Really...What Is An Evangelical?

In this episode, Adam, Chris, and Dan explore the challenges and rewards of building a Reformed church culture that engages evangelicals without losing its theological distinctiveness. Adam shares updates on his church plant, Ventura Reformed, and reflects on lessons learned in outreach and discipleship. The conversation touches on making personal connections, the role of hospitality in evangelism, the importance of clear gospel preaching, and resisting the pressures of modern church consumerism. How can Reformed churches remain faithful while reaching people unfamiliar with historic Christianity? Tune in as we navigate these pressing questions.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introductions
00:54 – Updates on Ventura Reformed
04:00 – Engaging evangelicals in Reformed culture
06:00 – Making personal connections
06:45 – Serving without obligations
10:51 – Prioritizing local outreach
13:04 – Church hopping
15:15 – Reaching the unchurched
17:40 – A Chinese immigrant’s faith journey
19:20 – Reaching the unchurched locally
21:05 – The fear of visiting a church
22:25 – Preaching truth accessibly
23:22 – Clear gospel preaching
23:23 – Gospel-centric liturgy
27:16 – Vibrant congregational singing
28:35 – Challenges for new Christians
32:00 – Craving authenticity
33:25 – Community outside services
35:40 – Communicating the gospel’s necessity
39:00 – Responding to "boring" church criticisms
41:00 – Commitment to Psalm singing
43:52 – Singing with conviction
45:00 – Seeking deeper substance
48:00 – Patience in ministry
49:00 – Chuck Smith and generational shifts
50:10 – Dangers of entertainment-driven church models
53:04 – Catering to personal preferences

Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan:
Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. His responsibilities are to “preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Daniel earned his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary California in 2011. As a student at Westminster Seminary he learned that all study of Scripture, theology, and church history is put into practice in the worship and work of the church. The goal is to glorify Christ by serving His church. At Westminster Seminary he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology. His thesis paper was on Faustus Socinus.

Daniel is chairman of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. Some of his published articles are on the Heidelblog website. Daniel was installed as pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church, September 29, 2023. Daniel is married to Marcy and they have two daughters and a son.

Dan's Church: https://www.christreformed.org/
Westminster Seminary: https://www.wscal.edu/

Rev. Adam Kaloostian:
Rev. Adam Kaloostian was ordained to the Ministry of the Word & Sacraments in the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) in 2001. He was born and raised in Pasadena, California, took his bachelor’s degree in English from Biola University in La Mirada in 1997, and his Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from Westminster Seminary California in Escondido. Adam and his wife Lena were married in 2000, and welcomed their happy surprise, a son, John, in 2010. After Adam graduated seminary, he served as an intern then outreach pastor of the URCNA congregation in Ontario, California for three years; then from 2004 until 2021 served as the Senior Pastor there. Adam was called and sent by the URCNA congregation in Pasadena to be the church-planting pastor in Ventura in Spring of 2021.

Adam's Church: https://www.venturareformed.org/

Rev. Adam Kaloostian was ordained to the Ministry of the Word & Sacraments in the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) in 2001. He was born and raised in Pasadena, California, took his bachelor’s degree in English from Biola University in La Mirada in 1997, and his Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from Westminster Seminary California in Escondido. Adam and his wife Lena were married in 2000, and welcomed their happy surprise, a son, John, in 2010. After Adam graduated seminary, he served as an intern then outreach pastor of the URCNA congregation in Ontario, California for three years; then from 2004 until 2021 served as the Senior Pastor there. Adam was called and sent by the URCNA congregation in Pasadena to be the church-planting pastor in Ventura in Spring of 2021.