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Send us Fan Mail We're so excited to announce the newest podcast from The Porch - Around the Table.  Around the Table is a discipleship podcast made up of moments from our House Church gatherings, Bible Studies, Community Conversations, and more!  If you're searching for more of Jesus, and looking for a community to take the journey with, Around the Table is for you! So find it now on all major streaming platforms and get ready for the first episode coming July 6th!  And get ready for season 2 of Sacred & Strange coming later this summer! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail For the first time this season, the hosts of Sacred & Strange are not the ones asking the questions. In the Season One finale, the conversation turns as the team behind the podcast interviews Jay and Erinn Urena about faith, leadership, marriage, parenting, anxiety, calling, and the quiet places where God does His deepest work. This episode is less concerned with answers and more focused on posture—questions that shape a life, silence that creates space, and stories that emerge not from performance, but from shared life and trust. Throughout the conversation, themes of anxiety and peace, surrender and self-awareness, and the long work of spiritual formation come into view. Jason reflects on learning to release control and allow God to stand in places once held by striving, while Erinn shares about discernment, waiting, and recognizing God’s timing. Together, they speak candidly about ministry, family, discipleship, and the importance of presence over productivity. Rather than serving as a highlight reel or a summary of accomplishments, this finale offers a pause—a listening posture shaped by honesty, relationship, and time at the table. The Questions, The Silence, and The Stories That Find Us closes Season One of Sacred & Strange with gratitude, humility, and room to breathe. Season Two is coming soon. __________________________________________________________________ 00:00 Introduction and Team Setup 02:52 The Art of Asking Questions 08:16 Impact of Questions on Personal Growth 14:25 Parenting and Passing Down Values 27:27 Challenges and Joys of Raising Pastor's Kids 36:31 Ministry Insights and Leadership Values 52:05 Balancing Family and Ministry 55:35 Dreaming with God: Future Plans 01:02:05 Prophetic Insights and Communication 01:29:20 Victory in Personal Struggles 01:37:15 Closing Thoughts and Prayers Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This Wednesday, Sacred & Strange closes out Season One. For the first time, we’re not the ones asking the questions.  We’re sitting in them. In this final episode, my wife and I are interviewed by our team—people who’ve shared the work, the table, the prayers, and the quiet moments in between. We talk about questions that shape us, the silence we often rush past, and the stories that don’t come from performance—but from shared life. This isn’t a highlight reel.  It’s a pause.  A listening posture.  A conversation that lets the story find us. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This episode marks the beginning of FOUNDATIONS, a teaching segment of Sacred & Strange created to build deep, lasting roots of faith rather than just host conversations. While many episodes on this podcast take the form of interviews and shared stories, FOUNDATIONS is where we slow down, open the Scriptures, and engage in intentional formation — teaching meant to shape identity, practice, and the way we live as followers of Jesus. In The Temple, The Table, and The Family of God, we explore a central biblical truth often overlooked in modern conversations about revival: God’s plan has always been family. From the Garden of Eden, where humanity was formed as a priestly household, to the Temple where God dwelled among His people, to the Upper Room where the Spirit fell in a home, Scripture reveals a consistent pattern — revival is sustained not by events, platforms, or personalities, but by transformed people living in covenant relationship with one another. This teaching traces the biblical story of sacred space and priesthood, showing how God’s presence moves from gardens, to tabernacles, to temples — and ultimately into homes and hearts. We look at how the tearing of the veil, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the language of adoption and sonship all point to the same reality: God is building a household, not just gathering a crowd. FOUNDATIONS exists to help bridge belief and practice — to move theology from information into formation. These teachings are meant to ground faith, call believers into mature discipleship, and invite listeners to consider how revival begins not in conferences, but around tables, within families, and through lives surrendered to the way of Jesus. Whether you’re a pastor, a parent, a leader, or someone longing for deeper roots, this