We Are Vineyard

Dr. Charles Montgomery Jr: Becoming A Beloved CommunityShow Podcast InformationIn the final episode of We Are Vineyard for 2022, we’ll hear a sermon Dr. Charles Montgomery preached at the Vineyard Leadership Team Meeting in March 2022. Dr. Montgomery shares his vision for the Vineyard to become a Beloved Community, and how this value must become part of our discipleship process.  Taken from the example of the disciples, we need to do the work to talk about the hard things that might divide us. Charles A. Montgomery, Jr serves as the Associations Strategic Coordinator for Vineyard USA and Teaching Pastor at Vineyard Columbus. Charles also founded a successful multiethnic Campus (Vineyard Columbus East) and has pastored there since 2012. His passion is to develop Beloved Communities as espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, an alumnus of Charles’ alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Charles has a B.A. in Mathematics from Morehouse, a Master of Divinity from Emory University (Ga) and a PhD in Ethical and Creative Leadership from Union Institute University (OH). He has earned several credentials in Diversity Training and is a Certified Spiritual Director through the Sustainable School of Faith. He considers his greatest accomplishment (ok, grace) being married to his childhood crush, Kimberly. Charles and Kimberly are avid Buckeye fans (Go Bucks!) and make their home in Columbus Ohio.   Show Notes: https://vineyardusa.org/associations/ Listen to more of Charles’ story from his conversation with Jay on August 20, 2022! https://vineyardusa.org/podcast/ Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa

Brian T. Anderson: Christmas – Discovering The Greatest GiftShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we continue our December sermon series with a Christmas message preached by Brian T. Anderson at Vineyard Church North Phoenix in 2021. Brian examines the reasons why the whole world stops what they’re doing on Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of a baby, and shares about God’s Christmas gifts that we receive through his son Jesus Christ: forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Brian and Thora Anderson are the founding and Senior Pastors of Vineyard Church North Phoenix located in Phoenix, AZ. Brian and Thora planted VC as a home Bible study with only a few people in September 1985 and have pastored the church ever since. Brian and Thora have a desire to build a healthy, multi-racial, multi-generational church that is a fully orbed expression of the Kingdom of God on earth! They both especially love to train & equip other pastors & leaders so that they can become all that God has created them to be and do. God has used both Brian and Thora to impart a greater hunger for the Bible, worship, holiness, & renewal to people throughout the world. Over the years, Brian has served Vineyard USA as a board member, regional leader, regional coach, and Vice President. Brian has a B.S. in Mathematics from Grand Canyon University, and an M.A. in Mathematics from Arizona State University. Brian and Thora have two children, Zoe and Luke, who are both teenagers. Show Notes: Vineyard Church North Phoenix https://vineyardnorthphoenix.com Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org

Rich Nathan: Is Believing In God Just Wishful Thinking?Show Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we hear a sermon that Rich Nathan preached at Columbus Vineyard the same week that we recorded his podcast episode back in September. It is an introduction to a series called “Good Question”, which explores some common questions people have about faith and Christianity. In this sermon, Rich offers some clues found in scripture, science, nature, and our moral senses that show us it is more likely than not that God exists. Rich Nathan is the founding pastor of Vineyard Columbus. Rich was the first Senior Pastor serving from 1987-2020. Prior to becoming senior pastor, Rich taught business law at The Ohio State University for five years. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and received his Juris Doctorate with honors from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1980. Rich served on the National Board for Vineyard USA for more than two decades. Rich now serves on the Board of Christian relief agency, Convoy of Hope. He is a popular national and international conference speaker. Rich co-authored Both And (IVP Books, 2013) with Insoo Kim as well as Empowered Evangelicals (Ampelon Revised 2009) with Ken Wilson. Rich is also the author of Who is My Enemy? Welcoming People the Church Rejects (Zondervan, 2002). He has written numerous articles on leadership in publications such as Leadership Magazine. Rich was born and raised in New York City. He and his wife, Marlene, have been married for over 40 years. They have two children and six grandchildren. Show Notes: Listen to more of Rich’s story from his chat with Jay on October 5, 2022! https://vineyardusa.org/podcast/ The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Kukianoff and Jonathan Haidt https://amzn.to/3iQglt8 The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt https://amzn.to/3Hvs3Uj The Atheist’s Guide to Reality by Alex Rosenberg https://amzn.to/3iPPUUs Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org

