Pod Have Mercy

Today we talk about the Book of Joel, an ancient prophetic text, and discover its astonishing parallels with the contemporary Christian Church. We explore the timeless wisdom and insights embedded within this often overlooked book, revealing its striking relevance to our present-day faith and community. We'll navigate through themes of repentance, restoration, and revival, drawing connections between the historical context of Joel's time and the spiritual landscape of today.

This week on the podcast we discuss Russell Moore's book, Losing Our Religion. We also reflect on an article that Moore wrote about exile. We catch up on what John and Matt have been up to lately and we cover many more topics!

Matt and John are back in studio after an extended summer break. Today we discuss what they've been up to the past few months and what is coming for the future of the podcast! We also reflect on an article written by David French called, "How Did America Get Mean?".

Today we are joined by Rev. DeAndre Johnson, Rev. Lindsay Kirkpatrick and Rev. David Horton. We talk about their experiences as young clergy, why they remain in The United Methodist Church and their hopes for the future!

Today we are joined by Bishop Thomas Bickerton!

As a respected bishop, Bishop Bickerton carries immense responsibilities, serving on the General Board of Global Ministries, the Standing Committee on Central Conference affairs, and the Commission on the General Conference. With an impressive tenure that spans several decades, he brings a wealth of knowledge and a true global perspective to our conversations.

From his early days as a student pastor in West Virginia to his transformational leadership in Western Pennsylvania and beyond, Bishop Bickerton's impact on countless lives is immeasurable. His dedication to the growth and vitality of local churches has resulted in remarkable milestones, including significant increases in baptisms, professions of faith, and church membership.

Beyond the walls of the church, Bishop Bickerton has engaged in ministry across the globe, working with Volunteer-in-Mission teams in diverse locations such as Africa, Argentina, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Cuba, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. These experiences have provided him with a profound understanding of the importance of ministering to all of God's children.

With a passion for equipping others, Bishop Bickerton has authored the book "What Are We Fighting For: Coming Together Around What Matters Most," accompanied by enriching study resources. His influential voice is also featured as a contributing author in the book "The Future of the United Methodist Church."

Join us as we explore the depths of Bishop Bickerton's faith, his vision for the church, and his unwavering commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and uplifted by the remarkable journey of Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton.

Today we are joined by Bishop Michael McKee! Bishop McKee is the dean of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. He has served as episcopal leader of the North Texas Annual Conference since his election by the South Central Jurisdiction in 2012, and he retired from that position on January 1, 2023.

We catch up with Bishop McKee and his involvement at the Texas Annual Conference and about his hopes for the future of The United Methodist Church.

This week we are recording at the Texas Annual Conference and we are joined by 3 pastors who are planting new churches! Rev. David Briggs, Rev. Shuler Sitsch and Rev. Jennifer Hodson talk about the process of planting new churches, what God is doing in their communities and their hopes for the future of the United Methodist Church and their congregations.

The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery is the dean of Duke University Chapel and associate professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School. A national leader in the theological study of the art of preaching, Powery regularly delivers sermons at Duke Chapel as well as at churches throughout the United States and abroad. He is often a keynote speaker and lecturer at educational institutions, conferences, symposia, and retreats.

His teaching and research interests are located at the intersection of preaching, worship, pneumatology, and culture, particularly expressions of the African diaspora. He is the author of Spirit Speech: Lament and Celebration in Preaching; Dem Dry Bones: Preaching, Death, and Hope; Rise Up, Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals; and Were You There? Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals. He has co-authored an introductory textbook on preaching, Ways of the Word: Learning to Preach for Your Time and Place. He is also a general editor of the nine-volume lectionary commentary series for preaching and worship titled Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship.

This week we talk about how the parallels between spiritual formation and Live Oak trees and how faith communities can act as a root system to hold each other together through times of crisis.

Today we catch up with John and Matt. Matt has been out for the last few weeks of the podcast so we talk about his recent trip to Cambridge where he spent time teaching and preaching. We discuss some recent news about The Southern Baptist convention and women in ministry. We talk about how The Church of England is exploring gender neutral terms to refer to God in prayers and much more!

Bishop Mande Muyombo was elected to the episcopacy in 2017. He is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Bishop Muyombo joins us in studio this week to talk UMC issues and how we need to revive, renew and reclaim who we have always been as United Methodists. 

This week we are joined by Joy Johnston and Andrew Wolfe. Joy and Andrew are two new pastor's here at Chapelwood. We get to know a little bit about their background and we also talk about mental health, trauma and what they are experiencing both here at Chapelwood and in other communities around Houston. 

Today we are joined by Chris Kolkhorst. Chris started a podcast called The Gritmen Show. The Gritmen Show is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of grit, something we believe may be on the verge of extinction. The show features entertaining interviews and discussions of grit in popular culture, news, sports and history. Most of all, this show highlights stories of grit and how we can pass this endangered trait along to our next generation.

