We had the privilege this month to have Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson (Brooks-Lytle at the time of this recording) with us in the “recording zoom”. We were also blessed to have one of our students, Claire Rowcliffe, (Emory Univ. Masters Student) along for the conversation as well. Sadly, our first recording didn’t work, so you won’t be able to hear Claire’s “wisdom nuggets”. but we hope you enjoy our follow up conversation with Aisha!

The Reverend Aisha Brooks-Johnson is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Central High School (Class of 251) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Temple University (’99). After spending a significant time as youth director at Wayne Presbyterian Church, she obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary (’05). She served various other churches in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, and surrounding areas through her music ministry and in her ministry of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care before returning to Wayne Presbyterian Church in February 2013. Aisha served as the mission pastor for Wayne Presbyterian while she was also serving as the Organizing Pastor for The Common Place, a faith-based arts and education center in Southwest Philadelphia.  

In 2018, Aisha began her role as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta serving 86 congregations and encouraging 26 new worshipping communities. She is honored and overjoyed to serve as an encourager to the congregations and leaders within a presbytery filled with a deep cultural diversity and a vast theological landscape. She believes that it is her part of her call to support healthy and vital congregations and to equip healthy and innovative leaders to live into their passion and purpose as the people of God. Aisha is blessed to have her mother, Deborah, and her son, Ellington, join her for this adventure in the Greater Atlanta region. Aisha gives thanks to God for her recent marriage to the Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson who serves as the Coordinator for the Self Development of People for the Presbyterian Church, USA headquartered in Louisville, KY.

Nathan Wheeler serves on the Discipleship Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He is on the UKirk national board ex-officio and is a member of the their communication team. Besides serving the church Nathan creates music at nathanwheelermemphis.bandcamp.com and is finishing up a manuscript on theology and youth ministry due out sometime in 2022 through The Youth Cartel. Nathan lives in Memphis, TN along with his wife, Marissa, and their dog Lucky.

 

 

Its a new year and we are excited to have the Rev. Gini Norris-Lane as our guest.

Gini is the Executive Director of the UKirk Collegiate Ministries Association. Before coming to UKirk, she was the campus minister for 14 years at Schreiner University, and served congregations in San Antonio and the Atlanta area. She is married to Wes Lane and they have two boys, Austin and Max, and three dogs (Blitz, Hank and Leah).

This week we're joined by Miriam Moore-Keish, UKirk Atlanta alumna.

This week we're joined by Sarah Leer, the Director of Youth and their Families at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, TX.

On our first episode, Sarah and Drew are joined by Rev. Hamilton Barnes, chaplain at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, GA.

We talk about what the work of a chaplain is, how Covid-19 has influenced the work of pastoral care, how college ministry shaped Hamilton's calling to be a pastor, and what famous actor we would want to play us in a chaplain-buddy-comedy.