HeavenEarth Church

HeavenEarth Church
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

HeavenEarth Church exists to make a lasting impact in our community (Whiteland, Indiana) by building relationships with all kinds of neighbors; by working in the community and with individuals to help people experience freedom from their burdens; and helping people know and live like Jesus togethers. We do all this so that our community is transformed for generations to come.

  1. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    Going Deeper on the October 25, 2026 Message: But There's Just Too Much Evil

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Show Notes:In this bonus episode of the HeavenEarth Church Podcast, listeners are invited to reflect deeply on the themes of evil, judgment, and justice in light of the biblical message delivered on October 25th, 2026. The episode opens with the guiding question: What would it look like to build a community for people who, like Jesus, reach for those who don’t fit neatly into traditional church molds? The conversation focused on wrestling with the realities of evil in the world, the challenge of believing in restoration, and the ways faith is both lived and questioned in everyday life. Walking through the episode’s themes, three major takeaways emerge: 1. Wrestling with the Prevalence of EvilA key theme that emerged was the overwhelming sense of evil and injustice in the world, both historically and in our present experience. The discussion explored how, throughout the Bible, faithful people have always felt beleaguered—surrounded and pressed in on all sides by adversaries and suffering. Drawing extensively from the Psalms, the narrative highlights that 40% of these sacred songs are laments—expressions of sorrow, confusion, and dismay directed toward God. This honest wrestling is not a sign of weak faith, but of authentic engagement: “Lament is trying to stay in the room with God, but you’re not pretending everything is okay” 10:00. The sound of evil is oppressive and often, as in the book of Job, seemingly absurd in its volume and injustice. 2. Reexamining Judgment and JusticeOne concept discussed was the shift in the biblical understanding of judgment and justice. The episode delves into how early biblical writings, such as the Torah, presented a straightforward cause-and-effect: righteousness leads to blessing, wickedness to curse. Yet, as the Scriptures progress—especially in books like Job—there is a profound wrestling with this formula. Why do the innocent suffer? Why does evil appear to win? These questions are not dismissed, but allowed to hang without clear resolution, teaching listeners that honest questions and theological deconstruction can be faithful acts themselves 17:35. The narrative encourages humility and a willingness to step back, reconsider, and wrestle with the tough questions of faith. 3. Faith in the Midst of Unanswered QuestionsThe discussion explored how, even without satisfying answers as to why evil persists, faith can reach deeper. The image of “deep calls to deep” from Psalm 42 serves to illustrate a faith that seeks God amid overwhelming noise and pain 22:42. The episode points to Jesus as the one who truly embodied this wrestle—facing evil, lamenting on the cross, yet inviting forgiveness and proclaiming eventual restoration. The path is not one of denial, but of confrontation and hope: “The sound of evil is loud… but the sound of God’s presence and power is louder” 26:53. Practicing faith means honestly bringing one’s doubts, fears, and anger into relationship with God, believing that all things—100%—will ultimately be made new. Summary: This episode invites listeners to lament, question, and hope. Faith is not confined to sacred spaces but is lived out in the everyday, often in the midst of chaos and confusion. The journey of Heaven Earth Church is about embracing this honest, sometimes uncomfortable, pursuit of justice and restoration in step with Jesus—trusting that even when answers are elusive, God’s transformative presence is greater than the surrounding darkness.

  2. Oct 26

    Sunday Conversation: What to Make of All this Evil.

