Name: (6-16-2021) The Man Behind the Camera by UNITY Lutheran Church in UNITY Belief Beat
Duration: 23 min 47 s
Description: Meet our newest staff hire, Graeme Gallagher, our M and C specialist. Hear his impressions from his first 6 months at Unity, his goals for the next 6 months, and his very unusual criteria of selecting sports teams to support.

Talking About Things That Matter with People Who Matter

UNITY Belief Beat

Meet our newest staff hire, Graeme Gallagher, our M and C specialist. Hear his impressions from his first 6 months at Unity, his goals for the next 6 months, and his very unusual criteria of selecting sports teams to support.

(6-16-2021) The Man Behind the Camera

A few decades back, when collegiate women’s sports were still in most people’s periphery, Susie Sprecher was playing for NCAA soccer championships at UW-Madison. Fast-forward a generation and one of her daughters, Kylie Sprecher, is competing at the highest of levels nationally, a Golden Eagle from Marquette. By the time Kylie arrives at MU, sports nutritionists, trainers and psychologists are on the scene. Same sport. Different worlds. So many unique and life-filled experiences. So much exposure to the challenges and pitfalls of such a singular focus on one part of your life. Listen in on a great conversation between mother and daughter, one generation of player to the next,  and mostly just the wisdom of two people who’ve learned a lot from their journey through the world of  Division 1 (D! in the title) sports.

D1 X 2= ?

The February 2023 Mission of Healing trip continued a tradition of medical, health and wellness delegations to El Salvador that date back to 2005 for Unity and to 2000 for some of our Wisconsin and  Minnesota partners. 

This is Episode 2 of a 3-part look at the history of MOH, the intricacy of planning for it, and the daily rush of being part of something so challenging and worthwhile.  

On this episode we’re joined by two travelers who’ve been in it for the long-haul, 20 total trips between them, Mike Gutzeit and Julie Hoesly.  They in turn are joined by one of the 7 first-time travelers on the trip, Trisha Smith. The continued in-flow of new energy, mixed with experience has allowed us to remain committed as the lead congregation. This episode looks at afternoons…the challenges of the hottest part of the day, daily tear-down, and getting back to home-base in San Salvador.

In It For The Long Haul, Episode 2 Mission Of Healing 2023

This is Episode 3 of a 3-part look at the history of MOH, the intricacy of planning for it, and the daily rush of being part of something so challenging and worthwhile. 

The February 2023 Mission of Healing trip continued a tradition of medical, health and wellness delegations to El Salvador that date back to 2005 for Unity and to 2000 for some of our Wisconsin and  Minnesota partners. 

For this episode, we talk to Mary Ehresman,  a member at Edina (MN) Community Lutheran Church, with whom we’ve partnered on this trip for over a decade. Mary brings with her medical skills, experience in Central America, and an easy-going sense of humor.  That makes her a great fit with Greg Buck, one of our ongoing medical providers and Erika Taipala, a future provider who went on our summer relationship trip and then the Mission of Healing trip within a 6 month period. All three combine to give you a great window into how each day on the trip draws to a close and thoughts on how this important relationship with the Salvadoran Lutheran Church can continue to evolve.

Mission of Healing 2023, Episode 3

Sara Matchulat Zejnic grew up at the Cross of Life campus of Unity.  She was confirmed here, a part of our youth group, and a frequent Worship Assistant and singer in worship.  Sara was a repeat traveller on our earliest El Salvador trips. She and others helped us  establish the young adult-to-young adult connections that have been one of the hallmarks of our 20-year relationship there. 

Sara’s presence in El Salvador helped make her aware of the way in which poverty, gangs, natural disasters, war, and human aspirations trigger emigration from one country to another. Today she works with immigrants who enter the US  through many channels. On this episode of Belief Beat, Sara shares how her life experiences led  into the work she now does. She talks about the current immigration system and the ways in which faith-based and secular immigration agencies work with immigrants. What works?  What doesn’t? Where does she find hope? 

It’s so good to hear from someone raised here who now does such significant work on a daily basis.  Sara is the Deputy Director of Programs for the International Rescue Committee, working in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Immigration Through The Eyes of Someone Who Sees it Every Day

Pastor Muriel Otto,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Brookfield, WI,
Message January 20-21, 2024

(01-21-24) Fishing Might Not Mean What You Think

Pastor Muriel and Caitlin Dominski talk El Salvador!

(08-22-24) Stories From El Salvador

Pastor Jim Alquist
UNITY Lutheran Church
Brookfield, WI

(1-5-2025) Chosen Children Lavished in Grace

The fourth podcast in our Sins & Virtues series

Sins and Virtues

Podcast 4 Success

Pastor John Horner-Ibler,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Christ the King Campus,
Brookfield, WI,
December 29, 2019

2019 Weekly Podcast

(12-29-2019) The Road Trip

Talking About Things That Matter With People That Matter,
Ryan Johnson, Stephanie Varin, and Mitchell Mueller
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Brookfield, WI,
April 21, 2020

(04-21-2020) What It's Like to be a High School Senior When There is No High School

Pastor Muriel Otto,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Online Worship,
Brookfield, WI,
May 16-17, 2020

2020 Weekly Podcast

(05-17-2020) A Beautiful Mistake

Pastor John Horner-Ibler,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
With Pastor Michelle Townsend de Lopez,
Cross Lutheran Church,
June 6-7, 2020

(06-07-2020, Pt1) The Image of God

Things that Matter with People Who Matter,
Barbara Horner-Ibler, Andrew Otto, Barb Patterson,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Brookfield, WI,
October 20, 2020

(10-20-2020) You Married a Pastor

Things that Matter with People Who Matter,
Frances Love, Heather Pratt, Kevin Anderson, Jean Qualmann-Anderson,
UNITY Lutheran Church,
Brookfield, WI,
October 27, 2020

(10-27-2020) The Tales We Were Told

UNITY Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Cross of Life Lutheran Campus
20700 West North Avenue
Brookfield, WI  53045

Christ the King Campus
4600 Pilgrim Road
Brookfield, WI  53005

(6-16-2021) The Man Behind the Camera

UNITY Lutheran Church

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