Making The Most Of An UN-Ideal Set Of Circumstances
If you are anything like me, you have been considering, contemplating, conversing and creating scenarios over and over and over again, trying to crack the COVID Era ministry challenge. The thing that has been super clear to me all along is that nothing about this moment feels ideal. In fact, everything feels un-ideal. As our […]
Responding To Racism From An Asian American Perspective
After 42 years on this earth, I have been asked many times in my life, “Where are you from?” It’s a very natural and common question that we ask each other as we meet and engage. When I am asked this question, my answer is, “I’m from New Jersey.” My answer is often met with […]
Five Discussions To Have Before Meeting In Person With Your Teens
Is it really possible? Could we actually have a meeting with our teens not on Zoom? Dare to dream! For many of us, things are changing rapidly again. New rules, loosened restrictions, articles (like this one) about how to best do this reopening thing. It can honestly feel even more overwhelming than when things began […]
Reopening Your Kids’ Ministries
We couldn’t have ever predicted that 2020 would hold huge changes for the Church. I never imagined that I’d be watching church on Sunday morning at home in my pj’s! Did you ever dream that we would be given the opportunity to completely reimagine how we can structure a ministry to kids? These have not […]
Embracing A New Normal, Just Like The Disciples
Over the past three months we’ve all learned lots of new words and phrases like coronavirus, Covid-19, social distancing, and flatten the curve. An old phrase is being reused a lot these days: the new normal. I recently saw a cartoon of a husband and wife having their morning coffee. The husband apparently just said […]
COVID-19 Musings From A Vineyard Pastor
We have heard it time and time again. We have thought about it. We have dreamed about. Normal. . I can’t wait to get back to normal. . A meal at your favorite restaurant. A date night with your spouse. A ball game with friends. You know… normal. . Sunday morning with your church family. […]
When We Gather: Public Health Considerations For Reopening
Dr. Danielle and Joey Walker grew up in the Vineyard family and are members at Vineyard Anaheim. Dr. Walker is a professor of public health and health science and Director of Lifetime Wellness at Biola University. She is also a certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and recently certified in COVID-19 Emergency Response. Prior to being […]
Pastoring Through A Pandemic
I am the lead pastor of the North Jersey Vineyard. My wife Norma and I planted the church 23 years ago right outside of New York City. I enjoy the challenges and opportunities of pastoring a church in this region of the country. I love the diversity, enjoy the hustle and bustle, and even like […]
Into The Desert: Consenting To What We Did Not Choose And Fighting The Right Enemy
On this episode, return guest Jared Boyd provides a counter-intuitive posture for those seeking spiritual formation in a time of global pandemic. Knowing how and what to fight against begins only when we can move from thinking we are in isolation to embracing solitude. This is very personal look into what God has been doing […]
A Letter From Phil | May 2020
Dear Friends, Greetings from Maine, where we are still waiting for the full reality of spring! Last week I was chatting with a pastor in Arizona where it was 105 degrees, while that morning it was spitting snow in Maine …not a complaint, just a fact. As you know, there are so many different realities […]
