Storm The Gates

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Familiarity limits our imagination. Brother Keith Boyette shares a strong, encouraging word to broaden the imagination of all followers of Jesus so they may faithfully live on the frontlines of ministry. Hear the testimony of a true Reformer in the church who surrendered all to the glory of God. Keith shares his hope that the Global Methodist Church remains a bottom-up church ensuring the local church continues to be the thrust for Kingdom advancement. Please join and receive Keith's prayer at the end of the conversation. Rev. Keith Boyette is both a pastor and a lawyer. He recently retired as Chief Executive Office of the Global Methodist Church, where he is an ordained elder. Keith previously served as president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, founded and pastored Wilderness Community Church (Spotsylvania, VA), and was previously a member of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Pamela, live in Fredericksburg, Virginia and enjoy their growing family (3 children & 5 grandchildren) while traveling to new and old destinations.

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Shivraj Kumar Mahendra is proof there is power in a name. The name and person of Jesus changed everything for Shivraj, including which definitions of his own name would mark him. From pursuing the darkness of idolatry and witchcraft to a transformed life in Christ, you will be blessed to hear Shivraj tell the story of his radical conversion. Shivraj worked toward his Bachelor of Theology at Luther W. New Jr. Theological College (NTC) in Dehradun, India. When Shivraj graduated, he began teaching, translating, and writing. His first translation from English to Hindi was Dr. Timothy Tennent’s book, “Christianity at the Religious Roundtable: Evangelicalism in Conversation with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.” To fulfill his call of becoming a seminary professor, Shivraj went on to study at Union Biblical Seminary (Pune) and the United Theological College (Bangalore) between his ministries. He initially began teaching at Doon Bible College and then became a faculty at NTC where he teaches to this day. In his 30 years of ministry, Shivraj has translated more than 20 books into Hindi and written 10 books in both English and Hindi. In 2012, Asbury Theological Seminary partnered with NTC. Shivraj and Anita prayed for an opportunity for Shivraj to obtain his PhD at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky after finishing his Master’s degree. The window of opportunity opened, and in 2013, Shivraj became a doctoral student on the Wilmore, KY, campus.Since coming back to India, Shivraj continues teaching within the Master of Theology program at NTC, where he is Associate Professor of Mission & History of Christianity and Dean of Online Studies. He primarily teaches missiology, the history of Christianity, and world religions. Shivraj's author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00JL09OTS?ccs_id=e8f7b1fb-3116-45fc-b12e-13349fa5d7f9

For the full conversation, please go HERE and become a Gate Stormer!patreon.com/stgpodyoutube.com/@StormTheGatesPod

The church, including the Wesleyan/Methodist traditions, seem to be more fruitful when they minister on the fringes of society rather than vying to operate at the center of culture. True dogmatic theology worked out from faithful engagement with scripture should lead followers of Jesus to seek first the Kingdom of God without making the attainment of worldly positions of power and influence part of the mission. Dr. Koskela joins STG to share more about the importance of dogmatic theology and his role at SPU. Dr. Doug Koskela serves through the Free Methodist Church as a professor at Seattle Pacific University, where he teaches Wesleyan theology, epistemology of theology, vocation and ecclesiology. He is a member of the Wesleyan Theological Society and author of several books. Today, he mentions his last two published works in our conversation, The Radiance of God: Christian Doctrine through the Image of Divine Light and Made Known to Them: An Invitation to the Study of Theology. Seattle Pacific University: spu.eduKoskela's Books: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385201990/made-known-to-themWesleyan Theological Society: wtsociety.org

Announcing a new weekly offering from Storm The Gates: Bible News! Bible News is here. To hear the full conversation go over to youtube.com/@StormTheGatesPod or patreon.com/STGPOD.As we start to roll out this new, ongoing series, if you want to fully support this ministry and receive 100% of our content, then you'll want to become a Gate Stormer on patreon.com/STGPOD.We will continue offering Monday conversations featuring special guests on all platforms. Bible News will be released on Wednesdays partially on all platforms and in it's entirety on patreon.com/STGPOD.Bible News is our attempt to follow the instruction of 20th century theologian Karl Barth when he said, “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” (Time Magazine, May 1, 1966.)

If you belong to a local church, what does family ministry look like? Maybe your church is intentional about offering a way for men, women, youth, and children to connect separately? What about a ministry for marriage and parents? In Joey and Lisa Putnam's experience serving the local church, there is a big gaping hole in most family ministry models. That hole is the lack of marriage enrichment and ministry support for parents from the local church. Praise God for the Putnam's! They feel called to help fill in some of these gaps by helping local churches start marriage enrichment ministries. Please pay attention to their testimony as they have journeyed with the joy of the Lord together and overcome many trials. They are a beacon of hope for our churches who feel the need to start marriage enrichment ministries. You can connect with them directly about marriage ministry here: [email protected]

