Joy City

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 Latricia Beasley-Day, a Community Organizer for Faith in the Valley here in Stanislaus County. If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is Almighty God and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary and how to grow, nourish and maintain that relationship. 

Latricia, welcome to the show, welcome to Joy City. Latricia and I met at Clergy Appreciation Day hosted by Doctor’s Hospital. Latricia explains Faith in the Valley as a grass-roots organization that advocates for social justice from many different angles. Trying to engage the clergy community. Faith in the Valley is comprised of five (5) multi-racial, multi-faith federations consolidated into one (1) organization. Housing is a main and critical issue for all the counties, immigration is huge in several counties and in Stanislaus County the need is for housing. However, the organizers are driven by what is crucial for the community. Right now she is meeting with the Jewish community regarding Black & Jewish relations by using a Belong Circle. 

Walking in multi-faith communities how do you keep Christ first? Latricia talks about how being in this arena makes her even more on fire for Jesus and how she sees there is a void in their lives as Jesus is missing. Yet, she feels the call to love and know the human being. 

Latricia walks us through her upbringing in the church and how she operated in San Francisco and even becoming a single mother. How the church supported her mother by supplying rides to and from church and then embracing her when she became pregnant as a young woman. The beauty of community in her life and what she is trying to pass to others. How God can take your ashes and make them beautiful. 

Latricia talks about being involved in a church plant in Modesto and being sent with the organizing and launch team of her church. You can reach Latricia either by email at [email protected] or by cell (209) 495-4377.

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. 

And I want to welcome my guest today, Choong Man Kim, also known as :DK, one of the awesome leaders of DIVIN3KINGDOM. DIVIN3KINGDOM's mission statement is to bring people into the community of the Trinity for the infinity, through serving, mentoring and creativity. :DK will share more on that in a minute and you can also learn more on his website www.divin3kingdom.org. 

:DK began his rap adventures when he was sixteen (16) years old and attended a party where he consumed alcohol for only the 3rd time in his life. Due to the alcohol courage, he jumped into what’s called a “Battle Rap.” His friends and all the people at the party, “went crazy.” He stated that he was getting a lot of positive attention from negative behavior. However, he had an experience battle rapping with a close friend and he felt his rap crossed the line, so he quit rapping for quite some time.

While at a retreat, he started rhyming for fun and edifying the kids and lifting them up and he was encouraged by a minister to use his gift of rap for God. He continued seeking God in this lane and was supported greatly by a mentor figure, Ron Sararana (aka DJ Efechto of Humble Beast Records). 

You can connect with Choong Man (aka :DK) through his website, www.divin3kingdom.org. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, reach out to him directly. 

Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God Almighty and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. 

John 17:13, “…that they may have the full measure of MY joy within them.” Jesus is the very Source of our joy. Not things, achievements, accomplishments, money made but Jesus is our joy. The Apostle Paul says, “I die daily…” It all begins and ends with Jesus. 

Executive Director, Kevin VanDonselaar, of Christian Berets joins me on today’s show. You can learn more about Christian Berets on their website at: Christianberets.org

Kevin is marred with (3) teenage children, they all serve in ministry together. Kevin has been an attorney, practicing law, for over (25) years and has served as a volunteer, board member and now the E.D. for Christian Berets. I met Kevin when I was invited by members of our own church (Brice & Sandy Ringsby) to Christian Berets camp last summer.

Christian Berets ministers to such a diverse group of needs; from those with Down Syndrome, or those on the spectrum, to those with physical limitations and yet there is a wide variety of ministry for those who attend camp. They provide amazing, compassionate and caring counselors. If you know someone with disabilities, a family member or you would like to volunteer, go to the website and get engaged. 

The pillars of the ministry are: Love, Serve, Protect, and Share the Gospel. The staff desires to demonstrate the Gospel and then share the Gospel. There is chapel, songs, bible stories and live-active learning experiences. Another highlight is the camp talent show, the fire department comes to have “water-wars” with the campers and staff, as well as a suds mountain. Go carts and a 4 seater Razor with a Superman wrap on it. Volleyball, Wiffleball, carnival activities, outdoor amphitheater and board games. Add the amazing chef that provides tremendous meals for the campers, staff and family. 

