The EFCA West Podcast

This episode is from an EFCA West First Wednesday Worskshop with Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of Society and Religion at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, CA. The result was an extremely practical and informative discussion on how to minister effectively to those facing issues of same-sex attraction, intersexuality, and gender dysphoria. In addition to being the world of academia, Dr. Stumpf is al...

It is true that the closer you get to something, the more complicated it becomes. Alex Rivero, EFCA West's Director of All People Ministries, and Tim Jacobs discuss what they learned during a recent trip to the border along with ten other EFCA pastors and leaders. Traveling with Abara Ministries , the team had the opportunity to be briefed by members of the United States Border Patrol, as well as...

This episode is designed to give you a taste of what you can expect in our upcoming EFCA West cohorts starting in March. Click here to register for the Elder Board Cohort and here for the Mid-Level Leader Cohort. Each cohort will consist of five two-hour sessions and is designed to leverage the benefits of peer-level learning, relationship building, and practical insights so that you can become be...

Bill Riedel founded Redemption Hill Church back in 2010 with a vision to carry the Gospel to the most powerful city in the world, and he and his family live within walking distance of the Capitol. At the time of this recording he was notified that his church building has fallen within the barricades set up to guard our elected officials from credible threats of attack. In addition to planting Rede...

While 2020 has been all about the pandemic and the presidential election (among other things), the controversial issue of immigration in America remains one of our nation's most pressing challenges. Because of this, the EFCA has launched an innovative, church-based solution that provides help at the local level. In this episode, Diane Martinez, Executive Director of Immigrant Hope in Santa Barbara...

So much has been written and discussed about multiplying churches in the United States but in reality so few are actually doing it. However, in this episode Matt Larson teaches us what it looks like to multiply leaders and churches in a very strategic and yet organic way. Not only is Matt the Founding Pastor of Anthem Church in Thousand Oaks, CA, but he has also started the Anthem Family of Church...

Everyone knows the church isn’t a building. But, when planned for wisely, buildings can be tremendous tools for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. And even though the current pandemic has forced us to think beyond church buildings (a good thing in many ways), land and buildings will continue to be a vital part of ministry in the future. In this episode, Scott Achterling, President and CEO of C...

This is the audio version of a Wednesday Workshop called Post-Election Reflections with Kevin Kompelien, president of the Evangelical Free Church of America , and Jack Hamilton, who spent decades as the executive pastor of High Desert Church in Victorville, CA, and now mentors pastors all over the United States. We talk about the thoughts and emotions that those in our congregations are experienci...

Brian Chan, Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Church in Burbank, CA, (EFCA) has extensively studied the theology of beauty and even written a book on the subject called  The Purple Curtain . In this episode we answer questions such as: What is beauty and why are we attracted to it in the first place? Why do churches, except in the area of music, seem to underutilize the arts? And what makes so many Christia...

What can a missionary to Berlin, Germany, teach us about how to approach ministry in our respective areas? As it turns out, quite a lot! The Berlin City Team Leader for ReachGlobal has had to figure out how the Gospel relates to a very cosmopolitan and secular metropolis. One the most common responses she gets from German friends who find out she's a Christian is, "You still believe that?" Her exp...

This episode was recorded in January 2020 but is as relevant as ever. It's no secret that elder boards and leadership teams can be full of conflict, frustration, and stagnation. But the problem is often not the people, it's the system: a bad system can even turn the best people against each other! Bob Osborne, Director of Church Health for EFCA West, has been an elder at the same church for over 4...

This episode explores the "science of engagement" and answers the question, "How can we as speakers hold our listener's attention?" Omar Rivas ( www.omarrivas.com ) is a professional public speaking coach and engagement expert who trains CEO's and other business leaders to become better communicators. He is also contracted by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army to teach chaplains and other person...

This has got to be one of the hardest times in American history to be in local church leadership, and the upcoming election and current political climate is only adding fuel to the fire. This episode is a recording of a "Wednesday Workshop" on Zoom from September 2, 2020, with Larry Osborne of North Coast Church. Larry helps us understand how to navigate the political landscape with wisdom and bol...

Believe it or not, there was a time when the church you are in now was nothing more than a dream in someone's mind! But whoever it was that started it could never have done it alone - others had to help. In fact, the EFCA itself started as a church planting movement. Even our mission statement begins with the word "Multiply." So in this episode, Andrew Hoffman, EFCA Director of Church Multiplicati...

Earning an EFCA credential can bring tremendous value to not only a ministry leader, but an entire congregation. However, pursuing one understandably often gets put on the back burner. Greg Strand, Executive Director of Theology and Credentialing for EFCA, explains why it's not just the destination, but the journey of going through this process that can strengthen both the doctrinal integrity and...

In this episode you'll hear from two experts in the field of finances for pastors and church leaders. What is the difference between a 403b and a "church plan" 403b? Should you opt out of social security, and how does that affect your medicare eligibility? What should pastors be thinking about as they approach retirement? Ric Stanghelle and Jerry Rich, President and Vice President of FCMM respecti...

Between Twitter, TikTok, and now a global pandemic, is this the hardest time ever to be an effective preacher? How can we get people who have the attention span of a gnat to actually want to listen to our sermons? Dr. Lucas O'Neill, Professor of Homiletics at TEDS, teaches us how to create tension, effectively outline, and move seamlessly from one thought to the next. His recent book,  Preaching t...