Metro District Sights & Sounds: Recent Episodes
Metro District of the United Methodist Church
Welcome to the Metro District Sights and Sounds Podcast, a conversation designed to equip, challenge and assist individual leaders, and organizations to shift, RE-set, THRIVE, and LEAD "Through Uncharted Territories."
A conversation with Becky Yates and Rev. Paul Craig from Matthews United Methodist Church, on how they are responding to mental health in the church through the ministry of "For Minds and Hearts." Take a listen to how they are equipping communities through education, resources and developing mental health toolboxes in the local church context.
May is Mental Health Awareness month. On May 7, 2023 Matthews UMC is presenting "Depression: Out of the Darkness and Into the Light" featuring Dr. Daniel Hale, psychologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hale will share personal and professional insights on the intersection of the faith community and mental health. Dr. Hale and his colleagues have developed a program called the Congregational Depression Awareness Program for utilization by faith communities. Dr. Hale will speak at the 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., services followed by a free lunch (registration required) and another presentation by Dr. Hale.
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 21% of Americans (52.6 million people) experienced a mental illness in 2020; however, less than half of them received treatment. A 2022 CDC report showed that 37% of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health, 44.2% reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and 19.9% reported seriously considering suicide. Mental Health America's research shows that North Carolina ranks 39th in access to mental health care.
Resources NationWide Suicide and Crisis number - 988
National Alliance of Mental Illness - NAOMI Program: "In Our Own Voice"
A conversation on Mental Health and the youth of our communities, with three pastors in the Metro District. Listen to their stories as they sound the Clarion Call to listen, hear, learn, from our youth and equip leaders and parents to support.
Host Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand speaks to Farah St. Jean, a Haitian-American who is an executive and community organizer supporting our Haitian neighbors and families who are refuges, living in American communities, and awaiting their Asylum hearings.
We continue our conversation with leaders in the Metro District who have long standing partnerships with leaders on the ground in Haiti, who are presently mobilizing assistance to potential Haitians seeking Asylum in the United State, along with having conversations with Haitian American to gain a greater understanding of the hope and resilience of the Haitian People and how the church can respond.
Joining us today is Dr. Maklin Eugene, the founder of New Hope Hospital in Plaine-Du-Nord. Dr. Malkin was born in a rural section of Haiti called Matabonite. After finishing his studies in Northern Haiti, Dr. Eugene was instrumental in providing relief to earthquake survivors in 2010 securing food, and medications for the needy. He also organized missions trips with his team from New Hope Hospital to assist and offer aide to the earthquake victims in the very rural areas underserved areas of Haiti.
A conversation w/ Rev. Dr. Laura Alexander-Elliott, a United Methodist clergy in Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is presently under appointment by the Bishop in WNCC in extension ministry as the is the Executive Director of Soaring Unlimited Haiti.Ordinary people doing extraordinary work. How the Church is addressing the Haitian Crisis.
Executive Director for Partners 4 New Hope inc.A life long United Methodist Lay person transforming a lives with our neighbors in Haiti.
Dr. Peter Storey is former president of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, past president of the South African Council of Churches, and was Methodist Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area for 13 years. A native South African with a 60+ year track record in urban and Justice ministry, Professor Storey founded a network of crisis intervention centers in South Africa in the 1960s and served as chaplain to Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners on Robben Island.
In the 1980s he became a national leader in the church struggle against apartheid and co-led an ecumenical delegation to the United Nations, the U.S. Congress and Europe. Committed to non-violence and reconciliation, Professor Storey founded the Methodist Order of Peacemakers and Gunfree South Africa, he co-chaired the regional Peace Accord, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by President Nelson Mandela. He presented the Franklin S. Hickman Lectures at Convocation & Pastors’ School at Duke Divinity School in 1987. The Peter Storey Papers document Storey’s leadership.
We discuss what it means for the Church to be in Ministry with God’s world.
Resources
Books:
- Storey, Peter. With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship. Abington Press. 2002
- Storey, Peter. Protest at Midnight: Ministry in a Nations Darkest Hour
- And are We Yet Alive? Revisioning our Wesleyan Heritage in a New Southern Africa (Methodist Publishing House, Cape Town, 2004)
- Listening at Golgotha (Upper Room, 2004).
