Kalispell native Pastor Chad Warren shares a full-circle journey from early skepticism about faith to leading one of the Flathead Valley’s largest congregations. He walks through the moment his doubts shifted, the mentors who shaped his thinking, and how a philosophy degree unexpectedly became ideal preparation for ministry. His path runs through camp leadership, formative mentoring work at Yale, and a lived conviction that faith, intellect, and service are strongest when they stay connected to real people and real needs.
We also cover the leadership crucibles that defined him—guiding a large Texas church through COVID and extreme weather, moving worship into living rooms, and keeping pastoral care personal when everything turned remote. Now senior pastor at East Haven, Chad talks about a church designed for community impact: two Sunday services, active kids and student programs, home-based small groups, coffee-shop meetups, a food pantry, hospital visits at Logan Health, and school partnerships. His vision of shalom is practical: helping families, neighborhoods, and systems become whole as the Valley grows and changes. If you care about community health, church leadership, or how personal faith becomes public good, this episode brings the Flathead’s heart into focus.
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Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.
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The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.