Today's episode contains both humor and serious content for the people called Global Methodists to consider as we come to terms with our doctrinal heritage and seek to live out scriptural holiness. Dr. Kisker's wisdom is worth digesting for the purpose of growing together in unity, not uniformity.Scott T. Kisker is an elder in the Allegheny West Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church, Associate Provost at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, and pastor of McKendree Chapel in Troy, OH. Dr. Kisker earned a BA from Swarthmore College, an MDiv from Duke Divinity School, and a PhD from Drew University. His books include The Band Meeting (with Kevin Watson), Longing for Spring (with Elaine Heath), Mainline or Methodist? and Foundation for Revival. Dr. Kisker serves on the boards of the ministries, Spirit and Truth and Shores of Grace, and is one of the hosts of the podcast “Wesworld.” Dr. Kisker is married to Roberta and has five children: Maria, Susanna, Isaac, Tabitha, and Naomi.For more mentions regarding the shenanigans of AI overlords, please tune in to the easter egg at the very end. WesWorld Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1JTMdJglIgkw5HnlW7lnFr

Teaching Outline:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HY8PSOARTMxQ2NzsMF2AZGbTAtGw2Afe/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=true

How do we see God's will? How do we hear God's voice? These are some of the questions in the background as Pastor Won Kim shares his testimony with us. He also shares helpful information about the Korean American Conference in the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Won serves Dallas Central Methodist Church which is part of the Korean American Conference. He also participates in the weekly Dallas District class meeting of the MidTexas Conference. Rev. Dr. Won Kim is a Korean Canadian-American who was born in Seoul, South Korea and grew up in Toronto, Ontario before moving to the U.S. He has been in ministry for more than 30 years in teaching, mentoring, and preaching wherever the LORD has called him. His diverse pastoral background includes congregational ministry, international mission, campus ministry and hospital chaplaincy. Won is passionate about building a Spirit-filled, orthodox church that holds traditional Wesleyan doctrine and vision to make disciples of Jesus Christ who spread scriptural holiness. He is a graduate of York University (B.A), McMaster University Divinity School (M.Div), Asbury Theological Seminary (M.A), and Emory University Candler School of Theology (D.Min). Won is married to his wife Jessie and blessed with three children; Ryan, Joy and Sarabeth. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.

Teaching Outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VWc8ESQ9j8P2BKAS3RnCE_bZ_87oWGEs/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=true

There are many beautiful callings God is giving His sons and daughters. They don't all look the same but they are all for the same purpose: to give God glory and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Do local churches have a large enough imagination to help steward men and women with these callings well? Until Jesus comes again in glory, He will not stop calling pastors of local churches to serve the Kingdom of God. He's also calling teachers, lawyers, mechanics, custodians, etc., to serve His Kingdom. Brandon Shook from Fusion USA helps us grapple with this subject today. Fusion is a ministry that believes the local church is called to make disciples of every generation, and every generation needs to be part of the family of the local church. There are over 18 million college students in the US. It’s time to invite them to find hope in Jesus and home in the local church.Brandon serves as the Director of Partners & Development for Fusion USA. He's also a Board Member and the Men's Retreat Director for Revive Texas (revivetexas.org). Brandon Shook lives in Houston, Texas with his family and has decades of youth and young adult ministry experience. “Shook” helps churches and organizations find their place of partnership with Fusion and he loves meeting new [email protected]

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Behold a young pastor serving the good people of Kosse, Texas on fire to glorify God and love His people well. Prepare to be inspired, moved, encouraged, convicted, and much more. We praise God for young men like Collin and their total surrender to the Lord. We have much to learn from pastors like him. Pastor Collin Kinney serves as the Pastor of Kosse Methodist Church. He is originally from Katy Texas, where he attended Cinco Ranch High School and graduated in the year 2020. He then attended Blinn Community College in Bryan, Texas for two years. Originally the plan was to transfer to Texas A&M until the Lord brought to fruition the pastoral calling on his life. Instead of attending A&M, Collin felt led to start his seminary journey online; a journey that has now led him to take his first appointment in the Global Methodist Church.

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God is restoring all of creation! So yes, even the few humans and all of the penguins that live on the continent of Antarctica need Jesus too! Rev. Clark Atkins shares how the Global Methodist Church is truly spreading scriptural holiness across the globe. From his position as the chair of the Conferences Commission, Clark gives us all special insight into the amazing growth of the GMC as well as the special challenges that come right beside good growth.Clark Atkins is the Senior Pastor of First Church Siloam Springs, Arkansas ( a GMC congregation). Clark also serves as an Equipping Elder for the Trinity Conference of the GMC. He holds a Master of Divinity degree with Honors from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Clark and his wife, Sherry, have two children: Allison and Sophia.

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You may have heard about how repentance precedes revival. Today, Pastor Kelly offers some clarification around that understanding. Repentance of the church precedes revival. Repentance is a continual, sanctifying work of God throughout the lives of believers. We hope you enjoy this conversation and receive a fresh perspective on the goodness of guilt. After nearly two decades in ministry, Kelly is more convinced than ever that God’s grace through Jesus Christ can transform anyone, anywhere. As a pastor, he believes that even our guilt—when brought honestly before God—can become the beginning of something beautiful. This book flows from Kelly’s deep love for the Church and his passion for helping people experience the freedom that comes through repentance and renewal.https://www.inviteministries.org/store/view/good-guiltKelly lives in Carlsbad, New Mexico, with his wife, Shannon, and their two amazing kids. He is the lead pastor at First Methodist Church of Carlsbad.

