Advertise on podcast: The Church Works Podcast

Marriage was never meant to be strengthened in isolation. In Season 2, Episode 5 of Church Works, Ben Vermilyea and Pastor Doug Long explore how the local church helps husbands and wives grow closer to God and one another through worship, biblical community, honest conversations, and wise counsel. They discuss how church leaders can respond when a marriage is struggling, why every couple needs a safe place to problem-solve without bashing one another, and why connection before a crisis matters. Whether you serve in church ministry, church leadership, or church planting, this conversation offers practical encouragement for discipleship and healthier marriages.

What does single-minded ministry look like in a busy church and a crowded life? In Episode 4 of Church Works, Doug and Ben discuss why focus leads to greater fruitfulness, how a clear discipleship pathway protects a healthy church from distraction, and how additional ministries can strengthen the foundations of worship, community, and serving. This conversation offers practical encouragement for pastors, church leaders, church planting teams, and believers who want to prioritize God, remain faithful to the local church, and make disciples with clarity.

Why would a church say no to an idea? In this episode of Church Works, Doug and Ben reflect on the early years of planting Harvest Church and explain how clear priorities helped them stay focused on making disciples.They discuss worship, small groups, serving, and how church leaders can encourage someone’s personal calling without turning every good idea into a church ministry. It’s a practical conversation for pastors, church planters, ministry leaders, and church members.

Healthy church leadership is built on more than roles and responsibilities. In Season 2, Episode 2 of Church Works, Doug Long and Ben Vermilion reflect on 14 years of ministry together and share how trust, honest communication, healthy conflict, and mutual deference have strengthened their relationship as lead pastor and worship pastor. From handling criticism and planning worship services to building relational equity and pursuing ministry partners, this conversation offers practical encouragement for pastors, worship leaders, church staff, and church planters who want to build healthy ministry teams, protect unity, and serve God’s church together.

Healthy church ministry requires clarity about what God has called a church to do. In the Season 2 premiere of Church Works, Doug and Ben discuss how clarity strengthens church leadership, helps teams pursue excellence without turning worship into performance, and makes it easier to say no to good ideas that distract from making disciples. From worship planning and volunteer development to church planting and the Great Commission, this episode offers practical encouragement for pastors, ministry leaders, and church members who want to build healthy, disciple-making churches with clarity, urgency, and simplicity.

What happens when God calls you somewhere you never expected? Pastor Doug talks with Pastor Taylor Berghuis about moving to Ireland, leading Hope Church, the realities of church planting, and the incredible ways God has provided along the way. From ministry challenges to stories of God's faithfulness, this episode is an encouraging look at what happens when ministry leaders say yes to God's mission.

What does it really take to plant healthy churches? In Episode 8 of Church Works, Pastor Doug sits down with Kent Shaw to talk about church planting, conviction, generosity, prayer, leadership, and why multiplication matters in the kingdom of God. From stories of planting churches to practical wisdom about faith, risk, and dependence on God, this conversation is a powerful reminder that Jesus is still building his church.

Most people don’t know what elders actually do in a church. Are they leaders? Decision-makers? Just a board? Or something completely different? In this episode of Church Works, Doug sits down with John Mollohan (Vertical Church, Gallipolis, Ohio) to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in the church today: The difference between elder-led and elder-ruledWhy congregational voting can become more political than spiritualWhat elders are actually responsible for (and why it matters)How humility—not control—is the foundation of real leadershipWhy church leadership should look more like a family than a boardroomThis conversation is honest, practical, and at times challenging—but ultimately points back to one truth: Church works when we follow God’s design. If you’ve ever wondered how churches should be led—or struggled with leadership in the church—this episode is for you.

Serving isn’t just about filling a role—it’s a core part of following Jesus.In this episode of Church Works, we talk about why serving is essential to spiritual growth, how it shapes your heart, and why every believer is called to step in—not sit on the sidelines.If you’ve ever wondered where you fit, how to discover your calling, or why serving matters, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.Listen now and take your next step.

How does real discipleship actually happen? It’s not just about hearing God’s word. It’s about living it out—with others. In this episode, we talk about: Why small groups aren’t optional The danger of knowledge without application How real growth happens through community And how the church truly cares for people If you’ve ever wondered how to grow deeper in your walk with Jesus, this episode is for you.

In Episode 4 of Church Works, we talk about biblical communication — and why loving leadership requires courage, clarity, and grace. Hard conversations are rarely comfortable, but Scripture calls believers to speak truth in love for the sake of spiritual growth. In this episode, we unpack how communication shapes church culture, discipleship, leadership, and everyday relationships. Whether you’re a pastor, leader, small group member, or part of a church family, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to pursue Christlike communication.

In this episode, we explore the biblical tension of high invitation and high challenge—a culture where everyone is genuinely welcomed, yet lovingly called to spiritual growth and transformation. What does it mean to love people enough to speak truth? Are discipleship expectations actually “high,” or simply the spiritual minimum Jesus calls every believer to? Discover why the church works when grace and truth walk together, just as Jesus modeled.

In this episode of Church Works, we talk about the foundation of every healthy church: the Word of God. We discuss why Scripture must shape everything we do—from preaching and leadership to the rhythms of everyday church life. When the church follows God’s ways instead of human strategies, it experiences real health and lasting impact. This conversation also explores how God uses wilderness seasons to grow our faith and why trusting His Word brings clarity, strength, and hope.

God didn't design the church by accident. It was his plan from the beginning, and when it's lived out the way he intended, it works.This is a podcast exploring how God grows his people through the local church and unpacking what the Bible really teaches about the church and why it matters today.

Does church really work? In Episode One of Church Works, we dive into why the local church—when shaped by God’s Word—becomes one of the greatest gifts in a believer’s life. With honesty and warmth, the conversation explores church hurt, submission, spiritual growth, small groups, and the beauty of life-on-life encouragement. You’ll hear a reminder that we need one another to hold fast to our hope in Christ. If you’ve felt disconnected, skeptical, or spiritually dry, this episode is an invitation back into the joy of Christ and his bride.