Explore every episode of the podcast We Are Vineyard

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay continues his conversation with Aaron Graham about discipling people in the true and compassionate Gospel, and they discuss his new book and the lies we have to undo as we speak Biblical truth to people’s hearts and minds. Aaron Graham is the founder and lead pastor of The District Church, a thriving multicultural congregation in Washington, DC, representing more than 80 nations. For over fifteen years, he has pastored in the heart of the nation's capital, discipling a generation to follow Jesus with courage and conviction. Aaron earned a master's degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and has been featured by ABC World News, TIME, and the Washington Post for his insights on reaching millennials in our increasingly secular age. He and his wife and two children live in Washington, DC.   Watch the video version of this episode here.   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship.   Show Notes:  Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies by Aaron Graham Aaron’s website districtchurch.org Faithworks by Jim Wallis The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Aaron Graham about the intense years he spent as a Missionary Kid, and the way he processed his experiences and still ended up trusting the Lord and becoming a pastor. Aaron shares about learning to live an integrated view of discipleship, planting a church in Washington, DC, and how the Lord prepared him to pastor politicians and people with very strong political beliefs. They discuss managing tensions while staying true to the gospel. This is the first of a two-part conversation, so come back next week for part 2!  Aaron Graham is the founder and lead pastor of The District Church, a thriving multicultural congregation in Washington, DC, representing more than 80 nations. For over fifteen years, he has pastored in the heart of the nation's capital, discipling a generation to follow Jesus with courage and conviction. Aaron earned a master's degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and has been featured by ABC World News, TIME, and the Washington Post for his insights on reaching millennials in our increasingly secular age. He and his wife and two children live in Washington, DC.   Watch the video version of this episode here.   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship.   Show Notes:  Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies by Aaron Graham Aaron’s website districtchurch.org Faithworks by Jim Wallis The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Carmen Imes. They discuss the moment when she realized that it might be hard for people to return to church after COVID, and God’s value for community and building the Church. They also discuss looking at how people have been discipled and what they’re taught to value in a Sunday church experience. Dr. Carmen Imes serves as associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Carmen is passionate about helping students and other laypeople engage the Old Testament and discover its relevance for Christian identity and mission. She is best known for her books Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters (IVP 2019) and Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters (IVP 2023). Imes has appeared on over 100 podcasts and radio shows and releases weekly "Torah Tuesday" videos on her own YouTube channel. She writes for Christianity Today, the Politics of Scripture blog, and The Well (InterVarsity). Imes is also a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. Before arriving at Biola in 2021, she served as professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Her academic journey began when Carmen and her husband served as missionaries in the Philippines with SIM International, reaching out to ethnic minorities. Imes loves introducing students to the rich insights of the global church. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes: Becoming God’s Family by Carmen Joy Imes Churches and the Crisis of Decline by Andrew Root     

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Carmen Imes about being available to explore Biblical themes with young adults alongside their underlying questions, and the approaches that work when interacting with Gen Z students and the ones that don’t actually matter.   Dr. Carmen Imes serves as associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Carmen is passionate about helping students and other laypeople engage the Old Testament and discover its relevance for Christian identity and mission. She is best known for her books Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters (IVP 2019) and Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters (IVP 2023). Imes has appeared on over 100 podcasts and radio shows and releases weekly "Torah Tuesday" videos on her own YouTube channel. She writes for Christianity Today, the Politics of Scripture blog, and The Well (InterVarsity). Imes is also a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. Before arriving at Biola in 2021, she served as professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Her academic journey began when Carmen and her husband served as missionaries in the Philippines with SIM International, reaching out to ethnic minorities. Imes loves introducing students to the rich insights of the global church. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes: Becoming God’s Family by Carmen Joy Imes Churches and the Crisis of Decline by Andrew Root     

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Caleb Maskell’s conversation with Tish Harrison Warren. They discuss their thoughts about what the Lord is doing in this cultural moment of highlighting spiritual practices, and how to think about continuing with these sustaining practices when there are seasons without visible change. Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and an Anglican priest. She is the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary, which won Christianity Today’s 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won Christianity Today’s 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times, which focused on faith in public discourse and private life. She was also a columnist at Christianity Today. Her articles and essays have appeared in Comment Magazine, The Point Magazine, Religion News Service, and elsewhere. She currently serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She is a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Tish’s Website What Grows In Weary Lands by Tish Harrison Warren Liturgies of the Wild by Martin Shaw Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren John Mark Comer Jared Boyd  

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Caleb Maskell talks with Tish Harrison Warren about her new book What Grows In Weary Lands, doing all the “good Christian” things but feeling burnt out in the Christian life, the space between depression and thriving, and what we can learn from the desert fathers and mothers. This is the first part of a conversation, so come back next week for part two!   Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and an Anglican priest. She is the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary, which won Christianity Today’s 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won Christianity Today’s 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times, which focused on faith in public discourse and private life. She was also a columnist at Christianity Today. Her articles and essays have appeared in Comment Magazine, The Point Magazine, Religion News Service, and elsewhere. She currently serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She is a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Tish’s Website What Grows In Weary Lands by Tish Harrison Warren Liturgies of the Wild by Martin Shaw Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren John Mark Comer Jared Boyd  