Articles:
- The Fig Tree: South African retired bishop challenges American congregations. https://www.thefigtree.org/sept05/090105storey-churches.html
- Peter Storey papers, 1950-2014. https://archives.lib.duke.edu/catalog/storeyp
Music by - Lucas Britt - “TBD Lucas and Z”
A conversation with Rev. Ellis Carson, Pastor of Ceila Phelps UMC, a 116 year old congregation of the United Methodist Church, in Western North Carolina. We unpack the now and the rebuilding process, after facing a devastating 3:00 a.m. fire on August 6, 2021.
A call to action from the community and the connectional church to support financially, and cards/letters of hope and encouragement as Pastor Ellis and the people of Ceila Phelps Memorial UMC journeys “Through these Uncharted Territories.” We believe they will rise from the ashes, to impact their communities in fresh, new and innovative ways, like the Phoenix.
Resources
To help support the rebuilding efforts at Ceila Phelps UMC, please click here or sent your donations to the address below:
Ceila Phelps UMC
℅ Rev. Ellis Carson
3709 Groometown Road
Greensboro, NC 27407
A conversation with Rev. Dan Pezet, the new Metro District Superintendent in the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church, about leading and triving through these Uncharted Territories as the church.
The Metro District is the largest district out of the eight in WNCC. The general population, according to the NC census, is the most diverse population in North Carolina. The question we must ask ourselves as the church, and as leaders in our communities, How do TRIVE, Pivot, Re-set through these Uncharted Territories into the global NEW Normal? - Culturally, Economically, Innovatively, Justice and Equity, closing the gaps that divide us.
Visit the Metro District of the Western North Carolina Conference UMC here.
Miriam Swanson, is a leader within Fusion, a movement born out of the United Kingdom. Over twenty years ago, the pioneers of Fusion were gathering to pray for a move of God amongst the exploding university student population, spurred on by the clear need to reach 18s-30s who were largely not connected to church. From these prayer meetings, Fusion was born. Fusion helps local churches reach college students, and helps college students find hope in Jesus and home in the local church. They equip youth ministry leaders to prepare their high school leavers for college and transition them in faith and life as they enter young adulthood. They train churches, young adult leaders and student leaders to be the missional body of Christ to universities, colleges, and community colleges, to discover what it really means to be imitators of Christ and share the love of Jesus with others. Miriam is passionate about MISSION, YOUNG ADULTS and LOVING our NEIGHBORS, which doesn't stop in high school but goes throughout college and beyond. She has served in Europe for the past ten years, now living in Jacksonville Florida, with plans of setting up Fusion partnerships thought out the USA. What can you learn from the Fusion Ministries?
Resource links:
Fusion's main website: https://www.fusionmovement.org
Miriam's blog series on the US church & young adults: "Lessons from a European student worker"
Student Linkup and preparation for university: https://www.studentlinkup.org
and obviously social media: https://www.instagram.com/hellofusionmovement/
A candid conversation with the National Coordinators of Black Methodists for Church Renewal Inc., leaders, Rev. Antoine "Tony" Love, and Ms. Deborah Bass. Joining the conversation is the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church BMCR Coordinator, and Metro District new church start pastor, Rev.Charlie Rivens. The conversation centers and engages the questions, "Why was BMCR important (history) for the merger with Evangelical United Brethren church, the Methodist church and the Central Jurisdiction Black Methodists? How are we doing now? (present), and What's Next for BMCR (future) and the United Methodist Church, as we serve One God, serve the mission of the Kingdom, and live fully into being the church God called into existence?
A conversation with Rev. Kyle Thompson states, for 20 years, Sharon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, faced declining membership, and community engagement, despite its location being one of Charlotte’s fastest-growing, upscale communities, where the church was across the street from the luxurious SouthPark mall.
So when the leadership began to discuss renovating the building, with its distinctive “ski-slope steeple”, the Rev. Kyle began to think even bigger. “What if we could create an environment where we would do life together, where sacred and secular would intersect, where we could be the soul of SouthPark?” he said. “What if we could start from scratch?”- Re-Launch
Resources
- Smart Church Solutions
https://www.smartchurchsolutions.com
Tim Cool, Chief Solutions Officer
This is our owner's representative and project manager. Have been with us from the beginning, guiding us through the process. Great resource for churches looking to clarify a vision and/or to pursue the vision logistically - especially regarding buildings, property, mixed-use, etc.
