Extraordinary: God's Uncommon Works: Recent Episodes
First Church of the Nazarene
God does uncommon work in common life. Recognizing God's work requires intentionality, but articulating it motivates and inspires.
We celebrate our 100th and final episode. Each episode has reminded us that God is alive and active in the lives of His followers. Don’t forget to keep looking for Extraordinary!
We look back at the last ninety-eight episodes. I have said many times that each episode has been fun and inspirational. The point I hope this podcast has made is that God is moving in the lives of His people. That is always worth pursuing.
Martin and Cezi Glendenning share how God has shaped and guided their lives for service for Him.
P.S. Here are a few links to connect further with the Glendennings: Subscribe to their newsletter: https://facebook.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f6d69130b40fcdd9b9047054e&id=9e417b65e7
Bio and supporting their ministry: https://store.nazarene.org/pledge/glendenning
Supporting the Ministry Center in Croatia: https://give.nazarene.org/donate/central-europe-zagreb-ministry-center
Our clothing (b1Bless) and food (b1Neighbor) ministries seek to fulfill Jesus’ command in Matthew 25 to serve our world. Jesus calls us to serve which and we can do that by matching our gifts and passions with the needs of the world. How are you impacting the world for Jesus?
Amanda Smalley shares about her work as the Executive Director of the Burlington Area Homeless. The Homeless Shelter seeks to treat residence with dignity while also helping them get back on their feet by providing a safe place to stay, food, and connecting them to resources in the community.
P.S. To connect further with the Burlington Area Homeless Shelter, check out their
Website: https://burlingtonareahomelessshelter.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/burlingtonareahomelessshelter/
Roger Pross was transformed by Jesus and is now a pastor working to help others experience the transforming work of Jesus.
It is often during challenges that God helps us grow the most, and we must not allow challenges to hold us back.
No matter the worldly limitations you encounter, Jesus can provide a way for His Good News to be shared and received. Victory is always possible with Jesus!
Nothing can prepare a parent to lose a child, and it is not something you “get over.” Recognizing God willingly gave His Son so that we might have eternal life can provide hope even in dark times.
Jesus knows your past, and He still wants you. Through Jesus, our lives can be transformed so our past no longer needs to define us. Instead, we can be defined by our present and future that is in Jesus.
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, Jesus has given you passions. How can you use your passions for God’s glory and allow your life to reflect the grace you have received?
We might not always know the plans God has for us, but we can be confident God has a plan and His plan is perfect.
Everyone is created to do the works God has prepared for us in advance to do. How has Jesus gifted you, and what has Jesus called you to do? We are all called to serve.
Marcus Whitworth shares how God has renewed his passion and given him a new vision. His enthusiasm is undeniable as he shares about his heart for reaching people for Jesus.
Church is more than a social club. What does it look like to have a deeply personal relationship with Jesus?
Teresa Bishop has been reminded time and time again that God will never leave nor forsake us. No matter your actual or perceived limitations, God can use you and is preparing you for His plans.
God called Olbin and Alshandra Visage to leave their comfortable lifestyle in South Africa to serve at Cactus Nazarene Ministries.
To connect further with the Compassionate Ministry Center in Cactus, TX, here are a few links:
Website: http://www.cactusministries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CactusNazarene
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgyzoB5D2TiBuP58_orvuQ?view_as=subscriber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cactusnazareneministries/
Larry Derry shares about the organization called “Build a Bed” that provides beds to children ages 3-17. It is a tangible way to show the love of Jesus in our world.
For more information on Build-a-Bed, you can check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1181483075974564 or email them at buildabedburlington@gmail.com
Any donations can be sent to:
First Christian Church
1221 Park Ave
Burlington, IA 52601
Following Jesus is more than volunteering in various ministries and events. There are many who are around church and faith activities, but there is a difference between being in close to proximity to Jesus and being right with Jesus.
Regardless of where life takes you, God has called you to impact others for him. Extending kindness, hospitality, and the love of Jesus is often done in the little things and requires intentionality.
For over 25 years, the church has grown and sold sweetcorn to support local, national, and global missions. In today's episode, we hear stories from sweetcorn over the years.
Even when faced with difficult circumstances, God is preparing us for His purposes and can transform our trials into His triumphs.
Andrew and Jenna Stout share about their missionary work in New Zealand and Australia, their call to missions, and how follower of Christ is called to participate in God’s work in this world.
Everyone has moments in life that bring doubt. No matter our circumstances, God can see us through.
God prepares us for the work He has planned for us. The choice is yours to choose Jesus or not.
Jesus doesn’t just see the problems in our lives…He also sees how to “fix” them. Jesus’ goal is not to condemn but redeem.
Peggy Griffin shares how God has used her passion to impact others for Jesus. Who has Jesus created you to be and how can you use what He has given you to impact others?
Cade Moberg explored what it looked like to take ownership of his faith. In researching the claims of other world religions, he was drawn to the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Matt Vail shares how God broke down barriers in his life to prepare him for ministry as well as the barriers God broke down throughout his ministry.
