Elisha's Bears: Conversations about Baptists and the Church with Pastor Danny

Pastor Danny offers a brief description of the Elisha's Bears podcast and himself as the host of the show. He is a free and faithful Baptist with an ecumenical spirit, and invites people to grab some coffee (or tea), pull up a chair, and join him in learning more about issues that face Baptists and the church in general.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Bill Ireland about his book "Driven: A Field Guide to the Wilderness." They have a conversation about faith, ministry, and Bill’s emotional and spiritual struggles caused by the resignation of his last pastorate. Bill also reflects on how all his difficulties and disappointments impacted his wife and his daughter. He also offers valuable insights for anyone facing unexpected challenges or spiritual droughts. Bill graduated with an undergraduate degree from Mississippi College, and with M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He's served Baptist churches in MS, KY, LA, GA, and NC and is now Pastor of Norris Religious Fellowship in Norris, TN. You can find him on Facebook and his book on Amazon.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Caryn Reeder about her book "The Samaritan Woman's Story: Reconsidering John 4 after #churchtoo. Caryn examines how the Samaritan woman's story has been interpreted through history and what it reveals about women in biblical times and ministry today. She also talks about the church's response to issues of gender, abuse, and interpretation. Caryn is Professor of New Testament and Co-Coordinator of Gender Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Her research interests include household, gender, and violence in the Bible and biblical world. She has a B.A. from Augustana College, M.A. in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, and the M.Phil. (OT) and Ph.D. (NT) degrees from the University of Cambridge.

In this episode, Pastor Danny welcomes Dr. David R. Currie, a prominent figure in Texas Baptist history, to share his experiences and insights from over two decades of leadership of Texas Baptist Committed. David recalls how the organization was founded amidst a fundamentalist shift within the Southern Baptist Convention. He highlights the importance of communication and collaboration among Texas Baptists, noting how they rallied to protect their institutions and uphold the autonomy of local churches. As the conversation shifts to the present, David expresses concern over the current state of Texas Baptists and the lack of a unified voice championing the causes Texas Baptist Committed once fought for. He calls for a return to the core principles of autonomy, religious liberty, and historical Baptist values, urging current leaders to reflect on what it means to be truly Baptist in today's context. He is a retired Baptist minister, rancher, and business owner, holding the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy (Ethics) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (thumbnail pic is with his granddaughter Ashleigh).

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Joshua Hayes about their new book Soul Culture: Stewarding the Five Ingredients of our Common Life. They share insights on how to cultivate a thriving church culture that reflects core beliefs and values. This concept emphasizes the need for church leaders to foster a strong culture within their congregations, especially during challenging times. Matt and Josh serve on staff together at First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas; Matt as Pastor since 2010 and Josh as Associate Pastor of Discipleship since 2017. They also serve as Adjunct Faculty at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. You can find their book at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHCP31Q3?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback.

In this episode, Rev. Melissa Hatfield shares her journey of calling, leadership, and faith as the first female Lead Pasfor of the church she grew up in. She talks about the process and journey of serving on staff as Student Pastor and then becoming the Lead Pastor. She recognizes and reflects upon the legacy of Dolly Parton, and discusses her experiences navigating ministry as a woman. Melissa also talks about the weight of ministry; she led the church through COVID while grieving the death of her friend and pastor as well as the unexpected death of her sister. She also talks about her role in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and her hopes for its future. Melissa is Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City MO and is Moderator-Elect of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and https://substack.com/@melissahatfield.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. Dr. Rick Bennett and Rev. Lee Fox about changes taking place in the leadership of the Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Rick served as Field Coordinator for the Volunteer state CBF for ten years and has moved into the pastorate, while Lee recently left the pastorate and is stepping into the role of Interim state Coordinator. They talk about the importance of the state organization, the value of relationships, and establishing an identity beyond "not that kind of Baptist." Rick is now serving as Pastor of Monte Vista Baptist Church in Maryville, TN. Lee previously served as Senior Pastor of Ball Camp Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN before assuming his current position in the state organization.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. Dr. Cindy Wallace about her growing up in a small Mississippi town, call to ministry, and current work as a chaplain. She offers insights on traumatic grief with special attention given to death by suicide. Cindy has been Mental Health Chaplain at the Washington D.C Veterans Affairs Medical Center since 2019. An ordained minister with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, she also has served churches in Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and Illinois. She has a Bachelor's degree from William Carey College, a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Master of Education in Clinical Mental Heath Counseling from the College of William & Mary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary.

From Loss to Life and Back Again: A Curriculum for Grief Groups Facilitator Guide:

https://a.co/d/0dlEIVKL

From Loss to Life and Back Again: A Curriculum for Grief Groups Participant Guide: https://a.co/d/02LmnZkO

In this episode, Pastor Danny welcomes Dr. Rebecca Poe Hays back to the podcast to comment on on the SBC's decision to limit the role and function of women in ministry. She also talks about the overarching theme of call, giving particular attention to the story of Jonah. Rebecca emphasizes the themes of calling, obedience, mercy, and God's patience. Despite the attention given to Jonah's actions (and being swallowed by a great fish), God is evidenced as the protagonist and central character in the story. She highlights the story's relevance for understanding God's character and our response to divine calling. Rebecca is Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures (Hebrew Bible and Old Testament) at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, located on the campus of Baylor University.

In this episode, Dr. Sam Rainer discusses findings from a national survey he conducted concerning what Southern Baptists, Non-Denoms, and conservative Christians really believe about women in ministry. He reveals that "people in the pew" possess a much lower level of concern relating to women pastors than do SBC leaders. He also talks about the diminished role of evangelism in the SBC and suggests that this should be of greater importance than engaging in theological debates. Sam holds an Master of Arts degree in Missiology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University. He is Lead Pastor of West Bradenton Baptist church in Bradenton, FL as well as president and senior consultant of Church Answers. You can also follow and listen to him on the podcast "Rainer on Leadership."