One Georgia UMC Podcast

Connecting with Maddie Henderson Herlong

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0300

In today's episode, Bishop Dease and Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong, Christian Chaplain in the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life.

"There is hope for the church! ... Young people are yearning for church," said Maddie. "Let's listen to them more. They have something to say and they have something to offer."

Connecting with Darren Hensley

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0300

In today's episode, Bishop Dease and Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Darren Hensley, a North Georgia clergyperson who serves as an attorney in the US Bankruptcy Court.

"People who come to Bankruptcy Court don't want to be there. It could be the result of a decision, a mistake, a divorce, a death, a setback - and they are in a very real sense broken. It's where I'm called to ministry," he said.

"I can't always be explicit, but meeting people at this time in their life, I can offer an assurance through my words and actions that in the midst of this situation, Christ is present."

Connecting with Karen Hoyt

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0300

Today, Bishop Robin Dease and host Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Karen Hoyt, a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) chaplain at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

"I signed up to be a volunteer chaplain at Piedmont Hospital near where I lived. I felt a spark when I walked in that hospital. I knew God had called me to be there," she said. "I went back to school to seminary."

In the NICU, "I feel like we go from Good Friday to Easter Sunday many times. So many Holy moments."

Connecting with Columbus Burns

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0300

Today, Bishop Robin Dease and host Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Columbus Burns, Director of Pastoral Care at St Joseph/Candler Hospital in Savannah where he's served for the past 31 years. "For me, some of my most sacred moments as a chaplain have been standing or sitting by the bedside of the patients who are hurting or dying. There are no words. It's the ministry of presence."

Connecting with Emily Kelly

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0300

Today, Bishop Robin Dease and host Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Emily Kelly, a North Georgia Conference clergyperson who serves as a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

"I want to see and hear the person I'm sitting with," said Emily. "That's what all humans crave. That's what I crave. To be seen, to be heard, and to be valued. So that's what I hope to provide the youth--and the staff."

Listen to learn more about Emily's ministry and her "why" (and who won a game of spades - Emily or Bishop Dease?)

Connecting with Julia Norman

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Robin Dease and host Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz talk with Rev. Julia Norman, a South Georgia Conference clergyperson who serves as Director of Development for the Macon Volunteer Clinic. Adjacent to the Mulberry Street UMC campus, the non-profit provides primary care services to uninsured working adults of Middle Georgia.

"It's not about us all doing everything for everybody, it's about each of us doing the work we're called to do," said Julia. "I'm not qualified to even take your temperature, but I can write a grant, I can share a story."

Special Episode: Update on the Journey

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Join Kelly Roberson from the South Georgia Conference and Rodrigo Cruz, Assistant to the Bishop in the North and South Georgia Conferences, as they bring you up to date on everything we know so far as our two Annual Conferences study and pursue unification.

Find more about the journey at www.GeorgiaUMC.org.

Special Episode: Advent Message from Bishop Dease

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

This Advent, Bishop Robin Dease calls us to embrace unity in this season, reminding us that Christ came to bring us together.

“There are countless stories that demonstrate the power of unity when we let unity win,” said Bishop Dease. “Scripture tells us we are to be like-minded and to care for one another, to serve one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to forgive one another, to speak truth to each other, to be compassionate toward each other, and to submit to each other in deference, considering others better than ourselves. That is unity!”

She encourages us all to show hospitality to each other, be humble toward each other, and pray for each other.

“My friends, we must work towards unity,” said Bishop Dease. “Because the hope of the Kingdom of God reigning in our midst is what we pray and work for: a kingdom of peace and justice, a kingdom not of exclusion, but of inclusion; not of revenge, but of compassion; not one of justice alone, but justice tempered with mercy.”

This Advent, you're invited to check www.sgaumc.org/Advent or www.ngumc.org/Advent2024 each day for a devotional message from a Georgia United Methodist.

Connecting with Millie Kim

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Millie Kim. They discuss feeling a call to ministry as a student at the Emory Wesley Fellowship, serving in one of the most diverse areas of the state, and opening a coffee house at the church (and its perfect name)!

Millie is pastor of Mountain Park UMC in Gwinnett County.

