Church of God Network Podcast: Recent Episodes
Church of God Network
A community building podcast aimed at highlighting the perspectives, talents, and passions of brethren from across the various Church of God organizations.
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This episode was born out of frustration.
Frustration over things we've seen and experienced within the Church of God.
But as we kept talking, the conversation began to shift inward:
What is our role in creating healthier communities? Are we focused on what we can actually controlโour own actions, service, attitudes, and relationship with Godโor are we spending our energy angry at everyone else?
In our latest podcast episode, four of us have a candid conversation about individual and collective repentance, self-awareness, and the difficult conversations we believe are worth having within the Church of God.
Not to shame. Not to point fingers. But to honestly ask: Where do we need to change?
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With Feast planning in full swing, we thought it was the perfect time to tackle an important question:
What actually makes a great Feast site?
In this episode, we each draft our top three Feast site qualitiesโthe things that help make our choices year after year. From spiritual atmosphere to fellowship opportunities and some surprisingly specific preferences, no category is safe ๐
Whether you've already picked your Feast site or you're still deciding, this conversation might give you a few new things to think about.
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Todayโs episode is about religious discrimination and what happened when Dusti Howellโa tenured college professorโwas challenged after taking time off for Godโs Holy Days.
For decades, Dusti was able to observe the Holy Days without issue.
But in 2020, after returning home from the Feast of Tabernacles, he was told he could no longer take that time off without going through a new and difficult accommodation process.
What began as a workplace conflict turned into a 5 year-long legal battle - one that may help shape religious freedom protections in Kansas.
In this episode, Dusti shares what happened, what heโs learned, and why this matters for others in the Church of God community.
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Today weโre sharing our ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ weโve collected over the yearsโfrom classic throwbacks to items you probably didnโt even know existed.
Itโs a mix of laughs, nostalgia, and appreciating the history thatโs brought us to where we are today.
Listen and tell usโฆ what would be on YOUR list of favorite COG swag youโve saved?
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Movie buffs + Bible nerdsโฆ this episode is for you.
Today weโre asking an important question:
๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฌโฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ?!
In this episode we pick:
๐ฟ Bible stories that deserve the big screen
๐ฅ Our dream directors
โญ Our dream casts
โฆand we also nominate a few Bible movies that were, letโs just sayโฆ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ.
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Today weโre breaking down three things that shape almost every conversation:
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Facts
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Assumptions
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Assessments
They may sound similar โ but theyโre not the same. And confusing them can quietly distort how we think, judge situations, and pursue truth.
Facts donโt come with a narrative attached. When weโre striving for truth, we have to learn how to separate whatโs ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ from whatโs ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ โ and whatโs simply assumption.
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In the newest episode of ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, we each choose ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ฏ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฃ๐จ and talk about the memories, meaning, and faith tied to them. It turns into a fun, honest discussion about music in Church and how it shapes our worship.
And donโt miss the YouTube version โ the animations make it extra fun!
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Today weโre talking about a trap everyone falls into: the Appeal to Authority fallacyโwhen we assume something is true just because an โexpertโ (or someone influential) says it isโฆ without actually looking at the evidence or whether theyโre even qualified to speak on it.
From โTrust the scienceโ to โDonโt trust the experts,โ both sides do it.
And if weโre not careful, we can end up outsourcing our thinking instead of practicing discernment.
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This time, weโre each sharing our ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ 3 ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ช๐ก ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐จโsongs that may not fit the โChristian musicโ label, but carry deep personal and spiritual significance for each of us.
We laugh a lot, reflect on why we chose each song, and definitely give you some great new music to add to your playlist!
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Our brand-new podcast series ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฒ is officially HERE!
This series is ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ and how our thoughts shape our walk with God and process of conversion more than we realize. Weโll be talking cognitive biases, everyday assumptions, and what it looks like to actually ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ as Christians.
Ever been so sure you understood a situationโonly to realize later you were wildly off? Yeahโฆus too. ๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ค๐๐ is all about learning to be a little less overconfident, a little more self-skeptical, and a LOT more surrendered to Godโs authority!