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Episode SummaryThe conversation focused on the theme of being “beleaguered”—feeling surrounded or under siege—both as individuals and within the collective story of faith. Drawing from biblical narratives, spiritual disciplines, and authentic community reflections, the episode explored the tension between real experiences of evil or hardship and the pursuit of hope and authenticity in faith. Listeners were encouraged to face personal and communal struggles honestly, trust in God’s steadfast love, and participate in practical spiritual practices such as confession and lament. Key Takeaways1. Faith Amidst Feeling BeleagueredA key theme that emerged was the persistent sense, throughout the Bible and in life, of being surrounded by difficulties—whether interpersonal, internal, or spiritual. The word “beleaguered” was unpacked for its historical and emotional weight: not merely being troubled, but beset, surrounded, and pressured on all sides 01:39. The discussion explored how biblical figures and communities alike felt constantly under threat, and how modern believers sometimes expect faith to bring automatic relief from hardship—only to find that challenges persist 05:26. Instead of offering easy answers, the episode encouraged listeners to recognize that adversities are part of the faith journey. Authentic faith does not mean the absence of trouble, but learning to navigate life’s battles by tuning into God’s “frequency of steadfast love,” even when the presence of evil feels overwhelmingly real 08:09. 2. The Power of Authentic Lament and HopeOne concept discussed was the importance of lament as a spiritual discipline. The episode highlighted the biblical tradition of expressing sorrow, frustration, and even anger to God—holding nothing back in times of pain or confusion 10:01. This honesty is not a lack of faith, but rather a pathway to real hope. Listeners were invited to both reach deep into lament and to intentionally remember past experiences of God’s undeniable presence, fostering authentic conviction and hope 11:13. The discussion explored how growth—spiritually and emotionally—is rarely linear. Authenticity was distinguished from mere religious performance; real trust and hope are formed not through denial of hardship, but through honest wrestling in prayer, journaling, and community 12:07. 3. Confronting Evil: In Ourselves and the WorldSeveral points were raised, including the need to not only notice evil “out there,” but also bravely confront the capacity for wrongdoing within ourselves. The episode referenced the story of Jonah to illustrate reluctance in addressing evil, particularly when it involves compassion or forgiveness toward those who have harmed us 17:36. Listeners were challenged to let God transform their own hearts and then, when called, to participate in confronting injustice around them. Practical steps for this journey included honest confession, participation in the communal practice of the Lord’s Supper, and giving space for lament and gratitude. The conversation concluded by affirming that Christ’s victory over evil and death provides the ultimate model and hope for engaging with the brokenness within and around us 20:07. In SummaryThe episode invited listeners into a deeper, more courageous faith—marked by honesty about struggle, authentic hope amidst uncertainty, and concrete practices of confession and compassion. Rather than seeking certainty or easy fixes, the conversation centered on trust, authenticity, and the willingness to face difficulties with God and with one another.

  3. Oct 22

    Bonus: Vision and Values: Shaping the Future of HeavenEarth Church

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Show Notes: HeavenEarth Church — Heaven Earth Church Bonus Episode Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Heaven Earth Church Podcast, where the vision and direction of this unique faith community come center stage. Hosted by Dr. Brad Miller, with featured guests Ross Stackhouse, founding pastor, and Emily Holverson, executive pastor, this episode dives deep into the church’s origins, current leadership, evolving vision, and ongoing commitments to authentic and inclusive ministry. Episode SummaryThe episode begins with Ross Stackhouse outlining the original vision behind Heaven Earth Church: to create a community for people who often feel out of place in more traditional church settings 00:01. This ethos of meeting people where they are—honoring their stories and fostering belonging—has been at the heart of the church since its inception in 2018. Dr. Brad Miller facilitates a thoughtful conversation about how the pastoral team works collaboratively, with Emily Holverson offering insight into her calling to ministry, her journey from youth and lead pastoring to church planting, and ultimately to her current role at Heaven Earth Church 06:11. Both pastors describe a deliberate process of partnership, shared leadership, and the disruption of traditional top-down church models 16:16. The heart of the episode centers on the church’s evolving vision framework—how it was discerned, developed, and implemented through intentional collaboration between pastors, the board, and the wider congregation 19:27. Listeners hear about the metaphor of being a “neighborhood of friends who bring heaven to earth,” a grounding identity that shapes everything from worship to outreach 25:48. The team discusses practical steps for strategic planning, inclusivity, and accountability with an ever-present focus on empowering people to serve and lead. The discussion closes with personal stories, including the testimony of a community member who found welcome and authenticity at Heaven Earth Church. This honest, grassroots approach remains the church’s greatest strength for those seeking genuine connection and spiritual growth 35:48. Three Takeaway Points1. A Vision Rooted in Authentic, Inclusive CommunityFrom the beginning, Heaven Earth Church set out to be different: intentionally local, intimate, and oriented toward people who don’t fit conventional molds. The neighborhood metaphor underscores their goal of fostering unity without demanding uniformity, rooted in friendship with God and one another 25:54. 2. Disrupting Traditional Church ModelsEmily Holverson and Ross Stackhouse embrace a team-based, non-hierarchical approach. Titles matter less than collaborative spirit, and leadership is shared, empowering others to step up and shape the future of the church 16:16, 21:05. 3. Strategic, Measurable Growth Anchored in ValuesThe church has developed clear frameworks for measuring impact through a revised scorecard, expanded leadership, and practical policies—always returning to questions of alignment, sustainability, and fruitfulness. Ministries like Restoration Way and robust children’s programming are concrete examples of this grassroots, value-driven growth 29:15, 31:00. To learn more about Heaven Earth Church, visit heavenearthchurch.org and discover a community where you can bring your authentic self, explore next steps, and find a place to belong.