- Childress Klein Properties
www.childressklein.com
Chris Thomas, Partner: chris.thomas@childressklein.com
Our development partners
- Choate Construction
https://www.choateco.com
Our builder
- Lodestar Law: Commercial Real Estate
https://lodestarlaw.com
Suzanne Schaffer: suzanne@lodestarlaw.com
Our attorney
- Picnic Table Productions
https://www.picnictablevideo.com
We contract with them to make our videos.
- Generis
www.generis.com
Alan Wildes: alan@generis.com
Our capital campaign consultant
- First United Methodist Church, Chicago (The Chicago Temple)
https://www.chicagotemple.org
The church owns its own skyscraper, in which the church is housed. We learned a lot from them.
A conversation with Rev. Dr. Nancy Rankin. We started the 2020 New Year, with every faith community in the WORLD, I hope, having a Mission Statement, A FRESH 2020 Vision, and A Plan of Engagement, ready to forge ahead into this NEW Decade. Then the world paused, due to the destructive GLOBAL PANDEMIC, the new narrative arose in America: ESSENTIAL Vs. NON-Essential workers and the word Sheltering in Place. I am grateful for - front line essential workers. Then the faith communities, we were called to Shelter in Place, the Doors of our physical buildings were closed, BUT we the people, remained open and active. The questions and topics that were discussed during my coaching conversations throughout the Metro District with local church leaders and community leaders have been, how do w PIVOT into this New NORMAL? How do we transition through these PHASES of re-opening? How do we become RELEVANT and AGILE at the same time? WHAT’S NEXT for MINISTRY. All these answers and more on today's podcast.
Resources
Jim Harnish, You Only Have To Die: Leading Your Congregations to New Life.
Will Mancini, God Dreams: 12 Vision Templates ForFinding Focus.
Susan Beaumont, How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You Are Going.
Bob Farr, Renovate Or Die
David Cooperrider (Author), Diana D. WhitneyAppreciate Inquire: A Positive Revolution to Change
A conversation with Erin Hawkins - General Secretary of The Commission on Religion and Race a Global Agency of The United Methodist Church. Ms. Hawkins during our conversation pertaining to membership stated, “We want people to believe, in order to belong. But what if we started creating places of belonging, in order to bring people to a place of believing?”
This past week on our three part podcast series of Leading Through Uncharted Territories - Race, Racism and the Church's Clarion Call to Action. We’ve had “Truth Talk” and I am grateful for the feedback, the calls, text, email of our African Americans siblings saying thank you, some of our Anglo siblings saying we don’t know what to do, others saying I’m ready to listen and hear the historical and present narratives, while still others challenge the language of Black Lives Matter, and inserting ALL lives Matter, and yet others saying all lives matter when Black Lives Matter - George Floyd . Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Mother Emmanuel AME Church, Tamir Rice, and the list goes on and on. - The risk and challenges of reconciling, repentance, cultural shifts, trust issues, because of the historical atrocities of sin.
Where do we go from here? What does it mean to be the church? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Siblings, together we can discover in our diverse world, how we can pivot in our local churches and institutions, so that collaboratively, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can impact our communities and the world into becoming just and equitable societies for ALL people.
Resources:
General Commission on Religion and Race
Deconstructing White Privilege
Continued Struggle in American Race Relations
The Continued Struggle in American Race Relations
Racial Justice Conversation Guides
In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC. The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "The son of man will judge the nations. Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much Kingdom work to be done. Who's in? Contact Dr Stephanie Moore Hand, shand@wnccumc.org
OUR GUEST:
Dr. Mark DeYmaz, recognized leader in the Multi-ethnic Church Movement in America. He is the “Directional Leader" of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas. Mark co-founded the Mosaix Global Network with Dr. George Yancey and today serves as its president, and convener of the triennial National Multi-ethnic Church Conference. Mark has written six books including his latest, Disruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the Community (Thomas Nelson, March 2017); and Multiethnic Conversations: an Eight Week Guide to Unity in Your Church (Wesleyan Publishing House, October 2016).
Resources:
Be The Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison
Building a Healthy Multi Ethnic Church, by Mark Demaz
Multiethnic Conversation, by Mark DeYmaz
Divided By Faith by Michael Emerson
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
White Awake: An onset Look at What it Means to be White by Daniel Hill
In light of the murder of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery - South Georgia, Breonna Taylor- Kentucky, the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre - Charleston SC. The protest, the riots and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, that it is not my problem, I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, "the son of man will judge the nations." Each person individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. There is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in? Contact Dr Stephanie Moore Hand, shand@wnccumc.org
OUR GUEST:
- Rev. Junius Dotson A nationally recognized leader, speaker, and author. He is presently the General Secretary (chief executive officer) of Discipleship Ministries, an international agency of The United Methodist Church an organization with a staff of more than 130. Rev. Dotson is the author of Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books). Dotson was Senior Pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, where he was instrumental in transforming the 3,500-member church into a multi-campus congregation.