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ & ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ค ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ!
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Some like guitars and drums. Others prefer choirs and hymns. And sometimesโฆthose preferences can quietly divide us.
In this episode, Tim & Chantelle unpack why music is so personal, how it shapes our worship, and what it means to truly respect someone elseโs way of praising Godโeven when itโs not your own.
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Mr. Francis Bergin has seen decades of church life, leadership challenges, personal strugglesโand through it all, Godโs faithfulness.
In todayโs episode, we talk with Mr. Bergin, a long-time Church of God elder from the UK, about:
โจ What makes leadership healthy (professionally & spiritually)
โจ Why tradition and history matter
โจ How he found his way into the COG
โจ Facing depression with the reminder: this too shall pass
๐ง Available now on all platforms!
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We teased itโฆ and now the first episode of Clean Meets: A CGN Podcast has officially dropped!
This isnโt your typical COG podcast. The whole point? Not everything has to be serious all the time! Clean Meets is all about brethren hanging out, laughing together, and diving into lighthearted topics (still loosely tied to the Church of God).
Our first episode, we talk about each of our Top 3 Feast of Tabernacles Traditions (Think โFantasy Draftโ style โ if you love football, youโll get it instantly. If you donโt, donโt worryโฆ youโll catch on fast!)
Expect laughter, some traditions youโll totally recognize, and maybe even a few fun new ideas youโll want to try this upcoming FOT.
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Weโre sitting down with Jared Lorimer, a young adult from Australia who grew up in WCGโฆAFTER the splits, to talk about:
โ๏ธ What it was like growing up in WCG post-split
โ๏ธ The awkward silence around sin
โ๏ธ And the healing that comes when we finally bring it into the light
This is a conversation about holding onto the truth + Christ in the midst of false teachings and the courage to deal with whatโs been left unsaid for too long.
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What happens when an org wants to growโbut doesnโt have the time, tech, or bandwidth to make it happen?
Thatโs where MissionAssist comes inโCGNโs newest program built to help lighten the load for Church of God ministries by connecting them with COG professionals who already know how to build websites, manage livestreams, handle budgets, and more.
This episode dives into:
โ
Why we created MissionAssist
โ
The โboring but necessaryโ tasks that keep an org's mission moving
โ
How project-based support keeps you in controlโwhile giving you room to breathe
Whether you're part of a local congregation, a Feast site team, or a growing orgโyouโll want to hear this!
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This episode weโre sitting down with ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ง, member of the COG, nonprofit director, and passionate advocate for one simple but powerful idea: ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ โ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ญ.
From church service to community outreach, Aaron shares how stepping up in small (or big!) ways ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ค๐ง๐ข๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช.
Why should we throw ourselves fully into whatever we do โ even the โsmall stuffโ?
How do you spot needs without stepping on toes?
Why is ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ key, especially in todayโs Church of God landscape?
If youโve ever wondered ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ to get started, or ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ your gifts could make the biggest difference, this conversation will light a fire under you.
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Ever wonder why you react a certain way in relationships? Your subconscious core beliefs might be running the show without you even realizing it!
We sat down with Debbie Caudle, licensed therapist in the COG, to talk about how these hidden beliefs shape our interactions - and how to rewrite the ones that aren't serving us.
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This week, we had ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ง, co-founder of ๐๐พ๐๐๐, on to tackle some BIG questions:
โก๏ธ How do we build bridges across COG groups?
โก๏ธ Why is trust such a slow (but necessary) process?
โก๏ธ What will the Church look like in the next 10 years?
Richard also shares how a ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ-๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ง brought together nearly ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐๐ง from multiple COG groupsโproving that the desire to connect is stronger than ever. And with CGNโs ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐๐๐ฉ, cost doesnโt have to be a barrier to making these events happen!
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Robert Onsando, a minister in CGI, shares his inspiring journeyโfrom growing up 7th Day Adventist in Kenya to finding the Church of God and dedicating his life to faith and service.
