Best Northern Seminary Podcasts (2025)

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When Fear Comes to Church: Hector Alfaro on Pastoring Chicago’s Immigrant Congregations | PT 151 33:31

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7h ago33:31

33:31

What does ministry look like when your people are afraid to leave their homes? In this heartfelt conversation, Pastor Hector Alfaro joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share what Hispanic churches in Chicago are experiencing as ICE activity intensifies. From families torn apart to churches emptied in a matter of weeks, Pastor Hector offers …

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Prophetic Presence: Paco Amador on Immigration, Injustice, and Hope in Little Village (Part 2) | PT 150 41:01

8d ago41:01

41:01

How does a pastor guide a community facing real threats, real fear, and real need? In this powerful continuation, Pastor Paco Amador joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share how his congregation in Chicago’s Little Village is responding to the immigration crisis with courage, compassion, and prophetic witness. From offering tamales and pra…

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S11:E7 The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Shapes (and Misshapes) American Politics with Kaitlyn Schiess 46:01

3h ago46:01

46:01

Can the Bible still guide faithful political engagement—or has it been too abused to help? In this timely conversation, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore welcome theologian, author, and Holy Post co-host Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss her book The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here. Toget…

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The Immigrant Soul: Paco Amador on Calling, Culture, and Finding Home in Little Village (Part 1) | PT 149 33:07

6h ago33:07

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What happens when the story of migration becomes the story of calling? In this episode, Pastor Paco Amador joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share his journey from Mexico to North Carolina to Chicago’s Little Village. With honesty and humor, Paco reflects on his encounter with Jesus as a teenager, the grief and beauty of leaving home, and…

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Formation as Resistance: Nathan Hoff on the Rule of Life, Reconciliation, and Rooted Community (Part 2) | PT 148 30:04

15d ago30:04

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What does it look like to live a life formed by grace and resistant to the pressures of the world? In this second conversation, Pastor Nathan Hoff returns to unpack the theology and practice behind The Rule of Life at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro. He joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to explore how intentional rhythms of prayer, reco…

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S11:E6 The Anti-Greed Gospel with Dr. Malcolm Foley 43:28

15d ago43:28

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What if racism isn’t primarily about ignorance or hate, but about greed? In this episode, Dave Fitch and guest co-host Gino Curcuruto sit down with Dr. Malcolm Foley, pastor, scholar, and author of The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward. Dr. Foley unpacks how economic explo…

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Practicing Presence: Nathan Hoff on Stability, Community, and a Rule of Life in Los Angeles (Part 1) | PT 147 25:45

29d ago25:45

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What if the cure for modern ministry restlessness is staying put? In this episode, Pastor Nathan Hoff joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share his story of 20 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro, California. From a childhood marked by constant moves to forming a residential community in an unrooted city, Nathan reflects on the be…

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S11:E5 The Rise of Influencer Christianity 47:36

22d ago47:36

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What happens when church leadership shifts from pulpits to platforms? In this episode, Dave Fitch and guest co-host Gino Curcuruto unpack Carl Trueman’s article, “Goodbye Big Eva, Hello Gig Eva,” exploring how evangelical culture has moved from the conference stage to the influencer feed, and what that means for the church. Together, they trace the…

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Sealed in Grace: Katie Langston on Baptism, Law, and the God Who Won’t Let Go (Part 2) | PT 146 29:13

1M ago29:13

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What happens when grace rewrites your story from the inside out? In this second conversation, Pastor Katie Langston joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share how the gospel of grace led her from Mormonism to the waters of baptism and into the freedom of ministry. Katie opens up about her conversion, her calling as a Lutheran pastor, and why…

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Worthy Enough: Katie Langston on Mormonism, Scrupulosity, and Discovering Grace (Part 1) | PT 145 30:19

1M ago30:19

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What happens when religion becomes a system for proving your worth? In this powerful conversation, Pastor Katie Langston shares her journey from growing up Mormon to discovering the freeing power of grace. With honesty and humor, she describes life in a worthiness-based system, her battle with scrupulosity, and the moment she first heard the gospel…

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Sent, Not Stationed: Benji Van Fleet on Itinerancy, Humility, and the Beauty of Being Placed (Part 2) | PT 144 39:46

