The last thing you need is another leadership podcast. This isn't that. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do have some serious conversations.
Your hosts, Josh Ott and Emily Gardner, have real, down-to-earth, transparent conversations about all things ministry. Each episode captures relatable, meaningful, and encouraging conversations, delving deeply into topics that matter to those serving in the local church. They go beyond theoretical ministry principles to the lived realities of pastors and church staff.
The Hosts
Josh Ott is Lead Pastor of Grace Free Church in Cressona, PA and Strategy Specialist for EFCA East.
Emily Gardner is the Communications Director for EFCA East.
Welcome to another episode of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having.
Today, we’re talking to Trent Thompson, Senior Pastor of West Shore Free Church. We chat about stumbling into ministry, how to discern your calling, what no one tells you about becoming a lead pastor, simplifying church vision, helping people build relationships with those who don’t know Jesus, protecting your family from the demands of ministry, making real friends when you’re a pastor, rhythms that help leaders stay healthy and more!
Trent Thompson is the Lead Pastor at West Shore Free Church in Mechanicsburg, PA. Trent grew up in Dallas, TX, where faith, family, sports, BBQ, and the Cowboys shaped much of his early life.
He attended Texas A&M and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School before moving to Austin, where he met his wife, started a family, and served in ministry alongside close friends.
Above all, Trent keeps coming back to the truth that his identity is rooted in being loved by God because of Christ.
Listen to more Church Chat episodes (https://efcaeast.com/church-chat/).
Connect with EFCA East
efcaeast.com (https://efcaeast.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/efcaeast/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/efcaeast)
Thanks to our episode sponsor:
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/lp/church-chat/?utm_source=sponsored_link&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=church_chat)
4 Nov 2025
Faith, Tech, and the Future of Ministry with Chris Nerreau
Welcome to Season 3 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today, we're talking to Chris Nerreau, VP of Technology at Sermon Ai. We chat about building a software as a service business from scratch, AI and the intersection of technology and ministry, guardrails for Christian AI use, how AI can be a good barometer on character, how we can use AI to make more space for relational ministry, dealing with a resistance to change and more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Sermon Ai (https://sermonai.com/)
Chris Nerreau is the founder of, and current VP of Technology at, SermonAi, a platform created from the conviction that nothing should stand between God’s Word and God’s people. With more than thirty years of experience in technical sales and manufacturing systems, he’s dedicated his career to harnessing innovation for meaningful transformation.
Drawing on his dual background in technology and ministry, Chris founded SermonAi to remove barriers that hinder faithful preaching and study—empowering pastors to research deeply, write faithfully, and preach powerfully. He and his wife, Karen, have been married for more than thirty years and are blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-nerreau-57558149/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chris.nerreau/)
Listen to more Church Chat episodes (https://efcaeast.com/church-chat/).
Connect with EFCA East
efcaeast.com (https://efcaeast.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/efcaeast/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/efcaeast)
Thanks to our episode sponsor:
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/lp/church-chat/?utm_source=sponsored_link&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=church_chat)
22 Jul 2025
Preventing Church Hurt with Matt Saxinger
Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today, we're talking to Matt Saxinger, Lead Pastor of Susquehanna Valley Church. We chat about fail culture vs try culture, why now is the church hurt era, how to avoid church hurt, tools for church culture shaping, where trust breaks down most often in the church, helping hurting congregants heal, what makes a church safe or unsafe and more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Toxic Work Environments and Building Healthy Teams with Matt Saxinger (https://pod.co/church-chat/toxic-work-environments-and-building-healthy-teams-with-matt-saxinger)
Sharon Says So on Carey Neiuwhof Podcast (https://careynieuwhof.com/episode676/)
Matt Saxinger has served in the EFCA for 14 years. He is currently the Lead Pastor at Susquehanna Valley Church (https://susquehannavalley.church/) in Harrisburg, PA. He has a heart for the gospel and seeing the next generation rise up in leadership.
Connect with Matt:
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pastor_sax81/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/matt.saxinger)
Listen to more Church Chat episodes (https://efcaeast.com/church-chat/).
Connect with EFCA East
efcaeast.com (https://efcaeast.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/efcaeast/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/efcaeast)
Thanks to our episode sponsor:
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (https://www.tiu.edu/divinity/lp/church-chat/?utm_source=sponsored_link&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=church_chat)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
743
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
31
Social presence
91
YouTube
66
Engagement
32
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