The Gospel is confrontational in the sense that it calls us to a decision. We either choose Jesus or we do not choose Jesus.
Eric Schilling is the director of Young House Family Services in Burlington and Mount Pleasant, Iowa that provides behavioral and mental services to families and children. Young House seeks to come along side children and teens to meet them where they are to help them grow and develop in healthy ways.
P.S. For more information on Young House, check them out here…
Website: https://www.younghouse.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/younghousefamilyservices
No matter your life setting, Jesus calls His followers to serve others in His name. Serving is not always easy but putting others before yourself displays Jesus’ love in tangible ways.
God created you to be you…flaws in all. Our emotions, personality leanings, and the way we perceive the world can be used for the glory of Jesus. The uniqueness in which God created us adds to the beauty of the church.
Dan Arnold shares about his spiritual upbringing and life in ministry. Being obedient to Christ often requires us to do things we wouldn’t otherwise do. The sacrifices and risks Dan has taken in his life have been filled with God’s blessings even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Michelle Vail and Kierstin Boak share how their passions for coffee, people, and Jesus overlap and led them to their coffee shop at 314 Jefferson called, First Crossing.
For more information on First Crossing, you can check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/First-Crossing/100087175827621/
Even when faced with uncertainties, God can provide as His provisions are not dependent on our worldly circumstances. Following God requires we work hard and trust Him.
Even things do not always work out as we planned, God will help see us through. Keeping focused on Jesus can help us overcome any obstacles we might encounter in life.
Tim Carter shares how God directed his journey that led him to change colleges, adjust his career, and was ultimately filled with God’s grace.
God is not intimidated by our questions, and in the midst of questions, we can find Jesus.
We look back on the first year of the podcast recognizing everyone has a story because of Jesus. Jesus invites His followers to participate in His mission which is never dull.
Jim Cary shares how he is serving the community as a school bus driver and county supervisor. No matter your abilities and life setting, Jesus has uniquely gifted and positioned you to impact others for him.
The Church is a place for everyone to encounter Jesus. Everyone. When the Church does not make space for someone, they will search for fulfillment somewhere else. This is why the Church must connect with and make space for teenagers.
In a society structured by the “survival of the fittest,” what does it look like to extend Jesus’ grace? Grace can break down barriers and create authentic relationships in everyday lives.
Keith Koresko shares his passion for farming and tractors while recognizing God’s grace in his life. No matter life’s situations, we can rest in the promise that God has gone before.
Andrew Oldfield shares about finding Jesus in high school, his military career, and his work as a hospital chaplain. In every season of life, Jesus met Andrew where he was, and Jesus calls us to meet people where they are as well.
Christian Roundtree shares how he has benefited from being stretched through various experiences, and how that has helped him discover his passions.
Even when life is not going as planned, we can be comforted in the fact that God is working. No matter what you are going through, God has not forgotten you.
Jesus does not call us to be spectators. He calls us to be active participants in the work He is doing in the world today. The ministry of Rescue Hill in Arlington, TX works to make a difference one person at a time.
To connect further with Rescue Hill, check out their:
Website: https://rescuehill.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rescuehill/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescue_hill/
Jesus calls us to minister to individual people. In doing so, we avoid the temptation to group people or situations into broad categories that cause misrepresentation often propagated by politics and the media. What does it look like to show the love of Jesus to the individual?
Jesus calls us to minister to individual people. In doing so, we avoid the temptation to group people or situations into broad categories that cause misrepresentation often propagated by politics and the media. What does it look like to show the love of Jesus to the individual?
For connect further with the Compassionate Ministry Center in Cactus, TX, here are a few links:
Website: http://www.cactusministries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CactusNazarene
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgyzoB5D2TiBuP58_orvuQ?view_as=subscriber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cactusnazareneministries/
Panhandle Gives: https://www.thepanhandlegives.org/
The quality of life is often connected to the health of your relationships with others. From a faith perspective, the people you surround yourself with can provide encouragement and strength to persevere.
Levi Moberg shares about his calling into the ministry and educational experience as he works to prepare to pursue this calling. This calling has changed and shifted along the way, but God provides during every step.
God knows what we need and when we need it, and what we think we want might not be what we need. Even though life’s difficult moments, we can have an encounter with Jesus that will be life changing.
The church must understand why it exists and allow that why to direct what and inform how ministry is done.
Each person is created in the image of God. Recognizing this fundamental Truth impacts our interaction with others.
Youth For Christ seeks to connect and invest in the lives of students to create and build a foundation in Jesus.
For more information about Youth For Christ Southeast Iowa, check out their website (https://yfc.net/chapter/yfc-southeast-iowa/) or their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/yfcseiowa/).
No matter where you are, God is not done with you. God invites you to participate in the work He is doing in the world right now.
Faith starts with submitting our desires to Jesus. When we do this, we can fulfill Jesus’ calling with our God given passions. If we don’t advocate for the oppressed, marginalized, or forgotten, they will continue to be oppressed, marginalized, or forgotten.
