Divergent Hope

In a world where hope is an elusive commodity, this podcast focuses on how and why we connect with God through prayer. Those of us involved in creating and leading this podcast are regular people who seek an extraordinary and personal God. We invite you to join us in that quest wherever you are on the journey! Connect with us by visiting our website at https://faithma.org/ .

Is This All There Is? Deepening Your Walk with God 03/18/2025

Is This All There Is? Deepening Your Walk with God Are you feeling stuck in your faith, wondering, “Is this all there is?” In Episode 17 of the Divergent Hope Podcast, Pastor Laurel sits down LIVE at the Level Up Conference with Nate Killian, Bill Coolbaugh, Latha Kalpala, and Cheryl Cormier as they share their personal journeys of moving beyond simply knowing about God to truly experiencing Him. They discuss the struggles of bridging the gap between head knowledge and heart transformation, how God has challenged them to go deeper, and the practices that have helped them cultivate a more intimate relationship with Him. If you're longing for a richer, more meaningful walk with God, this conversation will encourage and inspire you to take the next step. Don't miss it! /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/35724595

Is Playing Music A Spiritual Practice? 07/22/2024

Is Playing Music A Spiritual Practice? In Episode 16 of the Divergent Hope Podcast, Pastor Laurel sits down with Daniel Yoong, Director of Worship at Faith Community Church to talk about the practice of play- specifically playing music. Daniel unpacks how music has played a powerful role in his life and how God has shaped him through it. He breaks down how in his world, music can feel like work, but there are many moments where playing music becomes a unique and restful form of play. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/32179817

Is Riding Motorcycles A Spiritual Practice? 07/15/2024

Is Riding Motorcycles A Spiritual Practice? Pastor Laurel sits down with Daniel Yoong, Director of Worship at Faith Community Church to talk about the practice of play- specifically riding motorcycles. Let's explore the wide range of play. Learn about how this form of spiritual play is good for the soul and has a profound impact on your relationship with God and others. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/32068207

Is Watching Movies A Spiritual Practice? 07/08/2024

Is Watching Movies A Spiritual Practice? Pastor Laurel sits down with Mike Laurence, Lead Pastor, and Nate Killian, Director of Multimedia and Communications to talk about the practice of play- specifically watching movies and tv series. Learn about how this form of spiritual play is good for the soul and has a profound impact on your relationship with God and others. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/31968332

The Discipline of Serving 05/06/2024

The Discipline of Serving Pastor Laurel sits down with Angie Gerrard, Director of Family Ministry, and Daniel Yoong, Director of Worship to talk about the spiritual discipline of serving. Learn about how serving is good for the soul and has a profound impact on your relationship with God and others. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/31038213

The Discipline of Silence 03/26/2024

The Discipline of Silence Learn about the spiritual discipline of silence as Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with Latha Kalpala and Rev. Dr. Dorian Botsis. In this episode, the three discuss the spectrum of silence, the barriers one can face, and how silence can be a pathway to a stillness in your soul to connect deeper with God. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/30461998

The Discipline of Fasting 03/19/2024

The Discipline of Fasting Learn about the spiritual discipline of Fasting as Pastor Laurel sits down with Emma McDowell and Nate Killian. Laurel, Emma, and Nate discuss how they were introduced to the spiritual practice of fasting and how this practice increases their intimacy with God. Fasting can be simple and personal, but ultimately requires a level of discomfort. Though this episode comes in the season of Lent, Fasting is a discipline you could engage with at any time, but could very well be a practice you take on for the remainder of the season of Lent. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, please visit faithma.org. /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/30320903

The Discipline of Bible Study 03/12/2024

The Discipline of Bible Study Learn about the discipline of Bible Study as Pastor Laurel sits down with Rachel Jackson. Laurel and Rachel discuss how Bible study became important to each one of them, how God has transformed them through getting into scripture, and how Bible study doesn’t need to be complex- they talk through simple and practical applications you can take with you in your current study routine or tips to help you get started. Though this episode comes in the season of Lent, Bible Study is a discipline you could engage with at any time, but could very well be a practice you take on for the remainder of the season of Lent. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/30173983

