What does God do with a childhood full of addiction, loss, and rage? Jeff McFarlane grew up in rural New Hampshire in a home where alcohol was everywhere — in every room, every car, every memory. By the time he was a teenager, he was stealing from his dad, planning his death, and watching his family fall apart piece by piece.

Today Jeff is a licensed counselor and the founder of Restoration Counseling Services. But the road from that New Hampshire farmhouse to here wasn't a straight line.
In this conversation, Jeff shares the moments that cracked something open in him — a brother who sent a letter to his law school confessing to cheating, a Sunday night church service where he told God to go ahead and break both his legs, and the decades it took to finally stop hiding his story.

This episode is for anyone who's wondered whether their past disqualifies them, whether faith is enough, or whether real change is actually possible. Jeff doesn't wrap it up neatly — and that's exactly what makes it worth your time.

Native Exiles, a podcast from Alderwood Community Church, where we talk about following Jesus in the tension of being in the world but not of it. We want to help you think through how to walk with Jesus in a world that is seemingly walking the opposite direction. We want to equip you to engage the world without disengaging from Jesus.

For more questions and inquiries, reach us at reachus@amcc.org or visit us on our website at nativeexiles.com.

Change is one of the few guarantees of life in a church family — and it's rarely comfortable. In this episode, Pastors Wyatt and Steve sit down to talk honestly about what happens when your church makes decisions you disagree with, when programs shift, when doctrinal statements get updated, and when things just don't feel the way they used to. Drawing from their own experience leading Alderwood through a season of change, they explore why change is both necessary and difficult, and how we can navigate it without losing each other in the process.

Rooted in the wisdom of Romans 14 and the book of Proverbs, Wyatt and Steve offer five practical principles for responding well when things shift beneath your feet — from taking a breath before firing off that email, to understanding why an issue hits you the way it does, to knowing how to leave a church with grace if it comes to that. Whether you're the one pushing for change or the one wishing things would stay the same, this conversation is an invitation to pursue unity without pretending disagreement doesn't exist.

Native Exiles is a podcast from Alderwood Community Church, where we explore the tension of following Jesus while being in the world but not of it. For more questions and inquiries, reach us at hello@alderwood.cc or visit us online at alderwood.cc/ne/.

In this episode, Wyatt sits down with Bethany Allen, a pastor and leadership development leader, to explore her journey stepping into leadership as a woman in ministry and organizational life. Bethany shares how her faith, education, and lived experiences have shaped her approach to leadership, as well as the challenges and opportunities she has encountered along the way.

We also discuss practical ways other women early in their careers can build confidence, embrace their strengths, and grow into leadership roles with authenticity and purpose. This conversation offers both personal insight and actionable guidance for anyone seeking to lead with impact in their own context.

Bethany Allen is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Leadership Development at Bridgetown Church in Portland, where she focuses on empowering individuals to grow spiritually and step into their calling.

Native Exiles is a podcast from Alderwood Community Church, where we talk about following Jesus in the tension of being in the world but not of it. For more questions and inquiries, reach at hello@alderwood.cc or visit us on our website at alderwood.cc/ne/.