In Their Shoes

In this episode, American Baptist Women’s Ministries Executive Director Virginia Holmstrom speaks with Rev. Courtny Davis Olds, Associate Director of Mission Design for International Ministries, ABCUSA. Rev. Davis Olds preaches a sermon for us, entitled “A Different Language,” based on Acts 2:1-21. (Virginia reads the Scripture prior to the sermon.) After the sermon, Virginia and Courtny continue their conversation about the meaning that this passage from Acts has for our congregations and women’s and girls’ ministries today. 

The retirement years can be a challenge for some, but in this conversation Susan Gillies shares with us what she has learned about retirement in the last four years since her own retirement from professional church leadership in 2010. We discuss how she decided it was time to retire; emotional and spiritual preparations she made prior to retiring as well as what she had been unprepared to experience; and how she has learned even more about herself through the retirement experience.

Rev. Dr. Christine Roush serves as Chief Operations Officer and Advancement at Rainbow Acres, a residential campus in Camp Verde, Arizona, for adults with developmental delays. In this episode, we talk a bit about Rainbow Acres, but spend most of the conversation discussing ways for congregations to be in ministry with families who have members with developmental delays. To visit the website for Rainbow Acres: www.rainbowacres.com. The other two websites referenced by Rev. Dr. Roush in the conversation: http://bethesdalutherancommunities.org/FaithResources http://www.joniandfriends.org/media/uploads/downloads/church_relations_process_map_rev.pdf

Every year, over 400,000 motorcyclists descend upon Sturgis, South Dakota, for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The rally, the largest motorcycle rally in the world and one of the longest-running, nearly doubles the population of the state for that week in August. In this episode, we hear from LaVonna Cline who volunteers with the ABC Emergency Services Center, set up each year at the rally, to provide services, transportation, and counseling to rally attendees. Links mentioned in this episode: ABC Emergency Services Center: http://www.sturgisaid.com/abcesc.htm BeFree58–a ministry committed to ending human trafficking: www.befree58.org Christian Motorcyclists Association: http://www.cmausa.org/

In this episode, high school senior Mary Burnett interviews Tony Milner, executive director of Family Promise of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mary and Tony discuss homeless youth, women with children, the effects of homelessness, and some special challenges. They end with a story of hope. For more information about Family Promise Salt Lake, visit their website. For information about the national Family Promise organization, click here.

AB Women’s Ministries executive director Virginia Holmstrom recently returned from a trip to Haiti, in the company of AB Women’s Ministries national officer Bonnie Sestito. American Baptist missionaries Kihomi Ngwemi and Nzunga Mabudiga served as their guides. Kihomi introduced Virginia and Bonnie to many women who are working to improve the lives of their families and of all the people of Haiti. For more information about Kihomi and Nzunga’s work in Haiti, click here. For information about the Women and Girls Mission Fund, click here.

Rev. Errol Cooper, associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, talks with us about prison and aftercare ministries. The congregation at First Baptist is deeply engaged in this ministry with members and with the community. Our conversation includes why there may be more people connected with the judicial system in your congregation than you’re aware; why this ministry is so critical, and some ideas for how you can engage in it yourself.Visit the website of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Rev. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., pastor.Click here to find out more about Healing CommunitiesVisit American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ page on prisoner re-entry and aftercare ministries.

Welcome to 2014! In this episode, we hear from pastor and life coach Rev. Nancy Leport about the importance of self-care. Self-care can be a very difficult thing for anyone, but perhaps especially women, to address in their lives. We feel pulled in so many directions, and for many self-care can seem self-ish. However, self-care allows us to be renewed and replenished to be even more present and effective in our workplaces, our homes, and our ministries. Get inspiration and ideas for ways to integrate more self-care into your life this year.Resources on self-care:The Power of a Positive No, by William UryThe Art of Extreme Self-Care, by Cheryl RichardsonThe Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr and Tony SchwartzResources from Nancy Leport:Sabbath Moments blog Time4Yourself blogMonthly de-stress newsletter: to subscribe, email Nancy.

Peggy Burke has been deeply engaged in advocacy around issues of human trafficking in the state of Ohio. In this episode, we discuss how to discern if you are called to be an advocate on a particular issue, and some things you will want to keep in mind as you engage in advocacy. As mentioned in this episode, AB Women’s Ministries has historically been engaged in advocacy and hopes to provide tools to better enable women to address issues that have impact upon women and girls in the U.S. and around the world. Click here to find the page on our website that lists several bills currently in various stages of Congress–you can see at a glance where they are in process, and follow links to send your opinion to your congressional representatives.

Depression is a very real problem in the lives of many women, and it can become particularly difficult during the holiday season. In this episode, we have conversation with Rev. Dr. Judith Craik, American Baptist pastor and pastoral counselor. Our conversation looks at depression from the perspective of faith: It includes definitions, symptoms, and healthy ways to address depression in our lives.

