Joy City

In this episode, I am joined by Maria Rameno who has experienced many challenges navigating her own mental health journey in the church community, and she offers her insight on how we can come alongside and assist and not harm those who face similar struggles. 

We talk triggers, anxiety & depression and therapeutic remedies like EMDR, Cereset, talk therapy and medications to aid one in their journey and how the church can provide support and compassion.

If you or a loved one are suffering through a mental health crisis, seek help today. If we can ever be of any assistance, contact us today.  

Brian Warth is the founding pastor of Chapel of Change in Los Angeles (Chapel of Change - Home) which has four campuses: Whittier, Paramount, Carson and Long Beach. Brian is the author of the book, "Young Man Arise" Young Man Arise! Warth, Brian V: 9781629526072: Amazon.com: Books, which details his life growing up in gang infested area of Los Angeles in which his family suffered the impact of gang violence. Brian's older brother was shot and killed, and Brian would later find himself arrested and incarcerated for a gang inflicted murder, in which he received a life sentence as a teenager. 
Brian tells his story of restoration and hope in the darkness of his prison cell, his marriage to his wife and about being a father to three amazing children. A message Brian carries with him everywhere, entitled, Fresh Hope. 

MMI Director Terry Beasley joins Joy City as we talk to men, about men and by men. Terry and I discuss some of the common concerns facing many men around the world today. MMI reaches men both domestically and internationally. Terry's weekly prayer zoom regularly has men from Pakistan, Australia, the U.K. and cities across America. His prayer zoom is accessible to all and you can reach him on his Facebook page by searching Terry Beasley. 

Just a few of the issues we discussed; our inability as men to "humble-down" and ask for help or directions in our lives based upon the perceived incompetence or weakness that it shows when we are unable to "figure it out." 

Terry has extensive personal life experience and ministry experience in which he shares to assist men in being open, honest and vulnerable with other men. We also discuss the possibility of rejection when engaging with other men, which has left men with their walls up and in a defensive posture when they encounter other men. 

The episode is loaded with some golden nuggets and is sure to benefit all men, everywhere, regardless of age. Be blessed and enjoy the episode. 

Founder and senior attorney at Church Law Center joins Joy City. Mr. Steeves has served twice as Dean of Trinity Law School and also serves on the Board of Directors of Nasthotah House Seminary in Wisconsin. Mr. Steeves shares four pillars or attitudes of joy that he shares with us. One, is when good things are happening, and it lets us know what joy feels like. Two, realigning your thought patterns, or disciplining your thinking. This is a spiritual habit believers should consider developing. Three, the filling of the Spirit, though your moment may be unpleasant...I know that my Redeemer lives. Four, is when a situation does not make sense or when bad things happen. Here's Jesus on the cross at Calvary, "My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken Me?" 

Enjoy our conversation regarding joy. 

This is a continuation of our group conversation talking addressing change in our lives. DK & Deborah faced a life and death decision in planning their family and Josh & Jaimie were wrestling with uprooting their family and moving to Montana. We all face daunting decisions in our lives and how we go about making those decisions can be critical to us moving forward. We talk the importance of building community and having people around you who are safe places to share, learn and be encouraged. 

This 2-part series deals with the major changes that impact all of our lives. Choong Man (aka DK) talks about preparing to have a child after doctors advised that his wife could die during child birth and Josh shares about moving his family from his hometown to Montana and the anxiety, worry, fear and anger during the process. "If it doesn't challenge you, it can't change you." 

If you are facing challenges in your life, be encouraged and build yourself a supportive community of people who will value you, support you, encourage you, excite you and learn with you. Community is critical. 

1 Corinthians 7:7, "For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that." 

Wow! Welcome to Joy City with my guest, Ashley Stovall. Ashley works at Modesto Junior College and is in charge of recruiting new students, student support services and the testing center. She has a Master's Degree in Public Administration and many social interests. As a single Black woman, I sat with Ashley to talk about the Gift of Singleness. 

Welcome to Joy City and today I am joined by the creator of Why Not U?, Derrick Wells. Derrick enlarged the vision and created Why Not U Leadership Academy for the Sacramento area schools. He developed the core curriculum to present to the admin at each location and has spent the last several months hitting up big time conferences to keep learning, enlarging and implementing the vision. Coach E.T., Eric Thomas and the 120 Conference-You Owe You in Chicago, John Maxwell Leadership Conference in Florida and most recently, CMCR Marriage Conference with Married Into Crazy podcast host who served as the keynote speakers. 

Here’s my interview with Derrick Wells. 

We talk Why Not U? Coach E.T. and John Maxwell as well as a Marriage Conference in Lake Tahoe. Derrick feels that conferences are a way to continually invest in yourself and grow. Derrick’s mission and goal is not only to serve others but to inspire over 1,000,000 people in podcasting and coaching. He talks the John Maxwell, “Law of the Lid” and more. To be around “winners” and there is no complacency, everyone is striving to become better. So that pushes him to greater heights. 

