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What happens when a former atheist returns to the college campus with the Gospel? We sit down with Micah Natal of DiscipleMakers to unpack how clear doctrine and real community take root in a place often defined by slogans, polarization, and noise.

Micah traces his story from hearing a professor call the Bible “half myth,” to Micah's preaching in a house church, to the providential leading that led him into full-time campus work. Along the way, he learned the practices that now shape his work with students: slow, careful Bible study; resisting “what does this mean to me” shortcuts; and letting the Word master you before you teach it. He also spotlights a surprising tension: while many campuses broadcast their ideologies, faithful witness can still win respect. At Lebanon Valley College, Disciplemakers is widely praised for hospitality, proving that conviction and kindness can coexist.

We also talk about the hunger rising among freshmen students for depth—questions about the Lord’s Supper, assurance, and Reformed theology—and why tools like the Westminster Confession and Heidelberg Catechism clarify complex truths without dumbing them down. Then we tackle an emerging challange: Artifical Intelligence. Micah names the real harms—lack of critical thinking, engineered “companions,” and dehumanizing misuse—and explains how embodied community, shared meals, small talk, and confession counter loneliness. The thread running through it all is the local church. Campus nights aren’t a substitute for membership, elders, and the one-anothering of the local church; students who plant roots in the local church now become contributors later.

If you care about evangelism, discipleship, and the next generation’s formation, this conversation offers practical guidance and hopeful stories. Listen, share with a friend who mentors college students, and if it helps you, leave a review and subscribe so others can find it.

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Healthy Churches Grow with Tucker York

Tired of constantly putting out fires while the mission of the church stalls? In this episode, we sit down with pastor and author Tucker York to discuss the core ideas behind his book, Healthy Churches Grow: The Pastor’s Guide to Reducing Chaos, Creating Momentum, and Leading His Church to Health. Drawing directly from the framework of the book, Tucker offers a grounded and practical vision for church health that outlasts trends, respects a congregation’s real context, and frees pastors from the pressure of doing everything themselves.

Throughout our conversation, Tucker walks us through key themes from Healthy Churches Grow, including how Ephesians 4 reframes pastoral leadership around preaching, prayer, study, and equipping the saints. He explains how clear roles, simple structures, and a culture of delegation are not corporate techniques, but biblical tools that help the body flourish without burning out its shepherds.

We also dig into the nuts and bolts many churches avoid, topics Tucker addresses directly in the book, such as safety and crisis readiness, leadership alignment, and strategic planning that actually fits a church’s size and stage. Tucker helps pastors distinguish normal ministry fatigue from deeper structural dysfunction and shares realistic, low-lift “quick wins” from Healthy Churches Grow that can spark momentum now rather than someday.

Leadership development and succession planning take center stage as well. Tucker explains how churches can intentionally identify gifts, create on-ramps for service, and build leadership pipelines that strengthen the church and extend its witness into the community. We also discuss pastoral transitions, one of the most vulnerable moments in a church’s life, and how clarity, humility, and foresight can turn those seasons into opportunities for renewal.

Whether you are leading a young church plant or stewarding an established congregation, this conversation highlights why Healthy Churches Grow is a valuable guide for reducing chaos, creating momentum, and pursuing lasting church health.

📘 Healthy Churches Grow by Tucker York

Learn more about the book and get a copy here:
https://a.co/d/03cdTnyL

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a pastor or elder, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show.
What’s one “quick win” you’ll tackle this month?

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What would it take for every child entering foster care in our county to land in a safe, loving, gospel-shaped home? That question drives our conversation with Matt Stohrer of Keystone Family Alliance. Matt’s family has fostered 23 children and adopted nine, and he now helps churches turn conviction into action in caring for vulnerable children in Lebanon county. We trace his journey from military service to foster care and explore how structure, teamwork, and faith create sustainable ministry for vulnerable kids.

Matt outlines three practical pathways any church can begin right away: Gateway requests that meet urgent needs like cribs, beds, and clothing; care communities of six to eight volunteers who provide meals, rides, and consistent support to foster families; and a clear pipeline to recruit and equip new foster and adoptive homes. We also face the sobering realities—over 15,000 children in Pennsylvania foster care, and many foster parents leaving within two years without support.

Grounded in the doctrine of adoption and the call to care for orphans and widows, we discuss hospitality as mission, trauma-informed care, and how Keystone Family Alliance equips churches with training, coaching, and ready-to-use frameworks that multiply impact while lifting the administrative burden from pastors.

Learn more at keyfam.org or email matt@keyfam.org
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