The Blue Vineyard Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

The Blue Vineyard Podcast

The Blue Vineyard Podcast

by Luke Farrugia

Entrepreneurship Christianity

Season 2

Digital Presence Isn't Optional Anymore | Dr. Larry Witzel

Your congregation is already forming deep, emotionally significant relationships online, with influencers and creators who have no idea they exist. Dr. Larry Witzel completed his PhD in Strategic Media, studying exactly this, and his conclusion is clear: if pastors are not consistently showing up online, someone else is filling that space. In this episode, we unpack the research and what to do about it. 00:00 Welcome and Larry's PhD journey 03:00 What parasocial relationships are and why they matter 07:00 Real-life examples, Technoblade, Taylor Tomlinson, and a daughter at Starbucks 14:00 What separates successful creators from wannabes 16:00 How pastors can harvest parasocial relationships evangelistically 20:00 Larry's personal social media shift and the research that triggered it 26:00 Why Larry launched the Ministry Insights podcast 32:00 Thinking in audio and video at the same time 42:00 The biggest challenges of a weekly release cadence 48:00 Practical advice for pastors who want to get started Dr. Larry Witzel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrywitzel/ | larry@sermonview.com | sermonview.com CONNECT WITH BLUE VINEYARD 🔵 Subscribe for more insights on faith and technology 🎙️ Audio Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/bluevineyard/ 🌐 Website: https://bluevineyard.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-vineyard/ ✉️ Get in touch: hello@bluevineyard.com

Your Business, Your Ministry: A Conversation with Luke and Adam

Most Christians carry an unspoken hierarchy of callings, with pastor at the top and tradesperson somewhere near the bottom. Luke Farrugia and Adam Weeks are both running for-profit businesses while staying deeply rooted in ministry, and in this episode they make the case that drawing that line at all might be the wrong question. This is a conversation about business, vocation, and what it actually looks like to do work like Jesus. CONNECT WITH BLUE VINEYARD 🔵 Subscribe for more insights on faith and technology 🎙️ Audio Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/bluevineyard/ 🌐 Website: https://bluevineyard.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-vineyard/ ✉️ Get in touch: hello@bluevineyard.com

How Technology Is Powering Ministry (Updated) - Brent Hardinge

We live in an age where AI can do pretty much everything. Brent Hardinge directs Adventist Connect at the North American Division, and his philosophy is simple: technology's job is to aid us in doing ministry, not replace our agency. In this episode, we explore what that looks like. 00:00 Introduction to Brent Hardinge and Adventist Connect 03:00 Brent's trajectory: early exposure to technology and path to the NAD 08:00 The shift from a call center model to supporting local church digital ministry 10:00 Adventist Church Connect and the move to WordPress (Frame platform) 17:00 Behind the scenes: team, infrastructure, and why owning your own data center matters 22:00 Why Brent chose WordPress and the philosophy of keeping things close to core 28:00 The prayer ads campaign: how it started, what it looks like, and early results 34:00 Stories from the field: real people connecting to faith and local churches stepping up 40:00 Adventist Connect's role as a support layer between the denomination and local ministry 42:00 The future of ministry tech and the irreplaceable role of human connection 49:00 Final thoughts: why the NAD exists, and what makes a case for the organised church Brent Hardinge: https://adventistconnect.org CONNECT WITH BLUE VINEYARD 🔵 Subscribe for more insights on faith and technology 🎙️ Audio Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/bluevineyard/ 🌐 Website: https://bluevineyard.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-vineyard/ ✉️ Get in touch: hello@bluevineyard.com

Why Your Ministry Has a Faith Problem, Not a Marketing Problem | Stephen Lee

Why do so many ministries struggle to get their message out? Christian marketer Stephen Lee has a confronting answer — it's not a tactics problem, and it's not a budget problem. It's a faith problem. In this episode, Luke and Adam sit down with Stephen Lee, founder of Compose Marketing, to unpack why the church so often undersells the most valuable message in the world — and what it looks like to build a business with God, not just for Him. Stephen shares his journey from being disowned by his family after becoming an Adventist, surviving on under $200 for years, to generating $4 million in ad revenue for ministry clients — and why he recently walked away from it all to build something new for Christian entrepreneurs. Along the way they cover what Ellen White actually said about marketing, why Coca-Cola's $5 billion ad spend should convict every ministry leader, and what it looks like when you finally understand the true value of what you're carrying. In this episode: Why most ministries don't have a marketing problem — they have a faith problem What Ellen White actually said about marketing (and why it still stings) Why Coca-Cola spending $5 billion on a drink should convict every ministry leader How to think about success and attribution in Christian marketing Where AI fits — and where it doesn't Why building with God looks different from building for God Timestamps 00:00 Growing up, being disowned, and becoming a missionary 08:00 Launching a new event-based business for Christian entrepreneurs 10:00 How to get attention for your ministry on social media 21:00 How to measure success in Christian marketing 23:00 If you had $10,000 and one month — what would you do? 28:00 Thought-provoking content — has it ever gotten Stephen in trouble? 30:00 Stephen's take on AI and responsible use 33:00 Where ministry leaders should put their attention in the next few years 35:00 Final advice — know yourself, know your gifts, build from there Connect with Stephen Lee 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gospelpreneur/ ✍️ Newsletter & Blog: https://www.simpleestephen.com 💼 Marketing Company: https://www.compose.marketing Connect with Blue Vineyard 🔵 Subscribe for more insights on faith and technology! 🔵 Listen to the full audio podcast https://rss.com/podcasts/bluevineyard/ 🔵 Need digital services for your ministry? Visit our website: https://bluevineyard.com 🔵 Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-vineyard/ 🔵 Have an idea for the show? Email us at hello@bluevineyard.com