What is Lent? | Context Episode 03/05/2024

What is Lent? | Context Episode Learn about the season of Lent and how you can take part in this practice leading up to Easter Sunday. Pastor Laurel and Nate Killian talk through what Lent is, their understanding of it growing up, the challenges, and the benefits of communing with God through Lent. This is a context episode, setting up the next 3 spiritual practices and disciplines that you could take part in at any time, but specifically leading up to Easter. For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/30155948

Living With Conflict 11/16/2023

Living With Conflict Learn why our image of God is still too small and how the way we manage conflict either inside ourselves or with other people grows our intimacy with God exponentially in the journey of life. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh gets vulnerable about her own family’s character growth through managing conflicts with her husband Bill Coolbaugh and her son Gethin Coolbaugh. To check out The Sanctuary mentioned on the podcast, . For more information and to connect with Faith Community Church, . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/28429355

Living into Joy 11/09/2023

Living into Joy Learn why joy is state of being that is vital to our spiritual health and how joy is a deep everlasting wellspring ready to be tapped into through a personal relationship with Jesus. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh opens her heart with Latha Kalpala & Emma McDowell about God's heritage of love for us, their experiences living into joy, and their hope for the future. For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/28406570

Living Out the Sabbath 10/26/2023

Living Out the Sabbath Learn why living out the Sabbath is a gift that protects us from burning out in a culture that rewards productivity and why allowing God to be your portion gives rest to your soul. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with Amanda Alvarez & Nate Killian to share how they experience the Sabbath, challenges with boredom, and the importance of being re-created as a result of taking a Sabbath. For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/28406498

Communal Prayer 03/02/2023

Communal Prayer Learn why engaging in prayer as a community is a vital necessity and how praying in groups can reveal Jesus to us by allowing him to move inside our hearts. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with elder Emma McDowell and award winning filmmaker Nate Killian to discuss the miraculous moments experienced during group prayer, the temptation to be inauthentic by hyperfixating on pleasing people with our prayers, and our strong innate desire to be together doing life with one another. For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/26000409

Creativity in Prayer 02/23/2023

Creativity in Prayer Learn how creativity and prayer go together plus where in the scriptures we can find examples of creativity as a spiritual discipline. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with spiritual director Elizabeth Cartier to encourage people to be intimately in the presence of God through various forms of creativity and to see how the Lord shows up during those moments to speak to us. For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/26000355

Obstacles to Prayer 02/16/2023

Obstacles to Prayer Learn how our prayer lives are impacted by our own perfectionism leading to us experiencing dry spells, lacking passion, feeling less than when compared to others, and having codependent controlling tendencies. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with her soul companion's elder emeritus Christie Jaegle & spiritual director Karen Cooprider to discuss intentionally inviting Yahweh into our fears despite our perpetual resistance by continually trusting God's desire for our best interest! For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/25823919

Different Kinds of Prayer 02/09/2023

Different Kinds of Prayer Learn how to lean in and be intentional on listening to Yahweh because He already knows our hearts. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with ASL interpreter and spiritual director Susan Haggerty to talk through many many different types of prayer including intercession, silence, breathing, listening, waiting, praising, gratitude, lamenting, centering, imaginative, liturgical, scriptural, Lectio Divina and even praying the Hours! For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/25823166

What is Prayer and the Purpose of it? 02/02/2023

What is Prayer and the Purpose of it? Learn why being in the presence of God is an act of listening and how what we define prayer to be continously evolves with us in our spiritual formation. Reverend Dr. Laurel Coolbaugh sits down with spiritual director's Karen Cooprider & Kat Gundersen to talk through the basics of what is prayer, what their prayer life looks like lately, and discerning the voice of God. For more information visit us at . /episode/index/show/2e6f3159-3c82-43e2-ac9e-eed95bf97569/id/25662669

Divergent Hope

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