Means of Grace Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church
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- Religion & Spirituality
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Means of Grace, a podcast from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, equips church leaders through expertise and examples. Twice a month, we feature local experts on a variety of topics from leadership to innovation and share examples of churches in our conference reaching their communities in news ways through mission engagement, Fresh Expressions and much more.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, defined Means of Grace as the outward signs, words or actions that are the ordinary channels conveying God’s grace to the souls of people. So when we’re talking about leadership or discipleship or an outreach initiative, it’s about more than doing a program well, it’s a means of God’s grace to the world.
Rev. Kim Ingram, Rev. Luke Edwards, Jesse Enniss and Melissa McGill host. Our theme song was written and performed by Rev. Kyle Sigmon, an ordained deacon and a talented musician in Boone, NC.
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Spiritual Direction: Deepening a Relationship with God Through the Instruction of the Holy Spirit
Jesse Enniss and Kim Ingram talk with three spiritual directors, Rev. Dr. Donnell FitzJefferies from WNCC, Ms. Kris Ford from NCC, and Rev. Dr. Debbie Allen from Florida, about the practice of spiritual direction: what it is, how to access it, why it’s valuable. Learn more about how this could be a practice to enhance your relationship with God and a tool for greater spiritual growth.
Resources:
NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation
What is Spiritual Direction? – NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation (ncspiritualdirection.org)
Western North Carolina Spiritual Directors by Districts
School of Spiritual Direction Beyond Borders - Center for Bold Leadership at Hood Seminary
Spiritual Renewal Grant for Clergy and Lay Ministry Staff
Florida Conference Spiritual Directors
Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction - Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary -
Season of Lent and the Gospel of Mark: Bishop Ken Carter Interviews Dr. Clifton Black
In recognition of the Lenten season, Bishop Ken Carter interviews Dr. Clifton Black, an Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and authority on the Gospel of Mark. A native North Carolinian, Dr. Black talks about the connection the Gospel of Mark has with the Lenten season, as well as what makes it stand out from the other three Gospels of the New Testament.
Learn more about the WNCC 2024 Lenten spiritual practices. -
General Conference 2024: What You Need to Know
The Western North Carolina Conference is the host for this year's General Conference. Delegates and clergy from across the US will be in Charlotte, NC from April 23 through May 3. To get you up to speed on what you need to know before attending the conference, Rev. Kim Ingram, the conference's Director of Ministerial Services, hosts a conversation between Jennifer Davis, the first elected lay person in the WNCC delegation, and Wanda Musgraves, chair of the WNCC host committee. The conversation between these three leaders will give you all the information you need before attending this year's conference.
Click here for more information about General Conference 2024. -
Reverend Dr. Bill White and Dr. Brian Tillman Discuss Martin Luther King Jr.
To honor the 38th celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Reverend Dr. Bill White and Dr. Brian Tillman talk about the legacy of Dr. King, the state of race relations today, and what MLK would want for us in the future.
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Doing Justice Together
In this episode Luke Edwards talks with Rev. Dr. Stephanie Hand and Rev. Dr. Michael Beck about their new book, which offers a model for leading a congregation to become a place where racial equity, justice, and liberation are intrinsic to the structure and life of the church.
Register for the National Fresh Expressions UM Conference in Charlotte and be sure to use the code WNC for a discount! Learn more here: https://sites.google.com/view/nationalgathering/home
Learn more about Fresh Expressions in the Western NC Conference at https://www.wnccumc.org/FX.
Check out Michael and Stephanie's book, Doing Justice Together: https://www.cokesbury.com/Doing-Justice-Together -
An Advent Conversation with Bishop Carter
In this week’s episode, WNCC Director of Communications, Aimee Yeager, sits down with Bishop Carter as he shares and Advent and Christmas message for the Western North Carolina Conference.
As we wrap up our 2023 season, we wish you all a blessed Advent and merry Christmas. We will see you in 2024!
Customer Reviews
Lennie Washington
Thank you for these gentle guides leading us closer to God. I am grateful.
Great insight!!
Excited to hear these episodes with great insight from Western North Carolina Methodists!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for allowing us to experience what is truly going on at the border. This is an important podcast for those on both sides of this issue. Thank you for weaving scripture into this message, so that we can know what God calls us to do for our brothers & sisters.