SA Stories

Bryant received a Bachelor's degree in Bible and New Testament Greek from San Diego Christian College where he also played college basketball. Upon graduation, he joined the Shadow Mountain Community Church pastoral staff under Dr. David Jeremiah where Bryant went on to create the Urban Ministries Department. He earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and a Master of Divinity from Southern California Seminary and then a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas A&M University Central Texas. He earned his DMin. at Erskine Theological Seminary and is working on a PHD. Bryant Casteel lives on 20 acres near San Antonio, TX, is posted at Fort Bragg, and he with his wife Penny have eight (almost nine) children.

Dr. John V. Fesko presently serves at Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, MS) as a Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology (his research interests include the integration of biblical and systematic theology, soteriology, and early modern Reformed theology). He is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, having moderated this summer's General Assembly. Dr. Fesko has served in church planting, pastoral ministry, and teaching for more than twenty years. Dr. Fesko's blog is Reformed Theology: In Piety, Practice, and Preaching and his most recent book will be the substance of our conversation today: The Giver of Life: The Biblical Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Salvation.

Collin Hansen serves as vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He hosts the Gospelbound podcast and has written and contributed to many books, most recently Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation; Young, Restless, and Reformed, and A God-Sized Vision- Revival Stories that Stretch and Inspire. Among many other contributions, Collin Hansen also edited The New City Catechism Devotional. He is an adjunct professor at Beeson Divinity School, where he also co-chairs the advisory board.

Dr. Katie McCoy, serves as Director of Women's ministry with Texas Baptists, an author, social commentator, and contributor to the World News Group (WGN). She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern in Systematic Theology, writing on OT laws about women's personhood and what they can show us about human dignity. She served on South Western Seminary's faculty for five years and her book is called, “To be a woman, the confusion over female identity and how Christians can respond” ( https://shorturl.at/rV058 ). You can find her online @blondeorthodoxy and blondeorthodoxy.com. Other Helpful resources mentioned on the podcast: Jackie Hill Perry ( https://jackiehillperry.com ) Sam Allberry ( https://samallberry.com ) , especially his booklet “Is God anti-gay?” ( https://shorturl.at/cpvMU ) Rosaria Butterfield ( https://rosariabutterfield.com ) Carl Truman: Rise and Triumph of the modern self ( https://shorturl.at/efGH8 )

God's Perspective on marriage and family: Potential, pleasure, purpose, and pain points with Dr. Greg Smalley. Dr. Smalley serves as Vice President of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family (who is opening the "Hope Restored" center in Wimberley https://hoperestored.focusonthefamily.com/ ). Dr. Smally has served as president of the National Institute of Marriage, written 17 20 books! Including he and his wife, Erin, co-creating “Ready to Wed,” a complete premarital curriculum for engaged couples and the online Focus on Marriage Assessment ( https://www.focusonthefamily.com/themarriageassessment ). Dr. Smalley has a doctorate from Rosemead school of Psychology from Biola University in Southern CA and a degree from Denver Seminary. He is a joyful and authentic communicator who vulnerably shares from experience, and continues to grow by studying a marriage book with Erin every Christmas- well done! This is a fun interview you will enjoy and desire to share. *Please note when editing- Zach got a bit excited and started questions before I did the introduction- just a few minutes in. Should not hard to find or difficult to edit.

Michael is the lecturer in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College and recently released a new book: Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World ( https://www.ivpress.com/just-discipleship ). Michael is also the author of Formative Feasting, Practicing the King's Economy (with Brian Fikkert and Robby Holt) along with numerous articles in popular outlets such as Christianity Today and The Biblical Mind. Rhodes has spent more than fourteen years involved in community development and urban ministry work, and is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Buckle up- This episode is powerful.

