Faith Unfiltered Podcast

The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! It’s Pentecost Sunday, and in this episode of Coffee to Go, cohosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the scripture text that tells of this spirit-filled day. Put on something red, and join them as they discuss the radical inclusivity that plays out on this day in the journey of the disciples, and how the Spirit continues to be present in the quiet and i...

Relationships, meaningful connections, mentors, encouragers... all incredibly important elements in the journey of faith. Everyone needs to hear and know that they are good enough and capable enough to live the life for which God has created them. Join host, Brittany Mangelson, for an inspiring conversation with life-long Community of Christ member and Central Mission Youth Minister, Tyler Horring...

The pandemic taught us many lessons, but one of the most important is that we must rethink the way we do church.  We must also respond to the unique contexts of the people and places where we are called to serve.  In this episode of What’s Brewing, host Robin Linkhart sits down with Chicago Mission Center President and Financial Officer Blake Smith to talk about how the Chicago Mission Center’s “P...

He’s gone. He’s back. He’s gone again... now what? Have you ever found yourself feeling like the disciples must have on the day when Jesus ascended into heaven and before the coming of the promised Advocate? Confused? Lost? Uncertain? Living in the in-between?  Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for this episode of Coffee to Go where they talk about the mystery of the “vacancy” left by Jesus’...

Life might be better if we could just be handed “truth” on a proverbial silver platter.  It would probably be easier if everything we thought we knew was all we needed to know.  But, that’s not the way it works in a global, diverse community like the one we live in.  Join host Blake Smith for this Coffee Connect episode in which he shares some brief reflections on the importance of understanding “...

At the Lamoni Food Pantry, choice matters! What started in a small basement room of a local church has continued to grow and expand … now serving more than 80 families a month. And that’s not even the best part! The best part is that those families are treated with dignity. Because of the blessings of community and the hard work of volunteers, families aren’t just handed a bag of beets... they get...

Time is running short and Jesus has an important last-minute message to “drill” into the heads of his disciples. “This is my commandment that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER!” Before you get comfortable... that wasn’t just a message for the disciples …. “back then.” The mandate remains for us today! Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a hard look at a tough mandate. Don’t worry, you’ve got this!! Down...

Not everyone does church the same way or at the same time. Beyond the Horizon is a new expression of the church in Michigan that has shown how amazing things can happen when friends and neighbors come together in relevant and accessible ways to meet their spiritual needs.  Join host, Brittany Mangelson as she sits down with Linda Stanbridge for an enlightening conversation about what is possible w...

For some, the thought of getting “lost” in the masses is the preferred way to exist. But, for others, like Graceland University Freshman Addison Cole, a small university and a small-town atmosphere like Lamoni, IA is the perfect place to find one’s self. At Graceland, Addison has found a place where community is more important than competition, and personal integrity is more important than perfect...

Yes, we’re still in the season of Easter. But, it’s getting close to time for Jesus’ departure, and he is on an errand of hospitality. The disciples are concerned. How will they find their way to the divine dwelling place of which Jesus speaks? Jesus has not only shown the disciples “the way,” he has proclaimed that he is, in fact, The Way. But, what exactly does that mean?  Join hosts Karin Peter...

Who knew history could be so exciting?  Barbara Walden and Lach Machay... that’s who!  But, it doesn’t have to stop with them.  Your story is church history.  Join host Carla Long as she sits down with Barb and Lach to hear about what’s happening with the Community of Christ Historic Sites, the role that the Historic Sites foundation plays in the church’s historic sites, and the ways that you too...

Gardens can be places of beauty and awe. Gardens of all types are places where new life springs forth, and where hope is realized. We are the gardens in which God plants seeds in preparation for what is to come. We are patches of soil that need preparing, and tending so that God’s dream can come alive in us. Join Community of Christ minister, Robin LInkhart, for a time of spiritual reflection usin...

Fences are meant to keep things out … to protect what is inside. Gates, on the other hand, are meant to provide a passage through... both in and out. When you hear Jesus say, “I am the Gate,” what does that mean to you? In what ways is your life a “gate”... providing an entry point into the life about which Jesus teaches? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a look into the “I am the Gate” p...

