What Keeps People Coming to Church: A Conversation with Pastor Gary Sandberg

Four. Hundred. Episodes. 

What a journey, what a milestone, what a celebration!

That's a whole lot of conversation, curiosity, and community.

To mark this milestone, Pastor Nate sits down with someone who's been part of this journey from the beginning, Pastor Gary Sandberg, for a deeply personal conversation about what keeps us coming back to church.

Yes, the headlines continue to shout about church decline.

However, this episode serves as a reminder that staying is its own kind of testimony.

They talk candidly about:

The real reasons people leave church, and the quieter reasons people stay

Grace, commitment, and why the church doesn't need to be perfect to be powerful

How worship can ground us even when nothing else makes sense

The unexpected beauty of liturgy (and chanting in a Snuggie)

What Pastor Gary still finds at the altar after 30+ years in ministry

What You'll Learn

Why do people stay in church when the stats say otherwise

The hidden value of participation over perfection

How churches can offer peace in an anxious, overstimulated world

Why liturgy might be weird at first—and why it's worth sticking with

Pastor Gary's car-shopping analogy for finding the right congregation

This episode isn't just a look back, it's a recommitment to the future. Whether you're a longtime listener or have just discovered us today, we want you to know that you're not just a part of this community, you're an integral part of it. Welcome. 

Learn more at bethany-denver.org