Mockingbirds and Mariners

On this podcast you will hear from Mark Waltz. Mark is a sought-after trainer, consultant and coach. Churches from England, Canada and across the U.S. have taken their teams and ministry to new levels of hospitality and care through Mark’s practical training. Mark is the author of three books: First Impressions: Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church, Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging and How to Wow: 101 Meaningful Ways to Make a First Impression.

Mark most recently served as a pastor at Granger Community Church where he led in various leadership roles over 18 years . His nearly two decades of leadership included connections, volunteer strategies, care ministries and executive leadership.

During our time together Mark shares his story and his passion to connect broken people to God’s unconditional love, hope and healing.

On this podcast you will hear from Kristi Wells. Kristi is Chief Executive Officer at Safe House Project, an organization with a vision to support safe houses that provide refuge for victims of sex trafficking.

During our time together Kristi shares her story and gives insight into how human trafficking looks different than we might suspect. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.

On this podcast you’ll hear from Brian Sanders. Brian is executive director of Underground Network, a coalition of churches in Tampa, Florida united by a call to biblical justice and love for the poor. He holds a degree in applied theology from Spurgeon’s College, London where he saw what it would take for a church to become a source of life to a community.

During our time together Brian shares his story and how living a cruciform life changes everything. Sit back and listen, agree, disagree, and learn something along the way!

On this podcast you will hear from Adam Phillips. Adam is pastor of Christ Church: Portland, an open, active, and inclusive Christ-centered community in Portland, Ore. He has served in community development and advocacy initiatives with the ONE Campaign, World Vision, Micah Challenge, Bread for the World, One Days Wages, and Oasis. A graduate of North Park Seminary and The Ohio State University, Adam grew up in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Only a year into their new church plant, the Covenant church severed ties with Christ Church, cutting two-years of promised funding over LGBTQ inclusion matters. In 2010, Adam was a delegate to the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. He is married to Sarah Phillips, an educator.

During our time together Adam shares his story and gives insight into how our interpretation of the bible directly impacts our engagement with people. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.

On this podcast you will hear from Christiana Rice. Christiana is an on-the ground practitioner and visionary voice in the missional movement, serving as a coach and trainer with Thresholds, a community of player-coaches who help people create spaces of discovery and communities of transformation. She leads a neighborhood faith community in San Diego.

Christiana grew up in Tokyo, Japan, the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries to that country. Whether teaching and coaching global leaders, engaging the deeper spiritual longings of her neighbors, or embracing the sacred mundane of daily life with her family and her community, Christiana seeks participate in God's restorative mission in all things.

During our time together Christiana shares with us about how God gives birth to the church and his kingdom and how followers of Jesus act as the midwife celebrating the arrival of new life.

Darren Calhoun is a justice advocate, worship leader, and photographer based out of Chicago. He works to bridge connections between people of differing perspectives through story and relationship. Intersectionality is his primary lens when facilitating dialogue and education about justice and inclusion for people marginalized based on race, gender, and/or sexuality.

During our time together during shares his story and talks about his journey of faith. So sit back listen agree, disagree and hopefully learn something along the way.

On this podcast you will hear from Jay Harris. Jay can routinely be found on a corner in downtown Jacksonville meeting with anyone, whether it's the mailman, a homeless person, or fellow business owners. Jay enjoys spending time with his wife, Alanna, and their 9 children... yes, 9. He is an entrepreneur, fashion designer, artist, and pastor.

From 2011 - 2014 he owned a Clothing Boutique in the heart of downtown Jacksonville named after his streetwear brand, Strght & Nrrw. This boutique was more than just a clothing store and became a missional outpost for the lost and hurting.

During this podcast Jay talks about his transition from retail store owner to lead pastor of The Ville Church located in the Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. There, he is focused on his church family, pursuing racial reconciliation in his city and in the church, community development, as well as training and encouraging others to mentor and volunteer in their community and local schools. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.

On this podcast you will hear from Heather Williams. Heather is an American Christian Contemporary-Rock-Soul-Worship singer-songwriter born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan. In 2011 Williams released the album entitled This Time Around, her first full-length studio album that was with the record label Fair Trade Services. Her song Hallelujah peaked charts while sharing her story of loss and hope.

During our time together Heather shares her story and how stepping into a life of creating music and art has brought redemption and life. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.

On this podcast you will hear from Jin S. Kim. Jin is founding pastor of Church of All Nations and founder of Underground Seminary. He grew up in the deep South after emigrating from Korea with his family at age 7. He went to Georgia Tech, Princeton Seminary, has a DMin from Columbia Seminary, and has loved serving the local church as a pastor for 25 years. He's also a PCUSA coach for church planters and young pastors, adjunct professor at Dubuque Seminary, and speaks widely. Jin is passionate about justice, ecumenical unity, and living into a post-imperial church.

During our time together Jin shares his story and explores the long history of racism in the church and how churches with diversity and ethnicity can empower each other to deconstruct the roots of racism. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.

On this podcast you will hear from Brad Brisco. Brad is currently the Director of Bivocational Church Planting for the North American Mission Board. He holds a doctorate in the area of missional ecclesiology and serves on the National Leadership team for Forge America Mission Training Network. Brad is the co-author of Missional Essentials, a twelve-week small group study guide, The Missional Quest: Becoming a Church of the Long Run, and Next Door As It Is In Heaven. He blogs regularly at missionalchurchnetwork.com

During our time together Brad shares his story and focuses in on the idea of aligning your marketplace calling & the mission of God. So sit back, listen, agree, disagree, and hopefully learn something along way.