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Caleb Maskell’s conversation with Glenn Packiam about his new book on the Nicene Creed. They discuss how to use the Creed in your own life, how to integrate it into your church, and Glenn shares a pastoral word about hope. About Glenn: Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. Glenn is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, co-authored with his wife, Holly, “The Intentional Year”. He earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, and is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. Glenn has written over 65 worship songs published with Integrity Music, including “Your Name", co-written with Paul Baloche. Glenn and Holly have four children and live in Orange County, California. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes: Glenn’s website  What’s a Christian, Anyway? by Glenn Packiam Turning Points by Mark Noll Salvation By Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Caleb Maskell talks with Glenn Packiam about his new book on the Nicene Creed. Glenn shares how the Creed became an anchoring point for him and his church during a season of crisis, as well as what it provides to spiritual seekers. This is the first half of a two-part conversation, so come back next week to hear the rest! About Glenn: Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. Glenn is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, co-authored with his wife, Holly, “The Intentional Year”. He earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, and is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. Glenn has written over 65 worship songs published with Integrity Music, including “Your Name", co-written with Paul Baloche. Glenn and Holly have four children and live in Orange County, California. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes: Glenn’s website  What’s a Christian, Anyway? by Glenn Packiam Turning Points by Mark Noll Salvation By Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Jared Boyd. Jared shares about reimagining the shape of a Vineyard church plant, the process of establishing the Order of the Common Life, and discovering that its specific charism is the experience of the love of God. About Jared: Jared Patrick Boyd is the lead pastor of Central Vineyard Church in Columbus, OH, a spiritual director, and Founding Director of the Order of the Common Life– an ecumenical religious order re-imagining monastic formation into ordinary life. Jared is the author of Imaginative Prayer: A Yearlong Guide to Your Child’s Spiritual Formation (IVP 2017) and Finding Freedom in Constraint (IVP 2023). He and his wife have 4 girls and live in the west-side neighborhood of Franklinton in Columbus, OH. Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  jaredpatrickboyd.com Orderofthecommonlife.org Instagram: @jaredpatrickboyd Take a course from Jared Boyd through Seminary Now: http://seminarynow.co/spiritual-disciplines

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Jared Boyd about experiencing the Holy Spirit as a teenager and some of the early signs that he had a pastoral leadership call on his life. Jared shares about navigating the competing cultures of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) and the Vineyard, losing his faith at an apologetics conference, and being pastored well through a “spiritual puberty.” This is part one of a two-part conversation, so come back next week to hear the rest!  Jared Patrick Boyd is the lead pastor of Central Vineyard Church in Columbus, OH, a spiritual director, and Founding Director of the Order of the Common Life– an ecumenical religious order re-imagining monastic formation into ordinary life. Jared is the author of Imaginative Prayer: A Yearlong Guide to Your Child’s Spiritual Formation (IVP 2017) and Finding Freedom in Constraint (IVP 2023). He and his wife have 4 girls and live in the west-side neighborhood of Franklinton in Columbus, OH. Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  jaredpatrickboyd.com Orderofthecommonlife.org Instagram: @jaredpatrickboyd Take a course from Jared Boyd through Seminary Now: http://seminarynow.co/spiritual-disciplines

In this episode of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay talks with Brandon Shields about his family’s conversion to Christianity when he was a teenager, an impactful spiritual experience he had on a missions trip to the Philippines, and the transformative power of being with believers in other countries. Brandon shares about his call to church planting, navigating a season of “failure”, the slow process of building a missional community, and when things finally started gaining momentum. This is part one of a two-part episode, so come back next week to hear the rest of the conversation!    About Brandon:  Brandon Shields serves as the Director of Church Formation for Practicing the Way, a ministry that helps churches form lifelong apprentices to Jesus. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry for 25 years, including the last 14 as founding and lead pastor at Soma Midtown in urban Indianapolis. He has also been a contributing author to several books on pastoral ministry, including Perspectives on Family Ministry and Faithful Endurance. He’s written articles and been interviewed for publications like Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church.  Brandon holds an undergraduate degree in business, a graduate degree in missiology, and a Ph.D in leadership. He currently lives in Indianapolis with Emily, his wife of 22 years, and his four amazing children. Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Free Coaching for Pastors - Looking for coaching tailored to your context and challenges? We love walking alongside pastors as they're working to implement spiritual formation in their church. Schedule a free 60-minute online coaching session with an experienced member of our Church Formation team. Practicing The Way  From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Renovaré Instagram: @brandonshields @practicingtheway

In this episode of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay talks with Brandon Shields about his family’s conversion to Christianity when he was a teenager, an impactful spiritual experience he had on a missions trip to the Philippines, and the transformative power of being with believers in other countries. Brandon shares about his call to church planting, navigating a season of “failure”, the slow process of building a missional community, and when things finally started gaining momentum. This is part one of a two-part episode, so come back next week to hear the rest of the conversation!    About Brandon:  Brandon Shields serves as the Director of Church Formation for Practicing the Way, a ministry that helps churches form lifelong apprentices to Jesus. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry for 25 years, including the last 14 as founding and lead pastor at Soma Midtown in urban Indianapolis. He has also been a contributing author to several books on pastoral ministry, including Perspectives on Family Ministry and Faithful Endurance. He’s written articles and been interviewed for publications like Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church.  Brandon holds an undergraduate degree in business, a graduate degree in missiology, and a Ph.D in leadership. He currently lives in Indianapolis with Emily, his wife of 22 years, and his four amazing children. Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Free Coaching for Pastors - Looking for coaching tailored to your context and challenges? We love walking alongside pastors as they're working to implement spiritual formation in their church. Schedule a free 60-minute online coaching session with an experienced member of our Church Formation team. Practicing The Way  From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Renovaré Instagram: @brandonshields @practicingtheway

