Advertise on podcast: Pastors Unfiltered

Tony is still on vacation, so Morgan Butcher joins Brandon for a very unfiltered episode! Brandon shares stories from spending four days completely off the grid while rafting through the Grand Canyon, including sleeping under the stars, traveling by helicopter, horseback and raft, and potentially getting bitten or stung by something in the middle of the night.  That experience sparks a bigger conversation about why men need opportunities to disconnect, get outside, build real friendships and experience God through adventure. Brandon and Morgan also talk about Venture’s upcoming Men’s Retreat and the importance of shared experiences in creating meaningful community. Plus, Morgan shares about his new Seattle sports podcast, they debate the Mariners, Seahawks and Raiders, celebrate Venture Softball finally making the playoffs, and finish with what Morgan is reading, watching and listening to.  Thanks for watching Pastors Unfiltered! Like, subscribe and share the episode. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered   01:07 – Brandon’s Grand Canyon rafting trip   03:07 – Morgan’s new Seattle Sports Dad Cast   06:07 – Finding someone to join the father-son trip   08:28 – Getting men outside so God can change the inside   09:29 – Brandon’s journey into the Grand Canyon   12:33 – Four days completely disconnected   15:05 – Should Venture do a Grand Canyon trip?   16:12 – Dallas becomes Morgan’s spiritual son   17:33 – The power of fathers speaking life over their sons   20:45 – Why men need to get outside   21:04 – Venture Men’s Retreat   22:27 – How shared experiences create real friendships   25:12 – Sleeping under the stars in the Grand Canyon   26:35 – Did Brandon get stung by a scorpion?   28:00 – ChatGPT tells Brandon to go to the ER   30:22 – Bat, snake or scorpion?   34:23 – Everyone secretly wanted a tent   34:59 – Venture needs an “Adventure Pastor”   35:26 – Venture Family Camp announcement   36:10 – Choir, Dallas and wedding talk   39:33 – What is wrong with the Mariners?   44:09 – Seahawks and Raiders talk   46:32 – The legendary Mariners game at Men’s Retreat   48:19 – Morgan’s family update   50:41 – Venture Softball finally makes the playoffs   53:51 – What are you reading?   56:00 – What are you watching?   57:01 – What are you listening to?   58:36 – Closing thoughts

