Storm The Gates

Making music and touring for more than two decades, John Mark McMillan has felt God calling him to focus on other ventures and not solely music this year. Many listeners of STG might be familiar with the worship songs "How He Loves" and "King Of My Heart." John Mark wrote those. The latter of which he cowrote with his wife Sarah.John Mark McMillan is something of an anomaly. A singer-songwriter, bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and a poet's eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each album has continued to explore new territory, it's McMillan's ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift.He writes music from his sanctified imagination. This is nowhere more evident than in his latest album "Cosmic Supreme." Pleas enjoy the humble and deep reflections of John Mark in this conversation. For friends curious about his music, here are some songs that are great places to start:Holy Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuYul9O4YMJuggernaut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=govE9dPp1zcEnemy, love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvqCKOL2uLwWilderlove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG2_TKNllaMFuture/Past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGNznfexvUADeath In His Grave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTKbmNY1WA

The spiritual sense Anna Grace has for what the Lord is doing now is shifting the church from defense to offense and playing the long game. Anna Grace Legband is the Associate Director of Events for New Room. She is the author of the recently published Advent study, Brought To The Light: Advent For All Who Need It (https://my.seedbed.com/product-category/advent/). Anna Grace has global perspective through her ministry and is wise beyond her years as a soon to be mother. We're grateful for her generosity in sharing with us in this precious time leading up to the birth of her firstborn. If you don't know anything about New Room, you need to know! seedbed.com/newroomAt New Room Conference, we come together first and foremost to meet with God. We pray—not just for ourselves, but for a great awakening that stirs hearts and changes the world. We connect with each other in deep and meaningful ways, sharing testimonies of God’s faithfulness that inspire, challenge, and build us up. In these moments, you’ll see how He’s moving, not just in your life but in the lives of those walking alongside you. We laugh and grow together in breakout sessions that spark joy, ignite creativity, and plant seeds of transformation. These are moments where the Spirit moves in unexpected ways—sometimes through laughter, sometimes through tears, and always through connection. And we worship together. Oh, how we worship! Voices raised, hearts aligned, Spirit flowing. It’s a glimpse of heaven, a powerful reminder that we are a people of the Word and the Spirit, bound together in the love of God. We want to hear about your discipleship band—the small circle of friends who are helping you sow seeds of grace and grow deeper in your walk with Jesus. Your story matters, and we’d love to share it with the community. Here’s our challenge: step out, meet someone new, and build a connection. These moments of community may just become the foundation for something beautiful and eternal. So come ready to pray. Come ready to share. Come ready to laugh, worship, and connect. Let’s sow together for the great awakening God has in store.

We pray your definitions of what worship is and it's primary aim is challenged and/or deepened in this conversation with Dr. Johnathan Powers. For example, if you always considered evangelism to be the primary aim of worship, this conversation will ask you to reconsider. Dr. Powers is the Interim Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry as well as Associate Professor of Worship Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated from Asbury University in 2003 with a B.A. in English, from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009 with a M.A. in Christian Ministries – worship studies emphasis, and holds the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida. He received his Ph.D. through The London School of Theology where his dissertation focused on the worship theology of Robert E. Webber.Dr. Powers has a passion for the intersection of liturgy and spiritual formation in the life of the church. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books, including Echo: A Catechism for Discipleship in the Ancient Christian Tradition, The 12 Days of Christmas Sermons, and Watchnight: John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service, all published by Seedbed. In 2009, he was awarded the Hoyt Hickman Award by the Order of St. Luke at Asbury Seminary for excellence in liturgical scholarship and leading public worship. He also serves on the board of the Charles Wesley Society.

The double doctor himself, Mike Voigts, joins STG to share with us all the importance of staying in love with God. Pastor Mike has been in pastoral ministry since 1993, when he served as an Associate Pastor at First Methodist in Waco. After serving churches in both Texas and Kentucky, he joined the faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2017, serving as a Professor of Christian Spirituality and Theology. In May 2025, he left higher education to return home as First Methodist’s Senior Pastor in Waco, TX.Mike holds a B.A. from Baylor University, an M.Div. and D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Brunel University (through London School of Theology) in England.Whether in a local church or a seminary classroom, Mike has stressed that the faithfulness of a local church begins with the faithfulness of each person within the local church. In preaching, he strives to show how God’s Word is relevant to our everyday lives. He enjoys introducing people to Christians throughout history, revealing how much we can learn from these giants in our faith.Mike is the author of Regere Animas: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux (2013), and most recently, The Fourth Degree of Prayer (2022), written for laypersons.

