Fight For Your City

Jonah Carpenter
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

This is a podcast about practical ministry in the local church—helping pastors, leaders, and church members find real ways to impact their communities with the gospel.

  1. Oct 27

    From Atheist to Pastor: Finding God, Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Nationalism & Socialism | Derek Head

    Derek Head spent the first 25 years of his life as an atheist. Today, he's the pastor of Riverwind Church in Newburgh, Indiana. But his journey from rejecting Christianity to preaching the Gospel was anything but ordinary. After his marriage fell apart, Derek began searching for answers to life's biggest questions. That journey led him to spend nearly a year studying with Jehovah's Witnesses before becoming determined to dismantle Christianity intellectually. He investigated science, evolution, archaeology, history, and the reliability of Scripture, expecting to find evidence against Christianity. Instead, he found himself increasingly questioning atheism. Then, during an emotional drive down the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville, Indiana, Derek cried out to God, demanding to know why the creator of the universe couldn't reveal Himself. What happened moments later involving a bumper sticker reading "Jesus Is Lord" would become a turning point in his life. His eventual encounter with the Gospel of John transformed his understanding of God, truth, and the purpose of his life. In this episode of the Fight For Your City Podcast, Pastor Jonah Carpenter and Derek Head explore far more than his remarkable conversion story. They dive into the intersection of Christianity, politics, and culture, including Derek's controversial sermon series, The Golden Calf of Socialism. They discuss Christian nationalism, biblical charity versus government redistribution, the role of politics in the pulpit, and how Christians can engage political issues without allowing politics to overshadow the Gospel. The conversation also examines the theological differences between Christianity and Jehovah's Witnesses, the challenges of reaching Muslims and Hindus with the Gospel, and why Derek believes churches must become more intentional about engaging the communities around them. He shares the story behind Truth and Love, a public evangelism event in Newburgh inspired by the Apostle Paul's approach to engaging different beliefs in Acts 17. Jonah and Derek also turn their attention to the next generation of Christianity. Is the widely discussed Gen Z revival actually producing committed followers of Jesus? Why are Bible sales and interest in Christianity increasing while many young people remain skeptical of Scripture's authority? What can Christian parents and pastors do when a single atheist argument on TikTok seems capable of undermining years of religious upbringing? Throughout the conversation, Derek makes the case for a Christianity that is intellectually grounded, spiritually authentic, and unafraid to engage difficult questions. From atheism and apologetics to religious pluralism, Christian nationalism, socialism, parenting, and evangelism, this episode challenges believers to move beyond comfortable Christianity and take seriously their responsibility to reach the world around them. About the Guest Derek Head is the pastor of Riverwind Church in Newburgh, Indiana. A former atheist who came to faith in Christ at 25, Derek is passionate about Christian apologetics, biblical worldview, discipleship, and sharing the Gospel with people of different religious backgrounds. About Fight For Your City Fight For Your City is hosted by Pastor Jonah Carpenter and features honest conversations with pastors and ministry leaders about the challenges, successes, and realities of ministry. Through real stories and thoughtful discussions, the podcast seeks to equip Christians to make a greater impact wherever God has called them. Subscribe to Fight For Your City on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations about theology, ministry, faith, and culture.

  2. Oct 20

    He Was Shooting Meth at 15. Now He's a Pastor Who Sued the State of Indiana for Religious Freedom | Pastor Josh Sanders

    At just 15 years old, Josh Sanders was injecting methamphetamine. Years later, after a police helicopter landed at his rural Indiana home, his life would take a dramatic turn. Today, he's a Methodist pastor whose incredible journey from addiction to ministry eventually led him into a legal battle with the State of Indiana. In this episode of Fight For Your City, Pastor Jonah Carpenter sits down with Pastor Josh Sanders of Lynville Methodist Church to discuss his powerful testimony of addiction, salvation, and answering God's call. Josh shares how his experiences inspired him to establish Firebrand Ministries, a faith-based residential addiction recovery program serving men and families in Southern Indiana. But when community opposition escalated into government intervention, Josh found himself defending his ministry against state officials, ultimately pursuing a discrimination case with the help of an ACLU attorney. Together, Jonah and Josh explore religious freedom, the separation of church and state, the United Methodist Church split, and the challenges of leading churches in small communities. From nearly 100 baptisms in two years to unexpected financial provision and lives being restored through addiction recovery, Josh's story demonstrates what can happen when a pastor refuses to abandon his calling. Can one small-town pastor really make a difference? This conversation challenges church leaders to move beyond their limitations, stand firm in their convictions, and fight for the people God has called them to reach. Topics include: Christian testimony, meth addiction recovery, religious liberty, church leadership, Methodist disaffiliation, faith-based rehabilitation, religious discrimination, small-town ministry, and following God's calling. Guest: Pastor Josh Sanders — Lynville Methodist Church and Firebrand Ministries Host: Pastor Jonah Carpenter — Fight For Your City Podcast

