In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Christian Dunn about the importance of the teenage years, and how commitment and time are vital to forming relationships with youth. Christian talks about annual nationwide youth camps, Project Timothy, and the ministry fruit he’s seen in young adults who attended Project Timothy as teens. Christian also shares some encouragement for parents of teens.  Christian and his wife Mandy pastor CityLight Vineyard Church in Newark DE which they planted in 2017.  He has worked in youth ministry for three decades has had the pleasure of serving as the East Region Youth Task Force Leader and the VUSA National Youth Director. He is the author of “Finding the One: How Dating Prepares You For Marriage” and “More Than Spectators: Empowering Teens for Ministry.” He is excited about imparting to young people a passion for following Jesus, discovering their gifts, and pursuing their ministry callings.   Show Notes:  Vineyard USA’s Day of Giving 2025  Hear more of Christian’s story Vineyard Youth USA Project Timothy  Alpha Youth

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Kirsten Schwartz about growing up in a military family, cultivating a meaningful career in urban planning, and the family crisis that led her to join a church staff (tw: brief mention of infant loss). Kirsten shares about her research on building a culture of generosity within a congregation, how to raise money without running campaigns, and how generosity aligns with stewardship.   After years of serving as the Director of Generosity at a large church in Cincinnati, Kirsten Schwartz, our Director of Church Partnerships, is a trusted resource for empowering the church to live and give generously. Kirsten has a passion for helping churches navigate around obstacles and complications to grow a culture of generosity. Because her father was an Air Force pilot, Kirsten grew up in many places including Japan and Germany. She has two degrees: a masters in urban redevelopment from the University of Pennsylvania and in landscape architecture from Clemson University. She worked professionally in urban redevelopment with a focus in disaster recovery for cities around the country. Kirsten met her husband, Jason, at a triathlon in Florida. They live together in Cincinnati, Ohio with two children, Asher and Evelyn. Kirsten loves being active, sharing the good news of Jesus, and empowering women to lead in the Kingdom.   Show Notes:  Learn more about JOGs and Generous Giving   Here’s a video for Pastors on how Generous Giving can help them create a culture of generosity at no cost to them.  Follow Generous Giving on socials:  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GenerousGiving Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/generous.giving/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/generous-giving

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Chris Jensen about how a blue-haired punk rock kid ended up in ministry, the prayer that interrupted his life, and learning to be himself in a secular work environment. Chris talks about becoming an organizational health consultant, the role of artificial harmony in the dysfunction of the Church, and markers of health he’s looking for when working with a team. Finally, Chris shares why he decided to work with the Vineyard, and what he’d like to say to Vineyard pastors.  Chris brings over 15 years of experience to his partnership with The Table Group. Whether he's working with a CEO and their leadership team, addressing groups of leaders during a conference or workshop, or counseling a client one-on-one, Chris brings his passion, enthusiasm and contagious optimism for organizational health to every client he touches. Currently, Chris works regularly with CEOs and executive teams in quickly and effectively applying the concepts related to organizational health. His clients span a broad spectrum of various industries, including aerospace, consumer goods, health care, technology, education and local churches. Chris has extensive first hand experience building high-performing teams by implementing the models in his own teams under pressure to produce results.  Prior to partnering with The Table Group, Chris worked for InsideTrack, a San Francisco based technology and service organization, in the enterprise education segment. Before that, he worked in the ministry for nearly 10 years in California. He received his degree in Biblical Studies from Patten University. Chris lives with his wife and five children in Portland, Oregon.    Show notes:  Vineyard USA’s Day of Giving 2025  The Table Group  5 Dysfunctions of a Team  The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni   

