Nick and Kim Bogardus sit down with Ryan and Kate Welsh from Redeemer Church in Seattle, Washington. Ryan shares that he initially had no desire to work in ministry until the word of God became alive and real to him while attending a Christian college in his twenties. After some prompting by an admissions counselor, Ryan sought out a few youth pastor positions and was hired on at a church in Newberg, Oregon where he grew to care deeply for the students and people of the church. Ryan’s wife Kate speaks about her role in supporting her husband through this growth as well as acknowledging the way God has grown her to be used for his glory. Credits:This is Sojourn Network is a production of The Narrativo Groupwww.narrativogroup.comProduced by Mike CosperEdited and Mixed by TJ HesterMusic by Sojourn Music

This Is Sojourn Network

Ryan and Kate Welsh

On this episode of This is Sojourn Network, Ronnie and Melissa Martin sit down with Joe and Renee Byler, from Veritas Church in Short North, Columbus. They talk about their journey into ministry, from growing up Mennonnite to becoming a Baptist, from music ministry to serving as a lead pastor, and they talk about the value of Sojourn Network. They even talk about their shared affinity for hot tubs.  Learn more  about Sojourn Network at www.sojournnetwork.comThis is Sojourn Network is produced by NarrativoThis episode was produced by Mike CosperOur Theme Song is by Sojourn Music 

Joe and Renee Byler

Bonus Episode! Next week is our annual Leader’s Summit, so Mike Cosper and Dave Owens sat down to preview what’s to come. Hear about what’s new this year, like short talks and new partnerships, and hear about the opportunities that remain for attending our pre-conferences. They’ve also got some encouragements for how to pray and prepare for the Summit, so tune in and enjoy. Produced by Narrativo

Leaders Summit Preview: Bonus Episode!

On this episode of the show you’ll hear from Josh Matteson, who sat down with Nick Bogardus to share his story. It’s an incredible journey of grace that led Josh away from the church, away from a pastor’s home, and back again… a true prodigal journey.  Josh is the pastor of Grace Life Church in Phoenix Arizona, a church he planted after 20 years of ministry in Scottsdale. It was a circuitous route into church. Planting, but one that has evidence of God’s hands all over it.  It’s a great story. Enjoy listening.  Produced by the Narrativo GroupRecorded by Nick BogardusEdited and Mixed by Mike CosperOur music is by Sojourn Music

Josh Matteson

On this episode of This is Sojourn Network, Ronnie and Melissa Martin sit down with OG's in the network family, Danny and Charity Wright of Greenville Grace, to chat about how being rooted in a place impacts renewal, some of the joys and pains that coincide with longevity in ministry, how becoming a multiplying church can impact a pastor and his wife on a personal level, and how Greenville Grace has bucked the trend when it comes to church planting. This is a beautifully frank conversation between four Ohioans (?) about life and ministry. It's fresh and fun and we’re sure you’ll enjoy. CREDITS This is Sojourn Network is a production of The Narrativo Group www.narrativogroup.com Produced by Mike Cosper Edited and Mixed by TJ Hester Music by Sojourn Music

Danny and Charity Wright

On this episode of This is Sojourn Network, Nick Bogardus talks with Miles and Pam Rohde of Redemption Spokane. Miles led a full career in the Air Force before he transitioned to ministry. You’ll hear about his journey into ministry and the way the Lord unified he and his wife Pam along the way. The first church Miles pastored on his own left he and Pam isolated in the small rural community of Marshall, MN. Miles speaks about the three years he and Pam spent there and how they learned the value and need of having support around them. While there, Miles was nominated to The Center of Excellence in Congregational Leadership and he talks about the transformative experience of finding mentorship and support from another pastor who recognized how cynical he had become. This relationship would lead to a robust season of renewal for both he and Pam over a period of 8 years after Miles was offered a youth pastoring position in Willmar, MN. Miles and Pam would leave Willmar for a position at Mars Hill after those 8 years. After arriving in Seattle though, Miles learned that he would be entering into a lead pastor residency program with the intention of planting a church in Spokane, WA. Miles began to embrace the culture of non-stop work at Mars Hill which carried over into his church plant and eventually led to debilitating panic attacks for him. Pam graciously shares how she felt the Lord was using her to speak into her husband’s health and the wisdom they’ve gained in this experience together. CREDITS This is Sojourn Network is a production of The Narrativo Group www.narrativogroup.com Produced by Mike Cosper Edited and Mixed by TJ Hester Music by Sojourn Music

