Podcasts about bethlehem church

What if doing whatever you want isn't actually freedom? In this message, Pastor Matt Piland dives into 1 Corinthians 5 & 6 to address a major tension in both ancient Corinth and modern society: the difference between cultural freedom and gospel freedom. Discover why obedience is a response to grace, how good desires can become subtle masters, and how the cross gives us the power to lay down our rights for the sake of love.  

Are we being shaped more by the wisdom of our culture or by the way of the cross? In this message, Pastor Jason Britt dives into 1 Corinthians 2, drawing powerful parallels between ancient Corinth and our modern culture. Discover what it means to stop adapting Jesus to fit our comfort zones and start living with the mind of Christ in a world that needs a countercultural witness.

In week one of our GOOD NEWS series through 1 & 2 Corinthians, Pastor Jason Britt dives into 1 Corinthians 1 to explore why the message of the cross is as revolutionary today as it was in the first century. Just like ancient Corinth, our culture promises status, significance, and self-reliance—yet true freedom is found only at the foot of the cross. Discover how a bigger view of Jesus dismantles division, humbles our pride, and frees us from the pressure to be impressive.

In the final week of our Summer at Bethlehem series, Pastor Jason Britt brings a life-giving message titled "No Experts Allowed." No matter where you are in your faith journey—whether you feel dry, are brand new to faith, or are coming back to God—discover why there are no "experts" at prayer, only learners. Learn how prayer acts as ground zero in our battle against the illusion of control and how adopting continuous "breath prayers" transforms our daily walk with God.   This service includes a special moment of Communion as we celebrate the power of the gospel, as well as a dedicated time of prayer over students, teachers, coaches, and school faculty entering a new school year.  

In this week's message of our Summer at Bethlehem series, Pastor Chris Bell from 3Circle Church in Fairhope, Alabama explores the critical concept of spiritual hydration through the lens of John 7:37–38. Physical dehydration leads to fatigue, vulnerability, and sickness—but soul dehydration carries far more dangerous, eternal consequences.   Set against the historical backdrop of the Feast of the Tabernacles (Festival of Booths), Pastor Chris reveals the profound significance of Jesus interrupting the most sacred day of the Jewish festival. While the priests poured out water to commemorate God's provision in the wilderness, Jesus stood up and declared that He Himself is the fulfillment of that promise—the source of eternal, living water.  

"The Shadows of a Small Problem" - Bro. Aaron Hughes [July 22, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

In the eighth week of our Summer at Bethlehem series, we revisit one of the most familiar stories in Scripture: the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Familiarity often breeds passivity; because we grew up singing the childhood song about the "wee little man," we frequently overlook the radical, scandalous grace displayed in this scene.   Most of us live our lives as if we are constantly auditioning for God's attention, wondering, "Am I good enough? Am I loveable? Am I worthy?" This message dismantles the myth that we must clean up our lives before Jesus will enter them. Whether you are hiding behind a resume of success or drowning in a reputation of past mistakes, the gospel declares that Jesus sees you, knows your name, and desires to move from being a guest in your life to being the Lord of your house.  

“The Sure Mercies of David” - Bishop Larry Booker [July 12, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

"God Does and Will Deal with People" - Bishop Larry Booker [July 12, 2026 PM] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

“The Curse of Ish” - Bishop Steve Wilson [July 01, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

“The Body of Death” - Pastor Jonathan Vazquez [July 5, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

“I Still Love Her” - Pastor Jonathan Vazquez [July 5, 2026 PM] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

"Open Our Understanding" - Evangelist Tim Greene [July 08, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

“Are We Convinced?” | SUMMER AT BETHLEHEM - Week 7 | July 12, 2026   If our definition of Jesus doesn't change everything about us, then we don't have a biblical definition of Jesus. In this powerful message from our Summer at Bethlehem series, Pastor Jason Britt dives into Mark 2 to look at a familiar story through a challenging lens: Are we truly convinced that Jesus is the answer to the deepest struggles and ailments of the human condition? There is a radical difference between a casual mindset that views Jesus as merely "helpful" and a deep, unshakeable conviction that drives us to action. Through the story of four unnamed friends who literally tore open a roof to lower a paralyzed man down to Jesus, we discover what it means to be part of a "Serve Crew"—a stretcher-bearing community in a mind-your-own-business world. Pastor Jason challenges us to move past a consumer mindset, look past our temporary "felt needs," and let Jesus address our ultimate soul-level need through the miracle of forgiveness. Whether you are a student looking to activate your faith, someone wondering how to share Christ with a struggling friend, or someone ready to transition from a "volunteer mindset" to a "servant heart," this sermon is a fresh invitation to engage with the body of Christ.

“Investing In A Spiritual Economy” - Pastor Jonathan Vazquez [June 28, 2026 AM] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

Sunday Night Worship Service | Pastor Jon Vazquez [June 28, 2026 PM] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

“Trust in the Lord” | SUMMER AT BETHLEHEM - Week 6 | July 5th, 2026   In Week 6 of our Summer at Bethlehem series, we examine one of the most familiar, anchor-point passages in the entire Bible: Proverbs 3:5–6. King Solomon, renowned as the wisest man to ever live, penned these words not as abstract philosophy, but as a framework for survival passed down to the next generation.   When we envision God making our paths "straight," our minds naturally visualize an upward, predictable trajectory of success. In reality, life often feels completely chaotic and scattered. Through heavy seasons of personal loss, medical diagnoses, and unexpected breakdowns, this message explores what it looks like to stop trading God's perfect track record for unproven, fragile substitutes. It is an urgent invitation to stop leaning on our own limited understanding and cast our entire weight onto a God who has never failed.  

In Week 5 of our Summer at Bethlehem series, Lead Pastor Jason Britt takes us to a passage that serves as an ongoing mirror for our souls: Luke 15. Through the lens of Jesus' most famous parable—traditionally known as the Prodigal Son—we discover that this isn't just a heartwarming tale about a rebellious runaway. It is a powerful, direct confrontation of the "Us vs. Them" mentality that so easily creeps into our culture and our churches. Whether we find ourselves lost in outward rebellion or lost in inward religion, the story exposes our desperate need to look in the mirror and ultimately embody the heart of the Father.

“Enter The King's Room” - Missionary Antonio Platania [June 21, 2026] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

For more info about Bethlehem Church and how to connect, visit https://www.bethchurch.org. To watch LIVE Services, like our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/bethchurchALJC/) or subscribe to our YouTube channel. To watch or listen to archived messages, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/bethchurch), or Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bethlehem-church/id1479702532). To keep up with us on Social Media, Like our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/bethchurchALJC/) and follow our Instagram (@bethlehem_church_).

We have all experienced that distinct, crushing sense of overwhelm. Your calendar is packed, the pressures of parenting and work are mounting, and the constant noise of the world never seems to dim. But it's not just that your life is full - it's that your soul feels heavy. Most of us have simply adopted a cultural norm that is quietly exhausting us, assuming this chronic fatigue is just the price of admission for modern life.   In this powerful message, we dive into Matthew 11:28–30 to uncover a freeing truth: The weight you're carrying might not be the one you were meant to carry. Jesus famously promised that His burden is light, yet that rarely matches our day-to-day reality. By breaking down the specific weights we subconsciously pick up, this sermon exposes how we are mismanaging our souls and offers the ultimate trade-off: swapping our exhausting performance for His peaceful presence.  

In Week 3 of our Summer at Bethlehem series, our good friend Pastor Mike Linch joins us to share a life-changing word on what it truly means to discover our identity and calling in Christ. Continuing our summer journey through the scriptures that have fundamentally shaped our lives, Pastor Mike takes us to the shores of Galilee in Luke 5:1–11.   Too many of us spend our lives chasing worldly definitions of success, building our own plans, and exhausting ourselves in our own strength—only to end up with empty nets. Through the story of Simon Peter's miraculous catch of fish, this message confronts our need for control and serves as a powerful guide on how to shift from our personal ambitions to a life of true, kingdom-altering impact.  

