Shows / Future Christian
Future Christian
Future Christian explores church leadership, church renewal, and the future of Christianity through conversations with pastors, authors, theologians, and other faith leaders. Each episode offers practical wisdom and fresh ideas for navigating church decline, cultural change, ministry, and the challenges facing congregations today.
Episodes
Future ChristianDid Mainline Churches Give Up on Evangelism? | Francisco Herrera
What can today's churches learn from the father of the modern church growth movement? Dr. Francisco Herrera joins Loren to explore the complicated legacy of…
Future ChristianIs Evangelicalism Worth Defending? | Bonnie Kristian
Has evangelicalism become so entangled with politics, scandal, and culture wars that we've lost sight of what's good about it? For many Christians…
Future ChristianWhen Giftedness Outpaces Character | Chuck DeGroat
What if some of the behaviors churches celebrate in their leaders are actually signs of deeper wounds? Chuck DeGroat returns to Future Christian to discuss his…
Future ChristianAre We Thinking About Discipleship All Wrong? | Jessie Cruickshank & Julia Schmaltz
What does it actually mean to make disciples? And have churches been approaching spiritual formation in ways that overlook how people really grow and change?…
Future ChristianEmily Belz on What Is Christian Higher Education Worth?
What is a Christian college degree worth—and should its value be determined by how much graduates earn? Christianity Today senior news editor Emily Belz joins…
Future ChristianDoes the Church Really Want the Truth? | Matthew Townsend
What happens when the church becomes more concerned with managing its message than hearing difficult truths? Matthew Townsend joins Martha Tatarnic to discuss…
Future ChristianWhat Makes Ministry Sustainable? | Eric H. F. Law
What if the most essential resource to make a ministry last isn't money--it's relationships? Rev. Dr. Eric H. F. Law returns to podcast to talk with Loren…
Future ChristianThe Church as Community Hub | Loren Richmond Jr.
In this special episode, Martha Tatarnic interviews co-host Loren Richmond Jr. about his new book, The Church as Community Hub: Sharing Spaces to Help…
Future ChristianWhen Your Wounds Become Your Identity | Derwin Gray
What happens when the wounds we've experienced begin to define who we are? Dr. Derwin Gray—former NFL player, founding pastor of Transformation Church, and…
Future ChristianWhen Church Growth Becomes Idolatry | Andrew Root
What happens when the church’s desire for growth becomes a form of idolatry? Andrew Root returns to Future Christian to discuss his new book, Baal and the Gods…
Future ChristianYou Are Not Enough—and That’s Good News | David Zahl
What if being told “you are enough” isn’t actually good news? David Zahl, founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries and author of The Big Relief: The…
Future ChristianDave Runyon asks: What If Christians Were Known for What They're For?
What if Christians were known more for what they're for than what they're against? Dave Runyon, executive director of City Unite and co-author of The Art of…
Future ChristianCan Mainline Christianity Find Its Future? | Lovett Weems
Can Mainline Christianity find its future? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with United Methodist scholar Lovett Weems to discuss his new book, An…
Future ChristianPeter Levenstrong on Why the Future of Preaching Is Collaborative
What if the sermon wasn't something delivered to the congregation—but something created with the congregation? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with the…
Future ChristianWhat the Black Church Can Teach American Christianity | Justin Giboney
What does faithful Christian engagement in politics actually look like? In this episode, Loren talks with Justin Giboney, co-founder and president of the AND…
Future ChristianWhy Church Renewal Fails (and What Actually Works)
Why do so many church renewal efforts fall short? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Kris Vos and Larry Doornbos of the Center for Church Renewal…
Future ChristianWhy Every Church Needs a Better Story with Joel Thiessen
Every church tells a story. The question is: Is it the right one? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with sociologist Joel Thiessen about The Stories…
Future ChristianThe Hidden Drama Behind Every Pastor Search | Michelle Huneven
Why do church search committees so often struggle to find the right pastor? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with novelist Michelle Huneven about her…
Future ChristianWill AI Change the Church Forever? with Christopher Benek
What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life—and what role should the church play in helping people navigate it? In this episode…
Future ChristianStaying at the Table When We Disagree | Terri Hord Owens
What does it mean to stay at the table when disagreement, division, and distrust seem to be everywhere? In this episode, talks with Rev. Terri Hord Owens…
