We Are Vineyard

Becky Olmstead: The Vineyard’s Love For KidsShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Becky Olmstead about growing up in the church, her resistance towards living a life of formal ministry, and finding that God had specifically prepared her to lead a Children’s Ministry. Becky shares some advice she would give to her younger self, her unique priorities in leading a Children’s Ministry, and her approach to raising kids who would grow up to love God, the church, and each other. Becky Olmstead and her husband, Rick, started Vineyard Church of the Rockies in 1982. She has been passionately involved in ministry to kids since the beginning of their church. Having come into relationship with Jesus as a child, Becky has been a voice for kids, not just in their local church, but in the Vineyard USA and internationally. God has given Becky a passion for equipping and encouraging kids’ ministry leaders. In 1998, she started networking Vineyard kids’ ministry leaders through Kid*Net conferences. This led to the development of the Vineyard Kids Task Force. Becky and Rick have twin boys who are each happily married. They have travelled to 6 out of 7 continents. She loves bicycling, roasting her own coffee beans, eating chocolate, and reading mystery novels. She is the 4/14 Movement Global Leader and the National Kids Task Force Leader for Vineyard USA.   Show Notes:  VUSA Empowered series:  https://vineyardusa.org/pentecost2023/ Use #vusaempowered when you share on social media so we can see it! 2023 VUSA National Conference “Making All Things New”:  https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ Becky’s website: https://www.beckyolmstead.net/ Vineyard Kids: Vineyardkidsusa.com

Steve Nicholson: Being A Church That Lives Beyond Human ExplanationShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with return guest Steve Nicholson about some common practices of pastors who see the Holy Spirit move in their churches, and how pastors can begin to train and lead Holy Spirit ministry. Steve also shares about moving through windows of discouragement and what he’s seeing the Holy Spirit doing right now.  Steve Nicholson began ministering as a college student through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the early 1970s.  After graduation, he moved to the Chicago area where he and several other twenty-something leaders founded a church.  That fellowship, begun in 1976 in Evanston, Illinois, placed a high priority on contemporary worship, biblical teaching, openness to the Holy Spirit, and committed relationships as a church family. In 1981, Steve and a team from the fellowship established a new church in Humboldt Park, a neighborhood in Chicago’s inner city. Both churches joined Vineyard USA in August of 1985, and Steve transferred leadership of the Humboldt Park Vineyard to one of his team members in 1986. The Evanston Vineyard has since planted nine other congregations in the Chicago area, and another fifteen in other cities or countries.  Steve led Vineyard USA’s church planting task force for over twenty years. Steve has ministered to and trained church leaders in India, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Turkey, Lebanon, Brazil, Chile and several Central Asian countries as well as in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Evanston Vineyard is a diverse congregation from over 50 nations of the world with no majority racial or cultural group. Since 1986 the ministry of the Holy Spirit has been a regular and ongoing strength and emphasis of the Evanston Vineyard.  Steve and his wife, Cindy, live in Chicago. They have three adult children and eight grandchildren. Show notes:  VUSA Empowered series:  https://vineyardusa.org/pentecost2023/ Use #vusaempowered when you share on social media so we can see it! 2023 VUSA National Conference “Making All Things New”:  https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ Holy Spirit ministry training resources (free but you’ll need to enter an email for access):  https://vineyarddigital.org/item/john-wimber-signs-wonders/ https://vineyarddigital.org/holy-spirit/ Hear more teaching from Steve Nicholson on Holy Spirit ministry:  Vineyard’s Legacy of The Spirit’s Power | Steve Nicholson  