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Rubén Quintero, leader of our Hispanic Association chats with Joel and Emmy Seymour about their visit to the US/Mexico border, Miguel Aviles about pastoring a predominantly immigrant Vineyard church, and Jimmy Reyes about the cultural differences in Hispanic and American churches, navigating a multilingual church, and maturing toward unity.  Joel Seymour serves as a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA.  Emmie Seymour is a junior studying nursing at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She has a deep desire to combine healthcare and missions and feels a calling to become a medical missionary. Her love for the Vineyard runs deep - she grew up at the Lancaster Vineyard in Ohio, where she’s served in many roles over the years, from leading Alpha small groups to volunteering with kids and serving as a youth ambassador. Emmie completed the leadership track for Project Timothy in 2023, which helped shape her growth as a leader. Miguel Aviles serves as the lead pastor of La Viña Burnsville in Minnesota alongside his wife Rocio Hernandez. La Viña Burnsville is a vibrant and diverse community, representing people from 17 different Latin American countries and highlighting the cultural richness of the body of Christ. Additionally, the church is home to a flourishing Brazilian ministry, led by a dedicated team, which continues to grow and impact lives with the message of the Gospel. Jimmy Reyes is the lead pastor of the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, CA. He has helped plant two Viña communities in Los Angeles, produced 2 Spanish albums with Vineyard Worship, and led worship at the first Vineyard Hispanic Gathering in the 90’s as a teenager. He also currently serves Vineyard USA as an Area Leader in Southern California.    Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More. Day of Giving 2025  Vineyard USA’s Hispanic Association  Vineyard USA celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Dr. Charles Montgomery, Jr. talks with Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin about when she first recognized she was called to leadership and the philosophy of redemptive leadership. Dr. Massie Martin also discusses how the Lord shapes us through the struggles and sacrifices of ministry, likening us to a piece of clay on the Potter’s wheel.  Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the Chief Operating Officer at Christianity Today and founder and Executive Director of Soulfire International Ministries. She is an accomplished writer and author, serves on various boards and councils, and leads the Grow Ministry at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Maryland. She and her husband, Mark, are proud parents to two amazing daughters.   Show Notes:  Register for Vineyard USA’s Women’s Conference: More. Nailing It by Nicole Massie Martin Nicolemassiemartin.com  sfiministries.org  Get a year of Christianity Today for free!   

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay talks with Joel Seymour about peacemaking, what it has to do with his role as a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA, and how he sees it shaping the future of the Vineyard Movement.  Joel Seymour is a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA. His passion for the Vineyard began as a teenager when he watched John Wimber’s testimony video (yay VHS!). He knew he had found his home when, as a college sophomore, he took the Fuller Seminary class MC550 “Healing and World Evangelism” led by Wimber and C. Peter Wagner.   In 1998, Joel and his wife Kristi planted their second church – the Lancaster Vineyard in Lancaster, OH, and Joel has served there as the Lead Pastor. He has been deeply engaged in his city, bringing together the social, private, and public sectors through the Art of Neighboring Fairfield County initiative. Joel also started the Small Town initiative within Multiply Vineyard. He has served as both an Area Leader and a Regional Leader within Vineyard USA and regularly draws on these experiences to encourage, equip, and empower local pastors.  He desires to give back to the Vineyard because of all it has given him: ongoing rich experiences of the Father’s heart, a naturally supernatural walk with the Spirit, and Kingdom Theology to undergird it all.   Joel enjoys playing guitar, leading worship, laughing, and most of all, taking long daily walks with his wife. Joel and Kristi have raised 3 great kids – Jesse, Luke, and Emmie.  Show Notes:  Vineyard USA’s Women’s Association Conference: More.  Hear more of Joel’s story  The Peacemaker by Ken Sande 

