Future Christian

Moving through Covid and into the future, a key question church leaders must figure out is what church planting will look like in the days ahead. Nick Warnes, leader of the Cyclical Inc, a church planting movement, joins the pod to talk about how Covid has changed the nature of church planting, how we solve the challenges of financial sustainability, and what he sees as the future of church planting. Nicholas Warnes (Masters of Divinity, Fuller Theological Seminary, Emphasis in Worship Theology and Art) is the Founder and Executive Director of Cyclical. Nick is also a recognized speaker on church planting, coach for New Worshiping Communities with the Presbyterian Church USA, and is the chair of the board of the Church Planting Program at Fuller Theological Seminary where he is also an adjunct professor. Nick lives with his wife, Whitney, and son, Lee, in Los Angeles, CA. Nick co-edited Faithful Innovation: Beginning a Conversation for a Post-Covid Church, and has a new book Deconstructing Church Planting. Find the book and download a free chapter and free mini course at Cyclical Publishing. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Have you ever found yourself outwardly celebrating the big accomplishment of a friend, but inwardly bemoaning that you haven't reached your own goals and dreams? Heather Thompson Day, author, speaker, and professor, shares her own experiences wrestling with these feelings and talks about what inspired her new book, It's Not Your Turn. In our conversation, Heather talks about the challenges of social media and instant gratification, committing to the journey, and why maintaining our integrity is "all we have in life." Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker and has been a contributor for Religion News Service, Christianity Today, Newsweek and the Barna Group. She is also the host of Viral Jesus, a podcast with Christianity Today. Heather is an Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University. She is passionate about supporting women, and runs an online community called I’m That Wife which has over 200k followers. Heather’s writing has been featured on outlets like the Today Show, and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and has been featured in Forbes. She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches for young people. She is the author of 7 books; including It’s Not Your Turn, and Confessions of a Christian Wife. She resides in Michigan, with her husband, Seth Day, and their three children, London, Hudson, and Sawyer Day. Connect with Heather on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

The power of story--especially sharing your story and hearing the stories of others--is both profound and sacred. Jose Martinez, creator of the StoryWagen joins the pod to talk about what the StoryWagen is, how it came to be, and how it impacts people. As a leader in new church ministry strategies, Jose also gives ideas for how church can incorporate more story-telling into their worship experiences and it he sees the future of the church gather as being less focused on sermons and centered more around shared story-telling. Jose Martinez serves as the Associate Minister of New Church Ministry within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Additionally, he is co-planter of Multi Nation Christian Church, which is the largest and only Haitian Ministry in the Midwest for the Disciples of Christ and along with planting MissioKC Church. Co-vocationally, he is an endorsed Protestant Chaplain, at the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, Missouri and a chaplain with Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

We turn the mike around this episode and talk to the host of the show, Loren Richmond Jr! Interviewed by Paul Romig-Leavitt, the intro voice and one of the producers of the show, Loren and talks about his church planting experience, why he resonates with Eeyore, and what makes him tick. Loren is a pastor, podcaster, and social entrepreneur. Currently serving as a hospital chaplain, Loren is passionate about leading, serving, and creating to help churches better share the radical love and welcome of God's love made known in Jesus with their communities. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.