God Help Us Annie Mesaros

First, we honor the lives of Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and countless others who have died in the past months as a direct result of police brutality. 
For resources on anti-racism from past episodes, visit anniemesaros.com/resources. Here are my top recs right here:
So You Want to Talk about Race How to be an Antiracist The New Jim Crow Austin Channing Brown Brittany Packnett Cunningham Rachel Cargle No White Saviors Today’s episode with Carla Godwin is about listening for and listening to your inner howl of passion and following it to the work you are uniquely meant to offer this world. Carla is a writer, speaker, and leader who lives with her two kids in Minneapolis. 
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
W/ Collective She is Called Podcast Women Who Run with the Wolves Dance of the Dissonant Daughter Christina Cleveland Tina Schermer Sellers Paula Williams Women After All FIND CARLA:
Instagram Holy Writ podcast -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and I hosted God Help us from 2018 to 2020. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com. 
 

Crystal Cheatham and I share a desire to end the extreme pendulum swings in our political culture and to find a way forward that is inclusive of traditionally marginalized groups and doesn’t ostracize and isolate conservatives in a way that makes them more isolated and more extreme.
To that end, Crystal and I talk about running her member-funded app during the COVID pandemic, the need for responsible capitalism, resisting cancel culture, and practicing nonviolent communication. 
Crystal has an MFA from Antioch University and is an LGBTQ rights activist with a focus on religious liberty. She is the founder of Our Bible App and The IDentity Kit, both of which provide resources for marginalized communities of faith. And she is the host of Lord Have Mercy, a podcast about God, sex and the Bible.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Our Bible App FIND CRYSTAL:
Crystalcheatham.com Crystal@ourbibleapp.com Instagram Facebook Twitter -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and I hosted God Help us from 2018 to 2020. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com. 

Since the global outbreak of COVID-19 over the past many weeks, our lives have been thrown into chaos, which looks different for everyone - even in our shared experience of pandemic. It’s all very disorienting and isolating. 
In this episode, I talk with Michele Ward, associate pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Church in Baltimore, Maryland. We discuss what it’s been like for Michele’s congregation to shift to virtual meeting spaces.
And we offer some ideas for creating spaces that feel sacred and grounding - whether you’re observing the Easter holiday, or just wanting some breathing room to mark the many joys and griefs of everyday life that feel extra heightened right now.
If you are in need of soul care during this time, please contact me at godhelp.podcast@gmail.com. I’m happy to listen if you need someone to talk to over the phone.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Sacred Seasons Calendar Celtic Daily Prayer Series Soul Feast Women in Praise of the Sacred FIND MICHELE: Sermons Instagram Facebook -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and host of this podcast. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com. 

Lyvonne Proverbs is a black woman, a pastor, and a body- and sex-positive writer who is dedicated to tending to the mental, physical, sexual, and spiritual health of black women, for their own sake, and as an act of community justice in the US and in the world and invites white listeners to examine their own role in white supremecist, misogynistic power structures. 
In this episode, Lyvonne and I talk about how trauma crops up and impacts our everyday lives and relationships and how that plays into politics, specifically public response to (former) Democratic primary candidates Mike Bloomberg, Liz Warren, and Pete Buttigieg.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: TED Talk by Kimberle Crenshaw on intersectionality TED Talk by Jackson Katz on male sexual violence Shawn Ginwright’s work on healing-centered engagement Alice Walker’s definition of “womanist” Sexuality and the Black Church: a Womanist Perspective Ebony Janice Moore FIND LYVONNE: Lyvonnep.com Instagram Twitter Online Learning Community -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and host of this podcast. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com. 

Wherever it occurs and in whatever form it takes, abuse is about power and control and - whether in a church or the highest office of government - abuse results from a lack of accountability for our leaders.
In this conversation with Rev. Ashley Easter, we discuss her theology of safety - that by understanding that all people are made in the image of God, we learn that we are all each other’s keepers. Acts of abuse as well as the mistreatment of survivors are not possible if we take seriously the value of each beloved human being, particularly the most vulnerable.
Ashley is a Christian feminist, writer, speaker, television producer, news pundit, ordained reverend, and abuse-victim advocate who educates churches and secular communities on abuse. She is the founder of The Courage Conference for survivors of abuse and those who love them.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Spotlight the movie Pastor Lyvonne Proverbs Nonprofit organization GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment FIND ASHLEY:
Ashleyeaster.com Twitter Facebook Instagram Emerge Retreat -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and host of this podcast. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com. 

For the past several decades of American Evangelical culture, the Bible has been used as a weapon against queer people, banning or restricting their participation in many faith communities and denying their place in the world God created.
Dr. Jun Young, communications expert, speaker, teacher, and consultant, to talk about a new ministry he’s founded: Beloved Arise supports LGTBQ+ youth of faith with resources, encouragement, and biblical teaching that affirms their identity.
As a reference, there are six places in the bible where same-sex activity is mentioned: Genesis 19:5, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9, and I Timothy 1:10.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Matthew Vines’s case for biblical inclusion Seattle Times article on Jun and Crista Ministries Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality The Reformation Project Churchclarity.org FIND BELOVED ARISE: Belovedarise.org Facebook Instagram -
I’m Annie Mesaros: a theologian, writer, spiritual guide, and host of this podcast. I offer coaching and facilitation for individuals and groups that are working to transform the world for good. 
Learn more, contact me, and stream the full archive of God Help Us at anniemesaros.com.