We Are Vineyard

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Michael Cusick about being raised in a family with an extensive history of addiction, the circumstances that brought his brokenness and trauma to the forefront of his life, and how God rescued his marriage. Michael shares about starting the Restoring The Soul ministry, engaging people’s brokenness, and why sin management is not the best approach. Finally, Michael shares a profound story of redemption and he and Jay talk about how pastors can support each other.  Michael Cusick is a Licensed Professional Counselor, spiritual director, speaker, and author of two books including Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle and Somebody's Daughter: An Experiential Guide. Having experienced the restoring touch of God in a deeply broken life and marriage, Michael’s passion is to connect life’s broken realities with the reality of the gospel. In addition to leading Restoring the Soul and equipping Christian organizations around the world, Michael formerly served as an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary and full-time professor at Colorado Christian University. He holds an MA in Biblical Counseling from Colorado Christian University and an MA from the College of Education at the University of Denver. Michael lives with his wife Julianne in the foothills of Colorado where he enjoys the Rocky Mountains and a host of other outdoor activities with friends and family. Michael is also the host of the popular Restoring the Soul podcast which reached over 300,000 downloads in 2022 alone, with listeners in over 81 countries, totaling over 1.8 million downloads in just 6 years of podcasting.   Show Notes:  Sacred Attachment by Michael Cusick (releasing January 2025) The Ascent Of A Leader by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald Rebuilding Your Broken World by Gordon MacDonald The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Trisha Taylor about navigating her call to ministry as a woman and how she found her "in" as a counselor. They chat about the role of authenticity in transformation, some of the common internal issues that pastors need to explore for change to occur, and ways to support your pastor as a leader. Trisha also shares some of the unique gifts and challenges that she’s noticed among Vineyard people.  Trisha Taylor is a counselor, author, consultant, and speaker based in Houston, TX. Counseling is a key component of Trisha's ministry and she enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families. She works to provide a safe place where people who are hurting or confused can find God's grace and wisdom. Trisha is a co-author of The Leader's Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation, which challenges leaders to see their congregations as living systems and to respond to leadership challenges with emotional maturity, leading as Jesus did, from the inside out. She is available to lead workshops and seminars or to provide consultation and coaching to help individuals and teams find a new way of thinking and leading in the contemporary church. As both a minister and a counselor, Trisha holds a Texas state license as a professional counselor and is a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She graduated from Baylor University (Psychology, 1985) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Counseling, 1988). She has been married to Craig since 1985 and they have two adult children. Show Notes:  The Leader's Journey website  Faithwalking Tod Bolsinger’s books Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss  A Failure of Nerve by Edwin Friedman  Vineyard USA’s Pastoral Health webpage Vineyard History and Identity Resources:  The Way It Was by Carol Wimber  The Quest For The Radical Middle by Bill Jackson  Empowered Evangelicals by Rich Nathan and Ken Wilson “I’m a Fool For Christ”- John Wimber’s testimony 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Chuck DeGroat about his entrance to ministry and when his interests started turning toward psychology and people’s lives. Chuck talks about the intersection between narcissism and pastoral health and the pitfall of pastors turning inside themselves in self-protection. Jay and Chuck discuss the policies and structures Vineyard USA is beginning to implement to help keep pastors connected and healthy, and the importance of resourcing and relationship in preventing pastoral implosion.  Chuck DeGroat is a follower of Jesus, a husband to Sara for 30 years, and father to two amazing daughters. He serves as Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary Holland, MI.  He is also a faculty member for the Soul Care Institute. Chuck is a licensed therapist, a spiritual director, an author of five books, and a retreat leader/speaker. As a therapist, he has specialized in issues of abuse and trauma, pastoral (and leadership) health, and navigating issues of doubt and dark nights on the faith journey. He’s also a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America. Chuck pastored in Orlando and San Francisco before transitioning to training and forming pastors. He also trains clergy in issues of abuse and trauma, conducts pastor and planter assessments, and facilitates church consultations and investigations of abuse among pastors and within congregations.    Show Notes:  When Narcissism Comes To Church by Chuck DeGroat  Healing What’s Within by Chuck DeGroat Vineyard USA’s reporting hotline Redeeming Power by Diane Langberg

Dr. Jim Wilder, author and chief neurotheologian of Life Model Works, shares his transformative journey from a high-stakes religious upbringing in Colombia to pioneering trauma care. He explores the intersection of faith and psychology, addressing ministry failures and the vital role of joy in leadership. Wilder emphasizes the importance of maturity and community, distinguishing between education and spiritual anointing. His insights reveal how personal healing and community support can lead to profound transformation in the face of trauma.

Leadership Under Pressure: Jay and Danielle PathakShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Danielle Pathak kick off a new series titled “Leadership Under Pressure.” They discuss all things related to Danielle’s world as Vineyard USA’s Associate National Director of Pastoral Health and Formation, touching on physical, financial, relational, emotional, and spiritual areas of health. Danielle shares about her process of assessing resources for personal or pastoral health that will soon be offered to Vineyard USA pastors, some of the current programs we’re testing out to address the data coming out of surveys taken by our pastors, and the many opportunities currently available to Vineyard pastors through various partnerships.  Show Notes:  Pastoral Health website  Lilly Endowment  VUSA’s Guidepost Institutional Assessment & Report  PastorServe AG Financial  Clergy Advantage  FreeWill  Soul Shepherding  Leadership Transformations  Recommended Books:  Embracing The Body by Tara M. Owens  Sustaining Ministry by Sondra Wheeler  Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss Leader’s Journey by Jim Herrington, Trisha Taylor and Robert Creech  Growing Yourself Up by Jenny brown Extraordinary Relationship by Dr. Roberta Gilbert  Connecting With Our Children by Dr. Roberta Gilbert  Failure Of Nerve by Edwin Friedman  Generation to Generation by Edwin Friedman  Friedman’s Fables by Edwin Friedman

