The new year isn’t just about fresh starts—it’s about wise reflection. In this episode, we slow down to look back on the past year and talk honestly about what shaped us, stretched us, and strengthened us. Then we turn our eyes forward, considering how to move into the new year with intention, faith, and a clearer sense of direction. If you’re feeling reflective, hopeful, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you.

I’d love to hear your reflections, visions for the future, or anything else you’d like to share. Feel free to email me HERE.

Join the conversation on our Instagram Channel HERE.

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From First Week to First Year: The Pastoral Journey dives into the real-life experiences of a brand-new pastor navigating the early days of ministry. Join us as we talk about the excitement, challenges, and lessons that come with stepping into church leadership for the very first time. From preaching your first sermon to handling pastoral care, building relationships, managing expectations, and finding healthy rhythms — this conversation offers insight for anyone in ministry or preparing to be. Whether you’re a new pastor, a seminary student, or a church leader looking to encourage the next generation, this episode gives an honest look at what it’s really like to begin your pastoral journey.

Check out what’s going on at Redemption Mesa

(00:02) From First Week to First Year
(13:44) Stepping Into a New Role
(19:51) Building Relationships in Ministry
(34:27) Seeking Success and Impact in Ministry
(40:05) Measuring Success and Reviving Faith
(43:57) Navigating Ministry Expectations and Growth

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This Christmas, we’re exploring the spiritual rhythm of returning to the manger year after year. Like the shepherds, the Magi, and generations of faithful believers, we are invited to make an annual pilgrimage—not just to a place, but into the story of Jesus’ birth, His humility, and God’s faithfulness.

In this episode, we reflect on how these yearly journeys shape our faith: they help us remember God’s promises, reflect on His work in our lives, and build trust that carries us through the year. We’ll discuss how pilgrimage—whether literal or spiritual—connects us to God, to our communities, and to the generations of believers who have gone before us.

Whether you gather around a nativity, read the Christmas story, or simply pause to reflect, this episode will encourage you to make the season more than a tradition—to make it a transformative spiritual journey that strengthens your faith, renews your hope, and reminds you of God’s unchanging love.

(00:01) A Christmas Day reflection
(05:10) The manger and the empty tomb as destinations
(10:56) Faith strengthened through recurring rhythms
(14:40) Reflection, renewal, and hope for the year ahead

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The holiday season is one of the most meaningful—and most demanding—times of the year for pastors and ministry leaders. Between extra services, seasonal expectations, family commitments, and the pressure to deliver “your best sermons of the year,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or spiritually drained. In this episode, we dive into the real struggles pastors face during Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, and explore practical, life-giving solutions that help you preach with clarity, creativity, and a centered heart. We’ll talk about avoiding burnout, protecting your family rhythms, finding margin when the calendar is packed, and keeping your own soul nourished while pouring into others. Whether you’re stepping into your first holiday season or your twenty-first, this conversation will help you navigate the busiest time of year with wisdom, balance, and renewed joy in the calling.

Johnny Levy is a CEO, Author, Poet, Connector, Dreamer. He creates communities of authentic connection for mutual progress and writes about his passions: Superpowers, Faith, Identity, Creativity, Human Stories. You can find Johnny at https://substack.com/@johnnylevy and pick up his book HERE

(00:00) Walking in Victory With God
(02:43) The Concept of Firstfruits
(08:00) Prioritizing God in Everyday Life
(21:26) Provision Through Honoring God First
(26:47) The Power of First Fruits
(34:58) Faithful Giving and Prioritizing God
(48:20) The Joy of First Fruits Giving

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In a world that moves too fast and constantly tells us we deserve more, genuine gratitude has become a rare and revolutionary act. In this special Thanksgiving episode, we invite you into a deeper, more counter-cultural understanding of thankfulness—one that pushes back against entitlement, resets the soul, and opens our eyes to the quiet gifts we overlook every day.

Whether you're celebrating with family, navigating a heavy season, or simply trying to slow down long enough to breathe, this conversation will help you reclaim gratitude as an act of worship, resistance, and spiritual clarity. Discover how giving thanks can reshape your heart, restore your perspective, and anchor you once again in the goodness of God.

I encourage you to take 20 minutes today and join the revolution of gratitude. Your soul will thank you.

(00:01) Revolutionary Gratitude in a Entitled World
(04:22) The Revolutionary Power of Gratitude
(08:51) The Power of Gratitude in Life

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Pastors carry so much spiritual weight that they often forget the physical, emotional, and family weight that comes with ministry. In this special episode, my wife joins me—not only as a pastor’s spouse, but also as a nutritionist—to share wisdom on setting meaningful, sustainable goals for 2026. Together we explore the challenges of planning a new year when life feels unpredictable and why caring for your body is actually a vital part of caring for your soul. Whether you’re a pastor, a spouse, or anyone trying to build healthier rhythms, you’ll find practical insight, honest conversation, and grace-filled encouragement to step into 2026 with clarity, hope, and some very practical ways to achieve those oft-elusive goals.

(00:02) Why goal setting is emotionally hard—especially in ministry
(06:00) Why small things often block big goals
(13:58) Visionary leaders and the need for grounded teams
(24:17) Physical health as a foundation for ministry resilience
(35:06) Micro-goals that actually work
(48:16) Rebuilding trust through small, consistent actions

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In this episode, we explore the unique joys and challenges of leading a bilingual ministry — where language, culture, and faith intersect. My guest, Josue Lopez shares his journey into ministry, the story of his vibrant bilingual congregation, and what he’s learned about building unity in diversity. Whether you’re part of a multicultural church or simply curious about how the gospel transcends language barriers, this episode will inspire and equip you to see the beauty in every tongue and tribe.

You can connect with Josue at josuelopez@redemptionaz.com and you can check out Redemption Mesa, the bilingual congregation at https://mesa.redemptionaz.com/

(00:02) Bilingual Pastor's Journey in Phoenix
(08:50) Balancing Bilingual Ministry Challenges
(24:54) Navigating Challenges in Bilingual Ministry
(35:47) Unity in Bilingual Community Ministry
(41:59) Building Community Through Food and Celebration

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AI is shaping our world faster than most of us can keep up with—but what does it mean for the Church, for ministry, and for everyday faith? In this episode, The Intersection of Faith and AI, we sit down with Kai, a former pastor turned Senior Research Analyst at Brotherhood Mutual, who now helps organizations navigate the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence.

Kai's mission is to make AI accessible to everyone. After a decade in ministry and nonprofit communications, Kai joined Brotherhood Mutual in 2020, where he now works as a Senior Research Analyst in the Research & Development Department. There, he has guided his company through responsible AI adoption by creating policies, discovering use cases, and facilitating safe environments for experimentation.

In addition to his corporate work, Kai collaborates with AI in FW, a local group fostering conversation and discernment around AI in northeast Indiana. He also advises organizations on how to approach AI in ways that serve their mission, rather than distracting from it. Kai lives in Fort Wayne with his wife and their three elementary-aged kids.

You can connect with Kai on Linkedin HERE.

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(00:02) Faith and AI
(17:18) Navigating AI and Its Implications
(25:30) The Role of AI in Faith
(41:50) Embracing AI With Intentionality