Belonging, Becoming, Beloved: Stories of Faith and Abundance

What does it mean to truly belong? In this episode of Belonging, Becoming, Beloved, Sean and Frances sit down with Bruce Grady, Executive Presbyter of New Hope Presbytery, to explore the power of belonging, the importance of community, and the courage required to create space for others. Drawing from his experiences in ministry, higher education, and his own journey as an African American leader, Bruce reflects on the people who shaped him, the barriers he encountered, and the mentors who reminded him that he had everything he needed to fulfill God's calling on his life. Together they discuss how churches can move beyond simply welcoming people to helping them truly belong. Bruce shares stories of faith, education, racial justice, and leadership, emphasizing that every person brings gifts, wisdom, and value to the community. The conversation explores how exclusion harms both those who are excluded and those doing the excluding, and why the church is called to create spaces where all people can flourish as beloved children of God. Along the way, they reflect on family, mentorship, the next generation, the role of education, and the hope that comes from building communities rooted in dignity, relationship, and God's vision of shalom. This is a conversation about faithfulness, courage, and what becomes possible when we remember that we belong to one another.

In this episode, Sean Chow and Frances Lin sit down with José Rivera, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Juan, to explore what it means for Puerto Rico to host the 228th General Assembly in 2028. More than a logistical undertaking, José describes the Assembly as “a spiritual act” and “a pastoral gesture” for the Presbyterian Church in Puerto Rico. José shares the rich history of Presbyterianism on the island, the unique story of the Presbytery of San Juan, and the excitement surrounding the opportunity to welcome the wider church. The conversation explores challenges facing congregations today, including aging membership, leadership development, bivocational ministry, and cultivating the next generation of pastors and church leaders. The discussion also highlights ecumenical partnerships across Puerto Rico, the role of women in church leadership, strategic planning for the future, and the importance of collaboration among congregations and denominations. Throughout the conversation, José offers a hopeful vision rooted in faith, community, and trust that God equips the church for the work to which it is called. Along the way, listeners will learn about Puerto Rican culture, food, coffee, hospitality, and why hosting General Assembly represents an important milestone for the church on the island.

What does faithful mission look like in a world shaped by migration, displacement, and deep division? In this episode, Sean and Frances sit down with Joseph Russ, Global Ecumenical Liaison for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to explore how the church is responding to the realities of migration in the United States, Central America, and beyond. Drawing on nearly a decade of ministry in El Salvador, Joseph shares stories of accompaniment, partnership, and hope. Together they discuss the Mesoamerica Migration and Mission Network, the changing landscape of global mission, and how local congregations can connect with a broader community of faith across borders. Most importantly, this conversation reminds us that mission is not simply something that happens somewhere else. It begins wherever people are seeking belonging, justice, and hope. In a time when many wonder what role the church can play, Joseph offers a compelling vision of a church that shows up, builds relationships, and joins the work God is already doing in the world. Join us for a conversation about migration, mission, connection, and the hope that emerges when we accompany one another across borders and differences.

Bobby Musengwa joins Frances and Sean for a conversation about God's abundance, the danger of scarcity thinking, and why no one in the church is optional. Together they explore belonging, the importance of young people in their formative years, and what it means to create communities where every person has a voice, a place, and the opportunity to become who God is calling them to be.

What does faithful leadership look like when communities are separated by thousands of miles, churches feel forgotten, and public life is marked by deep division? In this episode of Belonging, Becoming, Beloved, Sean and Frances sit down with Elizabeth Schultz, Executive Presbyter of Yukon Presbytery, and Rev. Matt Schultz, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage and candidate for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Together they share stories from Alaska’s vast and diverse landscape, where congregations range from urban centers to remote Indigenous villages accessible only by plane. Elizabeth reflects on the challenges and joys of serving churches across Alaska, the importance of showing up, listening deeply, and reminding communities that they have not been forgotten. She shares powerful stories of Indigenous faith communities, local leadership, and the surprising ways God continues to work through churches facing significant challenges. Matt discusses his discernment to run for public office, how ministry has shaped his understanding of leadership, and why compassion, integrity, and service remain essential in both church and civic life. He reflects on the common hopes people share across political divides and the importance of listening before speaking. Throughout the conversation, themes of connection, hope, vocation, and faithful presence emerge. Whether serving a congregation, a presbytery, or an entire state, both Elizabeth and Matt remind us that leadership begins with relationships and that God is often at work in places many overlook.

