The Communitas International Podcast

On this episode, Tony shares his life story and the lessons he has learned along the way. His journey includes having parents who immigrated to the US, running a non-profit that brings teens overseas to the field to assist with projects, and embracing a bi-vocational ministry model while working in a corporate environment. All of these experiences have taught him the value of reciprocal learning and relational faith.

About Tony

Tony is involved in technology for his day job and runs The Ember Cast, a student missions leadership org, bi-vocationally. The Shengs first got involved with Communitas in 2007 when they brought a team of students to help run the kids’ programs at Connect. Since then, they’ve had multiple touchpoints with Communitas that have included various churches, staff friendships, and The Ember Cast partnering with Communitas for multiple summer experiences.

Tony is passionate about catalyzing cross-cultural competencies in emerging leaders and sees a lot of overlap between Ember and Communitas. Tony and Deanna are based in Columbia, Maryland. Deanna is a reading tutor, Katie is in graduate school and Emily is in her second year of college. Katie and Emily occasionally visit home depending on where in the world they are at the moment.

Resources Mentioned

David kinnaman https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Exiles-Generation-Digital-Babylon/dp/0801013151/ref=asc_df_0801013151/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366282021312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6134930647390232196&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1023640&hvtargid=pla-814666558721&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=79033899511&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366282021312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6134930647390232196&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1023640&hvtargid=pla-814666558721

David Fitch - shared leadership http://www.lifeonthevine.org/who-are-we/about-us

Toni Daniels talks with Geoff and Joy about holistic living in contexts where mental illness, spiritual stagnation and relational immaturity are more common than not. She inspires us to move towards hope by learning healthy attachment with God and listening through the multifaceted wisdom of community.

About Toni

TONI M DANIELS lives to see relational restoration in every level of society by awakening, inspiring, and training emotional, spiritual ninja warriors who follow Jesus into his revolution of joy. To that end, she has authored several books and is the host of the podcast “Joy Fueled and Jesus Led”: Inspiring stories and practical tools to help you live Joy fueled and Jesus led in all areas of your life.

Before settling stateside, Toni founded Godly Play Uruguay and worked alongside her husband, Matt, as a social entrepreneur, church planter, and relational skills coach in Uruguay, where they started micro-churches and founded a leadership training center. Currently harnessing all of her experience in her role as LK10’s Operations and Training Champion, Toni has created a training pathway for hundreds of global leaders to rediscover church as healthy heart-to-heart connection with each other and God together.

Toni’s undergraduate work focused on Spanish and Sociology. She has an MA in Leadership Development and Church Planting, a diploma in Spiritual Direction and Trauma Recovery, and five years of skills-based relationship enhancement training from the International Trainer’s Association, PREP,inc., and THRIVEToday.

Resources Mentioned

https://lk10.com/ I just released a book called Relational Revolution: 5 Shifts for Rediscovering Church as Heart-to-Heart Connection that may prove relevant and helpful. Book description: While millions are leaving church to save their relationship with God, a relational movement fueled by joy and led by Jesus is gaining traction. This provocative and hopeful book shares the values that are transforming an ineffective and sometimes harmful Christian culture into a vibrant, spontaneous expression of God’s presence on earth. It gives hope and belonging to those seeking emotionally safe churches that form communities that overflow with joy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734684046

Godly play - https://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/

Thrive - https://thrivetoday.org/

Life Model Works - https://lifemodelworks.org/

Dan Siegel - https://drdansiegel.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Journey-Norton-Interpersonal-Neurobiology/dp/039371053X

Krispin Mayfield -https://www.krispinmayfield.com/

Attached to God: A Practical Guide to Deeper Spiritual Experience

Jon Ritner shares with Geoff and Joy the impact of culture and generational cohort on faith and spirituality. As he shares in his book, Positively Irritating, God is always working and we can come alongside that movement no matter where it's happening or how it looks.

About Jon

Jon Ritner is the Chief Strategy Officer for Communitas Intl. Jon pastored locally for 20 years; serving a “mega church” in Williamsburg, Virginia, planting “micro churches" in Brussels, Belgium, and then re-missioning an existing church in Hollywood, CA around missional incarnational paradigms and practices. Jon is a graduate of The College of William and Mary in Virginia (B.S. 1997) and Trinity International University (M.Div. 2002).

Jon and his wife of 21 years, Kristyn, have children, Addy (17) and Jax (14). Their favorite mission fields are Children's Hospital LA, Debell Golf Course, the Burbank YMCA and their favorite local pub, Over/Under Public House. You can connect with Jon for coaching at www.JonRitner.com

Resources mentioned

https://www.amazon.com/Positively-Irritating-Embracing-Post-Christian-Innovative-ebook/dp/B08N6XS2V8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17FFAD7WIDNH3&keywords=positively+irritating&qid=1681231014&sprefix=positively+irrita%2Caps%2C302&sr=8-1

Craig Sumey has always had a passion for growing the kingdom by exploring new expressions of faith communities as social and cultural contexts change. He shares with Joy and Geoff his most recent endeavor, Launch Scotland, a new 10 month intensive internship experience starting this fall.

