Renew Your Mind

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are welcoming our new Senior Pastor Jeremy Touroo and his wife Amy Touroo as we get to know them better! Today we are getting to know Amy Touroo more as she is now the wife of a Senior Pastor! We are also joined today by his Pastor Barry Sweet and moderator Dana Hall. Questions/ topic include:1. Faith and Family: “As a wife and mother of three young children, ages 5, 7, and 9, how do you see God working through these important roles in your life?”2. Serving God: “We often think of serving God as something we do within the church. But serving Him begins in our everyday lives. What does serving God through your marriage and motherhood look like for you?”3. Life in Ministry: “Being married to a pastor brings some unique opportunities and challenges. How do you and Jeremy work together to keep your faith, marriage, and family relationships strong?”4. The Children: “How are your children feeling about this new adventure? What are they most excited about as they become part of the Gaylord Methodist Church family?”5. Amy’s Own Calling: “As you get to know our congregation, are there particular interests, gifts, or passions you hope to share? What are you most excited to become involved in?”Question for Both Jeremy and Amy“With three young children and the responsibilities of ministry, how do you intentionally make time for one another and keep Christ at the center of your home?”Closing Question“What would you like our congregation to know about your family, and how can we help make Gaylord Methodist Church feel like home?”Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are welcoming our new Senior Pastor Jeremy Touroo and getting to know more about him! We are joined today by his wife Amy Touroo, Pastor Barry Sweet and moderator Dana Hall. Questions/ topic include:God’s Calling: “As you begin this new chapter, what do you believe God is calling you to do here at Gaylord Methodist Church?”Spiritual Gifts: “God equips each of us with different gifts and talents. What gifts do you believe He has given you for ministry, and how do you hope to recognize and encourage the gifts within our congregation?”Looking Ahead: “When you think about the future of Gaylord Methodist Church, what excites you most about what God might accomplish through us?”Personal Faith: “How has your own relationship with Christ shaped the way you lead and serve others?”Closing Question“How can our congregation best support you and your family as you begin this new season of ministry together?”Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are finishing our series all about the Global Methodist Church General Conference which recently took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are joined today by Pastor Kevin Harbin and his wife Ellen Harbin, Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Today we are talking about the next steps and bringing home the things learned back to the Gaylord Methodist Church and Northern Michigan! QuestionsNow that you're home, what is the biggest thing you brought back with you from Johannesburg?Has attending General Conference changed the way you see our own church?Has it changed the way you see your role as Christians?What do you think God is asking the Global Methodist Church to become over the next six years?What are the greatest opportunities facing the GMC?What are the greatest dangers or challenges?How do we make sure that organizational decisions don't become more important than the mission of Jesus?The GMC talks about making disciples and spreading scriptural holiness. What would it look like if our church actually became dramatically better at doing that?What should we be praying about as a congregation because of what happened in Johannesburg?What should we be doing differently?Pastor Kevin, what do you hope this means for the future of our church?If we record this podcast again six years from now, what would you hope we could say God did through the Global Methodist Church between now and then?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking all about the Global Methodist Church General Conference which just took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are joined today by Pastor Kevin Harbin and his wife Ellen Harbin, Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Today we are talking about the decisions made at the General Conference and how it affects our church and the entire Global Methodist Church!QuestionsFor someone sitting in our congregation who has never attended a General Conference, what actually happens at one?What were some of the most important decisions made in Johannesburg?Let's talk about the Articles of Faith. What are they, and why was adopting them so significant?Why does a denomination need to formally articulate what it believes?Did anything happen during the legislative process that surprised you?Were there disagreements? And if so, how did delegates work through them?How much of the process was debate and how much was prayer and discernment?Eight bishops were elected and consecrated. Why is that important for the future of the GMC?What does the new six-year structure mean for local churches like ours?There were also elections for commissions and councils. Why should an average church member care about those?Were there moments when you thought, "This decision could affect the Global Methodist Church for decades"?Kevin, as a pastor, did you come home with more confidence about where the GMC is headed?Were there any decisions you think our congregation should pay particular attention to?Where did you see Jesus in the topics we just discussed?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking all about the Global Methodist Church General Conference which just took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are joined today by Pastor Kevin Harbin and his wife Ellen Harbin, Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Ellen Harbin was a lay delegate at the General Conference so we are going to hear 1st hand what the experience was like and continue with the topic today focusing on the "Global" part of the Global Methodist Church. QuestionsWhy was it important for the GMC to hold its first General Conference in Africa?What did being in South Africa teach you about the church that you couldn't have learned by meeting in the United States?Did you hear stories from African churches about what God is doing there?What are we learning from Christians in Africa rather than simply bringing Christianity to Africa?Was there a moment when you realized that the United States isn't necessarily the center of what God is doing through the GMC?What does "global mission" actually mean for an ordinary congregation in northern Michigan?Does being part of a global denomination change the way we should think about missions?Are we being called to send missionaries, or are we also being called to learn from and partner with Christians around the world?What kinds of mission opportunities did you hear about?How is the GMC approaching church planting and making disciples around the world?Pastor Kevin, what do you think God may be asking our particular church to do as part of this global movement?Could God use a relatively small congregation in northern Michigan to have an impact somewhere around the world?Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking all about the Global Methodist Church General Conference which just took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are joined today by Pastor Kevin Harbin and his wife Ellen Harbin, Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Ellen Harbin was a lay delegate at the General Conference so we are going to hear 1st hand what the experience was like and what we can learn and live from this experience!We would like you to take us inside the room. What did you see, hear, and experience that we couldn’t see from home?Ellen, you went to Johannesburg as a lay delegate. Before you left, what did you think you were going to experience?When you walked into that convention center and saw people from so many different countries and cultures, what was your first reaction? Was there a moment when you thought, “Wow, this really is a global church?”Ellen, you went as a lay delegate. What did you feel when you realized that you weren't simply attending—you actually had a voice and a vote in the future of the Global Methodist Church?Was there a particular discussion, vote or moment during the week where you thought, “This is really importance and could shape the future of our church.”What did you learn from Christians in Africa and other countries that you think American Christians need to hear?Tell us about the worship. What was it like worshiping with people from different countries, languages and cultures?Was there a moment during worship or prayer or other events when you felt particularly aware of the presence of God? Or Where did you see Jesus?Pastor Kevin:Pastor Kevin, you were there as a pastor, while Ellen was there as a delegate. Did the 2 of you experience Johannesburg differently?Ellen:When you came home, what was the one thing you couldn’t stop thinking about? What was the one thing God wanted you personally to see?Pastor Kevin:After hearing Ellen describe that, what did you see differently as a pastor?What do you hope our congregation understand about the GMC after hearing what Ellen experienced in Johannesburg.Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are continuing the topic of becoming a disciple with "The Cost." We are joined by special guest Ellen Harbin, Pastor Kevin Harbin, Associate Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Topics/ questions for today's episode include: -Luke 14:25-3325 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are digging into the topic of making disciples beginning with "The Call!" We are joined by special guest Ellen Harbin, Pastor Kevin Harbin, Associate Pastor Jeremy Touroo and moderator Dana Hall. Topics/ questions for today's episode include: The Global Methodist Church has a mission statement to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28 Jesus gives the Great Commission where he says Go make disciples of all nations.Before someone can make a disciple the first step is to be a disciple. Jesus had already taught on two aspects of discipleship. 1st “the Call” and 2nd “the Cost.” In this first episode we will talk about the call. In our next podcast we will explore the cost. - Mark 1:16-18. - The Call- Mark 1:16-18 - As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.- The call is clearly stated by Jesus "Come follow"Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are continuing the discussion on "Playing the cards you're dealt" with a personal testimony by Pastor Barry Sweet! We are joined by Pastor Kevin Harbin, Associate Pastor Jeremy Touroo, Pastor Barry Sweet and moderator Dana Hall. Topics/ questions for today's episode include: - Pastor Barry tells us about the “cards that he has been dealt” and how God is using him for His purposes.- What emotions did you experience?- Was there a turning point where your perspective began to change?- Who did God place in your life to encourage or strengthen you during that season?- How did your relationship with Christ change b/c of these experiences?- Were you shown a particular Bible verse or prayer?- What did God teach you that you don’t think you would have learned any other way?- What blessing came out of these circumstances that you would have never chosen?- How can we remain faithful while we’re still waiting for God to reveal His purpose?- When our listeners hear your story, what do you hope they see? Your strength or God’s faithfulness?Closing – pray for those who are facing difficult circumstances todayThanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind we are talking about dealing with the cards you've been dealt. We are joined by Pastor Kevin Harbin, Associate Pastor Jeremy Touroo, Pastor Barry Sweet and moderator Dana Hall. Topics/ questions for today's episode include: Dealing with the cards you've been dealt- Why do some people become bitter through hardships while others grow stronger? - How can God use disappointments, losses, and setbacks for good?- Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose.- How can someone trust God’s plan when they can’t see the purpose in their suffering?- Great Bible Stories- Joseph – betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned, then used by God to save many lives.- Key verse: “you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”- Esther - A young woman placed in a difficult position who discovered God had prepared her “for such a time as this.”- Paul - Face imprisonment, persecution, and hardship yet continued to serve God with joy.- Ruth - Experienced loss and uncertainty but remained faithful and became part of God’s larger story.Key takeaway - You may not have chosen the cards you’ve been dealt, but with God’s help, you can choose how you play them – and He can use even the hardest chapter of your story for good.Thanks for listening and we pray this podcast encourages you and helps grow your walk in the Lord! God bless!