24d ago39:46

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What if you didn’t get to choose where you served, but trusted the Spirit and the Church to send you? In Part 2 of this conversation, Pastor Benji Van Fleet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to unpack the Methodist system of itinerancy and what it teaches us about obedience, humility, and trust. From matchmaker bishops to Methodist “March Ma…

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S11:E4 The Political War Beneath the Surface 30:54

2M ago30:54

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What’s really driving America’s political chaos, and what does it mean for the church? In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore dig beneath partisan headlines to uncover the deeper philosophical divide shaping our cultural and theological conflicts. Fitch traces the roots of our polarization to two competing political visions: liberal democracy (…

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The Sheepdog and the Shepherd: Benji Van Fleet on Calling, Conviction, and the Church That Belongs to God (Part 1) | PT 143 33:19

2M ago33:19

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What happens when your theology of calling collides with your understanding of ownership in the church? In this episode, Pastor Benji Van Fleet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom from Abilene, Texas, to talk about his journey from architecture student to Methodist pastor, how cancer and heartbreak became catalysts for his call, and why he des…

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S11:E3 Charlie Kirk and the Missing Church 35:11

1M ago35:11

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Two weeks after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore process the grief, confusion, and cultural fallout surrounding his death. Beyond the tragedy, they explore what Charlie Kirk symbolized in American Christianity—and what his influence reveals about the modern church’s failures in discipleship, community, and cultural engag…

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S11:E2 Why Studying Culture Maters 26:58

2M ago26:58

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What happens when we read the Bible faithfully but miss the culture we’re speaking into? In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore dig into why biblical studies and cultural studies must go hand in hand for pastors, leaders, and everyday Christians. From sexuality to money, from language to power, interpretation always happens inside a culture. Ig…

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When the Wounded Take the Mic: Tara Beth & Mark on Pain, Platforms, and Pastoral Discernment | PT 142 29:52

1M ago29:52

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What happens when personal pain becomes public platform? In this candid conversation, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom reflect on Tara Beth’s widely shared Substack essay, When the Wounded Take the Mic. They explore the rise of “wounded influencers,” the temptation for pastors to preach from fresh wounds rather than healed scars, and how leaders …

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S11:E1 Losing Our Religion: Russell Moore on the Crisis and Hope of Evangelicalism 46:51

2M ago46:51

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Russell Moore kicks off Season 11 with an honest and wide-ranging conversation about the fractured state of American evangelicalism. From his own departure from the SBC to his reflections on revival, integrity, and biblical authority, Moore offers both critique and hope. Dave and Mike push into what needs preserving, what needs reimagining, and whe…

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From Anger to Mercy: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Healing, Ecclesiology, and the Cross (Part 3) | PT 141 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

What happens when ministry wounds you so deeply that you wonder if you’ll ever serve again? In this conversation, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share how a decade away from the pastorate became a season of theological reflection, healing, and rediscovery of God’s mercy. From the theology of the cross to the false…

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Called Back by Surprise: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Healing and Pastoring in Tokyo (Part 2) | PT 140 31:00

2M ago31:00

31:00

What happens when God calls you back into ministry after deep wounds? In Part 2 of her story, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson reflects on moving from disillusionment in New Jersey to surprising renewal in Tokyo. With honesty and humor, she describes serving a fragile, English-speaking congregation during COVID, watching people show up because Jesus himself d…

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The Weight of Nostalgia: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Ethnic Churches and the Struggle to Be the Church (Part 1) | PT 139 35:16

2M ago35:16

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What happens when ministry doesn’t go as planned? In this riveting conversation, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson shares her story of growing up in a third-generation pastoral family, wrestling with her call as a woman, and stepping into a church full of both history and heartbreak. From dollar-priced communion to deep theological reflection, Sarah’s story re…

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When the Dream Dies: Chaz Robbins on Church Planting, Closure, and God’s Faithfulness | PT 138 35:21

2M ago35:21

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What happens when your call to ministry feels buried, but never really dies? In this special episode, the tables turn as Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom interview their producer, and now executive pastor, Chaz Robbins. From a childhood shaped by faithful mentors to an RV road trip with his family, Chaz opens up about his winding path through min…