But thatโs not allโwe also discuss:
โจ Tackling poverty in developing countries and empowering others through skills, not dependency.
โจ The incredible work being done through The Tabitha Outreach Foundation to break the cycle of poverty by empowering kids through education and life skills.
Take a listen, be inspired, & learn how you can more effectively help those in need!
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What happens when our social media habits shape how we engage with each other in the Church? Algorithms thrive on echo chambers and, as it turns out, they're not just a digital phenomenon! In this episode, we're unpacking how internet culture impacts the Church of God.
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This week, we dive into an incredibly insightful testimony from our guest, who shares his journey in the Philadelphia Church of God. We discuss the challenges of living in a high-control environment, what ultimately led him/his family to leave, and the impact that decision had on them and their relationships. Itโs a raw and thought-provoking conversation that highlights the strength and resilience of those who step away from fringe groups.
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Join us as we sit down with licensed therapist Debbie Caudle to unpack what we went through as a community through the WCG split, subsequent church splits, and the trauma that followed.
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Data is like a treasure map - it shows gaps, patterns, and always leaves you curious for more! And who better to help us decode it than Mark-Phillip Pebworth, our resident Bioengineering PhD and CGN's Research Director?!
Mark-Phillip joins this podcast episode to help us ask the right questions and find new ways to serve the Church of God community!
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In this episode, CGN Board Members Tim and Daniel provide a behind-the-scenes look at Church of God Network's first 5 years including all of the challenges and triumphs along the way.
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Jennifer Carter joins us to discuss all things service projects! From heartwarming personal stories to tips on getting started in your local area, this one's packed with loads of tangible how-tos!
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Kelli Hogg and her family have a major passion for Youth Camps, so they use their annual fundraising event, The Boot Scoot, to raise money for them!
In this episode, we share personal stories about camp and how such an important program can rally brethren from across the Church of God to support it!
We had the pleasure of chatting with Rolfe jones about the fascinating dynamics between first and second-generation Christians. Building on the insights from Episode 21 with Dan Apartian, we explore the shared experiences that bring us together on our spiritual path, no matter where we come from.
Dive into our latest podcast episode featuring Mike James, a former CIA employee & current elder in Church of God, International!
We explore how to develop and use our unique skillsets to serve in the Church, the importance of avoiding groupthink, and how seeking wise counsel from diverse perspectives can help create truly effective initiatives.
Get ready for a gripping journey in our newest podcast episode with Garry Johnson, founder of the nonprofit Covenant Concepts!
Listen in as he shares his incredible testimony - from discovery God/The Truth in prison to spreading the Good News among inmates through Covenant Concepts post-incarceration.
Covenant Concepts: https://covenantconcepts.org/
History's Greatest Escapes with Morgan Freeman: https://play.history.com/shows/great-escapes-with-morgan-freeman/season-1/episode-8
James Navarro and Dr. Kennard Brown join us for a frank conversation on the sensitive, yet crucial, topic of issues on race in the Church of God. We discuss past and present issues and how some of our cultural and organizational policies have caused unnecessary harm to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also explore potential solutions and the need to discuss this openly and respectfully with each other as brethren.
Get ready to dive into a dynamic conversation on the influence of leadership in our Church community with the fantastic Jonathan Reedy! Discover the keys to trust, leadership frameworks, and how YOU play a part.
In this episode, we sit down with Dan Apartian to discuss his viral sermon on the differences between 1st and 2nd generation Christians. What did your spiritual calling look like compared to that of your parents/grandparents? Was it extremely different or similar?
"Differences Between 1st and 2nd Generation Christians" by Dan Apartian:ย
https://www.ucg.org/sermons/differences-between-1st-and-2nd-generation-christians-0
In this episode, we sat down with Kelly McDonald Jr., Board President of the Bible Sabbath Association (BSA). We discuss the BSA's history, the importance of the Sabbath commandment, as well as what our posture should be toward other Sabbath keeping individuals.
In this episode, we sat down with former UCG President Victor Kubik to listen to his story about life in the ministry.
