Shows / Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission Association
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission Association
The Every Church Flourishing podcast is all about helping churches, leaders, and pastors find health, encouragement, practical advice, soul care, and resources that work together to build up your local fellowship and the broader Kingdom of God. Join hosts Pastor Chris Cole and Dr. Chase Thompson from the Great Commission Association, led by Dr. Mike Stewart, as they explore the frontiers of ministry and aim to make every church flourish! Broadcasting from the North-Central Coast of California…
Episodes
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationHow Churches Can Care for Hurting People, Ministry Longevity - 20+ Years at One Church - and How To Develop Church AI Guidelines.
Dr. Stephen Hall of Northpark Baptist Church and the Director of the Birmingham Extension of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastoring for 20+ Years…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 42: The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Church Declining or Dying? Here is an insider's View of How Church Renewal Happens.
Title: The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Church Declining or Dying? Here is an insider's View of How Church Renewal Happens. What does it feel like when your church is…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 41: How Church Turnaround Works from the Inside...Small churches are in danger! Soda Review: I Want Grandma's Banana Cream Pie, Not Her Socks.
Every Church Flourishing Episodes 41 and 42 with Lisanne Huber and Jerry Watson. Title: How Church Turnaround Works from the Inside! Small churches are in…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 40: How Can Churches Recognize and Address Weaknesses? Tim Challies' Leadership Advice. +Review of the Worst Soda In the History of the World.
Every Church Flourishing Episode 40 with Tammi Smorynski and Samuel Kommu Title: How Can Churches Recognize Their Weaknesses and Do Something About Them? Tim…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 39: Uncensored Insider's View of Church Renewal - How to Confront and Help Heal Church Problems and Failures + Throwback Vietnamese Sarsaparilla Soda Review.
Every Church Flourishing Episodes 39-40 with Tammi Smorynski and Samuel Kommu and Pastor Christopher Cole. Title: Church Renewal from the Inside - Church…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 38: Church Replanting, Church Revitalization, and Help For Struggling Churches with Bob Bickford. Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast. + Dangers of Soda Racism.
Every Church Flourishing 38 With Bob Bickford. Title: Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast. Church Replanting, Church Revitalization, and Help For Struggling…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 37: WHY leads to WHAT: Pastoring Change in Churches That Want Change But Resist It. HELP! My Church Isn't Growing…What Should We Do?! With Bob Bickford
Episode 37: WHY leads to WHAT: Pastoring Change in Churches That Want Change But Resist It. HELP! My Church Isn't Growing…What Should We Do?! With Bob Bickford…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 36: If You Don't Develop Young Leaders, Your Church Will Die. ALWAYS Be Thinking about Four Generations Worth of Leaders in Your Church. + Review of Romantic Peach Cola
Cody Bryan and Christian Challenge Santa Cruz: https://challengeucsc.com/affiliations/ Brandon O'Sullivan at Gospel Community…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 35: Churches: Make Room for Young Leaders! The Kingdom of God is Not Competitive, But Cooperative. Santa Cruz College Discipleship.
Today's episode features Pastor Brandon O'Sullivan from Gospel Community Church in Santa Cruz, California: https://www.gospelcommunitysc.org/leadership And…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 34: It's Healthy To Need Help! Counseling is Intensive Discipleship for Wounded Believers. What are signs that you should talk to a counselor?
How to get in touch with Jason Kovacs and Gospel Care Collective: https://www.gospelcarecollective.com/counseling/jason-kovacs/ How Jesus in the Garden models…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 33: Help For Pastors and Leaders That Are Struggling: The Mental and Emotional Health of American Pastors and Why It Matters. "Tired of Plain Old White Chase."
Every Church Flourishing with Jason Kovacs, 33-34. Guest: Jason Kovacs is not simply a biblical counselor who works with pastors, but even that is pretty…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 32: Brady Bunch Sermon Illustrations + I Want to See Healthy Churches. Churches Helping Churches Outside of Their Denomination. I would love to be funny like Alistair Begg.
Today, we continue talking with Pastor Ed Compean of Shoreline Calvary Chapel Church in Morro Bay about churches helping churches and interdenominational…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 31: Church Health Does Not Mean Sanctuary Size but Missional Mobilization. Why Should Churches Foster Other Churches? Calvary Chapel and SBC Partnership. Why Should Churches Help Other Churches? Plus a South African Soda BURSTING with Flavor.
How can churches help other dying, declining, and plateauing churches, and WHY should they? The Health of a Church is Not Found in its Sanctuary Size but in…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 30: Navigating Change: Move the Coffee Machine Away From the Men's Bathroom! How can pastors build trust in new or hurting congregations? How Vulnerable Should Pastors Be When it Comes to Confessing Sins? + Soda Review and Home Invasion.
Every Church Flourishing Episodes 29-30 Jeff Woolstenhulme and Michael Denton Practical Wisdom on Church Change for small and medium sized churches, and church…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 29: Leading through Change. How Does Church Transformation Happen? Church Turnaround Stories: What is Church Replanting All About? Soda Review: "When I look at this can, it does not scream Ramadan to me."