The Marriage Conference, “Married Into Crazy” is a podcast from Snooks & Lovie and CMCR Marriage Retreats had them as the keynote speakers. In this conference they learned about creating a vision for your marriage, setting goals and defining the dreams for your marriage. So the conference pushed you into communicating with your spouse and then creating a vision board and a plan to work towards the vision. 

Why Not U? was formed after talking to people and would find them not taking action on their words. Excuses, obstacles and other hinderances that keep people from their giftings and ideas. Derrick wants to inspire and coach people to operate in their God given gifts and help to elevate people to reach their dreams. 

Derrick speaks on allowing people around you, close to you, to help you discern your gift. Ask people, what do you see that I am good at? What do you see that excites me? Then take that information to help define your calling and gifting. 

Just some great takeaways and insight from Derrick on leadership, coaching, ministry & marriage. You can find Derrick on his IG page @thewhynotu or his website, simply click on the link in his bio. Just an amazing time with Derrick. 

So, when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win. Every tribe and nation under heaven, worshipping God as one. As the Apostle Paul says, “may we fight for the UNITY of the faith in the bond of peace…” 

No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases. 

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at [email protected] or call me at (209) 522-3583. 

Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. and I am excited to be joined today by Evan Moore, Vice President JP Morgan Chase Bank / Community Manager and Board member of the Modesto Stanislaus Chapter of the NAACP as the Religious Affairs Chair. Evan is a husband, a father, a pastor and a young man on mission. I was fortunate to join some pastors for lunch and met Evan there.  

Evan, welcome to the show, welcome to Joy City. I could not be more thrilled to have you make time for Joy City. 

Evan shares about how it is to navigate his faith while working in the banking industry and the NAACP while being a youth pastor. Kingdom first is his attitude in tackling all his roles, he speaks about being led by God in all the areas of his life. Light shines in darkness but at times we want our light to shine amongst other lights. 

Evan also shares how it is operating in these spaces as a Millennial and walking in humility is critical. He finds challenges in being young and wanting to flex your muscles, but he resists that by being a listener first. He is the youngest Vice President Community Manager in Northern California and one of the youngest preachers at his Church (Lighthouse in the Valley, Stockton, CA). Operating inside the walls of the church and within the community is his current calling. He speaks on “self-mastery” and the ability to truly read others but find challenges in seeing their own flaws. 

As a youth pastor, he engages his group and ask them, “what is the best way to reach your generation?” He goes even further by asking more challenging questions and talks about how that is even being done in the secular spaces. He shares on ways to speak and get the outcome you desire and it’s not talking “at them” but talking to them and addressing their sensitivities. Most leaders are opinionated, and it seems like this is a generation of leaders. 

Evan shares some of the hardships of his upbringing; from being hit by a diesel truck at 3 years old and being put in a body cast, to being homeless and attending continuation school to now being one of the youngest V.P.’s in Nor Cal banking industry. Evan’s father was not in his life and was a drug dealer and his mom battled a drug addiction but knew the Lord. And through it all, God watched over and kept them and healed them. Even in her addiction, she would protect and pray over him and was a staunch advocate for him and his well-being. Just an amazing life story that you don’t want to miss. 

You can connect with Evan by email [email protected] or Facebook or Instagram (evn.moore).

So, when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win. Every tribe and nation under heaven, worshipping God as one. As the Apostle Paul says, “may we fight for the UNITY of the faith in the bond of peace…” 

No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases. 

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at [email protected] or call me at (209) 522-3583. 

Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. and I am joined today by Tajira McCoy, a dynamic writer who’s reviews are fire, travelling all across the country participating in tours and readings and just happens to be my niece. 

Tajira, welcome to the show, welcome to Joy City. I could not be more thrilled to have you make time for Joy City. 

Taj is currently in Washington, D.C., where she just completed a deadline in submitting her manuscript to her publisher. She has just released her second novel, “Zora Finds Her Happily Ever After”, off the success of her first novel, “Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell.” We talk about the challenges of leaving a full-time career as an Admissions Director at a Law School to becoming a full-time author and literary agent. Taj was first published in 1994, when she was a fifth-grade student and talks about how writing allowed her to process her internal emotions. Tajira holds a J.D. degree, has travelled the world and has experience in dealing with a myriad of challenges. 

Taj talks about Savvy Sheldon and her insecurities with her weight and identity and how she created Zora. Both books are available on Amazon. Take a listen as she shares how editing, book covers and titles are determined and now, how she is taking the role on of helping other budding authors launch their careers. Connect with Taj by reaching her on her website, tajmccoywrites.com. 

So, when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win. Every tribe and nation under heaven, worshipping God as one. As the Apostle Paul says, “may we fight for the UNITY of the faith in the bond of peace…” 

No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases. 

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at [email protected] or call me at (209) 522-3583.