Ep 212 || Meet the Church Planters - Randall and Angel Davis
Release Date: 12/02/2024
Ep 239 | Worship and Tech, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
Join Pastor Matt Higgins and elders‑in‑training Carey Bockting and Ivan McDonald on Northwood Church Matters as they examine how technology—from hymnals and overhead projectors to LED walls, livestreaming, and AI‑powered translation—is reshaping church. They discuss Northwood’s recent tech upgrades, spotlight multilingual worship through live translation and ASL, and explore why people turn to online services—for illness, travel, distance or convenience. But the heart of the episode is deeper: can digital attendance truly replace in‑person community? Our hosts grapple with what...
info_outline
Ep 238 | The Panama Mission Trip
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of the Northwood Church Matters podcast, Pastor Matt sits down with Missions Pastor Ryan Moore and seasoned mission partner Diane Edwards to reflect on their recent mission trip to Panama. Joined by a team including members from Northwood and Community Central, the group worked to minister to the indigenous people in the Cherokee province. Listen in as they share stories of evangelism, spiritual breakthroughs, and the joy of seeing God at work in unexpected ways—from door-to-door fvisits and public school assemblies to spontaneous gospel conversations at the airport....
info_outline
Ep 237 | The Newsomes Are Headed to Panama
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this special episode of the Northwood Church Matters Podcast, Lead Pastor Bobby Pell and host Pastor Matt Higgins sit down with Zack and Courtney Newsome, former student ministry leaders turned full-time missionaries. The Newsoms share their journey—from leading backyard Bible clubs as teens to answering God’s call to train missionaries in Panama City, Panama (not Florida!). They discuss the pivotal moments that confirmed their calling, the challenges of transition, and the spiritual preparation required to serve cross-culturally. Whether you’re considering missions yourself or simply...
info_outline
Ep 236 | Christ And Technology—Social Media, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
In part two of their social media conversation, Pastor Matt and the team get honest about how Christians should engage online. From internet outrage cycles to personal attacks on faith, they unpack the temptations and pitfalls of digital discourse—and offer a better way forward. They talk about the dangers of anonymous criticism, the algorithms that amplify conflict, and the pressure to weigh in on every controversy. You’ll hear practical advice on what not to post, why face-to-face beats Facebook, and how even a homebound church member can powerfully minister through a screen.
info_outline
Ep 235 | Christ And Technology—Social Media, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
What exactly is social media? Has it helped or hurt our sense of true connection?Are influencers just glorified salespeople? Can Christians use social media without being consumed by it? In this episode of the Northwood Church Matters podcast, we continue their series on technology—this time diving into the world of social media. From the rise and fall of platforms like Vine and Twitter, to the dominance of TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, we explore how these technologies have reshaped the fabric of everyday life—and Christian community. This episode offers a timely reminder: if Christ...
info_outline
Ep 234 | Christ And Technology—Christians and Adult Content, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this second podcast on Christians and pornography, we take an honest look at how porn quietly wrecks marriages. Pastor Matt breaks down why getting married doesn’t fix a porn problem—and how that belief often sets couples up for heartache. We talk about the real consequences: unrealistic sexual expectations, emotional distance, and more. Matt shares hard-earned wisdom from years of counseling: what actually helps, what doesn’t, and why real repentance—not just getting caught—is the key to lasting change. We also get practical: from locking down your phone and reshaping your...
info_outline
Ep 233 | Christ And Technology—Christians and Adult Content, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this episode of Northwood Church Matters, Pastor Matt sits down with Ivan and Kerry to have a real conversation about pornography and its impact on the church. They kick things off by trying to define what pornography even is—spoiler: it’s not as simple as you might think—and talking about how the internet has completely changed how people access and think about it. From the old shame-filled days of sneaking magazines and videos, to the instant, anonymous world of smartphones and OnlyFans, they unpack how the culture around porn has shifted dramatically. They also dig into what the...
info_outline
Ep 232 | Christ and Technology - Smart Phones, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
In this second installment of our deep dive into smartphone use, we tackle the hard truths behind our digital habits—how our phones are subtly reshaping everything from parenting and marriage to spiritual life and mental health. We explore “phubbing” – the silent killer of intimacy in marriage, the illusion of connection versus true relationships in the age of social media, the rise of chronic loneliness, especially among Gen Z, how smartphones disrupt sleep, erode empathy, and stoke anxiety and depression, and more. Plus, we share real-life screen time stats, practical tips to...
info_outline
Ep 231 | Christ and Technology - Smart Phones, Part 1
NorthWoods Church Matters
Welcome to a brand-new series on NorthWoods Church Matters podcast! In this episode, Matt, Ivan, and Carey dive into one of the most important questions Christians should be asking today: how is your smartphone shaping your life—and your soul? From shocking stats (the average person checks their phone 144 times a day!), to how social media companies are actively rewiring our brains for more screen time, the guys unpack the spiritual consequences of living in a constantly connected world. They explore how smartphones impact our time, our desires, and even our beliefs, often forming...
info_outline
Ep 230 | 7 Churches of Revelation - Ephesus, Part 2
NorthWoods Church Matters
We’ve made it to the end—and the beginning! In this final episode of our series on the seven churches of Revelation (told in reverse), we finish our conversation on Ephesus. This church had a lot going for it: solid doctrine, hard work, patient endurance… but Jesus still says something isn’t right. Matt, Bobby, and the crew dig into what it means to lose your first love—even when you’re “doing all the right things.” We talk about generational drift, what cold orthodoxy looks like, why emotions do matter in our walk with Christ, and how repentance isn’t just for the big,...
info_outlineRandall and Angel Davis have 14 years of marriage, six kids (you heard that right), and a big mission to plant Mission City Church in South Bend. In this episode we hear a lot of interesting things about them, including Randall’s testimony (a powerful reminder of how a simple invitation can change lives), Angel's love of action-packed games, and God's undeniable (but totally surprising) call for them to plant in South Bend.