- Dr. Lovett Weems Jr., recognized leaders in the United Methodist Church in America. He is a relevant, distinguished professor of church leadership and senior consultant of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Weems was the founding director of the Lewis Center in 2003, coming to the position after 18 years as president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Prolific leaders with a passion.
Resources:
Kendi, Ibram X. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. New York: Nation Books, 2016.
Williams, Chad, Kidada E. Williams, and Keisha N. Blain, eds. Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism, and Racial Violence. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2016.
Jennings, Willie James. The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2010.
Lovett, Weems jr., High Yield: Seven Disciplines of the Fruitful Leader (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2014
Lovett, Weems jr., Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2013
Lovett, Weems jr., Focus: The Real Challenges Facing The United Methodist Church, Abingdon Press, 2012
Lovett, Weems jr., Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results (with Tom Berlin), Abingdon Press, 2011
A conversation In light of the murder of of George Floyd - Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery South Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre in Charleston SC. The protests, the riots, and the list goes on and on. As difficult as it has become, as Christians we must speak truth about race, racism in America, and how the Church can no longer be silent, sit on the sidelines, believe that there is not a problem, say that is not my problem, say I didn’t cause this problem etc… As people of God, each of us has a mandate on our lives by God. Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us all, The Son of Man will judge the nations. Each of us, individually, and collectively will have to answer to our response to the clarion call. Siblings, there is much kingdom work to be done. Who's in? Contact Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand, shand@wnccumc.org
OUR GUEST:
Dr. Elaine Heath's interdisciplinary scholarly work is focused on, integrating pastoral, biblical, and spiritual theology, bridging the gap between academy, church, and world. Healing trauma, emergent forms of Christianity, and alternative forms of theological education for the church. Heath served as Dean of the Duke University Divinity School, McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, and Southern Methodist University. She is a pioneer and co-founder of the Missional Wisdom Foundation, Neighborhood Seminary, a contextualized model of missional theological education for laity. Heath is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and served in pastoral ministry prior to her academic ministry.
Rev. Dr. Fatimah S. Salleh was born in Brooklyn, NY to a Puerto-Rican and Malaysian mother and an African American father. She is the eldest of seven. Dr. Salleh received her Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a Master’s degree from Syracuse University in Public Communication and a second Master’s in Divinity from Duke University. She also served on the staff of Duke University. She is married to Eric Sorensen and they have four children: Micah, Xavier, Ronin and Zora Grace. She is the founder of A Certain Work, an organization dedicated to educating on issues of faith, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Resources:
"Stamped from the Beginning" by Ibram Kendi
"The People's History" by Howard Zinn
"Sisters in the Wilderness" by Delores Williams
"Freedom's Daughters" by Lynne Olsen
“The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear” by William Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
“White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism,” by Robin DeAngelo,
Racial Equity Institute - https://www.racialequityinstitute.com/
Music: Lucas Britt
A conversation with Rev. Monica Humpal and Rev. Emily Kroeger. Because Covid-19 has forced the world to shelter in place, and although each state, has begun the opening Phase 1 and Phase 2 process, SPIRITUAL FORMATION has shifted from the church buildings to where ever people are sheltered in place together. During my coaching conversations with leaders has been how to shift, pivot, and re-focus through these Uncharted Territories into our global New NORMAL. Rev. Monica and Rev. Emily and I will have a conversation focused on family ministry and how to engage so that families are equipped to deepen their faith and navigate effectively into the Uncharted territories of WHAT'S NEXT, in our new world of being.
Contact Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand
Resources
Communicating w/ Youth: www.fulleryouthinstitute.com Waxhaw UMC: www.waxhawumc.com www.group.com Families & Professionals Regarding ADD/ADHA: www.chadd.org Unafraid: Living w/ Courage & Hope in Uncertain Times: www.adamhamilton.com Families w/ toddler - 5th grade: https://willchapumc.org/grow/wckhome Family Devotions Pastor Jan Brittian: https://willchapumc.org/grow/familydevotions.html Music by: Lucas Britt
A conversation with Rev Rhonda Hermann, associate pastor at Blair Road United Methodist Church pertaining to Navigating Family Ministry @Home and making it an intentional part of our everyday lives, not just when the doors of the church are closed.
