Center for Congregations Podcast Center for Congregations

Join Center for Congregations staff Dr. JC Campbell, Dr. Terrance Bridges, Rev. Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke as they discuss their work with congregations and what we can all learn from what's happening around the state of Indiana. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Bridges both share about recent situations with congregations from which we can take hope, learning and resources.
Resources
The Congregational Resource Guide (The CRG; web resource)
Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church by Mark DeYmaz (book)
How to Plant a Church: A Guide to Successful Startups (article)
Building God's Way (BGW; organization)

Rev. Lisa Cole Smith, Founding Pastor and Artistic Director of Convergence Church in Alexandria, Virginia, joins JC and Matt to talk about how her congregation weaves aesthetics and the arts into the life of their congregation and community. Rev. Smith discusses the origins of their congregation, the trajectory of their ministry, and how congregations can be more intentional about their aesthetics, facilities and creativity.
Resources
Visual Arts and Worship (web resource)
For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts (book)
Convergence (organization)
Be, Make, Do (podcast)

Rev. Brad Thie, Director of Duke Divinity School's Thriving Rural Communities Initiative, joins Abby and Matt to talk about his work with congregations in rural North Carolina. Rev. Thie discusses what defines a thriving congregation and how congregations can be tightly tied to their communities.
Resources
Thriving Rural Communities Initiative (organization)
Rural Congregations: A Story of Pain and Promise (resource collection)
Rural Congregations: A Story of Pain and Promise (podcast episode)
Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations (book)
Transforming Church in Rural America (book)
Rural Mental Health Resources (resource collection)

Whether we're prepared or not, Artificial Intelligence is now a part of our every day lives and our future. Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions joins Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke to discuss how AI can aid congregations and the ways in which not to engage with it.
Resources
Midnight Oil Productions
Human-Centered AI (article)
The Ultimate Guide to AI, Pastors, and the Church (article)
AI Generated Images
Native American Potter
Ravens
Dry Valley
Valley
Renewed Valley
Valley with Ravens

Lenmarie Pascall, Director of Coaching at Urban Youth Workers Institute, joins Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke of the Center for Congregations for an insightful discussion on youth ministry. Lenmarie asserts that urban culture is increasingly shaping the broader youth culture landscape, emphasizing the importance for parents and leaders to grasp how to support youth in flourishing within these environments.
Resources
Urban Youth Workers Institute (organization)
The Youth Cartel (organization) - Mark Oestreicher
The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (organization)

"Every congregation is unique" — it’s not a cliché, it is true. Rev. Tim Lake, pastor of Union Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, and Rev. Raymond Dix Jr., pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church of Fort Wayne, sit down with Matt Burke from the Center for Congregations to share the unique makeup of their congregations, the changes and challenges they have experienced, and why it is important to embrace and understand your congregation's unique attributes.
Check out the Congregational Resource Guide for resources that provide help and guidance for your congregation within this topic.
https://thecrg.org/