Catalyst Conversations Podcast

Join pastors and laity from Wesleyan-tradition faith communities as they discuss what the word "evangelism" really means and how they are putting it into practice in their churches and communities. We talk about what works and what doesn’t, sharing plenty of personal experiences and examples of drawing closer to God and letting the Great Commission inform our lives and relationships with others.

Jack Jackson - Your Testimony and God's Story 09/02/2025

Jack Jackson - Your Testimony and God's Story President, Rev. Dr. Jack Jackson, gave the sermon as Lake Junaluska's Theologian in Resident on July 6. His message is a reminder that Testimony - sharing our stories of how God has moved and is moving in our lives - is important. Equally important is the opportunity for people to hear God's story. His sermon kicked off a 4-day series on Dr. Jackson's R.E.V.E.A.L. faith sharing workshop and was part of the Theologian in Residence Program hosted annually trhoughout the summer by . /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416875

Recap of 2024 Grants Panel 08/12/2025

Recap of 2024 Grants Panel /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416845

Avoiding Burnout - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 08/07/2025

Avoiding Burnout - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) share how they avoid burnout as pastors and receive care from their congregations. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416750

Engaging Youth - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 08/05/2025

Engaging Youth - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss how they see youth in their congregations becoming excited and engaged. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416820

Embracing The Marginalized - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/31/2025

Embracing The Marginalized - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss the ways in which their congregations have been open to those on the margins in their community. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416740

Measuring Transformation - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/29/2025

Measuring Transformation - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss how they are measuring impact from their churches' Equipping the Local Church Grant projects. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416725

Community Transformation - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/24/2025

Community Transformation - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss how they have seen transformation and new connections with their community through their churches' Equipping the Local Church Grant projects /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416715

Challenges and Surprises - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/22/2025

Challenges and Surprises - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) share what have been their challenges and what has surprised them throughout their churches' Equipping the Local Church Grant projects. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416685

Laity Engagement - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/17/2025

Laity Engagement - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss how they engage the laity in their congregation for their churches' Equipping the Local Church Grant projects /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416695

Listening to Community Needs - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel 07/15/2025

Listening to Community Needs - 2023 Equipping the Local Church Grant Panel Pastors Jerry Lee Christian (Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church), Mary Beth Eberle (Grace United Methodist Church) and Jeremy Reese (Aiken Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene) discuss how they went about listening to the needs of their community before applying for an Equipping the Local Church Grant. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/37416665

2024 State of the Foundation 02/15/2024

2024 State of the Foundation On the 75th anniversary of The Foundation for Evangelism's beginning, President Jane Boatwright Wood celebrates its visionary founders and the foundation's work over 3/4 of a century. Join her as she talks about the Foundation's grant work - past, present and get a glimpse into grant partnerships on the horizon. To learn more about the Foundation's 75th year and to register for our big anniversary celebration in November and the events leading up to it visit . CREDITS Music credit Bensound – Once Again Royalty Free Music: License code: 6BX6O5UYOTI9YKHZ Interviews credit Alex Schwindt Media : Intro video, Evangelism definition, Rev. Dr. Alma Tinoco Ruiz, Duke Divinity School's Hispanic House of Study, Grace Church Raleigh /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/29972248

Part 3 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection 05/30/2023

Part 3 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection Part 3 of this 3-part series focuses on getting to know your neighbors and making meaningful connections with those in the community, and inviting them into the life and ministry of God's people. Dr. Bryan Stone (E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Boston University School of Theology) and Rev. Gary Reynolds tell about real-life encounters and share ideas on how a church can be present to those in their neighborhood and community. Stone shares from his research published in "Finding Faith Today" and Dr. Stephen Gunter facilitates. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/26928129

Part 2 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection 05/24/2023

Part 2 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection Part 2 of this 3-part series focuses on becoming a community mission focused church and planning for those who are not here yet. Dr. Bryan Stone (E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Boston University School of Theology) and Rev. Gary Reynolds talk through the process of working with the church to see its growth areas and play to its strengths, both inside and outside the church walls. Stone shares from his research published in "Finding Faith Today" and Dr. Stephen Gunter facilitates. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/26927841

Part 1 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection 05/23/2023

Part 1 - Moving Church From Preservation to Connection Part 1 of this 3-part series discusses the context of a particular established church that is working to be more community mission and evangelism focused. Rev. Gary Reynolds describes the church's strengths and growth-areas while Dr. Bryan Stone (E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Boston University School of Theology) shares from his research published in "Finding Faith Today" and Dr. Stephen Gunter facilitates. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/26926233

What is Evangelism? 04/15/2021

What is Evangelism? Pastors and laity in the Nashville, Tenn. area unpack some of the "baggage" associated with the word evangelism, and also talk about what evangelism looks like in current times. This group included both small and large churches as well as a mixture of pastors and lay people. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/18738449

Connect Newcomers to the Faith 12/21/2020

Connect Newcomers to the Faith Pastors and laity in the Nashville, Tenn. area discuss helping newcomers to the faith connect on the path of discipleship and faith formation. This group included both small and large churches as well as a mixture of pastors and lay people. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/17281616

Cultivate a Culture of Silence and Listening 08/10/2020

Cultivate a Culture of Silence and Listening Rev. Nicole Jones and Pastor Joe Schonewolf from the Smoky Mountain District of The United Methodist Church talk about cultivating a culture of silence and listening in their congregations. Recorded at the beginning of Lent in 2020, the episode mentions this particular time of the Christian year, but the ideas and concepts have relevance at any time of the year. /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/15558680

Welcome to Catalyst Conversations 08/08/2020

Welcome to Catalyst Conversations Catalyst Conversations is a Podcast by The Foundation for Evangelism where we talk with pastors and lay people in the Wesleyan tradition about what evangelism is, harkening back to the original Greek meaning of the word - "bringer of Good News." Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. For more resources including videos, webinars, and study guides, visit . /episode/index/show/catalystconversations/id/15529415

Catalyst Conversations Podcast

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