  3. Oct 14

    From Viral Fame to Fighting for His Life | Cancer, Faith & Christian Hip-Hop | Don Ready

    Viral Christian hip-hop and R&B artist Don Ready joins the Fight For Your City Podcast for one of his most personal, in-depth interviews yet. After years of pursuing music, Don experienced a massive breakthrough with his viral hit "2 Serious" alongside Yung Kriss, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of streams. But at the height of his success, everything changed. In October 2023, Don was diagnosed with cancer, beginning a devastating journey that would challenge his career, his physical health, and his faith. For the first time on Fight For Your City, Don shares the heartbreaking details of his battle with cancer, including chemotherapy, losing the ability to walk after cancer returned along his spine, undergoing a transplant, and learning to walk again. He opens up about the terrifying possibility of never performing again, the emotional toll of fighting for survival, and how his relationship with Jesus Christ sustained him through his darkest moments. From hospital beds to returning to the stage, Don's testimony is a powerful story of perseverance, hope, and trusting God when the future seems impossible. Beyond his cancer testimony, Don and Jonah Carpenter discuss the rise of Christian hip-hop, the influence of artists like Lecrae and Caleb Gordon, the relationship between Christian music and mainstream culture, and the importance of creating authentic music that reaches people beyond the church. Don also shares the heart behind his music, his It Must Be God project, and his vision for impacting communities through Christian rap and R&B. "My mom and my wife got to see what cancer did to me. Now they get to see what God can do with me." — Don Ready Follow Fight For Your City for more conversations about faith, culture, ministry, and the people making a difference in their communities.

  4. Oct 7

    Doctors Said This Baptist Pastor Would Never Walk Again: Then He Ran to Saipan | Pastor Stephen Dame

    Pastor Steve Dame never expected God to call him from small-town Kentucky to serve more than 7,000 miles away in Saipan. In this episode of Fight For Your City, Steve shares his journey from pastoring churches in the United States to becoming a missionary, leading Saipan Community Church and its Christian school, planting a church on the neighboring island of Tinian, and ministering among an incredibly diverse population.Steve also opens up about what missionary life has taught him about culture, relationships, evangelism, and the American church. From the deeply relational nature of Filipino and Pacific Island cultures to the dangers of trying to export an American version of Christianity, Steve explains why reaching people with the Gospel requires understanding the people and culture God has called you to serve.But Steve’s journey to Saipan is also connected to one of the most traumatic—and miraculous—experiences of his life. After a dirt bike accident left him with a crushed vertebra and the possibility that he might never walk again, Steve experienced a recovery that shocked his medical team. Today, after running multiple half marathons, he shares why he believes God used that accident to redirect his life, strengthen his dependence on Him, and give him a testimony he can carry around the world.

  5. Sep 29

    Why Small Church Pastors Feel Like Failures & The Revival of Bivocational Ministry with Karl Vaters

    For decades, pastors have been taught that healthy churches grow—and that successful ministry eventually means bigger attendance, bigger budgets, bigger buildings, and more full-time staff. Karl Vaters believes it's time to rethink that model. Karl joins Pastor Jonah Carpenter to talk about what 40 years of church growth culture has done to the way pastors measure success and why leading a small church should never be viewed as failure. Karl explains his principle that “bigger fixes nothing” and why strategies developed for megachurches often don't translate to the churches where most pastors actually serve. They also dig into one of the biggest shifts facing ministry today: the return of bivocational and covocational pastors. Karl explains why churches shouldn't rush to hire full-time pastors, why bivocational ministry can encourage greater participation from the congregation, and why working outside the church can actually strengthen a pastor's connection to the community. The conversation goes deeper into pastoral salaries, church staffing, burnout, discipleship, toxic church environments, the pressure to constantly grow, and the unique strengths of smaller congregations. Karl also explains how American church culture moved from emphasizing revival, to management and numbers, to today's increasingly activist language—and makes the case for replacing all of it with a renewed focus on discipleship. What if the future of healthy ministry isn't bigger churches with larger staffs, but healthy local churches where pastors and congregations share the work of ministry? Karl Vaters is an author, pastor, and leading voice on small-church health and ministry.

