Podcast Summary: River Valley Church

Episode: Message | Broken Hearts Change The World - Aaron Pierce
Date: September 14, 2025
Host: River Valley Church
Speaker: Aaron Pierce

Overview

In this powerful message, Aaron Pierce, leader of Steiger International, challenges the congregation to let their hearts be broken for the suffering and lost in today’s world. Drawing from his personal journey, global experiences, and the story of Nehemiah, Aaron emphasizes that only a genuine spiritual awakening—sparked by humble repentance and desperate prayer—can catalyze real change. Throughout, he calls listeners to move beyond apathy, offering practical avenues for global and local engagement and underlining the unique hope that Jesus brings.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Wrestling with the State of the World

• Aaron shares personal feelings of being overwhelmed by global pain and injustice, citing a formative mission trip to Mexico as a college student ([00:24]).
  • “How is my little drop of impact in the ocean of injustice supposed to make a difference?” — Aaron Pierce ([01:15])
• He recounts crying out to God, questioning why suffering exists, and recognizing that all pain is rooted in sin, with Jesus—and the cross—as the only solution ([02:10]).
  • “God is far from indifferent to our suffering. He sent the most precious thing he had in Jesus to enter into our mess.” — Aaron Pierce ([02:35])

2. Gratitude for Church and Family

• Expresses admiration for River Valley’s leadership and its global gospel efforts ([04:10]).
• Shares about his wife and children and the support that makes their “crazy, missional life” possible ([05:30]).
  • “If it wasn’t for my wife Jennifer… I couldn’t do this life if it wasn’t for a wife that God has given me like her.” — Aaron Pierce ([06:15])

3. Introduction to Steiger International

• Explains Steiger’s mission: reaching young people, particularly those who would never set foot in a church ([07:00]).
• Highlights the challenges families face when loved ones are not following Jesus and promotes the “Not Beyond Reach” community for support and hope ([08:00]).
  • “No one is beyond reach.” — Aaron Pierce ([08:25])

4. Strategies for Modern Outreach

• Describes Steiger’s efforts to mobilize young missional leaders to be present in secular environments—nightclubs, music venues, LGBTQ and activist spaces ([09:30]).
• Emphasizes practical opportunities for involvement:
  • Creative evangelism outreach on October 31 ([10:50])
  • South by Southwest (SXSW) mission trip for young adults ([12:00])

5. The Origin and Story of Steiger

• Recounts Steiger’s roots in 1980s Amsterdam, where Aaron’s parents ministered to youth hostile to traditional church ([13:40]).
  • The unique starting point: a punk band formed to reach non-churchgoers ([15:20])
  • A Bible study on a houseboat named “Steiger 14” became a dynamic church ([17:15])
  • “My dad would say… that is how God feels about you.” — Aaron Pierce ([18:30])

6. The Power of a Real Encounter with God

• Reflects on his childhood, witnessing transformed lives, and how authentic experience—not religious activity—fuels lasting faith ([19:15]).
  • “If following Jesus is not about religious words and activity, but that he’s real…and he has the power to change lives.” — Aaron Pierce ([19:50])

7. Lessons from Nehemiah’s Broken Heart

• Turns to Nehemiah 1:1-4 to illustrate how spiritual breakthrough begins:
  • Nehemiah, despite comfort in exile, is moved to tears by the plight of Jerusalem ([22:30])
  • First step: letting God open our eyes to suffering and brokenness ([24:45])
• Warns against cultural numbness and distractions that deaden compassion ([25:20])
• Notes a paradox: while church attendance declines, spiritual hunger remains intense ([27:00])
  • Anecdote of a spontaneous gospel conversation at a soccer field ([27:25])

8. Understanding Global Youth Culture

• Identifies the shared “global youth culture” influenced by music, social media, and secular values ([29:45]).
• Illustrative story: young Saudis at a music festival, showing the global reach of Western youth culture ([31:00])
• Argues that secular humanism dominates, exemplified by slogans like “The rules are fake. Do what you want…” ([34:10])
  • “It sounds so good, it sounds like freedom, but the truth is the consequences are devastating. It’s like poison wrapped in bubble gum.” — Aaron Pierce ([35:05])

9. The Crisis of Hope and Identity

• Notes that self-constructed identity leads to confusion, brokenness, loneliness, and anxiety ([36:40])
  • Shares story of an old friend posting about his son’s brain cancer; comfort offered is only “positive vibes,” not true hope ([37:30])
• The church holds the answer—but the world isn’t looking; the church must respond with genuine love and action ([39:30])
  • “Until your heart is broken, you’re not gonna sacrifice… I need God to break my heart.” — Aaron Pierce ([40:30])

10. Repentance and the Need for Supernatural Power

• Argues that only God can give a broken heart for the lost—not by effort, but through repentance and prayer ([42:15])
  • “You cannot manufacture a broken heart. It’s not like a workout program… only God can do that.” — Aaron Pierce ([42:32])
• Warns against division and “us vs. them” thinking; the real enemy is spiritual blindness ([44:10])
  • “Prayer is not a warmup for the real work. It is the work.” — Aaron Pierce ([45:10])

11. Prayer, Urgency, and the Role of the Church

• Draws from Nehemiah’s months of prayer for divine intervention ([46:30])
  • “The mission that God has called us to is not hard. It’s not difficult. It’s impossible… But we have access to the God of the impossible.” — Aaron Pierce ([47:55])
• Encourages listeners to bring their inadequacy to God, who multiplies small offerings for supernatural outcomes ([48:50])

12. A Call to Action

• The message culminates with an invitation to repentance and prayer, urging the congregation to ask God for a broken heart and move from apathy to action ([50:20])
  • “Broken hearts change the world. Broken hearts birthed in repentance that drives us to our knees in desperate prayer is the foundation for impact.” — Aaron Pierce ([51:05])
• All are called—change isn’t for “special” Christians, but every believer ([51:25])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “God is far from indifferent to our suffering. He sent the most precious thing he had in Jesus to enter into our mess.” — Aaron Pierce ([02:35])
• “No one is beyond reach.” ([08:25])
• “If following Jesus, it’s not about religious words and activity, but that he’s real. And that he has the power to change lives.” ([19:50])
• “It sounds so good, it sounds like freedom, but the truth is the consequences are devastating. It’s like poison wrapped in bubble gum.” ([35:05])
• “Prayer is not a warmup for the real work. It is the work.” ([45:10])
• “The mission that God has called us to is not hard. It’s not difficult. It’s impossible… But we have access to the God of the impossible.” ([47:55])
• “Broken hearts change the world.” ([51:05])

Important Timestamps

• 00:24 – Overwhelming injustice and questioning God
• 07:00 – Steiger International’s mission and personal family story
• 10:50 – Local and global outreach opportunities (Halloween, SXSW)
• 13:40 – The origin of Steiger in Amsterdam
• 22:30 – Introduction to Nehemiah and lesson on brokenness
• 29:45 – The global youth culture and challenges for the faith
• 37:30 – The crisis of hope in a secularized world
• 42:15 – Only God can give us a broken heart for the lost
• 45:10 – Emphasis on prayer as essential
• 50:20 – Invitation to repentance and response

Conclusion

Aaron Pierce’s message is a passionate call for the church and individuals to confront apathy, allow God to break their hearts for the world’s pain, and respond with bold action rooted in prayer and humble repentance. Real transformation—and hope for a hurting generation—will only come through a supernatural move of God, activated by people willing to be broken, brave, and available.