  4. Oct 20

    Sunday Conversation: Good Judgement Part 2: God's Heart is for Restoration

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Sunday Conversation 10/18/26.Good Judgement Part 2: God's Heart is for RestorationShow NotesThis episode of HeavenEarth Church podcast offers a thoughtful exploration into the often difficult and nuanced topic of divine judgment within the Christian tradition. The conversation focused on reconciling traditional images of God’s wrath and judgment with the overarching biblical theme of reconciliation and restoration. Spanning engaging storytelling, interactive discussion, and scriptural examination, the episode challenged both long-held beliefs and simplistic interpretations, inviting listeners into a deeper, more complex view of faith. The discussion explored the multidimensional landscape of biblical narratives, from the Old Testament’s stories of wrath and consequence—like the Flood and the Plagues of Egypt—to New Testament portraits of forgiveness and renewal. The conversation consistently returned to the importance of reading Scripture as a whole rather than isolating individual passages, highlighting how fragmented beliefs can arise when context and deeper themes are overlooked. Several points were raised, including the struggle to make sense of troubling passages about God’s anger and violence, the temptation to brush aside or ignore difficult texts, and the mixed messages that can develop from viewing the Bible as a collection of disjointed episodes rather than a unified story. The episode encouraged honesty about doubts and discomfort, emphasizing that questioning and wrestling with Scripture are not only normal, but welcomed parts of faith. A key theme that emerged was the call to reconsider and reclaim the concept of judgment—often seen negatively—by situating it within the bigger biblical vision of God’s desire to restore and reconcile all things. Using stories like Jacob and Esau’s remarkable reunion and Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son, the episode illustrated how grace, unexpected mercy, and reconciliation thread their way through the entirety of Scripture. Even in moments of justifiable rage, divine judgment ultimately aims for restoration rather than destruction. One concept discussed was the importance of community in interpreting Scripture and navigating spiritual questions. The episode highlighted that attempting to make sense of difficult texts is a task best undertaken together, drawing on others’ insights and perspectives to build a more integrated understanding. Three Takeaway PointsEmbrace Complexity and Honesty:Rather than seeking uniformity or simple answers, the episode called for unity rooted in honest engagement with scripture and each other. Doubt, discomfort, and differing perspectives are not liabilities but essential ingredients of authentic faith exploration.Judgment as Restoration:The discussion reframed biblical judgment, underscoring that God’s heart, seen through the whole of scripture and especially in Jesus’s life, is ultimately for reconciliation and restoration. Moments of wrath and rage are real, but they serve the greater purpose of bringing about healing, justice, and mercy.Read the Bible Holistically and in Community:Listeners were urged to see the “whole painting”—to interpret scriptural stories in their broader narrative arcs rather than judging them in isolation. Engaging together in community helps uncover deep, recurring themes and supports spiritual growth through diverse insights. The episode closed with practical guidance: embrace your limits and humbly leave ultimate judgment to Jesus; let divine grace shape your own heart and actions; and practice forgiveness, as highlighted in the Lord’s Prayer. Ultimately, the conversation pointed listeners toward a faith that is rooted in restoration, honesty, and the communal pursuit of understanding.