This interview will both challenge and inspire as we journey together to understand God's heart for LIFE. Joining Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell is Dr. Ingrid Skop, a good friend and a true inspiration for many. Dr. Skop currently serves as Vice President and Director of Medical Affairs, Charlotte Lozier Institute. She is Board-certified obstetrician & gynecologist who practiced in San Antonio for decades, now giving her full focus to the pro-life movement in multiple capacities including serving on the medical board of Save the Storks and as medical director of AWC Centers (both key partners for FPC as we plan for a mobile unit that will be wheels down in Spring, 2024, able to serve women all over town). Links: Charlotte Lozier Institute: https://lozierinstitute.org Save the Storks: https://savethestorks.com AWC Centers: https://www.awccenters.com/

Welcome to a new season of Center Conversations! The next few months we will dive deep into a theological perspective on several contemporary hot topics: Wealth / Poverty, Technology, Human sexuality, Family, Life, Justice, and Beauty. This interview begins with beauty! And is one worth savoring and sharing. We are excited to interview Dr. Johnathan King: Dr. Jonathan King serves as the International Pastoral Training Director at Family Discipleship Ministries and Executive Director of FDM Institute. A Graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary (CA), JK has a PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Before joining FDM, King served as a missionary in Indonesia and a Lecturer in Theology at the Universitas Pelita Harapan. Dr. King is married to Sharm and they have two young children, Liam and Eleanor. Dr. King's book The Beauty of the Lord, a Theology of Aesthetics and several of his articles (including this one) are worth reading!

Christopher J. H. Wright was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and taught high school there for some years after graduating from Cambridge in 1969. After obtaining a Cambridge doctorate in Old Testament economic ethics, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1977 and served a curacy in an Anglican parish. In 1983 he went with his family to India and taught a variety of Old Testament courses at the BD and MTh levels at the Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, for five years. He also contributed in other ways to theological education in India. In September 2001 he was appointed to be International Ministry Director of the Langham Partnership International (https://us.langham.org/), a consortium of trusts founded by John Stott, committed to the strengthening of the church in the developing world through fostering leadership development, biblical preaching, literature and scholarship. Now Chris is the “Global Ambassador” for Langham partnership. Chris' own podcast, “On Mission” (https://au.langham.org/global-resources/podcast/), features conversations with Christian leaders around the Majority World. Chris is a scholar with multiple publications, most of which can be found here (https://langhamliterature.org/online_resources/chriswright/index.html).

Dr. Richard Pratt is the pioneer and president of ThirdMill Ministries, an organization providing Biblical education to the world- for free. ThirdMill Ministries offers world-class seminary class content to the world, now with more than 1.8 million students in 176 (of 196) nations. Their content was translated into 25 languages! Dr. Pratt taught at Reformed Theological Seminary for 21 years before beginning ThirdMill. He has authored several books and we recommend you begin with Designed for Dignity or He Gave Us Stories. This interview was recorded during a community Reformation celebration that included six congregations. We hope you enjoy the show!

Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi is the Founder and Executive Director of Pars Theological Center, a pastor, professor, and prolific writer. After fleeing Iran in the 1980's, Mehrdad has given his life for the education and equipping of Iranian Christian leaders through innovative and creative methods. Mehrdad has authored three books, more than 35 articles, translated 7 theological textbooks, and has countless other contributions to education and equipping Iranian Christians around the world. For more about PARS Theological Center: https://parstheology.org To support a PARS Student specifically or the ministry generally: https://parstheology.org/region-selector/

Dr. N. Gray Sutanto helped plant Covenant City Church in Jakarta, Indonesia, through a theology study group. Gray now serves as the assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C. campus. Gray focused his PhD work on the 19thcentury Dutch Reformed theologian, Herman Bavinck and you will discover in this interview that his research interests are broad. Gray's article we discuss from The Keller Center can be found HERE (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jakarta-western-judgments/) and a more full Bio can be found HERE (https://rts.edu/people/dr-n-gray-sutanto/), including a list of his publications. You will be inspired by this episode!

Dr. Ligon Duncan is celebrating his 10th year as Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). God has given tremendous fruitfulness to his leadership, extending the campus of RTS beyond Jackson, Orlando, and Charlette to New York City, Dallas, Atlanta, and Washington DC. Dr. Duncan served as a pastor at FPC Jackson for years before joining RTS as Chancellor, continuing to stay in touch with pastors through teaching systematic and historical theology. Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell may have had too much fun doing this interview! And we hope you enjoy learning from a global best practice leader like Dr. Duncan as much as they enjoyed interviewing him. For more on RTS: https://rts.edu For more from Dr. Duncan on Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives.

