Live from the Siburt Institute

Jennifer Schroeder and Kim Botto discuss doing children’s ministry with children of all personalities and temperaments. Kim discusses how the church has often done ministry in an exclusive way to kids with disabilities or sensitivities and suggests how we can become more inclusive. She offers insight to how leaders can create an environment of calm, being flexible to the needs that children may need, and curious to their needs.

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Robert and Lori Crosby about their work with children who have experienced trauma and how it shapes our work with them in ministry. They share what it looks like to think about ministry through a trauma-informed lens and why that approach fosters an environment that leads to feelings of safety and welcome in the church. Website: https://reachhurtingkids.com Book: Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids by Robert and Lori Crosby

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Tiffany Yecke Brooks about her upcoming book, To Rebehold the Stars, which talks about rebuilding your faith after deconstruction. In this podcast, she shares her insight to how people can navigate faith after deconstruction. She also discusses ways our churches can help others as they are going through deconstruction and how we can equip young people with resources to feel comfortable to ask questions when doubts arise.  Website: tiffanyyeckebrooks.com

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Zane McGee about how we read Scripture as people seeking to be faithful. Zane reflects on the role interpretation plays in every reading, the importance of approaching the Bible as a cohesive story, and practices that help develop greater attentiveness to the text. 

Myles Werntz interviews Wissam Al-Saliby about his life working as an advocate for religious freedom. Growing up in post-war Lebanon, Wissam developed a passion to help the evangelical church in other countries how to handle war and violence as Christians. He also gives advice for people in the American church who want to help churches living in persecution. 

Jennifer Schroeder and Jeremy Marshall explore what it looks like for the church to truly embrace neurodiversity. By naming common ministry practices that are unintentionally exclusive, churches can reimagine ministry and become spaces of belonging, safety, and dignity for people with neurodivergence. Drawing on Jeremy's ministry experience, this conversation offers practical wisdom for cultivating a church where everyone is welcomed and valued. 

Jennifer Schroeder and Wilson McCoy talk about intergenerational ministry on a congregational level, the benefits Wilson has witnessed through his research, and practical ways to shift into ministry that includes people of all ages. In this podcast, Wilson helps define and differentiate between multigenerational ministry and intergenerational ministry and gives insight to what flourishing intergenerational churches can look like.  Wilson’s Book: www.amazon.com/Imagining-All-Generations-Renewed-Intergenerational/dp/1684263433 Website: www.drwilsonmccoy.com/

Jennifer Schroeder and Emily McGowin talk about her book, Households of Faith, and her work on reimagining what a family can look like in the church. Growing up in a non-traditional household, she is passionate about changing our perspective of the church’s definition of “family.” Dr. McGowin shares the importance of changing our view of family in the church and at home in order to create a more unified and God-reflecting community.   Buy Emily McGowin's Book: https://www.ivpress.com/households-of-faith?srsltid=AfmBOoqxo4JIE35GB_xpfYWHcUcS_KbNtK_Evn9kyNDURqvFYH7Zwqqu 

Carson Reed talks with Dudley Chancey and discuss Chancey’s new book, Keep Faith Alive: Grandparents and a Godly Legacy. The discussion will focus on the importance of intentionally telling every generation about the story of the great things that God has done and is doing in our world. Chancey will provide actionable steps for passing the faith along to other generations. This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

Myles Werntz talks with Elizabeth Newman about her work and passions of church unity and incorporating liturgy into non-liturgical communities. They discuss her work in wanting to bring unity with Baptists and other Christian communities as well as her book, Living the Liturgy, which was influenced by her background working with Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist institutions.

Carson Reed talks with Wes Crawford about his new book,Courage in the Sheer Silence: Challenging Racism in 20th Century Churches of Christ. The two discuss 20th-century church leaders and their response to racially motivated social injustice in their day. Explore with them how the lessons of the past can inform the future work of the church. This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

Myles Werntz talks with Jesse Rincones about his journey from studying engineering to law school and now his ministry at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas. Jesse talks about the various initiatives they do within the convention for the Hispanic community in the San Antonio area. 

