of twenty-eight years, visiting his son in the heart of New York City, and hiking the forest trails of Washington State. As a volunteer with Alpha USA, Ryan creates opportunities for community members to engage in honest conversations about some of life's biggest questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Ryan Kenedy's debut novel, The Blameless (University of Wisconsin Press 2023 ) we meet Virginia, an exhausted adjunct professor and divorced mother of an autistic five-year-old, whose father only takes him for one weekend a month. Virginia is lonely and struggling to make a living as an adjunct professor of English. When she learns that the man who murdered her father has been released from prison despite a life sentence, she decides to confront him and mete out his just punishment. She traces Travis Hilliard to a remote place in the Mojave Desert. He's inherited his uncle's trailer on an isolated strip of land and is trying to rebuild his life outside of prison. Because Virginia doesn't have anyone to care for her little boy, she brings him along for the confrontation. Ryan Kenedy was born and raised in the working-class neighborhoods of California's Central Valley. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from California State University, Fresno, and has taught writing and literature for over twenty-five years, both as an adjunct instructor and as a tenured faculty member. He currently teaches at Moorpark College. His short fiction is forthcoming in the North Dakota Quarterly and has appeared in North American Review, The Greensboro Review, Sou'wester, and The San Joaquin Review. His debut collection of short fiction, Don't Let Them Fall, will be published in 2025 by Johns Hopkins University Press. When he's not teaching or writing, Ryan likes strumming his Gibson guitar and watching the Dodgers on television, biking and kayaking with his wife of twenty-eight years, visiting his son in the heart of New York City, and hiking the forest trails of Washington State. As a volunteer with Alpha USA, Ryan creates opportunities for community members to engage in honest conversations about some of life's biggest questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

This month, Ben sits down for a fascinating conversation with John Wentz, the CEO of Alpha USA. John shares the path that led him to this significant assignment and how we all need to hear, “You're not crazy!”, if we're going to pursue a big vision. We talk about getting the right why, what, and how people around our table. John explains that how you make your decisions is often even more important than what decision you make.

Shauna Pilgreen, along with her husband, Ben, coleads Epic Church, a multiethnic congregation in the heart of San Francisco. She serves on the teaching team at Epic and as a network director for Alpha USA. She writes for "Everyday evangelists" on her blog. She joins the show to talk about her book "Translating Jesus."  Copyright WGNR Radio 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad ReligionTodd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others and the founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He is past President of Alpha USA and former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches. He is author of Christianity Beyond Belief, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican and Our Favorite Sins. Todd has been an adjunct professor of evangelism, leadership in contemporary culture and spiritual formation at George Fox University, Fuller Seminary, Western Seminary, Vanguard University, Azusa Pacific University, Biblical Seminary and Wheaton College. In addition, he has been a Distinguished Lecturer at several institutions of higher learning. Todd and his family live in Costa Mesa, California.

It's been nearly 45 years ago that I attended a jazz concert sponsored by a Sacramento area church. I was invited to it by my boss, Jim. I had been working for him for a year or two at the Magic Tunnel Car Wash. It was at that concert that Jim's life, shaped as it was by his love for Jesus, came to make sense to me. When someone asked me why I'd come forward at the end of the concert, my answer was simply, “I want what Jim has.”  It was that simple focus on Jesus in Jim's life and in that little community that drew me into a new way of living and, eventually, into the vocational focus of my life. And refocusing on Jesus along my journey has been what has renewed me, even revived me, when my life began to feel heavy, or wayward, or empty.  All of this is why I'm so happy to be talking with Todd Hunter, my bishop and my friend, about his new book What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion. Doesn't that title speak to where so many of us find ourselves these days?  The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founder of The Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. He is past president of Alpha USA, former national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He is the author of many books, including Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance,  Our Character at Work and Deep Peace. He writes a weekly newsletter, The Gospel of the Kingdom, that you can find on Substack. Todd also happens to be my bishop and my friend.  _________________________________________________________Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