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The Wesleyan/Methodist movement represents a vital theological tradition that needs more exceptional theologians who are committed to teach the faith! This is at the heart of the conversation today with Dr. David Watson, President of Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Watson came to Asbury Seminary from faculty and administrative roles at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He served as United’s Senior Vice President, as well as Professor of New Testament, Academic Dean, and Vice President for Academic Affairs.During his years at United, his leadership was instrumental in revitalizing the Seminary, strengthening its theological commitments, expanding its global reach, and increasing student enrollment. He demonstrated exceptional leadership in theological education, faculty development, strategic planning, and institutional growth. He oversaw the development of a new Master of Arts degree, the Hispanic Christian Academy, and early advancements in online theological education.Dr. Watson has built meaningful partnerships across denominations and continents, working with Christian leaders in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. His passion for equipping Spirit-filled leaders extends beyond the classroom and into real-world ministry, where he has actively engaged in church renewal, mission work, and theological discourse on a global scale. His global perspective aligns with Asbury Seminary’s vision to serve the worldwide Church.In other aspects of his professional life, Dr. Watson is Lead Editor of “Firebrand”, an online magazine “intended to promote theological reflection in various related traditions, including Methodist, Arminian, Holiness, Pentecostal, and others.” He also writes a Substack and serves as one of the hosts of the "It's Elementary" and "WesWorld" podcasts. Dr. Watson has been published extensively in Christian journals and magazines and has contributed numerous chapters in books and commentaries. His latest book is “Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters Today More than Ever” (Seedbed, 2017).Dr. Watson and his wife, Harriet, have three children: Luke, Sean, and Ciara.Links for Dr. Watson's work:Podcasts: https://asburyseminary.edu/about/office-of-the-president/podcastsSubstack: https://davidfwatson3.substack.comFirebrand: https://firebrandmag.com

Teaching Outline:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DZJNefRaEAR0twd_vTbLBUYh5OOOTjDt/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=true

In our cultural moment of contentious partisan politics, polarization, and too many Americans pledging allegiance to political party over the Kingdom of God, Dr. Steve Bezner is here to sober us up with a heavy dose from the Sermon on the Mount. Steve Bezner is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Theology at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Prior to joining the Truett faculty, he served in a variety of pastoral roles, most recently serving as Senior Pastor of Houston Northwest Church in Houston, Texas, for twelve years, where he also served as adjunct faculty for Truett Houston. During his time in Houston, Steve served on the Executive Board of Texas Baptists, the board of Houston Church Planting Network, and with GlocalNet to start churches and promote peacemaking across religious and racial boundaries. One of his primary passions is coaching and helping churches and pastors succeed in their various contexts. To that end, he has taught and written curriculum in a variety of settings over the years, including World Hope Ministries International—a ministry dedicated to providing theological education to pastors in remote global contexts. Steve is married to Joy and has two sons—Ben and Andrew. He enjoys cooking, jazz music, coffee, books, hiking, fishing, and hunting. https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781587436314_your-jesus-is-too-american

Teaching Companion Outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shuoQgoROgHpmtYyh1kTi2wK3YcysNkPyaUSGl9PGZo/edit?usp=sharing

It's not everyday we get to have a conversation with a world-renowned Bible scholar of the caliber of Dr. Ben Witherington III. We pray you'll take steps to becoming a Bible nerd after this conversation. Dr. Witherington makes it clear why the Bible really matters. The Bible touches on lots of things but everyone needs to study it deeply because of who it's from and what it teaches. Dr. Witherington joined the Asbury Seminary faculty in 1995 after teaching at Ashland Theological Seminary for more than a decade. He has also taught at High Point College, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.A prolific author, Dr. Witherington has written more than 60 books, including commentaries on every book of the New Testament, including The Gospel Code: Novel Claims About Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Da Vinci (2004), The Problem With Evangelical Theory: Testing the Exegetical Foundations of Calvinism, Dispensationalism, and Wesleyanism (2005), and The New Testament Story (2004). One of his works, The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth (InterVarsity Press, 1995), was selected as the top biblical studies book of 1995 by Christianity Today and the Academy of Parish Clergy. In The Jesus Quest, Dr. Witherington surveys the contemporary Christological landscape in New Testament scholarship, offering a helpful perspective on one of the most significant and controversial religious debates of the past decade. In 1999 he again won the Christianity Today book award, this time for The Paul Quest: The Renewed Search for the Jew of Tarsus. He was recently featured in the BBC and PBS special entitled ‘The Story of Jesus’.Dr. Witherington, who has led numerous study tours through the lands of the Bible, is known for bringing the text to life through incisive historical and cultural analysis. He is a John Wesley Fellow for Life, a research fellow at Cambridge University and a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Society for the Study of the New Testament and the Institute for Biblical Research. He is also an emeritus professor of New Testament at St. Andrews University, Scotland. Dr. Witherington has also spoken to many groups about his topics of expertise, and even had the opportunity to preach at the National Chapel in May of 2006. In his leisure time, Dr. Witherington appreciates both music and sports. It is hard to say which sound he prefers: the sophisticated sonance of jazz sensation Pat Metheny or the incessant tomahawk chant of the Atlanta Braves faithful. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he is a dedicated Tar Heels basketball and football fan. He and his wife, Ann, have one son and daughter-in-law, and one grandson.Here are some helpful links for more resources related to Dr. Witherington:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ben+witherington+iii&crid=3UX79XVB8BL6T&sprefix=ben+witherington+iii%2Caps%2C241&ref=nb_sb_noss_1https://www.benw3.comhttps://tutkutours.comhttps://asburyseminary.edu/faculty/ben-witherington

