In this episode of POD Strangely Warmed, Patrick Booth shares stories from Cambodia that reveal both the devastating reality of human trafficking and the remarkable resilience of people finding hope after exploitation. Through his work with Global Ministries and the ARK (Advancing Resilient Khmer) program, Patrick helps us understand that healing is not quick or simple, but it is possible when survivors are surrounded by safety, community, and long-term support. This conversation gives listeners a glimpse into the courageous work being done by missionaries, mission partners, and local leaders, and reminds us that the church has a meaningful role to play in standing with those seeking freedom and restoration.

Through the work of the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodists have a trusted way to support specific missionaries and mission projects around the world. The Advance allows churches and individuals to come alongside the people and ministries doing this work, offering support where it is needed most and helping make long-term mission possible. When a church supports a missionary through this connection, it becomes more than a financial gift. It becomes a relationship rooted in prayer, encouragement, and shared commitment to God's mission.

If you or your church would like to contribute financially, you can give through the links provided below. Churches that choose to support missionaries through Covenant partnerships are encouraged to consider giving $10 per member per year, a practical way for congregations of every size to participate in global mission. Your generosity helps remind missionaries and mission partners that they are not serving alone, and that the wider church is standing with them in the work of Christ around the world.

Donation, email, and bio page: https://gbhem-umc.my.site.com/hemgm/s/campaign/a3fPo000000D4BcIAK/booth-patrick

Email Patrick at: [email protected]

Covenant form online: https://umcmission.org/resources/covenant-partner-relationship-form

Project ARK webpage: https://arkcambodia.com/outreach/

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

Pastoral moves are part of the rhythm of United Methodist life, but every transition carries real stories, real relationships, and real opportunities for grace. In this episode of POD Strangely Warmed, Rev. Daniel Hawkins is joined by Rev. Allie Johnson and Rev. Ruben Saenz III for a lighthearted and meaningful conversation about starting fresh, saying goodbye well, and discovering where God is already at work in a new appointment.

As Rev. Allie Johnson begins serving at Ovilla UMC and Rev. Ruben Saenz III begins serving at Custer Road UMC, they reflect on the practical, emotional, and spiritual parts of moving into a new ministry setting. Along the way, Rev. Daniel Hawkins shares from his own transition to Trietsch Memorial UMC, creating space for honest encouragement for pastors, churches receiving new pastors, and congregations preparing for future seasons of change.

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

This week on POD Strangely Warmed, Rev. Daniel Hawkins is joined by Bishop Connie Shelton of the North Carolina Conference and Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. After hearing Bishop Shelton preach at our opening worship of snnual conference 2026, we wanted to spend more time with her, listening to her story, her perspective, and the way she leads with clarity, humility, and trust in the Holy Spirit.

Together, they reflect on calling, communication, and what it means to love boldly in real communities. From the formation of leaders to the small, relational moments where ministry takes shape, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful reminder that God is already at work and our invitation is simply to join in.

While at Annual Conference, Rev. Daniel Hawkins sat down with keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean to continue a conversation many churches are already having: what does church growth look like in a time when old assumptions no longer hold? Drawing on the image of shipwreck and the hope of finding a different boat, they reflect on the future of the church, congregational renewal, and the kind of ministry innovation that is beginning to take shape in local communities.

As the conversation unfolds, Kenda and Daniel explore faithful experimentation, young adult spirituality, faith formation, and the shift from a destination church to a more embedded way of being the church in everyday life. Rather than chasing one big strategy, this episode wonders whether the path forward may be found in smaller acts of courage, deeper attention to culture, and a renewed openness to where God is already at work.

https://www.princetonseminary.edu/

https://www.ministryincubators.com/

https://ministryarchitects.com/

https://www.churchleadership.com/

This week POD Strangely Warmed explores how United Methodists are living out mission through education, health care, clean water, women's leadership and deep community care. Daniel Contreras, Mission Program Director for Honduras, joins Rev. Daniel Hawkins and Rev. Kristin Warthen to share how the Honduras Mission Initiative is helping children imagine a different future, supporting a migrant clinic that serves thousands each year and reminding the church that discipleship is more than attendance. It is faith lived boldly for the transformation of the world.

From the John Wesley School to a clinic near the Nicaragua border, this conversation highlights the power of partnership, the hope found in local churches and what the Horizon Texas Conference can learn from Honduran siblings who trust God, serve their neighbors and keep showing up where the need is great.

