Renewing Our City

Mike Hammer is the Sr. Pastor at Celebration Community Church in Dillsburg Pennsylvania. It’s great to see his passion for a small community where they are making a huge impact. Guys like mike are what this podcast is all about, to take ownership in bringing the message of Jesus Christ to your community and change the world. Special Guest: Mike Hammer.

Jonathan Hentrich is a pastor and church planter in Albany New York, one of the least churched cities in the United States. It’s awesome to listen to Jon and hear his heart for the city after he moved from the suburbs into the city of Albany. Special Guest: Jonathan Hentrich.

Overview In this episode, Matt Shaw and Jose Rodriguez discuss Jose’s background on how he became a pastor and church planter, starting house churches, using outside finances missionaries receive for the most good, how to do ministry with your family, and being a family to young men coming out of gangs. Pray for Jose They are working to establish 1 new church per year. They have a 100 church goal in El Salvador. Pray for Jose’s family, particularly his son as he works to become a doctor. Special Guest: Jose Rodrigues.

This episode features Fledge Fiamingo, founder of Son Safaris, a ministry that connects people with Gods Creation, through his creation. We discuss lessons we can learn from the African Safari, thoughts on racism in South Africa in the early 90s and how the people of God can be a light today, and discipline people through delegation. Special Guest: Fledge Fiamingo.

Ben Hardman is one of those guys who has the phrases, word pictures, and charts that bring complex ideas and makes them simple. Through his experience as a pastor at a Southeast Christian Church (https://www.southeastchristian.org/) to planting a Church with young adults across the street from the University of Louisville (http://louisville.edu/), Ben’s desire is to connect great leaders with great ideas. Ben’s a cofounder of Gravity Leadership (http://gravityleadership.com/) to grow Christian Leaders, focusing not on programs but on access to his life. We discuss Church planting, life-on-life discipleship, the need for pastors and leaders to have an apprentice, and inviting someone into a discipleship relationship. Special Guest: Ben Hardman.

Simply waking up every day could defeat Becky Carpenter and her family after the tragic loss of her 15-year-old daughter in a car crash during a school trip. Through the power of Christ and looking to Him for strength and hope, Becky has been able to use her to help others grow in their relationship with God and overcome adversity. In this episode, we discuss Becky’s home church, Cross Brand Cowboy Church in Tyler, TX and what it is like to reach ranchers. How you can battle your crisis and get filled up with God, and what to do if you have a message to share. Special Guest: Becky Carpenter.

Tony Jones is a Canadian Logger turned global worker. After his conversion to following Jesus in September 1997, Tony shut down his business and moved to Cuba. After four years of underground ministry and working as a travel agent and exporter of organic fruits and veggies, Tony was arrested and deported by the Cuban government. After searching for God’s direction, Tony moved to Haiti, not realizing they didn’t speak Spanish and fell in love with the people in the remote mountainous regions. Tony continues to fund his ministry through businesses that support his family and the residents. After seeing the great need for teachers in remote villages, Tony has helped school teachers, started a Christian radio station, exports coffee, and shares Jesus with just about everyone he meets. Tony’s answer to the question, “what is your most embarrassing moment in ministry?” It is hilarious! Enjoy the episode. Special Guest: Tony Jones.

Amy & Gary Wixtrom are making a difference in the lives of thousands of people through their unique style of music, but also through their involvement with persecuted Christians around the globe. They lead worship at many of the Voice of the Martyrs conferences around the US and bring a unique perspective on how you can make a difference in the lives of others. Image courtesy of unsplash.com Listen to the Episode Question: How can you use your gifting for the mission of God? You can leave a comment by clicking here. You can listen to the audio on iTunes (Click Here) Overview In this episode, I sit down with Amy & Gary Wixtrom. We had a great time during the 2014 Voice of the Martyrs conference talking about topics from raising awareness for persecuted Christians, Amy’s job in Heaven (I think it will be a harp teacher), how their music reaches people, and a lot more. “Beautiful Scars” is a powerful song written for the faithful brothers and sisters who are being harmed for their fa

Christmas is just a few days away, and this is another another guest, Joseph Hovsepian, speaking on persecuted/martyred Christians, particularly in Iran. Listen to the Episode Question: Leave your comments about the episode and commit to praying for the persecuted church during Christmas You can leave a comment by clicking here. You can listen to the audio on iTunes (Click Here) ‘Iran is a closed country with open hearts’ Joseph HovsepianClick To Tweet Overview This interview with Joseph Hovsepian’s from Hovsepian Ministries is packed with helpful information about the persecuted church in Iran, including what Joseph with the rest of his family are doing to point people to Jesus through Iranian media. Joseph’s, alongside his brother Gilbert, produced the 10x award winning documentary , A Cry From Iran. This story tells the untold story of their father, Haik Hovsepian’s, who was a prominent evangelical pastor, who was murdered and other Iranian Christian martyrs who paid for their faith with with

Sarah Liu has an amazing testimony of faithfulness to Jesus. After becoming a Christian, she knew it would cost everything. Because she told others about Jesus, Sarah was arrested, tortured, and put in prison for 6 years. In this episode, Sarah shares about the persecution of Christians in China, and what we can do about it. Photo courtesy of dollarphotoclub.com/58218692 Listen to the Episode Question: Will you commit to praying with me about the persecuted Church during the Christmas season? Leave your thoughts about Sarah’s interview too! You can leave a comment by clicking here. You can listen to the audio on iTunes (Click Here) I am praying for persecuted Christians! #RenewingOurCityClick To Tweet Overview At one of the 2014 Voice of the Martyrs regional conferences, I was able to interview Xianzhi “Sarah” Liu. Sarah is an amazing woman of God. Not only is her story powerful, but she is extremely humble and kind. In this episode, Sarah answers some common questions that you may hav

