Real Talk FUMC Pearland

Join Real Talk LIVE for an evening on the patio at Steamboat Bills (Pearland TX), for a deep dive into why questions are an important part of building and refining one’s faith. Our panelist and guests offer and tackle some Big Questions regarding faith and politics, how to share the gospel while not pressing one’s beliefs and what might happen if we lose the ability to ask and answer Big Questions when it comes to faith, doubt and everything in between. Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guests: Amanda Tompkins, Meagan JonesDiscussion:Tell how MomCo (MOPS) got started at FUMC Pearland.Why was it important? What makes you stay supportive today?What impact has MomCo had on your life? Other moms?How has FUMC Pearland come alongside MomCo and it’s journey?What does Jesus offer moms today?How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to moms needing support today? Thanks for listening to Real Talk FUMC Pearland Podcast. Please join the podcast community by liking, subscribing, following and sharing this episode with someone who may enjoy this honest conversation. Share your comments, questions and feedback: [email protected] Visit fumcpearland.org to learn more about how to connect!Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Episode Guests: Jay Roberts, Robin TatemDiscussion:How you define resilience when it comes to faith?How has faith influenced your parenting?Where have you seen this make a positive impact? Where have you failed?What parenting/faith practices have you adopted? How have they helped?What are your hopes for your teens, as well as others, when it comes to faith?What does Jesus offer young people today?How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are striving to raise faithful teens? Comments, Questions & FeedbackThanks for listening to Real Talk FUMC Pearland Podcast. Please join the podcast community by liking, subscribing, following and sharing this episode with someone who may enjoy this honest conversation. Share your comments, questions and feedback: [email protected] Visit fumcpearland.org to learn more about how to connect!Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guest: Suzann Whitlow Assistant Principal CJ Harris ElemDiscussionIntroduce yourself and share a day in the life of an Assistant Principal?What unique challenges does your campus and staff face?How have partnerships helped you and your students succeed?What hesitations/fears come with letting others in to help?Share your view of FUMC Pearland’s commitment to CJ Harris. What impact has it made? Where are you hoping the partnership goes?How can others support your school, and others? What advice would you offer others, schools and organizations?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are wanting to learn how to support schools and students? Send Questions & Feedback to [email protected] If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website at fumcpearland.org, or join us for worship on Sunday mornings, 8:30 or 10:45. We look forward to meeting you soon. Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guests: Emma Dahn, Molly DeLuca, Charlotte Tatem, Michael WaltonToday, you are in for a special Teen Takeover, where the students of Pearland Student Ministries take over the podcast studio, plan the conversation and share their real experience with faith, doubt and everything in between! Note: These teen hosts planned and led the entire conversation. These are the questions and conversations they wanted to have about faith, sharing it with their faith community, peers and the world. Discussion TopicsHow has faith influenced your life?Who are your role models for faith?How has social media influenced your faith? What are the pros and cons of sharing faith on social media?When has your faith helped you through a hard time? What difference did faith really make in your life?What does Jesus offer to those facing difficulty?How does the church, offer the same? Offering of Hope & Next StepsWhat’s one piece of hope you offer to the teens dealing with real topics today? Thanks for listening to Real Talk FUMC Pearland Podcast. Please join the podcast community by liking, subscribing, following and sharing this episode with someone who may enjoy this honest conversation. Send us your comments, questions and feedback: [email protected] fumcpearland.org for worship times and more ways to get connected to a real faith community!Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guest: Vance Wyly, City of PearlandDiscussion TopicsIntro and share the vision of Pearland’s Old Town Revitalization How do you see this impacting FUMC Pearland?Why should we be excited to preserve, celebrate and build new in Old Town?What possibilities might this create for our city, neighborhood & community?What are the challenges in revitalizing something old into something new?What changes might this new life bring?What does Jesus offer to those seeking to be made new? How might churches and other organizations offer the same? What’s one piece of hope you offer to those who resist being made new? Where can listeners learn more about Old Town Revitalization?Visit pearlandoldtownsite.com to learn more about the plans to make Old Town Pearland NEW!Send us your comments, questions and feedback: [email protected] fumcpearland.org for worship times and more ways to get connected to a real faith community!Want to learn more about us? Check us out here! https://newsongpearland.org/Connect with us on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsongpearlandInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/newsongpearland/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewSongPearlandLooking for a way to give online? https://pushpay.com/g/fumcpnsWant more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guest: Vance Wyly, City of PearlandDiscussion TopicsIntro and share the vision of Pearland’s Old Town Revitalization How do you see this impacting FUMC Pearland?Why should we be excited to preserve, celebrate and build new in Old Town?What possibilities might this create for our city, neighborhood & community?What are the challenges in revitalizing something old into something new?What changes might this new life bring?What does Jesus offer to those seeking to be made new? How might churches and other organizations offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you offer to those who resist being made new? Where can listeners learn more about Old Town Revitalization?Visit pearlandoldtownsite.com to learn more about the plans to make Old Town Pearland NEW!Send us your comments, questions and feedback: [email protected] fumcpearland.org for worship times and more ways to get connected to a real faith community!Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guest Speaker Natalie Sebren of The Star of Hope MissionDiscussionWhat is the mission of Star of Hope.Where do you see this in action and bearing fruit?How does faith play into what Star of Hope is doing? How do Christians really make a difference in the world? Where have you seen this in your organizations? What partnerships have helped further the mission?What does Jesus offer to those seeking to make a difference? How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you offer to those who want to make a difference in real ways?Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Guest Keith RaneyDiscussion:What is AI?What are its potential effects on society today?How might AI impact our understanding of God?What might God think about AI?What are the possible positives/pitfalls of AI and church collaboration?Why are we drawn to AI? What void might it fill?What does Jesus offer to those seeking to fill the void with AI?How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are curious about God & AI today? Send comments, questions and feedback to [email protected] fumcpearland.org to learn more about worship and events to get connected!Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Episode Guests: Paul Wendt, James GilbertDiscussionIntroduce yourself and share a memory about your friendshipWhy were you willing to talk about disagreeing, with a friend, today?What is it about disagreeing that makes us uncomfortable?How have you been able to grow in the ability to disagree?What are some places many Christians disagree? How have you been able to look past those differences and find commonality?How do friendships with those you don’t always agree benefitted you?How can we start to be more okay with those we disagree with?Where do you see this modeled by Jesus? How might the church practice too?What hope do you offer to those who are uncomfortable with disagreement, including theology? What is one step they can take today? Thanks for listening to Real Talk FUMC Pearland Podcast. Please join the podcast community by liking, subscribing, following and sharing this episode with someone who may enjoy this honest conversation. Send your comments, questions and feedback to [email protected] fumcpearland.org to connect more.Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Rev. Thea is joined by Rev. Michael Geinger, Rev. Mike Whang and Leah Gillam, LCSW-S, CCPS-C, for an open conversation on church attendance trends, faults of the church and how we might turn the page and offer something new. This episode was filmed at LitJava Coffee & Books (Pearland) with a LIVE audience who submitted their questions for panel discussion too. Discussion QuestionsTell us about your journey to faith. What were some key moments that formed your faith?Why do you think ⅓ of Americans claim “church hurt” and/or are non-affiliated with the church today? How have you experienced these realities? What is your response?What is it about “Christians/Church People” that make our human failure hard to forgive? Why are Christians harder to love? What do you hope for out of these honest conversations? What do you think Jesus hopes for, even when it’s hard to love?Audience Questions SubmittedHow do you define “progressive Christian” and how is it different from “Christian”?How do we get out of “us vs them" and into the truth of God, and God's love here and now?How do you know when a church is your home? What should we offer those searching?What is one step we can take today to offer love despite the difficulties? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Rev. Michael Geinger, [email protected] Rev. Mike Whang, [email protected] Leah Gilam, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/leah-gillam-pearland-tx/473262 Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

