In All Things

In this episode of In All Things, Cameron Shaffer, lead pastor of Langhorne Presbyterian Church and author of Keeping Kids Christian, shares pastoral insights on discipling children and cultivating lasting faith in the home and the church. Drawing from both Scripture and experience, Cameron offers a thoughtful theological framework for understanding how faith is formed, and why it so often struggles to take root.

Together, he and Dean explore practical ways churches and families can partner in raising children who know and love the Lord, as well as the importance of community, consistency, and grace in that process.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Keeping Kids Christian by Cameron Shaffer:
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781540905055_keeping-kids-christian

It’s Not Too Late by Dan Dupee:
https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/2016/03/its_not_too_late_the_essential/

EPC Next Generation Ministries Council: https://epconnect.org/nextgen

In this episode of In All Things, Marc de Jeu, Director of Church Health, joins Annie Rose, Director of Ministerial Health, for a conversation about the importance of cultivating healthy churches and healthy leaders in the EPC. Together, they explore how community, prayer, and shared encouragement can sustain pastors and congregations, especially in challenging ministry contexts.

They also discuss new initiatives designed to support leaders across the denomination, including the Rural Ministry Cohort Initiative and the Better Together Cohorts, which create space for pastors and leaders to connect, learn, and pray together as they serve their churches.

Finally, the conversation highlights the EPC’s partnership with Knox Theological Seminary through the Commissioned Pastor Certification Program, which helps equip leaders for faithful ministry in local congregations.

Learn more about the program here:
Commissioned Pastor Certification Program with Knox Theological Seminary
https://forms.monday.com/forms/f879d7a7fdae9968a9cbb7c75f05e4a4?r=use1&utm_source=Knox+Marketing&utm_campaign=402b1af535-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_05_07_46&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-402b1af535-529299849

This week, special guest host Marc de Jeu sits down with pastor and author Josh Hayden to discuss the missional markers of a healthy church. They break down the distinction between revitalization and remissioning, the relationship of church metrics to a church’s missional identity, and share a bit about the equipping session they will be leading together at this year’s General Assembly.

Whether you’re leading a church that wants to make disciples or just interested in how to improve your church’s missional health, this episode will allow you to consider the important questions and encouragements needed to for a healthy EPC church.

Read Josh’s book, Remissioning Church, here: https://www.ivpress.com/remissioning-church?srsltid=AfmBOorwhJXYrulGe3_txOVkiOb95fWKFCwxp4oBfH7aEGNKT5-uHf99

In this special episode of In All Things, guest host Marc de Jeu, National Director of Church Health, is joined by Julie Hawkins and Michelle Tepper, Alpha USA’s National Director for Denominational Engagement, for a rich conversation about evangelism, hospitality, and the Church’s call to reach those who are searching.

Together, they explore Alpha USA’s ministry and why it serves as such a powerful “front porch” for evangelism by creating welcoming spaces where people can ask honest questions, explore faith, and encounter the gospel in community. Michelle shares Alpha’s heart for discipleship and spiritual conversation, while Marc and Julie reflect on how EPC churches can faithfully integrate Alpha into their local ministry contexts.

Whether your church is looking for new ways to engage your community or strengthen evangelistic pathways, this episode offers encouragement and concrete next steps for ministry.

🔗 Click HERE to Explore EPC Church Health tools and resources

🔗 Learn more about Alpha USA and how to get started: https://alphausa.org

In this episode of In All Things, Dean is joined by Brandon Jolley, a member of the Benefits Resources, Inc. (BRI) Committee, for a practical and encouraging conversation about how the EPC’s benefits program works and why participation matters.

Together, Brandon and Dean walk through the heart behind EPC Benefits, explaining how the program supports pastors, church staff, and their families through medical coverage, wellness resources, and long-term care. Brandon offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the benefits plan functions, what makes it different from navigating insurance independently, and why a strong, connected participation base helps strengthen care for everyone involved.

This episode is an invitation to pastors, sessions, and church leaders to explore how EPC Benefits can serve their communities, and a reminder that caring for those who serve the Church is a vital part of the Church’s witness.

🔗 Learn more about EPC Benefits and how to join at epconnect.org/benefits

In this episode of In All Things, Dean is joined by Julie Lynn Ashley, who shares her family’s powerful story of how the EPC and the EPC Benefits program supported them through one of the most challenging seasons of their ministry journey.

Julie Lynn reflects on the realities of pastoral life, the unexpected moments when benefits become more than paperwork, and how the care from the wider EPC family provided when her family needed it most. Her testimony offers a meaningful reminder that ministry families are not meant to walk alone, and that tangible support from the Church makes a lasting difference.

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry spouse, elder, or church leader, this episode offers both encouragement and practical insight into how the EPC seeks to care for those who serve.

To connect with Julie Lynn, visit her website or Alongside Ministry Wives.

🔗 Learn more about EPC’s Benefits Program at epconnect.org/benefits

🔗 Watch Julie Lynn’s most recent webinar here: https://youtu.be/ZLXesFa6NcQ?si=GEvz4eGyT54z62sr

In the first episode of our new miniseries, The Benefit of Joining Our Benefits, Dean sits down with Carolee Richendollar, Executive Director of Benefits Resources, to explore how the EPC supports pastors, church staff, and their families through comprehensive benefits and holistic care.

Together, they discuss why benefits matter not only practically, but spiritually, and how healthy coverage can create space for pastors to serve with greater confidence and longevity. Carolee also shares why so many people enrolled in the plan aren’t fully utilizing the resources available to them and offers encouragement for pastors and sessions to take a fresh look at what’s already at their fingertips.

This episode is a helpful reminder that caring for those called to ministry is a shared responsibility of the Church. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, or church administrator, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and practical next steps for making the most of the EPC’s Benefits Resources.

🔗 Learn more about EPC Benefits Resources and explore available plans and support at:
https://www.epconnect.org/benefits

In this episode, Dean sits down with Stuart Chen to explore the often-overlooked seasons of calling that come after a career has ended. Drawing from his own experience serving at an international school in Central Asia, Stuart reflects on the different phases of retirement and the surprising opportunities they can hold for meaningful ministry.

This conversation is an encouragement to believers of all ages, especially those nearing or entering retirement, to prayerfully consider how God might be inviting them to use their time, skills, and availability in this next chapter of life. As Stuart reminds us, the call to follow Jesus doesn’t end with a career; it continues wherever God leads.

📩 Interested in exploring how your retirement years could be used in ministry? Stuart welcomes conversation and questions. Feel free to reach out to him at polycarp316@gmail.com

In the third and final episode of our Generations Series, Dean, Gianna, and Kendra turn their attention to one of the most vital questions facing the Church today: how do we cultivate meaningful community across generations?

The conversation explores how different generations understand belonging, commitment, and connection—especially in a world shaped by both digital and in-person interactions. From the strengths and limitations of online spaces to the irreplaceable value of embodied, face-to-face community, the team reflects on how churches can thoughtfully engage people of all ages within their immediate reach.

🔗 Learn more about the upcoming Next Gen Leadership Summit and how to register here.

In the second episode of our Generations Series, Dean, Gianna, and Kendra turn their attention to one of the most common and often misunderstood challenges in ministry: communication across generations.

From texting and tone to email etiquette and expectations, the team explores how different generations communicate, where misunderstandings most often arise, and why good intentions can still lead to confusion.

At its heart, this episode is a reminder that communication is an act of discipleship. When the Church learns to listen well and speak thoughtfully across generations, it reflects the unity of the Body of Christ and creates space for deeper connection.

🔗 Learn more about the EPC’s Next Generation Council: http://epconnect.org/nextgen/