We Are Vineyard

In this episode of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay talks with Brandon Shields about his family’s conversion to Christianity when he was a teenager, an impactful spiritual experience he had on a missions trip to the Philippines, and the transformative power of being with believers in other countries. Brandon shares about his call to church planting, navigating a season of “failure”, the slow process of building a missional community, and when things finally started gaining momentum. This is part one of a two-part episode, so come back next week to hear the rest of the conversation!    About Brandon:  Brandon Shields serves as the Director of Church Formation for Practicing the Way, a ministry that helps churches form lifelong apprentices to Jesus. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry for 25 years, including the last 14 as founding and lead pastor at Soma Midtown in urban Indianapolis. He has also been a contributing author to several books on pastoral ministry, including Perspectives on Family Ministry and Faithful Endurance. He’s written articles and been interviewed for publications like Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church.  Brandon holds an undergraduate degree in business, a graduate degree in missiology, and a Ph.D in leadership. He currently lives in Indianapolis with Emily, his wife of 22 years, and his four amazing children. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Free Coaching for Pastors - Looking for coaching tailored to your context and challenges? We love walking alongside pastors as they're working to implement spiritual formation in their church. Schedule a free 60-minute online coaching session with an experienced member of our Church Formation team. Practicing The Way  From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Renovaré Instagram: @brandonshields @practicingtheway

In this episode of the We Are Vineyard podcast, Jay talks with Brandon Shields about his family’s conversion to Christianity when he was a teenager, an impactful spiritual experience he had on a missions trip to the Philippines, and the transformative power of being with believers in other countries. Brandon shares about his call to church planting, navigating a season of “failure”, the slow process of building a missional community, and when things finally started gaining momentum. This is part one of a two-part episode, so come back next week to hear the rest of the conversation!    About Brandon:  Brandon Shields serves as the Director of Church Formation for Practicing the Way, a ministry that helps churches form lifelong apprentices to Jesus. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry for 25 years, including the last 14 as founding and lead pastor at Soma Midtown in urban Indianapolis. He has also been a contributing author to several books on pastoral ministry, including Perspectives on Family Ministry and Faithful Endurance. He’s written articles and been interviewed for publications like Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church.  Brandon holds an undergraduate degree in business, a graduate degree in missiology, and a Ph.D in leadership. He currently lives in Indianapolis with Emily, his wife of 22 years, and his four amazing children. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Free Coaching for Pastors - Looking for coaching tailored to your context and challenges? We love walking alongside pastors as they're working to implement spiritual formation in their church. Schedule a free 60-minute online coaching session with an experienced member of our Church Formation team. Practicing The Way  From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Renovaré Instagram: @brandonshields @practicingtheway

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Jay Kim, where they talk about engaging in youth ministry, starting a church with young adults, and the two-year succession plan that brought Jay to his current role as lead pastor of WestGate church. Jay also shares beautiful stories about some of the work the Holy Spirit has been leading him through recently. About Jay Kim:  Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate, a multi-congregational church in Silicon Valley, where he lives with his wife Jenny and their two children. He's the author of Analog Christian, Analog Church, and the forthcoming book The Pace of Peace. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast.  👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Jay Kim's Social Media: instagram.com/jaykimthinks x.com/jaykimthinks facebook.com/jaykimthinks

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Jay Kim about his experience of immigrating to the US as a child, feeling at home in a Korean immigrant church, and navigating intercultural social dynamics. Jay shares about the cleverly casual way he was brought back into relationship with Jesus as a young adult, and the seeds that were planted around church leadership and pastoring.  About Jay Kim:  Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate, a multi-congregational church in Silicon Valley, where he lives with his wife Jenny and their two children. He's the author of Analog Christian, Analog Church, and the forthcoming book The Pace of Peace. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast.  👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show Notes:  Jay Kim's Social Media: instagram.com/jaykimthinks x.com/jaykimthinks facebook.com/jaykimthinks

