Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

Dean Flemming (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament and missions at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. A missionary educator for more than twenty years, he formerly taught at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in the Philippines and European Nazarene College in Buesingen, Germany. He has written extensively on the subject of contextualization, as well as the New Beacon Bible Commentary on Philippians. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and has pastored churches in Ohio and Japan.

68: Dean Flemming - Faithful to the End: Vocation and the Book of Revelation

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

Prior to The Call to Work, Tracy Mathews spent eight years leading strategy and business development for Coskata, Inc., an early-stage industrial biotech company with significant investment from Blackstone, Total, Khosla Ventures and others.

Tracy has been leading the development of The Call to Work since March of 2016, and says of her experience:
"Since coming on board with The Call to Work, God has done so much to grow and transform me through my daily work. I now understand that no matter what I’m doing, whether it’s strategic planning or cleaning up the kitchen, God is with me in that situation, and he has good purpose and guidance for me in it.  Through the tools and principles I’m learning through The Call to Work, I am experiencing more of God’s presence and more fullness of life than I ever thought possible in this life. And I can truly say I am a better worker – a better leader, a better entrepreneur, a better mother, a better wife and friend – than I was when I started with this project.  God is so good to give me first-hand experience with the 'bigger, all of life, fullness of life vision of following Jesus' that we endeavor to catalyze for others!"

69: Tracy Matthews - Tuning in to the Spirit at Work

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Teena and Dr. David Rylaarsdam about how we can learn healthy work rhythms from monks and how we can connect faith and social action.

David Rylaarsdam began his teaching career at Smith Memorial Bible College in Nigeria, and since has taught at the University of Notre Dame, Dordt College, Missional Training Center (Phoenix), Calvin Prison Initiative, and Calvin Seminary. He has also served a variety of churches as interim pastor and received missionary training in Mexico City.

His research interests are focused on Christian spiritual practices, discipleship, and leadership training throughout history.

Links:
surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest
www.missionaltraining.org/

72: David Rylaarsdam - Monkish Rhythms for Our Work

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Teena Dare and Meghan Larissa Good about how to read the Bible as a means of encountering the risen Jesus, and all of the implications this has for all of life.

Links:
www.surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest/ www.missionaltraining.org
https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Unwrapped-Making-Sense-Scripture/dp/1513802348

81: Meghan Larissa Good - Reshaping Your Imagination by the Story of Jesus

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Teena Dare and Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, physician and author of Sacred Rest, about a holistic approach toward rest. She talks about seven different kinds of rest she has identified, unfolding creational wisdom for us to uniquely pursue the rest that we need. 

Show Notes:
www.restquiz.com - Learn what forms of Rest you need most
www.ichoosemybestlife.com

Faith, Work, and Rest Podcast

83: Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith - Seven Ways to Rest

This is episode two of our series on Faith, Work, Mercy and Justice. How do we understand the God of mercy and justice at work in the world? What does it mean to be redeemed and set apart to join him in that work? How do we steward vocational power for the marginalized? In Partnership with The Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, we are sharing six stories of women and men who encountered brokenness in their industry and chose to creatively pursue mercy and justice right where they found themselves. 

In this episode, Teena interviews John Onwuchekwa about his journey into the murky waters of muted narratives, historical injustice and present-day inequities that are embedded in the craft coffee industry. Then we get a chance to hear about his creative pursuit of re-narrating the story of coffee in hopes of a more equitable future. 

Shownotes 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/portraitcoffee/ -
Website: https://portrait.coffee/

www.globalfaithandwork.com

Faith, Work, Mercy, and Justice Series

Mercy & Justice 02: Pouring a New Narrative

This is episode three of our series on Faith, Work, Mercy and Justice. How do we understand the God of mercy and justice at work in the world? What does it mean to be redeemed and set apart to join him in that work? How do we steward vocational power for the marginalized? In Partnership with The Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, we are sharing six stories of women and men who encountered brokenness in their industry and chose to creatively pursue mercy and justice right where they found themselves.

In this episode, Teena interviews Regina Green about how economics, faith, work, mercy, and justice intersect in her varying roles and time at Goldman Sachs.

