EquipCast
Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith
Displaying all 5 Episode of EquipCast with the tag “spiritual renewal”.
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Coach's Corner 21: Hope – The Church’s Key to Renewal
Episode | June 3rd, 2025 | 13 mins 47 secs
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic mission, catholic podcast, church renewal, cultural change in the church, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and culture, holy fear, hope, jim jansen, jubilee of hope, making disciples, mission and discipleship, parish transformation, pastoral conversion, repentance and hope, saints and renewal, spiritual renewal, tipping point
What if real cultural change is just 15% away—and we’re closer than we think? In this Coach’s Corner, I’m diving into something that’s been really stirring in my heart: hope. Not the wishful-thinking kind, but the kind that’s born from repentance—a deep turning back to God with a holy fear of offending His love. When we do that, we make space for His grace to move, to renew, to restore. That’s where real hope comes alive. I also talk about why I truly believe cultural change is possible—even now. Did you know it only takes about 15% of a group to shift the culture? That means if just a small part of our parish gets fired up for the Gospel and mission, it can spark something way bigger. I’ve seen it happen. And more importantly—God’s done it before. I share stories, reflect on saints and past renewals, and talk about how a mission mindset, paired with corporate repentance, can set the stage for transformation. I end the episode with a prayer asking God to move in power again—because I really believe He’s not done with us yet. If you’ve been feeling discouraged or wondering if your yes to God really matters, this one’s for you.
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Episode 182: Connect Heaven to Earth’s Ordinary Moments with Fr. Micael Voithofer
Episode | May 6th, 2025 | 1 hr 13 mins
ablaze house of prayer, archdiocese of omaha, baptismal priesthood, catholic, catholic ministry, connecting heaven and earth, daily worship, disciples, divine daily living, encounter school of ministry, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and mission, father michael voithofer, healing through worship, living loved, making disciples, poverty of spirit, prophetic call, resting in god's presence, sacred spaces, sons and daughters of god, spiritual identity, spiritual renewal, transforming mundane moments, worship in everyday life
What if everyday moments—like washing dishes or sitting in traffic—could actually connect you to heaven? In this episode, we’re diving into what it really means to live into your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God. We’ll chat about the baptismal priesthood—not as some abstract theology, but as a real, lived-out calling to be a bridge between heaven and earth. Whether you’re changing a diaper or heading into a meeting, worship isn’t just for Sunday mornings—it’s for every part of your life. I sit down with Fr. Michael Voithofer, and we talk about how worship shifts our focus, heals our hearts, and draws us into God's presence where we can actually rest. You’ll hear how starting your day with a posture of poverty of spirit—just being honest about your need for God—can transform the way you live, love, and lead.
So grab your coffee, take a breath, and join us as we explore what it looks like to live from a place of sonship, freedom, and joy—bringing God’s presence into every moment.
Are you ready to live like you’re deeply loved and fully sent? -
Episode 181: The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World with Susan Windley-Daoust
Episode | April 29th, 2025 | 1 hr 7 mins
apostolic parish, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic church, catholic ministry, church growth, church leadership, church revitalization, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, faith community, making disciples, mission refocus, missionary identity, parish renewal, parish transformation, podcast episode, practical insights, radical hospitality, signs and wonders, small group discipleship, spiritual renewal, susan windley-daoust, the four ways forward
Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward? In today’s episode, I talk with Susan Windley-Daoust, author of The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World. Susan encourages us to focus on renewal models that prioritize: Radical hospitality, Small group discipleship, Mission refocus, Signs and wonders. Look for resources that align with these key principles and have a proven track record. Engage your parish leadership team in discernment, and don’t be afraid to start small—what matters most is finding what genuinely supports your parish’s growth in missionary identity.
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Phase 1: Assessment – How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship
Episode | April 9th, 2024 | 43 mins 9 secs
building clear paths, catholic, catholic ministry, church community assessment, clear path to discipleship, disciples, discipleship journey, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization efforts, faith formation programs, making disciples, parish growth strategies, parish ministry, parish outreach initiatives, pastoral conversion, phase of assessment, spiritual renewal
Does your parish’s current list of ministries help your people evangelize? It’s likely the answer is no. Most parish ministries were built during a time where people flocked to church. But the culture has changed, and our ministries need to as well. So today, I bring you the first episode in the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship. Rachel Gifford, Director of Catechesis & Evangelization at St. Mary’s Parish, highlights her parish's journey through the phase of assessment. She shares how they examined existing programs to identify gaps in reaching newcomers and building up disciples for the work of mission. Challenges included resistance to change and feeling overwhelmed, but the parish found support in prayer, coaching, and revisiting their mission. Despite the difficulties, they saw positive outcomes, with new families registering and a renewed sense of faith in the community.
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Episode 32: Missional Amnesia
Episode | September 29th, 2020 | 48 mins 42 secs
alpha program, apostolic age, archdiocese of omaha, catholic culture change, catholic discipleship, catholic evangelization, catholic family evangelization, catholic leadership, catholic mission, catholic outreach, catholic parish leadership, catholic podcast, church growth strategy, divine renovation, equipcast, evangelization strategy, faith crisis, fr. jeff lorig, jim jansen, joy of the gospel, missional community, missionary discipleship, outreach to the unchurched, parish renewal, parish transformation, pope francis evangelization, rcia reform, spiritual renewal, the unstuck church, tony morgan
Have you ever used a Catholic buzz word like missionary disciple or missional church and received blank looks in return? It’s a surprising experience, but the reality is many Catholics still don’t know what the word missional means. It used to be that missionaries were the people who traveled to Africa, and the Church in America grew because Catholics had big families. Our biggest problem used to be caring for all of the people who came to the Church’s doorstep, but now, we find ourselves trying to proclaim the Gospel to a world that doesn’t know much about who Jesus is or what the Church is really about. Many of us even know a family member or friend who has walked away from the faith, but it’s often difficult for us to believe that this is part of a larger cultural trend. However, the reality is that the city of Omaha is among the top 30 most secular or “post-Christian” cities in the US. Collectively, we have missional amnesia. We’ve forgotten that we are called to go and make disciples. We lack an imagination around what a missional church looks likes because, until recently, we haven’t had to be one. So, what do you say to someone who asks what a missional church is? Tune in to hear Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen's musings on this topic.