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Mimi Larson and Lindsey Goetz about the intentional inclusion of children in the faith community. The three discuss ways to invite children to be an active part of the faith community in a way that is counter-cultural to most churches. See below for the website and resources discussed in the conversation. Website: faithandchildren.org Books: Faithful Presence by Dave Fitch Bridging Theory and Practice in Children's Spirituality by Mimi Larson and Robert Keeley Podcasts:  What We've Learned about Kids and Worship - This is the first post in the three-part series by Mimi. The other two posts are linked in this post.  The Child in Our Midst (This is the podcast from the Center for Faith and Children.) Pew Card: 4 Simple Ways to Help Kids Access Worship

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Greg Dowell (executive minister), Mic Biesboer (senior minister), and Gabby Brandner (children's minister), from Central Church of Christ in Amarillo, TX, about their experience with helping new ministers transition well into their role at a church. This episode explores intentional choices that Central made throughout the process with insight into both the challenges and blessings that come with introducing a new staff member into a church.   You can contact our guests at www.amarillocentral.org.

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Sarah Holmes about the important role grandparents play in the faith journey of their family. Dr. Holmes helps us think about ways churches can empower grandparents and grandparent-figures to play an active part in the spiritual lives of their grandchildren and the younger generations within their churches. You can access her published resources at https://cym.ac.uk

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Falon Barton and Rachel Collins about their experiences in ministry with emerging adults, their research of the "dones," and how these two conversations converge to shape how we think of young adult ministry and the church. Their insight provides church leaders with innovative ways to walk alongside emerging adults as they build or rebuild their spiritual lives. Barton and Collins published two articles on their research in Volume 11 Issue 1 of Discernment. Read the articles here: digitalcommons.acu.edu/discernment/vol11/iss1/  You can access the resources discussed in this podcast at www.emerge-collaborative.com/ 

Myles Werntz talks with Ellen Di Giosia about her role as the Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) of Texas. They help the audience get acquainted with what CBF is and how they can utilize its resources. Ellen shared the future goals of CBF and how you can partner with them either in Texas or in your home state. 

Carson Reed talks with Heather Gorman and Mark Nelson about their new book, Lunchroom Theology: Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World. In this podcast, Heather and Mark discuss the theological and sociological origins of the polarization we’re experiencing and then examine how Jesus and the earliest Christians help us think faithfully and creatively about how to push tables together in our fractured world.  This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

In this podcast, Carson Reed talks with Samjung Kang-Hamilton and Mark Hamilton about their new book, Story, Ritual, Prophecy, and Wisdom, as well as offer insight and practical wisdom to the ways that narratives, practices, and forthright speech give rise to healthy, living communities of faith that demonstrate wisdom.  This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

In this episode, Myles Werntz and Ian Harber have a vulnerable conversation about his personal faith journey. Ian discusses his home life growing up, the many losses he has faced, and how the grief in his life affected his walk with God. Through his deconstruction and reconstruction process, Ian Harber discusses his experience with faith deconstruction and how he navigated through this hardship. 

Dr. Carson Reed talks with Dr. Dan Bouchelle in the January Intersection webinar. Dan discusses his work with the Mission Resource Network and how we might we learn from brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.  This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording.   

Myles Werntz talks with Richard Beck about his book, "The Shape of Joy." In this episode, Richard delves into the concepts of joy and self-esteem and their intersection with ministry. 

Join the conversation with Brad East as he discusses ways to minister to those who have left the church, the half-churched. In our generation of living online, Dr. East guides us through the difficulties of sharing the gospel to the Digital Generation.  This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

Myles Werntz and Steve Bezner discuss the topics within Dr. Bezner’s newest book, Jesus is Too American. In this conversation, Steve talks about his journey of leading his Houston church through a sermon series that calls us to lean more into Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount and embody the culture that Jesus calls us to.

