<![CDATA[Igniting Imagination]]>542a63a2-4ed9-53e2-b740-ad6b9bba7a91Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:14 +0000Captivate.fmWesleyan Impact Partnershttps://artwork.captivate.fm/dbb70470-7d8c-4396-b7f3-b5cd17d36f15/5495U_Ror7B95htR25jrrnXG.pngIgniting ImaginationWesleyan Impact PartnersWesleyan Impact PartnersEvery movement for change starts with a generative conversation. The Igniting Imagination podcast features rich conversations with leaders across the church landscape that invite you into new possibilities for yourself, your church, and your community. Each episode offers inspiring ideas to spark the Spirit within you as a leader and inspire courage and innovation to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging. https://psimmonsd.podbean.comfalseepisodichttps://feeds.captivate.fm/igniting-imagination/nopodcastWorship, Justice, and the Next Generation with Rev. Sandra Van OpstalWorship, Justice, and the Next Generation with Rev. Sandra Van OpstalWhat does it look like when worship and justice are no longer separate categories, but the same lived reality?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker welcome Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal, co-founder and executive director of Chasing Justice, a movement mobilizing young leaders at the intersection of faith and justice. Sandra is a global speaker, preacher, activist, and author of The Next Worship and Rally, with deep roots in urban ministry and a lifelong commitment to the work of neighboring well.

Listen as Lisa, Aaron, and Sandra explore what it means to stay rooted locally while leading nationally, how young leaders are bringing an earnest energy to the church, and why our hearts truly can grow large enough to hold it all.

#WorshipAndJustice #FaithInAction #ChasingJustice #YouthLeadership #ChurchAndCommunity #NeighboringWell #IntegratedFaith #SpiritualFormation #JusticeAndWorship #HumanFlourishing

Guest

Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal is the co-founder and executive director of Chasing Justice, a national movement mobilizing young BIPOC leaders at the intersection of faith and justice. A global speaker, preacher, and activist with deep roots in urban ministry, she continues to serve in Chicago with Lawndale Christian Community Church. Sandra is the author of The Next Worship and Rally, and holds an MDiv while currently pursuing doctoral work at North Park Seminary. Through Chasing Justice, she has built a platform equipping young leaders to integrate worship, discipleship, and activism, insisting that justice is not an optional add-on to the gospel but central to Christian formation.

Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>What does it look like when worship and justice are no longer separate categories, but the same lived reality?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker welcome Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal, co-founder and executive director of Chasing Justice, a movement mobilizing young leaders at the intersection of faith and justice. Sandra is a global speaker, preacher, activist, and author of The Next Worship and Rally, with deep roots in urban ministry and a lifelong commitment to the work of neighboring well.

Listen as Lisa, Aaron, and Sandra explore what it means to stay rooted locally while leading nationally, how young leaders are bringing an earnest energy to the church, and why our hearts truly can grow large enough to hold it all.

#WorshipAndJustice #FaithInAction #ChasingJustice #YouthLeadership #ChurchAndCommunity #NeighboringWell #IntegratedFaith #SpiritualFormation #JusticeAndWorship #HumanFlourishing

Guest

Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal is the co-founder and executive director of Chasing Justice, a national movement mobilizing young BIPOC leaders at the intersection of faith and justice. A global speaker, preacher, and activist with deep roots in urban ministry, she continues to serve in Chicago with Lawndale Christian Community Church. Sandra is the author of The Next Worship and Rally, and holds an MDiv while currently pursuing doctoral work at North Park Seminary. Through Chasing Justice, she has built a platform equipping young leaders to integrate worship, discipleship, and activism, insisting that justice is not an optional add-on to the gospel but central to Christian formation.

Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>32bdc584-9764-4858-a305-30e641a1c04dWed, 08 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -040046:58falsefull184418Economic Dignity and Collective Flourishing with Rev. Matt St. PierreEconomic Dignity and Collective Flourishing with Rev. Matt St. PierreWhat if faith communities saw themselves not as distant helpers, but as neighbors, woven into the lives, struggles, and dreams of the people around them?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker are joined by Rev. Matt St. Pierre, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Restore Merced, to explore beyond economics into something more sacred, the restoration of dignity, purpose, and belonging. Together, they reflect on the quiet but powerful truth that meaningful work is more than a paycheck; it is a pathway to rediscovering worth, agency, and hope, especially for those too often pushed to the margins.

Rev. Matt shares how Restore Merced is creating spaces where people are not just served, but truly seen, and invites us to confront our assumptions about charity, justice, and what it means to love a community well.

Guest

Reverend Matt St. Pierre is the executive director and co-founder of Restore Merced, a faith-rooted nonprofit in California’s Central Valley advancing economic justice through social entrepreneurship, reconciliation, and neighborhood-based community development. Drawing on theology, entrepreneurship, and long-term neighborhood presence, he creates models that affirm dignity through meaningful work and local investment. His leadership shows how churches and communities can move beyond charity toward empowerment, collaboration, and lasting economic and social renewal.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>What if faith communities saw themselves not as distant helpers, but as neighbors, woven into the lives, struggles, and dreams of the people around them?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker are joined by Rev. Matt St. Pierre, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Restore Merced, to explore beyond economics into something more sacred, the restoration of dignity, purpose, and belonging. Together, they reflect on the quiet but powerful truth that meaningful work is more than a paycheck; it is a pathway to rediscovering worth, agency, and hope, especially for those too often pushed to the margins.

Rev. Matt shares how Restore Merced is creating spaces where people are not just served, but truly seen, and invites us to confront our assumptions about charity, justice, and what it means to love a community well.

Guest

Reverend Matt St. Pierre is the executive director and co-founder of Restore Merced, a faith-rooted nonprofit in California’s Central Valley advancing economic justice through social entrepreneurship, reconciliation, and neighborhood-based community development. Drawing on theology, entrepreneurship, and long-term neighborhood presence, he creates models that affirm dignity through meaningful work and local investment. His leadership shows how churches and communities can move beyond charity toward empowerment, collaboration, and lasting economic and social renewal.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>750a8d6a-6fc5-41d5-b2f0-ecca6031c6feWed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -040048:28falsefull183318Repair, Restore, Rebuild: Abolitionist Sanctuary with Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith RobertRepair, Restore, Rebuild: Abolitionist Sanctuary with Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith RobertFaith communities everywhere are asking: How do we take responsibility for justice in today’s world?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker explore this question with Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith Robert, founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary. Rev. Dr. Nikia is a respected theologian and activist who challenges the church to move beyond awareness and into real, transformative action. She invites faith communities to not only name injustice but to actively work toward dismantling the systems that cause harm, while nurturing the well-being of all people.

Listen as Rev. Lisa, Dr. Aaron, and Rev. Dr. Nikia encourage congregations to step into a more courageous, compassionate, and justice-centered role, and to join in the collective work of building a more equitable future.

Guest

Rev. Nikia Smith Robert, PhD is the founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary, a national coalition mobilizing religious leaders, scholars, and community organizers to advance faith-rooted responses to mass incarceration and the criminalization of impoverished Black motherhood. Grounded in womanist theology and social ethics, she integrates rigorous scholarship with community-based practice to equip churches to engage public education, advocacy, and policy change that challenge punitive systems and reimagine justice. Dr. Robert’s work expands the moral imagination of faith communities while delivering tangible pathways toward justice, healing, and liberation for those most impacted by carceral systems.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>Faith communities everywhere are asking: How do we take responsibility for justice in today’s world?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker explore this question with Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith Robert, founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary. Rev. Dr. Nikia is a respected theologian and activist who challenges the church to move beyond awareness and into real, transformative action. She invites faith communities to not only name injustice but to actively work toward dismantling the systems that cause harm, while nurturing the well-being of all people.

Listen as Rev. Lisa, Dr. Aaron, and Rev. Dr. Nikia encourage congregations to step into a more courageous, compassionate, and justice-centered role, and to join in the collective work of building a more equitable future.

Guest

Rev. Nikia Smith Robert, PhD is the founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary, a national coalition mobilizing religious leaders, scholars, and community organizers to advance faith-rooted responses to mass incarceration and the criminalization of impoverished Black motherhood. Grounded in womanist theology and social ethics, she integrates rigorous scholarship with community-based practice to equip churches to engage public education, advocacy, and policy change that challenge punitive systems and reimagine justice. Dr. Robert’s work expands the moral imagination of faith communities while delivering tangible pathways toward justice, healing, and liberation for those most impacted by carceral systems.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>5cbcd556-9be5-4cd9-85bd-afd2e6417ed8Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -040044:59falsefull182218Sanctuary in Motion: Immigrant Justice and the Church with Rev. Lea MatthewsSanctuary in Motion: Immigrant Justice and the Church with Rev. Lea MatthewsWelcome to the Season 18 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast with host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and this season’s co-host Dr. Aaron Kuecker.

In this opening conversation, Lisa and Aaron sit down with Rev. Lea Matthews, Associate Pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City, for a thoughtful exploration of the ways our words, and the spaces between them, shape our relationships. Together, they reflect on how communication can become a pathway to deeper understanding, connection, and care. Along the way, they consider the moments when conversations break down, the barriers that quietly form between us, and the practices that help us return to one another.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012, serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Dr. Aaron Kuecker is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Chicago, a nonprofit providing two‑generation, debt‑free college scholarships to students and their parents or guardians in historically under‑resourced Chicago communities. A 2025 Locke Innovative Leader Award honoree, he previously served as President of Trinity Christian College and brings a background in higher education leadership focused on affordability, access, the elimination of student debt, and community economic development.

Guest

Reverend Lea Matthews is the associate pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City and the founder of Miracle Mondays. She is also co-founder of Sacred Court Support, an immigration accompaniment program operated in collaboration with Co-Counsel NYC, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, and HIAS-NY. An innovator and a teacher, Rev. Matthews helps churches embody radical hospitality and justice in complex urban contexts. Blending pastoral care and liberation theology, she equips congregations to become places of belonging, dignity, and practical support for marginalized communities. She multiplies the church’s capacity to integrate spiritual formation, justice, and sustainable community care.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>Welcome to the Season 18 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast with host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and this season’s co-host Dr. Aaron Kuecker.

In this opening conversation, Lisa and Aaron sit down with Rev. Lea Matthews, Associate Pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City, for a thoughtful exploration of the ways our words, and the spaces between them, shape our relationships. Together, they reflect on how communication can become a pathway to deeper understanding, connection, and care. Along the way, they consider the moments when conversations break down, the barriers that quietly form between us, and the practices that help us return to one another.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012, serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Dr. Aaron Kuecker is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Chicago, a nonprofit providing two‑generation, debt‑free college scholarships to students and their parents or guardians in historically under‑resourced Chicago communities. A 2025 Locke Innovative Leader Award honoree, he previously served as President of Trinity Christian College and brings a background in higher education leadership focused on affordability, access, the elimination of student debt, and community economic development.

Guest

Reverend Lea Matthews is the associate pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City and the founder of Miracle Mondays. She is also co-founder of Sacred Court Support, an immigration accompaniment program operated in collaboration with Co-Counsel NYC, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, and HIAS-NY. An innovator and a teacher, Rev. Matthews helps churches embody radical hospitality and justice in complex urban contexts. Blending pastoral care and liberation theology, she equips congregations to become places of belonging, dignity, and practical support for marginalized communities. She multiplies the church’s capacity to integrate spiritual formation, justice, and sustainable community care.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>7d6e92cf-e9ed-49a8-ac6b-386ccbcde336Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -040001:03:58falsefull181118The Questions We’re All Asking About Tech with Rev. Dr. Blair ThompsonThe Questions We’re All Asking About Tech with Rev. Dr. Blair ThompsonThis week on the season finale of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson reflect on the insights shared by guests throughout this season as they explore the intersection of technology and the church. Together, they unpack the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and explore the crucial importance of engaging with technology in ways that nurture human flourishing, strengthen community, and uphold faith.

Lisa, Sue, and Blair invite listeners to reflect on their roles as leaders in the church and the broader community, embracing the responsibility to foster belonging and generosity in the digital world.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>This week on the season finale of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson reflect on the insights shared by guests throughout this season as they explore the intersection of technology and the church. Together, they unpack the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and explore the crucial importance of engaging with technology in ways that nurture human flourishing, strengthen community, and uphold faith.

Lisa, Sue, and Blair invite listeners to reflect on their roles as leaders in the church and the broader community, embracing the responsibility to foster belonging and generosity in the digital world.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>cce4ff0e-ea94-411a-946a-75c31e37fde9Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -040048:44falsefull177717Redesigning Superintendency with Bishop Cedrick BridgeforthRedesigning Superintendency with Bishop Cedrick BridgeforthThis week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, Residential Bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, to explore the vital call to faithful leadership in times of uncertainty and rapid change.

Cedrick shares a vision for leadership that goes beyond administration, rooted in relationships, spiritual formation, and the nurturing of ministers and ministries. They reflect on his innovative approach as a district superintendent, offering wisdom on how leaders can strengthen communities and support those they serve. Together, they discuss how clarity of identity and purpose equips leaders to navigate the challenges of our time with faithfulness and courage.

Guest

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, Ed.D., is the resident bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church. An ordained minister, author, educator, and organizational leadership consultant, he brings more than 25 years of experience in pastoral, denominational, and nonprofit leadership, including serving as Director of Innovation and Communications for the California‑Pacific Conference. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Bishop Bridgeforth is the author of Alabama Grandson, Thoughts and Prayers, and 20/20 Leadership Lessons.

#FaithfulLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #BishopBridgeforth #ChristianLeadership #FaithInAction #MinistryMatters #ChurchLeadership #KingdomImpact #FaithAndPurpose #ServantLeadership

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, Residential Bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, to explore the vital call to faithful leadership in times of uncertainty and rapid change.

Cedrick shares a vision for leadership that goes beyond administration, rooted in relationships, spiritual formation, and the nurturing of ministers and ministries. They reflect on his innovative approach as a district superintendent, offering wisdom on how leaders can strengthen communities and support those they serve. Together, they discuss how clarity of identity and purpose equips leaders to navigate the challenges of our time with faithfulness and courage.

Guest

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, Ed.D., is the resident bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church. An ordained minister, author, educator, and organizational leadership consultant, he brings more than 25 years of experience in pastoral, denominational, and nonprofit leadership, including serving as Director of Innovation and Communications for the California‑Pacific Conference. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Bishop Bridgeforth is the author of Alabama Grandson, Thoughts and Prayers, and 20/20 Leadership Lessons.

#FaithfulLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #BishopBridgeforth #ChristianLeadership #FaithInAction #MinistryMatters #ChurchLeadership #KingdomImpact #FaithAndPurpose #ServantLeadership

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>a3105a64-0d16-4a0a-80d4-59dc403dde3fWed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -040045:31falsefull176617Beyond Credentials: The Expertise of Real Life with TeRay EsquibelBeyond Credentials: The Expertise of Real Life with TeRay EsquibelThis week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips sit down with TeRay Esquibel, Executive Director at Purpose Commons and a visionary social entrepreneur dedicated to reimagining education and community life through the lens of human flourishing.

TeRay shares how lived experience is a powerful, and often overlooked, form of expertise. Rather than relying solely on traditional credentials, he challenges us to recognize the deep wisdom found in personal stories, cultural knowledge, and community insight. Together, we explore the dynamic intersection of purpose, technology, and community, unpacking how innovative tools and strategies can strengthen connection, belonging, and support within congregations and beyond.

Guest

TeRay Esquibel is the Executive Director of Purpose Commons and former co-founder/executive director of Ednium: The Alumni Collective. A social entrepreneur committed to community-driven change, he has led initiatives that added financial literacy and ethnic studies to Denver Public Schools’ graduation requirements and helped unlock $10 million to expand postsecondary pathways for Denver Public School Alumni. TeRay has also held roles at RootED, Gary Community Ventures, and the Joyful Impact; he’s a Pahara Fellow recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips sit down with TeRay Esquibel, Executive Director at Purpose Commons and a visionary social entrepreneur dedicated to reimagining education and community life through the lens of human flourishing.

TeRay shares how lived experience is a powerful, and often overlooked, form of expertise. Rather than relying solely on traditional credentials, he challenges us to recognize the deep wisdom found in personal stories, cultural knowledge, and community insight. Together, we explore the dynamic intersection of purpose, technology, and community, unpacking how innovative tools and strategies can strengthen connection, belonging, and support within congregations and beyond.

Guest

TeRay Esquibel is the Executive Director of Purpose Commons and former co-founder/executive director of Ednium: The Alumni Collective. A social entrepreneur committed to community-driven change, he has led initiatives that added financial literacy and ethnic studies to Denver Public Schools’ graduation requirements and helped unlock $10 million to expand postsecondary pathways for Denver Public School Alumni. TeRay has also held roles at RootED, Gary Community Ventures, and the Joyful Impact; he’s a Pahara Fellow recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>eaac8975-27ef-4e3c-827c-5ee34a0c77f4Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -040043:39falsefull175517A Tech Startup with a Soul with Tiffani Jones BrownA Tech Startup with a Soul with Tiffani Jones BrownThis week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the powerful crossroads of technology and spirituality, reimagining religious leaders as some of our most important, and often overlooked, technological innovators.

Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Tiffani Jones Brown, Founder, Advisor, and Editorial and Creative Director, to discuss how spiritual leaders can design meaningful, transformative experiences in a rapidly evolving digital world. Together, they look at the deeper human longings technology can serve, connection, belonging, and care, and why cultivating authentic community matters more than ever in this moment. Drawing from ancient spiritual practices, Tiffani shows how time-tested wisdom can inform contemporary leadership.

Guest

Tiffani Jones Brown is a startup Founder, Strategic Advisor, and Executive Editorial Director. Most recently, she was the Chief Operating Officer on the founding team at Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup dedicated to helping people live more meaningful lives. Tiffani has helped build brands and creative teams for multiple early-stage tech companies, including Facebook, Pinterest, and Dropbox. She directed and hosted a podcast about remote work, Remotely Curious, during the pandemic. She holds a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the powerful crossroads of technology and spirituality, reimagining religious leaders as some of our most important, and often overlooked, technological innovators.

Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Tiffani Jones Brown, Founder, Advisor, and Editorial and Creative Director, to discuss how spiritual leaders can design meaningful, transformative experiences in a rapidly evolving digital world. Together, they look at the deeper human longings technology can serve, connection, belonging, and care, and why cultivating authentic community matters more than ever in this moment. Drawing from ancient spiritual practices, Tiffani shows how time-tested wisdom can inform contemporary leadership.

Guest

Tiffani Jones Brown is a startup Founder, Strategic Advisor, and Executive Editorial Director. Most recently, she was the Chief Operating Officer on the founding team at Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup dedicated to helping people live more meaningful lives. Tiffani has helped build brands and creative teams for multiple early-stage tech companies, including Facebook, Pinterest, and Dropbox. She directed and hosted a podcast about remote work, Remotely Curious, during the pandemic. She holds a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>e4a5bdfe-045a-4107-9ddc-228e3e3a120bWed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -040056:45falsefull174417Faithful Experimentation in a Fast-Changing World with Rev. Canon Lorenzo LebrijaFaithful Experimentation in a Fast-Changing World with Rev. Canon Lorenzo LebrijaThis week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the delicate interplay between faith and technology, asking how innovation can illuminate, not replace, the human spirit.

Joined by Rev. Canon Lorenzo Lebrija, Executive Director for TryTank Research Institute, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Sue Phillips reflect on Lebrija’s groundbreaking work with AI tools like Episcopot, and the ways these technologies might deepen our experience of love, generosity, and belonging. As they confront the evolving landscape of modern life, they also discuss the timeless question of how the church can honor its sacred mission while embracing tools that transform connection and dialogue.

Guest

Lorenzo Lebrija is Chief Innovation Officer at Virginia Theological Seminary and Executive Director of TryTank Research Institute, advancing innovation in the church. He previously led development for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and held pastoral roles in California. Before ministry, Lorenzo worked in arts leadership and media, including as CEO of Seraphic Fire and program director for the Knight Foundation. He holds advanced degrees in theology and business and is trained in foresight, design thinking, and coaching.


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the delicate interplay between faith and technology, asking how innovation can illuminate, not replace, the human spirit.

Joined by Rev. Canon Lorenzo Lebrija, Executive Director for TryTank Research Institute, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Sue Phillips reflect on Lebrija’s groundbreaking work with AI tools like Episcopot, and the ways these technologies might deepen our experience of love, generosity, and belonging. As they confront the evolving landscape of modern life, they also discuss the timeless question of how the church can honor its sacred mission while embracing tools that transform connection and dialogue.

Guest

Lorenzo Lebrija is Chief Innovation Officer at Virginia Theological Seminary and Executive Director of TryTank Research Institute, advancing innovation in the church. He previously led development for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and held pastoral roles in California. Before ministry, Lorenzo worked in arts leadership and media, including as CEO of Seraphic Fire and program director for the Knight Foundation. He holds advanced degrees in theology and business and is trained in foresight, design thinking, and coaching.


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


]]>6ab03fff-a5ed-4a5b-abac-1fac39d5220cWed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -040054:38falsefull173317Real Space, Real Grace: Designing Digital Community with James Kang and Rev. Nathan WebbReal Space, Real Grace: Designing Digital Community with James Kang and Rev. Nathan WebbWhat does it mean to cultivate spiritual presence in a world increasingly connected by screens?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips explore this question with James Kang, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA, and Rev. Nathan Webb, Pastor at Checkpoint Church, both Phygital Fellows at Wesleyan Impact Partners.

Together, they examine how digital platforms can serve as authentic spaces for community, spiritual engagement, and human flourishing. Kang and Webb share innovative practices that treat technology not merely as a tool, but as a medium for cultivating genuine connection, belonging, and shared purpose among diverse communities. Their work invites us to reflect deeply on how faith and technology can intersect.

Guests

James Kang (aka “James from PASTORIA”) is the Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA. With experience in social justice and advocacy, cross-cultural leadership, contextual pastoral care, and design, James sees the activation of healing that is already within and among us all as his life’s calling. James is an alum of Claremont School of Theology and has been a speaker at institutions such as Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Phillips Theological Seminary as well as on podcasts such as Pastoring in the Digital Parish.

Rev. Nathan Webb is a lifelong nerd who writes, thinks, and pastors at the intersection of video games, anime, pop culture, technology, and religion. Hoping to provide a spiritual community for people with similar interests, he founded Checkpoint Church – "the church for nerds, geeks, and gamers." He is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina and resides outside of Charlotte with his wife and two daughters. He writes regularly on Substack for Pixel & Pulpit and Games That Matter.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What does it mean to cultivate spiritual presence in a world increasingly connected by screens?

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips explore this question with James Kang, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA, and Rev. Nathan Webb, Pastor at Checkpoint Church, both Phygital Fellows at Wesleyan Impact Partners.

Together, they examine how digital platforms can serve as authentic spaces for community, spiritual engagement, and human flourishing. Kang and Webb share innovative practices that treat technology not merely as a tool, but as a medium for cultivating genuine connection, belonging, and shared purpose among diverse communities. Their work invites us to reflect deeply on how faith and technology can intersect.

Guests

James Kang (aka “James from PASTORIA”) is the Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA. With experience in social justice and advocacy, cross-cultural leadership, contextual pastoral care, and design, James sees the activation of healing that is already within and among us all as his life’s calling. James is an alum of Claremont School of Theology and has been a speaker at institutions such as Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Phillips Theological Seminary as well as on podcasts such as Pastoring in the Digital Parish.

Rev. Nathan Webb is a lifelong nerd who writes, thinks, and pastors at the intersection of video games, anime, pop culture, technology, and religion. Hoping to provide a spiritual community for people with similar interests, he founded Checkpoint Church – "the church for nerds, geeks, and gamers." He is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina and resides outside of Charlotte with his wife and two daughters. He writes regularly on Substack for Pixel & Pulpit and Games That Matter.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>057f0aa7-0f1d-44e3-b9e9-9c7dbc60865cWed, 04 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -040054:03falsefull172217Ancient Tools for a Desperate Age with Rev. Sue PhillipsAncient Tools for a Desperate Age with Rev. Sue PhillipsWhat if ministry could be understood as a form of technology?

On the Season 17 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson explore this provocative question. This change in mindset could open the door to understanding how ancient spiritual practices can be renewed to meet the deep longings and challenges of our modern world.

They unpack what it means to approach ministry through this sense of curiosity, especially how it can help cultivate genuine connection and community. They also examine the dynamic relationship between tradition and innovation, highlighting spiritual practices that speak meaningfully to today’s social and cultural realities.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Rev. Sue Phillips is on the founding team of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup working to help people live more meaningful lives. After serving as a denominational executive for the Unitarian Universalist Association, she co-founded Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit that interprets innovation to the religious world and ancient wisdom to the world of innovation. Clients and partners have included Pinterest, Google, Logitech, the Obama Foundation, and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

Producer

Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is chief learning and innovation officer at Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners, where she and her team lead the organizations’ three Lilly Endowment-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3), Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI), and Phygital Preaching Fellows. She also leads Wesleyan Impact Partners’ Locke Innovative Leader Award process and cohorts of spiritual entrepreneurs. Blair is the creator and producer of the Igniting Imagination® podcast.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What if ministry could be understood as a form of technology?

On the Season 17 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson explore this provocative question. This change in mindset could open the door to understanding how ancient spiritual practices can be renewed to meet the deep longings and challenges of our modern world.

They unpack what it means to approach ministry through this sense of curiosity, especially how it can help cultivate genuine connection and community. They also examine the dynamic relationship between tradition and innovation, highlighting spiritual practices that speak meaningfully to today’s social and cultural realities.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Rev. Sue Phillips is on the founding team of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup working to help people live more meaningful lives. After serving as a denominational executive for the Unitarian Universalist Association, she co-founded Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit that interprets innovation to the religious world and ancient wisdom to the world of innovation. Clients and partners have included Pinterest, Google, Logitech, the Obama Foundation, and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

Producer

Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is chief learning and innovation officer at Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners, where she and her team lead the organizations’ three Lilly Endowment-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3), Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI), and Phygital Preaching Fellows. She also leads Wesleyan Impact Partners’ Locke Innovative Leader Award process and cohorts of spiritual entrepreneurs. Blair is the creator and producer of the Igniting Imagination® podcast.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>39a2156e-7612-4f64-a2b8-85faf8d78168Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -040052:51falsefull171117Analyzing 2026 Disruptive Church Trends with Anna Del Castillo and Dr. Josh PackardAnalyzing 2026 Disruptive Church Trends with Anna Del Castillo and Dr. Josh PackardThis week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood steps into the fault lines shaping the future of faith with Anna Del Castillo, co-founder of Our Own Deep Wells, and Dr. Josh Packard, co-founder of Future of Faith. Together they interrogate the disruptive trends already redefining church life, inspired by Carey Nieuwhof’s 2026 forecasts. Why is Generation Z returning to church, and what does that say about hunger, belonging, and spiritual depth?

They confront the unsettling possibility that algorithms may be discipling us more effectively than pastors, and ask who is really shaping belief and practice. This conversation is an invitation to rethink how faith is being formed and what kind of church the future is already demanding.

Guests

Anna Del Castillo

Anna Del Castillo is a Peruvian-Bolivian American healer and activist who served as Deputy Director of DEIA in the Biden-Harris White House. A Harvard Divinity School Dean’s Fellow, she now champions healing and justice as Executive Director of Our Own Deep Wells, taking part in a collective that is providing resources for healing and revolutionary love.

Dr. Josh Packard

Dr. Josh Packard is the co-founder of Future of Faith and one of the foremost experts in the spiritual lives of American youth. He is an accomplished researcher in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. He has authored numerous books and articles in both popular and academic outlets, including Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith and Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations. His newest book is Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood steps into the fault lines shaping the future of faith with Anna Del Castillo, co-founder of Our Own Deep Wells, and Dr. Josh Packard, co-founder of Future of Faith. Together they interrogate the disruptive trends already redefining church life, inspired by Carey Nieuwhof’s 2026 forecasts. Why is Generation Z returning to church, and what does that say about hunger, belonging, and spiritual depth?

They confront the unsettling possibility that algorithms may be discipling us more effectively than pastors, and ask who is really shaping belief and practice. This conversation is an invitation to rethink how faith is being formed and what kind of church the future is already demanding.

Guests

Anna Del Castillo

Anna Del Castillo is a Peruvian-Bolivian American healer and activist who served as Deputy Director of DEIA in the Biden-Harris White House. A Harvard Divinity School Dean’s Fellow, she now champions healing and justice as Executive Director of Our Own Deep Wells, taking part in a collective that is providing resources for healing and revolutionary love.

Dr. Josh Packard

Dr. Josh Packard is the co-founder of Future of Faith and one of the foremost experts in the spiritual lives of American youth. He is an accomplished researcher in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. He has authored numerous books and articles in both popular and academic outlets, including Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith and Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations. His newest book is Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>3255fae0-7683-46ea-9091-ce3fd95e4b79Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -040058:01falsefullRemapping the Religious Landscape: What We See Now with Rev. Dr. Gil RendleRemapping the Religious Landscape: What We See Now with Rev. Dr. Gil RendleIn the season sixteen finale of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle reflect on the cultural shifts that are reshaping the ways people search for meaning, community, and belonging. This season, Lisa, Gil, and guests have confronted a growing reality: the structures we inherited may no longer be capable of holding the spiritual longings of today, especially for younger generations.

Rather than clinging to old maps, they explored what it might look like to listen more deeply, to reimagine church not as an institution to preserve, but as a living, responsive space for growth, healing, and connection, and to consider what might emerge if we allow ourselves to keep asking what comes next.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In the season sixteen finale of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle reflect on the cultural shifts that are reshaping the ways people search for meaning, community, and belonging. This season, Lisa, Gil, and guests have confronted a growing reality: the structures we inherited may no longer be capable of holding the spiritual longings of today, especially for younger generations.

Rather than clinging to old maps, they explored what it might look like to listen more deeply, to reimagine church not as an institution to preserve, but as a living, responsive space for growth, healing, and connection, and to consider what might emerge if we allow ourselves to keep asking what comes next.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>69052858-395f-44db-afd9-175cec450491Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -040039:19falsefull169916The Captivity and the Possibility of the American Church with Rev. Bill Lamar IVThe Captivity and the Possibility of the American Church with Rev. Bill Lamar IVIn this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle explore the powerful intersection of faith, justice, and public life with the Rev. William "Bill" H. Lamar IV, Pastor of Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. The historic congregation recently gained national attention after winning a landmark lawsuit against the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group.

Their conversation goes far beyond the courtroom. They dig into what this moment reveals about the rise of white Christian nationalism and why the church is called to demonstrate moral courage in turbulent times. Rev. Bill helps us trace the rich legacy of Metropolitan AME, a longstanding beacon for justice, dignity, and inclusion, and reflects on how the Christian community can continue to witness to God’s justice and human flourishing in the face of ongoing challenges.

Guests

Rev. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," a faith and leadership podcast.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle explore the powerful intersection of faith, justice, and public life with the Rev. William "Bill" H. Lamar IV, Pastor of Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. The historic congregation recently gained national attention after winning a landmark lawsuit against the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group.

Their conversation goes far beyond the courtroom. They dig into what this moment reveals about the rise of white Christian nationalism and why the church is called to demonstrate moral courage in turbulent times. Rev. Bill helps us trace the rich legacy of Metropolitan AME, a longstanding beacon for justice, dignity, and inclusion, and reflects on how the Christian community can continue to witness to God’s justice and human flourishing in the face of ongoing challenges.

Guests

Rev. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," a faith and leadership podcast.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>39493a1e-a04e-49d7-8c97-22a36e830174Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -040001:03:10falsefull168816Sacred Listening and the Faithful Futures of Young People with Dr. Josh Packard and Kris JordanSacred Listening and the Faithful Futures of Young People with Dr. Josh Packard and Kris JordanFaith is evolving, and so must the ways we understand and engage with it. 

In this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle sit down with Dr. Josh Packard, Co-Founder of Future of Faith, and Kris Jordan, Ministry Practitioner at Future of Faith. Together, they examine how younger generations navigate faith in a world where trust in institutions is fading, and traditional structures often feel distant.

Lisa, Gil, Josh, and Kris explore how faith communities can cultivate real connection, foster belonging, and nurture understanding amidst the challenges and opportunities of modern spirituality. 

Guests

Dr. Josh Packard is the co-founder of Future of Faith and one of the foremost experts in the spiritual lives of American youth. He is an accomplished researcher in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. He has authored numerous books and articles in both popular and academic outlets, including Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith and Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations. His newest book is Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations.

Kris Jordan is a wife, mom of seven, and openly queer youth minister at House Church Tulsa and The Well. Kris enjoys consulting and writing curriculum through Center for Youth and Contemplation for faith organizations and working as a ministry practitioner for Future of Faith. Pursuing their MDiv at Phillips Theological Seminary, Kris hopes to continue to use their identity,  unique understanding, and life experiences alongside their education to impact the lives of youth and young adults in faith formation and exploration.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Faith is evolving, and so must the ways we understand and engage with it. 

In this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle sit down with Dr. Josh Packard, Co-Founder of Future of Faith, and Kris Jordan, Ministry Practitioner at Future of Faith. Together, they examine how younger generations navigate faith in a world where trust in institutions is fading, and traditional structures often feel distant.

Lisa, Gil, Josh, and Kris explore how faith communities can cultivate real connection, foster belonging, and nurture understanding amidst the challenges and opportunities of modern spirituality. 

Guests

Dr. Josh Packard is the co-founder of Future of Faith and one of the foremost experts in the spiritual lives of American youth. He is an accomplished researcher in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. He has authored numerous books and articles in both popular and academic outlets, including Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith and Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations. His newest book is Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations.

Kris Jordan is a wife, mom of seven, and openly queer youth minister at House Church Tulsa and The Well. Kris enjoys consulting and writing curriculum through Center for Youth and Contemplation for faith organizations and working as a ministry practitioner for Future of Faith. Pursuing their MDiv at Phillips Theological Seminary, Kris hopes to continue to use their identity,  unique understanding, and life experiences alongside their education to impact the lives of youth and young adults in faith formation and exploration.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>e58a630d-fbc0-4874-9992-fa5bec085154Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -040054:37falsefull167716Congregations in a New Religious Landscape with Rev. Tim ShapiroCongregations in a New Religious Landscape with Rev. Tim ShapiroWhat if the future of faith communities isn’t about holding on tighter, but about opening our hands?

In this episode, Rev. Tim Shapiro, President of Indianapolis Center for Congregations, joins Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle in exploring Gil’s recent monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape. Together, they explore a gentle, brave question: How do we create congregations where people’s real lives and stories get to shape the tradition, rather than the other way around?

They talk about the quiet power that emerges when leaders trade control for curiosity, when agenda makes room for agency, and when the community becomes a place where everyone is invited.

Listen and imagine what might grow when we simply trust the Spirit to move through the people already in the room.

Guest

Tim Shapiro is the president of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. He began serving the Center in 2003 after 18 years in pastoral ministry. For 14 years, Tim served Westminster Presbyterian Church in Xenia, Ohio. Tim’s interest in how congregations learn to do new things is represented in his book How Your Congregation Learns. After his extensive work on the Center’s Sacred Space initiative, Tim co-authored the book Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message. He has also authored several articles, including Applying Positive Deviance and A Congregation of Theological Coherence.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What if the future of faith communities isn’t about holding on tighter, but about opening our hands?

In this episode, Rev. Tim Shapiro, President of Indianapolis Center for Congregations, joins Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle in exploring Gil’s recent monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape. Together, they explore a gentle, brave question: How do we create congregations where people’s real lives and stories get to shape the tradition, rather than the other way around?

They talk about the quiet power that emerges when leaders trade control for curiosity, when agenda makes room for agency, and when the community becomes a place where everyone is invited.

Listen and imagine what might grow when we simply trust the Spirit to move through the people already in the room.

Guest

Tim Shapiro is the president of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. He began serving the Center in 2003 after 18 years in pastoral ministry. For 14 years, Tim served Westminster Presbyterian Church in Xenia, Ohio. Tim’s interest in how congregations learn to do new things is represented in his book How Your Congregation Learns. After his extensive work on the Center’s Sacred Space initiative, Tim co-authored the book Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message. He has also authored several articles, including Applying Positive Deviance and A Congregation of Theological Coherence.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>f54e6950-a5f3-4905-b13b-36274b5ff05fWed, 03 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -040053:50falsefull166616After Unbundling: How We Rebuild Community with Casper ter KuileAfter Unbundling: How We Rebuild Community with Casper ter KuileHow do we rebuild deep belonging in an age of fragmentation?

In this episode of Igniting Imagination, Casper ter Kuile, Co-Founder and Principal of Sacred Design Lab, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle invite us to rethink how meaning, connection, and spirituality take shape in modern life. Drawing from Gil’s monograph Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape, Casper explores how spiritual practices are being “unbundled” from institutions and “rebundled” into new forms of community, in homes, workplaces, and online spaces.

Perhaps the work of spiritual leadership today is not to preserve what was, but to imagine what might yet become.

Guest

Casper ter Kuile is a speaker, author, and community innovator whose work explores how we make meaning, deepen relationships, and experience beauty in the 21st century. As the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, Nearness, and the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Casper brings together tradition and innovation to create projects that ennoble the everyday and foster joyful belonging.

Casper holds Masters of Divinity and Public Policy degrees from Harvard University, where he also served as a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. His book, The Power of Ritual, invites readers to reimagine spiritual life through everyday practices.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>How do we rebuild deep belonging in an age of fragmentation?

In this episode of Igniting Imagination, Casper ter Kuile, Co-Founder and Principal of Sacred Design Lab, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle invite us to rethink how meaning, connection, and spirituality take shape in modern life. Drawing from Gil’s monograph Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape, Casper explores how spiritual practices are being “unbundled” from institutions and “rebundled” into new forms of community, in homes, workplaces, and online spaces.

Perhaps the work of spiritual leadership today is not to preserve what was, but to imagine what might yet become.

Guest

Casper ter Kuile is a speaker, author, and community innovator whose work explores how we make meaning, deepen relationships, and experience beauty in the 21st century. As the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, Nearness, and the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Casper brings together tradition and innovation to create projects that ennoble the everyday and foster joyful belonging.

Casper holds Masters of Divinity and Public Policy degrees from Harvard University, where he also served as a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. His book, The Power of Ritual, invites readers to reimagine spiritual life through everyday practices.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>36569a5e-120e-4b6c-b02b-d59d254b5d5aWed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -040050:50falsefull165516Technē of the Spirit with Rev. Sue PhillipsTechnē of the Spirit with Rev. Sue PhillipsThis episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast invites us to linger on a provocative question: What if religious leaders are, in essence, technologists? Our guest, Rev. Sue Phillips, co-founder of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, reframes leadership as a kind of sacred technology, a deliberate crafting of tools and practices that cultivate deeper human connection and meaning.

Together, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle, and Sue wander the fertile ground where spirituality meets innovation, reconsidering the systems and languages that have long defined congregational life. They explore what could happen when we borrow the vocabulary of technology to describe the work of the spirit and how this shift can open new ways of understanding purpose, community, and transformation in an age of constant change. 

Guest

Rev. Sue Phillips is on the founding team of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup working to help people live more meaningful lives. After serving as a denominational executive for the Unitarian Universalist Association, she co-founded Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit that interprets innovation to the religious world and ancient wisdom to the world of innovation. Clients and partners have included Pinterest, Google, Logitech, the Obama Foundation, and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast invites us to linger on a provocative question: What if religious leaders are, in essence, technologists? Our guest, Rev. Sue Phillips, co-founder of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, reframes leadership as a kind of sacred technology, a deliberate crafting of tools and practices that cultivate deeper human connection and meaning.

Together, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle, and Sue wander the fertile ground where spirituality meets innovation, reconsidering the systems and languages that have long defined congregational life. They explore what could happen when we borrow the vocabulary of technology to describe the work of the spirit and how this shift can open new ways of understanding purpose, community, and transformation in an age of constant change. 

Guest

Rev. Sue Phillips is on the founding team of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup working to help people live more meaningful lives. After serving as a denominational executive for the Unitarian Universalist Association, she co-founded Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit that interprets innovation to the religious world and ancient wisdom to the world of innovation. Clients and partners have included Pinterest, Google, Logitech, the Obama Foundation, and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>0f44eaef-fcbe-4735-8ff0-7222f144d39aWed, 12 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -040051:50falsefull164416The Holy Work of Belonging with Rev. Jen BaileyThe Holy Work of Belonging with Rev. Jen BaileyWhat does spiritual leadership look like in a world where meaning is no longer confined to church walls? 

In this episode, co-hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle sit down with Rev. Jen Bailey, Executive Director of Maddox Fund, visionary pastor, and social entrepreneur. They examine how meaning is being sought, made, and shared beyond the walls of traditional congregations.

Their conversation uncovers the rise of “third spaces,” those unconventional realms where people gather, wrestle with questions of faith, and discover belonging in unexpected ways. We explore what it means to cultivate spiritual communities where authenticity is honored, beliefs are questioned, and sacred and secular life intermingle in fluid, transformative ways.

Guest

Rev. Jen Bailey is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a public theologian and leader in the multi-faith movement for justice. She was the founding Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, an innovative Womanist-led organization accompanying spiritually grounded leaders on their journey to heal themselves and their communities. She has been an Ashoka Fellow, New Pluralist Field Builder, Aspen Ideas Scholar, On Being Fellow, and a Truman Scholar.

Jen has served on the boards of the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, The Fetzer Institute, and was recently the chair of The Healing Trust board in Nashville.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

05:46 - Exploring Meaning and Community

18:48 - The People's Supper: A New Approach to Community Engagement

28:12 - The Nature of Sacred Spaces

34:20 - The Role of Play in Spiritual Imagination

43:19 - Foundations of Spiritual Formation


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What does spiritual leadership look like in a world where meaning is no longer confined to church walls? 

In this episode, co-hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle sit down with Rev. Jen Bailey, Executive Director of Maddox Fund, visionary pastor, and social entrepreneur. They examine how meaning is being sought, made, and shared beyond the walls of traditional congregations.

Their conversation uncovers the rise of “third spaces,” those unconventional realms where people gather, wrestle with questions of faith, and discover belonging in unexpected ways. We explore what it means to cultivate spiritual communities where authenticity is honored, beliefs are questioned, and sacred and secular life intermingle in fluid, transformative ways.

Guest

Rev. Jen Bailey is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a public theologian and leader in the multi-faith movement for justice. She was the founding Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, an innovative Womanist-led organization accompanying spiritually grounded leaders on their journey to heal themselves and their communities. She has been an Ashoka Fellow, New Pluralist Field Builder, Aspen Ideas Scholar, On Being Fellow, and a Truman Scholar.

Jen has served on the boards of the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, The Fetzer Institute, and was recently the chair of The Healing Trust board in Nashville.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

05:46 - Exploring Meaning and Community

18:48 - The People's Supper: A New Approach to Community Engagement

28:12 - The Nature of Sacred Spaces

34:20 - The Role of Play in Spiritual Imagination

43:19 - Foundations of Spiritual Formation


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>da6bbcfc-e500-4ec5-86cd-9414de5c8f3cWed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -040051:14falsefull163316Meaning Making Beyond the Church with Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle: Part 2Meaning Making Beyond the Church with Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle: Part 2In part two of our introduction to Season 16, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle invite us to reimagine what it means to flourish as individuals, as communities, and as spiritual beings in a rapidly changing world. Together, they explore the shifting landscape of belonging and meaning, asking what today’s movements and social awakenings might be teaching the church about human connection.

In comparing traditional congregational life and modern movements like Black Lives Matter and other grassroots efforts, Gil offers a provocative insight: These movements seem to meet deep human needs in ways many congregations have forgotten how to do. Their openness, the freedom to enter, to leave, to question, creates space for people to discover who they are and where they belong.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

05:30 - Understanding Movements and Their Impact on Congregational Identity

15:17 - Exploring Refugia in Contemporary Faith Practices

30:19 - Navigating Chaos: The Intersection of Physics and Faith

35:52 - Claiming Purpose in a Changing World


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In part two of our introduction to Season 16, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle invite us to reimagine what it means to flourish as individuals, as communities, and as spiritual beings in a rapidly changing world. Together, they explore the shifting landscape of belonging and meaning, asking what today’s movements and social awakenings might be teaching the church about human connection.

In comparing traditional congregational life and modern movements like Black Lives Matter and other grassroots efforts, Gil offers a provocative insight: These movements seem to meet deep human needs in ways many congregations have forgotten how to do. Their openness, the freedom to enter, to leave, to question, creates space for people to discover who they are and where they belong.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

05:30 - Understanding Movements and Their Impact on Congregational Identity

15:17 - Exploring Refugia in Contemporary Faith Practices

30:19 - Navigating Chaos: The Intersection of Physics and Faith

35:52 - Claiming Purpose in a Changing World


Links

Visit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>075f2616-181f-4e3d-923c-a5c53677098eWed, 29 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -040040:18falsefull162216Meaning Making Beyond the Church with Rev. Dr. Gil RendleMeaning Making Beyond the Church with Rev. Dr. Gil RendleWelcome to Season 16 of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This season, Rev. Lisa Greenwood is joined by the Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle, author and consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas. In this introductory episode, they explore the creative potential within the chaos transforming today’s religious life. Rather than mourning the decline of traditional church structures, Lisa and Gil consider how disruption may be clearing space for new forms of faith and community to emerge.

Together, they will engage pastors, scholars, and community leaders in rethinking spirituality and leadership for a changing world, seeking not just to interpret the moment, but to glimpse the renewal it might hold.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil is a retired senior vice president and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadershiGil Rendle is a retired senior vice president and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Welcome to Season 16 of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This season, Rev. Lisa Greenwood is joined by the Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle, author and consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas. In this introductory episode, they explore the creative potential within the chaos transforming today’s religious life. Rather than mourning the decline of traditional church structures, Lisa and Gil consider how disruption may be clearing space for new forms of faith and community to emerge.

Together, they will engage pastors, scholars, and community leaders in rethinking spirituality and leadership for a changing world, seeking not just to interpret the moment, but to glimpse the renewal it might hold.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle

Gil is a retired senior vice president and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadershiGil Rendle is a retired senior vice president and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and also works independently on change and leadership in denominations. With deep expertise in organizational development, systems theory, and leadership, he has guided congregations and denominational bodies through planning and transformation. He is widely respected for his work with middle judicatory and national offices navigating complex change. Gil is the author of  numerous articles and monographs, along with twelve books, including: Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014), Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, (2018), and Countercultural: Subversive Resistance and the Neighborhood Congregation (2023). His latest monograph, Reimagining and Remapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering, is the foundation for this podcast season.


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>4f03466d-6cfe-4832-8f34-74b1befd12a7Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -040048:12falsefull161116Agency and Equity in Recovery with Greg RichardsAgency and Equity in Recovery with Greg RichardsIn this moving episode of Igniting Imagination, we explore the deep connections between faith, vocation, and community resilience in the wake of disaster. Our guest, Greg Richards, Managing Partner of Gregory A. Richards, P.C., demonstrates the transformative power of aligning personal gifts with a higher purpose as he helps his community recover from devastating floods. Greg reminds us that recovery is not a short-term project, but a sustained effort built on the collaboration of neighbors, congregations, and entire communities dedicated to rebuilding together.

Through his story, we see the importance of agency and the role of case management systems that restore autonomy and dignity to those most affected. 

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 



Guest

Greg Richards is a Board Certified Attorney and Managing Partner of Gregory A. Richards, P.C., holding dual certifications in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He serves the Texas Hill Country with a reputation for expertise, attention to detail, and a friendly, approachable style. Following the July 4th floods, he has used his legal and strategic skills to support the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. 


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this moving episode of Igniting Imagination, we explore the deep connections between faith, vocation, and community resilience in the wake of disaster. Our guest, Greg Richards, Managing Partner of Gregory A. Richards, P.C., demonstrates the transformative power of aligning personal gifts with a higher purpose as he helps his community recover from devastating floods. Greg reminds us that recovery is not a short-term project, but a sustained effort built on the collaboration of neighbors, congregations, and entire communities dedicated to rebuilding together.

Through his story, we see the importance of agency and the role of case management systems that restore autonomy and dignity to those most affected. 

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 



Guest

Greg Richards is a Board Certified Attorney and Managing Partner of Gregory A. Richards, P.C., holding dual certifications in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He serves the Texas Hill Country with a reputation for expertise, attention to detail, and a friendly, approachable style. Following the July 4th floods, he has used his legal and strategic skills to support the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. 


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>a6840b4d-8cfb-4062-b56b-c8a3c06f5fc5Wed, 24 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -040042:03falsefull153315The Power of Neighboring in Crisis and Recovery with Sarah Ridout Woolsey and Howell RidoutThe Power of Neighboring in Crisis and Recovery with Sarah Ridout Woolsey and Howell RidoutIn this episode, we explore the devastating effects of recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, and its profound impact on local communities. We sit down with Howell Ridout, Architect Emeritus, and Sarah Ridout Woolsey, Founder and Executive Director of The Impact Guild. They share personal stories and insights about the destruction and the ongoing recovery process. 

Their experiences highlight the vital role of neighborly support, as well as the essential contributions of local churches and organizations in driving long-term recovery. Rev. Lisa, Howell, and Sarah discuss the importance of sustained engagement from faith communities, not just in the immediate wake of disasters but throughout the healing and rebuilding journey. 

Want to become a climate ready neighborhood? 


Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Guests

Sarah Rideout Woolsey is the Founder & Executive Director of the Impact Guild, a San Antonio nonprofit connecting underutilized properties with neighborhood needs through community development. She has guided leaders in building sustainable social enterprises, leads Good Acres—a network of 118+ leaders addressing housing, workforce, and sustainability—and facilitates workshops across San Antonio neighborhoods. A Kerrville native, she serves on multiple boards and explores regenerative agriculture with her two daughters.


Howell Ridout, a native Austinite and fourth-generation Longhorn, earned his Architecture degree with High Honors from the University of Texas in 1974. While at UT, he co-led a thesis project to transform Austin’s River & Creek system into a Hike & Bike trail, which became the city’s Bicentennial Project and a defining feature of Austin. His career spanned architecture, marketing, and real estate development, including leadership at James Avery, where he guided brand strategy, corporate planning, and retail growth.


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this episode, we explore the devastating effects of recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, and its profound impact on local communities. We sit down with Howell Ridout, Architect Emeritus, and Sarah Ridout Woolsey, Founder and Executive Director of The Impact Guild. They share personal stories and insights about the destruction and the ongoing recovery process. 

Their experiences highlight the vital role of neighborly support, as well as the essential contributions of local churches and organizations in driving long-term recovery. Rev. Lisa, Howell, and Sarah discuss the importance of sustained engagement from faith communities, not just in the immediate wake of disasters but throughout the healing and rebuilding journey. 

Want to become a climate ready neighborhood? 


Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Guests

Sarah Rideout Woolsey is the Founder & Executive Director of the Impact Guild, a San Antonio nonprofit connecting underutilized properties with neighborhood needs through community development. She has guided leaders in building sustainable social enterprises, leads Good Acres—a network of 118+ leaders addressing housing, workforce, and sustainability—and facilitates workshops across San Antonio neighborhoods. A Kerrville native, she serves on multiple boards and explores regenerative agriculture with her two daughters.


Howell Ridout, a native Austinite and fourth-generation Longhorn, earned his Architecture degree with High Honors from the University of Texas in 1974. While at UT, he co-led a thesis project to transform Austin’s River & Creek system into a Hike & Bike trail, which became the city’s Bicentennial Project and a defining feature of Austin. His career spanned architecture, marketing, and real estate development, including leadership at James Avery, where he guided brand strategy, corporate planning, and retail growth.


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>8579f5f6-ebce-43ea-b2d4-169c2edcdb00Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -040001:02:40falsefull152215Leading Through the Storm with Rev. David Payne and Beth Palmer from Kerrville First UMCLeading Through the Storm with Rev. David Payne and Beth Palmer from Kerrville First UMCIn this episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, we reflect on the devastating floods that struck Kerrville, Texas earlier this summer. The disaster claimed lives, destroyed homes, and left the community reeling. Yet in the midst of loss, powerful stories of resilience, faith, and compassion shine through.

Host Rev. Lisa Greenwood speaks with guests Beth Palmer, Outreach Director of Kerrville First United Methodist Church, and Rev. David E. Payne, Senior Pastor of Kerrville First United Methodist Church. Both were on the front lines of the response. They share moving accounts of the chaotic first hours after the flood, the emotional and logistical challenges of leading in crisis, and how their church transformed into a hub of relief, recovery, and long-term support.

This conversation is both sobering and hopeful, a reminder of the church’s vital role in times of disaster.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Guests

Rev. David E. Payne is the Senior Pastor of Kerrville First United Methodist Church. David became the Sr. Pastor of KFUMC in July of 2017. He attended Asbury Theological Seminary and has also pastored at Los Fresnos UMC, Bee Creek UMC (a church he helped to start), and Harlingen FUMC. David is married to Lori (a former Special Education teacher), and they have two daughters, Sydney and Haley. David enjoys golf, downhill skiing, and enjoying the outdoors. 


Beth Palmer is the Outreach Director at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church and Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley. As Outreach Director, Beth’s main role is that of a connector; she links people to hope and needs to resources. Beth recruits and engages volunteers, organizes projects and events, provides education and training, mobilizes resources, collaborates and networks with other nonprofits, and writes, implements, and manages grants.

Beth and her husband Grant have been married over 41 years and have two awesome sons, one amazing daughter, two incredible daughters-in- law, and three absolutely delightful grandchildren! Beth and her husband Grant have been married over 41 years and have two awesome sons, one amazing daughter, two incredible daughters-in- law, and three absolutely delightful grandchildren!


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, we reflect on the devastating floods that struck Kerrville, Texas earlier this summer. The disaster claimed lives, destroyed homes, and left the community reeling. Yet in the midst of loss, powerful stories of resilience, faith, and compassion shine through.

Host Rev. Lisa Greenwood speaks with guests Beth Palmer, Outreach Director of Kerrville First United Methodist Church, and Rev. David E. Payne, Senior Pastor of Kerrville First United Methodist Church. Both were on the front lines of the response. They share moving accounts of the chaotic first hours after the flood, the emotional and logistical challenges of leading in crisis, and how their church transformed into a hub of relief, recovery, and long-term support.

This conversation is both sobering and hopeful, a reminder of the church’s vital role in times of disaster.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Guests

Rev. David E. Payne is the Senior Pastor of Kerrville First United Methodist Church. David became the Sr. Pastor of KFUMC in July of 2017. He attended Asbury Theological Seminary and has also pastored at Los Fresnos UMC, Bee Creek UMC (a church he helped to start), and Harlingen FUMC. David is married to Lori (a former Special Education teacher), and they have two daughters, Sydney and Haley. David enjoys golf, downhill skiing, and enjoying the outdoors. 


Beth Palmer is the Outreach Director at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church and Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley. As Outreach Director, Beth’s main role is that of a connector; she links people to hope and needs to resources. Beth recruits and engages volunteers, organizes projects and events, provides education and training, mobilizes resources, collaborates and networks with other nonprofits, and writes, implements, and manages grants.

Beth and her husband Grant have been married over 41 years and have two awesome sons, one amazing daughter, two incredible daughters-in- law, and three absolutely delightful grandchildren! Beth and her husband Grant have been married over 41 years and have two awesome sons, one amazing daughter, two incredible daughters-in- law, and three absolutely delightful grandchildren!


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>ad7072d6-33b8-4fe1-9d94-5a35004c8f17Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -040001:05:16falsefull151115A Better Way for Food Distribution with Tiffany TerrellA Better Way for Food Distribution with Tiffany TerrellIn the season finale of the Igniting Imagination podcast, co-hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler look back on a season devoted to reimagining ministry as a force for healing and transformation in the world. They reflect on the diverse voices and bold approaches shared throughout the season. 

One story that stands out is that of Tiffany Terrell, Co-Founder of A Better Way Grocers, whose work exemplifies a ministry grounded not in overt religious language, but in deep love, compassion, and a call to serve. Tiffany’s approach challenges traditional assumptions about what ministry looks like. 

Lisa, Amy, and Tiffany explore how leaders are reshaping what it means to do God’s work in the world, and they invite us to consider how faith can be embodied in subtle, yet profoundly impactful ways.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Tiffany Terrell is a visionary, community advocate, and social innovator committed to addressing health disparities and creating opportunities in underserved areas. As the co-founder of A Better Way Grocers, she leads initiatives that bring nutritious, locally sourced food and holistic wellness education directly to neighborhoods in need. Tiffany’s work is rooted in love, belonging, and shared dignity, sparking conversations and actions that inspire lasting transformation. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to compassion, courage, and the flourishing of every person.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:27 - Exploring the Shift in Church and Nonprofit Relationships

30:09 - Addressing Food Deserts and Community Health

41:18 - The Importance of Compassion in Feeding Ministries

44:24 - The Power of Grace in Community


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In the season finale of the Igniting Imagination podcast, co-hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler look back on a season devoted to reimagining ministry as a force for healing and transformation in the world. They reflect on the diverse voices and bold approaches shared throughout the season. 

One story that stands out is that of Tiffany Terrell, Co-Founder of A Better Way Grocers, whose work exemplifies a ministry grounded not in overt religious language, but in deep love, compassion, and a call to serve. Tiffany’s approach challenges traditional assumptions about what ministry looks like. 

Lisa, Amy, and Tiffany explore how leaders are reshaping what it means to do God’s work in the world, and they invite us to consider how faith can be embodied in subtle, yet profoundly impactful ways.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Tiffany Terrell is a visionary, community advocate, and social innovator committed to addressing health disparities and creating opportunities in underserved areas. As the co-founder of A Better Way Grocers, she leads initiatives that bring nutritious, locally sourced food and holistic wellness education directly to neighborhoods in need. Tiffany’s work is rooted in love, belonging, and shared dignity, sparking conversations and actions that inspire lasting transformation. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to compassion, courage, and the flourishing of every person.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:27 - Exploring the Shift in Church and Nonprofit Relationships

30:09 - Addressing Food Deserts and Community Health

41:18 - The Importance of Compassion in Feeding Ministries

44:24 - The Power of Grace in Community


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>8df747b2-ddc1-4fdb-bc79-563c7270c0f9Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -040048:24falsefull147714Born Out Of Necessity with Rev. Candice WynnBorn Out Of Necessity with Rev. Candice WynnIn this moving episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Candice Wynn, founder and executive director of BOON (Born Out of Necessity), a national network reshaping discipleship for Black children and youth.

Candice shares the deeply personal and spiritual journey that led to BOON’s creation, a movement born from a gap she witnessed firsthand while serving in youth ministry. With BOON, she has created something bold and transformative: a village of "faith influencers" who are rooted in theology, culturally attuned, and devoted to nurturing Black youth in ways that traditional models have often overlooked.

This episode is a passionate call to pay attention, invest in the next generation, and recognize that it truly takes a village.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Rev. Candice Wynn is the Founder and Executive Director of BOON. She is not just leading a movement, she’s building the table where Black youth (18 and under) and their stories are considered sacred. As the Founder and Executive Director of BOON - The Black Next Gen Network, Candice leads a national effort to reframe Christian discipleship for Black youth by equipping faith influencers with tools that are self-reflective, theologically rooted, culturally relevant, and developmentally aligned. With over two decades of experience in ministry leadership, Candice has coached hundreds of youth leaders and is developing a research-driven discipleship framework for Black teenagers, expected to launch in March 2026 (framework for children to follow). Her work sits at the intersection of theological praxis, Black culture, and youth development. Through BOON, she is expanding how people view the lived faith of Black youth. Above all, Candice empowers faith influencers to recognize their influence and responsibility in the lives of youth.



Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:30 - What is BOON?

09:27 - The Birth of a Network: Addressing Gaps in Faith Support

26:00 - Understanding the Role of Influencers in Youth Development

35:23 - Legacy and the Next Generation

39:33 - Exploring the Essence of Faith Beyond Rituals


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this moving episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Candice Wynn, founder and executive director of BOON (Born Out of Necessity), a national network reshaping discipleship for Black children and youth.

Candice shares the deeply personal and spiritual journey that led to BOON’s creation, a movement born from a gap she witnessed firsthand while serving in youth ministry. With BOON, she has created something bold and transformative: a village of "faith influencers" who are rooted in theology, culturally attuned, and devoted to nurturing Black youth in ways that traditional models have often overlooked.

This episode is a passionate call to pay attention, invest in the next generation, and recognize that it truly takes a village.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Rev. Candice Wynn is the Founder and Executive Director of BOON. She is not just leading a movement, she’s building the table where Black youth (18 and under) and their stories are considered sacred. As the Founder and Executive Director of BOON - The Black Next Gen Network, Candice leads a national effort to reframe Christian discipleship for Black youth by equipping faith influencers with tools that are self-reflective, theologically rooted, culturally relevant, and developmentally aligned. With over two decades of experience in ministry leadership, Candice has coached hundreds of youth leaders and is developing a research-driven discipleship framework for Black teenagers, expected to launch in March 2026 (framework for children to follow). Her work sits at the intersection of theological praxis, Black culture, and youth development. Through BOON, she is expanding how people view the lived faith of Black youth. Above all, Candice empowers faith influencers to recognize their influence and responsibility in the lives of youth.



Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:30 - What is BOON?

09:27 - The Birth of a Network: Addressing Gaps in Faith Support

26:00 - Understanding the Role of Influencers in Youth Development

35:23 - Legacy and the Next Generation

39:33 - Exploring the Essence of Faith Beyond Rituals


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>465db20a-41eb-4cf5-a1f9-feec7c43e90aWed, 09 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -040045:05falsefull146614Speak Out and Speak Up with Leslee Matthews, Esq.Speak Out and Speak Up with Leslee Matthews, Esq.Faith and law can work together to heal communities.

In this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the intersection of faith and law with Leslee Matthews, Founder and Managing Attorney of Speak Out & Up Law, LLLC. Leslee shares how her work at the intersection of legal advocacy and faith is transforming lives—especially in communities that have historically been overlooked or harmed by legal systems.

Through her story, we discover the unexpected power of building relationships with unlikely allies—even those once seen as adversaries—in the pursuit of justice and human dignity. Leslee challenges us to broaden our understanding of ministry beyond traditional walls and titles, inviting us into a more expansive, love-rooted vision of service.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.

Guest

Leslee Matthews, Esq., MSW is a Founder & Managing Attorney for Speak Out & Up Law, LLLC. Speak Out & Up Law is a legal empowerment law firm rooted in Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” As a social worker and attorney, Leslee is an advocate for social justice and passionate about connecting the community with resources. Leslee earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas Woman’s University and her Master in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating magna cum laude.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:06 - Introducing Leslie Matthews: A Voice for Justice

13:32 - Rooted in Faith: Justice and Compassion

26:27 - Finding Support in Difficult Times

34:21 - Embracing Love and Healing

Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Faith and law can work together to heal communities.

In this episode of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the intersection of faith and law with Leslee Matthews, Founder and Managing Attorney of Speak Out & Up Law, LLLC. Leslee shares how her work at the intersection of legal advocacy and faith is transforming lives—especially in communities that have historically been overlooked or harmed by legal systems.

Through her story, we discover the unexpected power of building relationships with unlikely allies—even those once seen as adversaries—in the pursuit of justice and human dignity. Leslee challenges us to broaden our understanding of ministry beyond traditional walls and titles, inviting us into a more expansive, love-rooted vision of service.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.

Guest

Leslee Matthews, Esq., MSW is a Founder & Managing Attorney for Speak Out & Up Law, LLLC. Speak Out & Up Law is a legal empowerment law firm rooted in Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” As a social worker and attorney, Leslee is an advocate for social justice and passionate about connecting the community with resources. Leslee earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas Woman’s University and her Master in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating magna cum laude.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

06:06 - Introducing Leslie Matthews: A Voice for Justice

13:32 - Rooted in Faith: Justice and Compassion

26:27 - Finding Support in Difficult Times

34:21 - Embracing Love and Healing

Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>d0fb81a1-cb5b-4078-907f-057106efbb3cWed, 02 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -040040:03falsefull145514The Greatest Deployment Center of All Time with Pastor Beverly JenkinsThe Greatest Deployment Center of All Time with Pastor Beverly JenkinsAsset generation is more than a logistical task, it’s a sacred act of intention and imagination. It invites us to prayerfully consider: How can we steward our time, resources, and energy in alignment with what God has entrusted to us?

Our guest, Pastor Beverly Jenkins, President and CEO of Refuge and Restoration (R&R), shares the power of vision, the necessity of structure, and the quiet discipline required to bring meaningful things into being.

Listen as Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, and Pastor Beverly Jenkins explore the sacred work behind strategy and execution, offering a vision for asset creation that is rooted in purpose, prayerful discernment, and trust in God’s timing.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Pastor Beverly Jenkins is a founder, ordained pastor, and innovator. She is the president and CEO of Refuge and Restoration (R&R) and the co-founder and pastor of R&R Church in Dellwood, Missouri, serving the North St. Louis community by creating resources that lead to sustainable growth. Originally launched as a transitional home for those experiencing homelessness, unemployment, or past incarceration, R&R has since added a career development center, the R&R Church, and R&R Marketplace, a $20 million, 90,000-square-foot economic hub. The R&R Marketplace houses an addiction treatment facility, pharmacy, early childhood education center, bank, and restaurant, exemplifying the answer to Jenkins’ question: “How do we serve people better?”


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

08:11 - Innovative Ministry in St. Louis

15:37 - The Role of the Church as a Deployment Center

27:41 - Building Community Through Equity and Reconciliation

39:25 - Community Resilience and Future Visions

42:10 - Embracing New Beginnings in the Church


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Asset generation is more than a logistical task, it’s a sacred act of intention and imagination. It invites us to prayerfully consider: How can we steward our time, resources, and energy in alignment with what God has entrusted to us?

Our guest, Pastor Beverly Jenkins, President and CEO of Refuge and Restoration (R&R), shares the power of vision, the necessity of structure, and the quiet discipline required to bring meaningful things into being.

Listen as Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, and Pastor Beverly Jenkins explore the sacred work behind strategy and execution, offering a vision for asset creation that is rooted in purpose, prayerful discernment, and trust in God’s timing.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Pastor Beverly Jenkins is a founder, ordained pastor, and innovator. She is the president and CEO of Refuge and Restoration (R&R) and the co-founder and pastor of R&R Church in Dellwood, Missouri, serving the North St. Louis community by creating resources that lead to sustainable growth. Originally launched as a transitional home for those experiencing homelessness, unemployment, or past incarceration, R&R has since added a career development center, the R&R Church, and R&R Marketplace, a $20 million, 90,000-square-foot economic hub. The R&R Marketplace houses an addiction treatment facility, pharmacy, early childhood education center, bank, and restaurant, exemplifying the answer to Jenkins’ question: “How do we serve people better?”


