Igniting Imagination

What if faith communities saw themselves not as distant helpers, but as neighbors, woven into the lives, struggles, and dreams of the people around them?This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker are joined by Rev. Matt St. Pierre, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Restore Merced, to explore beyond economics into something more sacred, the restoration of dignity, purpose, and belonging. Together, they reflect on the quiet but powerful truth that meaningful work is more than a paycheck; it is a pathway to rediscovering worth, agency, and hope, especially for those too often pushed to the margins.Rev. Matt shares how Restore Merced is creating spaces where people are not just served, but truly seen, and invites us to confront our assumptions about charity, justice, and what it means to love a community well.GuestReverend Matt St. Pierre is the executive director and co-founder of Restore Merced, a faith-rooted nonprofit in California’s Central Valley advancing economic justice through social entrepreneurship, reconciliation, and neighborhood-based community development. Drawing on theology, entrepreneurship, and long-term neighborhood presence, he creates models that affirm dignity through meaningful work and local investment. His leadership shows how churches and communities can move beyond charity toward empowerment, collaboration, and lasting economic and social renewal.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Faith communities everywhere are asking: How do we take responsibility for justice in today’s world?This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Dr. Aaron Kuecker explore this question with Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith Robert, founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary. Rev. Dr. Nikia is a respected theologian and activist who challenges the church to move beyond awareness and into real, transformative action. She invites faith communities to not only name injustice but to actively work toward dismantling the systems that cause harm, while nurturing the well-being of all people.Listen as Rev. Lisa, Dr. Aaron, and Rev. Dr. Nikia encourage congregations to step into a more courageous, compassionate, and justice-centered role, and to join in the collective work of building a more equitable future.GuestRev. Nikia Smith Robert, PhD is the founder and executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary, a national coalition mobilizing religious leaders, scholars, and community organizers to advance faith-rooted responses to mass incarceration and the criminalization of impoverished Black motherhood. Grounded in womanist theology and social ethics, she integrates rigorous scholarship with community-based practice to equip churches to engage public education, advocacy, and policy change that challenge punitive systems and reimagine justice. Dr. Robert’s work expands the moral imagination of faith communities while delivering tangible pathways toward justice, healing, and liberation for those most impacted by carceral systems.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

Welcome to the Season 18 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast with host Rev. Lisa Greenwood and this season’s co-host Dr. Aaron Kuecker.In this opening conversation, Lisa and Aaron sit down with Rev. Lea Matthews, Associate Pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City, for a thoughtful exploration of the ways our words, and the spaces between them, shape our relationships. Together, they reflect on how communication can become a pathway to deeper understanding, connection, and care. Along the way, they consider the moments when conversations break down, the barriers that quietly form between us, and the practices that help us return to one another.HostRev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012, serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.Co-HostDr. Aaron Kuecker is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Chicago, a nonprofit providing two‑generation, debt‑free college scholarships to students and their parents or guardians in historically under‑resourced Chicago communities. A 2025 Locke Innovative Leader Award honoree, he previously served as President of Trinity Christian College and brings a background in higher education leadership focused on affordability, access, the elimination of student debt, and community economic development.GuestReverend Lea Matthews is the associate pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York City and the founder of Miracle Mondays. She is also co-founder of Sacred Court Support, an immigration accompaniment program operated in collaboration with Co-Counsel NYC, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, and HIAS-NY. An innovator and a teacher, Rev. Matthews helps churches embody radical hospitality and justice in complex urban contexts. Blending pastoral care and liberation theology, she equips congregations to become places of belonging, dignity, and practical support for marginalized communities. She multiplies the church’s capacity to integrate spiritual formation, justice, and sustainable community care.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