Resources
SparkHouse Story Book Bible - https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/promos/family-sun- day-school/
Pray and Play Bible - https://playandpray.net/
Eugene Patterson for Bible for Children - A Devotional for Kids
Blair Road Website- http://www.blairroadumc.org/
A Conversation with Jay Cobb, executive director of Sanctuary Counseling Group a faith based organization that specializes in bringing healing to the mind, heart and spirit by providing excellent emotional, spiritual and relational health care to people in the communities we serve. Our goal is to offer each client a safe place without judgement or shame. We walk with them where ever they are in the journey without any expectations. Our 14 therapist are from various religious, cultural, and educational backgrounds. Overall, our counselors work with the population in general, but each one offers their own expertise ranging from couples, teens, children, men, women, abuse, trauma, grief, child loss, marriage, parenting, addiction, and peri-natal trauma to name a few. We see people of all faith walks including non-believers and those whom have not decided yet. Because of our history and past connection to the United Methodist Church, we believe that a large part of our work is pastors with many of our therapist being pastors themselves.
Resources
Books:
- Finding Meaning: the 6th Stage of Grief, by David Kessler
- Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, by David Kessler and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
Counseling Centers:
Sanctuary Counseling Group
Sanctuary Counseling Group Central Office
The Terry Building
1801 East Fifth Street, Suite 110
Charlotte, NC 28204
Instagram, YouTube
Atrium Behavioral Health Charlotte, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center : 501 Billingsley Road; Charlotte, NC 28211
Music by - Lucas Britt -
A Conversation with Ray Shawn McKennon, Pastor of South Tyron Community Church - a United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC that serves the Brookhill and Southside communities, now called SouthEnd. There are over 300 of our sisters and brothers who are on the spectrum of low economic income, with 1/3 being children who live there. Our conversation is centered around what role should the church play in the Affordable Housing crisis, how should the church imagine a society where no one is forced to make life work, on $25, 000 yr - for a family four, 30% (AMI income), and how does the church engage to find solutions to this crisis. After all we do live in the wealthiest nation on the planet? Just Systems?! Profit Margins?! Gap Funding?! The Good News?! Investment?! Faith!
“Let’s Find a way to Get to YES!”
Resources:
Information on the New Brookhill Development Project; A Section at the New Brookhill Site: https://www.newbrookhill.com/questions
A Call to Action: Please email Charlotte City Council members and the Mayor of Charlotte to simply convey that you are supportive.
The New Brookhill Affordable Housing initiative and you want Brookhill Project to be apart of the Charlotte City Funding Projects. The Charlotte City Council will Vote on April 27, 2020.
Link to the Council Members email with their phone numbers: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dt__66C9PTExpHsisZyYAqaIqtwxq5n6AO6__7276 po/edit?usp=sharing
TRUTH - The sentiment of the Charlotte City Council meeting, April 13, 2020 was…
“Let’s Find a way to get to, YES!” #TheNewBrookhillinitative
Music by - Tyris Williams -
A conversation with Rev. David Hockett, Metro District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, in Western North Carolina. Unpacking the essentials of being the church, and leading the church during Holy Week, having Easter Sunday in our homes and “Through Uncharted Territories,” to the other side.
Resources from Podcast
-
NT Wright article link: Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus.
-
https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/
-
John Wesley - “Thoughts upon Methodism”
-
I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.
-
Jaroslav Pelikan
-
“Much of what we seem to associate with church is not really church. It’s just stuff we like. “Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. And, I suppose I should add, it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name.”
Scriptural References
- Psalm 46
- Romans 8:31-39
- John 15
- Revelation 21:1-7
Sanctuary Counseling Group: https://www.sanctuarycounselinggroup.org
Music by - Lucas Britt - “TBD Lucas and Z”
Four decades of ministry, Rev. Jan Brittain, believes leader's of the church, already have what is needed to navigate through our current reality of “Uncharted Territory.” Rev. Jan shares the importance for Christian leaders to remember that, “God is Love”, “We can’t help how we feel, but we can help what we do.” Pastor Jan also shares what she has coined as the Christian essentials to lead. Rev. Jan Brittain is a relevant, passionate leader with a heart for God and God’s people.