The Pioneer Assembly

Fear has a way of sounding wise. It says things like: “I’m waiting for the right time.” Or “I just need more clarity.” But what if excuses are actually keeping you stuck? In this episode of the Onward series, Bethany Barr Phillips dives into Matthew 14, where Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water with Jesus. It’s a story that isn’t really about water—it’s about trust. Peter’s greatest mom...

There comes a moment in every believer's journey when the greatest obstacle to moving forward isn't just what's ahead, but it's what keeps pulling us backward. Old wounds. Former identities. Past failures. Nostalgia for seasons God has already brought us through. In Episode 2 of the ONWARD series, Bethany explores the tension between God's call to move forward and our tendency to look back. Throug...

Life is hard. Loss happens. Prayers go unanswered. Relationships fracture. Diagnoses appear. Questions linger. Sometimes faith feels vibrant, and sometimes it feels like you're merely putting one foot in front of the other. In the first episode of our series, ONWARD, we're talking about what it means to keep moving toward Jesus when following Him becomes more difficult than expected. Drawing from...

We say we trust God with eternity, but what about tomorrow? In this final installment of The Good Fight series, Bethany Barr Phillips tackles one of the most common struggles believers face: Fear of the future. The truth is, most of us aren't afraid of what's coming—we're afraid of not being in control of it. When life feels uncertain, we often chase clarity, overthink decisions, and delay obedien...

What does it actually cost to follow Jesus? In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips sits down with pastor and longtime friend, Jason Cook, for an honest conversation about discipleship, suffering, surrender, disappointment, obedience, and the reality of counting the cost of the call. Together, they unpack the tension between calling and comfort, the dangers of shallow Christiani...

You can be doing a lot for God… and still be running yourself into the ground. We’re continuing our Good Fight series on Pioneer Assembly—a place together for those called to go—and this conversation is one many people don’t realize they’re already in the middle of. In this episode, we sit down with Drew Worsham to talk about healthy rhythms, burnout, and how easy it is to become spiritually and e...

What do you do when you can’t hear God’s voice? If you’ve ever felt like God is silent, distant, or not speaking, this episode will help you understand why and show you how to hear Him again. In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, we continue our series, The Good Fight, by discussing one of the most common struggles in the Christian life: How to hear God’s voice in what may seem like a season of sil...

You keep trying to fix your life—but what if the answer was never you… What if it was always the cross? Why does the cross actually matter? Why did Jesus have to die? And what does that have to do with your life right now? In this episode with Bethany Barr Phillips, we pause the Good Fight and go beyond the surface to step into the weight of what happened on the cross—and why it changes everything...

Not every fight is the good fight. In a world filled with cultural tension, complicated issues, and loud opinions, many Christians are left asking: When do I step into the conversation? When do I speak up? And how do I engage without losing the heart of Jesus? In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly Podcast, Bethany Barr Phillips sits down with Pastor Ryan McDermott to explore what it truly means...

What does it look like to follow God when He doesn’t give you the full plan? If you’ve ever felt like God was calling you somewhere but you didn’t have clarity yet, this episode will encourage you to take the next step in the good fight of faith. Continuing the The Good Fight series, Bethany Barr Phillips sits down with Emma O’Brien to talk about what it really means to fight the good fight of fai...

Are Christians supposed to fight… or be peaceful? The Bible mentions peacemakers, yet Paul commands Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith.” So which is it? In this episode of The Pioneer Assembly, we tackle one of the most misunderstood ideas in modern Christianity: What does it actually mean to fight the good fight? Is it: • arguing on social media • defending politics • fighting culture wars...

What if there were 10 things you needed to know about the Holy Spirit? While there are certainly more, in this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips explores ten essential things to know about the Holy Spirit. This is the episode to save, review, bookmark, whatever you have to do to have a place to look back and brush up when you need it. We’d give the 10 to you in this descriptio...

Can you really be “filled” or “receive” the Holy Spirit, or is it just a one time deal? In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores receiving and being filled with the Holy Spirit. She emphasizes that this experience is not merely a one-time event but a continuous journey of prayer, pursuit, and obedience. The conversation delves into the nature of the Holy Spirit, the importance of understand...

Have you ever felt too intimidated to ask questions for fear that everyone will already know the answer? In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the foundational concepts of spiritual gifts, emphasizing their importance in the life of a believer. She discusses how to identify one's spiritual gifts, the purpose they serve within the church, and the significance of love i...

Can you grieve or quench the Holy Spirit? Is it as trivial as the elderly lady in your home church telling you to hush or the Spirit “is quenched?” In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the realities of grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of knowing the Holy Spirit personally. She breaks down what each means and how they effect the daily lives of believers....

If the Holy Spirit is everywhere, then why do we "invite" Him? In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, host Bethany Barr Phillips delves into the concepts of the omnipresence and invitation of the Holy Spirit. As part of the "Summer in the Spirit" series, Bethany explores how understanding these aspects can transform our spiritual journey.  Through personal stories and insightful discussions, lis...

How many times have you prayed that God would give you an audible or visual sign that He wanted you to do something? If we're honest, we often want God to speak but aren't very quick to listen. In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips dives into how to know the Holy Spirit's voice. Is it some mystical moment? (Quick answer... no) It’s more about relationship than a neat and tidy formula. She gives p...

What does the Holy Spirit actually do? We often relegate Him to only gifts or a moment, but He’s so much more… right? In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. It’s important to understand the Holy Spirit not just as a theological concept but as an active presence that guides, strengthens, and connects individuals to God. Th...

Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit aren’t anything new, but they are definitely something to look out for. Why? Because at some point in your faith, having a misconception about the Holy Spirit will cause faulty thinking and frustrated living. In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, host Bethany Barr Phillips discusses common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of u...

SMany have often described the Holy Spirit as an “it” or a “thing,” when actually, He’s the third person of the Trinity. He’s the One Jesus knew was coming after Him. He’s… well, that’s that we’re talking about on this first episode of the series entitled “Summer in the Spirit.” In this Episode, host Bethany Barr Phillips, introduces the series focusing on the Holy Spirit she emphasizes the import...

Regret is REAL. And knowing it’s coming is sometimes worse than knowing you may have to live with it. While you may not always like a possible outcome,  you don’t have to regret the reality from a decision you made. In this third and final episode in the series on decisions, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the complexities of decision-making and dissects regret, offering seven decisions you won’t...

Does God sometimes get it wrong? Is He willing to do for you what He’s done for others? Why is it such a struggle to trust God’s guidance in decisions? In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the complexities of trusting God's guidance in our decisions.  She discusses the struggle of faith, the importance of obedience, and the need to trust in God's plan, even when it seems unclear. God is...

At some point, everyone faces a decision about their future. If you’re human, you have that moment in time where you froze thinking if you chose wrong, you’d end up like those looking for the holy grail before Indiana Jones came along. In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the challenges of making decisions in life, and fleshes out indecision and no decision. Drawing from the allegory o...

"When Jesus died on the cross, so did your sin; when He rose from the dead, so did your hope." (Max Lucado)  Jesus rising from the grave is essential to the Christian pioneering journey, and yet, many don't truly understand why or what He accomplished. In this Field Note, host, Bethany Barr Phillips, answers two questions: Why did He rise? What did it do? It's not enough to simply talk about the r...

Many talk about the cross, but have you stopped to think why it matters? If we really lived like the cross matters, then maybe the world would look different. In this Field Note, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the profound significance of Jesus's death on the cross. She outlines three key reasons why the crucifixion matters: (1) It allows for a full relationship with God, (2) highlights our inabi...