Growing Together

How do we help people move from confusion to clarity—not by rushing in with advice, but by listening well and asking the right questions? In this episode of Growing Together, Chris talks with Vincent Tauriello about his new book, Drawing Out the Heart: Theological Foundations for Sound Coaching Practice. Built around Proverbs 20:5, Vincent explores coaching as a deeply biblical way of loving our n...

Teología para la Vida is a Spanish-language podcast from MNA Hispanic Ministries, sharing Scripture-faithful content with Hispanic churches across the U.S. & Latin America, believing deep theology leads to greater understanding, deeper worship, and joyful obedience. We’ll be talking with Luis Garcia, pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Corpus Christi, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, who hosts the podcast...

Often, when a church endures trauma and loses leaders and members, there may be no other choice but to close the doors. One option to consider is replanting where a church reverts to mission status, has the presbytery form a provisional session, and begin again. This is the path that Hope Presbyterian in Bloomington, IN took as they became King’s Cross. While challenging, this is a great opportuni...

American chaplains serve in diverse contexts: military, healthcare, correctional, educational, and even corporate contexts, blending compassion and counseling, to meet people where they are, often in their most vulnerable moments.

How easy is it to welcome the newcomer to your church? How soon can they feel at home? If the newcomer is a South Sudanese Pentecostal church, we might recognize it can take some time. Friendly Hills Presbyterian Church in Jamestown, NC, opened its doors and hearts to The Great Commission International Church. In time, the pastor, John Nyuon, desired to be a Presbyterian and bring his church into...

To live is to endure change. As pastors, we are agents of change, yet we are personally averse to change. When life’s transitions come, we are often ill-equipped to adjust. Whether pastor or parishioner, we need to navigate the phases of transitions, whether ending and beginning a new call, changes in our families, or stepping out of our vocation. Our conversation with Vincent Tauriello looks at b...

Evangelism leads to discipleship, and discipleship should lead to new leaders. The health of a church's leaders, particularly the ordained leaders, is an essential task. Jon Stoddard, in West Jordan, UT, has written a book helping pastors to think biblically about equipping leaders. You can purchase the book, Lead My Sheep, in the PCA Bookstore .

The next 10 years will bring significant shifts in ministry, society, demographics, and technology. How will the PCA navigate these changes? Looking Forward Together is an event to equip young leaders to not just react to these changes but to proactively shape the future of our denomination. On this podcast, we will be joined by Harrison Ford and Marissa Bondurant, who are part of the planning tea...

There are many ways a church can engage its community. Trinity Presbyterian in Cedar Rapids, IA, does so by offering English classes to immigrants, partnering with other churches, and raising future leaders through their internship program. This young church demonstrates that a church need not be well-established to make a difference. Any church can be an outward-facing congregation. Listen in to...

While every church should be engaged in ongoing renewal, revitalization is the intentional effort to grow in both inward-facing church life and outward-facing community engagement. A church must flourish to nourish and disciple its members and reach its community. This work requires distinct skills when one serves in a rural community or small town. Tune into the conversation with Erik McDaniel, p...

While today’s culture of individualism rejects institutional entities, the church is God’s counter-cultural, redemptive institution that best meets our deepest needs. On this episode of Growing Together, we will talk with Brad Edwards about his new book, The Reason for Church, and hear how the church, as the Bride of Christ, is the necessary institution that alone can answer the longings of weary...

While immigration is a hot topic in today’s news, God’s Word, in Deuteronomy 10:19 instructs us to love the stranger, for we were strangers in the land of Egypt. Today, more people than ever live in a country other than where they were born. MNA’s Refugee and Immigration Ministry assists our churches in welcoming the immigrant and refugee, providing hope that only the gospel can offer. For more in...

A church plant is borne out of the hope that God's Word will not return void. Therefore, sharing the gospel with folks is key to any church plant. Hope Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs, MS is a great example of listening, loving, and sharing the gospel with those who need Christ. For more information:   masthorn@icloud.com   https://www.planthopeos.org/ .

Steve Jeantet transitioned from being an Executive Pastor in Sarasota, FL, to planting a church in that community. While his pastoral role changed, his engagement in his community remained consistent. Listen to how his passion became an avenue for evangelism and discipleship. 

Communities are often ill-prepared when a natural disaster strikes. Into that need steps MNA’s Disaster Response to support PCA churches in disaster-affected communities through a network of staff and volunteer damage assessment teams, first response teams, site managers, and key leaders. In light of recent hurricanes on the East Coast and fires on the West Coast, Disaster Response brings help and...

Planting a church often brings a diverse collection of people together. That is even more the case when the planter is from India, his wife is from Korea, and the new work is in Seattle, WA among high-skilled immigrant works in the tech industry. Listen to Sagar Mekwan's story of what God is doing to build his church in Seattle. For more information:   https://give.pcamna.org/to/eastside-chur...

Launching a daughter church is no simple task. As with parenting, birthing a new church can be fraught with anxiety and conflict and with joy and celebration. When parenting a plant, churches need to consider the costs and benefits, and having a good midwife certainly helps. If the PCA had a midwife or doula, it would be Ted Powers, Director of The Midwest Alliance. He’s overseen countless plants...

Nearly one out of every 100 people in the United States are imprisoned or jailed. Over the past generation, those numbers have doubled, with the US having the largest number of prisoners in the world. What might be our role to proclaim Christ, disciple prisoners, and be better equipped to serve prisoners and their families? Metanoia exists for the work of biblically faithful prison ministry. To le...

When one says a church needs revitalization, people often picture a congregation needing urgent care or, worse, hospice. Renewal is a result of being revitalized, which every church should seek. Lampstand, a ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, comes into this space. Lampstand offers resources for church planting, church revitalization, and church acceleration. Join th...

Every phase of church life has its challenges. Gathering people to begin a new work, launching public worship, moving from a mission work to an organized congregation all present their own difficulties. What is often overlooked is the next hurdle, often described as the “solidification stage,” the time when there is a transition to a shared form of leadership through the creation of a session.   T...

Between the Pew, a podcast of African American Ministries and hosted by Kellie Brown and Charles McKnight, is a conversation among African Americans in the PCA, sharing stories of engaging, surviving, and thriving in the PCA. Join this interchange between two PCA podcasts to discover new insights into the experiences of others in our denomination so that we can grow together. Learn more about AAM...

While in the US we have an abundance of great options for equipping pastors, there will always remain a need for new options to reach new opportunities. ThirdMill has recently rolled out a seminary platform so men can learn locally and be ordained in the PCA. Join us for a discussion with Dr. Greg Perry, President of ThirdMill Seminary, Ben Hooper, a pastor at Restoration Southside in Chattanooga,...

Church planting is a marathon, not a sprint. However, supporting churches and presbyteries too often expect the plant to achieve self-sustaining status quickly. What if the planter establishes a physical presence in a facility early on? That space becomes an incubator out of which a church can grow. Join Dan Millward from The Detroit Project as he shares a model for planting that answers challenge...

There are many places in North America where churches in small towns and rural communities struggle to find a pastor. One option that is being pursued is that of Town and Country Church Development. Hear how Zach Byrd in Mississippi Valley Presbytery is reaching Hinds County, west of Jackson, MS, by pastoring two churches, one in the county seat of Raymond and another out in the country. How might...

Does pastoral ministry always require it to be a full-time job? Throughout history and in most parts of the world, the pastoral vocation may include another line of work. Many pastors are bi-vocational…but not many in Presbyterian circles. Being bi-vocational or co-vocational is a viable option to reach a community in ways not available to one serving as a full-time minister. Join us as we explore...