Placed For A Purpose

No sidewalks? No streetlights? No problem! Tune in as we chat with Ben and Amy, our neighboring ride-or-dies, who've overcome numerous obstacles in their efforts to get to know their neighbors. They share how they saw a group of next-door strangers become a tight-knit community, highlighting the significance of consistent touchpoints in relationship-building, the realities of neighboring fatigue,...

One way we can engage in God’s mission in our neighborhoods is to start a neighborhood Bible Study. So, today we have Jesslyn Adam with Neighbor Bible Study—NBS2GO—a ministry of Cru whose neighborhood Bible Studies have been translated into 50 languages. Jesslyn addresses our potential fears and hesitations by giving us practical How To’s and user-friendly plans which have been used by over 200,00...

Throwing a Block Party is a fantastic way to meet your neighbors or get to know them better. Whatever your context, you can intentionally gather neighbors to celebrate and connect. In one of our most practical episodes yet, we’ll help you think through timing, food, getting the word out, lawn games, trash, music... and best of all, how parties point people to Jesus. Listen to Doug Fields: "It's Ti...

Let's dive into our "How To" series, beginning with the topic of dealing with difficult neighbors. Today, we're joined by our friend and counselor, Austin Conner (MDiv, PLPC). We explore the different types of conflicts that can arise with neighbors, strategies for responding rather than reacting, techniques for managing our trigger reactions, when and how to forgive, and practical tips for de-esc...

In today's episode, we wrap up our series on what it looks like to love God and our neighbors by loving and tending his creation around us. We've talked trees and bees... so today we're talking gardens! And we could think of no better experts on the subject than our very own neighbors, Kevin and Molly Heinz. Theirs isn’t a community garden in the typical sense but it has become a beautiful and int...

Beekeeper, pastor, and neighborhood enthusiast, Dr. Preston Pouteaux, shows us the parallels between beekeeping and neighboring: both are slow, messy, sweaty, painful and sticky… but also delightful. Listen along as we discuss his book, The Bees of Rainbow Falls: Finding Faith, Imagination, and Delight in Your Neighborhood. Trust us, his joy is contagious. You will find yourself wanting to truly k...

Our next few episodes, we’re talking trees, bees, and community gardens… beginning with trees. Prepare to have your mind blown by Dr. Matthew Sleeth, author of Reforesting Faith, as he geeks out over how much God loves trees and how they helped lead him to Christ. You’ll see why Newsweek recognized him as one of the nation’s most influential Christian leaders and how caring for the natural world i...

The rhythm of “repentance and faith” is one in which our love for God and neighbor is renewed. Just as we exhale carbon dioxide and inhale oxygen, we breathe spiritually when we exhale (confess, acknowledge our sin, and embrace repentance) and inhale (experience God’s kindness and love, and receive the Spirit's help for change).  Walk with us for 20 minutes as we use this rhythm to guide our praye...

You’re gonna love this episode because today, we slow down and embrace a small-town mindset. Imagine yourself sitting shotgun in an old truck with author Ronnie Martin as we cruise down rural roads littered with milk cows and John Deere tractors, or sitting on a front porch, drinking iced tea. We chat about the importance of forgiveness, developing a non-anxious presence, and Ronnie tells us wheth...

“Places form our loves.” Today, Ashley Hales, author of Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much, reveals some of the skeletons in our suburban closests. She shows us how our good hungers can become idols which corrupt us, idols like consumerism, individualism, busyness, and safety. But for each of these, she offers hope by providing counterlitergies (new practices) t...

Today we begin a new series on what it looks like to find our place, whether in urban, suburban or rural contexts. We’re joining by Josh Jackaway, Director of Growth for Apartment life, an organization focused on helping the church serve and engage local residents of apartment communities. We discuss some of the challenges of apartment living—especially loneliness–and what it looks like to bring v...

If you’ve just moved, are thinking about a move—or if you’re up for putting yourself in your new neighbors' shoes—in this episode, we’re joined by Susan Miller, known as “America’s moving coach,” President of “Just Moved” Ministry, and Author of “After the Boxes are Unpacked: Moving on after Moving In.” Having moved 13 times, she helps us understand ‘MSM’ (aka: Moving Stress Meltdown), guides us t...

