Means of Grace

In today's episode Luke Edwards sits down with Carl Arrington, District Superintendent of the Appalachian District, and Gloria Hughes, District Vitality Associate. They share about some exciting things happening in the district. In particular, a weekly Zoom call where clergy in the district have found support and courage to learn in this challenging season. 

In this episode, Melissa talks with Mary Ana Smith about her podcast for young women called Wisdom for the Journey. Mary Ana addresses topics like body image, perfectionism, social media, mental health and much more in an authentic, accessible way for teen girls. You'll hear clips from several of her episodes and you may recognize some familiar voices – several WNCC clergy women have been guests o...

Today's conversation is with Jay Cobb, the Executive Director of Sanctuary Counseling Group. SCG is dedicated to the healing of heart, mind, and soul; providing excellent emotional, spiritual, and relational health care to all people of the Carolinas. For more information on Sanctuary Counseling Group visit their website or send an email to info@scgnc.org . You can also reach them by phone at 704-...

Host Kim Ingram shares an intimate conversation with Rev. Jill Smith.  Jill has been a church pastor for 20 years and last summer embarked on a new journey that she calls Flourishing Souls. Her ministry uses contemplative prayer for a deeper connection to God and the Enneagram for self-awareness. The conversation covers both. Jill loves dogs (they have two collies), dark coffee, world travel, and...

In this episode, David Snipes, President and CEO for the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina and Caroline Cox, Director of Reynolds Ministries and Programming have a conversation with Caroline Wood. They share part of their own stories as well as stories of the Foundation, its programs and offerings and how lives are changed through the ministries that build the church for genera...

In this week's episode, Luke Edwards talks with Dan Pezet, Director of Church Development and Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions about designing worship for both in person and online participants. Jason began his ministry in the late 90s at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio and later went on to co-found  Midnight Oil Productions , "a leading voice in equipping the church...

Rev. Kim Ingram talks with Deborah Daniels and Cindy Thompson, active lay leaders in Western North Carolina Conference about the ways they have been involved with ministries of reconciliation, specifically related to racial reconciliation. Cindy and Deborah reflect on their experiences and highlight ways leaders and churches can participate in reconciliation in their congregations and communities....

This week's episode is about the Missional Collective, which desires to help churches and ministries shift the work of mission from relief   to  empowerment . Missional Collective participants attend a series of retreats together and remain in connection with one another through the support of each other's work.  Brian Mateer speaks with Missional Collective Coordinator, Erin Burleson, who shares...

Today's episode is about rural food systems and how churches can make an impact on our communities in economic and environmental ways. Luke Edwards talks with Jaimie McGirt of Resourceful Communities which focuses on environmental stewardship, social justice and sustainable economic development across rural NC. He also talks with Bob Sturge, Pastor of Mill Grove UMC in Midland, NC where he and his...

In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Kim Ingram visits with Uwharrie District leaders: Rev. Laura Auten, District Superintendent, Rev. Katie Lineberger, District Vitality Associate; Rev. Kris Mares, Missional Engagement Associate. We hear stories of how churches in the Uwharrie District are reaching their communities, discover a new way to engage statistical reporting as a sign of church...

In this episode, Melissa McGill talks with Rev. Brandon Lazarus, an ordained elder in our Conference and the Director of the LEAD conference. Learn more about Brandon's story, the role LEAD has played in his life and ministry and how you can get involved in this creative community. LEAD creates space for Christian leaders to be vulnerable and courageous, connects them around their hopes for the fu...

In this episode, we have a guest host, Rev. Parker Haynes, pastor of and member of the Leadership Development Team. He interviews the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, parish priest of the Church of England, and former Dean of Duke Chapel, and research professor of Christian ethics at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Wells speaks to us as a follow-up to a recent webinar...

In this episode, our host panel take look back at 2020.  Melissa, Jesse, Luke, Kim, Caroline and Brian share their favorite moments, challenges they faced and what they're looking forward to for 2021. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Means of Grace team! We will be back with new episodes on January 5, 2021.

