the GC Collective Podcast

CSBC is fresh off the May Executive Board Meeting and Champions Retreat, and there’s a lot to celebrate across California. In this episode Sarah and Pete unpack key updates from the board meeting, share the latest on the CSBC office transition, talk about rising baptism numbers in the state, and highlight the impact church planters and sending churches are making through the Cooperative Program. ...

This week, the CSBC team has been gathered at the Champions Retreat celebrating the church planters, sending churches, and faithful ministry champions who are helping reach California for Christ. In honor of that important work, we’re re-releasing a previous conversation between Jason Robertson, Sarah Graham, and special guest Will Browning exploring the difference between a church planter and a r...

Fresh off the Cooperative Program Summit in Dallas, Pete Ramirez unpacks what Southern Baptists are actually thinking about CP, and what it means for the road ahead. A new, in-depth survey reveals that most of our churches still believe in the mission, even as economic strain reshapes giving patterns. Through it all, the Cooperative Program continues to stand as a powerful testimony of what happen...

What if some of the most impactful missions work in our churches has been happening quietly all along? In this episode, we sit down with Sandra Hughes to unpack the heart, history, and ongoing impact of WMU, an often unseen force helping shape generations for missional/gospel work. From kids’ discipleship to supporting missionaries across the globe, this conversation will challenge you to see your...

We all know someone living with gender identity and/or sexual orientation issues and it’s tough to know if or how to talk about it. This week on the GC Collective Podcast, special guest Marshelle Wilburn helps us step into one of the most challenging conversations facing the church today. From understanding key terms to navigating real-life situations in our churches and families, this episode off...

Jonathan Keller is welcomed back to the podcast to talk about a surprising Supreme Court ruling that could have major implications for California families, parental rights, and Christian conviction in the public square. The conversation also takes a thoughtful look at a timely new ERLC resource on assisted reproductive technologies and why pastors and church leaders need to be ready for these conv...

The podcast welcomes guest Pete Aguirre (Detective Sergeant, San Fernando PD; U.S. Army veteran) to talk through church protection in California: real-world scenarios, how churches can respond, and what SB 1454 means for security teams—volunteer or paid. We also cover what it means to trespass on private property and why training assumptions can get churches in trouble.  - Got an episode idea? Ema...

In this special episode, we’re bringing back a familiar feature — 7 Questions . It’s been a while, but it felt like the right moment to sit down and let you hear directly from the two men elected to serve our convention this year. First, we spend time with Vice President Grant Bennett, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Bakersfield. You’ll hear his heart for prayer, revival, shepherding, and d...

The CSBC Executive Board just wrapped its first meeting of the year, and there’s a lot to be encouraged by. In this Board Recap episode, we share key highlights from board week: reports from our partner institutions (CBU, Gateway Seminary, and the Baptist Foundation of California), the launch of a new CSBC missions and ministry endowment, and a clear snapshot of where we landed financially for 202...

In this episode of The GC Collective, we sit down with one of our own California-born, California-sent IMB missionaries serving in Central Asia—sharing his story under an alias for security reasons. After more than a decade of gospel work in one of the most unreached regions of the world, he was unexpectedly barred from returning to his country of service, leaving his family, church, and ministry...

In this special recap episode of the GC Collective Podcast, we reflect on a handful of conversations from 2025 that together represent the breadth of what we’ve explored this year: the realities pastors face at home, the importance of caring for emotional and spiritual health, the opportunity of California as a global mission field, the challenge of engaging culture with biblical clarity, and the...

In this end-of-the-year episode, Pete Ramirez, Sarah Graham, and Marc Tempesta sit down to look back on a landmark year for California Southern Baptists. From a powerful overseas moment that put Christmas hope in sharp focus, to a growing movement of prayer gatherings across the state, to fresh stories of generosity through Cooperative Program, this year-end conversation celebrates how God has bee...

Disaster Relief had a year like no other, at home, across the nation, and around the world. In this episode, Kendrick Neal joins us at the table for a candid conversation about what God has been doing through California Southern Baptist DR volunteers who just keep showing up. From unexpected partnerships to moments of Gospel impact that still surprise even our seasoned teams, Kendrick walks us thr...

