Gleaning and Gathering
by Eric Himelick
I love meaningful conversations, and this is probably what it would sound like if we had a chance to have that chat in my home office. It is my effort to process what I'm thinking out loud (and sometimes with friends.) I am a Christian, husband, father, pastor, church planter, community developer, author, and social entrepreneur. I am a mortal on a journey through this beautiful, delightful world God has given us, and I live in wide-eyed, child-like wonder. The name? I'm always gleaning life lessons on the farm and beyond, and The Gathering is the congregation with whom I share life.
Episodes
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Building Backwards With Intentionality
Eric shares a reflective solo episode on leadership, intentional living, and building for the long haul rather than just solving today’s problems. He connects lessons from Victory Acres, Nehemiah Discipleship, and Mode Camp to a bigger question: what will matter in 2050? The heart of the episode…
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Vincent Sawyer on Discipleship and Education
Eric speaks with Vincent Sawyer of InteGRITy Academy about a discipleship-based gap year program built around work, vulnerability, and practical formation. Vincent explains how the ministry grew out of a calling to bring dignity through business-as-mission, homestead life, and hands-on vocational...
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Looking Back & Looking Forward: On Sarah Leaving for College (EPISODE 129)
I interviewed my third daughter, Sarah, as she prepares to leave for college next week. We were looking back at her childhood and reflecting on the things that went well and what could have been different. It was a delightful conversation and Sarah's first time to share on Gleaning and Gathering.
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Fostering Authentic Dialogue Across Disagreement: A Conversation with Dr. Phil Brown
Dr. Phil Brown joins the conversation to talk about how Christians can disagree honestly without becoming defensive, dismissive, or uncharitable. The discussion focuses on what makes dialogue possible when convictions run deep, especially within Christian and evangelical circles. Phil shares the...
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Opportunity Cost: The Cost of Doing Nothing
In this episode of Gleaning and Gathering, I share a family update, reflects on the passing of time, and offer encouragement for leaders to move from big dreams to daily, faithful action. We also talk about the value of planning, the cost of inaction, and the importance of building rhythms and...
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Heritage: Remembering Where You're From (EPISODE 126)
A short reflection on the blessing of family and heritage.
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Nehemiah Discipleship Program Leaders 2026
Eric interviews 5 of the NDP leadership participants to talk about their favorite parts of NDP and how it has helped them to become better leaders.
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Thinking Christianly About Israel — Navigating Faith, Politics, and Relationships
Eric Himelick and Martin Barnard explore their evolution from dispensationalism to a more Christ-centered understanding of Scripture, emphasizing the importance of love, conversation, and biblical literacy. They discuss their efforts at rethinking their views on Israel and Jewish people without...
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Mentors Needed: Bring Someone With You
Mentoring today is more crucial than ever, especially in a time when father figures and positive male role models are diminishing. In this episode, Eric Himelick explores how mentorship can fill vital gaps in young men’s lives, revealing the emotional and social impact of guiding the next...
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Moving Towards Resilience (EPISODE 122)
In this episode I'm reflecting on my personal journey and the book A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald. As the theme for NDP 2026, I'm thinking a lot about this right now. I hope you'll benefit from my journey and my thoughts.
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Building Leaders: The Power of the Nehemiah Discipleship Program (EPISODE 121)
This episode explores the Nehemiah Discipleship Program (NDP), its impact, and how it develops young leaders through hands-on experience, spiritual growth, and community building. It emphasizes the importance of discipleship, hard work, and intentionality in faith-based leadership development.…
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Raising a Princess: A Conversation with my Daughter Rebecca (EPISODE 120)
What are some of your core childhood memories? What was it like to grow up in our home? (And what did we get right?) What will you do differently with your family because of your experiences? What do you know at 23 that you wish you had known at 13? These are just a few of the questions that I...
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9 Things That Leaders Learn Too Late (EPISODE 119)
There are some things that you don't understand about leadership until you've dealt with challenges and faced problems. I found this list on LinkedIn, and it spoke to me. The picture for this podcast is me at 18... There are a few things that I wish I would have known then. 9 Things Leaders Learn...
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Skill Behind People Who ATTRACT OPPORTUNITY - Part II (EPISODE 118)
Thank you, Dan Murry, for the post that prompted this episode. (You can check it out here.) While it may seem that people who get opportunities are just "lucky," when you look closer you can see a pattern of actions and skills. Those are skills that anyone can work towards developing. My purpose…
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A Light To The Gentiles (GNG Episode 117)
During the season of Epiphany we are focusing on God's mission in the world. This is another message to The Gathering at Victory Acres shared live on Sunday, January 18 from Isaiah 44 and 45. While it is not my normal Gleaning content focus, I wanted to share it with you.
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Outstanding Audacious Faith - A Message for The Gathering at Victory Acres (GNG EPISODE 116)
I wanted to share the message that I am sharing with The Gathering, our congregation at Victory Acres. It is a message from Luke 11.
