Beyond Sunday

A conversation with Rev. Ellis Carson, Pastor of Ceila Phelps UMC, a 116 year old congregation of the United Methodist Church, in Western North Carolina. We unpack the now and the rebuilding process, after facing a devastating 3:00 a.m. fire on August 6, 2021. A call to action from the community and the connectional church to support financially, and cards/letters of hope and encouragement as Pastor Ellis and the people of Ceila Phelps Memorial UMC journeys "Through these Uncharted Territories." We believe they will rise from the ashes, to impact their communities in fresh, new and innovative ways, like the Phoenix. Resources To help support the rebuilding efforts at Ceila Phelps UMC, please click here or sent your donations to the address below: Ceila Phelps UMC ℅ Rev. Ellis Carson 3709 Groometown Road Greensboro, NC 27407

Miriam Swanson, is a leader within Fusion, a movement born out of the United Kingdom. Over twenty years ago, the pioneers of Fusion were gathering to pray for a move of God amongst the exploding university student population, spurred on by the clear need to reach 18s-30s who were largely not connected to church. From these prayer meetings, Fusion was born. Fusion helps local churches reach college students, and helps college students find hope in Jesus and home in the local church. They equip youth ministry leaders to prepare their high school leavers for college and transition them in faith and life as they enter young adulthood. They train churches, young adult leaders and student leaders to be the missional body of Christ to universities, colleges, and community colleges, to discover what it really means to be imitators of Christ and share the love of Jesus with others. Miriam is passionate about MISSION, YOUNG ADULTS and LOVING our NEIGHBORS, which doesn't stop in high school but goes throughout college and beyond. She has served in Europe for the past ten years, now living in Jacksonville Florida, with plans of setting up Fusion partnerships thought out the USA. What can you learn from the Fusion Ministries? Resource links: Fusion's main website: https://www.fusionmovement.org Miriam's blog series on the US church & young adults: "Lessons from a European student worker" Student Linkup and preparation for university: https://www.studentlinkup.org and obviously social media: https://www.instagram.com/hellofusionmovement/

A conversation with Rev. Kyle Thompson states, for 20 years, Sharon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, faced declining membership, and community engagement, despite its location being one of Charlotte's fastest-growing, upscale communities, where the church was across the street from the luxurious SouthPark mall. So when the leadership began to discuss renovating the building, with its distinctive "ski-slope steeple", the Rev. Kyle began to think even bigger. "What if we could create an environment where we would do life together, where sacred and secular would intersect, where we could be the soul of SouthPark?" he said. "What if we could start from scratch?"- Re-Launch Resources 1. Smart Church Solutions https://www.smartchurchsolutions.com Tim Cool, Chief Solutions Officer This is our owner's representative and project manager. Have been with us from the beginning, guiding us through the process. Great resource for churches looking to clarify a vision and/or to pursue the vision logistically - especially regarding buildings, property, mixed-use, etc. 2. Childress Klein Properties www.childressklein.com Chris Thomas, Partner: chris.thomas@childressklein.com Our development partners 3. Choate Construction https://www.choateco.com Our builder 4. Lodestar Law: Commercial Real Estate https://lodestarlaw.com Suzanne Schaffer: suzanne@lodestarlaw.com Our attorney 5. Picnic Table Productions https://www.picnictablevideo.com We contract with them to make our videos. 6. Generis www.generis.com Alan Wildes: alan@generis.com Our capital campaign consultant 7. First United Methodist Church, Chicago (The Chicago Temple) https://www.chicagotemple.org The church owns its own skyscraper, in which the church is housed. We learned a lot from them.

A conversation with Erin Hawkins - General Secretary of The Commission on Religion and Race a Global Agency of The United Methodist Church. Ms. Hawkins during our conversation pertaining to membership stated, "We want people to believe, in order to belong. But what if we started creating places of belonging, in order to bring people to a place of believing?" This past week on our three part podcast series of Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Race, Racism and the Church's Clarion Call to Action. We've had "Truth Talk" and I am grateful for the feedback, the calls, text, email of our African Americans siblings saying thank you, some of our Anglo siblings saying we don't know what to do, others saying I'm ready to listen and hear the historical and present narratives, while still others challenge the language of Black Lives Matter, and inserting ALL lives Matter, and yet others saying all lives matter when Black Lives Matter - George Floyd . Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Mother Emmanuel AME Church, Tamir Rice, and the list goes on and on. - The risk and challenges of reconciling, repentance, cultural shifts, trust issues, because of the historical atrocities of sin. Where do we go from here? What does it mean to be the church? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Siblings, together we can discover in our diverse world, how we can pivot in our local churches and institutions, so that collaboratively, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can impact our communities and the world into becoming just and equitable societies for ALL people. Resources: General Commission on Religion and Race Deconstructing White Privilege Continued Struggle in American Race Relations The Continued Struggle in American Race Relations Racial Justice Conversation Guides