Miles and Pam Rohde

On this episode Nick Bogardus talks to Jeremy and Jessie Linneman of Trinity Church in Columbia, MO. Jeremy discusses navigating the call to vocational ministry, the affirmation and clarification in it for he and Jessie and the momentum and energy of being a part of a church exploding at the seams. Jeremy began as an intern for Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY and helped to launch its J-town campus and shortly thereafter became an Executive Pastor for the East Campus location. Jeremy describes this season as his most fulfilling season in ministry but also the most difficult for him physically and emotionally. This season of working a 60-70 hour work week eventually lead to illness, chronic pain and depression for him over the course of 3-4 years. Jeremy acknowledges that his drive to succeed and his propensity to be a high achiever made it difficult for him to find respite and not keep working but his body refused to keep going at this pace. It took addressing these underlying issues in his heart as well as some deep grief he’d experienced as a child to “reframe his walk with the Lord”. Jeremy and Jessie share some practical wisdom that has helped to sustain them in ministry and has helped them to have healthy boundaries. Credits: This is Sojourn Network is a production of Narrativo Group www.narrativogroup.com Produced by Mike Cosper Edited and Mixed by TJ Hester Music by Sojourn Music

Jeremy and Jessie Linneman

Ronnie and Melissa Martin talk with Nick Bogardus about their journey into church planting. It wasn’t something they initially considered but where God led them, by surrounding them with a community of church planting pastors and wives who nurtured their faith and calling. They planted Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio seven years ago and have built strong solid relationships along the way. Melissa talks about the blessing of being available for ministry and the work she’s been able to carry out alongside Ronnie as they both serve in their church and for Sojourn Network.

Ronnie and Melissa Martin

Ronnie and Melissa Martin talk to Nick and Kim Bogardus from Cross of Christ church in Orange County, CA about their ministry journey and their personal experience with Sojourn Network. Nick left Southern California where he had a home and a business to follow the Lord’s calling to Mongolia where Kim was working in the Peace Corps. It was in Mongolia that Nick experienced intensive ministry for the first time while teaching through the Bible and preaching with the help of a translator. Nick and Kim share about their encounter with the over-churched and the challenges they’ve faced in ministry and how Sojourn Network has allowed opportunities for them to find rest and also acknowledge times when they need support and friendship.

Nick and Kim Bogardus

Mike Cosper and Dave Owens explore the history of the Sojourn Network, the vision and values, and the exciting future of the network. The journey of Sojourn Network began with Acts 29, where they were influenced to start something new and exciting. Inspired by the culture of creativity, health, and wholeness, the network started crafting a concrete vision based on sustainable growth. Looking onward, there are a lot of exciting changes and events to look forward to.

Dave Owens and Mike Cosper

On this episode, our Executive Director Dave Harvey sits with Jamaal and Amber Williams. Jamaal is the pastor of Sojourn Midtown in Louisville, KY. They share their story, talk about their first pastorate, their transition to pastoring at Sojourn, and their passion for racial reconciliation and pastoring a multiethnic church.

Jamaal and Amber Williams

On today's show, Nick Bogardus sits down with Travis Scott. Nick is the pastor of Cross of Christ Church in Orange County, California. Travis Scott is the pastor of Shorebreak Church in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. They'll talk about their friendship, about planting in Hawaii, and about the unique cross-cultural challenges of that context. We hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening.

Travis Scott

On today's show, Mike Cosper from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky is sitting down with Collin Hansen from Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama and the editorial director for The Gospel Coalition. They talk about his work on the "young, restless, and reformed," the church's place in a shifting culture, and his own personal journey into ministry and his life's work.

Collin Hansen

On today's show, Ronnie Martin from Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio is sitting down with Brandon Shields from Soma in Indianapolis, Indiana. They talk about how Brandon moved from South Florida to Indy, planted Soma as an outsider, about how he grew Soma into a multi-site church, and about how they became a church-planting church. Oh yeah, and they talk a bit about how you fight ego as a pastor and church planter.

Brandon Shields

On today's show, Ronnie Martin from Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio is sitting down with Aaron Gray from Sound City Bible Church in Seattle, Washington. Aaron's church planting story is pretty unique. They planted in the aftermath of Mars Hill Church closing its doors, and Aaron shares that story and the evidences of grace that came out of that hardship.

Aaron Gray

Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Sojourn Network chronicles the journey of a family of pastors and churches through the years and across the country. These conversations are grounded in real relationships and demonstrate how the collaboration we share with each other in the gospel can transcend culture, distance, and even death. This is our family. We invite you in. It’s little, and broken, and beautiful. This is Sojourn Network.

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This Is Sojourn Network

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