Backstage With The Simple Church

Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco talk all things Christmas and share some of their favorite Christmas traditions and memories  We also discuss everything you need to know coming up this December at the Simple Church, recreate an Ai written Audio Play, and hear the new Backstage with the Simple Church Christmas song.   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES HALLMARK MOVIE COVERS Ai CHRISTM...

Co-Host Evan Semanco is joined by the triumphant return of co-host Scott Odom who reports back on everything involved in having a new building, becoming a first time dad soon, and hot takes on Christmas.  We also discuss everything you need to know coming up this December at the Simple Church, and play a Christmas Trivia Game with producer Jordan Phillips to broaden your Christmas Knowledge that y...

Host Evan Semanco is joined by co-host Robyn Horton this week, the Queen of Do-Goodery (a.k.a the Do Good Pastor) to talk with the founders of Redefined Ministries, Jerri Anne Blankenship and Mindy Lancaster. Jerri and Mindy share their heart to help women in prison, how they started in 2020 with a crazy idea, and now have helped thousands of women in prison receive gifts at Christmas. We hope you...

Host Evan Semanco is one on one with one of most popular guests, Dr. Peri Reed to talk about not being ok. Peri is a professional Christian Counselor who attends the Simple Church, runs a counseling center (Shreveport Counseling and Restoration Center), and is working on her first book!  We talk with Peri to process what it means to not be ok, what do to if you or someone you know is not ok right...

Host Evan Semanco is joined by special guests Brittney Reeve and Haylie Hays to share how one message on a Sunday has sent them on a 6+ year journey of doing good and raising over $200,000. Brittney and Haylie and their team will walk 118 miles this November, because that is the average amount of miles women in Honduras walk each month to get access to clean water. If you want to be a part of help...

Host Evan Semanco is joined by special guests Stephen Knight and Ray Raney to talk about their recent mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. Ray is a retired Pastor who used to be on staff and is continuing to lead trips, and Stephen went on his first mission trip ever in his mid 30s (check the link below for his Pre-Mission Trip Podcast) and they talk about the trip, the great work being done in Juarez,...

Today Host Evan Semanco is back with Producer Jordan Phillips, High School Pastor Jonah Boaz, and Middle School Pastor Josh Mitchell talk about student ministry at The Simple Church and play a Halloween trivia game to impress your friends with your new Halloween knowledge.  Find out more with the links below: Paintball November 9th Middle School Ministry (The MSM.tv) High School Ministry (The HSM....

There is no new episode this week, we'll be back next week but we're re-airing our most popular episode from 2024 so far in case you missed, our interview with Brandon McComic from all the way back in January.    This week lead pastor Justin Haigler is back to talk with Brandon McComic who shared part of his story in a video, but is here to dive deeper on how an invite to The Simple Church changed...

Host Evan Semanco is one on one with one of most popular guests, Dr. Peri Reed to talk about not being ok. Peri is a professional Christian Counselor who attends the Simple Church, runs a counseling center (Shreveport Counseling and Restoration Center), and is working on her first book!  We talk with Peri to process what it means to not be ok, what do to if you or someone you know is not ok right...

Host Evan Semanco is joined by producer Jordan Phillips and fan favorite guest Greg Walker from the Simple Church Band today to talk about the upcoming Worship Night at the Boardwalk on Sunday, October 27th at 5 pm.  As always Greg goes a lot of different directions, and we hit on him writing songs and part of that creative process, why he loves the worship night atmosphere, and for some reason, l...

Host Evan Semanco is joined by producer Jordan Phillips and special guest Stephen Knight to talk about Stephen's long term involvement at The Simple Church, how he and his wife got connected and became key volunteers and Partners, and why he's decided after 14 years to go on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico in a few weeks. Stephen is honest about his doubts about doing things "right", coming to a...

Host Evan Semanco is solo again this week with producer Jordan Phillips as Scott continues to work on the new space after our Grand Opening. We had an incredible launch and Evan and Jordan recap what happened to get here, share Backstage stories of what was really happening behind the scenes, and talk about you, dear listener, can partner with the Simple Church to #DoGood at our next Partner Party...