Advancing technology, growing diversity in Conference attendance and in the leadership of the Church, the ordination of women.  These are just a few things that have impacted World Conference, bringing about positive change in how Conference is done. In this episode of Cuppa Joe, host Blake Smith sits down with former Senior President of Seventy, now Evangelist, John Wight to talk about how World...

You can run from God, but you can’t hide! When the people of God come together after, and in the midst of, spiritual preparation, there is no telling what God might do. World Conference in Community of Christ is a perfect example.  It is both a unique and an amazing experience. Chances are, if you’ve been to World Conference, you know that to be true. Listen in as Retired Apostle and storyteller,...

What does “a risen Lord” really mean after all these years? Would you recognize Jesus if he came up and walked alongside you? What would be the “thing” that would open your eyes to his presence? Put on your walking shoes! It’s time to take a walk to Emmaus. On this, the third Sunday of Easter, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith travel with Jesus and a couple of disciples on a road of discovery, hos...

How does one lead a church out of a riotous and tumultuous time following the end of a second World War and the financial struggles such a war leaves in its wake? From rebellious teenager of a religious leader to President and Prophet of the Restoration at the age of seventy, Israel A. Smith steps into the role at just such a time. But, say what you will about Israel’s limited theological prowess,...

Where can one find a place of rest while wrestling with faith, gender, and sexuality? For Alex Guerrero, it came in the form of three “grandmas,” a house church, and the Community of Christ. In this episode of Fair Trade, Alex opens up with good friend, Brittany Mangelson, about his story of struggle and transition, and how a congregation’s willingness to listen and learn created the restful space...

Easter is not over.  On the contrary, it’s just getting started! Jesus is back, but Thomas … and the other disciples … have to see it to believe it. How about you? Grab your chocolate Easter Bunny (if you haven’t already eaten it) and a cup of your favorite coffee and join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for more on Easter in this week’s episode of Coffee to Go.  It will “no doubt” be worth your...

It’s time for another cup of coffee at Graceland University’s “The Swarm .” In this episode, you’ll meet Jocelyn Dailey from Campbellville, Ontario. Drawn to Graceland by previous family connections as well as her own experience of Graceland through SPECTACULAR, Jocelyn has found her place there. Jocelyn sits down with host, Mike Hoffman, to talk about her life at Graceland, and her experience gro...

How do we make sense of all the evil in the world?  It can’t be God, because God is love.  And, it can’t be me, because I’m not capable of evil.  There has to be some explanation. There has to be someone or something that we can blame!  I know... “The Devil made me do it!” This is not a new conundrum. It’s been going on for millennia.  Listen in as Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith give host Carla L...

The stone has been rolled away. All that remains in the tomb are the linen cloths in which Jesus’ body had been wrapped for burial. He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! But what does that mean for you? What does it mean that Jesus has risen? There are probably as many different answers to that question as there are people who will listen to this podcast...and then some. Join hosts Karin Peter and Bla...

“Anticipation, it’s making me wait.” These are not just the words to the refrain of a Carly Simon song or a ‘70s ketchup commercial. It is an expression of what we experience as we sit in the uncertainty of Holy Saturday... between the crucifixion of Good Friday and the resurrection of Easter. It’s also something experienced by many in the everyday uncertainty of life. Join hosts Karin Peter and B...

Few people like the dark... especially when that darkness invades our everyday living.  Ignoring it, however, will not make it go away.  If anything, facing it head-on will only make the light that shines in the darkness that much brighter.  Some say that you can’t celebrate the light of Easter without having experienced the darkness of Good Friday. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Pet...

When was the last time you went to a dinner party and the host offered to wash your feet? How would you react if they did? Would you be embarrassed, or would you receive it as an extravagant gift? Once again Jesus does the unexpected. Co-hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith take us to the upper room for a lesson in servant ministry in this Maundy Thursday episode of Coffee to Go where Jesus lays out...