2025 Podcast Stats
It was a good year for the “Well Faith with Chris Teien” sermon audio podcast. The 2025 Buzzsprout Recap Report shows over 14,000 downloads from all over the world (127 Countries) including nearby with 1,225 from Virginia, MN and 717 from Eveleth, MN. There were around 5,800 downloads/listens from 33 Replay Sermon episodes (from my…
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Why Chuck Swindoll chose to Preach from the New Living Translation
Updated 25.0909 Many years ago when I first started following Jesus I would listen to Chuck Swindoll on Insight for Living almost every weeknight. Since there was no local church I could attend then, Chuck was most influential in my spiritual growth when I was I was a new Christian. I deeply respect Chuck’s teaching…
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What No One Tells You About Churches installing Playgrounds
If you’ve ever assembled a team of volunteers to work on a church project, you know it can be both inspiring and incredibly challenging. And if that project involves selecting and installing playground equipment, the complexity grows quickly. What starts as a practical effort to create a space where kids can play while parents connect…
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The Risk of Silence in Church Leadership
Over the last three decades of serving as a pastor, I’ve come to understand that silence can sometimes feel safer than speaking up. When someone sets their course and locks in their agenda, even a well-meant caution or redirection can feel like opposition. Tensions often rise, not necessarily because of pride or rebellion, but because…
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Why Do People Skip Church? A New Study Reveals Surprising Reasons
A recent Lifeway Research study highlights the many reasons some U.S. Protestant churchgoers choose to skip Sunday worship—sometimes even regularly. While safety during severe weather is a top concern (77%), other common reasons include enjoying good weather outdoors (55%), getting extra sleep (54%), meeting up with friends (50%), avoiding rain (43%), and watching sports (42%).…
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Disciples Who Reproduce: How to Pass on What Matters Most
At the heart of the Christian life is a call to grow and to reproduce. As we finish this series on what it means to be a “WELL Disciple”—one who Worships, Evangelizes, Learns, and Loves—we are reminded that the journey of discipleship is not just about personal growth. It’s about investing in others, passing on…
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How Do WELL Disciples Grow?
We all want to grow. In our spiritual lives, in our relationships, in our impact. But sometimes the path to growth can feel unclear or overwhelming. In a world filled with distractions, changing values, and endless opinions, how can we stay grounded and grow into the faithful followers of Jesus we’re called to be? Let…
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Living as a Well Disciple in a Self-Focused World
You and I might spend about 70 to 80 years on this earth. That’s not very long when you compare it to eternity. So the big question is: What are we living for? What really matters? Trading the American Dream for God’s Mission Every day, the world bombards us with the message: get more, live…
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Ministry Experience Towards a Masters Degree
If you are a pastor or a committed Christ follower with significant Bible study experience, you may find this fast-paced method of earning a master’s degree helpful. It can be an effective way to formalize your knowledge and enhance your ministry opportunities. While this path may not be for everyone, it can be a valuable…
Keep readingMedia and Socials
We communicate the latest news and share our messages (a.k.a. sermons) in many ways. Social Connections Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/wellfaith24 Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/wellfaith24 Pinterest Site https://www.pinterest.com/christeien Watch Full Worship Service recorded live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@rockwellchurch218/streams Message-only on YouTube Video Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@rockwellchurch218/podcasts YouTube Video Shorts https://www.youtube.com/@rockwellchurch218/shorts TikTok Short Video Messages https://www.tiktok.com/@wellfaith247 Watch the church service on local…
Keep readingAI Made a Podcast Discussion from my Sermon Transcript
Google’s Notebook LM created this ten-minute podcast episode with two AI voices discussing my sermon on Church Unity. Click audio file to hear it. The AI’s Summary: This excerpt is a sermon delivered by a pastor to a church congregation. The pastor addresses a number of topics including unity within the church, the importance of…
Keep readingDeclining Church Attendance Leading to Mental Health Crisis?
I read an interesting article that suggested that skipping church could lead to depression and suicide. “Yet there’s another, non-technology possible contributor to the mental health crisis that’s getting less attention but may be just as significant. That is the decline in church attendance. A professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public…
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The Season I Was Forced to Learn Video Ministry
As a church planting pastor renting the public school for our Sunday church service and Wednesday night kids program, we were surprised when we were told we couldn’t meet due to Covid restrictions. I remember recording my first “church at home” video in my basement using my cell phone and a cheap selfie-stick I had…
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When People Leave Your Church
I’ve been actively involved serving in local churches for over 30 years. I could share a long list of reasons why people came to a church and reasons why people left a church. Some people stay for a season and some people stay for a lifetime. Some people leave after a period of time -…
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What I Learned About Church Trailers
The past weekend I borrowed a trailer to take Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to the Duluth MN Distribution Center. For almost 20 years I had a big enclosed church trailer in my driveway to use whenever I needed. As a church planter I am THANKFUL that God showed up all those time we setup church,…
Keep readingRemembering how God used us to plant a church
October 1st 2001 (right after the September 11th chaos) we moved from Chisholm, Minnesota down to Belle Plaine, Minnesota. We had no contacts or core group, just the prayer and financial backing of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and some training to plant a church. God was faithful from the time we started until the…
Keep readingEmmanuel makes 700+ Teddy Bears for Ministry
Pastor Chris Teien shares how Emmanuel Church in Virginia, MN put together over 700 Teddy Bears for the local InFaith Adopt a Senior Ministry.
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Why Smaller Churches can be better
I was the pastor of a “small” church for many years. I had often been reminded being a pastor of a large church is not easier, more fulfilling or more effective. I was not opposed to serving or being in a larger church but I knew I was called to serve God there in that…
Keep readingWatch and Share the Story
Watch “The Story” The Story presents the amazing account of God’s creation, man’s disobedience, God’s rescue plan, and ultimately the total restoration of His creation. Learn more at https://TheStoryFilm.com Watch “The StoryMaker” kids short film The Story Maker animated children’s film is a Spread Truth project aimed at helping children understand the metanarrative of Scripture.…
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Can God still Use You if you Didn’t Go to Seminary?
Sometimes it seems that only the “rich people” (or their parents) can actually afford to pay the college and seminary tuition to prepare to answer God’s call to full-time ministry and that churches end up hiring new graduates that are drowning in student loan debt. One pastor friend I know graduated with an MDiv seminary…
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