POPULARITY
Categories
397 episodes with assemblies
282 episodes with assemblies
163 episodes with assemblies
154 episodes with assemblies
316 episodes with assemblies
77 episodes with assemblies
100 episodes with assemblies
32 episodes with assemblies
17 episodes with assemblies
18 episodes with assemblies
16 episodes with assemblies
289 episodes with assemblies
27 episodes with assemblies
14 episodes with assemblies
256 episodes with assemblies
9 episodes with assemblies
9 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
19 episodes with assemblies
25 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
29 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
7 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
9 episodes with assemblies
10 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
10 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
14 episodes with assemblies
7 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
7 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
10 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
13 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
6 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
11 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
8 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
3 episodes with assemblies
51 episodes with assemblies
4 episodes with assemblies
5 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
2 episodes with assemblies
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
Continuing their conversation, Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds talk with the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Doug Clay, about the realities facing pastors and churches today. Doug discusses key concerns for ministry leaders, cultural shifts affecting the church, and the pressures many pastors experience in today's environment. At the same time, he shares hopeful trends and signs of renewal that encourage him about the future of the church. Doug concludes with words of wisdom from his books and encourages ministers who are seeking to lead faithfully in a rapidly changing world.https://ag.org/About/Leadership-Team/General-SuperintendentFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/DougClayAG/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dougclayag/Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-clay-89aa3b58/X (Twitter) - https://x.com/dougclayAmazon Author's page - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Doug-Clay/author/B0F3Z6Y66L?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c4578a0e-38e4-4f81-9f22-3e0508757317
Sunday's Message: New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
Sunday's Message: New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
NOTE: two editors notes were left in this episode. A YouTube viewer caught it and shared the timestamps with me. Two hours after release, we fixed and swapped the file, but your device may not have updated if it auto-downloaded on release.In 216 BC, at a place called Cannae, Rome lost 50,000 men in a single afternoon. Along with 80 senators, one of the two sitting consuls, both quaestors, and 29 military tribunes, all gone in the space of a few hours.Any monarchy in that position sues for peace. Any dictatorship reorganizes. Any modern government panics. Rome refused to even send an ambassador. They elected new magistrates, raised new legions (some made up of slaves offered their freedom), and the assemblies kept meeting. The tribunes kept using their veto. And the whole thing just kept running.That wasn't toughness. It was engineering. The Roman Republic wasn't a democracy — it was a machine specifically built to survive catastrophic failure at any single point. Two consuls with veto power over each other. Ten tribunes with veto power over almost anything. A Senate that couldn't legislate. Assemblies that could. Unwritten customs (mos maiorum) with more binding force than written law. Patron-client networks that ran in parallel to the formal state. Every layer had a backup. When one failed, three others held. That system ran for nearly 500 years.Then, over about a century, the layers weakened one at a time, not because the Romans got dumber, but because the pressures grew faster than the system could adapt.This is Episode 1 of "The Fall of the Roman Republic" series. It's the foundation you need before you can watch the machine break in every subsequent episode. If you don't understand how the intact system worked, none of the failures will land.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Battle of Cannae — Why Rome Didn't Collapse03:11 What the Roman Republic Actually Wasn't05:26 The Assemblies: Where Laws Actually Got Made08:44 The Senate's Real Power (It Wasn't Legislation)11:01 The Consuls: Engineered Against Kingship13:31 The Tribunes: The Sacrosanct Veto Weapon15:38 Cursus Honorum and Mos Maiorum: The Filters20:57 The Dictatorship: Rome's Kill Switch (Cincinnatus)23:04 Patron-Client Networks: The Invisible Layer25:51 The Three Pressures That Would Break Everything33:37 Setting Up Tiberius Gracchus (133 BC)SOURCESPolybius, Histories, Book 6, the ancient tutorial on the Roman "mixed constitution," the recovery from Cannae as proof the design workedLivy, Ab Urbe Condita, Varro's return to Rome after Cannae ("thanked because he had not despaired of the Republic"), the Cincinnatus storyPlutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus, the killing scene on the CapitolMary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, the res publica meaning, the tension between "public thing" and "everyone governs"Andrew Lintott, The Constitution of the Roman Republic, the definitive modern reference on institutional structureFergus Millar, The Crowd in Rome in the Late Republic, how the assemblies actually functionedTom Holland, Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, the accessible narrative of the collapse this series will trace
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
The Gospel on the Radio Talk Show with Pastor Jack King of Tallahassee, Florida
In this compelling episode of "The Gospel of the Radio Talk Show," host Pastor Jack King welcomes long-time Assemblies of God pastor and street minister Joe McCutchen from SafeHouse Outreach in Atlanta, Georgia. Together, they dive into the grit, grace, and relentless faith required to minister to individuals dealing with addiction, homelessness, and severe mental illness. Joe shares how God took him from a rebellious 17-year-old walking into church just to satisfy his parents to spending nearly three decades on the frontlines of urban street ministry. Key topics explored in this conversation include: -- The dramatic origin of SafeHouse Outreach, birthed in 1982 through Philip Bray, a former Dixie Mafia drug dealer who surrendered to Jesus at his mother's request and immediately returned to Peachtree Street to win his former associates. -- How a chance encounter involving a former Minneapolis vice cop turned preacher helped launch a movement that began with late-night prayer meetings behind a local hamburger stand. -- The defining moment when Pastor Joe was ready to surrender his church plant in Tampa due to exhaustion and financial ruin, only for a faithful Navy veteran to refuse to let him quit. -- The practical "Problem Solvers" daily ministry at SafeHouse Outreach, providing IDs, birth certificates, family reunions, and bus tickets home to those stranded on the streets. -- The profound truth that a single day of God's favor can accomplish more than a thousand days of human effort. -- A candid and compassionate discussion on the delicate balance between helping people, establishing healthy boundaries, and ensuring ministry efforts truly empower individuals to change their choices. Scriptures for Further Study -- Psalm 37:23-24 -- 1 Kings 19:4-5 -- Luke 15:4-7 -- Ephesians 6:15 This is episode 1288. ******* This is the radio program with the music removed. By the way, I have written a new book, and you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X
In this episode, Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds welcome Doug Clay, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. Doug shares his personal story of faith and calling, reflecting on the experiences that shaped his journey in ministry and leadership. From early ministry opportunities to serving in one of the most influential leadership roles in the Assemblies of God, Doug discusses the lessons God has taught him along the way. His reflections offer encouragement and wisdom for leaders seeking to serve with humility, integrity, and faithfulness.https://ag.org/About/Leadership-Team/General-SuperintendentFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/DougClayAG/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dougclayag/Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-clay-89aa3b58/X (Twitter) - https://x.com/dougclayAmazon Author's page - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Doug-Clay/author/B0F3Z6Y66L?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c4578a0e-38e4-4f81-9f22-3e0508757317
Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Lee Grady writes the following in his book, Lead Like Paul: Saul of Tarsus — who eventually became known by his Greek name, Paul — is our mentor and spiritual father. Apart from Jesus Himself, he is our best example. Of course, we have Peter, James, John, Mary Magdalene, and so many other first-century disciples who walked closely with Jesus. But Paul was unique. He didn't travel with Jesus or witness His miracles, yet he fully surrendered to the resurrected Christ, he understood the truth of Jesus better than almost any human being on earth, he spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, and he was used by the Holy Spirit to lay the foundation for a Christian movement that has spread globally. For all these reasons and more, Grady argues, Paul is a mentor we should imitate in our own ministries. In this episode, I talk to Grady about how we can begin to do so. Lee Grady is an ordained minister in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, award-winning journalist, and author, most recently, of Lead Like Paul: 21 Ways to Reignite Your Spiritual Fire and Expand Your Spirit-Led Influence, published by Chosen Books. Sponsor Ad This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Assemblies of God: Our Story by Daniel D. Isgrigg. Explore the inspiring history of the Assemblies of God from a handful of ministers to a worldwide fellowship of more than 85 million believers. Discover the legacy, mission, and Spirit-filled story that continues to impact the world today. For more information about The Assemblies of God: Our Story visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 03:00 — Why Lead Like Paul, rather than Lead Like Jesus or Lead Like Peter or Lead Like James? 05:08 — Why start with humility, and how does Paul model humility for Christian leaders? 7:37 — Chapters 4 and 5 discuss loving people and being present. What was the impetus for writing these two chapters? And how can pastors develop both better people skills and greater presence? 11:21 — Chapter 6 is titled, "You Need Power, Not Just Head Knowledge." Why is this the case? What function do the words "not just" play in this title? And how do we develop what the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary calls "knowledge on fire"? 20:06 — Why are the temptations of sexual immorality and financial exploitation such a problem for ministers, and how we do we overcome them? 23:57 — Why is forgiveness so important, and how we do we forgive congregants who have harmed us? 26:56 — What trends in the Pentecostal and charismatic movements worry you today? What trends bring you hope? 32:11 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 34:21 — Conclusion
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.meCONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.meCONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/ Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
Sunday's Message: https://youtu.be/6VvMYFw-JoQ?si=HPGZbtxnnVi6VG2aNew to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
Sunday's Message: https://youtu.be/6VvMYFw-JoQ?si=HPGZbtxnnVi6VG2aNew to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
TRADCAST EXPRESS - Episode 228 Topics covered: The insane theology of Rev. Bryan Massingale. Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) schismatic. The 'internal schism' heresy of Novus Ordo bishop Marian Eleganti. The never-ending story of the synod on synodality. Links: Profile: Rev. Dr. Bryan Massingale (Fordham University) "Rev. Bryan Massingale on Black theology, LGBTQ Catholics and the future of the church", Outreach (July 14, 2026) "Vatican-SSPX Showdown: Lefebvrists Consecrate Four New Bishops Without Permission", Novus Ordo Wire (June/July, 2026) "Leo Drops the Hammer: SSPX Excommunicated for Schism, Two Sacraments Henceforth Invalid", Novus Ordo Wire (July 2, 2026) "Two Videos: A Sedevacantist Take on the Vatican-SSPX Drama", Novus Ordo Wire (July 6, 2026) "Bishop Eleganti: The Church is suffering 'internal schism' because pope, bishops 'tolerate heresies'", Life Site (Feb. 2, 2026) Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Satis Cognitum (1896) "Leaders of continental organizations gather in Rome for three days of work to discuss the 2027–2028 Assemblies", Zenit (June 23, 2026) Synod Document: "Towards the Assemblies 2027-2028: Stages, Criteria, and Tools for Preparation" 'Cardinal' Mario Grech, "The Progress of the People of God from a Participatory Perspective" (June 3, 2026) Sign up to be notified of new episode releases automatically at tradcast.org. Produced by NOVUSORDOWATCH.org Support us by making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org/donate/
Give to help Chris make Truce Jimmy Swaggart was caught in a major controversy in the late 1980s. It involved the famous American televangelist, who was a leading figure in Pentecostal Christianity. In 1988, Swaggart publicly admitted to “moral failure” after reports surfaced that he had been involved with a prostitute, behavior that directly contradicted the strict moral standards he preached. The revelation led to his suspension by the Assemblies of God, his church denomination, and caused significant damage to his reputation and ministry. Swaggart delivered a widely televised, tearful confession, which became one of the most memorable moments in religious broadcasting, symbolizing broader concerns at the time about hypocrisy, accountability, and power among high-profile televangelists. This proved to be a problem for Pat Robertson, who was running for president. Just as he needed his conservative brothers and sisters on his side... they disappeared or chose another politician. When he lost the race, he continued his streak of being shelved by politicians. He and other evangelicals with large followings placed their hope in politicians to save them. Only to find disappointment. Sources: The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald Reaganland by Rick Perlstein Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr. Andrews, T. M. (2017). The Rev. Marvin Gorman, who prompted Jimmy Swaggart's downfall in the '80s, dies at 83 Art Harris, W. P. (1988, Feb 26). Jimmy Swaggart's secret life in the world of no-tell motels 'shouting, weeping' Preacher was just another man on prowl. Toronto Star RNC National Convention speeches 1988, around 2:35:00 God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams PETER STEINFELS (1989, Jun 12). Moral majority to dissolve; says mission accomplished. New York Times Rolling Stone Magazine article on Jay Sekulow. By Andrew Perez, January 3, 2024 Washington Post article about Robertson's death Discussion Questions How did success become a problem for the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition? Why is it a problem that we keep being marketed to with fear? How could conservative evangelicals argue both that they were the majority AND a persecuted minority? Why does it matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
In this free-for-all episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined by Derrick Brite, Lee Hutchings, and Dan Borvan for a wide-ranging conversation following the summer season of Presbyterian and Reformed assemblies. They reflect on the PCA General Assembly, the OPC General Assembly, and the URC Synod, considering overtures, church order, the spirit of deliberation, and the practical realities of Presbyterian polity.The conversation also turns to Reformed witness in Italy, Roman Catholicism, and the need to speak the truth clearly and charitably. Camden previews upcoming discussions on Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Catholic social teaching, artificial intelligence, human dignity, and the need for a sound Reformed anthropology in an age of rapid technological change.Mentioned in this episode:Join Us In Person: Four Upcoming Reformed Forum EventsBefore today's episode, Camden Bucey shares four opportunities to gather with Reformed Forum in person over the coming months: Apologetics and Evangelism Seminar — August 4–5, 2026, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Taylors, SC. Camden Bucey and Carlton Wynne lecture on apologetics and evangelism for the pastor at the GPTS Summer Seminar. Details: https://reformedforum.org/event/apologetics-and-evangelism-seminar-greenville-sc/ Discovering Christ in All of Scripture — August 28–29, 2026, Cahaba Park Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL. A Friday evening and Saturday morning seminar exploring how every part of Scripture reveals God's redemptive plan in Jesus Christ. Details: https://reformedforum.org/event/birmingham-alabama-seminar/ 2026 Annual Theology Conference — September 25–26, 2026, Lakeland Church, Gurnee, IL. The Covenant of Grace: One Savior, One People, One Purpose, featuring Dr. G. K. Beale. Early-bird pricing ends August 31. Register: https://rf26.reformedforum.org/ Christ the Center 1000th Episode Celebration — February 19–20, 2027, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX. A live recording of episode 1,000, a shared dinner, and conversations with longtime friends of the ministry. Details: https://reformedforum.org/event/christ-the-center-1000th-episode-celebration/ Seats are limited — register today at https://reformedforum.org/events
In this free-for-all episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Derrick Brite, Lee Hutchings, and Dan Borvan for a wide-ranging conversation following the summer season of Presbyterian and Reformed assemblies. […]
Ricardo (Ricky) Anaya is the Men's Director of the Spanish Eastern District, Assemblies of God. As a former NYPD and narcotics detective, the stories and sights seen within the work environment rocked his faith. In this episode, Ricky opens up about his experience through a dark road and how God brought him out. Join the movement! Become a 360 Man today. https://360manpodcast.com/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
Acts 2:42. Gathering as a church is something we do frequently and often take for granted. In this study, Evangelist Jacob Holman explores what Scripture has to say about our precious assemblies - their reasons and benefits, and how we should anticipate them.
Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Joe Oden writes the following in his new book, Empowered to Pray: In an hour when many leaders are fixated on numerical growth, how to accommodate and make seekers feel comfortable, leadership strategies, higher education, and enhanced communications, we observe that well-intended leaders are trying to advance the kingdom of God in their own strength. However, when we look at the ministry of Jesus and the early church, we find a different path forward. … Their foundation was prayer, and everything they did originated from their private and corporate devotions. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Oden about the importance of prayer for Christian ministry, as well how the Lord himself teaches us to pray. Oden is an evangelist, ordained Assemblies of God minister, and director of the AG World Prayer Center. He is also author of Empowered to Pray: Advancing the Kingdom of God Through Prayer and Intercession, published by Gospel Publishing House. Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of Multiplication Mindset. In Multiplication Mindset, Gerad Strong brings together decades of real-life ministry experience—revitalizing churches, multiplying campuses, and equipping leaders—to help leaders move beyond addition thinking and into sustainable, mission-driven impact. Multiplication isn't a strategy for a few high-capacity churches. It's God's design for every church. For more information about Multiplication Mindset visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:32 — Tell us more about how private and corporate prayer are the foundation of Christian ministry. 07:23 — Does prayer compete with leadership strategies, or are they complementary? 10:52 — Why does prayer need a set place, a specific time, and ample time? 14:18 — Why are both "crisis" moments and "process" habits important? 21:09 — What is intimacy with God, and how do we develop it? 24:03 — What does God want? And when does it come to pass? 28:32 — How does God's kingdom advance through the Church, irrespective of law and politics? 34:48 — How does Jesus teach us to pray with persistence? 40:33 — What does the Assemblies of god World Prayer Center do, and how can someone get involved with it? 42:51 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 44:49 — Conclusion
For more than 9 years, Pastor Jim served as the General Secretary of the Assemblies of God. In today's episode, we look back on that time and discuss lessons he learned from that work and what surprised him most. As the General Secretary, Pastor Jim oversaw the credentials of close to 40,000 ministers, giving him a unique perspective on the calling, challenges, and trends in pastoral leadership. We hope the conversation gives you a similar perspective and perhaps new motivation to pray for those who bear the responsibility of guiding our fellowship.
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrzFind a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locationsNEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what'snext on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your nextsteps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHmeTucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, ChristianPodcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.meFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/zioncity.meCONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrzFind a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locationsNEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what'snext on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your nextsteps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHmeTucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, ChristianPodcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zioncity.me/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zioncity.meFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/zioncity.meCONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waylonsears/Pastor Dana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danamsears/
America Prays 250Service Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49631971Today we are joining thousands of Assemblies of God churches across the nation in an initiative called America Prays 250
Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk Assemblies of God General Superintendent Doug Clay about themes in his new book, Blind Spots: The Invisible Vulnerabilities Shaping Your Leadership, published by Gospel Publishing House. Introducing the topic of his book, Clay writes: "The most dangerous threats to spiritual leaders are not external opposition or cultural pressure, but rather the invisible vulnerabilities that distort calling and quietly erode faithful obedience. Every leader carries these invisible vulnerabilities — these blind spots — and no amount of spiritual maturity or leadership experience makes someone immune to them. … "Because blind spots are invisible by nature, recognizing and treating them requires disciplined reflection, honest feedback, and a corrective community. Paul echoes this truth throughout the New Testament. He warns those in positions of spiritual authority to 'keep watch over yourselves' (Acts 20:20) and cautions Timothy to 'watch your life and doctrine closely' (1 Timothy 4:16). It is my belief that many spiritual leaders fail not because they lack divine calling, but because they struggle with awareness of their blind spots." Sponsor AdThis episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of Trusted with Treasureby Assemblies of God General Secretary Brad Kesler. Just as nautical charts and lighthouses guide captains safely past hazards, this handbook on ministerial ethics will help equip you to build healthy relationships, avoid unwise behaviors, and serve with integrity and the highest ethical standards. For more information about Trusted with Treasure visit GospelPublishingHouse.com. Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:42 — What is a blind spot? 03:44 — The first blind spot is confusing calling with comparison. How does this blind spot work, and how can we overcome it? 08:38 — Mistaking familiarity with spiritual maturity is the second blind spot we're going to talk about. Same question: how does this blind spot work, and how can we overcome it? 11:38 — Losing curiosity about God is the third blind spot I want to talk about. How do ministers lose curiosity about God? And how do they recover it? 13:40 — The fourth blind spot I want to talk about is drifting from integrity to image management. In a world saturated with social media, this one seems especially important. What would you like Assemblies of God ministers to know about this one? 17:51 — In the book's Conclusion, you write: "One theme runs through all eight blind spots in this book: Healthy leadership requires embracing weakness, not projecting strength." Why is that? 21:02 — America celebrates its 250th anniversary this week. How should we be praying for our country in the lead up to July Fourth … and every day thereafter? 26:54 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 31:24 — Conclusion
In this episode, our storyteller Jane shares her years inside Chi Alpha, the college campus ministry of the Assemblies of God (AG). What began as a warm, welcoming community slowly turned into something else. Jane describes the pressure to lead, the strict rules over her time, friendships, money, and even her food and health, and the spiritual control that kept her silent for years.She walks us through her path from new student to leader, intern, and full staff missionary. She talks about the leadership "class" she paid to take, a retreat that changed her, the support raising system that left her broke, and the moment she finally found the strength to leave. Jane also speaks to the wider abuse that has come to light in Chi Alpha and the Assemblies of God, and why she chose to break her silence now.Her story is a powerful look at high control religion, the savior complex on the mission field, and the long road to healing. Jane closes with a message of hope for current members, for survivors, and for the leaders she hopes will repent.Chi Alpha Survivor Website http://xalionsden.com/Support the show
Pastor Aaron Hlavin, Superintendent of the Michigan Ministries Network in the Assemblies of God, brings a message about honor. Pastor Aaron teaches the biblical concept of honor and calls us all to honor others with a greater standard than the world.
