Blackhawk Church Next Steps

Pastors Chris Kopp, Matt Metzger, and Adam Penning sit down to talk about what it actually looks like to share your faith with the people around you. They share their own first experiences, the nerves that never fully go away, and what it means to play the long game in relationships. Whether you're not sure where to start or just need a little encouragement to take a step, this conversation is for...

Pastor Chris sits down with Pastor Daniel Owen and JP Heres for a behind-the-scenes look at Alpha, a conversational space where people can explore faith, ask honest questions, and belong before they believe. They share stories about how God has been working through Alpha recently and how you can be part of it. Resources The Hub - https://blackhawk.church/hub/ Alpha - https://blackhawk.church/event...

Pastors Matt Metzger, Joel Hassenzahl, and Tiffany Malloy talk about what it looks like for Blackhawk to be an outward-facing church and our vision of reaching our city with the gospel. Why do we design our services with people who aren't Christ-followers in mind? What's the point of invite events? And what role does each of us play ? This conversation is about the vision behind the way we do chur...

Pastors Chris Kopp and Tiffany Malloy introduce Making Space , a new series on spiritual practices for life today. They share the vision behind the series, what six practices you can expect, and what they hope it does in our community. Resources The Hub | Blackhawk Church Have questions or topics you'd like us to explore in future episodes? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at podcast@bl...

We are wrapping up our Exodus series with another round of Q+A. They dig into the golden calf story, what set the Levites apart, why their response was really an act of allegiance in a civil war, and how to make sense of God commanding violence right alongside "do not murder." Pastor Charles also unpacks a key shift between the Old and New Testaments and why Jesus changed everything. Resources Exo...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Emilie Shields, Associate Director of BKids, and Kaylee George, BKids Fitchburg Coordinator, to talk about what happens behind the scenes of BKids on Sunday mornings. They share what they love about the ministry, some of the harder parts of the work, and how you can get involved through praying or serving. Resources Blackhawk Kids - https://black...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Susan Demel, Director of Blackhawk Impact Ministry, and Adam Penning, Pastor of Blackhawk Downtown, to talk about how God is using Blackhawk locally, nationally, and globally. Adam also shares recent stories from partnerships with local organizations in downtown Madison. Resources Blackhawk Impact Ministry - h ttps://blackhawk.church/serve/commun...

If you've ever felt exhausted by caring, you're not alone, and you're not failing. In this episode, Anne Kierce, Pastor of Care, and Alicia Penning, Associate Director of Care, talk honestly about compassion fatigue: the signs, the causes, and what to do when the weight of caring for others starts to feel like too much. From setting boundaries to giving yourself permission to rest, this conversati...

Some struggles don't show up on the surface, but they're there. In this episode, Anne Kierce, Pastor of Care, and Alicia Penning, Associate Director of Care, open an honest conversation about the experiences people in our community may keep silent about: mental health, loneliness, and relationship strain. They explore why these topics can feel taboo in church, why depression and anxiety aren't fai...

Have you ever frozen when someone shares something hard, unsure of what to say? Anne Kierce, Pastor of Care Ministry, and Alicia Penning, Associate Director of Care Ministry, share why our instinct to "fix it" often misses the mark, and what people actually need in their most painful moments. From helpful phrases to the words that hurt even when well-intentioned, this episode gives you practical t...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Anne Kierce, Pastor of Care, and Alicia Penning, Associate Director of Care, to talk about Care Ministry at Blackhawk. What does the Care team actually do? They share what care ministry is, how God led them to it, and who makes up the team (the answer might surprise you). Whether you've walked through a hard season and found support at Blackhawk...

In this episode, host Chris Kopp walks through the days of Holy Week and then leads you through an immersive retelling of the events from the perspective of the Apostle Peter. As we head into Easter, this is an invitation to slow down, step into the story, and reflect on the significance of the season ahead. Resources Easter at Blackhawk | h ttps://blackhawk.church/easter/ The Hub | https://blackh...