In this episode, Caroline Wood talks with Rev. Bruce Stanley, President and CEO of the Methodist Home for Children. The MHFC believes that every child deserves a chance. They provide safe, stable homes where children can thrive and live to their full, God-given potential. While not always traditional, an MHC home is where child and family are equipped to succeed. Learn more at their website,  www....

In this episode, Melissa McGill and Jeremy Coffey check in with the 11th grade youth small group they co-lead at Myers Park UMC. Four youth – Hayden, Nathan, Lucy and Bobby – share their thoughts on how faith, community and technology intersect for teens during the pandemic. We've pivoted in all areas of Church life this year – here's what it looks like for this high school small group and how the...

Dr. Vincent Howell and Vince Howell are a father-son team who have co-authored the book,  MBA Quick Book for Ministers . In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Kim Ingram and Jesse Enniss talk with the Howells about their experience writing together. Vince shares about his experience as a PK (pastor's kid) and how he incorporates his faith and his MBA into life and ministry. Vincent tells...

In this episode, Dr. Otto Harris, the senior pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist in Charlotte and the Interim Director of the Conference Comprehensive Plan of Equity, has an important conversation on diversity, inclusion and belonging with local diversity experts, Veronica Calderon, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Officer at Aldersgate Continuing Care Retirement Community and Fernando G. L...

"Several churches across the conference have started house church networks since the onset of the pandemic and countless more are beginning to experiment with them in the coming months as the weather gets colder and outdoor worship gets harder. In this episode Luke Edwards sits down with Rev. Sam Burleson and Amy Cochran of Salem UMC in Bostic. We hear about the house church network that arose thi...

America is divided and the church is not immune. The divisions are largely motivated by this and the previous election cycle. In this episode, Jesse Enniss is joined by Dr. Trevor Eppehimer,  Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Hood Theological Seminary, Rev. Jan Brittain,  Lead Pastor, Williamson's Chapel UMC, and Rev. Jamie Hamrick , Senior Pastor, Rocky Mount UMC who...

As we approach All Saints Day, we want to pause to remember the Saints we've lost this year in our churches, in our communities and in our world.  The pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives including death, dying and how we celebrate life and find ways grieve together. How do we balance sacred and safety in our rites surrounding death? Melissa McGill talks with Kay Morrison-Sanders, a cem...

Description – In this episode, Luke Edwards catches up with two church planters, Ashley Crowder Stanley of the  Wellspring Congregation  near Asheville and Rev. Charlie Rivens of  The Place  in Charlotte, to talk about their ministries, the highs and lows of starting a church and how they've adjusted during the pandemic. Find out more about all our conference church plants here:  www.wnccumc.org/...

In this episode, we take a trip to Simpson Gillespie United Methodist where the Rev. Darryl Dayson and his church gather in the parking lot for Park & Praise Worship. They're in the midst of a sermon series entitled Reset and we can all benefit from pondering this question with them – will we resume or will we take this time to reimagine and reset to create something better than what we had before...

In this episode of Means of Grace, Brian Mateer is joined by Camille Roddy, the chair of the Western North Carolina Conference Congregations 4 Children initiative and the Rev. Ed Jones, pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Houston, Texas for a conversation how churches can partner with schools in their communities to meet the needs of students and families during the pandemic and beyond. Learn mo...

Six months into stay-at-home orders, every church has had to make significant shifts in their ministry. In this episode, Jesse Enniss talks with Rev. Dr. Andrea Smith, pastor of West UMC in Mooresville, NC, and Rev. Dan Hester, pastor of Skyland UMC in Asheville, NC about leadership in this time of change. They discuss how they have adapted their use of technology, their engagement with their comm...

In this episode, Caroline Wood has a conversation with John Crane, WNCC Lay Leader about the ministry of the laity and John's passion for the church. John is a native of Gastonia, NC, where he and his wife, Roxanne, and sons Jonathan (20) and Zackery (17) are members of First UMC-Gastonia. He has most recently served on our Conference Board of Laity as a result of his service as the District Lay L...