Christian Berets camp is also accessible to non-Christians and Kevin shares an amazing story of a camper who wanted to go home and felt “tricked” into camp because she was not a Christian. Kevin called the parent, Mom told her to stay one more night and if she wanted to come home she could. It was that next day, that particular camper said YES to Jesus and is now a self-professing Christian. 

Kevin was called to this ministry and then was tasked with leaving his career and talking about this with his family. His wife and kids all prayed, all came into agreement and they wanted to experience the ministry as a family. All Kevin’s kids serve in the ministry and his wife travels to camp after her work hours. Serving when it’s convenient is one thing and sacrifice is another. Kevin goes through this transition in our interview. 

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 Happy New Year, welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. I’m joined by my co-host, Bro. J.C. (really pastor JC). If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God Almighty and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. 

As we enter 2023, we have such high expectations for the new year, but for many, 2023 has not began the way they envisioned it. JC, who is a life coach, teaches many of his clients that you have to have a plan – a goal and making it something that we enjoy doing. 

John 17:13, “…that they may have the full measure of MY joy within them.” Jesus is the very Source of our joy. Not things, achievements, accomplishments, money made but Jesus is our joy. The Apostle Paul says, “I die daily…” It all begins and ends with Jesus. 

We dive into Psalms 139 and ask every listener to read this Psalms every morning for (30) days and then journal what stands out to you. Just a glimpse is “O Lord, You have searched me and know me…” This Psalms reminds us that God has a perfect knowledge of us, describes us as fearfully and wonderfully made and that God’s thoughts towards us are precious. Think about that, God not only thinks we are marvelous, but when He thinks about us, the thought is precious. Wow! We don’t even think about ourselves in such high esteem as God does. 

We also discussed leadership Guru, John C. Maxwell and his year end questions. Reflection questions, the now question and the forward questions to prepare us for the new year.

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. If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God Almighty and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. And in his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence encourages us to practice the presence of God daily and try to know the Holy Spirit that is in the Scriptures. Now Brother Lawrence was a lay member, not a cleric, priest or pastor – an ordinary, and I’m putting that in air quotes, brother who loved God. It demonstrates for you and me and millions of others, God wants to draw close to us.

Chrystal Welch, my wife, joins Joy City today as we discuss disruption, transition, connection and ministry in the context of our relocation to Modesto, CA. 

Chrystal discusses leaving relationships behind and being unable to connect with a running group or meaningful relationships since moving. Family, children and her parents remain in their local areas. As well as making huge moves and being engaged in ministry. 

Tune in and hopefully some nuggets will help you in the midst of disruption or transition. 

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. 

I am so excited about my guest, Pastor Rod Cochran who serves as the Pastor of Christian Love Baptist Church in Modesto, CA. I met Rod at the City Pastor Luncheons, and we clicked in talking sports, restorative justice and church and I can’t wait to get to know him a bit better today. I know there will be great takeaways here, some information you can use right away and some for later down the road called life and as a father, maybe even some parenting tips. 

Let’s jump right into it, man Rod welcome to Joy City. I’ve been chasing you for months to get you on the podcast, brotherman, how are you, the family, things at the church? 

Rod talks taking over a church after losing the only pastor they ever knew and after his first Sunday, we all experience the pandemic and a global shut-down. 

Dr. Cornell West says, “Never forget, Justice is what love looks like in public.” We have a hard time defining justice, but we know what we mean by love. Majority of people understand love is being respected, accepted and valued. Rod shares growing up in the deep south and what justice means to him. 

Lastly, hear Rod's story on dying and being dead for over (4) minutes and his life transforming encounter and how he handles "survivor's guilt." 

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 back to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. 

If you are new you may wonder, “Joy City” really? Yes, after the Apostles were beaten and released, they found “great joy…” and Jesus in John 17 says, “that they may have the full measure of my JOY within them.” That yes, we face many trials and storms but the Apostle encourages us, we rejoice in hope and as sorrowful, yet ALWAYS rejoicing…” So welcome to Joy City my friends. 

I am so excited about my guest, Marissa Mattox Heffernan who serves as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship at New Hope FMC in Rochester, NY. I met Marissa at the FMC Justice Summit where she did a workshop entitled Justice & Jubilee: The Call to Beloved Community. 