From Craig's perspective, we need more than communities of faith! We need communities of: faith, action, love, prayer, advocacy, justice and engagement in the world.

About Craig

Craig M. Sumey has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church for over three decades, serving local congregations in the Midwest, Northwest and Southeast USA, including a new church in Lincoln, NE. Craig's sense of mission has been to help the North American church revitalize itself missionally and to be creative about starting new worshiping and serving communities of faith. In 2020, Craig's Sabbatical Paper "Club to Hub: How Existing Congregations Can Dramatically Expand their Impact" was published through a grant from the Louisville Institute. Now, Craig's passion for training new church planters and missional leaders has brought him onto the Communitas International Staff and connected him to the leadership team of The Scottish Network's project called Launch - Equipping Church Planters and Leaders for a Changing World. Craig is married to his wife, Lynn and they have two grown children living in Florida and Colorado.

Connect with Craig

launchscotland.org

Email Craig at: [email protected]

It's great to be dedicated, driven, caring, and passionate about the things each of us gets to do. BUT, the things we do do not make up our identities, nor are they indicative of who we are as a created human being. 

On this episode, Geoff and Joy sit down with entrepreneur, former pastor, writer, and consultant, Jonathan Collier for a vulnerable conversation about what to do when we find ourselves on the extremes of life.

He shares aspects of his story, journey through highs, lows, grief, and loss. The importance of embracing hardship, and how to find joy on the other side of trauma.  

About Jonathan Collier

Jonathan is an entrepreneur, coach, consultant, writer, and former pastor. with a passion for Creating, Collaborating, and Cultivating he empowers individuals and organizations to establish deep roots that withstand the challenges of our upside-down world by equipping them with the systems they need for long-term success.

As the Director of Marketing and Content at Stay Forth, a leading coaching and consulting agency dedicated to helping leaders avoid burnout, Jonathan is on a mission to foster healthier leadership. By partnering with business owners, non-profit leaders, writers, podcasters, and entrepreneurs, he expertly crafts pathways to amplify their effectiveness and sustain long-term momentum.

Founder of Collier Creative Solutions, Jonathan's expertise shines as he assists businesses and organizations in becoming prominent forces within the digital marketplace. His guidance enables clients to create impactful transformations that yield longterm success by unleashing the full potential of their brand.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Jonathan enjoys  hiking alongside his canine companion Wyatt. Camping adventures, savoring delectable tacos, meaningful time with friends, and sipping the perfect cup of coffee. 

Connect with Jonathan

Collier Creative Solutions: linktr.ee/colliercreativesolutions

Instagram: @colliercreativesolutions

www.colliercreativesolutions.com

Resources Mentioned

The Wounded Healer

https://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Healer-Ministry-Contemporary-Society/dp/0385148038/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=174213914838&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1027215&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16617012605027562609&hvtargid=kwd-59462926&hydadcr=24657_9648987&keywords=the+wounded+healer&qid=1691693514&sr=8-1

This episode takes a deep dive into intellectual content regarding the growth of humanity, how humans interact with other individuals at different stages of their lives and the ways we can understand our own personal growth. However, that is merely an introduction to Sprial Dynamics!

Join Geoff and Joy as they learn and discuss this concept with Matt Daniels and Stephen Preston.

About our Guests

Matt Daniels works on a team of construction professionals with Solomon Builders in Nashville, TN. He has a Masters from Columbia International University and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Memphis. He worked in Leadership Development for non-profit organizations in Montevideo, Uruguay from 2001-2012, strengthening and founding organizations that work to meet the social, physical, and spiritual needs of their communities. This work culminated in the founding of the Geronimo Center for Innovation and Leadership, where he and his wife worked as a dynamic duo with schools, churches, and businesses in the country to teach relational leadership skills to management and staff. When not building people and buildings, he enjoys hanging out with his family, fostering meaningful connections with friends old and new, walking in nature, pretending to be a folk singer, reading a good book, and practicing mindfulness.

Stephen Preston loves to share deep dynamic conversations with anyone he meets and his passion for growth permeates every relationship in his life. Currently he lives and works in North Idaho as a Realtor and spends his free time enjoying the outdoors playing disc golf. He graduated from Elim Bible Institute and continues to expand his learning through avid reading and various online training. He is married to Joy and has six incredible free thinking children: Machaiah (22), Zach (20), Isaiah (19), Bekah (16), Jeremiah (15) and Arianah (10).

