Passionate Podcast

In this episode, Pastors Nick and Sarah continue talking about our Made for More series — along with the two-year generosity initiative rooted in Ephesians 3:20. Together they unpack what it means to trust God with our time, talents, and treasures, and how generosity shapes us as passionate followers of Jesus.This isn’t just about giving — it’s about growing. Whether you’re new to 2Rivers or already part of the journey, this episode will inspire you to live open-handed and see God do immeasurably more.📖 Chapters00:00 – Welcome & overview of Made for More01:00 – The vision behind the initiative03:00 – “More of Jesus, less of us”05:00 – Purpose vs. calling08:00 – Staying focused as individuals & a church10:00 – Living for others (Philippians 2)12:00 – The heart of generosity14:00 – How 2Rivers approaches giving18:00 – Nick’s personal journey with finances20:00 – Why money is hard to trust God with26:00 – Hope for those struggling financially28:00 – What tithing really means31:00 – Grace giving & practical next steps33:00 – Generosity as a lifestyle37:00 – God’s provision and sustaining grace42:00 – Sacrificial vs. surplus giving46:00 – Living open-handed & stories of faith💬 TakeawayGenerosity isn’t about what God wants from you — it’s about what He wants for you. When we trust Him fully, He multiplies what matters most.🔗 ResourcesLearn more → 2riverschurch.com/madeformoreWe love the work of Financial Peace University to help you get a handle on your finances. Ultimately it allows us to live more freely when we learn to steward the resources God has given us & it allows us to live generous lives. We will have a new FPU class in the beginning of 2026 but there are other classes in our area or virtually you can check out today! Find an FPU class near you: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/financial-peace/class Give → 2riverschurch.com/give

In this episode, Sarah and Pastor Nick look back on God’s faithfulness at 2Rivers and unpack what’s ahead: the Made For More initiative, the Venue @ 96 service, and a practical plan to make room for more people to meet Jesus. It’s an honest, hope-filled conversation about vision, stewardship, and inviting our church family into the journey.”Made for more landing page: https://www.2riverschurch.com/madeformore[0:00] - Welcome & Introduction Hosts Nick and Sarah welcome listeners, introduce the podcast, and set the stage for a discussion about the church’s journey and vision.[0:39] - Launching the "Made For More" Series The hosts discuss the new message series, the vision behind it, and the years of prayer and discernment that led to this point.[1:12] - Two Rivers Church History A look back at the church’s 26-year history, including its founding, early days, and key milestones.[5:06] - Growth, Buildings, and Facilities Discussion of the church’s moves, building acquisitions, and the challenges and blessings of steady growth.[9:04] - Navigating Growth Post-COVID How the church adapted and grew after COVID, including the addition of services and working with the Aspen Group to plan for the future.[13:07] - Land, Expansion, and Setbacks The journey of seeking new land, facing disappointments, and ultimately acquiring 7.8 acres for future expansion.[19:17] - Bridging the Gap: Current Plans Plans for the immediate future, including launching a fourth service, venue renovations, and refreshing existing spaces to accommodate growth.[26:14] - Financial Stewardship & Generosity Initiative A transparent look at church finances, the importance of stewardship, and the launch of an $8 million generosity initiative to fund operations, pay off debt, and prepare for future growth.[38:04] - Commitments & Core Values The leadership’s commitments: keeping Jesus at the center, avoiding pressure or guilt, and walking together in faith through this journey.[51:35] - Discipleship, Support, and Next Steps Encouragement for listeners to seek financial health, pray about their role, and participate in the journey. Information about resources like Financial Peace University and the Made For More website.[54:26] - Closing Thoughts & Prayer Final encouragement, a call to unity, and a closing prayer for the church and its mission.For more information, resources, and to get involved, visit:https://www.2riverschurch.com/madeformore

