By Andy Hale
What if experiencing the Holy Spirit was less about theological categories and more about stepping into the mystery of God’s presence? This week on the CBF Podcast Conversation, we welcome Tyler Staton, Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland and National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA. In his new book, The Familiar Stranger, Tyler invites readers to rediscover the Holy Spirit—not as a distant doctrine, but as the active presence of God in our everyday lives. In this conversation, he shares his personal journey of faith, including his recent battle with cancer, and how he has come to see the Spirit as a source of both personal peace and divine power at work in the world.
Tyler challenges us to move beyond skepticism and embrace the Spirit’s role in unifying the church, reshaping our communities, and calling us into a more experiential spirituality. We discuss the biblical imagery of the Spirit, the tensions surrounding spiritual gifts, and the ways in which the Spirit transforms not only individuals but entire communities. If you’ve ever wrestled with what it means to encounter the Holy Spirit in a meaningful way, this episode offers wisdom, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on God’s movement in our lives. Listen now and be inspired to step into the unpredictable, life-giving adventure of following the Spirit.
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This podcast is presented by:
- Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work: Social workers can be found addressing the full scope of the human experience in churches, schools, prisons, government agencies, senior living centers, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies.
- Baptist Seminary of Kentucky: BSK equips leaders through their Homegrown Initiative, offering ministry leaders training and growth that fits into their busy schedules.
- The Gardner-Webb School of Divinity: The Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity aims to equip, nurture, encourage, and support men and women for their very best service in the Kingdom of God.
- The Center for Congregational Health: Strengthening congregations through consulting, leadership coaching, and intentional ministry.
- The Baptist House of Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary: Exists by God’s grace to educate, inspire, and support generations of bold, faithful servant leaders as they seek actively to participate in God’s mission in the world.
- Community Transformation Center: Through educational opportunities, community conversations, and research initiatives in collaboration with universities and local leaders, PBACTC is at the forefront of integrating spiritual care into holistic community development.
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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.