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Jay Kim, where they talk about engaging in youth ministry, starting a church with young adults, and the two-year succession plan that brought Jay to his current role as lead pastor of WestGate church. Jay also shares beautiful stories about some of the work the Holy Spirit has been leading him through recently. About Jay Kim:  Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate, a multi-congregational church in Silicon Valley, where he lives with his wife Jenny and their two children. He's the author of Analog Christian, Analog Church, and the forthcoming book The Pace of Peace. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast.  Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Jay Kim's Social Media: instagram.com/jaykimthinks x.com/jaykimthinks facebook.com/jaykimthinks

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Jay Kim about his experience of immigrating to the US as a child, feeling at home in a Korean immigrant church, and navigating intercultural social dynamics. Jay shares about the cleverly casual way he was brought back into relationship with Jesus as a young adult, and the seeds that were planted around church leadership and pastoring.  About Jay Kim:  Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate, a multi-congregational church in Silicon Valley, where he lives with his wife Jenny and their two children. He's the author of Analog Christian, Analog Church, and the forthcoming book The Pace of Peace. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast.  Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Jay Kim's Social Media: instagram.com/jaykimthinks x.com/jaykimthinks facebook.com/jaykimthinks

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Ger Jones about creating a church “for the exploring and the following”, what Ger has learned through hosting 47 Alpha courses, and their goal of recreating Zacchaeus’ house in the heart of Pasadena.  Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. About Ger Jones:  Ger Jones is the Senior Pastor of Vintage Church LA. Born into a dynamic ministry context, Ger experienced God moving profoundly throughout his childhood and teenage years and was a leader in the church at a young age. After college, Ger practiced law in London for a few years, during which time he went through a deep crisis of faith and church. It’s a big story, but God used Alpha and a church called Holy Trinity Brompton to help Ger find his way back to Jesus - and fall in love with the church again. Ger later transitioned into a career in brand management, which led him and his wife, Lizzie, to move to Switzerland. After a few years, quite unexpectedly, Ger sensed a clear call into full-time ministry. Following an M.Div at Regent College, Vancouver and then pastoring in an Anglican Church in Raleigh, Ger and Lizzie felt God’s call to plant a church in Los Angeles. The Jones family moved to Santa Monica in 2011 and began the process of planting Vintage Church with a small but mighty team. Vintage has since grown to a few thousand people, with two locations in Santa Monica and the South Bay, and has also seed-planted two additional churches in Pasadena and Malibu. Alpha was a big part of Ger’s journey of rediscovering faith and remains a key focus of his ministry at Vintage, alongside the Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass, which equips Pastors and their teams to see Alpha and Evangelism thrive in their context. In addition, Ger runs Strength to Strength Adventure Co, guiding wilderness adventures for Pastors and Leaders to recharge, renew, and laugh hard with friends.  Ger is ordained in the Anglican Church and is passionate about thoughtful, deep theology, the power of the Holy Spirit, mission to our city, and helping people explore faith and life’s difficult questions. He is married to Lizzie, a fun, laugh-out-loud, keep-it-real Australian hairstylist, and together they have three grown children. Show notes:  Vintage Church LA Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Ger Jones about growing up as an obedient pastor’s kid, the weight of that identity and drive, and learning that God loves all of who he is. Ger also reflects on how John 15 shaped his life as he returned to faith and ministry. This is part one of a two-part conversation, so come back next week to hear more!  Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. About Ger Jones:  Ger Jones is the Senior Pastor of Vintage Church LA. Born into a dynamic ministry context, Ger experienced God moving profoundly throughout his childhood and teenage years and was a leader in the church at a young age. After college, Ger practiced law in London for a few years, during which time he went through a deep crisis of faith and church. It’s a big story, but God used Alpha and a church called Holy Trinity Brompton to help Ger find his way back to Jesus - and fall in love with the church again. Ger later transitioned into a career in brand management, which led him and his wife, Lizzie, to move to Switzerland. After a few years, quite unexpectedly, Ger sensed a clear call into full-time ministry. Following an M.Div at Regent College, Vancouver and then pastoring in an Anglican Church in Raleigh, Ger and Lizzie felt God’s call to plant a church in Los Angeles. The Jones family moved to Santa Monica in 2011 and began the process of planting Vintage Church with a small but mighty team. Vintage has since grown to a few thousand people, with two locations in Santa Monica and the South Bay, and has also seed-planted two additional churches in Pasadena and Malibu. Alpha was a big part of Ger’s journey of rediscovering faith and remains a key focus of his ministry at Vintage, alongside the Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass, which equips Pastors and their teams to see Alpha and Evangelism thrive in their context. In addition, Ger runs Strength to Strength Adventure Co, guiding wilderness adventures for Pastors and Leaders to recharge, renew, and laugh hard with friends.  Ger is ordained in the Anglican Church and is passionate about thoughtful, deep theology, the power of the Holy Spirit, mission to our city, and helping people explore faith and life’s difficult questions. He is married to Lizzie, a fun, laugh-out-loud, keep-it-real Australian hairstylist, and together they have three grown children. Show notes:  Vintage Church LA 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we hear part two of Jay’s talk with Drew Hyun about Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. They discuss where to start if you’re interested in engaging this work, the critical process of disorientation and reorientation, and why focusing on emotional health is life-giving at all stages of leadership.  Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) and is the author of the book Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes:  Register now for 2026 Better Together Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Drew Hyun about Drew’s road to becoming the president of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, and the impact the work of this organization has had on his own life and relationships. This is part one of a two-part conversation, so join us next week to hear more!  About Drew Hyun: Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) and is the author of the book Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes:  Register now for 2026 Better Together! Emotionally Healthy Discipleship 