In this episode, Shauna Pilgreen and I have a conversation around topics and themes from her latest book Translating Jesus. We talk about how to be translators and speak of Jesus in a way that culture can understand. We talk about being curious, paying attention, and being intentional to listen to the Holy Spirit and the person in front of us. She talks about three different spaces where we can encounter Jesus: the gate, the cross, and the table. Join us as we learn how we can start talking to people about Jesus, so that they will start talking to Jesus.Shauna Pilgreen, along with her husband, Ben, coleads Epic Church, a multiethnic congregation in the heart of San Francisco. She serves on the teaching team at Epic and as a network director for Alpha USA. She writes for "everyday evangelists" on her blog. Learn more at www.shaunapilgreen.com.Shauna's Book:Translating JesusShauna's Recommendations:The Alchemist Alastair McGrathBasic Christianity by John StottThe ChosenConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below.Support the show

Listen in as Lisa interviews Shauna Pilgreen. Along with her husband, Ben, Shauna coleads Epic Church, a multiethnic congregation in the heart of San Francisco. She serves on the teaching team at Epic and as a network director for Alpha USA. Today we hear about her new book, "Translating Jesus: How to share your faith in language today's culture can understand." Join Lisa and Shauna as they discuss what it looks like to engage with our current culture for the sake of bringing others into relationship with Jesus. Shauna Pilgreen

Listen in as Lisa interviews Shauna Pilgreen. Along with her husband, Ben, Shauna coleads Epic Church, a multiethnic congregation in the heart of San Francisco. She serves on the teaching team at Epic and as a network director for Alpha USA. Today we hear about her new book, "Translating Jesus: How to share your faith in language today's culture can understand." Join Lisa and Shauna as they discuss what it looks like to engage with our current culture for the sake of bringing others into relationship with Jesus. Shauna Pilgreen

This world is hungry for Jesus, but how can you share your faith with those around you? Shauna Pilgreen is the co-leader of Epic Church and serves as the network director for Alpha USA. She is also the author of the book Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today's Culture Can Understand. Join me and Shauna Pilgreen as we discuss the importance of Christians engaging with the world and sharing their faith in a relevant and understandable way to today's culture. Shauna shares personal stories of how she has seen God work through her interactions with others, emphasizing the power of listening and loving people where they are. "Jesus is a person you can know and with whom you can have a relationship. He is the truth. Your search can end here, and you can spend your remaining life getting to know him personally,"  said Pilgreen. Listen to hear testimonies from Shauna's life and mighty prayer in the end.   CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Shauna Pilgreen Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today's Culture Can Understand, Website, Facebook, Instagram, Share a Story   RESOURCE: Are you a new believer and don't know where to start? New Believer Workbook: Foundational Gospel Truths To Begin Your Relationship With Jesus Will equip you as you begin the most beautiful relationship of your life.    ABOUT:  Christina Perera Ministries SOCIAL CONNECT:  Facebook,  Instagram & YouTube @christinapereraministries MORE RESOURCES: I want to empower you with additional resources to deepen your walk with Jesus!  At the Feet of Jesus: Worship & Prayer Journal: Take your faith to the next level as you record your time with Jesus.  52 Week/Day Creative Journal Are you a new believer and don't know where to start? New Believer Workbook: Foundational Gospel Truths To Begin Your Relationship With Jesus Will equip you as you begin the most beautiful relationship of your life.  ADDITIONAL READING: Building Your Life on Jesus: The Power of Authenticity, Repentance, Co-Creation, and Grace in Building Faith that Lasts By Christina Perera & Discovering the Power of God's Redeeming Grace For Your Life By Christina Perera CPM EVENTS & OUTREACHES: Miracles Tour Photos & Contemporary Christian Music Magazine article! SUPPORT: We can only bring you this faith-building podcast with your financial gifts. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ by sponsoring an episode of Revealing Jesus!  Support Revealing Jesus and honor your loved one's special day. Get a special on-air dedication to your loved one! CONNECT: It's your turn to join the conversation on Revealing Jesus; tell us your burning questions about Jesus, your favorite Christian leaders, and your testimonies of God's goodness! STORE: Get your favorite gear from the store and help our ministry initiatives unite and reach a hurting world!       