Shownotes
www.globalfaithandwork.com

Mercy & Justice 03: Investing in the Kingdom

This is episode four of our series on Faith, Work, Mercy and Justice. How do we understand the God of mercy and justice at work in the world? What does it mean to be redeemed and set apart to join him in that work? How do we steward vocational power for the marginalized? In Partnership with The Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, we are sharing six stories of women and men who encountered brokenness in their industry and chose to creatively pursue mercy and justice right where they found themselves.

In this episode, Teena interviews Brittany Johnson and Noel D'Avy about how healing, faith, work, mercy, and justice intersect in the mental health space. Brittany and Noel met at a small church plant in downtown Mesa and were shocked to find out they were both counselors and art therapists. Their friendship grew quickly as they spent many early mornings over coffee dreaming about more ways to help others in therapy. The vision for The Well was born out of love for God, love for people, and love for their city.

Shownotes
https://thewellmesa.com/
www.globalfaithandwork.com

Mercy & Justice 04: The Work of Healing

This is episode five of our series on Faith, Work, Mercy and Justice. How do we understand the God of mercy and justice at work in the world? What does it mean to be redeemed and set apart to join him in that work? How do we steward vocational power for the marginalized? In Partnership with The Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, we are sharing six stories of women and men who encountered brokenness in their industry and chose to creatively pursue mercy and justice right where they found themselves.

In this episode, Teena interviews Lisa Hertzog about the power of educating for belonging!

Shownotes

www.globalfaithandwork.com

Mercy & Justice 05: Educating for Belonging

This is episode six of our series on Faith, Work, Mercy and Justice. How do we understand the God of mercy and justice at work in the world? What does it mean to be redeemed and set apart to join him in that work? How do we steward vocational power for the marginalized? In Partnership with The Global Faith and Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, we are sharing six stories of women and men who encountered brokenness in their industry and chose to creatively pursue mercy and justice right where they found themselves.

In this episode, Teena interviews author Wayetu Moore about the power of retelling our stories

Shownotes

www.globalfaithandwork.com

Mercy & Justice 06: Retelling Our Stories

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Teena Dare and Dan and Danae Lemoine, co-founders of re:vitalize Weight Loss and Wellness Center, about their life, journey, and ministry in starting and building their business.

Here's a link to Dan's book "Fear No Food" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fear-no-food-dan-lemoine/1140237410

87: Danae and Dan LeMoine - Fit for the Kingdom

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

How do we know what God has called us to do? What cultural blinders do we have that may prevent us from being faithful to our calling? In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Teena Dare and Dr. Susan Maros about the importance of considering our cultural context when trying to discern our calling. 

Dr. Maros is a professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of the book "Context and Calling."

91: Dr. Susan Maros - Our Context, Our Calling

We are beginning a new 6-part series called Knowing God in Work & Rest. 

In a world saturated in consumerism that is always looking to extract something from us, we have a God who longs to be with us and wants us to enjoy being in his presence. Strahan Coleman shares a vision for beholding prayer that leads to a life saturated in the presence of God. He shares from his new book, Beholding, about his journey into a life of beholding and how it can powerfully reshape how we work and rest. 

Resources related to this episode:
Strahan’s book: Beholding https://a.co/d/43HNEje
Strahan’s website: Commoner’s Communion https://www.commonerscommunion.com/
Strahan's podcast: Commoner's Communion Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/commoners-communion-podcast/id1320670549

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

Timestamps:
Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Strahan Coleman 0:00
How has consumerism shaped our relationship with God? 8:36
God's invitation to closeness with Him 14:02
How beholding God transforms the way we love others in our daily life 19:59
How did a prolonged season of suffering shape how you relate to God? 23:19
How small disciplines of love can make us more like Christ in our daily work 27:43
How the mystery of the Eucharist reshapes how we engage the mundane 36:18
Tell us about someone whose work is often overlooked that reflects Christ to you? 42:17

This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and  hosted by Teena Dare.

