Discipleship Conversations

About Discipleship Conversations

This is a podcast focusing on conversations with guests about following Jesus in various arenas and circumstances of life. Our team of hosts include Steven Carrizal, Tiffany Dahlman, Jeremy Hoover, and Cheryl Russell. We invite you to join us for these conversations, where we reflect on what it means to live as a follower of Jesus, where discipleship and the Kingdom of God call us into a new reality and give us a new script for life.

Publisher

Steven Carrizal, Tiffany Dahlman, Jeremy Hoover, Cheryl Russell

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Oct 2020

Latest episode

16 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

76 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Apr 2025

   Space to Grieve – A Conversation with Ben Ries

   “[Grief] is going to stay there whether we want it to orrecognize it or not. Grief finds its way into our bones and if we don’t address it, if we don’t hold it, if we don’t find ways to metabolize it, it’ll remain and more times than not it comes out sideways.” Grief is a part of life, but too often, we don’t make space for it—especially in the church. In this episode, hosts Steven Carrizal and Cheryl Russell talk with Ben Ries, a hospital chaplain, about the importance of grief and lament. Why does grief matter in our faith? What happens when we ignore it? And how can churches create spaces where people can grieve honestly and find hope? Join us for this meaningful conversation on walking through sorrow with faith and community. Dr. Ben Ries is a staff chaplain at Peacehealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA. Before stepping into chaplaincy, he served as a minister in churches in the Pacific Northwest for eighteen years followed by seven years in higher education administration at Abilene Christian University - Dallas. Ben has a Master's of Divinity from Abilene Christian University and Doctor of Ministry from Lipscomb University. He and his wife, Jen, have three adult children who are beautiful humans and a delight to be around. Ben and Jen spend their free time together camping, hiking, playing games, and laughing. Feel free to reach out via email at benries78@gmail.com (mailto:benries78@gmail.com).

2. 

   19 Mar 2025

   Listening for God: A Conversation on Spiritual Direction – A Conversation with Mallory Wyckoff

   There comes a time in every seeker’s life when the well runs dry, when prayer feels hollow, scripture feels distant, and the certainty that once steadied our steps begins to shift like sand beneath our feet. In those moments, we do not need more noise, more answers, or more tasks to complete. Weneed a companion; a wise and patient listener who can help us hear the voice of God again. In this episode of Discipleship Conversations, hosts Cheryl Russell and Tiffany Dahlman welcome Dr. Mallory Wyckoff, a writer, speaker, spiritual director, and peacemaker who has spent her life holding space for others to encounter the sacred. As the founder of The Healing Collective Center for Spiritual Formation and associate director of philanthropy communications for Search for Common Ground, Mallory has witnessed firsthand the quiet, transformative power of spiritual direction, especially helpful for those who lead and serve. Together, they explore the deep well of spiritual direction,how it differs from pastoral counseling, how it helps weary souls rediscover their footing, and why it matters for pastors and leaders. Mallory also shares how trauma shapes the way we see God and what it means to bring our whole selves, wounded and wondering, into the presence of the divine. If you have ever longed for a way to tend your soul withcuriosity and courage, this conversation is for you. Mallory Wyckoff (https://linktr.ee/mallorywyckoff?fbclid=IwY2xjawIkJ5tleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXG-w15vsaSKAU9OTvmGLEVDJUPM8641ki0PyjqZaZnu6c6snHLwMj_iWw_aem_6dWjgWIISDGHZaaAslsrQg) (DMin, MTS, MA) is a writer, speaker, spiritual director, and peacemaker. She is associate director of philanthropy communications with Search for Common Ground (https://sfcg.org/), the world’s largest organization dedicated to peacebuilding. She is also the founder and director of The Healing Collective Center for Spiritual Formation (https://www.thehealingcollective.space/centerforspiritualformation), where she trains individuals to become certified spiritual directors. As part of her doctoral program in missional and spiritual formation, Mallory’s dissertation explored the impact of sexual trauma on survivors’ theological perception and spiritual formation—an inquiry that continues to inform her work at every turn. In all her work, Mallory creates spaces and content that help people access themselves and their spirituality with curiosity, honesty, and courage. She lives with her husband, daughters, and a million retirees in St.Petersburg, Florida.

3. 

   11 Sept 2024

   Christian Nationalism and Its Impact on the Church - A Conversation with Collin Packer

   In this episode, hosts Cheryl Russell and Tiffany Dahlman dive into a critical and timely topic as they interview Collin Packer to explore a challenging topic that is on many of our minds in this season: Christian nationalism. We are just scratching the surface in this conversation as we discuss how Christian nationalism distorts the gospel, damages the church's witness, and poses significant challenges for pastors today. We also explore practical steps for navigating these difficult waters in the hopes of a communal remembering of the plot of our story, a story which centers on a crucified Lord. We are glad you are here to consider this with us. Collin Packer is the Scholar-in-Residence for the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry at Abilene Christian University. Following 13 years as a Lead Minister for congregations in Colorado and Texas, Collin served as the Director of Faith-Based Partnerships for CitySquare, the most comprehensive and effective poverty-fighting organization in Dallas, and the Communications Director for Texas State Representative Carl Sherman Sr. during Texas’s 88th Legislative Session. His work in congregational life and in the public square has given him a unique perspective on how the Christian faith can make a difference in public life. Thanks for listening. We invite you to subscribe and rate the podcast through your favorite podcast app. We’d love to hear from you. Send your comments and questions to media@missionalive.org (mailto:media@missionalive.org). Learn more about the podcast and other Mission Alive media resources at www.missionalive.org/media (http://www.missionalive.org/media). Intro and outro music is by audionautix.com (http://www.audionautix.com/). Mission Alive works to bring about the holistic transformation of marginalized communities through starting and renewing innovative churches that address the most challenging issues faced by their neighbors. Learn more about what we do and how to connect at www.missionalive.org.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.