The DisipleShift Conference is happening this September in St. John, Indiana! If you're a missional parish, you will not want to miss this opportunity to learn, grow, and increase the impact you have on the world around you.   On this week's podcast, Ron is joined by Fr. Sammie Maletta & Khalil Hattar. Their team at St. John the Evangelist Parish is hosting this awesome conference in partnership with Alpha USA. The whole event is focused on one key objective: Inspiring parish leadership that makes disciples.   There's something incredible that happens when leaders come together and learn from one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. If your parish is on the missionary renewal journey, this podcast will give you five big reasons to consider attending the DiscipleShift Conference this September!   ➝ Interested in attending the DiscipleShift Conference? Learn more and get tickets at https://discipleshiftconference.com. ➝ Want to connect with the team at St. John the Evangelist Parish? Visit https://stjohnparish.org.

Todd Hunter is the founding Bishop of an Anglican diocese called Churches for the Sake of Others. His spirituality has been raised up through leadership in Alpha USA, so he has been formed by that deep heart for gospel-centered evangelism. His native language is Kingdom, justice, peace, Spirit-empowered leadership and missional ecclesiology. And his passions play out in places like The Center for Formation, Justice and Peace, which he founded … and in seminaries and universities all over the country where he participates in training up the next generation of spiritually formed, justice-seeking followers of Jesus. Bishop Hunter is a gift to the Church, and his latest book — What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion — is written to call that Church to become all it is meant to be. 

In this episode, Todd Hunter talks about the aims of Jesus and how getting back to His purposes can help us through bad religion. We talk about living in the Kingdom of God, how we receive it and how we are sent to be His witnesses, and many other facets of the Kingdom. We talk about spiritual practices, so that we can do good works when moments present themselves. We talk about the gospel – what it is, what Jesus said it is and how we can live into it. Bishop Todd Hunter's life-long passion is to help others heed the call of Jesus to “come follow me” and thus to live their life in the kingdom of God as Jesus embodied, taught and demonstrated it. Bishop Hunter's vision for such a life entails being the cooperative friend of Jesus, seeking to live a life of constant creative goodness, for the sake of others, through the power of the Holy Spirit.This overarching vision has led Bishop Hunter to engage deeply with a few core themes:The Gospel of the Kingdom The person and work of the Holy Spirit The nature and purpose of the church at the intersection of gospel and culture (missional ecclesiology) Spiritual formation as core to discipleship to Jesus Servant-hearted, kingdom-minded, Spirit-empowered leadershipBishop Hunter has expressed his kingdom-Spirit-formation-church-culture focus in various settings. He is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. He writes a weekly newsletter: “The Gospel of the Kingdom.” Bishop Hunter is past President of Alpha USA, former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is the author of Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins and Our Character at Work. His latest book  is What Jesus Intended: Finding Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion.Bishop Hunter is also the founder of the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace.  Alongside trauma-informed spiritual director Vanessa Sadler, Bishop Todd hosts Peace Talks, a podcast that spotlights women and men who are working to undo oppression, leading to lives of deeper peace for all.Bishop Hunter holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and has served as an adjunct professor of evangelism, leadership in contemporary culture and spiritual formation at George Fox University, Fuller Seminary, Western Seminary, Vanguard University, Azusa Pacific University, Northern Seminary, and Wheaton College. Bishop Hunter and his wife Debbie live in Franklin, Tennessee. They have two adult children.Todd's Book:What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad ReligionConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook or Instagram at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/Consider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below.Support the show

John Wentz, Executive Director of Alpha USA, spent the day with us to tell his story of how a desire to disprove Christianity ended up becoming a turning point for coming to faith in Jesus.

Right alongside the name Billy Graham when it comes to discussions on evangelism, is the name Luis Palau. Luis was a passionate evangelist who preached in over 80 different countries, and saw millions of people come to know Jesus before his death in March of 2021. Carrying forward the spirit of Luis' ministry is his son Kevin Palau. Kevin, who now runs the Luis Palau Association, is an incredible leader who has helped form profound gospel movements in secular cities; movements that in certain instances engaged over 200 churches and 32,000 people in over 300 service projects. Join Kevin and Jason as they discuss how Luis finished his life, the postures that contribute to gospel movements, working with municipalities for the sake of a city & countless stories of Jesus using the “yes” of people to bring His Kingdom to earth. We hope this episode encourages you and gives you vision for the impact that's possible in your community. Bio | Kevin Palau is President and CEO of the Luis Palau Association. Under his leadership, LPA has united tens of thousands of churches in hundreds of cities to love and serve their communities and clearly share the Good News of Jesus. Kevin also helps lead TogetherPDX, a sustainable, united movement of churches in Portland, Oregon. His book, Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel describes the ongoing impact of the movement. Kevin lives in Beaverton, Oregon with his wife, Michelle, and enjoys serving on the boards of Alpha USA, Christians Against Poverty, and Transforming the Bay with Christ. Give today to CCLN and help seed a hopeful future for the Church in Canada. Help solve the global food crisis by giving gifts of Compassion today or get in touch with the team at Compassion. Show Notes: Luis Palau Association TogetherPDX Get Connected! Blog & Episode write-up Website Join our Mailing List! Subscribe on YouTube Follow on Instagram Share a Canadian Church Story