In this episode Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell interview Dr. Greg Perry, President of Thirdmill Seminary and author of the book: The Drama of Discipleship. Settle in to enjoy this spirited discussion celebrating innovative theological training around the world and how the American Church must adapt to cultivate an innovative culture of theological and leadership development and deployment for a thriving future. Dr. Gregory R. Perry is a scholar with a pastor heart, gifted by God to lead and communicate. President of Thirdmill Seminary and Vice President of Strategic Projects at Third Millennium Ministries, Greg recently published T[http://:%20https:/www.amazon.com/Drama-Discipleship-Gregory-R-Perry/dp/1666704156]he Drama of Discipleship, a book to equip people to follow the ways of Christ and His Kingdom in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and churches- making disciples in the everyday tasks of being human. For more on ThirdMill Seminary: https://www.thirdmillseminary.org

This interview will inspire, challenge, AND leave you wanting to play a redemptive role for children and families in San Antonio. Children are sleeping in the in the offices of social workers and the Church appears to be asleep in our response ... How does the gospel compel the Church to wake up and engage the crisis? Every child and every family has a needed everyone has a role! Join the Movement: Together for San Antonio- https://www.decadeoffamily.org/together Participate in the Foster and Adopt: https://www.alliance4orphans.org EVERYONE has a role: https://www.alliance4orphans.org Mission Community Church: https://missioncommunitysa.com/about/ Contact Ariel Personally: aok629@gmail.com

Show Description (along with what we already have): SAPD serves our city through pro-actively serving families- And so can you! Today officer Doug Green inspires us with joyful and sacrificial service for families in San Antonio. Join the Movement: TOGETHER FOR SAN ANTONIO Together for San Antonio | San Antonio| Decade of Family DECADE OF FAMILY Home | San Antonio | Decade of Family May 19 Seminar on a Redemptive Response to Domestic Violence: 5.19 T4SA Flyer.pdf Contact Officer Green: Douglas.Greene@sanantonio.gov

Pastor Randy Garcia(316 Church) interviews Pastor Mitchell Moore about Together for San Antonio. "Rising Higher" can be listened to https://three16.org/radio and we hope this overview of Together for San Antonio is helpful. To Learn more: https://three16.org/

Join the Movement: Financial Health-- www.MarginSA.org Other corridors for care: https://www.decadeoffamily.org/together

Together for Financial Health for families- Pain points to purpose Morris and Muffin Camp Financial pain continues to grow for families in San Antonio. God’s people have hope beyond the next stimulus check! Learn how God redeems financial pain for His purposes and how all of us have a highest and best role in serving San Antonio through caring for families. Let’s seek God’s design for financial health, Together for San Antonio. Join Margin San Antonio!! https://marginsa.org More about Ramsey+ https://www.daveramsey.com/ramsey-plus/home

Bobby's interview will inspire you and your family to play, sing, serve, and pray together! Imagination in intentional family fun and formation will cultivate a culture of care and celebration for families and for our city. Bobby has a blog with a focus on family: https://www.thewholepastor.org/blog/2u78gpp34678o4r6uz39eru0vgwn6n Bobby's family provides family devotional material for all families: https://open.spotify.com/show/10MZ1TA60CwHexsls7hK6H?si=VNGjebxoTim_dHvPmsEIdA Bobby and the First Baptist, Alamo Heights family serves our city: https://sanantonioreport.org/baptist-church-pastor-lives-out-snow-day-message/ Bobby and his family recommend this bakery in San Antonio: https://plantyfulsweets.com/

Stewarding your platform for family: Together for San Antonio with Courtney Friedman (KSAT). Courtney found her highest and best role in loving San Antonio through empowering care for families through using her platform as a reporter to give offer a voice for the voiceless, victims of domestic violence. Courtney’s series on domestic violence, Loving Fear, can be found on YouTube or KSAT.com. More ways to engage in Together for San Antonio: Together for San Antonio | San Antonio| Decade of Family

Rev. Dr. Charlie Foltz and Tanks Pizza Owner and Operator Michael Brown.

