Gleaning and Gathering

Nehemiah Discipleship Program Leaders 2026

Eric interviews 5 of the NDP leadership participants to talk about their favorite parts of NDP and how it has helped them to become better leaders.

Thinking Christianly About Israel — Navigating Faith, Politics, and Relationships

Eric Himelick and Martin Barnard explore their evolution from dispensationalism to a more Christ-centered understanding of Scripture, emphasizing the importance of love, conversation, and biblical literacy. They discuss their efforts at rethinking their views on Israel and Jewish people without going to extremes. Main topics: * The shift from support for Israel rooted in dispensationalism and the reasons for it * The dangers of social media and sound bites in shaping polarized, oversimplified views * The importance of real relationships, love, and dialogue over polarization and superficial engagement * Biblical grounding for understanding Israel’s role in God's redemptive plan * Practical steps for Christians to foster understanding and love across divides Links: * The Hope of the Gospel by Vic Reisner [https://a.co/d/0eSN0kFd] * Identifying the Seed by Robert McKenzie [https://www.amazon.com/Identifying-Seed-Robert-McKenzie/dp/XXXXXXXXX] * Mutually Insured Engagement article [https://substack.com/p/mutually-insured-engagement] * The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin Smith [https://example.com/internet-article] * Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" [https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Television-Communication/dp/XXXXXXXXX] * Eric Himelick - Twitter [https://twitter.com/EricHimelick] | LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/erichimelick] * Martin Barnard - Twitter [https://twitter.com/MartinBarnard] | LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/martinbarnard] Closing note: Please send all hate mail to Martin. (Afterall, he started this conversation.) I hope that our conversation here highlights the importance of Biblical and loving engagement. We hope that you will seek to foster friendships like this, and to root your views in Scripture rather than the changing cultural or political trends of our day.

Mentors Needed: Bring Someone With You

Mentoring today is more crucial than ever, especially in a time when father figures and positive male role models are diminishing. In this episode, Eric Himelick explores how mentorship can fill vital gaps in young men’s lives, revealing the emotional and social impact of guiding the next generation.Key Topics: * The increasing absence of positive male role models and its social consequences * How mentorship provides a roadmap, not just advice * The importance of visible life models to teach conflict resolution, integrity, and humility * The mental health and engagement benefits for mentored youth, including higher graduation and employment rates * Personal stories illustrating the transformative power of even small investments of time * The cultural erosion of apprenticeship and guild-style mentorship * Practical ways for men of all ages to mentor within their community * The biblical foundation for mentoring, emphasizing passing down faith and values (2 Timothy 2:2) * Big Brothers Big Sisters [https://www.bbbs.org/] Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: The significance of mentorship in today's society 00:28 - The crisis of father absence and its effects on young men 0:58 - The lack of clear rites of passage and identity for modern men 1:27 - How mentorship offers guidance and models manhood 1:57 - The importance of real-world example in navigating conflict and maintaining integrity 2:20 - Vulnerability and the silence of struggling young men 2:38 - Mentorship as a map for life, not just advice 2:58 - Benefits proven by organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters 3:28 - Personal reflections: You don’t need to be perfect to mentor 3:56 - Rebuilding mentorship through community and shared experience 4:24 - The personal and societal Return on Investment from mentoring 4:30 - Overcoming doubts about what one can give as a mentor 4:59 - The historical context of apprenticeship and passing down values 5:28 - Practical ways to mentor at any stage of life 5:59 - The vulnerability involved in reaching out and offering help 6:16 - Identifying those in your sphere who need mentoring 6:46 - A story of personal engagement at Victory Village Shop 7:16 - The ripple effect of small acts of kindness in mentoring 7:44 - The starfish story: Every small effort counts 8:53 - Encouragement to begin sharing your lessons and experiences 9:04 - Reflecting on personal worth and the importance of passing on what you've learned 9:32 - Biblical encouragement: 2 Timothy 2:2 and generational faith sharing 10:36 - Call to action: Find someone to mentor, and walk alongside them in faith and life.

Moving Towards Resilience (EPISODE 122)

In this episode I'm reflecting on my personal journey and the book A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald. As the theme for NDP 2026, I'm thinking a lot about this right now. I hope you'll benefit from my journey and my thoughts.

Building Leaders: The Power of the Nehemiah Discipleship Program (EPISODE 121)

This episode explores the Nehemiah Discipleship Program (NDP), its impact, and how it develops young leaders through hands-on experience, spiritual growth, and community building. It emphasizes the importance of discipleship, hard work, and intentionality in faith-based leadership development. Key topics: * The origins and purpose of NDP * Experiences and impact of participants * Core values: hard work, spiritual growth, community * Mentorship and skill development * The theme of resilience and biblical foundations Links and Resources: Victory Acres - https://victoryacres.org Nehemiah Discipleship Program Application - https://victoryacres.org/disciple 610 Coffee Company - https://610coffee.com