Pod Have Mercy

John Stephens/Matt Russell
  • 4.7 (42)
  • Christianity
  • Daily

Tune in every week for a lively conversation with Chapelwood's Senior Pastor, John Stephens and Executive Pastor, Matt Russell as they "go deep" on how today's church has changed and what the church will look like in the future!

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 248: The Halloween Special (with Rev. Michael Jarboe)

    Should Christians celebrate Halloween? And what does this spooky holiday have to do with All Saints Day? Rev. John Stephens welcomes back Rev. Michael Jarboe, senior pastor of Wildwood United Methodist Church, for a Halloween special filled with humor, nostalgia, and reflections on faith. From trick-or-treating and childhood costumes to the controversial world of Christian "Hell Houses," John and Michael explore the complicated relationship between Halloween and the church. Along the way, they debate the best and worst Halloween candy of 2026, marvel at the growing popularity of giant yard skeletons, and share some unforgettable stories from their years in ministry. The conversation eventually turns toward the deeper meaning of All Saints Day: remembering loved ones, making space for grief, and finding hope in resurrection. Through stories of family traditions, Chapelwood's memorial banners, and the communion of saints, they reflect on how the church can honor those who have gone before us. It's an episode about costumes and candy, life and death, and the sacred traditions that help us remember. Guest: Rev. Dr. Michael Jarboe, Senior Pastor of Wildwood United Methodist Church Links & Resources Wildwood United Methodist Church:https://wildwood-umc.org/ The United Methodist Church's View of Halloween:https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-the-united-methodist-churchs-view-of-halloween All Saints Day in United Methodist Churches:https://www.umc.org/en/content/all-saints-day-in-united-methodist-churches 2026 Best & Worst Halloween Candy Rankings:https://www.candystore.com/apps/blog/definitive-ranking-best-worst-halloween-candies/ Subscribe to Pod Have Mercy for more conversations at the intersection of faith, culture, and everyday life.

  2. Oct 23

    Episode 247: Grief, Faith, and the Courage to Bear Witness

    What does it mean to show up for someone who is grieving, and what can other cultures teach us about loss, remembrance, and community? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, Rev. John Stephens and Rev. Matt Russell discuss the importance of grief work and the ways faith communities can help people navigate loss together. Matt reflects on his experience leading a group through Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico, where storytelling, shared remembrance, and communal rituals create space for grief. They explore why our culture often treats grief as an individual experience and how the simple act of being present can make a profound difference in someone's life. The conversation also turns to Pope Leo XIV, the death penalty, and the complicated relationship between justice, retribution, and the teachings of Jesus. John and Matt wrestle with what it means to uphold the sanctity of life while confronting the realities of violence and suffering. In this episode: Grief, remembrance, and Día de los Muertos Why grief should be experienced in community Bearing witness to suffering without trying to fix it Pope Leo XIV Jesus, nonviolence, justice, and forgiveness RESOURCES Chapelwood Wednesday Grief Support Group:https://chapelwood.org/groups/wednesday-grief-group/ Learn more about Chapelwood United Methodist Church:https://chapelwood.org/ Pod Have Mercy is hosted by Rev. John Stephens and Rev. Matt Russell of Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.