Let’s jump right into it, Marissa welcome to Joy City. I can’t tell you how excited I have been to be able to chat with you. How are you, the family – those 3 beautiful little girls? What’s happening on the East Coast? Rochester is cool right now, someone said, “Summer checked out like someone owed them money!” 

Marissa serves on both the National FMC Justice Network as well as her local Genesis Justice Network. She attributes her engagement in these networks with her remaining a part of the FM Church. Our goal is to try and lend a prophetic voice to the Church regarding justice. Our local network is more grassroots and she desired to create a team to resource pastors in the justice arena. Creating a more vocal space for people to share and to fit.

As an assistant pastor of discipleship, people see discipleship as the God stuff, church and Bible, and justice is that stuff that happens out there. I would like to see justice “re-integrated” into biblical teachings. How we are called to restore fullness and shalom in ourselves, in our community, in our churches and outside them as we remind people of the innate work of God in creating us in His very image. As a Christian, justice is the reparative, reconciliatory power of God in community. 

https://fmcusa.org/resources/2019bod (Link to the FMC Book of Discipline).

Dr. Cornell West says, “Never forget, Justice is what love looks like in public.” We have a hard time defining justice, but we know what we mean by love. Majority of people understand love is being respected, accepted and valued. Also Pastor Bruce Wright was in Liz Cornell’s workshop as we worked through her book, “The Love Required of Us.” https://freemethodistbooks.com/product/the-love-required-of-us-ebook-edition

Marissa shares her back story of growing up in a church and then falling away before a life-crisis bought her back to church. Being a woman of color brought friction which allowed her to focus her mission in ministry by ministering to youth who identified as LGBTQ and received push-back from some parents. This is when she begin to be a self-proclaimed “pot-stirrer.” She wanted to create safe spaces for kids who couldn’t find safe spaces to fit in, this should be the church. In helping herself identify, she found great value in Dominque DuBois Gilliard’s book, “Subversive Witness.”  https://www.amazon.com/Subversive-Witness-Scriptures-Leverage-Privilege/dp/0310124034

Beloved, God has called us to justice, because he has called us to Himself and justice is an attribute of God. He lays the plan out in Exodus and through Deuteronomy and relativizes the community so we are now brothers and sisters, not by blood, but by something greater, the Spirit of the living God. 

You can reach Marissa at marissamattoxheffernan on FB, [email protected], Justicenetworkfmc.org, marissamattoxheffernan.com. 

Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. Thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God Almighty and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. 

Amazing experiences and engaging conversation and sharing, time to sit in our discomfort when topics were addressed that left you wondering and then rejoicing that God is in the midst of it all and He desires UNITY in the Body of Christ and has laid out a plan for the Church and left it to us to fulfill. Praise & worship with a multi-cultural team, flag dancing and words of exhortation that just left many weeping or wiping their eyes as we felt the heart of God. I mean the Free Methodist way is clear, “Love is the way we demonstrate God’s heart for justice. Like many, I don’t know how God is working thru all of this, I just trust that He is. 
 
Keynote speakers.; Thursday night Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvateria on Becoming the Body of Christ. I will try to articulate what she spoke on as she expounded on Isaiah 65:17-24 and asked the question, “Don’t we all want that life?” The promise for a communal and abundant life – YES, we all desire that, hunger for it even. I mean to see the UNITY of the Body so the full power of God may be released thru the Body of Christ. Well, how do we get there? She took us on a journey, the journey from mercy to justice, using the expression where “mercy and justice kiss.” Seeing thru the eyes of Jesus and having the compassion of Christ. How Jesus feels our suffering as it is His own suffering. She told us that Justice as the big picture question, “What is going on?” While mercy asks, “What do we do?” Lord help us, because stewardship never asks what are the limits of our giving, stewardship is giving everything. I could just go on and on about Dr. Aexia but I would run out of show. 

 Friday, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah with Prophetic Lament.  Lamentations chapter 1. I mean as the American church, we tend to avoid lament and make everything about praise, but lament is missing and it recognizes struggles and suffering, that the world is not as it should be. Lament challenges the status quo and cries out for justice against existing injustices. He shared about his mother, a single mother who spent hours on her knees in prayer while raising her children and working two jobs. It is heroes like her and so many others that in a church that is self-centered and success driven, we don’t even acknowledge nor recognize. 

