FBI Raids, Gospel Renewal and Church Planting with Esteban Valenzuela

FBI Raids, Gospel Renewal and Church Planting with Esteban Valenzuela

Author: Mike Neglia June 17, 2025 Duration: 41:48

What does it look like when gospel renewal is forged through suffering and planted in the heart of a global city? In this conversation, Esteban Valenzuela, pastor of Raíces Madrid Evangelical Christian Church, shares his remarkable story of personal transformation, perseverance through false accusation, and the sovereign call of God that led him and his family to Madrid, Spain.

Mike Neglia and Esteban talk about the power of gospel renewal — not just as a theological concept, but as a lived reality. Esteban reminds us that the gospel is the cornerstone of Scripture and the Christian life, and warns against shallow repetition of gospel language without depth or clarity. They also discuss the challenges of church planting, how God works through weak sermons and weak preachers, and why having a clear message truly matters.


Join Mike Neglia and Brian Kelly at the upcoming CGN Ministry Conference June 22-25, 2025 

This conference is designed for church leaders and their ministry teams to connect, collaborate, and grow together. Dive deep into John 13–17, The Upper Room Discourse, with our main session speakers, and attend workshops led by experienced leaders in key areas such as Lead and Senior Pastors, Executive and Associate Pastors, Women in Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Small Groups and Care Leaders, Tech Teams, Administration, and Lay Leaders. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry worker, or volunteer, this event is for your whole team. Join us for an inspiring time of learning, fellowship, and renewed vision for the work God has called us to!



Register for our next in person training event 

August 22-23, 2025 

St Petersburg, Florida 

Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg

 https://expositorscollective.org/gatherings/



The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/


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Mike Neglia hosts Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation, a space dedicated to the craft of clearly opening the Scriptures. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast grounds itself in the tangible realities faced by pastors and teachers every week. You'll hear genuine conversations that feel like pulling up a chair in a mentor's study, where experienced practitioners discuss the challenges and joys of preparing messages that faithfully explain the biblical text. Episodes often take the form of interviews or practical workshops, delving into the nuances of effective communication for diverse settings like church pulpits, youth groups, or women's ministries. The collective wisdom shared here is about more than just structure; it's about the spiritual discipline of listening to a passage before speaking on it, ensuring the sermon's heart beats in rhythm with the Bible's intent. Tuning into this podcast provides a form of ongoing coaching, a resource for anyone who wants their teaching to be both deeply rooted and readily understood. It’s for those who believe that the careful work of exposition is a profound act of service, and who are looking for a companion on that journey.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation
Podcast Episodes
Every Sermon Shouldn’t Sound Like the Book of Proverbs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:13
In this episode, Clay and Mike reminisce about their Bible College days with their former Dean of Men, Pastor Sean Houseman. What begins with shared memories quickly develops into an encouraging and challenging conversat…
Preaching like a Lutheran - Bob Hiller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:32
In this episode of the Expositors Collective, Mike Neglia sits down with Pastor Bob Hiller to explore the essential distinction between preaching the Law and preaching the Gospel. Drawing from his experience at Community…
Clear Preaching That Connects with Real Life - Don Sunukjian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:20
Dr Don Sunukjian has devoted his life to the craft of preaching, both in the pulpit and in the classroom. With doctoral training in theology and communication, along with 21 years of experience as a senior pastor, he bri…
Faithful, Not Famous: The Call to Godly Character - Jeff Figgs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:30
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Jeff Figgs offers a sober and deeply pastoral charge drawn from Paul’s final words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. Speaking from decades of ministry experience, Jeff…
The Art of Prophesying with Shane Deane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:49
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Mike Neglia is joined by Shane Deane for a wide-ranging conversation on Puritan preaching, with particular attention to William Perkins’ The Art of Prophesying and th…
Deliver the Meal, Don't Drop the Plate: Homiletics with Nate Morris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
At our Longmont training event, Pastor Nate Morris explores the heart behind preaching and the practical movements that help us communicate Scripture faithfully. Opening with a story about waiting tables, Nate reminds us…
Time Management, Bi-vocational Ministry and LoFi Beats - Benni Rothe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:12
In this episode Mike talks with Benni Rothe, pastor of Calvary Herborn, about his preaching journey and the practical habits that help him prepare well. Benni reflects on the lessons he picked up about time management wh…