  5. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    Going Deeper with Ross Stackhouse: "Why We Erase Each Other: Violence, Judgment, and the Story of Cain and Abel"

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Show Notes – HeavenEarth Church Podcast Episode: Bonus: Going Deeper with Ross Stackhouse Title: "Deeper on 'In the Beginning There Was Revenge'" In this thought-provoking bonus episode, Ross Stackhouse, founding pastor of HeavenEarth Church, goes deeper into his recent Sunday message, examining the foundational biblical stories of Genesis 3 and 4 and how they inform Christian views of judgment, justice, and the afterlife. Drawing from personal anecdotes and scriptural analysis, he invites listeners to approach these ancient texts with curiosity, humility, and an openness to new insights beyond inherited doctrines. Episode Summary The episode opens with Ross Stackhouse reflecting on the intent behind Heaven Earth Church: to be a community for those who don't fit neatly into traditional religious spaces, meeting people where they are and valuing every story as part of God's broader narrative 00:01. The core of the episode examines how Christians often approach the Bible with preconceived doctrines—especially around original sin, judgment, and hell—potentially missing the deeper, original meanings within the stories themselves 02:00. Through an in-depth look at the Genesis accounts of Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, Ross Stackhouse unpacks the intertwined dynamics of envy, blame, and violence—and how these dynamics continue to shape human relationships and religious perspectives today. He challenges common assumptions about inherited guilt and the afterlife, advocating for a perspective that holds space for mystery, grace, and the transformative potential of these ancient texts. Three Takeaway Points 1. Approaching Scripture with Curiosity Instead of Assumptions Ross Stackhouse warns against approaching biblical texts with doctrines and theological assumptions already in mind, as this habit can cause us to miss the story’s actual message 04:01. He encourages listeners to bring curiosity, humility, and open-heartedness to scripture, allowing God’s voice to break through tradition and speak anew. 2. Recognizing the Pattern of Envy, Blame, and Violence Through a close reading of Genesis 3 and 4, Ross Stackhouse traces a universal pattern in humanity: beginning with envy (wanting what is not ours), moving to blame (displacing our pain), and culminating in violence (erasing others and even ourselves) 13:07. He shows how these patterns, set in motion in the origin story, persist in the human condition and our collective spiritual ancestry—and importantly, are also reflected in the ways some Christians approach doctrines of judgment and hell. 3. Questioning Traditional Views of Judgment, Justice, and Hell The episode challenges what Ross Stackhouse describes as the “dominant view” of the afterlife—that God sentences people to eternal punishment or reward based on doctrine or conduct. He questions the consistency and heart behind these doctrines, pointing out that erasing someone via condemnation to hell echoes the very patterns of violence and blame highlighted in Genesis 26:13. Instead, Ross Stackhouse proposes a more generous, Christ-centered approach, rooting judgment and justice in the mystery and compassion of God, whose image is revealed in Jesus 31:38. Final Words: Listeners are invited to continue wrestling with these questions, to savor the living and active nature of scripture, and to surrender certainty in favor of trust in God’s goodness and peacemaking purpose. Ross Stackhouse encourages everyone to follow Jesus’s example, embracing abundance and resisting the urge to limit God’s grace or understanding 32:13. For more conversations or to connect with the community, visit heavenearthchurch.org.