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Tony and Pastor Brandon sit down with Dave Nelson, Lead Pastor of Timberlake Church, for an incredibly honest conversation about ministry, leadership, anxiety, burnout, marriage, and what happens when everything you’ve built suddenly feels like it’s falling apart. Dave shares how he sensed a call to ministry as a teenager, traveled with a speaker at just 15 years old, eventually planted a church in Wisconsin, and watched that church grow rapidly. After 15 years of pastoring, however, a season of instability hit. The church lost its meeting location, attendance and giving dropped, his family was going through major challenges, and the pressure began affecting every area of his life. Dave opens up about reaching a point of complete burnout, losing confidence in himself as a leader, struggling with anxiety, and watching that stress spill over into his marriage. He shares the moment his wife left the house during an argument, the church leaders who confronted him with love, and the counseling experience that became a turning point for both his marriage and his health. Brandon also shares his own experience with anxiety and burnout, and the conversation turns toward why pastors often feel pressure to appear strong, why leaders need people who will tell them the truth, and what healthy rhythms can look like after walking through burnout. Dave shares how hiking, friendships, counseling, and reducing his preaching schedule have helped him recognize warning signs before they become another crisis. They also wrestle with vulnerability in leadership. How honest should a pastor be with their church? Can people follow a leader who admits they’re struggling? And what does it look like to lead authentically without pretending everything is okay? And before all of that, Tony and Brandon somehow find time to talk about church buildings becoming coffee shops, AI taking over the world, Harvard classes, Seattle politics, a potential trip to the White House, Raiders football, and why the Pastors Unfiltered puppet may already be retired. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered 0:32 Raiders, Seahawks & Brandon’s New Church Admin 1:43 Revival Weekend in Seattle 2:23 Pastor Di Talks Herself Out of a Speaking Gig 3:30 Leaving Church Refreshed 4:07 The Seattle Church Building Drama 5:19 Losing Church Buildings in Western Washington 6:03 Doom Scrolling & Churches Becoming Coffee Shops 7:09 Why Churches Won’t Sell Buildings to Other Churches 8:10 AI, Technology & the Church 9:17 Brandon’s Upcoming Prayer Trip 10:05 Brandon Goes to Harvard… Kind Of 11:03 AI Pastors & the Future of Ministry 12:19 Terminator, Skynet & Seattle Politics 14:14 Tony’s Potential White House Opportunity 15:49 Becoming Known for One Issue 17:02 Introducing Dave Nelson 18:39 What Does Timberlake Mean? 19:15 Timberlake’s Three Campuses 19:34 Dave’s Family 20:38 Feeling Called to Ministry at 15 21:08 Traveling With a Pastor as a Teenager 21:45 Preaching at 17 Years Old 22:56 From Wisconsin to Ministry School 23:45 Early Ministry Salaries 24:38 Planting a Church in Wisconsin 25:08 Dave’s Connection to Timberlake 27:02 Launching With 623 People 27:27 Reaching 1,000 in the First Year 28:09 Growing a Church to 1,500 28:31 When Everything Started Falling Apart 29:17 Attendance & Giving Collapse 29:41 “I Felt Like a Loser” 30:02 Burnout Starts Affecting Everything 30:25 When You Can’t Even Preach 31:03 “It’s a Fire Shut Up in My Bones” 31:21 The Importance of Momentum in Church Planting 32:10 Family Crisis on Top of Ministry Crisis 32:53 Dave & Brandon Discover Their Shared Anxiety Stories 33:14 Pastors Struggle Too 34:12 When Preaching Triggers Anxiety 35:37 Walking Back Into the Hardest Season 36:26 Losing Confidence as a Leader 37:03 Stress Begins Affecting Dave’s Marriage 37:41 Dave Opens Up About His Behavior at Home 38:24 The Night His Wife Said “I’m Done” 38:58 Showing Up to Church the Next Morning 39:17 “We Don’t Judge You” 39:38 “You Need Help” 40:15 The Counseling Trip That Changed Everything 41:08 Facing the Things He Had Said 41:54 Learning Better Habits 42:21 Finding Jesus in the Darkest Moment 43:22 Healing Wasn’t Instant 43:39 “Our Marriage Is the Best It’s Ever Been” 44:06 How Long Did It Take to Feel Normal Again? 44:30 “We Want a Healthy Pastor” 44:47 The Phone Call That Changed Dave’s Perspective 45:46 “Your Marriage Would Be a Disaster Too” 46:17 Support Without Excusing the Behavior 47:00 Why Don’t Pastors Talk About Anxiety? 47:41 Thinking You’ll Never Lead the Same Again 48:25 Brandon Finds His Confidence Again During COVID 49:02 Recognizing Anxiety Triggers 49:48 Brandon’s Mandatory Month Off 50:58 Dave’s Healthy Rhythms 51:18 Preaching Only 60% of the Year 52:13 Telling the Church You’re Burned Out 52:49 How Vulnerable Should a Pastor Be? 53:07 Brandon’s Experience Sharing His Anxiety Story 53:32 Refusing to Fake Leadership 54:31 Vulnerability vs. Perceived Strength 55:16 The Pastor as the Hero 55:44 Being Completely Yourself 56:20 “How Do You Know God Is Speaking?” 56:54 Ministry in the Seattle Area 57:43 The Three Questions 58:04 What Dave Is Listening To 58:46 What Dave Is Watching 59:26 What Dave Is Reading 1:00:05 Finding Fresh Vision 1:00:26 Tony’s Book on Prayer 1:01:02 The Puppet Almost Returns 1:01:30 Closing Thoughts 1:01:52 Jesus Is the Hope of the World

Tony, PB, and Brandon are keeping it casual and talking about life in ministry, relationships, vacations, weddings, social media, and what it actually looks like to be a healthy pastor and church. Topics discussed - Social media & the pastor’s inner circle Taking a break from Instagram and only watching instead of posting How social media can shape our idea of friendship and community The difference between ministry friends and genuine friendships Asking: “Who am I inviting to Revival Night?” - Wedding season stories Tony reflecting on wedding season coming to an end Falling asleep during a wedding toast PB’s Russian wedding story Rachel & Claire’s wedding Stories and memories from past weddings Pastors, therapy & vacation Tony’s famous “I don’t go on vacay” mentality Why pastors can struggle with guilt when taking time off The pressure to always be available The importance of pastors actually resting and taking vacations How a pastor’s constant presence can actually point to an unhealthy church culture How available should pastors be? How available should a lead pastor realistically be to their church? Being relational without being constantly accessible Knowing when something is mission-critical Leading through vision and mission, rather than trying to personally handle everything You don’t have to be the hero “Not everyone needs to love you.” Why pastors need to release the need to receive all the credit Empowering others instead of doing everything yourself Raising up leaders and sending them out 🙌 Healthy church leadership Giving staff opportunities to lead Developing leaders instead of creating dependence Building a church where ministry doesn’t revolve around one person Learning to be yourself as a leader Not allowing every outside voice to determine who you are or what you do