This week on the season finale of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson reflect on the insights shared by guests throughout this season as they explore the intersection of technology and the church. Together, they unpack the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and explore the crucial importance of engaging with technology in ways that nurture human flourishing, strengthen community, and uphold faith.Lisa, Sue, and Blair invite listeners to reflect on their roles as leaders in the church and the broader community, embracing the responsibility to foster belonging and generosity in the digital world.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, Residential Bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, to explore the vital call to faithful leadership in times of uncertainty and rapid change. Cedrick shares a vision for leadership that goes beyond administration, rooted in relationships, spiritual formation, and the nurturing of ministers and ministries. They reflect on his innovative approach as a district superintendent, offering wisdom on how leaders can strengthen communities and support those they serve. Together, they discuss how clarity of identity and purpose equips leaders to navigate the challenges of our time with faithfulness and courage. GuestBishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, Ed.D., is the resident bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church. An ordained minister, author, educator, and organizational leadership consultant, he brings more than 25 years of experience in pastoral, denominational, and nonprofit leadership, including serving as Director of Innovation and Communications for the California‑Pacific Conference. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Bishop Bridgeforth is the author of Alabama Grandson, Thoughts and Prayers, and 20/20 Leadership Lessons.#FaithfulLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #BishopBridgeforth #ChristianLeadership #FaithInAction #MinistryMatters #ChurchLeadership #KingdomImpact #FaithAndPurpose #ServantLeadershipLinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips sit down with TeRay Esquibel, Executive Director at Purpose Commons and a visionary social entrepreneur dedicated to reimagining education and community life through the lens of human flourishing.TeRay shares how lived experience is a powerful, and often overlooked, form of expertise. Rather than relying solely on traditional credentials, he challenges us to recognize the deep wisdom found in personal stories, cultural knowledge, and community insight. Together, we explore the dynamic intersection of purpose, technology, and community, unpacking how innovative tools and strategies can strengthen connection, belonging, and support within congregations and beyond.GuestTeRay Esquibel is the Executive Director of Purpose Commons and former co-founder/executive director of Ednium: The Alumni Collective. A social entrepreneur committed to community-driven change, he has led initiatives that added financial literacy and ethnic studies to Denver Public Schools’ graduation requirements and helped unlock $10 million to expand postsecondary pathways for Denver Public School Alumni. TeRay has also held roles at RootED, Gary Community Ventures, and the Joyful Impact; he’s a Pahara Fellow recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the powerful crossroads of technology and spirituality, reimagining religious leaders as some of our most important, and often overlooked, technological innovators. Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips welcome Tiffani Jones Brown, Founder, Advisor, and Editorial and Creative Director, to discuss how spiritual leaders can design meaningful, transformative experiences in a rapidly evolving digital world. Together, they look at the deeper human longings technology can serve, connection, belonging, and care, and why cultivating authentic community matters more than ever in this moment. Drawing from ancient spiritual practices, Tiffani shows how time-tested wisdom can inform contemporary leadership.GuestTiffani Jones Brown is a startup Founder, Strategic Advisor, and Executive Editorial Director. Most recently, she was the Chief Operating Officer on the founding team at Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup dedicated to helping people live more meaningful lives. Tiffani has helped build brands and creative teams for multiple early-stage tech companies, including Facebook, Pinterest, and Dropbox. She directed and hosted a podcast about remote work, Remotely Curious, during the pandemic. She holds a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago. LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, we explore the delicate interplay between faith and technology, asking how innovation can illuminate, not replace, the human spirit. Joined by Rev. Canon Lorenzo Lebrija, Executive Director for TryTank Research Institute, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, and Rev. Sue Phillips reflect on Lebrija’s groundbreaking work with AI tools like Episcopot, and the ways these technologies might deepen our experience of love, generosity, and belonging. As they confront the evolving landscape of modern life, they also discuss the timeless question of how the church can honor its sacred mission while embracing tools that transform connection and dialogue. GuestLorenzo Lebrija is Chief Innovation Officer at Virginia Theological Seminary and Executive Director of TryTank Research Institute, advancing innovation in the church. He previously led development for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and held pastoral roles in California. Before ministry, Lorenzo worked in arts leadership and media, including as CEO of Seraphic Fire and program director for the Knight Foundation. He holds advanced degrees in theology and business and is trained in foresight, design thinking, and coaching.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

What does it mean to cultivate spiritual presence in a world increasingly connected by screens? This week on the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Sue Phillips explore this question with James Kang, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA, and Rev. Nathan Webb, Pastor at Checkpoint Church, both Phygital Fellows at Wesleyan Impact Partners.Together, they examine how digital platforms can serve as authentic spaces for community, spiritual engagement, and human flourishing. Kang and Webb share innovative practices that treat technology not merely as a tool, but as a medium for cultivating genuine connection, belonging, and shared purpose among diverse communities. Their work invites us to reflect deeply on how faith and technology can intersect.GuestsJames Kang (aka “James from PASTORIA”) is the Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of PASTORIA. With experience in social justice and advocacy, cross-cultural leadership, contextual pastoral care, and design, James sees the activation of healing that is already within and among us all as his life’s calling. James is an alum of Claremont School of Theology and has been a speaker at institutions such as Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Phillips Theological Seminary as well as on podcasts such as Pastoring in the Digital Parish.Rev. Nathan Webb is a lifelong nerd who writes, thinks, and pastors at the intersection of video games, anime, pop culture, technology, and religion. Hoping to provide a spiritual community for people with similar interests, he founded Checkpoint Church – "the church for nerds, geeks, and gamers." He is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina and resides outside of Charlotte with his wife and two daughters. He writes regularly on Substack for Pixel & Pulpit and Games That Matter.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.

What if ministry could be understood as a form of technology?On the Season 17 premiere of the Igniting Imagination® podcast, Rev. Lisa Greenwood, Rev. Sue Phillips, and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson explore this provocative question. This change in mindset could open the door to understanding how ancient spiritual practices can be renewed to meet the deep longings and challenges of our modern world.They unpack what it means to approach ministry through this sense of curiosity, especially how it can help cultivate genuine connection and community. They also examine the dynamic relationship between tradition and innovation, highlighting spiritual practices that speak meaningfully to today’s social and cultural realities.HostRev. Lisa Greenwood is the President & CEO of Wesleyan Impact Partners and Texas Methodist Foundation. She joined the staff of TMF in 2012 serving as Vice President for Leadership Ministry before taking her current role in 2022. She is an ordained elder in the North Texas (now Horizon Texas) Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she served congregations for twenty years. During the last five years of her local church ministry, Lisa served as a ministry strategist with Horizons Stewardship Company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.Co-HostRev. Sue Phillips is on the founding team of the Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology, a tech startup working to help people live more meaningful lives. After serving as a denominational executive for the Unitarian Universalist Association, she co-founded Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit that interprets innovation to the religious world and ancient wisdom to the world of innovation. Clients and partners have included Pinterest, Google, Logitech, the Obama Foundation, and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.Producer Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson is chief learning and innovation officer at Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners, where she and her team lead the organizations’ three Lilly Endowment-funded initiatives: Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3), Courageous Leadership Imperative (CLI), and Phygital Preaching Fellows. She also leads Wesleyan Impact Partners’ Locke Innovative Leader Award process and cohorts of spiritual entrepreneurs. Blair is the creator and producer of the Igniting Imagination® podcast.LinksVisit our show’s website at ignitingimagination.org.To view videos of podcast episodes, please go to the Igniting Imagination YouTube.To receive emails about the podcast, subscribe to our Learning and Innovation emails here. We know your inbox is inundated these days; we aim to send you content that is inspiring, innovative, and impactful for your life and ministry.