EquipCast
Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith
We found 10 episodes of EquipCast with the tag “spiritual growth”.
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Episode 161: Grow a Healthy Small Group Movement with Michael Hall
Episode | September 17th, 2024 | 56 mins 1 sec
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic christian outreach, catholic ministry, cco, church community, church growth, community building, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, faith journey, healthy small groups, intentional accompaniment, jim jansen, making disciples, michael hall, missionary mindset, parish ministry, parish renewal, podcast, small group coaching, small group dynamics, small group leadership, small group movement, small group multiplication, small group strategies, small groups, spiritual growth
Small groups are vital for parish renewal—you might even be part of one yourself. But is your small group thriving and growing, or is it feeling a bit stagnant? Do you find it challenging to reach beyond the usual participants? And most importantly, are your small groups truly helping people grow in their faith journey? Today, I chat with Michael Hall, author of Intentional Accompaniment and a seasoned leader with Catholic Christian Outreach of Canada. Michael has a wealth of experience building and sustaining healthy small group movements, and he’s here to share some of the strategies and mindsets that can transform your small group from a stagnant gathering into a dynamic, missionary force. Whether you’re leading a small group, coordinating them for your parish, or simply a passionate member of one, this conversation is full of insights that can help you breathe new life into your small group ministry and make a real impact in your community.
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Episode 158: Turn Fatigue into Flourishing: Reignite Your Passion for Evangelization with Fr. John Riccardo
Episode | August 27th, 2024 | 55 mins 39 secs
acts xxix, biblical worldview, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, christian encouragement, christian podcast, church leadership, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith and hope, faith-based podcast, family on mission, fr. john riccardo, gospel proclamation, lay leadership, making disciples, ministry renewal, overcoming burnout, parish renewal, prayer and mission, religious inspiration, spiritual growth, the rescue project
Do you find it hard to maintain enthusiasm for evangelization? You’re not alone. Many of us in ministry face moments of profound fatigue and discouragement. But let me share something with you: the key to reigniting that passion lies in rediscovering the love and hope gifted by God which first called us to this mission.
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Episode 156: The Culture Project: How to Talk to Teens about Sex and Identity
Episode | August 13th, 2024 | 50 mins 11 secs
authentic living, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic teachings, catholicism, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith journey, identity in christ, making disciples, missionaries, podcast episode, spiritual growth, theology of the body, young adults
Theology of the Body has the power to deeply impact how we approach sexual identity and self-worth. As a father, I understand how tough it can be to navigate these complex topics with today’s youth. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to two amazing missionaries, Marshall and Reese, from The Culture Project. In this episode, they share their personal mission to spread the gospel and promote sexual integrity among young people. We dive into the importance of recognizing human dignity and how to have meaningful conversations with youth about challenging issues like sexual identity and social media. Plus, Marshall and Reese offer practical advice for parents, teachers, and mentors on how to support and guide young people in their faith and moral growth. This episode is packed with hope and encouragement, giving you the tools to better connect with and support the young people in your life.
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Episode 152: Sanctify the Ordinary with Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, Chance and Lora Unger
Episode | May 28th, 2024 | 50 mins 54 secs
catholic, catholic marriage advice, catholic ministry, catholic parenting, catholic podcast, catholic saints and families, christian community, christian family life, christian friendship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith journey, family holiness, holiness in daily life, making disciples, marriage and faith, missionaries of the holy spirit, spiritual growth, surrender to god, theology of the body
Have you ever heard the universal call to holiness, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and instead of feeling inspired, felt discouraged? Holiness is hard, especially when we strive for it alone. When we rely solely on our own strengths, we often fail. But when we pursue holiness within the Body of Christ, leaning on both our community and God, we are much more likely to succeed. In today’s episode, Chance and Lora Unger, founders of Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in the Family, share their insights on making holy practices a regular part of family life. Our conversation highlights the transformative power of continually surrendering to God and incorporating prayer into our daily routines. The Ungers emphasize the importance of a supportive community to foster holiness in our marriages and families. They show us how holiness can begin with simple, practical steps such as daily prayer and small acts of kindness. They encourage us to embrace our daily challenges and transform these experiences through grace and prayer.
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Coach's Corner 14: How the Eucharist Breaks You
Episode | April 2nd, 2024 | 4 mins 47 secs
catholic, catholic faith reflection, catholic ministry, christian theology, disciples, eucharist and christian identity, eucharist transformation, eucharistic spirituality, evangelism, evangelization, healing through eucharist, last supper interpretation, making disciples, paschal mystery, self-giving, spiritual growth
If you allow it to, the Eucharist can break you. “But, Jim, why would I want that? Sounds awful.” We all know that the Eucharist is transformative because it unifies us to Christ and his body. But if we truly enter into that Pascal Mystery, it means we also can be “broken and shared” with the world. Join me for this Coach’s Corner where I take a short 4 minutes to encourage you in the mystery that was gifted to us at Easter.
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Coach's Corner 12: Renewing Our Church Through Communal Repentance
Episode | February 27th, 2024 | 7 mins 46 secs
biblical precedents, catholic, catholic ministry, church leadership, church mission, collective responsibility, communal renewal, community dynamics, corporate repentance, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith community, grace and forgiveness, implementing repentance, making disciples, personal spirituality, relationship healing, spiritual growth, theological foundations, transformation through repentance.