This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Tony and Pastor Brandon sit down with Jenny Waldron from New Life Kitsap, where she serves as the church’s Multiplication Lead and Teaching Lead and is helping prepare the church to launch new campuses. Jenny shares her journey from graphic design and creative ministry into pastoral leadership, how she wrestled with feeling disqualified, and what it looked like to eventually say yes to the calling God had placed on her life. She also opens up about growing up as a pastor’s kid, becoming a female pastor, and the support her husband has given her throughout that journey. The conversation goes deep into healthy leadership, burnout, developing teams, vulnerability, weakness, and resilience. Jenny shares how watching her dad burn out in ministry shaped her conviction that ministry was never meant to be done alone, and why great leaders have to learn how to give things away and raise up other people. They also talk about the pressure pastors feel to prove themselves, the temptation to build influence, and why intimacy with Jesus and who we are becoming matters more than public success. And of course, it wouldn’t be Pastors Unfiltered without Mariners frustration, generational stereotypes, questionable childhood stories, fantasy books, ADHD, and plenty of chaos along the way. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered 0:31 Recording On Location 0:59 Venture Staff Retreat Chaos 1:41 Brandon and David’s Disagreement 2:00 Working Through Conflict 2:48 Seahawks Hard Knocks 4:00 Brandon’s Failed Predictions 5:31 The Mariners Need a Miracle 6:35 Tony’s Seabrook Vacation 7:16 Brandon’s Staff Retreat Moped Story 8:33 Introducing Jenny Waldron 9:12 Jenny’s Journey to New Life 9:59 Dating as an Evangelism Strategy 11:28 Jenny’s Role at New Life Kitsap 12:02 A Vision to Launch Five New Campuses 12:29 Church Job Titles Are Weird 13:02 Jenny Has Done Almost Every Church Job 14:10 From Graphic Designer to Leader 15:06 When Someone Else Is Better Than You 15:19 Jenny’s Call Into Pastoral Ministry 16:00 “I’ve Called You to Bring Fresh Water With Your Words” 16:37 Leadership Was Always in Her 17:20 Feeling Disqualified 18:02 Growing Up as a Baptist Pastor’s Kid 18:29 Wrestling With Women in Ministry 19:07 Saying Yes to the Call 19:46 Her Husband’s Support 20:21 Watching Her Dad Burn Out in Ministry 21:07 “We Were Not Made to Do It by Ourselves” 21:22 Why Jenny Develops Leaders 22:21 The Old Model of Doing Everything Yourself 23:09 Why So Many Pastors Burn Out 23:30 Knowing What You’re Actually Good At 24:11 Brandon’s Early Ministry Learning Curve 25:03 Brandon Tries to Become a Worship Leader 25:33 “Lay Down the Guitar” 26:12 What’s the Guitar in Your Leadership? 26:34 Giving Things Away to Better Leaders 27:04 Vulnerability and Weakness in Ministry 27:29 Jenny’s Shame, Grace & Resilience Class 28:06 Facing Weakness to Become a Better Leader 28:35 The Pressure to Be Everything 29:09 Why Resilience Matters in Ministry 29:51 Trying to Prove Yourself 30:10 Learning to Lead a Quiet Life 30:55 Jesus Cares About Who We Are in Him 31:24 Calling vs. Intimacy With Jesus 31:40 Staying Connected to People Outside the Church 32:37 The Doors God Opens When You Slow Down 33:00 Ministry, Marriage & Raising Kids 34:04 What Jenny Would Change About Her Early Leadership 34:42 Pastor Culture and “Show Off Time” 36:02 Gen Z Pastors and Vulnerability 37:17 The Millennial Debate 37:49 Jenny’s Montana Story 38:25 Cow Tipping and Questionable Childhood Decisions 39:17 The Three Questions 39:39 What Jenny Is Reading 40:31 ADHD and “Now It All Makes Sense” 41:14 Body Doubling 41:53 The ADHD Tax 42:24 What Jenny Is Watching 42:42 More Mariners Frustration 43:29 Ted Lasso 44:05 What Jenny Does for Fun 44:24 15 Years of Mariners Season Tickets 44:59 The Dream MLB Stadium Road Trip 46:06 Baseball, Books & the Good Life 46:23 Closing Thoughts 46:36 Wrap Up 46:59 Jesus Is the Hope of the World 47:30 Raiders Roll

