The Vital Connection: Recent Episodes
Dakotas Conference of the UMC
A podcast for church leaders to remind us that we are in this together—the great mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Directors of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, interview leaders in the church and community about their ministry experiences and share what they have learned from those experiences.
In this episode, Rev. Andy Bartel, lead pastor at St. John UMC, Anchorage, Alaska, visits with Jeff Pospisil, executive director of Finance and Administration for the Dakotas Conference about pastoral transitions. Bartel, an ordained elder of the Dakotas Conference, experienced four different appointments in six years. He shares a wealth of wisdom for pastors and churches as they experience transitions.
In this episode, Jeff Pospisil and Tom Freier discuss mentoring in the local church. Tom and Jeff were both part of First United Methodist Church of Bismarck which would later become Legacy United Methodist Church. Back around 2005, Tom invested his time in the lives of several young men of the church who would later play important roles in Legacy UMC becoming the church it is today. A great part of Tom’s story is that Tom shows how a layperson with a passion for the mission of the church and some leadership experience can greatly impact the future of a church.
Churches across the Dakotas and beyond are always asking the questions, “How can we reach people for Christ? And, “how can we connect with people who haven’t decided to walk through our doors yet?” In this 4th episode of the Vital Connection, Jason Smith, Creative Director for Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, SD, provides some insights. Smith sat down with Rebecca Trefz, Executive Director of Ministries for the Dakotas Conference, to talk about how social media can be a powerful tool in reaching people for Jesus. Relocating from Indiana to join the Embrace team about seven months ago, Smith shares his passion and wisdom that he has gained not only from his time at Embrace, one of the fastest growing United Methodist Churches in the U.S., but also from previous experience at midsize and large churches and experience in the marketing industry. Some key points from the interview include: Utilizing Social Media is about meeting people where they are. Engage people in an authentic and consistent way--utilize social media like a coffee shop, not just a billboard. Use social media to share what God is doing, not just get people to events. Always start with the Why, the Vision for your ministry and this tool's use in it. If you have questions for Jason, you can contact him at jason.smith@iamembrace.com. Click here for links to many articles about social media from United Methodist Communications: http://www.umcom.org/learn/social-networking
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In episode three of The Vital Connection, the Reverend Dr. Kent Millard, president United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and South Dakota native joins Sheri Meister, Executive Director of the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation to discuss his knowledge and the importance of generosity. He states, “I like to teach about generosity from a point of gratitude.”
"Our job as a pastor is to build relationships and give people a chance to try things out. Empower them, create a space for God to work on their passions," Pastor Charlie Moore, Sioux Falls Sunnycrest UMC. In this episode Jeff Pospisil, Executive Director of Finance and Administration interviews Moore on the keys to raising up leaders within the church.
More than a century ago, E.M. Bounds, author and Methodist clergy, wrote in the Power through Prayer, "Every mighty move of the Spirit of God has had its source in the prayer chamber." Are you ready to prayer for the mighty move of the Spirit in your life, in your church and for The United Methodist Church?
In this podcast, Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference Executive Director of Ministries, talks with Bishop Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, about the need for prayer. Ough also shares what he has learned about prayer over his years of ministry.
In this podcast, Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference Executive Director of Ministries talks with Bishop Bruce R. Ough, the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of the United Methodist Church, about the need for prayer. Ough also share about what he has learned about prayer over his years of ministry.
Two key insights from this podcast include: Radical attentiveness—Ough states, “Prayer is more about listening than it is about talking.” What impacts could attentive listening have on your prayer life? Power of staying? Prayer is about the power of staying convicted, staying calm, staying connected and staying the course.