In this episode, CC interviews DeDe about the August social-media reflections that sparked a surprisingly rich conversation about wisdom and evangelism. Together, they explore Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes—and ask how these books can shape ethical, everyday witness beyond the walls of the church.

Can wisdom help us share the good news without watering down the Gospel? How do we listen before offering answers? What does faithful witness look like when life is painful, unjust, or uncertain? CC and DeDe also connect wisdom with prophetic voice, honest grief, humility, and the kind of fruit our lives bear.

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Learn more about EES grants and how to apply: www.ees1862.org

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In this episode of Emissaries of Renewal, Jessie and DeDe sit down with the Rev. Troy Méndez,
Executive Director of the Episcopal Evangelism Society (EES), the historic foundation that
sponsors and supports this podcast. Together they explore how Troy understands evangelism as
seeking, naming, and celebrating God’s presence in people’s real stories, and how EES’s
“Evangelism for the 21st Century” grants are helping leaders experiment with justice‑focused,
community‑rooted projects across the Episcopal Church. Troy shares pieces of his own call, his
passion for belonging and radical hospitality, and his hopes for the future of Episcopal
evangelism.

Learn more about EES grants and how to apply: www.ees1862.org

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In Season 2, Episode 7 of Emissaries of Renewal, CC sits down with The Rev. Deacon Felicity Thompson, a fellow soon-to-be graduate of Bexley Seabury and 2025 Episcopal Evangelism Society grantee. Their conversation traces Felicity’s call to ordination, the role of gardening and tending the earth in her spiritual life, and how small, embodied practices can become quiet acts of renewal and everyday evangelism. 

Listeners can look forward to what’s ahead: Felicity’s EES-funded project, Table Manners, an emerging ministry of hospitality and formation to watch for in the coming year. Together, CC and Felicity explore what it means to plant seeds—literal and vocational—and trust God with the growth.

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In Season 2, Episode 7 of Emissaries of Renewal, CC sits down with The Rev. Deacon Felicity Thompson, a fellow soon-to-be graduate of Bexley Seabury and 2025 Episcopal Evangelism Society grantee. Their conversation traces Felicity’s call to ordination, the role of gardening and tending the earth in her spiritual life, and how small, embodied practices can become quiet acts of renewal and everyday evangelism. 

Listeners can look forward to what’s ahead: Felicity’s EES-funded project, Table Manners, an emerging ministry of hospitality and formation to watch for in the coming year. Together, CC and Felicity explore what it means to plant seeds—literal and vocational—and trust God with the growth.

Ready to become an Emissary of Renewal? Subscribe and listen now!

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In this episode, Jessie and DeDe lean into that old cliché—“nothing is certain except death and taxes”—and ask what hopeful, everyday evangelism looks like in a polarized, anxious world. They explore courageous citizenship and cross-partisan dialogue through Braver Angels’ work to depolarize politics, then contrast the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus as portraits of money, repentance, and repair. Drawing on Mockingbird’s “Every Day is Holy Saturday,” they reflect on living honestly between Good Friday and Easter, using Psalm 23, Hebrews, and 1 Peter as guides for a gentle, resilient witness.

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In this episode, Jessie interviews DeDe about her seminary travel course, Living in Hope, and a formative trip to the Holy Land. Together they walk through Bethlehem, Hebron, Jerusalem, and Nazareth, listening to Palestinian stories of resilience, trauma, and daily life under occupation.
DeDe reflects on chronic illness, “pasty privilege” at checkpoints, chosen family, and how hope is practiced, not felt, in communities like Tent of Nations and trauma healing centers. The conversation closes with Romans 5:3–5 and an invitation to small, concrete acts of solidarity
when the conflict feels overwhelming.

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In Season 2, Episode 4 DeDe and Jessie discuss the strange rhythm of the church year, “ordinary time,” and what happens when churches treat summer like a full shutdown. We riff on Faith for Normal People’s conversation with Diana Butler Bass about why the Christian calendar still
matters (with Diana Butler-Bass, Pete Enns, and Jared Byas) and about her book Freeing Jesus and how it reshapes everyday faith. We then get real about “The Great Episcopal Summer Shutdown” from The Living Church.

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In this episode, CC pulls back the curtain to introduce the “Oz” behind Emissaries of Renewal—
our producer, Dennis. Dennis shares his winding pathway into evangelism and how everyday
faithfulness led him to recognize a call to pastoral ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ). He also reflects on launching the Church & Main podcast, exploring where faith meets
public life and community transformation. Listen in for a candid, hopeful conversation about
discernment, vocation, and what it means to serve the church in a changing world.

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https://churchandmain.org/
https://fccsaintpaul.org

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Season 2, Episode 2 introduces our new cohost, Jessie, and her heart for Christ, ethical evangelism, and renewal. CC and DeDe talk with Jessie about her journey through Evangelical, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal traditions, and how that shapes her call to ministry. Together,
they explore evangelism as mutual, healing, and deeply respectful of spiritual autonomy, especially in pluralistic and chaplaincy settings. Jessie reflects on reconciliation, habits that sustain authentic ministry, and what it means to evangelize faithfully rather than just effectively.
The episode closes with James 1:27 and a call to live through and with Christ as a concrete mission for the most vulnerable.

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Season Two begins with renewed purpose and familiar friends. DeDe and CC return to Emissaries of Renewal with stories, laughter, and honest reflection about their final year at Bexley Seabury Seminary. Hear what they’ve learned about faith, vocation, and renewal during
their time away.

This season brings fresh voices, thoughtful interviews, and a deeper look at ethical evangelism and renewal ministry rooted in Episcopal life. Stay tuned for the next episode introducing new co-host Jessie and a new chapter in the mission of sharing God’s transformative love.

This episode closes with a reflection on Isaiah 43:18-19, reminding us that God is always doing a new thing. Join us as we look forward with trust, ready to see how renewal takes shape in our lives and communities.

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