  6. Oct 12

    Sunday Conversation: In The Beginning...There Was Revenge

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser HeavenEarth Church Sunday Conversation Message: In The Beginning...There Was Revenge Ross Stackhouse: Pastor HeavenEarth Church This message launches a new series exploring concepts of judgment, justice, and the “end” as depicted in Christian scripture—while challenging conventional perceptions shaped by culture, theology, and even popular media. The conversation focused on re-examining old narratives about judgment and seeking a deeper, more integrated understanding of God’s character, particularly by holding together the portrayal of God in both the Old and New Testaments. The discussion explored how assumptions about the end times profoundly influence behavior and beliefs in the present. Drawing on astronomical imagery—considering the vastness of the universe and humanity’s place within it—the speaker invited listeners to recognize both our smallness and the grandeur of God’s wisdom, especially with respect to matters considered beyond human comprehension. A key theme that emerged was the struggle many people have with reconciling God’s love with ideas of wrath or retribution. The episode began with open reflections about feelings invoked by the concept of judgment—fear, uncertainty, and anxiety were common reactions among those who shared. The question was posed: how do beliefs about judgment affect how we approach life here and now? Several points were raised, including the tendency in human nature toward revenge and violence, both in personal attitudes and in the ways these desires are sometimes projected onto God. Three Takeaway Points 1. Human Limitations and God’s Justice One concept discussed was the vast difference between human and divine judgment. Listeners were encouraged to accept that ultimate judgment belongs to God, whose perspective and justice are not limited to human understanding or imagination. The episode stressed that much of what Christians assume about the afterlife or judgment stems from sources like Dante’s Inferno, rather than from the biblical narrative itself. This invites a humility and openness to mystery, rather than presumption about what the “end” entails 10:25. 2. The Roots of Violence and Retribution The discussion explored the biblical story of Cain and Abel as a foundational narrative that reveals humanity’s inclination toward violence and vengeance 14:47. Reflecting on parallel stories of sibling rivalry throughout scripture, the conversation traced how insecurity and envy often evolve into violence—both physical and in the ways people erase each other through resentment and desire for retribution. The episode challenged listeners to recognize how easily these ancient patterns still shape beliefs and actions today, even informing hopes for divine retribution against those perceived as wrongdoers 17:20. 3. Restorative vs. Retributive Justice A key distinction introduced was between retributive justice (punishing wrongdoing for its own sake) and restorative justice (seeking to renew and heal what is broken). The conversation highlighted how much Christian thinking has been shaped by a desire for retribution—hoping “people get what’s coming to them”—and how this contrasts with the New Testament vision embodied by Jesus, who embodies forgiveness and nonviolence even in the face of injustice 32:24. The episode invited listeners to pursue a faith that seeks restoration rather than vengeance. In Summary The message served as both a preview for the upcoming series and a thoughtful meditation on how assumptions about judgment, justice, and God’s character can either perpetuate cycles of violence or inspire deeper trust and transformation. Listeners were urged to bring curiosity, humility, and trust into their engagement with scripture and to measure all understandings by the character of Jesus, not by traditions rooted in fear or the desire for retribution. The journey has just begun, with more to be explored in the coming weeks.

  7. Oct 4

    Sunday Conversation: "Where's Jesus-Addendum...Leave our Nets"

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser HeavenEarth Sunday Conversation "Where's Jesus-Addendum...Leave our Nets"Speaker: Emily HolversonSummaryIn this reflective and heartfelt episode, Emily leads the community through an exploration of what it means to follow Jesus in the midst of uncertain times, both personally and collectively. Through storytelling, scripture, and honest dialogue, listeners are invited into a deeper consideration of the challenges and beauty found in pursuing faith within a changing and often unsettling cultural context. Emily draws on personal family traditions, particularly yearly trips to a special rock at Cave Point in Wisconsin, to illustrate themes of change, risk, and adventure. The rock, once securely attached to the ledge but now separated by years of waves and weather, becomes a metaphor for both the shifting realities around us and the courage to step into new, unknown spaces. Using the opening chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Emily transports listeners to the moment when Jesus called his first disciples—ordinary fishermen who left behind their jobs and families to answer an invitation they did not fully understand. The episode’s centerpiece is the simple, powerful invitation: “Come, follow me,” and the communal wrestling with what it looks like to respond today. Three Major TakeawaysThe Power of Context: “What’s in the Ether?”A recurring question throughout the episode is “What’s in the ether?”—what are the unseen but deeply felt conditions, trends, and pressures shaping our spiritual and communal lives? Emily, together with the group, identifies today’s ether as filled with uneasiness, division, urgency, and uncertainty, echoed by terms like “deconstruction,” “hardship,” and “passivism” raised by the community 09:31. This mirrors the fraught context of Jesus’ original call to his disciples, reminding listeners that every generation must wrestle honestly with the dynamics influencing faith.The Challenge and Cost of Following JesusEmily clearly outlines that answering Jesus’ invitation is simple, but not easy. For the disciples, following meant leaving behind security—their nets, jobs, and identity 21:06. For listeners today, it might mean letting go of certainty, comfort, control, or even the urge to be “the expert.” The journey is marked by learning through trial and error, embracing communal life (even when it’s messy), and continually engaging in the tension between individual growth and shared experience.Community as a Place of Healing, Hope, and New BeginningsWhen reflecting on the local community (“Heaven Earth”), contrasts emerge between the negative trends of broader culture and the hope, growth, acceptance, and new beginnings sensed within the group 31:22. Emily emphasizes that meaningful transformation happens when people reclaim ancient values—love of God, love of neighbor, intentional presence, and willingness to hold tension together 34:34. Through personal stories—such as helping her aging father climb the family’s special rock again—Emily powerfully demonstrates how faith and community support each other through life’s risks and challenges. Final ReflectionsAt its heart, this episode is a moving meditation on what it means to keep saying “yes” to Jesus’ invitation, even when it demands vulnerability, risk, and openness to not having all the answers. Listeners are encouraged to notice what they might be holding onto for security, consider what’s worth letting go, and trust that transformation is possible—in themselves, and in their community—when they take the next brave step together.

