We Are Vineyard

Christian Dunn: Do For The One What You Wish You Could Do For The ManyShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Christian Dunn about how well the church cared for his family during a hard time in his childhood, being empowered to lead a youth group as a teenager, and launching a youth conference that drew hundreds of teens. They discuss the value of fluid spaces that church members can move in and out of for connection and training and the relational magic that happens before and after structured church meetings. Christian talks about the biggest changes he’s noticed in youth ministry over the last years, the things he’s praying for right now in Vineyard Youth, and some thoughts for senior pastors.  Christian, and his wife Mandy, live with their four amazing kids in southeastern Pennsylvania. He worked in youth ministry for 20+ years before planting CityLight Vineyard Church in 2017. He has had the pleasure of serving as the leader of the East Region for over a decade, and is currently serving as the National Youth Director. He is the author of “Finding the One: How Dating Prepares You For Marriage” and “More Than Spectators: Empowering Teens for Ministry.”  Show Notes:  Redpoint Podcast 

Marshal Prewitt: Coming Full CircleShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Marshal Prewitt about growing up in an enthusiastically Christian household in the early 90s and the positive ways that shaped him. Marshal shares an experience where he decidedly dedicated his life to serving the Lord, following a prophetic word to an internship in New Zealand, and learning quiet intimacy with the Lord in prayer rooms. Marshal talks about discovering the need for pastoring and relationships to accompany the prophetic and finding his home in a Vineyard church where he was further shaped by the faithful steadiness of his community and leaders. Finally, Marshal shares some thoughts on the full-circle moment he finds himself in. Marshal Prewitt is the lead pastor of Vancouver Vineyard Church in southwest Washington and is the VUSA Regional Leader for the Northwest Region. Show Notes: Vancouver Vineyard Church  

Raymond McDonald: From Blues Guitarist To Vineyard PastorShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Raymond McDonald about being born to teenage parents, how the race issues in his church taught him that Jesus is not limited by the beliefs of humans, and the influence of his praying grandmother who continually reminded him of the pastoral call on his life. Raymond shares about wrestling between a life of rock’n’roll and pastoring, the Lord’s relentless pursuit of him, and the prophetic occurrences that finally made him decide for the Kingdom. Raymond also talks about some of the ups and downs he’s experienced during his years in the Vineyard and why he’s sticking with it.  Raymond McDonald is the new Regional Leader for the Gulf Coast Region and has previously served Multiply Vineyard as a Regional Representative and a Church Planting Coach. Raymond has been part of the Vineyard since 1991 when he came to Anaheim Christian Fellowship as a guitar player involved with Vineyard Music. After leaving the Anaheim Vineyard in 1996, Raymond and his wife, Teresa, planted the Vineyard Church of Conroe in January 2001. Raymond has been very involved in the city, serving on many boards as well as City Council. He is also known in the Christian music world by the stage name the “Hon. Rev. Sleepy Ray”, and has toured and recorded albums with his band “Sleepy Ray and The Mighty Blood.”  Raymond and Teresa have been married for 30 years and have raised their 3 children and adopted 8 more and now have 7 grandchildren.   Show Notes: Vineyard Church of Conroe Hon. Rev. Sleepy Ray on Spotify  

Van & Laurie Cochrane: Our Journey Into The VineyardShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Van and Laurie Cochrane about their family backgrounds and how the Lord orchestrated their relationship. Van shares his process of unlearning the cessationist teachings of his seminary, their emotional and spiritual adjustment to beginning to feel and witness the moves of the Holy Spirit, and their journey into the Vineyard. Van and Laurie Cochrane are the founding and senior pastors of Vineyard Northwest in Ohio and serve Vineyard USA as Regional Leaders for the Great Lakes Region. After pastoring cessationist churches for 15 years, God opened Van’s heart to the full ministry of the Holy Spirit in 1994. He and Laurie eventually launched Vineyard Northwest in 2001. In 2011-2012, they began to lead the church into a renewed passion for the Holy Spirit, focusing on presence-driven worship, healing, and prophetic ministry. In the past ten years, the Lord has brought dynamic young leaders, dynamic older leaders, in-house prophets, and more Holy Spirit power and ministry than they had seen before. School of Kingdom Ministry has had a big impact on Vineyard Northwest. Van’s heart is to see young leaders raised up and empowered and older leaders renewed and empowered. He deeply appreciates healthy prophetic ministry and has a special call to restore wounded prophets. They have been married for 48 years and have four married children and ten grandchildren. Show notes:  Vineyard Northwest on Youtube  Surprised By The Power Of The Spirit by Jack Deere      