In Week 2 of our Summer at Bethlehem series, Student Pastor Spencer Haynes opens up God's Word to share a passage that completely disrupted, challenged, and redirected his life. The power of the Bible is that it doesn't just inform us; it transforms us when we allow it to step out of the pages and into our real-world stories.   Preaching from the historic and heavy text of Isaiah 6:1-8, Spencer contrasts modern, emotional consumer Christianity with a true biblical encounter with God. "Send me" sounds exciting, powerful, and amazing in a worship service with great lighting and loud music—until holiness confronts our hidden sin and Jesus actually demands our comfort. This message is a direct challenge to step away from casual faith, stop hiding behind religion, and realize that real biblical calling always follows cleansing.  

We are kicking off our Summer at Bethlehem series with a head-first dive into the life-changing power of God's Word. The Bible is not just ancient information; it is living, active, and timely. In this raw and deeply personal message, Pastor Jason opens up about his own years-long battle with anxiety to expose a universal truth: the biggest battle of your life is won and lost in the six-inch real estate between your ears - your MIND.   Preaching from Philippians 4:4-9, a passage written from the depths of a Roman prison rather than an Instagram motivational seminar, Pastor Jason teaches us that a healthy mind requires an intentional spiritual diet. If you have been trapped on an island of worry, playing out worst-case scenarios, this message serves as a practical guide to stop stuffing your emotions and start discipling your mind.  

This Memorial Day weekend, Student Pastor CJ brings a high-energy message challenging us to wake up to the spiritual reality of the world we live in. We often live like we are in peacetime, but a spiritual war is raging all around us.   Drawing from Ephesians 6 and a trip down memory lane to Sunday school "Lord's Army" days, CJ reminds us that God's movement isn't confined to our walls. To be a follower of Christ is to be a soldier in the army of God, and the Church is the vehicle He uses to take ground. In this message on the heels of the Church Unbranded series, we are challenged to stop trading conviction for comfort, step off the bench, and start fighting from victory alongside a community that has our back.  

In Week 5 of our Church Unbranded series, Pastor Matt Piland dives into one of the most famous passages in the entire Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:13-16. Jesus doesn't tell His disciples to try to become salt and light; He makes definitive identity statements: "You ARE the salt of the earth” and You ARE the light of the world." In this challenging message, Pastor Matt confronts our natural impulse to build our own little territorial kingdoms where we try to remain king, inviting us instead to step out into a decaying and dark society to quietly preserve, heal, and reflect the glory of our Heavenly Father.  

In Week 4 of our Church Unbranded series, Lead Pastor Jason Britt delivers a special Mother's Day message focusing on one of the most powerful identities we possess: being part of the Family of God. While "family" can be a complicated word for many, the gospel offers a new lineage that isn't based on genetics or willpower, but on the grace of Jesus Christ. To follow Christ is to move from being a stranger to being a child with full legal standing, an inheritance, and a massive group of brothers and sisters.  

This Mother's Day, special guest speaker Jason Britt from Bethlehem Church reminded us that we are not staying in the valley — we are walking through it. Psalm 139 and Psalm 23 show us that God knows us fully, stays the same through every season of life, and walks with us through every mountain, valley, cave, and crown. The question “why” does not offend God. We can be honest with Him, feel deeply, and still trust Him at the same time. The Gospel is not our defense from pain; it is our rescue through pain. Psalm 139 points us to the presence of God, and Psalm 23 reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If you remove the Shepherd from Psalm 23, all that is left is us trying to carry everything alone. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He walks with us through every valley.Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/exllwTGZa8QSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_

In the third week of the Church Unbranded series, Lead Pastor Jason Britt explores one of the most intimate and enduring metaphors for the church found in Scripture: The Bride of Christ. In a culture defined by noise, division, and "hollow philosophies," the church is called to be a people who are deeply united. This message pushes us past our Western consumer mindset—where we "go to" or "attend" church like a gym or a grocery store—and invites us into a love story where we are the beloved people Jesus gave His life for.  

In Week 2 of our Church Unbranded series, we are joined by a special guest and close friend of Bethlehem: Pastor Jason Berry from 12Stone Church. As part of this unique partnership between our two churches, Pastor Jason helps us look past the "brand" on the sign and into the biblical heart of what the church actually is. While our culture often views church as a place we go, the New Testament describes it as a people we belong to. Specifically, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3 that we together are the Temple. This isn't just a metaphor; it is an earth-shattering reality that shifts how we live, work, and relate to God every single day.

In this opener of our new series, “Church Unbranded,” Lead Pastor Jason Britt introduces a powerful "grounding technique" for the soul. In a world defined by noise pollution, political division, and constant distraction, we often lose sight of the bigness and beauty of what we are a part of. Using the Lord's Prayer as our guide, we discover that the Kingdom of God is not a spiritual metaphor or a "someday" hope—it is a reality happening in the here and now. As citizens of this Kingdom, we are called to be an "outpost of hope" in the middle of a broken world.

In this special standalone message, we are honored to welcome our friend Dave Edwards to Bethlehem Church. In his message, "God Works," Dave explores how God uses the "bitter waters" of our lives to reveal His character and His power. Drawing from the journey of the Israelites in Exodus 15, Dave breaks down how God transitions us from rescue to renewal. We often want to skip the desert, but it's in the dry places that we learn God isn't just a bystander—He is an active worker in our hearts. Using the framework of the five key areas where God is constantly moving, this message will help you identify what He is doing in your life right now. As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, "It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

This Easter at Bethlehem Church, Lead Pastor Jason Britt explores the ultimate turning point in human history: the Resurrection. We often view Easter as a beautiful tradition or a commercialized holiday filled with candy and bunnies, but for the first disciples, it was the definitive answer to the heavy, existential questions that define the human experience. The Resurrection doesn't just provide a happy ending; it provides a new beginning by settling the questions of our purpose, our brokenness, and our future. If you've ever wondered if your life has true meaning, why the world feels so broken, or if there is a peace that can actually sustain you in a world of fear, this message is for you. Discover why a "moderate" interest in Christianity isn't an option and how the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can give life to your mortal body today.

In the week leading up to Easter, we continue our Everyday Disciple series by looking at one of the most infamous names in human history: Judas Iscariot. We often imagine Judas as a visible villain, but the reality is much more unsettling. Judas didn't look like a traitor; he was the trusted treasurer, the straight-laced disciple, and the one the others likely pointed to as a model of stability. In this message, Executive Pastor Matt Piland explores the "slow drift" of Judas. No one—not even Judas himself—starts their journey with Jesus intending to end it in betrayal. Yet, through small compromises, unchecked greed, and a heart that was "near" Jesus but not "with" Him, Judas committed the ultimate crime. Discover how to identify the signs of drifting in your own life and why the greatest sin isn't an act of failure, but a failure to repent.

In Week 2 of our series, Everyday Disciple, Lead Pastor Jason Britt tackles a struggle everyone faces but few Christians want to admit: Doubt. We often label Thomas as "Doubting Thomas," letting one moment of uncertainty define his entire legacy. But the humanity of a disciple shows us that doubt isn't a deal-breaker—it can actually be the doorway to a deeper, more resilient faith. Whether your doubt is born from intellectual questions or, like Thomas, from "disappointed hope" and situational crisis, Jesus isn't intimidated by your uncertainty. He didn't shame Thomas for wanting proof; He provided His scars. Discover why a faith that has never been tested is a faith that can't be trusted, and how bringing your questions to Jesus moves your convictions from the "leaves" of public opinion to the "roots" of core belief.

Welcome to Week 1 of our new series, Everyday Disciple. Most of us wouldn't describe our daily lives as "extraordinary"—they feel routine, predictable, and very ordinary. Yet, the Gospels show us that Jesus didn't scout the religious elite; He called ordinary, everyday people to rearrange their lives around Him. In this kickoff message, Lead Pastor Jason Britt looks at the life of Peter—a man defined by his impulsive passion and his infamous failure. We often think being a disciple means having it all together, but disciples aren't perfect people; they are people who are in training. Whether you are dealing with regrets of action, inaction, or reaction, discover why your worst moment doesn't have to be your defining moment. In the hands of Jesus, regret isn't the end of your story—it's where redemption begins.

