The 116

We swim in an ocean of serious, life-changing topics on the 116. But sometimes, you just gotta laugh. So, we invited Pastor Tim Ozment and Dan Philips into the studio for a conversation about behind-the-scenes stories from years of ministry work that now bring smiles to our faces. You'll hear potluck horror-stories, things we were taught that turned out not to be true, and we'll even share stories...

Should we toss special needs people to the side? Is there any hope for the developmentally challenged? Duane and Diane Lewis are our guests today, and they've founded a project that empowers those with special needs to maximize their manufacturing and management skills. The Lewises are truly special people, full of love, and innovative to the core. You'll want to come along for this powerful inter...

A change of pace on this new episode of the 116. We're always hungry for new ways to build relationships, and taking someone out to dine is a wonderful way to entertain and connect. FUMC's own restaurant expert, Rodney Nelson, is with us to recommend some of his favorite Peoria, IL area dining experiences... places you may not have experienced yet. So settle in for a fun podcast with great ideas,...

Is it possible to bring the Anglo and Latino church together as one? How do we Anglos better understand our Latino friends? What's it like to be Mexican in America these days? We'll explore all these fascinating questions with Pastor Adrian Garcia, Pastor of Hispanic Ministries at FUMC. You'll find this to be a powerful conversation that could help bridge the cultural gaps so that we can find ours...

The pandemic has served to accelerate the church's realization that new technology can help us do the work of ministry. But how do we demystify technology? Is technology an enemy or friend? What is new or upcoming that might help us do the work of the church? We'll answer your questions, and even some complaints, as we explore how technology has always helped to amplify the work of spreading Good...

WMBD Morning Host Greg Batton returns to our friendly confines to talk about the things you need to know about our community. Greg has his thumb on the pulse of Peoria, and he's here to help us understand this place where we work a bit better. He might also try to come up with a new name for our studio. Any suggestions? The 116 is hosted by Greg Fish, and you can join us for the conversation at ww...

How do we help others in need? This pandemic has presented unique challenges to feeding and assisting those with broken life stories. But the Gospel of Jesus beckons us to serve those in need. So, in this episode, we speak to FUMC Director of Community Missions and Ministries, Dan Philips, about how we are moving forward with helping our less fortunate neighbors, and what you can do to serve the n...

Local high school principal Jeremy Garrett joins us to talk all things back-to-school related. Find out what you need to know about sending your kids back to school. What does going back to school look like in a post-pandemic environment? What do parents need to know when sending a child to school for the first time? How can both students and parents be prepared for the school experience in 2021?

How do we move forward? Is there hope? How do we live in the new normal? Pastor Tim Ozment of First United Methodist Church in Peoria joins host Greg Fish for an inspiring conversation about moving forward as we emerge from a global crisis. See the video broadcast version at https://youtu.be/ellMKqB_YEg . 

A young couple from FUMC, whose names we'll omit here for their security once overseas, answers the hard questions as to why young millennials such as they are might decide that packing up and moving across the globe is the right thing for them to do. Hear the thoughts, strategies, and hopes of how these two people of faith take on the challenge of presenting hope in a land averse to Christianity....

We accomplish several firsts with this podcast. It's our first to feature a song (as performed by Miguel), and the first to include some bilingual conversation. Join Greg for a conversation with Miguel about how to celebrate God after a difficult year like we've experienced. Get ready to turn those "icks" and "yucks" into songs of joy as we find reason to be glad even when things are tough.

Host of the area's top radio morning show, Greg Batton of WMBD, joins Greg Fish for a look at the topics that are driving life in the Peoria region right now. Join us for lots of laughs, some great stories, and a look at how we can best address some of the serious topics facing our region and world. Greg is a fantastic guest, a well-respected voice in our region, and a man of many important (and s...

Frankly, pastors have a seemingly impossible task set before them in navigating the COVID minefield and creating solutions that will honor Christ and provide care to as many people as possible. Today we tackle the weighty and highly controversial issue of reopening. Bearing in mind that it is nearly impossible to be timely with information since COVID responses are continually changing around us,...