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Ger Jones about creating a church “for the exploring and the following”, what Ger has learned through hosting 47 Alpha courses, and their goal of recreating Zacchaeus’ house in the heart of Pasadena.  👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and discipleship. Watch the video version of this episode here. About Ger Jones:  Ger Jones is the Senior Pastor of Vintage Church LA. Born into a dynamic ministry context, Ger experienced God moving profoundly throughout his childhood and teenage years and was a leader in the church at a young age. After college, Ger practiced law in London for a few years, during which time he went through a deep crisis of faith and church. It’s a big story, but God used Alpha and a church called Holy Trinity Brompton to help Ger find his way back to Jesus - and fall in love with the church again. Ger later transitioned into a career in brand management, which led him and his wife, Lizzie, to move to Switzerland. After a few years, quite unexpectedly, Ger sensed a clear call into full-time ministry. Following an M.Div at Regent College, Vancouver and then pastoring in an Anglican Church in Raleigh, Ger and Lizzie felt God’s call to plant a church in Los Angeles. The Jones family moved to Santa Monica in 2011 and began the process of planting Vintage Church with a small but mighty team. Vintage has since grown to a few thousand people, with two locations in Santa Monica and the South Bay, and has also seed-planted two additional churches in Pasadena and Malibu. Alpha was a big part of Ger’s journey of rediscovering faith and remains a key focus of his ministry at Vintage, alongside the Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass, which equips Pastors and their teams to see Alpha and Evangelism thrive in their context. In addition, Ger runs Strength to Strength Adventure Co, guiding wilderness adventures for Pastors and Leaders to recharge, renew, and laugh hard with friends.  Ger is ordained in the Anglican Church and is passionate about thoughtful, deep theology, the power of the Holy Spirit, mission to our city, and helping people explore faith and life’s difficult questions. He is married to Lizzie, a fun, laugh-out-loud, keep-it-real Australian hairstylist, and together they have three grown children. Show notes:  Vintage Church LA Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Ger Jones about growing up as an obedient pastor’s kid, the weight of that identity and drive, and learning that God loves all of who he is. Ger also reflects on how John 15 shaped his life as he returned to faith and ministry. This is part one of a two-part conversation, so come back next week to hear more!  Watch the video version of this episode here. About Ger Jones: Ger Jones is the Senior Pastor of Vintage Church LA. Born into a dynamic ministry context, Ger experienced God moving profoundly throughout his childhood and teenage years and was a leader in the church at a young age. After college, Ger practiced law in London for a few years, during which time he went through a deep crisis of faith and church. It’s a big story, but God used Alpha and a church called Holy Trinity Brompton to help Ger find his way back to Jesus - and fall in love with the church again. Ger later transitioned into a career in brand management, which led him and his wife, Lizzie, to move to Switzerland. After a few years, quite unexpectedly, Ger sensed a clear call into full-time ministry. Following an M.Div at Regent College, Vancouver and then pastoring in an Anglican Church in Raleigh, Ger and Lizzie felt God’s call to plant a church in Los Angeles. The Jones family moved to Santa Monica in 2011 and began the process of planting Vintage Church with a small but mighty team. Vintage has since grown to a few thousand people, with two locations in Santa Monica and the South Bay, and has also seed-planted two additional churches in Pasadena and Malibu. Alpha was a big part of Ger’s journey of rediscovering faith and remains a key focus of his ministry at Vintage, alongside the Alpha and Evangelism Masterclass, which equips Pastors and their teams to see Alpha and Evangelism thrive in their context. In addition, Ger runs Strength to Strength Adventure Co, guiding wilderness adventures for Pastors and Leaders to recharge, renew, and laugh hard with friends.  Ger is ordained in the Anglican Church and is passionate about thoughtful, deep theology, the power of the Holy Spirit, mission to our city, and helping people explore faith and life’s difficult questions. He is married to Lizzie, a fun, laugh-out-loud, keep-it-real Australian hairstylist, and together they have three grown children. Show notes:  Vintage Church LA 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we hear part two of Jay’s talk with Drew Hyun about Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. They discuss where to start if you’re interested in engaging this work, the critical process of disorientation and reorientation, and why focusing on emotional health is life-giving at all stages of leadership.  Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) and is the author of the book Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes:  Register now for 2026 Better Together Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Drew Hyun about Drew’s road to becoming the president of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, and the impact the work of this organization has had on his own life and relationships. This is part one of a two-part conversation, so join us next week to hear more!  About Drew Hyun: Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) and is the author of the book Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story. Watch the video version of this episode here. Show notes:  Register now for 2026 Better Together! Emotionally Healthy Discipleship 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we’ll hear part two of Jay’s conversation with Tyler Staton. They talk about becoming interested in the person of the Holy Spirit, Tyler’s “Holy Spirit Field Trip” to London, and his habit of praying to be equipped with the gifts he needs in each season. Season 5 marks the launch of video episodes of the We Are Vineyard Podcast, where we explore conversations around church leadership, discipleship, worship, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the Vineyard movement and the wider Church. Watch the video version of this episode here About Tyler Staton: Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos. He is passionate about living prayerfully and relationally. Tyler is the author of three books: The Familiar Stranger; Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools; and Searching for Enough. Show Notes:  Tyler’s website 

Welcome back to We Are Vineyard! In this very first episode of Season 5, Jay talks with Tyler Staton about growing up in the South, starting a youth ministry, and falling in love with teaching the Bible. We’ll see you next week for part two of this conversation! Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos. He is passionate about living prayerfully and relationally. Tyler is the author of three books: The Familiar Stranger; Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools; and Searching for Enough. Watch the video version of this episode here Show Notes:  Tyler’s website 

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations. Today’s theme is Love, and Rian Emano represents the AAPI Association with a beautiful devotion about different expressions of love, and the LOVE that God is writing into the world through Jesus and through us. After that, we will hear a medley of Great Is The Lord’s Love and O Come All Ye Faithful, sung by Kyrie Varieur.  Rian Emano serves on the pastoral team at Vineyard of Hope in Walnut, California, and on the advisory board for the Vineyard USA AAPI Association. This is the last episode of We Are Vineyard for 2025. We’ll be back with fresh episodes in February!   Show Notes: Vineyard Worship- Advent and Christmas Playlist

Welcome to the We Are Vineyard podcast. In celebration of the Advent season, you will hear a short devotion each week specially crafted for you by a member of one of Vineyard USA’s Associations. Today’s theme is Joy, and Sarah Anderson represents the Women’s Association with a devotion on finding joy in the chaos of real life. Then we’ll hear What Joy Is Found from Vineyard Worship featuring Torri Baker. Sarah is the pastor of Vineyard Finneytown in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She and her husband, Grant, have three boys, a rabbit, and a puppy in their lively household. Sarah is passionate about helping people to encounter the presence of God, equipping people to minister in the power of the Spirit, and seeing children fall in love with Jesus at summer camp. Sarah currently serves as the Vice-Chair on the National Team for the Vineyard Women’s Association. She loves a good hike in the woods, chips & queso, office supplies, putting things in rainbow order, and time with family.