Kevin Palau is President and CEO of the Luis Palau Association. Under his leadership, LPA has united tens of thousands of churches in hundreds of cities to love and serve their communities and clearly share the Good News of Jesus. During Kevin's time at LPA he has also helped develop a global network of thousands of partner evangelists. Kevin helps lead TogetherPDX, a sustainable, united movement of churches in Portland, Oregon. His book, Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel describes the ongoing impact of the movement. Kevin lives in Beaverton, Oregon with his wife, Michelle, and enjoys serving on the boards of Alpha USA, Cedar Mill Bible Church, Christians Against Poverty, and Transforming the Bay with Christ. In this podcast, Kevin Palau talks about how the Luis Palau Association continues to flourish as God blesses their ministry's impact worldwide. He also shares how, in the last few years, he personally has grown to more greatly experience the love and joyful freedom of God's wonderful presence. Kevin concludes by encouraging us Christians here in America to be more open to lovingly share the Gospel with the people in our lives who don't yet know Him. Satan will try to discourage us, but God's power and love are so much stronger!

How do we effectively mobilize our communities around mission, while understanding the realities of the new post-lockdown world we live in? It's no secret that the world has changed since Covid. And when it comes to church leadership, that change can be really hard to navigate. I had the privilege of speaking with Dan McCarty on this week's podcast. After serving internationally with Alpha Ireland through the pandemic, Dan now serves churches and church leaders locally with Alpha USA. He's passionate about helping parishes and churches from all denominations to reach the lost and fulfill the Great Commission. Dan shares his journey into communion with the Catholic Church, as well as his hopes for his impact in his new role. This conversation paints a beautiful picture of how churches and parishes can learn from each other and work together to be more effective in building God's Kingdom.

Todd Proctor (founder of Rock Harbor church and Executive Leader with Alpha USA) sits down with Glenn Packiam to talk about discipling young leaders, preparing your church for leadership transitions and the changes he's seen in the culture of churches using Alpha as an evangelism tool.Want to learn more about the Resilient Pastor initiative? Home PagePodcastBookWatch this episode on Youtube: Barna GroupFollow Barna at:Instagram: @barnagroupTwitter: @barnagroupFacebook: Barna GroupGloo: Find out more about the He Gets Us initiative at hegetsuspartners.com/churches.Full Strength Network: Learn more about the wellbeing membership program that FSN created for pastors at www.fullstrength.org.

