Our country is more divided than ever. We have red states and blue states, and even red and blue congregations. Or do we? Aren’t our congregations really just different shades of purple? The Rev. Dr. Leah Schade joins Todd for a discussion about her book, “Preaching in the Purple Zone,” and how a method she…Read more »

Oliver Green has been heavily involved in the Great Plains Conference since its inception. As we wrap up Black History Month, Oliver shares his story and what it was like to move into adulthood — as an African-American man — during the Civil Rights Movement. Oliver shares how the movement of the 1960s is similar to…Read more »

It’s been nine months since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, so Todd Seifert, host of the “In Layman’s Terms” podcast, decided to tell some follow-up stories featuring guests who helped explain the impact of police and other kinds of violence upon people of color in the spring of 2020. The communications team took…Read more »

In the second of a two-part series examining how God calls us to service, Todd shares a reflection from Mark 1 that recounts the way Peter, Andrew, James and John responded to Jesus’ call to follow Him. Download this episode.

In the first of a two-part series examining how God calls us to service, Todd shares a reflection from 1 Samuel that recounts the call of the prophet who would anoint the first two kings of Israel. As you listen to the episode, consider how God may be reaching out to you. Download the episode.

This compilation of the Christmas story takes the accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke — framed in the concept of light coming into the world from John — to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Download the episode. Watch the video presentation. (scroll to the bottom of the page)

In this fourth week of Advent, Todd continues to explore the themes of each week’s candle. This week we light the candle of love. See how Jesus showed love to others and, particularly, to all of us through his sacrifice on the cross.  Download the podcast.

We often think of joy as a feeling we have after a fun activity or an emotion to be felt when we’re among loved ones. But Jesus explained that joy is something much deeper than that. It’s a state of being, an enduring trait. Jesus explains how we find joy and how we maintain it,…Read more »

In this second episode in a special series during Advent, we explore how Jesus gave us the gift of His inner peace and how that has three very real impacts on our lives. May you embrace inner peace as you listen to this episode. Download the episode.

We celebrate the coming of the Christ child during Advent, but we sometimes forget to celebrate why Jesus came to earth in the first place. Many Christians recognize that He came to provide for our salvation and reconciliation with God. This holiday season, let’s embrace Jesus’ mission, and recognize that because of Jesus’ arrival as…Read more »