About Tyler Staton: Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos. He is passionate about living prayerfully and relationally. Tyler is the author of three books: The Familiar Stranger, Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools, and Searching for Enough. Show Notes: Tyler’s website: http://tylerstaton.com

Welcome back to We Are Vineyard! In this very first episode of Season 5, Jay talks with Tyler Staton about growing up in the South, starting a youth ministry, and falling in love with teaching the Bible. We’ll see you next week for part two of this conversation! Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos. He is passionate about living prayerfully and relationally. Tyler is the author of three books: The Familiar Stranger; Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools; and Searching for Enough. Show Notes:  Tyler’s website 

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations. Today’s theme is Love, and Rian Emano represents the AAPI Association with a beautiful devotion about different expressions of love, and the LOVE that God is writing into the world through Jesus and through us. After that, we will hear a medley of Great Is The Lord’s Love and O Come All Ye Faithful, sung by Kyrie Varieur.  Rian Emano serves on the pastoral team at Vineyard of Hope in Walnut, California, and on the advisory board for the Vineyard USA AAPI Association. This is the last episode of We Are Vineyard for 2025. We’ll be back with fresh episodes in February!

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations. Today’s theme is Joy, and Sarah Anderson represents the Women’s Association with a devotion on finding joy in the chaos of real life. Then we’ll hear What Joy Is Found from Vineyard Worship featuring Torri Baker. Sarah is the pastor of Vineyard Finneytown in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She and her husband, Grant, have three boys, a rabbit, and a puppy in their lively household. Sarah is passionate about helping people to encounter the presence of God, equipping people to minister in the power of the Spirit, and seeing children fall in love with Jesus at summer camp. Sarah currently serves as the Vice-Chair on the National Team for the Vineyard Women’s Association. She loves a good hike in the woods, chips & queso, office supplies, putting things in rainbow order, and time with family.

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations. Today’s theme is Peace, and Joshua Miller represents the Black Pastors and Leaders Association with a devotion about the variations in our experiences of peace, and the Peace that comes only from being with God. Then we’ll hear Christ the King from Heaven and Earth, featuring Joshua Miller & Tyler Jarvis. Joshua Miller is a pastor, songwriter, vocalist, musician, and worship leader, currently serving as Associate Pastor and on the Senior Leadership Team at Vineyard Columbus. With a heart for worship and a gift for leadership, Joshua brings both creativity and strategic insight into his role.  He is the founder of Heaven and Earth, a worship collective composed of worship leaders, vocalists, musicians, and writers from within the Vineyard Columbus community. The collective exists to cultivate authentic worship and foster collaboration among artists and leaders.  Joshua has been featured in partnership with Vineyard Worship and Integrity Music, contributing to several widely recognized worship projects. His work includes songs such as “Eternal Light,” “This Joy,” “Cherry Blossoms,” “You’re Carrying Me,” “Behold,” and “Roll Like a River.” These songs reflect his heart for the Church and his passion for creating worship that is both spiritually grounded and artistically rich.  Joshua is married to Alicia, a licensed clinical counselor, and together they are raising three energetic, strong, and beautiful daughters—along with their dogs, Leo and Bettie.   Show Notes:  Black Pastors and Leaders Association  Christ the King by Heaven and Earth, featuring Joshua Miller and Tyler Jarvis

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations, followed by a song curated by the Vineyard Worship team. Today’s theme is Hope, and Donna Ackermann represents the Hispanic Association with a beautiful reflection on holding fast to the hope of Jesus through the twists and turns of life, after which we’ll hear Padre Nuestro from Vineyard Worship featuring Carlabigail Hernandez. Since 2020, Donna has co-pastored the Vineyard Longmont with her husband Alex in northern Colorado. They are currently in the process of buying their first church building and having another church merge with them. They planted their first Vineyard in the 80s with 5 small children, and Donna has pioneered worship in two other church plants/campuses. She serves as the Communications & Events Director for the Vineyard Hispanic Association. She has been in various church ministry roles for over 38 years and worked with a nationwide Christian radio talk show. Donna is ordained, a certified bilingual Spiritual Director and a trained Vineyard coach. She has been married for over 40 years to her best friend, has 5 adult children, a daughter-in-law & 2 beautiful grandchildren. Her 89-year-old Panamanian mother lives with them. She is a foodie, loves international food, and has a growing backyard orchard of 5 fruit trees, many berry bushes, and grapevines. She dreams of someday planting a La Viña.

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Christian Dunn about the importance of the teenage years, and how commitment and time are vital to forming relationships with youth. Christian talks about annual nationwide youth camps, Project Timothy, and the ministry fruit he’s seen in young adults who attended Project Timothy as teens. Christian also shares some encouragement for parents of teens.  Christian and his wife Mandy pastor CityLight Vineyard Church in Newark DE which they planted in 2017.  He has worked in youth ministry for three decades has had the pleasure of serving as the East Region Youth Task Force Leader and the VUSA National Youth Director. He is the author of “Finding the One: How Dating Prepares You For Marriage” and “More Than Spectators: Empowering Teens for Ministry.” He is excited about imparting to young people a passion for following Jesus, discovering their gifts, and pursuing their ministry callings.   Show Notes:  Vineyard USA’s Day of Giving 2025  Hear more of Christian’s story Vineyard Youth USA Project Timothy  Alpha Youth