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Pour Out and Fill Up: Ben Cachiaras on Rest, Boundaries, and Holy Ambition (Part 2) | PT 137 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

How do pastors pour themselves out for others without losing their own soul? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ben Cachiaras reflects on the dangers of achievement addiction, the symptoms of ministry at an unsustainable pace, and the practices that helped him and his staff find a healthier rhythm of life and leadership. From numbing emotions to creat…

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Made for This: Ben Cachiaras on Calling, Longevity, and Evangelism That Sticks (Part 1) | PT 136 38:15

3M ago38:15

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What does it look like to serve a 200-year-old church that’s still bursting with life? Pastor Ben Cachiaras of Mountain Christian Church has spent nearly three decades leading with holy ambition, holding together the call to discipleship and evangelism. His story is one of clarity, perseverance, and joy in ministry that truly “fits like a glove." 🎙…

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Sacred Starts: Why Mornings and Boundaries Matter in Ministry | PT 135 29:46

4M ago29:46

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How do pastors actually “do it all”? In this lively, behind-the-scenes conversation, Mark Quanstrom and Tara Beth Leach pull back the curtain on their rhythms of ministry, family life, writing, and rest. From the myth of busyness to the art of batch working, they share practical ways to sustain pastoral life without burning out—and why mornings mig…

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Staying Power: What Sustains Long-Term Ministry | PT 134 34:15

4M ago34:15

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Ministry can be both deeply rewarding and painfully exhausting. In this conversation, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom open up about what keeps them in pastoral ministry after decades of challenges, transitions, and spiritual fatigue. From the support of their spouses to the importance of theological education, they reflect honestly on what susta…

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The Gift of Waiting: Faith Eury Cho on Trust, Provision, and Friendship with God (Part 2) | PT 133 27:31

4M ago27:31

27:31

What if God’s invitation isn’t to act—but to wait? In this episode, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom continue their conversation with pastor and author Faith Eury Cho. Together they explore how a season of uncertainty, silence, and scarcity became fertile ground for trust, surrender, and a deeper experience of God’s presence. From living without …

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Friendship with God: Faith Eury Cho on Friendship, Presence, and Planting in the Pandemic (Part 1) | PT 132 33:31

4M ago33:31

33:31

Author, pastor, and Honor Summit founder Faith Eury Cho shares her remarkable journey from spiritual curiosity as a child to church planting during a global pandemic. With warmth and honesty, Faith reflects on her evolving intimacy with God, how motherhood reshaped her theology of presence, and why pastors must stop chasing “moments” and start buil…

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The Courage to Lament: Aubrey Sampson on Grief, Ministry, and Sacred Sorrow (Part 2) | PT 131 34:04

5M ago34:04

34:04

What if we stopped fearing lament in church, and started embracing it as holy? In this powerful follow-up conversation, pastor and author Aubrey Sampson joins Tara Beth and Mark to talk about leading while grieving, pastoring through pain, and creating sacred space for sorrow in the church. 🎙️ In This Episode: How unprocessed grief distorts our lea…

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Leading While Grieving: Aubrey Sampson on Calling, Church Planting, and the Cost of Ministry (Part 1) | PT 130 30:30

5M ago30:30

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What if your calling was never modeled for you—and your grief hit harder than your training ever prepared you for? In this episode, pastor and author Aubrey Sampson joins Tara Beth and Mark to share the winding, beautiful, and painful road of planting a church while navigating personal loss, theological wrestling, and the loneliness of leadership. …

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Redefining Identity: Elizabeth Bair on Navigating The Temptation of "Proving" (Part 2) | PT 129 32:23

5M ago32:23

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What happens when your gender, age, and relationship status seem to speak louder than your call? In this episode, Pastor Elizabeth Bair returns to The Pastor’s Table to reflect on the quiet tension of pastoral identity, learning to relax into the authority God has given, and why she's not chasing titles, but transformation. 🎙️ In This Episode: The …

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Lonely But Called: Elizabeth Bair on Ministry and Loneliness (Part 1) | PT 128 32:14

5M ago32:14

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What happens when you follow your calling, only to find yourself profoundly alone? In this episode, youth pastor Elizabeth Bair opens up about stepping into ministry at age 22, navigating life in rural Michigan, and wrestling with loneliness as a single, young woman in a church leadership role. Her honesty is both refreshing and deeply relatable fo…