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

08:11 - Innovative Ministry in St. Louis

15:37 - The Role of the Church as a Deployment Center

27:41 - Building Community Through Equity and Reconciliation

39:25 - Community Resilience and Future Visions

42:10 - Embracing New Beginnings in the Church


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>ce19c6ec-a0e5-42f4-965c-3869034198dcWed, 25 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -040046:16falsefull144414Leveraging Weddings for Extraordinary Impact with Samantha MathewsLeveraging Weddings for Extraordinary Impact with Samantha MathewsWhat if a wedding could be more than a celebration of love between two people—what if it could also be a catalyst for healing, dignity, and new beginnings?

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Mathews, the visionary CEO and Founder of The Andrée Collective, who is reimagining the wedding industry as a space for social transformation. Rooted in compassion and creativity, Samantha’s work empowers women who have survived trauma, especially domestic violence, by offering them meaningful pathways to employment, confidence, and connection.

Through her deeply human approach, beauty becomes more than aesthetics—it becomes a force for resilience. We talk about the values that fuel her mission, the sacred stories of recovery and hope woven into each event, and how something as personal as a wedding can ripple outward to change lives and communities.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Samantha Mathews MA, LPC, NCC, is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and founder of Andrée Collective. Sam discovered her passion for serving female trauma survivors at the start of her career in nonprofit fundraising with a domestic violence/sexual assault dual agency in North Carolina and has spent the last ten years gaining invaluable experience in the field while laying the groundwork for Andrée Collective. Since completing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Sam has worked tirelessly for the survivor population and towards her greater purpose: seeing women thrive. Sam is actively committed to serving the greater Philadelphia region through Andrée Collective as well as her involvement in church and education.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

08:01 - The Founding of Andrée Collective

16:02 - Dreaming of a Safe Future: The Role of Resources in Recovery

23:07 - New Models of Ministry

40:21 - Challenges and Solutions in Nonprofit Work

46:50 - Embracing New Possibilities


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What if a wedding could be more than a celebration of love between two people—what if it could also be a catalyst for healing, dignity, and new beginnings?

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Mathews, the visionary CEO and Founder of The Andrée Collective, who is reimagining the wedding industry as a space for social transformation. Rooted in compassion and creativity, Samantha’s work empowers women who have survived trauma, especially domestic violence, by offering them meaningful pathways to employment, confidence, and connection.

Through her deeply human approach, beauty becomes more than aesthetics—it becomes a force for resilience. We talk about the values that fuel her mission, the sacred stories of recovery and hope woven into each event, and how something as personal as a wedding can ripple outward to change lives and communities.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Samantha Mathews MA, LPC, NCC, is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and founder of Andrée Collective. Sam discovered her passion for serving female trauma survivors at the start of her career in nonprofit fundraising with a domestic violence/sexual assault dual agency in North Carolina and has spent the last ten years gaining invaluable experience in the field while laying the groundwork for Andrée Collective. Since completing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Sam has worked tirelessly for the survivor population and towards her greater purpose: seeing women thrive. Sam is actively committed to serving the greater Philadelphia region through Andrée Collective as well as her involvement in church and education.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

08:01 - The Founding of Andrée Collective

16:02 - Dreaming of a Safe Future: The Role of Resources in Recovery

23:07 - New Models of Ministry

40:21 - Challenges and Solutions in Nonprofit Work

46:50 - Embracing New Possibilities


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>aa610d23-e93a-4e1c-a047-f7e268007a68Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -040050:19falsefull143314Digital Tools Help the Church Do God's Work in the Neighborhood with Rev. Joshua HayashiDigital Tools Help the Church Do God's Work in the Neighborhood with Rev. Joshua HayashiIn this episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Joshua Hayashi, CEO and Co-Founder of Mission Management Company, for a powerful conversation on what he calls Holy Disruption. Together, they explore how churches can reimagine their physical spaces—not as burdens, but as opportunities for transformation.

As congregations shrink and neighborhoods shift, Josh challenges faith communities to take a bold, data-informed look at their properties. What stories do these buildings still have to tell? What new life could they make possible?

This episode is a call to action: to see church buildings not as relics of the past, but as tools for justice, hospitality, and community renewal.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Ordained reverend, cultural champion, and connection maker Rev. Joshua Hayashi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mission Management Company (MMCo) in Honolulu, Hawaii, a business that promotes repurposing church assets and the power of cross-denominational collaboration. MMCo helps local religious communities thrive in novel ways by assessing their financial health, transformation readiness, and property potential, which then guides discussions on mission and property-development viability, as well as how to align church missions with neighborhood needs. Josh is also a school chaplain at Punahou School, helping students develop spiritual and ethical values inspired by their Hawaiian and Christian heritage.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

07:58 - Introducing Josh Hayashi and Mission Management

10:29 - The Intersection of Church and Community Needs

25:23 - Resurrection and Hope in Challenging Times

39:42 - Navigating Church Challenges and Discontent


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>In this episode of the Igniting Imagination podcast, hosts Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Joshua Hayashi, CEO and Co-Founder of Mission Management Company, for a powerful conversation on what he calls Holy Disruption. Together, they explore how churches can reimagine their physical spaces—not as burdens, but as opportunities for transformation.

As congregations shrink and neighborhoods shift, Josh challenges faith communities to take a bold, data-informed look at their properties. What stories do these buildings still have to tell? What new life could they make possible?

This episode is a call to action: to see church buildings not as relics of the past, but as tools for justice, hospitality, and community renewal.

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


Guest

Ordained reverend, cultural champion, and connection maker Rev. Joshua Hayashi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mission Management Company (MMCo) in Honolulu, Hawaii, a business that promotes repurposing church assets and the power of cross-denominational collaboration. MMCo helps local religious communities thrive in novel ways by assessing their financial health, transformation readiness, and property potential, which then guides discussions on mission and property-development viability, as well as how to align church missions with neighborhood needs. Josh is also a school chaplain at Punahou School, helping students develop spiritual and ethical values inspired by their Hawaiian and Christian heritage.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

07:58 - Introducing Josh Hayashi and Mission Management

10:29 - The Intersection of Church and Community Needs

25:23 - Resurrection and Hope in Challenging Times

39:42 - Navigating Church Challenges and Discontent


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>1b663a00-1cb6-444e-bd55-8aa71a8e9d2fWed, 11 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -040048:28falsefull142214Where There is Good, There is God with Rev. Dr. Amy Butler and Rev. Katie KenyonWhere There is Good, There is God with Rev. Dr. Amy Butler and Rev. Katie KenyonWe’re kicking off Season 14 of The Igniting Imagination podcast with a powerful conversation at the intersection of faith and community transformation. Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Katie Kenyon, the heart behind Village Green RVA, to talk about what it looks like when churches step beyond their traditional walls and into the lives of the people they serve.

Katie’s story is one of bold vision and quiet resilience—a journey of rethinking what church can be, and how it can truly become a space for healing, connection, and justice. Together, we explore the growing movement of leaders reimagining ministry—not as a Sunday ritual, but as a way of life rooted in love, generosity, and belonging.

Through the challenges and small victories, we reflect on how faith communities can become hubs of human flourishing. Our hope is that these stories stir your imagination and invite you to dream bigger about what’s possible when we center compassion at the heart of service!

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy is the author of Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other. Her new book, Holy Disruption: A Manifesto for the Future of Faith Communities, with Dawn Darwin Weaks, will be out September 16!

Guest

Rev. Katie Kenyon is the executive director of Village Green RVA, where she leads efforts to expand healthy food accessibility and provide wrap-around support for individuals and families in need. With a Master’s in Divinity and a passion for holistic community development, Katie builds strategic partnerships across sectors to address the social and economic factors impacting well-being. A former foster parent through Richmond City DSS, Katie and her husband Danny are raising four children and are deeply engaged in service throughout the Greater Richmond area.

Reverend Doctor Amy Butler shares how courage is essential when seeking new solutions in faith-based work.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

03:03 - Launching a Season of Transformation

08:51 - Introduction to Holy: A Manifesto for the Future of Faith Communities

15:19 - Transitioning from Ministry to Community Support

37:34 - Exploring New Models of Community Engagement


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>We’re kicking off Season 14 of The Igniting Imagination podcast with a powerful conversation at the intersection of faith and community transformation. Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Amy Butler sit down with Rev. Katie Kenyon, the heart behind Village Green RVA, to talk about what it looks like when churches step beyond their traditional walls and into the lives of the people they serve.

Katie’s story is one of bold vision and quiet resilience—a journey of rethinking what church can be, and how it can truly become a space for healing, connection, and justice. Together, we explore the growing movement of leaders reimagining ministry—not as a Sunday ritual, but as a way of life rooted in love, generosity, and belonging.

Through the challenges and small victories, we reflect on how faith communities can become hubs of human flourishing. Our hope is that these stories stir your imagination and invite you to dream bigger about what’s possible when we center compassion at the heart of service!

Host

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 

Co-Host

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy is the author of Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other. Her new book, Holy Disruption: A Manifesto for the Future of Faith Communities, with Dawn Darwin Weaks, will be out September 16!

Guest

Rev. Katie Kenyon is the executive director of Village Green RVA, where she leads efforts to expand healthy food accessibility and provide wrap-around support for individuals and families in need. With a Master’s in Divinity and a passion for holistic community development, Katie builds strategic partnerships across sectors to address the social and economic factors impacting well-being. A former foster parent through Richmond City DSS, Katie and her husband Danny are raising four children and are deeply engaged in service throughout the Greater Richmond area.

Reverend Doctor Amy Butler shares how courage is essential when seeking new solutions in faith-based work.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

03:03 - Launching a Season of Transformation

08:51 - Introduction to Holy: A Manifesto for the Future of Faith Communities

15:19 - Transitioning from Ministry to Community Support

37:34 - Exploring New Models of Community Engagement


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>8635e784-cf81-4dbe-b0dd-6f06a76aa265Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -040040:26falsefull141114Church Property: Key Takeaways From This SeasonChurch Property: Key Takeaways From This SeasonThis week on the Igniting Imagination podcast, Shannon Hopkins, Rev. Mark Elsdon, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson reflect on a powerful season filled with wisdom and transformation. They revisit the profound insights shared by their esteemed guests who challenged them to see church properties not merely as real estate to be managed, but as sacred spaces with a deeper purpose and divine calling. At the heart of this season is a paradigm shift—one that moves beyond financial sustainability to a vision where churches flourish through meaningful relationships, active listening, and a commitment to serving their communities. Shannon, Mark, Lisa, and Blair explore the courage and creativity required to overcome resistance and embrace transformation.

This season of Igniting Imagination is both an invitation and a call to action, inspiring us to reimagine what is possible when faith communities boldly step into their role as beacons of hope, healing, and the common good.

Co-Hosts

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is the Chief Learning and Innovation Officer for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Blair is a facilitator, speaker, writer, and preacher. She facilitates conversations with leaders from across the Wesleyan ecosystem, especially in the areas of expanding imagination, discerning purpose, and exercising the Five Muscles. Blair is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and joined Wesleyan Impact Partners in 2020 after a decade in pastoral ministry. She completed her dissertation on pilgrimage in the development of clergy leadership for her Doctor of Ministry degree at Perkins School of Theology in 2018.



Episode Highlights 

  • Church properties are not just assets, but sacred spaces that require stewardship and a commitment to relational engagement.
  • Throughout the discussions, it has become evident that the leaders in our churches exhibit remarkable faithfulness, tenacity, and creativity, particularly in the face of contemporary challenges.
  • It is crucial for congregations to prioritize listening to their communities, as meaningful transformation arises from understanding the needs and aspirations of those they serve.
  • Engaging in a spirit-led movement fosters human flourishing, emphasizing love, generosity, and belonging within our communities.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:50) Lisa, Shannon, Mark, and Blair discuss highlights from this season

(37:05) Rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week on the Igniting Imagination podcast, Shannon Hopkins, Rev. Mark Elsdon, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson reflect on a powerful season filled with wisdom and transformation. They revisit the profound insights shared by their esteemed guests who challenged them to see church properties not merely as real estate to be managed, but as sacred spaces with a deeper purpose and divine calling. At the heart of this season is a paradigm shift—one that moves beyond financial sustainability to a vision where churches flourish through meaningful relationships, active listening, and a commitment to serving their communities. Shannon, Mark, Lisa, and Blair explore the courage and creativity required to overcome resistance and embrace transformation.

This season of Igniting Imagination is both an invitation and a call to action, inspiring us to reimagine what is possible when faith communities boldly step into their role as beacons of hope, healing, and the common good.

Co-Hosts

Rev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. Rev. Greenwood is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. 


Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is the Chief Learning and Innovation Officer for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Blair is a facilitator, speaker, writer, and preacher. She facilitates conversations with leaders from across the Wesleyan ecosystem, especially in the areas of expanding imagination, discerning purpose, and exercising the Five Muscles. Blair is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and joined Wesleyan Impact Partners in 2020 after a decade in pastoral ministry. She completed her dissertation on pilgrimage in the development of clergy leadership for her Doctor of Ministry degree at Perkins School of Theology in 2018.



Episode Highlights 

  • Church properties are not just assets, but sacred spaces that require stewardship and a commitment to relational engagement.
  • Throughout the discussions, it has become evident that the leaders in our churches exhibit remarkable faithfulness, tenacity, and creativity, particularly in the face of contemporary challenges.
  • It is crucial for congregations to prioritize listening to their communities, as meaningful transformation arises from understanding the needs and aspirations of those they serve.
  • Engaging in a spirit-led movement fosters human flourishing, emphasizing love, generosity, and belonging within our communities.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:50) Lisa, Shannon, Mark, and Blair discuss highlights from this season

(37:05) Rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>85f2f798-8887-446e-888a-ae0aba03d85eWed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -040047:42falsefull13131313How Does Legacy Shape Church Property Decisions? with Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr.How Does Legacy Shape Church Property Decisions? with Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr.This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, diving into the transformative power of church property as a catalyst for community renewal. They’re joined by Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr., who shares the inspiring story of Emory Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and its groundbreaking Beacon Center project.

Together, we discuss how churches can rethink their assets to better serve their communities—exploring the concept of legacy, the influence of the past on the present, and the lasting impact of today’s decisions on future generations. Through innovative partnerships and a commitment to human flourishing, Emory Fellowship offers a powerful example of what’s possible when faith communities step into their full potential.

Listen this week as we explore how churches can think beyond their walls and embrace their role as agents of lasting change.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr. is a husband, father, pastor, author, prophetic imaginer, and leader dedicated to growing God's kingdom. For 31 years, he has led Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., where he also served as District Superintendent for three years, achieving growth in key metrics. Under his leadership, Emory's congregation has increased from 55 to 400 attendees. In 2019, the church completed a $60 million development project, providing 99 units of affordable housing. Emory, known as a "REAL Church for Real People," focuses on leading people to whole lives and has received awards for its impactful urban ministry. The church is also recognized as a key resource center for the United Methodist Church's "Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century" initiative.


Episode Highlights 

  • Church property plays a vital role in fostering community well-being, urging congregations to reimagine their spaces for greater impact.
  • The importance of understanding historical context in church property usage, highlighting how legacy informs current and future endeavors.
  • Collaboration is necessary between churches and local communities to effectively address issues such as affordable housing and food insecurity.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:30) Interview with Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr.

(44:02) Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr. answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, diving into the transformative power of church property as a catalyst for community renewal. They’re joined by Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr., who shares the inspiring story of Emory Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and its groundbreaking Beacon Center project.

Together, we discuss how churches can rethink their assets to better serve their communities—exploring the concept of legacy, the influence of the past on the present, and the lasting impact of today’s decisions on future generations. Through innovative partnerships and a commitment to human flourishing, Emory Fellowship offers a powerful example of what’s possible when faith communities step into their full potential.

Listen this week as we explore how churches can think beyond their walls and embrace their role as agents of lasting change.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr. is a husband, father, pastor, author, prophetic imaginer, and leader dedicated to growing God's kingdom. For 31 years, he has led Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., where he also served as District Superintendent for three years, achieving growth in key metrics. Under his leadership, Emory's congregation has increased from 55 to 400 attendees. In 2019, the church completed a $60 million development project, providing 99 units of affordable housing. Emory, known as a "REAL Church for Real People," focuses on leading people to whole lives and has received awards for its impactful urban ministry. The church is also recognized as a key resource center for the United Methodist Church's "Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century" initiative.


Episode Highlights 

  • Church property plays a vital role in fostering community well-being, urging congregations to reimagine their spaces for greater impact.
  • The importance of understanding historical context in church property usage, highlighting how legacy informs current and future endeavors.
  • Collaboration is necessary between churches and local communities to effectively address issues such as affordable housing and food insecurity.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:30) Interview with Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr.

(44:02) Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr. answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>633d730b-e1de-4fb9-931f-4135c082eda0Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -040051:52falsefull13121213Are Taxes Distracting Us from Bigger Church Property Issues? with Rev. Dr. Patrick G. DugganAre Taxes Distracting Us from Bigger Church Property Issues? with Rev. Dr. Patrick G. DugganThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guest Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan. Shannon, Mark, and Patrick delve into the transformative potential inherent in church property, emphasizing a missional approach to its use. Patrick articulates the necessity of aligning financial strategies with the overarching mission of the church and shares various case studies that exemplify how churches across the nation are creatively leveraging their assets to foster community engagement and human flourishing. 

Listen as we shed light on the pathways that help churches navigate the complexities of real estate, while staying true to their core mission of service and love within their neighborhoods. 


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Rev. Dr. Patrick Garnet Duggan is an authorized minister in the United Church of Christ, and has served as Executive Director of the UCC Church Building and Loan Fund (CB&LF) since 2012. Founded in 1853, CB&LF is the first national church building society in the United States. The Fund offers loans, capital campaigns, and consulting services for the financing and redevelopment of real estate owned by UCC and other Christian churches in the United States.


A native New Yorker (now living in North Carolina), Dr. Duggan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, and both Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New York Theological Seminary. Dr. Duggan and his wife Patricia, a retired school administrator, have three adult sons and four grandchildren.



Episode Highlights 

  • Mission over mere profitability: navigating the complexities of property development and tax considerations.
  • Reconsidering the purpose of church properties in light of community needs, advocating for creative reimagining of these spaces.
  • Encouraging churches to maintain a focus on mission, underscoring the importance of community connection and social impact.
  • Seeking external expertise in finance and property development; collaboration is key to maximizing impact.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:06) Interview with Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan

(42:27) Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guest Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan. Shannon, Mark, and Patrick delve into the transformative potential inherent in church property, emphasizing a missional approach to its use. Patrick articulates the necessity of aligning financial strategies with the overarching mission of the church and shares various case studies that exemplify how churches across the nation are creatively leveraging their assets to foster community engagement and human flourishing. 

Listen as we shed light on the pathways that help churches navigate the complexities of real estate, while staying true to their core mission of service and love within their neighborhoods. 


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Rev. Dr. Patrick Garnet Duggan is an authorized minister in the United Church of Christ, and has served as Executive Director of the UCC Church Building and Loan Fund (CB&LF) since 2012. Founded in 1853, CB&LF is the first national church building society in the United States. The Fund offers loans, capital campaigns, and consulting services for the financing and redevelopment of real estate owned by UCC and other Christian churches in the United States.


A native New Yorker (now living in North Carolina), Dr. Duggan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, and both Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New York Theological Seminary. Dr. Duggan and his wife Patricia, a retired school administrator, have three adult sons and four grandchildren.



Episode Highlights 

  • Mission over mere profitability: navigating the complexities of property development and tax considerations.
  • Reconsidering the purpose of church properties in light of community needs, advocating for creative reimagining of these spaces.
  • Encouraging churches to maintain a focus on mission, underscoring the importance of community connection and social impact.
  • Seeking external expertise in finance and property development; collaboration is key to maximizing impact.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:06) Interview with Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan

(42:27) Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggan answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>2ad8dffc-c6c2-4ec5-8bee-2dbaa01bbc72Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -040046:11falsefull13111113How Can Church Property Bring Repair? with Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe ReedHow Can Church Property Bring Repair? with Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe ReedThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guests Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe Reed. They discuss the transformative project, Barbie's Village, where a Presbyterian church in Portland, Oregon, took a groundbreaking step by giving land back to indigenous leaders as a form of repair and restitution. Chris and Melissa delve into the significance of acknowledging the land’s history and the meaningful relationships built with the Indigenous community. They share how this work has rejuvenated the church’s mission and deepened their faith. 

Listen this week as Shannon, Mark, Chris, and Melissa explore the power of understanding our land stories and cultivating a spirit of generosity and belonging for true transformation.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Rev. Chris Dela Cruz is a Pastor and Community Organizer. He currently serves as Director of Youth Initiatives with Together Lab, overseeing the Youth Solidarity Movement in Oregon. Previously, Rev. Dela Cruz served as Associate Pastor with Westminster Presbyterian Church Portland, the sponsor congregation for Barbie's Village with the Presbytery of the Cascades. His background includes newspaper journalism, youth, and college ministry, congregational pastoral ministry, and community organizing.


Rev. Melissa O'Keefe Reed was born in Goettingen, Germany while her parents studied theology. She was raised throughout the New England Synod, the daughter of two Lutheran pastors, where she learned the power of community to nurture active, curious, relentless faith in an incarnate, relational God. This faith would agitate her at Boston College (BA in English), through work in a Lutheran Community Services group home, and at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA (MDiv, 2008) where she encountered faith-based community organizing in Oakland. Suddenly, the resurrective power of this relational God who dwells most profoundly in the world’s wounds came alive in flesh and blood.


Episode Highlights 

  • The church's economic models are evolving, prompting innovative uses of property for community benefit.
  • Barbie's Village exemplifies how churches can engage in reparative acts towards indigenous communities.
  • Transformative relationships are essential for churches to address their land and property issues.
  • Community organizing can foster meaningful change.
  • Leaders in the church must confront their historical ties to the land and its implications.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:50) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:08) Interview with Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe Reed

(45:00) Chris and Melissa answer rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guests Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe Reed. They discuss the transformative project, Barbie's Village, where a Presbyterian church in Portland, Oregon, took a groundbreaking step by giving land back to indigenous leaders as a form of repair and restitution. Chris and Melissa delve into the significance of acknowledging the land’s history and the meaningful relationships built with the Indigenous community. They share how this work has rejuvenated the church’s mission and deepened their faith. 

Listen this week as Shannon, Mark, Chris, and Melissa explore the power of understanding our land stories and cultivating a spirit of generosity and belonging for true transformation.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Rev. Chris Dela Cruz is a Pastor and Community Organizer. He currently serves as Director of Youth Initiatives with Together Lab, overseeing the Youth Solidarity Movement in Oregon. Previously, Rev. Dela Cruz served as Associate Pastor with Westminster Presbyterian Church Portland, the sponsor congregation for Barbie's Village with the Presbytery of the Cascades. His background includes newspaper journalism, youth, and college ministry, congregational pastoral ministry, and community organizing.


Rev. Melissa O'Keefe Reed was born in Goettingen, Germany while her parents studied theology. She was raised throughout the New England Synod, the daughter of two Lutheran pastors, where she learned the power of community to nurture active, curious, relentless faith in an incarnate, relational God. This faith would agitate her at Boston College (BA in English), through work in a Lutheran Community Services group home, and at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA (MDiv, 2008) where she encountered faith-based community organizing in Oakland. Suddenly, the resurrective power of this relational God who dwells most profoundly in the world’s wounds came alive in flesh and blood.


Episode Highlights 

  • The church's economic models are evolving, prompting innovative uses of property for community benefit.
  • Barbie's Village exemplifies how churches can engage in reparative acts towards indigenous communities.
  • Transformative relationships are essential for churches to address their land and property issues.
  • Community organizing can foster meaningful change.
  • Leaders in the church must confront their historical ties to the land and its implications.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:50) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:08) Interview with Rev. Chris Dela Cruz and Rev. Melissa O’Keefe Reed

(45:00) Chris and Melissa answer rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>adc6b0c3-59d5-4016-8fe4-5276ee6a21f8Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -040050:26falsefull13101013How Can Church Property Serve the Neighborhood? with Joe BowlingHow Can Church Property Serve the Neighborhood? with Joe BowlingThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guest Joe Bowling,  Executive Director of Englewood Community Development Corporation in Indianapolis. Joe shares insights about the historical context of Englewood Christian Church, which has evolved significantly from its roots as a prominent Protestant church to a community-focused entity amidst urban challenges. Bowling's narrative emphasizes the necessity of humility and listening in community work, promoting a vision of the church as a vital part of the local ecosystem that values collaboration and mutual support.

By intertwining faith with practical action, Joe explores how churches can be catalysts for positive change and serve as models for others seeking to engage meaningfully with their neighborhoods. 

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Joe Bowling serves as Executive Director of Englewood Community Development Corporation (ECDC). Joe has lived, worked, and worshiped in the Englewood neighborhood on Indy’s Near Eastside since 1993. Started by Englewood Christian Church, ECDC is focused on comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable grassroots community development. Serving 400 households with affordable rental housing, they also provide pathways to economic empowerment and home ownership. Additionally, ECDC has completed numerous impactful economic development projects, including the award-winning $38 million revitalization of the historic P.R. Mallory campus, currently anchored by two high-performing schools. Through Cultivating Communities and the Englewood Review of Books, ECDC provides resources for congregations to become healthy expressions of Christ in their respective places. 


Episode Highlights 

  • The importance of leveraging church property for community development is being increasingly recognized.
  • Humility in community development work leads to genuine relationships and meaningful impact in neighborhoods.
  • How the church can view its property as a demonstration plot for love and neighborly care.
  • Effective community development requires a long-term commitment and deep listening to community needs.
  • Creating partnerships with local organizations can enhance the church's ability to serve its neighborhood.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:06) Interview with Joe Bowling

(01:01:00) Joe answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guest Joe Bowling,  Executive Director of Englewood Community Development Corporation in Indianapolis. Joe shares insights about the historical context of Englewood Christian Church, which has evolved significantly from its roots as a prominent Protestant church to a community-focused entity amidst urban challenges. Bowling's narrative emphasizes the necessity of humility and listening in community work, promoting a vision of the church as a vital part of the local ecosystem that values collaboration and mutual support.

By intertwining faith with practical action, Joe explores how churches can be catalysts for positive change and serve as models for others seeking to engage meaningfully with their neighborhoods. 

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Joe Bowling serves as Executive Director of Englewood Community Development Corporation (ECDC). Joe has lived, worked, and worshiped in the Englewood neighborhood on Indy’s Near Eastside since 1993. Started by Englewood Christian Church, ECDC is focused on comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable grassroots community development. Serving 400 households with affordable rental housing, they also provide pathways to economic empowerment and home ownership. Additionally, ECDC has completed numerous impactful economic development projects, including the award-winning $38 million revitalization of the historic P.R. Mallory campus, currently anchored by two high-performing schools. Through Cultivating Communities and the Englewood Review of Books, ECDC provides resources for congregations to become healthy expressions of Christ in their respective places. 


Episode Highlights 

  • The importance of leveraging church property for community development is being increasingly recognized.
  • Humility in community development work leads to genuine relationships and meaningful impact in neighborhoods.
  • How the church can view its property as a demonstration plot for love and neighborly care.
  • Effective community development requires a long-term commitment and deep listening to community needs.
  • Creating partnerships with local organizations can enhance the church's ability to serve its neighborhood.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:06) Interview with Joe Bowling

(01:01:00) Joe answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>e32aabfc-9b79-403d-881d-ad53ceb98384Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -040001:04:56falsefull139913What Can Partnerships Unlock for Church Property? with Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler and Brenda HalversonWhat Can Partnerships Unlock for Church Property? with Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler and Brenda HalversonThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guests Brenda Halverson and Rev. Staci Maurice-Wheeler. Brenda and Staci share their journey of selling their former church property to launch a new development project, featuring affordable housing and a community center. They highlight how building relationships with neighbors and addressing community needs transformed their church, showcasing a shift from traditional church-focused models to a more inclusive, community-centered approach. 

Join Shannon, Mark, Brenda, and Staci as they explore the vital role of adaptability, openness, and innovation in modern ministry, emphasizing the power of collaboration, tackling local challenges, and building meaningful relationships


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Brenda Halverson is an Alliance Manager with CUNA Strategic Services and has managed third-party vendor relationships for over 20 years. In her role, she works to increase her vendors’ brand recognition and generate sales opportunities within the credit union movement through the development of marketing and sales plans. Her current portfolio consists of 10 vendors and revenue attainment goals of $1 million. Brenda graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, and holds an MBA from Edgewood College. She is also a Credit Union Development Educator. Brenda enjoys riding her Harley, training her dog Sedona in the art of agility trials, and trying new recipes.

Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler serves as Pastor at Common Grace. She is a pastor of the Moravian Church of North America. She has an undergraduate degree in Education and a Masters of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA. Staci has served on the eastside of Madison for 13 of her 30 years in ministry. She is married to Scott, who is a Presbyterian pastor and has an adult son, Sam. Her dog, Sunday, is an Australian Shepherd mix who has his own Instagram page (Really! Check out “Sunday in the Meadow”).  

Staci also serves as the “Community Development Pastor” who will work to coordinate the development of a community center ministry in the Eastmorland neighborhood. To relax, Staci enjoys birding, flower gardening, and playing word games.


Episode Highlights 

  • The church must embrace change as part of its evolution and mission in the community.
  • Engaging with neighbors and listening to their needs is essential for effective community service.
  • Merging congregations can lead to innovative solutions for utilizing church properties for community benefit.
  • Collaboration among different churches can enhance their impact and effectiveness in serving the community.
  • Ensuring community input in development projects helps build trust and support for new initiatives.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(04:53) Interview with Brenda and Rev. Staci 

(44:30) Brenda and Rev. Staci answer rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast with guests Brenda Halverson and Rev. Staci Maurice-Wheeler. Brenda and Staci share their journey of selling their former church property to launch a new development project, featuring affordable housing and a community center. They highlight how building relationships with neighbors and addressing community needs transformed their church, showcasing a shift from traditional church-focused models to a more inclusive, community-centered approach. 

Join Shannon, Mark, Brenda, and Staci as they explore the vital role of adaptability, openness, and innovation in modern ministry, emphasizing the power of collaboration, tackling local challenges, and building meaningful relationships


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guests

Brenda Halverson is an Alliance Manager with CUNA Strategic Services and has managed third-party vendor relationships for over 20 years. In her role, she works to increase her vendors’ brand recognition and generate sales opportunities within the credit union movement through the development of marketing and sales plans. Her current portfolio consists of 10 vendors and revenue attainment goals of $1 million. Brenda graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, and holds an MBA from Edgewood College. She is also a Credit Union Development Educator. Brenda enjoys riding her Harley, training her dog Sedona in the art of agility trials, and trying new recipes.

Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler serves as Pastor at Common Grace. She is a pastor of the Moravian Church of North America. She has an undergraduate degree in Education and a Masters of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA. Staci has served on the eastside of Madison for 13 of her 30 years in ministry. She is married to Scott, who is a Presbyterian pastor and has an adult son, Sam. Her dog, Sunday, is an Australian Shepherd mix who has his own Instagram page (Really! Check out “Sunday in the Meadow”).  

Staci also serves as the “Community Development Pastor” who will work to coordinate the development of a community center ministry in the Eastmorland neighborhood. To relax, Staci enjoys birding, flower gardening, and playing word games.


Episode Highlights 

  • The church must embrace change as part of its evolution and mission in the community.
  • Engaging with neighbors and listening to their needs is essential for effective community service.
  • Merging congregations can lead to innovative solutions for utilizing church properties for community benefit.
  • Collaboration among different churches can enhance their impact and effectiveness in serving the community.
  • Ensuring community input in development projects helps build trust and support for new initiatives.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(04:53) Interview with Brenda and Rev. Staci 

(44:30) Brenda and Rev. Staci answer rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>e8a37769-dd64-4cce-8753-79429bdfbf12Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -040049:28falsefull138813How Can Rural Churches Innovate with Their Building and Land? with Pastor Kevin RileyHow Can Rural Churches Innovate with Their Building and Land? with Pastor Kevin RileyThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, exploring how a small congregation has transformed its property into a vital hub for recovery services, emergency shelter, and essential community resources with Pastor Kevin Riley, Co-Pastor at Mount Baker Presbyterian Church. As churches discover their potential to make a significant impact in their communities, they are demonstrating that even the smallest churches can address pressing social issues like addiction and homelessness. 

Join us to discover how creativity and collaboration can help churches redefine their roles and foster meaningful change within their communities.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Pastor Kevin Riley and his wife Danielle are commissioned pastors, having served in rural WA State since 2017.  In addition to helping transform the congregation’s ministry and economic model informed by his own Christ-transforming life, he helped to create a property oversight committee in Northwest Coast Presbytery, with a vision of re-imagining and re-developing church properties for the future of the communities where they are located. They are in the early visioning stages for a new worshiping community/supportive housing/government/nonprofit/and for-profit mixed economy development in rural Skagit County with several partners.




Episode Highlights 

  • The success of community outreach initiatives relies heavily on forming partnerships with local organizations and agencies.
  • Creative approaches to church property can lead to transformative community projects that address pressing local issues.
  • Investing in the community through outreach and support fosters deeper relationships and mutual respect among residents.
  • Churches can embrace a spirit of curiosity and adaptability in their missions.
  • Radical love and inclusion can redefine how churches engage with their neighborhoods, challenging traditional models.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:53) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:09) Interview with Pastor Kevin Riley

(39:16) Pastor Kevin Riley answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, exploring how a small congregation has transformed its property into a vital hub for recovery services, emergency shelter, and essential community resources with Pastor Kevin Riley, Co-Pastor at Mount Baker Presbyterian Church. As churches discover their potential to make a significant impact in their communities, they are demonstrating that even the smallest churches can address pressing social issues like addiction and homelessness. 

Join us to discover how creativity and collaboration can help churches redefine their roles and foster meaningful change within their communities.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Pastor Kevin Riley and his wife Danielle are commissioned pastors, having served in rural WA State since 2017.  In addition to helping transform the congregation’s ministry and economic model informed by his own Christ-transforming life, he helped to create a property oversight committee in Northwest Coast Presbytery, with a vision of re-imagining and re-developing church properties for the future of the communities where they are located. They are in the early visioning stages for a new worshiping community/supportive housing/government/nonprofit/and for-profit mixed economy development in rural Skagit County with several partners.




Episode Highlights 

  • The success of community outreach initiatives relies heavily on forming partnerships with local organizations and agencies.
  • Creative approaches to church property can lead to transformative community projects that address pressing local issues.
  • Investing in the community through outreach and support fosters deeper relationships and mutual respect among residents.
  • Churches can embrace a spirit of curiosity and adaptability in their missions.
  • Radical love and inclusion can redefine how churches engage with their neighborhoods, challenging traditional models.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:53) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:09) Interview with Pastor Kevin Riley

(39:16) Pastor Kevin Riley answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>dabe9fa8-d305-4ab8-b17a-48b3935e09e8Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -040049:53falsefull137713Besides Housing, What Are Other Ideas for Re-Imagining Church Property? with Rev. Chrisy EnnenBesides Housing, What Are Other Ideas for Re-Imagining Church Property? with Rev. Chrisy EnnenThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, exploring the transformative potential of reimagining church properties to serve the community in new and meaningful ways. Rev. Chrisy Ennen, Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, in Gulf Shores, Alabama, shares how her congregation revitalized their church space into a thriving business center. By listening and fostering partnerships, the church discovered how to meet community needs while strengthening its mission and financial stability.  

Join us as we look at what’s possible when a church steps beyond traditional roles to embrace its full potential as a force for good.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Rev. Chrisy Ennen serves as Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She is married with two adult children and three amazing rescue dogs. She has an MDIV from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, an MA in Leadership and Ministry from Greenville College, an MBA from SIUE, and a BA in Business Management from Greenville College. Rev. Ennen is passionate about the important role the church plays in the flourishing of the local community and is grateful for how she gets to live that out on the Alabama Gulf Coast.



Episode Highlights 

  • The church's property can serve the community in transformative ways beyond housing.
  • Effective community engagement and collaboration are essential for successful church property projects.
  • Listening to local needs can lead to innovative uses of church facilities and resources.
  • Transformational church initiatives can be achieved with minimal upfront investment and quick execution.
  • Building partnerships with community organizations can enhance the church's mission and outreach efforts.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:54) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:12) Interview with Rev. Chrisy Ennen

(41:10) Rev. Chrisy Ennen answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast, exploring the transformative potential of reimagining church properties to serve the community in new and meaningful ways. Rev. Chrisy Ennen, Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, in Gulf Shores, Alabama, shares how her congregation revitalized their church space into a thriving business center. By listening and fostering partnerships, the church discovered how to meet community needs while strengthening its mission and financial stability.  

Join us as we look at what’s possible when a church steps beyond traditional roles to embrace its full potential as a force for good.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 


Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Rev. Chrisy Ennen serves as Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She is married with two adult children and three amazing rescue dogs. She has an MDIV from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, an MA in Leadership and Ministry from Greenville College, an MBA from SIUE, and a BA in Business Management from Greenville College. Rev. Ennen is passionate about the important role the church plays in the flourishing of the local community and is grateful for how she gets to live that out on the Alabama Gulf Coast.



Episode Highlights 

  • The church's property can serve the community in transformative ways beyond housing.
  • Effective community engagement and collaboration are essential for successful church property projects.
  • Listening to local needs can lead to innovative uses of church facilities and resources.
  • Transformational church initiatives can be achieved with minimal upfront investment and quick execution.
  • Building partnerships with community organizations can enhance the church's mission and outreach efforts.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:54) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:12) Interview with Rev. Chrisy Ennen

(41:10) Rev. Chrisy Ennen answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>ee99f505-3090-43e1-96c9-1efe0d820227Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -040046:23falsefull136613How Do We Handle Resistance to Church Property Changes? with Rev. Sharon CoreHow Do We Handle Resistance to Church Property Changes? with Rev. Sharon CoreThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Rev. Sharon Core, General Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. Exploring the intricate relationship between church property and community mission, Sharon shares how congregations can pivot from traditional property uses to meet pressing community needs, particularly in affordable housing. Sharon narrates her experience guiding her church through a challenging process of discernment, emphasizing the importance of reframing the conversation around church property from mere real estate management to a vital mission question. 

Listen as Shannon, Mark, and Sharon explore how church spaces can serve their neighborhoods in innovative and meaningful ways, fostering a deeper connection to their mission and the communities they inhabit.


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

The Reverend Sharon K. Core is the General Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. Her responsibilities include providing inspirational leadership that enhances the implementation of the Presbytery’s strategy for mission and ministry, encouraging conversation and communication among the Presbytery, nurturing positive relationships with congregations and clergy, providing pastoral care to clergy in times of need, and maintaining relationships with Synod, General Assembly, ecumenical, interfaith and secular contexts.  




Episode Highlights 

  • Engaging congregations in discussions about property can lead to transformative community impact.
  • The journey toward utilizing church property requires deep reflection on mission and purpose.
  • Church members often resist change, so leaders must build trust and understanding.
  • Effective leadership involves equipping congregations to explore their calling in their communities.
  • Recognizing church property as a tool for ministry can shift congregational perspectives.
  • Transformation takes time; patience and perseverance are key in navigating congregational change.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:00) Interview with Rev. Sharon Core

(41:20) Rev. Sharon Core answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Rev. Sharon Core, General Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. Exploring the intricate relationship between church property and community mission, Sharon shares how congregations can pivot from traditional property uses to meet pressing community needs, particularly in affordable housing. Sharon narrates her experience guiding her church through a challenging process of discernment, emphasizing the importance of reframing the conversation around church property from mere real estate management to a vital mission question. 

Listen as Shannon, Mark, and Sharon explore how church spaces can serve their neighborhoods in innovative and meaningful ways, fostering a deeper connection to their mission and the communities they inhabit.


Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

The Reverend Sharon K. Core is the General Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. Her responsibilities include providing inspirational leadership that enhances the implementation of the Presbytery’s strategy for mission and ministry, encouraging conversation and communication among the Presbytery, nurturing positive relationships with congregations and clergy, providing pastoral care to clergy in times of need, and maintaining relationships with Synod, General Assembly, ecumenical, interfaith and secular contexts.  




Episode Highlights 

  • Engaging congregations in discussions about property can lead to transformative community impact.
  • The journey toward utilizing church property requires deep reflection on mission and purpose.
  • Church members often resist change, so leaders must build trust and understanding.
  • Effective leadership involves equipping congregations to explore their calling in their communities.
  • Recognizing church property as a tool for ministry can shift congregational perspectives.
  • Transformation takes time; patience and perseverance are key in navigating congregational change.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(06:00) Interview with Rev. Sharon Core

(41:20) Rev. Sharon Core answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>3c1a79c7-6dc7-4d44-8532-52f174da2531Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -040050:57falsefull135513What’s the Path to Church Property Changes? with Pastor Jessica LowryWhat’s the Path to Church Property Changes? with Pastor Jessica LowryThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Pastor Jessica Lowry, Executive Director and Pastoral Leader at Sunset Ridge Collective. Exploring the transformative journey of Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, Jess shares insights into how her congregation navigated a pivotal moment of decline in membership and contributions. Faced with the stark reality of becoming a legacy church or pursuing radical change, Jess recounts the church's decision to embrace social entrepreneurship as a new mission. 

Listen as Shannon, Mark, and Jess explore the importance of adaptability and responsiveness in church leadership as churches seek to impact their community.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

Pastor Jessica Lowry brings her gifting in both ministry and leadership to her role as Executive Director and Pastoral Leader at Sunset Ridge Collective. She earned a Masters of Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served Sunset Ridge Church for 11 years. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in business leadership and management. Jess has a calling to point each person to the belovedness that they carry, and a heart for eye-to-eye conversations over a good cup of coffee. She spends her time with her husband Nathan, who plays guitar in Sunset Ridge Collective's worship band, and her three children Luca, Julian, and Shiloh—who are each her favorite. When not on campus, she can be found adventuring, hosting dance parties, attending Pearl Jam concerts, or with her nose in a book.


Episode Highlights  

  • The church's property can be transformed into community spaces that foster connection and belonging.
  • Listening deeply to both congregants and neighbors is essential for church leadership and community engagement.
  • Social entrepreneurship within the church can provide both funding and mission opportunities for the community.
  • Changing the perception of church from a closed community to an open one is vital for growth.
  • Success in community initiatives requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt over time.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(07:02) Interview with Pastor Jessica Lowry

(37:55) Pastor Jessica Lowry answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their takeover of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Pastor Jessica Lowry, Executive Director and Pastoral Leader at Sunset Ridge Collective. Exploring the transformative journey of Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, Jess shares insights into how her congregation navigated a pivotal moment of decline in membership and contributions. Faced with the stark reality of becoming a legacy church or pursuing radical change, Jess recounts the church's decision to embrace social entrepreneurship as a new mission. 

Listen as Shannon, Mark, and Jess explore the importance of adaptability and responsiveness in church leadership as churches seek to impact their community.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Rev. Mark Elsdon is Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

Pastor Jessica Lowry brings her gifting in both ministry and leadership to her role as Executive Director and Pastoral Leader at Sunset Ridge Collective. She earned a Masters of Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served Sunset Ridge Church for 11 years. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in business leadership and management. Jess has a calling to point each person to the belovedness that they carry, and a heart for eye-to-eye conversations over a good cup of coffee. She spends her time with her husband Nathan, who plays guitar in Sunset Ridge Collective's worship band, and her three children Luca, Julian, and Shiloh—who are each her favorite. When not on campus, she can be found adventuring, hosting dance parties, attending Pearl Jam concerts, or with her nose in a book.


Episode Highlights  

  • The church's property can be transformed into community spaces that foster connection and belonging.
  • Listening deeply to both congregants and neighbors is essential for church leadership and community engagement.
  • Social entrepreneurship within the church can provide both funding and mission opportunities for the community.
  • Changing the perception of church from a closed community to an open one is vital for growth.
  • Success in community initiatives requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt over time.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(07:02) Interview with Pastor Jessica Lowry

(37:55) Pastor Jessica Lowry answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>aca47d0f-6cd0-41f6-a769-a3c1adaa9ddfWed, 11 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -040043:08falsefull134413How Does Theology Shape Church Property Decisions? with Rev. Dr. Willie James JenningsHow Does Theology Shape Church Property Decisions? with Rev. Dr. Willie James JenningsThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their take over of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, Professor of Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School. Shannon, Mark, and Rev. Dr. Jennings dive into a powerful conversation about faith, land, and community, exploring how church property decisions are deeply intertwined with discipleship. Rev. Dr. Jennings challenges churches to rethink their relationship with the land, encouraging a deeper awareness of the historical and ethical implications of their choices.

Join us as we discuss the power of community memory and envision a renewed approach to church life—one rooted in love, shared responsibility, and the potential for true flourishing within our neighborhoods.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Jennings received his B.A. in Religion and Theological Studies from Calvin College (1984), his M.Div. (Master of Divinity degree) from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California, and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Dr. Jennings, who is a theologian, teaches in the areas of Christian thought, race theory, decolonial and environmental studies. Dr. Jennings is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press. It is one of the most important books in theology written in the last 25 years and is now a standard text read in colleges, seminaries, and universities. Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity. 



Episode Highlights  

  • Church property can be viewed through a lens of discipleship, ethics, and theology.
  • The church must engage deeply with its local context, including its history and land.
  • Rituals tied to real space can foster community connections and meaningful reflection.
  • The incarnation signifies that God became flesh, emphasizing the importance of our relationship with the dirt.
  • Churches can facilitate conversations about community needs and the moral implications of zoning laws.
  • Reimagining church property involves creating opportunities for healing and community flourishing.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:48) Interview with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings 

(41:30) Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon continue their take over of the Igniting Imagination podcast to speak with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, Professor of Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School. Shannon, Mark, and Rev. Dr. Jennings dive into a powerful conversation about faith, land, and community, exploring how church property decisions are deeply intertwined with discipleship. Rev. Dr. Jennings challenges churches to rethink their relationship with the land, encouraging a deeper awareness of the historical and ethical implications of their choices.

Join us as we discuss the power of community memory and envision a renewed approach to church life—one rooted in love, shared responsibility, and the potential for true flourishing within our neighborhoods.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.

Guest

Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Jennings received his B.A. in Religion and Theological Studies from Calvin College (1984), his M.Div. (Master of Divinity degree) from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California, and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Dr. Jennings, who is a theologian, teaches in the areas of Christian thought, race theory, decolonial and environmental studies. Dr. Jennings is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press. It is one of the most important books in theology written in the last 25 years and is now a standard text read in colleges, seminaries, and universities. Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity. 



Episode Highlights  

  • Church property can be viewed through a lens of discipleship, ethics, and theology.
  • The church must engage deeply with its local context, including its history and land.
  • Rituals tied to real space can foster community connections and meaningful reflection.
  • The incarnation signifies that God became flesh, emphasizing the importance of our relationship with the dirt.
  • Churches can facilitate conversations about community needs and the moral implications of zoning laws.
  • Reimagining church property involves creating opportunities for healing and community flourishing.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:48) Interview with Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings 

(41:30) Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings answers rapid-fire questions



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>0975314e-948e-4e8c-b022-dbd83159c084Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -040055:51falsefull133313Why Are We Talking About Church Property? with Bob SmietanaWhy Are We Talking About Church Property? with Bob SmietanaThis week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon are taking over the Igniting Imagination podcast! They’re joined by Bob Smietana, National Reporter for Religion News Service and author, to dive into this season’s theme: “Properties with New Purpose.”

As we've been partnering with churches across the country, many questions have come up. This week’s episode centers on one of the big ones: “What brought us here?”

Bob points out that churches hold essential skills, like moral guidance and community-building, which are increasingly valuable in today’s world. Together, Shannon, Mark, and Bob encourage congregations to reimagine their spaces and embrace creativity and collaboration to shape their future impact on the community.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles, and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, a senior editor of Christianity Today, a religion writer at The Tennessean, a correspondent for RNS, and a contributor to OnFaith, USA Today, and The Washington Post.


Episode Highlights  

  • Church property is being reimagined to better serve communities in innovative ways.
  • Declines in church attendance require congregations to adapt and find new purposes.
  • Many churches are collaborating with local organizations to provide essential community services.
  • The shift from traditional church models to multi-use spaces is gaining momentum.
  • Local churches must foster relationships and trust to thrive in changing contexts.
  • Embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and community building.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:07) Interview with Bob Smietana 

(45:00) Bob Smietana answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, Shannon Hopkins and Rev. Mark Elsdon are taking over the Igniting Imagination podcast! They’re joined by Bob Smietana, National Reporter for Religion News Service and author, to dive into this season’s theme: “Properties with New Purpose.”

As we've been partnering with churches across the country, many questions have come up. This week’s episode centers on one of the big ones: “What brought us here?”

Bob points out that churches hold essential skills, like moral guidance and community-building, which are increasingly valuable in today’s world. Together, Shannon, Mark, and Bob encourage congregations to reimagine their spaces and embrace creativity and collaboration to shape their future impact on the community.

Co-Hosts

Shannon Hopkins is Co-Founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Mark Elsdon is the Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good. He lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a Director with RootedGood, Mark is also Executive Director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million dollar organization.


Guest

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles, and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, a senior editor of Christianity Today, a religion writer at The Tennessean, a correspondent for RNS, and a contributor to OnFaith, USA Today, and The Washington Post.


Episode Highlights  

  • Church property is being reimagined to better serve communities in innovative ways.
  • Declines in church attendance require congregations to adapt and find new purposes.
  • Many churches are collaborating with local organizations to provide essential community services.
  • The shift from traditional church models to multi-use spaces is gaining momentum.
  • Local churches must foster relationships and trust to thrive in changing contexts.
  • Embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and community building.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) Shannon and Mark’s intro to the episode

(05:07) Interview with Bob Smietana 

(45:00) Bob Smietana answers rapid-fire questions


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>89b3cc1c-63f6-4f22-a7e8-45bf92da7fedWed, 20 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -040055:08falsefull132213Church Property: Imagining Good Futures with Shannon HopkinsChurch Property: Imagining Good Futures with Shannon HopkinsWelcome to season 13 of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This season, we invite you into a story of hope and possibility, where church properties are reimagined as vibrant hubs for community flourishing. 

Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Shannon Hopkins, co-founder of Rooted Good, explore the evolving role of churches as valuable community assets. With church properties transforming across the U.S., the ways congregations gather and engage with their neighbors are shifting, inspiring churches to redefine their purpose for the 21st century by focusing outward.

Listen as Lisa and Shannon discuss how churches are prioritizing community service and connection, moving beyond preservation to become forces for good.

Guest

Shannon Hopkins is co-founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Episode Highlights  

  • Understanding community needs during church property transitions.
  • Economic models for churches are shifting, necessitating new approaches to funding and support.
  • The church must claim its voice and role in community transformation, not just growth.
  • Facing reality about financial challenges is crucial for effective church leadership and planning.
  • Churches can leverage their properties for affordable housing and community health initiatives.
  • A successful example is a church that transformed its parking lot into a community park.

Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to Igniting Imagination!

(00:22) Introducing Shannon Hopkins

(02:56) Understanding Church Property Transition

(05:28) Why Church Property Transition Matters

(07:37) Opportunities for Churches Today

(13:02) Navigating Economic Challenges

(18:20) Facing Reality in Leadership

(28:46) The Vision for the Future of the Church

(30:15) Innovative Church Property Uses


Links

Visit our podcast website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Welcome to season 13 of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This season, we invite you into a story of hope and possibility, where church properties are reimagined as vibrant hubs for community flourishing. 

Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Shannon Hopkins, co-founder of Rooted Good, explore the evolving role of churches as valuable community assets. With church properties transforming across the U.S., the ways congregations gather and engage with their neighbors are shifting, inspiring churches to redefine their purpose for the 21st century by focusing outward.

Listen as Lisa and Shannon discuss how churches are prioritizing community service and connection, moving beyond preservation to become forces for good.

Guest

Shannon Hopkins is co-founder of Rooted Good and a Locke Innovative Leader. She is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking. 

Episode Highlights  

  • Understanding community needs during church property transitions.
  • Economic models for churches are shifting, necessitating new approaches to funding and support.
  • The church must claim its voice and role in community transformation, not just growth.
  • Facing reality about financial challenges is crucial for effective church leadership and planning.
  • Churches can leverage their properties for affordable housing and community health initiatives.
  • A successful example is a church that transformed its parking lot into a community park.

Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to Igniting Imagination!

(00:22) Introducing Shannon Hopkins

(02:56) Understanding Church Property Transition

(05:28) Why Church Property Transition Matters

(07:37) Opportunities for Churches Today

(13:02) Navigating Economic Challenges

(18:20) Facing Reality in Leadership

(28:46) The Vision for the Future of the Church

(30:15) Innovative Church Property Uses


Links

Visit our podcast website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>fa357aaf-f4d9-4e09-990b-eeb7126e2a3fWed, 13 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -040032:56falsefull131113What’s a Critical Theme for the Future Church That We Missed?What’s a Critical Theme for the Future Church That We Missed?Welcome to the season 12 finale of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson. Lisa, Kathi, and Blair reflect on conversations with various esteemed guests throughout the season, revealing how joy, hope, and building community hold new significance in contemporary contexts. They share personal stories and experiences that illuminate these themes, providing fresh perspectives that inspire action and engagement within communities. 

Listen as they share insights and anecdotes from their experiences; they invite listeners to consider how to embody these themes in their own lives and communities.

Guests

Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is the chief learning and innovation officer for TMF and creator and producer of Learning and Innovation's Igniting Imagination® Podcast. Blair is a facilitator, speaker, writer, and preacher. She facilitates conversations with leaders from across the Wesleyan ecosystem, especially in the areas of expanding imagination, discerning purpose, and exercising the Five Muscles.


Blair is the Program Director of TMF's two Lilly-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3) and Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI). Blair is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and joined TMF in 2020 after a decade in pastoral ministry. She completed her dissertation on pilgrimage in the development of clergy leadership for her Doctor of Ministry degree at Perkins School of Theology in 2018.



Episode Highlights  

  • The importance of being present and attentive in our relationships cannot be overstated.
  • Fresh perspectives can offer new insights, in the face of familiar themes like power and hospitality.
  • Joy can be accessed amidst chaos by welcoming our real emotions and experiences.
  • The church's future may involve smaller, more localized expressions of faith and community.
  • A focus on spiritual formation is crucial for effective leadership in local congregations.
  • Engaging with themes like surrender and clarity can help us navigate uncertainty.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(00:19) Meet the Hosts: Lisa, Kathi, and Blair

(01:17) Reflecting on Season Themes: Hospitality, Power, Place, and Joy

(01:36) Questioning the Newness of Familiar Themes

(06:27) Experiencing Community at Conferences

(07:47) Insights from Flourishing Neighborhoods Event

(14:28) Deep Dives into Personal Reactions to Joy and Power

(34:36) Looking Ahead: The Future of the Mainline Church

(40:27) Exploring Small Boats: Examples of Hope and Innovation


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Welcome to the season 12 finale of the Igniting Imagination podcast! This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson. Lisa, Kathi, and Blair reflect on conversations with various esteemed guests throughout the season, revealing how joy, hope, and building community hold new significance in contemporary contexts. They share personal stories and experiences that illuminate these themes, providing fresh perspectives that inspire action and engagement within communities. 

Listen as they share insights and anecdotes from their experiences; they invite listeners to consider how to embody these themes in their own lives and communities.

Guests

Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is the chief learning and innovation officer for TMF and creator and producer of Learning and Innovation's Igniting Imagination® Podcast. Blair is a facilitator, speaker, writer, and preacher. She facilitates conversations with leaders from across the Wesleyan ecosystem, especially in the areas of expanding imagination, discerning purpose, and exercising the Five Muscles.


Blair is the Program Director of TMF's two Lilly-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3) and Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI). Blair is an ordained Elder in the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and joined TMF in 2020 after a decade in pastoral ministry. She completed her dissertation on pilgrimage in the development of clergy leadership for her Doctor of Ministry degree at Perkins School of Theology in 2018.



Episode Highlights  

  • The importance of being present and attentive in our relationships cannot be overstated.
  • Fresh perspectives can offer new insights, in the face of familiar themes like power and hospitality.
  • Joy can be accessed amidst chaos by welcoming our real emotions and experiences.
  • The church's future may involve smaller, more localized expressions of faith and community.
  • A focus on spiritual formation is crucial for effective leadership in local congregations.
  • Engaging with themes like surrender and clarity can help us navigate uncertainty.


Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(00:19) Meet the Hosts: Lisa, Kathi, and Blair

(01:17) Reflecting on Season Themes: Hospitality, Power, Place, and Joy

(01:36) Questioning the Newness of Familiar Themes

(06:27) Experiencing Community at Conferences

(07:47) Insights from Flourishing Neighborhoods Event

(14:28) Deep Dives into Personal Reactions to Joy and Power

(34:36) Looking Ahead: The Future of the Mainline Church

(40:27) Exploring Small Boats: Examples of Hope and Innovation


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>afb351e7-3620-4575-8aef-c3d36ef176b4Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -040044:50falsefull126612Opting into Joy with Rev. Tyler Sit and Rev. Rich HavardOpting into Joy with Rev. Tyler Sit and Rev. Rich HavardJoy is not just a fleeting emotion but a deep, sustaining force that connects us through authenticity and community. 

This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane are joined by Rev. Tyler Sit, a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur, and Rev. Rich Havard, Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, to explore the transformative power of joy in faith and community. They discuss the distinction between happiness and joy, the impact of authentic friendships, and how joy acts as resistance against despair and injustice. 

Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Tyler, and Rich share how joy can exist amid suffering and how leaders can cultivate this defiant joy in their community.

Guests

Rev. Tyler Sit is a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. Tyler is the Founder of New City Church and Co-Founder of Intersect Planting Network. New City Church reflects the vision from Revelation of a new city where all tribes are welcomed, there is no violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s congregation, led by BIPOC leaders, is realizing this vision by focusing on centering marginalized voices, community organizing, and eco-justice. He is a 2023 Locke Innovative Leader.


Rev. Rich Havard is a Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, a Bahá’í-inspired grant-making organization that partners with spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits to co-create peace and unity in the world. Prior to Wayfarer, Rich spent 6 years starting and leading the Inclusive Collective, a diverse spiritual community for college-aged young adults in Chicago. 


 Quotes

  • “Part of the reason why communities of faith are so powerful, part of the reason why spiritual friendships are so powerful is that it gives co-journeyers who invite you to joy and remind you of the discipline of joyous. If we just base our happiness off of whether or not there's good news in the world, whether or not when you open up your favorite news page, it's good headlines or not, you're going to be increasingly less joyful." -Rev. Tyler Sit [15:38]


  • “American culture, writ large, seems to be a little tired of the overwhelming negativity and wanting to choose joy instead. I'm excited about that because I think we're often not rewarded for moments. It can be sort of seen as superfluous or not necessary. What does it look like when we start to not just play the individual sort of blame game, but create the condition culturally, where joy is not something seen as an additive, but as seen as central to the human experience? That's what I want.” -Rev. Rich Havard [36:59]



Episode Highlights  

  • Joy and Authenticity: Joy arises from welcoming all emotions and navigating through difficult ones, finding resurrection on the other side.
  • Friendship and Joy: Deep, authentic friendships like those between Tyler and Rich cultivate joy by creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.
  • Joy in Social Justice: Joy functions as a form of rebellion and a necessary counterbalance to the inherent challenges in social justice work.
  • Cultivating Joy: Joy can be cultivated through practices like the welcoming prayer, staying present to emotions, and creating conditions for joy in communities.
  • Joy as an Act of Faith: Embracing joy, especially amidst crises and injustice, is seen as a spiritual practice and an act of faith.


Timestamps

(00:00) Exploring Joy and Future Church Themes with Rev. Tyler Sit and Rev. Rich Havard

(02:39) Cultivating Joy and Friendship Through Authenticity and Intentionality

(08:09) The Deep Joy Found in Lifelong Friendships

(15:24) Choosing Joy as an Act of Faith and Rebellion

(26:02) The Spiritual Discipline and Gift of Joy

(32:23) Navigating Anxiety and Scarcity in Church Leadership

(35:06) The Importance of Joy in Activism and Social Justice

(41:57) Finding Joy and Defiance in Unexpected Places

(50:19) A Deep and Moving Conversation About Real Joy in Life


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>Joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a deep, sustaining force that connects us through authenticity and community. 

This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane are joined by Rev. Tyler Sit, a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur, and Rev. Rich Havard, Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, to explore the transformative power of joy in faith and community. They discuss the distinction between happiness and joy, the impact of authentic friendships, and how joy acts as resistance against despair and injustice. 

Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Tyler, and Rich share how joy can exist amid suffering and how leaders can cultivate this defiant joy in their community.

Guests

Rev. Tyler Sit is a pastor, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. Tyler is the Founder of New City Church and Co-Founder of Intersect Planting Network. New City Church reflects the vision from Revelation of a new city where all tribes are welcomed, there is no violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s congregation, led by BIPOC leaders, is realizing this vision by focusing on centering marginalized voices, community organizing, and eco-justice. He is a 2023 Locke Innovative Leader.


Rev. Rich Havard is a Senior Program Officer for Wayfarer Foundation, a Bahá’í-inspired grant-making organization that partners with spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits to co-create peace and unity in the world. Prior to Wayfarer, Rich spent 6 years starting and leading the Inclusive Collective, a diverse spiritual community for college-aged young adults in Chicago. 


 Quotes

  • “Part of the reason why communities of faith are so powerful, part of the reason why spiritual friendships are so powerful is that it gives co-journeyers who invite you to joy and remind you of the discipline of joyous. If we just base our happiness off of whether or not there's good news in the world, whether or not when you open up your favorite news page, it's good headlines or not, you're going to be increasingly less joyful." -Rev. Tyler Sit [15:38]


  • “American culture, writ large, seems to be a little tired of the overwhelming negativity and wanting to choose joy instead. I'm excited about that because I think we're often not rewarded for moments. It can be sort of seen as superfluous or not necessary. What does it look like when we start to not just play the individual sort of blame game, but create the condition culturally, where joy is not something seen as an additive, but as seen as central to the human experience? That's what I want.” -Rev. Rich Havard [36:59]



Episode Highlights  

  • Joy and Authenticity: Joy arises from welcoming all emotions and navigating through difficult ones, finding resurrection on the other side.
  • Friendship and Joy: Deep, authentic friendships like those between Tyler and Rich cultivate joy by creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.
  • Joy in Social Justice: Joy functions as a form of rebellion and a necessary counterbalance to the inherent challenges in social justice work.
  • Cultivating Joy: Joy can be cultivated through practices like the welcoming prayer, staying present to emotions, and creating conditions for joy in communities.
  • Joy as an Act of Faith: Embracing joy, especially amidst crises and injustice, is seen as a spiritual practice and an act of faith.


Timestamps

(00:00) Exploring Joy and Future Church Themes with Rev. Tyler Sit and Rev. Rich Havard

(02:39) Cultivating Joy and Friendship Through Authenticity and Intentionality

(08:09) The Deep Joy Found in Lifelong Friendships

(15:24) Choosing Joy as an Act of Faith and Rebellion

(26:02) The Spiritual Discipline and Gift of Joy

(32:23) Navigating Anxiety and Scarcity in Church Leadership

(35:06) The Importance of Joy in Activism and Social Justice

(41:57) Finding Joy and Defiance in Unexpected Places

(50:19) A Deep and Moving Conversation About Real Joy in Life


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>51cee8e1-8ad5-4da5-beda-d76d3bc702a9Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -040050:54falsefull125512Small Boats are the Big Wave for the Church with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael BeckSmall Boats are the Big Wave for the Church with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael BeckThis week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck to explore the concept of "small boats," or small experiments that are giving us vision and hope for the church as we look to the future. Traditional leadership models are transitioning to leadership that empowers others in the community, fostering gifts and spiritual growth. Kenda and Michael discuss various themes integral to the evolving church, highlighting the significant role of trust-building and patient, deliberate leadership in fostering genuine community connections. 

Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Kenda, and Michael explore how small, nimble efforts within faith communities can achieve extraordinary impacts. 

Guests

Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained pastor, professor, and author. She is Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her work has focused on building meaningful connections among youth, culture, and the church. She is the author of Innovating for Love. Kenda was named the 2024 Distinguished Locke Innovative Leader.


Rev. Dr. Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, coach, consultant, and author. Michael is the Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, Director of Fresh Expressions Florida, and Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church. He serves as the co-pastor of Wildwood UMC, St. Marks UMC, and Compassion UMC with his wife, Jill. 


 Quotes

  • “You can't do the vision God has given you without winning the trust of the people God has given you. That is something that's a slow walk of patience in a lot of cases. There are some risks that you take for sure, but you do a lot of really normal stuff, like just walking with people while they struggle." -Kenda Creasy Dean [26:16]


  • “We're teaching what we think is the heart of the faith, which is union with Jesus. That is the goal here. It's not that you become a member of something or, you know, that you do all the religious service stuff, but that you experience deep union with Jesus. From doing that, you will change and you'll be a more compassionate kind of person.” -Michael Beck [45:55]



Episode Highlights  

  • Small Boats: The concept emphasizes the substantial impact of numerous small, adaptable initiatives within the church.
  • Trust and Patience: Building trust within communities and going at a pace that allows for real connection and leadership development.
  • Innovative Models: Fresh Expressions demonstrates how integrating faith into everyday activities can make the church more accessible and relevant.
  • Leader of Leaders: The need for modern clergy to be leaders who empower others, moving away from the "pastoral vending machine" model.
  • Deep Formation: Ensuring new church movements incorporate deep spiritual and communal formation to sustain long-term impact.


Timestamps

(00:00) Exploring Small Boats and Innovation in the Future Church

(06:43) Small Boats Solving Big Problems: The Dunkirk Analogy

(09:43) Fresh Expressions and the Shift from Big Boats to Small Boats

(18:30) Reimagining Church Leadership and Mission

(21:47) Trust, Transformation, and Community in Church Leadership

(25:20) Building Trust and Leadership in Pastoral Training

(38:06) Integrating Faith into Everyday Life

(47:13) Future of the Mainline Church and Youth Ministry Innovations


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck to explore the concept of "small boats," or small experiments that are giving us vision and hope for the church as we look to the future. Traditional leadership models are transitioning to leadership that empowers others in the community, fostering gifts and spiritual growth. Kenda and Michael discuss various themes integral to the evolving church, highlighting the significant role of trust-building and patient, deliberate leadership in fostering genuine community connections. 

Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Kenda, and Michael explore how small, nimble efforts within faith communities can achieve extraordinary impacts. 

Guests

Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained pastor, professor, and author. She is Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her work has focused on building meaningful connections among youth, culture, and the church. She is the author of Innovating for Love. Kenda was named the 2024 Distinguished Locke Innovative Leader.