Mary Anne De La Torre: A Deeper Level of Coming HomeShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Mary Anne De La Torre about being born in the Philippines during the Marcos era, her parents leaving to immigrate to the US when she was very young, and the motivation in many cultures to pursue certain degrees and career goals in order to open doors and expand opportunities. Mary Anne shares about her first experience of racism in college, and feeling like she stood out and was invisible at the same time. They talk about the adjustment of attending a Vineyard church, how she got started in ministry, and the considerations required in a multiethnic community. Finally, Mary Anne talks about how her experience of the Vineyard has changed since joining the AAPI Association, and the value in ethnically diverse people having the opportunity to be in proximity with each other. Mary Anne was born in the Philippines and immigrated to NJ when she was almost 7 years old.  After attending college in Pennsylvania, she began her teaching career but was quickly called into ministry.  Mary Anne now serves as the Senior Associate Pastor at North Jersey Vineyard.  She oversees the Children’s Ministry and also supervises some staff members and serves on the Senior Leadership Team. Mary Anne also joyfully serves with the AAPI and Women’s Associations.    Mary Anne and her husband Rich have two kids, Marcus and Noemi. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and works part-time as a donut connoisseur. She tries to run to offset all the donuts in her spare time. Show Notes:  2023 VUSA National Conference “Making All Things New”: https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ VUSA AAPI Association: https://vineyardusa.org/associations/asian-american-pacific-islander-association/ Read more from Mary Anne: vineyardusa.org/aapimonth Listen to Mary Anne’s talk at the AAPI Summit:

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with return guests Josh and Candy Brown about their personal experience with physical healing and finding freedom from demonic oppression. Josh shares about how experiencing demonic activity challenged his theology, and how his intimate knowledge of brain science allowed him to assess the situation as it was happening. They also talk about traveling around the world with a healing ministry and watching miraculous things happen while not receiving their own breakthrough, some of the conclusions they’ve come to about the need for regular deliverance ministry in the church, and their goal of demystifying the whole process.  Joshua Brown (PhD, Boston University) is Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University. He directs the Cognitive Control laboratory at IU, which focuses on functional brain imaging, higher cognitive function, addiction, psychopathology, transcranial electrical neurostimulation, computational neural modeling, and artificial intelligence.  He has authored over 79 peer-reviewed scientific papers in all of these areas, and his work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, NPR, the New York Times, Fox news, and numerous other national and international media. He also directs the graduate program in Neuroscience at Indiana University and serves as the Director of the Global Medical Research Institute, whose work has been featured recently in the documentary film Send Proof. Candy Gunther Brown (Ph.D. Harvard University) is Professor of Religious Studies, Indiana University, and author or editor of six books, including Testing Prayer: Science and Healing and Debating Yoga and Mindfulness in Public Schools: Reforming Secular Education or Reestablishing Religion? Media coverage includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Religion Dispatches, The Conversation, Huffington Post Live, Psychology Today, Mindful Leader, National Catholic Register, Atheist Yoga, Interfaith Voices, and Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.  Show notes:  Register now for the 2023 VUSA National Conference this summer: https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ “Empowered” Pentecost series – http://vineyardusa.org/pentecost2023 Hear Josh and Candy on a previous episode of We Are Vineyard!:  New York Times Article about Josh and Candy: https://nyti.ms/3oKrH5b Christ The Healer by F.F. Bosworth: https://amzn.to/41UA8sM Pablo Bottari deliverance materials: https://globalawakeningstore.com/product/deliverance/

John and Debby Wright: National Directors for Vineyard UK and IrelandShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with John and Debby Wright about growing up in Chile and the UK during times of outpouring of the Holy Spirit, finding each other in their older teen years, and how their lives came apart while at University. John and Debby remember John Wimber’s arrival at St Andrew’s, the signs and wonders that began sweeping through the area, and how it changed their lives and relationship. They describe the incredible supernatural experiences they had at their business and home, and how that led them to serve alongside John and Eleanor Mumford. Debby shares about a tragic incident that occurred and how Jesus spoke to her in the midst of her heartbreak, the providence of God in leading them to plant in Nottingham, and some ways you can be praying for Vineyard UK. John & Debby are the National Directors of the Vineyard movement in the UK & Ireland and have been serving together in pastoral ministry since 1990. John initially trained and worked for a number of years as a jeweler before studying at London Bible College. Debby lived in Chile until she was 14 and later moved to Nottingham to train as a dancer and artist.  They first got involved with the Vineyard movement in 1982 and in 1987 they spent 8 months as interns at Anaheim Vineyard (under John Wimber, the leader of the Vineyard Movement in the USA). Following their time at Anaheim, they returned to England to help John and Eleanor Mumford start the first UK Vineyard in London. They worked at South West London Vineyard for 9 years before moving back to Nottingham to set up Trent Vineyard. In January 2015 it was announced that they would take over as the National Directors of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland from John & Eleanor Mumford, whilst continuing to lead Trent Vineyard. Their commissioning took place on Saturday, September 19, 2015. They have two sons, Zack and Jordan, two daughters-in-law, Lizzie and Sarah, and two grandsons, Jesse and Woody. Show Notes: Nicky will be a speaker via video at the 2023 VUSA National Conference this summer: Making All Things New! Register Now!  Participate in our “Empowered” Pentecost series! Vineyard UK Trent Vineyard   Social Media:  @vineyardusa