Resources from this episode

Spiral Dynamics Integral by Don Beck: https://www.audible.com/pd/B002V0PVK6?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=player_overflow

Theory of Everything by Ken Wilber: https://www.audible.com/pd/Theory-of-Everything-Audiobook/B00O4FH9RE?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Kosmic Consciousness by Ken Wilber: https://www.audible.com/pd/Kosmic-Consciousness-Audiobook/B00JJS1LG6?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp 

Gigi brings a powerful word of challenge and hope regarding how healing the histroical trauma from colonization and empire can occur in reciprocal relationships. She speaks to white bodied individuals about Perpetration Induced Traumatic Stress that is passed on in the body for generations. All of humanity needs restoration!

About Gigi

Dr. Gigi Khanyezi, founder of Jesus and Justice, holds a Doctor of Ministry in Healing Racial Trauma from Howard University School of Divinity. Doc G is a healing-centered, anti-racist facilitator who serves as a cultural architect, specializing in co-creating Christ-following, decolonizing, Beloved Communities that heal and mobilize toward justice. She is a Brown, Afro-Brazilian woman, artist, and activist who spent ten years in Soweto, South Africa doing the work of racial healing and justice. She is a certified Historical Trauma Specialist who integrates theology and neuroscience to heal intergenerational trauma. Doc G is an adoptive momma to the joys of her life: Jericho and Judah. You can find her at www.GigiOnline.org, and the Jesus and Justice Course at www.GigiOnline.org/jesusandjusticecourse.

Resources from this episode

On this episode, Geoff and Joy sit down with Alan and Gem to hear their journey towards learning the rhythms of abiding and how they teach others in the same. They share sustainable patterns including sabboth, silence and solitude that create an abundance out of which we can give because we have received.

About Alan and Gem

Gem is the host of the I Can Do That! Podcast as well as the co-author of What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God's Work in You, and author of Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads. Connect with Gem on Instagram.

Alan, (MDiv), serves as a frequent speaker and consultant with local churches, national organizations and leaders internationally. His content is approachable, usable and transferable. He shows leaders how to get perspective so their leadership flows from a full soul and out of healthy rhythms of rest and work. A trained Spiritual Director, Alan is author of An Unhurried Life, An Unhurried Leader and A Year of Slowing Down. He is also the host of Unhurried Living Podcast.

Website:  Unhurried Living website

Instagram: Unhurried Living 

On today's episode, Geoff and Joy sit down with Missionaries and Church Planters, Bob and Martha Robbins for a refreshing conversation about their journey to Church Planting in Saõ Paulo Brazil. 

About Bob and Martha

Bob and Martha grew up in Texas. They've been married for 34 years, have a son living in Chicago, and daughter and bonus son living in Austin. They did youth ministry for 10 years, and then started church planting in 1999. They lived in many states in the USA, and in 2012, living in Austin, Texas, being a part of The Well Church, God began to grow a passion for other countries, cultures, and languages...and so the journey began...

Bob and Martha Robbins have been with Communitas for 8 years. They have lived in São Paulo, Brasil for 7 years. Bob serves as the pastor of Sampa Church, an international, English speaking church, currently meeting in a movie theater. Sampa Church partners with IBTE, a mission organization in a poor, crime, drug area of the city known as Cracolandia. Bob has also been coaching basketball for 7 years at an affluent international school, Graded.

Connect with the Robbins

Instagram: @sampa_church

Website: https://www.sampachurch.com/

YouTube:https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=sampa+church

Bob Robbins Instagram: @sampa_bob

On this episode, Geoff and Joy join Amy Swacina in a conversation about her time in Europe and how that has been shaped by her spiritual journey. She has been part of multiple faith communities that have emphasized utilizing the arts to share God's love.

About Amy

Amy Rubio Swacina has been serving in Spain for over 17 years now with Communitas International. She started as an intern in Madrid working with an international church plant there where she was challenged to grow in her understanding of God, who she was, and what church could look like - to name just a few of the things that started Amy on the path to branching out and helping to lead a church plant in Valencia, Spain and eventually step into senior level leadership with Communitas.

In September of 2021, Amy began her role as Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) while continuing in her role as pastor of Poiema Colectiva and also studying to become a certified Spiritual Director. Amy’s passion for holistic wellbeing and health in cross cultural workers drives her as she oversees the Staff Care and Development team as well as the Training team as the CWO.

Amy has a love for creativity and the arts as a lifelong ballet dancer and experiences deep joy and freedom exploring new places, being in nature - whether it’s at the beach or in the mountains - and connecting with her family.

Amy grew up in Maryland and graduated from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. She and her Colombian husband, Oscar, of a year and a half, call Valencia home with their dog Kiko.

Connect with Amy

[email protected]