Parkview Community Church: Recent Episodes
Parkview Community Church
From the beginning, Parkview set out to spiritually influence the western suburbs of Chicago in relevant and relational ways. Sr. Pastor Ray Kollbocker came to faith in Christ because a Christian friend loved him without condition. His friend was more interested in relationship than reforming behavior. It was through that relationship Ray began to understand and experience the grace of God for the first time.
At Parkview, we believe people are more important than programs and relationships more important than ritual. Therefore, Parkview strives to innovate ways for people to connect with God, to live together and experience a true sense of community and to encourage one another toward spiritual growth, service and life-altering faith. We work hard to insure everyone is invited and welcomed into a diverse community of people who together are learning more about each other and God’s love for us. One thing we are convinced of, genuine faith makes a difference in every aspect of our lives.
Speakers - Andy Klenke and Christina Jackson
Lead Pastor, and Connections and Women's Pastor
Welcome back to "A New Season," the podcast where we take you behind the scenes at Parkview and introduce you to the people who make our community thrive. In today’s episode, your host Josh is joined by two of our pastors, Carlos and Allison, for a special “Meet the Pastor” segment. Get to know their journeys—how Allison moved from youth ministry to community development over her 17 years at Parkview, and how Carlos went from leading worship in Georgia to overseeing creative arts here in Illinois. They’ll share the rewards and challenges of their roles, insight into the big transition our church is experiencing, and what excites them for the future—including upcoming worship nights and summer camps. Whether you’re a longtime member or new to Parkview, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and a peek at what’s next for our community.
Welcome back to A New Season! This episode centers on Parkview’s core distinctives: a commitment to justice, women in leadership, and financial integrity.
Josh and Andy explore what these values really mean for the church community, sharing stories from their own experiences and discussing why these topics—sometimes risky or controversial—are worth the conversation. You’ll get a peek at how Parkview welcomes diversity, maintains transparency with its resources, and fosters open dialogue, all with their trademark humor and authenticity.
Welcome back to A New Season! In this episode, Josh and Andy kick things off with laughter, diving into favorite movies and recent adventures—like Andy's family trip to Disney World, where meticulous planning and some clever line-hopping tips take center stage. From there, the conversation transitions to bigger topics happening at Parkview, celebrating a recent blowout success with their Renew project and the incredible generosity within the church community.
But at the heart of this episode, Josh and Andy pull back the curtain on what makes Parkview tick by digging into too-often-overlooked church “distinctives”—what sets their church apart from others in the neighborhood. They break down the unique “teaching team” approach, explaining why having a variety of voices preaching is intentional, strategic, and core to Parkview’s culture. You’ll also hear some insights into the direction of upcoming sermons, a fascinating AI analysis of Andy’s preaching themes, and a peek behind the scenes at planning their pastoral retreat.
Whether you’re here for stories, strategy, or spiritual insights, this episode gives you a genuine look at the heart and humor that define Parkview’s leadership during a time of transition. Grab your favorite zero-calorie drink, settle in, and enjoy this candid conversation about community, vision, and what’s next for Parkview!
Welcome back to "A New Season," Parkview’s podcast all about church life, leadership transitions, and the stories behind the scenes. In this episode, Josh and Andy reconnect after a winter hiatus, sharing both lighthearted moments—like surviving Illinois cold snaps, frozen pipes, and debating Survivor strategies—and diving deep into the recent major transition at Parkview: saying farewell to longtime pastor Ray after 31 years and welcoming Andy into his new role as Lead Pastor.
On today’s episode of "A New Season," we sat down with Parkview’s own Christina (CJ) and Jake, hosted by Josh, for an inside look at the stories and heart behind the leaders guiding the church through transition. Christina (CJ) shared her journey from studying theater and music to pastoral ministry, and gave us an authentic glimpse into her passion for connecting people both to community and to God. Jake recounted his path from business ambitions to discovering his calling in student ministry, including his experiences in Chicago and his commitment to showing up for students well beyond Sunday mornings.
The episode highlighted the excitement—and reality—of change at Parkview, from new roles and organizational updates to deeper values like hospitality and connection. Both Christina (CJ) and Jake talked about the ways their personal lives overlap with ministry, and how they’re looking forward to upcoming efforts like student retreats and Team World Vision runs. Plus, we learned about their favorite Christmas movies (with some debate over what counts!), quirky family facts, and the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed but is crucial for helping people feel at home.
If you’re curious about what goes into leading a vibrant, evolving church—especially during seasons of change—you’ll get a refreshing, personal perspective in this episode.
November Update:
Behind-the-scenes work is underway to clarify systems, introduce new tools, and establish new staff values.
