My Guest today is Kelli Foreman, the Assistant Executive Director of Kodiak Baptist Mission and American Baptist Home Missionary. She has a full and diverse set of responsibilities at Kodiak that include grant writing, directing the before and after school programming, overseeing the only grade-A goat dairy on the Island, and is a rather imaginative social media content creator. Her husband Stephen in addition to his work with Kodiak Baptist Mission is a counselor for the local school district. They are Nebraska natives with ties to Gibbon and Fremont, and met at the Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center.   I really enjoyed my conversation with Kelli and look forward to hearing more from her and Stephen during our “Say Yes to the Call” Region Expo on October 1 and 2, 2021. Unfortunately, they cannot attend our event in person, but will be joining us through the magic of a live zoom call to learn more about their callings to serve at Kodiak Baptist Mission and in school counseling and how they invite others to “Say Yes to the Call” to follow Christ in their everyday lives and vocations. You can register for the Region Expo by visiting our website www.abcnebraska.com and click the Region Expo link at the top of the page.   Links: Kodiak Baptist Mission: https://www.kodiakbaptistmission.org/heritage-farm-ranch/ Facebook, Instagram Kelli Foreman Facebook Stephen Foreman Facebook

Mission in 5

2021 Region Expo Guest Kelli Foreman

J.D. and Rhonda Reed are Global Servants for International Ministries to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. They work primarily with the House of Hope. Rhonda a nurse with multiple medical certifications, leads the House of Hope a ministry that provides a variety of health and development ministries in urban contexts. JD trains and equips missionaries, pastors, and leaders in his role as a regional consultant for theological education and partners with Palmer Seminary in the United States to provide masters degrees in Latin Studies in Spanish and Portuguese We have invited JD and Rhonda to Mission in 5 because they are doing great ministry in Bolivia and because they will serve as special guests to our “Say Yes to the Call” Region Expo on October 1 and 2, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Fremont, NE. Sadly, they will not be able to join us in person, but we will host a live zoom call with them during the expo. So, whether you join us in person or online, you will get to see them and hear about why they “Say yes to the Call”.   Links: International Ministries Bio Page: https://www.internationalministries.org/author/jr-reed/ Palmer Seminary MTS Latin Ministries: https://www.palmerseminary.edu/programs/mts-latinoa-ministries House of Hope: https://www.hohbolivia.org/  (Page updates coming soon) 2021 CHC Region Expo info and registration: http://abcnebraska.com/wp/mission-expo/

2021 Region Expo Guests J.D. and Rhonda Reed

My guests today are Nolan and Amanda Hayes of First Baptist Church, Beatrice, NE. Nolan is the senior pastor and Amanda is the director of the Foster Care Closet. While each are called individually to serve in their unique ministry roles, they are also a married couple who have found fun ways to minister together in Beatrice since 2017. Nolan and Amanda are the parents of four children. In addition to his role as pastor at FBC, Nolan serves as Camp Pastor to Junior Camp at Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center.    FBC Beatrice https://www.facebook.com/First-Baptist-Church-Beatrice-155628924578092/ Foster Care Closet of Nebraska https://fostercarecloset.org Camp Moses Merrill http://campmerrill.com/    

Church, Camp, and Foster Closet with Nolan and Amanda Hayes

Rev. Dr. Ryan Burge is the Assistant Professor of Political Science as well as the Graduate Coordinator at Eastern Illinois University. He is author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going. In the book he details a comprehensive picture of Americans who say they have no religious affiliation. I give readers a nuanced, accurate, and meaningful picture of the growing number of Americans who say that they have no religious affiliation. This book explains how this rise happened, who the nones are, and what they mean for the future of American religion. Ryan is also the pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, IL, and ABC Congregation. Learn more about Ryan at http://ryanburge.net/  

The Nones, the Church, and Baseball with Ryan Burge

Rev. Blake Wilkes is the Pastor of the only congregation in Arthur County, NE, the Arthur Baptist Church. Blake is loves outdoor activities like skiing, riding trails, camping, and water sports. He is also a humble and compassionate pastor who gets excited about discipleship. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Blake Wilkes.   Links Arthur Baptist Church: https://www.facebook.com/arthurbaptistchurch Blake Wilkes: https://www.facebook.com/blake.wilkes.12 American Baptist Churches of Nebraska: http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ Table Life: https://table-life.org/  

Wrestling with a call with Blake Wilkes

Rev. Mark De Kluyver is the Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church in Kearney, NE. Mark is passionate about discipleship. This is a great conversation that is helpful for anyone curious about how to engage in discipleship in the local church as we continue to work our way out of COVID restrictions.  Links: FBC Kearney: https://kearneyfb.org/ Mark De Kluyver staff page: http://kearneyfb.org/about/#staff  