Listen to the conversation with Suzie Macaluso about the Church Research Council. Christianity is in decline in the United States today, and so many changes are occurring in our culture as well. However, researchers are at work seeking to learn about what is happening in Churches of Christ. In this Intersection webinar, Dr. Suzie Macaluso will give an overview of cultural and sociological trends as well as tell us about this new research group that is forming to learn about congregations in Churches of Christ in terms of demographics, practices, and other sociological factors. This podcast is a part of our Intersection Webinars. You can listen here or head to our YouTube channel to watch the full webinar recording. 

Myles Werntz talks with Katie Frugé and Irene Gallegos about their work in public advocacy and in helping churches find ways to express a "social witness" through involvement with moral issues in the world, especially hunger and poverty.  Both Dr. Frugé and Dr. Gallegos are members of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Tune in to this timely discussion with Josh Ross about his new book, Coreology: Six Principles for Navigating an Election Season without Losing Your Witness. As we know, it can take hours, weeks, months, maybe even years for people to trust the witness of a Jesus-follower. And yet, we can lose that witness in a moment: with one social media post, a negative encounter, or an insensitive comment. Dozens of voices in our culture are fighting for our attention, affection, and allegiance, and for us Kingdom people, any form of drifting from our core confession of Jesus Christ’s kingship can lead to destruction. If we neglect our core, we lose our center, we lose our balance, and we can hurt our witness. We’ll talk about how to live with passion yet be driven by principles that keep us properly rooted.

Our discussion with Dr. Stephen Bullivant continues as we pivot from the broader religious landscape into Churches of Christ. We will begin with Dr. Bullivant's perspective and intrigue on Churches of Christ and their pioneering of restoration. Then move into how the rise of the "nones" is playing out within Churches of Christ. Since Churches of Christ are not unaffected by the rise of the nones and secularization, how have churches in our context responded to this reality?  This podcast is a recording of our Intersection Teleconference from September 2024. You can watch the conference on our website at www.siburtinstitute.org/intersection. 

Myles Werntz and Helen Paynter discuss her new book on the Bible and violence, and what it means for ministers to lead people well into a violent world. The Reverend Dr. Paynter is Director of Theological Education, Tutor in Biblical Studies, and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College in the United Kingdom.

David Kneip and Anna Carter Florence talk about her work as a preacher and professor of homiletics and her upcoming visit to ACU's Summit gathering.  Topics include the shared love of Scripture among the Churches of Christ and the Presbyterian churches, the importance and opportunities found in reading Scripture in community, connections that the theatre has with preaching, and her newest book A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture.

David Kneip and Travis Akins discuss aspects of planting a congregation and building a new church building.  The conversation grows out of Travis's current experience as the minister of a new church in Oklahoma.  Topics include the process of planting a church and then building a building, obstacles and unexpected blessings along the way, and spiritual resources that helped support the minister and the church.

David Kneip and Candace Nicolds talk about the opportunities and challenges that have come from individuals joining congregations through the live-streaming of worship services.  They discuss Candace's work at the Brookline Church of Christ (Boston, MA), conversations among leadership, and theological implications of pastoral care for online congregants.

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Henry Zonio about why it is so important that our children's ministry resources reflect the diversity of God's kingdom and the impact on our children when they don't. Henry, a leading scholar in this area, pairs sociology with Christian education to help churches and faith based organizations think more intentionally about the work they are doing. This is the second of a two-part conversation. Listen to our next podcast for the entire session!

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Henry Zonio about why it is so important that our children's ministry resources reflect the diversity of God's kingdom and the impact on our children when they don't. Henry, a leading scholar in this area, pairs sociology with Christian education to help churches and faith based organizations think more intentionally about the work they are doing. This is the first of a two-part conversation. Listen to our next podcast for the entire session!

