More Than Sunday

It can be awkward and difficult to broach the subject of drugs and alcohol with your kids or someone that might have a problem. Thankfully, Ray Lozano is here to help. Ray has been speaking about the dangers of substance abuse for over thirty years. His curiosity and passion for this education is rooted in his own story and family history. And not only is he current on the latest research, he has...

Welcome to the Garage Edition of More Than Sunday! Trust us, it's about as fancy as it sounds. As we continue to socially distance and work from home in the midst of the pandemic, we've left the recording studio behind. Instead, Josh Fitzpatrick has set up a microphone in his home garage, and is having conversations with all-new guests via Zoom. First up is John Niemeyer, who saw his life change f...

When looking around Richardson, Texas for organizations that are on the front lines of helping people in need, your eyes will quickly land on Network of Community Ministries. This wonderful nonprofit has made it its mission to care, coach and empower our neighbors in need as they seek an improved quality of life. It's about much more than providing food; it's about serving the whole person. The wh...

In the 25th chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus makes a bold claim; that whenever you visit someone in prison, it's as if you are visiting Jesus himself. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Kairos Prison Ministry takes this charge quite literally. They reach out to incarcerated men, women, and youth, as well as their families, to share t...

Hello podcast friends! We hope you and yours are healthy and safe. With necessary precautions, we are continuing to bring you new episodes. In addition to an update from Josh and Eric on how their respective quarantines are going, you will have the pleasure of meeting Ashley Elsey, the founder and CEO of Minerva Consulting.   Minerva Consulting is a marketing firm that seeks to align strategy with...

First off, we'd like to say that while we've always been grateful for our More Than Sunday family and the ways this platform has allowed us to stay connected, we are especially so now. So thank you for engaging with us and continuing to seek to love and serve others in this unprecedented time.  This week on the podcast, we have a conversation with someone who's sole mission is also to love and ser...

As we consider what it means to be in service to those around us, there are not many examples more clear and concrete than feeding our hungry neighbors. A Dallas-based non-profit, Body & Soul, has seen the need and is answering the call. This organization seeks to inspire persons experiencing homelessness to lead hopeful and productive lives. And for over 20 years, First United Methodist Church Ri...

This week in our focus on service (and the organizations that are doing fantastic work in that arena), we hear two stories from opposite sides of the same coin. One from the president of a new nonprofit that organizes disability awareness programs intended to break down barriers and foster compassion through interactive experiences, focused on awareness of different abilities, and the other from s...

Welcome to Season 4! The start of this season of the podcast coincides with the start of something big at First United Methodist Church Richardson: the Year of Service. This church-wide initiative is a challenge for everyone to explore what it means to serve in new and different ways at home, at work or school, in church, and in the community. It's all about looking past ourselves and joining with...

Life is like a... roll of toilet paper? It sure is, according to Missy Buchanan. She is an accomplished author and speaker, bringing her message of encouragement to older adults wherever she goes. This conversation is no different; Missy wants to clue us into the struggles and blessings of living our later years. She joined our very own Josh Fitzpatrick for a More Than Sunday first - a LIVE interv...

Thanksgiving, Christmas... It's the most wonderful time of the year! Right? While it certainly is for some, it most certainly is not for others. The holidays have a way of deepening whatever emotional state you are in; the joys are even more joyful, but the sorrows can reach new lows. For those experiencing any sort of grief, especially this time of the year, we want you to know that you are seen...

As the American hip-hop trio Salt-n-Pepa put it way back in 1990, let's talk about sex. More specifically, let's talk about talking about sex. Broaching such conversations with our kids can be awkward and challenging, but is an absolutely essential part of parenting. Cheryl and Rod Bishop saw this necessity long ago, and have spent nearly the last 30 years talking to pre-teens, teenagers, and thei...

"Kids these days..."  It's a time-honored tradition for adults (former teenagers) to cast aspersions on the youth of the day (current teenagers), without giving much consideration to how things have changed or the new challenges they face. We thought it appropriate to let these students speak for themselves. What is it like to be a student today? What struggles do you encounter? What are your hope...

On this season of More Than Sunday, we've made it our goal to highlight the heart-warming, life-changing stories that are happening in Richardson, TX. To keep a finger on the pulse of our community and learn from those who may have a different experience than ourselves. Today's interview touches on teamwork, determination, communication, and a sense of belonging, all centered around... video games...

According to Dr. Michael Kilgard, the brain is a "complicated... miraculous... amazing" thing. And he should know - he's a professor of neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in research in the fields of tinnitus, stroke recovery, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  Dr. Kilgard is also a Christian, and attends First United Methodist Church Richardson regularly with his fa...

Deep friendship. Housing first. Reciprocal service. These are just a few of the radical ideas that have made CitySquare a massive force for good in the Dallas area. Since Larry James became CEO of this organization in 1994, he has led the charge to fight the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy and friendship. But he would tell you that the real work is being done not only by th...

Today's episode presents a challenging, but necessary discussion. Sex trafficking is a pervasive issue; not just abroad, but right here in the United States. Over 100,000 children are trafficked every year in America, with occurrences in Texas ranking second-highest in the country by state. Kim Robinson, our guest today, is part of the solution. She is the CEO of a non-profit called New Friends Ne...

We know from the Bible that God cares for all of creation - including animals! Many people find companionship and comfort in their pets. They can become an important part of our family and a shining example of unconditional love. This week, we welcome two guests to the podcast that have a special love for animals. Dr. Katherine Mathes is a member at First United Methodist Church Richardson, and ha...

Life never quite turns out the way we plan. And of all the possible situations that could throw us off-course, hearing the word "cancer" from a doctor is one of the most terrifying. As we approach October, we wanted to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month by spending some time with Allyson Martin and Brenda Duckett. Both of these women are breast cancer survivors with inspiring, encouraging stories...

This week, we welcome Dr. Jeannie Stone, the superintendent of the Richardson Independent School District. While she sits at the top of an organization with over 5,000 employees and almost 40,000 students, she doesn't see it that way. She lets us in on her upside-down leadership strategy, and highlights why partnerships - like the one First United Methodist Church Richardson has with two RISD elem...

Everything can change in a moment. One decision can change the course of your entire life. Debbie Smelko knows this more than most, and has made it her life's mission to share her story with anyone willing to listen. And while that story starts with tragedy, the real power of her witness is in the hope and redemption that comes after. This is an interview that everyone needs to hear and share with...

Welcome to Season 3 of More Than Sunday! We are thrilled to be back in your feed every Wednesday, bringing you insightful conversations full of the stories, themes, and questions of our faith. And seeing as we're not the only ones starting up a new season this week (football is back!), we thought it appropriate to welcome our friend Drew Pearson to the podcast. Drew was a wide receiver for the Dal...

While the desire for the Church to grow is good and right, the methods and metrics we focus on in that process aren't always necessarily so. Len Wilson (Creative and Communications Director at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, TX) has taken to asking broad questions about how we measure the success our mission, and it's leading to some interesting answers. He outlines the importance of...

Jesus makes it possible for each and every person to have a personal relationship with God. If this is true, then why is it important to gather as a worshipping community? According to Rev. DeAndre Johnson, it is vitally important for faithful Christian witness. It's in the gathering that we realize that God is not only saving us, but those worshipping around us. And not only those worshipping aro...

When something happens as part of our normal routine, or has been around since before we were born, it's easy to take it for granted and not give it a second thought. The Church is not immune to this phenomenon, especially when it comes to worship. This episode (and this entire month at First United Methodist Church Richardson), we are taking a critical look at what worship is and why we do it the...