The Surge Network Podcast

What does it look like to love our neighbors when they're at their most vulnerable?

In this episode, Katie O'Dell of AZ127 joins the Surge Network Podcast to explore the realities of foster care in Arizona and the role the Church can play in changing the story for children and families. Katie shares why children in foster care are often the most invisible members of our communities, how caring for them can transform entire generations, and why every follower of Jesus has a role to play—even if fostering isn't their calling.

Together, they discuss discipleship, the difference between transactional and transformational ministry, and Katie's vision of seeing Arizona become the first state where there are more families ready to welcome children than children waiting for families.

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or simply someone asking, "What can I do?", this conversation will challenge and encourage you to discover your place in bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to vulnerable children and families.

What does it mean to see immigrants not as outsiders, but as essential contributors to the Kingdom of God?

In this powerful conversation, Aaron Daly sits down with Deenbo Kidane, leader of the Daniel Initiative, pastor, mother, and advocate for immigrant communities. Together, they explore the unique gifts immigrant churches bring to the American Church—including resilience, prayer, faith, generosity, and deep-rooted relationships—and why those gifts are needed now more than ever.

Deenbo shares her journey from Ethiopia to Arizona, the life-changing message that first connected her to the Daniel Initiative, and her passion for helping second-generation immigrant leaders discover that they are not here by accident, but by God's design. She reflects on the challenges facing immigrant communities today, the importance of building relationships across cultural divides, and why the Church must resist fear and division in favor of the reconciling work of Jesus.

Through personal stories and hard-earned wisdom, Deenbo offers a compelling vision for a more interconnected Church—one where immigrant voices are celebrated, cultural differences become opportunities for growth, and every believer recognizes their role in God's mission.

Whether you're part of an immigrant church, a longtime American congregation, or simply longing for a broader vision of God's family, this conversation will challenge, encourage, and inspire you.

In this episode of the Surge Podcast, John DelHousaye introduces Surge School’s new Ardor curriculum by exploring one of the three transcendentals: goodness. Joined by artists Travis Mullen and Jyll Ethier-Mullen, the conversation dives into the intersection of art, faith, and the creative process.

Together, they reflect on how goodness is expressed not only in finished artwork, but in the rhythms of practice, the role of community, and the posture of the artist. From early creative influences to rediscovering artistic identity, Travis and Jyll share personal stories of formation, struggle, and renewal.

The discussion also explores how concepts like harmony, composition, and even “negative space” reveal deeper truths about reality—and what it means to create in a way that reflects the nature of God. Along the way, they wrestle with questions of intrinsic vs. instrumental goodness, the tension between skill and vision, and the subtle pull of ego and idolatry in artistic work.

Whether you’re an artist or simply someone drawn to beauty and meaning, this episode offers a thoughtful and grounded look at how creativity can point beyond itself to something greater.

In this episode, we flip the script as John Talley III joins us on the other side of the mic to share his story and vision for the Church in our city.

John, a pastor, professor, and self-described “servant trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody,” invites us into the heart behind Neighbor’s Table, an initiative of Surge Network focused on mobilizing believers to love their neighbors in real, tangible ways.

 

We talk about what it means to move from proclamation to demonstration, not just talking about Jesus, but living it out. From foster care and refugee support to justice, advocacy, and the arts, this episode paints a vision for a unified Church marked by mercy, action, and neighbor love.

In this episode of the Surge Network podcast, Aaron Dailey sits down with longtime pastor and leader Caleb Campbell to talk candidly about friendship, faith, and the fractures many churches and leaders have experienced in recent years. Caleb shares his personal journey through pastoral burnout, political polarization, and the loss of community, including how those experiences led him to write about engaging Christian nationalism as a mission field rather than an enemy. 

 

Together, they explore why relationships between pastors matter, especially in seasons of conflict, fear, and division. The conversation is honest, reflective, and grounded in the hope that healing and unity are still possible when leaders choose to stay connected.

Hosted by Dr. John DelHousaye, Director of Surge School+, this episode explores one of the three transcendentals— beauty —and why it may be the most compelling doorway in our current cultural moment.

Joined by guests Charith and Michael Denson, the conversation examines how truth, goodness, and beauty are deeply connected, and why beauty has a unique power when a culture grows resistant to arguments about truth. When debates stall, beauty has a way of holding everything together, awakening desire, inviting reflection, and opening hearts where logic alone may no longer persuade.

Our vision begins and ends in prayer.

In a time when polarization runs deep, we continue to pray that the Church — in all its diverse expressions — would stay anchored in Christ and committed to one another.

Our first All-Surge Gathering centered on vision and prayer. We revisited our shared commitments and launch into a guided season of prayer for our city, our churches, and our communities — both online and in neighborhoods throughout the Valley.

Alignment is not achieved by strategy alone but by shared surrender to the presence of Christ. These five prayers will shape our hearts, guide our actions, and unite our churches as we seek to live from the center of Jesus.

History is clear: Whenever the church has aligned itself with worldly, coercive power, it ends up on the wrong side of important justice issues.

But when the church cooperates with God's power through his presence among the least powerful, its witness for Jesus transforms the world into a better place.

Every quarter Surge Network holds a gathering for anyone in Phoenix to attend. This quarter, we had the honor of hearing from David Fitch with Gavin Linderman.

Every quarter Surge Network holds a gathering for anyone in Phoenix to attend. This quarter, we had the honor of hearing from John O. with Dennae Pierre on the essential practice of solidarity.

We wanted to get under the hood of what we mean when we say Jesus Centered. Dr. Meghan Good and missiologist Alan Hirsch join Gavin in a discussion on this, and much more.