Center for Congregations Podcast Center for Congregations

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/

Nathan Parr, Facilities Stewardship Specialist with Smart Church Solutions, joins Dr. Terrance Bridges and Matt Burke of the Center for Congregations to discuss the challenges and solutions with facility management of congregational buildings. Nathan shares practical tips for congregations to assess and quantify the issues and costs for maintaining facilities.
Resources
Smart Church Solutions (organization)
FacilitiesNet (web resource)
Church Facility Management Solutions (Facebook Group)
Church Facility Maintenance (article)
Preserving Black Churches (organization)

National speaker, advocate and emcee, Rev. Julian DeShazier, joins JC Campbell and Matt Burke from the Center for Congregations to discuss how congregations can better adapt to changing culture and circumstances. Topics discussed include ministry arms of congregations being open about their faith background, using modern tools without losing your values, the strength of "old" songs and more. Matt and JC also discuss how change in congregations appears in the work of the Center for Congregations and share resources to help congregations navigate changes.
Resources
Reimagining How We Reimagine Church by Julian DeShazier (article)
Traditioned Innovation in Action by Dave Odom (article)
Leading Change in the Congregation by Gil Rendle (book)
Managing Transitions by William Bridges and Susan Bridges (book)
Rediscovering an Evangelical Heritage by Donald Dayton (book)

Rev. Jermine Alberty joins Abby Miller and Matt Burke from the Center for Congregations to share about his experiences as a pastor and Mental Health First Aid trainer. He discusses the importance of mental health awareness both for congregational leaders and the members of congregations.
Resources
Mental Health First Aid (organization)
Jermine Alberty (website)
NAMI (organization)
Pathways 2 Promise (organization)
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries (organization)
Latino Mental Health (article)
A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser (book)