Podcast Summary: River Valley Church – "Message | Future Church"

Speaker: Pastor Terry Parkman
Date: January 18, 2026
Theme: Leading the Church into the Future—Discipleship, Disruption, and Redemption in a Changing World

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Terry Parkman, Global Ministries Pastor at River Valley Church and author of Future Church, delivers a compelling message about how the Church must respond to a rapidly evolving world. Drawing on his global ministry experience, scriptural insights, and generational shifts, Pastor Terry encourages believers to embrace disruption, engage with culture redemptively, and prioritize authentic discipleship. The episode provides a roadmap for navigating the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in the digital, AI-driven, and fragmented future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Global Perspective on Generational Shifts

• (02:10–06:54) Pastor Terry shares stories from a leaders' summit in Thailand, where he realized the gap between generations in various countries.
  • Vietnam’s leader recognized their need to prepare for global generational trends:

    “Pastor Terry, we are recognizing... that we are about 10 years away from where you are in America. And we know now, based on what you're saying, what we need to do to meet their needs tomorrow.” (04:07)

  • Contrast with Japan, where resistance to change led to a massive generational dropout:

    “10 years ago, we had an average of 30 teenagers in every church. And today in Japan, we have an average of 0.7 teenagers... less than one teenager on average in every church." (05:30)

  • Personal resolve:

    “God, I don't want that to happen on my watch. I want to be able to meet the needs of the next generation and the future of the church so the church doesn't die out in America.” (06:30)

2. God Never Abandons a Generation

• (08:15–10:17) Drawing on 1 Chronicles 12:32 and the "sons of Issachar," Pastor Terry details how God always anoints people to understand and lead in changing times.

  “God never leaves a generation abandoned. ...God causes his people to have a sons of Issachar tribe, a group of people anointed to understand the signs of the times.” (09:18)

  • Emphasizes the need for spiritual discernment in an age of AI, VR, and rapid culture shifts.

3. Understanding Our Cultural Moment: Technology & Generational Change

• (11:13–16:50) Introduction of Margaret Mead’s cultural theory:
  • Most of history was “post-figurative”—elders guiding the young.
  • Occasional “co-figurative”—youth influence due to rapid change (e.g., Gen X).
  • Mead’s prophecy of a “prefigurative” era:

    “A time is coming where technology changes so fast that for the very first time... children will have to figure out for themselves what their values will be.” (12:55)

• Impact:
  • Technology and social media alter culture and even brain wiring exponentially fast.

    “After 15 minutes of scrolling, your brain begins to rewire itself like it's learning a new language.” (14:50)

• The challenge is not to “keep up,” but to stay rooted in God’s Word and led by the Holy Spirit.

4. Living in the Age of Disruption

• (17:52–26:30) Distinction between interruption and disruption:
  • “A disruption is a new point B plotted on the map of history.” (19:38)
• God as the ultimate disruptor—biblical examples from Noah to Jesus to Acts 2.
• Generational application:
  • Gen Z and Gen Alpha have known massive disruption as their norm.
  • Key question: Instead of “When will this end?” ask “God, what is Your plan in this?”

Biblical Parallel: Babylonian Exile

• Drawing from Jeremiah 29, Pastor Terry explores how Israel responded to forced displacement:
  • Common reactions: Attack, control, or ignore culture—none of which are redemptive.
  • God’s instruction:

    “Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens... pray for the peace and prosperity of the city to which I've carried you.” (Jeremiah 29:5–7 quoted at 25:48)

• The mandate: Engage the heart of the culture and bring God’s light to its center.

Jesus’ Model for Redeeming the World

• “Christ did not come into the world to attack it, control it, or ignore it. Jesus came into the world to redeem this world.” (29:45)

  • John 3:17: “God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

5. Looking to the Future: The Web3 Age

• (32:10–37:12) Explains the evolution of the internet and its impact:
  • Web1: Passive consumption.
  • Web2: Social interaction.
  • Web3: Full digital integration—AI, metaverse, virtual relationships.
• Cultural implications:
  • People constructing and living out alternative truths in digital spaces.

    “What happens when those people who have their truth affirmed for four hours and four minutes a day... walk through the doors of your church and expect you to affirm their version of truth too?” (35:45)

• God intentionally placed us in this era:
  • “The gifts and callings of God are without regret... every gift, every calling that he placed in you is to meet the needs of the world around you in the age that you live in today.” (37:39)

Practical Application: “What’s Next?” (39:10–51:40)

Pastor Terry offers three actionable steps for future-ready believers:

1. Prioritize True Discipleship

• “Make discipleship, discipleship in your life.” (40:02)
• Go beyond social connection in small groups—seek transformative, Word-centered community.

• “There is no neutral ground... you're either being conformed or transformed with everything you do.” (42:00)

2. Increase Biblical Literacy and Fluency

• Don’t settle for merely reading or understanding—learn to declare God’s Word into cultural moments.

• “Many of us are happy with being able to read the Word of God... but none of us know how to speak the Word of God into culture.” (44:08)

3. Seek Firsthand Experience with Jesus

• Draws on the call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3).
• Don’t outsource your encounter with God to spiritual leaders or social media.

• “Before we listen to social media, before we listen to our favorite podcast... we have to listen to the voice of God.” (50:00)

• The challenge:

  “God, I don’t want a secondhand experience. I don’t wanna hear this through anybody else’s lips. God, I need to hear your voice speak to me.” (50:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On generational loss and urgency:

  "We are one generation away from losing the church." (07:00)

• On technological rewiring:

  “This generation is sharing ideas and thoughts and beliefs across borders and boundaries in a way that language is no longer a barrier.” (14:13)

• On redemptive presence in culture:

  “If God wanted them to be [in Jerusalem], he would have left them there... Instead, he put them in the middle of world culture so they could be Jews in the midst of Babylon and be the priests of the world.” (21:30)

• On hope for the Church:

  “The church was built for this. The church was built for this age. It's called the Great Commission.” (38:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Global perspective & generational change: 02:10–06:54
• God’s faithfulness to generations: 08:15–10:17
• Margaret Mead & technological disruption: 11:13–16:50
• Living through and responding to disruption: 17:52–26:30
• Jeremiah 29 & cultural engagement: 25:48–31:40
• From Web1 to Web3 and church’s response: 32:10–37:12
• Action steps: Discipleship, Bible fluency, firsthand experience: 39:10–51:40

Conclusion

Pastor Terry’s message is a stirring call to action for the church: To be the generation that rises up and redeems, not resists, the challenges of our times. Embracing disruption, deepening in God’s Word, cultivating real discipleship, and seeking a direct relationship with Jesus are presented not as optional, but as vital for the Church’s future in a digital and fragmented world.