  3. Oct 16

    Episode 246: Faith, Politics, and Purpose

    What can a vineyard teach us about faith, patience, and spiritual growth? And how can the church remain faithful to its mission in an increasingly divided world? In Episode 246 of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Matt Russell are back together for a conversation about life, ministry, and the intersection of faith and culture. John shares the inspiration behind his upcoming book, "Vineyard in the Soul," exploring how the natural rhythms of a vineyard reveal important lessons about spiritual formation. From winter dormancy and new growth to ripening and harvest, each season offers a different perspective on patience, transformation, and the unseen work of God in our lives. The conversation then turns to Chapelwood United Methodist Church's $35.2 million Rooted in Grace capital campaign. John and Matt discuss the church's vision for expanding its community impact through food pantry facilities, childcare, youth programming, and neighborhood partnerships. They reflect on what it means to invest in ministries that are already making a difference and build for generations they may never see. Finally, they take on recent conversations surrounding religious freedom in the U.S. military, the role of chaplains, and concerns about Christian nationalism. They also reflect on the legacy of televangelist Jim Bakker and the responsibility of churches to practice financial transparency, accountability, and faithful stewardship. From the vineyard to the wider world, this episode explores what it means to cultivate a faith that produces lasting fruit. LINKS & RESOURCES Chapelwood Rooted in Grace Capital Campaign: https://chapelwood.org/capital-campaign/ WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines: https://www.wset.co.uk/qualifications/wset-level-4-diploma-in-wines Wine Scholar Guild: https://www.winescholarguild.com/certifications/scholar-programs/french-wine-scholar Church Publishing Incorporated: https://churchpublishing.org/ Americans United Statement on the Office of Religious Affairs: https://www.au.org/the-latest/press/hegseth-religious-affairs-military/ Pod Have Mercy Episode 244 with Zach W. Lambert: https://chapelwood.org/media/episode-244-a-conversation-with-zach-w-lambert/ ABOUT POD HAVE MERCY Pod Have Mercy is hosted by Rev. John Stephens and Rev. Matt Russell of Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Through conversations with theologians, pastors, authors, and other thought leaders, the podcast explores faith, culture, leadership, and life in the church. Explore more episodes: https://chapelwood.org/podcasts/

  4. Oct 9

    Episode 245: Matt Rawle | Rethinking Church, Innovation, and the Courage to Fail

    What does it take for the church to embrace change, take meaningful risks, and imagine a different future? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Matt Russell welcome Rev. Matt Rawle, pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of the Hub for Innovation, for a conversation about faith, creativity, leadership, and the future of the United Methodist Church. Matt shares his journey from studying opera at LSU to pursuing ministry at Duke Divinity School, along with the experiences that shaped his approach to preaching and leadership. The conversation explores how churches can move beyond simply preserving what has worked in the past and begin experimenting with new approaches to ministry. They also discuss the role of technology and AI in ministry, the importance of creating space for failure, and why traditional measurements of church success may not always reflect meaningful discipleship and community. Matt introduces his upcoming book, "Isaiah for the People: Prophet of Protest," exploring the prophet's challenging message of inclusion, reconciliation, and justice, and why those ancient words remain relevant to the church today. From creative leadership to the practice of Sabbath, this conversation offers a thoughtful and often humorous look at what it means to follow God's call in a changing world. CONNECT WITH MATT RAWLEMatt Rawle's Website Matt Rawle's Books and Publications Matt Rawle's Books on Amazon BOOKS MENTIONEDIsaiah for the People: Prophet of Protest - Coming February 2027 Dream, Dare, Disrupt - Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups More Books by Matt Rawle - Abingdon Press MINISTRY AND CHURCH LINKSHub for Innovation Carrollton United Methodist Church - New Orleans St. Matthew's United Methodist Church - Metairie In the Sandbox Podcast ABOUT POD HAVE MERCYPod Have Mercy is hosted by Rev. John Stephens and Rev. Matt Russell of Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Through conversations with theologians, pastors, authors, and other thought leaders, the podcast explores faith, culture, leadership, and life in the church. Learn more about Chapelwood

