The Holiness Today Podcast

In this episode, Nate Gilmore connects with Bailey Friberg, Communications Partner Coordinator for the USA/Canada Region. Bailey serves as a vital bridge, connecting local churches to regional resources through strategic partnerships. In this conversation, we discuss the impact of these partnerships, the encouraging revival currently taking place among Gen Z, and the unique challenges of navigatin...

On today's episode, you'll hear Carl Bangs discuss the hymns of Charles Wesley. Carl Bangs was a professor of historical theology at Olivet Nazarene College and at St. Paul School of Theology. He served as president of the American Theological Society and the American Society of Church History. His work, Arminius - A Study in the Dutch Reformation, is a seminal contribution to Dutch church history...

In this Holiness Today podcast episode, host Nate Gilmore and regional director Stan Reeder interview Dave Anderson, lead pastor at Kankakee First Church. Anderson shares his testimony of transitioning from a high-powered law career to ministry after wrestling with a divine call for five years. He discusses his experience revitalizing churches in crisis, emphasizing prayer-first leadership and the...

Eugene Stowe explores why specific prayers often go unanswered and refutes "prosperity" theology. He argues that effective prayer must align with God's sovereign will, which humans cannot fully grasp. By linking Philippians, 1 John, and Romans, Stowe posits that the Holy Spirit acts as both an "Intercessor" and "Interceptor." When believers offer "improper" prayers outside God’s plan, the Spirit i...

On this episode, Nate, Jordan, and Dani discuss the Holiness Today podcast and where it's been and where it's going.  Please connect with us on social media or email us at holinesstoday@nazarene.org    Lifelong Learning Code: 28473 Click here to learn about Lifelong Learning.

Former evangelism professor Chick Shaver compares the local church to a hospital nursery, where new converts are "spiritual infants" requiring specialized care and warmth. He warns that without this intentional care, many converts perish spiritually within weeks. Shaver illustrates this through Dan and Judy, a couple who faced indifference at two churches before finding a welcoming community. The...

In this episode, Nate Gilmore and Stan Reeder interview Wendell Brown, District Superintendent of North Central Ohio. Brown shares his journey from military service and addiction to a miraculous call to ministry. He discusses "Tragedy into Triumph," a sixteen-year ministry sharing powerful stories of transformation regarding loss, crime, and addiction. Brown also details significant evangelistic g...

In this January 1981 recording for the Minister's Tape Club, Dr. V.H. Lewis outlines principles for intentional church growth within the Church of the Nazarene. He argues that progress—whether numerical, spiritual, or intellectual—is driven by healthy "personal relations" between pastors, staff, and congregants.   Lifelong Learning Code: 80890 Click here to learn about Lifelong Learning.

This sermon for the fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on love, emphasizing that God enters the "messy" and imperfect realities of life. By examining the genealogy in Matthew 1, the speaker highlights God’s faithfulness through forty-two generations of flawed individuals. The story of Joseph illustrates a "costly commitment" to trust God’s plan over societal expectations or fear. Ultimately, the mess...

In this episode, we travel to the Netherlands to speak with Brian Koopmans, a validation engineer and media volunteer for the Church of the Nazarene’s Eurasia Region. Brian discusses the launch of the "Everyday Eurasia" podcast and the unique challenges of producing content for a region spanning numerous languages. We also delve into Dutch history, exploring the legacy of theologian Jacobus Armini...

This sermon declares that God's people possess an unstoppable joy that flourishes even in life’s most barren "deserts". Rooted in Isaiah 35, the message distinguishes true joy from fleeting happiness, describing it as a "living reality" that does not wait for perfect circumstances. Instead, this joy audaciously erupts amidst brokenness, just as a botanical "superbloom" transforms a wilderness with...

Nate Gilmore and Stan Reeder interview Steve Estep, pastor of Marion First Church of the Nazarene. Estep recounts his call to ministry and details the church's evangelistic culture, which focuses on the "Big Yes" to Jesus and the "Next Yes" of ongoing discipleship. The church actively revitalizes its inner-city neighborhood through housing initiatives and a "Love Your City" campaign adopted by loc...