*Correction (at 30:12 mark): Actual number of Sabbatarians in:ย
Ukraine - 3,000
Romania - 4,000
Moldova - 3,000
In this episode we talk with Brian Orchard (minister in COG The Father's Call) about his near death experience during COVID, the overwhelming love he received from people across the COGs, & how it inspired him to start finding ways to build bridges locally in the Body of Christ!
In this episode, we sit down again with Stephen Russo. This time we discuss evil, how it's portrayed in media, and how society interacts with the concept. We do so largely through the lens of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's work "The Gulag Archipelago".
In this episode, we sit down again with Dan Quimby. Listen to Dan's story as he shares all about his personal testimony in the faith, how he ended up in RCG, & why he eventually left.
UCG Pastor and Beyond Today presenter, Gary Petty, joins us to discuss conflict and reconciliation in the Christian life. We cover important topics ranging from the central conflict between us and God to the need for healthy conflict resolution between Christians.
In this episode, we got to speak with licensed psychotherapist and UCG member, Werner Solorzano. Werner wrote his thesis on how early family trauma can be a factor in sexual addiction and is very passionate about helping both young men and women work through the stigma surrounding this difficult topic so they can move on to healing.
For more information about UCG's "Light of Hope" helpline, click below:ย
https://www.ucg.org/members/news/light-of-hope-helpline-provides-mental-health-and-addiction-resources
Do politics and Christianity go together?ย Daniel Russo and, fellow CGN board member, Corbin Rose discuss this hotly debated topic!
In this episode, we sit down with Richard Fowler, Vice President of the International Centre for World Peace, to discuss how understanding and sharing Godโs plan in narrative/story form is the MOST impactful way to reach others in this modern age.
CGN President, Daniel Russo, sits down with Reinhard Klett to discuss the importance of letting go and the impact it can have on the Christian life. Reinhard is a certified high performance coach and author of the book "Letting Go Saved My Life".
CGN Board Members, Isaac Garcia and Daniel Russo, discuss entrepreneurship, risk taking, and faith in the context of the Christian life and the Church of God.ย
CGN Board Member, Chantelle West, sits down with her long time friend, Julia Stewart. They discuss how an organizational split impacted them emotionally and spiritually and how they chose to maintain their close friendship through it all.
CGN board members Daniel Russo and Tim Reynolds sit down with Dan Quimby to discuss decision making and the importance of exposure to different perspectives.
CGN board members Daniel Russo and Chantelle Westย sit down with Carisa Rehbein to discuss the inspiring story of Carisa's personal calling as well as the time she spent in the Restored Church of God.
CGN board members Daniel Russo and Chantelle Westย discuss "self-forgetfulness", a concept outlined by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 4:3 and expounded on in the book "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness" by Timothy Keller.
Daniel and Chantelle go on to discuss related topics ranging from comparing ourselves to others, surrendering to God, and the importance of seeking God's Kingdom first.
CGN board members Daniel Russo and Tim Reynolds sit down with Blake Silverstein (COO of Christian Educational Ministries) to discuss issues surrounding the experiences of young people in the Church of God. More importantly, they ask to what extent should we even be concerned with "youth retention". The conversation starts with each sharing their own experiences growing up in the Church and how these experiences formed them as Christians.
Daniel Russo sits down with Bob Ucci, a retired addiction counselor, to discuss compulsivity, addiction, and dealing with the God sized hole inside of all of us.
Daniel Russo sits down with Tim Stahle and Richard Fowler to discuss a new organization they founded - the International Centre for World Peace (ICFWP).
They also discuss a central part of the ICFWP's efforts - a virtual reality model of the millennial temple in Ezekiel's vision!
Daniel Russo sits down with fellow CGN Board Member Tim Reynolds to discuss the importance of being able to disagree in love. They tackle other related issues including: emotional intelligence, the importance of critical feedback, and navigating different personality styles.
Church of God President (Daniel Russo) and Chief Editor (Stephen Russo) discuss the basics of what Church of God Network is as well as the goals for this podcast!