The Communitas International Podcast

On todays episode, Geoff talks with recorded Quaker minister and licensed massage therapist, Leann Williams about how we can all participate in healing trauma within community.

About Leanne

Leann is a licensed massage therapist and a recorded Quaker minister. She facilitates a variety of online and in person Christocentric small groups that form a web of relationships known as Friends in Common.

After spending the first half of her life ministering in churches and teaching in Christian schools among conservative evangelicals, Leann quit her teaching position to create more space for ministry in her life. Discovering and embracing a Quaker expression of Christianity which allowed for more freedom to explore spirit-led ministry, she trained as a massage therapist to be able to have more flexibility in her work schedule. What she did not foresee was that her massage clients showed up with their souls attached to their bodies. She pursued further training in spiritual accompaniment to be able to better minister to the whole persons who ended up on her table. Sometimes she refers to herself as a massage pastor.

Leann now uses her teaching gifts in the broader Quaker world through her recording with Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends. Her current passion is to help churches and individuals understand the need for trauma informed faith communities

Connect with Leanne

email: [email protected]

Good places for people to start learning about trauma as it relates to faith community are:

• https://www.traumainformedchurches.org/ ; https://www.urbanalliance.com/Customer-Content/www/CMS/files/Resources/TraumaInformedCare-handouts.pdf ; https://www.consciouslife.com/ ;

Parker Palmer's Circle of Trust info

couragerenewal.org

Book mentioned: It Didn't Start with You by Mark Wolynn

On this weeks episode, Kevin Johnston sits down with pastor, author, and theologian, Greg Boyd for a discussion about understanding who God is in light of different depictions in the Bible. 

About Greg

Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author.

He has been featured on the front page of The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC and numerous other television and radio venues.

Greg received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (summa cum laude 1988), his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (cum laude 1982), and his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota (1979). He was a professor of theology for 16 years at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) where he received the Teaching Excellence Award and Campus Leadership Award.

Greg is the co-founder of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota where he serves as Senior Pastor, speaking to thousands each week.

Greg has authored or co-authored 22 books and numerous academic articles, including his best-selling and award-winning Letters From a Skeptic and his recent books Crucifixion of the Warrior God and Cross Vision. His apologetic writings and public debates on the historical Jesus and the problem of evil have helped many skeptics embrace faith, and his writings and seminars on spiritual transformation have had a revolutionary, freeing impact on thousands of believers.

Join Kevin Johnson as he sites down with Wes White about the move of God in and through the ministry of Upper Room Church. Prayer ministry, leadership development and an explosive missional laboratory are all part of the conversation.

About Wes

Wes and his wife Cindy were the founders of Communitas’ original Glasgow church plant, Mosaic. They are now leading a house church, Upper Room Church, that is made up mainly of Iranian refugees and they serve in preaching, worship and pastoral roles.

Wes also serves as the Communitas UK Advancement Team leader and teaches at the Scottish School of Christian Mission. Cindy co­-leads a women’s book/bible study group and is involved with pastoral care ministries. The White’s also host Upper Room Church in their flat: 50+ people every Friday night!

The Whites have 5 children. Their oldest, Heather, and her husband Carlo live in Glasgow with their 5 kids. Lauren, Brendan & Elena live in the US. Lauren is married to Riley and Brendan & Elena are in university. Aiden lives at home.

On this weeks episode, Geoff sits down with Jodi Hansen, the self proclaimed "nice white church lady." Jodi candidly shares how she uses her privileged position to speak on behalf of the vulnerable imprisoned population. She fluidly lives life on a daily basis with those who either currently are or previously have been incarcerated, helping them normalize human interactions, heal, and become equipped to have a fighting chance. This episode is packed with valuable insight that anyone can apply to better serve the marginalized in their communities.

About Jodi

Jodi Hansen is a pastor, writer, speaker, community organizer and criminal justice reform advocate. She is the founding Executive Director of Remnant Initiatives. Since 2010 she has served in numerous capacities as a religious services volunteer with Oregon Department of Corrections. She is a licensed neighborhood minister with Communitas International and has an MA in ministry leadership from George Fox Evangelical Seminary (The Portland seminary). She and her husband live in the beautiful northern Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Connect with Jodi 

website: rem-in.org 

Useful Resources

Books: Tattoos on the Heart - Father Gregory Boyle

The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander

Rethinking Incarceration - Dominique Gilliard

Until We Reckon - Danielle Sered.

If people really want to get into the intricacies of the justice system and Mass Incarceration: Locked In - John Pfaff and Charged - Emily Bazelon.

A more personal look at reentry through some amazing stories is the book: Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home by Lauren Kessler. (This one is a must read if someone wants to understand the behaviors of folks trying to make it after incarceration and how to help them.) 

On this weeks episode, Geoff Rinehart and Gar Mickelson talk about the importance of connecting resources and needs through local outreach and how community is built from the strong bonds of living life together and sharing experiences.

About Gar

Gar Mickelson is the founder and director of Kaleidoscope Community Services, a Faith based 501 C3 nonprofit, which was established in 2013. While the broad focus of the nonprofit is to 'Connect community needs with community resources', the core vision centers around raising the capacity of Christ followers to understand and engage local issues related to the broken and poor living in their local communities- coming together to learn, share resources, actively engage in missional works of compassion and justice, and to engage in spiritual discipleship through their common experiences. After completing a Masters Degree in Ministry Leadership (George Fox Evangelical Seminary- now Portland Seminary), Gar has provided consulting services for multiple church organizations over the last decade, providing those organizations with practical steps on how to connect with their local communities, and how to use those experiences for deep discipleship in their local congregations.