The Future of Adventist Publishing — Journalism, AI, and the Trust Crisis | Jarrod Stackelroth

What does the future of Adventist publishing actually look like? Jarrod Stackelroth has spent nearly 20 years in the thick of it. He was the editor of Adventist Record and Signs of the Times. And he has recently been called to be the associate editor of the Communications Department of the GC. In this episode, he gives an honest assessment of where the church's journalism and communication stand today. You'll hear about the publications and initiatives doing standout work across the world church, how AI is reshaping the way content gets made, and why trust is becoming the most valuable currency in ministry communications. ~ If you have an idea for an episode on the Blue Vineyard Podcast, contact us at hello@bluevineyard.com Do you offer services in the Adventist Ecosystem? Connect with us on LinkedIn Or, perhaps you need some digital services. Find out more by visiting our website now. bluevineyard.com

What Technology Is Actually Doing to the Local Church | Pastor Wes Via

Real life and digital life are blending together — and the local church is no exception. Pastor Wes Via has spent years figuring out how to leverage digital tools in the local church without losing what matters most: real relationships. In this episode, he shares practical examples from his own ministry, including how he uses a podcast as a Bible study resource to free up his one-on-one time for genuine discipleship conversations. If you lead a local church and you're wondering where to start with technology, this is a grounded, honest place to begin. ~ If you have an idea for an episode on the Blue Vineyard Podcast, contact us at hello@bluevineyard.com Do you offer services in the Adventist Ecosystem? Connect with us on LinkedIn Or, perhaps you need some digital services. Find out more by visiting our website now. bluevineyard.com

The Future of Adventist Technology

In this episode, Adam and Luke dive deep into the evolution of Blue Vineyard, the Adventist technology landscape. They explore long-form podcasting, the launch of TrustLoop, and teacher appraisal solutions in our schools. Watch to learn how a relationship-first approach to technology is helping those who share God's truth with the tools they deserve. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: The Blue Vineyard Journey 1:51 - Why DIY Website Builders are Failing Large Ministries 4:39 - The NAD, WordPress, and the Power of Open Source 6:59 - Podcasting: Choosing Depth Over Breadth 14:21 - Launching TrustLoop: Solving the Safety Gap 24:14 - ElevatED: Measuring Teaching Skill vs. Mission Alignment 34:41 - AdventAI: Faithfully Navigating the Age of AI 39:16 - The Incubator Model: Building Sustainable Tech Teams 46:16 - The North Star: Equipping the Gospel Commission ❤️ Subscribe to our channel - ⁨@BlueVineyard⁩ 📺 Watch more episodes of the Blue Vineyard Podcast Connect with Blue Vineyard: hello@bluevineyard.com #sda #sdachurch #tech #ministry #strategy

Why Most Church Podcasts Fail (And How to Fix Yours)

What is missing from the Adventist media landscape? Kahn Ellmers shares his wishlist for the types of shows the church should be producing, from daily adult devotionals to news commentary. You'll learn about the gaps in the current market and how your ministry might be the one to fill them. Plus, get access to Blue Vineyard's free "Podcast Launch Guide" to help you start your journey on the right foot. ~ If you have an idea for an episode on the Blue Vineyard Podcast, Contact us at hello@bluevineyard.com Do you offer services in the Adventist Ecosystem? Connect with us on LinkedIn Or, perhaps you need some digital services. Find out more by visiting our website now. bluevineyard.com

Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Software, A Debate with Cameron and Jonathan

Is your ministry actually unique, or are you just holding onto inefficient processes? This episode challenges the common assumption that "ministry work is different" to help you make smarter technology choices. You'll discover the hidden costs of off-the-shelf workarounds and learn how to identify which 20% of your operations truly justify a custom build. This honest debate will save you from wasting budget on features you don't need. ~ If you have an idea for an episode on the Blue Vineyard Podcast, Contact us at hello@bluevineyard.com Do you offer services in the Adventist Ecosystem? Connect with us on LinkedIn Or, perhaps you need some digital services. Find out more by visiting our website now. bluevineyard.com

Inside Advent AI, with Emmanuel Higgins

Ever wonder why ChatGPT makes up Bible verses or misquotes Ellen White? In this episode, you’ll discover the fundamental "compression" problem with generic AI models. Emmanuel Higgins returns to explain how Advent AI uses advanced context engineering to solve this issue. You'll learn how to use this specialized tool to get accurate, sourced answers for your Sabbath School lesson or sermon prep, ensuring your digital research is grounded in truth, not hallucinations. ~ If you have an idea for an episode on the Blue Vineyard Podcast, Contact us at hello@bluevineyard.com Do you offer services in the Adventist Ecosystem? Connect with us on LinkedIn Or, perhaps you need some digital services. Find out more by visiting our website now. bluevineyard.com

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