Fresh out of high school, our own Kate Rolffs joined the World Race Gap Year program, where she joined 36 other young people for a missions adventure to Swaziland, Thailand, and Nicaragua. Though the COVID-19 crisis brought an end to this trip a couple of months early, it was still a life-changing event for Kate. Tune in for a few of Kate's life-changing experiences, and hear how a mission-minded...

Read any good books lately? While we hope we're nearing the end of the shutdown, it's still possible that you're hungering for a good book to read, or material that can help you grow stronger. Church librarian Lori Herold joins us on this episode with the story of how a simple church library can make a big difference on our down days.

Associate Pastor Tanya Edward-Evans, along with Director of Fine Arts & Discipleship, Dr. Carol McPherson, join us at the table for a healing, helpful conversation on racism. It's the topic everyone is talking about right now, but the messaging regarding the appropriate response are mixed at best. What should be our response, and how can white people of faith do better? What is the key to building...

In this episode, the tables are turned, and 116 host Greg Fish is interviewed by Pastor Tim Ozment. Greg's new book, Be Patient, Take Courage, Don't Grumble, is being released early because of its relevance to the time we find ourselves in with the pandemic crisis. The book encourages us to change the way we face our challenges, and how to move forward into what is ahead of us when we might before...

In another special edition dealing with our response to the mandated shutdown, we talk with Dr. Carol McPherson, our Director of Discipleship & Fine Arts Ministries, about how FUMC is taking its mission seriously even through the shutdown. Difficult times have necessitated creative and out-of-the-box thinking. Not only are we learning to survive, we are thriving in the way we are continuing to dis...

In this special installment of Stories from the 116, Greg talks with FUMC Director or Community Ministries & Mission, Dan Philips, about things we can do to help others whose personal struggles are not slowed down by the pandemic. Learn how our Loaves & Fish program has adapted to feed the needy around us, how Backpack Buddies is striving to continue to put meals in the hands of hungry young stude...

This week we invite FUMC Director of Youth Ministries, Christina Koeppel, to the illustrious 116 studios to discuss how COVID-19 concerns and sheltering-in-place have effected our youth ministries. Christina gives us insight into the minds and hearts of our teens, discusses their incredible spiritual strength, and gives us ideas for communicating with them while hunkered down at home. Join us for...

In our first podcast since COVID-19 has changed the way we live, our Director of Children and Family Ministries, Kara Bushong, shares uplifting stories of ways families are thriving despite social distancing. What can we do to keep our kids spiritually active during this time of confinement? How do we talk to our kids about Coronavirus? This quick look at how Kara is helping our parents stay conne...

What happens when a small group at FUMC begins to carry a burden for the under-served students in our community? A program is born that literally changes the life-direction for many young people who may have otherwise been brushed aside. Here the stories of how at-risk elementary students were shown love, care, and blossomed into community changers as adults. You'll also hear of a program develope...

In this final installment of the Liberia Story, Vision Team members Pastor Tim Ozment and Dan Philips return to the heart of their fact-finding trip to West Africa to tell the stories behind the story of their visit. From learning if an American can ride a Liberian motorbike, to the heart-warming experience that culminated from a trip to a city that none of them wanted to visit. If you ever wonder...

Julie Rolffs and Amy Zuehls return to take a deeper dive into the stories and life-changing events of their recent trip to Liberia, West Africa. They went to observe how our missions giving can best serve the people of Liberia, but came back with a deep sense of how God's spirit is transforming the world. You'll learn that giving money to support a mission is more than just a way to meet a goal. O...

When we support the building of a school in an impoverished area of West Africa, can we really know if it makes any difference? Can we go outside our comfort zone and find the comfort of God present as we step into a different world to discover all we have in common? A team of four recently set off on a journey to understand how our resources could be put to work in Liberia, but in the process, th...