A Story of the Vineyard in Song – Anabeth MorganShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we complete our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Anabeth Morgan. Anabeth expands on the story she shared during the session via video about being invited to a Vineyard church, feeling like she found a sense of home, and what that experience meant to her. She also talks about what she does now as a worship pastor to prepare for those who come to church needing an encounter similar to what she experienced all those years ago.   Anabeth Morgan is a worship leader, songwriter, and one of the staff pastors at the Mile High Vineyard neighborhood churches since 2011.  She has been an integral part of Vineyard Worship as a leader, artist and writer, serving at Vineyard churches in Houston, Columbus, and Kansas City. Anabeth is deeply passionate about God’s presence and loves to lean into the Spirit of God in worship and prayer. Her ability to listen to the Holy Spirit, whether leading worship or groups of people, has given God the opportunity to do wonderful things in people’s lives. She loves sharing her intimate faith in God with others, enjoys being hospitable, and is always sensitive to the people and environment around her. Anabeth has appeared on many Vineyard albums such as Cultivation Generation, Servant Wide Awake, My Foundation, Breathe In, Sing Out and more. In December 2017 she finished writing and recording her first studio album A Place Your Glory Dwells. Recently, she has had songs “You Meet Me Here”, “Heaven’s Work” and “King of Heaven”, released through Vineyard Worship, and has published other worship songs in collaboration with other songwriters. She was married to Kyle in 2003 and they have two amazing children, Jovie and Miles. Show Notes:  Watch “A Story of the Vineyard in Song”

A Story of the Vineyard in Song – Ed PiorekShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we continue our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Ed Piorek about the childhood experiences that provoked him to seek the Lord. They also discuss how the Father’s love shaped his life, leadership and church, as well as his own parenting. Finally, Ed talks about pioneering intimate language in worship and shares a fatherly word for Vineyard pastors and leaders.  Ed Piorek, known as Eddie to his friends, is a Pastor Emeritus, speaker, and author who helps people connect with the Father’s Love. With over 50 years in ministry, Eddie has a deep connection to the Father’s Love and the enormous impact it can have in people’s lives, including his own. He and his wife Janet (who has been his partner in ministry for the past half-century) embody and live out the message of the Father’s Love in their lives.   In recent years, Eddie has discovered the treasures of monastic contemplation, which has shown him how to find rest in the Father’s love amidst the ongoing rigors of kingdom ministry. His new book The Eclectic Contemplative (2020) shares his adventures on this ancient path.  When he isn’t preaching, speaking or writing, Eddie can be found surfing, gardening, reading, or spending time with his wife Janet in sunny San Clemente, California.  Notes:  Hear more from Ed on The Ferment

A Story of the Vineyard in Song – Cindy RethmeierShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we continue our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Cindy Rethmeier about the early days of the Vineyard, how new songs were introduced, and some of the stories behind the original Vineyard songs. Cindy shares about how relationships influence songwriting, and navigating the balance of family life with leading worship. Cindy Rethmeier is one of the pioneering female worship leaders and songwriters of the modern worship era. She wrote some of Vineyard’s most well-known anthems (Exalt the Lord, I Bow Down) and served an integral role in children’s worship, penning the songs I Want to be Like Jesus and Good News. Cindy spent 7 years in an Anglican Church writing musical settings for prayers and seasonal antiphons for the liturgy, and her most-recent song —  co-written with Vineyard pastor and worship leader Ted Kim — is Kyrie Eléison, a lament based on a prayer of petition used in ancient Christian liturgies translating as “Lord, have mercy.” After many years in Southern California, Cindy currently lives in Tennessee with her husband of over 40 years, Steve. She has 2 children & 11 grandchildren who are the inspiration for her name songs & lighthearted, everyday-life songs.  Show Notes:  Hear more from Cindy on The Ferment I Want To Be Like Jesus

A Story of the Vineyard in Song – Brian DoerksenShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, we continue our mini-series on the Vineyard USA National Conference session: A Story Of The Vineyard in Song. This week, Adam and Nicole Dill talk with Brian Doerksen about his first encounter with the Vineyard and the doors it opened for him to pursue the faith his heart longed for. Brian shares the history behind the album “Changed By Your Glory” and the stories of how some of his most well-known songs came to be. They also discuss how he discerns his songwriting assignments, what makes a song evergreen, and some advice for newer Vineyard songwriters.  Brian is a songwriter, recording artist, and songwriting instructor (founder of ‘Unlocking Your Songs’), but most of all he loves spending time with his high-school sweetheart Joyce (they have been married for 38 years.) Brian & Joyce have 4 adult daughters and 2 adult sons with Fragile X Syndrome. His songs are known and sung internationally in faith communities of all kinds including ‘Come Now is the Time to Worship’, ‘Refiner’s Fire’, ‘Hope Of The Nations’ and ‘The River.’ Show notes:  Hear more from Brian on The Ferment   Changed By Your Glory 

A Story of the Vineyard in Song – The Making OfShow Podcast InformationWelcome back to the We Are Vineyard podcast! In today’s episode we are kicking off a mini-series about a very special session of this summer’s National Conference called “A Story of the Vineyard in Song.” In this episode, you will hear from the planning team (Adam Russell, Casey Corum, Melisa Keller, Caleb Maskell, and Nicole Dill) about why they decided to create this session and some behind-the-scenes stories about the planning process. Different members of the team also share why songs are such a cornerstone of the Vineyard Movement, how songs serve as a marker for us of time and place, and some of the songs that have been especially formational in each of their lives. Show notes: Vineyard Worship Essentials