#154: Why Small Churches Still Matter with Andy Pursley

#155: Church Planting, Movie Theaters, and the Miraculous Grit of Starting Small

Tony and Pastor Brandon sit down with Darius from New Hope Church in Bonney Lake for a hilarious and honest conversation about church planting, growth, exhaustion, faith, and the wild things pastors do to invite people to church. They talk about New Hope’s move out of a Regal theater and into a shared church facility, what it feels like to grow from a tiny launch team to nearly 100 people, why buildings matter for church momentum, and how God has been moving through baptisms, healing, and stories of people encountering Jesus. Before the conversation gets serious, there is plenty of chaos: Dominican Republic trip stories, soccer debates, Survivor predictions, Easter Bunny outreach, Buddy the Elf promos, Yellowstone, Brandon Sanderson, Tim Keller, and more. Jesus is the hope of the world. Let’s make Him famous.

#154: Why Small Churches Still Matter with Andy Pursley

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon sit down with Andy Pursley, Assistant Superintendent of the Northwest Ministry Network, for a wide-ranging conversation on ministry, missions, leadership, and what God is doing across the Pacific Northwest. Andy shares about his time pastoring in Forks, Washington, what it was like leading a church in a small and isolated community, and how God used that season to shape him as a pastor. The conversation also dives into the importance of small churches, supporting missionaries well, developing healthy leaders, and why every community needs a gospel presence.

#153: Planting a Church in Orlando with Tanner Ming

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon are back together and joined by special guest Tanner Ming. Tanner shares the story behind his call to plant a church in Orlando, what it was like stepping away from the church he grew up in, and how God began forming a vision for a church centered around biblical hospitality. From navigating family, transition, obedience, and calling, this conversation gives an honest look at what it means to follow God when the next step is both exciting and uncomfortable. They also talk about church planting, building a team, creating a welcoming home for people far from family, and the heart behind The Abode Church—a church that exists to welcome people home into a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Plus, as always, there’s plenty of banter about Network Conference, Survivor, sports, and everything in between.

#152: Why Anxiety Is So Common in the PNW?

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Brandon hosts solo while Pastor Tony is away at Network Conference, and he is joined by returning guest Heather Taylor for an honest conversation about mental health, anxiety, and the unique challenges of living in the Pacific Northwest. After recapping the recent Stressed sermon series, Pastor Brandon and Heather talk about why anxiety and mental health struggles are so common in our region, how weather, sleep, caffeine, finances, social media, and isolation can all play a role, and why community matters more than we realize. Heather also shares practical insight from her work as a therapist, including simple ways to support your mental health, the importance of naming what you’re carrying, and how spiritual health connects with emotional and physical health. This conversation is honest, practical, and full of encouragement for anyone learning how to navigate anxiety, stress, and the rhythms of life in a healthier way.

#151: Yoyo Garcia and Youth Alive

In this episode of Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony and Pastor Brandon sit down with YoYo Garcia, a U.S. missionary with Youth Alive, to talk about reaching the next generation where they are—on their school campuses. From launching over 170 campus clubs across Washington and Idaho to seeing students step into bold faith, this conversation dives into what it really looks like to empower students to share the gospel. They also unpack the reality of mental health in Gen Z, personal stories of overcoming anxiety, and why community, discipleship, and the local church matter now more than ever. This is an honest, fun, and powerful conversation about the future of the church—and why it starts with students. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro + Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered 0:30 – Catching Up + Vacation Stories 2:00 – Church Culture + Life Updates 3:00 – AI, Tech, and Job Market Shifts 4:00 – Pop Culture Talk: Survivor Recap 11:45 – Introducing YoYo Garcia 12:30 – First Impressions + Podcast Conversation 13:00 – Youth Alive + Ministry Background 15:00 – Moving to Seattle + Following the Call 17:00 – What Is Youth Alive? 18:00 – Launching 170+ Campus Clubs 20:00 – The Vision: Reaching Students on Campus 21:30 – Why This Generation Needs the Gospel 23:00 – Adjusting to Seattle + Culture Differences 🔥 Key Conversation 32:50 – The Mission: 300 Campus Missionaries 33:30 – Vision for Culture Change in Schools 34:00 – Mental Health Stats in the Northwest 35:30 – Why Anxiety Is So High in Gen Z 36:00 – Personal Story: Struggling with Mental Health 36:30 – The Turning Point: Community + Accountability 37:00 – The Role of Therapy + Faith 🙌 Ministry & Discipleship 37:30 – Student-Led, Church-Fed Model 38:30 – Why the Local Church Matters 39:30 – How Youth Pastors Can Get Involved 40:30 – Reaching Small Churches + Rural Areas 🎉 Fun + Closing 41:00 – Social Media + Meme Culture 45:00 – Ministry Support + Fundraising Reality 49:00 – Church Growth + Kingdom Impact 51:00 – What YoYo Is Reading, Listening To, Watching 58:50 – Final Thoughts + Encouragement