It is so much easier to criticize a generation than it is to build one. In this powerful message, guest speaker Clay Scroggins challenges us to move from being critics to "constructors." Looking at the life of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 1, we discover that the greatest gift we can give the next generation isn't better circumstances—it's better capacity. If God gave you a "blank check" and asked what you wanted for the next generation, what would you say? Solomon didn't ask for wealth, fame, or protection; he asked for chokmah—the skill for living. Join us as we explore how to model submission, prioritize skill over status, and introduce the next generation to Jesus, the true and better King who gives wisdom generously to all.

In the conclusion of our series, Familiar Stranger, Lead Pastor Jason Britt looks at the birth of the Church in Acts 2. We often entertain ourselves with the "supernatural" on a screen through movies and shows, yet we often struggle to embrace the supernatural reality of the Holy Spirit in our actual lives. If everything about our salvation is supernatural—from the Virgin Birth to the Resurrection—why would we expect to sustain our Christian walk through natural strength alone? Pastor Jason connects the dots between the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai and the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost. While the Law was once written on stone, the Holy Spirit now writes it on our hearts. Being a "Spirit-filled person" isn't about chasing miracles; it's about a life so marked by Jesus that it can only be explained by His power. When we move from "trying" to "trusting," we become the witnesses God called us to be.

In Week 7 of our Familiar Stranger series, Pastor Matt Piland addresses a vital question: How do we actually live out the life God has called us to? Many of us treat our faith like a car loan—believing Jesus made the "down payment" on the cross, but that it's now our job to sustain the monthly payments through sheer willpower and "trying harder." Drawing from Galatians 5, Pastor Matt breaks down the difference between legalism and true freedom in Christ. Following Jesus isn't about a factory-style production of "being good"; it's about a garden-style growth that comes through the Holy Spirit. If you've been feeling spiritually exhausted by your own human effort, this message is a call to stop trying to maintain in the flesh what was only ever meant to be completed by the Holy Spirit.

