World Vision podcast

This edition of the World Vision Podcast features a conversation with Rev. Belynda Gentry, from First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG), in Maryland. Rev. Gentry is the head of missions at FBCG and took time to sit down with longtime World Vision staffer, and FBCG member, Cynthia Colin. The episode also features music from Love Led Worship.

This edition of the World Vision Podcast features a conversation with Eugene Cho, pastor of Quest Church in Seattle. Cho also is the co-founder of One Day’s Wages, a grassroots humanitarian organization that is partnering with World Vision around the refugee crisis in the Middle East. Cho, author of the book “Overrated,” recently traveled with World Vision to Iraq and Lebanon and was interviewed following a visit to refugee tented settlements near the Syrian border. The episode also features music from Philadelphia musician- and actual Church Sexton- Dan Stevens. www.worldvision.org https://twitter.com/EugeneCho https://www.instagram.com/pastoreugenecho/ https://www.instagram.com/the.danced.evens/ https://thedirigiblelirges.bandcamp.com/  

This month we hear an interview with Kristen Howerton, a popular blogger who has been operating Rage Against the Minivan since 2006. Howerton started the blog to chronicle her adoption journey, and the platform has expanded to cover parenting, religion, race and other topics. Her writing also has appeared in the Washington Post, HuffPost, and other national media outlets. She recently traveled with World Vision to Iraq and Lebanon and was generous enough to be interviewed for the World Vision Podcast, ironically, in the back of a minivan. The episode also features music from singer, songwriter Jenn Bostic. http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/ https://twitter.com/kristenhowerton http://jennbostic.com/https://twitter.com/jennbostic www.worldvision.org

This month we talk with Pastor Dave Schmidgall from National Community Church in Washington, DC about meeting refugees in Lebanon, and how to put your faith into action here at home. We’ll also get an advocacy updated from Lisa Bos on our Government Relations team, and hear about her recent trip to Uganda. The episode also features music from Nashville artist Bobby Cool. https://www.instagram.com/theaterchurch/ https://twitter.com/NCChttps://www.instagram.com/bobbycoolmusic/ www.worldvision.org

This month we talk with Michael Wear, founder of Public Square Strategies, and former White House staffer who worked on faith-based initiatives during President Obama’s first term. Wear led evangelical outreach and helped manage The White House’s engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts. We also had a chance to chat with World Vision’s Policy Advisor for Child Protection, Jessica Bousquette, about U.S. government funding focused on ending child labor.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9M3qreakq4 We also feature music from WARGIRL.  

This month we talk with JD (Jonathon Douglass) and Dylan Thomas from Hillsong United about refugees, life on the road and their new album, “Wonder,” at The Justice Conference in Chicago. Hillsong United - Stand With Refugees: https://youtu.be/mF9BF0ifi7k You can also watch a Facebook Live video of World Vision’s Laura Blank interviewing JD and Dylan backstage at the conference. https://www.facebook.com/worldvision/videos/10155246638476977/ The episode also features the new song (“So Will I”) from Hillsong United’s new album, “Wonder.” Music courtesy of: Hillsong United. https://hillsong.com/united/ https://www.instagram.com/jdougy/ https://twitter.com/dylanthomas1 https://mycause.worldvision.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1158  

This month we talk with Beau Wirick, who plays the character of Sean Donahue on the long-running ABC series, “The Middle.” Beau recently traveled to Jordan with World Vision Celebrity Ambassador, and star of “The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” Patricia Heaton. They visited Syrian refugees, went to refugee camps and saw the humanitarian response. And we had a chance to chat with Christopher Hale, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, about his trips to Iraq and Lebanon. Hale also is a columnist for TIME and a contributor for FOX News. We also feature music from Jason Yost Band.  

This month we talk with NFL lineman and World Vision Celebrity Ambassador Kelvin Beachum Jr. about faith, family and football, as well as his trip to see water projects in Honduras. And Johnny Cruz had a chance to sit down Washington Post syndicated columnist Michael Gerson to talk about faith, foreign aid, and going to South Sudan and the Middle East with World Vision. We also feature music from Haiti, with music from the socially conscious singer-songwriter, BélO. www.kelvinbeachum.com www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-gerson/ www.instagram.com/atisbelo www.worldvision.org

World Vision child ambassador and blogger, Rachel Teodoro, talks about how a letter from her sponsored child in Uganda changed the way she thought about sponsorship. She reminisces about traveling to Uganda for the first time and what it was like to see a community get clean water in Zambia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvfCIawfBN4 And hear from Dr. Russell Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.He talks Legos, faith and refugees. Dr. Moore gives some practical tips to help you put your faith into action and shares with us how engaging with refugees can give you a whole new perspective. And we’ll also hear music from the Washington, DC-based band, East Ghost. Visit WorldVision6k.org to learn how easy it is to join Rachel and help bring clean water to children around the world through World Vision’s Global 6k for Water on May 6. www.russellmoore.comwww.rachelteodoro.comwww.worldvision6k.org  

Hear an inspiring account how meeting a little boy name George started a journey that led to a partnership with World Vision to provide clean water to a village in Uganda. And a trip with popular actors and musicians to see the moment when water arrived in the community. Guests of the podcast include Carlson Young and John Karna, stars of the MTV series “Scream,” along with Mark Foster and Isom Innis from the band Foster the People. They are joined by Isabella Innis, who led an online fundraising campaign to partner with World Vision to provide clean water access in George’s community in Uganda. The five traveled to Uganda in 2016 to witness the moment when clean water arrived in the community for the first time. And hear how you can help bring clean water to children around the world through World Vision’s Global 6k for Water on May 6. Learn more here: www.worldvision6k.org #6kforwater  

During a recent publicity tour with World Vision, Patricia Heaton had a chance to share about her faith, journey to success in Hollywood and trip to Zambia. Heaton, currently the star of ABC’s “The Middle” and longtime star of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” recently agreed to join and serve as the founding member of World Vision’s Celebrity Ambassador Network. In 2015, Heaton launched a new program, “Patricia Heaton Parties” on the Food Network. The program features her favorite party-friendly food and tips for entertaining. The program was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards and won for Outstanding Culinary Program. As a Celebrity Ambassador, Heaton will partner with World Vision to raise awareness, funds and additional support for its work serving the poor in nearly 100 countries worldwide. A supporter of World Vision for several years, Heaton has appeared on its annual Gift Catalog, voiced public service advertisements, spoken at World Vision fundraising events, supported the organization’s disaster relief initiatives and appeared on several national television programs. In September 2015, Heaton and her teenage son traveled to Zambia with World Vision. While in Zambia she met with her sponsored child Gracious, visited health clinics, observed clean water programs, met with humanitarian aid workers and helped to assemble bicycles for local residents.