  5. Oct 2

    Episode 244: A Conversation with Zach W. Lambert

    What happens when the Bible - a book meant to point us toward God - becomes a source of harm? And is there a better way to read Scripture after experiencing religious trauma, deconstruction, or exclusion? In Episode 244 of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with pastor and author Zach W. Lambert for a wide-ranging conversation about Scripture, faith reconstruction, church community, and finding a way forward after evangelicalism. Zach is the lead pastor and co-founder of Restore Austin and the author of "Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm into a Tool of Healing." Drawing from his own upbringing in the Southern Baptist Church, Zach shares how his understanding of Scripture began to change and how those experiences eventually shaped both his ministry and his book. The conversation explores four interpretive lenses Zach believes can lead to harm - Literalism, Apocalypse, Moralism, and Hierarchy - and four healthier lenses he proposes in their place: Jesus, Context, Flourishing, and Fruitfulness. Zach discusses what it means to read difficult biblical texts through the life and teachings of Jesus and why interpreting Scripture in healthy, diverse community matters. John and Matt also talk with Zach about the unusual journey of Restore Austin. After beginning as an evangelical church plant, becoming nondenominational, and eventually joining The United Methodist Church, Restore merged with a historic United Methodist congregation in Austin. Zach reflects on what drew his church toward Methodism, what has surprised him about denominational life, and what he has learned through the merger of two very different congregations. The conversation also touches on the Post-Evangelical Collective, rebuilding faith after harmful church experiences, the changing meaning of the word "evangelical," and what churches can learn from one another as they seek to create meaningful Christian community for a new generation. ABOUT ZACH W. LAMBERT Zach W. Lambert is the lead pastor and co-founder of Restore Austin, a United Methodist community in Austin, Texas. He is the author of "Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm into a Tool of Healing" and co-founder of the Post-Evangelical Collective. He holds a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School.Zach and his wife, Amy, also write and create together through "Public Theology," exploring faith, culture, deconstruction, reconstruction, and public life. LINKS & RESOURCES https://www.zachwlambert.org/ https://www.zachwlambert.org/book https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791043360 https://www.restoreaustin.org/ https://www.postevangelicalcollective.org/ https://zachwlambert.substack.com/about

  6. Sep 25

    Episode 243: A Conversation with Rev. Magrey deVega

    In Episode 243 of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Rev. Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida, for a conversation about pastoral ministry, writing, uncertainty, wisdom, preaching, and what it means to pursue holiness in the Wesleyan tradition. Magrey reflects on the unexpected years he spent serving a small church in Cherokee, Iowa, and how that experience helped reconnect him with the heart of pastoral ministry before returning to Hyde Park as Senior Pastor. He also shares how a formative week with Eugene Peterson reshaped the way he thinks about writing, including the important distinction between wanting to be an author and learning to love the craft of writing itself. The conversation explores themes from Magrey’s work, including "Embracing the Uncertain" and his forthcoming book "Time for Wisdom." Drawing from Ecclesiastes, Magrey talks about approaching uncertain times with curiosity, humility, and openness rather than certainty and fear. John, Matt, and Magrey also reflect on doubt, deconstruction and reconstruction, and how faith can make room for questions rather than eliminate them. They also discuss the challenge of preaching into a polarized culture, Magrey’s recent Faith 250 sermon series, and how pastors can begin difficult conversations from places of shared story and common ground. Later, Magrey introduces the upcoming Lenten study "The Way of Holiness: A Wesleyan Journey through Lent," a collaborative project exploring holiness through the Great Commandment and the Wesleyan understanding of both personal and social holiness. The conversation considers what holiness looks like when it is understood not simply as following rules, but as becoming more fully who God created us to be and growing in love of God, neighbor, and self. Along the way, the conversation touches on hurricane recovery in Tampa, the resilience of communities, poetry, favorite writers, the role of suffering, and a rapid-fire round that gets into everything from Iowa casseroles to biblical characters and the words Magrey hopes to hear when he meets God. Learn more about Rev. Magrey deVega: Biography + Books:https://hydeparkumc.org/magrey-biography-and-books/ Hyde Park United Methodist Church:https://hydeparkumc.org/ Magrey deVega at Abingdon Press:https://www.abingdonpress.com/authors/magrey_devega/ "The Way of Holiness: A Wesleyan Journey through Lent":https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791044596