Alexia Salvatierra: Compassion And The Spiritual Gift Of JusticeShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Alexia Salvatierra about being born with a sense of justice in her gut, and then meeting Christ and experiencing a hope that power and love can coexist. Alexia shares about wrestling through the obstacles of being a woman in ministry, the scriptural basis for why she believes women can be pastors and preachers, and the many facets of how she sees her call as a person of justice. Alexia also provides some insight into current immigration issues in the US and some easy on-ramps to befriending people in your community who are different than you.  Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra is the Academic Dean for Centro Latino at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is the co-author of “Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World” and “Buried Seeds: Learning from the Resilience of Vibrant Marginalized Christian Communities”, and as part of a team, “God’s Resistance: Mobilizing Faith to Defend Immigrants”. She is a Lutheran Pastor with over 40 years of experience in congregational (English and Spanish) and community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational/community organizing and legislative advocacy. Dr. Salvatierra is a consultant for a variety of organizations, including World Vision, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and the Christian Community Development Association. She has been a national leader in the areas of working poverty and immigration for over 25 years and has founded multiple programs and organizations both in the US and overseas. These included a gang prevention program for at-risk immigrant youth, a community computer center, and an intergenerational community garden where the elderly taught at-risk youth to grow produce for sale as well as a collaborative of UC students, homeless leaders, and congregation members providing emergency services in the streets of Santa Cruz and the migrant farmworker camps in Watsonville. In the Philippines, she trained urban poor women in Manila to serve as chaplains to their neighbors. Show Notes:  Faith-Rooted Organizing by Alexia Salvatierra and Peter Heltzel Buried Seeds by Alexia Salvatierra and Brandon Wrencher  God’s Resistance by Brad Christerson, Alexia Salvatierra, Robert Chao Romero and Nancy Wang Yuen  Centro Latino de Fuller Seminary  

Paul Zahl: Thriving In Life, Ministry, and The Last Third Of LifeShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Paul Zahl about soul care as we transition through different life stages. Paul shares how our internal life changes as we move from the busyness of mid-life into a slower third stage of life, why it’s crucial to deal with unhealed trauma and the harmful effects of habitually suppressing feelings. Jay and Paul discuss the difference between meddling and helping in mentoring relationships, the necessity of finding ways to have fun and laugh, and the life-changing opportunities in real listening. Finally, Paul shares some encouragement for Vineyard Pastors.   Paul Zahl is a retired Episcopal minister with 48 years of ordained service. He attended Harvard College, the University of Nottingham, and Tuebingen University in Germany, where he received his doctorate in systematic theology in 1993. He has served parishes in Washington, D.C.; New York City and Westchester County, NY; Charleston, S.C.; and Birmingham, AL, where he was Dean of the Episcopal Cathedral.  He later became Dean/President of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. He has written 11 books. Paul and his wife of almost 50 years, Mary, have three adult sons, all of whom are in full-time Christian service. Show Notes:  Peace in the Last Third of Life by Paul Zahl More of Paul’s books PZ’s Podcast by Mockingbird Ministries (directed by Paul’s son David)  

Marvin and Carmen Suarez: The Birth Of The Vineyard In Puerto RicoShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Marvin and Carmen Suarez about each of their early life experiences, first encounters with the Holy Spirit, and dedicating their life to serving the Lord and the church. Marvin and Carmen recount their journey of faith, moving to Colorado to attend Seminary while struggling to find a church community and the welcome they received at the Fort Collins Vineyard that changed everything. They talk about navigating God’s call to return to Puerto Rico to plant a Vineyard church and some of what they have experienced over their years in the Vineyard as Hispanic leaders.  Marvin and Carmen Suarez are the founders and Senior Pastors of La Viña Church in the west side of Puerto Rico, Area Leaders for the Puerto Rico area, and serve on the core team of Vineyard USA’s Hispanic Association. They just completed a Two Year Bilingual Program on Spiritual Direction from Sustainable Faith.  Carmen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico. She worked as a Supply Chain Manager and other Project Management Positions in Hewlett Packard (in PR and CO) for over 28 years. She left the business world to become a full-time pastor in Dec 2012. Marvin graduated with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering Systems from the Engineering School of the University of Puerto Rico and worked in this vocation for over ten years.  He also completed an M.Div from Denver Seminary, CO.   They have been married since 1985 and have two adult children. Show Notes:  Pastors at Risk by H.B. London and Neil B. Wiseman Marvin & Carmen’s Church  Watch Tuesday’s session of the National Conference, hosted by the Hispanic Association!  Vineyard Worship resources in español Denver Seminary     