What does it mean to be a friend of Jesus? In this Revival Sunday message, Pastor Dick Brogden challenges us to see missions not just as something the church supports, but as a response to friendship with Jesus. Teaching from John 15, Pastor Dick reminds us that Jesus has called us His friends, trusted us with His mission, and invited us to participate in bringing the gospel to the nations. With billions of people still unreached and thousands of people groups with little or no access to the gospel, the call of God is still urgent. This message unpacks what it means to give friendship back to Jesus by encouraging Him, defending Him, standing with Him, sharing His heart, and stewarding the trust He has placed in us. Pastor Dick also reminds us that God does not need perfect people to accomplish His mission. He uses weak, willing, Spirit-filled people who spend time with Jesus, humble themselves in prayer, and say yes to His call. Whether you are called to go, give, pray, support, or take a first step toward missions, this message is a powerful reminder that Jesus is worthy of our whole lives. If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that God can use them to make Jesus known. Make sure to like and subscribe to stay up to date with weekly messages from Venture Church. Timestamps 0:00 – YouTube Welcome from Pastor Brandon 0:18 – Invitation to Revival Night 0:42 – Introducing Pastor Dick Brogden 1:28 – Live Dead and the Mission to the Unreached 1:55 – John 15:11–16 3:29 – Love, Missions, and the Great Commission 3:55 – Fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandments 4:20 – Understanding People Groups 5:14 – What Is an Unreached People Group? 5:40 – Frontier and Unengaged People Groups 6:32 – Trolling for Apostles 7:14 – Jesus Calls Us Friends 8:16 – Saint John in Exile 9:02 – Does God Need Our Friendship? 10:06 – The Wonder of Being a Friend of God 10:55 – Giving Friendship to Jesus 11:18 – Encouraging Our Friend Jesus 12:18 – Defending Our Friend Jesus 13:29 – Standing with Jesus 14:56 – The Cost of Standing with Jesus 16:07 – Offering Consolation to Jesus 16:25 – The Unreached World and the Heart of Jesus 17:24 – Friendship and Trust 18:13 – Jesus Has Trusted Us with His Mission 18:35 – The Mission Story of Scripture 19:45 – Trusted to Evangelize the World 20:13 – You Did Not Choose Me, But I Chose You 20:45 – God Uses the Weak and Foolish 21:43 – God's Spirit Lives in You 22:27 – The Power of the Holy Spirit Will Come Upon You 22:58 – How Can We Be Missionaries? 23:19 – Peter, John, and Being with Jesus 24:16 – God Uses Ordinary People 24:56 – The Assemblies of God and Missions 25:21 – Azusa Street and Humble Beginnings 26:34 – Humbling Ourselves in Prayer 27:24 – Power to Witness and Power for Holiness
How do you discern God's calling to be a missionary? John Easter, Executive Director of Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM), says the first question might be: if God did call you to serve overseas, would you say yes? Before accepting his current role, John and his wife served the church in Africa, providing theological training to pastors and leaders. In an effort to develop more leaders for the growing church, they oversaw 380+ schools with 25,000+ students. Serving on missions front lines brought many challenges. They faced an abduction, medical issues, hijacking and other criminal activity while in Africa. Yet the Lord surrounded them with community and resources as they learned how to abide in Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit during every hardship. Today, John is focused on vision casting, fundraising, and care for missionaries and missionary kids as they work to spread the gospel in unreached areas. You'll hear John share why the church in northern India is growing rapidly and what the Lord is instilling in His people in Nigeria—despite intense and violent Christian persecution in both nations.
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Experience Emerge Podcast, recorded live at a ministry convention in Orlando, we sit down with Pastor Don Miller, Superintendent of the Southern Missouri District of the Assemblies of God, for an honest conversation about the unique challenges of pastoral ministry.This conversation explores what it means to care well for those who spend their lives caring for others. From maintaining healthy priorities and protecting family relationships to avoiding the trap of allowing ministry work to replace a personal relationship with God, Pastor Don offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone serving in God's kingdom.One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation is that doing God's work is not the same as being with God. Ministry can become another form of work if we neglect our own spiritual health. Healthy pastors lead healthier churches, and flourishing leaders create flourishing ministries.Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, church staff member, or someone who loves and supports your local church, this episode will challenge you to think differently about leadership, rest, and the importance of keeping your life in God's intended order.If this conversation encourages you, share it with a pastor or ministry leader in your life as a reminder that their well-being matters. Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" Support the showContact Us:Email the show: experience@emerge.orgEmerge.orgfacebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistriesThank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support
On today's program, the Assemblies of God is disputing liability in abuse cases — claiming local church autonomy shields it from the Daniel Savala sex abuse lawsuits. And, a movement to void nondisclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse is gaining ground — on both the local and national levels. The laws limiting NDAs are called Trey's Laws. We'll take a look. Plus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has, after years of turmoil, officially regained its accreditation status. But first, Sean Feucht Ministries is fighting back against a lawsuit — and it’s using the First Amendment to do it. It argues a $250,000 lawsuit filed against it should be dismissed because of what’s called the “church autonomy doctrine.” It protects religious institutions from lawsuits that would require courts to wade into matters of faith and doctrine. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Stacey Horton, Marci Seither, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.
The Break Room (Friday 6/12/26) 7am Hour Duffy recounts local news story of a elementary school mental health presentation gone wrong. A 48 year old karate instructor gave a “presentation” which consisted of him demonstrating karate moves on one child who claimed it felt like he was breaking his arm and another child who the karate instructor put in a chokehold who promptly caused him to pass out. Kimmy, Tommy and Duffy all reminisced on times when their own school assemblies and presenters were evidently unvetted and potentially problematic for kids to be listening to. Also what's up with hypnotists? Who thought that was a good idea.
Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by John Plake, Chief Innovation Officer and Editor-in-Chief of the State of the Bible research at the American Bible Society. With decades of experience as a pastor, missionary, professor, and researcher, John brings a unique perspective on how people are actually engaging with Scripture and what we should do about it. The “movable middle” is growing. // One of the most significant insights from recent research is the rise of what John calls the “movable middle”—millions of people who are open to the Bible but not yet engaged with it. This group has grown by approximately nine million people in recent years. They are curious, interested, and even positive toward Scripture, but they lack the tools, confidence, or guidance to engage it meaningfully. This represents a massive opportunity for churches willing to step in and help. People want a guide. // Through focus groups and research, John discovered that many people in the movable middle feel intimidated by the Bible. They struggle with language, context, and navigation. But perhaps most striking is they want help. Contrary to what some leaders might assume, they are not rejecting the church as a guide. In fact, many say, “If we can't trust the church to help us understand the Bible, what good is it?” This creates a clear invitation for churches to step into a more relational, guiding role in discipleship. A surprising discipleship gap. // One of the most sobering findings is that nearly half of weekly church attenders are not regularly engaging Scripture on their own. While churches invest heavily in preaching and programming, many people are not developing personal habits of Bible engagement. John suggests that churches often focus on delivering content rather than equipping people to engage Scripture themselves. The result is a gap between what happens on Sunday and what happens in everyday life. From teaching to equipping. // If churches want to close that gap, they must shift from being primarily content providers to equipping environments. This means helping people develop the skills, habits, and confidence to read and apply Scripture on their own. It also requires understanding the real barriers people face, like time constraints, confusion, or lack of community support, and addressing those barriers with practical solutions. A new tool for churches. // To help leaders take action, the American Bible Society has developed the “Next Step for Church” assessment. This free tool allows churches to measure spiritual health, Bible engagement, and key leadership behaviors within their congregation. Within a few weeks, leaders receive a detailed, data-driven report highlighting strengths, challenges, and suggested next steps. Data that leads to discipleship. // John emphasizes that data is not an end in itself; it's a tool for better shepherding. By listening to their congregation at scale, leaders can identify patterns, confirm instincts, and prioritize what matters most. The assessment surfaces both what's working and where growth is needed, giving churches a clear path forward. It also connects individuals to personalized Scripture engagement resources, helping them take their next step spiritually. Why Scripture engagement matters most. // Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than a person's relationship with the Bible. In fact, Scripture engagement accounts for a significant portion of overall spiritual health. When people consistently engage with God's Word, transformation follows—affecting beliefs, behaviors, and relationships. Signs of hope for the future. // Despite broader cultural challenges, John sees encouraging trends, especially among younger generations. Millennials and Gen Z show increasing openness to Scripture, even if they are still exploring. While overall trends may appear flat, meaningful change is happening beneath the surface. For churches willing to engage this moment, there is real opportunity for impact. To explore the research further or access the free church assessment, visit church.nextstep.bible and begin discovering how your church can better equip people to engage Scripture every day. