Canterbury Cast

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Jeff Nix sits down with Youth Pastor Gann Waters-Wright, youth leaders Eleanor Kerr and Davis Plowden, and YAC student Sadie Martin to share the heart behind Magic City Work Week, one of Canterbury's most meaningful traditions.

Together, they pull back the curtain on a week that is far more than painting houses. From early mornings filled with worship and devotion, to serving alongside Urban Ministry in Birmingham's West End, to evenings of worship, laughter, and community, they reflect on how six days of intentional service become an opportunity to encounter God in unexpected ways.

Along the way, they share stories of homeowners who leave a lasting impression, the growing partnership with Riverchase United Methodist Church, and the profound ways students return home with a renewed perspective on faith, compassion, and what it means to love their neighbors. Whether you've experienced Magic City Work Week yourself or are hearing about it for the first time, this conversation is a reminder that some of life's greatest transformations begin when we're willing to serve. It's a story of real grace and real love, lived out in the heart of Birmingham—one brushstroke, one conversation, and one life at a time.

In this special episode of Canterbury Cast, Rev. Tori Hastings welcomes renowned counselors, speakers, and authors Sissy Goff and David Thomas for a conversation centered on their newest book, Capable. Together, they explore what it means to raise children and teenagers who are equipped to navigate an increasingly complex world while developing resilience, confidence, and emotional health.

Drawing from decades of counseling experience, Sissy and David offer practical wisdom for parents facing the challenges of raising boys and girls today. From anxiety and independence to relationships and personal growth, they discuss how parents can move beyond fear and toward a more hopeful, intentional approach to guiding the next generation.

Whether you're raising young children, navigating the teenage years, or simply investing in the lives of the young people around you, this conversation is filled with insight, encouragement, and reminders that we don't have to do it alone.

What if preparing our children for the future isn't about protecting them from every challenge, but helping them become capable enough to face those challenges with confidence and faith?

In this special episode of Canterbury Cast, Executive Pastor Hill Carmichael sits down with Valerie Boyd and Anne Warren to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Encore Respite Ministry, a program that has faithfully served individuals experiencing memory loss and the families who love them. Together, they reflect on the vision that launched Encore: creating a participant-centered community rooted in dignity, creativity, spiritual connection, and joy. From music and movement to art, laughter, and friendship, Encore has become far more than a respite program, it’s a place where people are seen, valued, and encouraged to continue living fully. Hill, Valerie, and Anne also share stories from the past decade, the impact Encore has had on caregivers and families, and the hope they carry for the future as this remarkable ministry continues to grow. It’s a conversation about compassion, belonging, and what it means to honor the sacred worth of every person. What if living well isn’t defined by what we remember or accomplish—but by the dignity, joy, and connection we continue to share with one another?

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Jeff Nix sits down with Dr. Rick Owen to talk about his new book, Patchwork, Alabama—a collection of short stories that capture the humor, heart, and faith found in small-town life.

Through storytelling that feels both familiar and deeply personal, Rick reflects on the moments that shape us, the laughter, the relationships, and the quiet ways grace shows up in everyday life. Drawing from his experiences as a pastor, storyteller, and even a bit of a comedian, he shares how these stories came together and what they reveal about community, identity, and the human spirit.

Whether you grew up in a small town or simply long for a slower, more connected way of life, this conversation invites you to see your own story as part of something bigger, stitched together with meaning, memory, and grace.

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, Haley Smith sits down with Rev. Hill Carmichael and Meg Kerr to reflect on their recent mission trip to Nakuru, Kenya, and the life-changing impact of providing clean water through Abundant Life (UZIMA) water filters.

Through their partnership with Start With One Kenya, the team witnessed firsthand how access to safe drinking water can transform entire communities—improving health, restoring dignity, and creating new opportunities for families. What may seem like a simple resource becomes a powerful expression of faith in action, meeting both physical and spiritual needs.