In this real and unscripted episode, Pastor Ron Cathcart joins Sarah to reflect on 26 years of 2Rivers Church—how it started, what’s changed, and why the mission still matters. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, how Ephesians 3:20 has shaped our vision, and what it really means to be “passionate followers of Jesus.” Ron shares about leadership transitions, being “Papa” to grandkids, and what semi-retirement looks like for someone who never planned to retire from loving Jesus and His church. It all wraps up with a heartfelt prayer for the future of 2Rivers.Highlights:Why the name “Two Rivers” wasn’t that deep (but still perfect)What a hymnal and a cracked door taught Ron about prayerHow the leadership transition to Nick Tallo happenedWhat makes this church unique—and why it’s still all about JesusGrandpa moments, Ron-isms, and big prayers for the future📍 Want to learn more about 2Rivers Church? Visit 2riverschurch.com📍 Interested in Pastor Ron & Debbie’s full story? Check out the 25th Anniversary video interview https://2riverschurch.subspla.sh/pn6wcmz 📍 Looking for ways to serve, connect, or grow in your faith? Explore next steps at: 2riverschurch.com/serve 2riverschurch.com/connect 2riverschurch.com/give📍 Listen to more episodes of the Passionate Podcast 2riverschurch.com/podcast 00:00 – Welcome to the Passionate Podcast00:32 – Meet Ron: Unscripted, Unfiltered, and Always Himself01:49 – Celebrating 26 Years of God's Faithfulness03:29 – Family First: Meet the Cathcarts (And All the Grandkids)05:13 – When Ron First Felt the Call to Ministry09:49 – The Messy, Beautiful Beginning of 2Rivers Church16:03 – Why We’re Called “Two Rivers Church” (The Real Story)19:44 – Our Mission: Helping People Become Passionate Followers of Jesus23:44 – Moments That Marked Us: Stories of God at Work32:51 – What It’s Like to Look Back on 26 Years33:16 – Ron-isms, Staff Laughs, and Leadership Lessons34:51 – How the Transition to Nick Tallo Happened (And Why It Worked)37:09 – Why Ron Didn’t Retire—And What “Semi-Retired” Means for Him40:00 – Being Papa: Grandkids, Hawaii, and a Slower Pace That Still Moves47:31 – Prayers from Grandpa: A Legacy That Started Before Day One52:46 – Ephesians 3:20 and Our Vision for What’s Still to Come01:01:07 – Ron’s Final Prayer: For Our Church, Our Future, and God's Glory

 In this episode, Nick and Sarah reflect on the heart behind our Jesus Reexamined series, exploring what it means to return to the Gospels with fresh eyes and humble hearts. They discuss the balance of grace and truth, what it practically looks like to build your life on Jesus, and why forgiveness is one of the most powerful (and difficult) ways we live out Christ’s example. With personal stories, deep theology, and honest encouragement, this episode invites you to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did.Chapters:00:00 - Welcome + Podcast Purpose 01:06 - Why "Jesus Reexamined"? 03:00 - Reading the Gospels Chronologically 06:28 - Grace & Truth — A Tension Worth Holding 10:01 - Why Jesus as Foundation Still Matters 16:02 - Putting Words into Practice 24:17 - Questions for Reflection & Community 27:13 - Forgiveness — The Hard but Holy Road 33:10 - Counseling, Community, & Grace 35:04 - Releasing the Cup 41:06 - The Power of Forgiveness in Real Life 42:16 - Be With Jesus, Become Like Him 43:02 - Staying Rooted in the Real Jesus 47:08 - Prayer & Wrap-UpResources mentioned in this episode: Jesus Reexamined series link https://www.2riverschurch.com/JesusReexaminedJesus Reexamined Reading plan - https://www.2riverschurch.com/JesusReadingplanForgiveness Message - https://2riverschurch.subspla.sh/hs8ffqp 

