Welcome to a special miniseries focusing on the life and legacy of Michael "MJ" Sharp. This is part of a crossover episode which began at Peacebuilder Podcast from The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. We're introduced to this crossover conversation by Peacebuilder host, Patience Kamau, which is followed by two conversations hosted by ~ing Podcast producer Ben Wideman. We'll be starting with the first part of a conversation with Marshall King, author of the recent book, Disarmed, the life and legacy of Michael "MJ" Sharp, and then transition to talk with MJ’s parents, Michelle and John Sharp. Our hope is that this series provides more depth to to this powerful story of one man’s radical commitment to peacemaking.

Michael “MJ” Sharp was a modern Mennonite armed with wit and intellect, but not a gun. The son of a Mennonite pastor, he demonstrated a gift for listening and persuading early in life. His efforts to approach others with acknowledgement rather than judgement gave him the ability to connect on a level very few managed. He also honed a deep commitment to peace, and after college he joined the Mennonite Mission Network and moved to Germany, where he persuaded soldiers to choose peace and free them of their violent systems. Disarmed, the Life and Legacy of Michael "MJ" Sharp is available now from Herald Press.

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

Today’s episode is supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

We continue through Black History Month on ~ing Podcast, this time as host Rev. Allison Maus sits down with Dr. Regina Shands Stoltzfus. She is a Professor and the Director of Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies at Goshen College. Regina is co-founder of the Roots of Justice Anti-Oppression program (formerly Damascus Road Anti-Racism Program) and has worked widely in peace education. In this week's episode we look back at Regina's origin story, her passion for this work, and what gives her hope for the future of the Church in this challenging space. Allison and Regina will also discuss themes from Regina's new book, coauthored with Dr. Tobin Miller-Shearer (former ~ing Podcast guest on episode #27) titled Been in the Struggle: Pursuing an Antiracist Spirituality, available now from Herald Press! 

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

Today’s episode is supported by Goshen College, a private liberal arts college in Goshen, Indiana. It was founded in 1894 as the Elkhart Institute of Science, Industry and the Arts, and is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. 

Today’s episode is also supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

As we begin celebrating Black History Month, ~ing Podcast host Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards sits down with Glen Guyton, Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA, the first African American to serve in that role. In this week's episode, they engage in conversation centered around leading in today's world, navigating church dynamics, and transforming faith spaces through church leadership. They will also mention themes from Glen's new book, Reawakened: How Your Congregation Can Spark Lasting Change, available now from Herald Press! This is the second half of a conversation from the first season of ~ing Podcast. You can go back and listen to the first part in episode #41 - "Reawakening."

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

We're grateful for the support of Mennonite Church USA, an Anabaptist, Christian denomination, in helping to sponsor today's episode.

Today’s episode is also supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

In 2003, a groundbreaking Christian Ethics textbook was co-written by Dr. Glen Stassen and Dr. David Gushee titled Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. In the politically contentious years since then, Dr. Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) has taken his many years of teaching and experience and poured them into a book offering a fresh vision of the Christian moral life for today's turbulent world. In this episode, ~ing Podcast host Allison Maus, sits down to discuss this new book, titled Introducing Christian Ethics: Core Convictions for Christians Today (available now for pre-order), and how it might impact the Christian Church and our understanding of how we follow Jesus in today's world.

Share your thoughts with us! Send us a voicemail by visiting this link - https://anchor.fm/ing-pod/message - or by emailing [email protected]

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

Today’s episode is also supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

Over the past years, Mennonite Church USA received requests to provide an Anabaptist-grounded resource for clergy and congregations to engage in learning about the call for police abolition. In today's episode, ~ing host, Ben Wideman is joined by three of the people - Kris Henderson, Ben Tapper, and Rev. Melissa Florer Bixler (past guest on season 1 of ~ing Podcast) - all of whom who helped create a new curriculum titled, Defund the Police? An Abolition Curriculum. This resource is an initial guide for congregations who are desiring to begin or continue their reflection on what it means to engage the forces of state, their commitments to non-violence and how to act to end policing and police brutality. We'll discuss why a project like this makes sense for churches, what they learned during its creation, and how our faith might call us to navigate this topic.

