Church attendance is declining, and people often wonder: Why should we still go?

To answer this question, The Echoes Podcast welcomes Corey Widmer, lead pastor of Third Church in Richmond, Virginia, and a member of the Theological Advisory Council for the H. E. Butt Foundation. Corey shares his insights on the meaning of life, the importance of community, and how the church can better embody Jesus's teachings in a world often disillusioned by religion.

Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they explore the role of the church in modern life and how our beliefs can shape our actions for the better. 

NOTES:
Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation: 

Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org) 

Read Corey’s Echoes article on “The Four-Part Gospel” that inspired this episode:  

The Gospel of Wholeness - Canyon 

Listen to David Brooks’ full talk at Laity Lodge and one of his articles in The Atlantic: 

The Deep Humanity of God - Laity Lodge 

Why Americans Are So Awful to One Another - The Atlantic 

Investigate materials referenced in this podcast: 

• “We move from being consumers to contributors.” - Andy Crouch  
• “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either— but right through every human heart— and through all human hearts.” - Aleksander Solzhenitsyn 
• “People who are lonely are seven times more likely to be active in politics...” - Ryan Street - Source 
• Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) 
• Jeremiah 29:7-11 

Production Team: 

• Written and produced by Camille Hall-Ortega, Rob Stennett, and Marcus Goodyear 
• Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone 
• Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers 
• Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation

Words are powerful. They shape our relationships, influence how we see ourselves, and impact how we experience the world.

In this episode of The Echoes Podcast, poet, author, and educator Olga Samples Davis shares her reflections on the significance of words—whether spoken in kindness, passed down through generations, or rooted in faith. Olga reflects on her mother’s wisdom, her journey as an educator, and her faith in the transformative power of language. Because, Olga says, kindness transcends barriers. 

NOTES: Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation: 

Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org) 

Watch two Echoes videos featuring Olga in this article:  

Laity Lodge's 60-Year Journey - Laity Lodge 

Browse our poetry reflections: 

Poetry Stories - Echoes Magazine 

Buy Olga’s Book, Things My Mama Told Me 

https://www.amazon.com/Things-My-Mama-Told-Me/dp/1578568196/  

Investigate materials referenced in this podcast: 

• Strength in the Lord (Philippians 4:13)  
• Ernest Hemingway - “We are all broken - that’s how the light gets in”  
• The Story of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10) 
• “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman 

Production Team: 

• Written and produced by Camille Hall-Ortega, Rob Stennett, and Marcus Goodyear 
• Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone 
• Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers 
• Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation 

Our culture often equates leadership with tall, confident men. But history and scripture show us that true leadership comes from those willing to listen, collaborate, and empower others," says guest Tod Bolsinger in this episode. Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they explore with Bolsinger the intricate process of transformation. Drawing from his books Canoeing the Mountains and Invest in Transformation, Tod shares how trust fuels change, why leadership is different from management, and how to navigate the pain of growth. What does it look like to lead with humility and courage? How can we embrace uncertainty, foster collaboration, and inspire transformation in our communities? 

NOTES: Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation: 

Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org) 

Investigate materials referenced in this podcast: 

Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger 

Invest in Transformation by Tod Bolsinger 

Practicing Change series by Tod Bolsinger 

The Mission Always Wins by Tod Bolsinger 

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky 

The Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–15) 

Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:1–11) 

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10) 

Eyes on the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:12) 

Production Team: 

• Written and produced by Camille Hall-Ortega, Rob Stennett, and Marcus Goodyear 
• Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone 
• Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers 
• Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation 

Special thanks to our guest Todd Bolsinger, Founder of AE Sloan Leadership, Inc.; author of Canoeing the Mountains, Invest in Transformation, and the Practicing Change series.

How do we find true belonging in our communities, and what responsibility do we have to help others do the same? On this episode of The Echoes Podcast, hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega welcome Reverend Ben McBride, faith leader, activist, CEO of the Empower Initiative, and author of Troubling the Water. Ben shares his powerful story of moving his family to East Oakland’s “Kill Zone” to live alongside the youth he served. As you can imagine, it wasn’t always easy. Join us as we explore the challenges of finding belonging, building bridges across differences, and the profound lessons Ben learned along the way.

LINKS & RESOURCES
Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)

See the Echoes video and article that inspired this episode: 
Know Your Neighbor: Rain or Shine - Community Engagement (hebfdn.org) 

Read our president David Rogers’ reflect on what he has learned from Rev. Ben McBride: 
Widening Our Circle - From the President (hebfdn.org)  

Hear our president David Rogers on Ben McBride’s podcast An Invitation to Become:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4p1GtejMKyaewpOalIejj9?si=Q2HFRec3R_OJxxIRlz_dnA  

Buy Ben’s Book and learn more about the Empower Initiative:
Ben McBride Book Troubling the Water — Ben McBride 

Empower Initiative

REFERENCES

• Latasha Morrison - Be the Bridge - Website
• Dr Sean Genwright - The Four Pivots - Website
• Empower Initiative - Website
• Mark 12:31 - 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

The Echoes Podcast launches on January 7th, 2025. Join us as we dive into real-world questions about community, faith, and human connection. Guided by hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega, each episode explores personal journeys and societal challenges with inspiring guests—from faith leaders and poets to social advocates—whose stories shape our shared experiences.

From the creators of Echoes Magazine by the H. E. Butt Foundation, The Echoes Podcast continues the magazine's legacy of storytelling that fosters understanding, empathy, and action.