Have you ever gotten to a place in life where you've had a moment to reflect on your journey and the decisions you made, or didn't make, to get you to where you are today? Oftentimes, when having conversations with others who have been walking in faith for more than a few years, they can point back to pivotal moments where they saw God divinely orchestrate the details as they took steps forward. Even getting to pause to look back and see the ways things pieced together can be eye opening and hopefully life-giving when you see that truly every step of your journey got you to where you are now. And even the moments you wish you could unwrite, were pivotal in bringing you to this present moment in time. In today's conversation I get to dive into the seemingly unlikely ways God would move and have favor over a ministry, that started simply through a prayer and a desire to bring the loving and life saving message of Jesus to others through a life surrendered to what God could do. Today I have the honor and privilege of connecting with a gentleman I had the chance to work for years and years ago but also thrilled to share more about the ministry He is leading as President and CEO. Kevin Palau is President and CEO of the Luis Palau Association. Kevin joined LPA in 1985 and began directing the day-to-day operation of the ministry in the late 1990s. Under his leadership, LPA has united tens of thousands of churches in hundreds of cities to love and serve their communities and clearly share the Good News of Jesus. During Kevin's time at LPA he has also helped develop a global network of hundreds of partner evangelists and launched a City Gospel Movements effort that helps unite churches to serve their city and proclaim the Good News on an ongoing basis. Kevin helps lead TogetherPDX, a sustainable, united movement of churches in Portland, Oregon. His book, Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel describes the ongoing impact of the movement. He lives in Beaverton, Oregon with his wife, Michelle, and enjoys serving on the boards of Alpha USA, Christians Against Poverty, and Transforming the Bay with Christ.) Looking back over the years of incredible moments that God has showed his unrelenting favor and has pieced so many things together; Im sure has been a sweet reminder of God's intricate hand at work through the many years of ministry with Luis Palau Association. As you listen today, I hope you're not only inspired and encouraged by the incredible work and ministry of LPA, and stories Kevin has to share. But also get to spend some time today thinking through where YOU have seen God intricately work details together in your life to bring you to where you are today. LEARN MORE ABOUT Luis Palau Association. Visit their website, palau.org. Follow LPA on Instagram or Facebook: @LuisPalauLive. Learn more about City Movements or Hope with God or the Global Network of Evangelists, here. Lastly, the new media partnership with LPA, HeGetsUs.com ENJOY THIS EPISODE?? We'd love for you to RATE & REVIEW and SHARE! COME SAY HI on Instagram at The Places Between here. Did you know The Places Between offers Retreats? We're headed to Costa Rica in 2023. Learn more at ThePlacesBetween.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theplacesbetween/support

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Todd Proctor about the shaping effects of worship on his life, how the changing worship culture intersected with his discovery of the Vineyard, and his first experience with prophetic prayer ministry. Todd shares about the mentoring he received from Don Williams, and his belief that impactful relational moments are key for investing in the upcoming generation of leaders. Jay and Todd talk about their shared love of Alpha, some interesting things Todd is noticing happening through the ministry right now, and the surprising community impacts that churches are seeing as Alpha becomes part of their church culture. As Executive Vice President of Strategic Church Engagement, Todd Proctor has served on Alpha USA's leadership team for seven years. He is passionate about creating experiences and facilitating conversations that help key leaders reposition their communities for evangelistic impact in an increasingly post-Christian reality. Prior to joining Alpha, Todd founded Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, CA, where he served for 15 years as Lead Pastor. He experienced Alpha's impact firsthand, as Rockharbor became a pioneering hub church for the organization in the Southern California region. Todd watched as Alpha created a safe space for members to openly discuss matters of faith, as well address needed cultural shifts in the church in areas such as hospitality, relational evangelism and dependence on the Holy Spirit. A natural networker, Todd has had the opportunity to build bridges with leaders and communities across the nation. In collaboration with the Exponential Conference, Todd co-authored the book, “Empowered,” which offers pastoral perspectives on life and leadership in the Spirit. Todd received a bachelor's degree in Communication from Biola University, where he met his wife, Lisa. They have been married for almost 30 years, and have four children. Show Notes: Vineyard USA suggested reading for September Alpha Booklet “Why Jesus” by Nicky Gumbel https://bit.ly/3MlFmHD Alpha https://alphausa.org Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org

Susie Kumah joined the show to share all that God has been doing to grow the network of Alpha churches in the DMV.Susie Kumah is the Network Director of Alpha in the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia), who was born to Ghanaian parents, raised in London, and currently resides in Northern Virginia. Prior to joining Alpha USA, Susie worked as a worship leader at a Holy Trinity Church in McLean, VA. In addition, she managed both the outreach ministry and the Alpha course.Susie longs to see heartfelt praise and worship of God across the DMV. She hopes that everyone regardless of race, gender, age, class and more would experience the true love of God that would allow them to know Him abundantly…. As the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit  of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

This week, Julia & Eric sit down with John Wentz, Executive Director of Alpha USA. Since joining the Alpha USA team in 2015, John has led the expansion of regional networks, has invested in the growth of context ministries (youth, prisons, Catholic), and has improved training nationally and internationally. John developed the hub church strategy and designed the core of Alpha USA's church engagement framework, both of which are now being implemented globally. Hear more of John's story which has helped him impact many churches, ministry leaders, and college students across the world.For more information on Alpha USA, visit: AlphaUSA.orgFor more information on Alpha at Vineyard Columbus, visit: AskAtAlpha.com

