Pastor

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EPISODE 33

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EPISODE 33

“COVID-19: Four Questions Every Church Leader Must Ask” w/ Mark DeYmaz and Luke Dooley

“You can’t take a wait and see attitude with your church finances. The time to pivot is now.” Mark DeYmaz

Mark DeYmaz and Luke Dooley are the creators of the Church Economics Accelerator, which helps ministry leaders leverage church assets to bless their communities and generate sustainable income. They’ve been helping churches prepare for a scenario like COVID-19 for years, and you’ll want to share this episode with every church leader you know.

In this timely episode, hear Mark and Luke discuss how churches can:
• Reduce their tithe dependency through creative thinking
• Minimize job loss in their communities in light of COVID-19
• Position themselves to lead well in shifting economic landscapes

EPISODE 30

EPISODE 30

“Sexual Sin In The Church” w/ Andrea Burke and Sharona Sledge

“The church has tried to protect position instead of holding up repentance as the greatest prize.” Andrea Burke

“There is such a weight on shepherding people - each of your sheep are not the same. Although there are godly principles, if you’re going into ministry, that means you’re ministering to a flock of individual sheep.” Sharona Sledge

Amidst imperfect people and imperfect churches, the devastating consequences of moral failure and sexual sin affect us all. In this second episode of the Praise Hands Podcast series “Can I Trust The Church?”, worship leaders Andrea Burke and Sharona Sledge share how they navigated guilt, deceit, and betrayal in their evolving relationships with God and the church.

Listen now to hear Andrea and Sharona talk about:
• Dismantling “church shame” through a culture of confession
• When and how to confront signs of abuse or wrongdoing
• How to find freedom from sexual sin and help others do the same

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EPISODE 29

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EPISODE 29

“Financial Fraud And The Future Of Global Christianity” w/ Gina Zurlo

“People trust pastors to handle their money and assume that everything is okay. It’s not.” Gina Zurlo

By the year 2025, as much as $100 Billion per year in Christian-donated dollars will be lost due to embezzlement, estimates Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity. The Center’s co-director is Gina Zurlo, who, along with co-authoring The World Christian Encyclopedia, was named among BBC’s 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2019.

In this paradigm-shifting episode, hear Gina share about:
• The Pros And Cons of Entrepreneurial Christianity
• Practical Ideas For Relationship Across Faith Backgrounds
• The Biggest Trends Shaping The Future Of Christianity

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EPISODE 28

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EPISODE 28

“The Myth Of ‘Organic’ Diversity” w/ Patrick Chappell

“People want diversity to happen organically, but sometimes you have to be intentional on the way to organic.” Patrick Chappell

Growing up Black in the South, Patrick Chappell attended both predominantly Black and White churches and often felt like an outsider in each. But his pain led him to his purpose: creating grace-filled spaces for diverse relationships and intentional conversations.

Learn from Patrick’s story and expertise on the following topics:
• How he survived a childhood of physical abuse and deep-seated racism
• Why leaders must proactively pursue those on the fringes
• How intentional, encouraging words can overcome fear and division

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EPISODE 27

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EPISODE 27

“Rethinking Urban Church Planting” w/ NYC’s Ricky Ortiz

“If you want to change a society then you have to tell an alternative story.”

NYC-native Ricky Ortiz had a heart to reach his city, but knew that traditional church planting financial models would prove difficult in the high-cost Big Apple. A few years later, Ricky’s thriving Meta Church serves as inspiration for church planters across the US. In this episode, hear Ricky share the strategic steps he’s taken to develop socioeconomic diversity and financial sustainability in an urban context.

Hear Ricky’s wisdom on topics like:

• Inspiring A Shared Vision In Your Local Church

• Why He’s Okay With Members Missing Sunday Morning

• Tips For Reducing Your Church’s Tithe Dependency

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EPISODE 26

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EPISODE 26

“Data And Diversity: A Call To Dig Deeper” w/ Barna Group’s Brooke Hempell

“Averages only tell the average story. They don’t tell a minority’s story.” Brooke Hempell

As the Senior Vice President of Research at Barna Group, Brooke Hempell and her team have interviewed thousands of leaders across America about issues of faith and culture. Yet some of her most meaningful insights have come from pursuing racial reconciliation and church planting in her hometown of Atlanta.

In this episode, hear Brooke share trusted insight including:
• Common Misperceptions About Economic And Racial Realities
• How Millennial and Gen-Z Voices Are Challenging The Status Quo 
• Surprising Data About The Power Of Diverse Worship Music

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EPISODE 24

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EPISODE 24

“Can We Trust Kanye West?” w/ KJ Scriven

“The church was here before Kanye West, and the church will be here after Kanye West.” KJ Scriven

As well as being the Creative Arts Pastor at Charlotte-area’s Transformation Church, KJ Scriven collaborates as a songwriter and artist with diverse voices outside the local church. Hear KJ’s thoughts on Kanye West, Kirk Franklin at the Dove Awards, and other issues shaping Christian creativity.

Listen now to hear KJ and Robby chat through:
• Scriptural Perspective On The Christian Kanye West
• How Black Musicians Have Shaped The Sound Of American Music
• Creating Music With Those Who Don’t Share Your Faith

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EPISODE 23

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EPISODE 23

“Rediscovering The Biblical Vision Of Diversity” w/ KJ Scriven

“Proximity breeds relationship, relationship breeds understanding, and understanding breeds compassion.” KJ Scriven

Multiethnic worship pastor and songwriter KJ Scriven has a passion to see the church become the diverse family Jesus envisioned. 

Dive right in to hear KJ and Robby discuss:
• How Slavery Shaped The African-American Worship Experience
• Robby’s Story Of Confronting A Distracting Tambourine Player In Church
• How The Early Church Gave Voice To Underrepresented Minorities

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EPISODE 22

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EPISODE 22

“Cultural Competency, Shame, And Generosity” w/ DJ Chuang

“The American church is beginning to listen to the Spirit of God working through the global church.” DJ Chuang

As the author of the books “MultiAsian.Church” and “Erasing Shame”, DJ Chuang is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Asian-American church, mental health, and radical generosity.

Hear DJ and Robby discuss the following:
• The Asian-American-Led Multiethnic Church Movement
• Facilitating Conversations About Shame And Mental Health
• Overcoming Church Consumerism Through Generous Giving