Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

The church is the people, but we tend to latch onto the buildings that identify us as a congregation. But some churches across the Great Plains are putting unused portions of their often-larger-than-needed structures to use in new and creative ways. One example is First United Methodist Church in Wichita. It is coming up onContinue reading “Wichita First gets creative to make use of building, help community”

The Bishop Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship is tucked in a corner of the campus at Southwestern College. But its reach goes far beyond its Winfield, Kansas, home. In this episode, Todd talks with key leaders at the institute about all the programs they offer, about what is new with BeADisciple.com, and moreContinue reading “Institute for Discipleship”

Bishop David Wilson and three others representing the Great Plains Conference took part in the 2025 Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run in October. The annual event honors the more than 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people — mostly women, children and elderly persons — who were slaughtered by a band of volunteer soldiers on Nov.Continue reading “Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run”

Christian Nationalism is not patriotism. It may actually be considered idolatry. Where is the line? And how do we ensure we aren’t pushing Jesus from the center of the throne? Rev. Brian Kaylor, a Baptist pastor, journalist and author, will be the special guest at Orders & Fellowship in October. He will share the historyContinue reading “Christian Nationalism”

The daughters of Bishop Richard and Julia Wilke, the authors of the Disciple Bible Study series, talk about the development of an app that allows people to take a fast-track approach to the study of the Bible. Guests for this episode include Susan Fuquay and Sarah Wilke. The sisters share about how the vision forContinue reading “Disciple Bible Study App”

Todd wraps up a short two-episode series on immigration issues. In this episode, Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso and Rev. Chad Boling share their experience in the aftermath of the immigration raid in south Omaha and how they and others are trying to serve the people left behind by showing the love of Christ through theirContinue reading “Omaha Raid Aftermath”

Dr. Carla Cardoza, president of the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas, shares how students at the grades 7-12 school have been caught up in the immigration debate. Their students — almost all of whom have F-1 visas — have been put in limbo by the U.S. State Department because of a suspension ofContinue reading “Lydia Patterson Institute”

In this episode, we learn about a workshop available for Great Plains Conference congregations meant to help them develop marketing plans for their local churches. Don Osborn, a marketing professional who helped devise the marketing strategy for The Vine UMC in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, will lead the workshop, and he talks with Todd about what peopleContinue reading “Ministry in Motion — Digital Marketing for Your Church”

As the war in Gaza continues, Todd Seifert, conference communications director, talks with Carol Ekdahl-Garwood, chair of the Great Plains Conference’s Holy Land Task Force, on the latest episode of the “In Layman’s Terms” podcast. During their discussion, they discuss the peril of Palestinian people, the delicate balance between supporting Israel while pointing out human rightsContinue reading “Issues in the Holy Land”