  6. Sep 22

    Modern Worship Has a Problem: Theology, Generic Worship Music & Who Belongs on the Worship Team with Colton Potter

    Modern worship is everywhere—but why do so many churches seem to sing the same songs, use the same sounds, follow the same trends, and even dress the same? In this episode of Fight For Your City, Pastor Jonah Carpenter sits down with Colton Potter, worship leader at Family Bible Church and frontman of A Band With No Name, for a wide-ranging conversation about modern worship culture and the practical realities of leading worship in the local church. Jonah and Colton discuss the growing influence of a small number of major worship movements, including Elevation, Hillsong, Passion, and Bethel, and what happens when churches across the country begin drawing their music, production styles, gear, and inspiration from the same places. They ask whether modern worship has become too generic—and whether originality even matters if the songs are helping people worship. But the conversation goes much deeper than musical style. What makes a song appropriate for congregational worship instead of simply being a good Christian song? Colton explains why singability, biblical content, perspective, and the purpose behind a song matter when deciding what belongs in a Sunday service. The two also discuss whether churches should alter lyrics when they disagree with the theology behind a particular line. They also step into one of the most controversial debates surrounding modern worship music: Should your church sing a song from an artist or ministry whose theology you disagree with? Bethel becomes a case study as Jonah and Colton discuss the difference between evaluating an individual song and rejecting everything associated with the church or artist who created it. Then the conversation turns toward the people standing on the platform. What happens when your most talented musician has a serious character problem? What if they're the only person in your church capable of playing the instrument? What if they aren't even a Christian? Colton discusses relationships, accountability, confrontation, and why the person with the title of “worship leader” isn't necessarily always the right person to handle the situation. Jonah and Colton also talk about communication between pastors and worship leaders, choosing songs that actually complement the message, knowing when a worship set needs to end, dealing with mistakes on stage, preparing musicians well, and creating a culture where worship-team members are actually being discipled instead of simply being used because they're talented. Along the way, they get into Reckless Love, controversial worship lyrics, Lauren Daigle, secular songs in church, Creed, expensive worship gear, smoke machines, Helix pedalboards, church production culture, and the strange reality that churches can spend thousands of dollars copying another ministry without ever stopping to ask why that ministry does things that way in the first place. This isn't a conversation arguing that modern worship is good or bad. It's a practical conversation about theology, music, leadership, discipleship, creativity, and the decisions local churches make every Sunday morning. Has modern worship become too generic? And more importantly, how can local churches build worship ministries that actually serve their own congregations instead of simply copying everyone else?

  7. Sep 15

    Internet Mob Culture, Lindsay Clancy, Phillip Anthony Mitchell & Deconstruction: Is the Church Been Over Run With Out Rage? | Will Hess (The Church Split)

    Will Hess is the lead pastor of Creekside Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana, and the host of The Church Split, a podcast built around theology, apologetics, and some of the most controversial conversations happening inside Christianity today. In this episode, Will joins Pastor Jonah Carpenter for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when those debates collide with internet outrage, politics, deconstruction, and the modern Church. They begin with the growing Christian internet mob and the controversy surrounding Phillip Anthony Mitchell and charging for ministry events. From there, Jonah and Will discuss the Lindsay Clancy case, online pile-ons, and how social-media algorithms increasingly shape what Christians believe, who they listen to, and who they see as the enemy. The conversation turns to deconstruction and the Church’s role in creating it. How much has bad theology, church scandal, hypocrisy, and political polarization contributed to people walking away from Christianity? Jonah and Will discuss Calvinism, original sin, suffering, apologetics, Christian nationalism, Donald Trump, Israel, abortion, and the danger of reducing complicated issues to internet talking points. They also examine the supposed Gen Z Christian revival, why young men appear increasingly interested in Christianity while many young women are moving in the opposite direction, and what churches need to understand about reaching a generation that is skeptical of institutions but still searching for something spiritually real. Finally, they tackle LGBTQ issues, love versus tolerance, giving, church hypocrisy, compassion, and what it actually looks like to reach someone who has deconstructed their faith without compromising Christian truth. Can Christians defend the Church without becoming the internet mob themselves? And can a generation that has torn its faith apart find a way to rebuild it? Fight For Your City is a podcast about the real challenges facing pastors, churches, and ministry leaders—and what it takes to faithfully serve the communities God has called us to reach.

  8. Sep 8

    Why Churches Get Stuck, Deacons Holding Back Growth, and How Leaders Get in the Way with Dr. JC Campbell

    Dr. JC Campbell planted Greater Hope Church with roughly 40 people during the height of COVID—and watched it grow into a congregation reaching hundreds. But according to Campbell, church growth isn't about copying the latest trends, buying better technology, or building everything around one charismatic pastor.In this episode of Fight For Your City, Pastor Jonah Carpenter sits down with Dr. Campbell to discuss what actually separates healthy, growing churches from congregations that remain stuck. They unpack pastor-centered leadership, developing leaders, the biblical role of deacons, church culture, innovation, succession planning, and why some pastors struggle to let go.Campbell also shares stories from his work with congregations across Indiana—including one church convinced it needed better technology when its real problem was something entirely different.If you're a pastor or church leader thinking seriously about growth, leadership development, succession, or the future of your congregation, this conversation challenges some of the assumptions churches have operated under for decades.

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Ratings & Reviews

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About

This is a podcast about practical ministry in the local church—helping pastors, leaders, and church members find real ways to impact their communities with the gospel.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonah Carpenter
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jonah Carpenter
  • Show Website
    Fight For Your City