Matt continues learning Parkview’s systems and getting to know the staff and their roles.
The pastoral staff held an offsite on 11/20 to identify priorities for the next 12–24 months—focusing on what matters most in this season.
In November, we held two unique worship services (11/2, 11/9) by changing the chair setup and the overall Sunday morning format. This offered a glimpse of the flexibility—and hopefully creativity—to come. We will never change just for change’s sake, but these were strong examples of a vision and value leading us to try something new.
Podcast Episode 3 has been recorded.
January will launch a new series on leading faithfully through transition and stepping into new seasons—relevant both for Parkview and for anyone starting something new in the new year.
New Season Podcast – Episode 2 Summary
Hosts: Josh and Andy Klenke
Focus: Reintroducing Andy as he steps into the Lead Pastor role and sharing updates on Parkview’s transition.
About Andy
Grew up near Detroit, moved to Chicago for college.
Married to Brittany, who works at Wheaton Academy; they have two boys, Ben (5) and Will (3).
Joined Parkview 10 years ago as High School Pastor, later served as Global and Teaching Pastor.
Leadership & Vision
Describes himself as strategic, intentional, and relational—“not a ready, shoot, aim kind of guy.”
Leads by encouragement and clarity, not authority.
Committed to Parkview’s core values of grace, openness, and diversity.
“We’re not changing just to change—every change will have vision and purpose behind it.”
Wants people to feel safe when they walk into Parkview.
What’s Changing
Internal staff structure and systems being updated for greater clarity and teamwork.
Executive Pastor Matt starts October 16 to help lead operations.
Andy completed a listening tour with staff and is now meeting with congregants for input and feedback.
What’s Staying the Same
Parkview’s heart, values, and teaching team model remain unchanged.
Continued emphasis on excellent worship, grace-filled community, and outward-focused ministry.
What’s Next
More behind-the-scenes organization this fall and winter.
Early 2026: Staff team will gather to dream and plan future ministry opportunities.
Expect more open communication—podcasts, updates, and ways to stay connected.
On today’s episode, we went behind the scenes with Parkview’s leadership team as they navigate a major transition. Lead Pastor Ray Kollbocker reflects on 30 years of growth and passing the torch, while incoming Lead Pastor Andy shares his mindset and vision for the church’s next chapter. We talked about how embracing change, learning from the past, and intentional leadership searches are driving Parkview into a new season of opportunity. If you’re interested in how strong succession planning shapes thriving organizations, you’ll want to catch this conversation!
Ray and Josh talk about the recent events around the Covid-19 virus and how to stay a community amidst the social distancing.
Pastor Dave joins Ray and Josh to discuss how Christians and the church can respond to the Coved-19 Pandemic.
Ray and Josh welcome Darci Scafidi to the pod for part one of a discussion on diversity in the church and the world.
Part II of a conversation Ray and Josh have with Darci Scafidi about diversity in the church and the world!
Ray and Josh discuss the controversial comments made by Pastor and Theologian, John MacArthur, about Beth Moore and women at a conference in late 2019.
Ray and Josh talk today about have Christians can navigate the challenging political climate of today.
Summary: Ray, Dave, and Josh talk about the recent allegations in a number of megachurches and how we can move forward in healing and hope.
Dave, Andy, and Josh talk more about the current Money series and some of the topics that didn't get covered on Sundays.
Kim, Ray, and Josh talk about Parkview's decision to allow women to lead in all aspects of the church, the addition of female elders, and what the Bible says about the roles of women in the world.
This week Andy Klenke joins Ray and Josh to talk about how we partner with other organizations to make a difference in the world. A sleep-deprived Ray talks about his week long trip to Israel and how we can be Peacemakers in our world.
Ray and Josh talk about the most recent message on depression, the stigmas around mental health, and how the church can provide support around these issues.
Pastors Ray, Kim, and Josh talk about the Christmas season and ways to pause and appreciate the story of Christmas. They also get into a heated debate about what is truly the greatest Christmas movie of all time!
Ray, Dave, and Josh sit down to discuss a recent statement published by evangelical leaders and it's impact on the Western Church. The team shares personal insights and perspectives from their collective ministry experiences.
In our first episode, we get to meet Parkview Community Church Lead Pastor, Ray Kollbocker. Together we unpack the most recent sermon series on Prayer and Ray digs deep to deliver some personal information...like his favorite color!
Today we make space to breathe and find peace before the Christmas season begins. Together we’ll make room to experience the goodness of our God.
Due to the sensitive nature of the content, we can regretfully can not post the audible recording from the October 29th service. Thank you for understanding. Please check back next week as we continue with the On the Move series.