Rev. Dr. Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, coach, consultant, and author. Michael is the Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, Director of Fresh Expressions Florida, and Director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church. He serves as the co-pastor of Wildwood UMC, St. Marks UMC, and Compassion UMC with his wife, Jill. 


 Quotes

  • “You can't do the vision God has given you without winning the trust of the people God has given you. That is something that's a slow walk of patience in a lot of cases. There are some risks that you take for sure, but you do a lot of really normal stuff, like just walking with people while they struggle." -Kenda Creasy Dean [26:16]


  • “We're teaching what we think is the heart of the faith, which is union with Jesus. That is the goal here. It's not that you become a member of something or, you know, that you do all the religious service stuff, but that you experience deep union with Jesus. From doing that, you will change and you'll be a more compassionate kind of person.” -Michael Beck [45:55]



Episode Highlights  

  • Small Boats: The concept emphasizes the substantial impact of numerous small, adaptable initiatives within the church.
  • Trust and Patience: Building trust within communities and going at a pace that allows for real connection and leadership development.
  • Innovative Models: Fresh Expressions demonstrates how integrating faith into everyday activities can make the church more accessible and relevant.
  • Leader of Leaders: The need for modern clergy to be leaders who empower others, moving away from the "pastoral vending machine" model.
  • Deep Formation: Ensuring new church movements incorporate deep spiritual and communal formation to sustain long-term impact.


Timestamps

(00:00) Exploring Small Boats and Innovation in the Future Church

(06:43) Small Boats Solving Big Problems: The Dunkirk Analogy

(09:43) Fresh Expressions and the Shift from Big Boats to Small Boats

(18:30) Reimagining Church Leadership and Mission

(21:47) Trust, Transformation, and Community in Church Leadership

(25:20) Building Trust and Leadership in Pastoral Training

(38:06) Integrating Faith into Everyday Life

(47:13) Future of the Mainline Church and Youth Ministry Innovations


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>fdcaca18-6d82-44be-bf2e-436e4b58ae6cWed, 02 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -040055:15falsefull124412Place Matters with Rev. Bill Lamar IV and Rev. Dr. Reginald BlountPlace Matters with Rev. Bill Lamar IV and Rev. Dr. Reginald BlountThis week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane continue exploring themes that will be essential to the future church – and they are happening right now. Rev. Bill Lamar IV, Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, join Lisa and Kathi to discuss the power of place. This idea of ‘going local’ or the power of place in local, contextual ministry is a means of grace now and for the future flourishing of people, congregations, and communities.

Listen as they talk about the need for leaders to embrace the local stories and narratives of their communities while also advocating for the inclusion of younger generations in leading transformative change within the church.

Guests

Rev. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," a faith and leadership podcast.


Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount serves on the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture and teaches in the area of Christian Education, Congregational Leadership, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He is the Program Director of the Garrett Young Adult Initiative and serves as an advisor for the Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership in Black Congregations. Reggie is Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Oikos Institute, helping congregations harness the power of their assets to be a catalyst for communal transformation and economic renewal.


 

Quotes

  • “Not only do human beings have personhood, but objects, too. Objects are to be respected, and objects are to be learned from and to be revered. And the church itself, I mean, there is an energy to the place that teaches the one who would listen. And so what I share with people who come is that architecture is a form of rhetoric. Any sign, symbol or language that communicates is rhetorical." -Rev. William H. Lamar IV [20:35]


  • “Humanity can learn what it means to be human. Every culture offers that from within its own particularity. So if we take that theological principle and understand that God is particularly, radically, offensively involved in the local, in the particular and the infinitesimal of human granular life, then we realize the church exists symbiotically with what surrounds what I think about this.” -Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount [31:36]



Episode Highlights  

  • The Role of Place in Formation: Both guests underscore how deeply the places we inhabit inform our spiritual and communal lives.
  • AME Tradition and Community: The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s emphasis on community engagement offers profound lessons in living out faith in local contexts.
  • Innovative Local Ministry: Successful ministry innovation is deeply rooted in understanding and engaging the local community, fostering both spiritual and physical well-being.
  • Theological Anthropology: Understanding God's relationship with humanity is essential for nurturing inclusive and neighborly relations within communities.
  • Empowering Youth: The significance of allowing young people to lead and shape the future direction of the church is key to its vitality and relevance.


Timestamps

(01:30) Exploring The Power Of Place In Ministry

(07:15) The Influence of Place on Identity and Ministry

(11:44) The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of Place in AME Tradition

(24:16) Revitalizing Neighborhoods Through Church Collaboration and Social Capital

(30:00) The Sanctity and Importance of Local Pastoral Work

(37:11) Theological Anthropology and Its Impact on Community Engagement

(47:52) Youth Leadership as the Future of the Church



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane continue exploring themes that will be essential to the future church – and they are happening right now. Rev. Bill Lamar IV, Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, join Lisa and Kathi to discuss the power of place. This idea of ‘going local’ or the power of place in local, contextual ministry is a means of grace now and for the future flourishing of people, congregations, and communities.

Listen as they talk about the need for leaders to embrace the local stories and narratives of their communities while also advocating for the inclusion of younger generations in leading transformative change within the church.

Guests

Rev. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," a faith and leadership podcast.


Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount serves on the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture and teaches in the area of Christian Education, Congregational Leadership, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He is the Program Director of the Garrett Young Adult Initiative and serves as an advisor for the Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership in Black Congregations. Reggie is Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Oikos Institute, helping congregations harness the power of their assets to be a catalyst for communal transformation and economic renewal.


 

Quotes

  • “Not only do human beings have personhood, but objects, too. Objects are to be respected, and objects are to be learned from and to be revered. And the church itself, I mean, there is an energy to the place that teaches the one who would listen. And so what I share with people who come is that architecture is a form of rhetoric. Any sign, symbol or language that communicates is rhetorical." -Rev. William H. Lamar IV [20:35]


  • “Humanity can learn what it means to be human. Every culture offers that from within its own particularity. So if we take that theological principle and understand that God is particularly, radically, offensively involved in the local, in the particular and the infinitesimal of human granular life, then we realize the church exists symbiotically with what surrounds what I think about this.” -Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount [31:36]



Episode Highlights  

  • The Role of Place in Formation: Both guests underscore how deeply the places we inhabit inform our spiritual and communal lives.
  • AME Tradition and Community: The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s emphasis on community engagement offers profound lessons in living out faith in local contexts.
  • Innovative Local Ministry: Successful ministry innovation is deeply rooted in understanding and engaging the local community, fostering both spiritual and physical well-being.
  • Theological Anthropology: Understanding God's relationship with humanity is essential for nurturing inclusive and neighborly relations within communities.
  • Empowering Youth: The significance of allowing young people to lead and shape the future direction of the church is key to its vitality and relevance.


Timestamps

(01:30) Exploring The Power Of Place In Ministry

(07:15) The Influence of Place on Identity and Ministry

(11:44) The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of Place in AME Tradition

(24:16) Revitalizing Neighborhoods Through Church Collaboration and Social Capital

(30:00) The Sanctity and Importance of Local Pastoral Work

(37:11) Theological Anthropology and Its Impact on Community Engagement

(47:52) Youth Leadership as the Future of the Church



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>5151327f-abfd-4755-a6f4-d482ee71394cWed, 25 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -040050:19falsefull123312The Power of Togetherness with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan BabchuckThe Power of Togetherness with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan BabchuckWhat is the role of power in the new spiritual landscape emerging today? This season, we are exploring the themes we believe are glimpses of what will be critical guideposts for the future church.

This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan Babchuck. Vipin Thekk, Founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Rabbi Elan Babchuck is co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire and serves as the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network and Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Vipin, and Elan explore how relational power can emerge from trust-based collaboration, slowing down, and togetherness practices while transforming leadership and faith communities.

Guests

Vipin Thekk is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, which weaves together influential institutions in cities to support the next generation of changemakers. He is constantly creating new programs that help people connect and bring their whole selves to their work and discover their power to become changemakers. His most recent, incredible contribution to the world is the Togetherness Practice.

Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire. He is committed to leaving behind a world that is more compassionate and connected than the one he found. In pursuit of that commitment, he serves as the Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network, an incubator and network for entrepreneurs who are building new models of faith in action.

 Quotes

  • “The more that we speak about the aspirational model of shared power publicly, honestly, vulnerably, and using terms like this is how I aspire to lead in the world, the better that our community, those who we hold in power and love, can invite us to live into those values, to live into that vision." -Vipin Thekk [17:23]

  • “I was asking people essentially, to trade in the things, the engagements they already had in their lives for something that was really about my project in the world, which was the institution of the church. When we as leaders of the church, need to question that. How can the church help people do things with a different character as a person of faith, becoming a compassion-driven change maker like Jesus?” -Rev. Kathi McShane [24:33]



Episode Highlights  

  • Relational Power: Power is found and formed between individuals, manifesting through relationships, trust, and collaboration rather than hierarchical structures.
  • Shared Leadership: Emerging spiritual landscapes are moving away from lone leadership towards collaborative and shared leadership models.
  • Formation and Practice: Leadership in the future church involves deep personal and spiritual formation, often cultivated through practices like Vipin’s Togetherness Practice.
  • Vulnerability and Trust: Effective leadership and power dynamics depend heavily on vulnerability, trust, and authenticity within relationships.
  • Cultural Observations: Examples from popular culture, such as Taylor Swift’s fanbase, can provide insights into new forms of collective power and relational dynamics.


Timestamps

(00:10) Exploring Power Dynamics in the Emerging Spiritual Landscape

(05:48) The Role of Power in Leadership After Empire

(23:14) Shifting Church Leadership Toward Collaborative Spiritual Innovation

(28:09) The Shadow Dimension of Leadership and Personal Roles in Drama

(31:48) Becoming More of Yourself in Leadership

(34:19) The Togetherness Practice: A Framework for Changemakers

(37:45) Transformational Change Through Relational Spaces and Togetherness Practice

(41:53) Courageous Leadership and the Importance of Relational Focus

(47:37) Finding Gifts in Every Room and Within Ourselves

(50:47) Small Boats and the Future of the Church



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What is the role of power in the new spiritual landscape emerging today? This season, we are exploring the themes we believe are glimpses of what will be critical guideposts for the future church.

This week, host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and co-host Rev. Kathi McShane speak with Vipin Thekk and Rabbi Elan Babchuck. Vipin Thekk, Founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Rabbi Elan Babchuck is co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire and serves as the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network and Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Vipin, and Elan explore how relational power can emerge from trust-based collaboration, slowing down, and togetherness practices while transforming leadership and faith communities.

Guests

Vipin Thekk is an experienced facilitator, coach, design consultant, public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Changemaker Communities initiative, which weaves together influential institutions in cities to support the next generation of changemakers. He is constantly creating new programs that help people connect and bring their whole selves to their work and discover their power to become changemakers. His most recent, incredible contribution to the world is the Togetherness Practice.

Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire. He is committed to leaving behind a world that is more compassionate and connected than the one he found. In pursuit of that commitment, he serves as the Executive Vice President at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network, an incubator and network for entrepreneurs who are building new models of faith in action.

 Quotes

  • “The more that we speak about the aspirational model of shared power publicly, honestly, vulnerably, and using terms like this is how I aspire to lead in the world, the better that our community, those who we hold in power and love, can invite us to live into those values, to live into that vision." -Vipin Thekk [17:23]

  • “I was asking people essentially, to trade in the things, the engagements they already had in their lives for something that was really about my project in the world, which was the institution of the church. When we as leaders of the church, need to question that. How can the church help people do things with a different character as a person of faith, becoming a compassion-driven change maker like Jesus?” -Rev. Kathi McShane [24:33]



Episode Highlights  

  • Relational Power: Power is found and formed between individuals, manifesting through relationships, trust, and collaboration rather than hierarchical structures.
  • Shared Leadership: Emerging spiritual landscapes are moving away from lone leadership towards collaborative and shared leadership models.
  • Formation and Practice: Leadership in the future church involves deep personal and spiritual formation, often cultivated through practices like Vipin’s Togetherness Practice.
  • Vulnerability and Trust: Effective leadership and power dynamics depend heavily on vulnerability, trust, and authenticity within relationships.
  • Cultural Observations: Examples from popular culture, such as Taylor Swift’s fanbase, can provide insights into new forms of collective power and relational dynamics.


Timestamps

(00:10) Exploring Power Dynamics in the Emerging Spiritual Landscape

(05:48) The Role of Power in Leadership After Empire

(23:14) Shifting Church Leadership Toward Collaborative Spiritual Innovation

(28:09) The Shadow Dimension of Leadership and Personal Roles in Drama

(31:48) Becoming More of Yourself in Leadership

(34:19) The Togetherness Practice: A Framework for Changemakers

(37:45) Transformational Change Through Relational Spaces and Togetherness Practice

(41:53) Courageous Leadership and the Importance of Relational Focus

(47:37) Finding Gifts in Every Room and Within Ourselves

(50:47) Small Boats and the Future of the Church



Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>2d7d8465-a3d7-4459-8cc6-764ef36228e2Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -040054:24falsefull122212Hospitality When It’s Uncomfortable with Rev. Alicia Forde and Tamice Spencer-HelmsHospitality When It’s Uncomfortable with Rev. Alicia Forde and Tamice Spencer-HelmsWhat are we seeing right around the corner from where the church is today? Around the corner is closer than we think. The Spirit is up to something and the invitation is to get close to what is happening right now, to pay attention, to notice, and to wonder. 

This week hosts Lisa Greenwood and Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Alicia Forde, a pastor, poet, and organizer, and Tamice Spencer-Helms, a published author, speaker, and theologian. They explore the role of hospitality in what is emerging in the spiritual landscape today, not just as a friendly gesture but as a profound spiritual and proactive action that aligns with the justice and love of God. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Alicia, and Tamice explore how we can expand our conventional understanding of hospitality, cultivating intentionality, letting go of control, and allowing space for authentic human connection.

Guests

Rev. Alicia Forde is the newest member of the Learning and Innovation Team at Wesleyan Impact Partners, serving as our Director of Formation…we could not be more thrilled to welcome Alicia this fall and we are sure this is the first of what will be more podcast conversations with Alicia. Alicia is a pastor, poet, and organizer and most recently served for the UUA, as the International Office Director.

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and theologian based in Richmond, Virginia. After 16 years of full-time ministry, she founded Sub: Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students. Her book released in 2023 is Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd. 

 Quotes

  • “I think about, like the hospitality industry. I think about the food industry. People come to these establishments with an amount of vulnerability already because they're coming to rest, they're coming to enjoy a meal. I think there is something really powerful about crafting and curating a space and being entrusted with a space that would enable someone to rest or enjoy their family or mourn the loss of a loved one or celebrate some sort of milestone." -Tamice Spencer-Helms [16:11]

  • “A congregation is more than just a building. It's more than just those four walls. It becomes about being attuned to the world outside your doors and who you’re in relationship with, and solidarity with those folks, because they too are part of God's kingdom and the community that you serve. It takes missional clarity to understand that your world is bigger than this beautiful space that you inhabit, and it flows out, and that the call is to be in relationship with the most marginal, vulnerable who exist right outside the door.” -Rev. Alicia Forde [27:40]



Episode Highlights  

  • Proactive Hospitality: True hospitality is proactive, involves aesthetics, authenticity, and attunement, and goes beyond simple friendliness.
  • Justice and Love: Effective hospitality integrates justice, attuned to the needs and stories of the marginalized, embodying God's love.
  • Vulnerability and Belonging: Spaces of hospitality must prioritize vulnerability and authenticity to foster a sense of belonging.
  • Attunement to Community: Congregational hospitality involves being attuned to the broader community, not just those within church walls.
  • Contemplative Practice: Slowing down and practicing contemplation can enhance the ability of spiritual communities to offer genuine hospitality.


Timestamps

(00:40) What is Around the Corner for the Church

(03:16) Mosaic Leadership and the Role of Hospitality

(05:48) Exploring Hospitality Through Intentionality and Letting Go

(11:36) The Intersection of Hospitality, Vulnerability, and Self-Love

(20:10) The Call for Faith Communities to Embrace Everyone Equally

(29:31) A Missed Opportunity for Compassion Outside Church

(33:07) Justice, Love, and Hospitality: A Path to Liberation

(39:09) Cultivating Radical Hospitality in Christian Communities

(50:24) Imagining the Future Church Through Small Boats and Big Impacts


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>What are we seeing right around the corner from where the church is today? Around the corner is closer than we think. The Spirit is up to something and the invitation is to get close to what is happening right now, to pay attention, to notice, and to wonder. 

This week hosts Lisa Greenwood and Kathi McShane speak with Rev. Alicia Forde, a pastor, poet, and organizer, and Tamice Spencer-Helms, a published author, speaker, and theologian. They explore the role of hospitality in what is emerging in the spiritual landscape today, not just as a friendly gesture but as a profound spiritual and proactive action that aligns with the justice and love of God. Listen as Lisa, Kathi, Alicia, and Tamice explore how we can expand our conventional understanding of hospitality, cultivating intentionality, letting go of control, and allowing space for authentic human connection.

Guests

Rev. Alicia Forde is the newest member of the Learning and Innovation Team at Wesleyan Impact Partners, serving as our Director of Formation…we could not be more thrilled to welcome Alicia this fall and we are sure this is the first of what will be more podcast conversations with Alicia. Alicia is a pastor, poet, and organizer and most recently served for the UUA, as the International Office Director.

Tamice Spencer-Helms is a published author, speaker, and theologian based in Richmond, Virginia. After 16 years of full-time ministry, she founded Sub: Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students. Her book released in 2023 is Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd. 

 Quotes

  • “I think about, like the hospitality industry. I think about the food industry. People come to these establishments with an amount of vulnerability already because they're coming to rest, they're coming to enjoy a meal. I think there is something really powerful about crafting and curating a space and being entrusted with a space that would enable someone to rest or enjoy their family or mourn the loss of a loved one or celebrate some sort of milestone." -Tamice Spencer-Helms [16:11]

  • “A congregation is more than just a building. It's more than just those four walls. It becomes about being attuned to the world outside your doors and who you’re in relationship with, and solidarity with those folks, because they too are part of God's kingdom and the community that you serve. It takes missional clarity to understand that your world is bigger than this beautiful space that you inhabit, and it flows out, and that the call is to be in relationship with the most marginal, vulnerable who exist right outside the door.” -Rev. Alicia Forde [27:40]



Episode Highlights  

  • Proactive Hospitality: True hospitality is proactive, involves aesthetics, authenticity, and attunement, and goes beyond simple friendliness.
  • Justice and Love: Effective hospitality integrates justice, attuned to the needs and stories of the marginalized, embodying God's love.
  • Vulnerability and Belonging: Spaces of hospitality must prioritize vulnerability and authenticity to foster a sense of belonging.
  • Attunement to Community: Congregational hospitality involves being attuned to the broader community, not just those within church walls.
  • Contemplative Practice: Slowing down and practicing contemplation can enhance the ability of spiritual communities to offer genuine hospitality.


Timestamps

(00:40) What is Around the Corner for the Church

(03:16) Mosaic Leadership and the Role of Hospitality

(05:48) Exploring Hospitality Through Intentionality and Letting Go

(11:36) The Intersection of Hospitality, Vulnerability, and Self-Love

(20:10) The Call for Faith Communities to Embrace Everyone Equally

(29:31) A Missed Opportunity for Compassion Outside Church

(33:07) Justice, Love, and Hospitality: A Path to Liberation

(39:09) Cultivating Radical Hospitality in Christian Communities

(50:24) Imagining the Future Church Through Small Boats and Big Impacts


Links

Visit our show’s website at www.ignitingimagination.org.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

]]>ec8d0198-e953-410f-8b4b-e4287a11e9afWed, 11 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -040054:41falsefull121112Imago Dei Drives Innovation with Carlos HuertaImago Dei Drives Innovation with Carlos HuertaRev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean reminds us in her new book, Innovating for Love, that we don’t create new things for the sake of change, for innovation’s sake, but rather so that we can love better. We are always finding new ways to love our neighbors in the ways Jesus calls us to love. Carlos Huerta, the Executive Director of the Center for Community Transformation in Fresno, certainly embodies Kenda’s notion. A California-based entrepreneur who turned his attention and life’s work to loving people well – listening to their stories and sharing his own, giving space for building connections, community, and voice. Carlos reminds us that innovation begins with paying attention. Wow! Could it be that simple? What might that look like in our own congregations, families, neighborhoods? What are we paying attention to? What are we noticing? Who might we partner with in our community to love better? We hope Carlos’ story sparks a new conversation and perhaps a new idea for you as you lean into God’s call for this season of your life and ministry. Please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Carlos’ rootedness in Fresno and his inspired journey that led him to become the Executive Director for the Center for Community Transformation.
  • Why “doing life together” is so central to innovation.
  • How the theology of imago dei has shaped Carlos’ leadership.

About Carlos Huerta

Carlos is the executive director of the Center for Community Transformation, overseeing programs in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, ministry leadership training for Spanish-speaking leaders and soft-skills job-training. Carlos holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Fresno Pacific University, a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Michigan State University, and an MBA from Fresno Pacific University.

Read about Carlos’ organization, the Center for Community Transformation: https://www.fresno.edu/departments/center-community-transformation

Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean reminds us in her new book, Innovating for Love, that we don’t create new things for the sake of change, for innovation’s sake, but rather so that we can love better. We are always finding new ways to love our neighbors in the ways Jesus calls us to love. Carlos Huerta, the Executive Director of the Center for Community Transformation in Fresno, certainly embodies Kenda’s notion. A California-based entrepreneur who turned his attention and life’s work to loving people well – listening to their stories and sharing his own, giving space for building connections, community, and voice. Carlos reminds us that innovation begins with paying attention. Wow! Could it be that simple? What might that look like in our own congregations, families, neighborhoods? What are we paying attention to? What are we noticing? Who might we partner with in our community to love better? We hope Carlos’ story sparks a new conversation and perhaps a new idea for you as you lean into God’s call for this season of your life and ministry. Please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Carlos’ rootedness in Fresno and his inspired journey that led him to become the Executive Director for the Center for Community Transformation.
  • Why “doing life together” is so central to innovation.
  • How the theology of imago dei has shaped Carlos’ leadership.

About Carlos Huerta

Carlos is the executive director of the Center for Community Transformation, overseeing programs in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, ministry leadership training for Spanish-speaking leaders and soft-skills job-training. Carlos holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Fresno Pacific University, a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Michigan State University, and an MBA from Fresno Pacific University.

Read about Carlos’ organization, the Center for Community Transformation: https://www.fresno.edu/departments/center-community-transformation

Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>445b3287-6c09-481e-a19b-7dff23314effWed, 15 May 2024 04:00:00 -040053:20falsefull114411The Love of God and Love of Humanity is One Love with Jonathan BrooksThe Love of God and Love of Humanity is One Love with Jonathan BrooksPastah J, as his friends and parishioners affectionately call him, is a remarkable testament to the notion that innovating is what happens when you love the people you are with. We often make innovation out to be the next, big, creative, tech, cool thing when really it's about figuring out how to love our neighbors better and how to more deeply and faithfully root ourselves in Jesus' call. It's ministry. It's courageously saying YES. It's never going it alone. It's tenaciously pursuing possibilities. It's being a neighbor and loving the neighborhood. We pray this conversation sparks a new idea or even a new courage in you and your ministry. If it does, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Pastah J’s relational approach to ministry with the Englewood and Lawndale communities in Chicago.
  • How Pastah J organized bringing Whole Foods into the neighborhood on the neighborhood’s terms.
  • Pastah J’s vision is to destroy Saviorism in congregations and reclaim neighboring neglected neighborhoods.
  • Discussion of the quote from Benjamin Mays, “The love of God and love of humanity is one love” and why it beautifully articulates Pastah J’s ministry.

About Jonathan Brooks 


Rev. Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J, as he is affectionately known, is a lifelong resident of Chicago, IL, and serves as the lead pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood. He is also the board chair of the Parish Collective. He previously served as the senior pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood for fifteen years. As an educator on many different levels and a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom, and community. His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training as well as restorative justice practices and care for the incarcerated and their families.

Pastah J is a sought-after speaker, writer, artist, and community activist. He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles and books, and his most recent book is Church Forsaken: PracticingPresence in Neglected Neighborhoods.

For more information about Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks, visit: pastahj.com.

Pastah J is the Lead Pastor of Lawndale Christian Community Church in Chicago: http://www.lawndalechurch.org/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Pastah J, as his friends and parishioners affectionately call him, is a remarkable testament to the notion that innovating is what happens when you love the people you are with. We often make innovation out to be the next, big, creative, tech, cool thing when really it's about figuring out how to love our neighbors better and how to more deeply and faithfully root ourselves in Jesus' call. It's ministry. It's courageously saying YES. It's never going it alone. It's tenaciously pursuing possibilities. It's being a neighbor and loving the neighborhood. We pray this conversation sparks a new idea or even a new courage in you and your ministry. If it does, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Pastah J’s relational approach to ministry with the Englewood and Lawndale communities in Chicago.
  • How Pastah J organized bringing Whole Foods into the neighborhood on the neighborhood’s terms.
  • Pastah J’s vision is to destroy Saviorism in congregations and reclaim neighboring neglected neighborhoods.
  • Discussion of the quote from Benjamin Mays, “The love of God and love of humanity is one love” and why it beautifully articulates Pastah J’s ministry.

About Jonathan Brooks 


Rev. Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J, as he is affectionately known, is a lifelong resident of Chicago, IL, and serves as the lead pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood. He is also the board chair of the Parish Collective. He previously served as the senior pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood for fifteen years. As an educator on many different levels and a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom, and community. His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training as well as restorative justice practices and care for the incarcerated and their families.

Pastah J is a sought-after speaker, writer, artist, and community activist. He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles and books, and his most recent book is Church Forsaken: PracticingPresence in Neglected Neighborhoods.

For more information about Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks, visit: pastahj.com.

Pastah J is the Lead Pastor of Lawndale Christian Community Church in Chicago: http://www.lawndalechurch.org/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>5c5aab4e-2a0f-45d9-8615-8d3b1db2165bWed, 08 May 2024 10:00:00 -040048:55falsefull113311A Platform that Empowers People with Moy MendezA Platform that Empowers People with Moy MendezOur Locke Innovative Leaders offer a powerful picture of what is possible for the church. They don’t just see a need, they see great potential that exists in that need, and they respond with the next faithful step, always gathering others to help create and build. It’s remarkably consistent. Moy Mendez, a pastor in Chicago and the Executive Director of the Hope Center in Blue Island, is a great example – he didn’t just see the needs of his community; he saw the potential, and he leaned in, offering a platform for the giftedness of his neighbors. Today, Hope Center employs, engages, and trains neighbors in agriculture, auto mechanics, technology, and the arts, building a culture of hope and well-being. Lives are being transformed! We can’t wait for you to meet Moy and hear his story! We pray it sparks an imagination in you for what is possible and if it does, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear: 

  • Co-host Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean describe what it means to her to be named an innovative leader.
  • Moy Mendez share his calling to create a platform to empower people
  • Why Moy believes the Hope Center is the ‘modern look of evangelism’  
  • How Moy experienced “innovating for love” as a child and how he innovates for love today. 

About Moy Mendez

Moy Mendez is a dedicated and visionary leader, serving as the Executive Director of the Hope Center, a dynamic non-profit organization committed to catalyzing community economic development. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of faith, education, and a deep-seated commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him.

Born and raised in a close-knit community, Moy's early years instilled a profound sense of responsibility and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. His unwavering belief in the potential of individuals to create change led him to establish the Hope Center—a platform aimed at equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs in diverse fields, including agriculture, technology, and auto mechanics.

Moy's faith has been a guiding force throughout his life, serving as the cornerstone of his personal values and professional pursuits. Grounded in his strong convictions, he has seamlessly intertwined his spiritual beliefs with his career aspirations. This harmonious blend has not only enriched his journey but has also inspired those around him to find purpose and fulfillment in their own endeavors.

Education has been a cornerstone of Moy's personal growth and professional success. He holds an Associates Degree in Computer Programming from Moraine Valley Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Christian Life College, and a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity International University. Moy enjoys traveling with his wife Eva and dog Oreo in his free time to state parks and beach fronts.

For more information about Hope Center, visit: https://hopecenter.tv/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>Our Locke Innovative Leaders offer a powerful picture of what is possible for the church. They don’t just see a need, they see great potential that exists in that need, and they respond with the next faithful step, always gathering others to help create and build. It’s remarkably consistent. Moy Mendez, a pastor in Chicago and the Executive Director of the Hope Center in Blue Island, is a great example – he didn’t just see the needs of his community; he saw the potential, and he leaned in, offering a platform for the giftedness of his neighbors. Today, Hope Center employs, engages, and trains neighbors in agriculture, auto mechanics, technology, and the arts, building a culture of hope and well-being. Lives are being transformed! We can’t wait for you to meet Moy and hear his story! We pray it sparks an imagination in you for what is possible and if it does, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear: 

  • Co-host Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean describe what it means to her to be named an innovative leader.
  • Moy Mendez share his calling to create a platform to empower people
  • Why Moy believes the Hope Center is the ‘modern look of evangelism’  
  • How Moy experienced “innovating for love” as a child and how he innovates for love today. 

About Moy Mendez

Moy Mendez is a dedicated and visionary leader, serving as the Executive Director of the Hope Center, a dynamic non-profit organization committed to catalyzing community economic development. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of faith, education, and a deep-seated commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him.

Born and raised in a close-knit community, Moy's early years instilled a profound sense of responsibility and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. His unwavering belief in the potential of individuals to create change led him to establish the Hope Center—a platform aimed at equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs in diverse fields, including agriculture, technology, and auto mechanics.

Moy's faith has been a guiding force throughout his life, serving as the cornerstone of his personal values and professional pursuits. Grounded in his strong convictions, he has seamlessly intertwined his spiritual beliefs with his career aspirations. This harmonious blend has not only enriched his journey but has also inspired those around him to find purpose and fulfillment in their own endeavors.

Education has been a cornerstone of Moy's personal growth and professional success. He holds an Associates Degree in Computer Programming from Moraine Valley Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Christian Life College, and a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity International University. Moy enjoys traveling with his wife Eva and dog Oreo in his free time to state parks and beach fronts.

For more information about Hope Center, visit: https://hopecenter.tv/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>52b4db1f-4576-4b29-b7e7-e58b764007efWed, 01 May 2024 10:00:00 -040043:18falsefull112211Network Building for Outsized Impact with Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, IIINetwork Building for Outsized Impact with Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, IIIWe are so excited about this season of the Igniting Imagination Podcast as Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Lisa Greenwood have conversations with four exceptional, innovative faith leaders who are profoundly influencing the way we think about the church’s mission and witness. It’s stunning and inspiring! Our guest this week is Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III. Heber’s story, the story of how the Black church he served in Baltimore birthed a network of hundreds of churches and black farmers to feed thousands of people with healthy, fresh food, is remarkable. Truly. Nothing short of the powerful work of God! We pray Heber’s story will ignite a new conversation, a new way of thinking, a new imagination in you.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Co-host Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean shares the qualities of innovative leaders she’s observed.
  • Heber’s God-sized vision for a small plot of land on his church property.
  • How networking allowed something small to have an outsized impact.
  • Heber’s call to a mission, not a church.

About Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III

Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown, III has been a catalyst for personal transformation and social change for more than 20 years. For nearly 14 years, he served as pastor of a Baptist church in Baltimore, where he saw and personally experienced the impacts of food apartheid. This helped to inspire him to launch the Black Church Food Security Network which advances food security and food sovereignty by co-creating Black food ecosystems anchored by nearly 250 Black congregations in partnership with Black farmers and other food justice stakeholders. He serves on the board of Bread for the World and has garnered numerous awards including an Ashoka Fellowship. He is the author of the forthcoming book Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories of Black Church Faith, Food and Freedom.


For more information about Rev. Dr. Brown, visit his website: https://www.heberbrown.com/

For more information about the Black Church Food Security Network, visit: https://blackchurchfoodsecurity.net/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>We are so excited about this season of the Igniting Imagination Podcast as Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and Rev. Lisa Greenwood have conversations with four exceptional, innovative faith leaders who are profoundly influencing the way we think about the church’s mission and witness. It’s stunning and inspiring! Our guest this week is Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III. Heber’s story, the story of how the Black church he served in Baltimore birthed a network of hundreds of churches and black farmers to feed thousands of people with healthy, fresh food, is remarkable. Truly. Nothing short of the powerful work of God! We pray Heber’s story will ignite a new conversation, a new way of thinking, a new imagination in you.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Co-host Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean shares the qualities of innovative leaders she’s observed.
  • Heber’s God-sized vision for a small plot of land on his church property.
  • How networking allowed something small to have an outsized impact.
  • Heber’s call to a mission, not a church.

About Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III

Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown, III has been a catalyst for personal transformation and social change for more than 20 years. For nearly 14 years, he served as pastor of a Baptist church in Baltimore, where he saw and personally experienced the impacts of food apartheid. This helped to inspire him to launch the Black Church Food Security Network which advances food security and food sovereignty by co-creating Black food ecosystems anchored by nearly 250 Black congregations in partnership with Black farmers and other food justice stakeholders. He serves on the board of Bread for the World and has garnered numerous awards including an Ashoka Fellowship. He is the author of the forthcoming book Nothing More Sacred: Radical Stories of Black Church Faith, Food and Freedom.


For more information about Rev. Dr. Brown, visit his website: https://www.heberbrown.com/

For more information about the Black Church Food Security Network, visit: https://blackchurchfoodsecurity.net/


Read all about the Locke Innovative Leader Award on our website: https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/locke-leaders


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>c51fba9f-173a-4df6-9842-d110e0b044aeWed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -040052:54falsefull111111Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership in the Church TodayFacing Reality, Claiming Leadership in the Church TodayHave you enjoyed Season 10 of our Igniting Imagination Podcast as much as we have?! We started with Margaret Wheatley and we are ending the season with two remarkable innovative leaders, who also happen to be part of our leadership learning and innovation team, Rev. Kathi McShane and Derrick Scott, III. If you haven’t been listening, this conversation can guide you toward the episodes that most speak to you – it’s a great place to start! If you’ve been listening along the way, we hope you’ll find it helpful to pull on the threads that name the realities we are facing today and how we claim our leadership in the midst. It’s not an easy season, but I’m convinced we have an opportunity to lead in new ways that get us a bit closer to the world that God imagines. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Leading in a time of polarization.
  • The importance of naming and understanding ambiguous loss.
  • More responses to Wheatley’s “addicted to hope”.

Derrick Scott, III is the associate director of learning and innovation for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Derrick has been leading ministry in the collegiate and young adult context for over 20 years.

In addition to his work with Wesleyan Impact Partners, Derrick currently serves as the creative producer of Studio Wesley, a ministry that’s exploring how to serve college-aged young adults in the digital space. He is also the co-lay leader of the Florida Conference of the UMC. He is passionate about empowering a new generation of leaders and laborers who will live as disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world.

He has an undergraduate degree in history, is a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, and is a textbook introvert. He loves eating sushi, flying on Delta, and pouring craft beer. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his Chihuahua-mix dog Winston and Bengal cat Julian. Most importantly, he hates mayonnaise.


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of learning and innovation for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Kathi retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served for eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary and beginning her life in ministry, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In her final appointment in Los Altos, California, Kathi co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, which is a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. That work has led her toward multiple projects that are re-imagining leadership for the church of the future. She is the co-author, with Rabbi Elan Babchuck, of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire.

Kathi lives on a vineyard on the Central Coast of California.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Have you enjoyed Season 10 of our Igniting Imagination Podcast as much as we have?! We started with Margaret Wheatley and we are ending the season with two remarkable innovative leaders, who also happen to be part of our leadership learning and innovation team, Rev. Kathi McShane and Derrick Scott, III. If you haven’t been listening, this conversation can guide you toward the episodes that most speak to you – it’s a great place to start! If you’ve been listening along the way, we hope you’ll find it helpful to pull on the threads that name the realities we are facing today and how we claim our leadership in the midst. It’s not an easy season, but I’m convinced we have an opportunity to lead in new ways that get us a bit closer to the world that God imagines. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Leading in a time of polarization.
  • The importance of naming and understanding ambiguous loss.
  • More responses to Wheatley’s “addicted to hope”.

Derrick Scott, III is the associate director of learning and innovation for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Derrick has been leading ministry in the collegiate and young adult context for over 20 years.

In addition to his work with Wesleyan Impact Partners, Derrick currently serves as the creative producer of Studio Wesley, a ministry that’s exploring how to serve college-aged young adults in the digital space. He is also the co-lay leader of the Florida Conference of the UMC. He is passionate about empowering a new generation of leaders and laborers who will live as disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world.

He has an undergraduate degree in history, is a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, and is a textbook introvert. He loves eating sushi, flying on Delta, and pouring craft beer. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his Chihuahua-mix dog Winston and Bengal cat Julian. Most importantly, he hates mayonnaise.


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of learning and innovation for Wesleyan Impact Partners. Kathi retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served for eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary and beginning her life in ministry, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In her final appointment in Los Altos, California, Kathi co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, which is a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. That work has led her toward multiple projects that are re-imagining leadership for the church of the future. She is the co-author, with Rabbi Elan Babchuck, of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire.

Kathi lives on a vineyard on the Central Coast of California.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>c8b95eb9-7176-482f-a545-80cdc7c16eafWed, 10 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -040039:49falsefull10111110Shaping our Biblical Imaginations with Dr. Eric BarretoShaping our Biblical Imaginations with Dr. Eric BarretoIn this week’s episode of the Igniting Imagination Podcast, we talk with professor Eric Barreto who invites us into a biblical imagination for our work together. We love how he reminds us to keep coming back to the good news of Jesus. Yes! That is what inspires us, forms us, equips and animates us! We hope this conversation gives you a new imagination for what’s possible and if it does, please share with friends and leave us a review! Thank you for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • How childhood experiences shaped Eric’s understanding of faith and the church.
  • The value of a seminary education today.
  • Biblical wisdom for this time of polarization.
  • The gift of Hispanic and Latino perspectives in biblical and theological studies.

About Eric Barreto

Dr. Eric D. Barreto is the Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds a BA in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University, an MDiv from Princeton Seminary, and a PhD in New Testament from Emory University. Prior to coming to Princeton Theological Seminary, he served as associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, and also taught as an adjunct professor at the Candler School of Theology and McAfee School of Theology.

As a Baptist minister, Barreto has pursued scholarship for the sake of the church, and he regularly writes for and teaches in faith communities around the country. He has also been a leader in the Hispanic Theological Initiative Consortium, a national, ecumenical, and inter-constitutional consortium comprised of some of the top seminaries, theological schools, and religion departments in the country. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion.

Visit Eric’s website at: https://www.ericbarreto.com/

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>In this week’s episode of the Igniting Imagination Podcast, we talk with professor Eric Barreto who invites us into a biblical imagination for our work together. We love how he reminds us to keep coming back to the good news of Jesus. Yes! That is what inspires us, forms us, equips and animates us! We hope this conversation gives you a new imagination for what’s possible and if it does, please share with friends and leave us a review! Thank you for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • How childhood experiences shaped Eric’s understanding of faith and the church.
  • The value of a seminary education today.
  • Biblical wisdom for this time of polarization.
  • The gift of Hispanic and Latino perspectives in biblical and theological studies.

About Eric Barreto

Dr. Eric D. Barreto is the Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds a BA in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University, an MDiv from Princeton Seminary, and a PhD in New Testament from Emory University. Prior to coming to Princeton Theological Seminary, he served as associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, and also taught as an adjunct professor at the Candler School of Theology and McAfee School of Theology.

As a Baptist minister, Barreto has pursued scholarship for the sake of the church, and he regularly writes for and teaches in faith communities around the country. He has also been a leader in the Hispanic Theological Initiative Consortium, a national, ecumenical, and inter-constitutional consortium comprised of some of the top seminaries, theological schools, and religion departments in the country. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion.

Visit Eric’s website at: https://www.ericbarreto.com/

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>7e569361-b3e2-40fd-8786-c722ab966985Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -040047:10falsefull10101010Cultivating an Indigenous Worldview with Dr. Randy WoodleyCultivating an Indigenous Worldview with Dr. Randy WoodleyDr. Randy Woodley, professor, scholar, farmer, and indigenous American, speaks of indigenous ways of leading that seem, on the surface, to be counter-intuitive, and yet as we sit with them, we see how resonate with Jesus’ teachings they are. We are so curious what you think as you listen. What do we have to learn from indigenous cultures about leading in this season? What old patterns do we need to let go of, and new postures embrace? Where are you finding yourself renewed in your leadership and in your spirit? As always, we pray this conversation will spark a new imagination for you and for your ministry and if it does, please share with a colleague and leave us a review.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Difficult truths related to eco-justice, diversity, racial justice.
  • The gifts of indigenous spirituality and indigenous worldview.
  • Why becoming rooted in the earth is essential.
  • A decolonized approach to Christianity and church leadership.

About Randy Woodley

Dr. Randy Woodley addresses a variety of issues concerning American culture, faith, justice, race, our relationship with the earth, and Indigenous realities. He recently retired as Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture and Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies at Portland Seminary, Portland Oregon. His expertise has been sought in national venues as diverse as Time Magazine, The New York Times, Politifact, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, and Planet Drum: A Voice for Bioregional, Sustainability, Education, and Culture.

Dr. Woodley earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies and remains active in ongoing discussions in a variety of areas concerning spirituality, earth-care, racial and ethnic identity, diversity, peace, social justice, eco-justice, interreligious dialogue, Indigenous studies, agriculture, and spirituality. 


Randy and his wife Edith, are the founders of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds. Through Eloheh they invite people to a new relationship with Creation and model sustainable farming practices and Earth justice. You can learn more about their work here. And more about their Cultural Consultant work at Sho-Kee here.


Randy’s most recent book, Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Earth is available here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Dr. Randy Woodley, professor, scholar, farmer, and indigenous American, speaks of indigenous ways of leading that seem, on the surface, to be counter-intuitive, and yet as we sit with them, we see how resonate with Jesus’ teachings they are. We are so curious what you think as you listen. What do we have to learn from indigenous cultures about leading in this season? What old patterns do we need to let go of, and new postures embrace? Where are you finding yourself renewed in your leadership and in your spirit? As always, we pray this conversation will spark a new imagination for you and for your ministry and if it does, please share with a colleague and leave us a review.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Difficult truths related to eco-justice, diversity, racial justice.
  • The gifts of indigenous spirituality and indigenous worldview.
  • Why becoming rooted in the earth is essential.
  • A decolonized approach to Christianity and church leadership.

About Randy Woodley

Dr. Randy Woodley addresses a variety of issues concerning American culture, faith, justice, race, our relationship with the earth, and Indigenous realities. He recently retired as Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture and Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies at Portland Seminary, Portland Oregon. His expertise has been sought in national venues as diverse as Time Magazine, The New York Times, Politifact, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, and Planet Drum: A Voice for Bioregional, Sustainability, Education, and Culture.

Dr. Woodley earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies and remains active in ongoing discussions in a variety of areas concerning spirituality, earth-care, racial and ethnic identity, diversity, peace, social justice, eco-justice, interreligious dialogue, Indigenous studies, agriculture, and spirituality. 


Randy and his wife Edith, are the founders of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds. Through Eloheh they invite people to a new relationship with Creation and model sustainable farming practices and Earth justice. You can learn more about their work here. And more about their Cultural Consultant work at Sho-Kee here.


Randy’s most recent book, Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Earth is available here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>42ee5849-3f92-4f92-9145-32e855a3c1beWed, 28 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -040057:15falsefull109910Living ‘Love Your Neighbor’ in the State House of Representatives with Rep. James TalaricoLiving ‘Love Your Neighbor’ in the State House of Representatives with Rep. James TalaricoThis week’s episode of Igniting Imagination is a bit of a departure for us – for the first time, our guest is a politician! Yep, State Representative James Talarico. We decided that if we are going to do a season on Facing Reality and Claiming Leadership, we ought to directly address the polarization in our country – and where better than Texas politics!?!

 

James Talarico, a lifelong Christian, active church member, and student at Austin Presbyterian Seminary while serving in the Texas House of Representatives, lives his deep faith in startling ways in his legislative work. If you find yourself disagreeing with his stances, then all the more, he wants to draw you into conversation and even collaboration. He lives a very biblical and profoundly challenging understanding of what it means to love your neighbor. We look forward to hearing your reactions. We pray it will spark new conversations for you, perhaps a new insight into God’s call for you or your church. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Why James is in seminary and how he navigates faith and politics
  • Why polarization is the greatest challenge of our time and how people of faith can respond
  • The threat of Christian nationalism to the country and church
  • How to lead in an environment of constant criticism
  • Stories of hope and making a difference at the local level

About James Talarico

Representative James Talarico is a former public school teacher first elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. Born in Round Rock, Rep. Talarico attended Wells Branch Elementary School and graduated from McNeil High School before earning degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. After college, he taught middle school on the Westside of San Antonio. He currently sits on the Public Education Committee, the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, and the Calendars Committee.


As a former teacher, Rep. Talarico has worked to ensure all Texas students have access to a quality education. In his first term, he helped write the most significant reform to the state’s school finance system in 20 years. He went on to pass major legislation to open up millions of dollars for student mental health and character education programs, establish the first-ever cap on Pre-K class sizes to reduce student-to-teacher ratios, and improve the quality and affordability of child care. As a type 1 diabetic, Rep. Talarico also passed historic legislation to cap insulin copays in Texas at $25 a month and import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada — dramatically reducing prescription drug costs for Texas patients. In addition, he passed laws to combat teen fentanyl overdoses, ban reality TV policing, increase accountability within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and give all incarcerated minors in Texas the opportunity to earn a high school diploma.


For these accomplishments, Talarico was named one of the Top 10 Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine.


Article by Adam Wren referenced in the episode can be accessed here. 


Talarico’s websites are here and here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>This week’s episode of Igniting Imagination is a bit of a departure for us – for the first time, our guest is a politician! Yep, State Representative James Talarico. We decided that if we are going to do a season on Facing Reality and Claiming Leadership, we ought to directly address the polarization in our country – and where better than Texas politics!?!

 

James Talarico, a lifelong Christian, active church member, and student at Austin Presbyterian Seminary while serving in the Texas House of Representatives, lives his deep faith in startling ways in his legislative work. If you find yourself disagreeing with his stances, then all the more, he wants to draw you into conversation and even collaboration. He lives a very biblical and profoundly challenging understanding of what it means to love your neighbor. We look forward to hearing your reactions. We pray it will spark new conversations for you, perhaps a new insight into God’s call for you or your church. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Why James is in seminary and how he navigates faith and politics
  • Why polarization is the greatest challenge of our time and how people of faith can respond
  • The threat of Christian nationalism to the country and church
  • How to lead in an environment of constant criticism
  • Stories of hope and making a difference at the local level

About James Talarico

Representative James Talarico is a former public school teacher first elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. Born in Round Rock, Rep. Talarico attended Wells Branch Elementary School and graduated from McNeil High School before earning degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. After college, he taught middle school on the Westside of San Antonio. He currently sits on the Public Education Committee, the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, and the Calendars Committee.


As a former teacher, Rep. Talarico has worked to ensure all Texas students have access to a quality education. In his first term, he helped write the most significant reform to the state’s school finance system in 20 years. He went on to pass major legislation to open up millions of dollars for student mental health and character education programs, establish the first-ever cap on Pre-K class sizes to reduce student-to-teacher ratios, and improve the quality and affordability of child care. As a type 1 diabetic, Rep. Talarico also passed historic legislation to cap insulin copays in Texas at $25 a month and import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada — dramatically reducing prescription drug costs for Texas patients. In addition, he passed laws to combat teen fentanyl overdoses, ban reality TV policing, increase accountability within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and give all incarcerated minors in Texas the opportunity to earn a high school diploma.


For these accomplishments, Talarico was named one of the Top 10 Best Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine.


Article by Adam Wren referenced in the episode can be accessed here. 


Talarico’s websites are here and here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>3af374ca-e0ba-4097-8d77-1a6592c90ad8Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -040058:43falsefull108810Nurturing the Possible Through Catalytic Leadership with Rev. Dr. Dave OdomNurturing the Possible Through Catalytic Leadership with Rev. Dr. Dave OdomRev. Dr. Dave Odom, who leads Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, works with hundreds of congregations and leaders from multiple faith traditions across the country. As such, he has a unique vantage point to view the realities of the church and what is needed for leaders today. In this week’s podcast episode, Dave shares that a new kind of support is needed for the work of ministry today – specifically, catalytic leaders and organizations (even congregations!) who are discovering and supporting leaders and ministries doing God’s transformative work in the world. Catalysts multiply the witness! May this conversation be catalytic in your work. May it spark a new imagination and perhaps a new collaboration that multiplies your impact. If it does, we hope you’ll let us know. Email us, share with friends, leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • The challenges of polarization in the church today and what leaders can do.
  • What catalytic leadership is and why is it so important.
  • Why being a healthy church is not the point.
  • A story about a congregation that gives Dave hope for the church. 

About Dave Odom 

Rev. Dr. Dave Odom joined Duke Divinity School in August 2007 to launch Leadership Education at Duke Divinity and now oversees all of its programs and publications, including Faith & Leadership. He regularly teaches and facilitates events and both writes and solicits content for Faith & Leadership. Since 2014, he has directed Alban at Duke Divinity School.

In addition, Odom supervises select initiatives at Duke Divinity School, where he serves as an associate dean and consulting professor. He teaches courses on strategy and leadership along with consulting on program and staff development.

Before coming to Duke, Odom was the founder and president of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which supported healthy communities of faith through consultation, leadership development, interim ministry training and vocational discernment.

For more than 20 years, he has been active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He is an ordained Baptist pastor and graduate of Furman University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary.

To learn more about Leadership Education, visit their website: https://leadership.divinity.duke.edu/

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>Rev. Dr. Dave Odom, who leads Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, works with hundreds of congregations and leaders from multiple faith traditions across the country. As such, he has a unique vantage point to view the realities of the church and what is needed for leaders today. In this week’s podcast episode, Dave shares that a new kind of support is needed for the work of ministry today – specifically, catalytic leaders and organizations (even congregations!) who are discovering and supporting leaders and ministries doing God’s transformative work in the world. Catalysts multiply the witness! May this conversation be catalytic in your work. May it spark a new imagination and perhaps a new collaboration that multiplies your impact. If it does, we hope you’ll let us know. Email us, share with friends, leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • The challenges of polarization in the church today and what leaders can do.
  • What catalytic leadership is and why is it so important.
  • Why being a healthy church is not the point.
  • A story about a congregation that gives Dave hope for the church. 

About Dave Odom 

Rev. Dr. Dave Odom joined Duke Divinity School in August 2007 to launch Leadership Education at Duke Divinity and now oversees all of its programs and publications, including Faith & Leadership. He regularly teaches and facilitates events and both writes and solicits content for Faith & Leadership. Since 2014, he has directed Alban at Duke Divinity School.

In addition, Odom supervises select initiatives at Duke Divinity School, where he serves as an associate dean and consulting professor. He teaches courses on strategy and leadership along with consulting on program and staff development.

Before coming to Duke, Odom was the founder and president of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which supported healthy communities of faith through consultation, leadership development, interim ministry training and vocational discernment.

For more than 20 years, he has been active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He is an ordained Baptist pastor and graduate of Furman University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary.

To learn more about Leadership Education, visit their website: https://leadership.divinity.duke.edu/

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

]]>c460ab53-c12d-48de-bb24-fc1fbf327955Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -040052:06falsefull107710Discovering a Way Back to Each Other with Rev. Dr. Amy ButlerDiscovering a Way Back to Each Other with Rev. Dr. Amy ButlerThe Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is a master at facing reality and claiming leadership. In her newly released memoir, Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other, she weaves together what is real and messy and hard with what is true and hopeful and redemptive, reminding us that the journey of faith is inextricably all those things. In our conversation with Pastor Amy, we get to experience a powerful leader, whose vulnerability and honesty offer a witness of the kind of leadership our beautiful (and terrible) world needs today. We hope you find it inspiring as you seek to navigate and lead in this season! If this podcast is meaningful to you, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Why Amy chose “Beautiful and Terrible Things” as her theme and book title
  • The beautiful and terrible things present in the church today
  • The connection between vulnerability and leadership and how Amy has leaned into vulnerability
  • Amy’s vision for Invested Faith, the philanthropic initiative she founded 
  • An excerpt from Amy’s book

About Amy Butler


Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy Butler’s website: https://www.pastoramy.com/

Invested Faith’s website: https://www.investedfaith.org/

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>The Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is a master at facing reality and claiming leadership. In her newly released memoir, Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other, she weaves together what is real and messy and hard with what is true and hopeful and redemptive, reminding us that the journey of faith is inextricably all those things. In our conversation with Pastor Amy, we get to experience a powerful leader, whose vulnerability and honesty offer a witness of the kind of leadership our beautiful (and terrible) world needs today. We hope you find it inspiring as you seek to navigate and lead in this season! If this podcast is meaningful to you, please share with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Why Amy chose “Beautiful and Terrible Things” as her theme and book title
  • The beautiful and terrible things present in the church today
  • The connection between vulnerability and leadership and how Amy has leaned into vulnerability
  • Amy’s vision for Invested Faith, the philanthropic initiative she founded 
  • An excerpt from Amy’s book

About Amy Butler


Rev. Dr. Amy Butler is the founder of the philanthropic initiative Invested Faith. She previously served as the first woman senior minister of The Riverside Church in New York City, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (D.C.), associate pastor at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, and intentional interim minister at National City Christian Church (D.C.). Pastor Amy holds degrees from Baylor University, the International Baptist Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She's a mother of three children and currently lives in Hawaii.

Amy Butler’s website: https://www.pastoramy.com/

Invested Faith’s website: https://www.investedfaith.org/

Amy’s book is Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>db5ff4ac-f916-403d-a273-a3d211780ebeWed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -040044:37falsefull106610Actively Waiting in the Accelerating Age with Dr. Andy RootActively Waiting in the Accelerating Age with Dr. Andy RootIf you are having conversations about innovation in the church, chances are that Andy Root’s name has come up. Writing books like, When the Church Stops Working and The Church After Innovation and The Pastor in a Secular Age, Dr. Andrew Root is leading the way in helping leaders to name and face current reality and lean into new ways of leading. What we love in Andy’s work, and it comes through in this episode, is that he doesn’t turn to expected solutions or ways of behaving. Deeply grounded in scripture and our shared Christian narrative, he invites us to consider a counter-intuitive way of showing up. As always, it is our great hope that this podcast will spark a new imagination within you, perhaps a new conversation and a new way of leading in this season and if it does, please share with friends and leave us a review! Thanks for listening.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:


  • Why the church is in crisis and why the problem we think is the problem isn’t really the problem
  • What the Accelerating Age is and what it means for the church
  • Excavating the idea of innovation and entrepreneurship 
  • Andy’s questions and concerns about innovation in the church
  • The question every church leader should be asking right now


About Dr. Andy Root

Andrew Root (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Andrew Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, USA. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations.  His most recent books are Churches and the Crisis of Decline (Baker, 2022), The Congregation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2021), The End of Youth Ministry? (Baker, 2020), The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need God (Baker, 2019), Faith Formation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2017), and Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (Fortress Press, 2018).

For more information about Dr. Andy Root, visit his website at www.andrewroot.org

You can view Andy’s video on the Church in the Accelerating Age here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>If you are having conversations about innovation in the church, chances are that Andy Root’s name has come up. Writing books like, When the Church Stops Working and The Church After Innovation and The Pastor in a Secular Age, Dr. Andrew Root is leading the way in helping leaders to name and face current reality and lean into new ways of leading. What we love in Andy’s work, and it comes through in this episode, is that he doesn’t turn to expected solutions or ways of behaving. Deeply grounded in scripture and our shared Christian narrative, he invites us to consider a counter-intuitive way of showing up. As always, it is our great hope that this podcast will spark a new imagination within you, perhaps a new conversation and a new way of leading in this season and if it does, please share with friends and leave us a review! Thanks for listening.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:


  • Why the church is in crisis and why the problem we think is the problem isn’t really the problem
  • What the Accelerating Age is and what it means for the church
  • Excavating the idea of innovation and entrepreneurship 
  • Andy’s questions and concerns about innovation in the church
  • The question every church leader should be asking right now


About Dr. Andy Root

Andrew Root (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Andrew Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, USA. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations.  His most recent books are Churches and the Crisis of Decline (Baker, 2022), The Congregation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2021), The End of Youth Ministry? (Baker, 2020), The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need God (Baker, 2019), Faith Formation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2017), and Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (Fortress Press, 2018).

For more information about Dr. Andy Root, visit his website at www.andrewroot.org

You can view Andy’s video on the Church in the Accelerating Age here.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>f6789afc-b2ef-435c-bbb6-c38f0afa777cWed, 31 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -040001:00:13falsefull105510Reimagining an Established Institution with Dr. Aaron KueckerReimagining an Established Institution with Dr. Aaron KueckerOur guest is Dr. Aaron Kuecker, President of Trinity Christian College in Chicago. We can’t wait for you to hear what they are doing at Trinity Christian to tend to the wellbeing of their students. It is intentional and generous and nothing short of life-changing – from their approach to the funding model to how they are protecting the mid-week “Wellbeing Wednesday.” You can’t help but think: What if all campuses were trying similar things? How would this generation be shaped for good? Perhaps we might all be a bit more grounded and generous and less despairing. We are excited for you to meet Aaron and hear how truth-telling, transparency and a commitment to wellbeing is transforming individual lives, a campus, and a community. We hope it sparks a new imagination in you for what is possible in this season and if it does, let us know! Share with friends and leave us a review. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:


  • Challenges college campuses are facing today
  • How Christian theology led to prioritizing student wellbeing
  • Exploring a new economic model for higher education
  • Leading an established institution through significant change



About Aaron Kuecker


Dr. Aaron Kuecker serves as president of Trinity Christian College. Before assuming this role, he had served as the College’s provost since July 2016. His work as interim president and provost represent a sort of homecoming to the Trinity community. From 2008-2013, Kuecker was associate professor of theology and director of education at the College. In the intervening years, he served at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, most recently as dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, professor of theology, and director of the Honors College.


Kuecker’s academic work has largely focused on identity formation in the early Christian church, with an emphasis on New Testament studies and biblical theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland; his M.Div., from Western Theological Seminary; and his B.A. in political science from Central College. Before earning his Ph.D., Kuecker served as associate pastor and youth pastor at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI.

For more information about Trinity Christian College, visit their website at https://www.trnty.edu/


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Our guest is Dr. Aaron Kuecker, President of Trinity Christian College in Chicago. We can’t wait for you to hear what they are doing at Trinity Christian to tend to the wellbeing of their students. It is intentional and generous and nothing short of life-changing – from their approach to the funding model to how they are protecting the mid-week “Wellbeing Wednesday.” You can’t help but think: What if all campuses were trying similar things? How would this generation be shaped for good? Perhaps we might all be a bit more grounded and generous and less despairing. We are excited for you to meet Aaron and hear how truth-telling, transparency and a commitment to wellbeing is transforming individual lives, a campus, and a community. We hope it sparks a new imagination in you for what is possible in this season and if it does, let us know! Share with friends and leave us a review. 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:


  • Challenges college campuses are facing today
  • How Christian theology led to prioritizing student wellbeing
  • Exploring a new economic model for higher education
  • Leading an established institution through significant change



About Aaron Kuecker


Dr. Aaron Kuecker serves as president of Trinity Christian College. Before assuming this role, he had served as the College’s provost since July 2016. His work as interim president and provost represent a sort of homecoming to the Trinity community. From 2008-2013, Kuecker was associate professor of theology and director of education at the College. In the intervening years, he served at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, most recently as dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, professor of theology, and director of the Honors College.


Kuecker’s academic work has largely focused on identity formation in the early Christian church, with an emphasis on New Testament studies and biblical theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland; his M.Div., from Western Theological Seminary; and his B.A. in political science from Central College. Before earning his Ph.D., Kuecker served as associate pastor and youth pastor at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI.

For more information about Trinity Christian College, visit their website at https://www.trnty.edu/


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>017b0173-9c09-4c95-9ada-da486a6b958cWed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -040048:21falsefull104410Stewarding Ambiguous Loss with Dr. Pauline BossStewarding Ambiguous Loss with Dr. Pauline BossThis conversation with Dr. Pauline Boss, author of Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, is hope-filled, encouraging, validating, and motivating. Her insights manage to be both practical and weighty. She reminds us that we live in a mastery culture – that is, we want to be in control, have the answers, and win – which is, of course, a myth, so we are a nation (yes, a whole nation!) of unresolved grief, needing to name our profound sense of loss in the face of so much uncertainty. Wow! Think about the implications for the church – the essential role we can play in stewarding grief today, navigating uncertainty, residing in hope. This conversation feels like holy ground. We hope it ignites a new imagination for your leadership, your relationships, your way of being in the world.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • How Dr. Boss came to coin the term “ambiguous loss” 
  • Loss vs. Grief in our culture 
  • Learning to sit with loss and unanswered questions
  • Ambiguous loss in congregations / leading congregations to grieve ambiguous loss
  • Why closure is a myth and what that means for how we live and lead


About Dr. Pauline Boss


Pauline Boss, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a former president of the National Council on Family Relations. She practiced family therapy for over 40 years.


With her groundbreaking work in research and practice, Dr. Boss coined the term ambiguous loss in the 1970s and since then, developed and tested the theory of ambiguous loss, a guide for working with families of the missing, physically or psychologically. She summarized this research and clinical work in her widely acclaimed book Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief (Harvard University Press, 2000).


In addition to over 100 peer reviewed academic articles and chapters, her other books include Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss (W. W. Norton, 2006) and Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief (Jossey-Bass, 2011). Her most recent book is The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a Time of Pandemic and Change (W. W. Norton, 2022). Her work is known around the world wherever ambiguous losses occur, and her books have been translated 23 times into various languages. As of 2022, Dr. Boss was granted Emeritus status as a longtime family therapist, and, as of 2023, Emeritus status in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.


For more information about Dr. Boss, her writings, and the ambiguous loss online training program, see www.ambiguousloss.com.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>This conversation with Dr. Pauline Boss, author of Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, is hope-filled, encouraging, validating, and motivating. Her insights manage to be both practical and weighty. She reminds us that we live in a mastery culture – that is, we want to be in control, have the answers, and win – which is, of course, a myth, so we are a nation (yes, a whole nation!) of unresolved grief, needing to name our profound sense of loss in the face of so much uncertainty. Wow! Think about the implications for the church – the essential role we can play in stewarding grief today, navigating uncertainty, residing in hope. This conversation feels like holy ground. We hope it ignites a new imagination for your leadership, your relationships, your way of being in the world.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • How Dr. Boss came to coin the term “ambiguous loss” 
  • Loss vs. Grief in our culture 
  • Learning to sit with loss and unanswered questions
  • Ambiguous loss in congregations / leading congregations to grieve ambiguous loss
  • Why closure is a myth and what that means for how we live and lead


About Dr. Pauline Boss


Pauline Boss, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a former president of the National Council on Family Relations. She practiced family therapy for over 40 years.


With her groundbreaking work in research and practice, Dr. Boss coined the term ambiguous loss in the 1970s and since then, developed and tested the theory of ambiguous loss, a guide for working with families of the missing, physically or psychologically. She summarized this research and clinical work in her widely acclaimed book Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief (Harvard University Press, 2000).


In addition to over 100 peer reviewed academic articles and chapters, her other books include Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss (W. W. Norton, 2006) and Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief (Jossey-Bass, 2011). Her most recent book is The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a Time of Pandemic and Change (W. W. Norton, 2022). Her work is known around the world wherever ambiguous losses occur, and her books have been translated 23 times into various languages. As of 2022, Dr. Boss was granted Emeritus status as a longtime family therapist, and, as of 2023, Emeritus status in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.


For more information about Dr. Boss, her writings, and the ambiguous loss online training program, see www.ambiguousloss.com.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>c5670139-5a41-485b-8731-98eea4a39983Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -040055:24falsefull103310Analyzing Nieuwhof’s Church Trends That Will Disrupt 2024Analyzing Nieuwhof’s Church Trends That Will Disrupt 2024Jump into 2024 with a special Bonus Episode of Igniting Imagination! We have invited two of our most frequent (and beloved) guests, Rev. Rachel Billups and Rev. Matt Rawle, to engage with Carey Nieuwhof’s list of 7 Church Trends That Will Disrupt 2024. Matt and Rachel reflect that this year’s list seems particularly spot on. From the endangered stable church to the normative adoption of AI, these trends are real and happening now. Throughout the conversation, they offer practical nuggets – things they are trying in the midst of so much change and challenge and possibility. Thanks for listening and sharing our podcast with colleagues and friends! We hope this conversation inspires and even provokes you to new conversations and imagination in this New Year! 

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear: 

  • How Rachel and Matt have experienced the trend that the “stable church” is an “endangered species” (5:30)
  • What it means for congregations where Millennials are becoming the core (10:45)
  • The different generational needs and expectations of pastoral leadership (14:00)
  • How Gen Z is reshaping the church and how leaders can cultivate Gen Z community (25:00)
  • Growing opportunities for digital discipleship (30:00)
  • Leaning into AI in 2024 and beyond (38:10)

Guests

Rev. Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Churchmulti-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor’s degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Rev. Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Jump into 2024 with a special Bonus Episode of Igniting Imagination! We have invited two of our most frequent (and beloved) guests, Rev. Rachel Billups and Rev. Matt Rawle, to engage with Carey Nieuwhof’s list of 7 Church Trends That Will Disrupt 2024. Matt and Rachel reflect that this year’s list seems particularly spot on. From the endangered stable church to the normative adoption of AI, these trends are real and happening now. Throughout the conversation, they offer practical nuggets – things they are trying in the midst of so much change and challenge and possibility. Thanks for listening and sharing our podcast with colleagues and friends! We hope this conversation inspires and even provokes you to new conversations and imagination in this New Year! 

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear: 

  • How Rachel and Matt have experienced the trend that the “stable church” is an “endangered species” (5:30)
  • What it means for congregations where Millennials are becoming the core (10:45)
  • The different generational needs and expectations of pastoral leadership (14:00)
  • How Gen Z is reshaping the church and how leaders can cultivate Gen Z community (25:00)
  • Growing opportunities for digital discipleship (30:00)
  • Leaning into AI in 2024 and beyond (38:10)

Guests

Rev. Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Churchmulti-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor’s degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Rev. Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

 

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.


Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>38944827-9b7e-4a65-be6c-d406fec721c7Wed, 10 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -040046:16falsebonus1010Hope in Doubt? Are we addicted to hope?Hope in Doubt? Are we addicted to hope?Read Rev. Dr. Paul Escamilla’s response to the Wheatley episode on our website here.