Join the conversation www.unicitysa.org Participate in Serving: missions@fpc.org

Join the conversation: UnicitySA.org Join the fight for families and for San Antonio: https://www.decadeoffamily.org Tremendous resources for recovery in San Antonio: Pay it forward: https://payitforwardsa.org Lifetime recovery for men: https://www.lifetimerecoverytx.org Alpha home for women: https://www.alphahome.org Rise recovery- Families: https://www.riserecovery.org Sa council on drug awareness: https://sacada.org Haven for Hope: https://www.havenforhope.org

More information on the SA Hope Center https://sahopecenter.org/ join the conversation- UnicitySA.org

Join the conversation: UnicitySA.org San Antonio leads the nation in poverty rate: https://therivardreport.com/attacking-poverty-in-san-antonio-is-not-beyond-our-reach/ Alex’s recommendation for the best burger in San Antonio- Galleria Foods: https://www.facebook.com/TheGalleriaSa/ Life Restored Church: http://www.liferestoredchurch.com; @LifeRestoredChurch Church Training dates and information: aflex7@gmail.com

Join the Conversation: UnicitySA.org •Officer Doug Greene has been a member of the San Antonio Police Department for nine years. He has served as a public information officer for the past four years in the department’s Media Services Unit. In 2017, SAPD presented Officer Greene with the Officer of the Year Award. Prior to joining the department, Officer Greene worked in the TV production industry for ten years. Officer Greene has an associate’s degree in Radio, TV, and Film, and a BA in Communications-Media. •Jennie Lord is the founder and CEO of Chosen Care. Chosen supports adoptive and foster families and children with mentoring, parenting education, coaching, and more. •Christina St. John is a School Social Worker working with students and families that have been identified as refugees, asylum seekers or recent immigrants. Home visits, skills groups, emotional regulation groups and mentor-ship are just a few of the services I have the honor to provide throughout the school day as well as share with the families in their homes. FAMILY AND CITY TRANSFORMATION PANEL •Cory Albracht is a consultant to several area charitable foundations and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Saint Susie Charitable Foundation and the Semmes Foundation, INC. Mr. Albracht attended the University of Texas in Austin and is a former executive pastor and non-profit executive. He held positions with two nationally recognized family strengthening organizations prior to moving to the San Antonio area. Mr. Albracht and his wife Julie have twin daughters and live in Fair Oaks Ranch. •Carl Caton (see bio under the Collaboration Panel) •Ryan Gernand is the Executive Pastor at Grace Community Church. Formerly, he served as the Family and Marriage Pastor at Grace, overseeing kids, students, and marriage. •Robert Vogel has 30 years' experience leading teams and organizations of 1,000+ people. He is the Managing Chairman of the C12 Group for South-Central Texas. The C12 Group is the nation’s largest network of Christian CEO peer advisory groups. Robert started his career with HEB Grocery and after 17 years he started a supply chain organization before transitioning into the non-profit arena with San Antonio Family Endeavors. He joined the C12 Group in 2012 and his personal mission statement is "Through Christ, I make a positive difference in the lives of those around me and the lives of those I have yet to meet, or may never meet."

