Top 10 Means of Grace Episodes of All Time

Means of Grace, a podcast from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, equips church leaders through expertise and examples. The podcast launched in October 2019, went weekly in October 2020, and hit 10,000 downloads in November 2020. We’ll be back on January 5, 2021 with new episodes but in the meantime, check out our top ten episodes by listener numbers.
 

1. Grief at Christmas
   In this episode of Means of Grace, Director of Communications Melissa McGill sits down with Rev. Toni Ruth Smith to talk about experiencing grief in this time of great joy and how churches can create space for stillness, hope and even sadness in the midst of the holiday rush. 
2. Border Pilgrimage
   On our first episode, Melissa and producer Andy Goh accompany a team from Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte on a pilgrimage to the US-Mexico border to walk alongside legal asylum seekers. Rev. Nathan Arledge and lay trip leader Maddie Myers share about the trip and the theology behind it. You'll also hear several first-hand stories from people seeking asylum, who we met at Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas.
3. Ignatian Examen Guided Meditation
   Dr. Melanie Dobson leads a practice of Ignatian Examen. This prayer was developed by Ignatius of Loyola for his fellow monks, the Society of Friends, in the mid-1500s. Ignatius thought that by the self-examination of times of desolation and consolation in a person’s life, they could see more clearly the presence of God at work.  This particular practice is adapted from Daniel Wolpert in his book, Creating a Life with God.
4. Adaptive Leadership
   Jesse Enniss and Rev. Kim Ingram, from the Leadership Development Team, have a conversation with Rev. Lory Beth Huffman, Rev. Mark Key and Rev. Chris Westmoreland on adaptive leadership.  Each of these leaders has guided congregations of various sizes and contexts.  They share their experiences and learnings so that other leaders might connect and grow. They also talk about a program they facilitated in early 2020 called ADAPT: Leading Off the Map.
5. Q&A with Rev. Amy Coles, WNCC Episcopal Nominee
   In this episode, Melissa sits down with Rev. Amy Coles, the Western North Carolina Conference Episcopal nominee, to talk about faith, her calling, and the future of the church.
6. Being the Rural Church: The Vital Role the Church Plays in a Rural Community
   The Rural Church has a vital role to play during this current pandemic.  The nature of the rural church is built around relationships – relationships with church members, but also the community. Rural Churches have a unique opportunity to provide resources, connections, and hope during these stressful times.  This episode of the Means of Grace podcast features a conversation with three leaders who have experience and expertise in leading and understanding churches in rural areas - Rev. Allen Stanton, a clergy member of the WNC conference and the executive director of the Turner Center at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee; Rev. Santosh Niroula, the pastor of Fountain Hill and Mount Moriah United Methodist Churches in the Uwharrie District of WNC; Rev. Kristen Richardson-Frick, a clergy member of the SC conference and the Associate Director of the Rural Church Division at The Duke Endowment. They discuss the role of the church in a rural community and how it can build the kingdom through these connections.
7. Welcoming Prayer Guided Mediation
   In this meditation, Rev. Ashley Pickerel Thomas leads the Welcoming Prayer, created by Mary Mrozowski.  According to Contemplative Outreach, the Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day.
8. Growing in Racial Awareness
   In this episode, Kim and Jesse speak with Rev. Rodvegas Ingram, pastor of Memorial UMC in High Point, Rev. Tom Latimer, pastor of Jamestown UMC in Jamestown, and Rev. Maria King, Church Vitality Associate, Northern Piedmont District about growing in racial awareness. 
9. Spiritual Renewal Part 1
   In this two-part episode, Kim and Jesse talk with clergy and laity in Western North Carolina about the importance of taking time to “stay in love with God.”  Each one shares a particular spiritual practice or renewal opportunity that helps them stay connected and grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus. We hope that you will be inspired to make your own renewal and practices a priority.
10. Mental and Spiritual Health: Body, Mind, Soul
    Director of Missional Engagement and Connectional Ministries Caroline Wood, and guests Rev. Eddie Ingram and Dr. Lori Dickson, explore how stress affects mental, physical, and spiritual health. Rev. Ingram explains the Enneagram types and helps us understand each type’s unique response to stress. Dr. Dickson shares the challenges and joys of serving as a general practitioner in a rural community lacking in mental health resources.