Adrienne and Eric interview Jess Gatton, Vice President of Ministry for ALPHA USA. ALPHA walks with churches in rediscovering the way of Jesus through intentional hospitality, listening, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Jess loves getting to journey with Christian leaders – helping them remember and connect to why they got so caught up with Jesus in the first place. Jess and her husband Chris live in Columbus, OH with their two daughters.AlphaUSA.orgAsAtAlpha.com

Special Guest Todd Proctor from Alpha USA teaches from Luke 7 and shares a vision for life with Jesus that is lived around the table.

The idea of “evangelism” can be scary to both believers and non-believers. Understanding how non-believers feel about spiritual conversations helps us share the Good News in ways that will draw others in, rather than scare them away. Kelli Jordan and Melodi Leih talk through some trends in today's culture impacting how people feel about “evangelism.” If we can understand some of the trends, we can face them with truth. Scripture references: Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:14; Romans 2:3-4Resources: If you are a MOPS leader, learn more in our Evangelism Perspective course at training.mops.org. MOPS International's YouVersion study on Acts 17: Here and Now. Sources: "Reviving Evangelism: Current Realities That Demand a New Vision for Sharing Faith"; A Barna Report produced in partnership with Alpha USA, 2019IF:Lead Conference, "Deconstruction" with John Mark Comer, Joshua Ryan Butler and Jennie Allen, 2021. 

Brittany is a Senior Area Director with Alpha USA--a non-profit dedicated to facilitating honest conversations about life, faith, and meaning AND she's part of the BecomeNew community. She's a rockin' mama of two and married to John's behind-the-scenes buddy: Tim. Let's take a deep breathe and learn about good-enough faith... CONNECT WITH US AT:

Join Cory and Josh as they interview Jordan Biere - National Director Alpha Youth at Alpha USA. On this episode we discuss concepts of unity, working in collaboration, and growing in authentic relationships within youth ministry and beyond. https://alphausa.org/youth/ We would love to connect with you! Please email us: cory@zerohourministries.org Instagram: @zerohourministriespodcast For more info: www.zerohourministries.org TikTok: @zerohourministries Facebook: @zerohourministries

In this long-form conversation Kevin Palau, president and CEO of the Luis Palau Association, reflects on the historic ministry of his Argentinian-born father, who trained and participated in Billy Graham crusades, and led similar crusades throughout Latin America. He talks about new ways of telling the story of Jesus in a modern society, and how today that mission is just as much about transforming the individual as it is about “the desire for social justice and to see institutions and structures transformed.” Kevin also tells the origin story of TogetherPDX, a collaboration of churches he founded 15 years ago to meet the needs of the citizens of Portland, Oregon, where the Luis Palau Association is based. He discusses how that has been a catalyst for City Gospel Movements across the U.S., which helps churches in the same city join together to be an essential part of making a difference in things like public education, foster care, refugee communities, and people living with homelessness. Kevin Palau is President and CEO of the Luis Palau Association, which unites tens of thousands of churches in hundreds of cities to love and serve their communities and clearly share the Good News of Jesus. His book, Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel describes the ongoing impact of the movement. He enjoys serving on the boards of Alpha USA, Christians Against Poverty, and Transforming the Bay with Christ.

(Just kidding. We thought our guest list this week sounded a bit like the start of a joke... but it was pretty awesome.) Julia & Eric interview Bishop Todd Hunter - former President of Alpha USA, former National Director of Vineyard USA, and current Bishop in the Anglican Church. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, founder of The Telos Collective, and founder of the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. He is also the author of lots of books, his most recent being and Deep Peace... which is available at the Vineyard Columbus bookstore at bookstore.vineyardcolumbus.org. Learn more about Bishop Todd Hunter: toddhunter.orgFollow Bishop Todd on social media: Facebook & Instagram: bishoptoddhunterTwitter: bptoddhunter

