Log in

goodpods headphones icon

To access all our features

Open the Goodpods app
Close icon
headphones
Midtown Church

Midtown Church

Midtown Covenant Church

Midtown Covenant Church is a multiethnic, multiplying, reconciling, and disciple-making church. We are a church for the unchurched, those who have been burned by the church in the past, and those wondering if they are passionately welcomed back into the church after being gone for whatever reason. We care deeply about our city, the nation, and the world. We believe that Christ changes everything and provides us with the power and authority to make a transformative difference in the world. We share Christ’s heart for the vulnerable, marginalized, lost, and broken. We are committed to being a bridge of empowerment, unity, and love in a divided world.

Share icon

All episodes

Best episodes

Seasons

Top 10 Midtown Church Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Midtown Church episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Midtown Church for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Midtown Church episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

02/02/2025 Midtown Church Sacramento

“God’s Famous Bars”

Pastor Bob Balian

📖 For Sermon Notes and Guide, visit: https://midtownchurch.org/note/02-02-2025-midtown-church-sacramento/

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!
🌟 Quick Links:
New to Midtown? Discover more here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/
Share your prayers with us: https://midtownchurch.org/care/
Plan a visit and join us in person: https://midtownchurch.org/
Visit our website at www.midtownchurch.org for more information about our church community and upcoming events.
More about Pastor Bob:
Bob Balian is the Founding Pastor of Midtown Church, and currently shares the Lead Pastor role with his partner in ministry, Efrem Smith. Bob also serves as the Chaplain for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. He’s a UCLA graduate with a degree in Economics, and earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Bob grew up in Sacramento, and returned to Sacramento from Los Angeles to take over a family construction and engineering business. After becoming a bi-vocational Youth Pastor he sold his business, and became a full-time, Executive Pastor at BOSS (Bayside of South Sacramento) with the late, great Reverend Sherwood Carthen.

He then planted Bayside Midtown in 2011 with his beautiful wife, Letty Balian. They intentionally planted in the heart of Sacramento — one of the most diverse cities in the country– and have been intentional about fostering and nurturing diversity and racial reconciliation in the church since the very first day of its existence.

In May of 2021, Bob led his church in a change to become Midtown Covenant Church. Midtown Church has campuses in Sacramento, CA and Elk Grove, CA with a mission to bring hope, health, and healing to its cities, and looks forward to expansion in the near future.

Bob and Letty have one daughter, Taylor.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

03/16/2025 | Sunday Service | Pastor Otis Amey
📖 For Sermon Notes and Guide, visit: https://midtownchurch.org/note/03-16-2025-midtown-church-elk-grove/
Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!
🌟 Quick Links:
New to Midtown? Discover more here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/
Share your prayers with us: https://midtownchurch.org/care/
Plan a visit and join us in person: https://midtownchurch.org
Visit our website at www.midtownchurch.org for more information about our church community and upcoming events.
More about Pastor Otis:
Pastor Otis Amey is a former record-setting S.F. 49er wide receiver and punt returner. He was Born and raised in Union City, CA, Otis now lives in Sacramento and serves as the Associate Pastor for Midtown Church overseeing Men's, Young Professionals, and Serve Ministries. He is also a keynote speaker and workshop developer, empowering people everywhere he goes. In addition, Otis serves as the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he coordinates on-campus events, sports camps, and mentors coaches and student-athletes. As a Life Skills Coach for Sac State's Football team, Otis is dedicated to transforming lives from the inside out, starting with himself, his home, and his community. As a married father of three, Otis strives to be the role model and mentor he never had.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

03/16/2025 | Sunday Service | 11:30am (PST) | Pastor Christa Armstead

📖 For Sermon Notes and Guide, visit: https://midtownchurch.org/note/03-16-2025-midtown-church-elk-grove/
Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!
🌟 Quick Links:
New to Midtown? Discover more here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/
Share your prayers with us: https://midtownchurch.org/care/
Plan a visit and join us in person: https://midtownchurch.org
Visit our website at www.midtownchurch.org for more information about our church community and upcoming events.

More about Pastor Christa:
Meet Christa, a beacon of inspiration and unwavering dedication, whose life's work as a pastor and community advocate illuminates a path of support and upliftment for all. Drawing from her own trials, Christa's compassionate heart and acute sensitivity embrace the needs of others, a testament to her profound understanding of the human experience.

Grounded in an unshakable faith, Christa finds solace, strength, and boundless inspiration to triumph over personal challenges, discovering the sweet taste of freedom in the process. With a flame burning brightly within her, she is driven by an unwavering passion to share her healing journey, extending a hand of hope and guidance to those who strive for liberation.

For years, her voice lay dormant, but now, it emerges like a clarion call, resonating with the intention to touch hearts and ignite transformative change. Christa's words carry the weight of wisdom born from her own vulnerability, and in their embrace, she seeks to empower others to embrace their own journey of growth and transformation.

As you embark on your own path, let Christa's story be a testament to the indomitable spirit that dwells within each of us, reminding us that through dedication, faith, and the power of our voices, we can move mountains and create a world where hearts are healed and lives are forever changed.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

06/23/2024 | Sunday Service | 10:30am (PST) | Bob Balian
Series: Lifelines: Scripture that Formed MeMessage - Wake-up Call

📖 For Sermon Notes and Guide, visit: https://midtownchurch.org/note/06-23-2024-midtown-church-sacramento-2/
Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!
🌟 Quick Links:
New to Midtown? Discover more here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/
Share your prayers with us: https://midtownchurch.org/care/
Plan a visit and join us in person: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/
Visit our website at www.midtownchurch.org for more information about our church community and upcoming events.
More about Pastor Bob:
Bob Balian is the Founding Pastor of Midtown Church, and currently shares the Lead Pastor role with his partner in ministry, Efrem Smith. Bob also serves as the Chaplain for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. He’s a UCLA graduate with a degree in Economics, and earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Bob grew up in Sacramento, and returned to Sacramento from Los Angeles to take over a family construction and engineering business. After becoming a bi-vocational Youth Pastor he sold his business, and became a full-time, Executive Pastor at BOSS (Bayside of South Sacramento) with the late, great Reverend Sherwood Carthen.