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and return guest Andy Crouch discuss the use of 2x2 grids as a framework for finding balance between synergistic values that often seem in competition with one another, and how Andy uses it as a tool in leadership development. They also discuss the effects of technology on our formation as humans. Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books (plus another with his daughter, Amy Crouch): The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, and Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. Andy serves on the governing board of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. For more than ten years he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including serving as executive editor from 2012 to 2016. He served the John Templeton Foundation in 2017 as senior strategist for communication. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and several editions of Best Christian Writing and Best Spiritual Writing—and, most importantly, received a shout-out in Lecrae's 2014 single "Non-Fiction." From 1998 to 2003, Andy was the editor-in-chief of re:generation quarterly, a magazine for an emerging generation of culturally creative Christians. For ten years he was a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard University. He studied classics at Cornell University and received an M.Div. summa cum laude from Boston University School of Theology. A classically trained musician who draws on pop, folk, rock, jazz, and gospel, he has led musical worship for congregations of 5 to 20,000. He and his wife, Catherine, raised two children and live in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.   Show Notes:...

Becky Olmstead is a passionate advocate, writer, and national voice for the next generation. With nearly 40 years of pastoral experience—serving alongside her husband at Vineyard Church of the Rockies and as a longtime Kids Pastor—Becky brings deep wisdom and heart to every conversation. She’s a former global leader with the 4/14 Movement and currently serves as the National Kids Director for Vineyard USA, where she’s helping shape a Spirit-led, Jesus-centered movement for children across the nation. Becky’s heart beats for seeing kids empowered by the Holy Spirit and being recognized in the Church as vital voices. Karen George is a creative leader and next-gen advocate with over 20 years of experience as a Kids Pastor and Creative Pastor. She serves as the Vineyard Kids USA Coordinator and helps develop Vineyard Kids Worship Music, creating meaningful moments where kids connect with God. Karen has been part of the global 4/14 Movement and is passionate about seeing a generation change the world with the love and power of God. She also runs a creative agency that helps businesses, churches, and ministries bring bold ideas to life through branding, events, and experiences, and when she’s not dreaming up something new, she’s hanging with her husband and two rad kids.

Glenn Packiam is the Lead Pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is also the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, co-authored with his wife, Holly, The Intentional Year. He earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University, and is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. Glenn has written over 65 worship songs published with Integrity Music, including “Your Name”, co-written with Paul Baloche. Glenn and Holly have four children and live in Orange County, California.   Show Notes: Register now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conference!  Glenn’s website  Rockharbor Church

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay and Christina Lowery discuss last week’s episode with Mark Batterson, including what Christina loves about their ministry approach. They also talk about why leadership development and succession plans are vital for the Vineyard today, how and why they created Vineyard Leadership Essentials, and some other effective pathways for discipleship. Christina shares about some of the new stuff coming in the Fall for pastors who have just come in as successors, some of what’s happening with NextGen and how she’s working to resource what God’s doing, and what she’s encouraged by as she meets with Vineyards around the country. Christina Lowery is the Associate National Director for Church Health and Development. Early in her ministry career, Christina served as the Events Director for a large student internship at Teen Mania Ministries (Acquire the Fire) in Tyler, TX.  In 2001, she and her husband Joel joined a local Vineyard Church there, and served on the pastoral team for several years until they were called to move back to Virginia and plant Crossroads Church.     Christina and Joel have co-pastored Crossroads Church in Fredericksburg, VA since 2008. As a Lead Pastor, Christina has been a big-picture thinker and creative visionary, responsible for communicating and driving the vision and mission of the church forward. She finds great joy in preaching and teaching, leadership development, and building systems that foster church health and growth. In addition to her local leadership at Crossroads Church, she has served in other leadership roles with the Vineyard, such as an Area Leader in Northern and Central Virginia for ten years (2009-2019) and on the Vineyard Women in Leadership Team for the past three years (2018-2021).  Joel and Christina have been married for 23 years and have 3 amazing kids – Hannah, Caleb, and Zoe.  The Lowery family loves to travel and so far, their favorite destination is Maui, with its warm sun and beautiful island beaches.  Show Notes: Register Now for Vineyard USA’s 2025 National Conferences Listen to Christina’s previous episode  Listen to Mark Batterson’s episode  Vineyard Leadership Essentials Project Timothy