Join the Conversation: UnicitySA.org Panelist Bios COLLABORATION PANEL •Carl Caton: Carl and his family attend Community Bible Church and he is co-founder of the Garden Ridge Men’s Bible Study, a group that is gathering for its 29th year. Carl leads the San Antonio Marriage Initiative, an organization that partners with the local church to strengthen families, as he advocates for “upstream” efforts with a focus on marriage parenting, and fatherhood. Carl also sits on the boards of The National Association of Relationship & Marriage Educators (NARME), UnicitySA, and the USMarriage Resource Center. •Gilbert Hernandez serves as the CEO of San Antonio Youth for Christ (SAYFC) and is veteran member of the Christian non-profit community. The San Antonio YFC Chapter has been honored as a Best Practice Site by Youth for Christ/USA since 2012. Gilbert was named CEO of SAYFC in 2005 after 12 years in youth ministry leadership and 4 years with SAYFC. Under his leadership, the ministry has reinvigorated its focus on helping communities through sharing the Gospel with youth and raise healthy, resilient kids. In just the last 12 months, with the help of San Antonio Youth for Christ, 11,000 students have been presented a message of hope and 3,500 students are being supported through weekly community ministry. As of 2019 Gilbert also serves as the Pastor of CBC Latino, a ministry of Community Bible Church focusing on serving the city through Latinos. Gilbert and his wife, Hilda, have two Daughters and live in Boerne, Texas. •Megan Legacy is the Executive Director of Hope Resource Center. She is passionate about disrupting the cycle of generational poverty by helping families regain their dignity, discover their God-given purpose, and become holistically sustainable. Megan serves as the Board Treasurer for Unicity. POVERTY AND CASUALTIES IN THE CITY PANEL •Charles Foltz is the president of SA Heals, a nonprofit organization in San Antonio’s east side that focuses on the youth with a holistic approach to encourage, equip and empower them through mentoring relationships. Foltz co-founded SA Heals with Jen Foltz in 2014, one year after they moved to the neighborhood. He is also the pastor of The Gate, a community church that shares worship and dinner together on Saturday nights. •Michelle Lugalia-Hollon is the Director of Initiatives and Partnerships at Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. She graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health with a M.Sc. in Society, Human Development and Health in 2010 and with an AB in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago in 2007. She has worked in government, philanthropy and with several non-profits focusing on maternal and infant HIV/AIDS prevention, sexual and youth violence prevention, homelessness, trauma, youth development, restorative justice, and public health. She was born in Kenya, has lived in Houston, Boston and Chicago, and relocated to San Antonio with her family in 2015. •Olga Rodriguez is the Regional Director of Central Texas Bienestar, an initiative of Urban Strategies. She is a Senior Pastor's Wife who brings a faith-based compassion to all projects she implements and manages. Olga has more than 31 years of experience in event planning and community engagement activities, cultivating strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. She has demonstrated expertise in her church leadership role, as well as in professional and personal projects. Olga’s positive attitude and willingness to walk alongside the marginalized have compelled her to use her abilities to help those in need within the church and community. The scope of her training has equipped her to lead workshops and seminars as well as effectively manage diverse projects. She is a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aide Instructor.

We must love our neighbors as well as the neighborhoods of our city! Join the Conversation: UnicitySA.org The next UnictySA city leaders gathering- Leader Café- is August 28. We hope to see you there! Learn More about Any Woman Can: https://anywomancansa.com More from Dr. Ingrid Skop: https://www.frc.org/myths https://aaplog.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/MFL-FRC-Top-Ten-Myths.pdf https://lozierinstitute.org/team-member/ingrid-skop-m-d-f-a-c-o-g/ Want to know more about the Kingdom Restoration Lab? Please contact Rev A. Mitchell Moore: Redeemitall12@icloud.com

San Antonio Marriage Initiative: https://www.samarriage.com Participate in the UnicitySA leaders gathering on August 28: LindsayS@fpcsat.org Join the conversation: https://www.unicitysa.org

A Letter from a Ransomed Life: https://vimeo.com/164281077 Ransomed Life Ministry: https://www.ransomedlifetexas.org Human Trafficking in Texas Hotline: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/texas 2011 TX report on Human Trafficking in TX: https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/docs/TX_HT_Report--ver%2050--FINAL.pdf Join the conversation: UnicitySA.org

REGISTER TODAY for Pathway to Hope conference: https://www.pathwaystohope.net/conference National Alliance on Mental Illness- San Antonio: https://nami-sat.org Contact Doug Beach directly: dougbeach7897@gmail.com

Join the conversation: UnicitySA.org For more information on RHCK in San Antonio and to get involved: Margaret.Judson@rezilientkidz.com More information on RHCK: www.capablekids.com Next training for RHCK facilitators (there is no charge for the training): Tuesday, September 10th 9:00 a.m. - noon Cafe College

To contact Pastor Jackson: tenaonthego@hotmail.com Contact FBI or to learn more about the house of discipleship: http://www.faithbasedinstitute.org/ To join the conversation and for more information on Unicity: https://www.unicitysa.org/

Find out more about Eileen Vincent and City Reachers. https://cityreachers.net/ To find out more about Unicity San Antonio. https://www.unicitysa.org/

Visit https://www.unicitysa.org/ to find out more Unicity San Antonio. To find out more about the Michael Rhodes book "The King's Economy" click here. https://practicingthekingseconomy.org/

Guest speaker Charlie with SA Heals talks about his journey from living in Stone Oak to moving to the east side. https://www.saheals.com/

Guest Speaker Jennifer Smith with South Texas Alliance for Orphans, talks about foster care in San Antonio and South Texas. http://www.alliance4orphans.org/