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Westside Podcast
This is the official weekly podcast of Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon. We’re made up of a variety of people who like to keep it real, don’t take themselves too seriously and who want to get the most out of life. At Westside, we welcome people from all walks of life – in fact, there are NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED! We strive to be a "safe place to investigate faith" so people can come as they are and be themselves while they explore who Jesus is, find friends and make a difference.
We post content here that is practical, helpful, and relevant to real life. We hope you'll find the inspiration, motivation and help to grow.
#help #hope #practical #jesus #growth #spiritualgrowth #nojudgment
Westside Podcast
Less Control, More God: Bart’s Story of Surrender and Calling
In this week’s Midweek Motivation, Jess sits down with Bart Hafeman, Weekend Experience Director and worship leader at Westside Community Church, for an honest conversation about surrender, identity, and what happens when we loosen our grip on control.
Bart shares his journey from becoming a Christian at 16, to decades of success leading the band Hit Machine, through a long spiritual “dry spell,” and into a season where everything came crashing down during COVID. Through loss, uncertainty, and deep wrestling, Bart learned what it truly means to seek first the Kingdom of God—and to allow faith and calling to come back together as one integrated life.
This conversation explores fear, obedience, dual identity, and the courage it takes to trust God with outcomes we can’t control.
Discover:
- Bart’s early faith story and how music played a role from the beginning
- The tension between public success and private surrender
- How COVID became a turning point that redirected his calling
- What it looks like to integrate faith and vocation without fear
- Why “less of me, more of Him” is more than just a phrase
As we continue the King of Hearts series, this episode challenges us to examine where control, fear, or divided identity may be keeping God from being at the center—and invites us to trust Him with what’s next.
Key Takeaways:
- God often uses loss to realign our priorities
- Fear doesn’t disappear before obedience—it follows it
- Living integrated faith brings freedom, not restriction
- Letting go of control creates space for God to move
Question for You to Think About:
Where might God be inviting you to loosen your grip and trust Him with the outcome?
If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope this week, and consider joining us in person or online at Westside.