The Kingdom Creatives Podcast

He sees a demon in Italy. Becomes Catholic. Now Christians call him "closet gay" for reviewing their churches. Marco from @acrossthepews sits down to tell the wildest conversion story we've heard—from growing up on welfare and food parcels, to a haunted Italian apartment that shattered his reality, to becoming the internet's most controversial church reviewer. This isn't your typical testimony. Marco was living his best life as an agnostic philosophy student when God literally knocked him over the head in Florence. Now he visits churches across denominations asking the questions no one else will ask—and Christians are BIG mad about it. IN THIS EPISODE:  ✅ The terrifying demon encounter in a 600-year-old Italian apartment that changed everything  ✅ Why his girlfriend destroyed him in theological debates (and he became Catholic because of it)  ✅ Growing up in a broken home on Centrelink and church food parcels  ✅ The REAL reason he reviews churches (hint: "the atheists are watching")  ✅ What happened inside the Mormon temple in Brisbane  ✅ Why Christians call him "demonic" and "closet gay" in the comments ✅ The one thing that made him cry talking about Mary  ✅ What Catholics can learn from Protestants (and vice versa)  ✅ Why he thinks there's a massive shift coming around communion/Eucharist  ✅ His mantra: "The atheists are watching" - and why it guides everything he does KEY QUOTES: "Every time I make a video, I just have this one little sentence that runs through my mind: the atheists are watching." "This woman, her whole essence was darker than the room itself. I could see her outline. It was just like blacker than pitch black." "If you can't handle a question, especially if it's innocent, that says a lot more about you than it says about whoever is asking the question." "I pursued God and I ended up here [Catholic]. I wasn't seeking tradition. I genuinely just loved God and kept pursuing Him." "When you understand the gravity of what Jesus did on the cross and how that would have felt for His own mother Mary... it breaks you apart completely."  ABOUT MARCO: Marco Boon is the creator behind @acrossthepews, where he visits churches across denominations to understand how different Christians worship—and asks the questions that make everyone uncomfortable. From Presbyterian to Pentecostal, Anglican to Mormon temples, Marco's mission is simple: help Christians understand each other better, and show atheists that Christianity is worth investigating. CONNECT WITH MARCO: Instagram/TikTok: @acrossthepews CONNECT WITH KINGDOM CREATIVES: Instagram: @kngdmcrvs Website: www.kingdomcreatives.com.au SUBSCRIBE if you want more honest conversations about faith, culture, and the tension of Christian unity. We're done with surface-level church talk. 💬 Drop a comment: Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or somewhere in between—what's ONE thing your tradition does really well? #catholic #protestant #churchreview #testimony #conversion #demon #italy #mormon #eucharist #acrossthepews #christianunity #kingdomcreatives #faith "The atheists are watching." - Marco's reminder to all of us that how we love one another matters. Unity doesn't mean agreement, but it does mean showing the world that we actually follow Jesus. If this conversation challenged you, hit LIKE and SHARE. Let's show Christians and non-Christians alike that we can have hard conversations with grace.

What do you do when your body won't give you what you're praying for?  Worship leader and pastor Jessie-Rose Rayner opens up about her ongoing journey through infertility, IVF, miscarriage, and the brutal question every person in ministry faces: How do you keep leading when you're barely holding it together?  This is an honest conversation about worshiping in the wait, writing songs you can't sing without crying, and finding God's presence in hospital rooms and infertility clinics. WHAT WE COVER: ✅ The reality of spending $100K on IVF with no guarantee ✅ Leading worship while going through IVF treatments ✅ The unique pain of miscarriage that only those who've experienced it understand ✅ Writing "I Can't Wait to Meet You" - a song to a baby she's never held ✅ Navigating a devastating church scandal at 21 years old ✅ What worship leaders won't tell you about ministering through personal pain ✅ Why Jesus performed his greatest miracles right after grief ✅ The difference between victimhood and victory ✅ What Gen Z is demanding from the church (and why they're right) ✅ Her neighbor being stabbed to death—and what it revealed about the fragility of life KEY QUOTES: "I don't want to stand before God and say that grief had sidelined me.""What are the songs for the hospital rooms? What are the songs for the infertility clinic? What are the songs for the marriage that feels like it's on the rocks?""It's less about what happens to us and more about the story we tell ourselves through it.""The pain of a miscarriage is like the most hardest thing to understand unless you go through it.""The giants are my bread." TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 5:04 - Jesus's response to grief will change your perspective 10:27 - Can you minister in immense pain? 16:40 - The pain of miscarriage no one talks about 20:38 - The church conference during her first miscarriage 24:01 - What story are you declaring over your life? 29:16 - The giants are your bread 34:03 - "My eyes have seen, not just my ears" 39:15 - The church scandal that almost destroyed everything 42:01 - Why she stayed when everyone left 48:32 - Writing songs for the infertility clinic 52:00 - When the right song drops on your worst day 55:01 - Is everything really an offering to God? 57:45 - Life can end in an instant 59:09 - Still in the thick of IVF - $100K invested 1:00:18 - Battling anxiety as a worship leader 1:05:15 - What's happening in the Australian church right now 1:08:03 - Gen Z wants the REAL thing ABOUT JESSIE-ROSE: Jessie-Rose Rayner is a worship leader, pastor, and songwriter at Kingdom Culture Church. She's walked through years of infertility, IVF, miscarriages, and church crisis—and somehow still believes God is good. Her music has ministered to thousands walking through their own valleys. CONNECT WITH KINGDOM CREATIVES: Instagram: @kngdmcrvs Website: www.kingdomcreatives.com.au SUBSCRIBE for more raw conversations with creatives who are actually living out their faith in the trenches. No fluff. No fake testimonies. Just real people, real pain, and a real God. Drop a comment: What's YOUR giant right now? 👇 --- #worship #testimony #infertility #miscarriage #christianpodcast #worshipleader #ivf #faith #kingdomcreatives --- ⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains candid discussions about miscarriage, infertility, church abuse, and violence. Viewer discretion advised. -If this episode impacted you, please LIKE and SHARE so others who need to hear this can find it. Your click might be someone else's breakthrough.

