NCC Unplugged

In this special Ask Us Anything edition of NCC Unplugged, Matt sits down with Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister), Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Alison Murray (Children’s Director), and Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister) to answer real, anonymous questions straight from our congregation. This is part one of a multi-episode series because you sent in so many thoughtful, vulnerable questions.

The team starts by pulling back the cu...

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff sits down with Joshua and Allison to talk about gratitude — not just the kind we share around a holiday table, but the deep, internal thankfulness that grows from what God has done in us. From the misunderstood history of Thanksgiving to David’s powerful song in 2 Samuel 22, the team digs into how Christians can cultivate a thankful heart in every circumstance.

If this epis...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff Terpstra sits down with Joshua and Allison, to reflect on their time at the 2025 Spire Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The team unpacks what it means to “Catch the Wind” — the conference theme centered around the Holy Spirit — and shares how it rejuvenated their hearts and ministries. From practical leadership insights to personal spiritual renewal, this conversation explores how the Holy ...

Join the staff of Norwin Christian Church for a special Roundtable Edition of NCC Unplugged, where conversations, community, and culture come together.

In this episode, Jeff, Matt, Jonathan, Allison, and Brion sit down to share stories from the summer—mission trips, skydiving, family milestones, ministry growth, and more.

You’ll hear everything from Allison’s reflections on sending her daughter off to college, to Jonathan’s student...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Allison Murray (Children’s Ministries Director), and Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister) conclude our six-part discipleship series. Together, they reflect on what it truly means to live as a disciple of Jesus and how to naturally share our faith in everyday life.

From sharing your story—whether it’s dramatic or quiet—to seeing people with Christlike compassion, this...

In this week’s episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua Persall (Executive Minister), Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister), and Allison Murray (Children’s Ministry Director) dive into what it means for a church to truly be a disciple-making church.

They explore:

• The difference between “doing church” and living as disciples

• Why discipleship is more than a program—it’s an identity

• How Scripture shapes our approach to measuring growth

  ...

This week on NCC Unplugged, Joshua is joined by Allison Murray (Children’s Ministry Director), Jonathan Slatt (Youth Minister), and Richard Seaman (Elder & Forge Team Member) to continue our series on discipleship.

We explore what it looks like to follow Jesus in every context of life—from raising children at home, to discipling teenagers and young adults, to walking faithfully as empty nesters, and even living out our faith in...

On this episode of NCC Unplugged, we dive into one of the most important yet often misunderstood aspects of following Jesus—discipleship. More than just a label, being a disciple means walking in intentional relationship with Christ and others. Together with Allison Murray, NCC’s Director of Children’s Ministries, and elder Rich Seaman, we unpack what it looks like to move from being a disciple to becoming a disciple-maker.

From ex...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Joshua and Allison dive into the second installment of our discipleship series by exploring a surprising fact: the word Christian only appears three times in the New Testament, while disciple shows up over 250 times. What does that tell us about how Jesus wants us to identify ourselves—and live?

They unpack:

• The historical difference between the words “Christian” and “disciple”

• What it mean...

Welcome to the first episode in our brand-new NCC Unplugged series on Discipleship! In this conversation, Jeff Terpstra (Preaching Minister) hands the mic to Executive Minister Joshua Persall as they unpack one of the most important—yet often misunderstood—concepts in the church today: being a disciple of Jesus.

Why is “discipleship” making a comeback in church language? What does it actually mean to be a disciple, not just a churc...

This week on NCC Unplugged, Jeff and Matt dive into one of the most personal and impactful parts of ministry: officiating weddings and funerals.

Jeff shares real stories, wisdom, and some behind-the-scenes insight on what it’s like to walk with families through both the joyful highs and the difficult lows of life. From premarital counseling to writing personalized funeral messages, you’ll hear how our church approaches these moment...

🎙️ Welcome to the NCC Unplugged Staff Roundtable – Summer 2025 Edition!

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at what summer really looks like for the Norwin Christian Church staff. From VBS chaos (yes, with cardboard bears and custom trading cards) to CIY trips, mission work in Arizona, and even skydiving plans 😳—this episode is full of laughs, ministry insights, and genuine conversation about what it means to serve, grow, and ...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Jeff Terpstra and Brion Elliott take a reflective look back at NCC’s recent sermon series on Sacrifice. From heart, mind, and time to money—this series challenged the church to go deeper in surrendering every aspect of life to God.

Jeff shares the struggle of writing the final sermon on time and how it unexpectedly shifted direction. Brion opens up about the balance between worship leadership and h...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Matt is joined by Jeff and Joshua for a candid conversation about current trends in church attendance and engagement across America—and how those trends are playing out at Norwin Christian Church.

They unpack:

• 📉 The nationwide decline in church attendance—and why it may have finally leveled off

• 📊 Surprising stats about millennials vs. boomers and their church habits

• 🏛️ Why non-denomina...

This Week on the Podcast: Let’s talk about the topic nobody really wants to talk about… money. (Don’t worry—it’s not what you think.)

In this episode, Jeff, Matt, and Joshua have an open and honest conversation about how Jesus talked about money—a lot more than we realize—and what that means for us today. From cultural discomfort to church baggage, we unpack why money is such a sensitive subject and how we can approach it with a...

As Christians, navigating our relationship with culture can be challenging. While we're called to be "in the world but not of it," finding the right balance between cultural engagement and maintaining our distinct Christian identity requires wisdom and discernment.

Culture encompasses the beliefs, values, art, med...

In this special episode of NCC Unplugged, we introduce you to the newest member of our staff, Brion Elliott, who recently joined Norwin Christian Church as our Worship and Tech Minister. Brion shares his story—from growing up in Virginia and attending Bible college to how God gradually led him into full-time church ministry. Get to know his heart for worship, his family, his hobbies (including his love for pi...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, we dive deep into Christian higher education and its impact on ministry and faith. Join hosts Jeff Terpstra, Matt Mastroianni, and Garrett Crawford as they explore theological studies, the challenges facing Christian colleges, and Garrett’s journey toward his PhD. They discuss deep theological questions about God's sovereignty, human free will, and how quantum mechanics serves as an analogy for und...

In this episode of NCC Unplugged, Garrett Crawford, the minister of outreach and small groups at Norwin Christian Church, shares his journey of being called into ministry and his recent decision to transition to another church. Garrett reflects on his initial resistance to ministry, his growth and experiences at NCC, and the confirmation he received from God to move to a new role closer to his family. The discussion highlights the ...