Today we talk about change, transformation, church death, church renewal, church replanting and revitalization with Pastor Michael Denton of First Baptist…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 28: Vision vs. Management + How Can Leaders Balance Confidence and Humility? + The Loneliness Epidemic + the Humility of "I Don't Know." AND Buffalo Wing Soda...SPICY!
ECF Episode 28: Vision vs. Management, How Can Leaders Balance Confidence and Humility? + The Loneliness Epidemic: Finding Connection Shortage in an Online…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 27: Why are churches drifting away from their main purpose of discipleship? What is the cure? New Segment: Pastor Disaster - The (ALMOST) Missing Finger and MORE: with Chris Reinolds, the Strategic Outsider of Jacksonville, Florida
Today we talk to the Strategic Outsider, Chris Reinolds, a missions strategist from Northeast Florida. Chris is a great writer and thinker about the mission of…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 26: The Danger of Hypocrisy, Christian Conspiracy Theories, Baptists and the Nicene Creed, How Does Love Your Enemies Factor Into Politics? With Dr. Cameron Schweitzer of Gateway Seminary
Also: A Beginner's Course on Coffee Roasting! We begin today's episode in the middle of an interview with Gateway Seminary Bay Area Director Dr. Cameron…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 25: Must Pastors and Church Leaders Go to Seminary? Is Online or In Person School Better? Plus: 666 OR 616: The Mysterious Mark of the Beast and the Earliest Manuscript of Revelation
Pastors and Church Leaders: MUST You Go to Seminary? NO! But, Why SHOULD You? Why Should Pastors or Church leaders consider a seminary degree? All about…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 24: Prayerlessness=Powerlessnes. How can Churches Develop a Culture of Prayer? Powerful stories of Prayer and Revival. + A Divisive Review of Wild Bill's Ring Pop Soda, a Soda Made by AI??
How does surrender work in a Christian's life? We try to surrender, but God is the one who provides the means for us to surrender. Being with the Lord is most…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 23: Practical Wisdom for a Deeper Prayer Life. How does phone addiction contend with our prayer life, and what can we do about it? Prayer Distractions and How to Deal with Them. BACON Soda Review.
Today, we have a deep discussion with Dr. Se J. Won on the topic of prayer, and Dr. Won goes beyond the normal prayer discussions and will lead us into a…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 22: Empowering, Equipping, and Encouraging Women in Ministry in Southern Baptist Churches. SBC Women in Ministry. Complementarian Ministry
#22. On today's episode, we finish up a great interview with Dr. Cathie Smith, who is the Great Commission Association Women in Ministry Ambassador. If you are…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 21: Why are Women Leaving the Church and 7 Biblical Ways to Empower Women in the Church with Dr. Cathie Smith + What is Greater than Serving?!
How can pastors and churches encourage women to use their gifts for the Kingdom of God? Seven Ways to Empower Women In the Church: 1. Engage them. Engage them…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 20: The Dead Sea Scrolls, Why Pastors Talk about Controversial Bible Issues, Textual Criticism, and Guarana Antarctica Soda Review with Textual Criticism Expert Dr. Anthony Ferguson
Why should pastors talk about controversial Bible passages and difficult Bible origin questions with church members? Old Testament Scholar Dr. Anthony Ferguson…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 19: Using AI For Evangelism and Ministry, The Power of Old Testament Lamentation, Dead Billionaire Soda and World Cup Evangelism with Pastor Anthony Ferguson
Today we have Pastor and Professor and Everton Blues superfan Anthony Ferguson with us again, and we are talking to him about World Cup evangelism with the…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 18: Anthony Ferguson and the Yellow Card Initiative - World Cup Soccer Evangelism. + Guardian Angels and Do Churches Have Their Own Angels? Maybe!
Fun show today. We are going to talk about human evangelism - human messengers and heavenly messengers/angels. Our guest is Dr. Anthony Ferguson of 11th Street…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 17: The Flourishing Hispanic Church in California - Help for Spanish Pastors in the West. Spanish Language ONLY Episode with Pastor Humberto Hernandez and Dr. Chris Smith of the Great Commission Association
Today's episode is SPANISH ONLY and features a discussion with California Hispanic Pastor Humberto Hernandez and Dr. Chris Smith of the Great Commission…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 16: AI Can't Love: Women in Ministry and Artificial Intelligence in the Church With Dr. Kristen Ferguson of Gateway Seminary + Cheerwine Soda Review and Pleading the Blood of Jesus in Prayer.
Another action-packed episode of the ECF podcast today. Gateway Seminary VP Dr. Kristen Ferguson joins us, and our co-hosts are school superintendent Lanette…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 15: "It Was Magnificent...an Extraordinary Picture of Unrestrained Praise." Women in Ministry, Special Needs Ministry, Online Education and Pastor Training with Dr. Kristen Ferguson, Vice President at Gateway Seminary.