"Be good neighbors!"

Connecting with Teresa Edwards

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the One Georgia Podcast! In today’s episode, Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Teresa Edwards about the ministry of a deacon, the power of spiritual disciplines, and how to tend to and respond to the call that ignites your soul. (And they talk tattoos!)

Teresa is the associate pastor at Vineville UMC in Macon. "We have a continual invitation to open our eyes really wide to what God is up to in our world and then go and be a part of it!"

Connecting with Shannon Karafanda

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Shannon Karafand about reaching new people in the community, spreading Holy Mischief, loving one another to Christ, and being authentic on social media.

Shannon is the pastor of Trinity UMC in Cartersville.

Connecting with Jeff Cook

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Jeff Cook about leading an outreach-oriented congregation, "Messy" breakfasts on Sunday morning, hard decisions, and working to create a space where every person can belong and find relationship with Christ.

Jeff is pastor of Trinity UMC in Warner Robbins, Georgia.

"Know Christ, Serve Christ, Share Christ"

Connecting with Elizabeth Pollard

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Elizabeth Pollard about following the call to ministry and about choosing life, not just letting it happen to you.

Elizabeth is pastor of Newnan Chapel UMC in Newnan, Georgia.

"My decision to come to The United Methodist Church was because I fell in love with the theology. I fell in love with grace."

Connecting with Abra Lattany-Reed

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Welcome to the One Georgia Podcast! Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed about her call to ministry as a bi-vocational pastor, the ministry of presence, elevating the role of the church in diversity and justice matters, and the hard work of dismantling racism. Abra serves in the South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church as Director of Diversity and Justice Ministries. We are a community that does life together. As a way to strengthen our connection, you are encouraged to drive around your community this week and ask, "God, what would it look like for me to elevate your word here? What would it look like for me to dismantle the systems that are there, to disrupt with holiness and word, and how can we honor your kingdom?" Discussed today: Resources on Religion and Race - https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/religion-and-race Read John 14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014&version=CEB Read Psalm 37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037&version=CEB

Connecting with Steven Usry

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Dr. Steven Usry about going through a pain point as a church and rebuilding, about hiring and pouring into church staff, and about the prayer Bishop Dease utters daily.

Steven is pastor of Dalton First UMC.

Connecting with Adriane Burgess

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:24:18 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Adriane Burgess about "Dessert Devotions," matching your passions with your calling, and letting the silo walls down to be the same person everywhere.

Adriane is pastor of St Mary's Road UMC in the Columbus area, an avid baker who loves to whip up easy dessert recipes along with an engaging devotional,

Connecting with Ralph Thompson

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Ralph Thompson about starting a new appointment, the value of intergenerational ministry, and being authentically yourself in the pulpit.

Ralph is pastor of Bethany UMC in Smyrna. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div) from Candler School of Theology.

Resources on Topics Discussed in This Episode: Community Partnerships https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/fostering-effective-community-partnerships Intergenerational Ministry https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/a-church-for-the-ages-vibrant-vital-intentionally-intergenerational Cross-Racial Appointments https://www.r2hub.org/library/tag/CRCC#gsc.tab=0

Connecting with Jonathan Smith

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0300

Today Bishop Dease talks with Rev. Dr. Jonathan Smith about serving in a college town, transforming the world through campus ministry, and how the United Methodist connection steps up in disaster response.

Jonathan is pastor of Pittman Park UMC in Statesboro. He has a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) focused in Church and Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary.

In this episode:
UMComission - https://www.umcommission.org/
Georgia Southern Wesley Foundation - https://gswesley.com/
Claflin University - https://www.claflin.edu/student-life/life-on-campus/spiritual-life
UMCOR - https://umcmission.org/umcor/

Connecting with Bishop Dease

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0300

In this episode of the One Georgia UMC Podcast, meet Bishop Robin Dease! Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz asks Bishop Dease to share her story. It's a journey that begins in Brooklyn, New York.

Trailer: Welcome to the One Georgia UMC Podcast

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:16:51 -0300

For the next ten weeks Bishop Robin Dease will be chatting with Georgia United Methodist clergy. Pull up a chair and join us!