Servecast

Faithful Christian mission includes more than preaching. In his book Where the Cross Meets the Street, Noel Castellanos describes his dissatisfaction with the proclamation-only approach and looks at the life of Jesus for a more holistic way to engage our neighborhoods. He believes in the cross God enters our suffering and cares for the vulnerable, and the Christian's duty is to do the same. This entails moving into the neighborhood, engaging both proclamation and formation, demonstrating compassion, seeking restoration and development, and confronting injustice where it may be found. In this episode, Noel joins William to discuss how the radical story of the cross should shape the Church's presence in our communities. Noel serves as the President of the Christian Community Development Association. Pick up a copy of Noel's book, Where the Cross Meets the Street: What Happens to the Neighborhood When God is at the Center. Music by bensound  

We all want to know our purpose in life. Christians often speak of this as “our call.” Author and social entrepreneur Jonathan David Golden says we should stop obsessing over missing that purpose and start doing what we can where we are. In conversation with William, Jonathan encourages listeners to consider their strengths, understand their story, and make a difference wherever they may be in life. Check out Jonathan’s book, Be You. Do Good.: Having the Guts to Pursue What Makes You Come Alive. Learn more about Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co. and the Bwenda Water Project. Music by bensound

In this episode of "William Gone Rogue," William shares how easy it is to be agitated instead of being thankful.  Music by bensound

Christians accept a false dichotomy when they believe they must choose between truth and love. This causes compromise in their approach to politics.  Justin Giboney, politician and co-founder of the AND Campaign, joins William to discuss faithful Christian engagment. Christians must have a public presence, and this presence should be marked by the compassion and conviction of Jesus Christ. Check out Justin's 2016 Christianity Today article. Music by bensound

Christian denominationalism leaves many believers discouraged about disunity among churches. A local non-profit in Cleveland, TN bridges denominational and organizational divides to bring holistic care to members of their community. The Caring Place’s Director of Organization Advancement, Toni Miles, joins William to discuss their work among the vulnerable of their community. Toni encourages churches, non-profit practitioners, business leaders, and government officials to contribute their expertise in a communal effort to alleviate poverty. Music by bensound Contact Servecast at servecast22@gmail.com

Our levels of passion tend to wax and wane, and this is no less the case in our relationships with God. With William and student guest host, Caleb Montgomery, Dr. Crawford Loritts addresses the need to cultivate intimacy with God even as emotions come and go. Dr. Loritts concludes that a healthy relationship with God will provide a foundation to impact people and transform communities. In this conversation, he pulls from his experience as a pastor to address topics ranging from marriage to creating social change.  Click here to view Dr. Loritts’s full chapel address. Music by bensound

We often find purpose in acts of generosity. The problem is that we are not always aware of the struggles our neighbors face, or we may not know how to help. With this tension in mind, Blake Canterbury founded Purposity (purpose + generosity), which leverages technology to connect would-be philanthropists to tangible needs in their community. In this episode, Blake joins William and student leader, Haley Dorsey, as they imagine the possibilities of collective effort to positively impact lives and communities. Visit Purposity's website to sign up to for weekly opportunities to meet a need. Music by bensound

On this episode, Dr. Dan Noel contrasts the Mississippi River and the Dead Sea to call listeners to both give and receive. Both bodies of water receive from other sources. The Mississippi River flows and pours into other bodies of water, but the Dead Sea does not. Similarly, we, as individuals, need tributaries that pour into us, but to bring life, we must pour into others. Student leaders, Jared Noel and Mannah Berg, ask Dr. Noel questions and weigh in on this conversation. Click here to view Dr. Noel’s full chapel address. Music by bensound  

Nikole Lim joins William and Christian to discuss the ways God is present in the midst of suffering and the hope we have in the coming Kingdom of God. Nikole is the Co-founder and International Director at Freely in Hope, an organization working to end the cycle of sexual violence through education, leadership development, and storytelling. There, she advocates for a survivor-led approach to community transformation.  Click here to listen to Nikole Lim's Lee University chapel address. Music by bensound  

Sometimes a "good" thing is not always the best thing, and this can even be the case when serving others. William invites Wesley Furlong to Servecast to discuss Wesley's new book, Smart Compassion: How to Stop “Doing” Outreach and Start Making Change. In this episode, Wesley shares  his journey to smart compassion and advocates for being present to others in ways that encourage reciprocity and affirm dignity. In his book, he calls Christians to embody the love of God through healing presence, radical hospitality, and collective empowerment. Click here to learn more about Wesley Furlong. Music by bensound

In this episode, Leroy Barber asks, “If God had to come close in the incarnation… what makes us think we can do [Christianity] from afar?” Leroy authored the book Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World and serves as the Executive Director for The Voices Project. Drawing from experience in community development, Leroy explains the way God takes our ordinary and accomplishes the extraordinary. He believes this is most evident when we walk in relationship with others and is best cultivated by establishing rhythms of service in our personal lives. Click here to view Leroy Barber’s full Lee University chapel address. Music by bensound

Author and Christian thought leader, Gabe Lyons joins William to discuss Christian cultural engagement. Offering insights from his book, Good Faith, and his work at Q, Gabe reminds listeners that we live in an “upside down world,” which at times deviates from Christian faith commitments. In this tension, Gabe believes Christians should engage all spheres of society from a place of conviction and compassion. Click here to view Gabe Lyons’s full Lee University chapel address. Music by bensound

Dr. William Kamm, Lee University's Director of Graduate Studies in Education, joins Servecast and recounts his time as a school administrator, his first class at Lee University, and the time someone refused to speak to him in the dining hall. Along with William and Tyler, they discuss the importance of teacher figures and the transformational possibilities inherent in every honest conversation. Music by bensound  

Dr. Duffy Robbins, Professor of Youth Ministry at Eastern University, and Lee’s Campus Pastor, Dr. Jimmy Harper, join William to discuss Christianity’s grand story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Drawing from his experiences, Dr. Robbins describes the wounded state of society and postmodernism’s complete disdain for canned answers. In light of these, he calls listeners to rehearse Christianity’s story in community. Click here to view Duffy Robinson’s full chapel address. Music by bensound

Fresh off the road, William interviews fellow leadership guru and President of Leader Labs, Dr. Fred Garmon. Together, they commentate on March Madness and leadership trends in the Information Age. Dr. Garmon perceives a crisis of leadership, but he believes “life/role” leaders can change the world. Whether in the ministry or the marketplace, leadership begins with self-development and tending to your sphere of influence. Music by bensound