The EquipCast
Practical Evangelization & Parish Ministry Tools for Catholic Leaders
Displaying items 1-10 of 15 in total of The EquipCast with the tag "missionary discipleship".
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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.
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Episode 209: OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life
Episode | March 10th, 2026 | 1 hr 3 mins
accompaniment, ancient catechumenate, archdiocese of omaha, catechumenate, catholic, catholic conversion, catholic discipleship, catholic formation, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church revitalization, church revival, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, missionary discipleship, ocia, parish ministry, parish renewal, parish transformation, rcia, welcoming seekers
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.
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Episode 208: The Shift That Revives a Parish: A Great Catholic Parishes Webinar
Episode | February 24th, 2026 | 1 hr 15 secs
accompaniment in ministry, adult faith formation, archdiocese of omaha, belonging and faith, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic parish leadership, clear path discipleship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, great catholic parishes podcast, jim jansen interview, john poitevent, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish culture change, parish renewal, relational ministry, seen known accompanied
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.
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Episode 204: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 2)
Episode | January 20th, 2026 | 44 mins 11 secs
accompaniment, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic parish culture, church ministry strategy, clear path to discipleship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal
What happens when we start trusting programs more than we trust people? Discipleship slows down—because programs don’t accompany anyone. People do. Programs support the mission, but people are the mission. In part two of this conversation on what really breaks a clear path to discipleship, we talk honestly about why great programming isn’t enough, how over commitment burns out your best leaders, and why accompaniment and simplicity matter more than adding one more initiative.
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Episode 203: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 1)
Episode | January 13th, 2026 | 39 mins 5 secs
alpha evangelization, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic ministry, clear path to discipleship, conversion first leadership, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategy, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal
Why do discipleship efforts that start with so much hope sometimes stall—or fall apart? In this episode, I sit down with coaches from our Parish Support Team to talk honestly about how Clear Paths to discipleship can break down—often before we even realize it’s happening. We walk through five common ways parishes unintentionally derail discipleship—and what faithful leaders can do differently. We talk about slowing down to listen to the Holy Spirit, why conversion has to come before strategy, and how real fruit grows through relationships, not just programs.
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Coach's Corner 26: Rediscover the Heart of Evangelization
Episode | January 6th, 2026 | 13 mins 16 secs
archdiocese of omaha, archdiocese of omaha podcast, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic ministry renewal, disciples, equipcast episode, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization podcast, evangelization tips, everyday preaching, gospel proclamation, great commission, heart of evangelization, jim jansen podcast, making disciples, missionary discipleship, new evangelization, pope francis evangelization, proclaim the gospel
How do you keep the Gospel alive and at the center of your work? Start with the quiet, world-changing truth that Jesus loves you. He gave His life to save you. And He is with you today—right now—to enlighten, strengthen, and free you. When we put that message at the heart of everything—our conversations, our ministries, our families—it changes everything. In this episode, I’ll share why this matters and how you can make it part of your everyday life.
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Episode 202: Confronting the Ghost of St. John Vianney: A Vision for Modern Parish Life
Episode | December 16th, 2025 | 1 hr 3 mins
apostolic age, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, disciples, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, fr. scott traynor, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, parish transformation, priesthood today, st. john vianney
I love the saints—especially guys like St. John Vianney—but trying to imitate their circumstances can leave today’s priests feeling defeated before they even begin. In this episode, Fr. Scott Traynor and I get honest about how different our world is now, and why that’s not a problem to mourn but a mission to embrace. We talk about the heart of priesthood today: prayer, the sacraments, and investing deeply in a few people who can carry the Gospel into a culture that’s drifting away from Christ. And here’s the hope: renewal isn’t about going backward. It’s about priests doing what only they can do—celebrate, preach, shepherd—and unleashing the laity to live their mission with confidence. If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations you can’t live up to or wondered whether your parish can actually flourish in a secular age, this conversation will help you imagine a future filled with purpose and hope.
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BONUS: 3 Reasons You Should Join us at SEEK!
Episode | October 28th, 2025 | 8 mins 17 secs
adult faith formation, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic conference, catholic evangelization, catholic events, catholic inspiration, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church alive, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and family, focus seek, jim jansen podcast, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, seek 2026, spiritual renewal
Imagine standing among thousands of faithful Catholics, voices lifted in prayer and praise. In that moment, you can feel the Church fully alive—young, reverent, and on fire for mission. In this short bonus episode, I share a personal story from my family and three compelling reasons why SEEK might be exactly what your heart’s been longing for. Whether you’re craving hope, community, or a deeper sense of purpose, this isn’t just a conference—it’s a chance to be renewed. Give it a listen, and let the Spirit stir something new in you.
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Episode 194: When Missionaries Stall-out: My Clear Path Talk at SEEK 2025
Episode | September 23rd, 2025 | 28 mins 37 secs
archdiocese of omaha, catholic community, catholic evangelization strategy, catholic podcast, church culture change, church leadership, clear path to discipleship, equipcast, evangelization, faith formation, focus missionaries, jim jansen, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, parish transformation, personal apostolate, seek conference, small group ministry, spiritual growth
What happens when a parish full of on-fire missionaries still stalls out? I saw it happen—and it taught me something big: even the most passionate disciples need a clear path and a culture that supports mission. In this episode, I share why real change is worth the discomfort, and how parishes can shift from “cruise ship mode” to “fire station mode”—where mission is normal and conversion is celebrated.
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How to Choose (Part 2): Evangelization Formation
Episode | August 12th, 2025 | 1 hr 2 mins
alpha program, archdiocese of omaha, called and gifted, catholic, catholic community, catholic evangelization, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, charisms, church growth, clear path discipleship, disciples, discipleship journey, equipcast, evangelical catholic, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, holy spirit, making disciples, mentorship matters, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, prayer life, reach one more
What if the biggest thing holding your parish back isn’t a lack of programs—but a lack of missionary disciples? In this episode, I sit down with my team to explore a step in parish life that often gets skipped: evangelization formation. We’re talking about the part of discipleship where people go from passive participants to confident, Spirit-led missionaries—and why that shift changes everything. We get honest about what it actually takes to form missionary disciples—not just run more programs. You’ll hear real behind-the-scenes stories from parishes on the ground, practical tips that work, and ways they faced the most common roadblocks we see, like fear, self-doubt, or the sense of being alone in mission.
We break down evangelization formation into clear, doable steps—like helping people pray out loud, share their story, and discover their charisms. Whether your parish is just starting out or ready to go deeper, this episode will shift how you think about forming people for mission—and give you the tools to start.