UCA PULSEcast

Keeping Faith: Intentional conversations about the kind of faith that is worth keeping in light of some of the things we are experiencing in our culture and our world today. A refreshing and alternative perspective to many who have been wounded by harmful (and/or irrelevant) expressions of Christianity that have often held the megaphone. Sarah Bishop and James Aaron join Will Small to explore mental health and loneliness in the context of faith and spirituality. Will said, "When I was sitting with Sarah and James having this conversation it felt holy to me." A strong theme that comes through in this conversation is the strength in vulnerability, and the dignity in asking for help. So if you listen to this and you’re in a place where you need support with your own mental health, remember, there’s no shame in reaching out for help. Find us on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ucapulse⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ucapulse⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/UCAPulse⁠⁠⁠ Spiritual Misfits: This mini-series is in collaboration with the Spiritual Misfits Podcast which can also be found wherever you are listening to this, and at https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Keeping Faith: Intentional conversations about the kind of faith that is worth keeping in light of some of the things we are experiencing in our culture and our world today. A refreshing and alternative perspective to many who have been wounded by harmful (and/or irrelevant) expressions of Christianity that have often held the megaphone. Artificial intelligence, algorithms, and driverless cars. Technology keeps shifting often faster than most of us can grapple with or understand. What does it mean to keep faith in this environment? Where does God and Spirituality fit into our technological world? Find us on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ucapulse⁠⁠⁠ Find us on Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@ucapulse⁠⁠⁠ Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/UCAPulse⁠⁠⁠ Spiritual Misfits: This mini-series is in collaboration with the Spiritual Misfits Podcast which can also be found wherever you are listening to this, and at ⁠⁠⁠https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Keeping Faith: Intentional conversations about the kind of faith that is worth keeping in light of some of the things we are experiencing in our culture and our world today. A refreshing and alternative perspective to many who have been wounded by harmful (and/or irrelevant) expressions of Christianity that have often held the megaphone. What does it mean to keep faith in a world of racial injustice? Are people of faith in Australia today able to honestly grapple with racism in our history and our present moment? Why does it seem like the church is often no better than the rest of society in this regard? And what might it look like to continue the work of decolonising Christianity and creating anti-racist faith spaces? Find us on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ucapulse⁠⁠ Find us on Insta: ⁠⁠@ucapulse⁠⁠ Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/UCAPulse⁠⁠ Spiritual Misfits: This mini-series is in collaboration with the Spiritual Misfits Podcast which can also be found wherever you are listening to this, and at ⁠⁠https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Keeping Faith: Intentional conversations about the kind of faith that is worth keeping in light of some of the things we are experiencing in our culture and our world today. A refreshing and alternative perspective to many who have been wounded by harmful (and/or irrelevant) expressions of Christianity that have often held the megaphone. The climate crisis, eco-anxiety, and how we're relating to it. What is the role of Spirituality in engaging with systems change for a better future? Find us on Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ucapulse⁠ Find us on Insta: ⁠@ucapulse⁠ Find us on Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/UCAPulse⁠ Spiritual Misfits: This mini-series is in collaboration with the Spiritual Misfits Podcast which can also be found wherever you are listening to this, and at ⁠https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Keeping Faith: Intentional conversations about the kind of faith that is worth keeping in light of some of the things we are experiencing in our culture and our world today. A refreshing and alternative perspective to many who have been wounded by harmful (and/or irrelevant) expressions of Christianity that have often held the megaphone. Home ownership, avocado toast, and judging ankle socks. The generational divide is something we all feel. But how is this experienced in faith communities and the life of the church? Having a 'crisis of faith,' or deconstructing, is often seen as the norm of young people today, but it's not unique to this generation, or even to young people in general. So how is Faith experienced differently across the generations of Christian expression? And what do we have that we can offer each other in the way we experience spirituality? Find us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ucapulse Find us on Insta: @ucapulse Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UCAPulse Spiritual Misfits: This mini-series is in collaboration with the Spiritual Misfits Podcast which can also be found wherever you are listening to this, and at https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Live, large, and loud - the PULSEcast offers up a special episode from SOD2023! In this special episode Molk hosts a Q+R with Rev Janet Staines (Chermside Kedron UC), Rev Jon Owen (Wayside Chapel), and Dr Sathi Clarke (United Theological College) live from the final day of the 2023 School of Discipleship. This year's theme was NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, and asked big questions about privilege, class, and their impact on our discipleship journey. It was a great joy to ask these three questions about the theme and to have questions come from other SOD attendees that really expanded the conversation. This is a challenging, inspiring, and thought-provoking discussion recorded live within the SOD2023 community. If this episode resonates with you, perhaps consider coming to the School of Discipleship in 2024. Details to come, though block out the first weekend in July to be prepared. It is a welcoming, encouraging, and affirming community where you will be confronted with the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ. This is the final episode of the PULSEcast for season one. The PULSE team will be back for season two later in 2023. Make sure you subscribe today so you can be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

