Calvary Life Podcast

Season One Wrap-Up

Thank you so much for joining us for this first season of the Calvary Life Podcast. It's been an incredible experience, and we're so grateful to all of you who have been a part of it- both as listeners and as guests!

We're taking a break to gather more stories, content, and interviews to fully celebrate life at Calvary Church, but don't worry- we'll be back before you know it. So keep your eyes open for updates on Season 2 from our website and Instagram! See you soon!

Football, Finances, and Faith with George Andrews

What do the LA Rams, Ronald Blue Trust, and Calvary Church Elders all have in common? They can all claim our guest on this week's podcast as one of their members!

On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt sit down with Calvary member and Elder George Alexander. Together, they go through his story- walking away from the church at a young age, becoming a first-round draft pick for the NFL, and how the influence of believers in his life helped bring him back to Jesus. 

If you would like to learn more about the Elders and leaders of Calvary Church, visit us online at calvarylife.org/leaders. 

Islam and Christianity- Think Biblically with Scott Rae and Lenci Mene

Today on the Calvary Life Podcast, we introduce you to a show we know you'll love, with a guest we bet you'll recognize. Instead of Matt and Eric hosting as normal, we're airing an episode of Think Biblically, a weekly podcast with Talbot School of Theology professor Scott Rae that offers Christian perspectives on some of the most significant issues facing today's church and culture.

This episode features Calvary missionary Lenci Mene as he shares his story of coming to faith in Jesus and where his journey has led him today. Together, he and Scott discuss Lenci's path from Islam to Christianity, the importance of textual criticism of the Bible, and the power of saying "I don't know".

You can find more episodes of Think Biblically on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever streaming app you use. To learn more about Lenci's ministry and other Calvary missionaries, visit us at calvarylife.org/reach.

What do Christians do with Anxiety? with Dr. Andrea Ganahl

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, over 40 million adults in the United States suffer from clinical anxiety. But if the Bible tells us to be "anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6), what can we do to deal with this overwhelming issue? 

In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt sit down with Dr. Andrea Ganahl to discuss this very topic. They talk about tips to manage your anxious thoughts, how Christians to navigate a life with anxiety, and what it means for true healing to take place in who we are in Christ. 

If you'd like to learn more about anxiety, or hear more from Dr. Ganahl, you can visit her website at andreaganahl.com. You can also learn more about and sign up for counseling services at Calvary by visiting calvarylife.org/counseling.

Biblical Environmentalism with Brandon Elrod

Environmentalism is a word that can be fraught with political implications. But is it actually a political issue, or a biblical mandate for believers everywhere? 

On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Matt and Eric sit down with Calvary member, Elder, and Certified Arborist Brandon Elrod. Together, they discuss the history of environmentalism and how it is truly honoring to the Lord, what Calvary is doing to join in with protecting the earth, and some tips for how you can easily integrate more environmentally-conscious habits into your daily life! 

You can learn more about Brandon's work at pacificcoastcompanies.org or pacificcoast.eco. 

Jesus is a Dodgers Fan- Sharing Faith Through Sports with Jeff McKee

Jesus is definitely a Dodgers fan. Or maybe He's an Angels fan? Whatever team He roots for, you know Jeff McKee has probably worked with them directly or ministered to their fans. 

 

On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt talk with Calvary member Jeff McKee about the incredible opportunity sports provide for sharing Jesus. As an area director for FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and the Vice President of Trinity Bats, he's seen lives changed by way of football, soccer, tennis, baseball, and more. So listen in to hear all about how God opens doors for those who are faithful to follow! 

 

If you'd like to support or learn more about what FCA is doing in schools near you, visit ocfca.org. To learn more about student ministries at Calvary, visit us at calvarylife.org/students.

It's Greek to Me- Biblical Translations with John Watters

If you had asked a younger John Watters what he wanted to do with his life, he'd tell you anything so long as it wasn't working with languages, or in Africa. So how exactly did he wind up translating the Gospel into an obscure language in Cameroon? 

In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, join Eric and Matt as they hear from Calvary Missionary and SIL translator John Watters. He tells stories of growing up in the Amazon River Basin, finding a renewal of faith in the Church, and why it's not such a good idea to try to hit iguanas with sticks. 

If you're interested in learning more about the work SIL does around the world, visit them online at sil.org. If you'd like to learn more about how Calvary supports missions and missionaries alike, visit calvarylife.org/missions.

The Collision of College and Christ with Matt Marano

According to a recent study by LifeWay Research, as many as two-thirds of American high school students stop attending church once they reach college. Many believers who begin their journey in higher education find they're faced with outright hostility, avoidance, or apathy at best. So how should Christian college students engage with their community while in school? 

In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt sit down with Matt Marano, a Calvary Member and High School small group leader, to discuss Matt's experience at University of California Irvine. They talk about the difficulty of starting deep conversations, the "you do you" culture of college, and the importance of maintaining roots in the Church while at school. 

God's Faithful Provision with Alyssa Burgess

There's no ministry quite like youth ministry, and at Calvary, we love youth ministry! In this special episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric joins up with our guest host, Calvary High School Pastor Courtnie Dowdy, to sit down with Calvary member and Tustin Area YoungLife Director, Alyssa Burgess. Together, they discuss the importance of meeting Middle and High Schoolers in authentic ways, how God provides when He's given you a calling, and how you can make an impact on your community around you. 

To learn more about how you can support YoungLife Ministries, you can visit them at their Tustin Website or their Main Website. And if you're interested in learning more about youth ministries at Calvary, visit our Students Page!

The Relentless Grace of God with MaryJane Edwards

What does God's grace look like when you choose adoption for your child? Or when you're a teenage mother? How does He capture you when you feel completely alone? On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt talk with MaryJane Edwards, Calvary's Family Ministries Pastor, about how God's relentless pursuing grace brought her from fear and shame to an abundant life with Him.