Eleanor Mumford: Live from Alpha ConferenceShow Podcast InformationAs we close out the first season of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay has chosen some sermons that he felt captured the heart of “Gospel and Proclamation.”  First up is a sermon Ele Mumford preached at the Alpha Conference in 2018, filled with stories of faithfulness in responding to the Holy Spirit. Ele reminds us that we are only asked to come alongside what the Holy Spirit is already doing in people, and that it is Jesus who brings people to faith. The Holy Spirit gives us the power of God to work in the mission of God, and we can’t do what we’re called to do without the power, infilling, and inspiration of the Holy Spirit! Eleanor married John Mumford in 1978 after meeting at University. They trained together under John Wimber in California, before starting the first Vineyard church in Europe in 1987 (SW London Vineyard). In 2008 they handed over the leadership of that church to concentrate more on the Vineyard movement, both nationally and internationally, then in 2015 they transitioned the leadership of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. Together they now focus on helping facilitate the growth of the Vineyard internationally and speaking around the world. Show Notes: Listen to more of Eleanor’s story from her chat with Jay on October 26, 2022! https://vineyardusa.org/podcast/ Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org

Matthew Bates: The Gospel Precisely: Surprisingly Good News About Jesus Christ the KingShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Matthew Bates about growing up in a forestry family, the quiet faith of his mother, and the people who invested in his early life. Matthew talks about transitioning from a physics degree to theology, how he found himself studying greek simply out of personal interest, and the writers and theologians who shaped his questions and perspective on Jesus and scripture. He gives a summation of the key themes in his writing and shares the components of his books about which he receives positive feedback, and those which receive the most pushback. Finally, Matthew describes some ways a congregation might benefit from reversing the gospel presentation, and why this choice is more than just semantics. Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. Bates is a Protestant who enjoys the challenge of teaching in a Catholic context. His books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019) the award-winning Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015), and The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation (Baylor University Press, 2012). He also co-founded and co-hosts the popular OnScript podcast. After completing a B.S. in physics from Whitworth University (1999), Bates began a career in electrical engineering. His life took a swerve when he enrolled in a biblical studies program at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. (M.C.S., 2004, The Biblical Studies Prize). In 2005 Bates began PhD studies in theology at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity (CJA). Upon graduation (2010) he was named the winner of the Shaheen Award in the humanities, the top graduation prize at Notre Dame, competitive across all disciplines. In 2011 Bates accepted his current academic post. Bates enjoys hiking, baseball, and chasing around his seven children. Show Notes: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates Vineyard USA’s suggested reading for November The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart The Emergence Of Sin by Matthew Croasmun The Challenge Of Jesus by N.T. Wright The New Testament And The People Of God by N.T. Wright Why The Gospel?: Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose by Matthew Bates Coming in May! Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa Matthew’s Twitter: @MatthewWBates

Dr. Matt Croasmun: Following Jesus Brings More Questions AND More AssuranceShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Matt Croasmun about growing up in the Evangelical Covenant Church, and how getting involved with Intervarsity sparked his interest and love of scripture and ministry and tied him to a local church where he encountered the Living God. Matt shares about the new questions and new assurances he gathers as he deepens in relationship with Jesus and scripture, and why he believes questions are healthy, biblical, and the key to relationship. Matt Croasmun is Associate Research Scholar and director of the Life Worth Living program at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School and lecturer of Humanities at Yale University. He also serves as faith initiative director at the Grace Farms Foundation and as a pastor at the Elm City Vineyard Church, which he helped plant in 2007 and where he served as lead pastor for six years. He is author of The Body of Sin: The Cosmic Tyrant in Romans (2017), Let Me Ask You a Question: Conversations with Jesus (2018), For the Life of the World: Theological that Makes a Difference with Miroslav Volf (2019), and The Hunger for Home: Food and Meals in the Gospel of Luke with Miroslav Volf (2022). Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most with Miroslav Volf and Ryan McAnnally-Linz is forthcoming in March 2023. Show Notes: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates Vineyard USA’s suggested reading for November https://amzn.to/3WJsL5J Free of Charge by Miroslav Volf https://amzn.to/3Ev0uHB The Hunger For Home by Matthew Croasmun and Miroslav Volf https://amzn.to/3EQxj2b Let Me Ask You A Question by Matthew Croasmun https://amzn.to/3V22bmS Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz Coming March 2023 https://amzn.to/3GCXzzm Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa Matt’s Twitter: @mattcroasmun

Kevin Fischer: The Value Of One MoreShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Kevin Fischer about growing up on a dairy farm, how an encounter with the Holy Spirit changed his family, and his experience being discipled by his college chaplain. Kevin shares about going from life in rural Green Bay and college in Iowa to teaching at an inner city school in Miami, and the culture shock of finding himself as the only white person at the school. He also talks about giving up his career as a teacher to follow a clear word from the Lord about becoming a Vineyard pastor, and the sacrifices and conscious choices he made to make the church more accessible to unchurched people. Finally, Kevin explains some simple evangelism tips that allow you to partner with what Jesus might be doing in people without being weird. Kevin Fischer serves as lead pastor of Miami Vineyard Community Church, an outward-focused, multi-cultural church that every year experiences hundreds of people making first time decisions for Christ. His passion is to see every person experience the life-changing power of Jesus and grow to become everything God designed them to be. Kevin and Debbie have five kids and too many cats and is a Die-Hard Packer Fan. In addition to serving his local church, Kevin also serves on a Regional Leadership Team for Vineyard USA overseeing churches in the Gulf Coast Region. Show Notes: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates Vineyard USA’s suggested reading for November https://amzn.to/3WJsL5J Rich Nathan: Evangelism & Social Justice – We Need Both Wings Of The Plane https://vineyardusa.org/podcast/ Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa

Nicole Dill: Walking Out Your Calling In The Church AND The MarketplaceShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Nicole Dill about being born into a party, reading in the corners of bars and clubs where her dad played music, and how her life as a spiritually-seeking preteen eventually led her to a defining encounter with the Holy Spirit. Nicole shares about learning to trust the Lord to guide the expression her calling takes in different seasons of life, and the way all of her different experiences and roles are being utilized in her current position as the Communications Director for Vineyard USA. They discuss the discipline and gift of anchoring into community, the value in bringing exactly who you are to your local church, and the joy of being a conduit and a resource for the kingdom of God. Nicole Dill is the Communications Director for Vineyard USA. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where she came to faith as a teenager, and quickly found a church family at Vineyard Columbus. In 2002, she moved to Colorado to help plant the Arvada Vineyard, and helped lead this growing church plant while finishing her degree in Photography at the Art Institute of Colorado. In 2008, Nicole planted and pastored the first multisite church for the Mile High Vineyard in downtown Denver with a team from the Arvada Vineyard. After several years of pastoring there she handed the site off to another pastor and helped several other Vineyard church plants and established churches in the Denver area. Nicole has also worked extensively outside the church leading creative teams at Anthropologie as a store designer, as Chief Operations Officer for TEDxMileHigh, the largest TEDx in North America, and for the White House as an Advance Associate for the President. She consults many growing organizations around their creative, operations, and HR needs in the nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors. Nicole lives in Denver with her husband Jason, and two daughters, Vera (7) and Rosalie (6) and attends the East Denver Vineyard. Show Notes: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates Vineyard USA’s suggested reading for November https://amzn.to/3WJsL5J Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa

Todd Proctor: Going At The Pace Of People And Bringing Them With YouShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Todd Proctor about the shaping effects of worship on his life, how the changing worship culture intersected with his discovery of the Vineyard, and his first experience with prophetic prayer ministry. Todd shares about the mentoring he received from Don Williams, and his belief that impactful relational moments are key for investing in the upcoming generation of leaders. Jay and Todd talk about their shared love of Alpha, some interesting things Todd is noticing happening through the ministry right now, and the surprising community impacts that churches are seeing as Alpha becomes part of their church culture. As Executive Vice President of Strategic Church Engagement, Todd Proctor has served on Alpha USA’s leadership team for seven years. He is passionate about creating experiences and facilitating conversations that help key leaders reposition their communities for evangelistic impact in an increasingly post-Christian reality. Prior to joining Alpha, Todd founded Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, CA, where he served for 15 years as Lead Pastor. He experienced Alpha’s impact firsthand, as Rockharbor became a pioneering hub church for the organization in the Southern California region. Todd watched as Alpha created a safe space for members to openly discuss matters of faith, as well address needed cultural shifts in the church in areas such as hospitality, relational evangelism and dependence on the Holy Spirit. A natural networker, Todd has had the opportunity to build bridges with leaders and communities across the nation. In collaboration with the Exponential Conference, Todd co-authored the book, “Empowered,” which offers pastoral perspectives on life and leadership in the Spirit. Todd received a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Biola University, where he met his wife, Lisa. They have been married for almost 30 years, and have four children. Show Notes: Vineyard USA suggested reading for September Alpha Booklet “Why Jesus” by Nicky Gumbel https://bit.ly/3MlFmHD Alpha https://alphausa.org Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org

Eleanor Mumford: Steeped In The Word and Filled With The SpiritShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Eleanor Mumford about the steady investment of her college roommate’s prayers in her life that eventually led her to Jesus, and the practices in her young adult life that established her love of the Bible. Eleanor talks about becoming confirmed in the Anglican Church, the entrance of the Holy Spirit into their lives, and meeting John Wimber, learning that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is for everyone, all the time. Finally, Eleanor shares the story of persevering in confirming their call from the Lord to plant a Vineyard in the UK, and their process of submitting to authority in waiting for the blessing from Vineyard elders. Eleanor married John in 1978 after meeting at University. They trained together under John Wimber in California, before starting the first Vineyard church in Europe in 1987 (SW London Vineyard). In 2008 they handed over the leadership of that church to concentrate more on the Vineyard movement, both nationally and internationally, then in 2015 they transitioned the leadership of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. Together they now focus on helping facilitate the grow of the Vineyard internationally and speaking around the world. Show Notes: Vineyard USA suggested reading for October Alpha Booklet “Why Jesus” by Nicky Gumbel https://bit.ly/3MlFmHD Socials: @vineyardusa Vineyardusa.org