The Hopeful Church

In this special presentation by The Hopeful Church, we take a look inside the Nashville Preaching Cooperative's recent Peacemaking Pilgrimage to Ireland and Northern Ireland. On this trip (through a partnership with Telos Group), pastors learned about root causes of injustice, making peace across lines of difference, and how the hope of the gospel unites all believers.

In this episode:

• Why trips are important tools for pastors to learn and grow
• How pastors and church leaders in Northern Ireland are embracing hope and lament in the wake of violent history
• Why peacemaking must happen in community
• Why humility and prayer are essential to pastoral leadership
• The difference between false peace and real peace
• How bridges are built after injustice and wrongdoing
• What "loving your neighbor" really looks like

Interviewers (in order of appearance):

• Dr. Darrell Gwaltney - Belmont University
• Todd Deatherage - Telos Group
• Jeremy Rose - The Axis Church
• Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon - West End United Methodist Church
• Rev. Dr. Mika Edmondson - Koinonia Church
• Rev. Dr. Paula B. Smith - Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church
• Adam Buzard - United4Pastors, Operation Andrew Group
• Dr. Glen Money - First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro
• Kristin Clark-Banks - The Way Opening, Tennessee Western Kentucky United Methodist Conference

Resources & Links:

• The Rest is History Podcast
• The Troubles Podcast
• Considering Lament: Songs of Protest, Pain, and Hope
• Lilly Endowment Compelling Preaching Program

Connect with Telos Group

• Telos' Website
• Telos' Instagram

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership

• Sign Up for our Newsletter
• Follow Us on Instagram
• Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

All audio from this episode is from Epidemic Sound, and this episode was written, produced, edited, and engineered by Brandon Billings.

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

In this episode, Dr. Darrell Gwaltney hosts a vibrant conversation with emerging preachers Nicole Rittgers, Julia Hayes, and Sarah Garrett Krey. They share their journeys, challenges, and hopes for the future of preaching within a diverse and evolving church landscape.

Rev. Sarah Garrett Krey is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), currently serving as pastor of Gloria Dei! Lutheran Church in Arnold, Maryland, just outside Annapolis.

Rev. Julia Hayes is the pastor of the Grove United Methodist Church, an unapologetically Jesus-centered, inclusive church in Leland, North Carolina. She is passionate about creating a compelling, inclusive Christian community where all people can encounter Jesus.

Nichole is pursuing a Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary and serves as a ministry intern at her local church in Nashville, Tennessee. When she's not studying or serving in ministry, she enjoys playing and watching basketball, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with her dog, Rocky, and her friends.

In this episode:

1. The impact of the Academy of Preachers on young preachers’ development and confidence
2. How diverse preaching traditions influence emerging voices
3. The importance of authenticity, listening, and trusting one's unique voice in preaching
4. The role of AI in sermon writing
5. Challenges faced by women preachers, and stories of resilience
6. The importance of incarnation and storytelling in preaching
7. What a truly hopeful church looks like for young preachers

Resources & Links:

1. Register for Nov 7th Day of Preaching at SouthPark Church in Charlotte, NC
2. Academy of Preachers website

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with our Guests

1. Julia Hayes
2. Sarah Garrett Krey

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

In this episode, Darrell Gwaltney speaks with Vicki Askew, executive director of the Center for Hope and Healing in Nashville, TN, about nurturing spiritual growth and addressing the mental health challenges faced by church leaders and congregants today. They explore practical ways to slow down, foster deeper spiritual connections, and support pastoral resilience.

Vicki was in business and strategic planning for 30 years, primarily for law and accounting firms and healthcare companies. In the midst of this incredible career, she always felt that there was something more. In 2018, Vicki started down the unexpected path to find her true callings in both trauma informed care and spiritual direction. She was trained by Trauma Healing Institute based in Philadelphia, and completed spiritual direction studies through Lipscomb University.

In this episode:

1. The importance of slowing down in a distracting culture and how spiritual practices support this
2. What is spiritual direction?
3. The upcoming spiritual formation event with Alan and Gem Fadling focused on Unhurried Living
4. Indicators of burnout among pastors and church leaders, including withdrawal and emotional exhaustion
5. Practical steps for those in leadership to create space for rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal

Resources & Links:

1. Register for Sept 19th event with Alan Fadling
2. Center for Hope and Healing's Website
3. Vicki's Website

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Vicki Askew

1. Instagram

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

Remember: The hopeful church makes space for grace, slow listening, and the next generation to be seen, heard, and loved. This episode reminds us that spiritual direction is important work that can bring hope and healing into the lives of believers.

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

In this episode, Darrell Gwaltney sits down with Todd Deatherage, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Telos, to explore how Christian discipleship is shaped through peacemaking, reconciliation, and honest engagement with complex conflict. Telos’ primary area of focus has been on America’s relationship to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In more recent years, they’ve developed programming aimed at addressing issues of racial injustice in the U.S. and examining lessons from the Good Friday Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland. Prior to Telos, Todd worked at the U.S. State Department in the Administration of President George W. Bush and served on Capitol HIll as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR).