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Jason George talk about the gift of generosity, the responsibility of stewardship, and the discipleship opportunities available in this conversation. They also discuss some practical matters such as wills and legacy giving, the outcomes of last year’s Day of Giving, and the goals and focus of this year’s Day of Giving.    Jason George is the Chief Development Officer for Vineyard USA. Jason was born in Toledo, Ohio, but considers himself a Columbus kid because that’s where he survived & sometimes thrived during middle school & high school. Deciding to stay in Columbus, he earned a B.A. in Journalism from The Ohio State University, and also met Jesus.  That decision has shaped all of Jason’s life since. Following Christ led him to full-time vocational ministry for 14 years after graduation. That time included serving on a staff with a local Central Ohio church for two years and then 12 years between two parachurch organizations.  Along the way, he also graduated from the Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI). During his time in ministry, he spent 5 years in Central Asia focusing on bringing the Gospel to local communities so that churches could be raised up. Jason believes living and serving overseas transformed much of his understanding of what it means to live with a Kingdom mindset. After returning from his last stint overseas in 2015 Jason went through a very difficult season of change and needed growth. That’s when he found his current church home, Delaware City Vineyard (in Delaware, Ohio), and learned how to transfer that Kingdom paradigm, along with his skills, to a career in fundraising. He started that new phase of his career as an Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center before becoming a Development Officer with Kenyon College. Jason feels that all his experience in ministry and educational fundraising has uniquely equipped him for this role to help support the vision of Vineyard USA to see more churches planted that “Embrace the Kingdom and engage the world.” Jason is married to Jill and has 4 kids – Vera, Jonah, Seva & Coen. They keep life busy, full, and mostly fun. Lately, their goal together as a family is to choose to cultivate a posture of learning, laughing, and loving… not necessarily in that order.   Show Notes:  Day of Giving 2025 Day of Giving Media Kit  Vineyard Leadership Essentials  Sign up for the VUSA Monthly  

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Kirsten Schwartz about growing up in a military family, cultivating a meaningful career in urban planning, and the family crisis that led her to join a church staff (tw: brief mention of infant loss). Kirsten shares about her research on building a culture of generosity within a congregation, how to raise money without running campaigns, and how generosity aligns with stewardship.   After years of serving as the Director of Generosity at a large church in Cincinnati, Kirsten Schwartz, our Director of Church Partnerships, is a trusted resource for empowering the church to live and give generously. Kirsten has a passion for helping churches navigate around obstacles and complications to grow a culture of generosity. Because her father was an Air Force pilot, Kirsten grew up in many places including Japan and Germany. She has two degrees: a masters in urban redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania and in landscape architecture from Clemson University. She worked professionally in urban redevelopment with a focus in disaster recovery for cities around the country. Kirsten met her husband, Jason, at a triathlon in Florida. They live together in Cincinnati, Ohio with two children, Asher and Evelyn. Kirsten loves being active, sharing the good news of Jesus, and empowering women to lead in the Kingdom.   Show Notes:  Learn more about JOGs and Generous Giving   Here’s a video for Pastors on how Generous Giving can help them create a culture of generosity at no cost to them.  Follow Generous Giving on socials: 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GenerousGiving
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/generous.giving/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/generous-giving

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Chris Jensen about how a blue-haired punk rock kid ended up in ministry, the prayer that interrupted his life, and learning to be himself in a secular work environment. Chris talks about becoming an organizational health consultant, the role of artificial harmony in the dysfunction of the Church, and markers of health he’s looking for when working with a team. Finally, Chris shares why he decided to work with the Vineyard, and what he’d like to say to Vineyard pastors.  Chris brings over 15 years of experience to his partnership with The Table Group. Whether he's working with a CEO and their leadership team, addressing groups of leaders during a conference or workshop, or counseling a client one-on-one, Chris brings his passion, enthusiasm and contagious optimism for organizational health to every client he touches. Currently, Chris works regularly with CEOs and executive teams in quickly and effectively applying the concepts related to organizational health. His clients span a broad spectrum of various industries, including aerospace, consumer goods, health care, technology, education and local churches. Chris has extensive first hand experience building high-performing teams by implementing the models in his own teams under pressure to produce results.  Prior to partnering with The Table Group, Chris worked for InsideTrack, a San Francisco based technology and service organization, in the enterprise education segment. Before that, he worked in the ministry for nearly 10 years in California. He received his degree in Biblical Studies from Patten University. Chris lives with his wife and five children in Portland, Oregon.    Show notes:  Vineyard USA’s Day of Giving 2025  The Table Group  5 Dysfunctions of a Team  The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni   

