In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Maggie Mann, District Director at Southeastern Idaho Public Health, whose call centers on offering love in both everyday interactions and her long career in public health. Maggie sees health as a foundation for human dignity and believes access to wellness should never depend on income or circumstance. Her work meets people where systems often fail them, and she names this as part of the love she feels called to reflect.

Maggie’s story threads naturally through the MILE themes: Ministry that Matters in her commitment to health equity, Itineration & Location in her work within local systems of care, Lay Ministry Enhancement in her church’s hands-on approach to service, and Eliminating Racism in her belief that wellness should never depend on income or status. Her call is simple and steady: love people, and help them thrive.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Certified Lay Minister Kenneth Johnson of McMinnville, Oregon. Ken found his call later in life, encouraged by mentors, energized by preaching, and affirmed by a congregation that heard something true in his voice. His ministry continued even through a long medical journey that included  non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a stroke, and seasons of slow recovery. When he tried to step back, his church insisted he keep sending sermons from the hospital, a sign of the deep trust they shared.

Ken’s path reflects the MILE in full. Ministry that Matters shows up in his refusal to give up. Itineration and Location appear as he carries his call from Montana to Oregon. Lay Ministry Enhancement is embodied in his work as a Certified Lay Minister, and Eliminating Racism is present in his belief that clergy and laity stand side by side in grace. 

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Rev. Caleb Encinas Cortés, Pastor of Community Engagement at Federal Way UMC. Caleb describes a call that grew through community affirmation into a ministry shaped by organizing, advocacy, and neighbor care. His story moves from preaching at eighteen to showing up in Olympia with immigrant coalitions, always insisting that faith must act and protect the dignity of vulnerable communities.

Caleb’s journey reflects every part of the MILE. Ministry that Matters becomes real in his work with families facing harsh systems. Itineration and Location echo through his borderland roots and his service in his community. Lay Ministry Enhancement shows up in the way he equips others for advocacy. Eliminating Racism guides his commitment to building communities where justice and belonging are possible.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Kathy Bryson, who, along with her husband Dana, is the Pacific Northwest Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and early response team coordinator. From wildfires, to hurricanes, to floods, Kathy shares how her call began with a feeling, a quiet pull to serve, and how that heart-led yes has grown into years of ministry alongside those rebuilding their lives after disaster.

Her story lives at the core of the MILE. Ministry that Matters means showing love through action. Itineration and Location take shape in every community she serves. Lay Ministry Enhancement is evident in training and equipping others to respond, and Eliminating Racism is reflected in her commitment to inclusivity in leadership and care.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Nica Sy, a Seattle-based organizer whose faith was shaped at Beacon United Methodist Church and the Filipino youth camp, Christmas Institute. From her roots in church community to her work with Anakbayan Seattle, Nica shares how faith led her from service projects to organizing for justice alongside Filipino youth and migrants.

Her story embodies the spirit of the MILE. Ministry that Matters takes shape in the fight for dignity and freedom. Itineration and Location remind us that God’s call transcends borders, from Seattle to Manila. Lay Ministry Enhancement lives through her organizing work that uplifts everyday people, and Eliminating Racism shines in her advocacy for human rights and liberation for all.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, a pastor whose ministry stands at the intersection of faith, justice, and creation care. From her childhood in the forests of eastern Canada to her leadership with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and Fossil Free UMC, Richenda’s story is rooted in awe for the natural world and a deep sense of responsibility to protect it.

Her call reflects the heart of the MILE. Ministry that Matters is found in defending God’s creation. Itineration and Location remind us that holy ground is everywhere, from congregations to coastlines. Lay Ministry Enhancement takes shape in mobilizing ordinary people to extraordinary acts of care, and Eliminating Racism extends to global solidarity with communities most affected by climate change.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Larry Hermann, a Certified Lay Minister from Bend, Oregon. Larry reflects on a lifelong call to serve that has taken shape through military service, community involvement, and faithful leadership in the local church.

His story embodies the heart of Going the MILE. Ministry that Matters is lived out through service and compassion. Itineration and Location remind us that God’s work unfolds in every setting, from hospitals to sanctuaries. Lay Ministry Enhancement shines in Larry’s commitment to equipping others for meaningful ministry, and Eliminating Racism extends to his awareness of inclusion and neurodiversity in the church. Larry’s journey is a reminder that every person in the pew carries a call, and that faithful service in ordinary life builds the extraordinary work of the kingdom.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this fifth episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Rev. Byron Harris, pastor of Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church. Byron shares how his call to ministry grew from childhood roots in the church, through seasons of struggle and self-discovery, into a life devoted to truth-telling and liberation.

His story embodies the heart of Going the Mile. Ministry that Matters emerges when honesty meets healing. Itineration and Location remind us that God’s grace reaches every place we stand. Lay Ministry Enhancement and Eliminating Racism come alive in Byron’s commitment to wholeness, justice, and the full inclusion of all God’s people.

Byron’s journey reminds us that authenticity is sacred and that God’s call always includes the whole of who we are.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this fourth episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Caesar Marciales, a teacher, coach, mentor, and commissioned home missioner from Palmer, Alaska. Caesar shares how his call unfolded through sports, teaching, and the life-changing presence of safe and trustworthy adults.

His story connects deeply with the vision of the MILE. Ministry that Matters takes shape when students and athletes are seen for who they are and encouraged to grow. Itineration and Location remind us that classrooms, soccer fields, and community spaces are holy ground. Lay Ministry Enhancement comes alive in Caesar’s role as a home missioner, serving God’s people outside the walls of the church. Eliminating Racism is reflected in his hope for every young person to know their worth and find safe places of belonging.

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]

In this third episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth welcomes Anna Hoesly, pastor and director of Storyline Community. Anna shares how her call took shape outside traditional church walls, rooted instead in the lives of neighbors and the wisdom of voices often left at the margins.

Her story embodies the spirit of the MILE vision. Ministry that Matters takes form when faith and neighborhood life grow together. Itineration and Location remind us that God is found at the crossroads where people meet and needs are made visible. Lay Ministry Enhancement is seen as leaders rise from within the community itself. Eliminating Racism is woven into the practice of creating space where every voice is heard and honored.

Anna reflects on what it means to pass the torch of leadership and to trust that what a community needs is already present in its soil. Her journey invites us to see calling as rooted, relational, and alive in everyday places. Going the MILE is about living with purpose, listening deeply, and leading with love.

To learn more about Storyline community visit https://www.storylinecommunitypdx.org/

For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: [email protected]