This is a sobering yet hope-filled episode. I sit down with Summer Vinson Berger and Adam Paa to discuss the pain, complexity, and redemptive potential of shepherding care in the local church. From owning massive failures in 2015 to building a robust, gospel-centered care framework at The Village Church, we discuss stories, strategies, and heartfelt convictions about what real, redemptive care looks like when the church chooses humility over image.

Whether you’re walking through trauma, burnout, addiction, or just longing for your church to care better—you’ll find wisdom and honesty here. This episode is a call to take the mess seriously, to listen better, and to believe that Jesus still heals through His body.

In This Episode

• The Weight of Shepherding
• 2015: Owning the Failures of Care
• Introducing Summer Berger and Adam Paa
• Building a Comprehensive Care Ministry
• What Is Redemptive Care?
• Why Recovery Must Stay Messy
• The Three Buckets of Recovery
• Ministry through Recovery: A Front Door to the Church
• Integrating Gospel and Therapy
• Psychology Catching Up to Scripture
• Gratitude, Paul, and Neuroscience
• Common Grace and Counseling
• When Churches Resist Therapeutic Tools
• Why Shepherding Is So Complex
• Trust, Time, and Trauma Recovery
• The Risk of Mislabeling Problems
• The Weight and Cost of Church Hurt
• Training Churches to Respond Better
• A Call to Action for Pastors and the Broken

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Covenant Eyes

Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.

The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.

Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.

Moody Publishers

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Acts 29

This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1.

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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Today I unpack the gritty, grace-filled realities of planting churches with three faithful men—Ronnie, Travis, and Spencer—who are living it right now. We talk about the surprising slowness of fruit, the wounds of unmet expectations, and the refining power of suffering. We also celebrate the deep friendships, family sacrifices, and the sacred calling of building from scratch. Whether you’re dreaming of planting, deep in the trenches, or a church member wondering how to help—this one will stir your heart and steady your hands.

In This Episode

• Why Church Planting Still Matters
• First-Year Surprises: Slow Growth, Big Work
• Vision Matters More Than You Think
• Heart Maintenance in the Hustle
• Questioning the Call: When Doubt Creeps In
• Family and Friendship on the Frontlines
• When Kids Feel the Cost
• Paper Cuts and Perseverance
• God's Provision in Scarcity
• The Power of Sending Churches
• Preaching and Leading from the Trenches
• A Word for the Weary Planter
• A Call to the Comfortable: Join the Work

Resources Mentioned

Book: Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer - https://a.co/d/dij4kT2

Organizations & Networks:

• NAMB (North American Mission Board) – namb.net
• Send Network – sendnetwork.com
• Acts 29 Church Planting Network – acts29.com

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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

This episode is special to me. I sit down with two of my heroes in the faith—Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts. These men have been anchors for me in moments of doubt and discouragement, and I wanted to ask them the questions that most pastors eventually ask themselves: How do you stay faithful for the long haul? How do you finish well when so many don't? We talk about the rhythms that sustained them over decades, the call of ministry that’s far more than a career, and what it looks like to fight pride and pursue humility every single day. We also dive deep into marriage, legacy, and the sacredness of being a pastor. If you're in the trenches—especially in your 20s to 40s—this one's for you. I want to finish well, and I know you do too.

In This Episode

• [02:00] Rhythms That Sustain the Soul
• [05:00] The Call of God vs. a Career in Ministry
• [08:00] Shepherding, Not Hiring: A Vision for Pastoral Ministry
• [13:00] The Crisis of Calling in a Careerist Culture
• [16:00] The Tragedy of Falling Away
• [20:00] Discerning the Dangers in Different Seasons
• [25:00] Kill the Lion: Confronting Sin Early
• [30:00] The Deception of Success
• [33:00] The Call to Vulnerability and Brotherhood
• [36:00] Marriage, Legacy, and Intimacy
• [40:00] Cultivating Lifelong Love with Your Spouse
• [45:00] Final Encouragement: Stay Low, Stay Faithful

Resources

• Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar
• Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp

FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:

Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Covenant Eyes

Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.

The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.

Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.

–

Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co