There are millions of people around the world who go hungry every day, so ABC food packing is helping families around the world meet their most basic necessity, food. Lifeline Christian Mission’s Matt Collins and Greg Murphy-Dillow, sit down with me to discuss how they are sharing Jesus by first meeting the needs of the community. They use churches and groups in the United States to package food packs to curb world hunger. photo courtesy of JohnSmayProductions.com Listen to the Audio Question: “What is the best way you have found to get your whole family involved in ministry?” You can leave a comment by clicking here. You can listen to the audio on iTunes (Click Here) You can feed the hungry! @LifelineCM #RenewingOurCityClick To Tweet Overview Lifeline Christian Mission started by feeding kids in Haiti. The first years they packed a few thousand meals. With the support of churches around the United States, today ABC food has packed over 5 million meals during the last few years. Their goal is to gi

Hearing a dynamic sermon, listening to powerful music, attending worship times that are different than the usual Sunday morning church can impact someone greatly. Dave Kyllonen and his family have been involved in multiple evangelistic ministries over the last 58 years preaching to thousands of churches and inspiring people with his music. Dave’s passion and experience will motivate you, so enjoy the episode. courtesy of dollarphotoclub.com/71384131 Listen to the Audio Question: “What special event have you been to that has changed your life the most? Share some detail about the event and what God did in your life.” You can leave a comment by clicking here. Win 1 of 6 autographed copies of Dave’s book Our Final Quarter by leaving a comment answering the question above. You have until December 31, 2014 to enter to win an autograph copy of the book. Our Final Quarter ‘Missions is for free!’~Dave KyllonenClick To Tweet Overview Dave Kyllonen has traveled for the last 58 years in mu

Pastor Karl Roberts is one of the men who inspired me to become a pastor. He loves the Lord deeply, and if you are around him you will know it by him sharing his savior with those around him. My parents, over 25 years ago, started going to the church pastor Karl was ministering to, and after over 40 years of ministry he is still serving Jesus any way he can. He brings great insights on how you can personally share Jesus with others. Courtesy of dollarphotoclub.com/56130538 Listen to the Audio Question: Who do you know that needs to hear the message of Jesus? Share their first name in the comments, so we can all be praying for you to have an opportunity to share and their heart will be open to listening. You can leave a comment by clicking here. Full Show Notes ‘When you start with the great commission, evangelism is just something that’s gonna happen’ Karl…Click To Tweet Overview In episode 5, Pastor Karl Roberts speaks about his life and ministry, namely how he has grown in shari

Pastor Joshua Ngao from Fisher’s of Men Ministries joins me for a second interview to talk about ministering to refugees in your community. Also, we talk about being involved in local missions before going to a foreign mission field and why short-term trips matter. If you missed Pastor Ngao’s first interview on African missions and his personal testimony, you can find that here Courtesy of dollarphotoclub.com/60708035 Listen to the Audio Question: Do you know someone from a different country in your neighborhood? What are ways you can bless them? You can leave a comment by clicking here. The Nations are coming to our Jerusalem! @JoshuaNgao #RenewingOurCityClick To Tweet Overview Fisher’s of Men Ministries is doing amazing work in Kenya, Africa with the goal of planting a church in every county in the country, along side of training pastors, taking care of children, and doing community development work. God has call Pastor Ngao to great things, so when he moved to the United States, that callin

This podcast dives deeper in to the global mission field with the topic of African missions. Pastor Joshua Ngao brings his experience to the table from working with Fisher’s of Men Ministries to talk about about poverty in Africa, ministry in and trips to Kenya, accountabily for mission groups, supporting national pastors, and much more. Listen to the Audio Question: Who has Jesus called you to reach? What is the calling on your life? You can leave a comment by clicking here. If he has called you, whatever you go through, in the end there will be a testimony.Click To Tweet Overview Growing up in poverty with a single mom, Joshua moved to Nairobi, Kenya in High School. Then in college, while working at a Hotel, Joshua met a man who shared Jesus with him, and he committed his life to Jesus. The Lord called Joshua into ministry, taking him out of a great life and job, to working with kids in Nairobi with nothing. A US House of Representative member from Mississippi and a lady from Camanche, IA came to v

In this podcast, Rusty Boruff brings his passion and experience from founding and working with The 180 Zone to the table to discuss reaching those in your city who are in crisis, poverty, or addicted. We also discuss how to identify the needs in your community and how to get your local church involved outreach. Listen to the Audio Join the Conversation Question: What is the best way you have found to get involved with people dealing with crisis, addiction, or poverty? You can leave a comment by clicking here. Passions come and Go, burden are those things that literally hurt not to do. #RenewingOurCityClick To Tweet Overview Identifying needs in your communities: Build relationships with the community by calling schools, police department, people in the neighborhoods. Ask people, ‘how can we help’ because they know the needs first hand. Identify a target area where God opens up the doors. To identify the needs in your community, you just need to get out there and build relationships.Click To Tweet

Welcome to the first episode of The Renewing Our City Podcast. In the first episode, I introduce myself and give some details about what this show will be about. Listen to the Audio Join the Conversation Question: What are your problems, pain points, and needs that you would like to learn more about from the Renewing Our City Podcast? You can leave a comment by clicking here. About Matt On today’s episode, I talk about my history of getting involved with local and global outreach and the influences on my life that have fueled my passion for reaching people for Jesus. For more info about me, check out my About Page. Why Renewing Our City You may be asking why I called a show, Renewing Our City, since it is about missions, leadership, and service. In short, Renewing – Jesus renews all things. Jesus transforms our sinful hearts, and makes them new, changes, clean. He takes something that is broke and doesn’t just put duck tape on it, but he fully renews our lives. Our – When we ar