  8. Sep 28

    HeavenEarth Conversations: Evan Fruits

    The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church. https://heavenearthchurch.org/ This conversation centers around the vision to be a church that make a lasting impact in our community by building relationships with all kinds of folks, helping people know and live like Jesus together. You can help the HeavenEarth Church Podcast share and amplify this conversation by: Following or subscribing to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Give a five star rating to the HeavenEarth Church Podcast,Writing a review about your HeavenEarth Church Podcast Experience. Please follow, rate and review at the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podchaser Show Notes:HeavenEarth Church Podcast https://heavenearthchurch.org/ Guest: Evan Fruits Host: Dr. Brad Miller In this episode, Dr. Brad Miller welcomes Evan Fruits, a founding member and board participant at Heaven and Earth Church in Whiteland, Indiana. The conversation offers listeners an inside look at the church’s history, foundational values, and community impact, all woven together through Evan Fruits’s personal journey and unique perspective. Whether you’re exploring faith communities or simply curious about what makes Heaven and Earth Church distinctive, this episode provides honest, firsthand insights. Episode SummaryThe episode begins with a brief introduction to Heaven and Earth Church, contextualizing its mission to create lasting community impact. Evan Fruits shares how he became involved during the church’s earliest days, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that led a small group, meeting in a living room, to grow into a vibrant congregation. The discussion moves into Evan Fruits's personal history—growing up in Whiteland, his family, career, and the importance of local ties. As a financial planner and father of two, Evan Fruits offers a real-world perspective on balancing demanding careers, raising young children, and maintaining close family connections. A significant portion of the episode dives into the unique leadership style and values at Heaven and Earth Church. Evan Fruits describes open, honest, and even at times challenging conversations that take place among the board and leadership, ensuring decisions are both collaborative and accountable. The episode highlights the church’s nontraditional approach to finances, partnerships, and worship—underscoring a commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and practical community service, especially through initiatives like Restoration Way, a weekly event addressing mental health and dependency. Top 3 Takeaway Points1. Radical Community and BelongingA central theme is the church’s dedication to genuine community. At Heaven and Earth Church, everyone is noticed and valued, regardless of background or beliefs. The congregation strives to ensure that anyone attending—whether lifelong local or newcomer—feels seen and welcomed. As Evan Fruits describes, “Even if you don’t necessarily believe in all the things that you’re supposed to believe in as a Christian, you’re welcome here and you have a community” 10:12. 2. Collaborative & Transparent LeadershipHeaven and Earth Church is characterized by a collaborative culture where honest debate is encouraged. Board and staff make decisions together, openly sharing information—especially regarding finances and key opportunities. Pushback is welcomed, and transparency is the norm, contributing to a sense of trust and stability within the community 13:13. This ensures that no single voice dominates and that the church can pursue its vision with integrity and practical accountability. 3. Making a Lasting Impact Through PartnershipsThe church’s focus on partnership and community service is exemplified by initiatives like affordable housing through their nonprofit arm and offering space to organizations such as Resources for Hope. These partnerships extend the church’s reach beyond Sunday worship, actively addressing tangible needs in the broader community and cementing their commitment to serving others 19:08. Listen and Learn MoreTune in for an inspiring, transparent conversation about what it means to build a church centered on acceptance, collaboration, and meaningful community engagement. For more information, visit heavenearthchurch.org or consider joining an upcoming Sunday service or Wednesday’s Restoration Way event.

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out of 5
4 Ratings

About

HeavenEarth Church exists to make a lasting impact in our community (Whiteland, Indiana) by building relationships with all kinds of neighbors; by working in the community and with individuals to help people experience freedom from their burdens; and helping people know and live like Jesus togethers. We do all this so that our community is transformed for generations to come.

Information

  • Creator
    HeavenEarth Church
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 HeavenEarth Church
  • Show Website
    HeavenEarth Church