The EFCA West Podcast

Building Healthy Elder Teams with Bob Osborne

This episode was recorded in January 2020 but is as relevant as ever. It's no secret that elder boards and leadership teams can be full of conflict, frustration, and stagnation. But the problem is often not the people, it's the system: a bad system can even turn the best people against each other! Bob Osborne, Director of Church Health for EFCA West, has been an elder at the same church for over 40 years, and has helped a number of EFCA West leaders build the type of elder boards and governing teams that bring life and health to their congregations. Whether you're a pastor, board member, or just a curious congregation member, this podcast will help you understand what a healthy board looks like and is capable of achieving. If you're interested in personal help with either your governance documents or elder board training, please reach out to Bob at bob.osborne@efca.org. 

Mastering the Art of Public Speaking with Omar Rivas

This episode explores the "science of engagement" and answers the question, "How can we as speakers hold our listener's attention?" Omar Rivas (www.omarrivas.com) is a professional public speaking coach and engagement expert who trains CEO's and other business leaders to become better communicators. He is also contracted by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army to teach chaplains and other personnel how to speak effectively. This episode is not so much about content as it is delivery. We talk about concepts such as the "angel's cocktail," the "emotion cap," "dicing the story," and "pattern interruption," all which can help our content be delivered in a creative and memorable way. Finally, because he has a passion for ministry, Omar has offered any listener complimentary feedback on their communication skills, and you can reach out to him for more information at omar@omarrivas.com. Check out this episode and get better at engaging people!

Politics, the Church, and the 2020 Election with Larry Osborne

This has got to be one of the hardest times in American history to be in local church leadership, and the upcoming election and current political climate is only adding fuel to the fire. This episode is a recording of a "Wednesday Workshop" on Zoom from September 2, 2020, with Larry Osborne of North Coast Church. Larry helps us understand how to navigate the political landscape with wisdom and boldness. What do you do when a church member wants you to endorse a political candidate? What about problematic social media posts from staff and church leaders? And how do we deal with the pressure to "say something" when what we really want to do is remain apolitical? You'll gain a ton of insight and encouragement from this conversation.

Andrew Hoffman on the New "Reach Network" and the Serious Church Planting Effort EFCA is Launching

Believe it or not, there was a time when the church you are in now was nothing more than a dream in someone's mind! But whoever it was that started it could never have done it alone - others had to help. In fact, the EFCA itself started as a church planting movement. Even our mission statement begins with the word "Multiply." So in this episode, Andrew Hoffman, EFCA Director of Church Multiplication, walks us through how church planting leaders from across the nation have come together to produce the Reach Network: the most strategic national church planting effort in decades for the EFCA. You'll hear the story of how God put together a new multiplication team out of a terrible tragedy, and how men and women across districts are working together to produce systems that are state of the art for assessing, coaching, and training new planters. Finally, you'll learn how you can be a part of it, because this is an "all hands on deck" effort. Andrew and his family planted a church fifteen years ago in Berkeley, CA, and no matter where you are in ministry, you can learn from his experience. For more information on how to get involved in this pivotal church planting effort, reach out to him at andrew.hoffman@efca.org and check out the EFCA church multiplication page.

How Earning an EFCA Credential Strengthens You and Your Church with Greg Strand

Earning an EFCA credential can bring tremendous value to not only a ministry leader, but an entire congregation. However, pursuing one understandably often gets put on the back burner. Greg Strand, Executive Director of Theology and Credentialing for EFCA, explains why it's not just the destination, but the journey of going through this process that can strengthen both the doctrinal integrity and moral purity of the pastor and/or church leader. At 36:30 we talk about the new "onramps" EFCA is opening up to get candidates "in the door" easier. At 51:00 minutes we talk about the uniqueness of the significance of silence in EFCA, and at 59:20 you'll hear how you can take the first steps in this important process. This episode is for pastors, associate staff, elders, and anyone who wants to know how partnering with EFCA in this way can strengthen your ministry.

Don't Die a Poor Pastor with Ric Stanghelle and Jerry Rich From FCMM

In this episode you'll hear from two experts in the field of finances for pastors and church leaders. What is the difference between a 403b and a "church plan" 403b? Should you opt out of social security, and how does that affect your medicare eligibility? What should pastors be thinking about as they approach retirement? Ric Stanghelle and Jerry Rich, President and Vice President of FCMM respectively, have answers to all of these questions. And, they'll even tell you how to get a $1,000 grant if you open up an FCMM account. To find out more about what FCMM offer pastors and EFCA churches, visit www.fcmmbenefits.com. 

Level-Up Your Preaching With Dr. Lucas O'Neill

Between Twitter, TikTok, and now a global pandemic, is this the hardest time ever to be an effective preacher? How can we get people who have the attention span of a gnat to actually want to listen to our sermons? Dr. Lucas O'Neill, Professor of Homiletics at TEDS, teaches us how to create tension, effectively outline, and move seamlessly from one thought to the next. His recent book, Preaching to Be Heard: Delivering Sermons that Demand Attention, is the perfect follow up to this conversation. Whether you've been preaching for 50 years or just starting out, Dr. O'Neill can help you get better at your craft!

Growing Your Church by Reaching All People with Alex Rivero

EFCA Reach Global and The Battle for the Soul of Berlin

Building Healthy Elder Teams with Bob Osborne