Mainline

Is it possible to be traumatized vicariously when caring for other people?  Dimple Dhabalia shares the powerful story of her service on the front lines of the refugee crisis and how it led her to her current work, "Roots In The Clouds."  If you're feeling burned out, you don't want to miss this one.

Rev. Lloyd Nyarota is a pastor in Alberta, Canada.  We met in Nigeria when he was living in Zimbabwe, and as United Methodists, we have shared a common bond and friendship that has been aided through social media and mutual relationships.  I catch up with Lloyd and hear about the church as it lies beyond the borders of the United States.

Today's conversation is with Rev. Laurence Hesser, a pastor in a rural church in East Tennessee who has constantly amazed me by his vision and ability to adapt and thrive.  I spoke with him a few months ago, and it was my favorite of these conversations; I catch up with him today to see how things are going.  This is another podcast where you'll get at least one major mind-blowing, game-changing new idea.

You can watch a video version of this podcast here on YouTube.

Gregg Brekke is one of today's leading religion reporters and photojournalists.  Today we get a bird's eye view of what's going on in the church, given all the change that's taken place this year.  You'll also want to hear where Gregg was last week.

Burnout is the other pandemic that's taking over the lives of pastors we know.  Are you taking care of yourself?

Barb Klein of Inspired Possibility joins Rev. Annette Flynn and me to discuss the simple ways of taking care of oneself.  Far from being selfish: in this time, it's essential!

Rev. Tim Kobler is the United Methodist campus minister at the University of Michigan.  Without question, this has been a demanding time in which students' needs for spiritual guidance changes on a daily basis.  Tim speaks about the challenges of an already challenging form of ministry in this most interesting discussion.

Rev. Jake Morrill is in his 18th year as Lead Minister of a thriving congregation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He's also a non-profit executive director, a therapist, and a clergy coach, anchored in Bowen Family Systems Theory. He teaches systems thinking through the Bowen Theory Education Center and works with clients through the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, as well as in his own private practice. This Fall, Rockridge Press will publish his book, Unlocking the Art of Forgiveness.

Rev. Isaac Collins began working at his current congregation in June. He's one of several pastors I've interviewed here that faced the challenge of establishing themselves in the midst of the pandemic.  Isaac was part of a community in Charlottesville, VA, that was part of his formation in a prophetic ministry that he sees as intricately linked to his preaching of the Gospel.  He brings a creative spirit to a ministry that reaches beyond church walls, but creativity is not always rewarded.

I'm moving from one townhouse to another in the same neighborhood.  It's as much work as moving across the country!  Things are changing all around us, and whenever we are going through a time of big change, is it possible to think that the small changes in life are often as difficult as the big ones?

Today's election day, and no matter how it turns out, we know that one thing will persist: uncertainty.  What role does faith have in this time of uncertainty?