What if the way we talk about retirement, healthcare, and money… is actually part of Discipleship and Evangelism?

Today, we're going Beyond Sunday into the real lives of clergy and faith leaders navigating economic pressure, denominational change, and the call to keep showing up with courage and hope.

My guests are Andy Hendren, CEO of Wespath, and Johara Farhadieh, COO of Wespath Institutional Investments and CIO of Wespath Benefits and Investments. We're talking about the intersection of benefits, investing, and the Church's witness and why this matters for the future of ministry.

In this practical and thought provoking episode, Dr. Douglas Powe, President of Phillips Theological Seminary, explores how evangelism must evolve in a world shaped by diversity, mobility, and digital connection. The conversation reclaims evangelism as an act of love, justice, and authentic relationship not manipulation or maintenance. Listeners will gain fresh insight into how faith communities can embody the good news through innovation, community engagement, and courageous storytelling rediscovering evangelism as a bold, compassionate expression of the Spirit at work in our world.

Resources

Sustaining While Disrupting: The Challenge of Congregational Innovation, co-authored with Lovett H. Weems, Jr. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2022)

The Adept Church: Navigating between a Rock and a Hard Place (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020)

E. Stanley Jones and The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, co-edited with Jack Jackson (Nashville, GBHEM, 2018)

Transforming Community: The Wesleyan Way to Missional Congregations, co-authored with Henry H. Knight, III (Nashville, Discipleship Resources, 2016)

Not Safe For Church: The Ten Commandments for Reaching New Generations, co-authored with Jasmine Smothers (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015)

Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith, co-authored with Henry H. Knight, III (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006)

In this episode of The Beyond Sunday Podcast, Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand is joined by Rev. Ryan Hebel, ordained deacon and longtime pastor at The Gathering in St. Louis. With over 13 years of ministry experience ranging from Worship Pastor to Executive Director of Beyond A Network Ryan now serves as Church Planter and Site Pastor for The Gathering's new West County campus launching in 2026.

Known for calling himself "hopelessly hopeful," Ryan brings a contagious vision for reimagining evangelism. Together, we explore how evangelism can move from being an afterthought to becoming a grace filled lifestyle for the church. You'll hear practical insights on how ordinary people can weave evangelism into everyday life, and why collaboration across churches, communities, and civic spaces is essential for embodying God's redeeming power.

This conversation is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and challenge for anyone ready to reclaim evangelism as a way of life rooted in love, grounded in hope, and open to transformation.

Friends, Thank you for tuning in to The Beyond Sunday Podcast. As work to equipped you grow in faith, lead with purpose, and reimagine what it means to serve beyond the walls of the church. Each episode is designed to equip and inspire you to lead boldly, discover how to impact your communities, share your stories, . Until next time, stay encouraged, and keep serving Beyond Sunday. Until the NEXT TIME Ready, Set, Let's GO!

A conversation with Becky Yates and Rev. Paul Craig from Matthews United Methodist Church, on how they are responding to mental health in the church through the ministry of "For Minds and Hearts." Take a listen to how they are equipping communities through education, resources and developing mental health toolboxes in the local church context.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. On May 7, 2023 Matthews UMC is presenting "Depression: Out of the Darkness and Into the Light" featuring Dr. Daniel Hale, psychologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hale will share personal and professional insights on the intersection of the faith community and mental health. Dr. Hale and his colleagues have developed a program called the Congregational Depression Awareness Program for utilization by faith communities. Dr. Hale will speak at the 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., services followed by a free lunch (registration required) and another presentation by Dr. Hale.

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 21% of Americans (52.6 million people) experienced a mental illness in 2020; however, less than half of them received treatment. A 2022 CDC report showed that 37% of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health, 44.2% reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and 19.9% reported seriously considering suicide. Mental Health America's research shows that North Carolina ranks 39th in access to mental health care.

Resources NationWide Suicide and Crisis number - 988

National Alliance of Mental Illness - NAOMI Program: "In Our Own Voice"

A conversation on Mental Health and the youth of our communities, with three pastors in the Metro District. Listen to their stories as they sound the Clarion Call to listen, hear, learn, from our youth and equip leaders and parents to support.

Host Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand speaks to Farah St. Jean, a Haitian-American who is an executive and community organizer supporting our Haitian neighbors and families who are refuges, living in American communities, and awaiting their Asylum hearings.

We continue our conversation with leaders in the Metro District who have long standing partnerships with leaders on the ground in Haiti, who are presently mobilizing assistance to potential Haitians seeking Asylum in the United State, along with having conversations with Haitian American to gain a greater understanding of the hope and resilience of the Haitian People and how the church can respond.

Joining us today is Dr. Maklin Eugene, the founder of New Hope Hospital in Plaine-Du-Nord. Dr. Malkin was born in a rural section of Haiti called Matabonite. After finishing his studies in Northern Haiti, Dr. Eugene was instrumental in providing relief to earthquake survivors in 2010 securing food, and medications for the needy. He also organized missions trips with his team from New Hope Hospital to assist and offer aide to the earthquake victims in the very rural areas underserved areas of Haiti.

A conversation w/ Rev. Dr. Laura Alexander-Elliott, a United Methodist clergy in Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is presently under appointment by the Bishop in WNCC in extension ministry as the is the Executive Director of Soaring Unlimited Haiti. Ordinary people doing extraordinary work. How the Church is addressing the Haitian Crisis.

Executive Director for Partners 4 New Hope inc. A life long United Methodist Lay person transforming a lives with our neighbors in Haiti.