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From Burnout to Belonging: Paul Dazet on Vulnerability, Healing, and the Slow Work of God (Part 2) | PT 127 33:44

6M ago33:44

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What if the secret to church health isn’t strategy, but vulnerability? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Pastor Paul Dazet opens up about pastoring through cancer, exhaustion, and loss. He found these limitations became a surprising gateway to renewal. With honesty and humility, Paul describes how letting go of performance gave birth to a ch…

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When Church Growth Breaks Down: Paul Dazet on Cancer, Burnout, and Rethinking Success (Part 1) | PT 126 33:38

6M ago33:38

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What if success in ministry is what’s breaking you? In Part 1 of this compelling conversation, Paul Dazet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to reflect on his unexpected path to faith, his climb through the ranks of church leadership, and the moment it all came undone. From a picnic table conversion to the painful fallout of cancer and burnou…

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Hospice, Presence, and Pastoral Tenderness: A Conversation on Sacred Moments | PT 125 32:26

6M ago32:26

32:26

Read Tara Beth's substack here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-163159975 How do pastors hold space when words fall short? In this deeply personal and reflective episode, Tara Beth Leach reads from her Substack essay, “The Sacred Threshold That is Hospice,” sharing the journey of walking with her mother through dementia and hospice. Joined by co-h…

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Let’s See Where This Goes: Ivan Ramirez on Trusting God, Cultural Tension, and Pastoring Across Difference (Part 3) | PT 124 30:12

6M ago30:12

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What happens when God leads you somewhere you never imagined—but you say yes anyway? In Part 3, Pastor Ivan Ramirez reflects on his transition from the city streets of Chicago to leading a small-town church in Wisconsin. With humor, vulnerability, and pastoral wisdom, Ivan shares how cultural challenges, ministry mergers, and personal growth have s…

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From Solitary to Seminary: Ivan Ramirez on Freedom, Calling, and Preaching with Scars (Part 2) | PT 123 33:01

6M ago33:01

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What happens when freedom finds you before a courtroom does? In Part 2 of this gripping conversation, Pastor Ivan Ramirez shares how he left gang life, survived trial, and discovered God’s call through unlikely mentors, a Moody dorm room, and a courtroom bench. From early ministry mistakes to a doctoral degree, Ivan’s story is one of grace that kee…

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From Inmate to Pastor: Ivan Ramirez on Finding Jesus in Solitary (Part 1) | PT 122 30:43

7M ago30:43

30:43

How does a gang-involved teenager from Chicago become a pastor in Wisconsin? In Part 1 of this gripping conversation, Ivan Ramirez shares his remarkable story of searching for belonging, spiraling into despair, and encountering Jesus while facing a murder charge in solitary confinement. What begins as a tale of survival becomes a testimony of grace…

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S10:E14 Church Planting Post-COVID with Dr. Eun K. Strawser 39:36

7M ago39:36

39:36

Is it time to refresh the old church planting playbook? In this forward-thinking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Dr. Eun K. Strawser to explore how church planting must evolve in a post-COVID world. Drawing on her work with the IWA Collaborative, her leadership at Ma Ke Alo o, and insights from her upcoming book You Were Never Mean…

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Confession, Connection, and the Fight for Identity: Scott Moore on Ministry Beyond Metrics (Part 2) | PT 121 31:51

7M ago31:51

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Pastor Scott Moore returns for a vulnerable, soul-level conversation on what happened after his breaking point. From a life-changing fishing trip with strangers to a tearful reconnection with his family and church, Scott reflects on the slow work of reintegration. With honesty about the setbacks and sacred practices that help him stay tethered, thi…

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S10:E13 Preaching in a New Key with Mark Glanville 42:53

7M ago42:53

42:53

What happens when expository preaching meets jazz improvisation? In this musical and moving conversation, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore welcome Mark Glanville, pastor, jazz pianist, and author of Preaching in a New Key, to explore how preaching can meet the needs of post-Christian communities. From shifting cultural landscapes to the crisis of plausibi…

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When Ministry Breaks You: Scott Moore on Burnout, Isolation, and Holding On (Part 1) | PT 120 32:27