Having spent most of their lives and ministry in Northern Idaho, Gar and his wife Vicki now live in Cle Elum, Washington- a small mountain town in the Cascades Mountains in Washington State (About one hour East of Seattle). Gar and Vicki have two adult children and five grandchildren.

Connect with Gar

[email protected] 

https://www.kaleidoscopecs.org/  

https://www.facebook.com/gar.mickelson

On this episode, Geoff sits down with cultural architect Gigi Khanyezi for a conversation about how we can create authentic Christ- centered communities that heal trauma through relationships in order to promote racial justice.

About Gigi

Gigi Khanyezi is a cultural architect, a healing-centered anti-racist facilitator, and a certified Historical Trauma Specialist equipping communities to embody racial equity and justice.

By integrating theology, neuroscience, and an understanding of intergenerational trauma, she specializes in co-creating Christ-following communities that heal and mobilize. Gigi’s faith-based work in racial justice and healing led her to spend ten years in Soweto, South Africa, where she also adopted her beautiful boys. As a Brown Afro-Brazilian woman, the founder of Jesus and Justice, and an artist and activist, Gigi will receive her Doctor of Ministry in Healing Racial Trauma from Howard University School of Divinity in May, 2023. She formerly received her M.Div with a concentration in Intercultural Ministry from Denver Seminary and served as a Fellow in Princeton’s Black Theology and Leadership Institute.

Connect with Gigi

[email protected]

www.GigiOnline.org,

www.JesusandJustice.global

course: www.gigionline.org/jesusandjusticecourse

Instagram: @jesusandjustice

Facebook: Gigi Khanyezi

Jesus and Justice Books mentioned:

The Color of Compromise, by Jemar Tisby

If God Still Breathes, Why Can't I?

Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority, by Angela Parker

On today's episode, Geoff sits down with soul care coach Brenda Renderos about the ways church communities have expanded and decentralized leading to personal and relational growth.

About Brenda

Brenda Renderos is a Soul Care Coach as well as a Mentor for Replenish, an online community for women seeking to grow in their soul care and spiritual formation. She's worked with non-profit organizations as a ministry leader in Self Care, a program Program Director, and developing leadership teams for various group sectors.

Brenda has led relief teams overseas to countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, El Salvador, and Mexico for humanitarian work where she equipped teams in spiritual health for their journey.

She is multi ethnic (Black/Mexican/Spanish) and on a continual journey of exploring and embracing her cultures as well as cultures around her. Brenda has her B.A. in Christian Studies and her life mission is to partner with people finding greater life balance and holistic health.

She's married to Gerson and they have three young adult children ages 26, 21 and 19. linkin.bio/BrenRenderos

On todays episode, Geoff is joined by Dianna McCartan. Dianna shares about the past 20 years of ministry with the unsheltered in St. Paul Minnesota, and how unconventional stories of church without walls and in the streets motivate and inspire!

About Dianna

Dianna McCartan is founder and pastor of Communitas Twin Cities, a missional community located in St Paul MN. In seminary, Dianna felt a call to start a church but also felt confused knowing that she was most effective for the Lord outside church walls.

The typical versions of church did not fit. Focused on the verse that ‘where two or three are gathered, there I am with them’ Dianna was compelled to follow God in birthing a different looking church- one that went out to the people vs waiting for the people to come. Adding to that, Dianna’s heart for the most broken guided her to ‘go to’ those living without permanent shelter-to show love to people most often shunned by the world. She and her team have ministered to the unsheltered since 2012.

After meeting outside on a street corner for 5 years, Communitas Twin Cities now meets inside, renting space from a local church. Community has formed, relationships have deepened and church has formed between the most unlikely of groups- those from suburbia and those living on the streets.

Dianna is bi vocational and also works for Wells Fargo as a Compliance Officer. She has two adult sons, a chocolate lab, and loves bicycling and swimming. Dianna holds a Master of Arts in Theology- Bethel Seminary

On today's episode, Geoff interviews church planter, entrepreneur, and leader Eduardo Rodriguez about how meeting community needs and personal transformation occur simultaneously when we listen deeply to other's stories.

About Eduardo

Passionate about leadership development and with entrepreneurial credentials, Eduardo develops church planters and their teams by giving trainings and coaching in Latin America.

He is responsible for planting a church in Brasilía, Brazil and also founding, managing and leading the growth process of two organizations, thus having extensive experience in the development of leaders, teams and systems.

Eduardo is the Latin Director for Communitas International and he believes that every human being can develop his broad potential for the kingdom. He loves being with his wife, son, dog and all those who want to dream and partner with God for a better world!

On today's episode, Geoff sits down with Barbara MacNish about how the methodology of missions has changed. They discuss the processes of learning through enjoyment and engagement; training through arts and experiences; and creativity through flow and presence.

About Barbara

Barbara is a team development coach with the business she founded: Triquester teams and she loves working with teams and individuals to develop their environments for maximum growth and productivity. She is also a qualified mediator and works with people facing conflicts to help them resolve their differences and restore relationship.

She joined Communitas in 2003 with a church planting team moving to Florence, Italy and now serves on the International Board and with the training team, equipping church planting teams and missionaries to thrive where they’re planted. She also works with church leaders across multiple other denominations from established institutions to pioneer missional communities and is passionate about helping them succeed and build resilience in these challenging times.

She comes from a visual and creative arts background and loves using creativity to serve teams by live painting and interactive communal worship. Before this, she’s been in several roles including a middle school Art and English teacher in inner city Baltimore; a picture framer; and the Office Manager for World Relief executive team.

She and her husband Kevin have 2 grown up kids and two dogs and they love walking the hills and dales of beautiful North Yorkshire where they live.