This 16 episode podcast series is based upon a Doctorate of Ministry final project at Fuller Theological Seminary. The title of the project is, "Almost Essential Evangelists: Improving Retirement Asset Accumulation for Mainstream Church of Christ Pastors." In this series, we interview 8 specialists in separate episodes on the topic of saving for retirement in ministry. In the other 8 episodes, we qualitatively interview 2 pastors together from each of 8 different regions around the country for their thoughts on saving for retirement as a pastor within this particular denomination.
Episode 17: Season Recap 1- Pension Fund of the Christian Church
In the first of several recap episodes of season 1 of the podcast, many of the survey respondents said they wanted not only more episodes, but that the number one thing they learned was that Pension Fund of the Christian Church existed. This organization has been around since the late 1800's to serve pastors of every Stone Campbell Movement stream with retirement planning and income. Matt Shears and Jonathan Beckham-Brink, area directors at PFCC, join us to talk all things pension to help Church of Christ pastors save enough for a flourishing third age. You can learn more about Pension Fund of the Christian Church at www.pensionfund.org.
29 Mar 2023
Episode 16: w/Caleb Sams
This is the final episode of our series. As a capstone, we invited Caleb Sams, a financial advisor in Nashville, TN onto the show to help pastors think about steps to take to start improving their asset accumulation for retirement. Caleb grew up in Churches of Christ as a PK, and now advises many pastors himself. Be on the lookout for a special bonus episode as Lars and I glean from this series and my research and have a wrap-up conversation about what pastors and churches can do moving forward.
27 Mar 2023
Episode 15: Texas Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from Texas: Jarrod Robinson and Aaron Scott. Jarrod currently serves as the lead pastor at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, TX, while Aaron served as a youth minister in California and most recently as lead pastor at a church in west Texas. This is the last of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors. Texas is home to the most Church of Christ congregations out of any state in the country, so this definitely was an anticipated conversation.
24 Mar 2023
Episode 14: New England Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from New England: Caleb Borchers and Jeff Pierpont. Caleb currently serves as the lead pastor at The Feast Church in Providence, RI, while Jeff serves in a part-time role for several churches in Vermont, and works full-time in HR in the banking industry. This is the the seventh of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors. New England just so happens to be the one region in the US where there are the fewest Church of Christ congregations in the country, so this was definitely an intriguing conversation.
22 Mar 2023
Episode 13: California Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from California: Kyle Sapp and Glynn Dahlke. Kyle currently serves as the lead pastor at Cordova Church of Christ in Sacramento, while Glynn serves as the youth and associate pastor at Central Church of Christ in San Jose. This is the the sixth of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
20 Mar 2023
Episode 12: Mid Atlantic Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from the Mid-Atlantic region of the country: Patrick Ford and Peter Horne. Patrick recently served as the lead pastor at a church in Long Island, New York, while Peter serves as the lead pastor in a church in Rochester, New York. This is the the fifth of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
17 Mar 2023
Episode 11: Midwest Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from the Midwest region of the country: James Telgren and Dion Frasier. James currently serves as the lead pastor in a church in southwest Minnesota, while Dion serves as the lead pastor in a church outside Columbus, Ohio. This is the fourth of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
15 Mar 2023
Episode 10: Southeast Pastors
In this episode, we interview two Church of Christ pastors from the Southeast region of the country: Bob Turner and Nathan Diller. Bob currently serves as the lead pastor at White Station Church of Christ in Memphis, TN, and Nathan currently serves as the lead pastor at Rose Hill Church of Christ in Columbus, GA. This is the third of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
13 Mar 2023
Episode 9: PNW Pastors
In this episode, we speak with two Church of Christ pastors from the Pacific Northwest: Chris Dunning and Jason Swick. Both currently serve churches in the state of Oregon. This is the second of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors around the country inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
10 Mar 2023
Episode 8: w/Stan Granberg
Stan Granberg serves on the Heritage 21 board and is a founding member of the Heritage 21 Foundation. He served for 15 years as the founding director of Kairos Church Planting (2005-2019), a ministry that recruits, trains, and supports church planting leaders across the United States. He has served in a variety of other ministry roles including youth ministry, missionary to Kenya, executive minister, and professor at several Church of Christ higher education institutions. He is the author of the recently released, "Empty Church: Why People Don't Come and What to do About It." Stan and his wife, Gena, are retired and live in the Seattle metro region.