Future ChristianReligion Didn’t Die—It Became Obsolete | Christian Smith
Why did religion decline in America—and was it really driven by hostility toward faith? In this episode, Loren talks with sociologist Christian Smith about his…
Future ChristianAI Goes to Church: Todd Korpi shares What Christians Need to Know
What happens when artificial intelligence goes to church? In this episode, Loren talks with pastor, missiologist, and researcher Todd Korpi about his book AI…
Future ChristianRethinking Church Buildings for a New Era with Bob Jaeger
What if church buildings are far more valuable to communities than most people realize? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Bob Jaeger, co-founder…
Future ChristianMartha Tatarnic on The Queen who changed the Church Forever
What if the story we’ve been told about Anne Boleyn is missing the most important part? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Martha Tatarnic—priest…
Future ChristianWhat Liberal Christianity Might Be Missing with Katherine Willis Pershey
What happens when a pastor realizes they’re going through the motions—but not actually experiencing God? In this episode, Loren talks with Rev. Dr. Katherine…
Future ChristianDiscernment is Not a Solo Mission: John Lewis on Forming Christian Communities
What if the early church wasn’t built primarily on teaching ideas—but on forming people together in the way of Jesus? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks…
Future ChristianProcess Over Politics: Jack Shitama offers a Better Way to Lead the Church
What’s really driving polarization in our churches—and how can leaders respond without getting pulled into the chaos? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. sits…
Future ChristianAlan Roxburgh on Why the Church Isn’t in Revival—And What Comes Next
What does it mean to lead the church in a time when the old maps no longer work—and the future feels uncertain? In this episode, Loren talks with Alan Roxburgh…
Future ChristianJarrod Longbons on why The Future Church Is Eucharistic
What does it mean to center the life of the church around the table—and why has the Eucharist so often been pushed to the margins? In this episode, Loren…
Future ChristianJosh Packard on Faithfully Engaging the Next Generation
What does it really take to engage younger generations—and why do so many of our assumptions about them fall short? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks…
Future ChristianAaron Miller on The Gift of Being Weird: Faith in a Conforming World
What does it mean to live faithfully in a world that rewards conformity—and why might the Christian life feel “weird”? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks…
Future ChristianLoren & Martha talk Culture, Leadership & Faith
What can sports rivalries and cultural moments reveal about leadership, character, and the values that shape us? In this episode, Loren and Martha take a…
Future ChristianLetting Go of Certainty: Kara Root on Faith, Loss, and Deeper Belonging
What does it mean to belong to God when the structures of faith you once trusted begin to fall apart? In this episode, Loren talks with Kara Root—pastor…
Future ChristianKelsey McGinnis on the Worship Industry and the Future of Church Music
How did contemporary praise and worship develop—and who is shaping what the church sings today? In this episode, Loren talks with Kelsey McGinnis to explore…
Future ChristianTanita Maddox on What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God
What does Gen Z really believe about God? And what are they actually asking? In this episode, Loren talks with Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for…
Future ChristianBill & Kristi Gaultiere on Emotional Health, Empathy, and Sustainable Ministry
What happens when pastors care for everyone else—but neglect their own soul? In this episode, Loren talks with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul…
Future ChristianWhy We Still Plant Churches: Len Tang on Mission, Formation, and Change
Why should we still be planting churches—and what should church planting look like in a rapidly changing world? In this episode, Loren is joined by Len Tang…
Future ChristianEmbracing the Mixed Ecology: Dwight Zscheile and Blair Pogue on the Church’s Future
What if the future of the church isn’t found in choosing between old and new—but in learning how both can flourish together? In this episode, Loren is joined…
Future ChristianThe Girl from Montego Bay: Rose Hudson-Wilkin on Faith, Calling, and Leadership
What does it mean to remain faithful to a calling when the church itself says no? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic is joined by Rose Hudson‑Wilkin, Bishop of…
Future ChristianCross Before Resurrection: Josh Hayden on Remissioning the Church
What does it mean to lead faithfully when change is unavoidable—and grief is real? In this episode, Loren is joined by Rev. Dr. Josh Hayden for a deeply honest…
