We Are Vineyard

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  

Greg Surratt: President and Co-Founder of the Association of Related ChurchesShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Greg Surratt about growing up as the son of a minister, his journey to planting a church in Charleston, and not living up to his own expectations in starting a church. Greg shares how his church became a multi-site before turning into an association of churches, some approaches to church planting that he’s learned along the way, and finally an encouragement for Vineyard Pastors.  Greg Surratt is the founding pastor of Seacoast Church, one of the early adopters of the multi-site model. Located in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, Seacoast has been recognized by various media as an innovative and influential thought leader in future strategies for church growth and development.   Greg is the president and founding board member of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), a church-planting network that has given birth to 1000+ churches in the last 20 years.  Greg and his wife Debbie have 4 children, 14 grandchildren and enjoys reading, photography, fishing, golfing, and rooting for the Cubs, Broncos and Gamecocks. Show Notes:  Association of Related Churches (ARC)  

Adam Russell: The Personal Call Of GodShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Adam Russell about growing up in a rural, blue-collar Kentucky town where his family has lived for generations. Adam shares about knowing he wanted to be a preacher since he was young, the youth pastors who nurtured his love for the Bible, and some events that occurred during his years in Bible school that radically changed his faith and his relationship with his hometown. Jay and Adam talk about the things pastors should know that aren’t learned through a theology degree, and how the Lord can use hard seasons to shape a pastor’s heart and character.  Adam Russell is the Director of Vineyard Worship (USA), and Lead Pastor of his home church, Vineyard Campbellsville. In his role as Director, Adam brings his experience as a songwriter, worship leader and senior pastor together to help guide and direct Vineyard Worship in living out its core purpose, which is to gather the worship community, train worship leaders, and make compelling records of the songs that God births in our wider movement. Additionally, Adam serves on the Vineyard Executive Team.  As a writer of many well-known songs in the Vineyard movement (“Let Your Kingdom Come,” “High King of Heaven,” “Name Above All Names,” “Folks Like Us”), Adam has also produced several records for Vineyard Worship (Promises of Wonder, All Things Rise, Kyrie Eleison, Wear The Crown).  In addition, he has traveled extensively inside and outside the Vineyard training and encouraging worship leaders, songwriters and creatives.   Adam and his wife Heather live with their four children on a small farm in rural Kentucky where they also grow grapes and make wine.  Show Notes: The Ferment Podcast https://www.thefermentpodcast.com/ Cornbread Mafia by James Higdon bit.ly/3P6uQXz Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen bit.ly/3sqGALO  

Sharon McCarter: Your Call To Ministry Is Not Just An ExceptionShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Sharon McCarter about hearing a specific call from the Lord as a teenager to be a pastor, being told she couldn’t pastor because she was a woman, and what she learned from trusting the Lord and doing it anyway. Sharon recounts the Lord’s faithfulness in speaking to them about planting a Vineyard before she had ever attended one, how their life has progressed by being faithful with each new step as it came, and their naturally supernatural process of planting their church. Sharon also shares about the different levels of leadership she’s served in with the Vineyard, and her excitement and trust for Vineyard USA’s reorg process. Sharon McCarter is a co-pastor of the Vineyard Church in Maryville, Tennessee, which she planted with her husband, Aaron when they were in their early 20s. She earned her Pastoral Ministry degree from Lee University in 2001. She married Aaron McCarter in 2003 and they planted a Vineyard Church in 2004. They were both incredibly drawn to the Vineyard because of the radical middle, Kingdom theology, and the practice of being naturally supernatural. Throughout the years of their church plant, Sharon has been the co-pastor, the associate pastor, the kids’ pastor, the youth pastor, and she was even a campus pastor at one of their venues during a period of transition. She loves to start new things, build great teams, and help other people recognize and use their gifts for the glory of God and the good of others. Sharon has served on the VUSA Women in Ministry Team and has served on the VUSA Executive Team. Sharon is now serving as the Vineyard Southeast Regional Leader and feels compelled to advocate for health and unity – both at the local church level and at the national level. Sharon and Aaron have 2 beautiful and fun-loving teenagers, Bryce and Breonna. Show Notes: Slaves, Women & Homosexuals by William J. Webb bit.ly/3L4SnG7

