Brian From welcomes Pastor Bill Farina of Bethel Christian Church in Warren, Michigan. Pastor Bill shares the remarkable story of how he arrived in Michigan in 1987 at age 27 — originally intending only a short fill-in visit to a struggling congregation of eleven senior citizens — and how God redirected his path into what has now become 39 years of faithful ministry at the same church.

In this conversation, Pastor Bill opens up about the joys and challenges of long-tenured pastoral ministry, including the privilege of dedicating the babies of babies he once dedicated and officiating weddings for the seventh member of the same family. He unpacks Bethel's vision of being "a Spirit-filled community church touching heaven and earth," rooted in a balanced Pentecostal tradition that leaves room for the Holy Spirit while honoring decency and order.

Pastor Bill also shares the convicting question that reshaped his ministry philosophy decades ago: "If your church closed tomorrow, would anyone notice, and would anyone care?" That question drove him into deep community engagement — 17 years on the local school board, 16 years as Senior Chaplain of the Warren Police Department, chaplaincy work at Jimmy John's Field, prison and jail ministries, and partnerships with Forgotten Harvest.

The episode closes with a pastoral word of hope for anyone feeling discouraged, drawn from Romans 15:13 — a prayer that the God of hope would fill listeners with joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Learn more about Bethel Christian Church: 📍 13211 Ten Mile Road, Warren, MI (south side of I-696 service drive between Hoover and Schoenherr) 🌐 bethelchristian-mi.org

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