It's our final episode of this first season of the PULSEcast... OR IS IT?! Join Joyce, Ofa, Jo, and Molk as we look forward with some of the massive opportunities to engage in ministry with young people (as a young person or as a leader), and share some of our hopes for the coming 12-18 months of PULSE ministry. Some of the big news is that you can register TODAY for the 2023 Uniting Youth Camp (UYC) - just go to: https://pulse.uca.org.au/uyc Remember - don't let money be the barrier you can't attend this great High Schooler event. Reach out to the PULSE team (or get your youth leader, minister, or parent to do so) as we can offer support and scholarships to attend UYC! There's lots more still to come in the next 12 months too... Synod in Session, more Young Adult Gatherings (YAGs), the National Young Adult Leader's Conference (NYALC), Retreat Yourself 2024, Kid's Camp Out 2024, and HEAPS MORE! Stay close and reach out if you have any questions or want to connect. Stay right through to the end for a special surprise announcement too...HOORAY! Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

The PULSEcast is back, and this time...we're serious... This time the team - Joyce, Ofa, and Molk - chat with outgoing Moderator of the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia Rev Simon Hansford. Simon reflects on his six years as Mod and shares with us his hopes for the church and ministry with young people in the Synod. It's a generous conversation that includes questions about where old Moderators go once they're finished their terms, what has it been like to engage with the full depth and breadth of the church, and Simon even takes a moment to encourage the PULSE team as he goes (as a former youth worker!). This completes our paired podcast with the Moderator-Elect Rev Mata Havea Hiliau (check out E06) and allows us all to hear where we've been recently and where we're going together with these two marvellous leaders. The PULSE team thank Simon for his support as Moderator, and look forward to him continuing to engage and support us in whatever new ministry God calls him to. Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

...and just like that -- we're down with another episode of the PULSEcast! All four members of the PULSE team (Joyce, Ofa, Jo, and Molk) sit down to have a chat about the Fuller Youth Institute's book/program GROWING YOUNG, and why we think it can make all the difference in your congregation/church setting. We talk about where Growing Young comes from, how it adapts to Australian culture and situations (spoilers: it comes from US research data in a US setting), what are the 'magical' six core commitments, and we touch on some of the benefits of pouring in the effort to reach out and minister to (and with) young people...no matter how old you are. There's even a special message regarding what Growing Young isn't and how it could 'save' your church. The PULSE team are big fans of Growing Young and how, in your context, it will change your slice of the Kingdom of God. It is unashamedly pro-young people, pro-Jesus, and pro-culture change. As we mention in the episode some or all of that can be confronting, challenging, and difficult, and the PULSE team make the offer through the podcast to come on the journey with you and your church group. It'll be so worth it! Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

Goodness me - a brand new epsiode of the PULSEcast on blast! This is a wonderful new conversation that Jo, Ofa and Molk have with the Moderator-Elect Rev Mata Havea Hiliau. We know that very soon Mata is about to take over the Moderator role within the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia...but what does that mean? Where does Mata come from, what sort of ministry is this, and how does she get to be in this position in the first place?! Come along and listen into a great conversation with this wonderful Tongan woman who will lead the church for the next three years and hear her heart for ministry with young people and her desire to see all our communities engage with the Transforming Spirit of God. As you'd expect there's lots of talk of representation, opportunity, and a particular call to young people to come and participate in the upcoming Synod in Session that will take place in September at Katoomba Christian Convention centre -- this is an opportunity to shape and lead the church! We'd love to have you come along and participate, teach us, and learn from each other. Come for the chats; stay for the talk of the challenges of being a Gen 1.5 person growing up in the Riverina district, along with hearing God's call on Mata's life as a youth worker and then minister, and her joy in connecting with and walking alongside young people in ministry. Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