Study guide for individual participants and groups:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1htVBoQ21Z36FyOJbpdyFdwkahyg3hpVh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=true

Grief is the subject today on STG. We're grateful for Charleen sharing about her calling to help others live through the messiness of grief without losing faith. Grief can be an opportunity to turn to God for help. Charleen Burghardt has been through her own share of messy chapters—battling dyslexia and anxiety, navigating the pain of divorce, and learning to be a single mom to two incredible kids with special needs. She has faced chronic illness with her sons and supported loved ones through mental health struggles. But here’s what she learned: God doesn’t wait for the mess to clear before he shows up. He meets us right in it. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes in ways we don’t expect. But always with grace.You can find Charleen's new book, blog, and other information about her ministry at www.charleenburghardt.com. Whether you’re grieving, healing, or just trying to breathe through the chaos, there is God's grace for you. Charleen's background includes a Master’s in Christian Education and a completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency, equipping her to serve others with both theological depth and compassionate presence. She lives with her husband in San Antonio, Texas, and has three adult children. She loves hiking, exploring nature, reading, learning new things, coffee, and all things chocolate.

Study Guide for individual participants and groups:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CttvITHoAZv3h-nZ2Ii5rIAYaElUQUTx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=trueWho Is God?In the Global Methodist Church, we are clear about where faith begins.It does not begin with trends, opinions, or even our urgent needs.It begins with God.That is why our catechism starts where the Church has always started—not with what we are called to do, but with who God is. Doctrine, for Global Methodists, is never an end in itself. It exists to form disciples, anchor the Church in truth, and fuel faithful mission.In a time of cultural change and ecclesial rebuilding, this grounding matters. When we are clear about God, we are steadied for the work before us.The catechism teaches us that there is one living and true God—eternal, holy, infinite in wisdom and goodness. This confession is not abstract. It is pastoral.When leadership feels heavy, God is faithful.When the Church feels fragile, God is not.When the future feels uncertain, God remains the same.The early Church understood this deeply. They spoke of God carefully, not because God was distant, but because God was holy. They trusted that while God cannot be contained by human language, God has truly made Himself known—not so we could control Him, but so we could trust Him.The catechism reminds us that the one God is known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.This is not simply language for creeds or worship services. This is the shape of Christian life.Before there was creation, God was already love.Before there was mission, there was communion.Before there was redemption, there was relationship.This matters for who we are as Global Methodists.Because God is Trinity, we are a connectional people, not isolated believers.Because God is eternally relational, Christian life is never meant to be lived alone.Because God is love, scriptural holiness is not about rule-keeping, but about being formed in love of God and neighbor.The catechism also helps us name what God is like.God is eternal—never rushed, never reactive, never overwhelmed. God is not bound by time, yet God steps into time for our salvation.God is powerful, but not in the way the world defines power. God’s power does not dominate or coerce. God’s power creates, heals, forgives, and restores. The clearest picture of God’s power is the cross.God is all-knowing. God knows us fully—our faith, our doubts, our obedience, and our resistance—and still invites us into relationship. God’s knowledge does not trap us; it sustains us.God is always present. There is no place where God is absent. No congregation, no community, no mission field is beyond God’s reach. God’s presence always goes before the Church.And the catechism refuses to separate God’s character. God is holy, just, and loving—not in tension, but in perfect unity. God’s holiness calls us into transformation. God’s justice is faithful and redemptive. God’s love is steadfast and active.The catechism then turns to what God is doing.God is at work in the world. Christians call this divine providence.Providence does not mean everything that happens is God’s will.It does not deny suffering or minimize pain.It does not remove human responsibility.Providence means God has not abandoned creation. God is patiently, faithfully working toward redemption—often in ways we only recognize over time.As Global Methodists, this resonates deeply with our Wesleyan heritage. God’s grace goes before us, walks with us, and works within us. Grace invites response. Grace forms disciples. Grace fuels mission.Finally, the catechism reminds us that God is Creator.Creation exists because God is good. People are made in God’s image. The world belongs to God. Nothing is disposable. Nothing is forgotten.This shapes our life together.Because God is Trinity, we live in connection and accountability.Because God is holy, we pursue lives shaped by grace and obedience.Because God is at work, we lead with confidence rather than fear.Because God is Creator, we steward faithfully what has been entrusted to us.The catechism does not give us God to manage.It gives us God to trust, worship, and obey.And this is our calling as the Global Methodist Church:to make disciples of Jesus Christ,to spread scriptural holiness across the globe,and to bear faithful witness to the living God.So today, pause.Remember who God is.Remember whose you are.And trust that the God who called the Church into being is still forming His people for faithful mission.“For from him and through him and to him are all things.To him be the glory forever.”—Romans 11:36Amen.

