Grace Chapel - San Diego

This week listen to Pastor George and Peter discuss the Rebellious Entry, or what is oftentimes referred to as the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem as king, but not in the way almost anyone was expecting. Music by Poor Bishop Hooper

Mike Ortiz grew up in the church, but the typical culture swept him away until God. God stepped in to save him from some health problems and then took Mike Ortiz on a series of steps from simply attending a Bible Study, to a Discipleship School, all the way to the far end of Haiti where he served as a missionary for 2-3 years. Mike and his Wife Marta now serve as Shepherds at the Gathering.This is a great story on how small steps of faith can lead to a big life of impact.

Fredrick Clerie left Haiti when he was young in pursuit of education, and after turmoil and political upheaval made the hard choice to not return... until the Lord called him to return to his childhood home of Haiti to help serve those most vulnerable. Listen to a powerful testimony of how God is working through Fredrick and the Non-Profit Ministry he leads, Hopestart International, to bring help and hope to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

This week, The Gathering is partnering with the San Diego Rescue Mission to help serve those who currently do not have a home. The conversation today is on this very topic and will help provide perspective and prepare our hearts to serve San Diego's homeless, or as our guest likes to say, our neighbors.Estreanda Yates led a homeless ministry within the Rock Church for over 10 years, but her story with the homeless started much younger. Today, host Alanna Sullivan has a conversation with Estreanda about her very own personal testimony as it relates to homelessness and the powerful ministry work she did with our neighbors.

Today's episode focuses on Tim & Pam Whitcomb, who have been married for nearly 30 years. They both met a little later then some, which also coincided with them meeting the Lord. It is a unique story and closes out this month focus on marriages and relationships.They tell us about how they met, and also the challenges and beauty that came with them coming into their relationship with the Lord at the same time. They grew together with the Lord, and together with one another at the same time. They also provide some great advice that any couple at any stage should really take to heart. We hope you enjoy this final installment in this month's series.

Today's episode focuses on Bill and Leah Impey, who have been married for 34 years. It covers a little about them, and how their lives both set a course of Bible College where they met and quickly fell in-love. They reflect on some of their early victories and struggles, as well as share some timeless wisdom that any couple at any stage of their relationship can incorporate into their life to be a better husband or wife. 

Today's episode is the epic origin story of our very own Kelsey and Jared Nepute. They talk about they found each other, how Kelsey found God, and then how God used a girl to get to Jared. They discuss their experience growing in their relationship with God, which, no surprise, grew the relationship between one another. They talk about conflict, grace, and provide some great practical advice for any marriage, but especially for those entering the early years of their own marriage and relationship.Enjoy!

Todays episode is a love story about a young couple who developed a romance over YouTube and Instagram. Samuel Impey, son of Pastor Bill Impey, and YouTube music artist, Marylou Villegas, developed a relationship online before ever meeting in real life. The couple's story kicks off an entire month focused on relationships. The two have been dating for over 3 years, including a long-distance relationship strained by not just distance, but closed borders amidst a global pandemic, but they have come out the other side stronger for it. It's a wonderful story and is capped off by music by Marylou Villegas herself. We hope you enjoy!

Overview: Today’s podcast features one of your hosts, Peter Varberg, as the guest on the show. Peter shares a powerful story about how God has worked in his life as he has struggled with depression over the last 8 years. This will be the last installment during our monthlong focus. Peter is interviewed by Aeron Sullivan. First Struggles (0:00-13:00)Peter shares about a traumatic event in his early-adulthood that brought him into his first struggle with depression and what that taught him that still sticks with him today.Identity, Worry, & Anxiety (13:00-27:00)Peter shares about his work as a missionary overseas, and discusses depression and anxiety that accompanies his return home and quest to find work, and then struggling with whether the work was meaningful. Journey to Today (28:00-37:00)Finally, Peter talks about how those experience shave been used by God. He talks about a simple acronym people can use as they struggle with anxiety and depression, and ultimately gives us a message of hope that he fin