To get involved in Honduras get in touch with Milton Ilovares

https://www.facebook.com/umvimhonduras/

[email protected]

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

This week POD Strangely Warmed brings you into the conversations happening at Annual Conference 2026 as we talk with clergy and laity from around the Horizon Texas Conference. You'll hear thoughtful reflections on what it looks like to love boldly in real ministry, real community, and real life, along with the shared sense of hope that emerges when the church gathers to worship, connect, and listen for where God is at work.

This episode isn't about recapping every vote or agenda item. It's about the people who shape Annual Conference through their presence, their stories, and their faithfulness. Whether you were in the room or didn't make it this year, these conversations offer a window into how bold love is being practiced, named, and lived out across our conference.

Along the way, we also spend time with a few voices from the wider connectional ministry of The United Methodist Church, offering perspective on how this work extends beyond a single annual conference. You'll hear reflections that help trace where bold love is being seen across the Horizon Texas Conference and how that shared vision continues to guide the church forward.

https://www.realizegrace.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@realizegrace

https://www.cultiv8community.org/

https://www.gbhem.org/ https://umcmission.org/

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

Annual Conference is almost here, and this week we're hitting the road.

In this special episode of Pod Strangely Warmed, we travel to Wichita Falls to preview the upcoming Horizon Texas Annual Conference 2026. Along the way, we visit some of the key locations you'll experience during the week, hear a few stories from local leaders and share practical tips to help you feel prepared when you arrive.

From where to go and what to eat to where to park, this episode is all about helping you step into Annual Conference with clarity and confidence and maybe even a little excitement. Whether you'll be there in person or following along through the livestream, we hope this gives you a clearer picture of what's ahead and helps you feel more connected before conference even begins. As we gather, we do so with purpose, with community and with a call to love boldly.

To learn more about Annual Conference 2026 visit our website: https://www.htcumc.org/ac26

Spotify Love Boldly Worship Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3yawtx8F1XKCzOEhimTNMe?si=f8918a0dead34894

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

Across the Horizon Texas Conference, many churches are navigating communities that are changing around them. The question is not only how churches survive that change, but how they become more fruitful, more welcoming and more connected to the people God has placed around them.

In this episode of POD Strangely Warmed, Rev. Daniel Hawkins sits down with Rev. Christian Washington and Rev. Derek Jacobs at the Shifting the Atmosphere conference. Together, they talk about the work of the Black Church Academy, an initiative helping predominantly African American churches move from survival to fruitfulness through coaching, worship renewal, hospitality and deeper community connection.

This conversation explores what it means for churches to "move the needle," why Sunday morning matters, how worship can become more intentional and what it looks like to welcome the stranger in a way that helps people truly belong. Christian and Derek also share stories of churches rediscovering their mission, strengthening their systems and learning how to thrive in a changing community.

Whether you are a pastor, church leader, layperson or someone who cares about the future of the church, this episode offers a hopeful look at how God is still at work through communities willing to adapt, listen and love their neighbors well.

https://realcoaching.net/

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

This week on POD Strangely Warmed, Rev. Kristin Warthen hosts a special May the 4th conversation about Star Wars, faith and the deeper spiritual themes that keep drawing people back to a galaxy far, far away.

Rev. Kevin Anderson, pastor at FUMC Alvarado, and Rev. Jarrod Johnston, pastor at Community UMC in Krum, TX, join the conversation to talk about their favorite Star Wars stories, characters and moments, from Obi-Wan and Darth Vader to Leia, Andor, Rogue One, The Acolyte and more. Along the way, they reflect on hope, redemption, mentorship, emotional honesty, the battle between light and dark and how stories of the Force can help us think more deeply about grace, mercy and what it means to follow Jesus.

Whether you are a lifelong Star Wars fan, a casual viewer or someone wondering why these stories continue to resonate across generations, this episode invites you to laugh, nerd out and consider how God's grace can show up in unexpected places.

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference

The Parables of Jesus are some of the most well-known in the world. But what if we've been moving through them too quickly to really hear what they're saying?

In this episode of POD Strangely Warmed, Rev. Daniel Hawkins sits down with Rev. Andy Nixon to explore The 45 Parables and the deeper meaning behind the stories Jesus told. Together, they reflect on how parables invite us to slow down, ask better questions, and encounter Jesus in ways that go beyond surface-level understanding.

This conversation is for anyone curious about faith, whether you've spent years in the church or you're still figuring out what you believe. Through storytelling, humor, and honest reflection, Andy shares why parables create space for both believers and skeptics to engage with Scripture in a meaningful way.

Explore The 45 Parables by Andy Nixon: https://45parables.com/

Website - htcumc.org Facebook - @HTCUMC Instagram - @HTCUMC TikTok - @horizontxumc YouTube - @htcumc Spotify - Horizon Texas Conference