Meet Jason George, Chief Development Officer for Vineyard USAShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Jason George about growing up in a Christian Indian family, drifting into a partying lifestyle in college and his family’s intervention, saying yes to the Lord in college, and engaging in overseas missions with some of his friends. Jason shares about finding healing and community at a Vineyard during a particularly difficult time in his life, and how he began working in the fundraising field. He and Jay discuss donor development and discipling people in a posture of generosity.  Jason George is the Chief Development Officer for Vineyard USA. Jason was born in Toledo, Ohio but considers himself a Columbus kid because that’s where he survived & sometimes thrived during middle school & high school. Deciding to stay in Columbus, he earned a B.A. in Journalism from The Ohio State University. On December 31, 1995, Jason made a decision to follow Jesus. That decision has shaped all of Jason’s life since. Following Christ led him to full-time vocational ministry for 14 years after graduation. Along the way, he graduated from the Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI) and spent 5 years in Central Asia focusing on bringing the Gospel to local communities so that churches could be raised up. After returning from his last stint overseas in 2015 Jason went through a very difficult season of change and needed growth. That’s when he found his current church home, Delaware City Vineyard (in Delaware, Ohio), and learned how to transfer that Kingdom paradigm along with his skills to a career in fundraising. Jason feels that all his experience in ministry and educational fundraising has uniquely equipped him for this role to help support the vision of Vineyard USA to see more churches planted that “Embrace the Kingdom and engage the world.” Jason is married to Jill and has 4 kids – Vera, Jonah, Seva & Coen. They keep life busy, full, and mostly fun. Lately, their goal together as a family is to choose to cultivate a posture of learning, laughing, and loving… not necessarily in that order. Show Notes:  Read more about Jason George  

Bob and Penny Fulton: A Deep Dive Into The Origin Story Of The VineyardShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Bob and Penny Fulton about Penny’s early years growing up in a Catholic family where she learned to be tough and self-sufficient, and Bob’s experiences as a mischievous latchkey kid who found himself drawn to the Marines. Bob and Penny share about the people placed in their lives who faithfully lead them to the Lord and their early years in ministry. They recount growing in intimacy with the Holy Spirit, the emotions and internal oppositions they had to process through as the Lord worked in their lives, and the natural evangelism that was happening in the early days of the Vineyard.  Bob & Penny Fulton were some of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement. Much of the Vineyard’s DNA was established in a small group that Bob & Penny started in the 1970s, a group that eventually became the Anaheim Vineyard. Bob has been the International Coordinator for the Vineyard movement and helped plant churches in more than 50 nations. This past year Bob and Penny planted a Vineyard in Anaheim Hills and raised up a young couple and a worship team to take over. They are proud parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  Show Notes: 2023 National Conference: Register for the FREE Livestream! https://conference.vineyardusa.org/livestream-rsvp/ Peace with God by Billy Graham amzn.to/3KgO3CZ Jesus Revolution https://jesusrevolution.movie/

Bishop Todd Hunter: From Calvary To Vineyard To Anglican BishopShow Podcast InformationIn this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Bishop Todd Hunter about growing up in Orange County, CA, meeting the Lord at a Calvary Chapel service, and feeling like he was radically changed overnight. Todd recounts his experience of the early days of the Vineyard, the tumultuous circumstances that coincided with starting his role as National Director of the Vineyard, and how he came to be an Anglican Bishop. Jay and Todd talk about the discussions that led to him accepting a role on Vineyard USA’s Board of Trustees and then Todd shares what he’s currently seeing from this vantage point. Bishop Todd Hunter’s lifelong passion is to help others heed the call of Jesus to “come follow me” and thus live their life in the kingdom of God as Jesus embodied, taught, and demonstrated it. Bishop Hunter’s vision for such a life entails being the cooperative friend of Jesus, seeking to live a life of constant creative goodness, for the sake of others, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Hunter has expressed his kingdom-Spirit-formation-church-culture focus in various settings. He is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. He writes a weekly newsletter: “The Gospel of the Kingdom.” Bishop Hunter is past President of Alpha USA, former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is the author of Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others, Giving Church Another Chance, The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican, Our Favorite Sins and Our Character at Work. His forthcoming book What Jesus Intended: Finding Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion is now available for preorder. Bishop Hunter is also the founder of the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. The Center’s interdenominational community seeks to develop the Christlike character necessary to activate justice, leading to a life of deep peace for all people. Alongside trauma-informed spiritual director Vanessa Sadler, Bishop Todd hosts Peace Talks, a podcast that spotlights women and men who are working to undo oppression, leading to lives of deeper peace for all. Bishop Hunter holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and has served as an adjunct professor of evangelism, leadership in contemporary culture and spiritual formation at George Fox University, Fuller Seminary, Western Seminary, Vanguard University, Azusa Pacific University, Northern Seminary, and Wheaton College. He has been a Distinguished Lecturer at several institutions of higher learning. Bishop Hunter has written articles for study Bibles, dictionaries and encyclopedias. Bishop Hunter and his wife Debbie live in Franklin, Tennessee. They have two adult children. Show Notes: 2023 VUSA National Conference “Making All Things New” https://conference.vineyardusa.org/ Jesus Revolution https://jesusrevolution.movie/ Center For Formation, Justice and Peace @centerfjp, www.centerfjp.org What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion by Todd Hunter What Jesus Intended