We're a month into our Exodus series, and you had questions. Hosts Chris Kopp and Tiffany Malloy sit down with Pastor Charles Yu for a Q&A on Exodus, covering why tribalism feels so instinctive, how to notice systemic oppression when it doesn't affect you directly, how to pursue justice without losing your witness, and why God seems drawn to passionate but deeply flawed people. Resources Exodu...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Michael Knapstad and Grace Miller to talk about college ministry and internships at Blackhawk. What's the college landscape looking like right now? What are students hungry for? And why do these years matter so much? You'll hear about the deep hunger students have for real, honest, and convicting teaching, how quickly what connects with college s...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Charles Huang, the pastor of our Blackhawk Chinese Ministry. Listen in as he shares the origin story of the Chinese ministry here at Blackhawk, some highlights from this past year, and how we can be praying for their ministry in the season ahead. Resources Blackhawk Chinese Ministry The Hub | Blackhawk Church Have questions or topics you'd like u...

In this Behind the Scenes episode, we sit down with Ben Knox and Micah Howard to talk all things middle school and high school ministry. What's really going on in the lives of students right now? What pressures are they facing? What are they hungry for? You'll hear stories of how God is moving in powerful ways among middle and high schoolers, why this generation is more spiritually curious than we...

What is Lent, and why does it matter? Whether you grew up observing it, you've never heard of it, or it felt more like an obligation than an invitation, this episode is for you. Tiffany Malloy and Chris Kopp talk about the history of Lent, what Ash Wednesday is all about, and practical ways to observe this season as we head toward Easter. Resources Falling into Goodness: Daily Readings for Lent |...

We're diving into a 13-week series on the book of Exodus. In this episode, pastor Charles Yu shares all about the series: why Exodus, how he hopes it will form us as a community, and why Exodus is the second-most foundational book of the entire Bible. Resources Bearing God's Name : Why Sinai Still Matters | Carmen Joy Imes Exodus Overview | BibleProject Classroom The Exodus Way | BibleProject Podc...

We’re back for another season of the Next Steps Podcast! Pastors Matt, Charles, and Tiffany kick off 2026 by looking back on how God moved in 2025 and sharing what they're excited about in the year ahead. You'll hear stories, highlights, and ways to join us in prayer for our Blackhawk Church family. Don’t miss the Year in Review for more stories: https://blackhawk.church/year-in-review-2025/ Have...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, we’re entering into Advent together. We will explore what Advent is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it. We’ll also hear from worship leaders as they guide us through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In this episode, Christian Eggers talks with worship leaders Hannah Busse and Trevor Kleinmeyer about Advent’s theme of love and the practice of be...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, we’re entering into Advent together. We will explore what Advent is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it. We’ll also hear from worship leaders as they guide us through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In this episode, Christian Eggers talks with worship leaders Hannah Busse and Trevor Kleinmeyer about Advent’s theme of joy and the practice of rej...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, we’re entering into Advent together. We will explore what Advent is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it. We’ll also hear from worship leaders as they guide us through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In this episode, Christian Eggers talks with worship leaders Matt Wilhelm and Isaiah Wu about Advent’s theme of peace and the call to be peacemaker...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, we’re entering into Advent together. We will explore what Advent is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it. We’ll also hear from worship leaders as they guide us through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In this episode, Christian Eggers talks with worship leaders Matt Wilhelm and Isaiah Wu about Advent’s theme of hope in seasons of waiting and long...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, we're entering into Advent together. We will explore what Advent is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it. We’ll also hear from worship leaders as they guide us through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. In this first episode, we're asking the most basic question: What is Advent? Hosts Christian Eggers and Tiffany Malloy talk through the meaning and...

This season on the Next Steps Podcast, hosts Chris Kopp and Tiffany Malloy go deeper into  Greater Things , our series on Colossians. Together, they’ll explore what true spiritual growth looks like and how God invites us into greater things through Christ. In this bonus episode, Tiffany and Pastor Charles Yu take a closer look at the household codes in Colossians, a passage that’s often misun...