This week on Pastors Unfiltered, Pastor Tony is joined by special guest Christian Lembeck for one of the most real, hilarious, and heartfelt episodes yet — the Seattle Episode. From Magic: The Gathering decks and online Discord games… to life on Capitol Hill… to the challenges and beauty of doing ministry in one of the most complex cities in America, Tony and Christian talk about the highs, lows, tensions, joys, and calling of urban ministry. They open up about:
- What it’s really like raising families in Seattle
- The spiritual battle pastors face in the city
- Why God calls people into difficult places
- The growing movement of young, diverse churches in Seattle
- The importance of unity in the Church
- How everyday conversations become moments of ministry
This episode is honest, funny, and deeply encouraging — a reminder that God is working in cities and in people’s lives in powerful ways. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Pastors Unfiltered
00:25 – Tony introduces Christian Lembeck
00:47 – Last episode recap and great feedback
01:05 – The “cool kid” podcast mic setup
01:25 – Meet Joshua: our single sound tech
01:45 – Josh reveals a fun fact
02:15 – The “Hallmark dog guy” moment
02:49 – A less serious episode ahead
03:00 – Tony’s new hobby: Magic the Gathering
03:40 – Christian reacts to Tony’s deck
04:19 – Tabletop Simulator & Discord gaming
05:25 – Magic otters, mana costs, and chaos
06:17 – “You’re a wizard, Harry”
06:50 – Harry Potter, spells, and old emails
07:14 – Discipleship or just board games?
07:30 – The Seattle Episode officially begins
08:12 – The reactions people give when they hear “I live in Seattle”
08:56 – Seattle’s beauty and brokenness
09:55 – Addiction, encampments, and real challenges
10:49 – The dignity of every human being
11:13 – Shifting into what we love about the city
12:00 – Living on Capitol Hill
12:19 – Seattle stereotypes & the reality
13:02 – Seattle media perception vs. reality
13:41 – Walkable community and neighborhood culture
14:19 – Restaurant stories and talking to strangers
15:13 – The “I’m a pastor” moment
16:21 – Conversations about cancer, grief, and prayer
17:29 – Meeting neighbors from all walks of life
18:04 – Loving the walkability and community
18:23 – Tony’s life in Roosevelt
19:04 – The joy (and chaos) of city life
19:24 – The harder side: hostility toward faith
20:06 – Why pastors choose the city anyway
20:26 – Loving people where they are
21:13 – The realities of danger and mental health crises
22:04 – Why choose Seattle?
23:08 – Tony’s “why we stay”
23:55 – The cost and calling of urban ministry
24:01 – Christian’s calling and conviction
24:27 – How the early church reached cities
25:41 – Why cities matter for the Gospel
26:18 – Cities as centers of influence
27:20 – Every human is looking for Jesus
27:47 – Calling to pray for the city
28:09 – Jeremiah 29 and living in exile
29:25 – Seeking the peace of the city
29:52 – Spiritual strongholds and prayer walks
30:11 – Fighting with spiritual weapons, not frustration
31:22 – The overlooked challenge of urban church planting
32:05 – The new wave of Seattle churches
32:26 – Shoutouts to pastors across the city
33:07 – Stories of grit and calling in Seattle
34:05 – Multiethnic, multigenerational church life
35:20 – The historic building on 65th
36:03 – A church merger story
36:50 – Heroes of the faith in the city
37:11 – Encouragement to believers outside Seattle
37:57 – The spiritual battle pastors face
38:19 – How other churches have supported the mission
38:38 – Top restaurant recommendations (the important stuff!)
40:36 – The best sandwiches and pasta in Seattle
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