In Week 6 of our Familiar Stranger series, Pastor Jason Britt addresses a critical but often overlooked reality: the Holy Spirit is not the only spirit at work in our time. In a world saturated with noise, misinformation, and competing "truths," the gift of discernment is more vital for the believer than ever before. Drawing from 1 John 4, this message explores how to "test the spirits" to see whether they are from God. Following Jesus isn't just about rejecting obvious evil; it's about recognizing the subtle replacements, reductions, and reshapings of Jesus that permeate our modern culture. If you've felt overwhelmed by the "spirit of the age," this message will help you find confidence in the Spirit of Truth who dwells within you.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Jason and Nan Britt from Bethlehem Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in the country with three campuses in Georgia—and a fourth on the way. Jason serves as Lead Pastor, while Nan has pioneered a powerful inclusion ministry called Bethlehem Buddies, designed to help children, students, and adults with special needs fully participate in the life of the church. In this conversation, they unpack how inclusive ministry became a defining part of Bethlehem's culture and how any church—regardless of size—can take meaningful steps in this direction. Is your church unsure how to serve families affected by special needs? Do you feel overwhelmed by where to start or afraid of doing it wrong? Jason and Nan offer practical, hope-filled wisdom rooted in real-life experience. Revitalization with intentional mission. // Bethlehem Church is a revitalization story at every campus. When Jason arrived 14 years ago, the church had plateaued and was struggling to reflect its surrounding community. Rather than questioning the church's heart, Jason focused on intentionality—helping the congregation shift from insider-focused habits to an outward-facing mission. Located near Athens, Georgia, Bethlehem serves a family-centric community, prompting leaders to double down on reaching families and the next generation. That commitment laid the groundwork for inclusion ministry, even before the church realized it. Seeing an unreached community. // Nan's background in special education played a critical role in shaping Bethlehem Buddies. Long before it became a formal ministry, Jason and Nan were deeply immersed in the lives of families affected by disability. When they arrived at Bethlehem, they recognized that many families in their community wanted to attend church but lacked the support to do so. Rather than being opposed to special needs ministry, churches often feel overwhelmed by it. Bethlehem chose to take a different approach—starting small, stepping in with humility, and learning along the way. Inclusion, not separation. // Nan defines inclusion as inviting people with disabilities into the same environments as everyone else—preschool, kids ministry, student ministry, and adult worship—rather than isolating them into separate spaces. Inclusion honors the individual and recognizes that people with disabilities don't all look the same or need the same support. A five-year-old with autism and a 30-year-old man with Down syndrome should be welcomed into age-appropriate environments, with individualized support when needed. The goal isn't just inclusion, but belonging—creating space for people to contribute and use their gifts within the body of Christ. The buddy model at scale. // Bethlehem Buddies pairs each individual with a trained volunteer—called a “buddy”—whose role is simple but powerful: be their best friend for 90 minutes. Buddies focus on connection over compliance, valuing relationship more than control. While some individuals prefer quieter environments, most are included directly into existing ministries with one-on-one support. Parents can attend worship knowing their child or adult family member is safe, known, and loved. Over time, this model has grown from serving one child to serving more than 300 families every weekend. Unexpected volunteer impact. // One of the biggest surprises has been how Bethlehem Buddies shapes volunteer culture. The ministry attracts people who might never serve in traditional kids or student roles—men, teenagers, business leaders—and cultivates empathy, humility, and ownership. Jason notes that the ministry has become one of the strongest volunteer-recruiting pipelines in the church, strengthening the overall mission and heart of Bethlehem. From program to culture. // Early on, Nan personally recruited volunteers by tapping shoulders and inviting people she saw potential in. Over time, inclusion became embedded in the church's DNA. Today, the culture itself recruits. Serving families affected by special needs has reshaped Bethlehem's understanding of the gospel—reinforcing the truth that the kingdom of God is for everyone, especially “the least of these.” Jason emphasizes that while inclusion started as the right thing to do, it has become one of the most spiritually formative aspects of the church. Simple steps for churches. // For churches wondering where to begin, Nan encourages leaders to start with one service, one plan, and one conversation. Decide how you would respond if a family arrived this Sunday. Identify a few volunteers who could serve as buddies. Use a detailed family intake form to prepare volunteers and build trust with parents. Jason urges pastors to see opportunity rather than obstacles—and to remember that you don't need to be an expert to start, just willing to learn. To learn more about Bethlehem Church and the Bethlehem Buddies Network, visit bethlehemchurch.us. Churches interested in starting or strengthening inclusion ministry can email Nan directly and take take a look at Bethlehem’s Buddies Volunteer Handbook. 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/unseminary 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. So glad that you have decided to tune in. I really want you to lean in today. This is one of those issues that we see in churches all the time that I really hope tons churches that are leaning in or listening in today will lean in on this issue, particularly if you’re a growing church. This might be one of those just up over the horizon issues that it that you can get ahead on and work ahead on now and and actually create more space for more people in your community. Rich Birch — Really excited to have Jason and Nan Britt with us. They’re from Bethlehem Church. It’s repeatedly one of the fastest growing churches in the country with three locations, if I’m counting correctly, in Georgia. Jason is the lead pastor and Nan has championed a program called Bethlehem Buddies. And we’re really looking forward to pulling this apart. They offer that all campuses and they provide inclusive support to help preschooler, child, teenager, and adults with special needs transition smoothly into one of the church’s worship environments. So Jason, Nan, welcome to the show. So glad that you are here.Nan Britt — Thank you. Jason Britt — And we’re thankful, thankful for for you having us.Rich Birch — Yeah, Jason, why don’t you tell us, kind of give us the picture of Bethlehem Church, kind of tell us a little bit about the church, kind of set the picture. If we were to arrive… Jason Britt — Yeah. Yeah. Rich Birch — …on a typical weekend, what would we experience?Jason Britt — Yeah. It’s three campuses, hopefully four soon. They’re all revitalization story. We just actually relocated our broadcast campus about a mile down the road. We’re a year in now… Rich Birch — Nice. Jason Britt — …December when you’re broadcasting this. And so we opened, new and it’s a revitalization story, multiple services, and it’s just a church that had history. And all of our campuses, Rich, are revitalization stories, too.Jason Britt — And it was a church with history that just had the courage, if you will, to envision a new future or be open to envisioning a new future. And we’ve been here for 14 years. It was my first senior pastorate, and it’s been a phenomenal year. And the church has just embraced the mission of leading people to discover new life in Christ in all areas of our ministry.Rich Birch — Why don’t we stick with you, Jason, and double click on revitalization. Jason Britt — Yeah. Rich Birch — Kind of pull apart that picture a little bit, help people, because I know there’s people that are listening in today that are on the other side of revitalization. And they’re thinking, hey, you know, what were some of, you know, you first stepped into that journey. What were some early questions that you were asking that really about that kind of led you to the place of like, hey, this is what I think the church could become. Where what started that journey for you?Jason Britt — Yeah, I think even in the process of, you know how it goes in different denominations or tribes have different ways of calling a pastor. And so for me, as I talked with the group that was selecting a pastor, the church had been plateaued for a number of years, plateaued, declining, kind of fell on that. And ultimately, my question for them is, what’s your limiting, have you guys considered your limiting factor? You know, and I think our church, although the heart was there, it did not reflect the community as a whole. And so by that, I mean the heart for mission was there, but not the intentionality of mission, if you will.Jason Britt — And so we really kind of began a two to three year journey of what would it look like for our church to reflect our community. And our community, Rich, we’re outside we’re kind of the bedroom community of Athens Georgia. Rich Birch — Okay. Jason Britt — All of our campuses surround the college town of Athens and it’s very family-centric, very kid-centric. I mean it’s not a high single adult population out here, if you will. This is where families live. And so we really needed to double down and become incredibly serious about the next generation and reaching families.Jason Britt — And I think it was just the reality of getting intentional with what our mission and heart was. The church wasn’t, I think I heard years ago, maybe on your podcast or somebody else, a pastor say, when you take over a church, one of two things are happening. They either believe they won the Super Bowl or they believe they’re losing every game.Jason Britt — Neither he goes, neither—I think it was Jud Wilhite said, I’m not sure… Rich Birch — Okay. Yeah, yeah. Jason Britt — …He goes, neither are true. Rich Birch — Right. That’s good. Jason Britt — But you have to understand their psyche… Rich Birch — Right. Jason Britt — …and the way they see their ministry. So for me, the gift of Bethlehem, Rich, was they were, they were, they were ready to win. I didn’t have to convince them they had to change a ton. I just had to, in many ways, give permission to see things differently. That if you will, the local church tends to be drift toward insider focused…Rich Birch — Yep, that’s true. Yeah.Jason Britt — …and the gospel is very outsider focused. And so for us, it was a lot of, if you will, deconstructing some things before we reconstructed, a lot of examining the fruit of what we were doing, not the intent. You know, that was a lot of the earliest, probably where lot people that you’re listening, your listeners are in revitalization. A lot of it’s not what we, early on, is not what we need to do that we’re not doing is what we need to stop doing that we’re doing.Rich Birch — Right. That’s good.Jason Britt — Right. And that’s the hard part, the deconstruction.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s true.Jason Britt — That was my first two or three years. It’s when I had a full head of hair and no gray, you know what i’m saying, bro? And so it was good though, man.Rich Birch — Yes, for sure.Jason Britt — And so that was our early days of really the heart didn’t need a lot of work. The direction and the intentionality to mission, if you will, strategy and vision. So.Rich Birch — Well, I think there’s a lot of churches that are listening in that I think can relate with that idea of like, hey, the heart of our church is is right, but we’re not really taking intentional steps. And at some point as a leadership team, you realized that there were families that wanted to participate fully, but needed something different in order to do that. That’s ultimately what led us to what we’re talking about today. Rich Birch — What opened your eyes to that gap? What kind of got the ball rolling for you as a leadership team, for you specifically or for our leadership team as you were thinking about this issue?Nan Britt — Yeah, so, um you know, we’ve always been in ministry, Jason in ministry, but really my calling has been early on in special education. You know, that was my training and experience.Rich Birch — Okay.Nan Britt — And ah so professionally, you know, that was my job as a teacher. And so really for the first 10 years of our marriage, Jason walked alongside that road with me. And so the students that I taught really had a lot of needs. And so we really got to know those families. We were really immersed in the special needs community of families.Nan Britt — And so as we came to Bethlehem, we knew, we just knew this was such a great need. This was really an unreached group of people in our community. And so we were excited at the opportunity to be able to serve these families. You know, with him taking that role as as lead pastor, we wanted to make that a priority with our church.Nan Britt — And so that was that was an easy way for me to get involved as a volunteer. So I served as a volunteer for several years because that was just my experience and training and gifting and, you know, what I felt called to to do to to take what I had learned and really use that, you know, in the church.Jason Britt — Yeah, I think we’ve been to some great, we served at two great churches before we came here, awesome churches. If I said them, many of your listeners would know they were awesome and we have nothing, but I remember us being there. A lot of times it was, as we as we were serving there, it was not a, nobody’s against special needs ministry. It just seems overwhelming. Rich Birch — That’s true. Yeah.Jason Britt — Right. And that’s what you find is nobody’s against doing it. It’s just kind of what it seems overwhelming, if you will, or where do we even start? And so I think for us, when we came, our kids were young. And as Nan began to It just began as with one person. Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — And really beginning inclusion there. It was more of instead of being overwhelmed by it, almost, if you will… Nan Britt — Yeah. Jason Britt — …taking a step in and giving the example of what of what that looks like.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. I love that. And let’s let’s start, we’re going to get into some tactics in a second, but Jason, I want you to think about from like at a 30,000 foot point of view. My impression as an outsider, looking at this, you know, what you guys are doing, it’s pretty robust. You’ve created a pathway for children, students, adults with special needs to be fully included. And we’ll talk about what that means in a minute. But it to me, i think this could struggle if it’s just a tactic. It seems like what you’ve done has been able to talk about it really at kind of a cultural, this who we’re trying to be. So talk to us how we do that as senior leaders. How do we move this from beyond just like this is another thing we do to like, oh, this is a part of who we are. This is how we see ourselves.Jason Britt — Yeah, and and Nan could probably fill a little bit of the gaps here, but I think for me, I would say two things to senior leaders or senior teams if you’re talking about that. I think the cultural piece is when it becomes a kingdom of God, everybody’s invited at the table. Nan Britt — Yes. Jason Britt — The least of these, marginalized, which we know the gospel – Jesus is more drawn to empty hearts and empty lives than he is full rooms, if you will, you know? And so then in our society, the poor, the marginalized or the least of these is not only poor and impoverished, but oftentimes it’s families who have lived and wrestled with and, walk through this. And so creating space for everybody, I would say was a very, for us, Jesus-centric type thing. Nan Britt — Yes. Jason Britt — It was like this, if we are for the least of these, if we are for all people, that was one of our kind of core values as Bethlehem Church is a church for all people, right? Gospel, for God so loved the world. That’s a pretty broad path right there, the world.Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Jason Britt — So then let’s be intentional there. And, and the thing that I would tell you now, and as Nan gets into the tactics, we didn’t do this to start. This wasn’t the reason. The reason was it was the right thing and we could do this, but, Rich, man, I am telling you, when you begin to serve these families and and you see the joy and the blessing and what it does to the heart of the church, you cannot exchange.Rich Birch — That’s true.Jason Britt — Serving these families, when I talk to other pastor buddies that are stepping into this or some good friends that are in the Buddies Network who would do this, I’m like, man, what it does for the whole of your church when it comes to the heart of Christ, you know, and we’ve seen it go from one kid to three serving 300 families a weekend now. And so it’s been a crazy thing. But what it does for the overall mission and heart of the church and the volunteers and the church seeing this is a powerful thing.Rich Birch — Yeah, I would agree. You know, we talked a little bit beforehand about yeah when I esrved at Liquid Church for years, and this has been a part of our story there. It’s like of my proudest things that we had been a part of. And but but I want to take a step back. And Nan, can you help us understand when you say the word inclusion, what do you mean by that as opposed to separation?Rich Birch — So I’ll paint a bit of a picture for you. Maybe I’m a church of, I don’t know, 5-, 600 people. And sure, there are some kids that we can see. There are kids with special needs. And and I’m like, don’t don’t we just want to create a place where we can like put those kids away so they don’t bother us? Again, I’m I’m using hyperbole. Nan Britt — Right. Rich Birch — Obviously, I’m playing a bit of the devil’s advocate. I don’t actually believe that. Nan Britt — Right. Rich Birch — But what what do you mean by inclusion, not separation? What does that look like?Nan Britt — Yes. Well, inclusion simply means that you are, in the church setting, looking at preschool ministry, kids ministry, students, adult ministries, and really just looking for opportunity to include everyone into those environments. You know, and we know that some people, individuals with disabilities, just may need some individualized love, care, and support. But I think inclusion also speaks more importantly to honoring people and seeing people as individuals. Rich Birch — So true.Nan Britt — And so, for example, we know that a 30-year-old man with Down syndrome looks very different than a five-year-old with autism. And so inclusion is honoring and seeing a person for who they are. And so we want to invite a 30 year old man with Down syndrome into the same opportunities that we’re inviting other 30 year old men in in the church. Nan Britt — And so, so that just gives an example and it actually simplifies things a lot. You know, you you’re really whatever is being offered, you know, at your church, for each age group, you’re you’re simply just opening up that opportunity for our kids and adults with disabilities and special needs to be a part of that.Nan Britt — And then, like we said, we just know sometimes that may mean they need some individualized support in order to be a part of those ah great ministries happening. But it I think inclusion really speaks to honoring that individual and seeing them, what they can contribute to the body of Christ. Nan Britt — And so we know everyone wants to be included, but belonging is really the goal. You know, people, we we know the difference, you know, as people when we’re included in a place, but when we’re invited to to to contribute back… Rich Birch — So good. Nan Britt — …and to use our gifts and strengths, you know, that’s when you really feel a sense of belonging. And so I think that’s the power of inclusion versus just, hey, let’s just provide a separate space and because this is what we’re supposed to do.Rich Birch — Right. Right. So can you get tactical on that? What does that actually look like for, because I, you know, I, I understand doing this at a one or two people, but at scale, 3-, 400, 500 every weekend over a year, like that’s, how do you actually do that? We’ll stick with you, Nan. If I’myeah, what what does that look like? How do how do we provide that care? How do we and how do we learn how we can best support people and then communicate with them and all that? What does it kind of… Nan Britt — Yes. Rich Birch — I know there’s a lot there, I understand… Nan Britt — Yes.Rich Birch — …but but give us kind of an overview. We start there.Nan Britt — eah, that’s a great question. I think it’s really important to first define your goal of like… Rich Birch — Right. Nan Britt — …okay, what is our goal and why are we we providing disability ministry, special needs ministry? And what I believe is the goal of it is that so a family can attend worship, can attend a worship service together on a Sunday morning.Rich Birch — Great.Nan Britt — That is the goal. You know, first, over other nights of programming happening at your church, we believe that we want our families to hear the gospel message, the hope of Jesus, to experience worship, prayer, sit under preaching. And so that’s why we we want to focus on inviting them and providing support around a worship service. We know most likely for parents to be able to attend the service, then that means their child or adult is going to need some individualized support and care.Nan Britt — And so that’s that’s where the Buddies team, the Buddies ministry comes in. And so ah you’re going to need some some volunteers. And so really, i think that simplifies it a lot because I think churches get overwhelmed to think, man, do we need to provide something every time the doors of our church are open? And I would say a great place to start and focus on is we want families to be invited to your worship service. Nan Britt — And then equally, ah we want our individuals to experience the love of Christ, grow in their faith, be be in community um with others. And so I think that’s the place to start is while mom and dad get to attend a service and they’re siblings, then we provide a volunteer to pair up with kids and adults with disabilities.Nan Britt — And then from there, you already have these great ministries happening in your church, kids ministries, student ministries, sometimes on a Sunday morning. And then you’re able to just join in the great ministry happening with that buddy support with a child.Nan Britt — And then I do think that if you have the space at your church, you can also offer a classroom space for kids and adults who prefer a quieter setting or do better in a small group setting. Then you can offer another space that that also has the same great ministry happening. So I really think those volunteers drive the ministry… Jason Britt — Yeah. Nan Britt — …and then just get to participate in with with all the great things happening on a Sunday morning at your church.Rich Birch — I love that. Jason, can you, let’s talk about it from the side, because Nan was talking there about the volunteer side of the equation. Let’s talk about it from that end.Rich Birch — What have you seen, kind of what impact has adding buddies and adding a really robust inclusion culture to your church?Jason Britt — Yeah.Rich Birch — How has that kind of impacted the volunteers who are and engaged in this ministry?Jason Britt — Yeah, I think a couple things and our kids will be examples, but they’re friends as well. What you see is there, and and we’ve seen this with male leadership, is there are people that would probably not raise their hand and say, hey, I want to be in preschool or kids ministry. But the chance to pair up and walk with a teenager with special needs, to be included, to be a one-on-one individualized and walk into our kid’s town or our midtown, which is our younger environments, it’s very empowering. And, I mean, it just opens opportunities for connection. And that’s one thing that we’ve seen, that we see people who may not want more than handing out a, but if you will, just on the Sunday service, if you were the Sunday morning weekend environment, serving opportunities, obviously there’s more in the church, but those coffee, parking lot, greeter, than kids ministry. A lot of your churches that you minister to look similar ours, you know what I mean? Jason Britt — And so what we found was that stream of empowering and inviting, and candidly our buddies ministry, is stronger in the recruiting aspect than our kids or student ministry because it’s so unique and it calls things out of people that maybe the other don’t, if you will. We’ve seen that. And so I would say that that was one of the benefits that we didn’t know early on. Nan maybe did just because of her background in special needs. But as we’ve seen it, I mean, you know, students, it’s a powerful thing when you’re watching a 16-year-old, 17-year-old high schooler, when you’re watching them walk with a five-year-old with autism or Down syndrome into a children’s ministry class. That’s just a pretty powerful thing. The humility, the ownership, there’s just… Nan Britt — Empathy. Jason Britt — …empathy. That rich, the discipleship piece of that’s incredibly strong. You know… Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Jason Britt — …that just in this simple, it’s not filling a hole, it’s empowering. And so that’s one of the things we’ve seen. I mean, I know you’ve been around, if you were Liquid, even the Night to Shine, obviously the the Tim Tebow thing. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s fantastic. Jason Britt — Even that, that’s probably the big mass on a mass scale we do where the church is incredibly involved. But then the opportunities it’s opened up for us on the outside of the church to partner with other nonprofits and bring nonprofits that for serve families with special needs, but we get to bring a gospel presence to that. Rich Birch — Love it.Jason Britt — And that’s because of what we’re doing internally. So I’ve seen both of those things that the mission fulfilled in ways that it’s not just serving those families with special needs, but taking the church to a place we’ve never been.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. And, you know, to underline something you said there that we’ve seen through multiple conversations that I think when we cast a big picture and a big responsibility to volunteers, they will step up to that. In fact, they’ll actually lean in. They’ll be like,I’m this is great. This requires a lot of me.Jason Britt — Yes.Rich Birch — I would love to lean in.Jason Britt — Yes.Rich Birch — So Nan, what have you learned about, let’s keep keep on this whole topic here, volunteers. What have you learned about recruiting, finding these volunteers, training them so they feel prepared, confident, like, you know, this is your professionally, you said this… Nan Britt — Right. Rich Birch — …your this is your professional background, but, you know, you take your average 16-year-old, they’re not professionally equipped for this. And so how do you help them get to a place where they can be a buddy?Nan Britt — Right.Rich Birch — Talk us through what that looks like.Nan Britt — Yes. It’s, it’s really, it’s so exciting. That’s something that I’ve always been passionate about to connect people to purpose. And so, and then like you said, to take what I have learned and, and really, put it into terms and, and easy ways, easy strategies for, everyday volunteers to feel equipped.Nan Britt — And, and, and so I think that we, a lot of our training materials have come from that that we love to share with churches because we that’s something that we prioritize is we we have many volunteers that serve that do have a background in special education a lot like myself with experience, and I think they’re needed for sure in this ministry. But we have the majority of our volunteers are teenagers and adults who are businessmen. They own their own construction company. Women who you know are stay-at-home moms. Teenagers who, yeah, who would say, hey, I have a heart for this. I’m available. And we love that. We think that that is absolutely the right person to serve. And so we’ve just found some easy ways. Nan Britt — We are highly prepared on our end as a staff. to ah provide the best experience possible for the volunteer and the child on a Sunday morning. And so we do that with, we have a great family form that we have all of our families fill out. We’ve done that for 11 years. It’s a really detailed form. And so we feel like that gives us so much great information about the child or adult that we’re working with, that the parent has given us. Their interests, their likes, things that their dislikes, what to do to to help them stay calm and engaged. We utilize that every week. We get that in the hands of the volunteers so they feel equipped to to know the child they’re paired up with. Jason Britt — Yeah. Nan Britt — And then we we have great just engaging activities and and Bible stories and worship that that just provide the best experience possible for for an hour and a half on a Sunday morning while they’re with us. We want our volunteers to feel supported, to just enjoy being with their child or adult. You know, we say your role is to be their best friend on a Sunday, to hang out. We really prioritize connection over compliance. You know, we’re highly relational. It’s very individualized. And so we, I think that takes away a lot of the nervousness for our volunteers. Jason Britt — Yeah.Nan Britt — And we really, do have great experiences because church is different. Church is different and should be different than school, than therapy, than camp.Rich Birch — Right.Nan Britt — And so you really can have such a a great experience, you know, for an hour and a half, you know, during a service and people feel equipped. We encourage them. We support them. And, and as you know, Rich, people step in to, to volunteer and, but they always come back to us and say, they are so much more of a blessing to me.Jason Britt — Yeah, yeah. Nan Britt — You know, they, they are really ministering to me because our kids and adults, you know, just have such a, a peaceful presence and unhurried spirit, gracious. They’ll pray for you. And so they turn around and bless our volunteers and minister to them. And in so many greater ways than we, than we ever really do for them. Jason Britt — It’s good.Rich Birch — Yeah, love that. And you use the word buddy, and I’d love to double click on that. You you talked about this, Nan, this idea of be their best friend that, you know, for that 90 minutes every week. It’s not about compliance. Talk us about talk to us about that a little bit more, kind of unpack that a little bit. What does that look like? Because that’s a nuance that I think people might, who have not been around this kind of ministry might not understand that. So unpack that a little bit more. What’s that look like?Nan Britt — Yes. So that’s, that’s what we choose to call our volunteers, buddies, buddy volunteers. And we we think it’s, it fits whether you’re with a child or with your, whether you’re with an adult with a disability. And I think that, the the beauty and the success of the ministry is it’s just individualized, you know, undivided attention for a whole, like you said, 90 minutes where we want our kids and adults to feel seen and heard and valued.Nan Britt — And so if you’re a buddy volunteer, you you have that permission to just celebrate and make that morning just all about their child and get on their level, play with them. You know, we we give a lot of direction around ways to interact with people that have differences. You know, if they’re in a wheelchair, if they don’t verbally communicate, hey, here’s some creative ways of of how you can interact with your buddy. And just to that, you know, to to just place such a high value on that child or adult. And yeah, and there there’s so much celebration around it and so much joy. I think people who walk by buddies or around our ministry, that’s the culture of it’s just so much joy and celebration.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s great.Nan Britt — Even when they’re you’re in the presence of so many complex needs, you know, this is a group of people who have a lot of hardships and and very complex needs on paper, but yet you can still just have such a great experience as a buddy volunteer. And like I said, I think that the reason for it is it’s so individualized and it’s ah based around their interest, what they like, and really valuing them and then sharing the love of Jesus. Jason Britt — Yeah.Nan Britt — You know, that unconditional love. That is what we are we strive to share, you know, as a buddy volunteer to our kids and adults. Jason Britt — And I think, we’re Rich, I would add, I think in your churches that are listening, now, then we’re 10 years in, the culture recruits. Nan Britt — True.Jason Britt — Early on, early on, I would say Nan, and she doesn’t give herself enough credit for this, she shoulder tapped a lot of people and would say, hey, you know this is when the church was very smaller and it was. But in the early days, it was a lot of, just like there’s individual care, I would just say the recruiting was individualized… Nan Britt — Yes. Jason Britt — …by Nan, tapping shoulders, saying, hey, I see this in you, or hey, I think you could help me. I mean, I think about… You know, our friends, Richard, Andy, some of these guys who were men’s men that are friends of mine that and and she would just be very specific. Would you and and all of them were like, absolutely. Nan Britt — Yeah.Jason Britt — Before they even knew what they were getting into.Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — I just think early on, I would tell you now our culture does a lot of the recruiting.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Jason Britt — But early on it was individualized. I see this in you, that shoulder tapping. Nan Britt — Yep, that’s true. Jason Britt — It was never necessarily my vision for it, recruiting people. It was more of the individualized. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Jason Britt — And then now it’s part of our culture, but I would say it didn’t start. It just became a part of our culture. Nan Britt — Yeah. Jason Britt — Does that make sense?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s 100%. 