No new episode this week with the Grand Opening, but we went back and pulled our most downloaded podcast ever, the big announcement of the move all the way back in April 2023 with Lead Pastor Justin Haigler, Executive Pastor John Haigler, and two Directional Leadership Team Members, Eddie Faith and Bill Allred.  Some things have changed in 17 months, some things will never change and we hope liste...

Host Evan Semanco sits down with producer Jordan Phillips in the midst of a busy week as we get ready for the new Simple Church Building Grand Opening on Sunday, September 15th!  We give you a Backstage look at what's happening as we prepare, what you can expect this Sunday and beyond, and ice cream sandwich recommendations!    LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Video Walkthrough of the New Building Email Eva...

Co-Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco sit down with the newest Simple Church staff member Josh Mitchell for a Backstage look at what led Josh to leading the Middle School Ministry (MSM.tv), his long time connection with The Simple Church, becoming a youth pastor, and more.  If you have a middle schooler in your life, check out the MSM.tv for a service every Sunday at 10 a.m. at the new student mini...

Host Evan Semanco did a special interview with Olympic Weight Lifting Coach Spencer Arnold fresh off the Paris Olympics to share his experiences, how is faith influences his coaching, and talk about the incredible athletes he has worked with including medalists from his gym.  Interested in the Olympics? Want to hear a Backstage perspective from a coach? Enjoy this episode with Spencer Arnold.    ...

Co-Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco are joined today by Life Group Coordinator Amber McDonnold to talk about a new semester of Life Groups with someone who's life has been changed by being in a Life Group, Elaine Tipton! In the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic Elaine realized she needed something different, found The Simple Church Online, got her daughter involved in student ministry, then joined...

Co-Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco are joined today by lead Pastor Justin Haigler to talk with Darryl and Shelly Graham about going to Juarez, Mexico on a family mission trip with their daughter for the first time.  Justin and Scott were also on the trip and they laugh about cutting up, share what getting outside the regular day to day experiences of life did for their family, and tell everyone...

Host Evan Semanco is joined today by fill in co-host Blake Lawson to say goodbye :( Blake is continuing is education at the University of Oregon and is leaving after 5 years serving at The Simple Church, and we reflect on his time here, share some stories and laugh, and throw in some Oregon Duck trivia. We will miss Blake, but are excited for his next chapter and what God's going to do in his life...

Host Evan Semanco is joined today by fill in co-host Blake Lawson to talk to one of our favorite guests, Spud the Ice Cream Man.  There is no one else like Spud, and in today's conversation Spud shares why he drives an ice cream truck and serves schools in retirement, what the Snackbag program means to the schools we partner with, and how you can help #DoGood on Sunday, August 11th at the Boardwal...

Host Evan Semanco is joined today by Simple Church Band Co-Leader Christi Rhodes to talk about the Worship Night and Walk Through at the new buildings Sunday July 28th.  Christi shares some stories from what the last 7 months have been like without live music, what the band is planning in the new building, and some funny stories about attending camp for the first time as an adult and people's comm...

Co-Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco are joined today by Lead Pastor Justin Haigler for Part 2 of the building project update as we talk about our July 28th Worship Night and Walk Through at the new buildings! We catchup with Justin on stories of generosity and people who have worked their tails off to make the progress that has already happened, and Justin explains what is going to happen and eve...

Co-Hosts Scott Odom and Evan Semanco are joined today by Lead Pastor Justin Haigler to give the first podcast building project update since January 2024, and a lot has happened as we move closer to our new home at the Louisiana Boardwalk. We catchup with Justin on stories of generosity and people who have worked their tails off to make the progress that has already happened, and Justin explains wh...

Co-Hosts Evan Semanco and Scott Odom are joined by Dr. Troy White as our first fan joins the podcast! Troy visited The Simple Church for the first time in 2020, and through COVID became one of our most active online participants as well as a podcast completionist going back and listening to every single episode.  We talk to Troy about working in higher education, planning two simultaneous weddings...

Co-Host Evan Semanco is joined today by Robyn Horton, Do Good Pastor at The Simple Church, as well as Doug Warner, who you might know from his time as an anchor on KSLA in Shreveport / Bossier. Doug is an Emmy winning reporter whose segment, "The Good Stuff", lines up with a lot of what we try to do at Simple Church, and Doug has graciously helped Simple Church with videos for years and lending hi...