Coffeepot Fellowship Podcast

Sara might prefer to say she has a message from the universe for you, "I know what I'm doing." Sara has served several faith communities in various capacities over the years. She is a saint and a sage. Each time that she tells me about part of a sermon she has preached there is a spark within me that seems to say, 'Huh, I hadn't thought of that' or 'I hadn't thought of it quite that way before.' And it is always refreshing and encouraging. Sara is clearly a believer in a very good, loving  God.

Rev. Cindy Hardy knows her calling and has not stopped answering it since day one. Some people do the work of their title. Others can be described by the title even if they were not working in that capacity officially. For example, some people are teachers whether they are employed as teachers or not. One can be a teacher by nature.  While Cindy is certainly much more than her title, Cindy Hardy is a chaplain.

Julie Yoder Elmore and I attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri together. Julie pastors a two point charge in Michigan now and previously pastored another United Methodist congregation in Alaska. Julie is also a grateful listener of The Coffeepot Fellowship Daily Podcast for the sense of community it provides and the encouragement that stories of other faith leaders brings. Julie kept us "keeping it real" with another episode. Thanks, Julie.

The Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline is my friend. Robin is very well known wherever he has lived and all across Virginia. He is the founder, recently resigned, of People of Faith for Equality in Virginia. He is well educated, kind and a seemingly infinite well of grace.

One foot in front of the other, Joe Kendrick keeps serving with patience and maturity. Joe continues to serve congregations, love his family, pursue education and earn leadership positions. How does he do it? Well there is good advice in this interview related to reading the morning comic strip. And that should not be too quickly dismissed.

Episode Zero is unique for several reasons. It is the only episode so far that includes video at www.coffeepotfellowship.com. Since every other episode asks a guest to tell her or his story it seemed fair that you should get some of my story as well.

He's a Campolo, by his own declaration! You want stories, ask a Campolo. This Campolo is the Secular Humanist Chaplain at The University of Southern California in Los Angeles. And he is doing good.

"The goal is not life but the good life," according to Plato.

Bart Campolo might agree with Plato. Bart's father is Tony Campolo and I suspect that Bart was poised to inherit the legacy of iconic evangelical Christian leadership ... until five years ago. Two men of integrity who have come to believe perfectly opposing truths about whether there is a God and what happens to us after we die.

He's a Campolo, by his own declaration! You want stories, ask a Campolo. This Campolo is the Secular Humanist Chaplain at The University of Southern California in Los Angeles. And he is doing good.

"The goal is not life but the good life," according to Plato.

Bart Campolo might agree with Plato. Bart's father is Tony Campolo and I suspect that Bart was poised to inherit the legacy of iconic evangelical Christian leadership ... until five years ago. Two men of integrity who have come to believe perfectly opposing truths about whether there is a God and what happens to us after we die.

Viki Brooks is the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Campus Protestant Chaplain at Union College in Schenectady, NY. Union began as a seminary in 1795, but that's probably what all "higher education" was in 1795. If I remember the history of my undergraduate college correctly it is one of the first three "colleges" in America. It's where I came to my faith because a chaplain who was there shortly before Viki. Dr. Brooks is clearly continuing the legacy, evidenced in this coffeepot fellowship time. Listen here for powerful stories from the real life of The Rev. Dr. Victoria Brooks.

Ashley Mejias is a 3rd year student at Union Presbyterian Seminary. It was great to uncover more of the story behind the face. Seminary is full of people just like Ashley, courageously answering her calling. Not everyone's calling lands them in jail, repeatedly, but Ashley's does. Listen and hear to how she may be both the smallest and biggest person in the prison.