David Kneip and Rivers Rich discuss ministry searches from the perspective of a minister who was just hired on staff at a church. Rivers talks about his experience of searching for a minister position after he graduated from ACU. He gives a unique point of view for both those who are on a search committee and those looking for a position. 

David Kneip and Robert Oglesby discuss ministry searches, specifically focusing on Robert's work with churches and leader groups.  Robert shares about the ways that he helps churches navigate the current shortage of ministers, shares stories of searches gone well and poorly, and provides tips for churches to conduct their searches more wisely and effectively. 

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Traci Smith and David Csinos about how to incorporate intentional faith practices within families, why it is so important even at a very young age, and how churches and ministry leaders can better support their families in this pursuit. Traci and Dave are active scholars and leaders in the field of children's ministry and draw on both their experience and their research to encourage families and churches.

David Kneip and Olivia Nabb discuss ministry search processes.  Olivia is a recent graduate of ACU's Graduate School of Theology, and at the time of recording, she had been interviewing with several churches but had not yet found a position.  She provides important insights for church leaders as they seek to do their searches well, specifically from the often-unheard perspective of a candidate.

David Kneip talks with Josh Stephens and Warren McNeill, two members of a recent search committee at the Monterey Church of Christ in Lubbock, about the process of searching for a minister.  They discuss ways to do a search well, practices to avoid, and the importance of depending on God throughout the process.  During the podcast, Warren and Josh talk a lot about ways that the Siburt Institute has helped them; you can find information about Siburt's consulting services at https://www.siburtinstitute.org/consulting.

David Kneip and Missy Taylor discuss her story of entering ministry in middle age, with the goal of encouraging those volunteering in churches who may be sensing a call into ministry.

David Kneip talks with Sierra Gustafson and Anna Moser, two children's ministers in Churches of Christ, about the importance of sabbaticals in ministry.  They discuss preparing for and entering into sabbaticals, exiting sabbaticals and re-entering ministry, and the challenges of conversations with leaders and ministry partners.  Resources discussed in the podcast include the Siburt Institute's guide for sabbaticals, which can be found at https://www.siburtinstitute.org/downloads, as well as John Mark Comer's book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (available at https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/600096/the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry-by-john-mark-comer-foreword-by-john-ortberg/), and Ruth Haley Barton's Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again (available at https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-rest).

David Kneip and Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby talk about the very current topic of trauma, how prevalent it is in our world and our churches, and things ministers need to know and can do to help.

David Kneip and Steve Hare discuss why it's important for churches to talk about bodies, sex, and desire. Not a "how-to," this episode encourages church leaders to be proactive in helping their congregants build solid theology around the body.

Jennifer Schroeder and Dana Kennamer discuss the spirituality of children and key elements that are essential in fostering the spiritual formation of children in churches.

David Kneip and Josh Kingcade discuss Josh's first year as a preacher after many years in other kinds of ministry. The podcast includes reflections on and recommendations for church leaders involved in ministry transitions.

Jennifer Schroeder and Cheryl Russell discuss the transformative nature of dialogical preaching, where the pulpit becomes a meaningful dialogue between the minister, the congregation, and the message. Explore with Cheryl how dialogical preaching can inspire, challenge, and unite churches and listen as she talks about her church's experience with it.

David Kneip and Kaley Ihfe talk about the challenges that face ministry wives, as well as some ways that the Lavish HOPE ministry is seeking to support, nourish, and refresh them. 

David Kneip and Alan Howell from Mission Resource Network talk about the changing face of missions in our world, along with resources that MRN has to offer churches and missions workers.

David Kneip and Catherine Spiller talk about challenges that churches face in ministering to individuals with disabilities, as well as opportunities for facilitating full participation in worship on the part of all congregants, especially those dealing with disability.

David Kneip and Stacey Losher talk about ways that ministry residency can help congregations equip, grow, and send out new ministers, as a response to the challenges churches are having in finding individuals to hire.