Dr. Brian Yeich rejoins the podcast to share more about his involvement with the discipleship movement called Inspire. Dr. Yeich's passion is helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ through the church and the academy. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and has pastored 11 years in both large and small congregations as well as a church restartIncluding his previous role at Asbury Theological Seminary as Assistant Provost, Brian has over 8 years in positions of leadership for theological education. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Asbury Theological Seminary and Wesley Biblical Seminary teaching in the areas of Church History, Wesley Studies, and Pastoral Formation. Brian is currently appointed as Missional Discipleship Coordinator with World Methodist Evangelism in partnership with the Inspire Movement. Inspire is a worldwide missional discipleship network.inspiremovement.org

The Holy Spirit always brings fresh wind and fresh fire through the Spirit & Truth team (spiritandtruth.life). At Spirit & Truth, they long to see the church fully alive! They exist to help equip a global movement of local churches to become empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the truth, and mobilized for the mission. STG is grateful to have the Founder and President of Spirit & Truth, Matt Reynolds, back on the podcast. And we're overjoyed to be joined by Maggie Ulmer and Emma Winchester too. Maggie and Emma both lead with Matt in the Church Equipping areas. Maggie also produces the Spirit & Truth Podcast (spiritandtruth.life/podcast) in addition to leading in Prophetic Ministry. Emma provides Administration for the team as well. You have the opportunity to experience the more of God He wants you to receive by attending the next Spirit & Truth Conference in Irving, TX. A Spirit & Truth Conference is a gathering for believers to get equipped and seek the powerful presence of the Lord together. It’s a chance to learn from respected leaders about ways to spark a new movement of back-to-the-basics, Spirit-filled, missional Christianity.Register now at https://www.spiritandtruth.life/midtexas

Whether you're interested in the upcoming Anew Conference (https://midtexasgmc.jotform.com/251336256349965) on November 8 or not, you'll enjoy hearing Kelly Minter's heart for the Lord. She's been writing Bible studies and teaching the Bible for the past two decades. She spent her first few years in Nashville making records with three different labels. Eventually, she decided to dedicate herself fully to writing and teaching the Bible. God’s Word is meant to permeate every part of our lives, so she loves helping others make the connection between Scripture and everyday life.Kelly recently finished an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies at Denver Seminary. In addition to her love for Scripture, she has a deep love for missions. She works closely with Justice & Mercy International (https://justiceandmercy.org) in the Amazon jungles of Brazil as well as the Eastern European country of Moldova. When she's not writing or speaking, she loves to be home cooking for friends and family, spending time with her nieces and nephews, taking walks, serving her local church, or gardening. Please check out kellyminter.com to find her amazing work for the Lord! Stay tuned to the very end to discover more about Kelly's love for cooking and college football.

Join us this week for an inspiring conversation with ministry power couple, Melanie and Arnold Arreaga. Melanie is the Children's Minister at Friendswood Methodist Church and was also the featured speaker at the Revive Kids camp. Arnold leads worship at The Woodlands Methodist Church and is a member of Bristol House. In this episode, they open up about their individual faith journeys, sharing how God called them into ministry. They also offer an deeper look into their lives, discussing how they navigate the unique challenges of serving in two different churches while raising their two young daughters.Tune in to hear their hearts for the Lord and be encouraged by their story of faith, family, and ministry. Stay tuned to the very end if you share their love for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice.

Welcome to a vulnerable episode of STG where addiction, therapy, and recovery are in focus under the mighty sovereignty of God. Ryan and Jason share parts of their stories and what God has done and is doing to heal every part of them. We believe and pray that God uses this episode for breakthrough in someone else's life who is listening and feels hopeless. There is hope in the Lord no matter what you're facing, have done, or feel trapped within. God loves you more than you can comprehend. Reach out to us at stgpod@midtexasgmc.org if you're in need and want prayer. We can also connect you with godly men and women who specialize in healing through therapy.

If you ever needed encouragement to sit down and receive the amazing gifts of God, take this opportunity. If you've never been told to sit back and wait for the Lord to speak before going about and doing the significant things of life, take this opportunity to listen to Dr. Kenneth Collins. This conversation was a means of grace for us. And we pray it'll be a means of grace for you.Dr. Kenneth J. Collins is professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the 2008 recipient of the Professor of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Asbury Theological Seminary.Dr. Collins is a member of the following professional organizations: The American Academy of Religion, The Oxford Institute, The Wesleyan Theological Society, The Wesley Historical Society, The Historical Society of the United Methodist Church, the Editorial Board of Wesley and Methodist Studies, the Editorial Board of Australasian Centre for Wesleyan Research, the Board of Directors, the Institute on Religion and Democracy (Washington, D.C.), and the Editorial Board of Methodist Review: A Journal of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies. He has published a host of books and scores of articles exploring topics ranging from Wesleyan theology to Christian spirituality, including recent publications:Collins, Kenneth J. Jesus the Stranger: The Man from Galilee and the Light of the World. Franklin, Tennessee: Seedbed, 2021.Collins, Kenneth J., and Robert W. Wall, eds. Wesley One Volume Commentary. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2020.Collins, Kenneth J. and Jerry L. Walls. Roman but Not Catholic: What Remains at Stake 500 Years after the Reformation. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017.Collins, Kenneth J. and Jason E. Vickers. The Sermons of John Wesley: A Collection for the Christian Journey. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013.To explore Dr. Collins work further: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kenneth-J.-Collins/author/B001HCWO1I?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755049395&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=0099353e-33e6-4245-85a2-8c00c3b622d5Thunderstruck by Dr. Peter Bellini: https://www.amazon.com/Thunderstruck-Deliverance-Ministry-Wesley-Today/dp/1666759392Stay tuned to the very end for a few words of wisdom of what we shouldn't carry over from John Wesley into the 21st century.