Many cultures tend to categorize “neighboring” and “hospitality” as extroverted and even feminine practices. Brandon Clements debunks these myths and shares how God changed his mind, leading him to co-author the book The Simplest Way To Change The World: Biblical Hospitality As A Way Of Life. In today’s episode, we talk about setting boundaries, making space for quiet in neighborly conversations,...

Sometimes loving our neighbor can feel abstract. Tim Soerens, author of Everywhere You Look: Discovery The Church Right Where You Live joins us to help us understand how connecting to the places we live, our parishes, takes neighboring out of the abstract to a very real dare. As we become more curious about our neighbors, begin noticing where God is at work, and ask him to align our desires for ou...

Today, we’re joined by Cas Monaco, who shares insights from her forthcoming book Gospel Conversations Reimagined (Summer 2024). She serves as the VP of Missiology & Gospel Engagement for Cru's FamilyLife® and is passionate about helping believers engage in meaningful Christ-centered conversations. She explains shifts in mission throughout the years, the influence of secularization on today’s cultu...

With it being the start of a new year, we decided to take this opportunity to provide a Guided Neighborhood Prayer Walk with a focus on new beginnings. Walk with us for 10 minutes through your neighborhood, asking God to lead and guide you into new habits and actions that will help you love your neighbors. You’ll pause to pray for your neighbors, that the Lord would meet them right where they are...

Sleepovers? Yes, sleepovers. Today we invite author and journalist Peter Lovenheim to share the story behind his beautiful book, In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time. Though his neighboring journey in Rochester, NY, was birthed out of tragedy, it’s a story of redemption. Join us in learning from him about the art of observation, the importanc...

Today we’re talking about how to disagree well with our neighbors. Tim Muelhoff, Professor of Communication at Biola University, has given his life’s work to this topic of what he calls Winsome Conviction (also the title of his book we discuss). Through storytelling from his own life and current events, Tim uses practical and Biblical wisdom to help us learn how to dialogue with our neighbors. We...

Should I stay, or should I go? In our highly mobile culture, it can be challenging to stay in one place and put down deep roots. In today’s episode we’re joined by Alan Briggs, author of Staying Is The New Going. We discuss the benefits of longevity, faithful presence, the glory of the mundane, and the risks of being rooted. Briggs explains “incarnational ministry” and what it can look like to hav...

🎶Surprise, Surprise 🎶 Whether you’re ready or not, December is here. That means the Christmas season is upon us. With full schedules and high expectations for the holidays, loving our neighbors can feel like an add-on. Listen for some holiday perspective on being present and 4 steps for how we can love our neighbors this advent season. As we show up at home, prayerfully we’ll hit January feeling...

In this episode, David Burton, who serves as a Community Development Specialist for the University of Missouri, joins us to talk about becoming an engaged neighbor in our neighborhoods. He also shares his neighboring journey about how went from thinking he was a good neighbor—and realizing he wasn't—to actually becoming an engaged neighbor. SHOW NOTES: Engaged Neighbor Pledge Asset Based Community...

With it being Thanksgiving week, we decided to take this opportunity to provide a Guided Neighborhood Prayer Walk with a focus on gratitude. Walk with us for 10 minutes through your neighborhood, thanking God for the beauty of your surroundings—whether the natural creation or man made buildings. You’ll pause to thank God for your home and your neighbors, praying that you would be blessed to be a b...

In today's episode, we talk with Michael Graham, program director for The Tim Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics and co-author of the book, The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? We talk about the 40 million Americans who've dechurched (attended church at least once/month and now attend less than once/year) and the surprising #1 reas...

Today we welcome Dave Runyon, or as we like to call him, "the Godfather of Neighboring." We discuss what it's like to experience tension with our neighbors, forgiveness, and what it means to be our real, authentic selves. Dave also talks about the deeper conversations that have come from sharing his "top ten" list of parenting values with neighbors. Buy his book Art of Neighboring if you haven't a...

SUMMARY: In today's episode Kelly Kapic joins us to talk about his book, You Are Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News and how we can live within our limits as human beings and also find the time and space to show and share the love of Jesus with our next-door neighbors. SHOW NOTES: You Are Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good New...