At The Table

October 1st, 2025Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Pastor James Byensi. In addition to being the pastor and director of missions and outreach at CECA 20, the 20th planting of the Church of Christ in Congo, Pastor James is also the founder and president of Rebuilders Ministry DRC, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the spiritual, socio-economic, and educational challenges faced by the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.Pastor Drew and Pastor James explore how faith fuels peacemaking, community rebuilding, and leadership in one of the world’s most conflict‑stricken regions. Pastor James shares the deep historical roots of the DRC’s suffering, the birth and growth of Rebuilders Ministry, and how holistic discipleship—education, trauma care, economic empowerment, and leadership development—forms the heart of their work. Their conversation invites listeners to consider how their own faith can shape the work they do and how they might partner in bringing restoration to Congo.https://lesrebatisseurs.org/https://ceca20drc.wixsite.com/bacbuniaThanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.belair.orghttps://www.instagram.com/[email protected]://www.instagram/pastordrewsams

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Bel Air Church leader Dr. Sophia Apple, a board-certified pathologist (UCLA-trained) and author, to hear the powerful story of how God met her in suffering, shaped her faith, and formed her calling in medicine. Sophia shares about contracting polio as a child, a life-changing moment that led her to trust Jesus, and how walking with physical limitations has deepened her compassion, her prayer life, and her ability to see people the way God sees them, both in the hospital and in the church.Sophia also reflects on bold, honest prayer, the difference between “doing” to earn God’s love and receiving grace, and what it looks like to enter a new season of life as she retires from medicine and prepares to move to Georgia.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.belair.orghttps://www.instagram.com/[email protected]://www.instagram/pastordrewsams

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Bel Air Church member Reuben Abootorabi about his evolving prayer life, learning to pray Scripture, and the invitation to intimacy with God that is made possible through Jesus.As a member of our Prayer Team, Reuben will be leading a workshop on The Power of Praying Scripture on September 21, 2025 at 12:30pm and the link for more details and to register for the free lunch + workshop can be found here: https://www.belair.org/featuredevents/1yoptrpqxd9bumeqxpwyele6l2pi8vThanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.belair.orghttps://www.instagram.com/[email protected]://www.instagram/pastordrewsams

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Jack Sapp, a native Angeleno who, after playing collegiate basketball at UC Irvine, had a career trajectory that took him from being a stock broker in the fast paced environment of the 1980s, becoming the only black Senior Vice President in his division at US Bank, to eventually being a successful franchisee of Wingstop Restaurants not just once but three times. From hitting financial rock bottom at 40 to now having financial freedom, Jack has turned his attention to being part of initiatives that harness his skillset and experience.During their conversation, Drew and Jack cover the topics of the transformational affect of making room for others and God, leading and living in the gray areas, maturing through the shadow side of unhealthy interpretations of Scripture, and what can happen when you trust and follow a God who offers second chances again and again.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.belair.orghttps://www.instagram.com/[email protected]://www.instagram/pastordrewsams

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Drew Friedrich, the Chief Operating Officer of Operation Blessing, one of the largest disaster relief organizations in the world who has partnered with Bel Air Church in the wake of the devastating LA Fires. Formally at the helm strategy for Orphan’s Promise, Drew brings his business acumen and bold faith together in ways that are making not just a generational but eternal impact.During their conversation, Drew and Drew cover the topics of leading through change, transformational relationships, not settling for the status quo, decision making, and charting your own path while seeking God’s leading.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.ob.orghttps://www.orphanspromise.org/opupdate/https://www.instagram.com/pastordrewsamshttps://www.belair.org/

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In the wake of the greatest disaster in Los Angeles history, Pastor Drew Sams sits down on location with Pastor Justin Anderson of Calvary Palisades Church in the Pacific Palisades, and Bishop Charles Dorsey of Lifeline Fellowship Church in Altadena - each a leader of a congregation whose sanctuary was lost in the Palisades and Eaton fires of January 7th.As Christians all over the world celebrate Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Justin and Bishop Dorsey share their unique stories and how they each continue to shepherd their communities through tragedy towards the hope that Jesus promises to all of humanity.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://calvarypalisades.org/https://www.lifelinefcc.org/https://www.belair.org/

