One Georgia UMC Podcast

Connecting with Darren Hensley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!"