Knowing God in Work & Rest 01: Beholding God - A New-Old Way to Pray

Many of us struggle to find the space to deeply engage with God. When we do, it is often removed from the rhythms of our everyday life. Denise Daniels offers us a vision for weaving spiritual disciplines right into the rhythms of our daily work and rest to help us live before the face of God. She draws from the insightful book that she co-authored, Working in the Presence of God, to present us with creative and timely ideas about how we can regularly connect with God throughout our workdays. 


Resources mentioned:

Working in the Presence of God: Book https://www.amazon.com/Working-Presence-God-Spiritual-Practices/dp/1683072227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MQ456MCT3ILC&keywords=working+in+the+presence+of+god+spiritual+practices+for+everyday+work&qid=1680044122&sprefix=working+in+the+pres%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1

Practices for Working in the Presence of God: Guided Journal https://www.amazon.com/Practices-Working-Presence-God-Journal/dp/1683074041/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1MQ456MCT3ILC&keywords=working+in+the+presence+of+god+spiritual+practices+for+everyday+work&qid=1680044077&sprefix=working+in+the+pres%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-4

Film Series: Faith and Co. https://faithandco.spu.edu/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/



Timestamps:

Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Dr. Denise Daniels 0:00

How Denise found her way in the Faith and Work space 2:00

What is the “third-way” of becoming attentive to God at work? 6:28

Why is it important to evaluate our current rhythms before adding new ones? 11:31

How to practice Surrendering the Calendar 17:16

How to practice gratitude and lament in the workplace 20:49

What is the Prayer of Examen and how can we apply it to our lives? 26:07

Tell us about someone whose work is often overlooked that reflects Christ to you? 34:50


This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and hosted by Teena Dare.

Knowing God in Work & Rest 02: Working in the Presence of God

In this episode we get to hear from both Missy Wallace and Blake Schwarz about two spiritual practices that help nourish their intimacy with God. Missy shares about her first (and ongoing) practice of taking “silent days” with God and how it carves out space to hear from and deeply commune with Him. Blake tells us about his weekly practice of fasting and how his understanding of its formative power has evolved through the years.

Resources related to this episode:

On practicing Silence:
Article: https://redeemercitytocity.com/articles-stories/a-day-of-silence
Central Commons: https://www.centralcommons.org/
Gotham Fellowship: https://www.faithandworkgotham.com/

On Fasting:
Celebration of Discipline Book: https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TDWD8WVEV3L3&keywords=celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1681417458&sprefix=celebration+of+discipl%2Caps%2C1110&sr=8-1
Practices of Love Book: https://www.amazon.com/Practices-Love-Spiritual-Disciplines-World-ebook/dp/B01N10VZKQ?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: www.globalfaithandwork.com/
Learn more about the Surge Network here: www.surgenetwork.com/


This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg, and hosted by Teena Dare.


Timestamps:

Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest Missy Wallace and Blake Schwarz 0:00

Where do you see the need for us to press into God’s presence at work? 1:33

What did it feel like going into the day of silence? 6:09

How often do you practice days of silence? 17:01

Tell us about someone whose work reflects Christ to you 19:28

Can you explain the concept of Central Commons? 21:51

What are the initial buds of fruit? 24:08

How has fasting helped you commune with God in your work and life? 29:15

Knowing God in Work & Rest 03: Silence and Fasting - Two Ways to Draw Near

In this episode Bjorn Wagner and Teena Dare unpack the concept of habitus. The workplace is one of the subcultures that shape our habits which slowly train us to feel, think and act in certain ways. Björn invites us to grow in awareness of opportunities to be reformed into the likeness of Christ in our work and rest.

Resources related to this episode:

French sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu

Book: The Power of Habit 
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+power+of+habit&qid=1679586785&sr=8-1

To connect with Björn, find him on Instagram at: bjoernlarswagner 
or email him at bjoernlwagner@gmail.com


Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/
Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/


This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg, and hosted by Teena Dare.



Timestamps

Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Björn Wagner 0:00

Introducing habitus 1:31

Why is this concept important for us? 10:45

How does invisible culture shape our visible habits? 16:26

Give us an example of this for our everyday 20:09

Do we have any power to change the habitus in our workplace? 26:36

Small actions that can bear witness in big ways 30:05

Tell us about someone whose work is often overlooked that you see with new vision 38:10

Knowing God in Work & Rest 04: What’s Really Forming Us?