Sandy Richter joins STG for an epic conversation! MidTex people won't want to miss Annual Awakening this year as Dr. Richter will be our special speaker for the conference. You will not want to miss her teaching nor the gem of an easter egg at the end of this episode. Sandy Richter is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She holds a Masters Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and her PhD in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University’s Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Department. She has taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wesley Biblical Seminary and Wheaton College, and is a veteran of many years of leading student groups in field archaeology and historical geography in Israel.Her ambition? To make the real people and places of the Old Testament come alive for her students. She is recognized in the Church for her book, The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament (IVP Academic) and the Epic of Eden adult Bible Study series that has grown from that project. In the academy, she is known for her work in Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic History and the role of Mt. Ebal in the history of Israelite religion. She is also deeply invested in environmental theology (see Stewards of Eden), often addressing both lay and academic audiences on the topic. Her current research involves a forthcoming commentary on Deuteronomy with Eerdmans, a textbook for the introduction of the Old Testament with Zondervan, and a children’s book on environmental theology. She is married to Steven Tsoukalas and has two (perfect) college-aged daughters.https://sandyrichter.org/

If I'm visiting the zoo with my boys, we'd much rather spend time checking out the elephants over the rabbits. However, when it comes to church, Telford says we need to be more like rabbits. Listen in for more context around this important point Telford makes.If you've ever wondered whether God is still working today in the same ways He did in the Book of Acts and all throughout scripture, then this is an episode for you. We worship the same God who doesn't change. Dr. Telford Work joins STG to encourage us all regarding his work exploring and participating in disciple-making movements around the world. The stories he shares are full of the miracle-working power of God. He shared so many that we had to include more encouragement in the easter egg after the outro of the episode. Telford Work is Professor of Theology at Westmont College. His most recent books are What About Evolution? and Jesus—The End and the Beginning. A recent focus is disciple-making movement (DMM) strategies and their implications (see link below). His course lectures on Christian doctrine, theological ethics, and New Testament are online at YouTube. His Ph.D. in Religion (Theology and Ethics) is from Duke University. He also holds an M.A. in Theological and Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University. He is the Scoutmaster for his boys’ Scout Troop and on a team of volunteer chaplains for the Santa Barbara County Jail.https://telfordwork.net/dmm/

The question in the title isn't about U.S. seminaries nor is it asking who is a better leader and/or theologian. While the topic of theological education in the GMC is at the heart of our conversation today, the title question is directed toward which historical figure will be more representative of GMC worship life and practice going forward. In other words, will the GMC embrace more of the Anglican side of our heritage or equally hold space for the broader evangelical and charismatic worlds that are also part of our history? To the extent we choose to embrace all of the above, we will face challenges concerning how flexible or firm rules for faith and practice can be.To set the record straight for everyone, insert laugh track, is Dr. Andy Miller III! Dr. Andy Miller III was named President of Wesley Biblical Seminary on July 1, 2024. Dr. Miller previously served WBS as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. He is the ninth permanent president to lead the seminary, which is in its fiftieth year of developing trusted leaders for faithful churches through biblical and theological education.Prior to joining WBS in 2021, Dr. Miller had an extensive ministry in the Salvation Army, serving as a pastor, leader, and administrator as a Corps Officer and Area Commander. He holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Nazarene Theological College (University of Manchester) and a Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University). He is also an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary and Asbury University. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and a delegate to its upcoming Convening General Conference.Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Miller is married to Abby Adams Miller, who served with him as a Salvation Army Officer. She homeschools their three children, Andy, Titus, and Georgia. The Millers reside in Ridgeland, Mississippi.Wesley Biblical Seminary: wbs.eduMore To The Story Podcast: https://www.andymilleriii.com/media/podcastSanctitas Et Scriptura: https://wbs.edu/news/sanctitas-et-scriptura/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO5GoZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLa21WeG5VOExvcWE4U2Jxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrOHWSPcxh2ZPDVG6fsMaY3CCioBSOug3a6iSjRnl_JiIMgY5lfhqUS-np4Y_aem_ihDgo7Yaq9wx11XTzvgOMw

What should we be protesting? What does it mean to still be a Protestant Christian in the 21st century? Answers to these questions and more follow in our conversation with Dr. Jones. At the very end of the show notes are important links to Beth's work and Northern Seminary, where she is Professor of Theology and leads their Doctor of Ministry program which has a special focus on theology. Beth Felker Jones (PhD, Duke University) is a Midwestern writer and professor who has published numerous theological books, short stories, and is working on her first novel. A lifelong book lover, she writes about relationships, identity, and redemption. For more information about Beth's work, please explore the following links:https://www.ivpress.com/why-i-am-protestant?srsltid=AfmBOor8bBVMruzH3zTKr9rrN3a-qJ2mOqiA85yMxWP5SmqK8uBD_O3khttps://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/beth-felker-jones/https://bethfelkerjones.com/

Brace yourself for an especially challenging conversation that is full of hope! Yes, God can use you to uniquely advance His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven by making disciples of Jesus Christ. Do you believe it? We pray you will after listening to this conversation. Jeremy Smith is the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church in NW Florida. Crosspoint Church is a church of six physical locations with a special vision to do the work of multiplying disciples of Jesus. This special focus is called The Re-Awakening Initiative. The Re-Awakening Initiative is powered by Replicate Ministries, and is igniting a powerful disciple-making movement across churches and communities — and they want YOU to be a part of it.This transformational initiative equips pastors and leaders with personalized plans, actionable strategies, and real-world training to inspire growth and re-energize their churches. Through immersive experiences like Pastor Huddles, Co-Lab Workshops, and Movement Ready Training Days, they’re helping churches discover clarity, build momentum, and multiply disciples. Find out more here: https://crosspoint.church/reawakening/. Robert McCormick is a pastor and practitioner using the Re-Awakening Initiative resources for his local church context. Robert joined the staff at Madison Methodist Church in February of 2024 as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Assimilation. Prior to coming to MMC, he served at Trinity Methodist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi for over 6 years as the Director of Student Ministries and Associate Pastor.

