Pod Have Mercy

John Stephens/Matt Russell
  • 4.7 (42)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED 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. 1D AGO

    Episode 226: Revisiting Richard Rohr

    In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we revisit a conversation centered on the writings of Richard Rohr and the meaning of Good Friday. As the church moves through the season of Lent, Matt and John reflect on Rohr’s insights about scapegoating, the human tendency to blame and condemn others, and the deeper meaning of the cross. Rather than viewing the crucifixion only through the lens of punishment or substitution, this conversation explores the idea of solidarity—a God who does not stand apart from human suffering but enters into it with us. Together they wrestle with questions that sit at the heart of Christian theology:Why is it called Good Friday? What does the cross reveal about human violence and scapegoating? And what does it mean to believe that even the darkest places of human experience are not God-forsaken? This episode is both thoughtful and honest, moving between theology, humor, and personal reflection as the hosts explore the paradox of death and hope at the center of the Christian story.

    18 min

  2. MAR 6

    Episode 225: ICONOCLAST ARTISTS

    What happens when students who have been overlooked finally get a stage? In this episode, Matt sits down with Bill Moran and Claudia Crane of Iconoclast Artists, a Houston nonprofit using poetry and creative writing to help students process trauma, discover their voice, and build community. Over the last decade, Iconoclast Artists has worked with thousands of students across Houston and Galveston, many facing poverty, food insecurity, and instability. Through writing workshops, mentorship, and public performances, the organization helps students turn their experiences into art—and in the process become published authors. Bill shares how poetry can become a tool for agency, describing writing as a way to “throw a blanket over the ghost”—giving shape to experiences that once felt overwhelming. Claudia explains how the organization has grown from a small experiment into a program that has served more than 8,500 students and families, produced hundreds of published young writers, and now celebrates its 10-year anniversary. We also talk about the powerful “They Say” student showcase, where young writers perform their work inside the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, surrounded by world-class art while their voices take center stage. This conversation explores art, hope, education, and what happens when young people realize that what they have to say truly matters.

    37 min

  3. FEB 27

    Episode 224: Unity, Growth & Perseverance (Bishop Ande Emmanuel)

    In this powerful global conversation, we sit down with Bishop Ande Emanuel, bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon. From persecution in Northern Nigeria to reconciliation after years of division, Bishop Emanuel shares how the church in Nigeria has not only survived but is thriving. With over 900 pastors, nearly 1,000 churches, and bold new evangelistic and agricultural initiatives, the United Methodist Church in Nigeria is stepping into a new season of unity, dignity, and self-sustainability. We talk about: Religious extremism and Christian persecution The dramatic reunification of Nigeria’s United Methodist Church Property disputes, court victories, and community renewal Agricultural evangelism and economic sustainability What “regionalization” means for the global church How American churches can partner, not dictate, with African Methodists This is more than a denominational update. It’s a story of resilience, leadership, and the Spirit moving in powerful ways across the globe. Related Article United Methodists in Nigeria celebrate growth and unity — UM Newshttps://www.umnews.org/en/news/united-methodists-in-nigeria-celebrate-growth-unity

    52 min

  4. FEB 20

    Episode 223: When We Lose Someone We Love

    In this special episode of Pod Have Mercy, we honor the life and legacy of our dear friend, Bobby Wooley. Just weeks before his passing, we had the gift of sitting down with Bobby to record a conversation filled with honesty, warmth, and the unmistakable heart he carried for Chapelwood. In this episode, we revisit a meaningful clip from that conversation and reflect on the impact Bobby had on so many of us.Grief is complicated. It is personal. It is communal. And it often raises difficult questions, especially for our families and children. To help guide that conversation, we also revisit wisdom from our previous episode with child psychologist Dr. Michelle Forrester, who offers practical and compassionate guidance on how to help children (and ourselves) process loss, navigate hard emotions, and find comfort in the midst of sorrow. This episode is both a tribute and a resource - a space to remember, to grieve, to give thanks, and to learn how we walk through loss together. We hope it encourages you as you honor the ones you love and hold close the gift of today.

    15 min

  5. FEB 13

    Episode 222: WHAT IS RAGE BAIT?

    From the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year (“rage bait”) to Super Bowl halftime controversy, from Ten Commandments legislation to immigration theology, from Christian influencers to monetized faith — this episode wrestles with what it means to follow Jesus in a world driven by outrage, clicks, and cultural division. Along the way, we explore: Why “rage bait” may define our digital ageWhether Bad Bunny is “un-American” (and what that even means)The performative spirituality behind posting the Ten Commandments in schoolsA theological showdown between Speaker Mike Johnson and Rev. Dr. William Barber IIIThe tension Christian influencers face when monetization collides with compassionPaul’s call to kenosis — self-emptying — in a culture obsessed with self-securingAt its heart, this conversation asks: Are we pursuing faithfulness… or just managing anxiety? Are we building the Kingdom… or protecting our own? It’s thoughtful. It’s honest. It’s occasionally sarcastic.

    44 min

  6. FEB 6

    Episode 221: Bobby Wooley

    In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Bobby Wooley shares his journey from addiction and recovery to faithful service, and now, to receiving a stage four cancer diagnosis. With honesty, humor, and hope, Bobby reflects on the people who became “Jesus with skin on,” the tools faith and recovery have given him, and what it means to face suffering without fear or denial.This episode is not about easy answers or quick fixes. It’s about gratitude in the midst of hardship, borrowing light when your own feels dim, and learning to take life one faithful step at a time. Whether you’re walking through grief, recovery, illness, or uncertainty, Bobby’s story is a reminder that none of us walk alone and that God is still at work, even here.

    54 min

  7. JAN 30

    Episode 220: News, Doomscrolling, and Faithful Formation

    In this episode, John and Matt explore why public statements often soothe anxiety more than they create transformation, and why the Christian response to a broken world may be less about declarations and more about formation, lament, and embodied faith. Drawing from Scripture, systems theory, baptismal vows, and real stories from the life of the church, they ask a deeper question: What if the statement isn’t something we release but something we live? This conversation covers: Why cause and effect are rarely immediate or simple The difference between declarative statements and communal discernment Baptismal vows as the church’s enduring public witness The biblical language of lament and why we’ve lost it How outrage and doomscrolling shape our souls What it looks like to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in real, tangible ways Rather than forming communities of loathing, we’re invited back to the radical, costly love of Jesus - a love that resists cheap answers, refuses performative faith, and chooses faithful presence over instant reactions.

    59 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    Episode 219: PASTORS ON CHRISTMAS EVE

    In this festive and hilarious year-end episode, John welcomes Executive Pastor Josef Klam to close out 2025 with a conversation full of humor, honesty, and heart. From family traditions to church logistics to the emotional weight of changing long-held rituals, this episode dives into why Christmas is both magical and mildly chaotic for pastors and why it still matters so deeply. John and Joseph swap stories about Christmases past, what happens when a printer accidentally mails last year’s Christmas Eve service times (yes, including the nonexistent 9 PM service), and how sacred rhythms get disrupted and sometimes healed over time. They explore the grief that can accompany change, the beauty of new seasons in the church, and the hilarious realities of ministry life, including late-night toy assembly, drum sets for toddlers, and why Santa is absolutely still real.

    32 min
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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
    229
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Stephens/Matt Russell
  • Show Website
    Pod Have Mercy

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