Today we have a very special guest, Shariq Abdul Ghani! In this heartfelt conversation, Shariq delves into the richness of his faith traditions, sharing personal anecdotes and insights on how his beliefs have shaped his understanding of the world and humanity. We discuss the commonalities that exist between Islam and Christianity, emphasizing the s…

Today we are joined by a very special guest, Michele Russell! Michele Russell received her Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1995. During her 22 years working in the field of mental health, she served as a staff counselor at Texas Children’s Hospital Learning Support Center and established t…

In this special episode, John Stephens and Josef Klam check in with us from their pilgrimage in the footsteps of the apostle Paul.

Join us this week as we dive deep into the realms of empathy, understanding, and grace with our special guest, Tod Bolsinger. In this enlightening episode, Tod Bolsinger, renowned author, speaker, and leadership expert, shares his insights on navigating the complexities of leadership with empathy and humility. From leading with a compassionate hear…

This week we talk about the three temptations of Jesus according to Richard Rohr. In Matthew’s Gospel, the temptations are not just isolated events but profound lessons for us all. In the first temptation, Jesus confronts the challenge to misuse personal power. In a world where the allure of greatness and recognition can be overwhelming, Jesus teac…

This week we talk about the Rodeo and Holy Week. We talk about an article written by Ruth Haley Barton at transformingcenter.org. We also discuss how we can use the image of the crucifix as a visual cue for reflection. Holy Week—is all of us going through the rhythm of death, burial, and resurrection. It is not a rhythm that any of us would willing…

This week we talk about truth! We examine how our perception of truth plays a pivotal role in shaping the narratives that influence our perspectives on issues ranging from politics to morality. We also delve into the dynamic relationship between post-truth, Overton's Window, and the church. How does the evolving landscape of information impact reli…

Today we talk about grace! We talk about where we see grace in our every day lives and where we experience the kind of grace that cannot be earned.

Welcome to a powerful and inspiring episode of Pod Have Mercy, where we sit down with a remarkable individual who defied all odds to find freedom and self-expression. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Arshia Komeili, an Iranian rapper whose journey from persecution to redemption is nothing short of extraordinary. Arshia's story begi…

This week we are joined again by Bishop Mande Muyombo! Bishop Mande Muyombo was elected to the episcopacy in 2017. He is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.

In this episode, join our lively discussions as we navigate the highs and lows of the 2024 Super Bowl, dissecting epic plays and unforgettable moments. But that's not all – we'll also embark on a soulful journey into the Lenten season and Ash Wednesday, exploring the meaning behind the rituals and traditions that shape our spiritual landscapes.…

Welcome to another episode of Pod Have Mercy! In this captivating installment, we have the delightful Haley Brown joining us to explore the artistry of charcuterie boards, the depths of spirituality, the joys of wine, and the intertwining threads of faith. Haley, a seasoned connoisseur of charcuterie, takes us on a mouthwatering journey as she unve…

Today we catch up on everything that happened over the break and talk about some exciting things that are coming in 2024!

This week is a special Christmas episode! We are joined by John's brother and mother today in studio! We talk about John and Matt's favorite Christmas memories, what they are excited for this year and much more!

Today we are joined by Suzanne Harter and Donna Watkins to talk about the ways that Chapelwood is partnering with the community during the holiday season. Christmas Manna is a long-standing, much-loved Chapelwood tradition of matching families lacking the resources to buy Christmas toys, new clothes, and "extras" for their children with those willi…

Happy Thanksgiving from Pod Have Mercy! Today we discuss our favorite Thanksgiving memories and what makes the holiday so special. We talk about the importance of gratitude and how we can practice thankfulness during this season.