Danny & Letty Mercado: Letting Our Identity In Christ Be Our Main MotivationShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Dany and Letty Mercado about each of their immigration stories and how they met in a Catholic church choir in Chicago. Dany shares how his life was derailed by his parents’ divorce and how the Lord orchestrated his path to repentance. Dany and Letty describe their journey in bi-vocational ministry while raising a family, doing Holy Spirit ministry in the Catholic church, attending Moody Bible Insitute while ministering in a Baptist church, and their introduction to the Vineyard through worship, and they share about how continually saying yes to the Lord has impacted their marriage and ministry.  Dany and Letty pastor La Viña Gurnee in Illinois. In 2009 the Mercados joined the Vineyard, and after working for more than 15 years in youth ministry (and Dany leading worship), they were challenged to plant a bilingual Hispanic Church. This is how La Viña Gurnee was founded (with 6 other people) in November 2013. Currently, Dany and Letty serve as the Midwest North Regional Leaders as well as Area Leaders for the Southern Wisconsin Vineyard Churches/Chicago Las Viñas. Dany is also part of Ruben Quintero’s team for the Hispanic Association (Las Viñas).  Dany and Letty have been married for 29 years and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Show Notes:  Register for the Personal Development Course through the Hispanic Association or email hispanicassociation@vineyardusa.org for more info!  Vineyard Worship resources en español  

Paul Watson: God Works Through Broken PeopleShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Paul Watson about the little neighbor lady who introduced his whole family to Christ, being pursued by the Lord as a mischievous teenager, and the life choices that seemingly disrupted the call he felt on his life. Paul describes the relentless pursuit of the Lord in bringing about that calling, and what has kept him faithful to the ministry despite the trials he has experienced in the church. Jay and Paul also talk discuss the power of invitation.  Paul Watson is the new regional leader for the Mountain Region and is the founding Pastor of the Downtown Vineyard Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. He and his wife Linnea planted the Downtown Vineyard Church in 2008 after feeling a very strong invitation from the Lord, and seven years ago, they purchased the very same building they both committed their lives to Christ while in High School. This year marks 35 years of church ministry as a Vineyard Pastor. Paul and his wife Linnea have been happily married for 35 years, and they are incredibly proud of her and their kids Brian (Bonnie) and Brittany (Andy). They have been together since they were both in middle school. Paul is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys biking, fly fishing, camping, golfing, and other sports. He also loves baking bread, playing guitar, reading and writing poetry. Show Notes:  Check out the 2023 National Conference Resource Package Timothy Keller by Collin Hansen  

Mike Safford: Yielding To God’s Leadership In Our Life’s StoryShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Mike Safford about growing up as a baseball fanatic in San Diego with a faithful grandmother who spoke prophetically into his life during weekly phone calls. Mike shares about discovering that he made a terrible missionary, the strong word the Lord spoke to him at an Anaheim Vineyard conference, and the way suffering has shaped his ministry.  Mike Safford was born in San Diego. It was there, at the age of 18, that he came to know Jesus through a powerful encounter with his presence. At 21 years of age, Mike relocated to Orange County where he went on staff as an intern pastor at the Anaheim Vineyard. It was here that he met his wife-to-be, Liz Fredericks, who at the time was an administrative assistant to the then National Director of The Association of Vineyard Churches (later to become Vineyard USA), Todd Hunter. After they were married, Mike and Liz moved to Los Angeles County where Mike became an Associate Pastor on staff at the Santa Clarita Vineyard. After two years of leadership there, they returned to Mike’s hometown to plant the Point Loma Vineyard Church in San Diego. During their time establishing this church they would navigate some traumatic family health issues and eventually return to Anaheim where Mike went back on staff at the Anaheim Vineyard. Mike would eventually assume the role of Senior Associate Pastor serving with his longtime friend and mentor Lance Pittluck. In 2018 during a tumultuous transition of leadership at the Anaheim Vineyard, the Saffords moved to Tehachapi, CA to lead the Tehachapi Vineyard Church where they currently continue to lead. Mike also serves the Vineyard USA movement as Regional Leader of the SoCal Region. Mike and Liz have three grown children: Alexa who lives, works and studies in Los Angeles, Jacob who is a student and worship leader at Vanguard University and Paige who is a high school student and keeps mom & dad in line. Liz works for the city of Tehachapi. In his free time, Mike can usually be found reading, golfing or boisterously cheering on the Chargers. As a family, the Saffords are fiercely committed to authentic Kingdom ministry where everyone truly gets to play. Show Notes: Check out the 2023 National Conference Resource Package! https://conference.vineyardusa.org/2023-resource-package/ Bruchko by Bruce Olson bit.ly/3RhyUWe Tehachapi Vineyard Tehachapivineyard.org