What does it mean to see? Our understanding of this seemingly simple concept has evolved through the years and so has our sense of what it means to “see” God. In this episode, Dr. John DelHousaye talks about optical theory, the pure in heart seeing God, how truth relates to reality, and how all of this intersects with our daily rhythms of work and rest.

Resources related to this episode:

Follow Dr. DelHousaye on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdelhousaye?lang=en

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: www.surgenetwork.com/

This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and hosted by Teena Dare.


Timestamps:

Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Dr. John DelHousaye 0:00

How can we know God through the Visio Dei? 1:19

What is a fuller understanding of the word truth? 11:08

How can work be a lens for us in our everyday lives? 17:37

Explaining the value of spending time in the Gospels 22:33

How we can connect communion and baptism to everyday life 26:53

How can we participate in making God more seeable in the world? 30:27

How does God help you see someone the world may overlook? 35:31

Knowing God in Work & Rest 05: Seeing God In All Things

There’s no question that we’re called to love our neighbor but many of us feel like we’ve lost the art. We’re burnt-out, lacking motivation, or feeling overwhelmed with life. In this episode Brielle shares her own story and helps unpack why so many of us are feeling this strain. She invites us to join her on the journey of healing through being with God in ways that restore us to love just as we were made to. 

Resources related to this episode:

Learn about the Daily Breadth App: https://dailybreadth.app/default

Listen to Brielle’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-little-bit-unstoppable/id1620112094

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here: www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: www.surgenetwork.com/

This episode was produced by Abby Drachenberg and hosted by Teena Dare.


Timestamps:

Introduction to Knowing God in Work and Rest and Brielle Goheen: 0:00

How did physical and mental health struggles begin to reframe spirituality and vocation? 3:02

How did you discover a new calling? 7:47

How do you now understand the embodied nature of things like prayer and gratitude and how have you incorporated them into a "digital sacred space?" 11:55 

How can we love our neighbor without burning out? 18:21 

What is the "tend or befriend" survival instinct and how does it impact us? 23:54

How do we embrace the uniqueness of how we best love others? 27:56

How can we cultivate love through our work when the part we play is removed from the people it's meant to serve? 31:51

Tell us about someone whose work is often overlooked and how your journey has helped you see them with new eyes? 35:10

Knowing God in Work and Rest 06: To Tend and Befriend

When it comes to the integration of faith and work, it is never generic but always specific to the context we are in. The conversations around faith and work in a white collar setting are going to be drastically different than the conversations and questions of those working at the margins. In this episode, Abraham Cho and Kimberly Deckel explore how tangible expressions of how faith and work have been integrated in their cities and churches.

But what’s clear from the perspective of these two practitioners (Abraham and Kimberly) is that a missing link in the faith and work conversation is the necessity of having mutuality with those at the margins. Without genuine friendship with the overlooked and the poor, we will lack the necessary relational knowledge needed to steward our power effectively in industries and workplaces. Listen in as we imagine together in this podcast what flourishing for all might look like when the margins are centered.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

Learn more about City to City's Global Faith and Work Initiative:
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com

Learn more about Kimberly’s Church: Church of the Cross Austin
https://www.cotcaustin.org

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com

TIME STAMPS

Introduction to the series and Bios 00:00

In the faith and work space, what has your work been about in recent years? 2:05

How the conversation of faith and work is different depending on your context and invites you to take the posture of a learner 5:30

How the simple and ordinary practices in our workplaces are the catalyst for a rich expression for faith and work integration 9:40

How different traditions (that we are often unaware of) can provide beautiful windows of tangible ways faith and work can come together 13:50

How the only way to faithfully steward our power is through developing a mutuality of relationship with those at the margins 23:57

How a vision of genuine friendship and Kingdom collaboration is being imagined in New York City and Austin, Texas 34:08

How do we understand God as a good worker in the way he operates in our cities and prayers we have for flourishing in the years to come 44:06

Mutuality With The Margins: Kimberly Deckel & Abraham Cho

In this podcast episode, Teena Dare gets to have a conversation with Marcelo Robles who lives in Buenos Aires and is a pastor, practitioner, and key participant in the movement of God in his city. 

