Igniting Imagination

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 #HumanFlourishingGuestRev. 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.LinksVisit our show’s website at www.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.GuestReverend 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestRev. 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.LinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostDr. 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.GuestReverend 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.LinksVisit 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.LinksVisit 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. GuestBishop 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 #ServantLeadershipLinksVisit 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 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.GuestTeRay 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestTiffani 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. LinksVisit 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. GuestLorenzo 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestsJames 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.LinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestsAnna Del CastilloAnna 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 PackardDr. 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.LinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. Dr. Gil RendleGil 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestsRev. 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.LinksVisit 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. GuestsDr. 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestTim 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestCasper 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.LinksVisit 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. GuestRev. 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.LinksVisit 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.GuestRev. 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro05:46 - Exploring Meaning and Community18:48 - The People's Supper: A New Approach to Community Engagement28:12 - The Nature of Sacred Spaces34:20 - The Role of Play in Spiritual Imagination43:19 - Foundations of Spiritual FormationLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. Dr. Gil RendleGil 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro05:30 - Understanding Movements and Their Impact on Congregational Identity15:17 - Exploring Refugia in Contemporary Faith Practices30:19 - Navigating Chaos: The Intersection of Physics and Faith35:52 - Claiming Purpose in a Changing WorldLinksVisit 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.

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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. Dr. Gil RendleGil 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.LinksVisit 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. HostRev. 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. GuestGreg 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. LinksVisit 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? Climate Ready Neighborhoods: Fieldguide: Your introduction to Climate Ready Neighborhoods.Community Connections Plan: A system to build deeper community.Climate Ready Resource Library: Spreadsheet of accessible links and resources to build community resilience.HostRev. 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. GuestsSarah 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.LinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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. GuestsRev. 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!LinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestTiffany 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro06:27 - Exploring the Shift in Church and Nonprofit Relationships30:09 - Addressing Food Deserts and Community Health41:18 - The Importance of Compassion in Feeding Ministries44:24 - The Power of Grace in CommunityLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestRev. 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro06:30 - What is BOON?09:27 - The Birth of a Network: Addressing Gaps in Faith Support26:00 - Understanding the Role of Influencers in Youth Development35:23 - Legacy and the Next Generation39:33 - Exploring the Essence of Faith Beyond RitualsLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestLeslee 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro06:06 - Introducing Leslie Matthews: A Voice for Justice13:32 - Rooted in Faith: Justice and Compassion26:27 - Finding Support in Difficult Times34:21 - Embracing Love and HealingLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestPastor 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?”Timestamps00:00 - Intro08:11 - Innovative Ministry in St. Louis15:37 - The Role of the Church as a Deployment Center27:41 - Building Community Through Equity and Reconciliation39:25 - Community Resilience and Future Visions42:10 - Embracing New Beginnings in the ChurchLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestSamantha 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro08:01 - The Founding of Andrée Collective16:02 - Dreaming of a Safe Future: The Role of Resources in Recovery23:07 - New Models of Ministry40:21 - Challenges and Solutions in Nonprofit Work46:50 - Embracing New PossibilitiesLinksVisit 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.HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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.GuestOrdained 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro07:58 - Introducing Josh Hayashi and Mission Management10:29 - The Intersection of Church and Community Needs25:23 - Resurrection and Hope in Challenging Times39:42 - Navigating Church Challenges and DiscontentLinksVisit 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!HostRev. 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-HostRev. 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!GuestRev. 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.Timestamps00:00 - Intro03:03 - Launching a Season of Transformation08:51 - Introduction to Holy: A Manifesto for the Future of Faith Communities15:19 - Transitioning from Ministry to Community Support37:34 - Exploring New Models of Community EngagementLinksVisit 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-HostsRev. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestDr. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestRev. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestsRev. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestsJoe 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 questionsLinksVisit 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 relationshipsCo-HostsShannon 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.GuestsBrenda 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestPastor 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestRev. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestThe 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestPastor 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestRev. 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 questionsLinksVisit 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-HostsShannon 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.GuestBob 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 questionsLinksVisit 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 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.GuestShannon 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 UsesLinksVisit 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 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.GuestsRev. 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 InnovationLinksVisit 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.GuestsRev. 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 LifeLinksVisit 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. GuestsRev. 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 InnovationsLinksVisit 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. GuestsRev. 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 ChurchLinksVisit 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.GuestsVipin 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 ChurchLinksVisit 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.GuestsRev. 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 ImpactsLinksVisit 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.