episode invites you to reimagine revival as something we carry, something we live, and something we pass on. 00:00 Introduction and New Year's Greetings 00:26 Special Message from the Kingdom Convergence Conference 02:28 Opening Remarks and Prayer 04:35 Defining Revival and Its Importance 08:32 The Role of Family in Revival 11:48 Priestly Functions and Family 15:13 From Genesis to the Tabernacle: A Journey 18:54 Revival in the Old Testament 19:53 The Role of Family in Revival 20:52 Pentecost: The Culmination of Themes 22:56 Revival in the Home 24:51 Carrying Revival Within 26:29 Practical Steps to Embrace Revival 29:25 The Story of Zacchaeus 32:35 Revival Starts at Home 33:46 Personal Testimony and Final Thoughts 38:41 Closing Prayer Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to carry a promise from God—and what does it require of us while we wait? In this Advent-centered episode, Jay revisits a message shared with the Porch missional community, exploring the story of Mary in Luke 1 and what it teaches us about promise, favor, and faith. Advent isn’t just about waiting for Christmas—it’s about the coming of something God has spoken, something growing, something not yet seen. Through Mary’s response, we’re invited to consider what it looks like to be pregnant with promise—to receive a word from God, to carry it faithfully through uncertainty, and to bring it into community where it can be confirmed and strengthened. From the angel’s announcement, to the quiet waiting, to the witness of Elizabeth and John, this conversation unpacks how God often works: depositing promise, forming it in hidden places, and revealing it through the Holy Spirit and the people around us. If you’ve ever sensed God speaking something over your life—a calling, a dream, a new season—but felt unsure how to steward it, this episode is an invitation to slow down, lean in, and trust the process. Because God’s promises aren’t just meant to be heard—they’re meant to be carried, witnessed, and brought to life. 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Greetings 00:24 Reloaded Episode: Message on Mary and Advent 02:13 Understanding Advent and Promise 04:09 The Annunciation: Mary's Encounter with Gabriel 06:29 Mary's Response and Reflection 11:51 Mary Visits Elizabeth: Confirmation of the Promise 13:46 Community and Partnership in Promise 18:00 Reflection and Group Activity 29:09 Closing Thoughts and Prayer Support the show

Send us Fan Mail ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. Some stories don’t begin with calling — they begin with survival. In this deeply moving episode of Sacred & Strange, Jay sits down with Steve and Brandyn Gipe, longtime friends and the founders of Cedar Refuge, a nonprofit building safe, long-term homes for young survivors of human trafficking—specifically boys ages 6–18 and girls ages 6–10, two of the most overlooked demographics in the system. Together, they trace the long road from broken beginnings to redemptive purpose. Steve shares his journey from a rigid, legalistic upbringing, through rebellion, addiction, and a radical roadside encounter with God that redirected his life toward loving and shepherding at-risk youth. Brandyn opens up about growing up amid instability, domestic violence, abandonment, and emotional shutdown—and how God preserved her, healed her, and shaped her heart for vulnerable children. This conversation explores: What it means to be lost—and unseen How people are found through love, presence, and obedience Why some are called to become a refuge for others The heartbreaking gaps in care for trafficked children in America Why there are currently no residential homes for male trafficking victims and none for victims under 10 How Cedar Refuge is responding by building something that doesn’t yet exist This is not a polished testimony episode. It’s raw. Honest. Pastoral. And hopeful. It’s about saying yes when God asks you to stand in the gap—especially when the cost is high and the work is heavy. If you’ve ever wondered how personal pain can become purpose… If you’ve ever felt burdened for the overlooked… If you’ve ever asked what faith looks like when it moves toward suffering instead of away from it… This episode is for you. ☕ Special Note: To support Cedar Refuge, 100% of proceeds from coffee sales on release day and the following day are being donated directly to their mission. Head over to www.theporchny.com for more info! 00:00 Introduction to the Episode and Guests 00:39 Fundraising for Cedar Refuge 02:41 Welcome to Sacred and Strange 03:10 Steve and Brandyn's Backgrounds 07:29 Steve's Early Life and Challenges 09:01 Moving to Ohio and New Beginnings 22:15 Steve's Encounter with the Lord 30:39 Starting a Nonprofit and Youth Work 36:45 Pursuing a Purpose Beyond College 37:09 Empathy for the Shooters 37:58 A Calling to Help At-Risk Youth 39:14 Journey to California 41:53 A Life-Changing Encounter at the Border 45:11 