What’s clear from the interview is that Marcelo captures the vision perfectly of seeing our everyday work and our understanding of our faith deeply integrated in all of life. But he didn’t always share this vision. Listen in as Marcelo unpacks how was able to deconstruct the false dichotomy of sacred and secular through his work at a university, in his ministry, through personal challenges, and a myriad of church planting experiences. The Church has much to learn from this faithful brother who encourages us to remember our one calling in the gospel with many occupational expressions.

Resources related to this episode:

More Info About Marcelo Robles and his ministry
https://globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/marcelo-robles

About La Misión Church https://iplamision.org/sobre-nosotros/

About the RUE University Network https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1037300417189588

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative here.
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/about

 Learn more about the Surge Network here
https://www.surgenetwork.com

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Marcello’s bio

1:49 Where Marcello lives, serves and does for work

2:53 How the city of Buenos Aires is unique and an expression of a variety of cultures and cities

4:50 Why we need to stop using the term: bi-vocational and instead use: “co-occupational”

13:12 Why we need a holistic and integrated gospel for all of life

16:30 Stories of how God is at work in the university

22:45 How one person’s proximity with the poor forever changed his life

29:30 How God is displayed as a worker in Buenos Aires and how you and I can pray for Buenos Aires

Deconstructing Dichotomies: Marcelo Robles

In this episode, Teena is joined by Amma Amegashie who serves as the West Africa Operations Manager for City to City Africa. She currently leads the Purpose Beyond Paycheck cohort in Accra, Ghana. Amma loves the Lord, loves the city which she lives in, and hopes to see the city, its people and all the industries being renewed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. She lives in the city of Accra with her beloved husband, Selasi, and enjoys reading, listening to music and watching God's beautiful nature. 

What is clear from this conversation is that Amma resists any form of a truncated gospel that compartmentalizes the Christian life to a single day of the week. The cohort she leads works to imagine what a Kingdom presence might look and taste like in various spheres of society and work.  

Would you be encouraged by her words to us:

“If your identity is truly in Christ Jesus, it doesn’t matter if you are the CEO or the least in rank. You don’t find your identity in any of this but you find your identity in Christ Jesus and what he has done on the cross. That he deeply loves you, and we are his children.”

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Amma’s Bio

1:40 Where Amma lives and works

4:33 How an episode of the Faith and Work podcast helped Amma re-imagine administration

7:56 What drew Amma into the Faith and Work space

11:25 What is the church like in Ghana?

14:41 How Amma has helped people experience a gospel for all of life

20:30 How insurance can be for the glory of God

26:40 Where do you see brokenness in the industries of your city and how God longs to restore

33:40 How visiting a cookie factory changed one person’s perspective on work

37:40 If you had to pick just one characteristic as a worker that you see on display in your city, what would it be? How can we be praying for the church in Ghana?


Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about the Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical Students 
https://ghafes.org/who-we-are/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com/

CEOs to Custodians: Amma Amegashie

In this episode, Bijan Mirtolooi helps us explore how the city of London is experiencing spiritual renewal and religious curiosity giving Christians an incredible opportunity to winsomely declare good news. In his work as a pastor of Reality Church London and The London Project, Bijan has an ardent desire to equip ministry leaders and everyday disciples to see their work as an integral part of their discipleship to Jesus. Yet also to understand that from the first pages of Scripture, God is one who always pairs work with rest and invites us to the same. Would we pray alongside him to see the Church in London steward this incredible moment in history for the city to rejoice because Jesus has been put on display through the unified witness of God’s people. 

Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about Bijan’s church Reality Church London:
https://www.realitychurch.london/

Learn more about The London Project:
https://thelondonproject.co.uk/

Learn more about Gotham Fellowship:
https://www.faithandworkgotham.com/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com

Timestamps (Edited Timing)

00:00 Introduction

01:09 How Bijan and his family decided to move to London

4:40 Stories of how London is growing in openness to religion and spirituality

11:42 What is the London Project and how it is facilitating a faith and work movement

15:36 How Lesslie Newbigin in the 1970s encouraged churches to equip every member of their Church when it comes to their daily work

18:39 How Bijan has seen people live creatively and faithfully in their industries

22:14 How rest is integral to discipleship

28:50 Where do you see God uniquely put on display in London and how can we pray for London?

Global City, Gospel Presence: Bijan Mirtolooi

In this episode, we are privileged to hear Pastor Mila Palozzi share, with joy and vibrancy, how the gospel gives us a lens to see beauty everywhere in our city and through our work. She shares practical ways she has cultivated a faith and work perspective in her local church through a variety of avenues that hopefully will encourage and inspire you in your context. Mila challenges those in her culture- and us- to not see work as a necessary curse but rather to see work as the unique contribution we get to make for our city and ultimately for the Kingdom of God. We hope Mila’s gospel radiance inspires you to imagine afresh the city and work God has placed you in.


Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about Mila’s church:
https://www.hopera.co/scopri-la-fede

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com


Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Introduction

01:43 The work and life of Mila Palozzi as a pastor in Rome

3:36 How Mila’s previous career in banking drew her into the faith and work space

7:47 How Mila pursues four main avenues to help people capture a vision of faith and work in her church

14:00 How Mila started new communities around variety of subjects

17:40 How Mila has experienced the depth of the gospel in her city

26:27 What is an aspect of God that you see on display in Rome and how can we pray for the church in Italy?

The Eternal City: Mila Palozzi

Our guest on the podcast today is Christel Ngnambi, the consultant CEO for Imago Dei, which is a network of professionals seeking to ask questions and seek answers to the biggest challenges of their industry and discover how Christianity might offer good news in that area of human life. 

In the episode, Christel showcases how the increasing secularization in francophone (french speaking) culture is ultimately not an obstacle to the Christian witness but a genuine opportunity. Yet, he suggests, there is power when Christians begin with the questions, concerns, and fears of the people and industries where they find themselves and then egnage those questions deeply with Scripture. In other words, as Christel says, we need to listen to the world around us as we engage the Word. 

Listen in as Christel shares tangible ways Imago Dei has provided pathways for non-Christians to experience a distinct, culturally relevant, and winsome Christian witness. 

Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about Christel’s work with Imago Dei 
https://www.imagodei.fr

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com


Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

2:25 How Christel partnered to start Imago Dei and their work within many industries

5:35 What the word “francophone” means and how faith and work is unique in the French-speaking world. 

14:20 How we must start first with the questions of the context to explore how the gospel is good news there

19:28 How the fashion industry is a case study for listening and speaking the gospel in relevant ways

24:05 How non-Christians are becoming curious about Christianity through the arts

31:12 What are the next questions coming in Western culture and ways Christians can seek to be a renewing presence in the face of them?

36:05 What is one characteristic of God as a worker that you see reflected in your city and how can we pray for you and your context?

First World, then Word- Christel Ngnambi

In the final episode of this season of the podcast, Alistair Chiu, along with two other Christian leaders, give us an inside look at how faith and work movements are being developed in the places they live. When it comes to developing movements like the ones described in this podcast, we can be tempted to assume that a “one size fits all” model will work. However, we are reminded in this episode of the need for faithful contextualization to meet the needs and questions of the city we are seeking to reach. As workers across the city press into integrating faith and work, the light of Christ within us will begin shining in the darkest of places. But cultivating these kind of movements will take a high level of adaptability, working with people that are different from us, and a deep desire to have alignment with co-laborers not as a prerequisite to relationship but as a by-product. And through all of this effort and strategy, we entrust ourselves to the One who will one day reign as King in our cities as it is in heaven.

This marks the end of our journey of hearing global expressions of faith in work and rest. If you haven’t listened to all of the previous episodes and guests, please check them out. 