In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC. The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn't cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "the son of man will judge the nations." Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in? Contact Dr Stephanie Moore Hand, shand@wnccumc.org OUR GUEST: Rev. Junius Dotson A nationally recognized leader, speaker, and author. He is presently the General Secretary (chief executive officer) of Discipleship Ministries, an international agency of The United Methodist Church an organization with a staff of more than 130. Rev. Dotson is the author of Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books). Dotson was Senior Pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, where he was instrumental in transforming the 3,500-member church into a multi-campus congregation. Dr. Lovett Weems Jr., recognized leaders in the United Methodist Church in America. He is a relevant, distinguished professor of church leadership and senior consultant of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Weems was the founding director of the Lewis Center in 2003, coming to the position after 18 years as president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Prolific leaders with a passion. Resources: Kendi, Ibram X. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. New York: Nation Books, 2016. Williams, Chad, Kidada E. Williams, and Keisha N. Blain, eds. Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism, and Racial Violence. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2016. Jennings, Willie James. The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2010. Lovett, Weems jr., High Yield: Seven Disciplines of the Fruitful Leader (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2014 Lovett, Weems jr., Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2013 Lovett, Weems jr., Focus: The Real Challenges Facing The United Methodist Church, Abingdon Press, 2012 Lovett, Weems jr., Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2011

A conversation with Rev. Monica Humpal and Rev. Emily Kroeger. Because Covid-19 has forced the world to shelter in place, and although each state, has begun the opening Phase 1 and Phase 2 process, SPIRITUAL FORMATION has shifted from the church buildings to where ever people are sheltered in place together. During my coaching conversations with leaders has been how to shift, pivot, and re-focus through these Uncharted Territories into our global New NORMAL. Rev. Monica and Rev. Emily and I will have a conversation focused on family ministry and how to engage so that families are equipped to deepen their faith and navigate effectively into the Uncharted territories of WHAT'S NEXT, in our new world of being. Contact Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand Resources Communicating w/ Youth: www.fulleryouthinstitute.com Waxhaw UMC: www.waxhawumc.com www.group.com Families & Professionals Regarding ADD/ADHA: www.chadd.org Unafraid: Living w/ Courage & Hope in Uncertain Times: www.adamhamilton.com Families w/ toddler - 5th grade: https://willchapumc.org/grow/wckhome Family Devotions Pastor Jan Brittian: https://willchapumc.org/grow/familydevotions.html Music by: Lucas Britt

A Conversation with Jay Cobb, executive director of Sanctuary Counseling Group a faith based organization that specializes in bringing healing to the mind, heart and spirit by providing excellent emotional, spiritual and relational health care to people in the communities we serve. Our goal is to offer each client a safe place without judgement or shame. We walk with them where ever they are in the journey without any expectations. Our 14 therapist are from various religious, cultural, and educational backgrounds. Overall, our counselors work with the population in general, but each one offers their own expertise ranging from couples, teens, children, men, women, abuse, trauma, grief, child loss, marriage, parenting, addiction, and peri-natal trauma to name a few. We see people of all faith walks including non-believers and those whom have not decided yet. Because of our history and past connection to the United Methodist Church, we believe that a large part of our work is pastors with many of our therapist being pastors themselves. Resources Books: Finding Meaning: the 6th Stage of Grief, by David Kessler Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, by David Kessler and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Counseling Centers: Sanctuary Counseling Group Sanctuary Counseling Group Central Office The Terry Building 1801 East Fifth Street, Suite 110 Charlotte, NC 28204 Instagram, YouTube Atrium Behavioral Health Charlotte, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center : 501 Billingsley Road; Charlotte, NC 28211 Music by - Lucas Britt -