 

In this episode, you’ll hear us:

  • Discuss of Wheatley’s unsettling insistence that we are ‘addicted to hope’ (9:19)
  • Consider what the notion of “islands of sanity” means for local congregations (13:55)
  • Analyze becoming vs. gaining (22:34)
  • Interpret Wheatley’s Two Loop theory for the work of the church today (37:24)
  • Experience Danielle Shroyer reading an excerpt from the new intro to the 10th Anniversary of her book, “Boundary Breaking God” (53:00)

 

Danielle Shroyer’s Bio

Danielle spent over a decade in pastoral leadership and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. She speaks often across the country on issues of theology, faith, culture, and story, and she blogs at beasoulninja.com. Danielle currently serves as the Spiritual Director in Residence at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas.

Danielle is the author of Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place; Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminations on the Lord’s Prayer in the Holy Land; and The Boundary Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise.

 

Gil Rendle’s Bio

Gil is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

He is the author of ten books, a contributor to four books, and the author of numerous articles and monographs. His most recent books include Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches (2010) and Back to Zero: The Search to Rediscover the Methodist Movement (2011) both published by Abingdon Press and Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014) and Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World (2018) both published by Rowman & Littlefield.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Read Rev. Dr. Paul Escamilla’s response to the Wheatley episode on our website here.

 

In this episode, you’ll hear us:

  • Discuss of Wheatley’s unsettling insistence that we are ‘addicted to hope’ (9:19)
  • Consider what the notion of “islands of sanity” means for local congregations (13:55)
  • Analyze becoming vs. gaining (22:34)
  • Interpret Wheatley’s Two Loop theory for the work of the church today (37:24)
  • Experience Danielle Shroyer reading an excerpt from the new intro to the 10th Anniversary of her book, “Boundary Breaking God” (53:00)

 

Danielle Shroyer’s Bio

Danielle spent over a decade in pastoral leadership and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. She speaks often across the country on issues of theology, faith, culture, and story, and she blogs at beasoulninja.com. Danielle currently serves as the Spiritual Director in Residence at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas.

Danielle is the author of Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place; Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminations on the Lord’s Prayer in the Holy Land; and The Boundary Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise.

 

Gil Rendle’s Bio

Gil is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas, and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

He is the author of ten books, a contributor to four books, and the author of numerous articles and monographs. His most recent books include Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches (2010) and Back to Zero: The Search to Rediscover the Methodist Movement (2011) both published by Abingdon Press and Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014) and Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World (2018) both published by Rowman & Littlefield.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>c5223d68-757e-477a-b7bd-978b858afc38Wed, 06 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -040056:17falsefull102210Restoring Sanity with Dr. Margaret WheatleyRestoring Sanity with Dr. Margaret WheatleyDr. Margaret Wheatley has greatly influenced our leadership ministry work over the past several decades. We have given her book Who Do We Choose to Be? Facing Reality, Restoring Sanity, Claiming Leadership to many leaders. Meg’s foundational idea that “conversation is the currency of change” is at the heart of everything we do. The Two-Loop Theory she developed with Deborah Frieze has helped us clarify and articulate our role in forming cohorts that network, nourish, and inspire leaders to bring about the new Wesleyan ecosystem and the world that God imagines. Needless to say, getting to meet Meg and record a podcast with her was thrilling for us! And…this interview truly wowed us. In fact, it was so dang good we are releasing it way earlier than we anticipated! We want you to hear Meg’s insights about the age we are living in, how she’s changed her mind, and what is ours to do as leaders today.If you find our podcast meaningful, share with a friend and leave us a review! And as we mention in each episode, we love hearing from you! Visit our websites for our contact information and more! https://ignitingimagination.org/ and https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/

In this conversation, you'll hear:

  • Response to those who think money, not conversation is the currency of change today (7:18)
  • Analysis of the “Age of Threat” we are living in and the role of islands of sanity (12:00)
  • Updated thinking about the Two-Loop theory and role of catalyst (20:05)
  • The antidote to despair and grief in our time (34:15)
  • The need for health refugias (43:35)
  • What’s going to be on her tombstone (50:30)
  • Lisa Greenwood and Shannon Hopkins reflect on the conversation with Meg (53:27)

Dr. Margaret Wheatley is a consultant, senior-level advisor, teacher, speaker, co-founder and President of The Berkana Institute; she has worked on all continents (except Antarctica) with all levels, ages, and types of organizations, leaders, and activists. Her work now focuses on developing and supporting leaders globally as Warriors for the Human Spirit. These leaders put service over self, stand steadfast through crises and failures, and make a difference for the people and causes they care about. With compassion and insight, they know how to invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity, kindness, and community–no matter what’s happening around them.

Meg has written ten books, including the classic Leadership and the New Science, and been honored for her pathfinding work by many professional associations, universities, and organizations. Her website is designed as a library of free resources as well as information about products and her speaking calendar. www.margaretwheatley.com

We reference Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze’s Two Loop Theory in the conversation. Find information about the theory and so much more on the Berkana website resource page here.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Dr. Margaret Wheatley has greatly influenced our leadership ministry work over the past several decades. We have given her book Who Do We Choose to Be? Facing Reality, Restoring Sanity, Claiming Leadership to many leaders. Meg’s foundational idea that “conversation is the currency of change” is at the heart of everything we do. The Two-Loop Theory she developed with Deborah Frieze has helped us clarify and articulate our role in forming cohorts that network, nourish, and inspire leaders to bring about the new Wesleyan ecosystem and the world that God imagines. Needless to say, getting to meet Meg and record a podcast with her was thrilling for us! And…this interview truly wowed us. In fact, it was so dang good we are releasing it way earlier than we anticipated! We want you to hear Meg’s insights about the age we are living in, how she’s changed her mind, and what is ours to do as leaders today.If you find our podcast meaningful, share with a friend and leave us a review! And as we mention in each episode, we love hearing from you! Visit our websites for our contact information and more! https://ignitingimagination.org/ and https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org/

In this conversation, you'll hear:

  • Response to those who think money, not conversation is the currency of change today (7:18)
  • Analysis of the “Age of Threat” we are living in and the role of islands of sanity (12:00)
  • Updated thinking about the Two-Loop theory and role of catalyst (20:05)
  • The antidote to despair and grief in our time (34:15)
  • The need for health refugias (43:35)
  • What’s going to be on her tombstone (50:30)
  • Lisa Greenwood and Shannon Hopkins reflect on the conversation with Meg (53:27)

Dr. Margaret Wheatley is a consultant, senior-level advisor, teacher, speaker, co-founder and President of The Berkana Institute; she has worked on all continents (except Antarctica) with all levels, ages, and types of organizations, leaders, and activists. Her work now focuses on developing and supporting leaders globally as Warriors for the Human Spirit. These leaders put service over self, stand steadfast through crises and failures, and make a difference for the people and causes they care about. With compassion and insight, they know how to invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity, kindness, and community–no matter what’s happening around them.

Meg has written ten books, including the classic Leadership and the New Science, and been honored for her pathfinding work by many professional associations, universities, and organizations. Her website is designed as a library of free resources as well as information about products and her speaking calendar. www.margaretwheatley.com

We reference Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze’s Two Loop Theory in the conversation. Find information about the theory and so much more on the Berkana website resource page here.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>a8d80ecc-2930-49d3-b6a1-4ea72e56daa5Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -040001:06:14falsefull101110Holy Friends Pursue Higher Truth with Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan BabchuckHoly Friends Pursue Higher Truth with Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan BabchuckRev. Kathi McShane, a retired United Methodist pastor, and Rabbi Elan Babchuck, a millennial, experienced an immediate connection when they met, a Spirit connection that made them fast friends from the beginning. In this episode, they share how their friendship naturally manifested in Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire. They discuss the vision of the book, moving away from the pyramid model of leadership where power is centered around one person or a group of people and towards a shared power where every person can stretch toward the fullness of their God-given gifts, regardless of where they land on an organizational chart. Their vision of leadership, born of their friendship, shows how holy friendship truly benefits not only those in the friendship but blesses the whole world.


Poem from the Podcast

“Red Brocade” by Naomi Shihab Nye


The Arabs used to say,

When a stranger appears at your door,

feed him for three days

before asking who he is,

where he’s come from,

where he’s headed.

That way, he’ll have strength

enough to answer.

Or, by then you’ll be

such good friends

you don’t care.


Let’s go back to that.

Rice? Pine nuts?

Here, take the red brocade pillow.

My child will serve water

to your horse.


No, I was not busy when you came!

I was not preparing to be busy.

That’s the armor everyone put on

to pretend they had a purpose

in the world.


I refuse to be claimed.

Your plate is waiting.

We will snip fresh mint

into your tea.

(Nye, Naomi Shihab. “Red Brocade.” 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, HarperCollins Publishers, 2005, pp. 40.)


Quotations


"I know I'm in a holy friendship when I feel in every interaction like I am so gifted by this person's presence in my life and what I want for him is only good. I think those are the same things that sound like love."

-    Rev. Kathleen McShane

 

We discuss:


A rabbi and a pastor, living on different coasts and born in different generations, form a holy friendship. (04:13)


The friends discuss the concept of a soul friend and their deep connection with each other. (11:30)


The two reflect on the spontaneous and immediate response that led them to collaborate on writing a book, believing it was something bigger than themselves. (13:51)


The friends reflect on the dynamics of power and friendship, highlighting the importance of humility, learning, and letting go of pride. (28:33)


The suggestion that religious organizations have the potential to experiment with alternative leadership models and add value to society. (34:43)


 

About 


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of Leadership and Innovation for Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners. She retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. 


Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the executive vice president at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the founding executive director of Glean Network, which partners with Columbia Business School. He is a sought-after thought leader, having delivered keynotes at stages ranging from TEDx to the US Army’s General Officer Convocation, published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Religion News Service, has a column for The Wisdom Daily, and he contributed to Meaning Making – 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020, St. Mary’s Press). He also serves as a founding partner of Starts With Us, a movement to counteract toxic polarization in America, and a founding research advisory board member of Springtide Research Institute, which focuses on spirituality, mental health, and Gen Z.


Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan Babchuck co-authored Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire (Fortress Press, to be published January 2024). The book offers a provocation to religious leaders to exercise institutional power more generously. It speaks to leaders ready to shift from organizational patterns that demand over-functioning and instead share power so that power multiplies.



Show Notes


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of Leadership and Innovation for Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners. She retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. 


Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the executive vice president at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the founding executive director of Glean Network, which partners with Columbia Business School. He is a sought-after thought leader, having delivered keynotes at stages ranging from TEDx to the US Army’s General Officer Convocation, published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Religion News Service, has a column for The Wisdom Daily, and he contributed to Meaning Making – 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020, St. Mary’s Press). He also serves as a founding partner of Starts With Us, a movement to counteract toxic polarization in America, and a founding research advisory board member of Springtide Research Institute, which focuses on spirituality, mental health, and Gen Z.


Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan Babchuck co-authored Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire (Fortress Press, to be published January 2024). The book offers a provocation to religious leaders to exercise institutional power more generously. It speaks to leaders ready to shift from organizational patterns that demand over-functioning and instead share power so that power multiplies.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>Rev. Kathi McShane, a retired United Methodist pastor, and Rabbi Elan Babchuck, a millennial, experienced an immediate connection when they met, a Spirit connection that made them fast friends from the beginning. In this episode, they share how their friendship naturally manifested in Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire. They discuss the vision of the book, moving away from the pyramid model of leadership where power is centered around one person or a group of people and towards a shared power where every person can stretch toward the fullness of their God-given gifts, regardless of where they land on an organizational chart. Their vision of leadership, born of their friendship, shows how holy friendship truly benefits not only those in the friendship but blesses the whole world.


Poem from the Podcast

“Red Brocade” by Naomi Shihab Nye


The Arabs used to say,

When a stranger appears at your door,

feed him for three days

before asking who he is,

where he’s come from,

where he’s headed.

That way, he’ll have strength

enough to answer.

Or, by then you’ll be

such good friends

you don’t care.


Let’s go back to that.

Rice? Pine nuts?

Here, take the red brocade pillow.

My child will serve water

to your horse.


No, I was not busy when you came!

I was not preparing to be busy.

That’s the armor everyone put on

to pretend they had a purpose

in the world.


I refuse to be claimed.

Your plate is waiting.

We will snip fresh mint

into your tea.

(Nye, Naomi Shihab. “Red Brocade.” 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, HarperCollins Publishers, 2005, pp. 40.)


Quotations


"I know I'm in a holy friendship when I feel in every interaction like I am so gifted by this person's presence in my life and what I want for him is only good. I think those are the same things that sound like love."

-    Rev. Kathleen McShane

 

We discuss:


A rabbi and a pastor, living on different coasts and born in different generations, form a holy friendship. (04:13)


The friends discuss the concept of a soul friend and their deep connection with each other. (11:30)


The two reflect on the spontaneous and immediate response that led them to collaborate on writing a book, believing it was something bigger than themselves. (13:51)


The friends reflect on the dynamics of power and friendship, highlighting the importance of humility, learning, and letting go of pride. (28:33)


The suggestion that religious organizations have the potential to experiment with alternative leadership models and add value to society. (34:43)


 

About 


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of Leadership and Innovation for Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners. She retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. 


Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the executive vice president at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the founding executive director of Glean Network, which partners with Columbia Business School. He is a sought-after thought leader, having delivered keynotes at stages ranging from TEDx to the US Army’s General Officer Convocation, published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Religion News Service, has a column for The Wisdom Daily, and he contributed to Meaning Making – 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020, St. Mary’s Press). He also serves as a founding partner of Starts With Us, a movement to counteract toxic polarization in America, and a founding research advisory board member of Springtide Research Institute, which focuses on spirituality, mental health, and Gen Z.


Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan Babchuck co-authored Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire (Fortress Press, to be published January 2024). The book offers a provocation to religious leaders to exercise institutional power more generously. It speaks to leaders ready to shift from organizational patterns that demand over-functioning and instead share power so that power multiplies.



Show Notes


Rev. Kathleen McShane is the director of Leadership and Innovation for Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners. She retired from active ministry as an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2022. She led four congregations and served eight years as the vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Pacific School of Religion. Before attending seminary, she was a civil litigator, practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded the Changemaker Initiative, a small national movement of churches committed to empowering lay people to become compassion-driven changemakers like Jesus. 


Rabbi Elan Babchuck is the executive vice president at Clal, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and the founding executive director of Glean Network, which partners with Columbia Business School. He is a sought-after thought leader, having delivered keynotes at stages ranging from TEDx to the US Army’s General Officer Convocation, published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Religion News Service, has a column for The Wisdom Daily, and he contributed to Meaning Making – 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020, St. Mary’s Press). He also serves as a founding partner of Starts With Us, a movement to counteract toxic polarization in America, and a founding research advisory board member of Springtide Research Institute, which focuses on spirituality, mental health, and Gen Z.


Rev. Kathleen McShane and Rabbi Elan Babchuck co-authored Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership after Empire (Fortress Press, to be published January 2024). The book offers a provocation to religious leaders to exercise institutional power more generously. It speaks to leaders ready to shift from organizational patterns that demand over-functioning and instead share power so that power multiplies.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>ada94b79-ca24-4479-b522-28430e3e2c0eWed, 18 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -040046:05falsefull9559Holy Friends Bridge Deep Divides with Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV and Rev. Dr. Matt RussellHoly Friends Bridge Deep Divides with Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV and Rev. Dr. Matt RussellThe guests in this episode became friends through a common commitment to activism and social justice. Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV and Rev. Dr. Matt Russell became best friends both by cultivating their common ground and exploring the very real differences between their perspectives and experiences. They share how their friendship has profoundly shaped their work, their personal growth, and their lives as Christian men. Their conversation, very real and full of laughter, feels like an experience of the holy, showing us how sanctified friendships are a work of the Spirit bringing us together, especially for such a time as this. It’s well worth just taking the time to be fully immersed in this wonderful conversation.

Find the poem from the podcast here.

Quotations

"Matt enables me to be creative because he's one of the few persons in the world who would understand my decisions and commitment to my integrity of conscience."

-    Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV

 

We discuss:

Matt and Cleve discuss how they met and became friends through their shared passion for social justice and activism. (5:27)

The importance of building friendships across divides and the challenges of understanding different experiences and perspectives. (26:01)

The speakers discuss how their friendship changed them and impacted their personal growth, creativity, and ability to thrive. (33:30)

Exploring the challenges and importance of forming meaningful friendships between Christian men. (41:33)

Exploring the concept of holiness and the need for the church to redefine it, emphasizing the importance of relational and shared resourcing. (49:18)

About 

Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV is assistant professor of history and political science in the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he has also been appointed the inaugural executive director of the Center for African-American History and Culture (CAAHC).

Dr. Tinsley is quickly emerging as a noted interpreter of religion and Black freedom movements, recently commenting on the role of religion in light of recent uprisings for Black lives for the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University. He is the co-author of Embodiment and Black Religion: Rethinking the Body in African-American Religious Experience and is working on his first monograph, tentatively entitled Making Black Lives Matter: Religion and Race in the Struggle for African-American Identity.

Rev. Dr. Matt Russell is an academic, activist, pastor, professor, and teacher. He is on staff at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston and is co-founder and co-managing director of Project Curate, which works with religious, academic, and community organizations by curating and bringing together different voices and traditions to realize a radical vision of a more just and equitable world. He is also co-founder and executive director of Iconoclast Artists, a program that empowers young artists throughout the community.


 Show Notes

Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV is assistant professor of history and political science in the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he has also been appointed the inaugural executive director of the Center for African-American History and Culture (CAAHC). He is the co-author of Embodiment and Black Religion: Rethinking the Body in African-American Religious Experience and is working on his first monograph, tentatively entitled Making Black Lives Matter: Religion and Race in the Struggle for African-American Identity.

Rev. Dr. Matt Russell is an academic, activist, pastor, professor, and teacher. He is on staff at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston and is co-founder and co-managing director of Project Curate, which works with religious, academic, and community organizations by curating and bringing together different voices and traditions to realize a radical vision of a more just and equitable world. He is also co-founder and executive director of Iconoclast Artists, a program that empowers young artists throughout the community.

This podcast is brought to you by the Learning and Innovation team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Learning and Innovation connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>The guests in this episode became friends through a common commitment to activism and social justice. Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV and Rev. Dr. Matt Russell became best friends both by cultivating their common ground and exploring the very real differences between their perspectives and experiences. They share how their friendship has profoundly shaped their work, their personal growth, and their lives as Christian men. Their conversation, very real and full of laughter, feels like an experience of the holy, showing us how sanctified friendships are a work of the Spirit bringing us together, especially for such a time as this. It’s well worth just taking the time to be fully immersed in this wonderful conversation.

Find the poem from the podcast here.

Quotations

"Matt enables me to be creative because he's one of the few persons in the world who would understand my decisions and commitment to my integrity of conscience."

-    Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV

 

We discuss:

Matt and Cleve discuss how they met and became friends through their shared passion for social justice and activism. (5:27)

The importance of building friendships across divides and the challenges of understanding different experiences and perspectives. (26:01)

The speakers discuss how their friendship changed them and impacted their personal growth, creativity, and ability to thrive. (33:30)

Exploring the challenges and importance of forming meaningful friendships between Christian men. (41:33)

Exploring the concept of holiness and the need for the church to redefine it, emphasizing the importance of relational and shared resourcing. (49:18)

About 

Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV is assistant professor of history and political science in the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he has also been appointed the inaugural executive director of the Center for African-American History and Culture (CAAHC).

Dr. Tinsley is quickly emerging as a noted interpreter of religion and Black freedom movements, recently commenting on the role of religion in light of recent uprisings for Black lives for the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University. He is the co-author of Embodiment and Black Religion: Rethinking the Body in African-American Religious Experience and is working on his first monograph, tentatively entitled Making Black Lives Matter: Religion and Race in the Struggle for African-American Identity.

Rev. Dr. Matt Russell is an academic, activist, pastor, professor, and teacher. He is on staff at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston and is co-founder and co-managing director of Project Curate, which works with religious, academic, and community organizations by curating and bringing together different voices and traditions to realize a radical vision of a more just and equitable world. He is also co-founder and executive director of Iconoclast Artists, a program that empowers young artists throughout the community.


 Show Notes

Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV is assistant professor of history and political science in the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he has also been appointed the inaugural executive director of the Center for African-American History and Culture (CAAHC). He is the co-author of Embodiment and Black Religion: Rethinking the Body in African-American Religious Experience and is working on his first monograph, tentatively entitled Making Black Lives Matter: Religion and Race in the Struggle for African-American Identity.

Rev. Dr. Matt Russell is an academic, activist, pastor, professor, and teacher. He is on staff at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston and is co-founder and co-managing director of Project Curate, which works with religious, academic, and community organizations by curating and bringing together different voices and traditions to realize a radical vision of a more just and equitable world. He is also co-founder and executive director of Iconoclast Artists, a program that empowers young artists throughout the community.

This podcast is brought to you by the Learning and Innovation team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Learning and Innovation connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>9e498157-10a9-46ef-b172-58badd6b058bWed, 11 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -040001:00:29falsefull9449Holy Friends Bear Witness over Time with Bishop Laura Merrill and Bishop Janice HuieHoly Friends Bear Witness over Time with Bishop Laura Merrill and Bishop Janice HuieThe guests in this episode are ‘all in’ with the church; they are dear friends of our host, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, who also happen to be Bishops in the United Methodist Church, Bishop Laura Merrill, and Bishop Janice Huie. In their conversation the three of them explore what has been meaningful about their friendship and how their friendship has impacted their leadership for the better, throughout their careers. They provide important insight into the critical role of vulnerability in friendship and how that means intentionally creating space for unlikely friendships, especially during challenging times. And they discuss how friendship is vital not only for us personally, but for the thriving of the church itself. Please enjoy and let us know what you think!

Quotations

"I'm in a holy friendship when I have both the desire and the energy and the willingness to be better, to be my best, truest self—that I want to, and I feel empowered to do so by that relationship."

-    Bishop Laura Merrill

“[Sanctified friendship] is a time and a space and a relationship in which love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness—all those are expanded and make us more whole. It's when the fruit of the spirit is enlarged.”

-    Bishop Janice Huie

 

We discuss:

The depth and breadth of friendship (8:35)

The importance of deep trust and vulnerability in friendship, even during challenging times. (23:08) 

Intentionally creating spaces for unlikely friendships and the potential impact of these connections in the church and society. (29:35) 

The significance of friendship in leadership roles (34:52)

Challenges of maintaining friendships as a bishop (36:16) 

Find the poem from the podcast here.

About 

Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.


Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border.


When she was ten, Bob and Bishop Janice Huie were her pastors, and Bishop Huie has supported her ever since. As a young adult, Laura served as a missionary in Chile and with the Desert Southwest Conference in Tucson, Arizona. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010. Her experience working with people experiencing poverty and in cross-cultural regions has fundamentally shaped her approach to ministry. 


 Show Notes


Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.


Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010. 


This podcast is brought to you by the Learning and Innovation team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Learning and Innovation connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>The guests in this episode are ‘all in’ with the church; they are dear friends of our host, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, who also happen to be Bishops in the United Methodist Church, Bishop Laura Merrill, and Bishop Janice Huie. In their conversation the three of them explore what has been meaningful about their friendship and how their friendship has impacted their leadership for the better, throughout their careers. They provide important insight into the critical role of vulnerability in friendship and how that means intentionally creating space for unlikely friendships, especially during challenging times. And they discuss how friendship is vital not only for us personally, but for the thriving of the church itself. Please enjoy and let us know what you think!

Quotations

"I'm in a holy friendship when I have both the desire and the energy and the willingness to be better, to be my best, truest self—that I want to, and I feel empowered to do so by that relationship."

-    Bishop Laura Merrill

“[Sanctified friendship] is a time and a space and a relationship in which love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness—all those are expanded and make us more whole. It's when the fruit of the spirit is enlarged.”

-    Bishop Janice Huie

 

We discuss:

The depth and breadth of friendship (8:35)

The importance of deep trust and vulnerability in friendship, even during challenging times. (23:08) 

Intentionally creating spaces for unlikely friendships and the potential impact of these connections in the church and society. (29:35) 

The significance of friendship in leadership roles (34:52)

Challenges of maintaining friendships as a bishop (36:16) 

Find the poem from the podcast here.

About 

Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.


Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border.


When she was ten, Bob and Bishop Janice Huie were her pastors, and Bishop Huie has supported her ever since. As a young adult, Laura served as a missionary in Chile and with the Desert Southwest Conference in Tucson, Arizona. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010. Her experience working with people experiencing poverty and in cross-cultural regions has fundamentally shaped her approach to ministry. 


 Show Notes


Bishop Janice Huie serves with Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Learning and Innovation, following twenty years as a bishop of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference and the Arkansas Conference. Bishop Huie served as president of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry from 2000-2004, president of the Council of Bishops from May 2006 through May 2008, president of the UMCOR Board of Directors from 2008-2012, and president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 1998 & 2013.


Bishop Laura Merrill is Capital District Superintendent for the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC in Austin, Texas. Her Cabinet experience includes service as Assistant to the Bishop, Director of Clergy Excellence, and El Valle District Superintendent on the Texas-Mexico border. After seminary, she pastored local churches in Victoria, Los Fresnos, and Wimberley, Texas, followed by her appointment to the Cabinet in 2010. 


This podcast is brought to you by the Learning and Innovation team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Learning and Innovation connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>78e21581-c293-4f9e-bd6a-70ca081d642cWed, 04 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -040045:42falsefull9339Holy Friends Become Healthier Leaders with Rachel Billups and Matt RawleHoly Friends Become Healthier Leaders with Rachel Billups and Matt RawleThis episode features two “besties” talking honestly and openly about their friendship of many years and how it has deeply nourished them, even though they’ve never even lived in the same state. They discuss being fully present in real friendship, giving each other accountability, compassion, love, and care. They engage with the challenges that all leaders face, especially clergy and lay leaders in the church, and how none of us are immune to the loneliness epidemic in our culture. Heartfelt and real, this episode is a call to all of us to take care of our friendships because they are core to who we are and our well-being. We hope you’ll listen and then share it with all your friends!

Quotations

 

"The people around us are better because of the way that we've challenged each other."

-Matt Rawle

"I don't know how often I find myself in a group of people who, at one moment or another, there's a confession time that says, 'I ain't got anybody... I don't have friends.'"

-Rachel Billups

 

We discuss:

 

 

The need for affirmation and cheerleading in friendships, as well as the importance of being able to challenge and give honest feedback. (14:42) 

 

The challenges clergy face in forming friendships, particularly due to the isolation and boundaries that come with their work. (20:06)

 

How the church can be a space where people can find and nurture holy friendships, emphasizing the transformative power of community. (32:05)

 

Understanding the need for pastors to strike a balance between vulnerability while maintaining appropriate boundaries with their congregations. (34:09)

 

The different spaces where people can connect, such as online platforms and retreat centers, help remove barriers for gathering and help foster relationships. (40:06)

 Find the poem from the podcast here.

 

About:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

 

Show Notes:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>This episode features two “besties” talking honestly and openly about their friendship of many years and how it has deeply nourished them, even though they’ve never even lived in the same state. They discuss being fully present in real friendship, giving each other accountability, compassion, love, and care. They engage with the challenges that all leaders face, especially clergy and lay leaders in the church, and how none of us are immune to the loneliness epidemic in our culture. Heartfelt and real, this episode is a call to all of us to take care of our friendships because they are core to who we are and our well-being. We hope you’ll listen and then share it with all your friends!

Quotations

 

"The people around us are better because of the way that we've challenged each other."

-Matt Rawle

"I don't know how often I find myself in a group of people who, at one moment or another, there's a confession time that says, 'I ain't got anybody... I don't have friends.'"

-Rachel Billups

 

We discuss:

 

 

The need for affirmation and cheerleading in friendships, as well as the importance of being able to challenge and give honest feedback. (14:42) 

 

The challenges clergy face in forming friendships, particularly due to the isolation and boundaries that come with their work. (20:06)

 

How the church can be a space where people can find and nurture holy friendships, emphasizing the transformative power of community. (32:05)

 

Understanding the need for pastors to strike a balance between vulnerability while maintaining appropriate boundaries with their congregations. (34:09)

 

The different spaces where people can connect, such as online platforms and retreat centers, help remove barriers for gathering and help foster relationships. (40:06)

 Find the poem from the podcast here.

 

About:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

 

Show Notes:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker, and author. Currently, she serves as pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church. She previously served as senior pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds bachelor degrees in Bible/religion and history from Anderson University and a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is the author of Be Bold: Finding Your Fierce and other books published by Abingdon Press.

Matt Rawle is the lead pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He’s an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He’s authored The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. Learn more about Matt on his website, mattrawle.com.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>147590df-40d3-42f7-9fd0-7cd72f6f9864Wed, 27 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -040046:00falsefull9229Holy Friendships with Rev. Dr. Victoria White Victoria WhiteHoly Friendships with Rev. Dr. Victoria White Victoria WhiteOne of God’s greatest gifts to us is friendships, especially what our guest Rev. Dr. Victoria White calls “holy friendships.” These are the friendships that not only make life more enjoyable and more creative, but they are also core to who we are and who we become. They are “mutual and sacred relationships formed in God’s love,” and they help us be who God designs us to be. She gives us permission to drop the idea that we have to be hyper-productive lone rangers in the world and calls us to spend more time with our friends. She points out that even Jesus depended on the diversity and friendship of his disciples for his ministry. We are excited for you to hear this conversation on the life-giving importance of holy friendship. Listen with a friend over coffee!

Quotations

"Our society has commodified friendship and developed it into something that can be consumed. The church offers a real opportunity for us to cultivate the conditions for more authentic, more mutual, more holy relationships that help form us into the people God is creating us to be."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


"My holy friends are going to do that for me because they know that my work matters; they know that what I am doing contributes to the way that I am bearing witness to God's work in this world."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


"You know you're in a holy friendship when you can be uber confident and unashamedly yourself."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


We discuss:


The different forms that holy friendships can take and how they can impact various aspects of life. (6:00)


The power of friendship in forming disciples and the importance of cultivating authentic relationships in the church. (11:39)


The positive impact of spending time with friends on energy, creativity, and overall performance in various aspects of life. (16:00)


The significance of mutual respect, covenant, and conversation in friendships, especially in the face of inequality and social issues. (29:44)


Exploring the connection between holy friendships and institutions, highlighting the need for friendships among institutions. (34:03)

Find the poem from the podcast here.



About 


Victoria Atkinson White is the managing director of grants at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. In this role, she encourages traditioned innovation among Christian institutions and their leaders. For eight years, Victoria was a chaplain at the 900-resident Westminster Canterbury Community in Richmond, Virginia. Before that, she worked as minister to alumni at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Victoria is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and Rhodes College. She is an ordained minister affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Victoria is author of Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships That Sustain Pastors and Leaders, a book about how pastors and Christian institutional leaders serve more creatively, effectively, and joyfully when they feel supported and art of an intimate community of colleagues and friends who care about their personal and professional wellbeing.




Show Notes


Victoria Atkinson White is the managing director of grants at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. In this role, she encourages traditioned innovation among Christian institutions and their leaders. Victoria is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and an ordained minister affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. She is also author of Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships That Sustain Pastors and Leaders.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>One of God’s greatest gifts to us is friendships, especially what our guest Rev. Dr. Victoria White calls “holy friendships.” These are the friendships that not only make life more enjoyable and more creative, but they are also core to who we are and who we become. They are “mutual and sacred relationships formed in God’s love,” and they help us be who God designs us to be. She gives us permission to drop the idea that we have to be hyper-productive lone rangers in the world and calls us to spend more time with our friends. She points out that even Jesus depended on the diversity and friendship of his disciples for his ministry. We are excited for you to hear this conversation on the life-giving importance of holy friendship. Listen with a friend over coffee!

Quotations

"Our society has commodified friendship and developed it into something that can be consumed. The church offers a real opportunity for us to cultivate the conditions for more authentic, more mutual, more holy relationships that help form us into the people God is creating us to be."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


"My holy friends are going to do that for me because they know that my work matters; they know that what I am doing contributes to the way that I am bearing witness to God's work in this world."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


"You know you're in a holy friendship when you can be uber confident and unashamedly yourself."

  • Rev. Dr. Victoria White


We discuss:


The different forms that holy friendships can take and how they can impact various aspects of life. (6:00)


The power of friendship in forming disciples and the importance of cultivating authentic relationships in the church. (11:39)


The positive impact of spending time with friends on energy, creativity, and overall performance in various aspects of life. (16:00)


The significance of mutual respect, covenant, and conversation in friendships, especially in the face of inequality and social issues. (29:44)


Exploring the connection between holy friendships and institutions, highlighting the need for friendships among institutions. (34:03)

Find the poem from the podcast here.



About 


Victoria Atkinson White is the managing director of grants at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. In this role, she encourages traditioned innovation among Christian institutions and their leaders. For eight years, Victoria was a chaplain at the 900-resident Westminster Canterbury Community in Richmond, Virginia. Before that, she worked as minister to alumni at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Victoria is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and Rhodes College. She is an ordained minister affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Victoria is author of Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships That Sustain Pastors and Leaders, a book about how pastors and Christian institutional leaders serve more creatively, effectively, and joyfully when they feel supported and art of an intimate community of colleagues and friends who care about their personal and professional wellbeing.




Show Notes


Victoria Atkinson White is the managing director of grants at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. In this role, she encourages traditioned innovation among Christian institutions and their leaders. Victoria is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and an ordained minister affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. She is also author of Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships That Sustain Pastors and Leaders.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>ddbe1a7f-cf67-4107-aaf8-f734252c0549Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -040038:46falsefull9119Season 9 TrailerSeason 9 TrailerIn a world of surface-level connections, true friendship is a divine experience. Friendship forms us and allows us to show up as our true selves. Join us as this season as we delve into the power of sanctifying friendship.

]]>In a world of surface-level connections, true friendship is a divine experience. Friendship forms us and allows us to show up as our true selves. Join us as this season as we delve into the power of sanctifying friendship.

]]>e80a395c-7103-46af-b851-9d75a2653b68Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -040002:13falsetrailer99The Current Project with Rev. Alisha GordonThe Current Project with Rev. Alisha GordonRev. Alisha Gordon wants black single mothers not just to survive but to thrive socially, economically, and emotionally. This vision, borne out of Alisha’s own experience as a single mother, led to the start of the Current Project, an advocacy and mission-driven organization focused on supporting the well-being of black single mothers by connecting them to the resources needed to attain and maintain thriving. At the end of every episode this season, we have asked each guest, “What is a breath of fresh air in the church today that is nothing less than the gift of the Spirit?” This conversation with Alisha is a breath of fresh air that will leave you inspired, hopeful, and energized for working for “thy kingdom come” today. As Alisha says, “I think we actually have the capacity to save the world right now. We don’t have to wait until the return. We can just do it.” May it be so!

Quotations


“Programming is key because the program is often the bridge that meets the needs when policy fails us, and policy what gets people from the program in which they're doing well back into a society that can actually sustain their thriving.” (8:41)


“These were not mothers with a lack of innovation, a lack of ideas, or a lack of desire.

The only thing that was missing was that they needed someone to believe, someone to resource them and someone to get out of their way.” (15:10)


“I am of the strong belief that as we work and live and play in the margins that marginalized people know better than anyone what it is that they need. They don't need anybody to tell them that.” (16:42)


“It's really about how do we give people the opportunity to dream? And how can they dream safely? How can they live in a community where they can live out their dreams without worrying about them getting snatched from them by violence or bad policies?” (17:00)


“When we talk about the social, economic, and emotional thriving of not just Black single mothers, but of all people, we're talking about a notion of nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing or no one, or no policy or no social idea getting in the way of people experiencing the fullness of what God has caused us to experience.” (26:00)


“I think we actually have the capacity to save the world right now. We don't have to wait until the return. We can just do it.” (36:00)


“The breath of fresh air we need is a willingness to tell the real truth, to go against doctrine, denomination, and politics, and tell the real truth. And this is really inspired in particularly by GenZers. A lot of them don't go to church, but they're still the hands and feet of God. They really don't care about offending people as long as the offense gets us to the greater good.”


We discuss:


  • Alisha’s journey to start The Current Project as the pandemic exposed so many of the gaps in marginalized communities. (5:23)
  • How the pandemic ignited social entrepreneurship and Alisha’s own project which started with a virtual economic and mental health wellness group. (6:23)
  • Programming and policy must complement each other for people to thrive. (8:41)
  • The Current Project grew out of a survey of 230 moms in East Harlem and a promise she made to God. (9:51)
  • The survey revealed Black single mothers who were very clear about their purpose and goals and only in need of resources and support. (13:57) 
  • Along with resources we must create safe places for people to dream and imagine what’s possible. (17:00)
  • The financial sacrifice and leap of faith Alisha made to start The Current Project. (17:32)
  • Overcoming an oppressive theology of shame to get to a place of thriving. (21:47)
  • The core of The Current Project's work is to move from surviving to thriving, to experience the fullness of what God wants us to experience. (25:13)
  • The Current Project’s cohort model which creates a shared space for moms to be honest about their experiences and be seen, heard, and supported. (27:46)
  • Alisha’s God-sized dreams which include living communities for single moms and galvanizing information to influence program and policies that sustain thriving. (29:50)
  • The need to serve moms who are earning too much for the social safety net but not enough to economically thrive. (30:59)
  • The breath of fresh air in the church today is the willingness to tell the real truth, about what is possible in the world. (39:00)




About 


Rev. Alicia Gordon is an awarded teacher, faith leader and social strategist whose work intersects social advocacy and culture. She's the founder and executive director of The Current Project, a nonprofit organization committed to closing social and economic gaps for Black single mothers, blending strategic programming and policy to lengthen the runway for thriving. Alisha focuses on helping Black single mothers get small businesses off the ground through financial support and training, so they live into their dreams and create space for economic stability and social liberation.


Prior to the current project, Alisha served with United Methodist women, now known as United Women in Faith, and was Executive Minister of programs at the historic Riverside Church in the city of New York, where she led innovative strategic programming. She's also brought a lens of moral and social advocacy to her work as the director for faith-based initiatives for national and city-wide political campaigns. 


Alisha earned her Bachelor of English degree from Spelman College and a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Her work has been featured in national publications and media outlets, including Gray Television Washington Bureau, Parents, and WomanEvolve Podcast. Alicia was awarded Emory University's distinguished Top 40 under 40 in 2019 and is a member of the alumni Board of Candler School of Theology.




Show Notes


Rev. Alicia Gordon is an awarded teacher, faith leader and social strategist whose work intersects social advocacy and culture. She's the founder and executive director of The Current Project, a nonprofit organization committed to closing social and economic gaps for Black single mothers, blending strategic programming and policy to lengthen the runway for thriving. Alisha focuses on helping Black single mothers get small businesses off the ground through financial support and training, so they live into their dreams and create space for economic stability and social liberation.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination Youtube. 

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Rev. Alisha Gordon wants black single mothers not just to survive but to thrive socially, economically, and emotionally. This vision, borne out of Alisha’s own experience as a single mother, led to the start of the Current Project, an advocacy and mission-driven organization focused on supporting the well-being of black single mothers by connecting them to the resources needed to attain and maintain thriving. At the end of every episode this season, we have asked each guest, “What is a breath of fresh air in the church today that is nothing less than the gift of the Spirit?” This conversation with Alisha is a breath of fresh air that will leave you inspired, hopeful, and energized for working for “thy kingdom come” today. As Alisha says, “I think we actually have the capacity to save the world right now. We don’t have to wait until the return. We can just do it.” May it be so!

Quotations


“Programming is key because the program is often the bridge that meets the needs when policy fails us, and policy what gets people from the program in which they're doing well back into a society that can actually sustain their thriving.” (8:41)


“These were not mothers with a lack of innovation, a lack of ideas, or a lack of desire.

The only thing that was missing was that they needed someone to believe, someone to resource them and someone to get out of their way.” (15:10)


“I am of the strong belief that as we work and live and play in the margins that marginalized people know better than anyone what it is that they need. They don't need anybody to tell them that.” (16:42)


“It's really about how do we give people the opportunity to dream? And how can they dream safely? How can they live in a community where they can live out their dreams without worrying about them getting snatched from them by violence or bad policies?” (17:00)


“When we talk about the social, economic, and emotional thriving of not just Black single mothers, but of all people, we're talking about a notion of nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing or no one, or no policy or no social idea getting in the way of people experiencing the fullness of what God has caused us to experience.” (26:00)


“I think we actually have the capacity to save the world right now. We don't have to wait until the return. We can just do it.” (36:00)


“The breath of fresh air we need is a willingness to tell the real truth, to go against doctrine, denomination, and politics, and tell the real truth. And this is really inspired in particularly by GenZers. A lot of them don't go to church, but they're still the hands and feet of God. They really don't care about offending people as long as the offense gets us to the greater good.”


We discuss:


  • Alisha’s journey to start The Current Project as the pandemic exposed so many of the gaps in marginalized communities. (5:23)
  • How the pandemic ignited social entrepreneurship and Alisha’s own project which started with a virtual economic and mental health wellness group. (6:23)
  • Programming and policy must complement each other for people to thrive. (8:41)
  • The Current Project grew out of a survey of 230 moms in East Harlem and a promise she made to God. (9:51)
  • The survey revealed Black single mothers who were very clear about their purpose and goals and only in need of resources and support. (13:57) 
  • Along with resources we must create safe places for people to dream and imagine what’s possible. (17:00)
  • The financial sacrifice and leap of faith Alisha made to start The Current Project. (17:32)
  • Overcoming an oppressive theology of shame to get to a place of thriving. (21:47)
  • The core of The Current Project's work is to move from surviving to thriving, to experience the fullness of what God wants us to experience. (25:13)
  • The Current Project’s cohort model which creates a shared space for moms to be honest about their experiences and be seen, heard, and supported. (27:46)
  • Alisha’s God-sized dreams which include living communities for single moms and galvanizing information to influence program and policies that sustain thriving. (29:50)
  • The need to serve moms who are earning too much for the social safety net but not enough to economically thrive. (30:59)
  • The breath of fresh air in the church today is the willingness to tell the real truth, about what is possible in the world. (39:00)




About 


Rev. Alicia Gordon is an awarded teacher, faith leader and social strategist whose work intersects social advocacy and culture. She's the founder and executive director of The Current Project, a nonprofit organization committed to closing social and economic gaps for Black single mothers, blending strategic programming and policy to lengthen the runway for thriving. Alisha focuses on helping Black single mothers get small businesses off the ground through financial support and training, so they live into their dreams and create space for economic stability and social liberation.


Prior to the current project, Alisha served with United Methodist women, now known as United Women in Faith, and was Executive Minister of programs at the historic Riverside Church in the city of New York, where she led innovative strategic programming. She's also brought a lens of moral and social advocacy to her work as the director for faith-based initiatives for national and city-wide political campaigns. 


Alisha earned her Bachelor of English degree from Spelman College and a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Her work has been featured in national publications and media outlets, including Gray Television Washington Bureau, Parents, and WomanEvolve Podcast. Alicia was awarded Emory University's distinguished Top 40 under 40 in 2019 and is a member of the alumni Board of Candler School of Theology.




Show Notes


Rev. Alicia Gordon is an awarded teacher, faith leader and social strategist whose work intersects social advocacy and culture. She's the founder and executive director of The Current Project, a nonprofit organization committed to closing social and economic gaps for Black single mothers, blending strategic programming and policy to lengthen the runway for thriving. Alisha focuses on helping Black single mothers get small businesses off the ground through financial support and training, so they live into their dreams and create space for economic stability and social liberation.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination Youtube. 

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>541e6972-4457-40db-a501-6d50f42111d7Wed, 17 May 2023 10:00:00 -040041:36falsefull8558Staying Awake for God's Sake with Rev. Tyler SitStaying Awake for God's Sake with Rev. Tyler SitWhen Rev. Tyler Sit set out to plant a church in Minneapolis in 2015, he began by listening. He walked every neighborhood in the city to listen for God’s dreams and discern where God wanted him to plant a church. He listened to neighbors over meals to hear what kind of church they would want to be a part of. What emerged was a church led by BIPOC leaders focused on eco-justice, community organizing, and centering marginalized voices in the community. New City Church gets its name from Revelation 21 which describes a heaven where God lives in a new city where all tribes all welcomed, there is no more violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s book is “Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers.” This conversation will open your eyes and re-energize you for the change making work of the gospel in your context.

Quotations

“Innovation is born out of the innate Holy Spirit momentum that is already present among people in the neighborhood. The church is just there to hurry it along and keep people on board.” (11:42)


“If what we're doing as a church doesn't resonate with the felt visceral experience of the people in our neighborhoods, the people who are right in front of us, then what are we doing?” (14:40)


“The idea with centering marginalized voices is we want the people who are the most oppressed by society, the most neglected by society to be able to start, stop, and steer the conversation.” (16:56)


“We're entrusting the marginalized folks in our community to steer the conversation, away from what is maybe most important to the dominant culture and toward what might is most important to people who are oppressed by the dominant culture.”(17:45)


“I would encourage church leaders to consider what happens if the next international racial awakening happens in your front door?” (23:10)


“We need a separate sandbox for innovation where different rules apply. Where we have a dashboard of accountability metrics defined by planters and their communities, not just nickels and noses.” (40:35)


“There is no mechanism of social change or personal transformation that doesn't require organizing of a lot of people together. I think that organized religion is a requirement for social change today. It's a precondition for us to experience personal transformation and social transformation.” (44:30)



We discuss:


  • Tyler’s innovative approach to ministry, focusing on solidarity and listening to the community. (7:43)
  • Starting New City Church with a prayer walk through every neighborhood, paying close attention to each neighborhood’s needs. (8:46)
  • Starting a multi-site church with a common mission and vision but specific to the neighborhood of each church. (13:12)
  • How centering marginalized voices and entrusting them to steer the conversation is central to New City Church. (16:12)
  • Being faithful in social movements instead of being in charge of them (19:05)
  • How New City Church responded to the murder of George Floyd and how other churches can be faithful in social movements. (21:11)
  • Centering marginalized voices means finding a new center of gravity for a community, not excluding anyone. (26:14)
  • His book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers was created to be useful to the people Tyler is ministry with. (29:01)
  • The origins and mission of Intersect to support intersectional church planting for marginalized communities. (30:59)
  • Realistic planning for funding ministry is key because it’s not enough just to have a great entrepreneurial idea. (33:43)
  • The importance of institutional support from the Minnesota Annual Conference, Candler School of Theology, and different churches. (38:37)
  • Organized religion is a requirement for social change today. (44:30)
  • Launching The Grapevine Collective to provide capacity building and development for healing justice nonprofits. (45:31)



About 


Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter and pastor of New City Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Minnesota Public Radio, and more. He is the author of Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers Tyler is also co-founder of Intersect Planting Network and of Grapevine Collective. Tyler earned a BS in Communication Studies from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and he has lived in four continents.  


Tyler has formal training as a prison chaplain, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. He is a lover of Minnesota and the son of a Chinese immigrant. When he is not at New City, you’ll find Tyler wandering around the Mississippi River. Learn more about Tyler at tylersit.com.



Show Notes


Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter and pastor of New City Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Minnesota Public Radio, and more. He is the author of Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers. Tyler is also co-founder of Intersect Planting Network and of Grapevine Collective. Tyler earned a BS in Communication Studies from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and he has lived in four continents. Learn more about Tyler at tylersit.com.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>When Rev. Tyler Sit set out to plant a church in Minneapolis in 2015, he began by listening. He walked every neighborhood in the city to listen for God’s dreams and discern where God wanted him to plant a church. He listened to neighbors over meals to hear what kind of church they would want to be a part of. What emerged was a church led by BIPOC leaders focused on eco-justice, community organizing, and centering marginalized voices in the community. New City Church gets its name from Revelation 21 which describes a heaven where God lives in a new city where all tribes all welcomed, there is no more violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s book is “Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers.” This conversation will open your eyes and re-energize you for the change making work of the gospel in your context.

Quotations

“Innovation is born out of the innate Holy Spirit momentum that is already present among people in the neighborhood. The church is just there to hurry it along and keep people on board.” (11:42)


“If what we're doing as a church doesn't resonate with the felt visceral experience of the people in our neighborhoods, the people who are right in front of us, then what are we doing?” (14:40)


“The idea with centering marginalized voices is we want the people who are the most oppressed by society, the most neglected by society to be able to start, stop, and steer the conversation.” (16:56)


“We're entrusting the marginalized folks in our community to steer the conversation, away from what is maybe most important to the dominant culture and toward what might is most important to people who are oppressed by the dominant culture.”(17:45)


“I would encourage church leaders to consider what happens if the next international racial awakening happens in your front door?” (23:10)


“We need a separate sandbox for innovation where different rules apply. Where we have a dashboard of accountability metrics defined by planters and their communities, not just nickels and noses.” (40:35)


“There is no mechanism of social change or personal transformation that doesn't require organizing of a lot of people together. I think that organized religion is a requirement for social change today. It's a precondition for us to experience personal transformation and social transformation.” (44:30)



We discuss:


  • Tyler’s innovative approach to ministry, focusing on solidarity and listening to the community. (7:43)
  • Starting New City Church with a prayer walk through every neighborhood, paying close attention to each neighborhood’s needs. (8:46)
  • Starting a multi-site church with a common mission and vision but specific to the neighborhood of each church. (13:12)
  • How centering marginalized voices and entrusting them to steer the conversation is central to New City Church. (16:12)
  • Being faithful in social movements instead of being in charge of them (19:05)
  • How New City Church responded to the murder of George Floyd and how other churches can be faithful in social movements. (21:11)
  • Centering marginalized voices means finding a new center of gravity for a community, not excluding anyone. (26:14)
  • His book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers was created to be useful to the people Tyler is ministry with. (29:01)
  • The origins and mission of Intersect to support intersectional church planting for marginalized communities. (30:59)
  • Realistic planning for funding ministry is key because it’s not enough just to have a great entrepreneurial idea. (33:43)
  • The importance of institutional support from the Minnesota Annual Conference, Candler School of Theology, and different churches. (38:37)
  • Organized religion is a requirement for social change today. (44:30)
  • Launching The Grapevine Collective to provide capacity building and development for healing justice nonprofits. (45:31)



About 


Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter and pastor of New City Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Minnesota Public Radio, and more. He is the author of Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers Tyler is also co-founder of Intersect Planting Network and of Grapevine Collective. Tyler earned a BS in Communication Studies from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and he has lived in four continents.  


Tyler has formal training as a prison chaplain, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. He is a lover of Minnesota and the son of a Chinese immigrant. When he is not at New City, you’ll find Tyler wandering around the Mississippi River. Learn more about Tyler at tylersit.com.



Show Notes


Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter and pastor of New City Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Minnesota Public Radio, and more. He is the author of Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers. Tyler is also co-founder of Intersect Planting Network and of Grapevine Collective. Tyler earned a BS in Communication Studies from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and he has lived in four continents. Learn more about Tyler at tylersit.com.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>90647d52-3294-4abb-b8a2-9137dcdb86e3Wed, 10 May 2023 10:00:00 -040048:49falsefull8448Human Again with Rev. Michael GiengerHuman Again with Rev. Michael Gienger“This place makes me feel human again” is a phrase often heard at Galveston Central Church from people at radically different ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Being a part of the community grounds people in the truth that they belong to each other. It is not too much to say that this conversation with Rev. Michael Gienger will make you feel human again. We talk with Michael about the church’s transformation from transactional ministry to relational ministry, the systemic impact the congregation is having on the city’s approach to homelessness, the improbable friendships that are probable at Central, and the fruit of scrappiness that churches are discovering as they try ministry in new ways. What you’ll hear from Michael is not just an inspired vision for being the church; you will also experience his authentic love for Jesus and tenacity for the poor that will leave you filled with real hope for what God is doing right now in and through leaders and congregations. Glory be!

Quotations

“It just became very obvious that with our little teeny tiny church we were never going to be able to do big things that God had in store for us unless we chose to partner with other organizations and utilize their gifts and graces. And our name didn't need to be on everything.” (15:23)

“What Central has done really well is fostering improbable friendships. Really what's happening here is we’re getting out of a transactional model, a social service model, that's based on hierarchies of the haves and the have nots.” (16:52)


“Our kitchen feeds hundreds of people every week, but when you walk into the kitchen I don't think you can tell who's somebody who slept on the beach last night, who's a UTMB student, and who's a congregant that showed up.” (18:49)


“We have this wonderful mix of people that are all serving together, that are learning from each other and are starting with what's right with you rather than what's wrong with you. We're not trying to fix people, we're just trying to have this tenacious solidarity with each other.” (19:02)


“It's hard to follow Jesus to live the full life that God's called us to if you don't have access to medical care, or if you don't have access to food or whatever else you need.” (22:01)


“My role is to help people come along and understand just a different way of being in the world. I’m convinced when people are met with that kind of love, when they get to see their neighbor up close, that’s really where transformation happens.” (29:03)


“If we're going to be in solidarity with the divine, it means solidarity with the poorest among us because this seems to be where God shows up.” (38:15)


We discuss:


  • The journey that led Michael to Galveston Central Church and his innovative approach to ministry. (7:10)
  • The challenges of restarting a church that had been around for 130 years that is averse to change and doesn’t have many resources. (9:50)
  • Reopening Galveston Central Church with an eye for who they hadn't been in ministry with before. (12:10)
  • Accomplishing what God had in store for the church required partnering with other organizations and not worrying about who gets credit. (15:19)
  • Michael’s innovative approach to ministry, including fostering friendships, moving away from a transactional model, and partnering with other organizations. (16:28)
  • Flattening power dynamics with monthly listening sessions to really understand the community’s needs and following their lead to meet those needs. (17:41)
  • Central’s innovative clinic where the patients are in charge and the doctors and nurses and social workers and others who come are the guests. (19:40)
  • Starting by caring for the whole person, weaving together their spiritual lives with their “actual” lives as a way to deepen their relationship with God. (21:11)
  • Flipping hierarchies by moving from a model of believe first and then you can belong to belong first and the belief will come. (23:28)
  • How people on all demographic sides at Central have told him that being at Central makes them “feel human again.” (26:01)
  • The challenge of balancing their innovative ministry with expectations of the denomination and the neighborhood. (27:42)
  • All the innovative ways they are finding to fund ministry, relying on the ways they are truly embedded in their community and being entrepreneurial. (29:57)
  • The power of storytelling and how in addition to being pastor he is also chief story collector. (33:32)
  • Sources of hope and creativity amidst all the many challenges the church has faced over the last three years. (41:44)



About Michael Gienger


Rev. Michael Gienger, a community organizer and changemaker, is pastor at Galveston Central Church in Galveston, Texas and an ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received his undergraduate degree in Religion, concentrating in Christian Ethics, from Baylor University, and his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Michael is a co-founder of Galveston Housing Plus, a cofounding board member of Galveston CoCare, and a Curricula and Community Consultant for Project Curate.

Galveston Central Church is a hybrid church plant/revitalization that is making space for hopeful skeptics and the spiritually homeless through a generous orthodoxy and focus on justice ministries. Since Michael joined Central in 2014, Central has transformed from a dying congregation to a thriving community. In addition to re-planting the church itself, Michael has been able to establish smaller "new faith communities" within the larger Central structure, including the Couch Surfers - a weekly surfing group. Michael helps congregations think through new ways of engaging with people outside of their community through nontraditional, creative, contextual expressions of "church."

Show Notes


Rev. Michael Gienger is pastor at Galveston Central Church in Galveston, Texas. He is an ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received his undergraduate degree in Religion, concentrating in Christian Ethics, from Baylor University, and his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Michael is a co-founder of Galveston Housing Plus, a cofounding board member of Galveston CoCare, and a Curricula and Community Consultant for Project Curate.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes.

]]>“This place makes me feel human again” is a phrase often heard at Galveston Central Church from people at radically different ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Being a part of the community grounds people in the truth that they belong to each other. It is not too much to say that this conversation with Rev. Michael Gienger will make you feel human again. We talk with Michael about the church’s transformation from transactional ministry to relational ministry, the systemic impact the congregation is having on the city’s approach to homelessness, the improbable friendships that are probable at Central, and the fruit of scrappiness that churches are discovering as they try ministry in new ways. What you’ll hear from Michael is not just an inspired vision for being the church; you will also experience his authentic love for Jesus and tenacity for the poor that will leave you filled with real hope for what God is doing right now in and through leaders and congregations. Glory be!

Quotations

“It just became very obvious that with our little teeny tiny church we were never going to be able to do big things that God had in store for us unless we chose to partner with other organizations and utilize their gifts and graces. And our name didn't need to be on everything.” (15:23)

“What Central has done really well is fostering improbable friendships. Really what's happening here is we’re getting out of a transactional model, a social service model, that's based on hierarchies of the haves and the have nots.” (16:52)


“Our kitchen feeds hundreds of people every week, but when you walk into the kitchen I don't think you can tell who's somebody who slept on the beach last night, who's a UTMB student, and who's a congregant that showed up.” (18:49)


“We have this wonderful mix of people that are all serving together, that are learning from each other and are starting with what's right with you rather than what's wrong with you. We're not trying to fix people, we're just trying to have this tenacious solidarity with each other.” (19:02)


“It's hard to follow Jesus to live the full life that God's called us to if you don't have access to medical care, or if you don't have access to food or whatever else you need.” (22:01)


“My role is to help people come along and understand just a different way of being in the world. I’m convinced when people are met with that kind of love, when they get to see their neighbor up close, that’s really where transformation happens.” (29:03)


“If we're going to be in solidarity with the divine, it means solidarity with the poorest among us because this seems to be where God shows up.” (38:15)


We discuss:


  • The journey that led Michael to Galveston Central Church and his innovative approach to ministry. (7:10)
  • The challenges of restarting a church that had been around for 130 years that is averse to change and doesn’t have many resources. (9:50)
  • Reopening Galveston Central Church with an eye for who they hadn't been in ministry with before. (12:10)
  • Accomplishing what God had in store for the church required partnering with other organizations and not worrying about who gets credit. (15:19)
  • Michael’s innovative approach to ministry, including fostering friendships, moving away from a transactional model, and partnering with other organizations. (16:28)
  • Flattening power dynamics with monthly listening sessions to really understand the community’s needs and following their lead to meet those needs. (17:41)
  • Central’s innovative clinic where the patients are in charge and the doctors and nurses and social workers and others who come are the guests. (19:40)
  • Starting by caring for the whole person, weaving together their spiritual lives with their “actual” lives as a way to deepen their relationship with God. (21:11)
  • Flipping hierarchies by moving from a model of believe first and then you can belong to belong first and the belief will come. (23:28)
  • How people on all demographic sides at Central have told him that being at Central makes them “feel human again.” (26:01)
  • The challenge of balancing their innovative ministry with expectations of the denomination and the neighborhood. (27:42)
  • All the innovative ways they are finding to fund ministry, relying on the ways they are truly embedded in their community and being entrepreneurial. (29:57)
  • The power of storytelling and how in addition to being pastor he is also chief story collector. (33:32)
  • Sources of hope and creativity amidst all the many challenges the church has faced over the last three years. (41:44)



About Michael Gienger


Rev. Michael Gienger, a community organizer and changemaker, is pastor at Galveston Central Church in Galveston, Texas and an ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received his undergraduate degree in Religion, concentrating in Christian Ethics, from Baylor University, and his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Michael is a co-founder of Galveston Housing Plus, a cofounding board member of Galveston CoCare, and a Curricula and Community Consultant for Project Curate.

Galveston Central Church is a hybrid church plant/revitalization that is making space for hopeful skeptics and the spiritually homeless through a generous orthodoxy and focus on justice ministries. Since Michael joined Central in 2014, Central has transformed from a dying congregation to a thriving community. In addition to re-planting the church itself, Michael has been able to establish smaller "new faith communities" within the larger Central structure, including the Couch Surfers - a weekly surfing group. Michael helps congregations think through new ways of engaging with people outside of their community through nontraditional, creative, contextual expressions of "church."

Show Notes


Rev. Michael Gienger is pastor at Galveston Central Church in Galveston, Texas. He is an ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received his undergraduate degree in Religion, concentrating in Christian Ethics, from Baylor University, and his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Michael is a co-founder of Galveston Housing Plus, a cofounding board member of Galveston CoCare, and a Curricula and Community Consultant for Project Curate.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.


Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes.

]]>2f43cd55-c8d1-446b-9949-23bdb39521daWed, 03 May 2023 10:00:00 -040043:58falsefull8338Fishing Differently with Rev. Dr. Sidney WilliamsFishing Differently with Rev. Dr. Sidney WilliamsExpanding imagination for ministry can happen when you employ the FISHing differently framework developed by today’s inspired guest and 2023 Locke Innovative Leader, Rev. Dr. Sidney WIlliams. As the saying goes: “what got us here won’t get us there.” Instead of focusing purely on the financial capital needed to fund ministry, Sidney invites us to FISH differently than we ever have before, and harness the power of Faith capital, Intellectual capital, Social capital, and Human capital. If you are like the disciples who are tired of catching few fish, this episode will make you want to get back in the boat and try again with a Jesus-led and Spirit-driven invitation to fish differently for the sake of the kingdom.

Quotations

“Storytelling is a form of pastoral care. To get people to do things differently, they have to know you know their story, so that before we write the next chapter in this journey together, you know how we got here.” (12:37)


“Churches that really excel in making an impact in their communities have created a safe space where people feel like their ideas will be heard and their differences are nurtured.” (17:15)


“We've got pastors and bishops and church leaders and lay leaders who are focused on budgets and money as if that's the goal rather than the harvest. What I try to teach and preach is there is no shortage of money, but we have to focus on solving problems.” (25:47)


“It's less about fixing people and more about asking, God, how can I partner with the people closest to the pain?” (29:18)


“Greatness is not about how great the speech you give, how big the crowd you assemble, how much power you assemble in your community organizing. Greatness is what's replicable.” (40:30)


“If we kind of blame the system it can almost give us a reason not to do the work as opposed to knowing we are a part of the system and asking how we can bring about justice and equity and mercy and love and grace and hope and those things that God is calling us to be.” (44:35)


“Fishing differently is learning how to thread to needle in a way that you can put together a tapestry, a cloth of different fabrics that would probably never come together on their own and threading that fabric together in a way that comfort gives warmth and comfort to the people in our community who need it most.” (47:48)


We discuss:


  • Sidney’s journey from Wall Street to Fishing differently. (5:36)
  • The FISHing Differently framework and how Sidney developed it. (9:54)
  • Healing and pastoral care through storytelling. (12:37)
  • Churches are part of the ecosystem that God has put in place. (17:36)
  • Discerning purpose and measuring impact of a congregation. (23:54)
  • Solving problems, finding funding, and partnering with communities. (28:31)
  • How Sidney led the church to rebuild and reimagine ministry. (30:09)
  • Partnerships to sustain ministry. (35:25)
  • Changing systems from within and working with flawed systems. (39:28)
  • Why calling everyone to a common table matters today. (47:05)



About Sidney Williams


Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities. 


Through his 30 year corporate and community development experience, Sidney has participated in over $10 billion in public equity and debt offerings, including working for leading Wall Street firms in New York City and helping to start several companies. Since 2005, Pastor Sidney has been training leaders of faith communities using his FISHing Differently framework. In addition to providing leadership development training for local churches, Pastor Sidney is an adjunct professor at Drew Theological Seminary and a Senior Lecturer at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. He has also lectured in graduate business programs and taught corporate executives from Asia, Europe and the United States.


His greatest joys in life include spending time with family, traveling, meeting new people, cooking, and learning how to greet people in their native tongue.



Show Notes


Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes.

]]>Expanding imagination for ministry can happen when you employ the FISHing differently framework developed by today’s inspired guest and 2023 Locke Innovative Leader, Rev. Dr. Sidney WIlliams. As the saying goes: “what got us here won’t get us there.” Instead of focusing purely on the financial capital needed to fund ministry, Sidney invites us to FISH differently than we ever have before, and harness the power of Faith capital, Intellectual capital, Social capital, and Human capital. If you are like the disciples who are tired of catching few fish, this episode will make you want to get back in the boat and try again with a Jesus-led and Spirit-driven invitation to fish differently for the sake of the kingdom.

Quotations

“Storytelling is a form of pastoral care. To get people to do things differently, they have to know you know their story, so that before we write the next chapter in this journey together, you know how we got here.” (12:37)


“Churches that really excel in making an impact in their communities have created a safe space where people feel like their ideas will be heard and their differences are nurtured.” (17:15)


“We've got pastors and bishops and church leaders and lay leaders who are focused on budgets and money as if that's the goal rather than the harvest. What I try to teach and preach is there is no shortage of money, but we have to focus on solving problems.” (25:47)


“It's less about fixing people and more about asking, God, how can I partner with the people closest to the pain?” (29:18)


“Greatness is not about how great the speech you give, how big the crowd you assemble, how much power you assemble in your community organizing. Greatness is what's replicable.” (40:30)


“If we kind of blame the system it can almost give us a reason not to do the work as opposed to knowing we are a part of the system and asking how we can bring about justice and equity and mercy and love and grace and hope and those things that God is calling us to be.” (44:35)


“Fishing differently is learning how to thread to needle in a way that you can put together a tapestry, a cloth of different fabrics that would probably never come together on their own and threading that fabric together in a way that comfort gives warmth and comfort to the people in our community who need it most.” (47:48)


We discuss:


  • Sidney’s journey from Wall Street to Fishing differently. (5:36)
  • The FISHing Differently framework and how Sidney developed it. (9:54)
  • Healing and pastoral care through storytelling. (12:37)
  • Churches are part of the ecosystem that God has put in place. (17:36)
  • Discerning purpose and measuring impact of a congregation. (23:54)
  • Solving problems, finding funding, and partnering with communities. (28:31)
  • How Sidney led the church to rebuild and reimagine ministry. (30:09)
  • Partnerships to sustain ministry. (35:25)
  • Changing systems from within and working with flawed systems. (39:28)
  • Why calling everyone to a common table matters today. (47:05)



About Sidney Williams


Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities. 


Through his 30 year corporate and community development experience, Sidney has participated in over $10 billion in public equity and debt offerings, including working for leading Wall Street firms in New York City and helping to start several companies. Since 2005, Pastor Sidney has been training leaders of faith communities using his FISHing Differently framework. In addition to providing leadership development training for local churches, Pastor Sidney is an adjunct professor at Drew Theological Seminary and a Senior Lecturer at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. He has also lectured in graduate business programs and taught corporate executives from Asia, Europe and the United States.


His greatest joys in life include spending time with family, traveling, meeting new people, cooking, and learning how to greet people in their native tongue.



Show Notes


Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes.