Well, looky here...the latest episode of the PULSEcast lands fresh! Completing our circuit of ministry with young people today Ofa, Joyce, and Molk sit down with Akosita Tangi (Minister of the Word candidate, studying at United Theological College) to discuss a wide range of topics related to ministry with little people and the ones who care for them. There's talk about inclusion, intergenerational ministry, the importance of ministry with little people (and how it directly impacts their families), and we welcome the return of the much-loved and infrequently-included segment Mythbusters! Guaranteed 100% reliable, thought-provoking, and challenging by all who participated. Akosita brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, PLUS Joyce and Ofa flex their ministry muscles and reflect on what they've learned in leading little people also. Molk pretty much doesn't know what he's talking about as usual though shares a funny story about his dad and his siblings. Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

Smashing straight into your feed it’s a brand-new episode of the PULSEcast! In this brilliant ep Molk and Ofa chat with two people who have and are living and breathing youth ministry in their lives, and they’re both students at theological college – Ella Evans (studying at Morling Bible College; worshipping at Leichhardt Uniting Church) and Will Ma’umalanga (Minister of the Word candidate studying at United Theological College). Together we chat about the importance of youth ministry, competitiveness in games being mostly healthy, how we can love and support youth as they start making big decisions for themselves for the first time, and the importance of community, space, and place. This is gonna be another good one! If you listen closely, you might even pick up some great ideas to help you with your youth ministry, or get inspired to get your church gathered and excited to embark on your own brand of ministry with high schoolers. Huge thanks to Ella and Will for offering their insight, wisdom, and the benefits of a well-timed hip and shoulder. At time of release the registration details for #UYC23 aren’t completely ready, but we’ll add them in here once they are! Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

Chalk it up - The PULSEcast delivers its third episode for your viewing/listening pleasure. In this episode Molk speaks with three people who have significant experience in Young Adult ministry - Gabi Cadenhead (Mission Worker with Christian Students Uniting at Sydney Uni), Rev Paul Simpson (part of the ministry team at Pittwater Uniting Church), and Dr Matt Anslow (Lay Ministry Educator within the Vital Leadership Team of UME). We reflect together on the reason why we even have Young Adult ministry, some of the joys and foibles therein, and what it takes to stay engaged and build a successful intergenerational ministry that prioritises ministry with young people. PHEW! There's lots more, so hang in for the wisdom and stay for the rants (mostly Paul, yet shared evenly). Thanks so much to Gabi, Paul, and Matt for being so willing to share their experience and knowledge with us all. Subscribe today and be a supporter of the number one youth ministry podcast within the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

The PULSEcast returns for a massive second episode! In this episode Joyce and Molk talk about KID'S CAMP OUT 2023 with two people who attended - Gibbo (Youth Leader from St Matthew's Uniting Church) and Nicole (Young Leader from the Leigh Fijian congregation of Parramatta Mission)...and they've both grown up going to KCO! We start with a KCO trivia contest, and dive deeper into the value of KCO, how both Gibbo and Nicole have benefitted from attending and being a leader at KCO, and why events like KCO are important within the ministry life to Children and their families within our movement. So much wisdom and so much experience to value from these great people. Subscribe now and get on board the number one youth ministry podcast for the Uniting Church in Australia! ✝️🙏❤️

Welcome to the PULSEcast! ✝️🙏❤️ In this first episode meet the PULSE team - Joyce, Ofa, Jo, & Molk - and hear all about who PULSE is, what's important about ministry with young people within the life of the church, and listen closely as they bust a couple of myths about youth ministry. Subscribe now and get on board the number one youth ministry podcast for the Uniting Church in Australia!