In this special episode, hosts Sean Chow and Frances Lin turn the microphone on themselves. As they continue their journey toward General Assembly, they take time to share their stories, their friendship, and the experiences that have shaped their vision for the church. Sean and Frances reflect on their paths into ministry, from church planting and new worshiping communities to presbytery leadership. They discuss the risks, failures, and moments of faith that have formed them, and why they continue to believe that God is not finished with the church. Together they explore themes of abundance over scarcity, belonging over mere hospitality, and the importance of creating space for voices that are often overlooked. They share stories of congregations finding new ways forward, leaders taking courageous risks, immigrant communities seeking a place at the table, and the many signs of hope they see across the Presbyterian Church and beyond. This conversation is an invitation to look beyond anxiety and decline narratives and to trust that God is still at work—in small churches, innovative ministries, unexpected partnerships, and faithful people willing to step into the unknown.

What happens when a church stops asking how to survive and starts asking how to serve? In this episode, Sean and Frances sit down with Commissioned Pastor Kevin Riley of Mount Baker Presbyterian Church in Concrete, Washington. Kevin shares his remarkable journey from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to pastoral leadership, reflecting on the mentors, congregations, and moments of grace that shaped his call to ministry. The conversation explores how a small rural congregation embraced risk, innovation, and community partnership to become a catalyst for transformation. Kevin tells the story of how Mount Baker Presbyterian moved beyond survival mode during the pandemic, investing its resources into the community through food distribution, homelessness initiatives, addiction recovery services, and partnerships that brought life-changing resources to a region often overlooked. Along the way, they discuss leadership, belonging, fundraising, failure, and why churches must be willing to think beyond traditional models of ministry. Kevin offers a compelling vision of a church that measures success not by attendance alone, but by lives changed, communities healed, and people discovering that they truly belong. At its heart, this is a conversation about courage—the courage to fail, to innovate, to trust God's abundance, and to follow the Spirit into places where the church can become exactly what its community needs.

In this episode, Sean and Frances sit down with Rev. Dr. Melissa Allison, pastor, mediator, educator, and co-leader of the Presbytery of Detroit, for a conversation about trust, conflict, and hope in the life of the church. Melissa shares how conflict can become an opportunity for deeper understanding, why belonging must precede agreement, and what it takes to build trust in communities shaped by hurt, history, and division. Together they explore the challenges facing congregations and pastors today, the importance of curiosity in difficult conversations, and how faithful leaders can create space for restoration rather than polarization. Whether discussing church conflict, denominational life, pastoral burnout, or the future of small congregations, Melissa offers a hopeful vision rooted in grace, honesty, and the conviction that God's future is larger than any one of us can see. This episode is a reminder that the church is at its best when it chooses relationship over certainty, restoration over winning, and belonging over division.

What does it mean to belong when fear, uncertainty, and displacement shape daily life? In this conversation, Sean and Frances sit down with Rev. Rafael Viana, pastor of El Camino and Casa Brazil in the Greater Atlanta Presbytery and a leader in the ACCENTS network. Rafael shares stories from immigrant congregations, reflecting on the challenges facing Latino and immigrant communities, the realities of ministry amid immigration uncertainty, and the power of the church to be a place of refuge, friendship, and hope. Together they explore themes of hospitality, belonging, burnout among immigrant pastors, and why the church must move beyond simply making space for people toward truly sharing life, leadership, and mission together. Drawing on concepts like mi casa es su casa, Ubuntu, and Matthew 25, Rafael offers a vision of a church where no one walks alone and where diverse communities help shape the future of the body of Christ. The conversation also highlights the work of ACCENTS, supporting immigrant leaders across the PC(USA), creating networks of friendship, accompaniment, and mutual encouragement in a time when many pastors carry immense personal and vocational burdens. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that the church is not finished. God is still at work, drawing people together across cultures, languages, and experiences into a community where everyone belongs.

This week Frances Lin and Sean Chow had a conversation with Rev. Laura Terasaki, the Executive Presbytery of Northwest Coast Presbytery. We talked about being a young mid-council leader, small churches in Alaska, and jubilee within her presbytery

This last week we had a conversation with Rev. Dr. Deborah Boucher-Payne and Rev. Dr. Juan Sarmiento as they talked about the Task Force for Theology and Practice of Ordination. They have several recommendations coming to the General Assembly.