]]>4327bce1-79db-483b-aa01-9d3bf944c059Wed, 26 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -040051:35falsefull8228Innovating for Love with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy DeanInnovating for Love with Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy DeanWhy do we innovate? The goal is never innovation itself. As Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean says, “The goal is always loving people well.” This conversation is packed with insight and wisdom that gets to the heart of why innovation matters. We often feel pressure to innovate in big ways that make things bigger, faster, stronger but Kendra reminds us that the innovation present in the incarnation was smaller, slower, and more vulnerable. How can we cultivate a balance between prayerfully listening and holy impatience so that we meet people where they are and love them well? This conversation ignited our imagination for innovation in ministry–we can’t wait for you to hear it!

 

Quotations

“We know we’re supposed to love our neighbor, but we don’t always know how to love well.” (8:29)

“Social innovation is a way of making change that keeps human relationships at the center. We are creating new ways to relate to one another that are helpful and life giving and dignity restoring.” (11:38)

“We don’t have to go out and look for people who need ministry. We just look around and figure out how God has called us to be Christ’s envoys in that setting.” (13:49)

 “We don’t want to make our goal innovation. We want to make our goal loving people well.” (16:03)

“We often think about innovation as helping things get bigger, faster, and stronger. But in the incarnation, God got more limited. God got smaller, slower, and more vulnerable.” (25:18)

“The innovation we are behind is about slowing things down, breaking things apart, making people more human and vulnerable.” (25:26)


“The point is to disrupt and to re-enter our large systems with the perspective of love. There’s nothing more disruptive than sacrificial love.” (27:45)


“There's nothing that gives me more hope than the young leaders who are out there. They have holy impatience in spades. They will make a hundred mistakes. They will jump the gun, and they will be eager and in their own way.  They are completely smitten with God and with the people who God has put on their path. It's really hard not to be hopeful when you get to work with young leaders.” (38:36)



We discuss:


  • Owen Ross shares what he means by “every church planting” (4:43)


  • Kenda Creasy Dean on the point of innovation (10:27)


  • Where the focus of the church needs to be (14:02)


  • How innovation is connected with loving people well (17:30)


  • The two things Kenda is hearing from leaders in the church right now (18:42)


  • The role of connection and permission in innovation (21:18)


  • Leading ministry that is responsive to the Spirit (22:32)


  • Innovation that is centered in relationships and vulnerability (25:22)


  • Learning to prayerfully listen (30:57)


  • Discerning the difference God is calling us to make (33:44)


  • Where Kenda draws the most hope (38:37)



About Kenda Creasy Dean


Kenda Creasy Dean is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. In addition to teaching in practical theology, education, and formation, Dean works closely with Princeton’s Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. Dean is the author of numerous books on youth, church, and culture, the best known of which includes Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church,  Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church Eerdmans, and The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry with Ron Foster Upper Room, 1998).

Kenda has directed numerous grants on youth, innovation, and the church, including The Zoe Project (2017-2021), and was co-director with Harold Masback of The Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Project through Yale’s Center for Faith and Culture. In 2013, she co-founded Ministry Incubators, Inc., an educational and consulting group that supports Christian social innovation and entrepreneurial ministries. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as a pastor in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey and as a campus minister in suburban Washington, D.C. before receiving her PhD from Princeton Seminary in 1997.

Show Notes

Kenda Creasy Dean is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. In addition to teaching in practical theology, education, and formation, Dean works closely with Princeton’s Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. Dean is the author of numerous books on youth, church, and culture, the best known of which includes Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. 

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Why do we innovate? The goal is never innovation itself. As Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean says, “The goal is always loving people well.” This conversation is packed with insight and wisdom that gets to the heart of why innovation matters. We often feel pressure to innovate in big ways that make things bigger, faster, stronger but Kendra reminds us that the innovation present in the incarnation was smaller, slower, and more vulnerable. How can we cultivate a balance between prayerfully listening and holy impatience so that we meet people where they are and love them well? This conversation ignited our imagination for innovation in ministry–we can’t wait for you to hear it!

 

Quotations

“We know we’re supposed to love our neighbor, but we don’t always know how to love well.” (8:29)

“Social innovation is a way of making change that keeps human relationships at the center. We are creating new ways to relate to one another that are helpful and life giving and dignity restoring.” (11:38)

“We don’t have to go out and look for people who need ministry. We just look around and figure out how God has called us to be Christ’s envoys in that setting.” (13:49)

 “We don’t want to make our goal innovation. We want to make our goal loving people well.” (16:03)

“We often think about innovation as helping things get bigger, faster, and stronger. But in the incarnation, God got more limited. God got smaller, slower, and more vulnerable.” (25:18)

“The innovation we are behind is about slowing things down, breaking things apart, making people more human and vulnerable.” (25:26)


“The point is to disrupt and to re-enter our large systems with the perspective of love. There’s nothing more disruptive than sacrificial love.” (27:45)


“There's nothing that gives me more hope than the young leaders who are out there. They have holy impatience in spades. They will make a hundred mistakes. They will jump the gun, and they will be eager and in their own way.  They are completely smitten with God and with the people who God has put on their path. It's really hard not to be hopeful when you get to work with young leaders.” (38:36)



We discuss:


  • Owen Ross shares what he means by “every church planting” (4:43)


  • Kenda Creasy Dean on the point of innovation (10:27)


  • Where the focus of the church needs to be (14:02)


  • How innovation is connected with loving people well (17:30)


  • The two things Kenda is hearing from leaders in the church right now (18:42)


  • The role of connection and permission in innovation (21:18)


  • Leading ministry that is responsive to the Spirit (22:32)


  • Innovation that is centered in relationships and vulnerability (25:22)


  • Learning to prayerfully listen (30:57)


  • Discerning the difference God is calling us to make (33:44)


  • Where Kenda draws the most hope (38:37)



About Kenda Creasy Dean


Kenda Creasy Dean is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. In addition to teaching in practical theology, education, and formation, Dean works closely with Princeton’s Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. Dean is the author of numerous books on youth, church, and culture, the best known of which includes Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church,  Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church Eerdmans, and The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry with Ron Foster Upper Room, 1998).

Kenda has directed numerous grants on youth, innovation, and the church, including The Zoe Project (2017-2021), and was co-director with Harold Masback of The Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Project through Yale’s Center for Faith and Culture. In 2013, she co-founded Ministry Incubators, Inc., an educational and consulting group that supports Christian social innovation and entrepreneurial ministries. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as a pastor in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey and as a campus minister in suburban Washington, D.C. before receiving her PhD from Princeton Seminary in 1997.

Show Notes

Kenda Creasy Dean is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. In addition to teaching in practical theology, education, and formation, Dean works closely with Princeton’s Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. Dean is the author of numerous books on youth, church, and culture, the best known of which includes Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. 

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>d0ca9207-b8ae-4bc0-b2c8-427567456118Wed, 19 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -040039:07falsefull8118Loving our Neighbors Means Loving our Neighborhoods with Pastah JLoving our Neighbors Means Loving our Neighborhoods with Pastah JThe last episode of our season on formation begins with co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Tim Soerens each sharing their top three takeaways from the season. Don’t miss this great season wrap up! 

And then: We couldn’t imagine a better conversation partner to end this season with than Jonathan Brooks, or as he’s better known, Pastah J, who offers a hopeful vision and powerful challenge for the church to lead the way out of these hard times: practice presence with all neighbors in all neighborhoods. “I don’t actually think that there are ever any God forsaken places,” Pastah J says, “but there are church forsaken places because it is the church that has decided to take all our gifts and talents, all that God gives us, our power, and reside in more comfortable spaces.” Rooted in scripture and grounded in theology, Pastah J reminds us that God is as interested in where people live as God is in whether they will go to heaven. Pastah J invites us to engage our neighborhoods right now for God’s sake.



Quotations


“I cannot understand my faith apart from my own social location and context and the struggle of African Americans in this country.” (13:53)


“We need to think about how God feels about land, how God feels about place, how God feels about how we use spaces to bring him glory and cultivate the kingdom of God on earth.’ (16:24)


“Loving your neighborhood is as important as loving your neighbor.” (20:15)


“I don’t think God has forsaken my neighborhood. I think God is alive and well in my community, and if you come closer you’ll be able to see that.” (24:20)


“I don’t actually think that there are ever any God forsaken places, but there are church forsaken places because it is the church that has decided to take all our gifts and talents, all that God gives us, our power, and reside in more comfortable spaces.” (25:05)


“God is intimately concerned with where people eat, what people eat, where they live, how they’re educated, just as much as whether or not their soul will spend eternity in heaven.” (30:00)


“The truth is that every person and every place display both the glory of God and the brokenness of humanity.” (34:16)


“If you live in a place where the dominant narrative is that it’s beautiful, you as a Christian have a godly responsibility to expose the brokenness. And if you live in a place where brokenness and negativity is the dominant narrative, you have a godly responsibility to lift up the beauty there.” (36:24)


“Preach with power, teach with power, love in ways that you never have, don’t give up. Allow the truth of what we’ve experienced to be the wind that blows you forward.” (51:00)



We discuss:


  • Tim and Lisa each share their top three takeaways from this season on formation (0:43)

  • Pastah J: how place impacts the way we live out our theology and formation (14:27)


  • The pivotal moment Pastah J realized that his neighborhood and his church were intimately connected (18:45)


  • The impact of the narrative of upward mobility on urban neighborhoods and how it leads to “continual disinvestment” (23:10)


  • Jesus call us to be uncomfortable and to reinvest in some of the places we have run away from (25:35)


  • We need to need make bifocal “Glory of God” and “Brokenness of Humanity” glasses to fully see the world the way God does (32:00)


  • Discipleship and formation happen in relationship to each other and to the places we live (39:30)


  • God’s gifts and goodness exist for us in community with each other (44:42)


  • Words of hope for everyone doing the work of God (49:35)


 

About Jonathan Brooks


Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J as he is affectionately known, is a lifelong resident of Chicago, IL and currently serves as Co-Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood.  He is also Board Chair of the Parish Collective. He previously served as Senior Pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood for fifteen years. As an educator on many different levels and a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom and community. His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training as well as restorative justice practices and care for the incarcerated and their families.


Pastah J is a sought after speaker, writer, artist and community activist. He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles and books, and his most recent book is Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods.



Show Notes

Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J, is Co-Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood. An artist and community activist, he is Board Chair of the Parish Collective and author of Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods. Learn more about him and his work at pastahj.com.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>The last episode of our season on formation begins with co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Tim Soerens each sharing their top three takeaways from the season. Don’t miss this great season wrap up! 

And then: We couldn’t imagine a better conversation partner to end this season with than Jonathan Brooks, or as he’s better known, Pastah J, who offers a hopeful vision and powerful challenge for the church to lead the way out of these hard times: practice presence with all neighbors in all neighborhoods. “I don’t actually think that there are ever any God forsaken places,” Pastah J says, “but there are church forsaken places because it is the church that has decided to take all our gifts and talents, all that God gives us, our power, and reside in more comfortable spaces.” Rooted in scripture and grounded in theology, Pastah J reminds us that God is as interested in where people live as God is in whether they will go to heaven. Pastah J invites us to engage our neighborhoods right now for God’s sake.



Quotations


“I cannot understand my faith apart from my own social location and context and the struggle of African Americans in this country.” (13:53)


“We need to think about how God feels about land, how God feels about place, how God feels about how we use spaces to bring him glory and cultivate the kingdom of God on earth.’ (16:24)


“Loving your neighborhood is as important as loving your neighbor.” (20:15)


“I don’t think God has forsaken my neighborhood. I think God is alive and well in my community, and if you come closer you’ll be able to see that.” (24:20)


“I don’t actually think that there are ever any God forsaken places, but there are church forsaken places because it is the church that has decided to take all our gifts and talents, all that God gives us, our power, and reside in more comfortable spaces.” (25:05)


“God is intimately concerned with where people eat, what people eat, where they live, how they’re educated, just as much as whether or not their soul will spend eternity in heaven.” (30:00)


“The truth is that every person and every place display both the glory of God and the brokenness of humanity.” (34:16)


“If you live in a place where the dominant narrative is that it’s beautiful, you as a Christian have a godly responsibility to expose the brokenness. And if you live in a place where brokenness and negativity is the dominant narrative, you have a godly responsibility to lift up the beauty there.” (36:24)


“Preach with power, teach with power, love in ways that you never have, don’t give up. Allow the truth of what we’ve experienced to be the wind that blows you forward.” (51:00)



We discuss:


  • Tim and Lisa each share their top three takeaways from this season on formation (0:43)

  • Pastah J: how place impacts the way we live out our theology and formation (14:27)


  • The pivotal moment Pastah J realized that his neighborhood and his church were intimately connected (18:45)


  • The impact of the narrative of upward mobility on urban neighborhoods and how it leads to “continual disinvestment” (23:10)


  • Jesus call us to be uncomfortable and to reinvest in some of the places we have run away from (25:35)


  • We need to need make bifocal “Glory of God” and “Brokenness of Humanity” glasses to fully see the world the way God does (32:00)


  • Discipleship and formation happen in relationship to each other and to the places we live (39:30)


  • God’s gifts and goodness exist for us in community with each other (44:42)


  • Words of hope for everyone doing the work of God (49:35)


 

About Jonathan Brooks


Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J as he is affectionately known, is a lifelong resident of Chicago, IL and currently serves as Co-Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood.  He is also Board Chair of the Parish Collective. He previously served as Senior Pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood for fifteen years. As an educator on many different levels and a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom and community. His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training as well as restorative justice practices and care for the incarcerated and their families.


Pastah J is a sought after speaker, writer, artist and community activist. He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles and books, and his most recent book is Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods.



Show Notes

Jonathan Brooks, or Pastah J, is Co-Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church in the North Lawndale Neighborhood. An artist and community activist, he is Board Chair of the Parish Collective and author of Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods. Learn more about him and his work at pastahj.com.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>6459b3f8-3486-47d8-be3f-48ddb2623c38Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -040055:22falsefull7997Reimagining God’s Economy with Rev. Rosa Lee HardenReimagining God’s Economy with Rev. Rosa Lee HardenRosa Lee Harden, Episcopal priest and serial entrepreneur, says that a conversation about generosity should bring about the best in us. This conversation certainly does just that! Each minute with Rosa Lee is inspired and inspiring. Rosa Lee shares her journey of faith that led her to bring together her desire to follow Jesus with her financial savvy and to start SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) and Neighborhood Economics, both dedicated to bringing capital to neighborhoods that cannot normally access it and expanding the reach of impact investing. This conversation invites us to think deeply about how we invest our money. We may be born into a consumer economy, but we can think and live better and more in line with the economy God imagines. Rosa Lee’s authentic, wholehearted, and brilliant presence shines throughout this conversation and challenges us to let our faith formation change how we see and use our financial resources. 


Quotations

“I cared more about following Jesus than loving Jesus. I was always wondering why did Jesus do something and how did that impact who we are today.” (5:58)

“Impact investing, people investing in change, is a response to a moral hunger in the market.” (14:30)

“Everybody knows, you scratch an impact investor and you have a faith story.” (15:15)

“A conversation about generosity should bring about the best in us instead of the worst in us.” (17:30)

“The people who live upstream from us determine the quality of the water in our river, and we determine the quality of the water in the river of the people downstream. So we are in it together.” (22:28)

“When you dig into the traditional bank way of doing things and the traditional accounting way of doing things, folks on the ground, folks in the trenches, folks who are in need, know a whole lot more about how to manage money effectively than we do.” (32:57)

“We want to open the eyes of people in the pews to get rid of that idea that when we're talking about being more generous, we’re not coming after your stuff, we’re saying that your stuff can participate in this new economy. Your stuff can be generative in a way that you actually don't lose anything and everybody gains.” (34:10)

We discuss:

  • Key moments in her formation as a follower of Jesus (5:38)
  • How she became a leader at the intersection of faith and finance (8:30)
  • Being called to become a priest while running the Mississippi Business Journal (10:08)
  • Keeping meaning alive as a motive for impact investing (12:00)
  • Jesus and our understanding of money (15:30)
  • Why it’s so hard to talk about money from a biblical, theological frame (16:30)
  • The challenge of preaching about money (19:00)
  • Biblical and theological threads that have guided her work (20:53)
  • Her work with Neighborhood Economics (24:00)
  • Building innovative loans funds by listening to people on the ground who are closest to the challenges (33:00)
  • The relationship between Christian formation and our every-day relationship with money (38:47)
  • Paying attention to the ways in which how you spend your money in your community can improve your community (43:19)
  • How to think differently despite the fact that we are born into a consumer economy (47:30)
  • How she’s being formed currently and how that is making a difference for her and in her work (49:52)


About Rosa Lee Harden

The Rev. Canon Rosa Lee Harden is an Episcopal priest and self-described serial-entrepreneur. She is executive producer of Neighborhood Economics, and a founder of SOCAP, both dedicated to bringing capital to neighborhoods that cannot normally access it and expanding the reach of impact investing.

Her vocational life has included being publisher of weekly newspapers, trade journals, a business journal and CEO of a ‘Silicon Valley’ start-up. She was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 2000 and served as Vicar of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in San Francisco for ten years. She also served as the Canon for Money and Meaning at All Soul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Asheville, NC. In 2003, she developed ‘via media,’ a video curriculum about basic theology for the Episcopal church, at a time when the church was under great stress. Purchased by more than 1000 churches, it brought healing and connection across the denomination. In 2008, she and her husband, Kevin Jones, launched the global SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) conference, the conference at the intersection of money and meaning. In its 11th year, SOCAP18 brought more than 3,000 people from more than 60 countries to San Francisco to accelerate the good economy. 

Now, Rosa Lee is leading F+F: Reimagining God’s Economy, a conference to enable the varied and disconnected tribes of the Christian church to learn a language for making theological sense of money and its uses. 

Show Notes

Rev. Canon Rosa Lee Harden, Episcopal priest and serial entrepreneur, is executive producer of Neighborhood Economics, a founder of SOCAP and a leader of F+F: Reimagining God’s Economy

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>Rosa Lee Harden, Episcopal priest and serial entrepreneur, says that a conversation about generosity should bring about the best in us. This conversation certainly does just that! Each minute with Rosa Lee is inspired and inspiring. Rosa Lee shares her journey of faith that led her to bring together her desire to follow Jesus with her financial savvy and to start SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) and Neighborhood Economics, both dedicated to bringing capital to neighborhoods that cannot normally access it and expanding the reach of impact investing. This conversation invites us to think deeply about how we invest our money. We may be born into a consumer economy, but we can think and live better and more in line with the economy God imagines. Rosa Lee’s authentic, wholehearted, and brilliant presence shines throughout this conversation and challenges us to let our faith formation change how we see and use our financial resources. 


Quotations

“I cared more about following Jesus than loving Jesus. I was always wondering why did Jesus do something and how did that impact who we are today.” (5:58)

“Impact investing, people investing in change, is a response to a moral hunger in the market.” (14:30)

“Everybody knows, you scratch an impact investor and you have a faith story.” (15:15)

“A conversation about generosity should bring about the best in us instead of the worst in us.” (17:30)

“The people who live upstream from us determine the quality of the water in our river, and we determine the quality of the water in the river of the people downstream. So we are in it together.” (22:28)

“When you dig into the traditional bank way of doing things and the traditional accounting way of doing things, folks on the ground, folks in the trenches, folks who are in need, know a whole lot more about how to manage money effectively than we do.” (32:57)

“We want to open the eyes of people in the pews to get rid of that idea that when we're talking about being more generous, we’re not coming after your stuff, we’re saying that your stuff can participate in this new economy. Your stuff can be generative in a way that you actually don't lose anything and everybody gains.” (34:10)

We discuss:

  • Key moments in her formation as a follower of Jesus (5:38)
  • How she became a leader at the intersection of faith and finance (8:30)
  • Being called to become a priest while running the Mississippi Business Journal (10:08)
  • Keeping meaning alive as a motive for impact investing (12:00)
  • Jesus and our understanding of money (15:30)
  • Why it’s so hard to talk about money from a biblical, theological frame (16:30)
  • The challenge of preaching about money (19:00)
  • Biblical and theological threads that have guided her work (20:53)
  • Her work with Neighborhood Economics (24:00)
  • Building innovative loans funds by listening to people on the ground who are closest to the challenges (33:00)
  • The relationship between Christian formation and our every-day relationship with money (38:47)
  • Paying attention to the ways in which how you spend your money in your community can improve your community (43:19)
  • How to think differently despite the fact that we are born into a consumer economy (47:30)
  • How she’s being formed currently and how that is making a difference for her and in her work (49:52)


About Rosa Lee Harden

The Rev. Canon Rosa Lee Harden is an Episcopal priest and self-described serial-entrepreneur. She is executive producer of Neighborhood Economics, and a founder of SOCAP, both dedicated to bringing capital to neighborhoods that cannot normally access it and expanding the reach of impact investing.

Her vocational life has included being publisher of weekly newspapers, trade journals, a business journal and CEO of a ‘Silicon Valley’ start-up. She was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 2000 and served as Vicar of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in San Francisco for ten years. She also served as the Canon for Money and Meaning at All Soul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Asheville, NC. In 2003, she developed ‘via media,’ a video curriculum about basic theology for the Episcopal church, at a time when the church was under great stress. Purchased by more than 1000 churches, it brought healing and connection across the denomination. In 2008, she and her husband, Kevin Jones, launched the global SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) conference, the conference at the intersection of money and meaning. In its 11th year, SOCAP18 brought more than 3,000 people from more than 60 countries to San Francisco to accelerate the good economy. 

Now, Rosa Lee is leading F+F: Reimagining God’s Economy, a conference to enable the varied and disconnected tribes of the Christian church to learn a language for making theological sense of money and its uses. 

Show Notes

Rev. Canon Rosa Lee Harden, Episcopal priest and serial entrepreneur, is executive producer of Neighborhood Economics, a founder of SOCAP and a leader of F+F: Reimagining God’s Economy

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?


]]>749a9184-eeff-4635-82b7-6b656b458721Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -040053:34falsefull7887Living the Gospel through the Multi-Ethnic Church with Mark DeYmazLiving the Gospel through the Multi-Ethnic Church with Mark DeYmazMark DeYmaz, founder of Mosaix Church and the Mosaix Global Network, passionately articulates how the multi-ethnic church is the visible sign of the Gospel. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mark shares the origin story of Mosaix Church and his conviction that “if a people group or an individual is missing, then we’re actually missing part of the beauty of what God is revealing.” From a gripping football metaphor to scriptural analysis and an in-depth reflection about the economic and demographic challenges for churches today, this fast-moving, hopeful, and challenging conversation is not to be missed! 

Quotations

“Formation isn’t a Christian idea. It’s a human one. All of us are always being formed.” (1:14)


“In the New Testament, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor all walk, work and worship God together as one, in local churches.” (11:59)


“If the Kingdom of Heaven is not segregated, why on earth is the church?”(14:12)


“We live in a Matthew 5:16 century” (19:49)


“Jesus didn’t say let them hear your good words. He said let them see your good works.” (19:50)


“In the 21st century you have to get people comfortable living with tension.” (35:01)


"So it's not about size, it's about influence. The greater diversity, the greater your influence, comfort versus tension in the 20th century. You make people feel comfortable at church in the 21st. You gotta get people comfortable with tension, right? Because that's where the unity is. And the, the, the picture of that to me is Jesus with his arms outstretched dying on the cross, lifted up to draw all people himself."


“We are called to be ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of peace.” (41:45)


“We have to stand on our faith, our stewardship, our love, and just go for it.” (43:28)


We Discuss:


  • The complicated relationship between what’s happening in the church today and the role of formation (2:35)
  • We have to consistently ask who we are seeking to become and what is asked of us. (3:24)
  • If we are not intentional about how we are formed, we will default to being formed by the influences around us. (4:08)
  • Starting and growing Mosaic Church following a New Testament model (9:00)
  • Mosaic Church functions like a football team – different teams all working together to meet the particular challenges of its congregation (16:35)
  • How Mosaic Church blends spiritual, nonprofit and for-profit strategies to thrive (19:11)
  • The credit that Mosaic Church gets is to the glory of God (20:51)
  • Their drive to advance the cause of Christ by meeting the needs of their community led them to innovate their business model (23:30)
  • Metrics for the church in the 21st century (30:17)
  • We have to show pastors how to stop just managing decline (31:14)
  • In the 21st century the key purpose of the church is to help people get comfortable living in tension (35:01)
  • Regardless of the challenges, and emboldened by the Gospel, we have to act out of faith and optimism (43:28)



About Mark DeYmaz

Mark DeYmaz is a thought-leading writer and recognized champion of the Multi-Ethnic Church Movement. Mark planted the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in 2001 where he continues to serve as Directional Leader. In 2004, he co-founded the Mosaix Global Network, and currently serves as its president and the convener of the National Multi-ethnic Church Conference which occurs every three years. He has written several books, including his most recent, The Coming Revolution in Church Economics, as well as Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community. His book Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church was a finalist for a Christianity Today Book of the Year Award in 2008.


Show Notes

More information about Mark DeYmaz can be found on his website.

Mark DeYmaz is the author of several books including The Coming Revolution in Church Economics, Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community and Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Mark DeYmaz, founder of Mosaix Church and the Mosaix Global Network, passionately articulates how the multi-ethnic church is the visible sign of the Gospel. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mark shares the origin story of Mosaix Church and his conviction that “if a people group or an individual is missing, then we’re actually missing part of the beauty of what God is revealing.” From a gripping football metaphor to scriptural analysis and an in-depth reflection about the economic and demographic challenges for churches today, this fast-moving, hopeful, and challenging conversation is not to be missed! 

Quotations

“Formation isn’t a Christian idea. It’s a human one. All of us are always being formed.” (1:14)


“In the New Testament, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor all walk, work and worship God together as one, in local churches.” (11:59)


“If the Kingdom of Heaven is not segregated, why on earth is the church?”(14:12)


“We live in a Matthew 5:16 century” (19:49)


“Jesus didn’t say let them hear your good words. He said let them see your good works.” (19:50)


“In the 21st century you have to get people comfortable living with tension.” (35:01)


"So it's not about size, it's about influence. The greater diversity, the greater your influence, comfort versus tension in the 20th century. You make people feel comfortable at church in the 21st. You gotta get people comfortable with tension, right? Because that's where the unity is. And the, the, the picture of that to me is Jesus with his arms outstretched dying on the cross, lifted up to draw all people himself."


“We are called to be ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of peace.” (41:45)


“We have to stand on our faith, our stewardship, our love, and just go for it.” (43:28)


We Discuss:


  • The complicated relationship between what’s happening in the church today and the role of formation (2:35)
  • We have to consistently ask who we are seeking to become and what is asked of us. (3:24)
  • If we are not intentional about how we are formed, we will default to being formed by the influences around us. (4:08)
  • Starting and growing Mosaic Church following a New Testament model (9:00)
  • Mosaic Church functions like a football team – different teams all working together to meet the particular challenges of its congregation (16:35)
  • How Mosaic Church blends spiritual, nonprofit and for-profit strategies to thrive (19:11)
  • The credit that Mosaic Church gets is to the glory of God (20:51)
  • Their drive to advance the cause of Christ by meeting the needs of their community led them to innovate their business model (23:30)
  • Metrics for the church in the 21st century (30:17)
  • We have to show pastors how to stop just managing decline (31:14)
  • In the 21st century the key purpose of the church is to help people get comfortable living in tension (35:01)
  • Regardless of the challenges, and emboldened by the Gospel, we have to act out of faith and optimism (43:28)



About Mark DeYmaz

Mark DeYmaz is a thought-leading writer and recognized champion of the Multi-Ethnic Church Movement. Mark planted the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in 2001 where he continues to serve as Directional Leader. In 2004, he co-founded the Mosaix Global Network, and currently serves as its president and the convener of the National Multi-ethnic Church Conference which occurs every three years. He has written several books, including his most recent, The Coming Revolution in Church Economics, as well as Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community. His book Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church was a finalist for a Christianity Today Book of the Year Award in 2008.


Show Notes

More information about Mark DeYmaz can be found on his website.

Mark DeYmaz is the author of several books including The Coming Revolution in Church Economics, Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community and Leading a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>eab1c415-2b99-40c8-9273-db88792ad94cWed, 18 Jan 2023 04:00:00 -040059:03falsefull7667Creating Cultures of Generosity with Joe ParkCreating Cultures of Generosity with Joe ParkJoe Park, CEO and Principal of Horizons Stewardship, invites us to think deeply about the connection between formation and generosity. He humbly says he is not an expert in generosity but his track record of incredible successes helping churches and faith-based not for profits build sustainable cultures of generosity, and the depth with which he approaches this topic sure makes us want to call him an expert!

Joe shares how creating a culture of generosity connects with cultivating experiences where people can grow as disciples through small groups and service together. He offers practical ideas for weaving generosity throughout the entire congregation (don’t miss these insightful and important ideas!). Joe’s own story of discerning his call to ministry and his continued openness to the Spirit is inspiring; he is not just talking the talk of generosity. Joe’s generous spirit shines through his life and certainly through this conversation.

This conversation is timely. We’re releasing it at the beginning of the new year both for the practical ideas Joe shares for creating cultures of generosity–and for the invitation to consider what is forming us and if what is forming us is leading us to become more generous.

Quotes

“Generosity is a way of being.” (3:59)


“A financial gift is way bigger than the dollar amount. It’s a visible sign of trust.” (8:12)


“Creating a culture of generosity requires an encounter with the Holy Spirit, which happens in small groups, discipleship and serving.” (23:25)


“Whenever you talk about generosity, you want to talk about spiritual growth. When you talk about giving, you want to talk about impact.” (37:11)


“Generosity is about inviting people to join God in what God is already doing and invest all of themselves in that.” (45:00)



We discuss:


  • Generosity and formation are naturally connected (1:00)
  • Being invested in one’s neighborhood and one’s faith community. (7:06)
  • The transition from being a bank CEO to working with churches to build cultures of generosity (16:41)
  • The connection between generosity, fundraising and discipleship (20:30)
  • Ministry funding is more about doing for than about getting from (25:30)
  • Building a year-round culture of generosity (26:51)
  • The close tie between generosity and discipleship (33:00)
  • The pivotal role of a generosity team (34:30)
  • How the “offering talk” is one of a pastor’s most important tools (36:30)
  • The transformative impact of Joe’s visit to Magdala in Israel and a Hall that celebrates women of the Bible (52:00)



About Joe Park


Joe Park is CEO and principal of Horizons Stewardship, whose mission is to help churches and faith-based nonprofits grow disciples and fund ministry. Horizons team has assisted churches in raising over $9 billion in capital funding and uncountable amounts of annual and planned giving. Joe has consulted and taught extensively on the implementation of best practices in generosity, strategic planning, and change management.


Prior to joining Horizons in 2002, Joe served as CEO of Community Financial Group with banking, insurance, and investment presences in seven different cities.  He was named one of Arkansas’ Outstanding Business leaders by Arkansas Business Magazine, was a recipient of the Sam Walton Business Leader Award, and was selected by the Secretary of the Air Force as a Civilian Leader representative to the Air War College. The Community Financial Group received the prestigious Arkansas Governor’s award for Most Outstanding Mid-Sized Company for Community Service. Joe has also achieved C.F.R.E. (Certified Fundraising Executive) status.


Joe earned a degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University. Joe and his family live in Dallas.


Show Notes


Joe Park is CEO and principal of Horizons Stewardship, whose mission is to help churches and faith-based nonprofits grow disciples and fund ministry. Among the many useful resources Joe recommends for building a culture of generosity includes Horizon’s GIVING365, a library of stewardship and generosity resources for churches, and Henri J. M. Nouwen’s timeless work on generosity, A Spirituality of Fundraising.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Joe Park, CEO and Principal of Horizons Stewardship, invites us to think deeply about the connection between formation and generosity. He humbly says he is not an expert in generosity but his track record of incredible successes helping churches and faith-based not for profits build sustainable cultures of generosity, and the depth with which he approaches this topic sure makes us want to call him an expert!

Joe shares how creating a culture of generosity connects with cultivating experiences where people can grow as disciples through small groups and service together. He offers practical ideas for weaving generosity throughout the entire congregation (don’t miss these insightful and important ideas!). Joe’s own story of discerning his call to ministry and his continued openness to the Spirit is inspiring; he is not just talking the talk of generosity. Joe’s generous spirit shines through his life and certainly through this conversation.

This conversation is timely. We’re releasing it at the beginning of the new year both for the practical ideas Joe shares for creating cultures of generosity–and for the invitation to consider what is forming us and if what is forming us is leading us to become more generous.

Quotes

“Generosity is a way of being.” (3:59)


“A financial gift is way bigger than the dollar amount. It’s a visible sign of trust.” (8:12)


“Creating a culture of generosity requires an encounter with the Holy Spirit, which happens in small groups, discipleship and serving.” (23:25)


“Whenever you talk about generosity, you want to talk about spiritual growth. When you talk about giving, you want to talk about impact.” (37:11)


“Generosity is about inviting people to join God in what God is already doing and invest all of themselves in that.” (45:00)



We discuss:


  • Generosity and formation are naturally connected (1:00)
  • Being invested in one’s neighborhood and one’s faith community. (7:06)
  • The transition from being a bank CEO to working with churches to build cultures of generosity (16:41)
  • The connection between generosity, fundraising and discipleship (20:30)
  • Ministry funding is more about doing for than about getting from (25:30)
  • Building a year-round culture of generosity (26:51)
  • The close tie between generosity and discipleship (33:00)
  • The pivotal role of a generosity team (34:30)
  • How the “offering talk” is one of a pastor’s most important tools (36:30)
  • The transformative impact of Joe’s visit to Magdala in Israel and a Hall that celebrates women of the Bible (52:00)



About Joe Park


Joe Park is CEO and principal of Horizons Stewardship, whose mission is to help churches and faith-based nonprofits grow disciples and fund ministry. Horizons team has assisted churches in raising over $9 billion in capital funding and uncountable amounts of annual and planned giving. Joe has consulted and taught extensively on the implementation of best practices in generosity, strategic planning, and change management.


Prior to joining Horizons in 2002, Joe served as CEO of Community Financial Group with banking, insurance, and investment presences in seven different cities.  He was named one of Arkansas’ Outstanding Business leaders by Arkansas Business Magazine, was a recipient of the Sam Walton Business Leader Award, and was selected by the Secretary of the Air Force as a Civilian Leader representative to the Air War College. The Community Financial Group received the prestigious Arkansas Governor’s award for Most Outstanding Mid-Sized Company for Community Service. Joe has also achieved C.F.R.E. (Certified Fundraising Executive) status.


Joe earned a degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University. Joe and his family live in Dallas.


Show Notes


Joe Park is CEO and principal of Horizons Stewardship, whose mission is to help churches and faith-based nonprofits grow disciples and fund ministry. Among the many useful resources Joe recommends for building a culture of generosity includes Horizon’s GIVING365, a library of stewardship and generosity resources for churches, and Henri J. M. Nouwen’s timeless work on generosity, A Spirituality of Fundraising.


This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>e2fb69f5-b7b2-4537-87cd-2f13ab1f0c43Wed, 11 Jan 2023 18:00:00 -040048:40falsefull7557Formation and the Phygital Space (Bonus Episode)Formation and the Phygital Space (Bonus Episode)This is a first for us: we recorded this bonus episode on location at a gathering we hosted in Austin, Texas! You’ll hear from eleven amazing leaders and practitioners of physical and digital ministry, or “phygital” as we’ve now learned to say. These pioneers in digital ministry will share their experiences, questions, and ideas for what the digital space makes possible for formation. From designing apps that reach younger generations to exploring virtual reality in the Metaverse, and so much more, this episode is interesting, informative, and inspiring! 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • What formation is and what the digital space makes possible? (3:20)
  • Three experiences of digital ministry: worship, an app, and campus ministry (18:38)
  • Experiments in the Metaverse and the possibilities of virtual reality (34:36)
  • Ethics and digital ministry (44:37)
  • Reaching the unchurched or dechurched in digital space (51:54)

Quotes:

  • “I think the church is supposed to be the one making that clarion call to adventure for people to accept and then we're supposed to equip them along the way to launch them back into the world they came from so they can awaken others. … All the things that happen along the way take us from walking towards Jesus to walking with Jesus.” -Christian Washington

  • There's an app that you can download that actually wakes you up inside of a homeless person's tent. It starts with 360 degree recording of a real person's tent being arrested and dragged out of her tent. Then it fades to black and then you open up in a virtual environment, it's still her tent, but you can reach out and grab her mug, and then it plays an audio story of where the mug came from. You can pick up her journal and flip through it, or you can pick up her family photo and it flashes back to a memory of her and her family. It’s immersive, empathy building storytelling where you take somebody and transport them into somebody else's life, experiencing what other people are going through and building empathy across people groups.” -Dan Bracken



Bios of Guests



Rachel Billups


Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker and author. Currently she serves as Senior Pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church, New Albany/Columbus, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission. Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is a popular speaker for national gatherings and has recently authored BE BOLD: Finding Four Fierce published by Abingdon Press. You can find her on social media at: @rlbillups.


Dan Bracken


Dan has been on staff at Ginghamsburg Church since 2006, where he serves as Ginghamsburg’s communication director. Dan also leads the Ginghamsburg Design Studio, the church’s in-house creative media resourcing team where he practices all aspects of communication – video production, graphic design, social media, website development, app creation, creative storytelling, marketing and wayfinding.


Phil Dieke


Phil is a Deacon in the North Texas Conference, currently serving as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Digital Ministry at White Rock UMC in East Dallas. He chairs the Board of Church and Society for the North Texas Conference, is a facilitator for Project Unity's Together We Dine, sits on the Executive Board of Texas Impact and the Leadership Council for Faith Forward Dallas. Phil believes technology, like human nature, has the potential to do good and all kinds of harm in this world, and creation as a whole. 


Rohini Drake 


Rohini Drake is the Director of Welcoming and Online Ministries at First UMC Richardson. 


Rachel Gilmore


Rachel is a former Peace Corp Volunteer who spent 10 years as a church planter and spiritual entrepreneur in Virginia Beach before serving as the Director of Recruiting, Assessing and Training of Church Planters for the United Methodist Church at Path 1/Discipleship Ministries. She now serves as the Director of New and Vital Faith in the Desert Southwest Conference and lives with her husband, two kids and two dogs in Phoenix, Arizona. She has also authored two books and launched two podcasts and co-founded Intersect: a Co-Planting Network in the fall of 2021.


Aaron Manes


Aaron Manes is a Spiritual Director, Enneagramist and haphazard participant in spiritual practices. Aaron is the Director of Online Ministry and Spiritual Engagement at Arapaho United Methodist Church where he produces content and leads small groups. Aaron is also a trained and practicing Spiritual Director and is nearing completion of a Somatic Inquiry certification (a meditative prayer practice using the body as a guide for healing). 


Matt Rawle



Matt is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and he loves meditating on scripture, listening to the heart of God, and inspiring people to build God’s kingdom through radical love. He currently serves as Lead Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, LA. He has authored eleven studies through Abingdon Press (Including Jesus Revealed, The Grace of Les Miserables, The Redemption of Scrooge, and Faith of a Mockingbird). Matt is a Louisiana delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and the LA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He has a BA in Music from LSU and a MDiv from Duke Divinity School. His website is http://www.MattRawle.com.


Derrick Scott


Derrick is first a follower of Jesus. He seeks to offer everything he does, all that he has and all that he is in response to all God has done for him. His passion is raising up a new generation of leaders and laborers who will live as disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world. Derrick believes all of life flows from our spiritual being. He believes the deeper we go into understanding who we are as souls, the more we are able to experience life in its fullness. Wherever he goes, his goal is to inspire individuals to steward this moment we are in by holding space for all to bring their true selves. 


Jeremy Steele


Jeremy Steele is a writer, technologist, conspirator and spiritual entrepreneur who refuses to give up on Christianity. He is the Founder of the Zoay app and currently works two jobs as the Church Translator for the Changemaker initiative in Silicon Valley and as the Executive director of the Wesley Foundation in Mobile, Al. Jeremy also consults with digital ministry innovators and churches on developing new ministry and scaling up their digital strategy to impact more people and reach sustainability. You can find more about him and his work at Jeremy-Steele.com


Christian Washington


Christian Washington serves as lead pastor of Upper Room Heights, an intentionally multiethnic community of Chapelwood UMC. Prior to his work in ministry Christian started REAL Coaching, Incorporated (realcoaching.net) in 2004 as the first “rapid solutions” consulting practice that focuses on faith-based and non-profit organizations. Much in demand as a public speaker, Christian is a native of Los Angeles (It’s true, he is from Compton!) and enjoys inspiring leaders to make a significant impact on the world. He studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and management science at the University of California in San Diego. Christian sits on numerous non-profit boards, is a Project Curate Lily Fellow and a Fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. 



John Whirledge


John believes he was placed in the world by God to be a shepherd of people. He has served churches as a youth pastor, worship pastor and now finds himself immersed in all things related to digital ministry. His greatest joy comes from seeing people connect with Jesus, wherever they are physically, spiritually, emotionally, or anywhere else in between. 



Show Notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>This is a first for us: we recorded this bonus episode on location at a gathering we hosted in Austin, Texas! You’ll hear from eleven amazing leaders and practitioners of physical and digital ministry, or “phygital” as we’ve now learned to say. These pioneers in digital ministry will share their experiences, questions, and ideas for what the digital space makes possible for formation. From designing apps that reach younger generations to exploring virtual reality in the Metaverse, and so much more, this episode is interesting, informative, and inspiring! 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • What formation is and what the digital space makes possible? (3:20)
  • Three experiences of digital ministry: worship, an app, and campus ministry (18:38)
  • Experiments in the Metaverse and the possibilities of virtual reality (34:36)
  • Ethics and digital ministry (44:37)
  • Reaching the unchurched or dechurched in digital space (51:54)

Quotes:

  • “I think the church is supposed to be the one making that clarion call to adventure for people to accept and then we're supposed to equip them along the way to launch them back into the world they came from so they can awaken others. … All the things that happen along the way take us from walking towards Jesus to walking with Jesus.” -Christian Washington

  • There's an app that you can download that actually wakes you up inside of a homeless person's tent. It starts with 360 degree recording of a real person's tent being arrested and dragged out of her tent. Then it fades to black and then you open up in a virtual environment, it's still her tent, but you can reach out and grab her mug, and then it plays an audio story of where the mug came from. You can pick up her journal and flip through it, or you can pick up her family photo and it flashes back to a memory of her and her family. It’s immersive, empathy building storytelling where you take somebody and transport them into somebody else's life, experiencing what other people are going through and building empathy across people groups.” -Dan Bracken



Bios of Guests



Rachel Billups


Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker and author. Currently she serves as Senior Pastor at New Albany United Methodist Church, New Albany/Columbus, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission. Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke Divinity School. Rachel is a popular speaker for national gatherings and has recently authored BE BOLD: Finding Four Fierce published by Abingdon Press. You can find her on social media at: @rlbillups.


Dan Bracken


Dan has been on staff at Ginghamsburg Church since 2006, where he serves as Ginghamsburg’s communication director. Dan also leads the Ginghamsburg Design Studio, the church’s in-house creative media resourcing team where he practices all aspects of communication – video production, graphic design, social media, website development, app creation, creative storytelling, marketing and wayfinding.


Phil Dieke


Phil is a Deacon in the North Texas Conference, currently serving as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Digital Ministry at White Rock UMC in East Dallas. He chairs the Board of Church and Society for the North Texas Conference, is a facilitator for Project Unity's Together We Dine, sits on the Executive Board of Texas Impact and the Leadership Council for Faith Forward Dallas. Phil believes technology, like human nature, has the potential to do good and all kinds of harm in this world, and creation as a whole. 


Rohini Drake 


Rohini Drake is the Director of Welcoming and Online Ministries at First UMC Richardson. 


Rachel Gilmore


Rachel is a former Peace Corp Volunteer who spent 10 years as a church planter and spiritual entrepreneur in Virginia Beach before serving as the Director of Recruiting, Assessing and Training of Church Planters for the United Methodist Church at Path 1/Discipleship Ministries. She now serves as the Director of New and Vital Faith in the Desert Southwest Conference and lives with her husband, two kids and two dogs in Phoenix, Arizona. She has also authored two books and launched two podcasts and co-founded Intersect: a Co-Planting Network in the fall of 2021.


Aaron Manes


Aaron Manes is a Spiritual Director, Enneagramist and haphazard participant in spiritual practices. Aaron is the Director of Online Ministry and Spiritual Engagement at Arapaho United Methodist Church where he produces content and leads small groups. Aaron is also a trained and practicing Spiritual Director and is nearing completion of a Somatic Inquiry certification (a meditative prayer practice using the body as a guide for healing). 


Matt Rawle



Matt is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and he loves meditating on scripture, listening to the heart of God, and inspiring people to build God’s kingdom through radical love. He currently serves as Lead Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, LA. He has authored eleven studies through Abingdon Press (Including Jesus Revealed, The Grace of Les Miserables, The Redemption of Scrooge, and Faith of a Mockingbird). Matt is a Louisiana delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and the LA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He has a BA in Music from LSU and a MDiv from Duke Divinity School. His website is http://www.MattRawle.com.


Derrick Scott


Derrick is first a follower of Jesus. He seeks to offer everything he does, all that he has and all that he is in response to all God has done for him. His passion is raising up a new generation of leaders and laborers who will live as disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world. Derrick believes all of life flows from our spiritual being. He believes the deeper we go into understanding who we are as souls, the more we are able to experience life in its fullness. Wherever he goes, his goal is to inspire individuals to steward this moment we are in by holding space for all to bring their true selves. 


Jeremy Steele


Jeremy Steele is a writer, technologist, conspirator and spiritual entrepreneur who refuses to give up on Christianity. He is the Founder of the Zoay app and currently works two jobs as the Church Translator for the Changemaker initiative in Silicon Valley and as the Executive director of the Wesley Foundation in Mobile, Al. Jeremy also consults with digital ministry innovators and churches on developing new ministry and scaling up their digital strategy to impact more people and reach sustainability. You can find more about him and his work at Jeremy-Steele.com


Christian Washington


Christian Washington serves as lead pastor of Upper Room Heights, an intentionally multiethnic community of Chapelwood UMC. Prior to his work in ministry Christian started REAL Coaching, Incorporated (realcoaching.net) in 2004 as the first “rapid solutions” consulting practice that focuses on faith-based and non-profit organizations. Much in demand as a public speaker, Christian is a native of Los Angeles (It’s true, he is from Compton!) and enjoys inspiring leaders to make a significant impact on the world. He studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and management science at the University of California in San Diego. Christian sits on numerous non-profit boards, is a Project Curate Lily Fellow and a Fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. 



John Whirledge


John believes he was placed in the world by God to be a shepherd of people. He has served churches as a youth pastor, worship pastor and now finds himself immersed in all things related to digital ministry. His greatest joy comes from seeing people connect with Jesus, wherever they are physically, spiritually, emotionally, or anywhere else in between. 



Show Notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>7129f6b8-aa25-4954-91c4-bfb11db5ea1eWed, 14 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -040001:05:27falsefull7447The Spiritually Awakened Brain with Dr. Lisa MillerThe Spiritually Awakened Brain with Dr. Lisa MillerHumans are equipped with an innate capacity for spirituality and our brains become more resilient and robust the more we engage with spirituality. This groundbreaking research from Dr. Lisa Miller has enormous implications for the church. Dr. Miller joins our podcast to make a case for why the church is desperately needed today, not just as an antidote to the “diseases of despair,” but also as a key and necessary ingredient for human thriving. From her own personal journey of spiritual awakening to her passionate plea to bring religion back into the public square, Dr. Miller shares insight and inspiration that is not to be missed. 


Quotations


“Sometimes God tells you when there’s only one answer and that answer is ‘yes!’” (07:12)


“Just as we have two eyes, two ears and a nose, every single baby is born with a capacity for spiritual life” (12:01) (Quote for Graphic)


“We can no longer locate diagnosis, suffering, or despair at the level of the individual. This is a culture and climate crisis. Our entire society needs to put our spiritual heart back into the center of who we are.” (23:30)

“I feel that our culture at large is in a state of developmental depression. This is the knock at the door for our own spiritual awakening and deepening.” (31:10)

“The greatest gift that I wish for my children is not that they ace AP Chemistry, it's that they can develop a sacred relationship through which they find guidance in very unpredictable waters.” (38:56)

We discuss:


  • Dr. Miller’s ‘aha’ moment that led her to study spirituality and the brain (5:23)
  • Key research about the brain not to be missed (9:00)
  • Our capacity of spiritual life is one third innate and two-thirds environmental (14:40)
  • Why we can’t throw religion out of the public square (15:50)
  • Dr. Miller’s work with the military to integrate spiritual life into the armed forces (19:30)
  • The impact of spiritual decline on the mental well-being of our youth (21:30)
  • The path forward out of the epidemic of despair among young people (26:20)
  • Research insights about the impact of spirituality on children and young people (36:38)
  • We are all born with the ability to see and know God (42:30)



About Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain, and a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Dr. Miller has published more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals in leading journals such as The American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is also Editor of the Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality and Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

Show Notes

Lisa Miller is a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University and Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Find out more about her work at her work with the awakened brain and the spiritual child at her website.

Lisa Miller is author of The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life and the New York Times bestseller The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Humans are equipped with an innate capacity for spirituality and our brains become more resilient and robust the more we engage with spirituality. This groundbreaking research from Dr. Lisa Miller has enormous implications for the church. Dr. Miller joins our podcast to make a case for why the church is desperately needed today, not just as an antidote to the “diseases of despair,” but also as a key and necessary ingredient for human thriving. From her own personal journey of spiritual awakening to her passionate plea to bring religion back into the public square, Dr. Miller shares insight and inspiration that is not to be missed. 


Quotations


“Sometimes God tells you when there’s only one answer and that answer is ‘yes!’” (07:12)


“Just as we have two eyes, two ears and a nose, every single baby is born with a capacity for spiritual life” (12:01) (Quote for Graphic)


“We can no longer locate diagnosis, suffering, or despair at the level of the individual. This is a culture and climate crisis. Our entire society needs to put our spiritual heart back into the center of who we are.” (23:30)

“I feel that our culture at large is in a state of developmental depression. This is the knock at the door for our own spiritual awakening and deepening.” (31:10)

“The greatest gift that I wish for my children is not that they ace AP Chemistry, it's that they can develop a sacred relationship through which they find guidance in very unpredictable waters.” (38:56)

We discuss:


  • Dr. Miller’s ‘aha’ moment that led her to study spirituality and the brain (5:23)
  • Key research about the brain not to be missed (9:00)
  • Our capacity of spiritual life is one third innate and two-thirds environmental (14:40)
  • Why we can’t throw religion out of the public square (15:50)
  • Dr. Miller’s work with the military to integrate spiritual life into the armed forces (19:30)
  • The impact of spiritual decline on the mental well-being of our youth (21:30)
  • The path forward out of the epidemic of despair among young people (26:20)
  • Research insights about the impact of spirituality on children and young people (36:38)
  • We are all born with the ability to see and know God (42:30)



About Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain, and a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Dr. Miller has published more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals in leading journals such as The American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is also Editor of the Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality and Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

Show Notes

Lisa Miller is a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University and Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. Find out more about her work at her work with the awakened brain and the spiritual child at her website.

Lisa Miller is author of The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life and the New York Times bestseller The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>e8fcb515-ba00-4fb9-b0de-8d361c95ddf0Wed, 07 Dec 2022 07:00:00 -040052:38falsefull7337The Whole Person Revolution with Anne SnyderThe Whole Person Revolution with Anne SnyderOur podcast aims to “spark the Spirit within you” and what you will hear in this conversation with Anne Snyder is a person whose spirit is on fire for something bigger than herself. What an inspired and inspiring time we had with Anne Snyder–we can’t wait for you to listen! From her vulnerable sharing of her own formation story to her reflection on why institutions matter today and how we can become whole people, Anne offers us so much to be hopeful for. In addition to her wise and thoughtful articulation of these ideas, Anne also shares inspiring stories of the everyday heroes she’s encountered who humbly bring people together, working to be “agents of repair” in their institutions, their neighborhoods, and on their front porches. 

Enjoy this dynamic conversation, share with others, and keep the conversation going! Thanks for listening.


Quotations


“Love, to be, to have integrity, has to suffer with.” (12:34)


“If we can name some of the deeper principles at work in a healthy organization that save people and provide a bridge in times of displacement and loss, maybe that's where we need to begin in the century of so much institutional distrust. (15:01)


“Institutions are the bridge for us between individual self-actualization and contribution and understanding our role within something larger.” (19:56)


“We awaken to the deepest truth of things always in dialogue, and institutions are the containers that allow us to experience that dialogue, even when it's discordant.” (21:21)


“I long to be welcomed into an alternative reality through words and bread and hugs, and tears and shared prayers.” (49:00)


We discuss:


  • Anne’s formation story (12:00)
  • Why institutions bring important gifts in these challenging times (14:53)
  • The deeper stream of change and growth available to us (19:30)
  • What it means to to be a whole human (23:30)
  • Positive change through institutionalists with a revolutionary impulse (29:50)
  • Every day, people “suffer their way to serve our world and keep our democracy alive” (37:18)
  • How institutions can be life-giving and uniting (38:00)
  • The mystery of God plays out in the mix people, neighborhoods and churches (45:05)
  • Anne’s current formation lies in the tensions of being a “weaver of people.” (48:03)
  • Being a woman in a public and the role of the feminine spirit in the world (52:28)




About Anne Snyder

Anne Snyder is the editor in chief of Comment Magazine and oversees Comment’s partner project Breaking Ground. She's the host of the podcast The Whole Person Evolution and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year that came out in January of 2022. Her book, The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape was published in 2019.

Before leading Comment, she directed the Philanthropy Round Table Character Initiative, a program seeking to help foundations and business leaders strengthen the “middle ring” of morally formative institutions. In addition to regular pieces for Comment, Anne has also published in The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post, and Bittersweet Monthly, and her writings are available at her site, Souls and Silos.

Show Notes

Anne Snyder is editor in chief of Comment Magazine

Anne Snyder is the author of The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape (2019) and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year (2022). 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Our podcast aims to “spark the Spirit within you” and what you will hear in this conversation with Anne Snyder is a person whose spirit is on fire for something bigger than herself. What an inspired and inspiring time we had with Anne Snyder–we can’t wait for you to listen! From her vulnerable sharing of her own formation story to her reflection on why institutions matter today and how we can become whole people, Anne offers us so much to be hopeful for. In addition to her wise and thoughtful articulation of these ideas, Anne also shares inspiring stories of the everyday heroes she’s encountered who humbly bring people together, working to be “agents of repair” in their institutions, their neighborhoods, and on their front porches. 

Enjoy this dynamic conversation, share with others, and keep the conversation going! Thanks for listening.


Quotations


“Love, to be, to have integrity, has to suffer with.” (12:34)


“If we can name some of the deeper principles at work in a healthy organization that save people and provide a bridge in times of displacement and loss, maybe that's where we need to begin in the century of so much institutional distrust. (15:01)


“Institutions are the bridge for us between individual self-actualization and contribution and understanding our role within something larger.” (19:56)


“We awaken to the deepest truth of things always in dialogue, and institutions are the containers that allow us to experience that dialogue, even when it's discordant.” (21:21)


“I long to be welcomed into an alternative reality through words and bread and hugs, and tears and shared prayers.” (49:00)


We discuss:


  • Anne’s formation story (12:00)
  • Why institutions bring important gifts in these challenging times (14:53)
  • The deeper stream of change and growth available to us (19:30)
  • What it means to to be a whole human (23:30)
  • Positive change through institutionalists with a revolutionary impulse (29:50)
  • Every day, people “suffer their way to serve our world and keep our democracy alive” (37:18)
  • How institutions can be life-giving and uniting (38:00)
  • The mystery of God plays out in the mix people, neighborhoods and churches (45:05)
  • Anne’s current formation lies in the tensions of being a “weaver of people.” (48:03)
  • Being a woman in a public and the role of the feminine spirit in the world (52:28)




About Anne Snyder

Anne Snyder is the editor in chief of Comment Magazine and oversees Comment’s partner project Breaking Ground. She's the host of the podcast The Whole Person Evolution and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year that came out in January of 2022. Her book, The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape was published in 2019.

Before leading Comment, she directed the Philanthropy Round Table Character Initiative, a program seeking to help foundations and business leaders strengthen the “middle ring” of morally formative institutions. In addition to regular pieces for Comment, Anne has also published in The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post, and Bittersweet Monthly, and her writings are available at her site, Souls and Silos.

Show Notes

Anne Snyder is editor in chief of Comment Magazine

Anne Snyder is the author of The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape (2019) and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year (2022). 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>d6d9e968-07e8-41cb-b662-b23d18caeffeThu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -040052:54falsefull7227Spiritual Formation Everywhere You Look with Tim SoerensSpiritual Formation Everywhere You Look with Tim SoerensWe kick off Season 7 of the Igniting Imagination podcast in conversation with pastor and social entrepreneur Tim Soerens about the immense opportunity to reenergize the church today by daring to be “faithfully present” to what God imagines for us in our churches, our neighborhoods, and in our daily lives. The challenges the church faces today are very real, yet Tim shows us a path forward that blends an active spiritual journey with the material realities of daily life. Tim provides insights from his work as well as his experience as a dad with three children. 

In this conversation we discuss:

  • The purpose of the church (7:03)
  • Why we are at a crossroads in the life of the church (9:53)
  • ‘What is God’s dream right here in my neighborhood and right here in my church, right now?’ (13:25)
  • The church is both events in a building at set times AND people out in their neighborhoods every day. (17:01)
  • Our spiritual formation is happening to us all the time(21:03)
  • How we can avoid a “path of despair” and move the church forward (25:00)
  • How Tim puts this into action in his own daily life, with his three children. (30:13)
  • Tim’s own continual process of spiritual formation and how he lives it on a daily basis. (35:13)

About Tim Soerens 

Tim Soerens is a pastor, social entrepreneur, and co-founding director of the Parish Collective, a growing network and global movement of Christians reimagining what it means to be church in, with and for the neighborhood. He’s the author of Everywhere You Look, Discovering the Church Right Where You Are and co-author of The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Transform Mission, Discipleship and Community. He co-founded Neighborhood Economics which catalyzes entrepreneurship as a path to wealth for marginalized communities and has helped to raise over 3 million dollars. With a global reach, Tim speaks to organizations and denominations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Show Notes

More information about Tim Soerens can be found on his website.

Tim Soerens is the author of Everywhere You Look, Discovering the Church Right Where You Are.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>We kick off Season 7 of the Igniting Imagination podcast in conversation with pastor and social entrepreneur Tim Soerens about the immense opportunity to reenergize the church today by daring to be “faithfully present” to what God imagines for us in our churches, our neighborhoods, and in our daily lives. The challenges the church faces today are very real, yet Tim shows us a path forward that blends an active spiritual journey with the material realities of daily life. Tim provides insights from his work as well as his experience as a dad with three children. 

In this conversation we discuss:

  • The purpose of the church (7:03)
  • Why we are at a crossroads in the life of the church (9:53)
  • ‘What is God’s dream right here in my neighborhood and right here in my church, right now?’ (13:25)
  • The church is both events in a building at set times AND people out in their neighborhoods every day. (17:01)
  • Our spiritual formation is happening to us all the time(21:03)
  • How we can avoid a “path of despair” and move the church forward (25:00)
  • How Tim puts this into action in his own daily life, with his three children. (30:13)
  • Tim’s own continual process of spiritual formation and how he lives it on a daily basis. (35:13)

About Tim Soerens 

Tim Soerens is a pastor, social entrepreneur, and co-founding director of the Parish Collective, a growing network and global movement of Christians reimagining what it means to be church in, with and for the neighborhood. He’s the author of Everywhere You Look, Discovering the Church Right Where You Are and co-author of The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Transform Mission, Discipleship and Community. He co-founded Neighborhood Economics which catalyzes entrepreneurship as a path to wealth for marginalized communities and has helped to raise over 3 million dollars. With a global reach, Tim speaks to organizations and denominations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Show Notes

More information about Tim Soerens can be found on his website.

Tim Soerens is the author of Everywhere You Look, Discovering the Church Right Where You Are.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>89b2aea5-752b-448d-922d-7b61b9e35f2cWed, 16 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -040040:42falsefull7117Igniting Imagination Season 7 TrailerIgniting Imagination Season 7 TrailerThis season on Igniting Imagination host Lisa Greenwood, co-host Tim Soerens, and special guests explore spiritual formation: what is formation and what is the church’s role in formation? Join our email, contact us, and find more resources from Leadership Ministry at tmf-fdn.org

]]>This season on Igniting Imagination host Lisa Greenwood, co-host Tim Soerens, and special guests explore spiritual formation: what is formation and what is the church’s role in formation? Join our email, contact us, and find more resources from Leadership Ministry at tmf-fdn.org

]]>d759cb5a-5621-4349-bf8f-644af0153116Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:30:00 -040001:52falsetrailer77The Gifts of Wilderness with Bishop Gregory PalmerThe Gifts of Wilderness with Bishop Gregory PalmerWe conclude our season on Jacob’s Bones (the core truths, values and practices to carry forward in the new church) in the wilderness where identity and purpose can become clear. Bishop Palmer reflects on the gifts of this wilderness time in the church and through his no-nonsense, compelling way, challenges the church to move beyond navel-gazing to face out to the world. This inspired and hope-filled conversation invites us to consider what it really means to be the church today. Bishop Palmer embodies the passion and possibility of the church’s bold witness for the present and future church. What will be your bold witness for the church?

 

In this conversation: 

  • Lisa and Gil answer the question: “What do you hope is true about the church 20-30 years from now?” (01:29)
  • Bishop Palmer reflects on the gifts of wilderness (09:43)
  • What Bishop Palmer means when he says the church “campaigned to be chaplains of the middle class” (16:34)
  • Helping the church face out to the world (22:41)
  • “We overvalued being respected and being nice” (32:22)
  • Bishop Palmer talks racism, mass incarceration, poverty (37:44)
  • What Bishop Palmer hopes is true about the church in 20-30 years (52:19)

 

QUOTES

  • “The fact that there are many natural born leaders that are incarcerated, how are we tapping that resource to learn more about leadership? And how are we making room for them in the pew, in the life of the church?” -Bishop Gregory Palmer [50:16]
  • “I believe the Gospel is large enough to have whether you want to say multiple angles of view or a wide angle of view.” -Bishop Gregory Palmer [55:26]

 

Bishop Gregory Palmer​’s bio

Bishop Palmer is the Resident Bishop of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. Born and reared in Philadelphia, Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer is a “child of the church,” the son of a retired United Methodist pastor and a schoolteacher in the Philadelphia Public School system. A graduate of Duke University Divinity School, Palmer was ordained a deacon in 1977. In 1981, he was elected to full membership and ordained an elder. Palmer also served as superintendent. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2000. He has served as president of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and president of the Council of Bishops and he is currently a member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters and chair of the Comprehensive Africa Plan. He also is a board member of several organizations, including The United Methodist Publishing House, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, United Theological Seminary and OhioHealth. Married for 45 years to his wife Cynthia, they are the parents of two adult children, Monica and Aaron.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Bishop Palmer’s Podcast (with Bishop Easterling and Bishop McKee) is The Unfinished Church. Visit their website here: https://theunfinishedchurch.org

Bishop Palmer’s Leadership Clinics are inspiring! Find out more here: https://www.westohioumc.org/clinics

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>We conclude our season on Jacob’s Bones (the core truths, values and practices to carry forward in the new church) in the wilderness where identity and purpose can become clear. Bishop Palmer reflects on the gifts of this wilderness time in the church and through his no-nonsense, compelling way, challenges the church to move beyond navel-gazing to face out to the world. This inspired and hope-filled conversation invites us to consider what it really means to be the church today. Bishop Palmer embodies the passion and possibility of the church’s bold witness for the present and future church. What will be your bold witness for the church?

 

In this conversation: 

  • Lisa and Gil answer the question: “What do you hope is true about the church 20-30 years from now?” (01:29)
  • Bishop Palmer reflects on the gifts of wilderness (09:43)
  • What Bishop Palmer means when he says the church “campaigned to be chaplains of the middle class” (16:34)
  • Helping the church face out to the world (22:41)
  • “We overvalued being respected and being nice” (32:22)
  • Bishop Palmer talks racism, mass incarceration, poverty (37:44)
  • What Bishop Palmer hopes is true about the church in 20-30 years (52:19)

 

QUOTES

  • “The fact that there are many natural born leaders that are incarcerated, how are we tapping that resource to learn more about leadership? And how are we making room for them in the pew, in the life of the church?” -Bishop Gregory Palmer [50:16]
  • “I believe the Gospel is large enough to have whether you want to say multiple angles of view or a wide angle of view.” -Bishop Gregory Palmer [55:26]

 

Bishop Gregory Palmer​’s bio

Bishop Palmer is the Resident Bishop of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. Born and reared in Philadelphia, Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer is a “child of the church,” the son of a retired United Methodist pastor and a schoolteacher in the Philadelphia Public School system. A graduate of Duke University Divinity School, Palmer was ordained a deacon in 1977. In 1981, he was elected to full membership and ordained an elder. Palmer also served as superintendent. He was elected to the episcopacy in 2000. He has served as president of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and president of the Council of Bishops and he is currently a member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters and chair of the Comprehensive Africa Plan. He also is a board member of several organizations, including The United Methodist Publishing House, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, United Theological Seminary and OhioHealth. Married for 45 years to his wife Cynthia, they are the parents of two adult children, Monica and Aaron.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Bishop Palmer’s Podcast (with Bishop Easterling and Bishop McKee) is The Unfinished Church. Visit their website here: https://theunfinishedchurch.org

Bishop Palmer’s Leadership Clinics are inspiring! Find out more here: https://www.westohioumc.org/clinics

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/67f804c4-5161-339d-a9c1-36739a042839Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:27:00 -040057:09falsefull6666A Better Vision for Human Flourishing with Andy CrouchA Better Vision for Human Flourishing with Andy CrouchAndy Crouch believes that one of the biggest challenges of pastoral ministry right now is not being seduced by the false vision of human flourishing that our culture offers and that technology optimizes. “You’re not going to get to the Kingdom of God by providing these religious goods and services that your system has been set up to provide and that technology can help you optimize,” Crouch says. “You're only going to get there by finding ways to reinvest in small communities, small enough for people to actually be known and to actually encounter God together.” This conversation begins with a robust discussion of how we have displaced the need for authentic relationships with the ease of technology and concludes with real clarity for how leaders in the church can lead us back to true community. To be clear, Crouch is not saying to get rid of technology and devices, rather he shows us how to put them in their proper place in our church and world. Andy articulates a deeply thoughtful, challenging, and compelling vision for the church’s role in restoring true community and facilitating human flourishing in the world. We can’t wait for you to listen!