As they prepare to return this summer, Hill and Meg share how the experience reshaped their own perspectives, deepened relationships across cultures, and revealed the lasting impact of showing up with humility, compassion, and the love of Christ.

Make a donation here to make a difference by giving the gift of clean water!

In this deeply moving episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith and Outreach Director Rachel Estes sit down with Jim Proctor and Thomas Edwards to share the story of an unexpected friendship formed through Avondale Samaritan Place.

Both Jim and Thomas are walking the difficult road of terminal cancer, an experience few can truly understand. Yet in that shared reality, they’ve found something profound: a bond marked not by fear, but by honesty, companionship, and even joy. As Jim reflects, there’s a level of understanding that only comes from “walking the walk,” and in each other, they’ve found someone who truly gets it.

Together, they talk about the simple but meaningful moments that have shaped their friendship: conversations about college football, a first-ever trip to the zoo, shared meals, and the quiet gift of just being present. What began as a connection through Rachel has become, in Thomas’s words, something guided by the will of God.

This is a story not just about illness, but about friendship, dignity, and the kind of hope that doesn’t ignore hardship, but meets it with grace.

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, Haley Smith sits down with Spencer Otto, Clare Austen Blackmon, and Youth Ministry Coordinator Megan Sumrall to talk about Canterbury’s new Youth Philanthropy Council, a program that invites students to explore generosity in a meaningful and hands-on way.

Over the course of several Sunday afternoons, the council learned how philanthropy works, visited local nonprofits, asked difficult questions, and ultimately decided how to distribute $12,000 to organizations serving the community. Along the way, they discovered that giving well requires thoughtful listening, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the needs around them.

This conversation highlights how young people at Canterbury are learning to connect faith with real-world action, proving that generosity isn’t just something for the future, but something they are already living out today.

What if generosity isn’t just about giving money, but about learning how to listen, discern, and care for a community well?

In this heartfelt episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith and Outreach Director Rachel Estes sit down with Carol Dickinson and Rebekah Wheelis to share a story that began with a journal and a letter inside a women’s work release program.

What started as a simple act of encouragement through Canterbury’s outreach efforts grew into a meaningful friendship that carried through incarceration, release, recovery, and new beginnings. From handwritten notes and book club conversations to reunions at the Lovelady Center and a new career in dental assisting, Carol and Rebekah reflect on the moments, and the people, that shaped their journey.

This is a story of connection, second chances, and the quiet ways God weaves lives together through small acts of faithfulness.

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, Haley Smith sits down with Senior Pastor Keith Thompson, Rick Owen, and Eleanor Christiansen to talk all things Ash Wednesday and Lent. Together, they unpack what Ash Wednesday means in the life of the Methodist church and why this season begins not with guilt, but with honesty, humility, and hope.

From the symbolism of ashes to the purpose of Lent’s 40 days, the conversation offers insight into how this season invites us to slow down, reflect, and remember whose we are. You’ll also hear about the multiple ways Canterbury will observe Ash Wednesday this year, including drive-through ashes, a traditional noon chapel service, and a soulful evening Blues Service in the Canterbury Center.

Whether you’ve observed Lent for years or are simply curious about its meaning, this episode offers a welcoming and accessible starting point for the journey ahead.

Why would the church begin a season with ashes, and call it good news? What if beginning with ashes isn’t about shame, but about grace, honesty, and the chance to begin again?

In this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith is joined by Matthew Montgomery and Natalie Moon to discuss Canterbury’s Spring Reading initiative. Together, they share the heart behind a church-wide Bible reading plan designed to help the congregation encounter God daily through Scripture, reflection, and simple spiritual practices. Centered on the Gospel of Luke and timed with the season of Lent, this plan invites the whole church to grow together, deepening faith, strengthening community, and learning to live more like Jesus in everyday life.

What might change in your faith, and in our church, if we committed to reading Scripture together, one day at a time?