He then planted Bayside Midtown in 2011 with his beautiful wife, Letty Balian. They intentionally planted in the heart of Sacramento — one of the most diverse cities in the country– and have been intentional about fostering and nurturing diversity and racial reconciliation in the church since the very first day of its existence.

In May of 2021, Bob led his church in a change to become Midtown Covenant Church. Midtown Church has campuses in Sacramento, CA and Elk Grove, CA with a mission to bring hope, health, and healing to its cities, and looks forward to expansion in the near future.

Bob and Letty have one daughter, Taylor.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Live Recording: 2/25/2024 - 10:30am Service

Series: HOPE – When you want to quit on God

Title: Hoping for the Best and Not Settling for Less

A message from Dr. Efrem Smith

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/

Thank you for your support online family!

For Sermon Notes Guide: https://midtownchurch.org/note/02-25-2024-midtown-church-sac-online/

Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/

Submit a Prayer here: https://midtownchurch.org/care/

Plan a Visit: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/

www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:
Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.
Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.
Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries, a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.
He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.
Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Live Recording: 2/18/2024 - 10:30am Service

Series: HOPE – When you want to quit on God

Title: Get Back Up: Hope After Failure

A message from Reverend Dani Kilgore

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/

Thank you for your support online family!

For Sermon Notes Guide: https://midtownchurch.org/note/02-18-2024-midtown-church-elk-grove/

Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/

Submit a Prayer here: https://midtownchurch.org/care/

Plan a Visit: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/

www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:
Rev. Dani Kilgore is a Pastor and leader within the ECC. She is originally from Arlington, TX but considers Atlanta, GA, home too. Dani is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and North Park Theological Seminary. In 2018 she and her family moved to the Bay Area to serve as the first called woman and person of color pastor. In 2023 she heard God leading her deeper into community work and transitioned into becoming the Executive Director for Journey to Mosaic, a non-profit Cultural Immersion coalition that invites individuals to explore the issues of racism and discrimination within their community and actively engage in finding sustainable solutions. With 15 years of ministry experience Dani has a heart for justice, discipleship and community transformation. Rev. Dani has a heart for people and believes God has equipped her to connect with all people on some level in hopes they might experience the image of God through deeper relationships and understanding of another's story. She and her husband William have been married for 14 years and together they raise their beautiful 8 year old daughter, Harper Avery. When she's not working Dani loves finding new restaurants and recipes to try, going to the movies with her husband, making dance tik toks with her daughter and binge watching Grey's Anatomy.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Sermon Series: Dealing with Everything (Wk.3) Everything Believed: From Frustrations to Faith - Sacramento Campus

A message from Dr. Efrem Smith

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/

Thank you for you support online family!

For Sermon Notes Guide: https://midtownchurch.org/note/12-17-2023-midtown-church-sacramento-online/

Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/

Submit a Prayer here: https://midtownchurch.org/care/

Plan a Visit: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/

www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries, a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

My Dysfunctional Family (Wk.8) The Family that Prays While the Enemy Preys
Dr. Efrem Smith

Sermon Series: My Dysfunctional Family: From Trauma to Transformation

For Sermon Notes Guide: https://midtownchurch.org/note/11-26-2023-midtown-church-sacramento-online/

Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/

Submit a Prayer here: https://midtownchurch.org/care/

Plan a Visit: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/

www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:
Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries, a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Don’t Save me - Good News for Skeptics (Wk.2) How Hypocrisy Hurts the Church (And Hinders the Good News) - Dr. Efrem Smith - Sacramento
Sermon Notes Guide: https://midtownchurch.org/note/09-17-2023-midtown-church-sacramento/

Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/

Submit a Prayer here: https://midtownchurch.org/care/

Plan a Visit: https://midtownchurch.org/visit/

www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries, a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Keywords:

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

11/10/2024 | Sunday Service | 10:30am (PST) | Dr. Efrem Smith
The Book of James (Wk.6): A Playbook for Oppression and Suffering
📖 For Sermon Notes and Guide, visit: https://midtownchurch.org/note/11-10-2024-midtown-church-sacramento/
Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!
🌟 Quick Links:
New to Midtown? Discover more here: https://midtownchurch.org/new/
Share your prayers with us: https://midtownchurch.org/care/
Plan a visit and join us in person: https://midtownchurch.org
Visit our website at www.midtownchurch.org for more information about our church community and upcoming events.
More about Pastor Efrem:
Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries, a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

Give through Midtown today: https://midtownchurch.org/give/
Thank you for your support online family!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Show more best episodes

Toggle view more icon

FAQ

How many episodes does Midtown Church have?

Midtown Church currently has 251 episodes available.

What topics does Midtown Church cover?

The podcast is about Christianity, Urban, Healing, Healthy Living, Religion & Spirituality, Healthy, Podcasts, Health, Diversity, Church, Hope and California.

What is the most popular episode on Midtown Church?

The episode title 'James (Wk. 3): Walk it like you Talk it - Tyronne Gross Jr. | Elk Grove' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Midtown Church?

The average episode length on Midtown Church is 41 minutes.

How often are episodes of Midtown Church released?

Episodes of Midtown Church are typically released every 4 days.

When was the first episode of Midtown Church?

The first episode of Midtown Church was released on Aug 12, 2022.

Show more FAQ

Toggle view more icon

Comments