Show cover of Talking Church

Talking Church

Talking Church is a podcast hosted by River Valley Network that discusses trends in the church and culture. In each episode, you will learn from ministry leaders on a variety of subjects, develop your leadership skills and break new growth barriers!

Tracks

Ep 150: In this weeks episode of Talking Church, Pastor Logan is joined by Pastor Greg Reade and Pastor Dave Simiele, leaders at Christ Fellowship Church, to discuss their experiences and insights on church growth, the importance of humility and integrity in leadership, and the challenges of managing a multi-campus church. One of the biggest churches in America with over 25,000 in attendance, they have managed the tensions at every level and will share insights they’ve learned from their decades on the team.

12/3/24 • 37:24

Episode 149: Michael Koulianos joins Pastor Logan and shares the journey of founding Jesus Image, emphasizing the importance of worship and the presence of God in ministry, and how to foster a sustainable church environment that prioritizes spiritual growth and community engagement.  He also explores the current search for authenticity among young people in the church, the challenges of maintaining church culture amidst changing societal values, and the balance between ministry and family life.

11/26/24 • 52:47

Episode 148: Kirk Graham and Aaron Johnson join Logan to share how they grew from being a creative person to becoming a creative leader.  They give insight on the need for organizational skills, the value of training up new creatives and how to navigate making decisions that will help the team mature. 

11/19/24 • 43:28

Episode 147: In this enlightening conversation, Pastor Clarence shares his extensive experience in pastoral leadership, discussing the importance of unity among churches, navigating the challenges of interim pastorship, and the need for adaptation in ministry amidst cultural changes. He reflects on sustaining through difficult times, raising the next generation of pastors, and the significance of personal spiritual discipline. 

11/12/24 • 44:44

Episode 146: Phylicia Masonheimer joins the podcast to respond to the difficulties of holiness and purity culture.  Phylicia shares her personal struggle with shame and erotica and how she overcame that by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Phylicia has a passion for helping women learn the Bible and recover from the trauma of their past. 

11/5/24 • 53:51

Episode 145: Jon Rush joins Logan in discussing the intersection of video gaming and ministry. Jon emphasizing its cultural relevance, the potential of video games as a tool for evangelism and the dangers and opportunities of virtual reality becoming more and more real.

10/29/24 • 44:46

Episode 144: Aniela Chis and Jeff Bradford from Human Coalition join Logan to discuss overcoming the trauma of abortion and how they are helping resource women to choose life, regardless of their circumstances.

10/24/24 • 54:37

Episode 143: Logan and Ryan discuss the Johnson Amendment, the importance and challenges pastors face in communicating political issues, the protection of First Amendment rights, and do their best to answer the question: "Can pastors endorse a political candidate?"

10/22/24 • 35:08

Episode 142: Logan sits down with Pastor Russell Johnson from The Pursuit NW share how he handles criticism, his transition from politics to pastor, and what excited him about the next generation.

10/15/24 • 53:07

Episode 141: Dr. Joel Muddamalle joins Logan to talk about building our theology framework, working with multiple denominations and how we we can apply theology in our daily life.

10/8/24 • 48:37

Episode 140: Katherine Wolf join Logan to share her miraculous story of surviving a stroke, and how she had to relearn to eat, speak and walk. She encourages listeners that despite your circumstances, suffering may be a greater gift than you realize.

10/1/24 • 34:53

Episode 139: This week Logan is joined by Pastor Ebenezer Endiryas, host of "Shaping The Culture" podcast, to discuss growing up in an Ethiopian church, being a single pastor, church planting and his history in podcasting

9/24/24 • 39:39

Talking Church Episode 138: On this week's episode Logan is joined by Pastor Rob Ketterling. They discuss the tension between striving for success and maintaining humility, the importance of mentorship, and the dangers of entitlement.

9/17/24 • 43:59

Talking Church Episode 137: On this week’s episode of the podcast Logan is joined by Thomas Pannikar. Thomas shares his journey of stepping out of full time ministry and going into the marketplace.They discuss identity struggles faced by pastors and the challenges of balancing their roles as spiritual leaders with their personal sense of self. They emphasize the importance of separating one’s identity from their job title and focusing on the broader calling of serving God and others.

9/10/24 • 54:37

Talking Church Episode 136: This week’s episode of the podcast is a breakout session from River Valley Conference. Executive Pastors Kirk Graham and Chris Book sit down with CFO Steve Chaney to talk about how to lead at an executive level. They discuss the church's operational and strategic framework, focusing on how the leadership team interacts and supports Pastor Rob's global mission.