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Skills Behind People Who Consistently Attract Opportunity (GNG Episode 115)
Have you ever noticed that some people seem to get all of the opportunities while other people are consistently passed over? Here are some skills behind what may cause some people to attract those opportunities. Know the skill, and you can work on it. I really enjoyed recording this episode with…
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4 Keys To A Productive Day (GNG 114)
The biggest key? Do the hard thing first. (There's more, but you should probably just start with that.)
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Cultivating the Daddy-Daughter Connection (GNG EPISODE 113)
In this conversation, we explore the significance of the daddy-daughter connection, the importance of creating lasting memories, and the investment required to maintain strong relationships. We reflect on personal experiences emphasizing the need for confidence and support as a daughter navigates...
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Cultivating Memorable Moments (GNG EPISODE 112)
What makes moments memorable, and why do they seem so elusive? Summary In this conversation, Eric and Rebecca discuss the importance of cultivating memorable moments in life, exploring how social media and the pressure to create perfect memories can detract from genuine experiences. They…
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Why Ministries and Non-profits Struggle to Obtain and Retain Donors (GNG EPISODE 111)
If you're a leader of a struggling ministry or non-profit who has wrestled with why it seems so hard to get or keep donors? You're not alone! In this episode, I unpack this topic and discuss a clear pathway forward.
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Milestones and Moving Forward (GNG EPISODE 110)
Sharing from my family's experiences and recent activities, I reflect on the need to adjust as we move forward. Speaking of adjustment, we are "pressing pause" on Gleaning and Gathering for a season. We hope to be back in time, but for now, I am not able to give it the time and attention that it...
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Moving Towards Transformative ACTION (GNG #109)
How intentional and focused are you in the use of your time? Could you use help or improvement? HFM Coaching is helping leaders from all backgrounds to distill their dreams into DAILY ACTIONS and helping them to move towards transformative ACTION. himelickfamilyconsulting.com - Sign up for our...
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Deliverance: A Palm Sunday Message (GNG EPISODE 108)
This is a message that I shared with The Gathering at Victory Acres, and I wanted to share it with you as well.
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Prepared For The Storms (GNG Episode 107)
Living prepared for the inevitable storms of life is the lesson that I am gleaning this week. Sharing some stories from my own experience and some principles from Scripture.
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Three Genuine Connections Every Leader Needs (GNG 106)
In this episode I share about our time as a family at Serenity Cabin in Galax, Virginia. We are deeply grateful! I also share about the need for connection. In a world awash in content, many are lacking genuine connection. What about you? Who is your Paul, your Barnabas, and your Timothy?
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Leadership Habits to Avoid (GNG EPISODE 105)
Avoid the habit of doing too much by taking these four steps: Evaluate, Eliminate, Delegate, and Automate Do you have a habit of avoiding conflict? Practice Matthew 18. Avoiding conflict will rarely make a bad situation better.
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Cultivating the Cardinal Virtues (GNG EPISODE 104)
Virtues are specific habits of excellence, and the four Cardinal Virtues are: 1 - Temperance 2 - Courage 3 - Justice, and 4 - Prudence There are many "sub-disciplines" of these virtues that will make our lives better. You can listen to the Double Win Podcast for more.
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Three Essential Leadership Lessons (GNG EPISODE 103)
Here are three essential leadership lessons that I gleaned this week: Lesson 1 came from Jesse DeYoung Organizational doubt is real, and if we are going to lead effectively, we have to address it. Lesson 2: Your mess is your message. Great quote: "John doesn't have a drinking problem; he has a...
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What is Organizational Culture and Why It Matters (GNG EPISODE 102)
Thanks to Sean Morgan and "Leaders in Living Rooms" for the wisdom gleaned this past week. In this episode entitled "Need a Sabbatical? You're doing it wrong," he shared some points that were super helpful to me. I gleaned a lot from another podcast by Carey Nieuwhoff and Jenni Catron entitled,...
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What Kind of Conversation are We Having? (GNG EPISODE 101)
Coaching can challenge our thinking. "The problem with success is that you rise to a level that people stop challenging your thinking." - Charles Duhigg (author of How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.) In this episode, I talk coaching, conversations, and self-awareness as leaders.…
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100 - A Father-Daughter Review of The Top 10 GNG Episodes
For the 100th episode, Kaylynn is back! We review the top 10 episodes from the first 100 published. A good time was had by all.
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Our South African Adventure: A Report (GNG EPISODE 99)
Here is a report on the time that Samuel and I spent recently in South Africa and Lesotho. It was an adventure, and we are grateful for the opportunity that we had to travel and to share. Here are some highlights and lessons...
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Missionary Voices: Interviews from Africa (GNG EPISODE 98)
While in South Africa, we had the opportunity to interview missionaries Matt Smith and Ben Peters. While my equipment malfunctioned on the interview with Ben and I only captured the first question, I wanted to share it with you. These are great young leaders, and it was a honor to serve with them.
