The Faith Today Podcast Faith Today

How do pastors keep their hearts and souls healthy? That sounds like a huge topic, but with theologian Ross Hastings leading the way, we kind of did it. Hastings wrote Pastoral Ethics: Moral Formation as Life in the Trinity. We dive into that and then just keep going. If you wonder what pastors really need and how they can nurture it, you will find Ross' insights both challenging and beautiful.

Read about Ross Hastings, including a book list: https://www.regent-college.edu/faculty/full-time/ross-hastings

The most successful crowdfunded TV series of all time has been watched 600 MILLION PLUS times across tons of apps, has 10 MILLION social media followers, and has made its way onto major platforms like Peacock, Amazon Prime, Netflix and the CW.

Creator/Director, Dallas Jenkins, has been named one of the Top 50 Showrunners in 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter.

PLUS, The Chosen was granted an extension from SAG-AFTRA, making it one of the few NEW scripted shows to air in 2024.

AND, 8 hours after the S4 trailer dropped, it skyrocketed to #2 on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisX-CEjoxc


SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Diverse Representation: The Chosen stands out for its commitment to diverse representation, showcasing characters from various cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and walks of life. The narrative also explores the universal themes of humanity, faith, and compassion appealing to a broad and multicultural audience.

Most Translated Show in History: The series is on pace to be the most translated series in history, as the first three seasons will soon be available in 50 languages with plans to subtitle in more than 600!

Exclusive Access to Writers: Gain access the brilliant minds behind the making of The Chosen. Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson will share insights into the creative process, the challenges of crafting such a groundbreaking series and the importance of diverse storytelling.

Unique Production Methods: The show has revolutionized television production by adopting a groundbreaking crowdfunded model. Find out how the creators maintain creative control, stay true to their vision, and foster a dedicated and passionate global community of fans!

We've heard about third party investigators into church, seminary or ministry organization abuse scandals, and now we get to hear directly from two investigators about what happens during an investigation, how they carry out their work, and why they feel called to do it.

Bob Stenhouse is CEO of Veritas Solutions who brings years of policing experience to his role leading Veritas, which conducts approximately 200 workplace and human rights investigations each year. They also train companies on how to prevent abuse and respond well when it does occur.

Randal Rauser is Director of Faith Based Organization Investigations with Veritas, and has been an associate investigator with Veritas Solutions since 2019. He is an author and systematic and analytic theologian who has served as a seminary professor.

Stenhouse and Rauser wrote the MarchApril cover story for Faith Today magazine "Disabusing the Church."

Veritas Solutions: https://veritassolutions.net

Randal Rauser's website: https://randalrauser.com

Veritas mission statement: "Our mission statement is our name: Veritas Solutions. We believe that the solutions to the issues faced by our corporate clients will be mitigated on the foundation of truth. Our promise to our clients–We seek the truth and speak the truth–and that makes all the difference."

We are all weary of abuse rocking our churches, seminaries and ministry organizations. Offences range from sexual abuse to bullying and harassment. Our guest Lydia Fawcett brings years of experience in social work and more recently in abuse prevention with the Mennonite Central Committee. She helps us understand what abuse looks like and feels like, and what a healthy culture in our faith communities looks like and feels like. Plus, if you grew up believing Bathsheba was the one in the wrong, you're in good company. You won't want to miss this conversation.

Learn about the Abuse Awareness and Prevention Network: https://www.abuseawareness.net

Visit the MCC Abuse Response and Prevention page: https://abuseresponseandprevention.ca

See and download some of the resources Lydia mentions in the interview: https://abuseresponseandprevention.ca/#resources

A look back in time to the Columbia Bible College situation referenced by Lydia: https://www.themaplist.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Murray_Phillips_story_ChristianWeek.pdf

"What if singleness is a life to be lived, and not a problem to be solved?" writes Karissa Sovdi, in a recent Faith Today article exploring singleness in the Church. In this podcast, Karissa, an author, counsellor and facilitator from Victoria, B.C., is joined by Calgary's Barry Danyluk, executive director of SEE Global, a ministry that equips the Church on issues related to singleness, and author of several books on singleness. Karissa, Barry and Karen Stiller have a wide-ranging conversation about singleness and sexuality -- and offer some varied opinions -- what singles can offer to the traditional family model, and how our spiritual families are so much healthier when everyone is seen, heard and valued.

Read the Faith Today articles here: https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/library/item/11122023/4146295/

Find out about SEE Global here: https://seeglobal.net

What does it mean for the church to truly welcome and include people who live with disabilities? How do we all grow stronger when everyone feels at home and valued? Faith Today's Ilana Reimer, also editor of Love is Moving magazine, interviews Janet Noel-Annable, CEO of Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons).
Find out more about Karis: https://christianhorizons.org