In All Things

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.

In the second week of Advent, Dean invites us to consider the gift of peace as declared by the angels in Luke 2:8-14 and accomplished through Christ Himself. Ephesians 2:14-18 shows us that Jesus doesn’t just offer peace; He is our peace, breaking down dividing walls and reconciling us to God and one another. Advent reminds us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of a restored relationship. In a fractured world and a divided age, the Church is called to embody this peace together, living as a people reconciled by grace and united in Christ.

In this first week of Advent, we turn our hearts toward hope, remembering that God’s people have always been a people who wait together. Drawing from Isaiah 9:2-7, Dean reflects on a world that once walked in darkness and the promise of a great light: Christ, our coming King. And as Romans 15:12-13 reminds us, this hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness. Advent teaches us that hope grows strongest in community; we are “better together” when we lift one another’s eyes toward the Savior who keeps every promise and turns our waiting into worship.

In this special Thanksgiving edition of In All Things, Assistant Stated Clerk Michael Davis leads a heartfelt devotional on Psalm 100, reflecting on what it truly means to give thanks as the people of God.

Through the psalm’s call to joyful worship, intimate relationship, and corporate gratitude, Michael reminds us that thanksgiving is not merely a feeling but a faithful response to who God is. Each verse offers a glimpse into how we express gratitude: with gladness in song, with intimacy in relationship, with unity in community, and ultimately because of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

As we enter this season of gratitude, may we remember that our thanksgiving is better together as a chorus of praise lifted by the Body of Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at In All Things!

In the concluding episode of our Essentials series, Dean sits down with esteemed church historian Dr. Mark Noll to explore the rich historical and theological context surrounding the Essentials of our Faith. Together, they trace the development of Presbyterianism in America, reflect on the global identity of the EPC, and consider how balancing truth and grace has always been central to our confessional life.

Drawing from centuries of church history, Dr. Noll and Dean discuss how past movements of faith and reform can guide the EPC in navigating present and future challenges. Their conversation reminds us that the Essentials are not only a foundation to preserve but a living testimony of God’s ongoing work in His Church around the world.

This episode offers both historical insight and pastoral encouragement for anyone seeking to understand how the EPC’s theological roots inform its present mission and unity in Christ.

🔗 Learn more about the Permanent Committee on Theology and its work at epconnect.org/committees

In this episode, Dean is joined by Don Fortson, one of the EPC’s leading authorities on our denomination’s history and doctrine. Together, they explore the deep relationship between the Essentials of Our Faith and the Westminster Confession of Faith, unpacking how these foundational documents work together to shape the theological core of the EPC’s Constitution.

Don and Dean discuss the importance of doctrinal integrity, the role of confessional subscription in the life of the church, and how the EPC’s distinctive approach preserves both unity in the essentials and liberty in non-essentials. Through their conversations, listeners will gain a richer understanding of why what we believe – and how we hold those beliefs – matters deeply for the church’s witness and health today.

🔗 Learn more about the Permanent Committee on Theology: epconnect.org/committees
📘 Explore Dr. Fortson’s book on the Essentials: https://epcresources.org/collections/books-and-booklets/products/liberty-in-non-essentials-the-story-of-the-evangelical-presbyterian-church

In the second episode of our Essentials series, Dean sits down with Dr. Clifton Ward, Associate Professor of Church History and Theology, to explore the enduring theological depth and practical significance of the Essentials of Our Faith.

Together, they unpack the relationship between the Essentials and the Westminster Confession, tracing how both shape our understanding of Reformed theology and the unity of the Church. Their conversation highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in illuminating truth, guiding the Church in charity and conviction, and binding believers together across generations and traditions.

Dean and Clifton also reflect on how the EPC’s Essentials foster unity amid diversity, and how these core affirmations of faith can serve as a spiritual anchor for the next generation of believers seeking a firm foundation in an ever-changing world.

🔗 Learn more about the Permanent Committee on Theology, the committee that first brought the Essentials to the floor of the General Assembly and continues to guide the EPC in matters of doctrine and faith: epconnect.org/committees