In this episode we talk about Chris's career as a baseball player start with The Rice Owls and later getting drafted by The San Diego Padres and playing Double-A Baseball. We talk grit, faith and much more. 

This week we are joined by Paul Meiller and Joseph Rios. Paul is the newly appointed pastor of Chapelwood's Fair Haven Campus. Joseph is the pastor of Generations, the Spanish ministry at Chapelwood. Today we discuss how Paul made his way to Chapelwood, his process of joining forces with Joseph Rios to build community in Spring Branch and much more! 

Today we are doing a special Christmas pop-up episode! Before we break for the holiday's, Matt and John are in studio to talk about the 8 strangest Christmas traditions on earth. We talk about their holiday plans, some exciting things coming up at Chapelwood over the holidays and much more! 

This episode is part two of a conversation with Dr. Russell Levenson. In this episode John and Russell talk about officiating weddings and some of the mishaps that have occurred over the years. They discuss how the Episcopal Church dealt with some of the issues that the United Methodist Church are dealing with now and how Russell leads his congregation and prioritizes unity. 

This week we are joined by Bishop Gary Mueller and Bishop Janice Huie. We talk about how they became bishops and their path to the ministry. We also discuss the importance of having hopeful conversations about the future of The UMC. 

A bishop in the United Methodist Church, Professor Willimon served as the dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian ministry at Duke University for 20 years. He returned to Duke after serving as the bishop of the North Alabama Conference from 2004 to 2012. He has taught in Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia in various seminaries. He is a trustee of Wofford College, Emory University, and serves on the Dean’s Committee of Yale Divinity School.   Willimon is the author of over 70 books. His Worship as Pastoral Care was selected as one of the 10 most useful books for pastors in 1979 by the Academy of Parish Clergy. More than a million copies of his books have been sold. His articles have appeared in many publications including Theology Today, Interpretation, Liturgy, and Christianity Today. He is editor-at-large for The Christian Century. His book Pastor: the Theology and Practice of Ordained Leadership is used in dozens of seminaries in the United States and Asia.

Today we talk about current news in The United Methodist Church, disaffiliation and Professor Willimon's time as a Bishop in The UMC.

This week we talk about everything from millennial church demographics to William Shatner's trip to space. We look at some recent news around Black Friday and the excitement for upcoming holiday traditions. 

Justin Posey has worked as a graphic designer and creative director for Bethel and Jesus Culture. He joins us today in person from Louisiana! We talk about art and the church and how we can use social media to create "real" relationships. 

Today is the 100th episode of Pod Have Mercy!! We are joined again by Michael Gienger. Pastor Michael Gienger has a vision of building a community at Galveston Central Church, where all are welcome, regardless of socioeconomic status. Today we talk about how Michael is giving back to the community in Galveston and we hear some stories of impact.

http://galvestoncentralchurch.com

This week we are joined by Ivan Rhone. Ivan has been the Director of the Kitchen Ministry at Chapelwood for 23 years. We talk about Ivan's life and how he ministers to people through cooking. 

Bishop Mande Muyombo was elected to the episcopacy in 2017. He is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Today we have a perspective shift as we talk with Bishop Muyombo and hear his point of view on the differences within the United Methodist Church. 

John and Matt have a zoom conversation with Dr. Jerry Webber where they discuss The Academy for Spiritual Formation, the difference between therapy and spiritual direction, and we get a special FaceTime call from John's daughter! Dr. Webber is the founder of Chapelwood's Center for Christian Spirituality where he served as lead pastor for 18 years. He is now a teacher, spiritual guide, writer, and retreat leader by vocation.

This week we check in after a long summer break to kick off the fall. John and Matt discuss the difference between friends and allies and adversaries and enemies. 

Lo Alaman is a spoken word poet, writer, and preacher. Today we discuss how Lo has processed grief throughout his life and how God continues to lead him through that. We discuss some of the narratives in the christian life that need to change and we hear some poetry from Lo!

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 an Auburn Senior Fellow, a contributor to We Stand With Love, and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors and church planters.

This week we are recording in Lake Charles, Louisiana! We are joined by Joseph Patty and Evan Nehring to talk about Chapelwood's annual mission trip called Summit. We discuss the work that the team has been doing in the community and also the impact that serving has had on the youth and adult leaders who are attending. 

This week we are joined by Ted Campbell. Dr. Campbell is a member of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and currently serves as co-chair of the AAR’s Wesleyan Studies Group. He also belongs to the American Society of Church History, and the Wesleyan Theological Society. He is currently the Albert C. Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at SMU Perkins School Of Theology. 

Today we continue to discuss the United Methodist Church and Ted gives insight into how the church can move forward. 

Bishop David Graves was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdiction in 2016. He is the Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Area, which includes the Alabama-West Florida Conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.

Today we discuss denominational issues and how Bishop Graves is leading his districts through these times. We discuss how the book of discipline has changed over time and how to live and lead with a Wesleyan lens of grace.