This Advent sermon focuses on the theme of peace, illustrated as a "two-sided coin". The first side is "peace with God," established through the birth of Jesus and salvation. The second side is the "peace of God," which requires believers to trust God rather than leaning on their own understanding. The speaker emphasizes that biblical peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the presence o...

General Superintendent Jerald Johnson offers guidance on how pastors can creatively face opposition in their work for Christ. Pastors, like political leaders, must present programs and budgets and convince others. Johnson discusses the right to dissent within the Church of the Nazarene and how opposition allows a pastor to test their ideas. He advises against reacting to opposition and instead sug...

In this Advent episode, Dr. Scott Sherwood of Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene explores the theme of Hope. Describing the season as an "adventure," he invites listeners to look back at the Incarnation and forward to the Second Coming. Sherwood contrasts wishful thinking with biblical hope, which Romans 5 describes as the product of suffering, perseverance, and character. Ultimately, he cha...

On this episode, listen to Talmadge Johnson preach a short sermon on gratitude. Dr. Johnson served as the 33rd General Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. Prior to becoming GS, he was an evangelist, pastor, district superintendent, and global director of Sunday School ministries (now Nazarene Discipleship International). This recording was featured on the Layman’s Tape Club in November...

Andy Albright discusses his call to ministry, starting as a part-time junior high youth pastor at Westminster. He highlights the Wisconsin District's growth through the power of prayer, relational connections, and community service in churches like Baraboo and Janesville. He shares his vision for planting new Nazarene churches in major metro areas and emphasizes the importance of loving, listening...

This episode features Dr. Samuel Young, former General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, on the fundamental issues of stewardship and faithful giving. Dr. Young asserts that the prime motivation for stewardship is Calvary, arguing that because of God's sacrifice in Jesus Christ, anything He asks is reasonable. He clarifies that the tithe is a method to be given, not a legalism to be ta...

We honor the life and ministry of Dr. Jim Diehl (1937-2025), a beloved pastor, district superintendent, and General Superintendent Emeritus of the Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Diehl passed away on November 2, 2025. Just days before his passing, on October 30, he traveled to Nampa, Idaho, to preach at Bethel Church of the Nazarene for the Holiness Partnership event. This episode features that powerf...

Pastor Jonathan Hall joins Stan Reeder and Nate Gilmore to discuss his ministry in rural, small-town churches. He shares insights from following long pastorates and introduces the "Dirt Roads Network." They explore its core values—missionary mindset, discernment, and being "rivers, not lakes"—and the vital role of small congregations.   https://www.dirtroadsnetwork.com/     To reach out to Jonatha...

In this February 1981 Minister's Tape Club resource for the Nazarene ministry, General Superintendent Eugene Stowe shares his firm opinion that new manual changes, especially the "indefinite call," are a "very valuable innovation" crucial for achieving "longer pastorates" and building "stronger churches" by eliminating the "division and disruption" and "trauma" of periodic congregational votes. *T...

In this conversation, Gabriel and Nate explore his article, "Gathering for Worship and Temple Building: A Unifying Grace," focusing on how worship is fundamentally about gathering and establishing a common identity, rather than just ritual or liturgy. They discuss the distinction between true and false religion, noting that genuine worship centers on the holy and loving God, fostering humility and...

In this March 1981 address, General Superintendent Orville Jenkins discusses the spiritual requirements for effective preaching for holiness ministers. He states that a minister's life must be one of unreservedly giving oneself to the indwelling Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them with joy and victory so they can preach with power and anointing. Jenkins uses the Apostle Paul as the ultim...

In this episode, Stan Reeder (USA/Canada Regional Director), and Nate Gilmore have a conversation with Selena Freeman, the new Church Multiplication Catalyst for the USA/Canada Region of the Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Freeman shares her personal journey and her thoughts on her new role. She recounts her initial call to ministry and co-founding a thriving church. Her current focus is to launch a...

Eugene Stowe addresses the critical relationship between church growth and the quality of its membership. He shares an incident where a pastor gently deferred a new convert's request to join immediately, insisting she attend the membership training class first. The core message is that a strong church demands qualified members; pastors must not compromise standards or build with "inferior material...