In All Things

Michael Davis, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk, is the guest host for episode 71 of the EPC’s weekly podcast, “In All Things.” This week, Davis shares a brief Palm Sunday/Holy Week devotional from John 12:12-18.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Jordin Greer, Assistant Director of EPC World Outreach. The two discuss her role serving EPC congregations as well as World Outreach global workers. In addition, Greer describes how a mission trip to Guatemala crystalized her call to ministry, as well as her desire to empower local churches to fulfill the Great Commission globally and how World Outreach partnerships with churches facilitate long-term relationships.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Brandon Addison, Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of the West and a ministry coach with Tin Man Ministries. The two discuss how a healthy church helps its members have a healthy understanding of discipleship. Addison also describes how a church is a relational system, the value of inter-generational connection, and the value of coaching for both pastors and congregations.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Andy Koesters, Pastor to Churches and Families for FamiliesAlive and Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of the New River. The two discuss how discipling the next generation is critical to church health. Koesters also explains how God’s “Plan A” is for parents to be the primary disciplers of their children, as well as some key steps churches can take to develop a discipleship culture for children, students, and families.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Ritchey Cable, Pastor of Gashland Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Mo., and Church Health Coordinator for the Presbytery of Mid-America. The two discuss Cable’s experience leading revitalization efforts in two churches. Cable also shares three revitalization principles from Revelation 2, and explains how and why he wrote the screenplay for the motion picture “The Author.”

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Marc de Jeu, Church Health Coordinator and Mission Mobilizer for the Presbytery of the Alleghenies. The two discuss a variety of avenues for church health, including the role of a mentor in the life of the pastor, how healthy churches are those that are outward-focused and relational, how mission catalyzes community, and how church health and church planting intersect under the EPC’s goal for churches of “faithfulness in the neighborhood.”

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Mark Farrell, Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Florida. The two discuss the impact of a high school coach on Farrell’s faith journey, as well as how his 22-year Air Force career prepared him to serve both as a pastor and as Church Health Coordinator for Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean. Farrell also explains how to develop an evangelistic culture in the church; how the 3 Circles method is a fully biblical, effective tool for personal evangelism among all ages; and how to incorporate the 3 Circles in a variety of avenues in the church.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Stefan Bomberger, Pastor of Manoa Community Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania. The two discuss three aspects of church health in the EPC—evangelism, revitalization, and transitional pastorates. In addition, Bomberger explains how and why Manoa Community Church went into “growth mode” during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how the denomination’s Church Health Team helps congregations develop an evangelistic culture.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Earla Bethel, Ruling Elder for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau, Bahamas, and Chair of the NEPC National Leadership Team Finance Committee. The two discuss her faith journey, as well as how St. Andrew’s and Lucaya Presbyterian Church in Freeport, Bahamas, came to the EPC from the Church of Scotland. Bethel also describes how she applies the principle of Luke 12:48 as a business owner. The two also discuss the background behind the EPC funding formula conversion from Per Member Asking (PMA) to Percentage of Income (POI), and how the Office of the General Assembly stewards those resources.

Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Dana Allin, Synod Executive with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. The two discuss some of the fundamental principles for how churches flourish, areas of collaboration between ECO and the EPC, how ECO’s Flourish Institute of Theology meshes theological education with practical application, and how ECO is defining itself as a church for its second decade and beyond.