 

Our Leadership Ministry team has returned again and again to Andy’s book and to this conversation with him… here are some key points in this episode: 

  • Gil reflects on Jacob’s Bones in light of the denominational divisions happening right now (01:36)
  • Andy describes the false vision of human flourishing (12:18)
  • The life we’re looking for, the true vision of human flourishing (15:20)
  • Why there are no technological solutions to the problems technology has created (27:53)
  • Putting tech in its proper place in our lives and in the church (30:32)
  • Why Andy says “This is all very Wesleyan!” (34:30)
  • Why the numbers 3 and 12 are SO important for leaders (42:42)

 

QUOTES

  • “I think the task of every shepherd, whether you’re ordained or a lay shepherd like I am, is to find ways to circumvent the production system and get people into real relationships.” -Andy Crouch [33:57]
  • “The problem is we think culture making requires scale because we think about the millions of consumers, but the actual creation of new culture happens in these tiny groups. And it’s because creation requires trust. It’s the most risky thing human beings do.” -Andy Crouch [48:40]

 

Andy Crouch’s bio

Andy Crouch is the author of four books; he is also a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. For more than ten years, Crouch was a producer and then executive editor at Christianity Today. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Best Christian Writing, and Best Spiritual Writing.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Andy Crouch believes that one of the biggest challenges of pastoral ministry right now is not being seduced by the false vision of human flourishing that our culture offers and that technology optimizes. “You’re not going to get to the Kingdom of God by providing these religious goods and services that your system has been set up to provide and that technology can help you optimize,” Crouch says. “You're only going to get there by finding ways to reinvest in small communities, small enough for people to actually be known and to actually encounter God together.” This conversation begins with a robust discussion of how we have displaced the need for authentic relationships with the ease of technology and concludes with real clarity for how leaders in the church can lead us back to true community. To be clear, Crouch is not saying to get rid of technology and devices, rather he shows us how to put them in their proper place in our church and world. Andy articulates a deeply thoughtful, challenging, and compelling vision for the church’s role in restoring true community and facilitating human flourishing in the world. We can’t wait for you to listen!

 

Our Leadership Ministry team has returned again and again to Andy’s book and to this conversation with him… here are some key points in this episode: 

  • Gil reflects on Jacob’s Bones in light of the denominational divisions happening right now (01:36)
  • Andy describes the false vision of human flourishing (12:18)
  • The life we’re looking for, the true vision of human flourishing (15:20)
  • Why there are no technological solutions to the problems technology has created (27:53)
  • Putting tech in its proper place in our lives and in the church (30:32)
  • Why Andy says “This is all very Wesleyan!” (34:30)
  • Why the numbers 3 and 12 are SO important for leaders (42:42)

 

QUOTES

  • “I think the task of every shepherd, whether you’re ordained or a lay shepherd like I am, is to find ways to circumvent the production system and get people into real relationships.” -Andy Crouch [33:57]
  • “The problem is we think culture making requires scale because we think about the millions of consumers, but the actual creation of new culture happens in these tiny groups. And it’s because creation requires trust. It’s the most risky thing human beings do.” -Andy Crouch [48:40]

 

Andy Crouch’s bio

Andy Crouch is the author of four books; he is also a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. For more than ten years, Crouch was a producer and then executive editor at Christianity Today. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Best Christian Writing, and Best Spiritual Writing.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/e6438783-1718-326c-bbdf-f5ec4ad941f8Wed, 28 Sep 2022 07:02:00 -040057:44falsefull6556People, Places, and Processes for Healing with Jorge AcevedoPeople, Places, and Processes for Healing with Jorge AcevedoGrace Church is the perfect name for the now large, multi-site, United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida that Jorge Acevedo started two decades ago. “Help us be the church for people that nobody sees” has been the church’s focus and that is exactly the church they have become. Grace Church is taking the healing ministry of Jesus seriously by bringing together people, places, and processes that make it possible for those who are affected by addiction to heal–and Grace Church is leading the way as one of America’s most effective churches in recovery ministries. Jorge shares his own story of how God’s saving grace saved him from addiction and offers a rich theology of salvation and formation that is deeply moving and convicting. Do we have the courage as the church to create spaces for people who need help and healing?

 

In this conversation:

  • Gil Rendle considers what resilience looks like for the church right now (01:01)
  • Jorge shares his story of recovery from addiction and how his experience of God’s grace has shaped his ministry (10:27)
  • What is the role of healing in Christian ministry? (14:50)
  • Jorge’s conviction that spiritual leaders primarily do three things (18:39)
  • Why Jorge says the “hardest thing for a spiritual leader to lead is themselves” and his wisdom for leading your life well (22:37)
  • Creating a disciple-making culture (29:59)
  • The depth at the heart of innovative ministry (38:09)
  • The one question Jorge asked NT Wright that guides his vision for the church’s future (50:53)

 

QUOTES

  • “Deep within our theology and the early practices of Methodist was this desire to see the goodness and the grace of God penetrate our addictions and our afflictions and compulsive behaviors.” -Jorge Acevedo [12:31]
  • “So we believe that God is at work in every person in every human heart, but do we have the courage to join God in those spaces and in those places and amongst those people who may be very far from God?” -Jorge Acevedo [36:08]

 

Jorge Acevedo’s bio

Jorge is the Lead Pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site, United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida with three campuses. 

Jorge is a 1984 graduate of Asbury College where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Bible. He is also a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary focusing on building generative teams for congregational vitality and sustainability.

He’s been a faithful United Methodist, serving for many years as a delegate to the General Conference; he also served on the Call to Action Steering Team and the Commission on a Way Forward.

Jorge has co-authored and written many books, including: A Field Guide for Methodist Fresh Expressions, Neighboring and The Grace-Full Life: God’s All-Reaching, Soul-Saving, Character-Shaping, Never-Ending Love.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Find out more about Fresh Expressions here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Grace Church is the perfect name for the now large, multi-site, United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida that Jorge Acevedo started two decades ago. “Help us be the church for people that nobody sees” has been the church’s focus and that is exactly the church they have become. Grace Church is taking the healing ministry of Jesus seriously by bringing together people, places, and processes that make it possible for those who are affected by addiction to heal–and Grace Church is leading the way as one of America’s most effective churches in recovery ministries. Jorge shares his own story of how God’s saving grace saved him from addiction and offers a rich theology of salvation and formation that is deeply moving and convicting. Do we have the courage as the church to create spaces for people who need help and healing?

 

In this conversation:

  • Gil Rendle considers what resilience looks like for the church right now (01:01)
  • Jorge shares his story of recovery from addiction and how his experience of God’s grace has shaped his ministry (10:27)
  • What is the role of healing in Christian ministry? (14:50)
  • Jorge’s conviction that spiritual leaders primarily do three things (18:39)
  • Why Jorge says the “hardest thing for a spiritual leader to lead is themselves” and his wisdom for leading your life well (22:37)
  • Creating a disciple-making culture (29:59)
  • The depth at the heart of innovative ministry (38:09)
  • The one question Jorge asked NT Wright that guides his vision for the church’s future (50:53)

 

QUOTES

  • “Deep within our theology and the early practices of Methodist was this desire to see the goodness and the grace of God penetrate our addictions and our afflictions and compulsive behaviors.” -Jorge Acevedo [12:31]
  • “So we believe that God is at work in every person in every human heart, but do we have the courage to join God in those spaces and in those places and amongst those people who may be very far from God?” -Jorge Acevedo [36:08]

 

Jorge Acevedo’s bio

Jorge is the Lead Pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site, United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida with three campuses. 

Jorge is a 1984 graduate of Asbury College where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Bible. He is also a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary focusing on building generative teams for congregational vitality and sustainability.

He’s been a faithful United Methodist, serving for many years as a delegate to the General Conference; he also served on the Call to Action Steering Team and the Commission on a Way Forward.

Jorge has co-authored and written many books, including: A Field Guide for Methodist Fresh Expressions, Neighboring and The Grace-Full Life: God’s All-Reaching, Soul-Saving, Character-Shaping, Never-Ending Love.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Find out more about Fresh Expressions here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/3f210f76-b546-3e70-b700-92946c046be2Wed, 21 Sep 2022 07:14:00 -040056:17falsefull6446The Power of Unconditional Love with Greg Boyle and Justin ColemanThe Power of Unconditional Love with Greg Boyle and Justin ColemanGil Rendle says in the intro that this conversation with Father Greg Boyle is “one of the richest conversations I’ve ever been in.” How grateful we are to have recorded this beautiful and rich back and forth between Gil, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Father Boyle and Rev. Justin Coleman! Father Boyle’s approach to gang intervention rehabilitation and re-entry at his organization Homeboy Industries is not really about providing services, although they do provide holistic services from education to tattoo removal. The real heart of the work is relationship and creating a culture of kinship, tenderness, and joy. Boyle returns again and again to the heart of God and the heart of Jesus, inviting us again and again to embrace our own belovedness and everyone else’s belovedness.

 

In this conversation…

  • Gil shares the difference between the work of improving and the work of creating (01:06)
  • The short game of trying experiments and the long game of deep institutional work (04:39)
  • Father Boyle’s vocational journey that led him to start Homeboy Industries (16:41)
  • Providing services vs being in relationship (22:35)
  • The theology that guides Father Boyle (31:58)
  • When there is so much grief and pain, how do you not get caught up in a constant cycle of desolation? (36:54)
  • Creating a culture of the Gospel (42:03)
  • Why Father Boyle says “Gang members have taught me everything of value.” (50:41)

 

QUOTES

  • “We’re always getting ahead of ourselves, right? Just about tomorrow or lamenting what I did yesterday. Ouch. Why did I say that? And as opposed to staying anchored in the present moment. I think that’s where the joy is.” -Father Boyle [27:41]
  • “Don’t just look at the services. Look at the language that’s being used. Look at the approach towards the other person.” -Rev. Coleman [48:54]

 

Father Greg Boyle’s bio

Gregory Boyle is an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, the White House named Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. He is the acclaimed author of Tattoos on the Heart and Barking to the Choir. 

The Whole Language is his third book, and all net proceeds go to Homeboy Industries. 

 

Rev. Justin Coleman’s bio

Justin grew up in Texas, and attended Southern Methodist University, graduating in 2000 with a major in religious studies.  He, too, was highly active in SMU’s Wesley Foundation, and served as Associate Pastor at SMU’s Wesley Foundation from 2001 to 2003 as he began seminary studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology.  Justin transferred to Duke Divinity School in 2003 and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2005. Justin’s first clergy appointment was to University UMC, as an intern in 2004 and then as Associate Pastor from 2005 to 2007. 

In 2007, Justin was called back to the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he is an elder, and was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.  For six years from 2008 to 2014, Justin served as the Executive and Lead Pastor of the Gethsemane Campus of St. Luke’s Church and led it through a remarkable period of growth in ministry and service to its community. 

From 2014 to June 2017 Justin served as the Chief Ministry Officer of the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee.  During this time, he has also continued to frequently offer lectures, sermons, and lead worship.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Find out more about Homeboy Industries here.

Father Greg Boyle’s bestselling book is Tattoos on the Heart, his newest book is The Whole Language. All proceeds go to Homeboy Industries.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Gil Rendle says in the intro that this conversation with Father Greg Boyle is “one of the richest conversations I’ve ever been in.” How grateful we are to have recorded this beautiful and rich back and forth between Gil, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Father Boyle and Rev. Justin Coleman! Father Boyle’s approach to gang intervention rehabilitation and re-entry at his organization Homeboy Industries is not really about providing services, although they do provide holistic services from education to tattoo removal. The real heart of the work is relationship and creating a culture of kinship, tenderness, and joy. Boyle returns again and again to the heart of God and the heart of Jesus, inviting us again and again to embrace our own belovedness and everyone else’s belovedness.

 

In this conversation…

  • Gil shares the difference between the work of improving and the work of creating (01:06)
  • The short game of trying experiments and the long game of deep institutional work (04:39)
  • Father Boyle’s vocational journey that led him to start Homeboy Industries (16:41)
  • Providing services vs being in relationship (22:35)
  • The theology that guides Father Boyle (31:58)
  • When there is so much grief and pain, how do you not get caught up in a constant cycle of desolation? (36:54)
  • Creating a culture of the Gospel (42:03)
  • Why Father Boyle says “Gang members have taught me everything of value.” (50:41)

 

QUOTES

  • “We’re always getting ahead of ourselves, right? Just about tomorrow or lamenting what I did yesterday. Ouch. Why did I say that? And as opposed to staying anchored in the present moment. I think that’s where the joy is.” -Father Boyle [27:41]
  • “Don’t just look at the services. Look at the language that’s being used. Look at the approach towards the other person.” -Rev. Coleman [48:54]

 

Father Greg Boyle’s bio

Gregory Boyle is an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, the White House named Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. He is the acclaimed author of Tattoos on the Heart and Barking to the Choir. 

The Whole Language is his third book, and all net proceeds go to Homeboy Industries. 

 

Rev. Justin Coleman’s bio

Justin grew up in Texas, and attended Southern Methodist University, graduating in 2000 with a major in religious studies.  He, too, was highly active in SMU’s Wesley Foundation, and served as Associate Pastor at SMU’s Wesley Foundation from 2001 to 2003 as he began seminary studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology.  Justin transferred to Duke Divinity School in 2003 and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2005. Justin’s first clergy appointment was to University UMC, as an intern in 2004 and then as Associate Pastor from 2005 to 2007. 

In 2007, Justin was called back to the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he is an elder, and was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.  For six years from 2008 to 2014, Justin served as the Executive and Lead Pastor of the Gethsemane Campus of St. Luke’s Church and led it through a remarkable period of growth in ministry and service to its community. 

From 2014 to June 2017 Justin served as the Chief Ministry Officer of the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee.  During this time, he has also continued to frequently offer lectures, sermons, and lead worship.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Find out more about Homeboy Industries here.

Father Greg Boyle’s bestselling book is Tattoos on the Heart, his newest book is The Whole Language. All proceeds go to Homeboy Industries.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/a5d38ee2-09e7-31fc-a97e-10ebfd89eedbWed, 14 Sep 2022 06:37:23 -040059:34falsefull6336The Gravity of Joy with Angela GorrellThe Gravity of Joy with Angela Gorrell“America’s crisis of despair crashed into my life while I was getting paid to think about joy,” is how Dr. Angela Gorrell begins her book on joy and that is where we begin our conversation. What is authentic joy and how do you experience joy when there is so much to NOT be joyful about? One key, says Dr. Gorrell, is to recognize joy as a gift, like grace, and not something you can pursue like the “choose joy” coffee mugs and wall hangings imply. This episode includes a dynamic discussion between Lisa and Gil about the “we” and “I” culture that carries into their conversation with Angela: what are the communal and individual aspects of joy and ultimately: what is the church’s role in cultivating space for people to experience and receive joy?

 

What to listen for

  • Lisa and Gil discuss the “I” based culture and the “we” based culture (00:54) and what the church has to offer
  • How despair came crashing into Angela’s life (12:54)
  • Joy as a gift, not something you can choose (18:30)
  • Gil wonders if we do have to choose to be open to joy for the gift to be received (26:12)
  • How we all have a “flashlight” to look for truth, beauty, goodness (28:37)
  • What’s the role of the church in cultivating joy? (36:12)
  • The Future of Church Project (42:38)

 

QUOTES

  • “Joy is about open hands. It’s about a posture that we have in the world. It’s about a readiness.” -Dr. Angela Gorrell [22:12]
  • “We can't receive a gift if our hands are closed.” -Dr. Angela Gorrell [28:08]

 

Angela Gorrell’s Bio

Dr. Angela Williams Gorrell joined Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Fall 2019 as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology. Prior to joining the faculty at Baylor University, she was an Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, working on the Theology of Joy and the Good Life Project, and a lecturer in Divinity and Humanities at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She is an ordained pastor with 14 years of ministry experience. 

Dr. Gorrell is passionate about finding issues that matter to people and shining the light of the Gospel on them. She is the author of always on: practicing faith in a new media landscapeand a new book, The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found, which shares findings of the joy project while addressing America’s opioid and suicide crises. Dr. Gorrell’s expertise is in the areas of theology and contemporary culture, education and formation, meaning-making, joy, new media, and youth and emerging adults. Dr. Gorrell regularly consults, speaks, and leads workshops and retreats on her research and areas of expertise.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Visit Angela’s Gorrell’s website for more information about her work including a free book discussion guide, and information about her speaking and consulting. 

Angela’s Gorrell book is The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>“America’s crisis of despair crashed into my life while I was getting paid to think about joy,” is how Dr. Angela Gorrell begins her book on joy and that is where we begin our conversation. What is authentic joy and how do you experience joy when there is so much to NOT be joyful about? One key, says Dr. Gorrell, is to recognize joy as a gift, like grace, and not something you can pursue like the “choose joy” coffee mugs and wall hangings imply. This episode includes a dynamic discussion between Lisa and Gil about the “we” and “I” culture that carries into their conversation with Angela: what are the communal and individual aspects of joy and ultimately: what is the church’s role in cultivating space for people to experience and receive joy?

 

What to listen for

  • Lisa and Gil discuss the “I” based culture and the “we” based culture (00:54) and what the church has to offer
  • How despair came crashing into Angela’s life (12:54)
  • Joy as a gift, not something you can choose (18:30)
  • Gil wonders if we do have to choose to be open to joy for the gift to be received (26:12)
  • How we all have a “flashlight” to look for truth, beauty, goodness (28:37)
  • What’s the role of the church in cultivating joy? (36:12)
  • The Future of Church Project (42:38)

 

QUOTES

  • “Joy is about open hands. It’s about a posture that we have in the world. It’s about a readiness.” -Dr. Angela Gorrell [22:12]
  • “We can't receive a gift if our hands are closed.” -Dr. Angela Gorrell [28:08]

 

Angela Gorrell’s Bio

Dr. Angela Williams Gorrell joined Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Fall 2019 as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology. Prior to joining the faculty at Baylor University, she was an Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, working on the Theology of Joy and the Good Life Project, and a lecturer in Divinity and Humanities at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She is an ordained pastor with 14 years of ministry experience. 

Dr. Gorrell is passionate about finding issues that matter to people and shining the light of the Gospel on them. She is the author of always on: practicing faith in a new media landscapeand a new book, The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found, which shares findings of the joy project while addressing America’s opioid and suicide crises. Dr. Gorrell’s expertise is in the areas of theology and contemporary culture, education and formation, meaning-making, joy, new media, and youth and emerging adults. Dr. Gorrell regularly consults, speaks, and leads workshops and retreats on her research and areas of expertise.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s paper “Jacob’s Bones” for free off our TMF website here.

Visit Angela’s Gorrell’s website for more information about her work including a free book discussion guide, and information about her speaking and consulting. 

Angela’s Gorrell book is The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/ef47c9d3-bae4-3539-8926-9e50fddff7caWed, 07 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -040052:26falsefull6226Methodist Hope for What Comes Next with Will WillimonMethodist Hope for What Comes Next with Will WillimonWhat better way to start our season about the values the church must carry forward into the future than with the ‘gadfly of the church,’ Bishop Will Willimon! Co-host Gil Rendle points out that as the gadfly of the church, Will both loves and cares about the institution AND asks critically important questions that challenge the church to be better. You won’t want to miss this compelling story-packed episode that includes topics like how Jesus disrupts contented churches, why purpose is so important right now and Will’s advice to pastors in today’s context. 

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Gil Rendle shares the meaning behind his paper “Jacob’s Bones.” What should we carry forward? (02:52)
  • Will Willimon’s call to ministry and relationship with the church (13:36)
  • How Jesus Christ disrupts otherwise happy, contented churches (19:46)
  • Why getting clear on purpose is so important and how easy it is to get distracted (22:19)
  • How to stay focused on what to keep and what to let go of (33:17)
  • Willimon’s hope for the church 20, 30, 40 years from now (51:00)

 

QUOTES

  • “It is easy to get distracted in the present moment. And sometimes I think the church argues about some of the stuff we’re fighting over because it's’ easier to fight over those subjects than to have a good argument about how can we have a future? How can we welcome in the two or three generations of Christians that we have excluded? That’s hard, and maybe that’s why we’ve been arguing.” -Will Willimon [25:59]
  • “There’s times when I think sometimes our Methodist problems are due to the fact that maybe we have taken our eye off of the ball. We have not allowed the main thing to be the main thing, and we’ve had our arguments. But at the end of the day, those arguments have got to answer to Jesus Christ.” -Will Willimon [29:17]

 

Will Willimon’s Bio

The Reverend Dr. William H. Willimon is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at the Divinity School, Duke University. He served eight years as Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he led the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For twenty years prior to the episcopacy, he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Willimon is the author of over 80 books. His articles have appeared in many publications including Theology Today, Interpretation, Liturgy, and Christianity Today.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

More information about Bishop Will Willimon can be found on his website.

Will Willimon is the author of 80 books. His latest is “Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next.”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>What better way to start our season about the values the church must carry forward into the future than with the ‘gadfly of the church,’ Bishop Will Willimon! Co-host Gil Rendle points out that as the gadfly of the church, Will both loves and cares about the institution AND asks critically important questions that challenge the church to be better. You won’t want to miss this compelling story-packed episode that includes topics like how Jesus disrupts contented churches, why purpose is so important right now and Will’s advice to pastors in today’s context. 

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • Gil Rendle shares the meaning behind his paper “Jacob’s Bones.” What should we carry forward? (02:52)
  • Will Willimon’s call to ministry and relationship with the church (13:36)
  • How Jesus Christ disrupts otherwise happy, contented churches (19:46)
  • Why getting clear on purpose is so important and how easy it is to get distracted (22:19)
  • How to stay focused on what to keep and what to let go of (33:17)
  • Willimon’s hope for the church 20, 30, 40 years from now (51:00)

 

QUOTES

  • “It is easy to get distracted in the present moment. And sometimes I think the church argues about some of the stuff we’re fighting over because it's’ easier to fight over those subjects than to have a good argument about how can we have a future? How can we welcome in the two or three generations of Christians that we have excluded? That’s hard, and maybe that’s why we’ve been arguing.” -Will Willimon [25:59]
  • “There’s times when I think sometimes our Methodist problems are due to the fact that maybe we have taken our eye off of the ball. We have not allowed the main thing to be the main thing, and we’ve had our arguments. But at the end of the day, those arguments have got to answer to Jesus Christ.” -Will Willimon [29:17]

 

Will Willimon’s Bio

The Reverend Dr. William H. Willimon is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at the Divinity School, Duke University. He served eight years as Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he led the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For twenty years prior to the episcopacy, he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Willimon is the author of over 80 books. His articles have appeared in many publications including Theology Today, Interpretation, Liturgy, and Christianity Today.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

More information about Bishop Will Willimon can be found on his website.

Will Willimon is the author of 80 books. His latest is “Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next.”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/3402827d-bbcf-3eae-9fac-b2a10a0896b1Thu, 01 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -040054:03falsefull6116Igniting Imagination Season 6 TrailerIgniting Imagination Season 6 TrailerSeason 6 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood, co-host Gil Rendle, and special guests from diverse theological perspectives discuss what core values and truths to carry forward and include in the future church. What values and truths will you carry forward? Our guests this season are:

 

  • Bishop Will Willimon
  • Dr. Angela Gorrell
  • Father Greg Boyle and Rev. Justin Coleman
  • Rev. Jorge Acevedo
  • Andy Crouch
  • Bishop Gregory Palmer

 

We’re so grateful to share these conversations with you and pray they spark the spirit within you and ignite your imagination for what’s possible in your life and ministry.

Join our weekly email, contact us, and find more resources from Leadership Ministry at tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

]]>Season 6 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood, co-host Gil Rendle, and special guests from diverse theological perspectives discuss what core values and truths to carry forward and include in the future church. What values and truths will you carry forward? Our guests this season are:

 

  • Bishop Will Willimon
  • Dr. Angela Gorrell
  • Father Greg Boyle and Rev. Justin Coleman
  • Rev. Jorge Acevedo
  • Andy Crouch
  • Bishop Gregory Palmer

 

We’re so grateful to share these conversations with you and pray they spark the spirit within you and ignite your imagination for what’s possible in your life and ministry.

Join our weekly email, contact us, and find more resources from Leadership Ministry at tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/43742f4a-da2b-351a-aed4-333db76beb2eThu, 25 Aug 2022 07:01:00 -040003:04falsetrailer66<p>Season 6 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood, co-host Gil Rendle, and special guests from diverse theological perspectives discuss what core values and truths to carry forward and include in the future church. What values and truths will you carry forward? Our guests this season are:</p> <p> </p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Bishop Will Willimon</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Dr. Angela Gorrell</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Father Greg Boyle and Rev. Justin Coleman</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Rev. Jorge Acevedo</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Andy Crouch</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bishop Gregory Palmer</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>We’re so grateful to share these conversations with you and pray they spark the spirit within you and ignite your imagination for what’s possible in your life and ministry.</p> <p> Join our weekly email, contact us, and find more resources from Leadership Ministry at <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!</p> Summer Soul Tending with Tod Bolsinger: Follow a Rule of LifeSummer Soul Tending with Tod Bolsinger: Follow a Rule of LifeOur most-downloaded episode is back (!) for one big reason: this conversation remains incredibly relevant today. We are inviting you to listen again or for the first time to Tod Bolsinger because the way he talks about how to manage change, stress and resistance without burning out is as practical as it is inspiring. In this conversation, you’ll hear:

 

  • What’s the most important thing to hold on to in the face of change (05:54)
  • Tod’s response to a leader who said “I think I can lead change, I’m not sure I can survive it.” (07:21)
  • Who in history is the exemplar of tempered resilience and what we can learn from him (11:52)
  • What are the qualities of leaders who can persevere under trial (14:20)
  • Why ‘heat’ shapes a leader and Tod’s helpful blacksmithing metaphor (19:39)
  • Why a rule of life and a rhythm of leading and not leading are vitally important (25:11)
  • What are the practices I need in order to become resilient? (28:31)

 

QUOTES

  • “The hardest thing about leading change is having to grapple with our own vulnerability.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [11:18]
  • “Empathy is what we need for leadership. Because when you attune to people and they feel cared for, they will trust you and go further into their own pain and further into their own discomfort if they don’t.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [16:11]

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Follow Tod Bolsinger: @todbol

For more resources from Tod and his team, text change to 66866.

Tod Bolsinger is the author of Canoeing the Mountains, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, and most recently, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Our most-downloaded episode is back (!) for one big reason: this conversation remains incredibly relevant today. We are inviting you to listen again or for the first time to Tod Bolsinger because the way he talks about how to manage change, stress and resistance without burning out is as practical as it is inspiring. In this conversation, you’ll hear:

 

  • What’s the most important thing to hold on to in the face of change (05:54)
  • Tod’s response to a leader who said “I think I can lead change, I’m not sure I can survive it.” (07:21)
  • Who in history is the exemplar of tempered resilience and what we can learn from him (11:52)
  • What are the qualities of leaders who can persevere under trial (14:20)
  • Why ‘heat’ shapes a leader and Tod’s helpful blacksmithing metaphor (19:39)
  • Why a rule of life and a rhythm of leading and not leading are vitally important (25:11)
  • What are the practices I need in order to become resilient? (28:31)

 

QUOTES

  • “The hardest thing about leading change is having to grapple with our own vulnerability.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [11:18]
  • “Empathy is what we need for leadership. Because when you attune to people and they feel cared for, they will trust you and go further into their own pain and further into their own discomfort if they don’t.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [16:11]

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Follow Tod Bolsinger: @todbol

For more resources from Tod and his team, text change to 66866.

Tod Bolsinger is the author of Canoeing the Mountains, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, and most recently, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/a812e3f9-f021-33a8-87de-3c2b559175b7Thu, 18 Aug 2022 07:01:00 -040034:37falsebonus5885<p>Our most-downloaded episode is back (!) for one big reason: this conversation remains incredibly relevant today. We are inviting you to listen again or for the first time to Tod Bolsinger because the way he talks about how to manage change, stress and resistance without burning out is as practical as it is inspiring. In this conversation, you’ll hear:</p> <p> </p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">What’s the most important thing to hold on to in the face of change (05:54)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Tod’s response to a leader who said “I think I can lead change, I’m not sure I can survive it.” (07:21)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Who in history is the exemplar of tempered resilience and what we can learn from him (11:52)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What are the qualities of leaders who can persevere under trial (14:20)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Why ‘heat’ shapes a leader and Tod’s helpful blacksmithing metaphor (19:39)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Why a rule of life and a rhythm of leading and not leading are vitally important (25:11)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What are the practices I need in order to become resilient? (28:31)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“The hardest thing about leading change is having to grapple with our own vulnerability.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [11:18]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Empathy is what we need for leadership. Because when you attune to people and they feel cared for, they will trust you and go further into their own pain and further into their own discomfort if they don’t.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [16:11]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Follow Tod Bolsinger: <a href='https://twitter.com/todbol'>@todbol</a></p> <p>For more resources from Tod and his team, text change to 66866.</p> <p>Tod Bolsinger is the author of Canoeing the Mountains, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, and most recently, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>Leadership Ministry team</a> at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.</p> <p>Subscribe to our <a href='https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/6E2D78939FF60250'>Leadership Ministry emails here</a>. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?</p> Summer Soul Tending with Joe Stabile: Trust in God’s LeadSummer Soul Tending with Joe Stabile: Trust in God’s LeadJoe Stabile started centering prayer at age 14. If you’ve ever wondered how a lifetime of centering prayer shapes a person, listen to this conversation with Joe. Throughout his life, Joe has had a constant posture of discernment and a deep trust in where God is leading. Joe is so rooted in the Spirit; listening to him, being around him, is like jumping into a cold pool of water on a hot summer day. In this soul-refreshing conversation, you’ll hear:

 

  • Joe’s story of his life with God and his deep trust in God that has led him on an interesting, unexpected, and awesome life journey (to say the least!) (04:53)
  • The Seven Classical Disciplines and which ones feel particularly important right now (17:00)
  • The definition of ‘spiritual practice’ that made us go ‘wow!’ (21:32)
  • Advice for leaders in the church who are facing stress and burnout (27:36)

 

QUOTES

  • “90% of centering prayer is about your intention. What is your intention when you sit for this 20 minutes? What’s your intention? And your intention is to be totally open to God. Those six words: to be totally open to God. ” -Joe Stabile [25:27]
  • “We can choose any of the spiritual practices or disciplines and find times to incorporate them into our lives and allow them to move us forward. Going back for me, going back always to contemplative prayer or centering prayer. Everybody can find 20 minutes everyday to just stop and do centering prayer.” -Joe Stabile [33:02]

 

About Joe Stabile

Rev. Joe Stabile is a United Methodist Church pastor as well as Co-Founder and Animator of Life in the Trinity Ministry, in Dallas, Texas. He has served in vocational ministry for more than forty years, with combined experience in local church pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership, pastoral care and mentoring. In addition to serving as Associate Pastor at First UMC Dallas, Joe leads the Contemplative Cohort at Life in the Trinity Ministry.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

For more information about the Contemplative Cohort Joe leads at Life in the Trinity Ministry, visit their website here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Joe Stabile started centering prayer at age 14. If you’ve ever wondered how a lifetime of centering prayer shapes a person, listen to this conversation with Joe. Throughout his life, Joe has had a constant posture of discernment and a deep trust in where God is leading. Joe is so rooted in the Spirit; listening to him, being around him, is like jumping into a cold pool of water on a hot summer day. In this soul-refreshing conversation, you’ll hear:

 

  • Joe’s story of his life with God and his deep trust in God that has led him on an interesting, unexpected, and awesome life journey (to say the least!) (04:53)
  • The Seven Classical Disciplines and which ones feel particularly important right now (17:00)
  • The definition of ‘spiritual practice’ that made us go ‘wow!’ (21:32)
  • Advice for leaders in the church who are facing stress and burnout (27:36)

 

QUOTES

  • “90% of centering prayer is about your intention. What is your intention when you sit for this 20 minutes? What’s your intention? And your intention is to be totally open to God. Those six words: to be totally open to God. ” -Joe Stabile [25:27]
  • “We can choose any of the spiritual practices or disciplines and find times to incorporate them into our lives and allow them to move us forward. Going back for me, going back always to contemplative prayer or centering prayer. Everybody can find 20 minutes everyday to just stop and do centering prayer.” -Joe Stabile [33:02]

 

About Joe Stabile

Rev. Joe Stabile is a United Methodist Church pastor as well as Co-Founder and Animator of Life in the Trinity Ministry, in Dallas, Texas. He has served in vocational ministry for more than forty years, with combined experience in local church pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership, pastoral care and mentoring. In addition to serving as Associate Pastor at First UMC Dallas, Joe leads the Contemplative Cohort at Life in the Trinity Ministry.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

For more information about the Contemplative Cohort Joe leads at Life in the Trinity Ministry, visit their website here.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/58347e6b-6039-385a-909b-9338a3584cc7Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:42:36 -040038:08falsebonus5775<p>Joe Stabile started centering prayer at age 14. If you’ve ever wondered how a lifetime of centering prayer shapes a person, listen to this conversation with Joe. Throughout his life, Joe has had a constant posture of discernment and a deep trust in where God is leading. Joe is so rooted in the Spirit; listening to him, being around him, is like jumping into a cold pool of water on a hot summer day. In this soul-refreshing conversation, you’ll hear:</p> <p> </p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Joe’s story of his life with God and his deep trust in God that has led him on an interesting, unexpected, and awesome life journey (to say the least!) (04:53)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The Seven Classical Disciplines and which ones feel particularly important right now (17:00)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The definition of ‘spiritual practice’ that made us go ‘wow!’ (21:32)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Advice for leaders in the church who are facing stress and burnout (27:36)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“90% of centering prayer is about your intention. What is your intention when you sit for this 20 minutes? What’s your intention? And your intention is to be totally open to God. Those six words: to be totally open to God. ” -Joe Stabile [25:27]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“We can choose any of the spiritual practices or disciplines and find times to incorporate them into our lives and allow them to move us forward. Going back for me, going back always to contemplative prayer or centering prayer. Everybody can find 20 minutes everyday to just stop and do centering prayer.” -Joe Stabile [33:02]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>About Joe Stabile</p> <p>Rev. Joe Stabile is a United Methodist Church pastor as well as Co-Founder and Animator of <a href='https://www.lifeinthetrinityministry.com'>Life in the Trinity Ministry</a>, in Dallas, Texas. He has served in vocational ministry for more than forty years, with combined experience in local church pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership, pastoral care and mentoring. In addition to serving as Associate Pastor at First UMC Dallas, Joe leads the Contemplative Cohort at Life in the Trinity Ministry.</p> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>For more information about the Contemplative Cohort Joe leads at Life in the Trinity Ministry, visit their <a href='https://www.lifeinthetrinityministry.com'>website here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>Leadership Ministry team</a> at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.</p> <p>Subscribe to our <a href='https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/6E2D78939FF60250'>Leadership Ministry emails here</a>. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?</p> Summer Soul Tending with Danielle Shroyer: Be a Soul NinjaSummer Soul Tending with Danielle Shroyer: Be a Soul NinjaDanielle Shroyer’s curiosity about the spiritual path took an unexpected turn in 2018. This founder of the emerging church movement and deeply faithful Christian leader took the path East, towards the wisdom and practices of the Eastern traditions. Her blog, Be a Soul Ninja, chronicles her experiences engaging in different Eastern religious thoughts and practices. So what does it mean to Be a Soul Ninja? In this conversation, we discuss:

 

  • Why Danielle is a ‘hot mess’ at meditating and still names meditation as the practice that has helped her to grow the most in her faith (6:30)
  • The difference between meditation and centering prayer and why Danielle does an extra day of meditation each week (10:55)
  • How to start meditating (14:04)
  • What it means to “Be a Soul Ninja” and why being a ninja necessarily involves being in community with others (19:17)
  • What would it look like to spiritually direct a whole community? (24:47)
  • What is spiritual direction and why it’s important for clergy (27:40)
  • How her blog “Be a Soul Ninja” got started after a rejected book proposal, her approach to writing the blog and an excerpt from a blog post (31:53)

 

QUOTES

  • “All of that practice, I think what it does, is help me just be with myself in the reality of who I am. And I think that is incredibly important for leaders to do, because I just have to see myself exactly as I am. All the good stuff. All the bad stuff. All the stuff that’s extra boring and not worth conversation on either side of good or bad. And I think that helps me sorta operate from a more centered place, because there’s just no hiding from yourself if you sit and meditate in your own thoughts everyday.” -Danielle Shroyer [09:43]
  • “Really the goal in meditation is not to stop thinking. It’s just not to attach to your thoughts.” -Danielle Shroyer [17:36]

 

About Danielle Shroyer

Danielle spent over a decade in pastoral leadership and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. She speaks often across the country on issues of theology, faith, culture, and story, and blogs at beasoulninja.com.  Danielle is the author of Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place; Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminations on the Lord’s Prayer in the Holy Land; and The Boundary Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Find out more about today’s guest, Danielle Shroyer, including information about Spiritual Direction, on her website http://www.beasoulninja.com. You can also sign up for her weekly blogs to be delivered to your inbox.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>Danielle Shroyer’s curiosity about the spiritual path took an unexpected turn in 2018. This founder of the emerging church movement and deeply faithful Christian leader took the path East, towards the wisdom and practices of the Eastern traditions. Her blog, Be a Soul Ninja, chronicles her experiences engaging in different Eastern religious thoughts and practices. So what does it mean to Be a Soul Ninja? In this conversation, we discuss:

 

  • Why Danielle is a ‘hot mess’ at meditating and still names meditation as the practice that has helped her to grow the most in her faith (6:30)
  • The difference between meditation and centering prayer and why Danielle does an extra day of meditation each week (10:55)
  • How to start meditating (14:04)
  • What it means to “Be a Soul Ninja” and why being a ninja necessarily involves being in community with others (19:17)
  • What would it look like to spiritually direct a whole community? (24:47)
  • What is spiritual direction and why it’s important for clergy (27:40)
  • How her blog “Be a Soul Ninja” got started after a rejected book proposal, her approach to writing the blog and an excerpt from a blog post (31:53)

 

QUOTES

  • “All of that practice, I think what it does, is help me just be with myself in the reality of who I am. And I think that is incredibly important for leaders to do, because I just have to see myself exactly as I am. All the good stuff. All the bad stuff. All the stuff that’s extra boring and not worth conversation on either side of good or bad. And I think that helps me sorta operate from a more centered place, because there’s just no hiding from yourself if you sit and meditate in your own thoughts everyday.” -Danielle Shroyer [09:43]
  • “Really the goal in meditation is not to stop thinking. It’s just not to attach to your thoughts.” -Danielle Shroyer [17:36]

 

About Danielle Shroyer

Danielle spent over a decade in pastoral leadership and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. She speaks often across the country on issues of theology, faith, culture, and story, and blogs at beasoulninja.com.  Danielle is the author of Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place; Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminations on the Lord’s Prayer in the Holy Land; and The Boundary Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise.

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Find out more about today’s guest, Danielle Shroyer, including information about Spiritual Direction, on her website http://www.beasoulninja.com. You can also sign up for her weekly blogs to be delivered to your inbox.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/8ed74f9a-ab3a-38fb-a9af-ec5e02da1792Thu, 28 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -040038:09falsebonus5665<p>Danielle Shroyer’s curiosity about the spiritual path took an unexpected turn in 2018. This founder of the emerging church movement and deeply faithful Christian leader took the path East, towards the wisdom and practices of the Eastern traditions. Her blog, Be a Soul Ninja, chronicles her experiences engaging in different Eastern religious thoughts and practices. So what does it mean to Be a Soul Ninja? In this conversation, we discuss:</p> <p> </p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Why Danielle is a ‘hot mess’ at meditating and still names meditation as the practice that has helped her to grow the most in her faith (6:30)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The difference between meditation and centering prayer and why Danielle does an extra day of meditation each week (10:55)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">How to start meditating (14:04)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What it means to “Be a Soul Ninja” and why being a ninja necessarily involves being in community with others (19:17)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What would it look like to spiritually direct a whole community? (24:47)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">What is spiritual direction and why it’s important for clergy (27:40)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">How her blog “Be a Soul Ninja” got started after a rejected book proposal, her approach to writing the blog and an excerpt from a blog post (31:53)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“All of that practice, I think what it does, is help me just be with myself in the reality of who I am. And I think that is incredibly important for leaders to do, because I just have to see myself exactly as I am. All the good stuff. All the bad stuff. All the stuff that’s extra boring and not worth conversation on either side of good or bad. And I think that helps me sorta operate from a more centered place, because there’s just no hiding from yourself if you sit and meditate in your own thoughts everyday.” -Danielle Shroyer [09:43]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Really the goal in meditation is not to stop thinking. It’s just not to attach to your thoughts.” -Danielle Shroyer [17:36]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>About Danielle Shroyer</p> <p>Danielle spent over a decade in pastoral leadership and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. She speaks often across the country on issues of theology, faith, culture, and story, and blogs at <a href='http://beasoulninja.com'>beasoulninja.com</a>.  Danielle is the author of Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place; Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminations on the Lord’s Prayer in the Holy Land; and The Boundary Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise.</p> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Find out more about today’s guest, Danielle Shroyer, including information about Spiritual Direction, on her website <a href='http://www.beasoulninja.com'>http://www.beasoulninja.com</a>. You can also sign up for her weekly blogs to be delivered to your inbox.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>Leadership Ministry team</a> at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.</p> <p>Subscribe to our <a href='https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/6E2D78939FF60250'>Leadership Ministry emails here</a>. We send emails about each episode and include additional related resources related to the episode’s topic. We know your inbox is inundated these days, we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?</p> Living the Questions with Shannon HopkinsLiving the Questions with Shannon HopkinsShannon Hopkins has been asking, “God, what is the church you are building today?” for decades–and she’s been living that question. Shannon’s pursuit of new forms of Christian community inspired her to move from Texas to London where she has continued to build an incredible network of friends and colleagues who are living the questions, too. Through her organization RootedGood, Shannon is bringing spiritual entrepreneurs and innovators together to support one another and discern what it means to do the Gospel-inspired work that transforms the world today. In this conversation, we get to ask the one who has been living the questions to answer some questions such as: what have you learned since you’ve been playing in the sandbox, experimenting with new forms of Christian community? Shannon’s insights about the church today and her inspiring personal story of faith will leave you filled with hope and perhaps saying (as we said at the conclusion of the conversation): Glory be!

 

QUOTES

  • “If we don’t look at training and sustainability like new economic models, we’re not going to see a movement of God that transforms the church or the world.” -Shannon Hopkins [11:24]
  • “We were all created to do good work. And if we really truly believe that, then when we meet people, then I want to know, ‘Well, what’s the good work? What’s the good work God created you to do? And how can I fuel that? And how can I accelerate that?’” -Shannon Hopkins [32:45]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:55] What has inspired the hosts about this class
  • [02:08] About Shannon Hopkins
  • [06:14] How she was formed
  • [12:38] Texas to London
  • [22:35] What she brings into her ministry today
  • [25:41] The courage to break out of the mold
  • [29:27] Extreme networking and collaborations
  • [33:02] What is giving her hope
  • [41:47] Rapid fire questions
  • [47:13] A blessing
  • [48:33] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

For more information about RootedGood’s resources and to access the Mycelium Network to connect with other leaders, visit their website here.

Listen to Shannon Hopkins’ previous episode on Igniting Imagination here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Shannon Hopkins Bio

Shannon Hopkins is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for a campaign called The Truth isn’t Sexy that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.

A Texas native, in 2004 Shannon moved to London and founded Matryoshka Haus, which was part incubator, part community, part training organization. In 2019 Matryoshka Haus launched 3 new initiatives, including Rooted Good, where Shannon is co-founder and Lead Cultivator. RootedGood empowers social impact organizations and leaders to make good in the world through tools and games that help implement design thinking, produce creative ideas, launch new ventures and so much more.

]]>Shannon Hopkins has been asking, “God, what is the church you are building today?” for decades–and she’s been living that question. Shannon’s pursuit of new forms of Christian community inspired her to move from Texas to London where she has continued to build an incredible network of friends and colleagues who are living the questions, too. Through her organization RootedGood, Shannon is bringing spiritual entrepreneurs and innovators together to support one another and discern what it means to do the Gospel-inspired work that transforms the world today. In this conversation, we get to ask the one who has been living the questions to answer some questions such as: what have you learned since you’ve been playing in the sandbox, experimenting with new forms of Christian community? Shannon’s insights about the church today and her inspiring personal story of faith will leave you filled with hope and perhaps saying (as we said at the conclusion of the conversation): Glory be!

 

QUOTES

  • “If we don’t look at training and sustainability like new economic models, we’re not going to see a movement of God that transforms the church or the world.” -Shannon Hopkins [11:24]
  • “We were all created to do good work. And if we really truly believe that, then when we meet people, then I want to know, ‘Well, what’s the good work? What’s the good work God created you to do? And how can I fuel that? And how can I accelerate that?’” -Shannon Hopkins [32:45]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:55] What has inspired the hosts about this class
  • [02:08] About Shannon Hopkins
  • [06:14] How she was formed
  • [12:38] Texas to London
  • [22:35] What she brings into her ministry today
  • [25:41] The courage to break out of the mold
  • [29:27] Extreme networking and collaborations
  • [33:02] What is giving her hope
  • [41:47] Rapid fire questions
  • [47:13] A blessing
  • [48:33] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

For more information about RootedGood’s resources and to access the Mycelium Network to connect with other leaders, visit their website here.

Listen to Shannon Hopkins’ previous episode on Igniting Imagination here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Shannon Hopkins Bio

Shannon Hopkins is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for a campaign called The Truth isn’t Sexy that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.

A Texas native, in 2004 Shannon moved to London and founded Matryoshka Haus, which was part incubator, part community, part training organization. In 2019 Matryoshka Haus launched 3 new initiatives, including Rooted Good, where Shannon is co-founder and Lead Cultivator. RootedGood empowers social impact organizations and leaders to make good in the world through tools and games that help implement design thinking, produce creative ideas, launch new ventures and so much more.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/cf4197a7-989b-323e-a23f-313a613e1780Thu, 19 May 2022 07:01:00 -040049:00falsefull5555The Parish is My World with Coté SoerensThe Parish is My World with Coté SoerensCoté Soerens has made her neighborhood in South Park, Seattle her world. She and her husband Tim moved their family into the under-resourced neighborhood with a deep desire to discover God’s dreams for the community and participate in helping those dreams come to fruition alongside their neighbors. Coté started a coffee shop, Resistencia Coffee, that has become a third space for neighbors to gather, to build relationships with one another and to discern next steps towards making their neighborhood thrive. When you listen to Coté tell her story and the story of South Park, you’ll hear how the Spirit has worked again and again, inspiring people to dream dreams and see visions and make connections that has ultimately made the seemingly impossible possible. Faith can move mountains – and, it turns out, highways! We can’t wait for you to hear what God has done through Coté’s love for–and deep commitment to–her neighbors and her neighborhood.

 

QUOTES

  • “My journey, I think, has been one of trying to weave together what does the gospel look like in the public sphere.” -Coté Soerens [12:30]
  • “Let’s live a life that is conducive to catching the right wave.” -Coté Soerens [27:12]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] About Coté Soerens
  • [04:15] A little bit of a problem
  • [10:35] What’s the future of the church?
  • [16:22] Planting a church in South Park
  • [23:45] Where her ideas emerge from
  • [27:35] Why stay connected to the church
  • [33:15] What breaks her heart and gives her life
  • [43:59] Rapid questions
  • [47:36] A blessing
  • [49:04] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Cultivate South Park is “Connecting Neighbors and their Gifts to Co Create a thriving and equitable South Park.” Find out more on their website.

Learn more about Resistencia Coffee in Seattle, Washington at their website.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Coté Soerens Bio

Originally from Chile, Coté has made Seattle her home, where she lives with her husband Tim and their sons.

She has served as the founding executive director of Puentes, an immigrant-led organization mobilizing mental health resources to support families affected by immigration policies. Coté is a founding partner of Resistencia Coffee, a neighborhood coffee shop in the heart of South Park. 

She is also the co-founder of Cultivate South Park, a non-profit that lends infrastructure to neighborhood community development projects such as the Urban Fresh Food Collective, Reconnect South Park, and the South Park Arts and Culture Collective.

]]>Coté Soerens has made her neighborhood in South Park, Seattle her world. She and her husband Tim moved their family into the under-resourced neighborhood with a deep desire to discover God’s dreams for the community and participate in helping those dreams come to fruition alongside their neighbors. Coté started a coffee shop, Resistencia Coffee, that has become a third space for neighbors to gather, to build relationships with one another and to discern next steps towards making their neighborhood thrive. When you listen to Coté tell her story and the story of South Park, you’ll hear how the Spirit has worked again and again, inspiring people to dream dreams and see visions and make connections that has ultimately made the seemingly impossible possible. Faith can move mountains – and, it turns out, highways! We can’t wait for you to hear what God has done through Coté’s love for–and deep commitment to–her neighbors and her neighborhood.

 

QUOTES

  • “My journey, I think, has been one of trying to weave together what does the gospel look like in the public sphere.” -Coté Soerens [12:30]
  • “Let’s live a life that is conducive to catching the right wave.” -Coté Soerens [27:12]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] About Coté Soerens
  • [04:15] A little bit of a problem
  • [10:35] What’s the future of the church?
  • [16:22] Planting a church in South Park
  • [23:45] Where her ideas emerge from
  • [27:35] Why stay connected to the church
  • [33:15] What breaks her heart and gives her life
  • [43:59] Rapid questions
  • [47:36] A blessing
  • [49:04] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Cultivate South Park is “Connecting Neighbors and their Gifts to Co Create a thriving and equitable South Park.” Find out more on their website.

Learn more about Resistencia Coffee in Seattle, Washington at their website.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Coté Soerens Bio

Originally from Chile, Coté has made Seattle her home, where she lives with her husband Tim and their sons.

She has served as the founding executive director of Puentes, an immigrant-led organization mobilizing mental health resources to support families affected by immigration policies. Coté is a founding partner of Resistencia Coffee, a neighborhood coffee shop in the heart of South Park. 

She is also the co-founder of Cultivate South Park, a non-profit that lends infrastructure to neighborhood community development projects such as the Urban Fresh Food Collective, Reconnect South Park, and the South Park Arts and Culture Collective.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/7a5f58aa-f52c-36ec-96ce-828a5694cbc4Thu, 12 May 2022 06:30:32 -040049:31falsefull5445The Soul of Reconciliation with David BaileyThe Soul of Reconciliation with David BaileyArrabon means “a foretaste of the kingdom.” This conversation with David Bailey is full of Arrabon! David describes the significance of the numbers 8 and 2008 in his life. From an early age, David saw the benefits and challenges of cultivating a diverse community where everyone can thrive. His passion for God and scripture, together with his love of music and vision for reconciled communities led him to start Arrabon. Arrabon, like David, takes the long view of reconciliation, walking alongside congregations and organizations to facilitate conversation and curriculum that leads to both healing and justice. Although this topic perhaps feels heavy and even overwhelming at times, David’s joyful approach and hopeful vision is pure grace and just what is needed for such a time as this. 

 

QUOTES

  • “You can’t have justice without reconciliation. You can’t have reconciliation without justice.” -David Bailey [10:14]
  • “Let’s not complain about what we see was going wrong in curse of darkness. What does it look like if we be the light?” -David Bailey [24:28]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:16] About David Bailey
  • [03:11] Eight and 2008
  • [09:32] About Arrabon
  • [14:48] What we need to get through
  • [21:37] You have to practice being a Christian
  • [25:44] Negotiating anti-blackness in his work
  • [33:47] Repentance as a verb
  • [38:12] Rapid fire questions
  • [45:36] A blessing
  • [47:00] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Learn more about David Bailey’s ministry at Arrabon by visiting their website here. View David’s TEDx Talk from 2015 here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

David Bailey Bio

David Bailey believes that the Church should lead by example in cross-cultural engagement and reconciliation. He’s the founder and executive director of Arrabon, a ministry that cultivates Christian communities to pursue healing and reconciliation in a racially divided world. David is an active speaker, consultant, and strategist for many national organizations about cultural intelligence and culture-making. He is the co-author of the Race, Class, and the Kingdom of God Study Series. David was named by Christianity Today as one of “The Twenty Most Creative Christians We Know”. He serves as a teaching elder at East End Fellowship. David and his wife, Joy, live in Richmond, Virginia.

]]>Arrabon means “a foretaste of the kingdom.” This conversation with David Bailey is full of Arrabon! David describes the significance of the numbers 8 and 2008 in his life. From an early age, David saw the benefits and challenges of cultivating a diverse community where everyone can thrive. His passion for God and scripture, together with his love of music and vision for reconciled communities led him to start Arrabon. Arrabon, like David, takes the long view of reconciliation, walking alongside congregations and organizations to facilitate conversation and curriculum that leads to both healing and justice. Although this topic perhaps feels heavy and even overwhelming at times, David’s joyful approach and hopeful vision is pure grace and just what is needed for such a time as this. 

 

QUOTES

  • “You can’t have justice without reconciliation. You can’t have reconciliation without justice.” -David Bailey [10:14]
  • “Let’s not complain about what we see was going wrong in curse of darkness. What does it look like if we be the light?” -David Bailey [24:28]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:16] About David Bailey
  • [03:11] Eight and 2008
  • [09:32] About Arrabon
  • [14:48] What we need to get through
  • [21:37] You have to practice being a Christian
  • [25:44] Negotiating anti-blackness in his work
  • [33:47] Repentance as a verb
  • [38:12] Rapid fire questions
  • [45:36] A blessing
  • [47:00] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Learn more about David Bailey’s ministry at Arrabon by visiting their website here. View David’s TEDx Talk from 2015 here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

David Bailey Bio

David Bailey believes that the Church should lead by example in cross-cultural engagement and reconciliation. He’s the founder and executive director of Arrabon, a ministry that cultivates Christian communities to pursue healing and reconciliation in a racially divided world. David is an active speaker, consultant, and strategist for many national organizations about cultural intelligence and culture-making. He is the co-author of the Race, Class, and the Kingdom of God Study Series. David was named by Christianity Today as one of “The Twenty Most Creative Christians We Know”. He serves as a teaching elder at East End Fellowship. David and his wife, Joy, live in Richmond, Virginia.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/90772170-0aee-3d71-8b0d-e26bbd4a7146Thu, 05 May 2022 09:13:25 -040047:28falsefull5335Creating Healing Spaces through Social Enterprise with Kit Evans-FordCreating Healing Spaces through Social Enterprise with Kit Evans-FordDr. Kit Evans-Ford’s passion for providing safe spaces for survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence is deeply personal. Kit’s grandmother, Argrow, is the namesake for her social enterprise Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope, a bath and body social enterprise that employs female survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. Kit shares how her family story and her own life experiences led her to discern her life’s purpose and learn how to start a social enterprise. This compelling conversation has a thread of grace that inspires with transparency and vulnerability and a great reminder that whatever we’re facing in life, we don’t do it alone.

 

Note: There are themes of violence and sexual abuse in this interview. If those are triggering topics for you, please take care of yourself and skip this episode.

 

QUOTES

  • “But ultimately, what I do and why I do what I do is deeply rooted and connected to the women in my family… but also from a place of deep personal pain for me that I know that God has used to do good in the world.” -Kit Evans-Ford [19:02]
  • “It’s ok to think outside of the box. Everybody’s path doesn’t look the same, but all the work that we do is grounded in the love of God and Jesus Christ.” -Kit Evans-Ford [46:48]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:36] About Kit Evans-Ford
  • [03:05] What stood out in this conversation
  • [05:48] What led Kit’s to where she is
  • [09:59] Joining the Peace Corp
  • [16:17] Accepting her call to ministry
  • [21:11] Take a deep breath
  • [23:03] Becoming a spokesperson at a young age
  • [27:49] The connection between trauma and call
  • [32:21] Doing it together as community
  • [34:49] Safe spaces for healing
  • [43:18] It’s ok to step outside of the box
  • [47:57] Be open to understanding
  • [51:16] The essence of Wesleyans
  • [53:00] A blessing
  • [55:23s] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

This episode references domestic violence, physical violence, and attempted sexual violence. Please skip this episode if these topics are triggering for you. For resources related to trauma, visit the work of Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Here is another site full of resources related to trauma.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

Visit Argrow’s House website and support this amazing social enterprise! Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Kit Evans-Ford Bio

Dr. Kit Evans Ford is a national trainer, spiritual director, and professor. She is passionate about nonviolence, God, and serving others. She has been a trainer and activist for 14 years working relentlessly in the areas of nonviolence education and assisting people in healing from violence and abuse. Kit is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at St. Ambrose University.  She is the author of 101 Testimonies of Hope: Life Stories to Encourage Your Faith in God and A Children’s Book On Bishop Richard Allen:  A Nonviolent Journey.  She is also certified in spiritual direction and is the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope in Davenport, Iowa. Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. Argrow’s House is also a successful social enterprise where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are.

]]>Dr. Kit Evans-Ford’s passion for providing safe spaces for survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence is deeply personal. Kit’s grandmother, Argrow, is the namesake for her social enterprise Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope, a bath and body social enterprise that employs female survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. Kit shares how her family story and her own life experiences led her to discern her life’s purpose and learn how to start a social enterprise. This compelling conversation has a thread of grace that inspires with transparency and vulnerability and a great reminder that whatever we’re facing in life, we don’t do it alone.

 

Note: There are themes of violence and sexual abuse in this interview. If those are triggering topics for you, please take care of yourself and skip this episode.

 

QUOTES

  • “But ultimately, what I do and why I do what I do is deeply rooted and connected to the women in my family… but also from a place of deep personal pain for me that I know that God has used to do good in the world.” -Kit Evans-Ford [19:02]
  • “It’s ok to think outside of the box. Everybody’s path doesn’t look the same, but all the work that we do is grounded in the love of God and Jesus Christ.” -Kit Evans-Ford [46:48]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:36] About Kit Evans-Ford
  • [03:05] What stood out in this conversation
  • [05:48] What led Kit’s to where she is
  • [09:59] Joining the Peace Corp
  • [16:17] Accepting her call to ministry
  • [21:11] Take a deep breath
  • [23:03] Becoming a spokesperson at a young age
  • [27:49] The connection between trauma and call
  • [32:21] Doing it together as community
  • [34:49] Safe spaces for healing
  • [43:18] It’s ok to step outside of the box
  • [47:57] Be open to understanding
  • [51:16] The essence of Wesleyans
  • [53:00] A blessing
  • [55:23s] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

This episode references domestic violence, physical violence, and attempted sexual violence. Please skip this episode if these topics are triggering for you. For resources related to trauma, visit the work of Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Here is another site full of resources related to trauma.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

Visit Argrow’s House website and support this amazing social enterprise! Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Kit Evans-Ford Bio

Dr. Kit Evans Ford is a national trainer, spiritual director, and professor. She is passionate about nonviolence, God, and serving others. She has been a trainer and activist for 14 years working relentlessly in the areas of nonviolence education and assisting people in healing from violence and abuse. Kit is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at St. Ambrose University.  She is the author of 101 Testimonies of Hope: Life Stories to Encourage Your Faith in God and A Children’s Book On Bishop Richard Allen:  A Nonviolent Journey.  She is also certified in spiritual direction and is the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope in Davenport, Iowa. Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. Argrow’s House is also a successful social enterprise where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/20f9ff3a-f5d4-3d4f-b841-504ca4bf20ecThu, 28 Apr 2022 07:01:00 -040055:52falsefull5225Brian McLaren on Becoming a New Kind of Christian and New Kind of ChurchBrian McLaren on Becoming a New Kind of Christian and New Kind of ChurchIn these five episodes of Season 5, we’ll be meeting stunning spiritual entrepreneurs who are making a profound impact as they follow God’s call on their lives. They are the recipients of the 2022 Locke Innovative Leader Award. 

To help us set the stage for these conversations, we begin with Brian McLaren! In book after book (his newest book Do I Stay Christian? comes out in May… we talk about it!), with startling clarity, he lays bare the deeply troubling and the fundamentally beautiful aspects of the church and what it means to be the Body of Christ in the world. Being human, being Christian, is messy and imperfect. Christ, have mercy. And still, God is good. And the Holy Spirit is at work in the world. Our conversation is as challenging as it is hopeful. May it spark new conversations, renewed hope, and new imagination for what is possible.

 

QUOTES

  • “You realize for many people Christianity is defined by adherence to a set of beliefs. You can be a racist. You can be a bigot. You can be an abuser, but you’re still an orthodox Christian because of beliefs. So it just raises this question, what does this word even mean?” -Brian McLaren [19:20]
  • “Don’t imitate. Innovate.” -Brian McLaren [34:43]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:45] Co-host Matt Russell
  • [01:47] About the Locke Innovative Leader Award
  • [04:21] About Brian McLaren
  • [10:00] Brian’s faith journey
  • [16:42] Defining the word, Christian
  • [22:14] What it is to be a new kind of Christian
  • [31:01] The role of leaders and spiritual entrepreneurs
  • [40:39] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Brian McLaren’s newest book Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned, is coming out on May 24th but can be preordered now here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Brian McLaren Bio

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest books are Faith After Doubt released in January 2021, and his next release, Do I Stay Christian is coming out in May and can be preordered now.

]]>In these five episodes of Season 5, we’ll be meeting stunning spiritual entrepreneurs who are making a profound impact as they follow God’s call on their lives. They are the recipients of the 2022 Locke Innovative Leader Award. 

To help us set the stage for these conversations, we begin with Brian McLaren! In book after book (his newest book Do I Stay Christian? comes out in May… we talk about it!), with startling clarity, he lays bare the deeply troubling and the fundamentally beautiful aspects of the church and what it means to be the Body of Christ in the world. Being human, being Christian, is messy and imperfect. Christ, have mercy. And still, God is good. And the Holy Spirit is at work in the world. Our conversation is as challenging as it is hopeful. May it spark new conversations, renewed hope, and new imagination for what is possible.

 

QUOTES

  • “You realize for many people Christianity is defined by adherence to a set of beliefs. You can be a racist. You can be a bigot. You can be an abuser, but you’re still an orthodox Christian because of beliefs. So it just raises this question, what does this word even mean?” -Brian McLaren [19:20]
  • “Don’t imitate. Innovate.” -Brian McLaren [34:43]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:45] Co-host Matt Russell
  • [01:47] About the Locke Innovative Leader Award
  • [04:21] About Brian McLaren
  • [10:00] Brian’s faith journey
  • [16:42] Defining the word, Christian
  • [22:14] What it is to be a new kind of Christian
  • [31:01] The role of leaders and spiritual entrepreneurs
  • [40:39] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Brian McLaren’s newest book Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned, is coming out on May 24th but can be preordered now here.

RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!)

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Brian McLaren Bio

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest books are Faith After Doubt released in January 2021, and his next release, Do I Stay Christian is coming out in May and can be preordered now.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/06ad15de-5a77-3d1c-843a-09ab7ad7e17bThu, 21 Apr 2022 06:47:13 -040041:07falsefull5115Igniting Imagination Season 5 TrailerIgniting Imagination Season 5 TrailerSeason 5 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood and co-host Matt Russell talk about spiritual entrepreneurship and innovative ministry with author, activist, and public theologian Brian McLaren and our four 2022 Locke Innovative Leaders. Listen to this short trailer for a glimpse of our conversations with courageous leaders sharing their powerful, inspiring stories. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

]]>Season 5 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood and co-host Matt Russell talk about spiritual entrepreneurship and innovative ministry with author, activist, and public theologian Brian McLaren and our four 2022 Locke Innovative Leaders. Listen to this short trailer for a glimpse of our conversations with courageous leaders sharing their powerful, inspiring stories. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/70d90f7d-a4e4-3137-b02e-d430b29991a2Tue, 19 Apr 2022 12:45:52 -040003:54falsetrailer55<p>Season 5 of Igniting Imagination is coming soon! Host Lisa Greenwood and co-host Matt Russell talk about spiritual entrepreneurship and innovative ministry with author, activist, and public theologian Brian McLaren and our four 2022 Locke Innovative Leaders. Listen to this short trailer for a glimpse of our conversations with courageous leaders sharing their powerful, inspiring stories. If you like our podcast, please share your favorite episodes with friends and colleagues and leave us a review. Thanks for listening!</p> Prophetic Imagination in a Parking Lot with Mandy McDowProphetic Imagination in a Parking Lot with Mandy McDowIn our final episode for the season, Mandy McDow, pastor of Los Angeles First UMC, shares the story of LA First who razed their building in 2002. Yep. No building. That reality forces a posture of constant discernment: God, what is the difference you would have us make in this neighborhood in this season? Theirs is not a tidy, perfect story. It’s messy and real and very much in process. We hope it inspires you as it has us! Wow!

 

QUOTES

  • “That’s the first barrier for entry to understanding how God loves you. The way the church behaves is the way people perceive that God behaves.” -Mandy McDow [12:02]
  • “I think every congregation has the capacity to adapt. It’s just a matter of when you decide to do it. Do you do it in crisis? Or do you do it so that you’re not in crisis?” -Mandy McDow [19:09]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:12] What to listen for in the conversation with Mandy
  • [03:47] Meet Mandy McDow
  • [04:46] This history of LA First
  • [12:13] How they got to the parking lot
  • [15:13] How the DNA is showing up now
  • [19:27] Inviting congregation into imagination
  • [25:09] LA First in 10 years
  • [27:24] Distinguish between fan and follower
  • [35:23] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit LA First’s website here. 

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Mandy McDow’s Bio

Rev. Mandy McDow grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Princeton Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity and is currently pursuing doctoral work at Candler School of Theology. Mandy has served congregations in Atlanta, Laguna Beach, and in 2017 accepted the appointment to Los Angeles First UMC with one catch and you’ll hear about it in the interview: the church bulldozed their building in 2001. Mandy has a black belt in Taekwondo, she is an aspiring musician, still has a passion for sweet tea, and is the proud mother of three children.

]]>In our final episode for the season, Mandy McDow, pastor of Los Angeles First UMC, shares the story of LA First who razed their building in 2002. Yep. No building. That reality forces a posture of constant discernment: God, what is the difference you would have us make in this neighborhood in this season? Theirs is not a tidy, perfect story. It’s messy and real and very much in process. We hope it inspires you as it has us! Wow!

 

QUOTES

  • “That’s the first barrier for entry to understanding how God loves you. The way the church behaves is the way people perceive that God behaves.” -Mandy McDow [12:02]
  • “I think every congregation has the capacity to adapt. It’s just a matter of when you decide to do it. Do you do it in crisis? Or do you do it so that you’re not in crisis?” -Mandy McDow [19:09]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:12] What to listen for in the conversation with Mandy
  • [03:47] Meet Mandy McDow
  • [04:46] This history of LA First
  • [12:13] How they got to the parking lot
  • [15:13] How the DNA is showing up now
  • [19:27] Inviting congregation into imagination
  • [25:09] LA First in 10 years
  • [27:24] Distinguish between fan and follower
  • [35:23] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit LA First’s website here. 