Welcome to The Passionate Podcast, where we dive into real stories of faith in action and what it means to follow Jesus passionately.In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tibor and Noami from the Bartimaeus Foundation, our long-time friends and mission partners from Hungary. Their journey is a beautiful reminder of how God’s light breaks through the darkness and how a life fully surrendered to Jesus can change lives forever.Tibor shares his incredible testimony of overcoming blindness, wrestling with suffering, discovering faith, and dedicating his life to sharing the gospel. His passion for serving others led to the formation of the Bartimaeus Foundation, a ministry focused on four key areas:Serving the Blind through camps and providing accessible Bibles.Reaching Illiterate Gypsies with the gospel, including ministry to their children through VBS programs.Caring for Orphans by building relationships, sharing love, and inviting them to youth camps where lives are being transformed.Supporting Ukrainian Refugees through humanitarian aid, English language camps, and providing audio Bibles for the blind in Ukraine.Noami also shares her journey of wrestling with faith, embracing God’s call to ministry, and her passion for making Jesus known to others. Her words remind us of the importance of surrendering our pride and fears to truly live out what we believe.We also discuss how you can join us on mission in Hungary and make an impact through prayer, giving, and even going.Episode Breakdown:00:00 — Welcome to The Passionate Podcast 00:38 — Living on Mission: What It Means to Follow Jesus Passionately at 2Rivers Church 01:54 — Meet Our Mission Partners: Tibor and Naomi from Hungary 03:10 — Tibor's Testimony: From Darkness to Light 09:45 — Noami's Journey: Faith, Family, and Finding Mentors 14:47 — Encouragement and Living Out Faith 20:20 — The Bartimaeus Foundation: Serving the Blind, Gypsies, Orphans, and Refugees 24:20 — The Couch Donation Story & Ministry to Orphans 24:55 — Building Relationships with the Group Home 25:46 — Reaching Teenagers & Growing Faith 25:57 — Church Involvement & Special Events 26:23 — Youth Group Camp & Faith Journeys 27:18 — Ministry Among the Gypsies 28:43 — Ministry Among the Blind 30:22 — Reaching Ukrainian Refugees & English Camp 33:23 — Preparing for the Summer Mission Trip 37:48 — Prayer Requests & Final ThoughtsResources Mentioned in This Episode:📌 Learn more about 2Rivers Church’s mission to live on mission: 2Rivers Mission Page📌 Get details about the upcoming mission trip to Hungary: Hungary Trip Info📌 Learn more about the Bartimaeus Foundation: Bartimaeus Foundation Website📌 Support Tibor & Naomi’s ministry: Give Toward Bartimaeus Foundation

In this episode of The Passionate Podcast, hosts Nick and Sarah embark on a discussion about becoming more passionate followers of Jesus Christ. They dive deep into their recent sermon series about Soul Realigned, addressing the importance of Sabbath, rest, and slowing down in our fast-paced lives. They explore practical steps for decluttering both physical spaces and mental bandwidth. They emphasize the importance of abiding in Christ, aligning our lives to produce spiritual fruit, and the necessity of self-assessment and setting intentional rhythms. Various practical tips are shared, including reducing social media, memorizing scriptures, and setting up 'Do Not Disturb' modes on phones, alongside resource recommendations like books and reading plans to help listeners transform their spiritual lives.00:00 Introduction to The Passionate Podcast 00:39 The Heart Behind the Podcast01:49 Diving into the Sermon Series: Soul Realigned02:13 The Journey of Sabbath and Ministry04:51 Understanding Simple Church Philosophy06:59 The Importance of Intentional Living11:23 Exploring the Concept of the Soul18:39 The Battle for Our Souls: Recognizing the Enemy23:17 The Power of Transformation and Renewing the Mind34:54 Practical Steps for Soul Care39:39 Dreams of Minimalist Travel40:18 The Impact of Clutter on Mental Health41:20 Creating Margin in Life42:40 The Importance of Rest and Sabbath44:12 Practical Steps for Intentional Living45:19 The Role of Nature in Well-being46:11 The Concept of Sabbath Beyond a Day53:51 Combating the Hurry Sickness57:55 Practical Tips for Digital Detox01:06:27 Final Thoughts on Soul RealignmentResources that were mentioned:Carey Neiouf podcast with Ruth Haley Barton Reclaiming Sabbath - https://careynieuwhof.com/episode260/ Listen back to the soul Realigned message series -https://www.2riverschurch.com/watch.html?sapurl=LytkazNmL2xiL21zLys2NnlkM2p4P2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZSZyZWNlbnRSb3V0ZT1hcHAud2ViLWFwcC5saWJyYXJ5Lmxpc3QmcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPSUyQmo2cndjOWs= Emotionally healthy individuals book - https://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Impossible-Spiritually/dp/0310348498 Soul care reading plan signup email - https://mailchi.mp/2riverschurch/soul-realigned-reading-planSoul assessment link https://notes.subsplash.com/fill-in/view?page=HyDO3VbwJl Joshua Becker - The More of Less https://www.amazon.com/More-Less-Finding-Under-Everything/dp/1601427964 John Mark Comer - Rule of Life concept - https://www.practicingtheway.org/ruleoflifebuilderRedeeming your time - Jordan Reiner - https://a.co/d/43agnfFEphesians 2:1-3 - Enemies of the soul - the World, the Enemy, the flesh