Resources related to this episode:

Learn more about City to City Asia Pacific:
https://citytocityasiapacific.com/

Learn more about Alistair Chiu’s church:
https://www.newcitychurchhk.com/

Learn more about The Global Faith and Work Initiative:
https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network
https://www.surgenetwork.com




TIME STAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Podcast

2:09 Where Alistair is living and how he got there

6:47 How did the work culture in Hong Kong shape your ministry there?

9:26  Did you find that the faith and work resources fit well within Hong Kong?

14:49 What was birthed with recognizing the gap in the faith and work materials for the Hong Kong context?

17:50 Stories of people working through the faith and work cohort

23:59 Where do you see God reflected in the city of Hong Kong and how can we pray for the city?

27:22 Introducing two more Global Faith and Work Leaders

31:23  How the marketplace is central to the ecosystem of God’s work in the world

32:38 How scaffolding relates to supporting movements in various cities

37:00 Best practices for starting faith and work movements in cities

40:41 What creating faith and work movements have taught them about working with others

47:05 What practices have you developed to work with different people than you and live out the gospel?

Light Amidst Darkness: Alistair Chiu

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we begin listening to a conversation between Jim Mullins and Dr Curt Thompson about how the gospel intersects with neuroscience and psychiatry.

Curt Thompson is an author and psychiatrist in private practice in Falls Church, Virginia, and founder of Being Known. Through Being Known, he helps people explore the connection between interpersonal neurobiology and Christian spirituality which lead to genuine change and transformation.

Links: 
http://surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest
http://www.missionaltraining.org/

Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative

Dr. Curt Thompson - The Gospel in the Language of Neuroscience (part 1)

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to a conversation between Loren, Jim, and Kim about how to re imagine seemingly mundane work tasks such as email, through the lens of the biblical story.

Links: 
surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest
www.missionaltraining.org/

Reimagining Email

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and re-imagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, we listen to Jim ask four beneficial questions that can be helpful in discerning what God has called you to do.

Links: 
surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest
www.missionaltraining.org/

Show more

Four Questions for Discerning Your Calling

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

In this episode, Teena Dare interviews Jim Mullins about the new book he co-authored with Michael Goheen called The Symphony of Mission. This is the second part in the series and focuses on the themes of Chapter 4 which talks about how we display the glory of God through the work of our hands. 

They discuss how our work reflects God's character, displays the brilliance of his creation, is a means of provision, and provides a preview of the Kingdom. They also talk about how to make sense of the brokenness we experience in our work. 

Bio: Jim Mullins is the Pastor of Vocational Formation for Redemption Church (Tempe, AZ, helps lead the Surge Network, and is a co-founder of the Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative.. He has worked as a pastor, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and basketball scout in Turkey. He’s the co-founder of several organizations, including the International Guild of Visual Peacemakers, Uzbek Entrepreneurship Initiative, and Peace Catalyst International. Jim and his family spend time watching basketball, cooking Middle Eastern food, and being completely ineffective gardeners

About the book:

This book is designed to help all people understand the broad scope of God's mission. Michael Goheen and Jim Mullins explain that everyone can live intentionally into God's mission by understanding its many facets and focusing on a particular calling. Just like different instruments of a symphony harmonize together, each aspect of human participation in mission--evangelism, justice initiatives, poverty alleviation, faithful work in the marketplace, art--can help people play their part in God's work in the world. Combining expertise from a mission scholar and a working pastor, the book includes practical examples and tools to help readers imagine their part in God's mission.

- Purchase The Symphony of Mission: bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-sy…ssion/389701

- Music from Warren Christian:
music.apple.com/us/artist/warren-…istian/1408706453

57: Jim Mullins - Symphony of Mission (Part II, Stewardship)

Welcome to Surge’s Faith, Work, and Rest podcast. Our goal is to help God’s people discern their vocations and reimagine their occupations for the good of their neighbors and the glory of God.

Zack Eswine (Ph.D.), is an award winning author who writes about the significance of an ordinary life and ministry in Jesus.

64: Zack Eswine - Life Under the Sun

Now headed into its fourth season, The Faith, Work & Rest Podcast highlights stories of ordinary people of faith doing ordinary work for the glory of God and good of their communities.

Faith, Work & Rest

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