This week we are joined by Joseph Patty, Andrew Wolfe and Angela Ferguson to recap a recent event at Chapelwood called, "The Birds and Bees". The Birds and Bees is an organization that was founded by Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson. They started the organization to give parents the tools and confidence they need to have healthy conversations wi…

This week we are joined by Justus Marete! Mr. Marete is the CEO of Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Today we talk about some of the challenges that the hospital has encountered and what it was like during covid. We talk about ways that we can support the hospital and much more! For more information about the hospital visit: https://methodisthospit…

Today we are joined by Rev. Michael Jarboe! "Jarboe" is the Lead Pastor of The Journey Contemporary Worship Community at Memorial Drive Methodist Church. Today we talk about what is happening locally in the life of the church, how we can meet people where they are in the current technological age and the wonderful partnership that Chapelwood and Me…

This week we are joined by Dr. Paul Chilcote to discuss his new book, Multiplying Love. We delve into Paul's extensive work, which spans across decades and continents, focusing on his pioneering contributions to Wesleyan theology and Methodist studies. Listeners will have the opportunity to hear about Paul's deep commitment to social justice and ho…

Today we talk about a recent mission trip that our producer took to India and the crisis in the slums of Mumbai. The organization that he partnered with is called Asher House. Asher House is a developmental aid program created to offer education to the children of India's rural poor. Children starting from Pre K grade levels through Elementary are …

This week we have a quick conversation about ways that we can respond to the turmoil in Israel and Gaza. We talk about the background of the dispute and how we can pray for those who are affected by the violence.

Today we are joined by David Worthington. Since arriving in 2006, David has overseen the development at John Wesley's New Room, including the delivery of the Broadmead Garden project and Horsefair Visitor Centre project. During this time, he has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the site and its significance in the story of the early Methodist move…

Today we talk about the Book of Joel, an ancient prophetic text, and discover its astonishing parallels with the contemporary Christian Church. We explore the timeless wisdom and insights embedded within this often overlooked book, revealing its striking relevance to our present-day faith and community. We'll navigate through themes of repentance, …

This week on the podcast we discuss Russell Moore's book, Losing Our Religion. We also reflect on an article that Moore wrote about exile. We catch up on what John and Matt have been up to lately and we cover many more topics!

Today Rev. Maggie Wood joins us again to talk about addiction and recovery! We discuss how the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, the opposite of addiction is connection. We discuss Maggie and Matt's story of addiction and recovery and how the pandemic ramped up consumption for many people. If you or a family member would like to learn more abo…

This week we are joined by Mercy Street's new pastor, Rev. Maggie Wood. Maggie talks about her call story, how she found Mercy Street years ago, the journey back to Chapelwood and much more! https://mercystreet.org/

Matt and John are back in studio after an extended summer break. Today we discuss what they've been up to the past few months and what is coming for the future of the podcast! We also reflect on an article written by David French called, "How Did America Get Mean?".

Today we are joined by Rev. DeAndre Johnson, Rev. Lindsay Kirkpatrick and Rev. David Horton. We talk about their experiences as young clergy, why they remain in The United Methodist Church and their hopes for the future!

Today we are joined by Bishop Thomas Bickerton! As a respected bishop, Bishop Bickerton carries immense responsibilities, serving on the General Board of Global Ministries, the Standing Committee on Central Conference affairs, and the Commission on the General Conference. With an impressive tenure that spans several decades, he brings a wealth of k…

Today we are joined by Bishop Michael McKee! Bishop McKee is the dean of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. He has served as episcopal leader of the North Texas Annual Conference since his election by the South Central Jurisdiction in 2012, and he retired from that position on January 1, 2023. We catch up with Bishop McKee and his involvement at the…

This week we are recording at the Texas Annual Conference and we are joined by 3 pastors who are planting new churches! Rev. David Briggs, Rev. Shuler Sitsch and Rev. Jennifer Hodson talk about the process of planting new churches, what God is doing in their communities and their hopes for the future of the United Methodist Church and their congreg…

Today we sit down with the esteemed author, speaker, and leadership expert, Tod Bolsinger, to explore the art of meaningful conversations. Tod is a frequent guest and friend of the podcast. Join us as we delve into the transformative potential of dialogue and discover practical strategies for engaging in fruitful discussions in our increasingly pol…

This week we are joined by Drew McIntyre! Drew McIntyre is the Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. He grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and earned degrees in history and religion from High Point University and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. He is an avid reader, writer, and student…

This week we are joined by Rev. Tammy Heinrich, Rev. Sarah Barnett, Rev. Melissa Maher, Rev. Joy Johnston and Rev. Rachel Sciretti!

