The EFCA West Podcast

Small and effective? Is it possible? According to the Bible, church history, and the latest research, the answer is a resounding yes! Small churches not only can be effective, but when they see their size, not as a problem to fix, but as part of a strategy Jesus is using to build his church, they become some of the most effective congregations in the world. In this session, Karl Vaters will walk t...

Most church boards experience fairly smooth sailing with only occasional brief turbulence. But when things get really tough, most of us need some guidance in navigating the tough seas. Pulling from his experience in command roles during his policing career and decades of experience in church leadership, Bob Osborne will share some helpful insights about the role of church boards and board members...

Kids will always want to play, and that desire is God-designed. In this session, we’ll explore how play isn’t a break from discipleship but a powerful pathway to wonder, curiosity, connection, and deeper spiritual growth. Discover practical ways to integrate meaningful, joyful play into your ministry so kids can engage God’s truth naturally and wholeheartedly. Grounded in Proverbs 22:6, we’ll reim...

We are a nation of immigrants with a significant ethnic diversity and sometimes challenging immigration status. Our District has the largest amount of immigrant congregations in the EFCA, including the largest Hispanic congregation. How are you (and your Elders) navigating the immigration tension in your own congregation?

There is a lot of confusion in our world when it comes to understanding gender--and for increasing numbers of young people, significant pain in their experience of their own gender. How do we practically, compassionately, and truthfully come alongside young people around us who might be struggling with their own gender identity? In this training session, we will think through these complex questio...

Matthew 19:14 shows us that Jesus welcomed children as true members of His kingdom. This session will help your team shift from simply keeping kids occupied to intentionally discipling them through Scripture, relationships, and purposeful structure. You’ll learn how to strengthen systems, empower volunteers as ministry leaders, and reframe your children’s spaces as holy ground where real spiritual...

If you’ve been in ministry long enough, you’ve experienced chaos or you know it’s coming. Whether you’re navigating turbulence now or preparing for what’s ahead, this class offers practical systems and tactical steps to help your team move from uncertainty to unity, clarity, and renewed energy to stay on mission. Laura Behnke, Director of Operations at Mountain Life Church in Park City, Utah, shar...

Who is the true enemy when it comes to church safety? When you think of this through a biblical approach, the foundation of your church safety program must change. This workshop will cover a variety of topics to include justification of building a team, training, discipleship, structure, responsibilities, and most importantly, the foundation of the team. The goal is for you to walk away with a roa...

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 Every church leader has seen the typical organizational bell curve. Recent church statistics indicate that 65-80% of churches nationwide, have plateaued and are drifting downward – that means they are on the backside of t...

Greg Strand considers the following questions: How do we grow into the likeness of the Son? What are obstacles to spiritual growth? What are the means of grace God uses in our spiritual growth? What is lacking in the normal means of grace that something more is needed or pursued? What is “spiritual formation”? What is its history? Why is there increased interest in spiritual formation? How is the...

Do you work with middle school or high school students? Three seasoned youth workers will share a few encouragements from their combined 70+ years in youth ministry, but much of this hour will be collaborative. Come to connect with others who share your passion and your challenges in reaching the next generation. We’ll discuss best practices, address practical questions, pray together, and be remi...

Un ministerio pastoral efectivo no se hace solo, requiere la colaboración y trabajo en equipo. Es una bendición experimentar un trabajo unificado en visión, misión, propósito y capacidades bajo una pluralidad de lideres y pastores. Pero ¿Qué podemos hacer cuando surgen conflictos internos en el liderazgo de una iglesia a tal punto que paraliza y divide a la iglesia?

La creciente ideología política y el nacionalismo han afectado a nuestra cultura. ¿Cómo podemos navegar los actuales desafíos en una cultura que está afectando nuestra cosmovisión cristiana y el continuo desarrollo de la Gran Comisión?

Nueva Era, Secularismo, Evangelio de la Prosperidad, Redes Sociales. Solo unos pocos “influyentes” que están haciendo nuestro ministerio pastoral menos efectivo cada día. Continuamos siendo desafiados y en peligro de perder a nuestra próxima generación de discípulos en Jesucristo. ¿Cómo podemos navegar esta constante cosmovisión influyendo nuestro ministerio pastoral?

It's no secret that the church at large faces a major shortage of qualified pastors and ministry leaders. This affects all areas from the senior/lead role, student and kids ministry, and even prospective church planters. Thankfully, some churches are responding to this trend by creating in-house residency opportunities. One of those is Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA. In this episode, Residen...

At the time of this recording, the fires are still burning in and around the Los Angeles area. At some point, however, the fires will go out, the news cameras will leave, but the devastation and trauma will remain. This is where EFCA Crisis Response comes in. In this episode, Dan Holman explains to District Superintendent Tim Jacobs how critical trauma care training is, as it equips those who will...

In a city that’s skeptical of church and religious institutions, what’s next for evangelism? Join Katie and Mike from the San Francisco Initiative as they apply lessons from post-Christian Europe, dive into the unique spirituality of San Francisco and offer practical insights for churches and individuals longing to reflect Christ in a post-Christian era.  

The past few decades have seen tremendous strides in church planting... but what about church revitalization? And what is the difference? In this episode, Pastor Andrew Smith from Bridge Church in Fresno, CA, an EFCA West church, talks about his experience over the last seven years of leading an existing church through a revitalization effort. While there are some similarities to church planting,...

Are you a woman or do you know a woman who would love the opportunity to get solid theological training but aren't able to attend seminary or go to a Bible college? EFCA has launched Prepared , an innovative opportunity for women nationwide to grow in their knowledge of theology, hermeneutics, homiletics, and ministry leadership. Director Gloria Grell and Dr. Pam MacRae talk about why this program...

While the refugee crisis that engulfed large regions of Iraq and Syria several years ago has long since disappeared from the news cycle, it remains an ongoing catastrophe. The damage inflicted by ISIS further devastated much of these already war-torn lands, and  unspeakable acts of violence and horror were committed against innocent men, women, and children. These victims are now trying to forge a...

The United States’ recent departure from Afghanistan has resulted in thousands of refugees arriving in the US to be resettled. Their lives have completely upended and they now face the challenge of learning a new language, adopting a new culture, and beginning a new life. It is in times like these that the church has often risen up to care for those who are in vulnerable situations. Tom Shook, alo...

Sometimes the best way to hang in there over the long haul is to hear stories of others who have hit hard times and have prevailed. Pastor Scott McKinney has been pastoring CenterPoint Church in Orem, UT, for over thirty years, and his is one of those stories. When he first arrived back in the 1980's from Southern California, everyone thought he was crazy for taking over a dying church that didn't...

Every single day, untold numbers of people will leave this earth. Some of them will, like the thief on the cross, be with Jesus in paradise “today.” Others, however, will step into a place of punishment and pain that is beyond imagination. As much as we’d rather not think about it, Hell is a real place with which we must contend. In this episode, Greg Strand, director of Theology and Credentialing...

Becoming an excellent preacher is a lifelong process, and taking the time to learn from others is one of the best ways to improve. Darin McWatters, Lead Shepherd at Fullerton Free Church , helps us understand how he prepares sermons that create impact each week. We talk about how Darin "found his voice” as a preacher and how you can as well. Also, he shares with us how he approaches the biblical t...

Have you ever wondered about becoming a chaplain in our nation's armed services? Do you know someone who is thinking about it but not sure whether to take the risk? In this episode, our guests talk about the calling they each received to step into this role, and the amazing opportunities they've had to impact the lives of our men and women in uniform ever since. In addition to being pastors, both...