Many Christian organizations are working to build their workplace culture to keep our best talent from leaving. Part of the challenge has to do with employees working remotely. In today's episode, we focus on how Alpha USA has built a flourishing workplace culture while having a one hundred percent remote staff. Listen in! As a leader, you need to recruit and retain a high-quality team to help your organization achieve its mission. Having the right people on your team is always important to a thriving organization. But now there are some trends that make recruiting and retaining employees even more challenging. We will address these issues today in our conversation. I'm delighted to welcome Craig Springer. He is the Executive Director of Alpha USA.   Find full show notes here: https://bit.ly/craigspringerbesttalent Share the love. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it on Apple Podcasts and write a brief review. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flourishing-culture-podcast/id1060724960?mt=2  By doing so, you will help spread our podcast to more listeners, and thereby help more Christian workplaces learn to build flourishing cultures. Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on Twitter https://twitter.com/allopus Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allopus/ Email our host at info@bcwinstitute.org 

I am privileged to be joined by the inspirational author Gerard Long on the podcast this week. Gerard Long is an author and pastor, who had a 30-year-year career in banking, was the National Director of Alpha USA for seven years and is the Founder and President of a non-profit corporation, Awakening to God Ministries. In the first week of its release, his book Living Hope was Amazon's #1 New Release and #1 Bestseller. Gerard has an exciting story to share with us. In 2019, Gerard died from a cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead not once but twice in 30 minutes. Asking the question, “Why am I still here” he sensed a divine calling to write his latest book, Living Hope, to share three epiphanies that helped him journey through a season of catastrophic suffering. In this episode, we will tackle topics like how to journey through suffering, how to find God's plan/purpose for your life, how to triumph in the fight of faith, and how to succeed in your marriage when all seems lost.Enjoy the episode, and a special thank you to my listeners for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned and keep listening. Should you wish to connect with Gerard, you can check out his social pages and website. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awakeningtogod/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/awakeningtogod/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerard-long-93900633/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AwakeningtoGodTwitter: https://twitter.com/atg_ministriesWould you please support the pre-sale campaign for my upcoming book, Trauma Propels: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities? Expected publication May 2022.Pre-sale Book Campaign: https://igg.me/at/onsLf-FkSLY/x/28095485#/Connect with me by checking out mycenteredlife for daily inspiration, and leave me a comment to let me know what you think of the episode.Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mycenteredlifeInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/mycenteredlifeWould you please support the show at www.patreon.com/survivingtraumastoriesofhopeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/survivingtraumastoriesofhope)

Bishop Hunter has expressed his kingdom-Spirit-formation-church-culture focus in various settings. He the founding bishop of http://www.c4so.org/ (The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others), a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. Bishop Hunter is past President of Alpha USA, former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of http://myholytrinitychurch.com/ (Holy Trinity Anglican Church) in Costa Mesa, California. He is the author of https://www.amazon.com/Christianity-Beyond-Belief-Following-Others/dp/0830832564 (Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others), https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Church-Another-Chance-Spiritual/dp/0830837485/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Giving+Church+Another+Chance&qid=1568493687&s=gateway&sr=8-1 (Giving Church Another Chance), https://www.amazon.com/Outsider-Interviews-Generation-Speaks-Christianity/dp/0801013453/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481664414&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Outsider+Interviews (The Outsider Interviews), https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Anglican-Surprising-Appeal-Liturgical/dp/0830838392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481664446&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Accidental+Anglican (The Accidental Anglican,) https://www.amazon.com/Our-Favorite-Sins-Commit-Quit-ebook/dp/B005ENBCAK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Our+Favorite+Sins+by+Todd+HUnter&qid=1568493724&s=gateway&sr=8-1 (Our Favorite Sins) andhttps://www.amazon.com/Our-Character-Work-Success-Leadership/dp/1627872914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481664510&sr=1-1&keywords=Our+Character+at+Work ( Our Character at Work). Bishop Hunter is also the founder of the https://centerfjp.org/ (Center for Formation, Justice and Peace). The Center's interdenominational community seeks to develop the Christlike character necessary to activate justice, leading to a life of deep peace for all people. In addition, Bishop Todd serves as founder and president of http://www.teloscollective.com/ (The Telos Collective,) an organization dedicated to forming leaders at the intersection of gospel and culture.