7M ago32:27

32:27

What happens when ministry feels less like a calling and more like survival? In this raw and courageous conversation, Scott Moore shares his story of stepping into a conflicted congregation, facing impossible expectations, and slowly losing himself in the isolation of unacknowledged burnout. 🎙️ In This Episode: How Scott moved from a thriving minis…

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Sacred Rest: Why Pastors Feel Empty After Easter and Why That’s Okay | PT 119 32:56

7M ago32:56

32:56

Why do pastors feel so disoriented the day after Easter? In this honest, unscripted conversation, Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom reflect on the emotional and spiritual aftermath of Holy Week. From packed services and buffet lunches to depression dips and pastoral guilt, they name what many church leaders feel—but rarely say out loud. 🎙️ In …

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Conviction Without Mimicry: Church, Politics, and the Power of Particular Places (Part 2) | PT 118 35:26

8M ago35:26

35:26

What does it mean to lead with conviction—without copying someone else’s model? In Part 2 of their candid host recap, Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom reflect on the pressures pastors face to mimic big-box ministry models or speak out on every cultural issue. From franchise churches to the idolization of family and politics, they unpack the t…

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Why We’re Still Here: Redemption, Resilience, and the Heart Behind the Podcast (Part 1) | PT 117 31:53

8M ago31:53

31:53

Why do pastors keep showing up when ministry gets hard? In this honest and vulnerable host recap, Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom revisit the origins of The Pastor’s Table and unpack the convictions that continue to drive the show. From painful memories to surprising grace, this episode explores why the Church is still worth loving—and leadi…

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S10: E12 Bonhoeffer, Resistance, and the Role of the Church with Michael DeJonge 51:01

8M ago51:01

51:01

What does real resistance to an unjust state look like—and can the church still embody it today? In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Bonhoeffer scholar Michael DeJonge to explore the famed theologian’s approach to resisting authoritarian power. Drawing from his article How to Resist an Unjust State and his books on Bonhoeffer's…

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The Church Is Not a Metaphor: Jason Micheli on Suffering, Sacraments, and Preaching That Promises (Part 2) | PT 116 31:38

8M ago31:38

31:38

Is the Church more than a symbol? In Part 2, Jason Micheli returns to explore what it means to preach the gospel when life itself feels fragile. He shares how cancer reshaped his theology, why the Church must reclaim its sacramental identity, and how sermons should declare—not just instruct. 🎙️ In This Episode: The theology of the cross vs. theolog…

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S10: E11 Nothing More Evangelical Than a Post-Evangelical 39:10

8M ago39:10

39:10

Is leaving evangelicalism really a departure—or just a shift within the same framework? In this provocative episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore wrestle with the deep similarities between evangelical and post-evangelical spaces. Are we just switching teams while playing the same game? From the role of the self in faith to justice work and power struc…

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When a Pastor Gets Cancer: Jason Micheli on Suffering, Storytelling, and Trusting the Church (Part 1) | PT 115 33:30

8M ago33:30

33:30

What happens when the preacher becomes the patient? In this vulnerable and deeply pastoral episode, Rev. Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom welcome Jason Micheli, United Methodist pastor, author, and writer of The Tamed Cynic. Jason shares his unexpected call to ministry, his battle with mantle cell lymphoma, and how cancer has shaped both his …

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A Theology of Place: Ryan & Danny Quanstrom on Pastoring with Presence (Part 2) | PT 114 39:00

9M ago39:00

39:00

What does it mean to pastor with presence in a world that prioritizes efficiency, technology, and disconnection? In this episode, Rev. Tara Beth Leach and Dr. Mark Quanstrom continue their conversation with Ryan & Danny Quanstrom, digging into the theological convictions that shape their ministries. From embodying the gospel in a rural town to crea…

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Faith, Family, and Calling: Ryan & Danny Quanstrom on Pastoral Ministry (Part 1) | PT 113 31:36

9M ago31:36

31:36

What’s it like growing up in a pastor’s home—and then becoming a pastor yourself? In this special family edition of The Pastor’s Table, Rev. Tara Beth Leach takes the lead, sitting down with Ryan & Danny Quanstrom, both senior pastors in Michigan and the sons of co-host Dr. Mark Quanstrom. This conversation explores how faith is formed in the home,…