In this episode of the J29 Coalition Podcast, pastors Benji Bruneel and Ben Marsh unpack what it means to lead churches through political division, cultural formation, and communal discipleship in radically different contexts—Santa Barbara, California and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Together, they explore how service, incarnation, and relational ministry become powerful antidotes to politicized tribalism. From engaging refugee and immigrant communities to fostering disruptive unity across ideological lines, both pastors share how their churches are learning to foreground difference, embrace Spirit-led formation, and confront modern idols—including media addiction and cultural homogeneity. This conversation is a practical, wise, and at times hilarious roadmap for pastors navigating polarized times with courage and compassion.
Benji Bruneel is one of the lead pastors at Santa Barbara Community Church, a non-denominational congregation with historic ties to the Baptist tradition. Serving on the Central Coast of California, Benji is passionate about forming a church that is “relentlessly relational,” rooted in the gospel, and responsive to the real needs of its immigrant-rich, economically diverse community.
Ben Marsh is the lead pastor of First Alliance Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Ministering in the heart of the Bible Belt, Ben is known for his public theological writing, pastoral honesty, and prophetic commitment to justice, truth, and unity. He leads a small, vibrant congregation shaped by community outreach, refugee engagement, and discipleship that resists partisan conformity.
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