afterWord with Pastor Kent

• Loving God and Neighbor in a Time of Crisis

  In this special episode of afterWord, Pastor Kent Dresdow reflects on the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, exploring how Christians are called to respond when political violence shakes our hearts. Rather than allowing anger, fear, or vengeance to dominate, Kent points us back to Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37–39: love God fully and love our neighbor as ourselves.Rooted in Leviticus 19 and illustrated through passages like the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ call to repentance in Luke 13, this conversation helps us discern what loving looks like—especially toward those we naturally struggle with. We are reminded that love begins in the heart, shapes our speech, and is expressed through our actions. Even in confusion, grief, and anger, the essentials remain clear: fix our gaze on Christ, resist hatred, speak truth with grace, and pray for justice, healing, and revival.If you’ve been unsettled by what’s happening in our country, you’re not alone. Whether you knew Charlie Kirk well or only by name, may this reflection bring clarity, hope, and a renewed commitment to walk in the footsteps of Jesus—in love, humility, and faith.NorthCreek Church Dr. Kent DresdowIn glad reliance on the Holy Spirit and Scripture, we exist for the glory of Christ, to make disciples who worship God, walk in love, and witness to the world.Sundays: 9:00AM & 10:45AM2303 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598https://www.northcreek.org/

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• Andrew Rogers (Part 2): Biblical Counseling for the Nations

  How does biblical counseling take root and flourish in churches around the world? In this second part of our conversation, Pastor Kent Dresdow and Executive Pastor Matt Rehrer continue with Andrew Rogers, Executive Director of Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide (BCMW), to explore the heart and vision of this global ministry.Andrew unpacks how BCMW equips pastors and leaders internationally with training in biblical counseling that is grounded in the sufficiency of Scripture and deeply connected to the local church. From Ephesians 4 to the Great Commission, the discussion highlights how God’s Word transcends culture and equips believers everywhere to make disciples and build up the body of Christ.Listeners will also hear how BCMW is currently training leaders in more than 30 countries, developing accredited biblical counseling programs, and even caring for missionaries on the field so they can remain faithful in their calling. The conversation points to the urgent need for both equipping and sending, and how churches can pray, give, and join in the work.This is part two of a two-part conversation. If you missed part one, go back and hear Andrew’s testimony and the story of how God prepared him for this ministry.To learn more about BCMW, visit:https://bcmworldwide.org/

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• Andrew Rogers (Part 1): From California Roots to Global Biblical Counseling

  What shapes a ministry leader with a passion for both the local church and the nations? In this episode of afterWord, Pastor Kent Dresdow sits down with Executive Pastor Matt Rehrer and special guest Andrew Rogers to trace Andrew’s journey of faith and ministry.From his early years in central California, to coming to Christ as a teenager, to discovering a love for discipleship and biblical counseling, Andrew shares how the Lord redirected his path from corporate law to pastoral ministry. Along the way, he recounts how godly mentors, exposure to expository preaching, and experiences in both local and overseas ministry deepened his conviction in the sufficiency of Scripture for life and godliness.Now serving as the Executive Director of Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide (BCMW), Andrew explains the background that shaped his burden for the global church—asking the pivotal question, “Who’s training them?” His story highlights how God faithfully prepares servants for the unique callings He entrusts to them.This is part one of a two-part conversation that will help you see God’s hand in equipping leaders and expand your vision for how biblical counseling strengthens churches around the world.To learn more about BCMW, visit:https://bcmworldwide.org/

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• Brad Bigney (Part 2): Help for Parents in the Aftermath

  What do you do in the painful aftermath of discovering your child has walked away from the Lord? In this second conversation of afterWord, Pastor Kent Dresdow and Executive Pastor Jeremy Pray sit down again with guest speaker Brad Bigney Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church to offer gospel-centered hope and practical help for parents of prodigals.Building on Part 1, Brad speaks candidly about the immediate temptations parents face—blaming themselves, isolating from the church, or scrambling to find a “formula” to fix their child. He and his wife, Vicki, know firsthand the grief and confusion of watching children rebel, and yet they’ve learned that true comfort comes not from control but from Christ.Drawing encouragement from the Psalms of lament, Luke 7, and 2 Corinthians 12, the discussion points parents back to God’s sovereignty, the importance of grieving honestly, the necessity of staying connected to the body of Christ, and the hope that only the gospel provides. They also speak directly to parents who aren’t walking through this trial—urging them to respond with humility, compassion, and grace toward those who are.If you’re a parent in the “blast zone” of prodigal pain, or simply want to better walk alongside others in your church, this episode offers biblical wisdom, pastoral encouragement, and the reminder that God alone saves—and He is faithful.

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• Brad Bigney (Part 1): Hope for Parents of Prodigals

  What do you do when you’ve raised your children to know the Lord, only to watch them walk away from the faith? In this episode of afterWord, Pastor Kent Dresdow sits down with Executive Pastor Jeremy Pray and guest speaker Brad Bigney Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, a longtime teacher at NorthCreek’s Counseling Training Conference. Together, they open a heartfelt conversation on parenting wayward children—a subject often overlooked in the church but deeply felt by many families.Brad shares from his own family’s story of walking through years of prodigal rebellion, and the lessons God taught him and his wife, Vicki, through the pain. The discussion addresses the false idea that faithful parenting guarantees godly kids, the unique burdens mothers and fathers carry, and how compassion—not quick fixes—is often the most Christlike response. Passages like Luke 7, where Jesus sees and loves the brokenhearted, and 2 Corinthians 12, where God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, shape the hope and comfort offered in this episode.Whether you’re a parent grieving a prodigal, a pastor counseling families, or a believer seeking to understand God’s purposes in suffering, this conversation offers honesty, encouragement, and the reminder that Christ meets us in our weakness.

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