Bishop Webb joins Storm The Gates for a deep conversation about spiritual formation and multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ. From 7th grade onward, Bishop Mark Webb grew up in a United Methodist Church that he describes as “an amazing place for young people,” especially those aspiring to ministry. A Pennsylvania native, Bishop Webb attended Shippensburg University and, through the Christian Fellowship on campus and the Holy Spirit’s prompting, sensed a call to ministry.For 15 years, during his pastoral ministry, Webb was a volunteer dean of a one-week junior high church camp, a role he chose because church camp was a formative part of his spiritual journey as a teenager. He entered pastoral roles in Pennsylvania, beginning as an Associate Pastor ministering to youth. When Webb met with his District Superintendent to discuss his next appointment as Pastor, Webb was told, “Have at it. You can’t hurt it.”According to Webb, he used to get a newsletter from the Confessing Movement that, on the back, had the words, “Don’t leave the United Methodist Church. Stay and work for its renewal and reform.” Webb believed heeding these words was a part of his ministry. In 2016, though, he began sensing God would call him in a different direction. He’d been part of the conversations of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and then of what the Global Methodist Church would look like. So, after serving as United Methodist Bishop in the Upper New York area for over ten years, Webb retired in January 2023 in order to, in his words, “live out my ministry and my call in a new traditional expression of Methodism.” This meant accepting a role as Bishop of the newly launched Global Methodist Church.Webb describes with enthusiasm what his role as Bishop means. “Bishops are, first and foremost, guardians of the faith; we’re teachers and equippers, vision casters.” The Global Methodist Church is built on three values, according to Webb: submission to the Lordship of Christ, groundedness in the authority and primacy of Scripture, and multiplication. These values will allow the GMC to be consistent and accountable to the orthodox tenets of the Wesleyan tradition of the Christian faith while multiplying disciples, leaders, and congregations.For more information about planting churches and multiplying disciples, please take advantage of the following resources:https://therivernetwork.org/https://www.plantersfield.org/

Your local church is exactly where college students can discover hope in Jesus and grow in a community of faith. Miriam Swanson is the National Director for Fusion USA. She moved to the USA in 2019, married an American and started Fusion USA in 2020, establishing it as a non-profit organization in 2021. She had previously worked for Fusion across the UK and Europe for over a decade and with invitation and provision, saw the need and answered the call to begin the work here in the States. She has been in the movement for over fifteen years, equipping students in faith, sharing Jesus, training leaders and churches and speaking internationally.Fusion was born in the United Kingdom in the late nineties out of a place of prayer and a holy hunger for young adults to encounter Jesus in their formative years. It initially grew through students planting missional small groups on campus and around university towns and cities. As university students came to faith and needed to be formed as disciples, Fusion’s focus sharpened, committing to working with and through local churches to reach the campus and create sustainable pathways for college students to find both hope in Jesus and home in the local church, long term.Listen all the way through for some funny banter about how Miriam's influence to change American language is growing. For more information about Fusion and resources for your local church, you can visit fusionusa.org.

From casting vision for the Board of Ministry to serving the Kingdom of God through the Global Methodist Church as the Bishop of several conferences and as the Conference Superintendent of the MidTexas Conference, Bishop Leah Hidde-Gregory is back on STG to testify to the amazing work of the Lord. She is overjoyed by the work of the Holy Spirit to raise up holy disciples of Jesus. Enjoy her stories and testimony of what it's been like serving in these capacities thus far. We're grateful for her leadership and pray the Lord continues to bless her in mighty ways. Stay tuned to the very end as Haley works up her first intro. midtexasgmc.org

Thank you Holy Spirit for Pastor Abe. His testimony is so refreshing for the church to hear. Abraham Guajardo is one of the Lead Pastors of Eden Church in Houston, Texas (edenchurchhouston.com). As the name indicates, Eden intends to be a garden in the city. A community where new life in Jesus is planted, watered, and grown in some of the hardest places. It's a relatively new church plant although it's been prayed for, dreamed about, and in the making for years. Please listen with an open heart as Pastor Abe offers wisdom for everyone, especially disciples of Jesus. His story is a testimony to what God does with simple, audacious obedience. Stay tuned to the very end as Pastor Abe shares some of his drumming influences.

God is raising up new generations of men and women and calling them into vocational ministry. One young man with such a call is Coy Gammons. Coy is a student at Texas A&M University where he serves Christ Church in College Station and Breakaway. Coy is from Forney, Texas where he serves actively as a member of First Methodist Church. The power of an invitation and being present and available to serve God and live in community where you're planted are messages you're going to here and take to heart.We're also thrilled to welcome our new co-host at STG, Rev. Hayley Shotts! The future of STG will be brighter because of this addition to the team. To God be the glory!Stay tuned to the very end as we resolve some technical difficulties together.