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Rubén Quintero, leader of our Hispanic Association chats with Joel and Emmy Seymour about their visit to the US/Mexico border, Miguel Aviles about pastoring a predominantly immigrant Vineyard church, and Jimmy Reyes about the cultural differences in Hispanic and American churches, navigating a multilingual church, and maturing toward unity.  Joel Seymour serves as a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA.  Emmie Seymour is a junior studying nursing at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She has a deep desire to combine healthcare and missions and feels a calling to become a medical missionary. Her love for the Vineyard runs deep - she grew up at the Lancaster Vineyard in Ohio, where she’s served in many roles over the years, from leading Alpha small groups to volunteering with kids and serving as a youth ambassador. Emmie completed the leadership track for Project Timothy in 2023, which helped shape her growth as a leader. Miguel Aviles serves as the lead pastor of La Viña Burnsville in Minnesota alongside his wife Rocio Hernandez. La Viña Burnsville is a vibrant and diverse community, representing people from 17 different Latin American countries and highlighting the cultural richness of the body of Christ. Additionally, the church is home to a flourishing Brazilian ministry, led by a dedicated team, which continues to grow and impact lives with the message of the Gospel. Jimmy Reyes is the lead pastor of the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, CA. He has helped plant two Viña communities in Los Angeles, produced 2 Spanish albums with Vineyard Worship, and led worship at the first Vineyard Hispanic Gathering in the 90’s as a teenager. He also currently serves Vineyard USA as an Area Leader in Southern California.    Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More. Day of Giving 2025  Vineyard USA’s Hispanic Association  Vineyard USA celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Dr. Charles Montgomery, Jr. talks with Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin about when she first recognized she was called to leadership and the philosophy of redemptive leadership. Dr. Massie Martin also discusses how the Lord shapes us through the struggles and sacrifices of ministry, likening us to a piece of clay on the Potter’s wheel.  Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the Chief Operating Officer at Christianity Today and founder and Executive Director of Soulfire International Ministries. She is an accomplished writer and author, serves on various boards and councils, and leads the Grow Ministry at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Maryland. She and her husband, Mark, are proud parents to two amazing daughters.   Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More. Nailing It by Nicole Massie Martin Nicolemassiemartin.com  sfiministries.org  Get a year of Christianity Today for free!   

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Dr. Charles Montgomery, Jr. talk about the preliminary work of the Associations, and how immersive experiences like Sankofa and a trip to the border wall of Mexico opened up opportunities for connection and sharing experiences. Charles also shares how the ordination process dovetails with the work of Associations to make more space at the table for historically underrepresented leaders, the opportunities created by clear systems, and how you can be praying for the Vineyard.    Charles A. Montgomery, Jr serves as the Associations Director for Vineyard USA. Charles also founded a successful multiethnic Campus (Vineyard Columbus East) and has pastored there since 2012. His passion is to develop Beloved Communities as espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, an alumnus of Charles’ alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Charles has a B.A. in Mathematics from Morehouse, a Master of Divinity from Emory University (Ga) and a PhD in Ethical and Creative Leadership from Union Institute University (OH). He has earned several credentials in Diversity Training and is a Certified Spiritual Director through the Sustainable School of Faith. He considers his greatest accomplishment (ok, grace) being married to his childhood crush, Kimberly. Charles and Kimberly are avid Buckeye fans (Go Bucks!) and make their home in Columbus Ohio.   Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More.  Tenx10 Undivided

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Caleb Maskell talks with Mark Labberton about the life of the mind and how it intertwines beautifully and necessarily with the practical aspects of life and ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit. Mark also shares some thoughts about the most helpful ways for pastors and leaders to prepare themselves educationally for the task before them, and some practical ways of creating frameworks for mental and theological flourishing.  Mark Labberton is the Clifford L. Penner Presidential Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Preaching at Fuller Seminary. He served as Fuller’s fifth president through 2022, after being appointed to the position in 2013. As Fuller’s president, Dr. Labberton brought to his leadership a deep awareness of the urgency of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a passion for the vital role that Fuller Seminary plays in the enactment of that gospel. For Labberton, this urgency was informed by a sense of the critical and unique contribution Fuller is called to make to the global church. Mark was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and began what was to become three decades of pastoral ministry—along the way, meeting and marrying his life partner, Janet Morrison Labberton. Labberton has been a popular and well-traveled speaker for years, and continues to speak in the US and internationally. In addition to publishing articles in various periodicals such as The Atlantic, Christianity Today, and others, he has authored or edited Still Evangelical? (2017); Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today (2014); The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor: Seeing Others Through the Eyes of Jesus (2010); and https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Act-Worship-Living-Justice-ebook/dp/B008P0IBQC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OT1BPWFX1PI7&am...

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Caleb Maskell about his role as AND of Theology and Education: the parts that have been more fun than he expected and those that have been difficult. They discuss the purpose and heart behind the ordination and bylaw process, the work of resourcing what we require of Vineyard pastors, and the challenge of taking into account the diverse needs of the 1200 currently ordained Vineyard pastors. Caleb also provides a look into the resourcing currently available, and a sneak peek into some of what’s coming soon.  Caleb Maskell is the Associate National Director of Theology and Education for Vineyard USA. Born in London, he immigrated with his family to New Jersey in 1986, at the age of nine. Caleb has been involved in leadership in the Vineyard movement for twenty-five years. After spending a gap year at the Toronto Airport Vineyard School of Ministry in 1995, he went to the University of Chicago to study theology, philosophy, and literature in the interdisciplinary undergraduate Fundamentals program. While there, he joined the core planting team of the Hyde Park Vineyard Church, where he served as a worship leader, a small group leader, a setter-up of chairs, and whatever else Rand Tucker asked him to do. After college, full of questions that had emerged from the beautiful collision of serious academic study and the practical realities of church planting, Caleb enrolled in the M.Div. program at Yale Divinity School. For four years, he immersed himself in the study of theology, church history, and scripture, while also leading worship and working with middle school and high school youth groups.  After graduating in 2004, he worked for three years as the Associate Director of the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University. In 2007, along with his wife Kathy and their friends Matt and Hannah Croasmun, Caleb planted Elm City Vineyard Church in New Haven, Connecticut. That year, he also began a Ph.D. program at Princeton University, focusing on the history of American religion, with an additional emphasis in African-American Studies. After moving to Manhattan for four years while Kathy went to seminary, the Maskells ended up in suburban Philadelphia, where Caleb completed his Ph.D, while teaching regularly at Princeton Theological Seminary, and serving as the Worship Pastor at Blue Route Vineyard Church. Since 2010, Caleb has led the Society of Vineyard Scholars, which exists to foster and sustain a community of theological discourse in and for the Vineyard movement. Caleb is passionate about developing leaders and institutions that will help to produce a healthy, courageous, and hospitable future for the church in the twenty-first century. Caleb and Kathy now live with their two kids, Josiah and Emmanuelle, in the heart of Denver, where Kathy pastors East Denver Vineyard Church.   Show notes:  Ordination Website  Be/Know/Do document  Andy Crouch: Order and Abundance illustration Glenn Packiam's books