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/pastors-unfiltered-9-life-as-a-pastor-s-kid-with-elijah-beals-and-rachel-winfield--57033323  (Link to Previous Episode with Elijah) This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Tony and Pastor Brandon are joined by Elijah Beals to talk about his journey into vocational ministry and his new role as Venture Church’s Junior High Pastor.Elijah shares how he first felt called to ministry as a teenager, why he spent years saying “not yet” to ministry opportunities, and why finishing his master’s degree became an important part of preparing for what God had next. He also talks about studying business at the University of Washington, working in sports partnerships, serving with the UW Navigators, and having a career he genuinely loved before ultimately choosing to step away from it and pursue the calling he had felt since high school.They also address the obvious question: was working at his dad’s church always the plan? Elijah explains why it wasn’t, why he seriously considered opportunities at other churches, and what eventually changed his perspective about joining the team at Venture.Plus, there’s plenty of Pastors Unfiltered chaos along the way, including Mariners heartbreak, Dolly Parton, celebrity crushes, camper vans, Ezra and Nehemiah, youth ministry memories, and the return of a very questionable puppet named TJ.Timestamps0:00 Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered 0:40 The Mariners Sucked Brandon Back In 1:36 Giving Away Tickets to an Incredible Mariners Game 2:14 The “Spank and a Hug” Sermon 3:17 Brandon’s New Bigfoot Hat 4:07 Meet the New Broadcast Director 5:01 Tony’s ADHD Medication 5:23 Remembering Dolly Parton 6:30 Favorite Dolly Parton Songs 7:26 Bruce Willis Movies 8:36 The Girls Started Their Own Podcast 11:50 Why Most Podcasts Don’t Last 12:35 Tony’s Seabrook Vacation 13:36 Brandon Wants a Camper Van 14:54 Brandon’s Goodreads Account 15:14 Introducing Ruins to Revival 16:08 The History Behind Ezra and Nehemiah 17:39 Introducing Elijah Beals 18:31 Elijah’s First Pastors Unfiltered Appearance 19:49 The Story Behind Elijah Joining Venture Staff 21:14 Why Elijah Turned the Job Down a Year Ago 21:48 Finishing His Master’s Degree 22:14 Feeling Called to Ministry for Years 22:56 Why Education Mattered Before Ministry 24:13 “You Never Feel Completely Ready” 24:42 Brandon’s Own Journey Into Ministry 25:45 Elijah’s Career in Sports Partnerships 26:40 Looking Back at God’s Preparation 27:27 The UW Navigators 28:28 Bible Studies Inside Fraternities and Sororities 29:22 Was Elijah Always Expected to Work for His Dad? 30:15 Elijah’s Call to Ministry 31:12 Telling Brandon for the First Time 31:27 Brandon’s Response: “I Know” 32:11 Tony’s Role in Elijah’s Discipleship 33:00 Choosing the Call of God 34:02 Coming Full Circle at Venture Seattle 34:43 Experiencing Church Without Being “The Pastor’s Kid” 35:05 Leaving a Job Elijah Loved 35:49 A Career He Could Have Stayed in Forever 37:20 The Importance of Youth Pastors 38:15 Why Parents Need Great Youth Leaders 39:42 Looking Back on Youth Ministry 40:06 The Next Generation of Venture Youth Ministry 41:12 Five Generations of Youth Pastors 41:55 Tyrone Is Now Tony’s Boss 42:49 Chick-fil-A and Pastoral Lunches 43:20 Why Elijah Didn’t Initially Want to Work at Venture 43:53 Leaving the “Dream Job” for Ministry 45:14 Why Venture Eventually Felt Like Home 46:27 Other Churches Were Pursuing Elijah 47:24 The Only Problem With Venture’s Youth Pastors 47:44 Introducing TJ 49:01 TJ Interviews Pastor Elijah 49:44 What Elijah Is Watching 50:47 What Elijah Is Reading 51:33 Waiting for GTA 6 51:58 Dating Advice From Pastor Elijah 52:21 What Elijah Is Listening To 53:50 Faith, Sports, and Junior High Priorities 54:26 Should Tony and Brandon Guest on the Girls’ Podcast? 55:03 What’s Coming Next on Pastors Unfiltered 55:30 Closing