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Lessons From South Africa (GNG EPISODE 97)
Sam and I share from South Africa about our trip and the lessons God is teaching us along the way.
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Love Does - A Gathering Message (GNG EPISODE 96)
This is a message that I delivered to The Gathering at Victory Acres in 2022 and I'm sharing again today on this last Sunday of Advent 2024. I hope that it will be a blessing to you.
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These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (GNG EPISODE 95)
I wanted to share some things that help make my days more happy and productive. I know that for some this might be a TMI episode, but since this podcast is really just me talking about whatever I jolly-well please, here you go. Here are links: - Uni-ball Vision Elite Pen - Energy Body Cream -...
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Humility and Curiosity: Asking Questions and Inviting Feedback (GNG EPISODE 94)
"Curious people are rarely cynical, and cynical people are very rarely curious." - Carey Nieuwhof While one are you? Are you actively inviting other trusted people to take the "red pen" to your life? Are you interested or interesting? As a leader, humility and curiosity are essential. Are you a...
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Becoming A Shalom-Maker: Seeking the Peace of God for a Hurting World (GNG EPISODE 93)
Sharing from some of my experiences in third-world contexts and statistics from A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, I make the case for seeking the Shalom of God for the world in which we live. We cannot dismiss it, and to whom much is given, much is required. May God help us to seek the…
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The Once and Future Church (GNG EPISODE 92)
Here are some thoughts on the future of the church and what it will include. While these are trends that I am seeing, I hope that it will provide encouragement to that "Dollar General" pastor who is currently trying to evaluate next steps. Sure, you may be a car mechanic, but God may be calling…
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Saying A Holy No (GNG EPISODE 91)
This episode of Gleaning is a message that I shared with 500+ men in Seymour, IN in mid-September at Men Arise. Sharing on the edge of this lake in a huge amphitheater at dawn is an experience I hope I'll never forget. If you'd like a copy of the handout that includes source material and...
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Celebrating Well With The Band Of The Happy Few (GNG EPISODE 90)
All of my celebrating these past few days has caused me to glean and reflect on what makes for a good celebration. An important element are the PEOPLE with whom we are celebrating. Who's in your "band of the happy few?" There are some questions for you to reflect on from one of my favorite…
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The Joy of Beginning (GNG EPISODE 89)
My reflections on starting Victory Inner-city Ministries along with thoughts from The Founders Evolution by Scott Ritzheimer. Not everyone is an entrepreneur, but there are problems to be solved that will require new structures. You might be one of the people to do that!
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Why Systems Matter (GNG EPISODE 88)
When you're young it may seem like passion is enough to power through, but through the years, I have learned the importance of systems. In this episode I share what I am working on with regards to group coaching and Two Months Towards Transformative Action - our program to help leaders start the...
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Conversations with Calvary Life Fellowship (GNG EPISODE 87)
I am grateful for the influence of Wayne Ostrander and David Odell. They have spent over 60 years with Calvary Life Fellowship currently located in Kasilof, AK. At a recent Prayer Convocation at Fellowship Farm, I caught up with them. In this episode, they share some of the stories and history…
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Designing Our Days (GNG EPISODE 86)
Are you living with purpose, or do you feel like your life is happening to you? Here are some thoughts on designing our days.
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Memories of Mode - Why You Need A Place Like This in Your Life - GNG EPISODE 85
These are a few more of the conversations that I had with my friends from Mode Camp, reflecting on their collective memories of this place and the people that have shaped it.
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Living and Leading with a Full and Grateful Heart (GNG EPISODE 84)
Are you leading with "everything in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom?" Maybe it's time to do something about that. We are offering a FREE Schedule Optimization Workshop - October 15 @ 7:00am ET October 22 @ 7:00am ET October 29 @ 7:00am ET. For a limited time, you can sign up at...
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How Victory Acres Began And What It Is Becoming (GNG EPISODE 83)
It all began with a prayer retreat in October 2005. God has done a lot in these past 19 years, and we believe that He has great things in store for the days ahead. Do you need a place to reflect and to reconnect with God? How long has it been since you took time to seek God in extended prayer?...
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Priorities and Putting Your Project in a Box (GNG EPISODE 82)
"Work expands to the time allotted to it." Prioritizing and then defining a "box" for your project before you begin (and become emotionally involved) is important to maintaining balance in life. This is something that I have been gleaning, especially lately. This is a good, old-fashioned episode…
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About this show
I love meaningful conversations, and this is probably what it would sound like if we had a chance to have that chat in my home office. It is my effort to process what I'm thinking out loud (and sometimes with friends.) I am a Christian, husband, father, pastor, church planter, community developer, author, and social entrepreneur. I am a mortal on a journey through this beautiful, delightful world God has given us, and I live in wide-eyed, child-like wonder. The name? I'm always gleaning life lessons on the farm and beyond, and The Gathering is the congregation with whom I share life.
Hosted by
Eric Himelick