This week we revisit one of our favorite conversations with Dr. Rudy Rasmus. Dr. Rudy Rasmus is the founder of the Bread of Life, Inc., Temenos Community Development Corporation and St. John’s Downtown. He has spent the past three decades serving the most challenged demographics in Houston, Texas and his four books that tell the stories of love wit…

The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery is the dean of Duke University Chapel and associate professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School. A national leader in the theological study of the art of preaching, Powery regularly delivers sermons at Duke Chapel as well as at churches throughout the United States and abroad. He is often a keynote speaker and lectur…

This week we talk about how the parallels between spiritual formation and Live Oak trees and how faith communities can act as a root system to hold each other together through times of crisis.

"Today the primary human problem, the core issue that defeats human history, is both revealed and resolved. It is indeed a “good” Friday. The central issue at work is the human inclination to kill others, in any multitude of ways, instead of dying ourselves—to our own illusions, pretenses, narcissism, and self-defeating behaviors. Jesus dies “for” …

Today John and Matt discuss how Christians should talk about gun violence in the wake of the most recent mass shooting event in the United States. They look at recent gun violence data from https://www.gunviolencearchive.org and they talk about how the culture has shifted over time.

Today we catch up with John and Matt. Matt has been out for the last few weeks of the podcast so we talk about his recent trip to Cambridge where he spent time teaching and preaching. We discuss some recent news about The Southern Baptist convention and women in ministry. We talk about how The Church of England is exploring gender neutral terms to …

Professor Douglas Campbell was born in London but raised a New Zealander. He did his undergraduate degree in Political Philosophy at the University of Otago in New Zealand, and his graduate degrees in Religious Studies at the University of Toronto in Canada, where he was supported by a Commonwealth Scholarship. He is currently teaching at Duke Divi…

Bishop Mande Muyombo was elected to the episcopacy in 2017. He is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church. Bishop Muyombo joins us in studio this week to talk UMC issues and how we need to revive, renew and reclaim…

Today we are joined by Keith Cowart. Bishop Cowart is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and Asbury Seminary for the M.Div. and D.Min. degrees. He and his wife Pam, who is also a graduate of the Seminary, have two adult sons. In 1997 Keith planted Christ Community Church in Columbus, Georgia, where he served for 21 years as lead pastor. Chri…

This week we are joined by Joy Johnston and Andrew Wolfe. Joy and Andrew are two new pastor's here at Chapelwood. We get to know a little bit about their background and we also talk about mental health, trauma and what they are experiencing both here at Chapelwood and in other communities around Houston.…

Today we are joined by Chris Kolkhorst. Chris started a podcast called The Gritmen Show. The Gritmen Show is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of grit, something we believe may be on the verge of extinction. The show features entertaining interviews and discussions of grit in popular culture, news, sports and history. Most of all, this …

This week we are joined by Paul Meiller and Joseph Rios. Paul is the newly appointed pastor of Chapelwood's Fair Haven Campus. Joseph is the pastor of Generations, the Spanish ministry at Chapelwood. Today we discuss how Paul made his way to Chapelwood, his process of joining forces with Joseph Rios to build community in Spring Branch and much more…

Dr. Kitty Harris is Professor Emeritus at Texas Tech University. She is the CEO and President of NLW Partners, a research, education and addiction recovery consulting firm. She also serves as President of Trac9 Informatics, a gold-standard clinical assessment instrument tracking outcomes for those in treatment with substance use disorders or mental…

Today we are doing a special Christmas pop-up episode! Before we break for the holiday's, Matt and John are in studio to talk about the 8 strangest Christmas traditions on earth. We talk about their holiday plans, some exciting things coming up at Chapelwood over the holidays and much more!

This episode is part two of a conversation with Dr. Russell Levenson. In this episode John and Russell talk about officiating weddings and some of the mishaps that have occurred over the years. They discuss how the Episcopal Church dealt with some of the issues that the United Methodist Church are dealing with now and how Russell leads his congrega…