David and Josh talk about ministering to people while dealing with mental health problems. We also discuss how the church and society can and should remove the stigma surrounding mental health.

Christy Dirren joins us this week on the podcast. She talks with us about her call to minister to the outsiders and the not-good-enoughs. She also shares some of the challenges and joys of church planting.

This week we talk with pastor, professor, and author A.J. Swoboda. A.J. talks about his recent realization that speaking opportunities can become idolatrous, and we discuss how Sabbath is the one commandment that Christian leaders seem to be encouraged to break. Find out more about A.J.s work at www.ajswoboda.com

David Rannabarger, assistant pastor at Columbia View Wesleyan Church, joins us on the podcast. We talk about David’s call to ministry, and the journey that led him to ministry in Portland. Finally, we discuss how to weather seasons in ministry that, while temporary, can feel devastating.

Robin Gordon, Pastor of Music Ministry at Celebration Tabernacle, joins us on the podcast. Robin talks about finding God and joining Celebration Tabernacle at a young age, and how he’s seen the community change over the last couple of decades. The guys also discuss some of the benefits and challenges of remaining plugged into one specific church body for many years. Find out more about Robin and Celebration Tabernacle at http://www.ctoregon.org/

This week we speak with Danielle Mayfield, author of Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith. Danielle has worked for years with Somali Bantu refugees in Portland. We talk about her story, some of the difficulties of mission work, and how one hears from God while face-to-face with the evils of the world. You can find Danielle at http://www.dlmayfield.com/

This week we talk with Josh Duncan, Staff Elder at Red Sea Church in Portland, OR. Josh shares the story of moving from L.A. (Lower Alabama) to serve God in Portland, Oregon, and how his views on ministry have changed over the past eleven years. You can find out more about Josh’s ministry at www.redseachurch.org

Stephen Dilworth joins us on the podcast to talk about his work with youth over the years. Stephen is the north Portland area director for Youth Dynamics. We talk about struggles and hardships in ministry, and how these frustrations can lead to growth. Check out Stephen’s ministry at www.ydpdx.org

In this special episode, Josh and David discuss the difficult situation of affordable housing in Portland. We also talk with Andy Goebel and Jules Nielsen about their church’s new affordable housing project: Portsmouth Commons. Finally, we talk with Lindsay Jensen about some of the housing initiatives in which St. Johns Center for Opportunity has been involved.

Lindsay Jensen, Executive Director for St Johns Center for Opportunity, joins the podcast and shares a bit of her heart for the underserved. Her, David, and Josh talk about the ever changing demographic of our community and the various needs that arise as a result. You can learn more about St Johns Center for Opportunity by visiting them online at http://www.stjohnsopportunity.org