Pastor Brandon is hosting solo this week while Tony is on vacation, and he’s joined by one of Venture Church’s newest staff members, Tyrone Renata.Tyrone shares his story, from growing up in Washington and serving alongside Brandon in Modesto to pastoring in Arizona and eventually finding his way back to Venture. They unpack the nearly year-long process that originally had Tyrone preparing to help launch a new Venture location in Edmonds, only for God to unexpectedly redirect the plan and open a completely different role.Tyrone also shares what he’ll be leading at Venture, including Kingdom Builders, locations, leadership development, and serving on the executive team, along with what he’s most excited about in this next season.And, of course, Pastor Brandon has plenty to say about the Mariners’ historic 22–0 loss, old racquetball injuries, books, Star Trek, Bigfoot, UFOs, and a few other things that probably weren’t on the episode outline.It’s an episode about ministry, friendship, trusting God through transition, and recognizing when His plans look completely different from your own.Timestamps0:00 Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered 0:31 Brandon Is Hosting Solo 1:06 The Mariners’ 22–0 Disaster 3:32 Brandon Is Done With the Mariners... Again 4:41 Josh’s One-Year Venture Anniversary 5:31 Brandon’s Latest Book Obsession 6:59 Dallas Is Reading Red Rising 8:04 Staff Transitions at Venture 8:58 Introducing Tyrone Renata 9:23 Tyrone’s Mariners Reaction 10:15 Ted Lasso 11:17 Why Is His Name Tyrone? 13:39 Brandon & Tyrone’s Modesto Days 14:29 Meet Tyrone’s Family 14:55 Tyrone’s Ministry Journey 16:38 Ten Years of Pastoring in Phoenix 17:40 Why Tyrone Loves Sedona 18:53 The Hard Parts of Ministry 19:16 How Tyrone Ended Up Back at Venture 20:42 The Original Plan for an Edmonds Location 21:50 Why Venture Paused Edmonds 22:41 When the Plan Suddenly Changed 23:51 Christian’s Unexpected Transition 25:11 Brandon Calls Tyrone With a New Opportunity 26:25 Praying Through Two Different Doors 27:08 “Go Do Ministry With Your Friends” 27:50 Tyrone’s Family Finds a Home at Venture 29:03 A Year-Long Hiring Journey 29:42 Tyrone’s Hobbies 31:26 Seahawks, Raiders & Old Sports Memories 33:21 The Mariners’ 116-Win Season 34:11 The Modesto Racquetball Days 35:23 Brandon Nearly Loses an Eye 36:18 The Injury Brandon Still Deals With 36:59 Tyrone’s New Role at Venture 38:58 What Tyrone Is Most Excited About 39:21 Kingdom Builders & $20,000 for Spokane 40:08 Supporting Venture’s Locations 40:30 Preparing for Saturday Night Services 42:41 How to Get to Know Tyrone 43:40 Why Venture Wanted a Ministry Family 45:06 What Tyrone Is Watching 45:45 Tyrone Is a Trekkie 46:29 The Love Song Documentary 47:47 What Tyrone Is Reading 49:48 What Tyrone Is Listening To 50:23 Bigfoot, UFOs & The Confessionals 51:53 Giants, the Nephilim & Joe Rogan 52:50 Looking Ahead 53:09 The Unexpected Way God Brought Tyrone to Venture 53:29 Closing