100%. That’s a great thing to underline, even just in general… Jason Britt — Yes. Rich Birch — …but specifically in this this ministry, that those early people that we get involved really do kind of cast vision for the future of like, oh, we’re looking for more of these kind of, like you said, whoever those guys are, your men’s men guys.Jason Britt — Yeah.Rich Birch — It’s like, well, that then creates a door for like other guys like that to say, hey, I want to be a part of that.Nan Britt — Absolutely.Rich Birch — And yeah, that’s good.Nan Britt — Yes.Rich Birch — I was also don’t underestimate the the power of the person asking. I know you highlighted this celebrating your wife, but that’s very true. Like that you want to, the person you put in in charge of this wants to be the kind of person that is trusted and is loved and has got some wisdom. So Jason, sticking with you, I’m sure you get calls from leads, from other lead pastors or executive pastors that might have some like common misunderstandings or fears that about starting a special needs ministry. What are some of those fears that they have and what do you say to them to try to say, no, no, you should do this. What are what are the things that come up in a conversation like that?Jason Britt — It’s great question. I think a lot of times it’s not, it’s, if you don’t have a background or awareness or someone in your family or close to you that has special needs or disabilities, there is a lot of what if, what if, what if.Rich Birch — Right.Jaon Britt — And so like, what if the needs extreme, you know, they have feeding tube or they kind of create the worst case scenario or the hardest situation to go, I don’t know if we could ever. Rich Birch — Right. Jason Britt — And what you realize is the vast majority, the, the, the, the needs not that extreme. So it’s kind of almost right size and go in. No, no, no, no. I think you’re, you’re out thinking, you know, in church, you’ve been around church, Rich, you know, we have a way of out-thinking ourselves somehow of going, well, what if…Rich Birch — Sure. Sure.Jason Britt — Hey, Hey, Hey, there’s a really good chance, you know?Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — And so I think that’d be one of going, no, I think, but a lot of times it’s not from against, it’s just a lack of awareness. Rich Birch — Right. Jason Britt — You know, it’s not, we can’t do this because. I think liability, something that comes up, I mean, candidly, Rich, you know, in this day and age of liability and stuff like that. And I think again, the reality is, we are 10 years in, 300 families. It’s just not something we’ve ever dealt with. Nan Britt — Yeah. Jason Britt — You know, got think these families love these kids more than we could ever love these kids.Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — And so we’re going to be fully equipped and they’re, they’re not, if there’s great needs that, that are, that, they’re probably not going to check them in. They’ll sit with them in the service. You know what I mean? Something like that.Rich Birch — Yep, sure.Jason Britt — I think sometimes that would be one. And then… Nan Britt — Well, yeah, and I would just say, I think that’s when it’s important to have have humility and invite in someone that, like myself that, and I only say myself because like a teacher. Someone who has experience and training professionally in this field so that they’re able to to answer those questions, and to really right size and give a realistic. You know, and I’ve been in some of those conversations before to say, you know, in 11 years, that’s not something that we’ve ever dealt with the church… Jason Britt — Right. Yeah. Nan Britt — …but, but, Hey, here’s something else that you need to think about.Jason Britt — Yeah.Nan Britt — And so I think it’s, it’s really important. I have a lot of respect for leaders who show humility in saying, Hey, I, I even admit I have some ignorance about this conversation… Rich Birch — Yeah. Right. Nan Britt — …and I’d like to invite in so ah someone, an expert in this area to help us move forward in this conversation. Yeah.Jason Britt — Yeah, that’s been the, I think that’s the, yeah, that’s what we have talked to. Again, it’s almost permission, that Nan’s right, humility and just going, okay, we don’t know what we don’t know, let’s just ask some questions. Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — But the other thing I would say is, like, we don’t have, um if you will, a room. We don’t have space. We don’t, we’re we’re for it. And I think we go back to our early days, neither did we. You know It was all inclusion-based and all still is before we had a safety room, if you will, or before we had, what do you call it?Nan Britt — We don’t call it a safety room. It’s just a buddy space. Jason Britt — Buddy Space. Like like you know if there’s a kid that’s having an issue or or you know something. We didn’t we have a little more now than we did, but back in the day, it was more inclusion and just start where where you’re at. Nan Britt — Yeah. Jason Britt — You can do something.Nan Britt — That’s right.Rich Birch — Yeah. I think that’s a good word, Jason, that I think we get way too far ahead of us. And we’re like, we and we picture 300 families and like, oh my goodness, what’s going to happen? It’s like, well, how about but we start with the two kids that are right in front of us?Nan Britt — That’s right. Jason Britt — That’s it.Rich Birch — And what can we do to support those families? Nan, you said this, I’d love to invite you in on these conversations. I’m sure there’s churches that are listening in there like I would love Nan’s help. Talk to me about the buddies network. This is a way—I love this—you guys have stepped out to try to help more churches. Talk us through what that is. How do you help churches? How can you engage with them that sort of thing.Nan Britt — Yes. I mean, you’re exactly right. That’s that’s where the idea came from, is that in our area, you know, around metro Atlanta, around Athens, we are in weekly conversations with churches of of how to start a ministry or just begin, like you’re saying, what are some easy steps, tangible ways to serve families, bring awareness to it. And so we just decided, you know, out stewarding, being a good steward of the the great work God has done at Bethlehem, the resources he’s provided for us that we love. Nan Britt — Jason and I, we, we, our big kingdom church people. We love partnering with churches. We love knowing other pastors. And, and so that’s been exciting for me just to work with other churches and share with them. I think we’ve learned so much at Bethlehem, like Jason said, from being very small with no budget, no space, being very conservative in, in what we’ve done to now having a huge ministry, a large ministry, having great space. Jason Britt — Right.Nan Britt — I think we just have learned so many ways to be able to equip churches. And and that’s really the heart behind it. And so we’ve done this last year, really, I have I’m leading that and and kind of initiating that. We just have put in quarterly quarterly lunches if you are nearby and close to us to join us for that. Quick things to your inbox that give ideas. We share our resources. We’re where we don’t want you to recreate something, spend time on that.Bethlehem Church — Because like you said, a lot of that a lot of times it’s kids’ ministries, people who already wear a lot of hats at their churches. I mean, they are overwhelmed. They are leading kids’ ministry. We have some a part of our network that are family pastors, and then they have also been given this task of, hey, figure out special needs ministry as well.Jason Britt — Yeah. Nan Britt — Or volunteers. They’re not paid. So it’s our desire just to get in there and help equip. Jason Britt — Yeah. Nan Britt — And to make it fit the structure of your church. You know, every church is unique. And so ah we just want to make this tangible and easy. And so, yeah. And so we we walk alongside churches really at their own pace, you know, of what they say, hey, we need help with this. Jason Britt — Yep.Nan Britt — And in 2026, we hope to keep expanding resources and more so online that really allow churches outside of Georgia, you know, to access more resources.Rich Birch — Yeah, that which you’ve provided and we’ll link to this, the Buddies Volunteer Handbook. I thought this was great, kind of a I know I love this kind of thing. I’m always like diving deep on, wow, it’s so cool to see what people do. I love this. Talk to us a little bit about this resource. How does it fit in your… Nan Britt — Yes. Rich Birch — …like in your process with Buddies and all that?Nan Britt — Yes. For sure, you know, the first few years, like we’re saying of our ministry, that our our procedures and systems looked more like just a Word document. Rich Birch — Right.Nan Britt — You know, something that I would share onboarding volunteers of, hey, this is your role as a buddy. You know, this is what it means to serve at our ministry. This is these are the expectations. This is… And then in time, you know, we created that. It turned into a handbook, you know, a nicely you know printed handbook that that matched really what our kids ministry handbook and our student ministry handbook looked like. And so it is a great resource that that’s how we onboard volunteers and kind of their their first invitation into the ministry of we go through that handbook with them. We prioritize, hey, this is what we say is your role and what a win is in our ministry. So it goes through a lot of our our systems put around the ministry, the procedures. And what I like to share with churches is kind of what Jason was saying. Really, special needs ministry fits neatly into that that umbrella of all the systems and procedures and policies that a church already has in place for kids ministry… Rich Birch — Yeah. Nan Britt — …and student ministry, special needs ministry fits within that. And that is the way we function at our church. And so there, back when you said there really is not additional liability or additional policies for special needs ministry. So, that’s contained in our handbook. And yeah, it’s a great resource to share with our volunteers and drives the the goals and expectations of the ministry. Jason Britt — Yeah . Rich Birch — That’s so good. Nan Britt — And that’s what we share a lot with we share our handbook with churches and then our family form. Most churches are saying, hey, you mentioned the form that you give to parents.Rich Birch — Yeah. Help us understand that. Yeah. Yes.Nan Britt — Hey, can you share that with us? And we say, absolutely. Just just take our logo off of it. You put your church logo on there. Rich Birch — Yes. Nan Britt — And you just just just start using that because that’s that’s another great resource we share.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. So as we’re coming down to land, kind of a same similar question to both you. I’ll start with you, Nan. Let’s picture that you’re a leader within a church who’s got a passion for this area and is like thinking, hey, we we need to take some steps in the next, maybe the next six months, next three months to kind of move this from, hey, we’re helping a couple kids to we want to create a bit more structure there. What would you say to them to like, Hey, here are some first steps that you should be taking to try to expand this beyond something that’s informal to like, we’re trying to make this a little bit more part of what we do, not just something we’re kind of dealing with. It’s like, we’re going to actively add this.Nan Britt — Right. Yeah, I think that’s a great question. I think something immediately that churches can do is to have a conversation, you know, around kids ministry, around the team on Sundays, and essentially just to have a plan in place of, okay, what would we do if a family visited our church? And just by having a conversation and being prepared, really just allows you to welcome that family without the stress and panic on your face. Rich Birch — Sure. Right. Nan Britt — You know, of that we know it’s unintentional, but we never want a family to feel like an inconvenience or a burden or unwelcomed at our church. But simply by having a plan of okay, what would we do if a family came? And I think that that could easily be we’re going to get them checked in and they’re going to go into our kids’ ministry environments. But maybe we can have two or three extra volunteers on call that we would utilize or we might pull from our existing kids ministry classes to be a buddy for that morning for that child in the second grade class. That’s that’s pretty easy to do. But if you have already talked through that, then when a family comes, it doesn’t send you in a into panic mode.Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Nan Britt — And and then, like because as we said, the parents are still there. They’re in service. You can always call them or text them with a question or a need that you might have. And then from there, I think it gives you time to put some systems in place. What that might be like is you you prioritize a Sunday morning service. If you if you offer multiple services, I always tell churches, hey, you know, pick, choose a service and build your volunteer team around one service. Rich Birch — Oh, that’s good.Nan Britt — And then that is a service you can communicate to the community of, hey, we’re offering our buddies team at the nine o’clock service on Sunday morning. We’d love to invite you to attend at this time. That’s pretty manageable for churches rather than feeling overwhelmed of, wow, do we need to offer her volunteers at every service that we have on a Sunday? So just starting small. Jason Britt — Yep, yep. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Nan Britt — And then, like I said, an easy step is, is, getting access to a family form. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah. Perfect. Nan Britt — And like I said, we can easily share that with you because you collect such great information that really helps you feel prepared for the hour and a half that the family’s with you on a Sunday morning.Rich Birch — Yeah. That’s great. So similar question, Jason, let’s say you’re, imagine you’re a lead pastor and, you know, somebody on their team comes to you and says, Hey, we, we had this conversation as a huddle, like, Hey, what could we do? And we realized we’ve got to add some more emphasis on this. We, you know, if, if we had a family come today, oh, I’m not sure, you know, we might be able to serve one kid or two kids if they came or one or two people if they came, but we’re not, I’m not sure if we had any more than that, that we, and we’d like to add some more volunteer time. We’re not looking for money, just kind of some more emphasis. What would you say to a lead pastor who had someone come to them? How would you kind of coach them to respond to that, to a, to a leader that came with them with that kind of request?Jason Britt — Yeah, I would say just because I know how does a senior pastor would, hey, we got this, we got this. It seems like there’s always about five things pressing and and and it’s like another thing, you know. I would say see the opportunity.Rich Birch — Love it.Jason Britt — That’s what I would just go, man, the opportunity and, you know, see the opportunity for gospel presence. I mean, I think some of my favorite stories, and we don’t have time to get to them, have been families that came or brought their special needs adult or student, or and they’ve been baptized because of that, you know. So the opportunity of it, it is a communit… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. Jason Britt — …of people that in the local church we are for, but oftentimes unintentionally we haven’t been prepared for or, and again, it’s legitimate and get it. I think it’s the, also there’s just great resources. Like I just got, we just came off, I mean, you know, this stuff, Rich, there’s just like there’s people who help out. We just came off of a two-year generosity initiative. And I need help thinking strategically. Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — I don’t need, you know, and and they help that. Well, there’s people like Nan. Uh, there’s people that are out there that are there to help.Rich Birch — Right.Jason Britt — And I think there’s a lot more similarities in churches with people who can help… Nan Britt — Yeah.Rich Birch — Yes. Jason Britt — …than just like I needed in the general there. That’s the same thing I would tell a pastor. Don’t be overwhelmed. See the opportunity. Nan Britt — Yeah.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good.Nan Britt — I would add, I think that’s key that, you know, in the same way that, like you’re saying, in the world of production or other ministries, we are familiar with contracting with people who that’s their specialty. That’s their skill. That’s their experience. I think it’s the same way in this conversation with special needs ministry. I think that is the quickest way to… Jason Britt — Yep. Nan Britt — …move along the conversation is to maybe to consider contracting with a person that that has that is a professional in this. It it it will eliminate all of those what-if questions… Jason Britt — Yep. Nan Britt — …the fear around it, and someone who knows this this ministry and knows what to do. Jason Britt — Yep. Absolutely. Rich Birch — That’s so good. Nan Britt — You know who’s not surprised by the needs of people with disabilities and special needs. So I think that for churches that And like we said, it’s it’s similar to contracting with other needs around the church.Rich Birch — Right. Good.Nan Britt — So just as quickly as you can, get someone in the conversation that is an expert and kind of knows ah you know what how to care, how to care for these kids. Jason Britt — Yep, yep.Rich Birch — So good. Well, Nan, we’ll give you the last word. If people want to get in touch with with you, with the church to talk about the network or to just just even learn more, where do we want to send them online so they can access more information, you know, that sort of thing?Nan Britt — Yes. So ah they are welcome to email me, nan@bethlehemchurch.us. I would love that to just, like I said, eat weekly, that’s really my role on our staff now is is talking and training and and just working alongside churches. So I would love to connect. And then our website is BethlehemChurch.us, which they can find our Bethlehem Buddies page. Just see a lot of great resources there and then get in touch with our staff there as well. Jason Britt — Yep.Rich Birch — That’s great. Appreciate you guys being here today. Thank you so much. And thanks for what you’re doing. Appreciate being on the show today.Nan Britt — Thanks so much. Jason Britt — Thank you.

