Podcast
Almost Essential
Hosted by Jordan Coss · EN
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.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 17: Season Recap 1- Pension Fund of the Christian Church
Jul 18, 202301:16:20Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 16: w/Caleb Sams
Mar 29, 202301:34:23Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Episode 15: Texas Pastors
Mar 27, 202301:57:34Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 14: New England Pastors
Mar 24, 202301:34:34Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 13: California Pastors
Mar 22, 202301:37:52Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 12: Mid Atlantic Pastors
Mar 20, 202301:23:37Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 11: Midwest Pastors
Mar 17, 202301:27:49Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Episode 10: Southeast Pastors
Mar 15, 202301:25:38Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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Episode 9: PNW Pastors
Mar 13, 202301:30:00Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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Episode 8: w/Stan Granberg
Mar 10, 202301:28:08Tap to summarizeStan 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.
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