Pastors Unfiltered is back for Season 4!Tony and Brandon catch up on everything from Disneyland and Banff to ADHD diagnoses, social media, and a passionate Mariners rant before welcoming Amanda Farley, location pastor of Venture Church Spokane.Amanda shares the story behind planting Venture Spokane, why church planting requires grit, and what it looks like to put down roots in a community and live on mission together.The conversation then turns to the devastating Spokane wildfires. Amanda gives a firsthand update on the impact across the community, how churches and local organizations are responding, and why the work of recovery will continue long after the initial crisis is over.They also talk about Venture Church raising more than $20,000 for Convoy of Hope’s Spokane relief efforts and what it practically looks like for the Church to show up, serve, and love its neighbors when tragedy hits.Timestamps0:00 Welcome to Season 4 0:39 Back in the New Studio 1:56 Brandon & Jared Ming at Disneyland 3:37 Talking Israel, Politics & Difficult Conversations 6:13 Brandon's Trip to Banff 7:10 Seeing the Spokane Wildfire Smoke 7:32 Preaching on Lust 9:28 Listener Shoutouts 10:29 Dallas Looks Like Cole Young 11:07 Tony's ADHD & OCD Diagnosis 11:59 Why Tony Quit Social Media 15:04 The Mariners Rant Begins 18:16 Seahawks, Hard Knocks & the NFL 20:50 Introducing Amanda Farley 21:33 Meet Amanda & Venture Spokane 23:54 Amanda's Favorite Venture Spokane Story 25:54 Amanda's Family & Life Outside Church 29:03 Why Amanda Became a Church Planter 30:50 Why They Chose Venture Church 33:45 Church Planting Takes Grit 35:28 The Future of Venture Spokane 37:19 Putting Down Roots in a Community 37:34 Spokane Wildfire Update 38:21 Hundreds of Families Displaced 39:42 How Spokane Is Responding 40:33 The Long Road to Recovery 41:20 Pastoring Through a Wildfire 43:26 Venture Raises $20,000 for Spokane Relief 43:52 How Convoy of Hope Is Helping 44:11 What Will Families Need Long-Term? 45:44 When Should Teams Come Help? 46:57 Spokane's Community Response 48:44 How Should the Church Respond to Disaster? 49:09 A Chance for the Church to Be the Church 51:28 Thinking Beyond the Initial Response 51:51 The Three Big Questions 52:14 What Amanda Is Reading 53:02 What Amanda Is Watching & Listening To 55:56 Looking Ahead at Spokane Recovery 56:47 A Wedding Story for Next Week 57:28 Revival Weekend 58:14 Closing

Season 3 comes to a close!In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Tony look back on the journey of the podcast, share behind-the-scenes stories from the past three seasons, announce a short summer break, and give a preview of what's coming in Season 4.They also talk about upcoming guests, church updates, travel plans, sports, current events, and plenty of the random conversations you've come to expect from Pastors Unfiltered.Thanks for listening to another season. We'll see you back in a few weeks for Season 4!Timestamps0:00 Introduction 0:29 Welcome Back 1:45 Season 3 Finale Announcement 2:14 Three Week Podcast Break 2:56 What's Coming in Season 4 3:18 Brandon's Never Ending Cough 4:21 Looking Back at the Early Podcast Days 6:08 How Pastors Unfiltered Started 9:10 Why This Podcast Exists 10:45 New Podcasts Coming This Fall 11:24 Russell Johnson Dream 12:28 Have We Been Canceled Yet? 13:50 Funny Podcast Habits 14:34 Charismatic Church Culture 15:00 Christian Podcast Parody 16:23 Summer Plans 17:31 Brandon's Europe Trip 19:02 Alaska Airlines vs. Delta 22:40 Brandon's Summer Speaking Schedule 27:31 Convoy of Hope Banff Trip 28:45 Speaking at Sound Life Church 31:31 Saturday Night Services 32:33 Predictions for the Next Three Weeks 33:33 Mariners Trade Talk 34:32 Iran, Politics & Gas Prices 40:08 Seattle Summer Predictions 42:48 Joe Rogan, Addiction & Recovery 45:34 Conor McGregor's Return 46:49 Thanks for an Amazing Season 47:28 See You in Season 4Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the start of Season 4. Thanks for listening, and as always, let's make Jesus famous. Ask

Pastor Brandon is joined by Dick Brogden, Global Leader of Live Dead, for a conversation about missions, church planting, reaching the Muslim world, and seeing the gospel spread to the least reached places on earth. 0:00 – Intro 0:28 – Pastor Brandon Goes Solo 1:14 – Pittsburgh Trip and PNC Park 2:58 – Mariners Struggles and Cole Young's Homecoming 4:12 – Listener Shoutouts and Podcast Community 5:45 – Introducing Dick Brogden 7:45 – Dick's Missionary Family Story 10:25 – Meeting Bobby Knight 11:58 – How Dick Met His Wife 14:27 – Following Jesus and the Call to Missions 16:16 – Looking at the Stars and God's Glory 17:17 – Going to the Mission Field 18:32 – A Heart for the Muslim World 19:27 – Ministry in Sudan 20:20 – Expanding Into Egypt and the Arab World 21:51 – Life in Dubai and Returning to Egypt 23:17 – Why Cairo Is Unlike Anywhere Else 25:15 – What Is Live Dead? 27:52 – How Missionaries Build Relationships 30:17 – Reaching People Through Everyday Work 31:02 – The Vision for the Future of Live Dead 31:51 – The Harvest Is Plentiful, but the Workers Are Few 32:12 – The Greatest Challenges of Missions 34:33 – Ministry in Saudi Arabia 36:08 – Why Church Planting Matters 37:15 – Loving the Muslim World 39:33 – Sports, Chicago, and the Bears 42:59 – Camping, Reading, and Life Outside Ministry 44:42 – Must-Visit Places in the Middle East 45:23 – What Dick Is Reading 46:46 – Podcasts and Sports 47:58 – Encouragement and Closing Thoughts 49:07 – Make Jesus Famous

