Thrive With Asbury Seminary

Today on the podcast we are joined by Rev. Dr. Sarah Baldwin to talk about her book, Generation Awakened: An Eyewitness Account of the Powerful Outpouring of God at Asbury. Dr. Baldwin is the Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students at Asbury University and an Asbury Seminary alum. In our conversation we talk about some of the stories she shares in her book and how the leadership team at Asbury University navigated a remarkable move of God that started with their student body and ended up attracting people from around the world to Wilmore, Ky. Whether you were in Wilmore to experience the Outpouring or only heard about it, this is a fascinating conversation about what unfolded during those incredible days. ...... Want to watch the video version of this episode? Visit our ⁠Youtube channel⁠ and be sure to like and subscribe! ...... Generation Awakened ...... Learn more about the Asbury Outpouring with our series of videos ⁠"Reflections on the Outpouring"⁠.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Robin Lim (M.Div. '23) and Mark Sayers. Rob and Mark became friends following the Asbury Outpouring, which began in February 2023. We talk about their individual experiences related to the Outpouring and what the worldwide impact has been. Mark tells personal stories of seeing profound movements of God at his church in Melbourne and Rob shares his experience at Asbury during the Outpouring and being part of a group from Asbury that traveled to Australia and spoke about their experiences. ...... Want to watch the video version of this episode? Visit our Youtube channel and be sure to like and subscribe! ...... Read Rob's story on Asbury Seminary Voices. ...... Learn more about the Asbury Outpouring with our series of videos "Reflections on the Outpouring".

Today on the podcast we are joined by Dr. Steve Martyn, Professor of Christian Spirituality at Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Martyn talks to us about Christian spiritual direction and the new M.A. in Christian Spiritual Direction at Asbury Seminary. We discuss the history of spiritual directions within Christianity, their importance within the church and what a Christian spiritual director does. Dr. Martyn also shares his experience as a spiritual director and how other Christian spiritual directors have been influential in his life.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Teddy Ray, Asbury Seminary alum, co-owner of North Lime Coffee and Donuts and as of May 2024, a graduate of Yale Law School. Teddy joins us to talk about his discernment process in deciding to go to law school, what his time at Yale has been like and what he's learned about God, calling, and making a major life change.

Today on the podcast our guest is Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, President and Professor of World Christianity at Asbury Theological Seminary. In this episode, Dr. Tennent shares the story of how he became president, talks about why he loves Asbury Seminary, and discusses what he has learned about faith and leadership during his time as president. We also talk about what’s next as he transitions from the role of president at Asbury Seminary to professor of World Christianity on July 1, 2024.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Michael L. Peterson, Professor of Philosophy at Asbury Seminary. Dr. Peterson joins us to talk about the integration of science and faith, particularly in the realm of evolutionary biology. A frequent lecturer on this subject, Dr. Peterson brings his depth of insight into the conversation and reminds us that if all truth is God’s truth, then science and evolutionary biology are worthy to be studied and understood in the light of scripture.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Ben Witherington III, Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Seminary. Dr. Witherington joins us to talk about his book Sola Scriptura, which released in October of 2023. In this episode we talk about what inspired him to write this book, the history of the phrase 'Sola Scriptura', why biblical literacy is important, and why he remains a passionate student of scripture. We also talk about Dr. Witherington's love for music, baseball and Tar Heel basketball.

Today on the podcast we have Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield. She is the 135th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, prelate of the 13th episcopal district, serving Kentucky and Tennessee. It was an honor to have Bishop Byfield in the studio during her time here at Asbury Seminary. In this episode we talk about Bishop Byfield's journey with God, how creativity brings her closer to God and what she has loved most about her life in ministry.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Jonathan Powers. Dr. Powers is the Associate Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry and the Assistant Professor of Worship Studies at Asbury Seminary. In this episode we talk about Dr. Powers's newest book New Life in the Risen Christ: A Wesleyan Theology of Baptism and his work on the hymnal Our Great Redeemers Praise, which released last November. We discuss the collaborative nature of both projects and their significance to the Church today.

Today on the podcast we have Andrew Peterson. Andrew is a recording artist, songwriter and award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga. He is also the founder and president of The Rabbit Room, which fosters community and spiritual formation through music, story and art. In this episode we talk about Andrew’s journey as an artist, the challenges of being a touring musician and the joy of seeing his children pursue their art. Andrew also discusses his dream music project and talks about why he loves telling stories and how good stories can illuminate deep spiritual truths and help us understand our own stories. This interview was recorded while Andrew was on campus in November 2023 as part of the Seminary’s yearlong series of Centennial Celebration events.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. John Oswalt, Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Seminary. He shares his story of coming to know Jesus, how he discerned his call to teaching and preaching, and why he is passionate about his work. We also talk about the importance of understanding Scripture and why theological education is vital when pursuing a call to pastoral ministry.

Today on the podcast we have Maryanne J. George. Maryanne is a a multifaceted artist who sings, writes, and plays many different instruments. She is also a worship leader who is passionate about encountering the Lord. You may know her from her work with Maverick City or from her solo album, "Not Just Stories." On this episode we talk about her journey as a musician, the surprising path that led to her joining Maverick City and what authenticity means to her as an artist and worship leader. This interview was recorded while Maryanne was on campus to lead worship during our Kingdom Conference event in October.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Emilio Alvarez, Associate Provost of Lifelong Learning at Asbury Seminary. We talk about Dr. Alvarez’s latest book, “Pentecost: A Day of Power for All People,” and how learning from other church traditions expands our faith.