Nicky Gumbel: The Alpha Course Became Our Operating SystemShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Reverend Nicky Gumbel about his recently discovered heritage, when his atheism turned to faith, and how a decision for faith preempted his understanding of the Gospel. Nicky shares about the start of Alpha in 1977, the impact of John Wimber’s visit on his community and friends at Alpha, and how Alpha more recently exploded into the worldwide evangelism catalyst it is today. Finally, Nicky shares the advice he would want to give himself as a new Christian.  Revd Nicky Gumbel is the pioneer of Alpha, an introduction to the Christian faith running in churches of all denominations in 140 countries. He has written several best-selling books including Why Jesus?, Questions of Life, and The Jesus Lifestyle. Having initially trained as a barrister, Nicky went on to be Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton – a large central London church – for 17 years. Married to Pippa, they now work to support Alpha globally. They are also the authors of a daily Bible commentary called the ‘Bible in One Year’ which has over two million global subscribers.    Show Notes:  Nicky will be a speaker via video at the 2023 VUSA National Conference this summer: Making All Things New! Register Now!  Get involved with Alpha! Participate in our “Empowered” Pentecost series   Social Media:  @vineyardusa Twitter: @nickygumbel Insta: @nickygumbel

Caleb Maskell: Left Foot Scholarship, Right Foot Church LifeShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Caleb Maskell about immigrating to the US as a child, the disorientation of self he experienced, and how this manifested socially and academically. Caleb shares about failing classes in high school, how he eventually discovered his love for learning and critical thinking, and how that was entwined with the frequent experiences he was having with the Holy Spirit. Finally, Jay and Caleb talk about the direction of the Vineyard relating to theology and education.  Caleb Maskell is the Associate National Director of Theology and Education for Vineyard USA. Born in London, he immigrated with his family to New Jersey in 1986, at the age of nine. Caleb has been involved in leadership in the Vineyard movement for twenty-five years. After spending a gap year at the Toronto Airport Vineyard School of Ministry in 1995, he went to the University of Chicago to study theology, philosophy, and literature in the interdisciplinary undergraduate Fundamentals program. While there, he joined the core planting team of the Hyde Park Vineyard Church, where he served as a worship leader, a small group leader, a setter-up of chairs, and whatever else Rand Tucker asked him to do. After college, full of questions that had emerged from the beautiful collision of serious academic study and the practical realities of church planting, Caleb enrolled in the M.Div. program at Yale Divinity School. For four years, he immersed himself in the study of theology, church history, and scripture, while also leading worship and working with middle school and high school youth groups.  After graduating in 2004, he worked for three years as the Associate Director of the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University. In 2007, along with his wife Kathy and their friends Matt and Hannah Croasmun, Caleb planted Elm City Vineyard Church in New Haven, Connecticut. That year, he also began a Ph.D. program at Princeton University, focusing on the history of American religion, with an additional emphasis in African-American Studies. After moving to Manhattan for four years while Kathy went to seminary, the Maskells ended up in suburban Philadelphia, where Caleb completed his Ph.D, while teaching regularly at Princeton Theological Seminary, and serving as the Worship Pastor at Blue Route Vineyard Church. Since 2010, Caleb has led the Society of Vineyard Scholars, which exists to foster and sustain a community of theological discourse in and for the Vineyard movement. Caleb is passionate about developing leaders and institutions that will help to produce a healthy, courageous, and hospitable future for the church in the twenty-first century. Caleb and Kathy now live with their two kids, Josiah and Emmanuelle, in the heart of Denver, where Kathy pastors East Denver Vineyard Church. Show Notes: Register for Vineyard USA’s National Conference “Making All Things New”: https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ Power Healing by John Wimber: https://amzn.to/3G7OEVr Let Us Dream by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh: https://amzn.to/3Gcn5uf

