Welcome to season 2 of Church Chat, the show that has the conversations about ministry you wish you were having. Today we're talking to Jeff Martin, Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church, about the difference between relational and organizational problems, making big changes the simple way, ministering in a transient community, being a flexible leader, what the world needs in a hyper partisan environment, how to combat the one-way sermon, being a majority leader in a diverse community, attracting the younger generation, developing a replace yourself mentality and more!
Jeff Martin grew up in northern New Jersey and attended Miami University (OH) where God changed his life’s ambitions through the ministry of Cru. He joined Cru staff where he met Mary, and they served for 23 years together. Seven of those years were spent in Bulgaria helping to launch collegiate ministries. Back in the States, Jeff served as the Regional Director for Cru in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to his RD role, Jeff had the privilege of training hundreds of Cru staff members in Christ-centered preaching, through the Institute for Biblical Studies. Jeff has an MDIV from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Since 2013, Jeff has served as the Lead Pastor of Rock Creek Church in Rockville, Maryland. His love for ministry leaders has recently led him to pursue certification with the Society of Church Consultants. In July of 2024, he launched JTM Ministry Coaching with the vision of helping leaders build healthy, gospel-centered ministries.
Jeff loves sports, intense conversations, making people laugh, and creating boating videos on his YouTube channel. He and Mary have been married for 33 years and have two daughters, two sons-in-law, one son, and one grandson. They currently reside in Olney, Maryland.
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Mentioned In This Episode:
- Rock Creek YouTube
- Cru
- Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Gieger
- Start With Why by Simon Sinek
- How To Change An Unchangeable Church by Josh Ott
- Asana
- Things
- EFCA East Cohorts
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Church Chat
The last thing you need is another leadership podcast. This isn't that. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do have some serious conversations.
Your hosts, Josh Ott and Emily Gardner, have real, down-to-earth, transparent conversations about all things ministry. Each episode captures relatable, meaningful, and encouraging conversations, delving deeply into topics that matter to those serving in the local church. They go beyond theoretical ministry principles to the lived realities of pastors and church staff.
The Hosts
Josh Ott is Lead Pastor of Grace Free Church in Cressona, PA and Strategy Specialist for EFCA East.
Emily Gardner is the Communications Director for EFCA East.