In this episode, Peggy Burke gives us an update on her experience of Haiti now, over three years after the devastating earthquake of January, 2010. She shares with us what has improved and the work that remains to be done.To hear Peggy’s story of the earthquake itself, click here. (The file is uploaded to our website so you may listen to it directly on your computer.)

In this episode, we hear from Maureen Locke, a registered nurse with an obstetrics and gynecology practice, on the issue of domestic violence. Maureen, with 30 years of experience in OB/GYN, also serves as a trainer of other medical practitioners on the issue of domestic violence. In this episode, we discuss how Maureen identifies victims or possible victims and what she is able, and is not able, to do. We also discuss the effect of domestic violence on children, teen dating relationships, and suggestions for what we all could do if we become aware of possible situations of domestic violence among family or friends.

It’s time to check in with author Nita Belles again! Publication of her book In Our Backyard: A Christian Perspective on Human Trafficking in the United States, has taken Nita on a journey all over the United States, meeting people and hearing stories about abolition work and victim care. In this episode, we find out what Nita has going on today, as well as some key steps to take when we’re inspired to become more deeply engaged ourselves.In Our Backyard: A Christian Perspective on Human Trafficking in the United States may be found on Amazon, or look for it in your local bookstore. Like In Our Backyard on Facebook to stay up-to-date with news and stories about trafficking, survivors, and abolitionists.Missed our first conversation? Find it here.

I’m glad to be able to share with you the work of one of our 2012-2013 interns, Jasmine Turner (no relation to our other intern Christina Turner who posted previously). Jasmine interviewed Becca Bishopric, Coordinator for Health Promotion and Violence Prevention and Response at Elon University, Elon, North Carolina. In their conversation, they talk about sexual violence on college campuses, care for victims, and prevention education. To read Jasmine’s companion blog post to this episode, click here.

Welcome to one of our interns for the In Their Shoes podcast and blog, Christina Turner! Christina interviews Sister Sharron McMullin, a member of People’s Institutional Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington. Sister McMullin, herself a survivor of domestic violence, is an outspoken advocate on behalf of victims and survivors. Christina and Sister Sharron talk about how congregations should deal with this issue–most especially including the fact that domestic violence is very likely to be present among families in the church itself. They also address teenagers and domestic violence, and how women need to be aware of the red flags. For more from Christina Turner, visit our blog.

We’re so pleased to share with you our conversation with Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms in Nashville, TN. Magdalene is a residential program for women with a criminal history of prostitution and addiction. There are currently six homes that function without live-in staff, relying instead on residents to create supportive community, maintain recovery, and share household tasks. The two-year program offers housing, food, medical and dental needs, therapy, education, and job training free of charge–and is not supported by any government funds, relying instead on individual gifts, private grants, and the sale of Thistle Farms products. Thistle Farms is a social enterprise run by women of Magdalene and program graduates. By hand, the women create body care products made with all natural ingredients and using earth-friendly practices. Through employment at Thistle Farms, women develop important job skills and move from poverty to independence. Purchase of Thistle Farms products support critical ministry! For more information about Magdalene and Thistle Farms and to purchase products, visit www.thistlefarms.org.

Youth can be such strong advocates and energetic workers for justice! In this episode, Elena and Courtney, both senior high young women, share with us their experience teaching their peers about such issues as human trafficking, domestic violence, and cyberbullying. We hope you’re inspired to help youth in your area become involved in advocacy and world-changing! For more information on the Break the Chains project that Elena and Courtney reference, visit our Break the Chains website.

Sandra Uwiringiy’imana and her family are survivors of a massacre that occured in a UN-sponsored refugee camp named “Gatumba,” in Burundi, Africa, August 13, 2004. Now living in the United States, Sandra, a high school senior, put together a multi-media exhibition entitled “Survivors” that lifts up the story of the massacre and expresses a passionate prayer for peace. In our conversation, Sandra shares her story of growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo and what led her family to be living as refugees in Gatumba, describes the events of the night of the massacre and the months following it, and what she nows plans to do with her life. For more information about the Gatumba massacre, visit Gatumba Refugees Survivors Foundation website at http://www.gatumbasurvivors.org/. For more information about the Foundation of Hope, visit their website at http://www.foundationofhopeministries.org/.

Rev. Elizabeth (Liz) Congdon is pastor of First Baptist Church of Trenton, New Jersey, a congregation that includes over 15 different language groups creating Christian community. In this conversation, Rev. Congdon describes the many challenges and the many blessings of being part of such a community. For more information about the First Baptist Church of Trenton, visit their website.

Rev. Barbara Jim-George was led by God during her doctor of ministry studies to delve into issues putting girls at risk for sex trafficking. Out of that research and a whole lot of prayer, the Girls Rite of Passage program at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California, was born. In this episode, we hear about Rev. Jim-George’s call to ministry, how she came to the realization that God was particularly calling her to work in the issue of trafficking and vulnerable young women, and how the Girls Rite of Passage program seeks to address these issues. For more information on the Girls Right of Passage ministry at Allen Temple, visit their web page.