Phil Chorlian: Church Planting Requires GritShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Phil Chorlian about the series of events that led him to Jesus as a teenager and when the Holy Spirit knocked him off a fence, his passionate pursuit of the Lord in high school, and how everything fell apart as a young adult. Phil shares about coming back to Christ in his car, getting involved in the Vineyard, and his story as a church planting pastor. They also talk about healing ministry and training, and the importance of pursuing the Holy Spirit with on-ramps. Phil is the founding pastor of the North Jersey Vineyard Church, which he planted in 1997. By God’s grace, the NJV is a growing, diverse community that sees lots of salvations and baptisms. As Lead Pastor, Phil is responsible for preaching and teaching, but his role goes beyond just delivering sermons. Phil is also committed to leading the pastoral staff, raising up new leaders, and casting and communicating vision for the church. During the years Phil has served the wider Vineyard movement in a variety of ways. Currently, Phil is the Vineyard East Regional Leader, serving the almost 80 churches that make up the Vineyard East Region. Phil is happily married to Norma, his wife of over 30 years, and together they have raised four children. Show notes Register now for Vineyard USA’s 2023 National Conference! The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer Surprised By The Power Of The Spirit by Jack Deere social: VUSA Instagram: @Vineyardusa Instagram: @pchorlian Facebook: philchorlian twitter: @philchorlian

Dianne Leman: The Ministry Of Jesus Is For EverybodyShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Diane Leman about growing up with strong leadership skills in a legalistic religious community where women were to be silent, reconnecting with the Lord as a young adult, and the medical disruption that opened the door for new faith experiences and curiosity. Di shares about her first experience with the Holy Spirit, joining the Vineyard, and what it was like for female leaders in the early years. Finally, Di offers an encouragement about how people might think through the topic of women in leadership. Dianne Leman, M.Ed., left her career in education after encountering the Holy Spirit and experiencing God’s miraculous healing from infertility. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Vineyard Leadership Institute, and Vineyard Bible Institute, Dianne entered full-time ministry with her husband, Happy, and together they have pastored The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois, Urbana, IL. while raising their family of four sons and one daughter. Over the past forty years, Dianne has served on the Vineyard USA Executive Team, led the Women in Leadership and Renewal Teams, and traveled widely sharing God’s love and healing power. She is the author of four books that reflect her passions: We’re Pregnant! How to Receive God’s Cure for Infertility, Hello Holy Spirit: God’s Gift of Live-in Help, Jesus Heals Today: God’s Prescription for a Hurting World, and Wrecked for God: The Surprising Secret to True Transformation.  While she continues to mentor many young people, her greatest joy is sharing Jesus’ love with her 12 granddaughters and 7 grandsons.  Show Notes: Register for VUSA’s 2023 National Conference!: https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ Women’s Association: vineyardusa.org/associations

Dennae Pierre: Building City-Wide Church MovementsShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Dennae Pierre about growing up in a close but chaotic household and the stability she found in the church, pursuing mentors, and being identified as a leader early on in life. Dennae shares how she’s navigated issues of race, as well as her call to ministry as a woman. They also talk about her passion for empowering laity and cultivating multidenominational, multiethnic, and multicultural communities through the Surge Network, and what God is forming in her through this process.  Dennae was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She is the Executive Director the Surge Network in Arizona. She is also a co-director for City to City North America and for The Crete Collective, which grows churches in communities of color. She planted Roosevelt Community Church with her husband Vermon, who is the lead pastor. Dennae has her M.A. from Covenant Theological Seminary and her DMin from Western Theological Seminary. Dennae’s passion is to equip churches and Christians to cross cultures and boundaries to unite in love for Jesus, deepen their love for one another and to advocate for justice with the poor and marginalized. She speaks, writes, and consults about reconciliation, justice, healthy leadership and developing multi-ethnic teams. Dennae and Vermon have two sons and three daughters: Marcel, Mya, Judah, Jovanna, and Rosa. The Pierre family lives in Downtown Phoenix.   Show Notes:  Healing Prayers And Meditations To Resist A Violent World: https://www.restorativeleaders.com/ Surge Network: https://www.surgenetwork.com/ Tempered Resilience by Tod Bolsinger: https://amzn.to/3lf35jq