We sat down for an incredible conversation with Bishop Dr.. Todd Hunter at New Room Conference 2021. Dr. Hunter is the founding bishop of The Anglican Diocese, Churches for the Sake of Others. He is a past president of Alpha USA and former national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches. An adjunct professor at several seminaries, he is author of Christianity Beyond Belief, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins, and Our Character at Work.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, founder of The Telos Collective, and founder of the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. He is past president of Alpha USA, former national director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. He is the author of Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins, Our Character at Work and Deep Peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daily Wire's Ben Johnson looks at California legislation that will pay for children who seek sex-reassignment drugs and procedures and hide that information from parents.  Alpha USA's Jordan Biere comments on research that finds Generation Z believes setting examples by actions is key to sharing faith.

Daily Wire's Ben Johnson looks at California legislation that will pay for children who seek sex-reassignment drugs and procedures and hide that information from parents.  Alpha USA's Jordan Biere comments on research that finds Generation Z believes setting examples by actions is key to sharing faith.

How do we share our faith with each other without destroying our relationships? Craig Springer, Executive Director of Alpha USA and author of “How to Revive Evangelism” rejoins us this episode to discuss the reputation of Christianity and how it can initially scare us from becoming strong believers in Jesus. Dr. Spencer and Springer look at the different ways to encourage others to explore their faith while debunking the old, divisive rhetoric that supports ideas like white supremacy. Listen as they talk about how different generations approach evangelism, and how everyone can contribute to reviving it. Want to learn how you can be a part of Alpha Memphis? Sign up at alphausa.org Join us next week as we talk with Dr. Alexis Gwen-Miller, Director of Alpha NDCC, as she explains the importance of asking questions in order to share our experiences and grow our faith. Follow Dr. Stacy L. Spencer on Social Media: Facebook: Stacy L. Spencer Twitter: Twitter.com/stacy_spencer Instagram: @drstacylspencer StacySpencer.org

Most Christians in the Bible belt are prepared to answer the question, “what must I do to be saved?” The problem is, no one is really asking that question anymore. John Wentz, ministry director for Alpha USA, joins Jonathan for a conversation about sharing the truth our culture really needs and standing together in unity for the sake of the gospel. Alpha creates a space for conversations among friends about faith, life and God.

Most Christians in the Bible belt are prepared to answer the question, “what must I do to be saved?” The problem is, no one is really asking that question anymore. John Wentz, ministry director for Alpha USA, joins Jonathan for a conversation about sharing the truth our culture really needs and standing together in unity for the sake of the gospel. Alpha creates a space for conversations among friends about faith, life and God.

This week we are joined by Jack Cowley, National Director, Prisons and Re-Entry at Alpha USA. Jack shares with us his 30+ years of insights beginning as a probation officer before eventually ascending to the position of warden...and so much more!  Links below as to content discussed in this episode! Alpha USA: https://alphausa.org/prisons-about National Institute of Corrections:    https://nicic.gov/ The Paragon Group LLC: https://theparagongroupllc.com/ The Criminologist Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1d_twLd7CdnDgS7amNpuQ?view_as=subscriber

Marc sits down with Scott Bagshaw from Alpha USA to discuss what does it look like for us to encounter the Holy Spirit and walk with Him throughout our days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet the well-known ministry organization whose flourishing staff culture helped attract 366,000 participants in 6,500 churches last year alone. The amazing story, next. Today, we're going to look at Inspirational Leadership, which is the sixth of the eight drivers that can take the health of your workplace culture to the next level. My guest, today, knows a lot about Inspirational Leadership. His character, leadership, and convictions are going to give you some fresh, new insights for how to improve and strengthen your own workplace culture. With that, I want to welcome in one of the most popular guests on the podcast, Craig Springer, Executive Director of Alpha USA. Find full show notes here https://www.bcwinstitute.org/s4e26-craig-springer/

Is it wrong to share your beliefs with someone of another faith in hopes that they will become a Christian? Craig Springer of Alpha USA reflects on recent survey findings that show almost half of millennials, more than any other generation, think evangelism is wrong. Why?

With a new year, leaders around the globe have set new goals for themselves, their teams, organizations, or communities. Sometimes new goals require drastic changes. How do we leaders implement change without causing panic or confusion among our followers? We chatted with Craig Springer, executive director at Alpha USA, to discuss change management and how to provide effective leadership to help followers thrive in the midst of change. Craig shared with us on Leadercast Podcast his insights about how to thrive - and what to avoid! - during times of change.