Future ChristianThe Hybrid Church: Michael Huerter on Worship in a Digital Age
What does it mean to worship faithfully in a digital age when church participation is no longer limited to a physical room? In this episode, Loren is joined by…
Future ChristianThriving Churches: Erin Cash & Kory Wilcoxson on What Makes Churches Thrive
What does it mean for a church to thrive when membership is declining, resources feel scarce, and the future is uncertain? In this episode, Loren is joined by…
Future ChristianA Year in Review: Loren & Martha on Change, Gratitude, and the Future of Faith
In this year-end episode, Loren Richmond Jr. and Martha Tatarnic reflect on leadership, vulnerability, and the pressures pastors are carrying into the new…
Future ChristianDeconstruction Isn’t Discipleship: Tara Beth Leach on Rebuilding Faith and the Church
What happens when deconstruction becomes an identity—and woundedness becomes a platform? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr…
Future ChristianTransforming Church Fundraising: Jason Hanselman on Moving from Guilt to Generosity
What would happen if churches stopped talking about money with guilt, shame, or fear—and started talking about vision, impact, and opportunity instead? In this…
Future ChristianReaching Gen Z: Mike Orr on Belonging, Doubt, and the Future of Faith
What does youth ministry look like when the world — and young people — are changing faster than ever? In this in-person episode recorded at Broomfield United…
Future ChristianNavigating Change: Archbishop Shane Parker on the Future of the Anglican Church
How can a historic church navigate a rapidly changing world without losing its soul? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, host Martha Tatarnic…
Future ChristianAngela Williams Gorrell on What to do When You Don’t Know What to Do
What do you do when life falls apart—and you have no idea what to do next? In this heartfelt episode, Loren Richmond Jr. speaks with Rev. Dr. Angela Williams…
Future ChristianReimagining the Disciples: Faith, Theology, and the Future of a Movement
What does it mean to be the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in a world where shared language about faith, salvation, and community seems to be slipping…
Future ChristianEmbracing the Edges of Faith with Brian Pearson
What happens when the church you’ve loved becomes too small for the faith you’ve grown into? Former Anglican priest Brian E. Pearson joins host Martha Tatarnic…
Future ChristianAligning Church Life with the Gospel: Sheryl Johnson on Stewardship, Justice, and Everyday Faith
What does it look like for a church’s budget, bylaws, and building to reflect the values of justice and faith? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast…
Future ChristianMichelle Van Loon on Downsizing Faith to What Matters Most
What’s worth keeping—and what needs to go—when it comes to modern evangelicalism? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, host Loren Richmond Jr…
Future ChristianBreaking Barriers: Women in Ministry Leadership Roundtable
What unique challenges do women face in ministry leadership—and what gives them hope for the future of the church? In this special roundtable episode of the…
Future ChristianFrom Institution to Innovation: Cathie Caimano on the Future of Church
What does ministry look like beyond the walls of traditional institutions? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Father Cathie Caimano—Episcopal…
Future ChristianDo Less with Less: Bill Harrison on Leadership Lessons for a Shrinking Church
What does leadership look like when the church is shrinking? In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with Rev. Dr. Bill Harrison, president of Lutheran…
Future ChristianChad Brooks on Practical Tools for Normal-Sized Churches
What does it really mean for a church to be “healthy”? In this episode, Loren sits down with Chad Brooks—United Methodist congregational vitality strategist…
Future ChristianGeoffrey V. Dudley, Sr. on Navigating Ministry Without Losing Yourself
How do pastors and church leaders navigate ministry when the battles feel relentless? In this episode, Loren talks with Bishop Jeffrey V. Dudley Sr.—retired…
Future ChristianReimagining Seminary and Church Vitality — Insights from Doug Powe
What does it mean to lead the church toward vitality in a time of disruption, decline, and shifting cultural landscapes? In this episode, Loren sits down with…
Future ChristianSafeguarding the Church: Integrity, Healing, and Hope - Insights from Lisa Compton and Taylor Patterson
What does it mean to build safer, healthier churches in a world where abuse and misuse of power have left deep scars? In this conversation, Loren talks with…
Future ChristianRevival, Renewal, and the Future of the Disciples – Live from GA with Dennis Sanders
Recorded live from the 2025 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN, Loren is joined once again by pastor and podcaster…