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Tony is back with Pastor Brandon for a conversation that starts with church updates, Mariners games, staff transitions, Raising Cane’s, movie thoughts, and a very unfiltered discussion about Dallas, Audrey, and a possible live podcast proposal.Then Pastor Brandon and Tony dive into the Hartford Institute’s Church Resurgence Study, a major report on megachurches and large churches in America. They talk through the current landscape of churches in the United States, how many churches are under 250 people, how rare churches over 2,000 really are, and what growing churches tend to have in common.They also discuss what this means for Venture, including small groups, young adults, diversity, church attendance, online engagement, inviting friends, leadership longevity, and the importance of churches staying spiritually alive, mission-focused, and willing to change.This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how pastors think about church health, growth, leadership, and the future of ministry in America.

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Brandon is joined by Pastor Kehlani and Pastor Christian for a behind-the-scenes conversation about big updates at Venture.They talk about VBS, Kailani’s new role as Family Pastor, the upcoming Saturday night service, Christian’s transition to Dean of the College of Ministry at Northwest University, and how God is leading Venture into the next season.Timestamps0:00 – Pastors Unfiltered Intro 0:28 – Pastor Brandon Opens the Episode 0:53 – Previewing Next Week’s Megachurch Report Conversation 2:09 – Upcoming Episode with Dick Brogden 3:01 – Dallas, Pastors Huddle, and the Mariners Game 4:08 – The Craziest Mariners Game Ever 4:34 – Morgan Starts the Wave 5:14 – Junior High Boys Left at the Game 5:39 – Guys Trying to Get on the Big Screen 6:34 – Watching the World Cup During the Mariners Game 7:21 – The Vomit Cleanup Situation 8:10 – Mariners Win and Funko Pop Disappointment 9:19 – Why Summer Matters at Church 9:53 – How Venture Shares Change 11:06 – Strategic Leaking and Inside Information 11:38 – Introducing Kehlani 12:00 – VBS Recap 12:22 – Celebrating Venture Volunteers 12:43 – Stories from VBS 13:32 – Why VBS Helps Kids Build Friendships 14:00 – Staff Serving at VBS 14:38 – Dallas and the VBS Photos 15:34 – Allen the Kids Ministry Mascot 16:46 – What Should Allen’s Voice Sound Like? 17:37 – Using Technology for Allen 18:16 – Turtle Talk with Crush Comparison 18:52 – Allen on Pastors Unfiltered? 19:21 – Kehlani’s New Role 19:40 – Kehlani Becomes Family Pastor 20:07 – The Dream of Having a Full-Time Family Pastor 20:36 – What the Family Pastor Role Will Oversee 21:00 – Supporting Parents, Families, and Growth Groups 21:25 – Kehlani’s Second New Role 21:50 – Launching a Saturday Night Service 22:21 – Why Venture Has Considered an Alternative Service 23:12 – Worship and Teaching for Saturday Nights 23:37 – Vision for the Saturday Night Service 24:10 – How to Get Involved 24:34 – When Saturday Night Services Begin 25:05 – Kehlani Reflects on Her New Season 26:00 – The Future of Venture Youth 27:23 – Adjusting to Washington After One Year 28:30 – Seattle Weather and Mountain Views 29:11 – Dick’s Burgers vs. In-N-Out 29:50 – Becoming a Seattle Sports Fan 30:31 – Introducing Christian 31:27 – Christian’s New Role at Northwest University 31:58 – Why This Was a Big Decision 32:44 – A New Day at Northwest University 33:11 – Bringing Church and Academic Ministry Together 33:59 – Training the Next Generation of Ministers 34:27 – Pastor Brandon’s Support Through the Process 35:06 – Christian’s Excitement for the Role 35:27 – Christian Staying Connected to Venture 36:16 – The Fast Timeline of the Process 37:32 – How God Was Already Orchestrating the Transition 38:20 – The Right Fit at the Right Time 39:10 – Venture’s Future and God’s Faithfulness 40:12 – Processing Change and Trusting Jesus 41:14 – What About Junior High and Kingdom Builders? 41:44 – Identifying, Recruiting, and Training Talent 42:41 – God’s Timing in Staff Transitions 43:25 – Who Will Step Into the Open Roles? 44:19 – Preparing for Change Before It Happens 44:51 – More People to Love 45:15 – The Information Is Officially Leaked 46:03 – Closing Thoughts and Future Excitement 46:49 – Share the Podcast 47:07 – Parent Meeting and Junior High Transition Details 47:54 – Encouragement for People Who Don’t Like Change 48:22 – Leave a Review and Share the Show 48:44 – Make Jesus Famous