OverviewOn today’s podcast, Bessy Holdren, a marriage and family therapist, talks with Alanna Sullivan on Identity formation, what true Biblical Identity looks like, and how to use a simple acronym PBC (Prayer-Bible-Community) to stay rooted in a Biblical Identity during challenging times. Identity Form: 0:00 - 13:00Bessy talks about her own identity formation growing up as an immigrant child from Honduras. Identity Formation: 14:00-19:00Bessy talks about factors that typically influence identity formation and how Covid has been a catalyst in exposing these early formational challenges. Identity Formation: 19:30-30:00Bessy talks through Biblical identity and a simple acronym to root us in Biblical identity during challenging times (PBC).PrayerBible:Community:  Bonus: 17 Bible Verses to Remind You of Your Identity in ChristJohn 1:12 ~”Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”Romans 8:28~ “And we know that in all things God works for the goo

OverviewOn today’s podcast, Celeste Garcia talks with Alanna Sullivan about how vulnerability is a key to unlocking deeper community and creates a path to growing closer to God. Celeste is a trained Psychologist that currently works with at-risk youth within San Diego County. Shame & Vulnerability: 0:00 - 12:00PartI: Celeste shares about her own experience with shame and vulnerability as a child and also as a Christian young in the faith. She shares how deep community in home gatherings helped her to be vulnerable accelerating her relation with with the Lord.She also covers some of the basics of shame and vulnerability.  Biblical Connections: 12:00-22:00Part II: Celeste covers biblical connections to the importance of vulnerability and carrying one another’s burdens. She also covers some practical advice with the congregation around how vulnerability, both as a one who enters into vulnerability, but also as one who bears it for another is of the utmost importance in intimate community. 

OverviewOn today’s podcast, Hosts Peter, Alanna, and Producer Aeron talk a little about The Gathering Podcast, why and how it got started, and also what to look forward to in 2021. The first half (through minute 16) focuses on the podcast, how and why it got started, as well as what to expect from it in 2021.The second half (through minute 30) focuses on Peter, Alanna, and Aeron, a little about them in the context of the Podcast, as well the sharing of a Google Form where you can share your own feedback, thoughts, or recommendations for the podcast!FEEDBACK FORM

OverviewOn today’s podcast, Pastor Bill Impey talks with Peter Varberg about exercising wisdom this year as we transition from 2020 to 2021 to take a pause and try to hear from God about what he may be speaking to you personally at this time of transition.Introduction to Hearing from God: 0:00 - 16:00Common reasons you may not be hearing from God: 16:00-26:00Lesser-Known reasons may not be hearing from God: 26:00-60:00How to find your one word: 60:00-85:00ResourcesInner Healing & Prayer GuidePracticing the Presence of GodMy One WordThe Promise Principle

OverviewOn today’s podcast, Debbie Roller, a member of the Gathering and longtime missionary, is interviewed by Alanna Sullivan on her work in the Philippine. We also talk about how her own testimony and witness to God’s redemptive work in her life brought her out of similar circumstances to those she ministers today. Debbie's Child Testimony: 0:00 - 9:30Debbie's Adult Faith Testimony: 9:30-19:30Debbie's Growing Faith and Heart for the Marginalized: 19:30-27:00Debbie's Missionary Work 27:00-47:00Starting her schoolMinistries she supportsHow to get involved & supportFaith Moves Mountains

OverviewIn the eighth episode of The Gathering Podcast,  you will hear from Pastor George Clerie interviewed by Peter Varberg on the topic of Christmas. George and Peter discuss the impacts of Covid on our Christmas traditions, and the opportunities it affords us to hit reset this year. 2020 is an opportunity to refresh our understanding of Christmas, and what we allow to take our attention in relation to Christmas. It's a great discussion you don't want to miss.Intro Discussion - 0:00A Russian Christmas - 4:30Christmas Texts - 8:00John 1:1-5 & 14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from