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Mandy McDow’s Bio

Rev. Mandy McDow grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Princeton Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity and is currently pursuing doctoral work at Candler School of Theology. Mandy has served congregations in Atlanta, Laguna Beach, and in 2017 accepted the appointment to Los Angeles First UMC with one catch and you’ll hear about it in the interview: the church bulldozed their building in 2001. Mandy has a black belt in Taekwondo, she is an aspiring musician, still has a passion for sweet tea, and is the proud mother of three children.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/c4d625c0-6c7f-30d8-8465-a2c4c71e0491Thu, 17 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -040033:01falsefull4554<p>In our final episode for the season, Mandy McDow, pastor of Los Angeles First UMC, shares the story of LA First who razed their building in 2002. Yep. No building. That reality forces a posture of constant discernment: God, what is the difference you would have us make in this neighborhood in this season? Theirs is not a tidy, perfect story. It’s messy and real and very much in process. We hope it inspires you as it has us! Wow!</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“That’s the first barrier for entry to understanding how God loves you. The way the church behaves is the way people perceive that God behaves.” -Mandy McDow [12:02]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“I think every congregation has the capacity to adapt. It’s just a matter of when you decide to do it. Do you do it in crisis? Or do you do it so that you’re not in crisis?” -Mandy McDow [19:09]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[02:12] What to listen for in the conversation with Mandy</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[03:47] Meet Mandy McDow</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:46] This history of LA First</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[12:13] How they got to the parking lot</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[15:13] How the DNA is showing up now</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[19:27] Inviting congregation into imagination</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[25:09] LA First in 10 years</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[27:24] Distinguish between fan and follower</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[35:23] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Visit LA First’s <a href='https://www.lafirstumc.org'>website here</a>. </p> <p>Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/files/Mixed_Ecology-Final.pdf'>God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here</a>.</p> <p>New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes</p> <p>We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/podcasts/igniting-imagination-season-4'>Visit our website</a> to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>Leadership Ministry team</a> at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.</p> <p>Subscribe to our <a href='https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/6E2D78939FF60250'>Leadership Ministry emails here</a>.</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?</p> <p> </p> <p>Mandy McDow’s Bio</p> <p>Rev. Mandy McDow grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Princeton Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity and is currently pursuing doctoral work at Candler School of Theology. Mandy has served congregations in Atlanta, Laguna Beach, and in 2017 accepted the appointment to Los Angeles First UMC with one catch and you’ll hear about it in the interview: the church bulldozed their building in 2001. Mandy has a black belt in Taekwondo, she is an aspiring musician, still has a passion for sweet tea, and is the proud mother of three children.</p> Power and Abundance with Mike MatherPower and Abundance with Mike Mather“What does ‘Distributing Power’ look like for a congregation?” is a frequent question we get about our fourth adaptive muscle. Now we can say: listen to this interview with Mike Mather! Mike helps us make the connection between distributing power and abundance.

When Mike and his congregation started actually living out their beliefs that everyone (both inside and outside of the church) has gifts, it changed their perspective–and their church–for the better. They began to look for the gifts their neighbors possessed instead of their needs. They shifted how they perceived their role in the community from being bringers of all good things to being connectors who bring people’s gifts together for the good of the neighborhood. Mike is a powerful storyteller, we can't wait for you to hear this conversation! May his stories and lessons stick with you and inspire you to discover the gifts and power already at work in your neighbors and in your neighborhood.

 

QUOTES

  • “She didn’t need training. She needed people who saw she had gifts and power. That was when things really shifted for me.” -Mike Mather [12:58]
  • “I would say what we often talked about it as was ‘How do we join the power that God has present in the lives of our neighbors?’” -Mike Mather [30:19]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:55] What it means to distribute power
  • [04:41] Meet Mike Mather
  • [05:29] What Mike hopes people get out of his book
  • [08:01] The pivot in his life
  • [13:15] How that impacted how his church did ministry
  • [20:12] The impact to Mike as a leader
  • [29:22] It changed their job descriptions
  • [30:38] Point to where the power is at work
  • [32:38] Where he met resistance and/or obstacles
  • [43:31] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Mike Mather’s book Having Nothing, Possessing Everything for more insights that inspire and equip leaders with very practical ideas for moving beyond buildings and into the streets.

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Mike Mather’s Bio:

​Mi​ke Mather is the pastor at First United Methodist in Boulder, Colorado. For many years, Mike was the pastor at Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before that he served as pastor of another church named Broadway in South Bend, Indiana. Mike is also on the faculty of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at DePaul University. Mike is the author of Having Nothing, Possessing Everything: Finding Abundant Communities in Unexpected Places. As a preacher-consultant-storyteller, he speaks all over the country about community development and urban ministry.

]]>“What does ‘Distributing Power’ look like for a congregation?” is a frequent question we get about our fourth adaptive muscle. Now we can say: listen to this interview with Mike Mather! Mike helps us make the connection between distributing power and abundance.

When Mike and his congregation started actually living out their beliefs that everyone (both inside and outside of the church) has gifts, it changed their perspective–and their church–for the better. They began to look for the gifts their neighbors possessed instead of their needs. They shifted how they perceived their role in the community from being bringers of all good things to being connectors who bring people’s gifts together for the good of the neighborhood. Mike is a powerful storyteller, we can't wait for you to hear this conversation! May his stories and lessons stick with you and inspire you to discover the gifts and power already at work in your neighbors and in your neighborhood.

 

QUOTES

  • “She didn’t need training. She needed people who saw she had gifts and power. That was when things really shifted for me.” -Mike Mather [12:58]
  • “I would say what we often talked about it as was ‘How do we join the power that God has present in the lives of our neighbors?’” -Mike Mather [30:19]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:55] What it means to distribute power
  • [04:41] Meet Mike Mather
  • [05:29] What Mike hopes people get out of his book
  • [08:01] The pivot in his life
  • [13:15] How that impacted how his church did ministry
  • [20:12] The impact to Mike as a leader
  • [29:22] It changed their job descriptions
  • [30:38] Point to where the power is at work
  • [32:38] Where he met resistance and/or obstacles
  • [43:31] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Mike Mather’s book Having Nothing, Possessing Everything for more insights that inspire and equip leaders with very practical ideas for moving beyond buildings and into the streets.

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Mike Mather’s Bio:

​Mi​ke Mather is the pastor at First United Methodist in Boulder, Colorado. For many years, Mike was the pastor at Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before that he served as pastor of another church named Broadway in South Bend, Indiana. Mike is also on the faculty of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at DePaul University. Mike is the author of Having Nothing, Possessing Everything: Finding Abundant Communities in Unexpected Places. As a preacher-consultant-storyteller, he speaks all over the country about community development and urban ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/b74fd49f-d3b5-3c35-b132-4f4437d1a46aThu, 10 Mar 2022 07:03:11 -040044:59falsefull4444Nurturing Thriving Communities with Adam Barlow-ThompsonNurturing Thriving Communities with Adam Barlow-ThompsonAdam Barlow-Thompson, co-founder of The Neighboring Movement, wants us to meet our actual neighbors. While that may seem like a simple idea, research (and perhaps experience) shows us that few of us truly engage our neighbors. Adam invites us to move from the theoretical ‘love your neighbor’ to the literal: meet your neighbors in the eight houses or apartments around you and discover the gifts God has given them. Adam does not simply offer a rosy picture of neighboring. He relates a story of a neighbor who slammed the door on his colleague one day, and a year later embraced the chance to work with neighbors in a community garden. 

Neighboring is a long-term investment in relationships. The Neighboring Movement is not a numerical church-growth program with an aim to get more people in pews, rather a shift in mindset from scarcity to abundance that ultimately results in a congregation’s increased joy. This conversation is packed with inspiring stories and practical ideas for connecting with neighbors, discovering their gifts, and bringing people together to foster a thriving community. 

 

QUOTES

  • “In many ways, we’re asking you to meet your neighbor. Like that is such a simple task.” -Adam Barlow-Thompson [24:17]
  • “To be a good neighbor means you have to be present in your neighborhood.” -Adam Barlow-Thompson [30:35]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:48] Blair’s story about her neighbor
  • [02:46] The proximity of neighbor
  • [03:53] Why neighboring is so important for the church
  • [06:48] Meet Adam Barlow-Thompson
  • [08:41] Host’s reactions to the conversation
  • [11:35] Why neighboring is important
  • [15:03] What it means to be a neighbor
  • [20:32] Where social media plays into neighboring movement
  • [23:38] Is the neighboring movement subservice?
  • [26:51] The Good Neighbor Experiment
  • [36:15] The Eight Front Doors Project
  • [42:18] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read all about the Neighboring Movement and find resources like the Eight Front Doors Project here.

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Adam Barlow-Thompson’s Bio

Adam Barlow-Thompson is a graduate of Southwestern College and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He served for 6 years as the Executive Pastor at Woodlawn UMC in Derby, KS, and created a Process Communication Model-based worship service called Swerve.  Adam is a certified trainer and provider of Process Communication Model, Servants by Design, and Leading Out of Drama. In 2016 Adam left the local church to become a full-time trainer/facilitator and to support the nonprofit Neighboring Movement which he founded with Ashley and their neighbors.

The Neighboring Movement believes the best way to create vibrant, thriving communities is by first creating neighborly relationships, connecting people–just like you–with others whose skills, passions and causes can change the world for good.

Adam loves playing banjo and laughing loudly. He can be seen around the neighborhood playing music on the front porch or riding his bike to the office.  Adam is always up for a story or a laugh and is an eternal optimist when it comes to his neighborhood. Adam is married to Ashley and they have a son named Prescott.

]]>Adam Barlow-Thompson, co-founder of The Neighboring Movement, wants us to meet our actual neighbors. While that may seem like a simple idea, research (and perhaps experience) shows us that few of us truly engage our neighbors. Adam invites us to move from the theoretical ‘love your neighbor’ to the literal: meet your neighbors in the eight houses or apartments around you and discover the gifts God has given them. Adam does not simply offer a rosy picture of neighboring. He relates a story of a neighbor who slammed the door on his colleague one day, and a year later embraced the chance to work with neighbors in a community garden. 

Neighboring is a long-term investment in relationships. The Neighboring Movement is not a numerical church-growth program with an aim to get more people in pews, rather a shift in mindset from scarcity to abundance that ultimately results in a congregation’s increased joy. This conversation is packed with inspiring stories and practical ideas for connecting with neighbors, discovering their gifts, and bringing people together to foster a thriving community. 

 

QUOTES

  • “In many ways, we’re asking you to meet your neighbor. Like that is such a simple task.” -Adam Barlow-Thompson [24:17]
  • “To be a good neighbor means you have to be present in your neighborhood.” -Adam Barlow-Thompson [30:35]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:48] Blair’s story about her neighbor
  • [02:46] The proximity of neighbor
  • [03:53] Why neighboring is so important for the church
  • [06:48] Meet Adam Barlow-Thompson
  • [08:41] Host’s reactions to the conversation
  • [11:35] Why neighboring is important
  • [15:03] What it means to be a neighbor
  • [20:32] Where social media plays into neighboring movement
  • [23:38] Is the neighboring movement subservice?
  • [26:51] The Good Neighbor Experiment
  • [36:15] The Eight Front Doors Project
  • [42:18] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read all about the Neighboring Movement and find resources like the Eight Front Doors Project here.

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Adam Barlow-Thompson’s Bio

Adam Barlow-Thompson is a graduate of Southwestern College and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He served for 6 years as the Executive Pastor at Woodlawn UMC in Derby, KS, and created a Process Communication Model-based worship service called Swerve.  Adam is a certified trainer and provider of Process Communication Model, Servants by Design, and Leading Out of Drama. In 2016 Adam left the local church to become a full-time trainer/facilitator and to support the nonprofit Neighboring Movement which he founded with Ashley and their neighbors.

The Neighboring Movement believes the best way to create vibrant, thriving communities is by first creating neighborly relationships, connecting people–just like you–with others whose skills, passions and causes can change the world for good.

Adam loves playing banjo and laughing loudly. He can be seen around the neighborhood playing music on the front porch or riding his bike to the office.  Adam is always up for a story or a laugh and is an eternal optimist when it comes to his neighborhood. Adam is married to Ashley and they have a son named Prescott.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/a06d25e4-bb51-34a7-8a17-8ecc953ebd6bThu, 03 Mar 2022 07:03:00 -040042:30falsefull4334The Purpose of the Institutional Church with Gil RendleThe Purpose of the Institutional Church with Gil RendleMost of us can readily identify with having a love-hate relationship with the Institution of the Church. Gil Rendle’s latest paper, Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future, addresses our ambivalence head-on and offers a distinction that is a gamechanger. He states, “Institutions are not organizations that house values. Institutions are values and disciplines that need organizations to bring their gifts to the people.”

Listen to this week’s episode of Igniting Imagination as we dig deeper into this conversation with Gil. We hope it sparks a new imagination in you around the vital work of identifying the core truths, values and practices that reside at the center of what it means to be the Church today.

 

QUOTES

  • “We still have this internal knowledge that there is something of great purpose in what we’re doing by forming a family. There is something of great purpose in what we’re doing in forming a marriage or in being part of a religious community or seeking democracy or wanting to serve the common good. This is going back to fundamentals that reside pretty deep in us.” -Gil Rendle [31:55]
  • “The younger an institution is or the younger an expression of an institution is, the  easier it is because the closer it lives to its purpose.” -Gil Rendle [32:59]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:06] The purpose of talking about purpose
  • [05:10] Meet Gil Rendle
  • [06:24] Host’s reactions to this conversation
  • [11:32] About Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future 
  • [15:17] Institution as a construction of a social reality
  • [19:43] Problem-solving instead of discernment
  • [24:31] How leaders shift from problem-solving mode to discernment mode
  • [30:08] What we’re experiencing
  • [34:47] What giving Gil hope for the future of the Church
  • [37:32] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s publication “Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future” for free on our website here.

In the intro, Blair references this article from Fortune: 2022 Will Be A Year of Continuing Transformation by Alan Murray and David Meyer

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Gil Rendle’s Bio

Dr. Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

He is the author of ten books, a contributor to four books, and the author of numerous articles and monographs. His most recent books include Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches (2010) and Back to Zero: The Search to Rediscover the Methodist Movement (2011) both published by Abingdon Press and Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014) and Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World (2018) both published by Rowman & Littlefield. Rendle is a resident of Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife, Lynne.

]]>Most of us can readily identify with having a love-hate relationship with the Institution of the Church. Gil Rendle’s latest paper, Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future, addresses our ambivalence head-on and offers a distinction that is a gamechanger. He states, “Institutions are not organizations that house values. Institutions are values and disciplines that need organizations to bring their gifts to the people.”

Listen to this week’s episode of Igniting Imagination as we dig deeper into this conversation with Gil. We hope it sparks a new imagination in you around the vital work of identifying the core truths, values and practices that reside at the center of what it means to be the Church today.

 

QUOTES

  • “We still have this internal knowledge that there is something of great purpose in what we’re doing by forming a family. There is something of great purpose in what we’re doing in forming a marriage or in being part of a religious community or seeking democracy or wanting to serve the common good. This is going back to fundamentals that reside pretty deep in us.” -Gil Rendle [31:55]
  • “The younger an institution is or the younger an expression of an institution is, the  easier it is because the closer it lives to its purpose.” -Gil Rendle [32:59]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:06] The purpose of talking about purpose
  • [05:10] Meet Gil Rendle
  • [06:24] Host’s reactions to this conversation
  • [11:32] About Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future 
  • [15:17] Institution as a construction of a social reality
  • [19:43] Problem-solving instead of discernment
  • [24:31] How leaders shift from problem-solving mode to discernment mode
  • [30:08] What we’re experiencing
  • [34:47] What giving Gil hope for the future of the Church
  • [37:32] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read Gil Rendle’s publication “Jacob’s Bones: On the Church’s Institutional Future” for free on our website here.

In the intro, Blair references this article from Fortune: 2022 Will Be A Year of Continuing Transformation by Alan Murray and David Meyer

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Gil Rendle’s Bio

Dr. Gil Rendle is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

He is the author of ten books, a contributor to four books, and the author of numerous articles and monographs. His most recent books include Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches (2010) and Back to Zero: The Search to Rediscover the Methodist Movement (2011) both published by Abingdon Press and Doing the Math of Mission: Fruits, Faithfulness and Metrics (2014) and Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World (2018) both published by Rowman & Littlefield. Rendle is a resident of Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife, Lynne.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/9f182475-e8e9-30d2-aa4f-237911967766Thu, 24 Feb 2022 07:22:08 -040038:00falsefull4224Leading Organizational Grief with Shannon HopkinsLeading Organizational Grief with Shannon HopkinsOne big takeaway about the Five Muscles (Grieving Well, Discerning Purpose, Walking Alongside, Distributing Power, Expanding Imagination) is that they are all connected. Shannon Hopkins, co-founder and lead cultivator of RootedGood, profoundly understands that grieving well makes discerning purpose and expanding imagination possible. Shannon shares the origin story of her organization RootedGood. She and her colleagues discerned that Matryoshka Haus, the 15-year-old organization she founded and that was by many accounts thriving, could no longer continue in the same way. They decided to let go of what was so that they could step into the new dreams God had for them and RootedGood and two other organizations were born. This conversation with Shannon is rich with insight about grieving as a leader, leading an organization through loss, and living and leading out of the reality and great gift of the Christian tradition that there is life, death, and life after death. 

 

QUOTES

  • “If we don’t do the work of grief, it will come out another way, and I think whether that leads us to toxic, unhealthy organizations and communities, we don’t need more of that.” -Shannon Hopkins [29:49]
  • “There’s going to be some pain, and it’s going to take and require some bold leadership. And it’s going to look like death before it looks like life, but I think that’s where it’s exciting.” -Shannon Hopkins [46:52]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:52] The theme for Season 4
  • [03:38] A story about muscles from Scott
  • [05:29] The changing spiritual landscape
  • [07:52] About Shannon Hopkins
  • [10:11] Hosts’ observations
  • [14:28] Matryoshka Haus and RootedGood
  • [22:07] How purpose ties with needing to grieve and move on
  • [23:36] Recognize the need to grieve
  • [30:57] Difference between leader’s grief and corporate grief
  • [35:02] How God’s imagination has taken off
  • [38:52] How this has changed Shannon personally
  • [43:13] The hope Shannon has to offer to the church
  • [48:58] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

RootedGood’s Tools and Games

Explore RootedGood’s website to find tools and games to help you implement design thinking, produce creative ideas, launch new ventures, generate revenue consistent with mission, measure your impact, and more. Membership in RootedGood’s Mycelium Network allows access to all of the content and a dynamic network of social impact leaders.

 

How to Lead When Things Fall Apart

Shannon Hopkins names and explains the five stages of a healthy pivot when the structures you have built no longer work. This is an important read and a helpful conversation starter for leadership teams as we continue to navigate disruption, change, and the feelings of loss that come when things do not go as we had hoped and planned. (5 min read)

 

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

 

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Shannon Hopkins’ Bio

Shannon Hopkins is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.

A Texas native, in 2004 Shannon moved to London and founded Matryoshka Haus. Part incubator, part community, part training organization, Matryoshka Haus was born of a fundamental belief that a different world is possible. Shannon is excited to see how over a decade’s worth of work, passion, and learning will live on and take new shape in the US through RootedGood. Shannon’s mission-centered focus on bridging the gap between partners, funders, and cause-related champions in a post-Christian secular world is rooted in one powerful concept: inspiration. In her words, “I think we undervalue what inspires us and moves us to act… but once someone is inspired it can really set a whole host of things in motion.”

]]>One big takeaway about the Five Muscles (Grieving Well, Discerning Purpose, Walking Alongside, Distributing Power, Expanding Imagination) is that they are all connected. Shannon Hopkins, co-founder and lead cultivator of RootedGood, profoundly understands that grieving well makes discerning purpose and expanding imagination possible. Shannon shares the origin story of her organization RootedGood. She and her colleagues discerned that Matryoshka Haus, the 15-year-old organization she founded and that was by many accounts thriving, could no longer continue in the same way. They decided to let go of what was so that they could step into the new dreams God had for them and RootedGood and two other organizations were born. This conversation with Shannon is rich with insight about grieving as a leader, leading an organization through loss, and living and leading out of the reality and great gift of the Christian tradition that there is life, death, and life after death. 

 

QUOTES

  • “If we don’t do the work of grief, it will come out another way, and I think whether that leads us to toxic, unhealthy organizations and communities, we don’t need more of that.” -Shannon Hopkins [29:49]
  • “There’s going to be some pain, and it’s going to take and require some bold leadership. And it’s going to look like death before it looks like life, but I think that’s where it’s exciting.” -Shannon Hopkins [46:52]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:52] The theme for Season 4
  • [03:38] A story about muscles from Scott
  • [05:29] The changing spiritual landscape
  • [07:52] About Shannon Hopkins
  • [10:11] Hosts’ observations
  • [14:28] Matryoshka Haus and RootedGood
  • [22:07] How purpose ties with needing to grieve and move on
  • [23:36] Recognize the need to grieve
  • [30:57] Difference between leader’s grief and corporate grief
  • [35:02] How God’s imagination has taken off
  • [38:52] How this has changed Shannon personally
  • [43:13] The hope Shannon has to offer to the church
  • [48:58] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

RootedGood’s Tools and Games

Explore RootedGood’s website to find tools and games to help you implement design thinking, produce creative ideas, launch new ventures, generate revenue consistent with mission, measure your impact, and more. Membership in RootedGood’s Mycelium Network allows access to all of the content and a dynamic network of social impact leaders.

 

How to Lead When Things Fall Apart

Shannon Hopkins names and explains the five stages of a healthy pivot when the structures you have built no longer work. This is an important read and a helpful conversation starter for leadership teams as we continue to navigate disruption, change, and the feelings of loss that come when things do not go as we had hoped and planned. (5 min read)

 

Read Lisa Greenwood’s monograph about God’s Mixed Ecology: The Changing Spiritual Landscape here.

 

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Shannon Hopkins’ Bio

Shannon Hopkins is an extreme networker and social entrepreneur living in East London. Her passion for community and individual transformation has launched or influenced the formation of fifteen campaigns, projects, and organizations — and trained over 200 social entrepreneurs. In 2008, Shannon was awarded the Women of the UN and UK’s Annual Woman of Peace Award for The Truth isn’t Sexy, a campaign that addressed the demand side of human trafficking.

A Texas native, in 2004 Shannon moved to London and founded Matryoshka Haus. Part incubator, part community, part training organization, Matryoshka Haus was born of a fundamental belief that a different world is possible. Shannon is excited to see how over a decade’s worth of work, passion, and learning will live on and take new shape in the US through RootedGood. Shannon’s mission-centered focus on bridging the gap between partners, funders, and cause-related champions in a post-Christian secular world is rooted in one powerful concept: inspiration. In her words, “I think we undervalue what inspires us and moves us to act… but once someone is inspired it can really set a whole host of things in motion.”

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/9f5c37bc-ce86-3379-a443-4d63b8288429Thu, 17 Feb 2022 07:01:00 -040049:26falsefull4114Bonus Episode: “Disruptive Trends Impacting Churches”Bonus Episode: “Disruptive Trends Impacting Churches”Vice President of Leadership Ministry and host Rev. Lisa Greenwood welcomes guests Rev. Rachel Billups and Rev. Matt Rawle to discuss disruptive trends impacting churches. Drawing from recent articles about 2022 trends by Carey Nieuwhof, Joe Park, and Thom Rainer, the three discuss how multi-access is here to stay, the shift to more decentralized power, the role of authority, giving permission to play, less givers giving more…and so much more! This engaging conversation will surely ignite your imagination for what God may be inviting you to consider in your context this year and beyond. 

 

See our show notes for an invitation to email us your reflections from today’s topic for a chance to win a copy of Gil Rendle’s book “Quietly Courageous.”

 

QUOTES

  • “As we’re moving forward, even myself, I have to let go of the fear of what I know and step into something I don’t know.” -Rev. Rachel Billups [07:14]
  • “That’s the beauty of a church in a community is that we’re not going anywhere. Even if you disappoint us, even if you walk away, even if you don’t join my church and leave, you’re still in the neighborhood, and it’s still my job to love you and serve you.” -Rev. Matt Rawle [31:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:55] Permission to play
  • [08:24] Transformation is in the hands of God
  • [10:02] Influence over authority
  • [13:20] Three marathons… 
  • [18:59] Less will give more
  • [24:11] Lessening the generation gap
  • [29:03] Community focus is more important than ever
  • [37:05] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Three Articles on Trends

Today’s episode references 1) Carey Nieuwhof’s 12 Disruptive Church Trends that Will Rule 2022, 2) Joe Park’s Seven Trends to Watch in 2022, and 3) Thom Rainer’s Ten (Very Different) Church Trends for 2022.

 

Email and Enter a Drawing for a Free Book

What trends are you noticing? We’d love to hear from you! Email Lisa (lgreenwood@tmf-fdn.org) your reflections on trends and we’ll enter your name into a drawing for a free copy of Gil Rendle’s book “Quietly Courageous.” We’ll pick three names next Wednesday (2/16)

 

Posts Related to Today’s Episode 

Matt Rawle’s recent blogpost “The Center of Nine” expands on what he shares in our conversation, including the “Three Covid Marathons” he sees and his thoughts on what it means to “Abide.” Dan Bracken is a member of Rachel Billups’s team at Ginghamsburg Church and wrote this piece about their first steps into ministry in the metaverse. 

 

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Matt Rawle’s Bio:

Matt is the Lead Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He is an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. Matt is also the author of The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. He and wife Christie have four awesome kids: Isabelle, Annaleigh, Cecilia, and Robert.

 

Rachel Billups’ Bio:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker and author. Currently she serves as Senior Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City/Dayton Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission. 

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke Divinity School.

Most days you can find Rachel reaching out – praying online, hosting Open Table gatherings in her home or enjoying moments with husband Jon and their four loves: Adeline, Christopher, David and Sarah. She also might be cheering for those Duke Blue Devils and The OSU Buckeyes. 

Rachel is a popular speaker for national gatherings and has recently authored BE BOLD: Finding your Fierce as well as co-authoring Down to Earth: Hopes and Fears of all the Year Are Met in Thee Tonight and Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas – all published by Abingdon Press. You can find her on social media at: @rlbillups.

]]>Vice President of Leadership Ministry and host Rev. Lisa Greenwood welcomes guests Rev. Rachel Billups and Rev. Matt Rawle to discuss disruptive trends impacting churches. Drawing from recent articles about 2022 trends by Carey Nieuwhof, Joe Park, and Thom Rainer, the three discuss how multi-access is here to stay, the shift to more decentralized power, the role of authority, giving permission to play, less givers giving more…and so much more! This engaging conversation will surely ignite your imagination for what God may be inviting you to consider in your context this year and beyond. 

 

See our show notes for an invitation to email us your reflections from today’s topic for a chance to win a copy of Gil Rendle’s book “Quietly Courageous.”

 

QUOTES

  • “As we’re moving forward, even myself, I have to let go of the fear of what I know and step into something I don’t know.” -Rev. Rachel Billups [07:14]
  • “That’s the beauty of a church in a community is that we’re not going anywhere. Even if you disappoint us, even if you walk away, even if you don’t join my church and leave, you’re still in the neighborhood, and it’s still my job to love you and serve you.” -Rev. Matt Rawle [31:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:55] Permission to play
  • [08:24] Transformation is in the hands of God
  • [10:02] Influence over authority
  • [13:20] Three marathons… 
  • [18:59] Less will give more
  • [24:11] Lessening the generation gap
  • [29:03] Community focus is more important than ever
  • [37:05] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Three Articles on Trends

Today’s episode references 1) Carey Nieuwhof’s 12 Disruptive Church Trends that Will Rule 2022, 2) Joe Park’s Seven Trends to Watch in 2022, and 3) Thom Rainer’s Ten (Very Different) Church Trends for 2022.

 

Email and Enter a Drawing for a Free Book

What trends are you noticing? We’d love to hear from you! Email Lisa (lgreenwood@tmf-fdn.org) your reflections on trends and we’ll enter your name into a drawing for a free copy of Gil Rendle’s book “Quietly Courageous.” We’ll pick three names next Wednesday (2/16)

 

Posts Related to Today’s Episode 

Matt Rawle’s recent blogpost “The Center of Nine” expands on what he shares in our conversation, including the “Three Covid Marathons” he sees and his thoughts on what it means to “Abide.” Dan Bracken is a member of Rachel Billups’s team at Ginghamsburg Church and wrote this piece about their first steps into ministry in the metaverse. 

 

New Feature: Transcripts for this Season’s Episodes

We will have transcripts for each of our episodes this season. Visit our website to download this week’s transcript. We hope these additional resources will help you share these conversations with your friends, colleagues, and leadership teams to spark the spirit within you, your organization, and “ignite imagination!”

 

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission.

Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here.

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Matt Rawle’s Bio:

Matt is the Lead Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana and a graduate from the LSU School of Music and Duke Divinity School. He is an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. Matt is also the author of The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Grace of Les Misérables, What Makes a Hero?, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, and The Redemption of Scrooge. He and wife Christie have four awesome kids: Isabelle, Annaleigh, Cecilia, and Robert.

 

Rachel Billups’ Bio:

Rachel Billups is a visionary, leader, speaker and author. Currently she serves as Senior Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City/Dayton Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission. 

Rachel is an ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke Divinity School.

Most days you can find Rachel reaching out – praying online, hosting Open Table gatherings in her home or enjoying moments with husband Jon and their four loves: Adeline, Christopher, David and Sarah. She also might be cheering for those Duke Blue Devils and The OSU Buckeyes. 

Rachel is a popular speaker for national gatherings and has recently authored BE BOLD: Finding your Fierce as well as co-authoring Down to Earth: Hopes and Fears of all the Year Are Met in Thee Tonight and Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas – all published by Abingdon Press. You can find her on social media at: @rlbillups.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/61063f49-c546-30bb-a24c-9d8412ee67c3Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:26:00 -040037:33falsefull2424Expanding Imagination with Amy OdenExpanding Imagination with Amy OdenThe fifth and final muscle the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Expanding Imagination. Dr. Amy Oden teaches theology, the history of Christianity and spiritual formation. Her ability to combine deep theological thought with spiritual practice and bring ancient wisdom to inform contemporary life is not just relevant…her work is truly revelatory for the church today.

In this conversation, Amy connects imagination with the life and ministry of Jesus and the work of the early church. She invites us to see curiosity as a spiritual practice so we can have the discipline to explore what God might be imagining instead of moving too quickly into problem solving and resolution. Amy explores how hospitality is connected to expanding imagination and the gift of science in giving us awe and wonder. This conversation is packed with insight and inspiration for becoming more imaginative in your context! 

 

QUOTES

  • “It takes discipline to withhold that really strong muscle that we’ve developed very well of jumping to resolution. But instead what spiritual practices do is help us stay in the unknowing, the not knowing, the not jumping into conclusions long enough to pay attention to what God is up to here.” -Amy Oden [22:16]
  • “When we pay attention to our bodies, God has given us this incredible gift of embodiment where God is often revealed. God speaks to us through our bodies, and that’s often where grief shows up. ” -Amy Oden [30:45]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:50] Answering questions from listeners
  • [04:57] How to start exercising the muscles
  • [09:07] Meet Dr. Amy Oden
  • [16:34] How Expanding Imagination applies to the church
  • [21:04] What spiritual practices inform about curiosity
  • [23:50] At the table with the stranger and the other
  • [29:06] How it links back to grief
  • [33:03] What “all” means to Amy
  • [38:29] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit Amy Oden’s website to find out more about her books and other recent podcast interviews.

Read Amy’s book “Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness” 

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>The fifth and final muscle the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Expanding Imagination. Dr. Amy Oden teaches theology, the history of Christianity and spiritual formation. Her ability to combine deep theological thought with spiritual practice and bring ancient wisdom to inform contemporary life is not just relevant…her work is truly revelatory for the church today.

In this conversation, Amy connects imagination with the life and ministry of Jesus and the work of the early church. She invites us to see curiosity as a spiritual practice so we can have the discipline to explore what God might be imagining instead of moving too quickly into problem solving and resolution. Amy explores how hospitality is connected to expanding imagination and the gift of science in giving us awe and wonder. This conversation is packed with insight and inspiration for becoming more imaginative in your context! 

 

QUOTES

  • “It takes discipline to withhold that really strong muscle that we’ve developed very well of jumping to resolution. But instead what spiritual practices do is help us stay in the unknowing, the not knowing, the not jumping into conclusions long enough to pay attention to what God is up to here.” -Amy Oden [22:16]
  • “When we pay attention to our bodies, God has given us this incredible gift of embodiment where God is often revealed. God speaks to us through our bodies, and that’s often where grief shows up. ” -Amy Oden [30:45]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:50] Answering questions from listeners
  • [04:57] How to start exercising the muscles
  • [09:07] Meet Dr. Amy Oden
  • [16:34] How Expanding Imagination applies to the church
  • [21:04] What spiritual practices inform about curiosity
  • [23:50] At the table with the stranger and the other
  • [29:06] How it links back to grief
  • [33:03] What “all” means to Amy
  • [38:29] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit Amy Oden’s website to find out more about her books and other recent podcast interviews.

Read Amy’s book “Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness” 

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/657cf5a4-debd-387c-9971-af9650474869Thu, 16 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -040039:32falsefull2323<p>The fifth and final muscle the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Expanding Imagination. Dr. Amy Oden teaches theology, the history of Christianity and spiritual formation. Her ability to combine deep theological thought with spiritual practice and bring ancient wisdom to inform contemporary life is not just relevant…her work is truly revelatory for the church today.</p> <p>In this conversation, Amy connects imagination with the life and ministry of Jesus and the work of the early church. She invites us to see curiosity as a spiritual practice so we can have the discipline to explore what God might be imagining instead of moving too quickly into problem solving and resolution. Amy explores how hospitality is connected to expanding imagination and the gift of science in giving us awe and wonder. This conversation is packed with insight and inspiration for becoming more imaginative in your context! </p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“It takes discipline to withhold that really strong muscle that we’ve developed very well of jumping to resolution. But instead what spiritual practices do is help us stay in the unknowing, the not knowing, the not jumping into conclusions long enough to pay attention to what God is up to here.” -Amy Oden [22:16]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“When we pay attention to our bodies, God has given us this incredible gift of embodiment where God is often revealed. God speaks to us through our bodies, and that’s often where grief shows up. ” -Amy Oden [30:45]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[00:50] Answering questions from listeners</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:57] How to start exercising the muscles</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[09:07] Meet Dr. Amy Oden</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[16:34] How Expanding Imagination applies to the church</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[21:04] What spiritual practices inform about curiosity</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[23:50] At the table with the stranger and the other</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[29:06] How it links back to grief</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[33:03] What “all” means to Amy</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[38:29] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Visit Amy Oden’s <a href='https://www.amyoden.com'>website</a> to find out more about her books and other recent podcast interviews.</p> <p>Read Amy’s book “<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Right-Here-Now-Christian-Mindfulness/dp/1501832492/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518294899&sr=8-1&keywords=right+here+right+now+amy+g.+oden'>Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness</a>” </p> <p>Read more about the Five Muscles on our <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry/c3'>website</a> and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.</p> <p>“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at <a href='http://markamillermusic.com'>markamillermusic.com</a> or find him on YouTube at <a href='http://youtube.com/c/markismusic67'>youtube.com/c/markismusic67</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='http://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Distributing Power with Joerg RiegerDistributing Power with Joerg RiegerThe fourth of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Distributing Power. Dr. Joerg Rieger is the Distinguished Professor of Theology and the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies at Vanderbilt University. He has spent the last two decades addressing the relation of theology and public life, reflecting on the misuse of power in religion, politics, and economics. 

In this conversation, Joerg reminds us that distributed power is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and the ministry of John Wesley and the people called Methodists. He connects spiritual practices with distributing power, inviting us to do the work of theology so that we might grow in holy power not to hoard it but to channel it. This conversation with Joerg is full of that holy power. We can’t wait for you to listen!

 

QUOTES

  • “I remember years ago there was some theologian who wrote a book saying we have to ask more God questions and less me questions. And everybody was really excited about this book. ‘We have to ask more God questions and less me questions.’ In the Perkins faculty where I was teaching at the time was really excited, and I said ‘What if your God questions are really your concealed me questions?’ Is that possible, right, that you talk about God, and you’re really talking about yourself.” -Joerg Rieger [13:41]
  • “Power is not a dirty word, but it’s a different sort of power. If you want to use modern language, you could say it’s more democratic. It’s more shared. It’s something that brings people together. Something that builds relationships. Something that builds solidarity.” -Joerg Rieger [15:00]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:14] Current conversations with congregations
  • [05:23] Meet Joerg Rieger
  • [07:06] Highlights from the interview
  • [10:51] What comes to mind with “distributing power”
  • [17:04] The issue of power in the US right now
  • [20:58] Ways to build those power muscles
  • [25:42] Practices to get a better grip on the notion of power
  • [33:26] Signs of hope
  • [38:55] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit Joerg Rieger’s website to find out more about his books and other recent podcast interviews.

Joerg’s book “No Religion but Social Religion” reflects on the Wesley’s understanding of grace, God, and religion.

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>The fourth of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Distributing Power. Dr. Joerg Rieger is the Distinguished Professor of Theology and the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies at Vanderbilt University. He has spent the last two decades addressing the relation of theology and public life, reflecting on the misuse of power in religion, politics, and economics. 

In this conversation, Joerg reminds us that distributed power is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and the ministry of John Wesley and the people called Methodists. He connects spiritual practices with distributing power, inviting us to do the work of theology so that we might grow in holy power not to hoard it but to channel it. This conversation with Joerg is full of that holy power. We can’t wait for you to listen!

 

QUOTES

  • “I remember years ago there was some theologian who wrote a book saying we have to ask more God questions and less me questions. And everybody was really excited about this book. ‘We have to ask more God questions and less me questions.’ In the Perkins faculty where I was teaching at the time was really excited, and I said ‘What if your God questions are really your concealed me questions?’ Is that possible, right, that you talk about God, and you’re really talking about yourself.” -Joerg Rieger [13:41]
  • “Power is not a dirty word, but it’s a different sort of power. If you want to use modern language, you could say it’s more democratic. It’s more shared. It’s something that brings people together. Something that builds relationships. Something that builds solidarity.” -Joerg Rieger [15:00]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:14] Current conversations with congregations
  • [05:23] Meet Joerg Rieger
  • [07:06] Highlights from the interview
  • [10:51] What comes to mind with “distributing power”
  • [17:04] The issue of power in the US right now
  • [20:58] Ways to build those power muscles
  • [25:42] Practices to get a better grip on the notion of power
  • [33:26] Signs of hope
  • [38:55] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Visit Joerg Rieger’s website to find out more about his books and other recent podcast interviews.

Joerg’s book “No Religion but Social Religion” reflects on the Wesley’s understanding of grace, God, and religion.

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/7e6f68d6-4bd8-3eba-8c73-f9869e3c320bThu, 09 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -040039:58falsefull2222<p>The fourth of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Distributing Power. Dr. Joerg Rieger is the Distinguished Professor of Theology and the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies at Vanderbilt University. He has spent the last two decades addressing the relation of theology and public life, reflecting on the misuse of power in religion, politics, and economics. </p> <p>In this conversation, Joerg reminds us that distributed power is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and the ministry of John Wesley and the people called Methodists. He connects spiritual practices with distributing power, inviting us to do the work of theology so that we might grow in holy power not to hoard it but to channel it. This conversation with Joerg is full of that holy power. We can’t wait for you to listen!</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“I remember years ago there was some theologian who wrote a book saying we have to ask more God questions and less me questions. And everybody was really excited about this book. ‘We have to ask more God questions and less me questions.’ In the Perkins faculty where I was teaching at the time was really excited, and I said ‘What if your God questions are really your concealed me questions?’ Is that possible, right, that you talk about God, and you’re really talking about yourself.” -Joerg Rieger [13:41]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Power is not a dirty word, but it’s a different sort of power. If you want to use modern language, you could say it’s more democratic. It’s more shared. It’s something that brings people together. Something that builds relationships. Something that builds solidarity.” -Joerg Rieger [15:00]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:14] Current conversations with congregations</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[05:23] Meet Joerg Rieger</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[07:06] Highlights from the interview</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[10:51] What comes to mind with “distributing power”</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[17:04] The issue of power in the US right now</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[20:58] Ways to build those power muscles</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[25:42] Practices to get a better grip on the notion of power</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[33:26] Signs of hope</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[38:55] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Visit Joerg Rieger’s <a href='https://www.joergrieger.com'>website</a> to find out more about his books and other recent podcast interviews.</p> <p>Joerg’s book “<a href='https://www.amazon.com/No-Religion-But-Social-Liberating/dp/1945935162/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522676778&sr=8-1&keywords=9781945935169'>No Religion but Social Religion</a>” reflects on the Wesley’s understanding of grace, God, and religion.</p> <p>Read more about the Five Muscles on our <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry/c3'>website</a> and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.</p> <p>“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at <a href='http://markamillermusic.com'>markamillermusic.com</a> or find him on YouTube at <a href='http://youtube.com/c/markismusic67'>youtube.com/c/markismusic67</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='http://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Walking Alongside Neighbors with Coté SoerensWalking Alongside Neighbors with Coté SoerensThe third of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Walking Alongside or Neighboring. Coté Soerens is the owner and midwife of Resistencia Coffee shop in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. She is also the co-founder of Cultivate South Park, a non-profit that lends infrastructure to neighborhood community development projects such as the Urban Fresh Food Collective, Reconnect South Park, and the South Park Arts and Culture Collective. 

In this conversation, Coté beautifully and powerfully offers a picture of what it means to walk alongside and build trust with our neighbors, to let go of who we think we are, to believe we have everything we need, and to find power in vulnerability, friendship and joy. Her passion is infectious. We can’t wait for you to hear her!

 

QUOTES

  • “We have to recognize that the work in the neighborhood is very messy. It sounds beautiful because it is, but it’s also very messy.” -Coté Soerens [15:55]
  • “Being able to make myself vulnerable became a practice, an everyday practice. Giving up control is a way for me to become vulnerable. Taking how in my wanting to keep control everyday in the work in the neighborhood is a way that I keep myself accountable.” -Coté Soerens [28:33]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:00] How the muscles are connected
  • [05:11] Meet Coté
  • [08:17] What stood out to the hosts about this conversation
  • [10:21] What is Cultivate South Park?
  • [13:18] How to build trust and relationships
  • [17:15] From soup nights to coffee shop
  • [24:58] Navigating all the things in the neighborhood
  • [30:54] Some of the visions that the neighborhood experiences
  • [42:17] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Cultivate South Park is “Connecting Neighbors and their Gifts to Co Create a thriving and equitable South Park.” Find out more on their website.

Learn more about Resistencia Coffee in Seattle, Washington at their website.

Mark Elsdon’s book that is referenced in the interview is We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry.

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>The third of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Walking Alongside or Neighboring. Coté Soerens is the owner and midwife of Resistencia Coffee shop in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. She is also the co-founder of Cultivate South Park, a non-profit that lends infrastructure to neighborhood community development projects such as the Urban Fresh Food Collective, Reconnect South Park, and the South Park Arts and Culture Collective. 

In this conversation, Coté beautifully and powerfully offers a picture of what it means to walk alongside and build trust with our neighbors, to let go of who we think we are, to believe we have everything we need, and to find power in vulnerability, friendship and joy. Her passion is infectious. We can’t wait for you to hear her!

 

QUOTES

  • “We have to recognize that the work in the neighborhood is very messy. It sounds beautiful because it is, but it’s also very messy.” -Coté Soerens [15:55]
  • “Being able to make myself vulnerable became a practice, an everyday practice. Giving up control is a way for me to become vulnerable. Taking how in my wanting to keep control everyday in the work in the neighborhood is a way that I keep myself accountable.” -Coté Soerens [28:33]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:00] How the muscles are connected
  • [05:11] Meet Coté
  • [08:17] What stood out to the hosts about this conversation
  • [10:21] What is Cultivate South Park?
  • [13:18] How to build trust and relationships
  • [17:15] From soup nights to coffee shop
  • [24:58] Navigating all the things in the neighborhood
  • [30:54] Some of the visions that the neighborhood experiences
  • [42:17] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Cultivate South Park is “Connecting Neighbors and their Gifts to Co Create a thriving and equitable South Park.” Find out more on their website.

Learn more about Resistencia Coffee in Seattle, Washington at their website.

Mark Elsdon’s book that is referenced in the interview is We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry.

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/66bf0626-3259-344d-bbb8-92f808022e0dThu, 02 Dec 2021 08:35:37 -040043:01falsefull2121<p>The third of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Walking Alongside or Neighboring. Coté Soerens is the owner and midwife of Resistencia Coffee shop in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. She is also the co-founder of Cultivate South Park, a non-profit that lends infrastructure to neighborhood community development projects such as the Urban Fresh Food Collective, Reconnect South Park, and the South Park Arts and Culture Collective. </p> <p>In this conversation, Coté beautifully and powerfully offers a picture of what it means to walk alongside and build trust with our neighbors, to let go of who we think we are, to believe we have everything we need, and to find power in vulnerability, friendship and joy. Her passion is infectious. We can’t wait for you to hear her!</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“We have to recognize that the work in the neighborhood is very messy. It sounds beautiful because it is, but it’s also very messy.” -Coté Soerens [15:55]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Being able to make myself vulnerable became a practice, an everyday practice. Giving up control is a way for me to become vulnerable. Taking how in my wanting to keep control everyday in the work in the neighborhood is a way that I keep myself accountable.” -Coté Soerens [28:33]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:01] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:00] How the muscles are connected</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[05:11] Meet Coté</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[08:17] What stood out to the hosts about this conversation</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[10:21] What is Cultivate South Park?</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[13:18] How to build trust and relationships</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[17:15] From soup nights to coffee shop</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[24:58] Navigating all the things in the neighborhood</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[30:54] Some of the visions that the neighborhood experiences</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[42:17] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Cultivate South Park is “Connecting Neighbors and their Gifts to Co Create a thriving and equitable South Park.” Find out more on their <a href='https://cultivatesouthpark.org/'>website</a>.</p> <p>Learn more about Resistencia Coffee in Seattle, Washington at their <a href='https://www.resistenciacoffee.com/'>website</a>.</p> <p>Mark Elsdon’s book that is referenced in the interview is <a href='https://www.melsdon.com/'>We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry</a>.</p> <p>Read more about the Five Muscles on our <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry/c3'>website</a> and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.</p> <p>“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at <a href='http://markamillermusic.com'>markamillermusic.com</a> or find him on YouTube at <a href='http://youtube.com/c/markismusic67'>youtube.com/c/markismusic67</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='http://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Discerning Purpose with Susan BeaumontDiscerning Purpose with Susan BeaumontThe second of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Discerning Purpose. Susan Beaumont is well known for her groundbreaking work in organizational leadership dynamics. She is a consultant, coach, author, spiritual director, and an ordained minister within the American Baptist Churches. She has worked with hundreds of congregations and denominational bodies across the United States and in Canada.

 

In this conversation with Lisa Greenwood, Susan reflects on the difference between discernment and decision-making. She offers practical wisdom for how pastors can begin to help leaders shift towards a posture of discernment that will help clarify the congregation’s purpose. In the midst of this liminal season, Susan is an expert guide who models leadership rooted in spiritual practices that ultimately help connect the soul of the leader to the soul of the institution.

 

QUOTES

  • “I think that congregations are at their most vital when the soul of a leader is connecting with the soul of the institution and calling something forth.” -Susan Beaumont [13:32]
  • “We cannot manufacture or produce discernment. It’s a gift that is given.” -Susan Beaumont [32:27]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:20] Meet Susan
  • [01:56] What stood out to Blair and Scott about this conversation
  • [09:19] How her book came to be and her commitment to it
  • [11:37] Tending the soul of an institution
  • [14:07] The act of discernment and why it’s important
  • [20:09] Methods and tools to shift into discernment mode
  • [30:49] Obstacles or resistances that a leader might face
  • [36:25] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Susan Beaumont’s book that is referenced throughout the interview is How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season.

Find more information about Susan, including blogs and other resources, visit her website: https://susanbeaumont.com

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>The second of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Discerning Purpose. Susan Beaumont is well known for her groundbreaking work in organizational leadership dynamics. She is a consultant, coach, author, spiritual director, and an ordained minister within the American Baptist Churches. She has worked with hundreds of congregations and denominational bodies across the United States and in Canada.

 

In this conversation with Lisa Greenwood, Susan reflects on the difference between discernment and decision-making. She offers practical wisdom for how pastors can begin to help leaders shift towards a posture of discernment that will help clarify the congregation’s purpose. In the midst of this liminal season, Susan is an expert guide who models leadership rooted in spiritual practices that ultimately help connect the soul of the leader to the soul of the institution.

 

QUOTES

  • “I think that congregations are at their most vital when the soul of a leader is connecting with the soul of the institution and calling something forth.” -Susan Beaumont [13:32]
  • “We cannot manufacture or produce discernment. It’s a gift that is given.” -Susan Beaumont [32:27]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:20] Meet Susan
  • [01:56] What stood out to Blair and Scott about this conversation
  • [09:19] How her book came to be and her commitment to it
  • [11:37] Tending the soul of an institution
  • [14:07] The act of discernment and why it’s important
  • [20:09] Methods and tools to shift into discernment mode
  • [30:49] Obstacles or resistances that a leader might face
  • [36:25] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Susan Beaumont’s book that is referenced throughout the interview is How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season.

Find more information about Susan, including blogs and other resources, visit her website: https://susanbeaumont.com

Read more about the Five Muscles on our website and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/afd18244-240a-39ac-8751-91078f6d3e77Thu, 18 Nov 2021 08:09:00 -040037:36falsefull2020<p>The second of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Discerning Purpose. Susan Beaumont is well known for her groundbreaking work in organizational leadership dynamics. She is a consultant, coach, author, spiritual director, and an ordained minister within the American Baptist Churches. She has worked with hundreds of congregations and denominational bodies across the United States and in Canada.</p> <p> </p> <p>In this conversation with Lisa Greenwood, Susan reflects on the difference between discernment and decision-making. She offers practical wisdom for how pastors can begin to help leaders shift towards a posture of discernment that will help clarify the congregation’s purpose. In the midst of this liminal season, Susan is an expert guide who models leadership rooted in spiritual practices that ultimately help connect the soul of the leader to the soul of the institution.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“I think that congregations are at their most vital when the soul of a leader is connecting with the soul of the institution and calling something forth.” -Susan Beaumont [13:32]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“We cannot manufacture or produce discernment. It’s a gift that is given.” -Susan Beaumont [32:27]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:01] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:20] Meet Susan</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:56] What stood out to Blair and Scott about this conversation</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[09:19] How her book came to be and her commitment to it</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[11:37] Tending the soul of an institution</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[14:07] The act of discernment and why it’s important</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[20:09] Methods and tools to shift into discernment mode</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[30:49] Obstacles or resistances that a leader might face</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[36:25] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>Susan Beaumont’s book that is referenced throughout the interview is <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Lead-When-Where-Youre-Going-ebook/dp/B07V99ZQBN/'>How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season</a>.</p> <p>Find more information about Susan, including blogs and other resources, visit her website: <a href='https://susanbeaumont.com'>https://susanbeaumont.com</a></p> <p>Read more about the Five Muscles on our <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry/c3'>website</a> and download a PowerPoint presentation to share with your leadership.</p> <p>“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at <a href='http://markamillermusic.com'>markamillermusic.com</a> or find him on YouTube at <a href='http://youtube.com/c/markismusic67'>youtube.com/c/markismusic67</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='http://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Grieving Well with Suzanne StabileGrieving Well with Suzanne StabileThe first of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Grieving Well. Suzanne Stabile is well known as an expert on the Enneagram. This past year, she has done extensive work on grief and the Enneagram because she believes grieving in real time is so important in our world today. Suzanne offers us remarkable insights through this in-depth interview about grief and what grieving well looks like for congregations and communities.

Suzanne Stabile is a highly sought after speaker and teacher, known for her engaging laugh, personal vulnerability and creative approach to Enneagram instruction. After 25 years of studying the enneagram, learning from people’s stories, cultivating relationships, and learning under Father Richard Rohr, she has become a bestselling author and world class teacher of the enneagram and how individuals can best utilize this spiritual tool.

 

QUOTES

  • “But what has happened to me as I’ve started to work on grieving is that I’ve come to believe that we have to grieve through the transition in order to live into the teaching that life has merely changed.” -Suzanne Stabile [17:23]
  • “Grieving has got to be as unique to the individual as anything that’s ever gonna happen.” -Suzanne Stabile [25:59]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:28] Meet Suzanne
  • [04:11] The hosts’ thoughts on the conversation
  • [06:51] Grieving in real time
  • [12:59] How the enneagram can inform how to grieve
  • [16:01] What has happened to her as she’s worked on grieving
  • [22:45] Why she decided to study grieving
  • [25:08] Grieving has to be as unique to the individual
  • [27:42] What it would look like for congregations to do grief well together
  • [33:12] Two kinds of ambiguous loss
  • [37:05] Grief, fear and despair are basic emotions
  • [45:11] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Suzanne’s newest book is “The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation” released on November 2, 2021. Her other books include “The Road Back to You” and “The Path Between Us.” Find out more about Suzanne’s ministry and workshop opportunities on her Life in the Trinity website: https://www.lifeinthetrinityministry.com and at: https://suzannestabile.com

Suzanne’s podcast is “The Enneagram Journey”: https://www.theenneagramjourney.org/podcast

The two books Suzanne references in the podcast are: Ambiguous Loss by Pauline Boss and Healing through the Dark Emotions by Miriam Greenspan

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>The first of five muscles the church needs to strengthen in order to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now is Grieving Well. Suzanne Stabile is well known as an expert on the Enneagram. This past year, she has done extensive work on grief and the Enneagram because she believes grieving in real time is so important in our world today. Suzanne offers us remarkable insights through this in-depth interview about grief and what grieving well looks like for congregations and communities.

Suzanne Stabile is a highly sought after speaker and teacher, known for her engaging laugh, personal vulnerability and creative approach to Enneagram instruction. After 25 years of studying the enneagram, learning from people’s stories, cultivating relationships, and learning under Father Richard Rohr, she has become a bestselling author and world class teacher of the enneagram and how individuals can best utilize this spiritual tool.

 

QUOTES

  • “But what has happened to me as I’ve started to work on grieving is that I’ve come to believe that we have to grieve through the transition in order to live into the teaching that life has merely changed.” -Suzanne Stabile [17:23]
  • “Grieving has got to be as unique to the individual as anything that’s ever gonna happen.” -Suzanne Stabile [25:59]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:28] Meet Suzanne
  • [04:11] The hosts’ thoughts on the conversation
  • [06:51] Grieving in real time
  • [12:59] How the enneagram can inform how to grieve
  • [16:01] What has happened to her as she’s worked on grieving
  • [22:45] Why she decided to study grieving
  • [25:08] Grieving has to be as unique to the individual
  • [27:42] What it would look like for congregations to do grief well together
  • [33:12] Two kinds of ambiguous loss
  • [37:05] Grief, fear and despair are basic emotions
  • [45:11] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Suzanne’s newest book is “The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation” released on November 2, 2021. Her other books include “The Road Back to You” and “The Path Between Us.” Find out more about Suzanne’s ministry and workshop opportunities on her Life in the Trinity website: https://www.lifeinthetrinityministry.com and at: https://suzannestabile.com

Suzanne’s podcast is “The Enneagram Journey”: https://www.theenneagramjourney.org/podcast

The two books Suzanne references in the podcast are: Ambiguous Loss by Pauline Boss and Healing through the Dark Emotions by Miriam Greenspan

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/aa4e3724-63e3-3531-99f1-5334d357cd2cThu, 11 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -040045:56falsefull1919The Five Adaptive MusclesThe Five Adaptive MusclesYou’re listening to Igniting Imagination, a podcast to spark the spirit within you from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations about the five adaptive muscles the church must strengthen to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now. For more information about these muscles, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

TMF’s Leadership Ministry team had conversations with pastors, bishops, conference leaders, spiritual entrepreneurs and practitioners from various fields about the adaptive challenges the church is facing in the pandemic and post-pandemic world. Through these conversations, the team identified “Five Muscles” that congregations need to strengthen and flex in order to thrive now and in the foreseeable future. The “Five Muscles” have been affirmed by numerous leaders who note that these are the muscles the church must continually exercise to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now.

The “Five Muscles” are Grieving Well, Discerning Purpose, Walking Alongside / Neighboring, Distributing Power, and Expanding Imagination. In this episode, host Lisa Greenwood and this season’s co-hosts, Scott Sharp and Blair Thompson-White, give an overview of each of the five muscles. Their conversation is not only packed with insights about what leaders and congregations might consider related to each muscle, they also model for listeners how to talk through each muscle and exercise them together. 

Guests this season will dive deep into each muscle. Join us for: Grieving Well with Suzanne Stabile, Discerning Purpose with Susan Beaumont, Walking Alongside / Neighboring with Coté Soerens, Distributing Power with Joerg Rieger, and Expanding Imagination with Amy Oden.

 

QUOTES

  • “If you only go to the gym and you only work on your arms and you skip leg day every week, you’re not going to have the complimentary strength that you can have, and I don’t mean just to power lift, but to move through life.” -Scott Sharp [04:48]
  • “This is not a one and done kind of thing. You can’t just run around the block once and think that you’re back in shape. It’s a constant, constant thing.” -Blair Thompson-White [28:32]
  • “Just because I’m exercising or doing something doesn’t mean that I’m actually doing all that my body needs to stay fit and agile.” -Lisa Greenwood [29:42]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:09] Why the muscle metaphor is a helpful image
  • [05:20] How we identify the five muscles
  • [06:30] First Muscle: Grieving Well
  • [11:34] Second Muscle: Discerning Purpose
  • [15:36] Third Muscle: Walking Alongside / Neighboring
  • [18:43] Fourth Muscle: Distributing Power
  • [23:43] Fifth Muscle: Expanding Imagination
  • [28:41] A wake-up to do more
  • [33:20] A blessing
  • [34:15] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read the book, New Power: How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected World--and How to Make It Work for You by Henry Timms and Jeremy Heimans.

Our hosts refer to the progression “We Welcome You--We Stand with You--We Need You.” This is the work of Sandra van Opstahl. Find more information about her here.

The question "What biblical narrative are you currently inhabiting?" was incorrectly attributed to John Thornburg. Gil Rendle was the first to offer the question that is now widely used by our Area Representatives team when working with congregations.

Read the bios of our hosts on our podcast website and find quotes and other information about each episode.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>You’re listening to Igniting Imagination, a podcast to spark the spirit within you from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations about the five adaptive muscles the church must strengthen to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now. For more information about these muscles, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

TMF’s Leadership Ministry team had conversations with pastors, bishops, conference leaders, spiritual entrepreneurs and practitioners from various fields about the adaptive challenges the church is facing in the pandemic and post-pandemic world. Through these conversations, the team identified “Five Muscles” that congregations need to strengthen and flex in order to thrive now and in the foreseeable future. The “Five Muscles” have been affirmed by numerous leaders who note that these are the muscles the church must continually exercise to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now.

The “Five Muscles” are Grieving Well, Discerning Purpose, Walking Alongside / Neighboring, Distributing Power, and Expanding Imagination. In this episode, host Lisa Greenwood and this season’s co-hosts, Scott Sharp and Blair Thompson-White, give an overview of each of the five muscles. Their conversation is not only packed with insights about what leaders and congregations might consider related to each muscle, they also model for listeners how to talk through each muscle and exercise them together. 

Guests this season will dive deep into each muscle. Join us for: Grieving Well with Suzanne Stabile, Discerning Purpose with Susan Beaumont, Walking Alongside / Neighboring with Coté Soerens, Distributing Power with Joerg Rieger, and Expanding Imagination with Amy Oden.

 

QUOTES

  • “If you only go to the gym and you only work on your arms and you skip leg day every week, you’re not going to have the complimentary strength that you can have, and I don’t mean just to power lift, but to move through life.” -Scott Sharp [04:48]
  • “This is not a one and done kind of thing. You can’t just run around the block once and think that you’re back in shape. It’s a constant, constant thing.” -Blair Thompson-White [28:32]
  • “Just because I’m exercising or doing something doesn’t mean that I’m actually doing all that my body needs to stay fit and agile.” -Lisa Greenwood [29:42]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [01:09] Why the muscle metaphor is a helpful image
  • [05:20] How we identify the five muscles
  • [06:30] First Muscle: Grieving Well
  • [11:34] Second Muscle: Discerning Purpose
  • [15:36] Third Muscle: Walking Alongside / Neighboring
  • [18:43] Fourth Muscle: Distributing Power
  • [23:43] Fifth Muscle: Expanding Imagination
  • [28:41] A wake-up to do more
  • [33:20] A blessing
  • [34:15] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

Read the book, New Power: How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected World--and How to Make It Work for You by Henry Timms and Jeremy Heimans.

Our hosts refer to the progression “We Welcome You--We Stand with You--We Need You.” This is the work of Sandra van Opstahl. Find more information about her here.

The question "What biblical narrative are you currently inhabiting?" was incorrectly attributed to John Thornburg. Gil Rendle was the first to offer the question that is now widely used by our Area Representatives team when working with congregations.

Read the bios of our hosts on our podcast website and find quotes and other information about each episode.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/53bd7697-6dd0-3f29-be8e-4966b286e9e4Thu, 04 Nov 2021 07:03:00 -040035:17falsefull1717Season 3 TrailerSeason 3 TrailerYou’re listening to Igniting Imagination, a podcast to spark the spirit within you from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations about the five adaptive muscles the church must strengthen to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now. For more information about these muscles, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

]]>You’re listening to Igniting Imagination, a podcast to spark the spirit within you from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations about the five adaptive muscles the church must strengthen to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now. For more information about these muscles, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/5d273070-7e3d-35d0-be4b-dbcb90025aceFri, 29 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -040001:33falsefull1818<p>You’re listening to Igniting Imagination, a podcast to spark the spirit within you from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations about the five adaptive muscles the church must strengthen to be fit, agile, and ready for God’s now. For more information about these muscles, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> <p> “God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at <a href='http://markamillermusic.com/'>markamillermusic.com</a> or find him on YouTube at <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/markismusic67'>youtube.com/c/markismusic67</a>.</p> Justice and Healing with Community Defender Emmanuel Andre, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerJustice and Healing with Community Defender Emmanuel Andre, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerCo-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Emmanuel Andre, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. Emmanuel prefers to be known as a “Community Defender” instead of a “Defense Attorney,” which says a lot about his approach to his work both inside and outside the courtroom. Restorative justice is more than a program. It is a way of being to Emmanuel, who believes transformation is possible if love is offered unconditionally while walking alongside another.

Emmanuel’s non-profit organization Circles and Ciphers walks alongside young people impacted by violence through hip-hop and art-based peace circles that provide space for conversations and community support to promote healing from trauma. Emmanuel’s story of how the church has walked alongside him from his childhood until now is a testimony to the church’s power to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. This conversation is simply inspirational from beginning to end and invites us all to consider our responsibility to create spaces where hope and healing can flourish and those who feel unseen can find friends.

 

QUOTES

  • “It’s about relationships, not transactions.” -Emmanuel Andre [18:42]
  • “There is something that happens when you’re willing to be uncomfortable and stay in relationship with. It’s that idea of walking with that continues to happen.” -Emmanuel Andre [30:58]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:39] Final observation about these conversations
  • [01:31] Meet Emmanuel Andre
  • [04:47] Significant events in Emmanuel’s life
  • [08:36] The power of the community
  • [15:28] What is justice and how it pairs with healing
  • [23:56] Leaning into the pain
  • [28:11] Circles and Ciphers
  • [33:04] His partnership with the Church
  • [38:10] Three rapid fire questions
  • [43:49] A blessing
  • [45:26] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design.

Find and follow the Northside Transformative Law Center on their website: northsidetlc.com, on Facebook @ Northside-Transformative-Law-Center and Twitter @LawNorthside

Find and Follow Circles and Ciphers on their website: circlesandciphers.org, on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @CirclesAndCiphers

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Emmanuel Andre, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. Emmanuel prefers to be known as a “Community Defender” instead of a “Defense Attorney,” which says a lot about his approach to his work both inside and outside the courtroom. Restorative justice is more than a program. It is a way of being to Emmanuel, who believes transformation is possible if love is offered unconditionally while walking alongside another.

Emmanuel’s non-profit organization Circles and Ciphers walks alongside young people impacted by violence through hip-hop and art-based peace circles that provide space for conversations and community support to promote healing from trauma. Emmanuel’s story of how the church has walked alongside him from his childhood until now is a testimony to the church’s power to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. This conversation is simply inspirational from beginning to end and invites us all to consider our responsibility to create spaces where hope and healing can flourish and those who feel unseen can find friends.

 

QUOTES

  • “It’s about relationships, not transactions.” -Emmanuel Andre [18:42]
  • “There is something that happens when you’re willing to be uncomfortable and stay in relationship with. It’s that idea of walking with that continues to happen.” -Emmanuel Andre [30:58]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:39] Final observation about these conversations
  • [01:31] Meet Emmanuel Andre
  • [04:47] Significant events in Emmanuel’s life
  • [08:36] The power of the community
  • [15:28] What is justice and how it pairs with healing
  • [23:56] Leaning into the pain
  • [28:11] Circles and Ciphers
  • [33:04] His partnership with the Church
  • [38:10] Three rapid fire questions
  • [43:49] A blessing
  • [45:26] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design.

Find and follow the Northside Transformative Law Center on their website: northsidetlc.com, on Facebook @ Northside-Transformative-Law-Center and Twitter @LawNorthside

Find and Follow Circles and Ciphers on their website: circlesandciphers.org, on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @CirclesAndCiphers

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/e61f2077-e1f7-3663-a3d0-1ed9052065f8Thu, 17 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -040046:05falsefull1616Intangible Currencies and Social Banking with DeAmon Harges, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerIntangible Currencies and Social Banking with DeAmon Harges, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerCo-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with DeAmon Harges, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. DeAmon is the original “Roving Listener” who defined the role by his posture of curiosity and his passion for discovering the gifts and talents of the people in his community. He is also the founder of The Learning Tree, a non-profit that uses the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach with city governments and organizations to improve the quality of lives of people, communities, schools and businesses.

His approach has greatly influenced how congregations, non-profits, and local governments view their work. Instead of seeing people and communities as lacking in resources, DeAmon sees their wealth of “intangible currencies'' such as imagination, relationships, and stories that bring people together in a fellowship of “mutual delight.” This conversation may well inspire you to be a “Social Banker” like DeAmon, who extends the metaphor: when you invest in the intangible currencies in your neighborhood, you will find the riches of love, hope, and joy in abundance!

