Spotlight on Grace

Pastor Matt was in the office recently and had time to have a fun conversation with Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks! We'll get to sit under his preaching soon, so these were just conversational "get to know you" kinds of questions to help us learn more about him and his family! We are so excited to welcome Pastor Matt, Charly, Ellie, and Carter to Columbia Grace on July 13!

We are excited to welcome Sophie Hale as our children's ministry intern this summer! Sophie has a big heart for Jesus and the church! We think you'll love getting to know her and we are blessed to get to be a part of her vocational ministry journey!

Board Member Dave Webb shares where we are in the Pastoral Transition and shares about important events in the next week or so. Please submit any questions for the Pastoral Meet and Greet to tonya@columbiagrace.org or davewebb987@gmail.com.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks talk about how addictions can come from many different places and control our lives. We need God's help to overcome! As the people of God, our role is to come alongside for prayer and encouragement! If you find yourself dependent on substances or other things in life, please reach out for help!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks welcome Jenna Boren, Nurse Practitioner and SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner), to the podcast to talk about abuse and sexual assault. Statistics show that these cases happen in "the church" as much as in the world. There are resources available for those who have been assaulted. If you or someone you know if living in a cycle of abuse, please reach out!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our "Nazarene Missional Church Survey"! Pastor BJ Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks share the results on this bonus episode!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks continue the tough topics discussion. This time on Prejudice. What is prejudice? How do we become aware of our own biases? We can ask God to search our hearts and to give us a heart for others that looks like His!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks continue the Elephants in the Sanctuary series with a discussion on materialism. Do we have stuff or does our stuff have us? It is important to commit all that we have to the Lord, including our motives and desires. He is faithful to lead us as we follow him!

Host Ber Bolton leads us through a discussion on opening up and talking about important topics. It all starts with hospitality and creating an environment where people feel welcome and safe sharing their lives and stories. From there, we can have important and life changing conversations!

Special guests Rev. Jeff Sexton and Rev. Derek Mitchell joined Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks for this episode to talk about District stuff like Assembly, Ordination, and more! The older episode we referenced was S2E17, if you want to check that one out, too!

Thanks to Pam Moore, our church board secretary, and Pastor BJ Bolton for joining Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks to share our first pastoral transition update! The board met with Dr. Dwight Gunter, our District Superintendent, on Monday, February 17, 2025. Church, our first call is to pray! Dr. Gunter will lead the church board through a process to find our next pastor and there is power in prayer as we all seek the Lord for his wisdom, discernment, and guidance.

What has the Lord placed in your hands to steward for his Kingdom? Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks talk about a tithe and ways to think creatively about sharing your "treasures" with those around you.God Pie video: God Pie

Everyone has talents! Do you know what yours are? Are you putting them to use for the Kingdom of God? There's great joy in that! Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks talk about exploring and using our talents and some ways you can put your gifts to work at Grace Church and in the Community! Not sure where to start? Try this SHAPE assessment to help you clarify your Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences! s.h.a.p.e. Test – Helping You Discover God's Purpose in Life There is a place to send your results to a church leader! Pastor Tonya would love to receive those at tonya@columbiagrace.org.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks recap Pastor BJ Bolton's sermon on Stewardship of Time. When we live as stewards of the time God has given us, we can enjoy a life on mission for His glory!

Pastor Jason Caddy talks with Host Ber Bolton, Pastor BJ Bolton, and Pastor Tonya Marks about his new ministry as District Superintendent of North Carolina. Pastor Jason shares about following the Lord's leading and peace that passes understanding in the midst of change. The panel also discusses what the Grace Church family can anticipate in the coming days as the pastoral search begins. God's grace is sufficient!

Host Ber Bolton, Pastor BJ Bolton, and Pastor Tonya Marks had a jolly time talking Christmas songs, movies, and more! Listen in and see how many points you can score! Merry Christmas! Jesus is the reason for every season!

Pastor Michelle Noel chats with Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks about the purpose and structure of the Blue Christmas service coming on December 22, 2024. The holidays can feel heavy for so many reasons. This service is an opportunity to remember, reflect, and go out in hope.

Host Ber Bolton, Pastor BJ Bolton, and Pastor Tonya Marks share some thoughts from our Launch keynote on the Grace Church response to LGTB+ folks who enter our doors looking to grow toward wholeness in Jesus.

Pastor Tonya Marks and host Ber Bolton discuss accountability and how it's a gift God has given to help us grow!

With this episode, we begin to recap our 2024 Launch Retreat topics! Pastor BJ came by to discuss the fascinating idea of personalities and how that plays into the ways we serve, work with, and lead people. It's a great conversation and so helpful in every area of life!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Michelle Noel had a fun time chatting with Jim and Wendy to learn about their culture shock coming south from Maine, the fun things they enjoy, and how God has worked and is working in their lives!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Michelle Noel chat with Allison Winnie, a part of our Worship Ministries Team, about life, family, and growing in Jesus.

Pastor Jason Caddy and staff wrap up the "Remembering" series as we head toward election season. Pastor Michelle Noel shares about being a "politician's kid" and the importance of how we conduct ourselves in these days.

