Rev. Michael Gulker: Leap of Faith Movie Conversations (Part 2)
Release Date: 10/08/2024
Balancing the Call
Practicing Hope Podcast
What does it look like to lead with integrity — in the pulpit and at the dinner table? In this vulnerable and hopeful episode, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith and Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle reflect on the real tensions of being both ministry leaders and family members. Through laughter, honest stories, and hard-earned wisdom, they explore what it means to integrate your calling with your core identity. Together, they explore what it means to be fully human, to show up with honesty, and to lead from a place of wholeness. Whether you're a parent, pastor, or both, this conversation is a gentle...
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Competing Values in Fundraising
Practicing Hope Podcast
What do you do when funding opportunities come with tension and tough choices? In this episode on The Practicing Hope Podcast, Jess and Jeff dive into the real-life tension between staying true to your mission and accepting the money that helps make it happen. From generous gifts to gifts with strings attached, they explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate financial decisions without losing their integrity. With honest stories and practical steps, they invite you to lead with courage, even when the pressure is high. Whether you work in fundraising or just care about doing good work...
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Going Toward in Difficult Relationships
Practicing Hope Podcast
What if the difficult people in your life are also your greatest teachers? In this episode, Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle and Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith take an honest, hopeful look at what it means to lead in the midst of hard relationships. Instead of giving a formula to fix “those people,” they turn the focus inward, offering wisdom and practical tools to help leaders respond with love, boundaries, and self-awareness. From guilt bonds to compassion fatigue, they unpack the reasons difficult relationships wear us down. They explore keys to staying grounded in your identity, even when tension...
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Competing Values in Leadership
Practicing Hope Podcast
What do you do when the people you lead hold competing values? Whether it’s politics, sexuality, or the color of the sanctuary carpet, leaders are often stuck in the middle. They find themselves caught between people who love Jesus but can’t see eye to eye. In this episode, Jess and Jeff draw from real-life examples and Scripture to unpack how non-anxious leadership can change the tone of an entire community. You’ll hear stories of the power of curiosity, and how laughter, shared meals, and guiding values can help us reconnect when division threatens to pull us apart. With wisdom,...
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Paying Attention to Your Body
Practicing Hope Podcast
What if your body is trying to tell you something important? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith and Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle explore the powerful connection between our bodies, emotions, and spiritual well-being. They discuss how ignoring physical signals can impact leadership, relationships, and mental health. Whether you're a pastor or not, learning to listen to your body can lead to healing, stronger connections, and more intentional decision-making. In this episode, Tanner and Chase discuss: Our bodies send important messages, but we often ignore them to stay busy. ...
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Competing Values Within Yourself
Practicing Hope Podcast
In the first episode of our new segment, Systems and Shifts, Rev. Jess Shults and Rev. Jeffrey Munroe talk about the challenges leaders face when their personal beliefs change, but their jobs and organizations expect them to stay the same. They discuss why these internal conflicts happen and share advice on how to handle them wisely, especially when personal growth or changes in faith don’t match the values of the organization. Throughout their conversation, they talk about the difficulties of leading in Christian environments, where faith, change, and expectations often clash. Jeff also...
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The Art of Slowing Down
Practicing Hope Podcast
In a world that relentlessly pushes leaders to do more and move faster, the act of slowing down feels like a luxury we can’t afford. But in this episode, we explore why it’s not only necessary — it's essential to our spiritual and emotional flourishing. Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith and Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle share practical ways to rest, reflect, and connect more deeply with God. They offer simple ideas like setting boundaries, taking time for a Sabbath, and learning how to pause. These small changes can help us deal with the busy world without getting overwhelmed.Through personal stories...
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Pastor Kim DeLong: Leap of Faith Movie Conversations
Practicing Hope Podcast
In this episode of The Practicing Hope Podcast, Pastor Kim DeLong joins host Jenny Steele to dive into her transformative experience with the Leap of Faith movie. Through her work with the Colossian Forum, Kim learned to see conflict not as something to fear, but as a powerful tool for deeper understanding. Kim also shares the incredible story of her church’s journey through financial hardship, ultimately selling their building to an organization serving homeless families. The experience reshaped her view of what it means to be the church and highlighted the importance of reaching beyond the...
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Pastor James Stokes: Leap of Faith Movie Conversations
Practicing Hope Podcast
What does true leadership in a polarized world look like? In this episode of the Practicing Hope podcast, Jenny Steele sits down with Pastor James Stokes whose influence in Grand Rapids, Michigan spans from the pulpit to community activism. Listen in as Pastor Stokes reveals how his experiences, from navigating societal and institutional shifts to participating in groundbreaking projects like the Leap of Faith movie, have reshaped his approach to ministry and community engagement. Dr. Stokes discusses how his interactions with the other pastors in the movie challenged and expanded his views,...
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Pastor Andrew Vanover: Leap of Faith Movie Conversations
Practicing Hope Podcast
In this episode on the Practicing Hope Podcast, Jenny Steele sits down with Pastor Andrew Vanover, a participant in the Leap of Faith movie. As the pastor of Thornapple Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Andrew shares a powerful and honest look into his journey through the challenges of leading during a global pandemic, navigating church polarization, and enduring significant staff changes. Along with his pastoral experience, Andrew shares about being part of Leap of Faith. Through this process, Andrew discovered that real transformation often happens in the small, quiet spaces,...
info_outlineWhat if the key to healing a polarized world lies in the ancient wisdom of faith? In this episode on The Practicing Hope Podcast, host Jenny Steele speaks with Michael Gulker, the president of the Colossian Forum, to continue the conversation about the new movie LEAP OF FAITH. Jenny and Michael delve into the origins of the groundbreaking film project that arose from the heart of Grand Rapids, sparked by filmmaker Nicholas, who sought to document the journey of pastors grappling with deep-seated exhaustion and isolation. They reflect on the challenges these leaders faced in a world rife with division and how, through vulnerability and shared stories, they found a renewed sense of connection.
Listeners will hear about the hurdles faced by pastors, who, although eager for connection and healing, often felt exhausted and stretched thin. Michael highlights how, through this process, they discovered a surprising depth of loneliness among these leaders and the transformative power of community.
In this episode, Michael and Jenny discuss:
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Michael’s unique journey from aspiring engineer to ordained pastor and how that background has impacted his understanding of conflict in the church
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The importance of engaging conflict as an act of worship and a spiritual discipline, rather than merely a source of division
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The evolution of The Colossian Forum, highlighting its transition from hosting forums to creating curricula and offering coaching designed to guide individuals through difficult discussions on topics like faith and science
Follow The Colossian Forum on Instagram or Facebook–@colossianforum. If you’d like to receive a simple prayer, a hopeful practice, and encouragement for exhausted leaders from us, sign up for our newsletter.
To learn more about the twelve Leap of Faith pastors, visit the movie's website, leapoffaithmovie.com.