OverviewIn the seventh episode of The Gathering Podcast,  you will hear from Ray Pigeon interviewed by Peter Varberg on the topic of cultivating healthy habits. Ray is a medical doctor who specializes in internal medicine. Ray speaks from both a biblical and medical perspective as he discusses healthy habit building with Peter. Intro Discussion - 0:00-6:00Ray talks a little about his past and how his family seemed destined to enter the medical field.Taking Care of Yourself With Diet 6:00-24:00Taking Care of Yourself Physically 24:00-34:00Taking Care of Yourself Emotionally & Spiritually 34:00-49:00Resources:http://www.lowcarbmd.com www.dietdoctor.com/

OverviewIn the sixth episode of The Gathering Podcast, hear from Jeff Doria, interviewed by Peter Varberg on the topic of healing, and how to experience healing with God. Jeff shares his experience as a clinical chaplain on the topic of healing, as well as help us to understand healing by defining it. Intro Discussion - 0:00-13:00 Jeff talks about three areas of healing:Physical Healing Emotional Healing Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."Divine or Spiritual HealingMatthew 8:17 "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”James 5:14-16 "Is anyone among you sick? Scriptural Flyover -  13:00-40:00Jeff covers healings as found in the scriptures. He also shares about his own personal experiences of healing through ministry work, and also as a benefactor of healing through his family's experience with medical challenges with his daughter(s).Old TestamentJeremiah 30:17 "But I will res

OverviewIn the fifth episode of The Gathering Podcast, hear from Ali Kaun, interviewed by Alanna Sullivan on the topic of fear and anxiety. Ali shares about her personal struggles with stress and anxiety and how God walked her through a physical, emotional, and spiritual healing process that took over a decade. Discussion0:00 - 8:00 Ali introduces her first experience with anxiety while doing overseas missionary work in Asia, which ultimately brought them home.8:00 Ali talks about her second big bout with anxiety after her husband Devin was hit by a drunk driver just after becoming new parents. She walks through God's faithfulness in healing her from anxiety through that experience and draws a correlation with the story of Naman in Kings.The Remedy -  14:00 Ali outlines three major areas that God healed over many years before she was able to leave crippling fear and anxiety behind her.PhysicalEmotionalSpiritualLasting Peace -  25:00-35:00Finally, Ali goes over a number of scriptures and stories from the

OverviewThis is the fourth episode of The Gathering Podcast. Today’s “conversations with the congregation” episode is a conversation between George Clerie and host Peter Varberg around the topic of stress, what it is, and some practical tips on how to let God lighten the load and take care of it for you.Discussion0:00- 10:00 George explains what Stress is, and introduces scriptural passages that address stress, and how they offer us practical wisdom to apply in our own lives, today.10:00- 35:00 George introduces the acronym CALM.C - Choose to rejoice... in God's sovereignty, providence, and mercy.A - Ask for helpL - Learn to be thankfulM - Meditate on good things35:00-40:00 George offers the congregations a few more tips and emphasizes the need to be in community as one of the primary ways to combat the sources of stress in our lives.

OverviewThis is the third episode of The Gathering Podcast. Today’s “conversations with the congregation” episode is a conversation between Scott Wessell and host Peter Varberg around the history, concept, and practice of God's Presence.Discussion0:00- 11:00 Scott explains what joy/happiness are and why they seem so elusive. 11:00- 23:00 Scott explains how to learn to experience consistent joy and happiness by understanding where joy comes from and how to “choose joy.” They also talk about Isaiah 26:323:00- 30:00 Scott explains the Nehemiah ch 8:10 “the joy of the Lord is my strength and what it has to do with choosing joy. He explains what to do with inappropriate emotional responses. 30:00-38:00 Scott explains how the act of focusing on something raises the importance of the thing you are focusing on. 38:00-42:00 Scott explains his favorite spiritual practice and how it helped him deal with lies he had been believing since his childhood. 42:00- 52:30 Scott explains how you can practice the presence of