9/3/24 • 68:49

Talking Church Episode 135: This week’s episode is Dr. Allen Tennison’s breakout session from River Valley Conference talking about the theology of work and rest. He elaborates on the importance of work in Christian theology, emphasizing that work is not merely a task to be avoided or escaped but an extension of God's work

8/27/24 • 62:22

Talking Church Episode 134: This week's episode is Pastor Terry Parkman's breakout session from River Valley Conference. He emphasizes the need to adapt ministry and educational models to engage effectively with Gen Alpha, who are growing up in a world dominated by rapid technological advancements.

8/20/24 • 59:24

Talking Church Episode 133: On this week’s episode Logan is joined by Pastor Kirby Sato. Pastor Kirby and Logan discuss Kirby’s upbringing and how the Lord transformed his life. Kirby talks about a divine encounter with Christians who were worshipping on the streets that changed his life.

8/13/24 • 45:48

Talking Church Episode 132: On this week’s episode of the podcast Logan is joined by Jackie Brewster. They discuss the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's behavioral patterns. They talk about how behaviors are not intrinsic to who we are but are learned responses that can be changed.

8/6/24 • 42:53

Talking Church Episode 131: On this week's episode Logan is joined by Dr. Allen Tennison. They discuss how modern churches manage tithing, the importance of transparency in church finances, and the role of the church in supporting its members and the broader community. 

7/30/24 • 63:50

Talking Church Episode 130: On this week's episode Logan was joined by Jonsal and Jenna Barrientes from Elevation Worship live at River Valley Conference. They discuss the importance of flexibility, collaboration, and authenticity when it comes to leading worship.

7/23/24 • 44:41

Logan was joined by Pastor Rob Ketterling, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, and Dr. Allen Tennison for this episode that was filmed live at River Valley Conference on Tuesday, July 9. They discuss how we as the church can prepare for the upcoming election and be the salt and light to this world. Even though this was filmed before the tragic events unfolded this past weekend, we felt the words shared in this episode remain true. Let's pray for the families of the victims involved and pray that these events can unite our nation more than they will divide.

7/16/24 • 59:06

Talking Church Episode 128: On this week’s episode of the podcast Logan was joined by the CEO of Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge. The rehab center is the largest Teen Challenge program in the world. It is also the largest treatment facility in Minnesota. They discuss the drug crisis that is ongoing today. 

7/10/24 • 30:18

Talking Church Episode 127: Pastor Rob joins Logan on this week’s episode of the podcast. They discuss accountability with your spouse, family, elders, staff members, your congregation, and more. We hope you feel inspired, informed, and ready to live with accountability in place!

7/2/24 • 39:20

Talking Church Episode 126: On this week's episode Logan is joined by Pastor Kirk Graham and Pastor Terry Parkman. They dive into the dynamic balance between visionary planning and spontaneous action in ministry. They discuss the importance of strategic foresight, the role of faith in decision-making, and the practical aspects of launching new initiatives.

6/25/24 • 39:55

Talking Church Episode 125: On this week’s episode Logan is joined by Pastors Drew Snead and Katie LeBlanc. They discuss innovative strategies to engage parents in their children's spiritual journey. Katie and Drew share practical methods that help bridge the gap between church and home, ensuring parents are equipped to lead and nurture their children's faith.

6/18/24 • 39:57

Talking Church Episode 124: On this week’s episode Logan is joined by Dr. Linda Seiler who is the executive director of ReStory Ministries. Linda felt like a boy trapped in a female’s body growing up and she discusses the transformation within her life because of Christian discipleship. 

6/11/24 • 104:57

Talking Church Episode 123: Logan is joined by Pastor Rob on this week’s episode. They talk about the challenges of maintaining religious freedom in today’s culture and the balance between faith and political involvement. 

6/4/24 • 41:48

Talking Church Episode 122: On this week’s episode, Logan is joined by Pastor Aaron Burke and his assistant Brandon Martinelli from Radiant Church. They talk about the strategy that has gone into growing Pastor Aaron’s social platform over the last year.

5/28/24 • 51:51

This week’s episode of the podcast is a message from Pastor Rob that he preached at this year’s ARC Conference. “You can go as fast as you were created as long as you keep your inheritance with you!”

5/21/24 • 38:58