Pastor Jason Caddy continues to lead a discussion with host Ber Bolton and some staff members on preparing for the upcoming election season. Remembering our purpose of reconciliation will guide us to the best choices.

It's presidential election year! Pastor Jason Caddy wanted to sit down with Spotlight on Grace to help us remember who we are in Christ, first and foremost, as we talk about politics and head to the polls.

Pastor Tonya has been waiting to get sisters Deb and Susan in for a podcast to hear how God brought them to Grace Church and how he has worked in their lives to help them grow into the wonderful women of God they are today!

It's good to be reminded that our mission and core values are still the same! We continue to find ways to learn and grow in these areas so that we can be who God called us to be!

While we reboot for a new season, we are playing some of our favorite past "testimony" episodes! Enjoy again, or for the first time!

We're replaying some of our favorite past episodes while we gear up for a new season! Enjoy again, or for the very first time!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks enjoyed interviewing Chad and Angela Taflinger who are Nazarene missionaries to Saipan. We've known the Taflingers from church camps and other district events and it's been amazing to watch their journey and hear more about it! You can be a part of their missionary service by donating at store.nazarene.org/pledge/cataflinger

Pastor Tonya Marks and Ken O'Brien talk to sum up the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments to see some of the highlights of how God was moving everything into place for the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus! "Even when I can't see it he's working!"

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks loved chatting with Ken O'Brien about some Bible history and how the feasts and festivals of the Old Testament point to the life and ministry of Jesus. It's fascinating to continue to grow in our understanding of God's Word!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks had a great time talking with David Beard and Carnice Caskey about learning to hold your tongue when parenting your adult children and, what they say is the best part of parenting, .... Grandparenting!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks chat with Pastor Jason & Tina Caddy and Daniel & Tara Kelley about the world of parenting teens! What an adventure!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks chat with Lisa Baker and Jennifer Young about the joys and challenges of being a single parent. They're thriving by trusting in Jesus and leaning on their family, church, and friends!

Host Ber Bolton talks about how to grow our and our children's character (rather than our comfort, only) by showing them the way to resilience and grit! Great lessons for everyone, whether you're parents or not!

Pastor Tonya sits down to talk with Nina Boshers and Kristina Hutchinson about how to make transitions and communication smoother when children live between 2 houses. Lots of practical ideas and tips are shared, with the reminder to start with the end in mind and to always act in the child's best interest. https://www.amazon.com/Co-Parenting-Works-Helping-Children-Divorce/dp/0310325528 https://www.coparentinginternational.com

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks talk about strategies for discipline and the difference between discipline and punishment, with the goal to do all things with love and for the sake of building relationship with our children.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks highlight and discuss the book "Parenting Beyond Your Capacity" by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof. Parenting is a great, exhausting, wonderful, scary adventure! Let's grow together in how to do it well! https://theparentcue.org/downloads

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks begin our parenting series telling a little about their lives growing up and how they are trusting God to help them be the spiritual leaders of their children and how you can too! The good news is that Grace Church is here to join you on this amazing, scary, wonderful journey!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks chat about all of the Sunday School and Grace U classes that are starting in January, plus some other good stuff!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks review the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" and what all those Leaping Lords and Milking Maids are really all about!

Pastor Jason Caddy and Pastor BJ Bolton stop by for a quick review of what we've discovered through the Old Testament in the first year of The Journey. Listen in to be reminded or to "get on board" to get ready for the New Year!

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya had a pretty chatty discussion exploring the topic of intimacy...it's not just physical and it's not just for marriage. Listen in to learn more about what it means, and why it matters, to feel close in friendships, family, and more.

Kirk Shepard stopped by to share a recap of his Leadership Styles workshop where he compared the Cowboy Leader and the Shepherd Leader. He offers great insight about the kind of leaders we've likely worked under and the kind of leaders we should strive to be.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor BJ Bolton chatted with Shaina Caddy about her Launch workshop on acknowledging our fears and letting God work in and through us in spite of those fears.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks talk with Rev. Lon Heighton to recap his class Forgiveness and Reconciliation...what it is and what it isn't.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Lauren recap the "Honoring All" breakout session from Launch focusing on the importance of seeing the image of God in others. When we do that, it looks like taking the time to listen, giving attention and speaking well of others.

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya Marks chat about some things the Lord has laid on Pastor Tonya's heart for herself and our Grace Church people: * Recognize who you are in Jesus * Acknowledge how you are growing in Jesus * Let Jesus be enough while you are waiting * Make peace, don't just keep it

Host Ber Bolton and Pastor Tonya recap Pastor Ray's Launch session on "Being Silent". Jesus met often with the Father. We need only to be still and hear God's voice and he will lead us, guide us, and give us his peace. Check out this episode and then take a few minutes to be quiet and still in the Lord's presence. Resources: Static Jedi: The Art of Hearing God Through the Noise: Timm, Eric Samuel: 9781621362715: Amazon.com: Books One Minute Pause App

Launch 2023 for our discipleship leaders at Grace Church is in the books, but there was too much goodness not to share! Pastor Jason Caddy kicked things off with this wonderful session on living God's way! "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing for you is sin, however innocent it may be in itself." Susannah Wesley