  7. Sep 18

    Episode 242: A Conversation with Dr. Lovett H. Weems

    What does hope look like for the United Methodist Church after years of disruption, decline, and change?In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Dr. Lovett H. Weems, one of the leading voices in church leadership and United Methodist life, for a wide-ranging conversation about where the church has been and where it might be headed next.Drawing from his newest book, "An Aura of Hope: United Methodism’s Next Chapter in the United States," Dr. Weems discusses why hope is not dependent on favorable circumstances, what current trends and demographics reveal about the future of the church, and why congregations must begin by paying attention to "the people God has given us."The conversation explores the changing geography of Methodism, the importance of reaching beyond the walls of the church, what churches can learn from congregations that are successfully reaching new people, and why leadership is less about imposing a vision than helping God’s people discern their next faithful step.They also discuss the future of the United Methodist Church following disaffiliation, the denomination’s new regionalization model, church governance, and what it means for churches to serve not simply their members, but the common good of the communities around them.Dr. Lovett H. Weems is Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership Emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary and senior consultant at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, which he founded in 2003. Previously, he served for 18 years as president of Saint Paul School of Theology and spent many years as a local church pastor in Mississippi.He is the author or co-author of numerous books on church leadership, including "An Aura of Hope," "The Right Questions for Church Leaders," "Church Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture, and Integrity," "Sustaining While Disrupting," and, with Bishop Tom Berlin, "Bearing Fruit," "Overflow," and "High Yield."Resources mentioned in this episode:An Aura of Hope: United Methodism’s Next Chapter in the United StatesUnited Methodist Focus, Dr. Weems’s newsletter on the future of the United Methodist ChurchLewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary

  8. Sep 11

    Episode 241: Bishop Tom Berlin & Rachel Billups

    What does it look like to have a faith that holds when life feels exhausting? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John and Matt sit down with Bishop Tom Berlin and Rev. Rachel Billups for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, discipleship, courage, innovation, and what gives them hope for the future of the church. Bishop Berlin and Rachel discuss their work around Christian resilience and why resilience is about more than simply pushing through difficult seasons. They explore the habits and communities that help us remain grounded in faith, hope, love, courage, and joy when life does not cooperate. The conversation also turns to Bishop Berlin's book, "Jesus Is Lord," and what that familiar Christian confession actually demands of us. What happens when politics, culture, ambition, or certainty begin competing with Jesus for the center of our lives? What would it mean for Christians to genuinely allow everything else to orbit around Christ? Rachel shares about the work of Hub4Innovation, the importance of curiosity and experimentation in ministry, and why leaders need the courage to dream, dare, disrupt, and sometimes fail as they imagine new ways of serving their communities. Bishop Berlin also reflects on more than two decades of ministry relationships in Sierra Leone, including the Child Reintegration Centre and Mercy Hospital, and the life-changing impact global partnerships can have on both the communities being served and those who choose to serve. John, Matt, Rachel, and Tom also talk candidly about clergy exhaustion, the state of The United Methodist Church, Christian nationalism, rebuilding trust, finding hope in ordinary people, and why tangible expressions of love may be one of the church's most important witnesses. Finally, Rachel and Tom become the first guests to take a seat in a new Pod Have Mercy segment: The Mercy Seat. LEARN MORE ABOUT BISHOP TOM BERLIN Bishop Tom Berlin:https://www.bishoptomberlin.com Council of Bishops Profile:https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/person-detail/4174935 Shop Bishop Tom Berlin's books on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004M71V5U?ccs_id=09172b4a-93d5-4297-a356-67ecd2fb1cf8 LEARN MORE ABOUT RACHEL BILLUPS Rachel Billups:https://www.rachelbillups.com Shop Rachel Billups' books on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07MFVQYWW?ccs_id=ab7e652e-b6c5-4f20-a5ff-04b66cc0f925 Hub4Innovation:https://www.hub4innovation.org BOOKS DISCUSSED "Be Strong in the Lord: The Resilient Way of Christ" by Tom Berlin and Rachel Billups "Jesus Is Lord" by Tom Berlin "Dream, Dare, Disrupt: How Experiments, Risk, & Embracing Failure Can Build Life-Giving Ministry" by Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups Explore Tom and Rachel's Amazon author pages above to find these books and more.

See All (251)

4.7
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Tune in every week for a lively conversation with Chapelwood's Senior Pastor, John Stephens and Executive Pastor, Matt Russell as they "go deep" on how today's church has changed and what the church will look like in the future!

Information

  • Creator
    John Stephens/Matt Russell
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    251
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Stephens/Matt Russell
  • Show Website
    Pod Have Mercy

You Might Also Like