7 Mar 2023
Episode 7: w/James Knapp
Dr. James Knapp is the Sociology Program Coordinator and professor of Sociology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is the author of the only two academic studies of Church of Christ pastors and retirement ever conducted and published: Knapp, J. L., Pruett, C. D., & Hicks, J. L. (2009). Clergy and retirement: An exploratory study on housing and financial preparedness. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging, 21(3), 159-171; and Knapp, J. L., & Pruett, C. D. (2017). Retirement among members of the clergy: Findings from a Protestant Fellowship. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging, 29(1), 33-46. We sit down with him to discuss the significance of his findings and how they correlate with the DIY Retirement crisis and reveal how COC pastors are a microcosm of it. Dr. Knapp can be reached at jknapp@se.edu.
3 Mar 2023
Episode 6: w/Austin Harwood
Austin Harwood is a Financial Professional and entrepreneur. He teaches people the secrets behind what the banks and wealthy do to increase their cash flow, while growing and protecting their assets. He has helped over 1000 clients with Family Bank Strategies and Indexed Strategies to get the upside potential of the market with no downside risk. He lives outside of Sacramento, CA with his wife and two sons. You can connect with Austin, set up a complimentary financial consultation, and learn more here at his Linktree (https://linktr.ee/austinharwood).
26 Feb 2023
Episode 5: Mountain West Pastors
In this episode, we begin our interviews with Church of Christ pastors from around the country. Glen Bowman and Dustin Rocha join us representing the Mountain West region. Glen recently worked for a congregation in New Mexico, while Dustin has been serving in Wyoming for several years. This is the first of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors.
25 Feb 2023
Episode 4: w/Dusty Breeding
Dusty Breeding joins us this episode. Dusty has experience as a pastor, professor, Personal Performance and Financial Coach, and Team-Building Consultant and Facilitator among others. Dusty also serves in the Army National Guard. He and his wife live in Malibu, CA. You can learn more about Dusty and his services at www.dustybreeding.com and www.skullandbonessociety.co.
18 Feb 2023
Episode 3: w/Teresa Ghilarducci
Joining us this episode is labor economist, author, pension reform advocate, and nationally recognized retirement security expert Teresa Ghilarducci. She is the Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz professor of economics at The New School for Social Research and the Director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) and The New School’s Retirement Equity Lab (ReLab). Teresa's argument in her book "Rescuing Retirement" is the foundation upon which this final project was based and we are very excited to share this conversation with you. You can learn about Teresa and her work at www.teresaghilarducci.org.
15 Feb 2023
Episode 2: w/John Mark Hicks
John Mark Hicks is professor of Theology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN and has taught full time in higher education among Church of Christ institutions since 1982. He is the author of many books including two discussed in this conversation: "Searching for the Pattern," and "Embracing Creation." John's expertise and experience within Churches of Christ was enlightening when discussing how what he calls the "blueprint hermeneutic" led to the opposition of located and salaried pastors within the denomination and possibly helped contribute to the retirement realities of its pastors today. We also discuss what Hicks has written on the Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus from Luke 4, and how the Jubilee might be a good framework to start talking about a theology of retirement and saving for it.
12 Feb 2023
Episode 1: w/Trey Finley
Trey Finley speaks with us this episode coming from a background of 10 years in ministry within Churches of Christ from 1999-2009, as well as the last four years serving as the Executive Director of Eleven:28 ministries. He has been a member of their board of directors since 2013. Eleven:28's purpose is to counter the causes and effects of burnout among faith leaders. Trey has spoken with and learned the stories of faith leaders across the country, including working with those who have recently exited full-time ministry, helping them in the matter of soul care, et al. Trey brings a great perspective as a result of his experience as a pastor himself, and his work with Eleven:28 on what its like accumulating assets for retirement as a pastor within Churches of Christ and how this relates as an area of soul care.
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