The theme for General Conference in 2026 is The Beauty of Holiness. The many faceted diamond of holiness as it's revealed to us in scripture, especially as it relates to worship and mission, is the heart of this STG conversation. Dr. O'Reilly goes on to share with us his perspective on some crucial questions that face the Global Methodist Church heading into General Conference 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a senior fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. A two-time recipient of the John Stott Award for Pastoral Engagement, Matt is the author of multiple books including Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification and Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice. His essays have appeared in both scholarly and popular-level publications, and he speaks regularly at conferences and churches. To access more from Dr. O'Reilly, go here: https://www.theologyproject.online/.Stay tuned to the very end for a little Auburn football and nugget of wisdom on pastoral leadership.

Yes, you read that right. Dr. Phil Tallon reveals a little bit of what he's been working on which involved watching movies and considering what they say about the problem of evil and the world of enchantment we occupy.Dr. Tallon is an Associate Professor of Theology at Houston Christian University in addition to being the Dean of the School of Christian Thought. He is the author of many publications including The Absolute Basics of the Christian Faith (https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-absolute-basics-of-the-christian-faith/) and co-author of The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way (https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-absolute-basics-of-the-wesleyan-way/) with Dr. Justus Hunter.Dr. Tallon is a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society and the Wesleyan Theological Society. Involvement in ministry is important to Dr. Tallon, and he has held a number of full-time positions in youth and college ministry. He has a large family, who keep him on his toes. He likes outdoorsy sporting activities that don’t involve the application of game theory (e.g. biking, hiking, camping, running, frisbee, etc.).Stay tuned to the very end for sweet Billy memories and discover where there may still be ground left to till in the areas of Lewis and Tolkien studies.

The war between Russia and Ukraine started in 2022 and continues. The death toll of civilians is in the tens of thousands and the total number of casualties is in the hundreds of thousands to over a million. Bishop Khegay is the spiritual leader for this region of the world in the Global Methodist Church. We are grateful for him sharing his testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ and leading the church in a time such as this. Bishop Eduard Khegay was born in 1970 and grew up in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union. He studied at the Bauman Moscow Technical University and majored in Mechanical Hydraulic Engineering. He became a Christian through the missionary work of Jonathan Park during his years at University and went on to study at Moscow United Methodist Theological Seminary, which he graduated in 1996. During the 1990s, Eduard served as a leader of the college student ministries at Moscow Central United Methodist Church (UMC) and Pastor of the First UMC in St. Petersburg. In the 2000s, he served as Director of Church Development of the Russia UMC, Pastor of Aspiration UMC, District Superintendent of St.Petersburg District, Pastor of Raduga Ministry of Moscow UMC, Assistant to the Bishop Hans Vaxby, and District Superintendent of Central Asia. In October 2012, Eduard was elected a Bishop of Eurasia Episcopal Area of the Methodist Church in Eurasia.  In 2025, Eduard was received as Bishop into the Global Methodist Church. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theologyof  Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2001 and Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in 2010. Eduard is married to Viktoria Nogay and they have two daughters, Liudmila and Lydia. They live in Moscow, Russia. 

We welcome one of Shea's high school teachers and current professor and administrator at Houston Christian University, Dr. Kristina Cerling, to STG. Dr. Cerling is the Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Education at Houston Christian University (hc.edu). While highlighting all that Houston Christian has to offer students, including the Global Methodist Church (free tuition for qualifying engineering majors anyone?), she shares much more about how faith is at the center of hers and her family's private and public lives. Prepare to be inspired!Dr. Cerling’s primary teaching focus is school administration and secondary literacy. She spends much time studying teaching strategies, classroom management, and methodology. Through the National Writing Project and The Olga Lengyl Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights, Dr. Cerling has studied Holocaust Education and Social Justice in America.Prior to coming to Higher Ed., Dr. Cerling has been an English, theatre, and speech teacher and also a principal, curriculum director, and superintendent of schools. She has been the Program Director and Department Chair of Bethel College Education Department.Dr. Cerling has been actively involved in her church teaching Sunday School, small groups, and leading activities. She has enjoyed the opportunity to invest in and mentor undergraduate and high school students. Other hobbies include reading and attending events in which her children participate.

"Reaching others in an age of anxiety and division" is the subtitle of Andrew Forrest's first book, Love Goes First. This is a prescient book for the church. The main argument is clearly one that aligns well with the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition. Following the way of. Jesus, John Wesley made the first move in gospel love towards the other. We hope this conversation inspires you to check out Andrew's book and share it with family and friends. Use the link below to buy it at a discount.https://churchsource.com/products/love-goes-first-how-to-engage-the-world-transform-your-relationships-and-live-out-the-gospel?variant=42117129437281In August of 2022, Rev. Andrew Forrest became the new senior pastor of Asbury, a large local church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His desire is to build on the legacy of the past while leading Asbury toward the future of accomplishing its mission of Helping Others Follow Jesus.Pastor Andrew started out in life almost as far away from Oklahoma as you can get! His family was a missionary family (his father was a pastor too!), so he did a lot of his growing up in West Africa before moving back to the US to live in Virginia. He attended college at Columbia University in New York City and earned his seminary degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.He is married to Elaine, and they have two children: Jack and Annie. The Forrest family moved to Tulsa from Dallas where Andrew was the Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church (a church plant of Highland Park United Methodist) for 12 years before becoming the Senior Pastor of Asbury.Listen to the very end to discover one of Pastor Andrew's favorite beverages.