This conversation offers a compelling vision of what it means for the church to move beyond easy answers and toward embodied witness, relational courage, and a deeper understanding of shalom. Todd explains why peacemaking is not about picking sides, but about following Jesus, and how churches can be formed through proximity, listening, and shared experiences that open hearts and reshape perspectives.

In this episode:

1. How Todd’s faith journey shaped his work in peacemaking and reconciliation
2. Why peacemaking is central to Christian discipleship
3. How churches can curiously engage complexity without reducing people to simple categories
4. The role of travel, immersion, and shared experience in spiritual formation for pastors and church leaders
5. Why transformation often begins when hearts are opened, not just minds informed
6. How churches can become hopeful, reconciling agents in their own communities
7. Examples of congregations engaging local justice, history, and community needs in new and innovative ways

Resources & Links:

1. Telos's Website

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Todd Deatherage

1. Instagram

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

Remember: Hope is not optimism, but active trust in a God who is making things right now. This episode reminds us that the church’s calling is not to defend territory, but to share love, pursue peace, and participate in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation.

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

In this episode, Pastor Kyle Thompson shares his inspiring journey of revitalizing SouthPark Church amid urban transformation. His story of hope offers valuable lessons on church redevelopment, adaptability, and staying true to faith in a changing world. If you're involved in church leadership or community development, this discussion provides actionable insights on navigating change while maintaining spiritual vitality.

In this episode:

1. How a 60-year-old church navigates urban revitalization and community redefinition - redeveloping their entire campus
2. The strategic decision to tear down an iconic building and develop a mixed-use campus
3. The importance of revisioning leadership and staffing structures for agility
4. Balancing tradition with innovation to reach younger generations
5. Church leadership lessons learned from resistance, conflict, and perseverance through change
6. Practical ways to reconnect with and serve your community as a church
7. The role of dreams, vision, and trusting God's guidance in church transformation
8. Examples of ministry in action: community engagement, partnerships, and welcoming newcomers
9. The power of hope and gospel-driven purpose amid challenges

Resources & Links:

1. William Bridges - Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes
2. South Park Church - Official Website

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership:

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Kyle Thompson:

1. Instagram

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney:

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

Remember: Church building redevelopment isn't just about buildings or programs — it's about faithfully following God's vision through change, resistance, and hope. This story reminds us that with perseverance and trust in the Holy Spirit, transformation is not only possible but vital for the gospel to flourish.

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

In this episode, Reverend Dr. Larry T. Crudup — Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC, and a part-time professor of Leadership at Anderson University and adjunct professor of New Testament at Belmont University — shares his transformative journey of preaching and leadership within the church. Drawing on his experience as a pastor, educator, and scholar of ethical and creative leadership, his story offers valuable lessons on connecting biblical exegesis with practical storytelling to enrich ministry and community engagement. If you're involved in church leadership or interested in the power of preaching, this discussion provides actionable insights on sermon design and fostering a hopeful church community.

In this episode:

1. How Dr. Crudup’s first sermon sparked his calling and the significance of early formative preaching
2. The role of the Academy of Preachers in developing diverse preaching styles and networks of young pastors
3. The structure of effective sermons
4. The importance of experimenting with different preaching styles and maintaining playfulness and imagination
5. The hopeful church as a community embodying love, hope, and the hands and feet of Jesus

Resources & Links:

1. From the Roots to the Branches: Building Sermons That Take Root and Bear Fruit
2. Sign up for A Day of Preaching - April 18th

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership:

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Dr. Larry Crudup:

1. Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Spartanburg
2. Instagram

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney:

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.

This episode explores the transformative role of preaching and the spoken word in shaping lives and communities. Featuring insights from Dwight A Moody, a pioneer in preacher development through the Academy of Preachers, and Darrell Gwaltney, the conversation underscores how effective communication fuels leadership, faith, and personal legacy.

In this episode:

1. The origin story of the Academy of Preachers and its impact over 16 years
2. How the Academy fosters lifelong connections and life-changing ministry among young preachers
3. The importance of verbal articulation in leadership, politics, and faith
4. Personal stories demonstrating the power of preaching during times of crisis
5. The enduring significance of the Gospel and personal testimony in transforming lives
6. Encouragement for young believers to embrace their voice in a culture dominated by soundbites
7. The role of the spoken word in inspiring and mobilizing communities near and far

Resources & Links:

1. Register for A Day of Preaching at Belmont University
2. Academy of Preachers Official Site
3. Barack Obama's Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership:

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Dwight A Moody:

1. The MeetingHouse
2. Instagram
3. Twitter

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney:

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

This discussion reminds us that effective preaching is not just about words—it's about a mission to communicate truth, inspire action, and change lives. Whether in church, politics, or personal testimony, the power of the spoken word remains a vital force in shaping the future.

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.