DiscussionWhat does it mean to be healthy?How is food involved in our health?How does your understanding of food impact your understanding of God? How do you live this out? What evidence do you have?What are the alternatives? What happens when we fail to see God in food? How might our physical health affect our spiritual health?What does Jesus offer to those seeking to be made well?How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are seeking whole health today? We want to hear from you!Send your questions, comments and feedback to [email protected] with the guest:Vickie Kloeris, vickiekloeris.com Space Bites, https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/space-bites/ Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

DiscussionWhat does it mean to thrive?What does it mean to thrive in faith?What steps need to happen in order to work toward a life of thriving? Where do we start?What are the alternatives? What happens when we fail to thrive? Where have you seen or experienced this in reality?What does Jesus offer to those willing to thrive?How might the church offer the same?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are striving to thrive today? FUMC Pearland exists to follow Jesus, build relationships, grow in discipleship and experience transformation both within and beyond ourselves. If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website at fumcpearland.org, or join us for worship on Sunday mornings, 8:30 or 10:45. We look forward to meeting you soon. Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Thea, Reggie & Vincent share and honest conversation about what matters most when it comes to understanding the identity of Christ and how it impacts our own self identity.Discussion Questions:Tell us about your journey to faith. What about your faith matters most?What aspect of our lives did Jesus come to claim? How does this affect the additional ways we see ourselves and othersWhat chains do you believe Jesus came to break?Why is this reality about Jesus so dangerous? What does Christ’s liberation say about our identity? What does it look like to see Christ as our biggest identifier? What chains does this new identity break? Who might be threatened by this possibility? What hope do you offer those who are interested in their identity in Christ? Join the Conversation:Reach out to the guest and/or hosts by emailing: [email protected]@fumcpearland.orgWant more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