What happens when a Protestant youth pastor experiences three devastating church splits and starts questioning everything he believed about Christianity? In this explosive episode, we sit down with Peter Pelicaan, a former Protestant minister turned Catholic deacon, who reveals the shocking journey that led him to abandon his Protestant faith. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER: The real reason behind Protestant church splits that church leaders won't tell you Why Peter believes the Catholic Church is the "original" Christianity The controversial prayer practice most Protestants reject (and why Catholics embrace it) What really happens during Catholic mass that Protestants don't understand The theological bombshell that made Peter question his entire ministry Why Protestant "Scripture alone" doctrine might be fundamentally flawed The unity crisis plaguing modern Christianity EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS: Peter doesn't hold back as he exposes the structural problems he witnessed in Protestant churches, from pastoral authority issues to theological inconsistencies. He shares intimate details about his crisis of faith, the backlash he faced from his community, and why he believes Catholics have preserved something Protestants lost centuries ago. This isn't your typical interfaith dialogue - it's a raw, honest conversation about religious conversion, church politics, and the price of following your convictions. Whether you're Protestant, Catholic, or just curious about Christianity, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about church unity and biblical interpretation. WARNING: Some viewers may find Peter's critiques of Protestant theology controversial. We encourage respectful dialogue in the comments. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & Peter's Background 15:30 - The Three Church Splits That Changed Everything 28:45 - Why He Started Reading Catholic Philosophy 42:10 - The Eucharist Revelation That Shocked Him 58:20 - Addressing Protestant Misconceptions About Catholics 1:12:35 - The Authority Crisis in Protestant Churches 1:18:50 - Prayer for Unity CONNECT WITH US: Subscribe for more bold conversations about faith, creativity, and culture Instagram: @kngdmcrvs Website: www.kingdomcreatives.com.au #CatholicProtestant #ChurchUnity #ReligiousConversion #ChristianDebate #FaithJourney

When Ethan Beer was 12 years old, doctors told his family that his mom had 6 months to live. Brain cancer. Terminal. But she didn't die in 6 months. She lived for 5 more years. In this raw and emotional podcast episode, 21-year-old singer-songwriter Ethan Beer shares the incredible story of watching his mother battle cancer with unshakeable faith. From a pastor's kid struggling with his own relationship with God, to finding hope in the darkest moments of loss. You'll hear: • The exact conversation when his parents told him about the diagnosis • How his mom's faith grew stronger as she got sicker • The promises he made to her in the hospital room • The song "Room 18" that came from this experience (performed live in the episode) • How one Muslim listener became Christian after hearing this story This isn't just about death and loss - it's about finding unbreakable faith in the middle of tragedy. Ethan's story will challenge how you think about suffering, hope, and what it means to trust God when everything falls apart. Full conversation with Kingdom Creatives Podcast hosts Sam and Josh. Subscribe for more real conversations about faith, creativity, and finding purpose. You can find Ethan on all platforms: @ethanbeermusic

What happens when worship stops being about God’s presence and starts looking like a product? 👀 In this raw conversation, worship leader Dylan Hibbit (Citipoint Worship, Nashville) opens up about: Leaving full-time ministry for corporate work — and the painful call back again The harsh truth about why some worship songs never make it to church The cost of revival: when pastors say “revival or bust” even if it means losing people How creatives can know the difference between calling, hype, and burnout This is more than just a worship chat. It’s an inside look at the struggles, sacrifices, and revival fire shaping church creatives today. ⚡ Question for you: Do you think worship today is shaping real theology — or just creating hype? Comment below 👇 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Kingdom Creatives for more conversations that inspire, challenge, and equip creatives in the church. #WorshipLeader #Revival #ChurchCreatives #KingdomCreatives