God is alive and active in our world today. No matter the situation you encounter, Jesus can free you from anything that seeks to bind.
To catch her full testimony, listen here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/10682497/20220724-sunamservice_1
Obedience to God includes your passions, and it also includes discipline. It is essential to explore the calling has for us, and God has a calling for everyone.
To connect with Jamison, check out his church's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Mount-Pleasant-Pilgrim-Nazarene-Church-105002081869218
Even when life does not work out the way we want, Jesus is drawing us to Him. Through any sacrifice God calls us to make, He proves faithful every step of the way.
There is a difference between wanting the “benefits” of Jesus and submitting to Jesus. Many try to follow Jesus half-heartedly, but Jesus requires we give of ourselves completely to Him.
Even when our environment is not conducive to Jesus, we can still grow in His grace. Prayer, reading your Bible, and gathering with other followers of Jesus are fundamental but foundational.
When we look back, we can see how God prepared us for where we are now. God is preparing is now for the future. Stay connected to God, and He will show you the way.
Every person is created in the image of God. During His ministry, everyone Jesus encountered was treated with dignity and respect. Jesus shows us how we are to treat others, regardless of how society views them.
Your life will change when you completely seek Jesus. When we seek Jesus together healing and reconciliation will follow.
Identify your passions and allow Jesus to use them. Your commitment to Jesus is not to be burdensome, but Jesus has uniquely gifted and position to have an impact others for Him!
The experiences of our lives can prepare us for God to use us to impact others. Joyce Doyle shares her passion for caring for others and how God’s grace shaped her from an early age.
After being in full-time ministry for over forty-five years, Kim Smith shares his perspective on the difficulties and opportunities the church has. Asking the right question is key to make sure we stay on mission.
The people who invest in us prepare us for what is to come. These investments may seem small, but they can pay huge dividends when life’s obstacles come our way.
No matter your age, Jesus makes space for you. The Church can only fulfill its calling when it works to make space for everyone. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, Jesus wants you.
Serving Jesus is to be part of who we are. We might not always be perfect but serving Jesus will impact others and ourselves.
God prepares us. Sometimes preparation is years or decades in advance, but God knows what He is doing.
We all have ways we can impact others for Jesus. It is a matter of allowing our gifts, talents, and interests to display Jesus. Jesus created you to be you, and who you are can impact others for Him!
To stay up-to-date with Heartland Hope Link, like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Heartland-Hope-Link-240028526020575/?ref=page_internal
Don’t miss the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 5 at 6pm hosted by the West Hill United Methodist Church at 550 S. Leebrick in Burlington, IA.
Who you are is who God created you to be. God has uniquely gifted and positioned you to impact others for Him. We must have the courage to take advantage of the opportunities God afford us.
Obedience to God often brings big changes in life. No matter God’s calling, Charlie Corns shares how it is worth it. God’s calling is not arbitrary, and it is not always easy…but following God’s call is worth it.
Traumatic experiences cause deep wounds, but Jesus can provide healing. Healing is a difficult, long journey, but it is possible.
Has the Church lost its voice in the culture? Many claim it has, and many blame the culture for the Church’s diminished voice. People are searching for something. The Church must revitalize the responsibility to share the hope of Jesus.
How can we honor Jesus in places that do not naturally honor Him? Most places are at best indifferent to Jesus, but we are called to impact others with His love. We can have this positive impact regardless of the surroundings.
What does it mean to worship God? Meaningful worship rarely happens by accident, but we also cannot control it. To worship God requires we focus on Him. It is not about the worshiper; it is about the one being worshiped.
The prosperity Gospel convinces us God will provide us with monetary blessings. God’s provisions might not always be exactly what we thought, but He always provides. Receiving God’s provisions might require sacrifice and hard work, but His blessings are worth it.
God can call use to do wild and crazy things. Unrooting our lives can be difficult and terrifying, but a life of obedience is worth it. Often, receiving God’s provisions requires obedience and humility.
There is no easy way to process grief, but it is something we must do. Through Scriptures and the grace of God, we can overcome the grief in our lives, not to forget the pain, but to discover how to move forward.
When we have been hurt deeply, how do we forgive? Jesus first forgave us which gives us the ability to forgive others. Forgiveness does not require the offender seek reconciliation, but through forgiveness, a burden can be lifted from us.
Who you are is who God made you to be. No matter your perceived limitations, God can help you thrive and use you for His purposes.
Our environment does not dictate our outcomes. Even if you have difficulties around you, God can help you preserve and thrive through them. The power of Jesus can help you overcome anything you encounter.
Mark Watterson shares how God is often working in the background even when we cannot see it. No matter the obstacles or setbacks we encounter, God can use them for His purposes.
Kathy Clark shares how God brought her though a difficult time in her life and how that impacted her spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Bill Ioerger discusses the concept of transformation. Through Jesus Christ, he experienced transformation and desires for others to experience it as well. But we are never done. We are all a work in progress relying on the grace of Jesus.
Delores Plummer shares part of her spiritual journey and how her life has been impacted through the church.