Today we've got Gateway Seminary vice president Dr. Kristen Ferguson for a fascinating conversation that ranges from women's ministry, to being a pastor's…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 14: Backstage is the Main Stage! What is the Apocrypha and Should Christians Read it? Abiding in Christ vs. Public Ministry + Irn Bru Scottish Soda Review. With Dr. Mike Stewart, Dr. Chris Smith and J.C. Thompson
Great pod today, with some fascinating topics and guest hosts and guest reviewers. We've got a review of a Scottish Soda - Irn Bru, made with steel girders…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 13: At The End of Your Rope? +Preacher Myths (Lions Lay Down with the Lamb? Folded Napkin, Sparing the Rod, God Running?!) with Dr. Mike Stewart and Pastor Grant Combs
Are you at the end of your rope? Today we discuss how to know you are close to running out of rope and what to do about it. PLUS: Preacher Myths. Will the lion…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationAncient Wisdom, Modern Fire: 10 Tips To Transform Your Preaching! (Top 10 Preaching Quotes of the Last 2000 Years.)
2000 years of amazing preaching advice from John Piper to John Chrysostom, from Tim Keller to Augustine and Gregory the Great, From Martyn Lloyd Jones to…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 12: Great Teaching Tips from Preaching Giants, Mental Health Crisis Among Pastors, Rest and Relief in Ecclesiastes and Psalms + Dirty Dew Review!
Today Pastor Christopher Cole of the Great Commission Association and Dr. Chase Thompson discuss mental health among church leaders, how to lead without…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 11: Grappling with Grief and Helping The Grieving, Friendships in the Church Part 2, and Fruity Pebbles Soda?! With Dr. Michael Stewart, Pastor Grant Combs, and Dr. Chris Smith.
"They don't need you to bandaid their gaping wound; they need you to be present in their grief." Dr. Michael Stewart, the head of California's Great Commission…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationSilent Saturday And the Grief (and Hope!) of Good Friday.
We know about Good Friday...What about Saturday? What happened on that Silent Saturday as the disciples stewed in their hopelessness? They weren't waiting for…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 10: Church Friendships: The Loneliness Crisis in Ministry + 10 Resurrection Quotes for Easter Sermons and C.S. Lewis on Do Pets Go to Heaven?! With Dr. Michael Stewart, Pastor Grant Combs and Dr. Chris Smith
Our focus today is on relationships in the church and the loneliness epidemic among pastors and church leaders. Hosted by Dr. Chase Thompson and Dr. Mike…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 9: NO Supermen! Leaders: Take Off Your Capes. With Counselor Immanuel Marsh. 2 Things I wish I knew sooner about defending the Faith. + Clearest Signs of Anxiety from My Clients. Are Christians who Believe the Bible weak-minded?
This week we continue our talk with counselor Immanuel Marsh about burnout, and helping church leaders and pastors stay healthy spiritually and emotionally…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 8: Sneaky Burnout With Immanuel Marsh + Free Resurrection Book + Top 5 Apologetics Books + Healthy Orange Creamsicle Soda Review.
We have a great discussion today on a sneaky enemy of church leaders, a potentially delicious soda to review, a resource for church leaders that sells for $60…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 7: Don't Lead Alone + School Superintendent Lannette Lozano on What is the Hardest Thing About Teaching in 2026? + An Austrian Soda We Can't Pronounce.
Would you like to listen to a podcast that features hosts with a combined six decades of church pastoral experience talking about church ministry and church…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 6: Prayer is a Non Negotiable With Dr. Se J. Won + You Ain't Got This Alone + Learning From Ministry Failure And The Mysterious Missing Bos Rooibos Tea Crime and Review
Episode 6 of the Every Church Flourishing Podcast features Pastor Chris Cole and Dr. Chase A. Thompson interviewing Dr. Se J. Won the Director of Mission…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 5: Artificial Intelligence and the Church + GCA Director Michael Stewart + The Soda That Never Plays It Safe!
On today's episode, we interview Great Commission Association Dr. Michael Stewart, the second longest serving director of missions in the entire United States…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 4: Church Trends, The Walmartization of Church, Big Church vs. Small Church + A British Soda Made from Garden WEEDS.
Big Churches are Growing, Small Churches are Shrinking. Is this good? Literally rich churches are, on average, getting richer, and poor churches are, on…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 3: Church Vital Signs, How to Invite Unchurched People to Your Church and Peanut Butter Soda?!
This week's episode features discussion of diagnostic ways of measuring a church's health. How can you take the pulse and vitals of your church? What are the…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 2: The Most Important Key to Church Health and Flourishing + Baptizing More People + The Most Disgusting Soda in History!
In this episode of the Every Church Flourishing Podcast by the Great Commission Association of California, hosts Pastor Christopher Cole and Dr. Chase Thompson…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationEpisode 1: You Need a Team! Introducing the ECF Podcast, the Great Commission Association Directors and A Fascinating Korean Soda.
On this inaugural episode, hosts Dr. Chase Thompson and GCA Assistant Director Pastor Chris Cole discuss the importance of ministry TOGETHER, and interview the…
Every Church Flourishing by the Great Commission AssociationTrailer - Church Renewal, California a Mission Field, Alabama Another Country and Ranch Dressing Soda?!
In this trailer for the ECF Pod, you will hear several clips from the first four episodes, including discussions of church revival and renewal, as well as a…