What happens when fear wins in front of thousands? In this raw conversation, Dan Blythe shares the moment he walked off stage in front of 2,000 people — and what God did next. From early struggles with identity and fear of man, to leading Alpha Youth on a global scale, Dan’s story is an honest look at failure, faith, and finding your true voice. We talk about: Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome Lessons from leading creative teams How to reach Gen Z with the gospel Why authenticity matters more than performance Whether you’re a leader, creative, or just someone who’s ever wanted to quit, this episode will inspire you to get back up. Follow Dan Blythe: Instagram: @danblythe8 Alpha Youth: @alphayth Follow Kingdom Creatives: Instagram: @kngdmcrvs #DanBlythe #KingdomCreatives #AlphaYouth #FearToFaith #GenZ

This week on the Kingdom Creatives Podcast, we sit down with Amy Ayala, a digital missionary whose simple act of obedience during the 2020 lockdown sparked a viral movement on TikTok — and a wave of online salvations. With over 800K followers and a story that started in public high schools with a pizza and a message, Amy shares her journey of preaching without a platform, being rejected by her church, and how God used a single video of her Bible to launch a revival she never expected. In this episode: The night Amy went viral reading Scripture — no face, no strategy Why she calls herself a "digital missionary" From 7 students to 500 in a public school revival Being asked to leave her church for preaching The cost of obedience — and the crushing that brings anointing Why churches must rethink digital evangelism now This one’s for the misfits, the digital creatives, and the ones still waiting for a door to open. Spoiler: You don’t need a door when God breathes on your yes. 🔔 Subscribe + drop a comment if this one hits home 📱 Follow us @kngdmcrvs on IG for behind-the-scenes + bonus clips 📩 Want to support or connect? Visit www.kingdomcreatives.studio

Nathan Finochio, a former Hillsong pastor and founder of TheosU, dives into the pitfalls of modern church culture with sharp wit and biblical insight. He questions the seeker-sensitive approach and critiques worship songs for lacking depth. Nathan shares the story behind TheosU, emphasizing authentic discipleship over consumerism. He examines the role of comedy in faith contexts and the need for genuine community rituals like communion. Get ready for a thought-provoking challenge to your assumptions about Sunday services!

Are we doing Church media WRONG? In this episode, we sit down with creative powerhouse Ezra Cohen (founder of Ezco and Sunday Screens) to talk about the real state of church media — what’s outdated, what’s inspiring, and what needs to radically change. From cinematic design to visual theology, Ezra shares how churches can break free from cookie-cutter content and start creating media that actually moves people. Whether you're a worship leader, church creative, or digital pastor, this convo will challenge how you see church visuals forever. 🔥 Topics we cover: • Why most church media looks the same • What excellence in church creativity actually means • Building tools that equip, not just impress • How to reach a visual generation with timeless truth 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with a creative leader in your church. #ChurchMedia #EzraCohen #KingdomCreatives #SundayScreens #CreativeMinistry #ChurchCreatives #ChurchTech #VisualMinistry #ChristianCreatives

In this powerful episode of The Kingdom Creatives Podcast, we sit down with Wendell McKinney, founder of Divine Persuasion Studio, for a raw and moving conversation about calling, creativity, and communion with Jesus. 🔹 Wendell opens up about his journey from pastoring to leading a thriving creative agency 🔹 Why the presence of God isn’t just for Sundays but for survival 🔹 How burnout, cynicism, and pride nearly took him out—and how Jesus healed it all 🔹 The truth about creative success and the subtle dangers of self-reliance 🔹 Why encounter is essential to everything from business to fatherhood 🔥 If you’re a pastor, church creative, or Kingdom builder navigating leadership, pressure, or identity, this episode is for YOU. 📢 Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more Spirit-led conversations that equip creatives to transform how the world experiences church. ✨ 00:00 – Intro and welcome to Wendell McKinney 01:50 – Wendell’s childhood and growing up in ministry 03:10 – “What did you want to do growing up?” 04:00 – Wendell’s early passion for creativity and calling 06:10 – “Did you always have a creative lean?” 08:00 – Wrestling between pastoring and designing 10:00 – Divine Persuasion Studio origin foreshadow 12:30 – “What marked you with God’s presence?” 14:30 – Wendell shares a powerful story of teenage surrender 18:00 – Josh shares his first real encounter with Jesus 20:00 – “How important is encounter in calling and creativity?” 22:00 – Worship, presence, and a spontaneous moment of vulnerability 25:00 – Starbucks encounter and choosing presence over performance 28:30 – “Did you grow up in church?” 30:00 – Josh’s full testimony: the river encounter with Jesus 33:30 – “When did you realize your emotion was worship?” 35:00 – Fatherhood, burden, and depending on presence 37:30 – “How did Divine Persuasion Studio start?” 40:00 – Wendell explains the name, inspiration, and faith-led business model 45:00 – “What does faith in business actually look like?” 49:20 – Seven days of silence: hearing from God on a Mini Cooper 52:00 – Starting with $25k and full surrender 56:30 – “What was the turning point where it all clicked?” 59:00 – Josh and Sam reflect on trusting God financially 1:01:00 – “Jesus is the goal, not the blessing” 1:05:00 – “What’s the vision behind Divine Persuasion?” 1:09:00 – Sam shares a story of leading a friend to Christ over the phone 1:13:00 – A moment of blessing, affirmation, and closing words 1:15:00 – How to connect with Wendell and Divine Persuasion