EquipCast

Break Announcement: Happy Holy Week & Easter!

Episode  |  March 31st, 2026  |  57 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Happy Holy Week & Easter! We are taking a break this week, but we'll see you in the Easter Season.

Episode 210: Life as an Evangelization Coordinator: How Accompaniment Transforms a Community

Episode  |  March 24th, 2026  |  54 mins 9 secs

accompaniment, alpha program, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization coordinator, evangelization series, evangelization stories, faith in everyday life, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish life transformation, parish renewal, small town ministry

Today, we begin a series where I talk to Evangelization Coordinators from across our archdiocese. You’ll hear the honest stories, hard-won wisdom and quiet ways God is moving through the people helping to lead parish renewal from the ground up. In this first episode, Renee Eames of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes, shares what the role looks like day-to-day. Her warm wisdom reminds us that evangelization isn’t about big programs or perfect strategies—it’s about people. It’s about staying close to Jesus in the small moments, letting your heart be softened, and choosing unity when division would be easier. Her story reveals how simple everyday faithfulness—prayer, presence, and quiet accompaniment—can quietly renew a community. This conversation is a reminder that God works through every relationship, every interruption, and every act of love toward the person right in front of you.

Inside Jim’s Inbox – Q&A 1

Episode  |  March 17th, 2026  |  12 mins 17 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Welcome to the very first episode of Inside Jim’s Inbox, a new Q&A series where I open up the real questions you send—about faith, fear, evangelization, ministry, and everything in between—and we walk through them together. In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing the questions I hear most often: What even is evangelization? Do I know enough to share my faith? How do I deal with the fear of rejection? Along the way, I’ll offer simple, hopeful ways to see evangelization not as expert level work, but as sharing what God has done in your life one honest, hope-filled conversation at a time.

Episode 209: OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life

Episode  |  March 10th, 2026  |  1 hr 3 mins

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What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again.

Coach's Corner 28: Why do we keep trying silver bullets?

Episode  |  March 3rd, 2026  |  13 mins 8 secs

archdiocese of omaha, authentic renewal, catholic, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, disciples, discipleship, evangelism, evangelization, faith journey, god’s mercy, letting go of quick fixes, making disciples, missionary conversion, no silver bullet, parish evangelization, parish renewal, silver bullet myth, spiritual conversion, spiritual dependence, trusting god, turning to god

What do you do when the strategy, the program, or the plan just isn’t enough? Because I’ve been there—and in this episode, I talk about why our “silver bullets” so often fail us. We love quick fixes, big programs, and shiny solutions, but real renewal—personal or parish-wide—only happens when we stop trying to use God and finally turn to Him with honest hearts. In this conversation, I walk through one of my favorite (and most surprising) stories in Scripture and share the uncomfortable but hopeful truth it reveals: God isn’t asking us for better strategies. He’s asking for conversion. If you’ve ever felt discouraged, overwhelmed, or tempted to chase one more magic solution, this episode will help you breathe, refocus, and remember that God has a plan—not a gimmick—waiting for you.

Episode 208: The Shift That Revives a Parish: A Great Catholic Parishes Webinar

Episode  |  February 24th, 2026  |  1 hr 15 secs

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What if everything changes when people finally feel seen, known, and accompanied? In this republished conversation from the Great Catholic Parishes podcast, I join host John Poitevent to unpack why this simple shift lies at the very heart of parish renewal. People don’t grow because we tell them to—they grow because someone offers friendship, listens without judgment, and walks with them patiently. I unpack how accompaniment transforms not just individuals but the entire culture of a parish, unlocking a sense of belonging that leads people to recognize that God sees them the same way. Together, John and I try to paint a hopeful picture of what becomes possible when a parish truly commits to walking with people in love…and how everything can change from there.

Episode 207: Holy Simplicity: When Clutter Competes With Your Calling

Episode  |  February 17th, 2026  |  1 hr

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Episode 206: Dying Well: A Catholic Neurosurgeon's Insights on Life and Death

Episode  |  February 10th, 2026  |  51 mins 19 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic bioethics, catholic end of life care, catholic ministry, christian suffering, death and dying, disciples, dr. stephen doran, dying with dignity, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, hope in death, how to die well, making disciples, spiritual accompaniment

What does it mean to face death well? In this conversation, Steve and I talk about the healing that comes when we confront our mortality and the immense dignity that every person deserves at the end of life. Steve shares the story of his father in law’s beautiful passing, the principles every Catholic should understand about end of life care, and the spiritual posture that transforms fear into hope.

Coach’s Corner 27: What Parents Really Want

Episode  |  February 3rd, 2026  |  13 mins 57 secs

archdiocese of omaha, belonging in the church, catholic, catholic family ministry, catholic ministry, catholic school families, disciples, engaging millennial parents, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation at home, helping parents pass on the faith, making disciples, overcoming parish barriers, parent discipleship, parents and parish engagement, parish listening sessions

What if the biggest thing parents want from us is to know they belong? When I listen to parents—really listen—I hear something deeper than frustration about busy schedules or kids who can’t sit still at Mass. I hear an ache. Parents want to engage. They want their kids to love the faith. They want to grow spiritually themselves. But so many of them carry this quiet fear that they or their kids don’t quite fit in. And honestly? I’ve felt that myself. In sports leagues and school activities, parents often feel more welcomed, more supported, more seen than they do at church. That should get our attention.

Episode 205: Witness before Wisdom: What Couples Need When Preparing for Marriage

Episode  |  January 27th, 2026  |  56 mins 22 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic marriage, catholic ministry, church community, disciples, discipleship, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, marriage preparation, mentor couples, parish renewal, sacramental marriage, trust and relationships, witness to love