Share your thoughts with us! Send us a voicemail by visiting this link - https://anchor.fm/ing-pod/message - or by emailing [email protected]

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

We're grateful for the support of Mennonite Church USA, an Anabaptist, Christian denomination, in helping to sponsor today's episode. 

Today’s episode is also supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

In today's episode, ~ing host, Ben Wideman is joined by writer and activist, Stephen Mattson, to talk about what it means to be devoted to Jesus and justice. Mattson’s work has been published in Relevant, Huffington Post, Sojourners, Red Letter Christians, and a variety of other venues. On the heels of his first book titled, "The Great Reckoning: Surviving a Christianity That Looks Nothing Like Christ" (published by Herald Press in 2018) comes a brand-new devotional titled, "On Love And Mercy: A Social Justice Devotional." Ben talks with Stephen about why a project like this makes sense for these polarized times, and how we find a balance between a faith in Jesus, and the political ways we engage the world.

Share your thoughts with us! Send us a voicemail by visiting this link - https://anchor.fm/ing-pod/message - or by emailing [email protected]

A written transcript of this episode is available at our website - https://www.mennomedia.org/ing-podcast/

Today’s episode is supported by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, two graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite University. Find out more at - https://emu.edu/ing/

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

We've arrived at the second season of MennoMedia's ~ing Podcast! We can't wait to tell you what is in store. With a brand new featured guest each week, we'll be sharing insights on evolving as peacemakers and people of faith, into the best versions of ourselves. In today's episode, ~ing hosts, Ben Wideman and Allison Maus, continue the conversation around Anabaptist perspectives we began in season 1, while introducing what is in store for this new season - a season which we hope includes your voices too!

Share your thoughts with us! Send us a voicemail by visiting this link - https://anchor.fm/ing-pod/message - or by emailing [email protected]

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

We have arrived at our final episode of our podcast miniseries in partnership with MennoMedia's What Now? Leading Churches Through COVID resources. Have you wondered how to continue congregational worship during the pandemic? This week, ~ing producer Ben Wideman is joined by Joanna Harader, Pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, Kansas. We will reflect on the importance of worship and congregational ritual during the ongoing global pandemic, and hear more from Joanna about her experience leading a congregation during this time.

At the end of today's episode, we're joined again by series coordinator, Sherah-Leigh Gerber, to talk about what we've discovered during this series, and to reflect on what these resources can still offer the church.

Learn more and subscribe to these free resources at www.mennomedia.org/what-now/.

We’d like to thank the Schowalter Foundation of North Newton, Kansas, whose generous funding has helped make What Now? resources possible.

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

We continue our journey this week through our podcast miniseries in partnership with MennoMedia's What Now? Leading Churches Through COVID series. This week, ~ing producer Ben Wideman is joined by Jane Hoober Peifer, a Spiritual Director and Pastor. We will discuss the importance of self-care and soul-care, reminding faith leaders of the importance of both during the ongoing global pandemic.

Learn more and subscribe to these free resources at www.mennomedia.org/what-now/.

We’d like to thank the Schowalter Foundation of North Newton, Kansas, whose generous funding has helped make What Now? resources possible.

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org

This week on ~ing we’re continuing our podcast miniseries in partnership with MennoMedia's What Now? Leading Churches Through COVID series. This week, ~ing producer Ben Wideman is joined by Jayne Docherty, Executive Director of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. Jayne will be guiding us in a transition from a posture of "world view" to "world viewing" as we navigate the ongoing global pandemic.

Learn more and subscribe to these free resources at www.mennomedia.org/what-now/.

We’d like to thank the Schowalter Foundation of North Newton, Kansas, whose generous funding has helped make What Now? resources possible.

~ing Podcast is a production of MennoMedia, a nonprofit Publisher that creates thoughtful, Anabaptist resources to enrich faith in a complex world. To find out more, visit us online at MennoMedia.org