In All Things

In this episode of In All Things, Dean is joined by Brandon Jolley, a member of the Benefits Resources, Inc. (BRI) Committee, for a practical and encouraging conversation about how the EPC’s benefits program works and why participation matters.

Together, Brandon and Dean walk through the heart behind EPC Benefits, explaining how the program supports pastors, church staff, and their families through medical coverage, wellness resources, and long-term care. Brandon offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the benefits plan functions, what makes it different from navigating insurance independently, and why a strong, connected participation base helps strengthen care for everyone involved.

This episode is an invitation to pastors, sessions, and church leaders to explore how EPC Benefits can serve their communities, and a reminder that caring for those who serve the Church is a vital part of the Church’s witness.

🔗 Learn more about EPC Benefits and how to join at epconnect.org/benefits

In this episode of In All Things, Dean is joined by Julie Lynn Ashley, who shares her family’s powerful story of how the EPC and the EPC Benefits program supported them through one of the most challenging seasons of their ministry journey.

Julie Lynn reflects on the realities of pastoral life, the unexpected moments when benefits become more than paperwork, and how the care from the wider EPC family provided when her family needed it most. Her testimony offers a meaningful reminder that ministry families are not meant to walk alone, and that tangible support from the Church makes a lasting difference.

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry spouse, elder, or church leader, this episode offers both encouragement and practical insight into how the EPC seeks to care for those who serve.

To connect with Julie Lynn, visit her website or Alongside Ministry Wives.

🔗 Learn more about EPC’s Benefits Program at epconnect.org/benefits

🔗 Watch Julie Lynn’s most recent webinar here: https://youtu.be/ZLXesFa6NcQ?si=GEvz4eGyT54z62sr

In the first episode of our new miniseries, The Benefit of Joining Our Benefits, Dean sits down with Carolee Richendollar, Executive Director of Benefits Resources, to explore how the EPC supports pastors, church staff, and their families through comprehensive benefits and holistic care.

Together, they discuss why benefits matter not only practically, but spiritually, and how healthy coverage can create space for pastors to serve with greater confidence and longevity. Carolee also shares why so many people enrolled in the plan aren’t fully utilizing the resources available to them and offers encouragement for pastors and sessions to take a fresh look at what’s already at their fingertips.

This episode is a helpful reminder that caring for those called to ministry is a shared responsibility of the Church. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, or church administrator, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and practical next steps for making the most of the EPC’s Benefits Resources.

🔗 Learn more about EPC Benefits Resources and explore available plans and support at:
https://www.epconnect.org/benefits

In this episode, Dean sits down with Stuart Chen to explore the often-overlooked seasons of calling that come after a career has ended. Drawing from his own experience serving at an international school in Central Asia, Stuart reflects on the different phases of retirement and the surprising opportunities they can hold for meaningful ministry.

This conversation is an encouragement to believers of all ages, especially those nearing or entering retirement, to prayerfully consider how God might be inviting them to use their time, skills, and availability in this next chapter of life. As Stuart reminds us, the call to follow Jesus doesn’t end with a career; it continues wherever God leads.

📩 Interested in exploring how your retirement years could be used in ministry? Stuart welcomes conversation and questions. Feel free to reach out to him at polycarp316@gmail.com

In the third and final episode of our Generations Series, Dean, Gianna, and Kendra turn their attention to one of the most vital questions facing the Church today: how do we cultivate meaningful community across generations?

The conversation explores how different generations understand belonging, commitment, and connection—especially in a world shaped by both digital and in-person interactions. From the strengths and limitations of online spaces to the irreplaceable value of embodied, face-to-face community, the team reflects on how churches can thoughtfully engage people of all ages within their immediate reach.

🔗 Learn more about the upcoming Next Gen Leadership Summit and how to register here.

In the second episode of our Generations Series, Dean, Gianna, and Kendra turn their attention to one of the most common and often misunderstood challenges in ministry: communication across generations.

From texting and tone to email etiquette and expectations, the team explores how different generations communicate, where misunderstandings most often arise, and why good intentions can still lead to confusion.

At its heart, this episode is a reminder that communication is an act of discipleship. When the Church learns to listen well and speak thoughtfully across generations, it reflects the unity of the Body of Christ and creates space for deeper connection.

🔗 Learn more about the EPC’s Next Generation Council: http://epconnect.org/nextgen/

In the first episode of our Generational Ministries series, Dean sits down with Kendra Smith and Gianna Lazzaro to explore the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped the generations currently present in the Church, and what those differences mean for ministry today.

Rather than viewing generational differences as obstacles, this episode invites listeners to see them as opportunities for mutual learning, humility, and shared discipleship. As the Church looks ahead, the question is not how to choose one generation over another, but how we can faithfully steward the richness of the whole Body of Christ, together.

To learn more about the EPC’s Next Generation Ministries Council, check out their webpage here.

In this episode, Dean sits down with Annie Rose, the EPC’s National Director of Ministerial Health, to unpack the findings from the 2025 Pastoral Well-Being Survey. More than 200 EPC pastors and retired pastors participated, giving us a clear picture of both the joys and the pressures of ministry today.

Annie walks us through the survey’s key insights, including pastoral satisfaction, sources of stress, spiritual health trends, and surprising generational differences in how pastors seek support. She also highlights the critical resources available to EPC pastors, from counseling and coaching to sabbatical planning, medical care, and benevolence funds.

Whether you’re a pastor, elder, or church member who wants to better understand and care for your leaders, this episode is full of wisdom, compassion, and practical next steps.

📄 Read Annie’s full article here
🙏 Learn more about care resources for pastors:
✉️ Contact Annie: annie.rose@epc.org

In this final week of Advent, celebrate the heart of the season: love. Dean reflects on the miracle of the Incarnation, where the promise of Matthew 1:22-23 comes true, God becomes “Immanuel, God with us,” and where John 1:14 declares that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Through 1 John 4:9-12 and Jesus’ command in John 13:34-35, we’re reminded that this love is not abstract. It is embodied, sacrificial, and meant to be shared. Christmas proclaims that God didn’t just send love; He stepped into our world to transform it. As the Body of Christ, we are called to love one another deeply, living out the truth that we are truly better together.

Merry Christmas from all of us at In All Things!

This third week of Advent centers on joy, and Dean turns our attention to one of Scripture’s most joyful moments – Mary and Elizabeth’s meeting in Luke 1:39-45, where even the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps at the nearness of Christ. Paired with Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:4-7 to “rejoice in the Lord always,” we’re reminded that joy is not dependent on circumstances but anchored in God’s presence. Advent joy is a shared joy; when we rejoice together, that joy multiplies. As we await Christ’s coming, we celebrate that God is near, God is faithful, and God is at work among His people.