Get ready to start planting churches and multiplying disciples of Jesus if you're not already doing so! You might hear God calling you through the testimony of His servant Steve today. Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle currently serves on the Commission for Kingdom Advancement in the Global Methodist Church in addition to being the Executive Director for The River Network (therivernetwork.org). Steve is the founding pastor of Crossroads Church, now called The Table Church, a group-based church with 4 locations around Pittsburgh, Pa. His missionary heart can be traced to his coming to Christ through a missionary team while living in Brussels, Belgium.He has also been a Master Trainer with Dynamic Church Planting International, and is the author of three books and soon to be more. Steve is a classically trained pianist. His most important partner is his wife Linda; they have three adult sons, three daughters-in-love and four grandchildren.To get in touch with Steve, you can email him at [email protected]

Pastor Bryan shares about his year with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and how the Lord is healing him in many ways. Who hasn't been impacted by cancer in some way? Bryan shares a powerful testimony of the power of the Holy Spirit and God's goodness every step of the way.Rev. Bryan Rogers is the Lead Pastor of Lutie Watkins Memorial Methodist Church in Llano, TX. He's a Presiding Elder in the MidTexas Conference of the Global Methodist Church. He serves as the COO for Revive (revivetexas.org). He's a husband and a father. If you need a "pick-me-up" today, this is it. We promise you can't listen to Bryan's testimony and remain unmoved.

If you're a process person who wants to know how the sausage is made, this is the STG episode for you! Pastor Chris shares with us extensively related to the new process for electing Bishops in the Global Methodist Church at the 2026 General Conference. As the chair for the Commission on Episcopacy for the GMC, he knows more than any human being about the process. This is an assignment of the Lord that Chris has been faithful to steward for many years. In addition to his work with the episcopacy, Dr. Chris Ritter has been the Directing Pastor at Kingswood Church since 2009 and has a passion for connecting people with Jesus. He is the author of Seven Things John Wesley Expected Us to Do for Kids (Abingdon Press, 2016) and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. He graduated magna cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1997 and is ordained in the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Chris has been married to Becky since 1988, and together they have four adult children. He manages the facebook page GMC Links which shares online content being produced regularly by and for the Global Methodist Church.

Making music and touring for more than two decades, John Mark McMillan has felt God calling him to focus on other ventures and not solely music this year. Many listeners of STG might be familiar with the worship songs "How He Loves" and "King Of My Heart." John Mark wrote those. The latter of which he cowrote with his wife Sarah.John Mark McMillan is something of an anomaly. A singer-songwriter, bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and a poet's eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each album has continued to explore new territory, it's McMillan's ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift.He writes music from his sanctified imagination. This is nowhere more evident than in his latest album "Cosmic Supreme." Pleas enjoy the humble and deep reflections of John Mark in this conversation. For friends curious about his music, here are some songs that are great places to start:Holy Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuYul9O4YMJuggernaut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=govE9dPp1zcEnemy, love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvqCKOL2uLwWilderlove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG2_TKNllaMFuture/Past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGNznfexvUADeath In His Grave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTKbmNY1WA

The spiritual sense Anna Grace has for what the Lord is doing now is shifting the church from defense to offense and playing the long game. Anna Grace Legband is the Associate Director of Events for New Room. She is the author of the recently published Advent study, Brought To The Light: Advent For All Who Need It (https://my.seedbed.com/product-category/advent/). Anna Grace has global perspective through her ministry and is wise beyond her years as a soon to be mother. We're grateful for her generosity in sharing with us in this precious time leading up to the birth of her firstborn. If you don't know anything about New Room, you need to know! seedbed.com/newroomAt New Room Conference, we come together first and foremost to meet with God. We pray—not just for ourselves, but for a great awakening that stirs hearts and changes the world. We connect with each other in deep and meaningful ways, sharing testimonies of God’s faithfulness that inspire, challenge, and build us up. In these moments, you’ll see how He’s moving, not just in your life but in the lives of those walking alongside you. We laugh and grow together in breakout sessions that spark joy, ignite creativity, and plant seeds of transformation. These are moments where the Spirit moves in unexpected ways—sometimes through laughter, sometimes through tears, and always through connection. And we worship together. Oh, how we worship! Voices raised, hearts aligned, Spirit flowing. It’s a glimpse of heaven, a powerful reminder that we are a people of the Word and the Spirit, bound together in the love of God. We want to hear about your discipleship band—the small circle of friends who are helping you sow seeds of grace and grow deeper in your walk with Jesus. Your story matters, and we’d love to share it with the community. Here’s our challenge: step out, meet someone new, and build a connection. These moments of community may just become the foundation for something beautiful and eternal. So come ready to pray. Come ready to share. Come ready to laugh, worship, and connect. Let’s sow together for the great awakening God has in store.