n this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon keep things lighthearted with a summer recommendation episode.After last week’s hot topics, they shift gears and talk about TV shows, books, summer rhythms, and the kind of mindless entertainment that helps you relax when life is busy. Tony and Brandon share some of their favorite shows to binge, including comedies, dramas, reality shows, sports stories, and a few Taylor Sheridan picks.They also share book recommendations for the summer, including spiritual growth books, leadership books, and a few fun reads for when you just need something easy to enjoy.The episode wraps with an update about Venture’s upcoming summer service schedule, staff changes, and what listeners can expect in the next episode.Whether you’re looking for a show to watch, a book to read, or just a fun conversation to listen to, this episode is full of summer recommendations, random rabbit trails, and classic Pastors Unfiltered energy.

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon are back in the same room for a wide-ranging and very unfiltered conversation.They kick things off with sports, the Stanley Cup, Mariners games, Seattle dogs, World Cup excitement, summer fitness goals, Invisalign, Botox, and all the random rabbit trails that make Pastors Unfiltered what it is.Then the conversation shifts into some bigger cultural and church topics, including politics, the Middle East, Israel, Iran, the role of America, and how followers of Jesus should think about complicated global issues with humility and wisdom.Tony and Brandon also spend time talking about women in ministry, recent decisions within the Southern Baptist Convention, different theological perspectives, and why Venture Church believes in raising up and empowering women to follow God’s call. They talk honestly about what it means to hold biblical convictions, disagree with grace, and keep the main focus where it belongs.Through every topic, the reminder is simple: our goal is not to make a church, denomination, country, or leader famous. Our goal is to make Jesus famous.Jesus is the hope of the world.

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon record remotely for the first time and talk about summer rhythms, ministry, rest, planning, and how to make the most of the season.They start with the usual mix of sports, Vegas, World Cup excitement, Stanley Cup dilemmas, and the chaos of summer schedules before shifting into a practical conversation about what summer should look like for people living in the Seattle area, church communities, and pastors.Pastor Brandon shares why summer in Seattle is something to fully embrace, why church leaders should not simply coast through the slower months, and how summer can become a strategic opportunity to connect with new people, build relationships, plan for the fall, and grow personally.Tony and Brandon also talk about prayer retreats, reading, goal setting, building community, spending time with your team, and preparing spiritually and practically for what God wants to do next.Whether you are a pastor, a church leader, or someone trying to be intentional with your summer, this episode is a reminder to rest well, stay present, and use the season with purpose.

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon are back together for a wide-ranging conversation about sports, Seattle, AI, leadership, ministry, and what it looks like to trust God in uncertain times.After catching up on hockey, baseball, soccer, Seattle politics, AI, and the future of work, Tony and Brandon turn their attention to the next part of Venture’s Chasing Purpose series: the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs.As Venture moves from Ecclesiastes into Proverbs, they unpack Proverbs 3:5–6 and talk about what it means to “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when life feels unclear. From personal finances and job uncertainty to church leadership, growth, and ministry in the Seattle area, this conversation explores the difference between trusting God and leaning on our own understanding.They also talk honestly about what it means for the church to stay humble, keep its edge, serve the city, raise up leaders, and remain faithful to the mission of helping people meet Jesus.This episode is funny, honest, reflective, and practical—a conversation about wisdom, trust, leadership, and staying faithful in a changing world.