Get Your Spirit In Shape

In the mid-1700s, John and Charles Wesley were known as radical dissidents who had a lot to say about the church, faith and following God. The UMC’s General Commission of Archives and History’s chief executive, Dr. Ashley Boggan, shares why the Methodist movement message shared by John and Charles Wesley remains relevant almost 300 years … Continue reading "The Wesleys enduring message for The UMC with Ashley Boggan"

Helping men live a bold life of faith by overcoming isolation and anxiety is a passion for the chief executive of United Methodist Men.

In this re-release of a 2020 ‘Meet a Bishop’ episode  of Get Your Spirit in Shape, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Episcopal Area and now President of the Council of Bishops talks about his knowledge of glass, his interest in every person’s story and his love for his work.

Leah Wandera, the first United Women in Faith deaconess in Africa, is working to bridge The United Methodist Church and the global community through her work in social justice advocacy and public health.

Loneliness, grief, anger, exhaustion and a longing for peace. United Methodist pastor and author Elizabeth Shulman says these emotions frequently surround families dealing with dementia. In her new book, Finding Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer’s: A Spiritual Guide for Families Facing Dementia, Shulman offers steps for how caregivers, as well as members of the … Continue reading "Navigating dementia: A guide for loved ones with Elizabeth Schulman"

United Methodist and Enneagram master Suzanne Stabile shares how she uses the Enneagram to feel closer to God and how it can help us achieve more balance and wholeness in our daily lives.

People of faith cannot be effective and relevant in the world today if they are not well informed, says Tim Tanton, who oversees UM News. On today’s episode of “Get Your Spirit in Shape,” Tim shares details about the news agency of The United Methodist Church and shares why UM News is an important ministry … Continue reading "The need to be a well-informed church with Tim Tanton"

For more than 38 years, the Rev. Vance Lowe was a successful United Methodist minister, with churches growing and thriving under his leadership. What his congregations and those closest to him did not know was that Vance daily struggled with mental illness, which led to addiction and eventual hospitalization in a psychiatric ward. Listen as … Continue reading "Silent no more: One pastor shares mental health struggles with Vance Lowe"

No plastic for 30 days! That’s the challenge the Rev. Cary James Jr. and his 16-year-old son, Caleb, recently undertook in support of their roles as EarthKeepers, trained by the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, to address topics such as environmental justice, green technology and waste reduction in their communities. … Continue reading "EarthKeepers: Loving Creation across the Generations with Cary and Caleb James"

You are invited to ponder the events of Jesus’ final hours on earth through the contemplative spiritual discipline of guided meditation. The Rev. Cindy Serio, a retired United Methodist pastor and current spiritual director, leads us through the narrative as we stay attentive to God’s invitation to us.

Did Jesus laugh? Did he find humor with his friend, the disciples, as they moved through the region? Robert Darden, Baylor University professor and religious humorist, emphatically says, “Absolutely!” Learn how humor can be a part of your faith journey in this conversation Darden, author of “Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor.”

Time Magazine called Dr. E. Stanley Jones the most important missionary of the 20th century. Commissioned by the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Board in 1907, Jones traveled the world, befriending Mahatma Gandhi and inspiring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to adopt non-violent methods in the Civil Rights movement. The Rev. John … Continue reading "E. Stanley Jones: Gandhi’s friend, King’s mentor with John Harnish"

United Methodist pastor and author Juanita Campbell Rasmus, a self-professed performance-addicted perfectionist, shares her story of hitting bottom, an event that led her on a healing journey of learning to be still and truly coming to know God. Discover how leaning to be still and ridding yourself of the world’s expectations can help you keep … Continue reading "Performance addicted no more: ‘Learning to Be’ with Juanita Rasmus"

Angela Chadwick, Global Director of Prayer for Alpha International, talks with us about prayer, what it looks like day in and day out, and how prayer is that place where God becomes personal when we show up as our authentic selves.

Dr. David Boan, a member of First United Methodist Church of Boise, Idaho, and Kathleen Griffith, a veteran global heath leader with the General Board of Global Ministries, discuss Love Beyond Borders, an equitable vaccine distribution campaign.

Dr. David Field, Ecumenical Staff Officer for Faith & Order and Theological Dialogue for The United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops, shares thoughts on how we, as Christians, might follow the complex command to love – and respect – all people, even those with whom we vehemently disagree. Discover how respect for others can help … Continue reading "When respect is greater than conflict with David Field"

United Methodist missionary the Rev. John Calhoun, who pastors the English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna (ESUMC), shares how radical hospitality with a multicultural population is playing an important role in congregations in Austria. Discover how hospitality can help you keep your spirit in shape. John is an ordained elder of the New York Annual … Continue reading "Give Love: Radical hospitality with John Calhoun"

Desiree Segura-April and her husband are United Methodist missionaries serving throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and currently living in Honduras. As a Resource Person for Children at Risk Ministries, Desiree is passionate about creating safe spaces for children and shares with us how her life growing up in the Pacific Northwest continues to influence … Continue reading "Give Love: Keeping kids safe in Honduras with Desiree Segura-April"

Helen Roberts-Evans grew up in the United States, in Chicago. But returning to the continent of Africa, to Liberia, where she was born, was a lifelong dream. Today, Helen is a United Methodist missionary, serving in Liberia. In this special Advent episode of “Get Your Spirit in Shape,” we chat with Helen and learn the … Continue reading "Give Love: Serving Liberia’s Children with Helen Roberts-Evans"

Linda Bruner is a cradle Methodist, raised in the church as a preacher’s kid. Today, Linda works for the global denomination as senior manager of connectional giving and marketing for United Methodist Communications. We talk with Linda about her enduring United Methodist roots, what generosity means to her and why being part of a local … Continue reading "Giving, Gratitude & Generosity with Linda Bruner"