 

QUOTES

  • “Having a team to work through to have other gifts besides yourself is super important. If you don’t ever feel like you need people, then you’re way too tired. When you need people, you can guarantee you’re going to get some rest.” -DeAmon Harges [27:38]
  • “I think the fact that we’ve been schooled in scarcity so much that we need proof of God’s abundance. And yet, we are God’s abundance.” -DeAmon Harges [30:46]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] Meet DeAmon Harges
  • [04:46] Significant events in DeAmon’s life
  • [06:09] How we got to here
  • [09:17] The Learning Tree
  • [13:58] Working with the state and governor’s office
  • [16:21] What it means to become a roving listener
  • [22:20] Being a social banker
  • [25:48] Navigating the challenges of being a social banker
  • [28:03] A mixed spiritual ecology
  • [31:04] Three rapid fire questions
  • [32:20] A blessing
  • [33:27] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design.

Find and follow DeAmon on Twitter @rovinglistener

For information about The Learning Tree, visit: thelearningtrees.com

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with DeAmon Harges, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. DeAmon is the original “Roving Listener” who defined the role by his posture of curiosity and his passion for discovering the gifts and talents of the people in his community. He is also the founder of The Learning Tree, a non-profit that uses the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach with city governments and organizations to improve the quality of lives of people, communities, schools and businesses.

His approach has greatly influenced how congregations, non-profits, and local governments view their work. Instead of seeing people and communities as lacking in resources, DeAmon sees their wealth of “intangible currencies'' such as imagination, relationships, and stories that bring people together in a fellowship of “mutual delight.” This conversation may well inspire you to be a “Social Banker” like DeAmon, who extends the metaphor: when you invest in the intangible currencies in your neighborhood, you will find the riches of love, hope, and joy in abundance!

 

QUOTES

  • “Having a team to work through to have other gifts besides yourself is super important. If you don’t ever feel like you need people, then you’re way too tired. When you need people, you can guarantee you’re going to get some rest.” -DeAmon Harges [27:38]
  • “I think the fact that we’ve been schooled in scarcity so much that we need proof of God’s abundance. And yet, we are God’s abundance.” -DeAmon Harges [30:46]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] Meet DeAmon Harges
  • [04:46] Significant events in DeAmon’s life
  • [06:09] How we got to here
  • [09:17] The Learning Tree
  • [13:58] Working with the state and governor’s office
  • [16:21] What it means to become a roving listener
  • [22:20] Being a social banker
  • [25:48] Navigating the challenges of being a social banker
  • [28:03] A mixed spiritual ecology
  • [31:04] Three rapid fire questions
  • [32:20] A blessing
  • [33:27] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design.

Find and follow DeAmon on Twitter @rovinglistener

For information about The Learning Tree, visit: thelearningtrees.com

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/e32bf3cf-0900-362a-b688-c89812fb7c06Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:01:00 -040034:07falsefull1515Connecting the Organizational Center and the Innovative Edge with Leroy Barber, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerConnecting the Organizational Center and the Innovative Edge with Leroy Barber, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerCo-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Rev. Leroy Barber, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. Leroy has dedicated 30 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called “the beloved community.” Leroy is the Co-Founder of the Voices Project, which gathers leaders of color across fields, who pursue and work for change, for important conversations about the current challenges and triumphs within communities of color and their role as cultural influencers.

Leroy is a seasoned innovator who has spent decades as a spiritual entrepreneur starting new ministries and organizations. He is the definition of an ‘edge leader’ and yet, Leroy now serves deep in the center of the institution of the church as Director for Innovation for an Engaged Church in the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church. So how does an edge leader thrive when working in the heart of the center? Relationships. Leroy recognizes the value of relationship building between the center and the edge and brings people together to take the next faithful step in making God’s dreams reality. Whether you are in ministry in the center or the edge, this episode will encourage you to see the gifts and graces of the other and consider the ways the center and edge can work together to make a positive difference in congregations and communities.

 

QUOTES

  • “I came up with this saying that I think is mine. Innovation happens at the intersection of difference. Meaning, you can’t really innovate if you don’t bring something different in.” -Leroy Barber [21:41]
  • “I manage relationships in the middle and I lead on the edge.” -Leroy Barber [27:37]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:36] Meet Leroy Barber
  • [03:56] Significant event that have shaped Leroy
  • [06:07] The Voices Project
  • [12:04] The resistance Leroy meets today
  • [15:32] Building collaborations
  • [19:32] His role at the United Methodist Church
  • [22:23] What gives him that confidence to try something new
  • [26:04] Staying grounded and energized
  • [29:11] Three rapid fire questions
  • [32:25] A blessing
  • [33:36] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

Find and follow Leroy Barber on Facebook @leroy.barber.71, Instagram and Twitter @leroybarber

For information about The Voices Project, visit their website: voices-project.org

Leroy Barber’s most recent book is “Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World.”

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Rev. Leroy Barber, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner. Leroy has dedicated 30 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called “the beloved community.” Leroy is the Co-Founder of the Voices Project, which gathers leaders of color across fields, who pursue and work for change, for important conversations about the current challenges and triumphs within communities of color and their role as cultural influencers.

Leroy is a seasoned innovator who has spent decades as a spiritual entrepreneur starting new ministries and organizations. He is the definition of an ‘edge leader’ and yet, Leroy now serves deep in the center of the institution of the church as Director for Innovation for an Engaged Church in the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church. So how does an edge leader thrive when working in the heart of the center? Relationships. Leroy recognizes the value of relationship building between the center and the edge and brings people together to take the next faithful step in making God’s dreams reality. Whether you are in ministry in the center or the edge, this episode will encourage you to see the gifts and graces of the other and consider the ways the center and edge can work together to make a positive difference in congregations and communities.

 

QUOTES

  • “I came up with this saying that I think is mine. Innovation happens at the intersection of difference. Meaning, you can’t really innovate if you don’t bring something different in.” -Leroy Barber [21:41]
  • “I manage relationships in the middle and I lead on the edge.” -Leroy Barber [27:37]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:36] Meet Leroy Barber
  • [03:56] Significant event that have shaped Leroy
  • [06:07] The Voices Project
  • [12:04] The resistance Leroy meets today
  • [15:32] Building collaborations
  • [19:32] His role at the United Methodist Church
  • [22:23] What gives him that confidence to try something new
  • [26:04] Staying grounded and energized
  • [29:11] Three rapid fire questions
  • [32:25] A blessing
  • [33:36] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

Find and follow Leroy Barber on Facebook @leroy.barber.71, Instagram and Twitter @leroybarber

For information about The Voices Project, visit their website: voices-project.org

Leroy Barber’s most recent book is “Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World.”

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/6db1237b-5d08-3ddc-95fc-30e4228e39a3Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -040034:00falsefull1414Improbable Friendships with Matt Russell, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerImprobable Friendships with Matt Russell, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerCo-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Dr. Matt Russell, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner, about what he calls the “improbable friendships'' that have enriched his life and influenced the direction of his ministry. From these improbable friendships emerged projectCURATE, a non-profit educational and social enterprise incubator that seeks to build bridges across cultural, economic, religious, and racial divides, and Iconoclast Artists, a creative writing and arts program that gives young creative minds a chance to speak through written, visual, and performance art. The two organizations are making a big difference in the city of Houston and beyond.

Matt serves as Executive Pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. He shares how innovation is not a formula to replicate but a faithful response to relationships based in trust and mutuality where the Spirit can work. “How can I be faithful to this moment?” is a question he asks often. Hearing Matt describe his answers to that question throughout his ministry journey is inspiring and may well lead you to discern your next faithful step or the next improbable friendship you are being invited to cultivate.

 

QUOTES

  • “I think faith early on has always been a verb for me.” -Matt Russell [06:40]
  • “All improbable friendships move at the pace of guidance. It’s not an agenda. It’s a guidance of relationship that are moving together.” -Matt Russell [21:27]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:52] Meet Matt Russell
  • [03:26] Significant encounters that have shaped Matt
  • [07:01] How Project Curate came to be
  • [15:06] Improbable friendships & what draws him to those relationships
  • [20:17] How he navigates resistance
  • [23:34] How he knows what’s working
  • [30:30] Working with the pressure of the institution of the church
  • [34:54] Three rapid fire questions
  • [39:36] A blessing
  • [40:46] Outro

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

For information about Project Curate, visit their website: projectcurate.org or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @projectcurate

For more information about Iconoclast Artists, visit their website: iconoclastartists.org or follow them on Instagram or Facebook @iconoclastartists

Find and follow Matt Russell on Facebook @matthew.russell.1048, Instagram @mhrussell1, and Twitter @Dudeabides67

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Dr. Matt Russell, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner, about what he calls the “improbable friendships'' that have enriched his life and influenced the direction of his ministry. From these improbable friendships emerged projectCURATE, a non-profit educational and social enterprise incubator that seeks to build bridges across cultural, economic, religious, and racial divides, and Iconoclast Artists, a creative writing and arts program that gives young creative minds a chance to speak through written, visual, and performance art. The two organizations are making a big difference in the city of Houston and beyond.

Matt serves as Executive Pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. He shares how innovation is not a formula to replicate but a faithful response to relationships based in trust and mutuality where the Spirit can work. “How can I be faithful to this moment?” is a question he asks often. Hearing Matt describe his answers to that question throughout his ministry journey is inspiring and may well lead you to discern your next faithful step or the next improbable friendship you are being invited to cultivate.

 

QUOTES

  • “I think faith early on has always been a verb for me.” -Matt Russell [06:40]
  • “All improbable friendships move at the pace of guidance. It’s not an agenda. It’s a guidance of relationship that are moving together.” -Matt Russell [21:27]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:52] Meet Matt Russell
  • [03:26] Significant encounters that have shaped Matt
  • [07:01] How Project Curate came to be
  • [15:06] Improbable friendships & what draws him to those relationships
  • [20:17] How he navigates resistance
  • [23:34] How he knows what’s working
  • [30:30] Working with the pressure of the institution of the church
  • [34:54] Three rapid fire questions
  • [39:36] A blessing
  • [40:46] Outro

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

For information about Project Curate, visit their website: projectcurate.org or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @projectcurate

For more information about Iconoclast Artists, visit their website: iconoclastartists.org or follow them on Instagram or Facebook @iconoclastartists

Find and follow Matt Russell on Facebook @matthew.russell.1048, Instagram @mhrussell1, and Twitter @Dudeabides67

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/1f0a4e32-33e6-3616-8f3c-7b53f57046feThu, 27 May 2021 07:16:00 -040041:26falsefull2332Composting Religion with Jen Bailey, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerComposting Religion with Jen Bailey, Locke Innovative Leader Award WinnerCo-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Rev. Jen Bailey, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner, about her womanist-led Faith Matters Network, whose mission is to catalyze personal and social change by equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment. Jen, founder and executive director, discusses how the organization has focused on “healing the healers” of transformative social movements through a variety of programs.

Jen discusses the role partnerships play in innovation. She also explains the term “composting religion” as taking the best of the old to create something new that meets the needs of today. This conversation is rich with insight about leading a start-up organization whose work at the intersection of spiritual tradition, social healing and social justice requires continual discernment and collaboration. 

 

QUOTES

  • “I think what unites us is the sense that what we’re doing is a continuation of a story, not a brand new story we’re starting ourselves.” -Jen Bailey [23:08]
  • “But the reality is we exist in a space that is right there in the inbetween. My worldview is inherently influenced by what I would call the spiritual, even as I’m operating in ‘secular’ spaces. And I think what is also true for me is that I am most impactful in some of those non-explicitly religious spaces when I’m authentic to who I am.” -Jen Bailey [29:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:35] Meet Jen Bailey
  • [03:54] Significant moments that has shaped Jen
  • [11:47] Her work with Faith Matters Network
  • [15:57] People’s Supper
  • [22:27] The continuation of a story
  • [27:16] When sacred and secular intersect
  • [32:45] Three rapid fire questions
  • [36:29] A blessing
  • [37:31] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

For information about Faith Matters Network, where Jen Bailey serves as Executive Director, click here.

Find Faith Matters Network on Instagram and Facebook @faithmattersnetwork or follow them on Twitter @faithmattersnet

Follow Jen Bailey on Instagram and Twitter @revjenbailey

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Co-hosts Lisa Greenwood and Casper ter Kuile talk with Rev. Jen Bailey, 2021 Locke Innovative Leader Award Winner, about her womanist-led Faith Matters Network, whose mission is to catalyze personal and social change by equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment. Jen, founder and executive director, discusses how the organization has focused on “healing the healers” of transformative social movements through a variety of programs.

Jen discusses the role partnerships play in innovation. She also explains the term “composting religion” as taking the best of the old to create something new that meets the needs of today. This conversation is rich with insight about leading a start-up organization whose work at the intersection of spiritual tradition, social healing and social justice requires continual discernment and collaboration. 

 

QUOTES

  • “I think what unites us is the sense that what we’re doing is a continuation of a story, not a brand new story we’re starting ourselves.” -Jen Bailey [23:08]
  • “But the reality is we exist in a space that is right there in the inbetween. My worldview is inherently influenced by what I would call the spiritual, even as I’m operating in ‘secular’ spaces. And I think what is also true for me is that I am most impactful in some of those non-explicitly religious spaces when I’m authentic to who I am.” -Jen Bailey [29:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:35] Meet Jen Bailey
  • [03:54] Significant moments that has shaped Jen
  • [11:47] Her work with Faith Matters Network
  • [15:57] People’s Supper
  • [22:27] The continuation of a story
  • [27:16] When sacred and secular intersect
  • [32:45] Three rapid fire questions
  • [36:29] A blessing
  • [37:31] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about our co-host Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

For information about Faith Matters Network, where Jen Bailey serves as Executive Director, click here.

Find Faith Matters Network on Instagram and Facebook @faithmattersnetwork or follow them on Twitter @faithmattersnet

Follow Jen Bailey on Instagram and Twitter @revjenbailey

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org.

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/22393ff6-3005-392c-bd7a-bd36a48cd379Thu, 20 May 2021 07:10:00 -040038:10falsefull2222Today’s Spiritual Landscape with Casper ter Kuile and Tom LockeToday’s Spiritual Landscape with Casper ter Kuile and Tom LockeIgniting Imagination is a podcast to spark the spirit within you, from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations with five spiritual entrepreneurs who were awarded the 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award from the Wesleyan Investive. These five spiritual entrepreneurs share their wisdom through stories and reflections that will encourage and challenge you and ultimately ignite your imagination as a leader. 

Rev. Lisa Greenwood interviews her co-host for this season, Casper ter Kuile. Casper is the author of The Power of Ritual and the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, a soul-centered research and development lab. Casper shares his analysis of the spiritual landscape in America today, the two discuss Lisa’s work on the mixed ecology of church and together they talk with Tom Locke, President of TMF and Wesleyan Investive. This episode is jam-packed with insight about purpose that invites reflection about how your church or organization’s purpose is aligning with the spiritual needs of our world today.

 

QUOTES

  • “Folks are still as hungry for belonging, their experiences of spiritual growth and becoming, to feel connected to something beyond themselves. It just looks different, and so, what we have to do is to be attuned to see where are people going to try and find it. ” -Casper ter Kuile [07:19]
  • “I would never begin to think that I’m driving those values. I think those values are driving me.” -Tom Locke [29:08]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [00:40] Meet co-host Casper ter Kuile
  • [02:35] Significant moments in Casper’s life
  • [06:34] What he’s seeing in the landscape
  • [10:18] A podcast beyond Harry Potter
  • [13:03] How Lisa found mixed spiritual ecology
  • [16:33] The thinking behind these awards
  • [20:56] Meet Tom Locke
  • [22:16] Why purpose is central for Tom and the church
  • [24:55] The evolution for TMF
  • [29:54] Why invest in innovative leaders
  • [35:09] The role of foundations
  • [38:36] How TMF embraced its current mission
  • [43:11] Three rapid fire questions
  • [46:23] A blessing
  • [47:29] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Igniting Imagination is a podcast to spark the spirit within you, from Wesleyan Investive and Texas Methodist Foundation. This season, we are sharing conversations with five spiritual entrepreneurs who were awarded the 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award from the Wesleyan Investive. These five spiritual entrepreneurs share their wisdom through stories and reflections that will encourage and challenge you and ultimately ignite your imagination as a leader. 

Rev. Lisa Greenwood interviews her co-host for this season, Casper ter Kuile. Casper is the author of The Power of Ritual and the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, a soul-centered research and development lab. Casper shares his analysis of the spiritual landscape in America today, the two discuss Lisa’s work on the mixed ecology of church and together they talk with Tom Locke, President of TMF and Wesleyan Investive. This episode is jam-packed with insight about purpose that invites reflection about how your church or organization’s purpose is aligning with the spiritual needs of our world today.

 

QUOTES

  • “Folks are still as hungry for belonging, their experiences of spiritual growth and becoming, to feel connected to something beyond themselves. It just looks different, and so, what we have to do is to be attuned to see where are people going to try and find it. ” -Casper ter Kuile [07:19]
  • “I would never begin to think that I’m driving those values. I think those values are driving me.” -Tom Locke [29:08]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01] Intro
  • [00:40] Meet co-host Casper ter Kuile
  • [02:35] Significant moments in Casper’s life
  • [06:34] What he’s seeing in the landscape
  • [10:18] A podcast beyond Harry Potter
  • [13:03] How Lisa found mixed spiritual ecology
  • [16:33] The thinking behind these awards
  • [20:56] Meet Tom Locke
  • [22:16] Why purpose is central for Tom and the church
  • [24:55] The evolution for TMF
  • [29:54] Why invest in innovative leaders
  • [35:09] The role of foundations
  • [38:36] How TMF embraced its current mission
  • [43:11] Three rapid fire questions
  • [46:23] A blessing
  • [47:29] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about Casper ter Kuile, visit his website: caspertk.com and check out the work of Sacred Design Lab at sacred.design

This season features Wesleyan Investive’s 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Award winners. The award honors spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality. For more information about the award and the recipients, visit award.wesleyaninvestive.org

“God Has Work for Us To Do” music and lyrics by Mark Miller. Visit Mark’s website at markamillermusic.com or find him on YouTube at youtube.com/c/markismusic67

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/7003da6b-9749-34eb-b838-35cef0f560dbThu, 13 May 2021 16:18:12 -040048:07falsefull2112A Story of Resilience by Liliana PadillaA Story of Resilience by Liliana PadillaRev. Liliana Padilla is the Senior Pastor of Westlawn United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. She has overcome many obstacles in ministry. When she was ordained in Mexico, she was prevented from pastoring a church because she was a married woman. When she came to the United States, she had to go through the ordination process again. When she went through divorce, she had to overcome the stigma of divorce in her community.

 

Liliana has never let obstacles prevent her from pursuing God’s call on her life. When COVID-19 hit, it greatly affected her congregation. Some lost their jobs. Some were not able to work because they had to stay home with their children. Families with limited access to the internet and fewer devices than children struggled to keep their kids from falling behind in class. Liliana shares how she drew on her own story of resilience to find the strength to lead her congregation to discern God’s purpose in this time of pandemic.

 

QUOTES

  • “Something that I like to do is try to see things as good as they can be.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [10:59]
  • “For me, the pandemic meant an opportunity to show love to people.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [17:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:42] Rev. Liliana’s story
  • [04:42] Starting all over again
  • [09:15] One step forward, two steps back
  • [10:40] A huge storm with no solution
  • [15:11] God opened the windows and doors

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Rev. Liliana Padilla is the Senior Pastor of Westlawn United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. She has overcome many obstacles in ministry. When she was ordained in Mexico, she was prevented from pastoring a church because she was a married woman. When she came to the United States, she had to go through the ordination process again. When she went through divorce, she had to overcome the stigma of divorce in her community.

 

Liliana has never let obstacles prevent her from pursuing God’s call on her life. When COVID-19 hit, it greatly affected her congregation. Some lost their jobs. Some were not able to work because they had to stay home with their children. Families with limited access to the internet and fewer devices than children struggled to keep their kids from falling behind in class. Liliana shares how she drew on her own story of resilience to find the strength to lead her congregation to discern God’s purpose in this time of pandemic.

 

QUOTES

  • “Something that I like to do is try to see things as good as they can be.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [10:59]
  • “For me, the pandemic meant an opportunity to show love to people.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [17:26]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:42] Rev. Liliana’s story
  • [04:42] Starting all over again
  • [09:15] One step forward, two steps back
  • [10:40] A huge storm with no solution
  • [15:11] God opened the windows and doors

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/3bbaf7f6-23f7-3e97-843c-d1c442a79f9fThu, 01 Apr 2021 07:02:00 -040020:58falsefull113131<p>Rev. Liliana Padilla is the Senior Pastor of Westlawn United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. She has overcome many obstacles in ministry. When she was ordained in Mexico, she was prevented from pastoring a church because she was a married woman. When she came to the United States, she had to go through the ordination process again. When she went through divorce, she had to overcome the stigma of divorce in her community.</p> <p> </p> <p>Liliana has never let obstacles prevent her from pursuing God’s call on her life. When COVID-19 hit, it greatly affected her congregation. Some lost their jobs. Some were not able to work because they had to stay home with their children. Families with limited access to the internet and fewer devices than children struggled to keep their kids from falling behind in class. Liliana shares how she drew on her own story of resilience to find the strength to lead her congregation to discern God’s purpose in this time of pandemic.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“Something that I like to do is try to see things as good as they can be.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [10:59]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“For me, the pandemic meant an opportunity to show love to people.” -Rev. Liliana Padilla [17:26]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:42] Rev. Liliana’s story</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:42] Starting all over again</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[09:15] One step forward, two steps back</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[10:40] A huge storm with no solution</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[15:11] God opened the windows and doors</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Narratives of Resilience with Bishop Robert SchnaseNarratives of Resilience with Bishop Robert SchnaseHow we tell the stories of our lives and the life of our church or organization makes all the difference. Bishop Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, details for us how narrative connects to resilience by sharing personal stories from his time as pastor and his observations as Bishop. He shares how the stories we tell ourselves shape our capacity to move through difficult circumstances. This episode will encourage and inspire you to consider the narratives in your life and leadership are shaping your way of seeing and being. 

 

QUOTES

  • “Sometimes you think of resilience, you get knocked down, you jump back up. Resilience often takes a long time. It puts you on a path that lasts for a long time.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [15:22]
  • “And that again, a descending narrative, it’s not that it’s not the truth. It’s just that it’s not the whole truth.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [20:12]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:22] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [04:01] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the narratives of resilience
  • [07:03] Meet Bishop Robert Schnase
  • [08:20] A story of resilience from Bishop Schnase
  • [16:36] The definition of narrative and the role of resilience through narrative
  • [21:31] Two purposes to music in worship
  • [23:15] Narratives in the church and among leaders that need to change
  • [24:21] How leaders can help shift the descending narrative
  • [30:58] What resilience looks like at an annual conference level
  • [35:13] How narrative can be helpful in the church today and post-pandemic
  • [38:58] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [45:53] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [50:45] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about Bishop Schnase and links to all his books, visit http://robertschnase.com

The episode references Life is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler who points to the work of Marshall Duke at Emory University to describe three categories of family narratives:  ascending, descending and oscillating.

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>How we tell the stories of our lives and the life of our church or organization makes all the difference. Bishop Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, details for us how narrative connects to resilience by sharing personal stories from his time as pastor and his observations as Bishop. He shares how the stories we tell ourselves shape our capacity to move through difficult circumstances. This episode will encourage and inspire you to consider the narratives in your life and leadership are shaping your way of seeing and being. 

 

QUOTES

  • “Sometimes you think of resilience, you get knocked down, you jump back up. Resilience often takes a long time. It puts you on a path that lasts for a long time.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [15:22]
  • “And that again, a descending narrative, it’s not that it’s not the truth. It’s just that it’s not the whole truth.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [20:12]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:22] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [04:01] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the narratives of resilience
  • [07:03] Meet Bishop Robert Schnase
  • [08:20] A story of resilience from Bishop Schnase
  • [16:36] The definition of narrative and the role of resilience through narrative
  • [21:31] Two purposes to music in worship
  • [23:15] Narratives in the church and among leaders that need to change
  • [24:21] How leaders can help shift the descending narrative
  • [30:58] What resilience looks like at an annual conference level
  • [35:13] How narrative can be helpful in the church today and post-pandemic
  • [38:58] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [45:53] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [50:45] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

For information about Bishop Schnase and links to all his books, visit http://robertschnase.com

The episode references Life is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler who points to the work of Marshall Duke at Emory University to describe three categories of family narratives:  ascending, descending and oscillating.

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/9e756ad8-9dbd-37ee-baf4-41748b6e50f1Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:05:00 -040051:32falsefull112121<p>How we tell the stories of our lives and the life of our church or organization makes all the difference. Bishop Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, details for us how narrative connects to resilience by sharing personal stories from his time as pastor and his observations as Bishop. He shares how the stories we tell ourselves shape our capacity to move through difficult circumstances. This episode will encourage and inspire you to consider the narratives in your life and leadership are shaping your way of seeing and being. </p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“Sometimes you think of resilience, you get knocked down, you jump back up. Resilience often takes a long time. It puts you on a path that lasts for a long time.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [15:22]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“And that again, a descending narrative, it’s not that it’s not the truth. It’s just that it’s not the whole truth.” -Bishop Robert Schnase [20:12]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[00:22] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:01] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the narratives of resilience</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[07:03] Meet Bishop Robert Schnase</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[08:20] A story of resilience from Bishop Schnase</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[16:36] The definition of narrative and the role of resilience through narrative</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[21:31] Two purposes to music in worship</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[23:15] Narratives in the church and among leaders that need to change</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[24:21] How leaders can help shift the descending narrative</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[30:58] What resilience looks like at an annual conference level</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[35:13] How narrative can be helpful in the church today and post-pandemic</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[38:58] Rapid fire round with three sentences</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[45:53] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[50:45] Outro</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>For information about Bishop Schnase and links to all his books, visit <a href='http://robertschnase.com'>http://robertschnase.com</a></p> <p>The episode references <a href='https://www.brucefeiler.com/books-articles/life-is-in-the-transitions/'>Life is in the Transitions</a> by Bruce Feiler who points to the work of Marshall Duke at Emory University to describe three categories of family narratives:  ascending, descending and oscillating.</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>"That's Something" music and lyrics by <a href='https://www.billycrockett.com/'>Billy Crockett</a>, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020</p> <p>"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> A Story of Resilience by Romonica Malone-WardleyA Story of Resilience by Romonica Malone-WardleyWhat is it like to live through storm after storm...after storm? Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley is District Superintendent of the Southeast District of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has met people and congregations who have lived through one devastating storm after another. Living through a storm though doesn’t mean just surviving.

Romonica shares how instead of throwing up their hands in despair, congregations in hurricane-hit areas roll up their sleeves to help neighbors and offer hope to their communities. This episode is a powerful account about how we can lean on each other and into our purposes to weather life’s storms and find the stamina to keep moving forward.

 

QUOTES

  • “They understand that God gives them the strength to rally and come together to support one another and their neighbors again and again and again.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [03:01]
  • “As much as they would love for there to be no storms or no need, they’ve experienced enough to look towards the future and know that it’s a reality and they want to prepare themselves to be able to help.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [05:25]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:29] Time here is marked by storms
  • [03:18] Hearing these stories firsthand
  • [06:48] Connexionalism at its best

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>What is it like to live through storm after storm...after storm? Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley is District Superintendent of the Southeast District of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has met people and congregations who have lived through one devastating storm after another. Living through a storm though doesn’t mean just surviving.

Romonica shares how instead of throwing up their hands in despair, congregations in hurricane-hit areas roll up their sleeves to help neighbors and offer hope to their communities. This episode is a powerful account about how we can lean on each other and into our purposes to weather life’s storms and find the stamina to keep moving forward.

 

QUOTES

  • “They understand that God gives them the strength to rally and come together to support one another and their neighbors again and again and again.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [03:01]
  • “As much as they would love for there to be no storms or no need, they’ve experienced enough to look towards the future and know that it’s a reality and they want to prepare themselves to be able to help.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [05:25]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:29] Time here is marked by storms
  • [03:18] Hearing these stories firsthand
  • [06:48] Connexionalism at its best

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/0d35bf67-8a61-313d-86d8-825fcbaf472dThu, 25 Mar 2021 07:01:00 -040009:54falsefull111111<p>What is it like to live through storm after storm...after storm? Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley is District Superintendent of the Southeast District of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has met people and congregations who have lived through one devastating storm after another. Living through a storm though doesn’t mean just surviving.</p> <p>Romonica shares how instead of throwing up their hands in despair, congregations in hurricane-hit areas roll up their sleeves to help neighbors and offer hope to their communities. This episode is a powerful account about how we can lean on each other and into our purposes to weather life’s storms and find the stamina to keep moving forward.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“They understand that God gives them the strength to rally and come together to support one another and their neighbors again and again and again.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [03:01]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“As much as they would love for there to be no storms or no need, they’ve experienced enough to look towards the future and know that it’s a reality and they want to prepare themselves to be able to help.” -Romonica Malone-Wardley [05:25]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:29] Time here is marked by storms</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[03:18] Hearing these stories firsthand</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[06:48] Connexionalism at its best</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Resilience for the Church with Bishop Cynthia Harvey and Erin HawkinsResilience for the Church with Bishop Cynthia Harvey and Erin HawkinsWhat is needed to enlarge the capacity of pastors, congregations, annual conferences and the denomination to become more resilient, i.e. to absorb change and retain its integrity and purpose? We pose that very deep and difficult question to Erin Hawkins, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the California Pacific Annual Conference and Bishop Cynthia Harvey, bishop of the United Methodist Church in Louisiana and President of the Council of Bishops.

You’ll notice this is one of our longer episodes. The content was so rich with these two dynamic leaders, we didn’t want you to miss a minute of the conversation, so we didn’t cut much. They discuss the current state of the church, what resilience looks like for the church, and what changes they are hoping to see in the denomination. We suspect that like us, by the end of the episode your own reservoir of resilience will be a bit more full of grace.

 

QUOTES

  • “We think systemically because we’re a large institution and our system’s thinking has us reduced and separate so that we can better analyze and organize and change the parts. And I’m increasingly convinced that what will help to transform us is becoming masters not of the parts, but of the relationship between the parts.” -Erin Hawkins [28:12]
  • “Right now, I would love to see us do a total realignment of where we invest ourselves. How are we using our time and our money and our resources to do a good and joyful thing?” -Bishop Cynthia Harvey [49:53]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:23] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [04:17] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing
  • [07:18] Meet Erin and Bishop Harvey
  • [09:01] The current reality: challenges the church is facing
  • [16:50] Actions for leaders to help lead a resilient church
  • [23:55] What does a resilient church look like
  • [33:53] The changes Erin hopes to see in her anti-racism work
  • [38:44] How Erin stay resilient
  • [45:20] The changes Bishop Harvey hopes to see as President of the Council of Bishops
  • [51:17] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [52:15] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [56:34] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Follow Bishop Harvey on Facebook -- Cynthia Fierro Harvey 

Read the press release about Erin Hawkins new role as the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries with the California-Pacific Conference of the UMC here.

Follow the General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church @GCORR_UMC

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>What is needed to enlarge the capacity of pastors, congregations, annual conferences and the denomination to become more resilient, i.e. to absorb change and retain its integrity and purpose? We pose that very deep and difficult question to Erin Hawkins, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the California Pacific Annual Conference and Bishop Cynthia Harvey, bishop of the United Methodist Church in Louisiana and President of the Council of Bishops.

You’ll notice this is one of our longer episodes. The content was so rich with these two dynamic leaders, we didn’t want you to miss a minute of the conversation, so we didn’t cut much. They discuss the current state of the church, what resilience looks like for the church, and what changes they are hoping to see in the denomination. We suspect that like us, by the end of the episode your own reservoir of resilience will be a bit more full of grace.

 

QUOTES

  • “We think systemically because we’re a large institution and our system’s thinking has us reduced and separate so that we can better analyze and organize and change the parts. And I’m increasingly convinced that what will help to transform us is becoming masters not of the parts, but of the relationship between the parts.” -Erin Hawkins [28:12]
  • “Right now, I would love to see us do a total realignment of where we invest ourselves. How are we using our time and our money and our resources to do a good and joyful thing?” -Bishop Cynthia Harvey [49:53]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:23] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [04:17] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing
  • [07:18] Meet Erin and Bishop Harvey
  • [09:01] The current reality: challenges the church is facing
  • [16:50] Actions for leaders to help lead a resilient church
  • [23:55] What does a resilient church look like
  • [33:53] The changes Erin hopes to see in her anti-racism work
  • [38:44] How Erin stay resilient
  • [45:20] The changes Bishop Harvey hopes to see as President of the Council of Bishops
  • [51:17] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [52:15] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [56:34] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Follow Bishop Harvey on Facebook -- Cynthia Fierro Harvey 

Read the press release about Erin Hawkins new role as the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries with the California-Pacific Conference of the UMC here.

Follow the General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church @GCORR_UMC

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/d7c6f9ef-4006-3707-8479-4efd26acd2fcThu, 25 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -040057:50falsefull110101A Story of Resilience by Mike SmithA Story of Resilience by Mike SmithMike Smith is Executive Director of the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas. He shares the story of a plant at his home that offers a poignant illustration of resilience. Mike is an excellent storyteller who talks about how watering what appeared to be dead is a lesson we can all apply in our own context. While this is our shortest story shared so far in our series, the powerful image of new life will stay with you for a long time.

 

QUOTES

  • “When we’re talking about resilience, it’s not just us, but it’s those whom we serve.” -Mike Smith [05:45]
  • “It’s more than tilling the soil. It’s putting something into there.” -Mike Smith [06:23]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] Sacrificing plant #3
  • [04:33] Watering the bucket of dirt

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Mike Smith is Executive Director of the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas. He shares the story of a plant at his home that offers a poignant illustration of resilience. Mike is an excellent storyteller who talks about how watering what appeared to be dead is a lesson we can all apply in our own context. While this is our shortest story shared so far in our series, the powerful image of new life will stay with you for a long time.

 

QUOTES

  • “When we’re talking about resilience, it’s not just us, but it’s those whom we serve.” -Mike Smith [05:45]
  • “It’s more than tilling the soil. It’s putting something into there.” -Mike Smith [06:23]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:08] Sacrificing plant #3
  • [04:33] Watering the bucket of dirt

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/56783b3e-9cd8-3a57-b454-997b6e1a46f3Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:16:00 -040008:29falsefull1881<p>Mike Smith is Executive Director of the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas. He shares the story of a plant at his home that offers a poignant illustration of resilience. Mike is an excellent storyteller who talks about how watering what appeared to be dead is a lesson we can all apply in our own context. While this is our shortest story shared so far in our series, the powerful image of new life will stay with you for a long time.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“When we’re talking about resilience, it’s not just us, but it’s those whom we serve.” -Mike Smith [05:45]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“It’s more than tilling the soil. It’s putting something into there.” -Mike Smith [06:23]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:08] Sacrificing plant #3</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:33] Watering the bucket of dirt</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> The Reservoir of Courage with Gil RendleThe Reservoir of Courage with Gil RendleWhat better person to talk with about the reservoir of courage than Dr. Gil Rendle, whose book Quietly Courageous has profoundly impacted our work and the work of many leaders in ministry and beyond. He is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

There is no doubt that courage is required for leaders today, and Gil does an excellent job in the book and in our conversation with offering provocative takeaways for leaders on how to lead with courage in such a time like this. You may want to have your notepad ready for this conversation with Gil, this episode is packed with practical ideas for becoming a courageous leader in your context.

 

QUOTES

  • “That is one of the things about temptations. They do feel very rich and rewarding, but actually you’re feeding off yourself.” -Dr. Gil Rendle [26:12]
  • “If you’re a leader, you have to learn how to stand in the center and move at least one foot towards the edge.” -Dr. Gil Rendle [31:40]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:40] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of courage
  • [06:32] Meet Gil Rendle
  • [07:46] The connection between courage and resilience
  • [09:34] What is quiet courage
  • [13:57] Disturb the system and ask questions
  • [19:41] Relationship between conversation, quiet courage and purpose
  • [24:45] Temptations leaders face and how to recognize and not give into them
  • [29:13] Quiet courage and focusing on the edge
  • [33:58] Guidance for congregation leaders
  • [36:22] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [37:57] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [41:22] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Today’s episode included conversation based on insights from Gil Rendle’s most recent book Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World. Gil can be reached at GRendle@tmf-fdn.org

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>What better person to talk with about the reservoir of courage than Dr. Gil Rendle, whose book Quietly Courageous has profoundly impacted our work and the work of many leaders in ministry and beyond. He is a retired Senior Vice President and part-time consultant with The Texas Methodist Foundation in Austin, Texas and an independent consultant working with issues of change and leadership in denominations.

Rendle has an extensive background in organizational development, group and systems theory, and leadership development. He has consulted with congregations on planning, staff and leadership development, and issues of change. He is well known for his work with middle judicatory and national denominational offices and staff as they wrestle with denominational and congregational change.

There is no doubt that courage is required for leaders today, and Gil does an excellent job in the book and in our conversation with offering provocative takeaways for leaders on how to lead with courage in such a time like this. You may want to have your notepad ready for this conversation with Gil, this episode is packed with practical ideas for becoming a courageous leader in your context.

 

QUOTES

  • “That is one of the things about temptations. They do feel very rich and rewarding, but actually you’re feeding off yourself.” -Dr. Gil Rendle [26:12]
  • “If you’re a leader, you have to learn how to stand in the center and move at least one foot towards the edge.” -Dr. Gil Rendle [31:40]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:40] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of courage
  • [06:32] Meet Gil Rendle
  • [07:46] The connection between courage and resilience
  • [09:34] What is quiet courage
  • [13:57] Disturb the system and ask questions
  • [19:41] Relationship between conversation, quiet courage and purpose
  • [24:45] Temptations leaders face and how to recognize and not give into them
  • [29:13] Quiet courage and focusing on the edge
  • [33:58] Guidance for congregation leaders
  • [36:22] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [37:57] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [41:22] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Today’s episode included conversation based on insights from Gil Rendle’s most recent book Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World. Gil can be reached at GRendle@tmf-fdn.org

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/843dae6b-b7a0-332e-a154-eddc21c2332cTue, 16 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -040042:09falsefull1771A Story of Resilience by Rev. Bill LamarA Story of Resilience by Rev. Bill LamarWhen Bill Lamar was appointed Senior Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C, which sits on the longest continuously held piece of property by persons of African descent in the District of Columbia, the Bishop asked him how he felt. Rev. Lamar said he felt like he had 200 years of history on his back. The Bishop agreed and said, “Now go do something with it.”

Rev. Lamar, now in his seventh year as pastor of Metropolitan, draws resilience from ancestors of the past and visions of future generations who will continue the church’s ministry. This story is a powerful account of the church’s capacity to be more loyal to what God is doing in the world than to anything or anyone else. “The church has to be resilient enough to understand our power is not generated from the government of the United States but our power is generated from the one who defeated death.” Rev. Lamar’s story will inspire and challenge you to discover the depths of your resilience and lead with purpose.

 

QUOTES

  • “You don’t know what you have until you get there, until you live among the people.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [03:03]
  • “Being in the presence of God, living in the divine life frees us and that liberation is not just spiritual. That liberation is physical, emotional, economic, politically.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [12:24]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:08] An address change
  • [05:21] Understanding what had come before him
  • [08:53] His source of resilience
  • [13:12] What it looks like today

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Rev. Bill Lamar is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast, and can be reached on Twitter @WilliamHLamarIV.

Rev. Lamar mentions the book, Eyewitness: The Negro in American History (A Living Documentary of the Afro-American Contribution to U.S. History) by William Loren Katz

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>When Bill Lamar was appointed Senior Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C, which sits on the longest continuously held piece of property by persons of African descent in the District of Columbia, the Bishop asked him how he felt. Rev. Lamar said he felt like he had 200 years of history on his back. The Bishop agreed and said, “Now go do something with it.”

Rev. Lamar, now in his seventh year as pastor of Metropolitan, draws resilience from ancestors of the past and visions of future generations who will continue the church’s ministry. This story is a powerful account of the church’s capacity to be more loyal to what God is doing in the world than to anything or anyone else. “The church has to be resilient enough to understand our power is not generated from the government of the United States but our power is generated from the one who defeated death.” Rev. Lamar’s story will inspire and challenge you to discover the depths of your resilience and lead with purpose.

 

QUOTES

  • “You don’t know what you have until you get there, until you live among the people.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [03:03]
  • “Being in the presence of God, living in the divine life frees us and that liberation is not just spiritual. That liberation is physical, emotional, economic, politically.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [12:24]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:08] An address change
  • [05:21] Understanding what had come before him
  • [08:53] His source of resilience
  • [13:12] What it looks like today

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Rev. Bill Lamar is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast, and can be reached on Twitter @WilliamHLamarIV.

Rev. Lamar mentions the book, Eyewitness: The Negro in American History (A Living Documentary of the Afro-American Contribution to U.S. History) by William Loren Katz

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/09159a5e-9a89-396b-b087-fede33a94195Thu, 04 Mar 2021 15:44:30 -040017:11falsefull1661<p>When Bill Lamar was appointed Senior Pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C, which sits on the longest continuously held piece of property by persons of African descent in the District of Columbia, the Bishop asked him how he felt. Rev. Lamar said he felt like he had 200 years of history on his back. The Bishop agreed and said, “Now go do something with it.”</p> <p>Rev. Lamar, now in his seventh year as pastor of Metropolitan, draws resilience from ancestors of the past and visions of future generations who will continue the church’s ministry. This story is a powerful account of the church’s capacity to be more loyal to what God is doing in the world than to anything or anyone else. “The church has to be resilient enough to understand our power is not generated from the government of the United States but our power is generated from the one who defeated death.” Rev. Lamar’s story will inspire and challenge you to discover the depths of your resilience and lead with purpose.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“You don’t know what you have until you get there, until you live among the people.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [03:03]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Being in the presence of God, living in the divine life frees us and that liberation is not just spiritual. That liberation is physical, emotional, economic, politically.” -Rev. Bill Lamar [12:24]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[02:08] An address change</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[05:21] Understanding what had come before him</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[08:53] His source of resilience</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[13:12] What it looks like today</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>Rev. Bill Lamar is the co-host of <a href='https://faithandleadership.com/can-these-bones'>"Can These Bones,"</a> the Faith & Leadership podcast, and can be reached on Twitter <a href='https://twitter.com/WilliamHLamarIV'>@WilliamHLamarIV</a>.</p> <p>Rev. Lamar mentions the book, <a href='https://www.abebooks.com/9780822430360/Eyewitness-Negro-American-History-Living-0822430363/plp'>Eyewitness: The Negro in American History (A Living Documentary of the Afro-American Contribution to U.S. History)</a> by William Loren Katz</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> The Reservoir of Purpose with Dori Baker and Stephen LewisThe Reservoir of Purpose with Dori Baker and Stephen LewisOur guests Dori Baker and Stephen Lewis know all about drawing on the reservoir of purpose. They literally wrote one of the best books about purpose we have read! Together with co-author Matthew Wesley Williams, their book Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose, published in 2020, offers a new way of leadership for the 21st Century.

Dr. Dori Baker is an ordained United Methodist elder in the Virginia Annual Conference. She’s an educator, activist, and scholar focused on feminist theologies, critical race theory, young adult culture, leadership development and spiritual practices that sustain activism.

Stephen Lewis is the President of the Forum for Theological Exploration (also known as FTE), which is a national leadership incubator that cultivates wise, faithful and courageous leaders who make a difference in the world through the church and academy. He is an organizational change strategist and facilitator, and a leadership development specialist, focused on helping leaders to discover their purpose, passion and calling in life.

Our conversation with Dori and Stephen is packed with fresh insights about seeing leadership as a communal practice, the role of deep listening, and the work of discerning purpose that requires both risk and courage. As their “Another Way Manifesto” puts it, “There is a future that mourns if you and I do not step into our purpose.” It is not too much to say that there is also a future that mourns if you do not listen to the inspiration and wisdom Dori and Stephen offer in this episode.

 

QUOTES

  • “Resilience in some aspects for me is this idea that it’s our ability to bounce back, and we can only bounce back from these disappointments, from our rejection of people saying no when we recognize that we are not our actions.” -Stephen Lewis [12:04]
  • “Reflecting theologically and critically together is communal. It’s critical, and it’s for the sake of action.” -Dr. Dori Baker [27:15]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:37] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of purpose
  • [05:56] Meet Dr. Dori Baker and Stephen Lewis
  • [08:11] The authors’ take on purpose and resilience
  • [13:00] How our culture has limited the understanding of purpose
  • [18:48] CARE - what does stand for and how it relates to purpose and resilience
  • [33:19] How they help young leaders center themselves when they feel discouraged
  • [40:10] How to use CARE practices to lead an organization through change
  • [52:42] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [54:13] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [56:16] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Today’s episode focused on conversation from themes found in Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose by Dori Baker, Stephen Lewis, and Matthew Wesley Williams.

Podcast and additional resources on Another Way can be found at https://fteleaders.org/anotherway

For more information about Dori Baker and her work as a consultant, visit: www.doribaker.com

Find out more about the work of the Forum for Theological Exploration at fteleaders.org. 

Stephen Lewis founded DO GOOD X, a start-up accelerator for diverse, faith-rooted entrepreneurs creating social good ventures. For more information: dogoodx.org.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Our guests Dori Baker and Stephen Lewis know all about drawing on the reservoir of purpose. They literally wrote one of the best books about purpose we have read! Together with co-author Matthew Wesley Williams, their book Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose, published in 2020, offers a new way of leadership for the 21st Century.

Dr. Dori Baker is an ordained United Methodist elder in the Virginia Annual Conference. She’s an educator, activist, and scholar focused on feminist theologies, critical race theory, young adult culture, leadership development and spiritual practices that sustain activism.

Stephen Lewis is the President of the Forum for Theological Exploration (also known as FTE), which is a national leadership incubator that cultivates wise, faithful and courageous leaders who make a difference in the world through the church and academy. He is an organizational change strategist and facilitator, and a leadership development specialist, focused on helping leaders to discover their purpose, passion and calling in life.

Our conversation with Dori and Stephen is packed with fresh insights about seeing leadership as a communal practice, the role of deep listening, and the work of discerning purpose that requires both risk and courage. As their “Another Way Manifesto” puts it, “There is a future that mourns if you and I do not step into our purpose.” It is not too much to say that there is also a future that mourns if you do not listen to the inspiration and wisdom Dori and Stephen offer in this episode.

 

QUOTES

  • “Resilience in some aspects for me is this idea that it’s our ability to bounce back, and we can only bounce back from these disappointments, from our rejection of people saying no when we recognize that we are not our actions.” -Stephen Lewis [12:04]
  • “Reflecting theologically and critically together is communal. It’s critical, and it’s for the sake of action.” -Dr. Dori Baker [27:15]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:37] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of purpose
  • [05:56] Meet Dr. Dori Baker and Stephen Lewis
  • [08:11] The authors’ take on purpose and resilience
  • [13:00] How our culture has limited the understanding of purpose
  • [18:48] CARE - what does stand for and how it relates to purpose and resilience
  • [33:19] How they help young leaders center themselves when they feel discouraged
  • [40:10] How to use CARE practices to lead an organization through change
  • [52:42] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [54:13] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [56:16] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Today’s episode focused on conversation from themes found in Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose by Dori Baker, Stephen Lewis, and Matthew Wesley Williams.

Podcast and additional resources on Another Way can be found at https://fteleaders.org/anotherway

For more information about Dori Baker and her work as a consultant, visit: www.doribaker.com

Find out more about the work of the Forum for Theological Exploration at fteleaders.org. 

Stephen Lewis founded DO GOOD X, a start-up accelerator for diverse, faith-rooted entrepreneurs creating social good ventures. For more information: dogoodx.org.

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/2190b3df-7e0a-3d8b-8670-cdd0b8f444e6Tue, 02 Mar 2021 07:22:00 -040057:12falsefull1551A Story of Resilience by Ugonna OnuohaA Story of Resilience by Ugonna OnuohaUgonna Onuoha’s daughter Agnes was diagnosed with lupus in third grade and passed away in 2019 at age 23. Ugonna tells the story of Agnes’ illness and death to an audience for the first time in this episode. As a hospital chaplain at Children’s Medical Center, Ugonna has sat with countless families as they navigate illness and grieve loss. She reflects on how going through her own loss has affected her ministry. Ugonna’s deep faith and reliance on scripture is profound; she embodies resilience through her life and it comes through in this powerful recording.

 

QUOTES

  • “Living with Agnes’ illness helped me to begin to talk about my faith in a way that was not outside, but something that was really personal in a way.” -Ugonna Onuoha [04:31]
  • “I found God to be real and truthful and honest and a companion and a good God in the midst of that pain.” -Ugonna Onuoha [06:49]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:21] Raising a child with lupus
  • [06:13] The image of the Good Shepherd
  • [10:11] Receiving comfort and support
  • [14:38] Taking care of herself
  • [17:37] The great pain
  • [20:00] Three things to surround yourself with

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>Ugonna Onuoha’s daughter Agnes was diagnosed with lupus in third grade and passed away in 2019 at age 23. Ugonna tells the story of Agnes’ illness and death to an audience for the first time in this episode. As a hospital chaplain at Children’s Medical Center, Ugonna has sat with countless families as they navigate illness and grieve loss. She reflects on how going through her own loss has affected her ministry. Ugonna’s deep faith and reliance on scripture is profound; she embodies resilience through her life and it comes through in this powerful recording.

 

QUOTES

  • “Living with Agnes’ illness helped me to begin to talk about my faith in a way that was not outside, but something that was really personal in a way.” -Ugonna Onuoha [04:31]
  • “I found God to be real and truthful and honest and a companion and a good God in the midst of that pain.” -Ugonna Onuoha [06:49]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [01:21] Raising a child with lupus
  • [06:13] The image of the Good Shepherd
  • [10:11] Receiving comfort and support
  • [14:38] Taking care of herself
  • [17:37] The great pain
  • [20:00] Three things to surround yourself with

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/cd0fd5b4-7444-381f-82c9-9f9379fe7635Thu, 25 Feb 2021 07:03:00 -040021:26falsefull1441<p>Ugonna Onuoha’s daughter Agnes was diagnosed with lupus in third grade and passed away in 2019 at age 23. Ugonna tells the story of Agnes’ illness and death to an audience for the first time in this episode. As a hospital chaplain at Children’s Medical Center, Ugonna has sat with countless families as they navigate illness and grieve loss. She reflects on how going through her own loss has affected her ministry. Ugonna’s deep faith and reliance on scripture is profound; she embodies resilience through her life and it comes through in this powerful recording.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“Living with Agnes’ illness helped me to begin to talk about my faith in a way that was not outside, but something that was really personal in a way.” -Ugonna Onuoha [04:31]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“I found God to be real and truthful and honest and a companion and a good God in the midst of that pain.” -Ugonna Onuoha [06:49]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[01:21] Raising a child with lupus</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[06:13] The image of the Good Shepherd</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[10:11] Receiving comfort and support</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[14:38] Taking care of herself</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[17:37] The great pain</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[20:00] Three things to surround yourself with</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reservoirs-of-resilience-tmf-leadership-ministry/id1552233836'>Apple Podcasts / iTunes</a>?</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> The Reservoir of Hope with Colette Pierce BurnetteThe Reservoir of Hope with Colette Pierce BurnetteIn this episode of Reservoirs of Resilience podcast, Lisa Greenwood, Vice President of Leadership Ministry at Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF), and Bishop Janice Huie, Leadership Formation at TMF, speak with Colette Pierce Burnette.

 

Dr. Burnette knows about drawing on the reservoir of hope to survive and thrive through difficult times. As President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, Dr. Burnette reflects on the hope she receives from her students, many of whom are first-generation, and how maintaining hope helps her to navigate the challenging landscape of higher education today. Her wisdom about how to live and lead out of hope, especially when facing one challenge after another, is not to be missed. The vulnerability and leadership Dr. Burnette demonstrates, even through this conversation, is remarkable. 

 

QUOTES

  • “I’m hopeful that in my children’s lifetime or their children’s lifetime, we as a nation will continue to get to this space of equity, every realm with every generation. Because if I think about the people that marched across the Selma bridge and people like my father, if they had just kind of given up and succumbed to the lifestyle that has been driven to them, I’d wouldn’t be here sitting here as the president of Huston-Tillotson University having this conversation with you right now.” -Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette [12:08]
  • “She said to me that in a meeting that they were having, someone said ‘This community is so resilient.’ She said that there was a Black woman who stood up and said, ‘When does resilience become abuse?’” -Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette [29:17]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:45] A reflection from Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of hope
  • [06:36] Meet Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette
  • [08:25] A personal story of how hope that helped her become resilient
  • [14:51] Hope is a noun and a verb
  • [19:08] What gives Dr. Burnette hope
  • [23:19] What it means to her to be an agent of hope
  • [28:05] Who are her agents of hope
  • [30:47] Wisdom to help people reorient towards living a sense of hope
  • [36:21] Dealing with fear of the unknown
  • [38:11] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [39:09] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [42:34] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Follow Colette Pierce Burnette on Twitter @HTPresCPB

Facebook - Colette Pierce Burnett

Instagram -  colettepb

 

Huston-Tillotson University (HT) nurtures a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. Find out more about HT and support their mission by visiting https://htu.edu

 

Learn more about Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who Dr. Burnette references in the podcast, at https://rabbisacks.org.

 

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

 

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

 

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>In this episode of Reservoirs of Resilience podcast, Lisa Greenwood, Vice President of Leadership Ministry at Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF), and Bishop Janice Huie, Leadership Formation at TMF, speak with Colette Pierce Burnette.

 

Dr. Burnette knows about drawing on the reservoir of hope to survive and thrive through difficult times. As President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, Dr. Burnette reflects on the hope she receives from her students, many of whom are first-generation, and how maintaining hope helps her to navigate the challenging landscape of higher education today. Her wisdom about how to live and lead out of hope, especially when facing one challenge after another, is not to be missed. The vulnerability and leadership Dr. Burnette demonstrates, even through this conversation, is remarkable. 

 

QUOTES

  • “I’m hopeful that in my children’s lifetime or their children’s lifetime, we as a nation will continue to get to this space of equity, every realm with every generation. Because if I think about the people that marched across the Selma bridge and people like my father, if they had just kind of given up and succumbed to the lifestyle that has been driven to them, I’d wouldn’t be here sitting here as the president of Huston-Tillotson University having this conversation with you right now.” -Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette [12:08]
  • “She said to me that in a meeting that they were having, someone said ‘This community is so resilient.’ She said that there was a Black woman who stood up and said, ‘When does resilience become abuse?’” -Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette [29:17]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:24] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:45] A reflection from Bishop Huie’s writing on the reservoir of hope
  • [06:36] Meet Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette
  • [08:25] A personal story of how hope that helped her become resilient
  • [14:51] Hope is a noun and a verb
  • [19:08] What gives Dr. Burnette hope
  • [23:19] What it means to her to be an agent of hope
  • [28:05] Who are her agents of hope
  • [30:47] Wisdom to help people reorient towards living a sense of hope
  • [36:21] Dealing with fear of the unknown
  • [38:11] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [39:09] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [42:34] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Follow Colette Pierce Burnette on Twitter @HTPresCPB

Facebook - Colette Pierce Burnett

Instagram -  colettepb

 

Huston-Tillotson University (HT) nurtures a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. Find out more about HT and support their mission by visiting https://htu.edu

 

Learn more about Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who Dr. Burnette references in the podcast, at https://rabbisacks.org.

 

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

 

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

 

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/24e7792e-772b-37e5-bab9-935884bf762cTue, 23 Feb 2021 07:03:00 -040043:19falsefull1331A Story of Resilience by Martha ValenciaA Story of Resilience by Martha ValenciaWe asked six resilient leaders to share a story of resilience with us. We originally planned to include a “Story of Resilience” segment at the end of each episode. Not surprisingly, each story we recorded was incredible and inspiring! We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these stories and feared you might if they were at the end of episodes. So, our six episode podcast now includes six additional bonus episodes! Each bonus episode features a leader’s answer to our invitation to “tell us a story of resilience.” Each leader shares a story that is powerful, poetic, and deeply personal. We are really grateful for their vulnerability and hope their stories will inspire you as they did us. 

 

In our first Bonus Episode, Martha Valencia shares the story of her congregation’s partnership with a church in Honduras and her friendship with their pastor who has faced significant challenges, including helping his already poverty-stricken congregation navigate two hurricanes and a pandemic. His example of resilient leadership has inspired and sustained Martha as she grieves the loss of her mother to Covid-19 while continuing to lead her congregation through these difficult times.

 

Martha Valencia 

Rev. Martha Valencia is the Senior Pastor of Elmwood-El Buen Samaritano UMC in Dallas, Texas.

QUOTES

  • “What he started to do was visit members one by one on his bicycle and go outside of their homes and simply share a word of encouragement and love from outside their homes, from outside their door, outside their window.” -Martha Valencia [05:39]
  • “Every time we talk to him, it is “Blessed it be in the name of the Lord.’” -Martha Valencia [08:16]

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:07] Martha meets Pastor Lara
  • [04:51] Pastor Lara’s shares the word of God
  • [06:56] Hurricanes hit Honduras

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>We asked six resilient leaders to share a story of resilience with us. We originally planned to include a “Story of Resilience” segment at the end of each episode. Not surprisingly, each story we recorded was incredible and inspiring! We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these stories and feared you might if they were at the end of episodes. So, our six episode podcast now includes six additional bonus episodes! Each bonus episode features a leader’s answer to our invitation to “tell us a story of resilience.” Each leader shares a story that is powerful, poetic, and deeply personal. We are really grateful for their vulnerability and hope their stories will inspire you as they did us. 

 

In our first Bonus Episode, Martha Valencia shares the story of her congregation’s partnership with a church in Honduras and her friendship with their pastor who has faced significant challenges, including helping his already poverty-stricken congregation navigate two hurricanes and a pandemic. His example of resilient leadership has inspired and sustained Martha as she grieves the loss of her mother to Covid-19 while continuing to lead her congregation through these difficult times.

 

Martha Valencia 

Rev. Martha Valencia is the Senior Pastor of Elmwood-El Buen Samaritano UMC in Dallas, Texas.

QUOTES

  • “What he started to do was visit members one by one on his bicycle and go outside of their homes and simply share a word of encouragement and love from outside their homes, from outside their door, outside their window.” -Martha Valencia [05:39]
  • “Every time we talk to him, it is “Blessed it be in the name of the Lord.’” -Martha Valencia [08:16]

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [02:07] Martha meets Pastor Lara
  • [04:51] Pastor Lara’s shares the word of God
  • [06:56] Hurricanes hit Honduras

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS


If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/055ad310-8b38-3e6c-9fa3-49f984f338cbThu, 18 Feb 2021 14:51:05 -040010:31falsefull1221<p style="font-weight:400;">We asked six resilient leaders to share a story of resilience with us. We originally planned to include a “Story of Resilience” segment at the end of each episode. Not surprisingly, each story we recorded was incredible and inspiring! We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these stories and feared you might if they were at the end of episodes. So, our six episode podcast now includes six additional bonus episodes! Each bonus episode features a leader’s answer to our invitation to “tell us a story of resilience.” Each leader shares a story that is powerful, poetic, and deeply personal. We are really grateful for their vulnerability and hope their stories will inspire you as they did us. </p> <p style="font-weight:400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight:400;">In our first Bonus Episode, Martha Valencia shares the story of her congregation’s partnership with a church in Honduras and her friendship with their pastor who has faced significant challenges, including helping his already poverty-stricken congregation navigate two hurricanes and a pandemic. His example of resilient leadership has inspired and sustained Martha as she grieves the loss of her mother to Covid-19 while continuing to lead her congregation through these difficult times.</p> <p style="font-weight:400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight:400;">Martha Valencia </p> <p style="font-weight:400;">Rev. Martha Valencia is the Senior Pastor of Elmwood-El Buen Samaritano UMC in Dallas, Texas.</p> <p> </p> <p>QUOTES</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">“What he started to do was visit members one by one on his bicycle and go outside of their homes and simply share a word of encouragement and love from outside their homes, from outside their door, outside their window.” -Martha Valencia [05:39]</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">“Every time we talk to him, it is “Blessed it be in the name of the Lord.’” -Martha Valencia [08:16]</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>TIMESTAMPS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">[00:00] Intro</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[02:07] Martha meets Pastor Lara</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[04:51] Pastor Lara’s shares the word of God</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">[06:56] Hurricanes hit Honduras</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS</p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;"><a href='https://www.elmwoodmethodistchurch.org/'>Elmwood-El Buen Samaritano UMC in Dallas</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?</p> <p>Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/assets/images/12.21.20_Reservoirs-of-Resilience.pdf'>here</a>.</p> <p>This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit <a href='https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry'>https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry</a>.</p> Resilient Leadership with Dr. Tod BolsingerResilient Leadership with Dr. Tod BolsingerIn this episode of Reservoirs of Resilience podcast, Lisa Greenwood, Vice President of Leadership Ministry at Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF), and Bishop Janice Huie, who works in Leadership Formation at TMF, speak with Dr. Tod Bolsinger, Senior Congressional Strategist and Associate Professor of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary. Dr. Bolsinger offers insight on what resilient leadership looks like today. He describes the character qualities required of a resilient leader, how stress makes a leader and why anyone facing constant resistance should keep leading.

 

QUOTES

  • “The hardest thing about leading change is having to grapple with our own vulnerability.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [15:12]
  • “Empathy is what we need for leadership. Because when you attuned to people and they feel cared for, they will trust you and go further into their own pain and further into their own discomfort if they don’t.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [20:21]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:26] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:01] An overview of the six episodes of this podcast
  • [05:23] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing about resilience
  • [08:49] Meet Dr. Tod Bolsinger
  • [09:50] How Dr. Bolsinger thinks about resilience
  • [11:16] Crucible of change
  • [13:52] Blacksmithing metaphor
  • [18:27] Character qualities of a resilient leader
  • [21:38] Why work so hard to face resistance and how stress can make a leader
  • [29:30] What does tempered resilience mean for a pastor today
  • [32:51] What Dr. Bolsinger means by Rule of Life and why it’s important
  • [36:45] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [38:36] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [41:44] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS


 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Follow Tod Bolsinger: @todbol

 

For more resources from Tod and his team, text change to 66866.

 

Find out more about the De Pree Center Church Leadership Initiative at depree.org/church.

 

Tod Bolsinger is the author of Canoeing the Mountains, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, and most recently, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change.

 

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

 

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

 

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>In this episode of Reservoirs of Resilience podcast, Lisa Greenwood, Vice President of Leadership Ministry at Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF), and Bishop Janice Huie, who works in Leadership Formation at TMF, speak with Dr. Tod Bolsinger, Senior Congressional Strategist and Associate Professor of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary. Dr. Bolsinger offers insight on what resilient leadership looks like today. He describes the character qualities required of a resilient leader, how stress makes a leader and why anyone facing constant resistance should keep leading.

 

QUOTES

  • “The hardest thing about leading change is having to grapple with our own vulnerability.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [15:12]
  • “Empathy is what we need for leadership. Because when you attuned to people and they feel cared for, they will trust you and go further into their own pain and further into their own discomfort if they don’t.” -Dr. Tod Bolsinger [20:21]

 

TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:00] Intro
  • [00:26] Bishop Huie reads from Reservoirs of Resilience
  • [03:01] An overview of the six episodes of this podcast
  • [05:23] An excerpt of Bishop Huie’s writing about resilience
  • [08:49] Meet Dr. Tod Bolsinger
  • [09:50] How Dr. Bolsinger thinks about resilience
  • [11:16] Crucible of change
  • [13:52] Blacksmithing metaphor
  • [18:27] Character qualities of a resilient leader
  • [21:38] Why work so hard to face resistance and how stress can make a leader
  • [29:30] What does tempered resilience mean for a pastor today
  • [32:51] What Dr. Bolsinger means by Rule of Life and why it’s important
  • [36:45] Rapid fire round with three sentences
  • [38:36] Bishop Huie’s reflections and takeaways
  • [41:44] Outro

 

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS


 

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes?

 

Follow Tod Bolsinger: @todbol

 

For more resources from Tod and his team, text change to 66866.

 

Find out more about the De Pree Center Church Leadership Initiative at depree.org/church.

 

Tod Bolsinger is the author of Canoeing the Mountains, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian, and most recently, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change.

 

Reservoirs of Resilience is inspired by the monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie. Read the full publication here.

 

"That's Something" music and lyrics by Billy Crockett, © 2016 Spare Room Music, BMI, from the album In Session (with Roscoe Beck), Blue Rock Artists, 2020

 

"Resilience" music by Billy Crockett, © 2021 Spare Room Music, BMI

This podcast is brought to you by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. For more information and to support TMF’s Leadership Ministry, visit https://tmf-fdn.org/leadership-ministry.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/02473fb6-01b3-3755-850a-57208e5be5ceTue, 16 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -040042:31falsefull1111Reservoirs of Resilience: An IntroductionReservoirs of Resilience: An IntroductionWhat do leaders need in this moment of unprecedented challenge and change? 

Resilience. This podcast from Texas Methodist Foundation’s Leadership Ministry is based on Bishop Janice Huie’s publication “Reservoirs of Resilience.” Each episode is packed with insights and inspiration from people who lead with hope, purpose, and courage. The stories and ideas they share will encourage and equip you to deepen your capacity for resilience so that you can not only survive in this challenging season, but thrive and even strive for the world God imagines.

]]>What do leaders need in this moment of unprecedented challenge and change? 

Resilience. This podcast from Texas Methodist Foundation’s Leadership Ministry is based on Bishop Janice Huie’s publication “Reservoirs of Resilience.” Each episode is packed with insights and inspiration from people who lead with hope, purpose, and courage. The stories and ideas they share will encourage and equip you to deepen your capacity for resilience so that you can not only survive in this challenging season, but thrive and even strive for the world God imagines.

]]>psimmonsd.podbean.com/514689b8-3822-3bd7-893c-f1bf743f4183Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:24:21 -040005:29falsebonus11<p>What do leaders need in this moment of unprecedented challenge and change? </p> <p>Resilience. This podcast from Texas Methodist Foundation’s Leadership Ministry is based on Bishop Janice Huie’s publication “Reservoirs of Resilience.” Each episode is packed with insights and inspiration from people who lead with hope, purpose, and courage. The stories and ideas they share will encourage and equip you to deepen your capacity for resilience so that you can not only survive in this challenging season, but thrive and even strive for the world God imagines.</p>