April 15th, 2025Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Anthony Zimmitti, a prolific custom home builder in Los Angeles who with his wife Gina recently founded Seven Houses, in response to the LA Fires, in order to help bridge the gap between people’s resources and the ability to rebuild homes in sustainable, lasting, and architecturally relevant ways.In this episode, Drew and Anthony cover the topics of generosity, sacrificial love, reflecting the image of a Creator God, boldly following Jesus in a world that is hungry for the supernatural, as well as lessons learned from sacrificing rest at the altar of self-effort, what happens in the mountains after you cross 50 miles on your feet, and the freedom that comes from doing things that are way bigger than yourself.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.sevenhouses.orghttps://www.breland-harper.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-R2rm68wJohttps://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=Anthony&lname=Zimmittihttps://www.instagram.com/azbuildshttps://www.instagram.com/pastordrewsamshttps://www.belair.org/

April 8th, 2025Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Talitha Phillips, the CEO of Claris Health to talk about coming alongside women in the complicated and sensitive space of unintended pregnancies in ways that transcend partisan policy. Claris Health, seeks to provide clarity for women in wholistic and lasting ways through mental, emotional, and medical support.In this episode we cover leadership, team building, fundraising, the lasting impact of board member and mentor Rick Bromley, and the complexities of humanity that always benefit from the love and truth of Jesus in explicit and implicit ways.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www/clarishealth.orghttps://www.instagram.com/talithajhttps://www/belair.org

April 1st, 2025Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.In this episode, Drew sits down with Jillian Kim, the CEO of the Bel Air Ed Group to talk leadership, team building, creating an organization from scratch, and the state of education in Los Angeles and beyond.As the dedicated founder of the Bel Air Family Center she has created the center to be a welcome space, offering programs that support every part of family life -from early childhood development to educational enrichment and parental guidance. With a deep belief in the power of community, Jillian’s vision is to help families get connected and stay connected.Additionally, Jillian serves as the President of the Los Angeles Preschool Partnership and is the Head of School for one of the largest preschools in Los Angeles - the Bel Air Preschool.Thanks for listening and please take the time to rate, review, and share afterwards.https://www.belairfamilycenter.org/our-story/https://www.belairpreschool.org/our-people/http://www.instagram.com/belairchurch/http://www.instagram.com/pastordrewsams/

Welcome to At The Table, a long-form podcast spotlighting conversations about the intersection of faith and one's work in the world. Hosted by Drew Sams, senior pastor at Bel Air Church.Pastor Drew Sams sits down with Hayden Burdge, strength coach and fitness trainer at The Ranch Malibu, regularly awarded one of the top destination wellness retreats in North America.Hayden, a three time finisher of 100 mile running races including a podium finish at this year’s Jackpot Ultra Running Festival 24 Hour Race, overcame a pattern of destructive behavior and is now helping others thrive whether on the trail, in the gym, or in the process of setting their own goals.Additionally, Hayden has worked with SOAR (School of Addiction Recovery), a non-profit recovery gym in Ogden, Utah that works with teens and adults.Thanks for supporting and please rate and review afterwards.https://www.theranchlife.comhttp://www.schoolofaddiction.orghttp://www.instagram.com/coach_hayb/http://www.instagram.com/pastordrewsams/http://www.instagram.com/belairchurch/

Pastor Drew Sams sits down with Diego Traverso, humanitarian, film maker and Director of International Relief at Operation Blessing. You can find Operation Blessing at their website, OB.org, and on Instagram @operationblessing here: https://www.instagram.com/operationblessingRent or purchase Diego's documentary film Volviendo on Apple TV here: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/volviendo/umc.cmc.7awbqhkiwm0wln1eh06rr270wTo find out more ways to volunteer, give, or receive help regarding the LA Fires, please visit belair.org/lafires.