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People Like Me: The Ministry of Inclusion and Invitation

Louisiana Now

Release Date: 04/22/2025

Leading Through the Storm: Bishop William W. Hutchinson & Rev. Don Cottrill show art Leading Through the Storm: Bishop William W. Hutchinson & Rev. Don Cottrill

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Bishop William W. Hutchinson and Rev. Don Cottrill reflect on the enormous responsibility of guiding the Louisiana...

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A United Witness:Rev. Shawn Anglim & Margaret Washington show art A United Witness:Rev. Shawn Anglim & Margaret Washington

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Born from the merger of two historically separate congregations, First Grace UMC stands as a living example of unity...

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Mapping Hope: Rev. Martha Orphe show art Mapping Hope: Rev. Martha Orphe

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rev. Martha Orphe played a central role in creating “Mission Zones” to keep ministry alive when congregations were...

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When God Calls: Rev. Kaseem & Sabrina Short show art When God Calls: Rev. Kaseem & Sabrina Short

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Katrina became a defining moment for Rev. Kaseem and Sabrina Short, awakening a call to serve in bold new ways. They...

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Three Weeks Later: Rev. Angela Bulhof & Rev. Karl Klaus show art Three Weeks Later: Rev. Angela Bulhof & Rev. Karl Klaus

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Just three weeks after Katrina, Hurricane Rita struck southwest Louisiana, forcing churches already in relief mode into...

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I Know Who: Dan Bracken show art I Know Who: Dan Bracken

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  As a teenager from Ohio, Dan Bracken’s first mission trip to Louisiana after Katrina changed the trajectory of his...

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Capturing Hope: Rev. Rob Weber & Rev. Drew Sutton show art Capturing Hope: Rev. Rob Weber & Rev. Drew Sutton

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rob Weber and Drew Sutton took cameras into the hardest-hit areas after Katrina and Rita, documenting loss and...

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Shepherding in the Storm: Rev. Ellen Alston show art Shepherding in the Storm: Rev. Ellen Alston

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rev. Ellen Alston recounts leading her congregation through the uncertainty of evacuation, the shock of loss, and the...

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Peril to Purpose: Rev. Callie Winn Crawford show art Peril to Purpose: Rev. Callie Winn Crawford

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together. After Katrina toppled the steeple of Rayne Memorial UMC into its sanctuary, Rev. Callie Winn Crawford wrestled with both the...

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From Ruin to Renewal: Rev. Hadley Edwards show art From Ruin to Renewal: Rev. Hadley Edwards

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  When floodwaters swallowed Bethany UMC up to its roofline, Rev. Hadley Edwards faced the unthinkable. With faith, grit,...

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More Episodes

We are gearing up for a special event - People Like Me - a two-day immersive retreat focused on building intercultural competency, strengthening inclusive leadership, and helping churches reflect the rich diversity of their communities. Led by our very own, Rev. Katrena King, our Conference’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, the retreat offers tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory, also known as the IDI - it will also include space for authentic storytelling, which will be done in a very unique way – and workshops on everything from tough conversations to vision casting.

And that brings us to our guest.

Samuel Rodriguez is the Director of Congregational Development for the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. For over 27 years, he’s been helping churches plant, grow, and thrive—especially in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts. He will be the special guest at People Like Me. Join us for a conversation about why events like People Like Me matter—and how the future of the Church depends on the kind of work he and Katrena will be doing in Woodworth.