Is the Holy Spirit a "stranger" in your daily walk with Christ? In this powerful message from our Familiar Stranger series, Pastor Jason shares how the Holy Spirit is not just an accessory or an "add-on" to your faith—He is the power that makes faith possible. Using a vivid illustration of a sailor catching the wind, we explore what it means to stay in step with the Spirit and move from "God dwelling with us" to "God residing in us." Whether you are looking for a spiritual breakthrough or a new beginning in Christ, this service will challenge you to stop asking God to bless your plans and start setting your sails to catch His wind. ✨ In this video, you will: • Discover the difference between Old Testament "tasks" and New Testament "residency" of the Spirit. • Understand why the Holy Spirit is the ultimate "advantage" for every believer. • Learn how to stop "quenching" the Spirit and start living from a place of spiritual empowerment. Join the Conversation: Where are you watching from today? Let us know in the comments! If you need prayer or want to take your next step with Jesus, text CHRIST to 97000.

In Week 4 of our Familiar Stranger series, Pastor Jason Britt shifts our focus to the inner strength available through the Holy Spirit. We often treat the Spirit as an optional guest, but Ephesians 3 reminds us that He is the source of our power, intended to dwell in our hearts through faith. Drawing from Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19, this message explores what it looks like to be "rooted and grounded" in God's love. It's not just about knowing about God; it's about being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. If you have felt spiritually depleted or disconnected, this message will help you tap into the "glorious riches" of His strength.   Key takeaways from Week 4: Inner Strength: How the Spirit strengthens your "inner being" to handle outward pressure. The Dwelling: Moving from the Spirit visiting your life to the Spirit residing in your heart. The Dimensions of Love: Grasping the width, length, height, and depth of Christ's love that surpasses knowledge.  