Relationships, Identity, and Kingdom with Mark De Kluyver

Rev. Clint Walker is the pastor of FBC North Platte, NE. He shares his love of people, grilling, and local church ministry. We compare cooking skills to ministry of the future.  Links: FBC North Platte: https://www.fbcnorthplatte.org/ FBC NP Social: https://www.facebook.com/FirstbaptistchurchNP ABC Nebraska: http://abcnebraska.com/ https://table-life.org/      

Grilling out with Clint Walker

Curtis Ramsey-Lucas is the editor of The Christian Citizen and commissioned missionary for the American Baptist Home Mission Society. He and I discuss journalism, art, books, and more. The Red Sox even make an appearance.  Links: The Christian Citizen https://christiancitizen.us/ In this Together: Ministry in Times of Crisis book: https://smile.amazon.com/InThisTogether-Ministry-Times-Crisis/dp/0817018239/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=curtis+ramsey+lucas&qid=1615415030&sr=8-1   Socials https://www.facebook.com/curtis.ramseylucas https://www.facebook.com/thechristiancitizen/ https://www.facebook.com/ministryintimesofcrisis  

Journalism and Talkin Sox with Curtis Ramsey-Lucas

Bill Prather is the pastor of historic First Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. During our conversation we talk his Baptist heritage, Midwest roots, and the shifting ministry landscape for FBC Omaha and the American Church generally.    Links: http://www.omahafbc.org/wp/ First Baptist Church Omaha http://campmerrill.com/ Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center https://table-life.org/ Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ ABC Nebraska

Midwest roots & Baptist heritage with Bill Prather

Rev. Dr. Jeff Savage is a Spiritual Director and Pastor Emeritus of FBC Springfield, OR. He and his wife Janet are hosts of Sacred Space Vida, a spiritual retreat center in Oregon. Their home and retreat center were lost during the west coast wild fires in 2020. They are in the process of rebuilding. During our conversation we discuss the role of a spiritual director, the benefits of spiritual direction, and what to expect in such a relationship.   Jeff Savage Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.savage.583 Sacred Space Vida: https://www.sacredspacevida.com/  

Spiritual Direction with Jeff Savage

John Sievering is the pastor of Benson Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. During our conversation we talk about rec league sports, back up plans for ministry, spiritual disciplines, and how to create hands on worship engagements even from home.    Links: http://www.omahabbc.com/ Benson Baptist Church http://campmerrill.com/ Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center https://table-life.org/ Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ ABC Nebraska

Spiritual disciplines and at home worship with John Sievering

Worship shapes our faith and what we believe. Preparing each week for worship is challenging in the best of times. Since COVID pushed many of our in person experiences online, the challenges have been magnified. Yet we know that quality Christ centered worship is a feast for the soul. Our special guest are the praise team from the American Baptist Church of FBC Gardner, KS. Because we have learned that consuming religious content is not the same thing as participating in Christian community, our conversation focuses on the theological as well as technical aspects to leading worship in this new landscape. FBC Gardner has done this better than most and I hope you are encouraged by our conversation.   FBC Gardner website: https://www.gardnerfirstbaptist.com/ FBC Gardner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardnerfirstbaptist/ FBC Gardner YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa8ai87KB41lcdCRPmqYttQ  

Worship online and in person with FBC Gardner

Our conversation today is with Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall, Pastor of FBC Lincoln, NE. We talk about her call to ministry, the way challenges, nay sayers, and injustice only serve to fuel her passion for ministry.  Links: https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistChurchLincoln and http://fbclincoln.org/  FBC Lincoln https://www.facebook.com/joy.e.martinez Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall http://campmerrill.com/ Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center https://table-life.org/ Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ ABC Nebraska

Mission, Justice, and Comedy with Joy Martinez-Marshall

Ben Poole is the Pastor of FBC Scottsbluff, NE. He has a shepherds heart for ministry. We discuss ministry adjustments during a pandemic, adoption, discipleship, and evangelism.  Links from this episode: http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ ABC Nebraska http://campmerrill.com/ Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center https://www.facebook.com/firstbaptistchurchofscottsbluff/ and https://www.firstbaptistscottsbluff.com/ FBC Scottsbluff https://table-life.org/ Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship  

Leading like a shepherd with Ben Poole

Taylor Shippy is pastor of Gibbon Baptist Church in Gibbon, NE. We discuss his theological training, his love of stories, how online church is changing pastoral ministry and his love of people. Links from this episode: http://abcnebraska.com/wp/ ABC Nebraska http://campmerrill.com/ Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center https://www.gibbonbaptist.org/  Gibbon Baptist Church https://www.baylor.edu/truett/ George W. Truett Baptist Theological Seminary https://table-life.org/ Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship  

Stories and online ministry with Taylor Shippy

Welcome to Mission in 5 the Podcast, where I ask five simple questions to ministry practitioners to learn more about who they are and where they see God moving in their community. 1.Who are you? (Tell us a little bit about yourself) 2.How did you get here? (To your ministry setting) 3.What moves you? (what is a passion, hobby, or interest) 4.What is happening at (ministry context)? 5.What is next? (What is next for the guest personally, professionally, or next for the ministry context)

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Mission in 5

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