Beloved, God has called us to justice, because he has called us to Himself and justice is an attribute of God. He lays the plan out in Exodus and through Deuteronomy and relativizes the community so we are now brothers and sisters, not by blood, but by something greater, the Spirit of the living God. https://www.smcfmc.org/news/justice-network-summit-2022

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. 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.. 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) 522-358

          Welcome to Joy City where I am joined by my son; Cayman Welch and my co-host, Brother J.C. who now serves as the pastor of Christ Centered Missionary Baptist Church in Hayward, CA. 
          We welcome Cayman who has his own media company, Black Ambition Media, and part of that is his podcast, The Rising (@egtherising), dealing with social issues that impact the Black Culture. Cayman and his crew also had the honor of facilitating the 1st ever Juneteenth Celebration for the City of Elk Grove. Big moment for his life and trajectory of his life and aspirations. This shows the Lord can open doors and provide opportunities and we must be prepared to engage. 
          Bro. J.C. asked Cayman, "how does it feel to be out on your own and creating your own identity apart from your dad?" Cayman expresses that the things he has learned growing up, the principles of prayer & reading scripture are things to lean into as he learns the principles of life on his own.  JC reminds him that he is creating his own legacy.
          JC continued with, "What are 2 challenges that you have faced being a PK (pastor's kid)?" Cayman talks about seeing what "people first" looks like. At times it is hard to see people first when you are a kid and you want stuff.  2nd challenge was just being under a spotlight - when you're a pastor's kid people will put expectations on you. 
          Cayman also serves as worship leader for a church in Lodi, CA. He began his experience at our 1st church plant when he was about 8-9 years old. He has grown so much in his musical gift and using it to God's glory as a young man. I asked Cayman to share his thoughts on church today. Cayman actually likes what we generally call "old school" church and dealing with some young people today, they don't have a similar church history and some have never been to church. 
          In addition, as young people, you have grown up in the digital age and the hip hop area, this becomes a filter in which younger generations view church or the Bible. Cayman discusses how he sees integrating these concepts into what is deemed ministry today. 
          We discuss trying to reach out to those who may be lost in the sense of how the Bible uses the term lost souls. COVID pushed many churches to realize that you have to be engaged with the population, connecting with people where they are in love and compassion. Community organizing is a big piece, doing things for people for the sake of being a resource or helping hand. God is there and may we be the hands and feet of God. 
         Enjoy the conversation and you can reach out to Cayman on YouTube by entering Black Ambition Media, listen in to the podcast at @eg_therising or email at [email protected].
What an amazing time speaking and sharing with Cayman today and I pray it is encouraging for you too. 

Hello, and welcome to today’s Joy City podcast, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. And in his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence encourages us to practice the presence of God daily and try to know the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. Now Brother Lawrence was a lay member, not a cleric, priest or pastor – an ordinary, and I’m putting that in air quotes, brother who loved God. It demonstrates for you and me and millions of others, God wants to draw close to us.

I welcome back my co-host, Brother JC, man it’s been a minute. Bro. JC is now pastoring Christ Centered Missionary Baptist Church in Hayward, CA. 

As our kids head back to school,  we discuss the latest book by author Richard Watts, entitled, “ENTITLEMANIA-How Not to Spoil Your Kids, and What to Do if You Have.” Watts is a personal advisor and legal counsel to the super wealthy and spends his days within the castle walls of the most successful families in America. For the book, go to the website at www.entitlemania.com.

Entitlemania is the state of mind in which children believe they should have anything they want, while also believing they shouldn’t have to make any effort to get it. The responsibility lies with us as parents for creating these children. 

Watts discusses the two concepts that cause this: One, giving too much which takes away incentive and Two, not allowing the consequences of a child’s actions. 

Let’s listen in as Watts shares his thoughts and then Bro. JC and I will discuss it. 

In the U.S., we spend just over $36 billion dollars on back to school shopping. The American debt climbs during this time, placing many purchases on credit cards or even borrowing money to pay for kids back to school supplies. The average household will spend $864 on back to school supplies. 

Sports or activities training for lacrosse or tennis and using high profile coaches to “get results.” We no longer allow our children to choose, we have “mini-me” syndrome and we do not OWN our children. 

Listen is as we discuss many of the concepts Watts discusses and how does our faith or relationship with God play into this concept. 

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. 

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.