In this special final episode John and Matt reminisce on their favorite moments over the first season of Pod Have Mercy. The podcast will resume on the first week of August with some special guests and new topics! 

John and Matt welcome Reverend Marc Boswell, Ph.D to the podcast this week. Marc is the Executive Director of Together for Hope. Together for Hope (TFH) represents a national, long-term effort to work with people in 20 of the nation's most impoverished counties in order to affect change around the causes and consequences of economic disparity. 

John and Matt get together this week to discuss current events, Matt's wedding anniversary and where we're seeing Jesus this week. 

This week we welcome Peter Johns and Rev. Michael Sciretti to the podcast. Michael and Peter share some of their contemplative prayer practices and ways that we can renew our mind during this time. 

On this week's episode we are joined by Gregg Taylor. Gregg is the senior pastor of Park Avenue UMC in Minneapolis. John and Matt check in with Gregg for insight on what it's like to be a pastor in Minneapolis right now and how he is ministering to his community. 

John and Matt welcome Christian Washington to the podcast. John and Matt listen as Christian discusses his personal struggles with racial profiling. They answer questions that have been submitted around race and BLM.  

We welcome Dr. Cleve Tinsley to the podcast this week. Dr. Cleve V. Tinsley IV is a scholar of American religion, race, and culture. He earned his MA and PhD in religion from Rice University where he concentrated in the study of African-American religions, primarily utilizing historical and social-scientific research methods. John and Matt listen as Dr. Tinsley contributes his perspective on race, religion and ways that we can learn from those outside of our community. 

John and Matt discuss how the pandemic is affecting those in Houston and how the church should respond in a countercultural way. 

John and Matt have a zoom call with Shane Green and Dr. Jimmy Asbell, two Georgia-based pastors and longtime friends of John Stephens. They discuss reopening churches and the similarities between Texas and Georgia. John and Matt also discuss Ahmaud Arbery and how we are called to respond to those in our community who are in need. 

John sits down with Melissa Maher, the Lead Pastor of Mercy Street. Melissa updates us on the state of those struggling with addiction and how her ministry is providing spiritual care. John discusses why it is hard to love others and provides some wisdom from The Desert Fathers.