We pray your definitions of what worship is and it's primary aim is challenged and/or deepened in this conversation with Dr. Johnathan Powers. For example, if you always considered evangelism to be the primary aim of worship, this conversation will ask you to reconsider. Dr. Powers is the Interim Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry as well as Associate Professor of Worship Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated from Asbury University in 2003 with a B.A. in English, from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009 with a M.A. in Christian Ministries – worship studies emphasis, and holds the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida. He received his Ph.D. through The London School of Theology where his dissertation focused on the worship theology of Robert E. Webber.Dr. Powers has a passion for the intersection of liturgy and spiritual formation in the life of the church. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books, including Echo: A Catechism for Discipleship in the Ancient Christian Tradition, The 12 Days of Christmas Sermons, and Watchnight: John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service, all published by Seedbed. In 2009, he was awarded the Hoyt Hickman Award by the Order of St. Luke at Asbury Seminary for excellence in liturgical scholarship and leading public worship. He also serves on the board of the Charles Wesley Society.

The double doctor himself, Mike Voigts, joins STG to share with us all the importance of staying in love with God. Pastor Mike has been in pastoral ministry since 1993, when he served as an Associate Pastor at First Methodist in Waco. After serving churches in both Texas and Kentucky, he joined the faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2017, serving as a Professor of Christian Spirituality and Theology. In May 2025, he left higher education to return home as First Methodist’s Senior Pastor in Waco, TX.Mike holds a B.A. from Baylor University, an M.Div. and D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Brunel University (through London School of Theology) in England.Whether in a local church or a seminary classroom, Mike has stressed that the faithfulness of a local church begins with the faithfulness of each person within the local church. In preaching, he strives to show how God’s Word is relevant to our everyday lives. He enjoys introducing people to Christians throughout history, revealing how much we can learn from these giants in our faith.Mike is the author of Regere Animas: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux (2013), and most recently, The Fourth Degree of Prayer (2022), written for laypersons.

Dr. Brian Yeich rejoins the podcast to share more about his involvement with the discipleship movement called Inspire. Dr. Yeich's passion is helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ through the church and the academy. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and has pastored 11 years in both large and small congregations as well as a church restartIncluding his previous role at Asbury Theological Seminary as Assistant Provost, Brian has over 8 years in positions of leadership for theological education. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Asbury Theological Seminary and Wesley Biblical Seminary teaching in the areas of Church History, Wesley Studies, and Pastoral Formation. Brian is currently appointed as Missional Discipleship Coordinator with World Methodist Evangelism in partnership with the Inspire Movement. Inspire is a worldwide missional discipleship network.inspiremovement.org

The Holy Spirit always brings fresh wind and fresh fire through the Spirit & Truth team (spiritandtruth.life). At Spirit & Truth, they long to see the church fully alive! They exist to help equip a global movement of local churches to become empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the truth, and mobilized for the mission. STG is grateful to have the Founder and President of Spirit & Truth, Matt Reynolds, back on the podcast. And we're overjoyed to be joined by Maggie Ulmer and Emma Winchester too. Maggie and Emma both lead with Matt in the Church Equipping areas. Maggie also produces the Spirit & Truth Podcast (spiritandtruth.life/podcast) in addition to leading in Prophetic Ministry. Emma provides Administration for the team as well. You have the opportunity to experience the more of God He wants you to receive by attending the next Spirit & Truth Conference in Irving, TX. A Spirit & Truth Conference is a gathering for believers to get equipped and seek the powerful presence of the Lord together. It’s a chance to learn from respected leaders about ways to spark a new movement of back-to-the-basics, Spirit-filled, missional Christianity.Register now at https://www.spiritandtruth.life/midtexas

Whether you're interested in the upcoming Anew Conference (https://midtexasgmc.jotform.com/251336256349965) on November 8 or not, you'll enjoy hearing Kelly Minter's heart for the Lord. She's been writing Bible studies and teaching the Bible for the past two decades. She spent her first few years in Nashville making records with three different labels. Eventually, she decided to dedicate herself fully to writing and teaching the Bible. God’s Word is meant to permeate every part of our lives, so she loves helping others make the connection between Scripture and everyday life.Kelly recently finished an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies at Denver Seminary. In addition to her love for Scripture, she has a deep love for missions. She works closely with Justice & Mercy International (https://justiceandmercy.org) in the Amazon jungles of Brazil as well as the Eastern European country of Moldova. When she's not writing or speaking, she loves to be home cooking for friends and family, spending time with her nieces and nephews, taking walks, serving her local church, or gardening. Please check out kellyminter.com to find her amazing work for the Lord! Stay tuned to the very end to discover more about Kelly's love for cooking and college football.

Join us this week for an inspiring conversation with ministry power couple, Melanie and Arnold Arreaga. Melanie is the Children's Minister at Friendswood Methodist Church and was also the featured speaker at the Revive Kids camp. Arnold leads worship at The Woodlands Methodist Church and is a member of Bristol House. In this episode, they open up about their individual faith journeys, sharing how God called them into ministry. They also offer an deeper look into their lives, discussing how they navigate the unique challenges of serving in two different churches while raising their two young daughters.Tune in to hear their hearts for the Lord and be encouraged by their story of faith, family, and ministry. Stay tuned to the very end if you share their love for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice.

Welcome to a vulnerable episode of STG where addiction, therapy, and recovery are in focus under the mighty sovereignty of God. Ryan and Jason share parts of their stories and what God has done and is doing to heal every part of them. We believe and pray that God uses this episode for breakthrough in someone else's life who is listening and feels hopeless. There is hope in the Lord no matter what you're facing, have done, or feel trapped within. God loves you more than you can comprehend. Reach out to us at [email protected] if you're in need and want prayer. We can also connect you with godly men and women who specialize in healing through therapy.