A fews ago with had a great conversation with Rev. Brian Symonds. We talked about being "with" the community, McCormick and Schmidts during seminary, and the struggles of being a pastor. We invite you to join us as we continue having conversations with some great people.

A few weeks ago we had a great conversation with Rev. Dr. Lindsay Armstrong. Throughout our conversation we talked about Presbytery of Greater Atlanta's history in starting churches, developing resources for immigrant leaders and communities, and even where to get the best tacos in Atlanta.

A few weeks ago we had a great conversation with the Honorably Retired Rev. Dr. Bruce Humphrey. We talked about his service to the church from rural church in Alaska to a large church in San Diego. We invite you to join us for the conversation.

A few weeks ago Frances Lin and Sean Chow had a conversation with Rev. Dr. Felipe Martinez. Our conversation led us to talking about how to listen to the community, medical debt, refugee housing, and more.

What happens after a church conflict ends, but the pain remains? In this episode, Sean and Frances welcome Rev. Dr. Leanna Fuller, Joan Marshall Associate Professor of Pastoral Care at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of a new book on congregational healing and reconciliation. Together they explore why unresolved conflict continues to shape congregations long after the original events have passed, and why healing requires more than simply moving on. Leanna shares practical wisdom for churches seeking to tell the truth about what happened, name grief and loss, confess harm, rebuild trust, and discern a faithful future together. The conversation examines the realities of polarization, the importance of surfacing differences rather than avoiding them, and the role of pastoral care as a shared ministry of the whole community—not just clergy. They also discuss leadership formation, self-differentiation, healthy boundaries, and why reconciliation is not about returning to the past but creating something new. Whether you are a pastor, church leader, or someone navigating broken relationships, this conversation offers hope-filled practices for healing, belonging, and faithful discernment.  

Rev. Sungwoo Sam Kim serves as the Transitional Associate Presbyter for the Presbytery of San Francisco. He brings broad experience in immigrant ministry, new worshiping communities, leadership development, and cross-cultural engagement within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Prior to his current role, he served as leader of Atlanta Oikos Church and as Translational Ministry Coordinator at Columbia Theological Seminary, helping strengthen partnerships with immigrant worshiping communities across the denomination. Sam Kim is known for his work in cultivating intercultural ministry and supporting innovative expressions of church rooted in hospitality, belonging, and community formation. His leadership has emphasized the importance of immigrant voices within the life of the church and the ways diverse cultural perspectives enrich the wider body of Christ

Rev. Dr. Virginia “Gini” Norris-Lane became the executive director of UKirk in July, 2019, after having previously served as campus minister at Schreiner University in Kerrville, TX from 2005-2019. She holds degrees from Temple Junior College (AA), Baylor University (BS in Education), Austin Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). She has been ordained in the PC(USA) since 1999. In addition to coordinating a grant for the PC(USA) from the Lilly Endowment prior to her career in campus ministry, she served congregations in San Antonio, TX, and Conyers, GA. From January, 2021 to August, 2023, she also served as the part-time stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Uvalde, Texas. Gini, as she likes to be called, has written curriculum for the PC(USA) on the book of Revelation, has published articles for the Columbia Theological Seminary journal and Branching Out, the Presbyterian College Chaplains Association publication, and The Presbyterian Outlook. She has led retreats at Mo Ranch and at various congregations across Texas, as well as served on local and national boards for non-profits. Active also in interfaith work, she and her colleague and friend Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann have led workshops on interfaith engagement in San Antonio, Texas and Cleveland, Ohio. She and her husband, Wes Lane, have two sons, Austin and Max, and a daughter, Chrissy Stevens. They live in Kerrville, Texas.

Sam Codington joined the McGregor family as pastor in February of 2025. He grew up as a pastor’s kid in a Presbyterian church in the Upstate of South Carolina. After college, he moved to California and received a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. While he was a pastor in San Diego, he was the moderator of San Diego Presbytery (2023), and he served as a commissioner to the 225th and 226th General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (USA).   He writes at the intersections of liberation theology, postcolonial studies, ecology, and poetry. He has written two books, Listening as Hosts: Liturgically Facing Colonization and White Supremacy (2024) and Searching for Speech: Preaching in the Ruins of the Anthropocene (2026). When he’s not doing churchy things or reading a good book, he enjoys running and walking at the Harbison State Forest and the Congaree National Park. He is married to Esther, and they have a son, Ezra, and a Golden Retriever, Marley