Starting a New Job and Meeting Erin 49:45 Brandyn's Early Life and Family Struggles 01:04:41 Moving to Arkansas and Experiencing Racism 01:10:06 Returning to California and Finding Stability 01:15:20 Joining the Choir and Finding a Team 01:16:25 Introduction to Movies and Choir 01:17:30 Science Class Confrontation 01:18:48 Youth Group and Mission Trips 01:19:46 Miraculous Healing Stories 01:23:05 Life-Changing Uganda Trip 01:29:04 Discovering Human Trafficking 01:32:36 Founding Cedar Refuge 01:39:34 Vision and Future Plans 01:47:11 Call to Action and Conclusion Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Some stories don’t start clean. They start broken. Lost. Complicated. In this episode of Sacred & Strange, I sit down with Steve & Brandyn Gipe to talk about the long road from pain to purpose — stories shaped by fractured childhoods, radical encounters with God, and a calling to stand in the gap for kids the world often overlooks. We talk about what it means to be lost, what it looks like to be found, and why some people are called to become a refuge for others. This conversation is raw, redemptive, and deeply human — and it points to the kind of faith that shows up when things are messy, not polished. 🎧 The Lost, The Found, and The Refuge Full episode drops next Wednesday on YouTube and all major streaming platforms. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of traumatic experiences, including domestic violence and human trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be the Bride of Christ? In this special throwback episode, Jay and Levi crack open one of the most powerful—yet most misunderstood—ideas in the entire biblical story: Covenant. This isn’t a sermon. It’s a raw, unscripted conversation about the kind of relationship God invites us into…  Not a surface-level “Sunday Christian” thing, but a life-on-life, blood-bound, transformational covenant that stretches from Abraham to Jesus and all the way into our everyday lives. Jay and Levi explore: Why being “the Bride” is far deeper than a metaphorHow covenant always requires cost, commitment, and pursuitWhy God is the ultimate Bridegroom who comes after us firstHow church culture has shaped (and sometimes distorted) our view of covenantWhat it looks like to die to ourselves in relationship—just like a real marriageAnd how Jesus embodies both the Bridegroom and the blueprint of the BrideThis episode will challenge the way you see church, community, and your walk with Jesus.  It’s intimate. It’s theologically rich. And it’s the perfect kickoff to a series that asks the question: If we’re the Bride… are we living like it? 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:15 Throwback to Old Recordings 00:47 Upcoming Episodes and Announcements 02:13 Introduction to The Bride Series 03:17 Porch Talks: A New Way of Conversation 04:54 Understanding Covenant and The Bride of Christ 07:02 Personal Experiences and Church Culture 13:32 The Biblical Perspective on Covenant 20:01 The Cost of Covenant and Transformation 26:40 Challenges and Observations in Church Culture 31:48 Exploring Faith and Community 32:18 The Importance of Church Community 34:33 Covenant with Christ and His Bride 36:27 Biblical Narratives of Covenant 43:21 Jesus: The Fulfillment of Covenant 54:41 Risk and Commitment in Faith Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Sacred & Strange, Ray Sullivan sits down with Jay to share a story that feels like a modern-day parable—raw, honest, and marked by the unmistakable fingerprints of God. Ray grew up in church, but not the kind you easily forget. He talks candidly about the dogmatic rules, the church split that fractured families, and the disillusionment that pushed him away. What followed was a whirlwind of rebellion: drifting through bars, new-age circles, the occult, and years of running from the faith he once knew. But even in the chaos, God never stopped chasing him. Ray opens up about the long season of “doing life his own way,” the spiritual confusion he didn’t realize he was walking into, and the gut-level honesty he eventually had to bring before God. And then—he shares the moment everything changed. A random Facebook livestream. A worship gathering in his hometown. A presence he couldn’t deny. Tears he couldn't stop. And a God who didn’t just welcome him back… but revealed the calling on his life. Ray’s journey is one of rebellion, deconstruction, rediscovery, discipleship, and consecration. He talks about: The impact of growing up in a divided churchRunning with the wrong crowd and spiritual danger he didn’t recognizeThe long stretch where he refused to step foot in a churchThe hunger that returned out of nowhereThe encounter that broke him wide openThe beauty of community that actually reflects JesusThe call of God that keeps echoing over his lifeWhat it really means to be a disciple—not just a believerThis episode is full of wisdom, humor, vulnerability, and holy moments. If you’ve ever felt disillusioned with church, wrestled with faith, or wondered if you can really come home after drifting far away—Ray’s story is going to speak straight to your heart. This is an episode about rebellion… about redemption… and about the Presence that never stops pursuing us. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:23 Ray's Early Life and Faith Journey 02:29 Teenage Years and Family Influence 03:46 Struggles with Faith and Personal Growth 07:51 Reconnecting with Church and Marriage 10:05 Joining the Journey Church 16:02 Discovering Home Church 18:39 Building Community and New Beginnings 35:45 The Refining Path and Life's Call 36:31 Consecration and Favor 38:40 Samuel's Story and Consecration 42:41 Church Hurt and Personal Growth 53:17 Discipleship and Following Jesus 57:26 Creative and Entrepreneurial Journey 01:04:28 Parenting and Repentance 01:09:36 Final Reflections and Prayer Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Sacred & Strange, we sit down with Ray Sullivan—a man whose story feels like a whole book of the Bible packed into one life. From running with the wrong crowd to wrestling with church hurt, to unexpectedly breaking down in the middle of a worship livestream, Ray’s journey is raw, honest, and full of the fingerprints of God. In this preview, Ray opens up about his early years drifting through bars, occult circles, and a faith he kept at arm’s length… until the Presence broke in. What followed was a radical reshaping of his life: deconstruction with Jesus, rediscovering authentic community, and learning what it truly means to be a disciple. If you’ve ever felt lost, burnt out, disillusioned, or unsure where you stand with God, this story is going to hit deep. The full episode drops this Wednesday. Get ready — this one’s vulnerable, powerful, and absolutely soaked in the nearness of God. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week on Sacred & Strange, Jay sits down with Joe Johnson—the family court judge who looks like Santa Claus and talks like a man who has actually wrestled with God. From the bench to the Bible, Joe pulls back the curtain on what justice really looks like when you’re dealing with real families, real failures, and real heartbreak. He opens up about the loss of his brother, the guilt that nearly crushed him, and the shocking way God broke through the grief. Joe talks spiritual warfare, Holy Spirit nudges, prophetic dreams, and even the exorcism he’ll never forget. But he also talks about compassion in the courtroom, why mercy is not weakness, and why following Jesus means choosing responsibility over excuses. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s surprisingly funny. And it’s a conversation that will leave you rethinking justice, grief, calling—and maybe even Santa Claus. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:34 Joe Johnson's Background and Career 03:14 Journey into Family Law 10:04 Faith and Professional Life 19:52 Personal Loss and Faith Rediscovery 33:22 Ecumenical Work and Alpha Program 36:47 Questioning Faith and Catholicism 37:10 Understanding Sainthood and Idolatry 38:15 Reverence in Catholicism vs. Charismatic Churches 39:02 Evangelism and Denominational Differences 40:22 Dreams and Divine Conversations 42:21 Writing and Sharing Personal Faith 47:53 Exorcism Experience 54:26 Understanding Evil and Blame 59:41 Relationship with the Holy Spirit 01:06:43 Books and Christmas Message 01:09:10 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Next Wednesday, Sacred & Strange gets wild. Jay sits down with family-court judge, author, and honorary Santa-lookalike Joe Johnson for a conversation that swings from the courtroom to the supernatural—and somehow lands right in the heart of Jesus. In this preview, Joe opens up about the kind of justice you never see on TV, the grief that nearly broke him after losing his brother, and the moment God stepped into the story with a kind of mercy he didn’t expect. You’ll hear about prophetic dreams, spiritual warfare, the hardest parts of judging people fairly, and why Joe says he’s more of a “sheepdog” than a shepherd. It’s raw, funny, challenging, and filled with the kind of honesty that Sacred & Strange is all about. The Courtroom, The Savior, and The Santa Claus w/ Joe Johnson — dropping next Wednesday. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Trigger Warning: Child Loss, Grief, Trauma This week on Sacred & Strange, Jay sits down with his close friend, Rip Wahlberg, for an honest, vulnerable, and deeply sacred conversation about walking through unimaginable grief. This episode includes a trigger warning: we discuss the death of Rip and Annemarie’s young son, Aiden, who tragically drowned in 2008. If this topic is tender or activating for you, please listen with care or wait until you feel ready. Rip opens his heart to share the story no parent ever wants to tell—how their son’s accident unfolded, the immediate shock that shattered their world, and the long, painful journey that followed. But this isn’t just a story about loss. It’s a story about grief, healing, emotional honesty, spiritual formation, community, and the faithfulness of God in the places we least expect it. Throughout the conversation, Jay and Rip explore: The moment life changed forever and what those first hours and days were really likeHow Rip and Annemarie processed grief differently, and why both paths were validWhy avoiding pain traps us—and walking into pain with God sets us freeHow vulnerability, therapy, community, and Scripture shaped their healingThe danger of spiritual bypassing, clichés, and “speaking truth to pain”Identity, guilt, shame, and idolatry—and how false beliefs can become prisonsWhy God can handle your anger, your questions, your honesty, and your breakingHow their children processed the loss, even those too young to rememberWhat redemption and restoration really look like 15+ years laterWhy testimony matters, and how sharing their scars now brings hope to othersDespite the heaviness of the story, this episode radiates hope. Rip and his family didn’t bypass the valley—they walked through it. And what emerges on the other side is a tender, hard-won testimony of a God who meets us in grief, sits with us in sorrow, and leads us—slowly—into healing. If you’re carrying pain, trauma, or loss, this episode may be difficult, but it may also be deeply validating. You’re not alone. Your grief matters. And there is a way forward. 00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning 01:47 Welcoming Rip Wahlberg 02:51 Rip's Tragic Story Begins 04:26 The Drowning Incident 05:50 Immediate Aftermath and Community Support 19:39 Therapy and Coping Mechanisms 25:31 Reflections on Grief and Healing 34:11 Theological Insights on Pain and Comfort 43:33 Cultural and Generational Perspectives on Grief 46:32 Introduction to Grief and Faith 48:03 Exploring the Retribution Principle 52:16 The Story of Job and Human Suffering 01:02:56 Idolatry and Inner Healing 01:11:31 Family Testimonies and Healing 01:25:27 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Support the show

Send us Fan Mail “Shattered: The Tragedy, the Truth, and the God Who Stays w/ Rip Wahlberg” Full episode drops next Wednesday. This week’s preview comes with a trigger warning: we’re stepping into a story of unimaginable loss — the sudden passing of a child. In this trailer, Jay gives listeners a raw glimpse into next Wednesday’s conversation with Rip Wahlberg, a father who walked through every parent’s worst nightmare… and somehow found God waiting in the middle of the wreckage. You’ll hear pieces of Rip’s journey — the phone call that shattered their world, the grief that nearly swallowed them, and the surprising ways God met their family in the pain. It’s honest, vulnerable, and sacred. This isn’t an episode about tidy answers.  It’s about truth, trauma, healing, and a God who doesn’t run from our darkness — He sits with us in it. If you’ve ever walked through grief…  If you’ve ever questioned God in suffering…  If you’ve ever wondered whether healing is possible after tragedy… This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. “Shattered: The Tragedy, the Truth, and the God Who Stays” premieres next Wednesday. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jay sits down with Aaron Dolce, co-pastor of The Rock of Roseville in California, for a vulnerable, hilarious, and deeply honest conversation about what it really means to live in community. Aaron shares his story of growing up in a cessationist church, encountering the Holy Spirit for the first time at a youth camp, and discovering the messy beauty of the charismatic life. Together, he and Jay unpack how community forms us — and how isolation, gossip, and consumer Christianity quietly destroy the Church from within. They dive into: Why revival starts with reconciliationThe hidden dangers of Christian “witchcraft” (words that wound)How gossip and offense erode trust and unityLearning to love people — not just agree with themThe supernatural power of communion, confession, and friendshipAnd why joy, feasting, and celebration are spiritual disciplinesIt’s raw, funny, challenging, and full of hope for what the Church can look like when we choose to stay connected — even when it costs us something. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:46 Aaron's Journey to Co-Pastor 08:36 The Impact of Youth Camp 13:15 Exploring Theological Backgrounds 21:00 Healing and the Supernatural 29:51 Challenges in Church Leadership 39:39 Mexican Food and Football 40:02 The Importance of Community in Healing 43:10 The Role of Vulnerability in Community 45:25 Co-Pastoring and Leadership 47:50 Joy and Healing in Community 01:00:25 The Impact of Gossip on Community 01:09:16 Miracles of Reconciliation 01:16:51 Prayer and Blessings Support the show