Have you ever found yourself saying sorry for something you didn't actually do? Like when your kid makes a mess in a store, or your team had to run extra laps in high school because of one teammate's mistake? The concept of taking collective responsibility isn’t foreign to us, but sometimes, we struggle with the idea of personally owning up to the mistakes of past generations. Today, I'd love to chat with you about the concept of communal repentance. It's about recognizing that even if we didn't directly cause a specific problem, we're all part of the same community and share in the work of seeking forgiveness and renewal together. When we come together and repent as the Body of Christ, we recognize the transformative power of God’s grace to heal relationships, restore communities, and guide them towards a more faithful and righteous path.
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Episode 131: How to Build the Spiritual Habits of Consistancy and Honesty in Prayer
Episode | November 14th, 2023 | 50 mins 16 secs
authentic prayer experiences, catholic, catholic ministry, consistent prayer, daily prayer routine, disciples, healing through prayer, honest conversations with god, jim beckman insights, ministry, ministry leaders, ministry leadership challenges, modern culture and prayer, prayer transformation, spiritual growth
Ever wondered why prayer sometimes feels like you are talking to yourself? Do you ever look around at other leaders in your parish, thinking they've got it all figured out in the prayer department while you're struggling to keep up? Or maybe you just crave a deeper connection with God. Today’s guest, Jim Beckman, breaks open the art of prayer. According to Jim, prayer is meant to be a real heart-to-heart with God, an open and honest exchange. As he puts it, “You can't deceive Him. You can't trick Him. You can't hide anything from Him. So why not just give up on that right away and just be who you are.”
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Episode 130: Broadcasting Your Belief: How Lane Grindle Brings Faith into His Profession
Episode | November 7th, 2023 | 52 mins 29 secs
balancing faith and work, catholic, christian perspective on career, daily prayer, faith and career, faith and sports industry, faith in sports broadcasting, faith integration, family and sports broadcasting, holy decisions in everyday life, inspirational faith stories, lane grindle, lane grindle interview, lane grindle podcast interview., lane grindle's wisdom, marriage and faith, milwaukee brewers announcer, professional life and faith, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, weekly confession
How much does faith play a role in your professional life? Do you ever feel like you separate your “Christian self” from your “work self”? The endeavor to unite our relationship with Jesus with all aspects of life is an ongoing, imperfect, but vital journey to go on. Today, I had an incredibly insightful conversation with Lane Grindle, the play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers, who shared his approach to balancing his career in sports broadcasting with his faith and family life. Lane underscores the importance of daily prayer, weekly confession, and faith-related conversations with his spouse as essential practices. He openly acknowledges his imperfections and emphasizes the significance of making a consistent effort to nurture his faith over time.
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Episode 128: Lampstand Initiative: Illuminating Faith Through Prayer and Community with Fr. Pat McLaughlin
Episode | October 17th, 2023 | 56 mins 53 secs
catholic faith, christian faith, community of prayer, deepen your faith, evangelization, explore prayer, faith journey, lampstand initiative, listen to god, prayer life, relationship with god, sharing faith, spiritual growth, spirituality, transformative prayer
Have you ever had a moment that deeply touched your soul, making you feel connected to God and changing your life? We often think of monumental conversion moments, but what if I told you that such transformative encounters could be a part of your daily life—through prayer? Prayer is more than just speaking to God; it's about creating a sacred space for genuine conversation. It's about building a relationship with Jesus, allowing Him to speak to us, fostering spiritual growth, and helping us understand ourselves and God's will. Beyond that, prayer lets us receive grace and feel God's immense love. And here's the beautiful part: these encounters aren't just for us; they're meant to be shared, strengthening our faith and enriching our communities. Today, I sit down with Fr. Pat McLaughlin for a conversation about the Lampstand Initiative. It's a program designed to transform our prayer lives, bringing us closer to Jesus. But it doesn't stop there. The Lampstand Initiative empowers us to not only deepen our own prayer lives but also to teach others, creating a ripple effect of prayer and evangelization in our communities.
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Episode 126: Small Groups, Big Impact: Cultivating Close-Knit Faith Communities in Your Parish
Episode | October 3rd, 2023 | 50 mins 31 secs
catholic church, christian spirituality, creighton university, encouraging spiritual growth, engaging faith dialogue, faith-based podcasts, faithful living, fostering faith connections, gospel reflection, intentional faith conversation, leading faith groups, live lent together, parish community, small faith communities, spiritual growth
Have you ever felt alone even when you are in a crowd of people? Do you desire to be known and seen by a community that shares your values? Our parish communities, which should be the place where we find belonging, are often too large to provide the experience of close-knit spiritual family. But, it’s not impossible! Come with me as I explore how forming small groups can be a life-giving experience, fostering deeper connections and intentional faith conversations. Drawing inspiration from stories of people living in Congo and experiences right here in our communities, we uncover the incredible impact of sharing struggles, reading scriptures together, and growing in faith collectively.