Internships Possibilities

In this episode, Todd talks with Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford and Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford about changes to the Great Plains Conference’s internship program. An additional guest — Rev. Grace Woods from Topeka First United Methodist Church — shares her journey from summer intern to a pastor working with a Great Plains intern.

If you have questions about internships in the Great Plains Conference, please reach out to:

— Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford — aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org

— Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford — mgepford@greatplainsumc.org

Immigration Issues

The issue of immigration continues to grow in prominence as we move closer to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. During the campaign, he promised mass deportations and the closing of our U.S. borders. What impact does that have on people seeking a better life for their families in this country? Andrea Paret, a Department of Justice accredited representative at Mary Treglia Community House in Sioux City, Iowa, and the Peace with Justice coordinator in the Great Plains Conference, shares her reflections as a person who works with immigrants to this country.

Building Relationships at The Table

The Table is a different kind of evangelism tool used by Bonfire, a Korean-language and culture church start in Olathe, Kansas. The Table is a biweekly meal with invited guests who have the chance to build relationships through conversation while gathering around food.

This episode features one gathering in December at The Table, with Bishop David Wilson, members of his Cabinet and representatives from Bonfire.

Immigration Frustrations

The campaign promise by President-elect Donald Trump for mass deportations has created more than a little anxiety among people who are immigrants to the United States. While some Americans may think it worthwhile to deport people illegally in the country, many people who are on the pathway to permanent residency or even citizenship fear the route the finish line they have been moving toward may be pushed farther back or eliminated.

Todd Seifert, conference communications director, talks to three pastors — Cesar Duran, Juan Espinoza and Velma Tim, themselves immigrants to the United States — about the fears they have heard from members of their communities and what their churches are doing to try to help.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month. We celebrate by talking with Bishop David Wilson, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation and also with Cherokee lineage. We also share some remarks and interviews from a U.S. Indian Boarding School Remembrance the Great Plains Conference hosted Sept. 28, 2024, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Sights and Sounds from Leadership Institute

Each September, Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood, Kansas, hosts Leadership Institute. This time, Todd took along a microphone and recorded short interviews in hallways, in the backs of workshop rooms, in the corner of the sanctuary and even behind the chancel in an effort to give a snapshot of what participants experienced at this year’s event. 

Orders & Fellowship Primer: Dr. Ashley Boggan

In a short episode of the “In Layman’s Terms” podcast, Todd Seifert, communications director for the Great Plains Conference, interviews Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History for The United Methodist Church. Dr. Boggan talks about what clergy will hear from her as she presents our plenary learning times during Orders & Fellowship on Oct. 28-30 at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood, Kansas.

New Strategies for New Churches

New church starts can be difficult. The Great Plains Conference’s New Church Development board has implemented some new strategies and is, literally, traveling the world to see how it’s done elsewhere. Todd explores some of the new strategies being employed by the NCD board to help build new faith communities that will thrive.

In this episode, Todd talks with Rev. Dr. Gerald Liu, PhD, the conference’s emerging faith communities cultivator; Amy Haines, a newcomer to the NCD board; and Rev. Changhyun Kim, who has started a new Korean-language faith community in Olathe, Kansas.

Read a series of stories on this subject by David Burke, content specialist for the Great Plains Conference. The initial story can be found here. You can find links to other stories on the Great Plains Conference website.