Future Christian

Every church tells a story. The question is: Is it the right one? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with sociologist Joel Thiessen about The Stories Congregations Tell, a research project exploring why some churches flourish through seasons of transition while others struggle. Drawing on case studies from congregations across Canada, Thiessen argues that the stories churches tell about the...

Why do church search committees so often struggle to find the right pastor? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with novelist Michelle Huneven about her acclaimed novel Search, a witty and surprisingly insightful look at the dynamics of a church pastoral search committee. Although fictional, the novel captures many of the real-world challenges congregations face as they discern leadership, n...

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life—and what role should the church play in helping people navigate it? In this episode, Loren welcomes theologian, pastor, and AI thought leader Christopher Benek for a conversation about artificial intelligence, spiritual formation, ethics, and the future of the church. Drawing on more than a decade of work at the intersection o...

What does it mean to stay at the table when disagreement, division, and distrust seem to be everywhere? In this episode, talks with Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), about her book Staying at the Table: Being the Church We Say We Are. Drawing on her experience as a denominational leader, pastor, and former corporate executive, Hord...

Why did religion decline in America—and was it really driven by hostility toward faith? In this episode, Loren talks with sociologist Christian Smith about his book Why Religion Went Obsolete and the cultural, technological, and institutional changes that reshaped American religion over the last several decades. Smith, well known for coining the term “moralistic therapeutic deism,” argues that rel...

What happens when artificial intelligence goes to church? In this episode, Loren talks with pastor, missiologist, and researcher Todd Korpi about his book AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence and the opportunities—and dangers—AI presents for faith communities. Drawing from missiology, theology, and digital ministry research, Todd argues that AI is not merely a technical i...

What if church buildings are far more valuable to communities than most people realize? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Bob Jaeger, co-founder and president of Partners for Sacred Places, about the future of church buildings, the hidden economic impact of congregations, and why sacred spaces still matter in an era of church decline. Drawing from decades of work helping congregations...

What if the story we’ve been told about Anne Boleyn is missing the most important part? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Martha Tatarnic—priest, author, and co-host of the podcast—about her new book Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History and the overlooked role Anne played in shaping the English Reformation. Drawing from historical research a...

What happens when a pastor realizes they’re going through the motions—but not actually experiencing God? In this episode, Loren talks with Rev. Dr. Katherine Willis Pershey about faith, formation, and the unexpected influence of Eugene Peterson on her life and ministry. Drawing from her own journey across multiple Christian traditions, Katherine reflects on the tension between justice, belief, and...

What if the early church wasn’t built primarily on teaching ideas—but on forming people together in the way of Jesus? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with Dr. John Lewis about his book Discernment in the Early Church and Today and what we’ve misunderstood about the Apostle Paul. Drawing from deep study of Paul’s writings and decades of practical ministry, Lewis challenges the tendency to tr...

What’s really driving polarization in our churches—and how can leaders respond without getting pulled into the chaos? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. sits down with Jack Shatama to explore how family systems theory helps make sense of rising anxiety, division, and reactivity in both the church and society. Drawing on insights from sociology, leadership theory, and pastoral experience, Jack off...

What does it mean to lead the church in a time when the old maps no longer work—and the future feels uncertain? In this episode, Loren talks with Alan Roxburgh about leadership, the “great unraveling,” and why the church may be entering a prolonged “dark night” rather than a season of quick renewal. Drawing from Scripture, particularly the book of Jeremiah, Roxburgh challenges the assumption that...

What does it mean to center the life of the church around the table—and why has the Eucharist so often been pushed to the margins? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Rev. Dr. Jarrod Longbons about cultivating a Eucharistic movement in the modern church. Drawing from theology, liturgical practice, and pastoral experience, Longbons invites leaders to reconsider how worship has shifted to...

What does it really take to engage younger generations—and why do so many of our assumptions about them fall short? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with sociologist Dr. Josh Packard about his book Faithful Futures and what churches often misunderstand about Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Drawing from years of research, Packard challenges the tendency to reduce younger generations to stereotypes an...

What does it mean to live faithfully in a world that rewards conformity—and why might the Christian life feel “weird”? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with Aaron Miller about what it looks like to follow Jesus in a way that resists cultural expectations and embraces a more intentional, embodied faith. Drawing from his ministry experience and writing, Aaron reframes “weird” not as something...

What can sports rivalries and cultural moments reveal about leadership, character, and the values that shape us? In this episode, Loren and Martha take a conversational turn that begins with sports, competition, and cultural dynamics—but quickly opens into deeper reflections on character, leadership, and community. What starts as a lighthearted discussion about sports rivalries between Canada and...

What does it mean to belong to God when the structures of faith you once trusted begin to fall apart? In this episode, Loren talks with Kara Root—pastor, spiritual director, and author of The Deepest Belonging and A Pilgrimage into Letting Go—about faith, loss, and the surprising ways God rebuilds belief when certainty collapses. Drawing from her own journey through the unraveling of a ministry-ce...

How did contemporary praise and worship develop—and who is shaping what the church sings today? In this episode, Loren talks with Kelsey McGinnis to explore the evolution of modern worship, the lingering effects of the “worship wars,” and the growing influence of the worship industry on local congregations. They discuss how large-scale production and publishing networks shape song selection and th...

What does Gen Z really believe about God? And what are they actually asking? In this episode, Loren talks with Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for Generational Impact at Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God. Tanita offers a compelling case for cultural apologetics—understanding the lens through which Gen Z asks timeless questions like “Is God good?” She also c...

What happens when pastors care for everyone else—but neglect their own soul? In this episode, Loren talks with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding and co-authors of Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God’s Great Empathy for You. Together, they explore why emotional health is not optional for Christian leaders—and why empathy begins with receiving God’s love, not just offeri...

Why should we still be planting churches—and what should church planting look like in a rapidly changing world? In this episode, Loren is joined by Len Tang, Director of the Church Planting Initiative at Fuller Seminary, for a wide-ranging conversation about mission, formation, and the future of church planting. Drawing on his experience planting churches and training planters across diverse conte...

What if the future of the church isn’t found in choosing between old and new—but in learning how both can flourish together? In this episode, Loren is joined by Dwight Zscheile and Blair Pogue for a wide-ranging conversation about their book, Embracing the Mixed Ecology, and what it means to form Christian communities in a changing world. Drawing on their experience in congregational leadership, t...

What does it mean to remain faithful to a calling when the church itself says no? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic is joined by Rose Hudson‑Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, for a wide-ranging conversation rooted in her memoir, The Girl from Montego Bay. Drawing on her journey from a childhood in Jamaica to episcopal leadership in the Church of England, Bishop Rose reflects on poverty, belonging, the disco...

What does it mean to lead faithfully when change is unavoidable—and grief is real? In this episode, Loren is joined by Rev. Dr. Josh Hayden for a deeply honest conversation about remissioning churches and navigating loss. Drawing from his work with congregations across denominations—and from his own experience of profound personal grief—Josh reflects on what it means to embrace change that is root...

What does it mean to worship faithfully in a digital age when church participation is no longer limited to a physical room? In this episode, Loren is joined by Michael Huerter to talk about hybrid church, online worship, and how technology is reshaping participation in Christian life. Drawing from Michael’s experience in worship leadership and digital ministry, the conversation explores how the pa...