First, if you're an existing subscriber from God @ Work,
I’m pivoting the messages to be broader than simply work-related applications of theology. I took time away to finish Seminary—and survive the holidays—but now I’m back to a more regular schedule.
It’s still (entirely) Christian but will look at broader topics, as directed by Scripture.
I’m also adding audio/video options as the world moves in that direction.
The (eventual) goal is to build an in-person community around Central Kentucky. Online-only is welcome to participate and share, but future references to in-person events will be focused on my home state.
I would love it if you stay subscribed—the encouragement and convictions in these upcoming messages (Tues & Fri) apply to us all equally.
Let’s consider this episode a bit of a “prequel.” It will be short, only 3 minutes or so, but it is critical to set expectations for what you’ll hear from this newsletter/podcast/video series (however you choose to consume it).
prodigals.online is a digital-first Christian organization. What does that mean? We will use technology to reach people instead of purchasing or renting a building. However, our goal is to grow a community so that we can coordinate in-person events. Such events could be large barbeques at a park, coordinated evenings at a local event, or smaller house groups for deeper study. While anyone, anywhere, is welcome to subscribe or listen, the goal is a genuine Christian community in central Kentucky that loves each other in the ways Christians–nay, humans–were created in the first place.
Second, we want to be convenient and effective. These messages are quick enough for you to listen to while walking your dog or to read during a break at work. My hope is to provide a mid-week supplement to make Christian faith the center point of your life. That’s why messages will be posted multiple times during the week.
Third, we are not a church–at least not yet. Our goal is not to compete with other churches but to supplement where church communities feel stale or are non-existent. I would very much like to coordinate visiting different churches as a group to understand our denominational differences better. The world is charging hard into pluralism, so let’s ground ourselves in all the biblically-based forms of Christian worship.
Lastly, we want to be innovative. I lament so many tithes funneling to mortgage companies and land purchases. I am exhausted from seeing so many roadside signs welcoming strangers in–we should be going out to invite them personally. From a non-believer's perspective, all our welcoming signs look the same. They are ineffective, yet churches regularly spend money on them because we are afraid to confront our antagonistic culture. We shouldn’t be provoking others to anger, but we should be boldly sharing the Truth of Christ in love. That’s why community is so critical, so we can bolster and harbor each other through the Great Commission we are called to. Considering how much time the average American spends on their device, an online-first strategy feels prudent.
Prodigals.online is not about doctrinal differences; we’re a non-profit with a board representing multiple denominations. Since I’m creating these messages, you can check out www.prodigals.online to see the list of beliefs I generally carry and what you may hear come through the messages. That said, my goal is not to convince you away from your doctrine; my goal is for all of us to live all-out for Jesus that we won’t care about the secondary or tertiary topics. Perhaps we’ll learn something from each other along the way.
I suppose that’s a good segue to introduce myself. I’m Brad Farley. I grew up in Ohio but now live in Lexington, Kentucky. I have three young children from a previous marriage and am engaged to a lovely woman named Sara. We regularly attend a Church of God denomination church, but I periodically drum for worship services in various cross-denominational settings. I have a few degrees, but the most relevant is a Master of Art in Christian Ministry from Liberty University.
I’m doing this because I really love Jesus and am hoping to inspire others to love Him deeply too. I won’t go into my whole testimony here, but there was a time in my life when the Holy Spirit was pressing hard on me. I could not reconcile an omnipotent, omnipresent, sacrificial God with how we casually praised and taught about Him on Sundays. My heart wanted more, and God has led me on a wild journey since. I would love to share more about it in-person sometime.
Thanks for checking this out. Subscribe to the substack to receive new messages whenever they are posted. I hope we get to grow in Christian community together.
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