When a Pastor Explores The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | An Interview with Jeff McCullough

Jeff McCullough is on a quest to learn about all things Latter-day
Saints. He's not looking for a debate. He's looking to explore and
learn, and to fight criticism with curiosity. Jeff is a Protestant,
Evangelical Pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and
the creator of the HelloSaints YouTube channel. He completed his
undergraduate in Digital Media from a Free-Methodist school,
Greenville University, and received a Masters in Biblical Studies
from Moody Theological Seminary. Jeff is married with four
children, lives in the St. Louis, Missouri area, and has worked in
pastoral ministry for almost 15 years. Highlights 1:30 Introduction
to Jeff and his background 3:10 Jeff is not the typical Leading
Saints guest. He was born and raised Evangelical Protestant. He is
now an Evangelical Pastor. 6:15 Often our doctrines and practices
can become elevated to a point that we begin to major in the
minors. What is most important is the spiritual reality of your
soul before the one that created you. 7:55 What was the moment that
you thought you wanted to become a Pastor? 9:10 The steps Jeff took
to become a Pastor 12:15 Why Jeff started Hello Saints. A channel
where Jeff explores the church in a respectful way. 21:20 What you
can expect on Jeff’s channel. He invites his audience to be curious
and connect. 23:40 Negative culture. Why aren’t we talking about it
more? 25:30 We can all maintain our dignity and disagree with
people without tearing each other down 29:00 Is it a good or bad
thing to live in “the Utah bubble?” Do we need more diversity?
31:10 Missionary work in our church and measuring our success based
on baptisms. What are we missing? 33:10 What are sinner’s prayers?
35:30 Jeff talks about his religion and focusing on the wrong
things. Let’s focus less on the numbers and more on how you are
living out your testimony. 37:15 Is Jesus looking for a checklist
and that we’ve checked all the boxes? 38:45 Jeff talks about how he
guides his congregation, as to not focus on the numbers and the
sinners' prayers 41:45 Kurt and Jeff share their perspectives on
church programs. While the programs are inspired and great
sometimes they feel like homework. The most important part of the
gospel is creating and strengthening our relationship with Jesus
Christ. 47:45 Anything that we ever build, even with the best
intentions or in ministry, will at some point lose its focus and
become an idol. We’ll have to tear it down and go at it again.
49:50 What Jeff wished he had known when he first became a Pastor
46:45 Jeff shares his view on the Book of Mormon and why he hasn’t
read it 1:06:00 Jeff’s view on Brigham Young and Joseph Smith and
the things he struggles with pertaining to the church. 1:10:10 The
thing that intrigues Jeff the most about Joseph Smith 1:12:40 Final
thoughts and wrap up Links HelloSaints YouTube channel Instagram:
@hello.saints HelloSaints Patreon Read the TRANSCRIPT of this
podcast Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube! Get
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as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help latter-day
saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of
the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests
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