The Orchard Podcast

Hosted by Mike and Michelle Tessendorf & Brian LaMew

Business Religion Spirituality Christianity Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

About the show

The Orchard Podcast is a resource of Orchard: Africa that helps you make a positive and sustainable impact in the places of greatest need in our world. This podcast is designed for church leaders, mission directors and anyone wanting to be involved in global compassion. Learn from Mike and Michelle Tessendorf the founders of Orchard: Africa who bring over three decades of valuable experience in equipping the church to care for the vulnerable. They are joined by Brian LaMew who has served in senior leadership roles in growing churches for the last 20 years.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 16, 202630 min

Episode 65: The Beauty of Becoming

We spend so much of our lives focused on where we’re going, what we’re accomplishing, and whether we’re succeeding. But God is deeply interested in who we are becoming along the way. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that the God who began a good work in us is still at work and He intends to finish what He started. In this episode, we talk about the slow and beautiful work of transformation with the promise that one day God’s work in us will be complete.

August 12, 202630 min

Episode 64: Walking at the Shepherd's Pace

One of the best ways to understand God is to watch a shepherd. Shepherds don't drive their sheep from behind or rush them from place to place. They walk with them. If hurry has become the rhythm of your life and peace feels just out of reach, perhaps the answer is learning to walk at the Shepherd's pace. Join Mike, Michelle, and Brian as they explore what the Bible teaches about the pace of life, why Jesus was never in a hurry, and how slowing down to keep in step with God can lead to a more satisfying life.

July 15, 202630 min

Episode 63: The Unnoticed Saints

Behind every transformed life are faithful people whose names are rarely remembered. A volunteer, a teacher, a parent, a mentor, a friend, or our own unnoticed service. The contributions may have gone unnoticed by many, but they were not unnoticed by God. In this episode, we consider the faithful servants who helped shape our lives and reflect on the encouragement of Hebrews 6:10. God sees our faithfulness, others experience its impact, and through it God is shaping us into the likeness of Christ.

June 16, 202630 min

Episode 62: When My Path Looks Different

It is easy to compare our journey to someone else's and assume their path is better. But comparison rarely gives us the full picture. In this episode, we explore how envy, judgment, and comparison distort our perspective, causing us to overlook both the challenges others carry and the gifts God has placed in our own lives. Drawing from Jesus' words to Peter in John 21, we consider what it means to stop asking, "What about them?" and instead faithfully follow Christ on the path He has given us.

May 19, 202632 min

Episode 61: The Sacredness of the Ordinary

In this episode, we talk about how God often does His deepest work through small moments in everyday life. Waking up in the morning, conversations over a cup of coffee, waiting in the line at the grocery store, having a meeting at work, or saying a simple prayer before bed, may just be the most important moments of our day. If you’ve ever felt like your life is too ordinary to matter, this episode is a reminder that God is present in the unnoticed moments. Discover how small things done with love and faithfulness can lead to a rich and meaningful life.

April 15, 202631 min

Episode 60: God's original plan for our lives

In this 60th episode of the Orchard Podcast, we explore what it truly means to live your best life through the lens of faith and purpose. Drawing from the story of Esther, we reflect on the powerful truth that each of us is here “for such a time as this.” This conversation unpacks the idea that our lives are not accidental, but part of God’s greater plan, one that unfolds not only in big, defining moments, but also in the everyday choices we make. From small acts of faithfulness to courageous steps into the unknown, we discuss how purpose is often revealed in the ordinary rhythms of life. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re here, how to discern your purpose, or how to live meaningfully in uncertain times, this episode offers both perspective and encouragement. You’ll be reminded that God is at work in every season and that your life matters, now and into eternity.

March 25, 202635 min

Episode 59: We were made to be original

Everyone faces moments where fitting in feels easier than standing out. In this episode, we explore the tension between the ways we often look the same and the truth that God made each person with intention and uniqueness. This conversation is a reminder that living your best life is not about being a copy of someone else, but about becoming who you were created to be.

February 28, 202634 min

Episode 58: The next step feels scary — Now what?

Everyone faces moments when the future feels uncertain. Maybe you’re in one right now. Joshua was too. And what he heard in that moment has encouraged generations of ordinary people trying to live brave lives. In this episode, we unpack what courage really is and why it may not look the way you imagine.

January 21, 202635 min

Episode 57: Learning to delight in God this year (and why it changes everything)

What if the best way to begin the new year isn’t by rushing into resolutions, but by slowing down long enough to rediscover delight in God? In this episode, we explore how real and lasting change flows not from trying harder, but from learning to enjoy God more deeply. We talk about how Scripture, prayer, and quiet attentiveness to God’s gentle nudges shape us from the inside out. If you want this year to be different in more than just your habits, it may begin with delighting in the One who is already delighting in you.

December 9, 202528 min

Episode 56: God is already making a way for you

What if God’s will isn’t a mystery to solve but a source of comfort knowing God has a plan for us? In this conclusion to our series, we look at the famous promise of Jeremiah 29:11 in its original context and discover a God who plans with intention, compassion, and foresight. Just as a loving host prepares for a guest, God prepares for our arrival into every new season. If you want to understand His will, begin with His heart. This episode invites you into the comfort of a God who is planning good for you—even when life feels uncertain.