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. I am so glad that you have decided to tune in today. This is one of those episodes that there’s a great resource in it that going to want to make sure you engage with. There’s super helpful content. Plus it’s about an area that I know so many of us are thinking about, we’re wondering about, we’re asking questions about. Rich Birch — So super excited to have John Plake with us today. He is the chief innovator ah innovation officer and editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible Research Series, which comes from the American Bible Society. And they’re on a mission to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford so that all may experience its life-changing message. ABS has really a whole bunch of different tools and approaches, and we’re excited kind of expose a little bit more about that today. John has been in ministry over 30 years. We’ll just call it over 30 years. And it served as a pastor, missionary, professor, researcher. John, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.John Plake — Thanks so much for having me today. It’s great to be with you.Rich Birch — Why don’t you fill in the picture a little bit? Tell us a little bit about your background. You know, what brings you to your current work?John Plake — Yeah. Closer to 40 years now. Rich Birch — Nice. Yeah, yeah. That’s great.John Plake — It’s a little uncomfortable to talk about that.Rich Birch — That’s great.John Plake — Yeah. You know, I start out like a lot of people in ministry. I grew up in a home that ministry was central. Actually, both my grandfathers were ministers. My father was a minister. Ministry is kind of the family business in a way, but I really did sense a direction from God when I was about 15 years old to to pursue full-time ministry.John Plake — There was some detail around that. Ended up going to Bible college and and then started what turned out to be about nine years of full-time pastoral service. And I hadn’t been in that for very long before I realized that everything I learned in Bible College was preparing me to serve a generation that no longer existed in a culture that was gone. John Plake — And I thought, my goodness, I know God’s word pretty well. And mean, I’m a lifelong learner of God’s word. I love the Bible. And yet, didn’t really know culture very well. And I didn’t develop those tools until just years and years of practice, some missionary service, wonderful teachers at at Wheaton College and graduate school and and just a lifelong journey of learning.John Plake — So at American Bible Society, when I got here, the State of the Bible, program or this research project was already underway. And we’d been helped out by the Barna Group, which does some wonderful foundational work. And eventually it just kind of grew up and it got to a place where we had an internal team that was running it ourselves, now in collaboration with the National Opinion Research Council or NORC at the University of Chicago. We just do, I think, what is the largest ongoing study of Americans’ relationship with the Bible and faith and the church. And we get to talk about it all the time. Rich Birch — Yeah, I love it.John Plake — So, I mean, this is the best job in the world.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. It’s it’s great research, something that I think should be on the kind of list of things that we need to be paying attention to. It’s been a gift to the church for so long and something that we should continue to to pay attention through. Now, let’s talk about you specifically. You spent three plus decades. I didn’t want to say almost 40. You know, I’m not saying that. I’m not saying that. I could say that, you know, a couple years ago, I clicked across one of those numbers with a zero on the end as my birthday. And ever since then, I’m a little sensitive about the the age thing. Rich Birch — So anyways, As a ministry, missionary professor, researcher, you’ve done a lot. How does wearing all of those hats, what do you what does that bring to you as you come to the data? How does that impact you as you think about really the state of the Bible research?John Plake — Yeah, you know, I think research can be dull. You know, it can sound like it’s all about writing questions or it’s all statistics and numbers. But for me, the research is all about the people. Rich Birch — So true.John Plake — It’s all about the people in our communities and in our churches that we’re trying to understand better so we can serve them well with the gospel. I, for years, I’ve used the analogy that that being in gospel ministry is like being a human bridge across a river. I grew up not very far from the Mississippi River in the St. Louis area, and there was a big 100-year flood when I was early on in ministry. And I mean, none of the bridges worked anymore. You couldn’t get from one side to the other.John Plake — And I thought, you know, that’s a tragedy that I encountered sometimes in ministry where maybe I was deeply rooted in one bank of the river, the text, but I wasn’t necessarily deeply rooted in the other bank of the river, which was the context.John Plake — And it’s this lived experience of the people that I was I was serving. And that I wanted to serve in my community, but I needed to understand them better. So I wasn’t just spouting you know Aristotelian logic to them. Or I wasn’t just coming at them with the pat answers that I’d learned. Like I’d never heard anybody in my life walk into my office and say, Pastor John, you got to tell me, what can you describe hamartiology to me from. You know like I had to learn that in school, but that’s not what people struggle with. Rich Birch — That’s so true. Yeah. John Plake — They had totally different questions and I needed to love them and honor them enough to understand their questions and answer them responsibly and reliably from the pages of scripture.Rich Birch — Yeah, love it. Okay, well, we’re going to dig into a little bit of just a couple of the findings just to kind of, we’re trying to whet your appetite, friends, to take steps towards this. So the 2025 data showed, and we’ve seen this, a real bump in Bible engagement, particularly among millennials and men. If I’m reading it correctly, though, we saw 2026, a shift happen, maybe back down. And so what’s going on? Actually, I heard another sociologist in a kind of a related field that was about church attendance talked about the dead cat bounce, that it was like, you know, which I thought, oh, that’s a, but there’s a similarity going on here. Pull this, this finding apart. Help us understand this.John Plake — Yeah, apologies to cat lovers out there.Rich Birch — Yes, exactly.John Plake — We were we were hoping, you know, I think we were really hoping. We looked at 2025. We saw that men in particular were leaning into the Bible in ways we hadn’t seen recently. Millennials doing the same thing. There there were some interesting numbers in 2025. And so when the 2026 numbers came to my desk in late January, I thought, I hope we’re extending I hope it’s going to be a trend. But it wasn’t. It was a blip.John Plake — And there’s more to it, though, than just the fact that scripture engagement didn’t go up. It also didn’t go down. And the level of people in America who are Bible disengaged, meaning they never pick up the Bible on purpose at all, that actually didn’t go up either. What grew was this kind of curious explorer group in the middle that we call the movable middle. And over the last two years, it’s grown by 9 million American adults. Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — And so what we do see is there’s there’s openness to the Bible. There’s experimentation with the Bible. But people are jumping in and they’re trying it and they’re not being able to get hold of it. And I think that’s largely because of us.John Plake — Because Bible people who are around them aren’t saying, please come do this with me. Let me help you. Let me honor you enough to to respect your questions, to ask what you’re dealing with, and help you explore those issues through the pages of Scripture.Rich Birch — I love that movable middle, man, that feels like the kind of group we want to connect with and reach out to in our community. Any other, when you, when you’ve been thinking about this movable middle, what are some other kind of characteristics of those people or other things that, you know, are kind of telltale signs of this group as we’re thinking about them as it, as it pertains to Bible engagement?John Plake — Yeah, they’re an amazing group, and we’re going talking more about them all year, but they are probably my favorite subject in America. There are 74 million American adults that are in the movable middle.Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — 74 million of our neighbors who are like…Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — …and here’s what they tend to say: They love the Bible. They think it’s a great idea. But if you handed them a Bible, they don’t know how to find what they’re looking for. They don’t know how to navigate it. They get confused by the language in in Scripture.John Plake — I remember doing a a focus group with a bunch of people in the movable middle. I was in Chicago. it was an area I was really familiar with. I used to pastor in that area. And we got them talking about their experience with the Bible. And we said, hey, does anything ever stop you or kind of you know make you check out because you’re struggling with what’s going on? John Plake — And one young lady at the table said, yeah, you know the language of the Bible is really really hard for me to understand. It’s it’s a really old book. It uses expressions I don’t understand. And a gentleman sitting across the table from her just kind of chuckled and said, yeah, what the hell’s a mustard seed? And everybody laughed.John Plake — I was behind the glass and I just about fell out of my chair because they didn’t teach me to talk like that in a Assemblies of God seminary.Rich Birch — Yes.John Plake —Things like that, you know, that’s just not the way we roll.Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah. Yes.John Plake — But it was so authentic and he wasn’t being mean.Rich Birch — No.John Plake — He was just saying, boy, I don’t I don’t get it. And then they said, you know, we really want a guide. Rich Birch — That’s good.John Plake — And so we pushed on that a little bit. At the time, there were some clergy abuse scandals that actually there were billboards up in Chicago about clergy abuse scandals that all of us lamented. And so we’re like, OK, listen, do you trust the church to be your guide? Because ee saw these billboards, you know, and it’s your city. And so what what do you think?John Plake — And they said, well, of course we do. I mean, it’s terrible when people in the church abuse their position and abuse others. And that’s not what they’re supposed to do. But if we can’t trust the church to help us understand the Bible, what good are they, really? And so, yes, we’re looking to you, church, to help us connect more deeply with the Bible, understand what it meant to the original hearers and readers and how we apply it to our lives today.Rich Birch — Okay, that’s yeah, that’s really cool. I look forward to hearing more about the movable middle in this coming year. Another thing that jumped out to me, which I feel like, man, I’ve seen this in my church. This is like you you named a group that I see, but it’s surprising, at least it’s surprising on its face. So nearly half of weekly church attenders, weekly church attenders, which is, that’s like really engaged, you know, are not regularly engaging, engaging scripture on their own.Rich Birch — Man, what, so what should we do about that? That’s an interesting, how does, how should that impact our discipleship strategy? What are you encouraging us to be thinking about? And these people that are with us all the time, but they’re not engaged with scripture.John Plake — Well, I think the first thing to do is to just recognize it. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — You know, a lot of pastors that I’ve talked to, when we talk about scripture engagement, they tell me things like this: Everything we do is scripture engagement. I spend my whole week preparing a scriptural message. I’m, you know, we’re preparing small group curriculum and Sunday school curriculum and all of this stuff. It’s all about the, everything we do is about the Bible. John Plake — Well, okay. But I had a I had a young youth pastor come to me not that long ago and he said, John, look, you were me once a few years ago. If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently?John Plake — And the answer is I would do everything differently, than the way I ought to do it. Because what, in my tradition, there was a lot of emphasis on the preaching event, and I put a lot of effort into those communication events, but what I didn’t put as much effort into is empowering people in my church to do what I was doing, which was dig into scripture, understand it for themselves, giving them the tools to do that.John Plake — And then in May, we’re going to be releasing a chapter, just in a few few days now, we’re going to be releasing a chapter all about parents. And one of the startling things is the time pressure that moms are under. I mean, it’s incredible. And so we need to understand where they’re coming from and where they have barriers, but also have some compassion on them and help to support them when they’re really facing struggles. Like they don’t have enough time. They don’t have the resources or the community coming around them to help them to engage God’s word ah more fulsomely, more transformatively.John Plake — We know how to do this stuff, but we’re not connecting the dots to everybody that’s coming to hear us talk every…Rich Birch — That’s good. That’s good. I know I’ve in my seat as an XP, um you know, I’ve overseen a lot of what we do on the programming side and what we do on the weekends. And I’ve, you know, it’s like, that i don’t think I’ve ever said this publicly. It’s like the kind of behind the scenes conversation. I’ve sometimes wondered, I’ve said, you know, like, what we do on the weekend to try to make the Bible understandable is so completely different than Tuesday morning in someone’s life. Rich Birch — Like, we pull out all the stops to make it interesting. We get like world class communicators, incredible graphics, you know, emotional music, all of this to try to… But then the question is, okay, so now on Tuesday morning when you’re tired and you haven’t had your coffee yet and you’re just about to go read scripture, man, like that feels like a long ways away. There’s like a gap there that I sometimes wonder maybe we’re making it worse. You know. Maybe we’re making it harder. I said that. You didn’t say that. Rich Birch — So maybe there’s pastors that are listening here and they read this kind of report. They read this kind of finding and they’re like, hey, that’s interesting. But like, how what do I do in my church specifically? So you know we want we don’t want to just leave people with a tough stat.Rich Birch — I think we see that in our church. There’s people in our church that are here all the time. They’re not that engaged. But you’ve actually developed a new tool or ABS has developed a new tool to help us think through that. Why don’t you walk us through it? Tell us a little bit about it. How’s it work? Talk us how it can help us.John Plake — Yeah, so recently we developed two tools that kind of work together. One of them you can find on the internet at nextstep.bible. And it’s just for anybody who’s like, hey, I’m on a spiritual journey. I’m kind of stuck. I don’t really know what to do next. Maybe you’re just getting started exploring what it means to be a Christian. Maybe you’re Jesus’ little brother or sister. Wherever you are in that journey, there’s always a next step for us.John Plake — And so what we’ve done is analyzed along about a million spiritual life surveys. Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — And from this huge quantity of data, we’ve learned that people are at different places in that journey. They’re at different points on the map. And we want to make sure that they’re equipped to have the right thing at the right time. I think currently there are 21,000 scripture engagement resources available there.Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — They’re absolutely free. They’re in English, Spanish, and French. So go check it out, nextstep.bible.John Plake — But if you’re a pastor or you’re a church leader, you’re probably wondering, well, what’s going on in my church, right? So I see all the national data, but I think our tendency is to say, well, we’re the exception, right?Rich Birch — So true. Well, that’s not our people. John Plake — I know I know everybody else is struggling, but we’re doing okay.Rich Birch — Yes.John Plake — And and so it’s good to check our assumptions a little bit. They used to say a really sad statistic that 10 o’clock on Sunday morning was the most segregated hour in America, which makes me sad. What makes me sad also is that 12 o’clock noon in America is the most dishonest hour in America. That’s the hour when pastors tend to start greeting their people after the church service closes and they hear all these comments: oh, Pastor, that was the best sermon I’ve ever heard. And it wasn’t. It just wasn’t. All right, let’s face it.John Plake — There’s somebody out there who preaches better than you do and better than I do. They’re available on YouTube. People don’t need you to be the best Bible teacher in the world. They need you to be the best pastor for them. Rich Birch — That’s good.John Plake — And the tools that are all about focusing on their relationship with the Bible, their holistic spiritual formation, and our leadership behaviors. And so for that, we built the Next Step for Church Assessment.John Plake — It’s actually standing on the foundation or built on the engine block, if you want a different metaphor, of the old reveal research that the Willow Creek Association had come out with. It’s no longer available. And we were able to acquire all of their historical learnings, but also add in things like human flourishing and e-pastoral leadership behaviors that lead to churches really being missionally effective and strong. Excellent stuff on Bible engagement and spiritual formation. John Plake — So the the big challenge we had, I was talking with Dr. Ed Stetzer about this because he was at LifeWay Research when the Transformational Church Assessment was being built. And it was always hard because analyzing this kind of data required a lot of human intervention. It’s very expensive to do. It’s very complicated to deliver. And even a small cost can be a barrier for churches that have strained budgets. It doesn’t matter if you’re a church of, you know, 2,500 25,000 or 250. There’s always more places to put your money than there are dollars that are available to do it.John Plake — And so at American Bible Society, we said, you know what, as a gift to the church, because we love the church, we need to make it completely free. And so you can go to church.nextstep.bible and you could sign up today. Literally, we’re recording this on a on a Thursday. You could go there today and by Sunday, you could be launching your survey. Two weeks later, you’d automatically have results in your own online dashboard. You’d get key highlights emailed to you. There’s a place for custom questions. There’s just all kinds of really, really rich information.Rich Birch — So good.John Plake — And it it doesn’t take the place of the kind of learning that you have as a pastor. You learn deeply