Today on the podcast we have Dr. Janet Dean, Professor of Pastoral Counseling Education at Asbury Seminary and Dr. Marcus Kilian, Associate Professor of Psychology at Asbury University. We talk about their experience teaching trauma-informed counseling in Ukraine this past May.

Born and raised in Spring, Texas, Zahriya Zachary, the newest member of the Bethel Music Collective, didn’t come from a musical family, but her love of music began at the early age of six while learning to play the piano. She didn’t begin leading worship until she was a freshman in college, when the Lord clearly spoke to her and told her that it was time. Throughout her time in college, she began volunteering on her church’s worship team while the Lord was teaching her more about what it means to have a worshiper’s heart. She currently leads worship in Houston, Texas at The Woodlands Methodist Church. Zahriya believes that worship is the place where we belong and her heart is that people will forget about her and be led straight to Jesus. In today's episode we talk about her journey as a singer, songwriter and worship leader and how she balances life on the road with leading worship in a local church.

Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, Ph.D., is a farmer, activist/scholar, distinguished speaker, teacher and wisdom keeper who addresses a variety of issues concerning American culture, faith/spirituality, justice, race/diversity, regenerative farming, our relationship with the earth and Indigenous realities. He graduated from Asbury Seminary with a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies in 2010. His expertise has been sought in national venues such as Time Magazine, The Huffington Post and Christianity Today. Dr. Woodley currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture at Portland Seminary. Dr. Woodley was raised near Detroit, Michigan and is a Cherokee descendent recognized by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. He co-hosts the Peacing it all Together podcast with Bo Sanders. Dr. Woodley and his wife are co-sustainers of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, a regenerative teaching center and farm in Yamhill, Oregon. The Woodleys have been innovators and activists for over three decades. They have four grown children and six grandchildren. He has authored nine books, all of which we’ll link to in the show notes, in case you want to grab a copy. In today’s conversation we talk about how he came to know Jesus, Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm and Seeds. We talk about his books and what we can learn from indigenous wisdom. Let's listen!

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Winfield Bevins, an internationally recognized author, teacher, and coach. He is Director of Church Planting at Asbury Seminary and co-founder of Healthy Rhythms Coaching , which is a global online coaching and training platform to help leaders thrive. He has helped train leaders in over twenty nations and six continents. He frequently speaks at conferences, seminaries, and universities on a variety of topics. His writing and research explores the intersection of tradition, innovation, and the future of the church. He is the author of several books including Ever Ancient Ever New: The Allure of Liturgy for a New Generation (Zondervan, 2019) and Marks of a Movement (Zondervan, 2019), and his most recent, which releases today Liturgical Mission: The Work of the People for the Sake of the World . In today’s conversation we talk about how Winfield first encountered liturgy and the journey he has been on since then, and, of course, his new book Liturgical Mission: The Work of the People for the Life of the World. Let’s listen!

Today on the podcast, we kick off our centennial celebration with a conversation with Dr. Ron Smith, President of the Francis Asbury Society in Wilmore, Ky. Dr. Smith has a longtime relationship with FAS, first serving as a fellow and later an evangelist before becoming president. He has desired to live his whole life being “wholly devoted to God.” Dr. Smith holds a special burden for mentoring students in higher education, and he and his family have hosted a weekly meeting for spiritual growth and study with college and seminary students for many years. In addition, he has written articles for many denominational and missional publications and has a special interest in producing substantive theological literature for the Church today. In today’s conversation, you guys are in for a real treat. We get to know Dr. Smith a little bit more, which is a real treat, and we talk about his dissertation which is being published as a book called Henry Clay Morrison: Remembering the Old Paths. Ever the story teller, Dr. Smith gives us a little snapshot of the life and legacy of Asbury Seminary’s founder, Dr. Henry Clay Morrison. Let’s listen!

Today on the podcast, I got to talk to Dr. Mike Voigts, Professor of Spiritual Formation at Asbury Seminary. Dr. Voigts’ academic interests lie in personal and community spiritual direction and in drawing connections between spiritual traditions in the global church. In addition to several articles, he is the author of The Fourth Degree of Prayer (Cascade, 2022) and Letters of Ascent: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux (Wipf & Stock, 2013). In today’s conversation we’ll talk about calling, community and, of course, his new book The Fourth Degree of Prayer. We’ll link to in in our show notes. It’s available on Wipf and Stock and Amazon. So now, let’s listen to my conversation with Dr. Voigts!

Today on the podcast, I got to talk to Rev. Jessica LaGrone, Asbury Seminary alum and dean of chapel at the Seminary. Jessica enjoys mentoring and multiplying as she serves as pastor to a vibrant seminary community. She is an acclaimed pastor, teacher, speaker, and writer whose engaging communication style endears her to groups throughout the United States. A native of Texas, Jessica previously pastored in churches in the Houston area, including nine years at The Woodlands Methodist Church. She is a member of the Transitional Leadership Council of the Global Methodist Church. She’s written several books and studies, including Namesake: When God Rewrites Your Story, Under Wraps, and Broken and Blessed: How God Used One Imperfect Family to Change the World, Set Apart: Holy Habits of Prophets and Kings, and The Miracles of Jesus. Jessica blogs at jessicalagrone.com. She and her husband, Jim, have two young children, Drew and Kate, and a dog named Bluebell, who is the color of Homemade Vanilla. Jessica’s most recent book, which we talk about on today’s podcast is Out of Chaos: How God Makes New Things from the Broken Pieces of Life. It explores the beauty that God can bring out of the chaotic state of our lives and worlds. In this conversation we talk about Jessica’s new book and the relationship between calling, creativity and chaos. Let’s listen!