This week, Thea has a conversation with Rev. Lataya Simpson who serves as Senior Pastor of St. Matthew's UMC. Thea and Lataya offer an honest conversations about the places they find differences, beauty and struggles as well as ways to move forward despite the differences that try to pull us apart. Discussion Topics:Tell us about your journey to faith. Where have you noticed you are different from others?How have your differences impacted you uniquely?Why are we all so different? How do you explain our unique identities?What have you learned from people with different abilities from you? What makes our differences cause conflict? How might those same differences offer peace?Why do you think God made us so different? How might our differences lead to greater unity?What hope do you offer those who are struggling with differences? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Rev. Lataya Simpson, [email protected] Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Thea talks with Rev. Michael Jarboe, Senior Associate Pastor at Memorial Drive UMC to discuss what happens when churches are willing to try new things, and what might happen if they don’t.Discussion TopicsTell us about your journey to faith. What brought you to church?Why have you stayed, and chosen to serve and lead the church today? Share your experience with sharing your faith in new ways. What has worked? What have you learned? Why is it important to continue to share God in new ways?What new ways might God be leading the church to share its faith? What are the risks in trying new things? What are the possible rewards? How do you sell new things to those who really love the old things? What might happen if we, the church, don’t try something new? What might happen if we do?What hope do you offer those who are longing to experience God new? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Rev. Michael Jarboe, [email protected] Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Thea, Reggie & John discuss together what freedom means in relation to national freedom and Christ’s freedom that offers a truly new life. Discussion QuestionsHow do you define freedom? Where do you see freedom in reality?How do you describe the opposite of freedom? Where do you see that reality?Is there freedom in faith, or just a bunch of extra rules to follow?Are we ever truly free? Where are you living un-free?What responsibilities/opportunities come with being free? How do you reconcile freedom “with strings attached?”If God has made us free, why are we able to fall into capture? Why have we been given the ability to choose freedom? What are you doing with your freedom? Who else do you hope to share your freedom with too?What hope do you have for those living un-free today? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Rev. Reggie Clemons, [email protected]. John McClure, [email protected] more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Episode Guests: Noble, Lincoln, Grace, Lennox & Shannon GarzaThea sits down with a couple of elementary and middle school kids the week of Vacation Bible School to listen to what they have to say about faith, church and why it all matters to them. Shannon Garza, Director of Pearland Kids Ministry also shares with Thea what they are learning from kids about faith and church. Discussion TopicsHow do you feel about talking about faith on a podcast today? What is faith? Why does it matter?How would you describe church to a friend who had never been?What might they experience? Why should they try it?What are you learning about God? How do you think it might help you as you get older?What’s the first memory you have of church? How is church helpful in your life today?What have you learned about God? What do you hope to still learn?What might someone gain if they are willing to learn more about God?How does church/community help? What makes family and children’s ministry important to you?What do you hope someone hears about Jesus through these kids today?What are your hopes for families wrestling with faith today?Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Shannon Garza, Director of FUMC Pearland Kids Ministry, [email protected] more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Pastor Thea sits down with two FUMC Pearland partners to discuss the controversial topic of God and money, striving to answer the question “Can I be rich, and still love Jesus?” Discussion Topics:What does God think about money? Can I be rich and still love Jesus?Where do you see Chrisitans misusing their access to money? Where do you see impact because of access to financial resources?How does our relationship with money affect our relationship with God?How might it help or hinder?What do you hope to see more believers do with their money? What can our relationship with money tell the world about God, Jesus and community?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to those who are struggling with God and money? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected] Jaramillo, [email protected] Pathasema, via Thea, [email protected] Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org

Rev. Thea is joined by Rev. Reggie Clemons and City of Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole for an honest conversation about how faith and politics are hard to divide, and what might happen if more Christ followers let Jesus lead the way they view how to organize the chaos of humanity. Discussion Topics:When and how was faith introduced into your life? How does faith influence your politics today?Should church and politics mix? Are they mutually exclusive?Where have you seen church and politics mix poorly? Is it possible to have our faith influence our politics positively…and not let our politics influence our faith negatively?What practices can help keep us balanced?What hope do you have for our spiritual and political climate today?What steps are you taking to help make those a reality?What’s one piece of hope you would offer to anyone struggling today? Connect with Guests:Got more questions or want a deeper conversation, reach out to this week’s host and guests:Rev. Thea Curry-Fuson, [email protected]. Reggie Clemons, [email protected] Mayor Kevin Cole, [email protected] Want more information about FUMC Pearland? Check us out at fumcpearland.org