in relationship with others. You’re observing what’s going on. You have a team that’s around you. But what it does is it provides this valid, reliable sift and sort function. It’s based on well, I don’t know even know how many, well over 3000 churches, well over half a million survey responses went into building this and making it a tool that that is a good benchmark for you to say, you know what, if we want to move from where we are today to where God is calling us, here are the things we need to focus on.Rich Birch — It’s so good. And friends, I want to encourage you to to go there. Just church.nextstep.bible. I know many of us have a heart for saying, listen, we want to measure more than just nickels and noses. The number of people that show up and revenue that comes in. And this a great way to kind of inject at something that’s at the core of what we’re supposed to be doing as a church. So why don’t we just give a little bit more detail?Rich Birch — What is it? You know, what’s it actually measuring? How is it? You know, how could it be helpful? How how could it kind of dovetail with some of the things we’re already tracking? Maybe give us, you know, what kind of insights are we going to gain from this if we if we put our people through this?John Plake — Yeah, maybe it’s worthwhile to just back up and say it’s based on a congregational assessment. So really this kind of work is all about just listening to your congregation at scale. So if you have 25 people coming to church, you can probably have this conversation with them if you know how to ask the right questions. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — You can go to the website. You’re like, what’s in the survey? There’s a button you can click. You can read the whole survey. It’s fine. We’re not going to try and surprise you with anything. But really simple stuff. How’s your relationship with Jesus? How often are you interacting with Scripture? What difference is that making in your life? We ask the standard Harvard human flourishing questions. We ask about um how the pastoral team or the senior pastor, him or herself, is doing at actually modeling Christlike leadership for you. Rich Birch — It’s so good.John Plake — And all of that reporting then gets brought into a database. It’s all anonymous. So individuals don’t, they don’t have to tell you who they are. They can’t tell you who they are other than by characteristics. And you’re going to get this really good, robust picture of what’s going on at the church. John Plake — Now, what does it take for somebody to do that? It takes about 20 minutes of their time, and time is expensive, right? People always have too much to do. So in return for that investment, at the end of their survey experience, they will have already told us everything we need to know to match them to great resources at nextstep.bible.John Plake — And with their permission, not without it, they can click a button, pass that data over to the individual nextstep.bible platform. They can create an account and right away, they’re going to be finding things like YouVersion Bible reading plans that are just for them.John Plake — If you’ve got people in your church and they’re outliers, they’re they’re way more spiritually advanced than everybody else, or they’re just getting started and everybody else is way ahead of them, these kinds of tools create bespoke pathways for them so they know what to do next. All the while, the church leadership can sit back and say, okay, here’s our results. And as a team, now what do we need to do to serve the whole congregation well?Rich Birch — I love this. You know, this is what incredible tool that you’ve put together here for our churches to wrestle through and to, you know, not only help us as a church as we’re thinking about these issues, but then help individuals in our church. What what would be some of the ways that churches might use the data that’s generated to impact what we’re doing in our programming? How how could we use this to improve what we’re doing?John Plake — Sure. There are really three things we want everybody to do. First, just discover what’s going on. Just just check your assumptions at the door and and say, okay, what do the data tell us about what’s going on in our church life and in our people’s lives? That’s the first thing.John Plake — Second thing is it’s going to surface for you the top three things that you’re doing great. And it’s going to give them to you in the report. And you need to throw a party. Like there are people who make these things happen for you. No pastor is doing this all by themselves. And so plan a party, celebrate what’s going well.John Plake — The third thing it’s going to do is it’s going to give you suggestions about, okay, here’s where your congregation is today. It won’t surprise you, but it might inform you. I’ve never seen a pastor look at the report and go, ah you guys got it wrong. Rich Birch — Sure, right.John Plake — Usually they they see the report and they go, yeah, okay, yeah, you got me.Rich Birch — Yeah. Confirmed some hunches I’ve had. Yeah. Yeah.John Plake — Right? But we don’t we don’t have time. We don’t have the resources. We don’t have the expertise to be able to sit down and and kind of scientifically walk through this process. So we do that for you. We deliver the report. And then we’re going to give you two key action items that we think churches like yours in a similar place have done that have helped move them toward spiritual health and missional effectiveness.John Plake — And that’s really what it’s all about. We want your congregation to be spiritually healthy. We want your your church as a whole to be missionally effective. And when that happens, often there’s numerical growth. Often there’s financial growth. But there’s certainly more missional impact that’s coming through your congregation and its work.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. So if I’m like a church of a thousand people, let’s say, and just round number to picking out of the sky, how how what kind of percentage of my congregation would I need to take this to give me a reasonable, you know, statistical, you know, feeling good about the data for it? What what kind of number um should I be thinking about?John Plake — Well, the first thing is we’ve built in a tool that will tell you how to get to a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. Rich Birch — Love it.John Plake — And that does vary depending on the adult attendance that you have. So let’s say you’ve a thousand adults. And by adults, I mean anybody in high school or older can probably take this survey. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — And you can cut the data like by gender or by age. All of that live filtering is in the online platform. Rich Birch — Oh, that’s so good.John Plake — So if you’re the you’re the youth pastor and you’re like, well, wait, tell me about the young people that took the survey. You can just look right at them and compare them to the rest of the congregation, which I bet will be enlightening. But nevertheless, how many do you need if you’re a church of 1,000, it’s about 275.Rich Birch — Okay.John Plake — If it’s a smaller church than that, then you’re still going to need a pretty significant percentage. So if I roll that all the way down to a church of 100, you need 80.Rich Birch — Okay.John Plake — And if you roll that up to a church of 5,000, well, you don’t need that many more than 275.Rich Birch — Interesting.John Plake — So you’re going to report that out to you. It’s very, very doable. And, you know, I’ve pastored at large churches and I pastored a small church. And I’ll tell you, when I pastored a church of under 100, I could have gotten a census of the people, like everybody, to do a survey like this. They would have been glad to tell me these things. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — And it’s not that I couldn’t have had a conversation one-on-one with most of the adults in the congregation. It was something different in that case. I actually didn’t know what to ask. I used to run into this when I was a campus pastor at a Christian university. And I would have young people walk into my office and I was like, I know I should be able to help them, but the challenge they’re facing is different than anything I’m familiar with. I don’t have any analog for this in my personal experience. And so this sort of takes the mystery away. We don’t ask fluffy questions. We ask research proven questions that are going to give you the information you really need so you can take action.Rich Birch — That’s amazing. That’s think this is such a great tool for people. I can see how, you know, it’d be so helpful for folks that are listening in to, you know, might be be able to plug in grab this experience for their people, help their church, help the folks that are attending. That’s, that’s incredible.Rich Birch — So, you know, you’ve picked an interesting vocation to be connected with the American Bible Society. And because, you know, this is such a critical and important part of developing people’s relationship, obviously, with Jesus; its core to all of it. And we have seen a long historical downward trend, and you’re pushing against that, which is amazing. But what gives you hope in the middle of all of that? What would it when you look at the church around you know, the country, where do you see flashes of just good things going on that are like, you know, when it comes to the relationship with scripture that even, you know, even when we see maybe the overall numbers are not as great as we want them to be, what are some kind of flashes of hope we should, that we could encourage folks with today?John Plake — Well, I’d like to maybe point to just three things that leap to mind. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — The first of them is I never talk to anybody in the church who says the Bible is a bad idea. Rich Birch — Sure.John Plake — Everybody likes the Bible. We’re all trying to figure out how to communicate its message better, to understand it more deeply. It’s transforming our lives, and we want to be able to share it with others. John Plake — And that’s great because, number two, there’s nothing that makes a bigger difference in somebody’s spiritual life than their relationship with the Bible. I mean, absolutely nothing. And I’m saying this as a researcher. I’ve tested it. I can’t find anything that makes a bigger difference. John Plake — In fact, when we looked at Christian college and university students, 60% of their overall spiritual health across lots of domains—beliefs, practice, putting faith into action, loving God, loving others, all these things, 60% of the variance in their spiritual health is solely accounted for by their relationship with the Bible.John Plake — So if we can help people have a dynamic relationship with scripture, we win. That’s all there is to it. It’s just that simple. And so that is really encouraging.John Plake — And then the third thing, ah the third thing is how I say this nicely? I'm I’m from Gen X and so to my Baby Boomer friends, I’m sorry, but you guys don’t have the influence that you once did.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s true.John Plake — And that’s a good thing because there’s new openness among Millennials, and Gen Z and even younger Gen X um that we just don’t see among Baby Boomers. It’s like Baby Boomers made up their minds in the 60s and early 70s and said, this is what I believe and I’m not changing. And they haven’t. John Plake — That’s not to say that someone who’s a Baby Boomer can’t have a a spiritual experience and transformational experience. It does happen. But on the population level, like when we looked at the Bay Area of San Francisco, if you look at the scripture engagement, church engagement, love God, love others data in the Bay Area, it looks like what you’d expect, until you strip out the Baby Boomers. And then suddenly it looks better than every place else in America.John Plake — You’re like, what’s going on? Well, looks like all the unreconstructed hippies that moved to the Bay Area are actually holding a lid on the population numbers. And when you remove that and you go, oh, wait a minute, let me look under the headline and say what’s happening. There’s more going on than is easy to see. And I think this happens in big national trends.John Plake — Oh, is Scripture engagement up or down? Is you know church attendance up or down? Whats what’s going… big national trends. Yeah, okay, those are helpful, and we want those to change. But what’s changing first is below the fold. Things in Gen Z, things among Millennials, things in young men, those things are starting to change, and I think those are the first glimmerings that God is at work in a new way in America, and I can’t wait to see it.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s that’s a great word. And that lines up with what we’re seeing, even just experientially talking to churches across the country. You know we’re so we’re seeing there is something going on with younger generations, which is great to see. I was I was born in 1974, the lowest birth rate year of the 20th century. I am classic Gen X. Like you know I am like statistic I’m the statistical average Gen X and has spent a lot of my time trying to hand stuff from the Boomers to the Millennials. And, yeah, there’s lots of encouraging news there, particularly with the younger generations. Rich Birch — I also want to speak to on the the work I’ve done in the church growth stuff that I’ve done and coaching I’ve done with churches, one of the things that’s just undeniable is churches that have a high view of scripture, that is, they’re trying to get people engaged with scripture. They they talk about it like it’s actually true. How do we say don’t know what’s the best way to talk about that? Those are the churches that are prevailing, and that actually works out statistically. You see that time and again. Talk to us about that dynamic, which is kind of co-related to the things we’re talking about today. From your perspective in the stats and all that, how how have you seen that work out as you’ve looked at churches across the country?John Plake — Yeah, I think you’re exactly right. The churches that are the healthiest in America, that are growing, that where where people are spiritually healthy, have a really dynamic relationship with Scripture. And it kind of it cuts across tradition. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — There are some traditional things going on. I was listening to Justin Brierley and his surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast, and it was from last season, and he he had someone on, he was interviewing, and what she was saying was there are the parts of the church that seem to be thriving are kind of the, the the older, the ancientness traditions, whether it’s Catholic or Orthodox, that what she called somewhat irreverently, the smells and bells side of of the church.Rich Birch — Sure, sure.John Plake — And on the other side, kind of my end of the swimming pool, I’m, from the Assemblies of God, so the Pentecostal and Charismatic side. And she said, what’s going on is that both ends of that spectrum are totalizing. John Plake — They’re saying, you know what, the the Bible places certain expectations and demands on people. Christ places certain expectations and demands on people. And these parts of the church aren’t sort of shy about talking about that from a biblical perspective. She said, what’s what’s dying is that part in the middle where we’ve reduced church to a PowerPoint and you know an Excel spreadsheet. And she said, that part of the church seems to be dying and no one’s coming to the funeral. Rich Birch — That’s good. John Plake — And I thought, you know okay, right?Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, that’s good.John Plake — So if we revitalize our relationship with God through scripture, there’s a next step for every church. It doesn’t matter what, you know whether you’re mainline or evangelical or, you know, Pentecostal or Orthodox or whatever it is, but but reviving our relationship with God through Scripture is really where it’s at.Rich Birch — That’s so good. i Yeah, I call that middle group the just because it rhymes doesn’t mean it’s true group. You know, like the, you know, were just like, it’s all my thoughts. No one wants to come and find us. They want to find God ultimately. Well, I don’t want to pick any fights with anybody that’s listening in, but I really appreciate today’s conversation, John. This has been great. So we want to send people to church.nextstep.bible.Rich Birch — The the promise of in two weeks, your church could have a comprehensive report on spiritual health, on where your church is, spiritual health is at, that’s a huge promise. And so again, this is go to church.nextstep.bible. Any kind of final words as we wrap up today’s episode?John Plake — You know, you might be familiar with Cally Parkinson. Cally was the co-author of all of the Reveal books, every single one of them. She was head of communications for the Willow Creek Association when they were running this. She’s probably had more conversations with pastors and church leaders about survey results like this than anybody I know, maybe than anybody alive. And Cally likes this so much. She said, John, I want to have a personal consultation with the first hundred churches that go through this.John Plake — And so if you want to be in that group, she’s going to offer to spend an hour with you and just walk through your results and help explain it. There are videos throughout the platform that will explain it as well. And you can’t beat talking to Cally. She loves pastors. She says you’re the salt of the earth. And she just really wants to serve you because the work that you do to save people is just so valuable to her. So anyway, just wanted to offer that. And I know you’d probably love to meet Cally.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s fantastic. Well, appreciate you being here today. Thanks for the great work you do at the American Bible Society. John, appreciate you being on today. Thank you.John Plake — Thank you.
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson ChurchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANAPastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
New to Zion City? Click here: https://bit.ly/3QhTbrz Find a time and attend a service with us: https://zioncity.me/locations NEXT STEPS Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://bit.ly/3AnlHme Tucson Church, Arizona Church, Zion City, Assemblies of God, Christian Podcast, Spirit Filled Tucson Church FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: / zioncity.me TikTok: / zioncity.me CONNECT WITH PASTOR WAYLON & DANA Pastor Waylon's Instagram: / waylonsears Pastor Dana's Instagram: / danamsears
How do you discern God's calling to be a missionary? John Easter, Executive Director of Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM), says the first question might be: if God did call you to serve overseas, would you say yes? Before accepting his current role John and his wife served the church in Africa, providing theological training to pastors and leaders. In an effort to develop more leaders for the growing church, they oversaw 380+ schools with 25,000+ students. Serving on missions frontlines brought many challenges. They faced an abduction, medical issues, hijacking and other criminal activity while in Africa. Yet the Lord surrounded them with community and resources as they learned how to abide in Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit during every hardship. Today, John is focused on vision casting, fundraising and care for missionaries and missionary kids as they work to spread the gospel in unreached areas. You'll hear John share why the church in northern India is growing rapidly and what the Lord is instilling in His people in Nigeria—despite intense and violent Christian persecution in both nations. Even the reality of death is not enough for these followers of Christ to turn back, John says. Hear John suggest next steps for those the Lord may be calling to overseas missions, and ways you can pray specifically for AGWM and for missionaries sent out from your church. You're invited! Be a part of The Voice of the Martyrs' 2026 From the Field National Conference this September in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Gather with fellow believers and hear firsthand stories from persecuted Christians in restricted nations and hostile areas where VOM serves. Seating is limited, so register soon to join this inspiring event.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