"Memorials" - Evangelist Tim Greene [December 28, 2025] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

"Turn The Page" - Pastor Jon Vazquez [December 31, 2025] by Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

Week 3 of SUMMER AT BETHLEHEM with Lead Pastor Jason Britt. We are a people for all people. This is the vision of Bethlehem Church, led by Pastor Jason Britt and based in Bethlehem, GA.

In this episode, we're sitting down with Angela, Kevin, Aaron, Julie, and Shane from the Discipleship Team to look back on an incredible spring semester of Groups at Bethlehem Church. From deepening relationships to life-changing conversations, you'll hear powerful stories, practical tips on connecting, belonging, and growing, and catching exciting glimpses of what's ahead. Let's talk about why Groups matter, how to lead well and finish strong, and what's next for community at Bethlehem Church. Whether or not you've participated in Groups, there is something in this episode for you! For more information about Groups at Bethlehem Church, check out our website. https://bethlehemchurch.us/groups/  

In this episode of Beyond Sunday, we're passing the mic to the next generation. During spring break, 29 high school students from Bethlehem Church took part in our first-ever student mission trip to the Dominican Republic—and today, four of them are sharing how it changed everything. Join our High School Pastor Spencer Haynes and students Carson, Gloria, Sophie, and Jordan as they talk about what led them to go, how they overcame fear, and what God showed them about His mission. It's a fun, uplifting, and faith-building conversation about stepping out, sharing the gospel, and discovering a deeper sense of calling. Whether you've been on a mission trip or are just exploring what it means to live on mission, this episode will challenge and inspire you to follow Jesus—Beyond Sunday. Learn more or get involved: bethlehemchurch.us/trips Subscribe, share, and stay tuned for Part 2!  

As we return to life beyond our 28-day Digital Fast, we sit down with Pastor Jason to unpack the journey and the reentry. We discuss the biggest takeaways for us personally, for Bethlehem Church, and for the Church at large. In this episode, we reflect on areas of growth, the moments that surprised us, and the daily disciplines that have reshaped our relationship with technology. Pastor Jason challenges us to be INTENTIONAL instead of INSTINCTUAL when it comes to how we use our phones. This isn't just about screen time. It's a matter of discipleship and forming habits that lead us toward greater awareness of Jesus' presence, deeper rest, and a renewed mind.

Join Anna, Spencer, and CJ from Bethlehem Church's Student Ministry as they dive deeper into faith, life, and the importance and impact of events like United WKND! From powerful testimonies to real conversations about what it means to follow Jesus beyond the big moments, this episode is all about keeping the fire burning and living out your faith every day. Whether you have a student signed up for United WKND, you are a student signed up, or you need encouragement in your walk with Christ, this is for you!  To sign up for United WKND, click here.