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Joel Seymour interviews Ken Sande about his path to peacemaking, how he uses it as an evangelism tool in secular business environments, and how emotional intelligence applies to every one of our relationships. Ken also shares why the Matthew 18 approach is a last resort in managing relationships, and the generational investment that can be made through learning about emotional intelligence.  Ken Sande is the founder of Peacemaker Ministries and RW360. Trained as an engineer, lawyer and mediator, Ken has conciliated hundreds of family, business, church and legal conflicts. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including The Peacemaker, which has sold over 500,000 copies in twenty languages. He teaches internationally on biblical peacemaking, Christian conciliation and relational wisdom, which is an enhanced form of emotional intelligence that helps people “get upstream of conflict” by improving their ability to read and manage emotions in themselves and others. These resources are being used to strengthen relationships, promote teamwork and reduce and resolve conflict in churches, families, businesses, schools and military bases around the world. Ken is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Instructor with TalentSmartEQ and a Certified Relational Wisdom Conciliator, Coach and Instructor. He has served as a church elder, an Editorial Advisor for Christianity Today, a Certified Professional Engineer and as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Montana Bar Association.   Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More.  Relational Wisdom 360 The Relationally Wise Leader course  PACE Program

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Joel Seymour about peacemaking, what it has to do with his role as a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA, and how he sees it shaping the future of the Vineyard Movement.  Joel Seymour is a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA. His passion for the Vineyard began as a teenager when he watched John Wimber’s testimony video (yay VHS!). He knew he had found his home when, as a college sophomore, he took the Fuller Seminary class MC550 “Healing and World Evangelism” led by Wimber and C. Peter Wagner.   In 1998, Joel and his wife Kristi planted their second church – the Lancaster Vineyard in Lancaster, OH, and Joel has served there as the Lead Pastor. He has been deeply engaged in his city, bringing together the social, private, and public sectors through the Art of Neighboring Fairfield County initiative. Joel also started the Small Town initiative within Multiply Vineyard. He has served as both an Area Leader and a Regional Leader within Vineyard USA and regularly draws on these experiences to encourage, equip, and empower local pastors.  He desires to give back to the Vineyard because of all it has given him: ongoing rich experiences of the Father’s heart, a naturally supernatural walk with the Spirit, and Kingdom Theology to undergird it all.   Joel enjoys playing guitar, leading worship, laughing, and most of all, taking long daily walks with his wife. Joel and Kristi have raised 3 great kids – Jesse, Luke, and Emmie.  Show Notes:  Vineyard USA’s Women’s Association Conference: More.  Hear more of Joel’s story  The Peacemaker by Ken Sande 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and return guest Andy Crouch discuss the use of 2x2 grids as a framework for finding balance between synergistic values that often seem in competition with one another, and how Andy uses it as a tool in leadership development. They also discuss the effects of technology on our formation as humans. Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books (plus another with his daughter, Amy Crouch): The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, and Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. Andy serves on the governing board of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. For more than ten years he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including serving as executive editor from 2012 to 2016. He served the John Templeton Foundation in 2017 as senior strategist for communication. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and several editions of Best Christian Writing and Best Spiritual Writing—and, most importantly, received a shout-out in Lecrae's 2014 single "Non-Fiction." From 1998 to 2003, Andy was the editor-in-chief of re:generation quarterly, a magazine for an emerging generation of culturally creative Christians. For ten years he was a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard University. He studied classics at Cornell University and received an M.Div. summa cum laude from Boston University School of Theology. A classically trained musician who draws on pop, folk, rock, jazz, and gospel, he has led musical worship for congregations of 5 to 20,000. He and his wife, Catherine, raised two children and live in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.   Show Notes:...

Becky Olmstead is a passionate advocate, writer, and national voice for the next generation. With nearly 40 years of pastoral experience—serving alongside her husband at Vineyard Church of the Rockies and as a longtime Kids Pastor—Becky brings deep wisdom and heart to every conversation. She’s a former global leader with the 4/14 Movement and currently serves as the National Kids Director for Vineyard USA, where she’s helping shape a Spirit-led, Jesus-centered movement for children across the nation. Becky’s heart beats for seeing kids empowered by the Holy Spirit and being recognized in the Church as vital voices. Karen George is a creative leader and next-gen advocate with over 20 years of experience as a Kids Pastor and Creative Pastor. She serves as the Vineyard Kids USA Coordinator and helps develop Vineyard Kids Worship Music, creating meaningful moments where kids connect with God. Karen has been part of the global 4/14 Movement and is passionate about seeing a generation change the world with the love and power of God. She also runs a creative agency that helps businesses, churches, and ministries bring bold ideas to life through branding, events, and experiences, and when she’s not dreaming up something new, she’s hanging with her husband and two rad kids.

Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is also the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, co-authored with his wife, Holly, The Intentional Year. He earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, and is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. Glenn has written over 65 worship songs published with Integrity Music, including “Your Name”, co-written with Paul Baloche. Glenn and Holly have four children and live in Orange County, California.   Show Notes: Register now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference!  Glenn’s website  Rockharbor Church

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Christina Lowery discuss last week’s episode with Mark Batterson, including what Christina loves about their ministry approach. They also talk about why leadership development and succession plans are vital for the Vineyard today, how and why they created Vineyard Leadership Essentials, and some other effective pathways for discipleship. Christina shares about some of the new stuff coming in the Fall for pastors who have just come in as successors, some of what’s happening with NextGen and how she’s working to resource what God’s doing, and what she’s encouraged by as she meets with Vineyards around the country. Christina Lowery is the Associate National Director for Church Health and Development. Early in her ministry career, Christina served as the Events Director for a large student internship at Teen Mania Ministries (Acquire the Fire) in Tyler, TX.  In 2001, she and her husband Joel joined a local Vineyard Church there, and served on the pastoral team for several years until they were called to move back to Virginia and plant Crossroads Church.     Christina and Joel have co-pastored Crossroads Church in Fredericksburg, VA since 2008. As a Lead Pastor, Christina has been a big-picture thinker and creative visionary, responsible for communicating and driving the vision and mission of the church forward. She finds great joy in preaching and teaching, leadership development, and building systems that foster church health and growth. In addition to her local leadership at Crossroads Church, she has served in other leadership roles with the Vineyard, such as an Area Leader in Northern and Central Virginia for ten years (2009-2019) and on the Vineyard Women in Leadership Team for the past three years (2018-2021).  Joel and Christina have been married for 23 years and have 3 amazing kids – Hannah, Caleb, and Zoe.  The Lowery family loves to travel and so far, their favorite destination is Maui, with its warm sun and beautiful island beaches.  Show Notes: Register Now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conferences Listen to Christina’s previous episode  Listen to Mark Batterson’s episode  Vineyard Leadership Essentials Project Timothy

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with John Kim about the ways in which generative AI are impacting our world, and the potential for impacting our future. John shares about a perspective shift in viewing AI in terms of Genesis instead of Revelation, how to get started using AI constructively, and some ideas about how you can use it to multiply your ministry efforts. John and Jay also chat about some of the limitations of AI, and the two questions it forces us to ask.  John Kim is the founder of Karamaan Group, an investing firm that oversees his family interests through passive and active interests in public and private companies, mostly in the software, technology and blockchain industries. Prior to this, John was a partner at the DFO- the family investment of Michael Dell and his family. He received his PhD in economics from MIT in 1998 and his AB from Harvard in 1995. John and his family reside at Coram Deo: A House of Worship and Entrepreneurship located in midtown Manhattan. He serves on the board of Vineyard USA. He is a long-suffering NY Knicks fan as the Knicks last won a title when John was in his mother’s womb.  He believes that will change this year. Show notes:  Hear more of John’s story  ChatGPT

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Nicole Dill about how she came to the role of Communications Director for Vineyard USA, and the ways in which the role is different than she expected. Nicole shares some of the complexities of resourcing such a diverse movement, the ways that advancements in technology and AI have changed the landscape of comms and social connection, and also how AI might be used by pastors to eliminate some busy work and open up time for personal connection and flourishing. They also discuss the ways in which our online conduct impacts our relationships and our witness to unbelievers, and the direction the Lord is leading our movement, which drives Nicole’s work. Finally, Nicole gives an overview of this year’s National Conferences, an explanation of the theme, and her hopes for our time together.  Nicole Dill is the Communications Director for Vineyard USA. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where she came to faith as a teenager, and quickly found a church family at Vineyard Columbus in Joshua House, the young adult ministry. In 2002, she moved to Colorado to help plant the Arvada Vineyard (which became a part of the Mile High Vineyard). While helping lead at this growing church plant, Nicole finished her degree in Photography at the Art Institute of Colorado. In 2008, Nicole planted and pastored the first multisite church for the Mile High Vineyard in downtown Denver with a team from the Arvada Vineyard. After several years of pastoring there, she handed the site off to another pastor and helped several other Vineyard church plants and established churches in the Denver area. Nicole has also worked extensively outside the church, leading creative teams at Anthropologie as a store designer, as Chief Operations Officer for TEDxMileHigh, the largest TEDx in North America, and for the White House as an Advance Associate for the President. She consults many growing organizations around their creative, operations, and HR needs in the nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors. Nicole is thrilled to be on the National Team, pairing together her passion for creativity, the church, and spreading the message of Jesus to the world around us. She lives in Arvada, CO with her husband Jason, and two daughters, Vera and Rosalie, and attends the Arvada Vineyard. Show notes:  Hear more of Nicole’s story The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt  The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch  Notebook LM Perplexity.ai  Aiforchurchleaders.com Subscribe to the Vineyard USA Monthly 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Super Regional Leader John Elmer chats with Lindsay Mizell about growing up in Young Life camps, connecting with a Vineyard church after college, and finding language for her experiences with the Holy Spirit. Lindsay shares about being invited to pastor a multisite church, wrestling through her identity as a female pastor, and how “on-the-job training” has been a hallmark of her life. Lindsay talks about her experience as an Area Leader for Vineyard USA and shares an incredible story of the healing she experienced this year.  Lindsay Mizell is the pastor of Vineyard Springbrook in Alcoa, TN. She grew up in a ministry family, running around Young Life camps and believing she could be part of things God was up to in the world. She is married to Daniel and they have 3 sons. Lindsay serves on the Women’s Association national team and is an Area Leader in the southeast.  Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s National Conference: Melody and Harmony  Register for Vineyard Women’s Conference: More.  www.vineyardspringbriok.org  Instagram: @vineyardspringbrook