January 2024 – UMC.org Podcasts

How social media transformed a fading congregation with Caleb Lines

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We’re kicking off season 8! In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Caleb Lines, a pastor who has led his congregation through a remarkable transformation. Caleb shares the challenges his church faced, from vandalism to financial instability, and how they overcame these obstacles through innovative strategies, including a strong social media presence and creative repurposing of church facilities. Join us as we uncover the power of digital outreach, alternative income streams, and the unwavering commitment to community engagement.

Rev. Dr. Caleb J. Lines is senior pastor at University Christian Church in San Diego, CA. He is the author of The Great Digital Commission: Embracing Social Media for Church Growth and Transformation (Cascade Books, 2021), which quickly reached #1 on Amazon’s New Releases for Church Growth. His views on the intersection of religion and public life have been featured in diverse local, national, and international publications. Caleb is also the Co-Executive Director and board member of Progressive Christianity.org, treasurer of the national board of Jubilee USA Network, and Co-Host of the popular podcast “The Moonshine Jesus Show“.

In this episode:
(00:00) “Digital parish offers innovative strategies for ministry.”
(05:48) Started with minimal staff, emphasized digital ministry.
(08:58) Promoting church online, sharing, and engaging community.
(13:17) Social media targets different audiences, builds community.
(14:02) Church authenticity problem hinders religious affiliation decline.
(19:25) Practicing and advocating for social justice online.
(22:57) Think through branding, consistent messaging, diverse content.
(27:17) Assessing and improving church finances for survival.
(29:22) Underutilized church space leads to strategic planning.
(32:05) Considered options, sold land to housing developer.
(35:21) Supporting ministry through alternative income streams.
(41:09) Adaptation led to creativity and dynamic worship.
(42:11) Finding joy in ministry, pursuing dreams.

For more episodes and notes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

The UMC and social witness: a legacy to carry into our future

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The United Methodist Church has a legacy of social witness. Join Dr. Ashley Boggan D. with guests the Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens and John Hill, interim chief executive of the The UMC’s General Board of Church and Society, to discuss the history of the Social Principles and the new Revised Social Principles coming before General Conference 2020 to be held in April 2024.

Learn more or purchase the Revised Social Principles at this link.

The Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens is a noted author and speaker. To pre-order Stephens’ upcoming book, Reckoning Methodism: Mission and Division in the Public Church (Eugene, OR: Cascade, out in March 2024, go to this link.

Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/archivesandhistory.

[126] Church Rethought: Embracing Unconventional Spaces for Community and Spirituality

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We’re talking with Rev. Heather Jallad about the creative, fun and innovative ways that church is coming together and meeting the world. It’s an invitation to Rethink Church.

This episode of Compass dives into new expressions of church like Dinner Church and Messy Church. It’s all inspiring… and it gets us thinking about how we, individually might both connect with spiritual community and how we might become involved in leading the church into new areas of witness.

Rev. Heather Jallad serves as the Associate Director of Training for Fresh Expressions NA, Community Engagement Pastor at Cannon UMC in Snellville, Georgia, and as a Specialist for the North Georgia Annual Conference. She pioneered the Common Ground Network, a network of fresh church expressions and The Douglasville Dinner Church in Douglasville, GA and a collaborative Dinner Church in Grayson, GA.

In this episode:
(00:00) Reverend Heather Jallad’s inspiring work on church.
(04:24) Introduced to dinner church, partnered with school.
(08:19) Fresh expression emphasizes mutuality and shared meals.
(11:21) Adapting church to fit modern schedules and lifestyles.
(14:56) Church planters stumbled onto non-traditional methods.
(24:34) Pandemic of loneliness, longing for community meals.
(30:29) Traditional roles expanded to engage new members.
(32:39) Promoting house churches for effective discipleship.
(35:37) Recognition of Pioneers in the church community.
(45:18) Geeky church models dive complete.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Find show notes and more episodes of Compass: www.umc.org/compass

Wellness in 2024: Divine inspiration meets Wesleyan wisdom

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The topic of health and wellness isn’t new to the 21^st century.

Numerous Scriptures encourage us to take care of ourselves, reminding us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote a book on the topic titled “Primitive Physick,” and encouraged 18^th century clergy to both care for their parishioners’ physical needs as much as their spiritual ones. Lorry Mpindu, a Global Health leader with The UMC’s General Board of Global Ministries, discusses the vital reasons the church needs to talk about all areas of health == the physical, mental and spiritual — to fulfill John 10:10 when Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.

Connecting with the Disabled Community with Rev. Melissa Pisco

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On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we welcome Rev. Melissa Pisco to talk about how a ministry that is intentionally inclusive of people with disabilities can offer a way to connect with those who are not yet a part of your church.

For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to:

https://www.defininggrace.com/

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We’d love your input! Send ideas to podcast@umcom.org

Multiplying Love: The Wesleyan vision for a polarized world

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Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, welcomes her guest, the Rev. Dr. Paul Chilcote, renowned Wesley scholar, to discuss his new book, “Multiplying Love: A Vision of United Methodist Life Together.” During the conversation, Chilcote asserts that in a world that is radically divided, we don’t need a bold witness, but, rather, a gracious witness that is centered on holiness connected to love and not law.

Learn more or purchase “Multipyling Love: A Vision of United Methodist Life Together” at Cokesbury.com.

Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/archivesandhistory.

[125] Cultivating everyday spirituality in 2024 with Abigail Browka

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In this episode, we sit down with Abigail Browka, the curator of the Everyday Sanctuary app, and we get into the importance of real-life experiences and faith journeys.

Pastor Abigail shares profound insights into tapping into creative spirituality, from the necessity of supporting one another in our spiritual paths to the role of brief, accessible spiritual practices in our daily lives. Together we’re going to explore the significance of daily spiritual practices, silent retreats, and the emergence of new spiritual practices and faith communities. This episode promises to inspire a deeper understanding of spirituality and encourage you to embrace it in your everyday life.

Abigail Browka is the founder and curator of the Everyday Sanctuary mobile app, which was launched in 2021 during the pandemic. With the intent to bring sacred practices into everyday life, Abigail created the app to provide a satisfying spiritual practice in less than 5 minutes, no matter where you are. Her goal is to make it easy for people to connect with God, whether they are at the doctor’s office, in the carpool line, or at a friend’s house. She also hosts a podcast as another way to help people find their spiritual connection. If you’ve followed our related Rethink Church social media accounts, you’ve seen Abigail as we feature a spiritual practice from her on those channels every Thursday.

In this episode
[00:00] Compass podcast promotes spiritual awareness and gratitude.
[04:58] Busy individuals finding God in everyday life.
[10:22] Creating accessible, 5-minute spiritual connections through app.
[14:02] Affirming daily spiritual practice and benefits of silence.
[15:09] Quiet space allows for reflection and appreciation.
[19:11] Emerging ministries adapting to changing world.
[21:53] Harvard study shows importance of healthy relationships.
[26:22] Community participation in events creates connections.
[30:14] Frequent contact, but infrequent meaningful conversations.
[33:18] Explore spiritual practices, share your experiences, and inspire.

For show notes and more episodes of Compass, visit www.umc.org/compass

GC worship leader blends diversity and ministry

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Serving as worship leader at The United Methodist Church’s General Conference is a feat that Raymond Trapp is embracing by offering music that both showcases the diversity of the church and also meets people at their point of need. Trapp shares insights into his musical strategy, his selfcare routine for the 11-day event and how he believes the General Conference theme of “And know that I am God” is not to be seen as a command, but rather as a reassurance to the entire denomination.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.