unSeminary Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Lane Lowery , Executive Pastor of Warren Church in South Carolina and Georgia. Founded in 1898, Warren is one of the fastest-growing churches in America, with over 7,000 members across its campuses. Known for its Southern hospitality, Bible teaching, and focus on whole-person ministry, Warren has also launched a Hope...

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Dr. Chris Vaught , lead pastor of Connection Point Church (CPC) in Missouri. Under his leadership, CPC has grown from 300 people in 2011 to over 2,500 today across multiple campuses. With a passion for raising up the next generation of kingdom leaders, Chris has built a leadership development pipeline and launched the...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Ashley Lentz from Lutheran Church of Hope in Iowa. As the Connections Pastor at one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the country, Ashley brings a wealth of practical insight into creating personal connection in a growing church. Struggling to connect new guests and help them take meaningful next steps at your church? Tu...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by returning guest and friend of the show, Dave Miller . With a background in worship and creative arts ministry across Las Vegas, Kentucky, and Michigan, Dave now leads Leadership Pathway , an organization focused on helping the next generation of church leaders take their healthiest first steps into ministry through two-year residency pr...

In this special rushed episode of the unSeminary Podcast, Rich unpacks the biggest nonfiction book launch in history: Alex Hormozi’s $100M Book Launch . Alex didn’t rely on TikTok trends, billboards, or mass media. Instead, he orchestrated a carefully choreographed campaign that leaned heavily on email — sometimes sending seven to nine emails in a single day! So what can your church learn from thi...

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Taylor Scott-Reimer , a dynamic speaker, advocate, and author of She Believed: Recovering the Fierce Faith of the Women of Scripture — and Ourselves . Is your church truly inviting the full participation of women? Are female leaders empowered to speak, shape, and serve—or are they silently sidelined? Tune in as Taylor shares...

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Zenzo Matoga , Senior Pastor of Impact Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally from Malawi, Africa, Zenzo brings a passion for evangelism shaped by the revival crusades of Reinhard Bonnke. Under Zenzo’s leadership, Impact Church has become one of the fastest-growing churches in America, thriving in one of...

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of unSeminary!   A quick heads-up:  Rich experienced some sound issues during the recording; thank you for bearing with us. Fortunately, our guest, Robert Watson, comes through loud and clear, and you won’t want to miss the incredible insights he shares. Thanks for your grace and enjoy the conversation! Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Tod...

In this special roundup episode of the unSeminary podcast, we highlight key insights from three previously recorded interviews focused on strengthening church staff teams. In celebration of the Summer 2025 issue of Executive Pastor Magazine , this curated compilation revisits rich conversations with leadership experts Dr. Ryan Hartwig and Dr. Warren Bird, executive pastor Ken McAnulty of Arise Chu...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Steece Hayes , a bi-vocational pastor and account manager at Higher Ground Managed IT , part of the ACS Technologies family. Is your ministry struggling with unreliable tech, security risks, or outdated systems—and you’re not even sure where to begin fixing it? Tune in as Steece brings practical insights to help churches focus on minist...

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of unSeminary!   A quick heads-up:  Rich experienced some sound issues during the recording; thank you for bearing with us. Fortunately, our guest Yolanda comes through loud and clear, and you won’t want to miss the incredible insights she shares. Thanks for your grace and enjoy the conversation! Do you ever feel like your church’s decisions are...

You’re not alone. Many churches hope for big impact at Christmas but end up seeing minimal growth, and it’s not because your people don’t care or your services aren’t good enough. In this final installment of our 3-part summer series on planning for Christmas, Rich Birch unpacks the real reasons why churches miss the mark—and how to avoid them. If you’re tired of putting in effort only to feel lik...

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Devin Goins , Executive Pastor of Strategic Development at Biltmore Church in western North Carolina, one of the fastest-growing churches in the country. Is your church growing but you’re struggling to keep your team aligned and rowing in the same direction? Tune in as Devin outlines a simple yet powerful diagnostic tool that helps...

What if you could double your church’s attendance this Christmas … just by doing what other growing churches already do? In this second installment of our special Christmas planning series, Rich Birch unpacks three real-life examples from churches that didn’t leave Christmas up to chance—and saw incredible results. These churches represent different regions and contexts, but all share a key...

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Mike Winger , Executive Pastor at Mosaic Christian Church in the Baltimore-Washington area. What does it take to launch a bold new vision while carrying the weight of financial obstacles? Tune in as Mike unpacks the multi-year process that led to Mosaic’s Unlimited campaign—one that wasn’t about buildings, but about unleashi...

Is your church treating Christmas like the massive growth opportunity it truly is? In today’s solo episode, Rich explores why Christmas remains the most strategic moment in the church calendar for reaching new people, even in a post-pandemic world. Drawing on compelling stats and years of experience helping churches grow, Rich makes a compelling case for why Christmas shouldn’t just be a warm, nos...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Dr. Charles Stone, seasoned pastor, author, and leadership coach. Feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of ministry? Looking for biblical practices that can help reduce anxiety and fuel long-term health? Tune in as Charles shares insights from his latest book, Stress Less , blending timeless biblical wisdom with modern brain...

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Russ Ewell , Executive Minister at Bay Area Christian Church (BACC) in California and founder of Deep Spirituality . How can churches meaningfully engage and empower the next generation of leaders? With campuses across Silicon Valley and a deep commitment to developing future leaders, Russ shares the practical strateg...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Jason Hanash , the founding and lead pastor of Discovery Church in California—one of the fastest growing churches in the country. How do you restructure your staff leadership to keep pace with rapid church growth? Tune in as Jason shares how Discovery evolved from a living room gathering to a thriving church reaching nearly 5,000...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast! Today we’re talking with Craig Smith , Lead Pastor of Mission Hills Church in Colorado—an 80+ year-old multisite church and one of the fastest-growing in the country. Is your church growing faster than your systems can handle? Do you ever feel like your team is working hard but not aligned? From shifting teaching paradigms to reworking systems, tune in as Cr...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Shayla McCormick , Executive Pastor at Coastal Community Church , a thriving multisite church in South Florida known for its authentic culture and rapid growth. How do you build and protect a thriving staff culture as your church grows? Tune in as Shayla offers practical, actionable insight on shaping culture, defining staff values, and...

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re joined by Bob Riedy , Senior Pastor of Church of the Open Door in Pennsylvania. After leading one of the fastest-growing churches in the country , Bob found himself facing a personal and professional breakdown. In this deeply transparent episode, he shares his journey through burnout, anxiety, and loss—and how a season of pain...

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today, we’re talking with Quovadis Marshall (Pastor Q), Lead Pastor at Hope City Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Caught up in a life of gangs and violence, he became incarcerated at nineteen years old. However, Pastor Q experienced a life-transforming encounter with Christ through the Prison Fellowship Academy Program. Now he leads a thriving, outreach-focused chu...

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this episode of the unSeminary Podcast, we’re joined by Danny Anderson , Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Church in Indiana, and Rachel Long , founder of the Joshua Center. They share their story of navigating a significant transition when Rachel moved from being the Executive Pastor at Emmanuel Church to working full time for the Joshua Center, a nonprof...

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. We’re talking with Eric Smith, founder and lead pastor of Hope City Church in Florida and co-creator of SermonDone. Are you a pastor who’s feeling the pressure of sermon prep each week? Wondering how you can save time on research and content creation without compromising the quality of your messages? Tune in as Eric shares how his experience as a ch...