Most churches don’t think about their bylaws…until something goes wrong. In this episode, Pete and Sarah sit down with “ordained attorney” and longtime ministry leader Phil Kell to unpack why bylaws, boards, membership records, and minutes are not just “paperwork,” but essential tools for protecting your church, your people, and your Gospel witness. If you’ve ever wondered who really has authority...

Get ready for a quick listen! Recorded live from the International Family Festival at New Vision Church in Milpitas, this episode shares the energy and encouragement of our CSBC Annual Meeting. Join Sarah, Pete, and Jason as they reflect on key moments, celebrate God’s work across California, and look ahead with unity, both in prayer and on mission. Big thanks to New Vision Church and their volunt...

In this episode of The GC Collective , Bay Area Send City Missionary James Westbrook joins Sarah Graham and Francis Chung for a thought-provoking conversation on how globalization is transforming the landscape of ministry in California. From the shifting identities of urban and rural churches to the call for pastors to think like missionaries, James challenges leaders to see the Great Commission n...

Annual Meeting is here! We preview everything you need for Milpitas including registration tips, Pastors’ Conference details, major business items on the docket, must-do auxiliary events, the new CSBC app rollout, exhibit hall hours, and the family festival. Register messengers & guests at https://csbc.com/2025-annual-meeting/ *To clarify what was said in the podcast: Our Annual Meeting dates...

Pete Ramirez, Sarah Graham and Jason Robertson assemble to launch Season 3 from our new GC Collective studio. We recap listening sessions with church planters, share highlights from the Executive Board meeting, and offer a preview of the CSBC Annual Meeting in Milpitas. Hear about the 2026 $5.1M CP objective, why decentralizing CSBC’s headquarters strengthens ministry statewide, and how churches a...

Wondering if you should opt back in to social security? How should churches and pastors think about retirement, Medicare, and long-term planning, especially for younger leaders just getting started and for seasoned pastors who feel behind? Season two wraps with a practical, boots-on-the-ground conversation every church needs. Sarah and Jason welcome CSBC CFO Marc Tempesta to talk about the “dollar...

Burnout, anxiety and depression are real struggles church leaders face. On this episode, Pete and Sarah talk with Pastor Chuck Padilla, a discipleship pastor and licensed therapist. With decades of experience in ministry and counseling, Chuck brings a deeply practical and deeply biblical perspective to the conversation around mental health in ministry, and about how leaders can spot the warning si...

Welcome back to a lively conversation mixed with gratitude, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes history as Pete and Sarah welcome former CSBC Communications Director Terry Barone to the table. Together, they celebrate the impact of California Mission Offering (CMO) dollars while Terry shares decades of insights on promoting CMO well, funny mishaps from his video production days, with a few moving...

Every church experiences seasons of growth, plateau, and sometimes decline. In this episode, Sarah and Jason invite Dr. Jimbo Stewart (yes, we said Jimbo) from the North American Mission Board’s Replant Team to talk about what it looks like to lead with wisdom through each stage. Learn about Renew California, a new network designed to help churches assess their current season and move forward with...

In this lively episode, the podcast gets both of CSBC’s ethnic ambassadors in one room—and the conversation doesn’t disappoint. Mark Gayden (Long Beach Harbor Association) and Nestor Amaya (Sequoia Association) talk about the unique role of the Black and Hispanic church in California. From succession planning to embracing technology, this episode explores the cultural richness, challenges, and kin...

What happens when the call to shepherd a church feels at odds with the call to shepherd your home? In this tender and timely episode, Will and Tarah Browning get real about the quiet tensions that ministry families face. From burnout and bitterness to boundaries and date nights, they speak with disarming honesty about what it takes to protect your marriage, care for your kids, and still love the C...

The GC Collective crew unpacks the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting with reflections on the Cooperative Program’s centennial celebration, key decisions about our shared theology and structure, and the rich fellowship that makes it all worth showing up for. From floor debates to hallway laughs, ethnic gatherings, and more, this episode reminds us why we’re still proud to be Southern Baptist. Integrity, unit...