Podcasts about life in christian

EPISODE 260: Interview with Dean Robertson. Dean Robertson is a retired evangelical minister. He has spent his entire adult life in Christian ministry in various capacities, including Senior Pastor, Church Planter, Mission Director, Evangelist, Denominational Superintendent and keynote Convention Speaker. He is also a studious Biblical scholar. He has a Master's Degree in Intercultural Studies, and his International Ministry has taken him to many areas of the world. His is the author of “Sex Was God's Idea: An Honest Look at Biblical Sexuality and the Rightful Role of Women.” If you get value out of the Loving Without Boundaries podcast, then consider becoming one of our patrons! Not only will you enjoy exclusive content made just for you, your support will also help us continue creating educational content while helping more people have a deeper understanding of consensual non-monogamy and healthy, sex positive relationships in general. https://www.patreon.com/lovingwithoutboundaries

Co-hosts Jon Stovell and Candace Smith speak with Rick Ostrander about his research and writing, including his new book, Academically Speaking: Lessons from a Life in Christian Higher Education (Eerdmans, 2024). Dr. Rick Ostrander is Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He holds a doctorate in American History from the University of Notre Dame. He also holds a master's degree in history from the University of Notre Dame, a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute. As a scholar of American religion and an academic administrator, Dr. Ostrander maintains an active interest in Christian higher education.  His publications include The Life of Prayer in a World of Science (Oxford, 2001), Head, Heart, Hand: John Brown University and Evangelical Higher Education (University of Arkansas, 2003), and “Spirituality and the Discipline of History,” in Searching for Spirituality in Higher Education (Peter Lang, 2007).  A Fulbright Scholar to Germany in 2004, Dr. Ostrander complements his interest in American higher education with an active interest in global affairs and international education. Dr. Ostrander's book, Why College Matters to God: Academic Faithfulness and Christian Higher Education, was published in 2009 by Abilene Christian University Press and revised in 2012.  It is one of the leading texts used by Christian college and universities for first-year seminars and new faculty orientations. Rick and his wife Lonnie have four children.  He is an avid cyclist who logs thousands of miles a year on his road bike.

••• David's Access Solution••• Bible Study Verses: 1 Samuel 30.1-10, Psalm 50.15, Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 1:18, James 1.2 .••• “What, then, is fruit? In the New Testament we find that fruit is all the things that we may reasonably expect to follow upon our knowing Christ. The good works and godly attitudes that spring from our salvation are our fruit. And the Spirit who fills us is their author. Paul gives us a partial list in Galatians 5:22-23”, Pastor Tom Wells, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, pastor of West Chester's,The King's Chapel for 28 years. He has spent his entire adult life in Christian ministry, including evangelistic work and various Bible teaching roles, He is the author of a number of books including A Vision for Mission & Faith the Gift of God †••• “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God”, Isaiah 43.2, NKJV••• "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!", Romans 11.33, NKJV .••• What massive loss did David experience by the hands of the Amalekites at Ziklag?••• What were the 3-reasons why the people wanted to stone King David?••• What can be a cause of associating with people you normally would not?••• Who will face a time of trouble in their life?••• In the midst of distress, pain and chaos, what did King David do?••• What are 3-negative consequences of not accessing God's wisdom solution during times of distress?••• What type of people did David call for when his situation became dire?••• What did David ask God when he faced was in a horrible situation?••• How does the rocking chair analogy illustrate ineffective wisdom solutions?••• What is the 3rd step in accessing the effective wisdom solution from God?••• What are 333-reasons why David the only one willing to access the wisdom solution from God?••• What 5-life actions did David use in accessing the wisdom solution from God?••• Are you going to ask your small group to pray that you will be the kind of person who can access God's wisdom solution through the power of Holy Spirit? ••• Pastor Godwin Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounters Radio Podcast originally aired on May 25, 2024 on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcasted to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible .••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is brought to you by Christian Leadership International and all the beloved of God who believe in it's mission through prayer and support.••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com/ .•••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by The Mac Doctor Photography, https://www.macdoctorcomputers.com, https://www.musiccitymacs.com, https://www.musiccitymax.com. Art Direction by gil on his mac with free mac layout software .••• † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Tom-Wells-Quotes/.••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/240525-davids-access-solution-ep-330 .••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes .••• RESOURCE - https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod/ .••• RESOURCE - https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/john.1%20 .••• FERP240525 Episode#330 GOT240525Ep330 .••• Wisdom Beyond Common Sense - David's Access Solution, Part-4 .Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Mother's Day Weekend, Clayton had an extra special guest to join him on the program. Helen Smallbone (mother of Rebecca St James and Luke and Joel Smallbone [of For King and Country]). The movie, Unsung Hero, being released shortly is the remarkable true story of Helen and how her faith inspires her husband and children to hold on to theirs as they left Australia broke and started a new life in Christian music in the states.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith Ventures welcomes Christian media business veteran James Burkhardt to talk about his storied career in the industry and how he helped shape it into what it is today. From setting up a modest book table in college to working with Campus Crusade and a miraculous donation of 10,000 Bibles, James embodies the power of faith in action. Join us as James recounts his pivotal switch from accounting to the world of marketing and advertising, where his tenacity and discipline fueled his success in the competitive realm of Christian bookselling and music promotion. After decades in Christian media, James has now founded SNTV, an ambitious platform for independent podcasters to broadcast news and values rooted in truth. His passion for providing a counter-narrative to mainstream media is just one of the many ways James seeks to make a difference. In our conversation, we delve into the challenges of balancing a demanding career with education, the strategic approach to selecting professors, and how his background in Christian music has led to lifelong connections and an impactful presence in the industry.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0lsj6tywugY Links: https://www.sntradio.tv/ https://www.burkhardtmediagroup.com/ 

Fellowship within the body of Christ is key. Building relationships and growing in unity. We need to strive to help others in Chirst and put our own needs to the side sometimes. Lord, help us all become Your body, Your church.

Life in Christian Community With Donnie Denton

Welcome to church online. Watching on Facebook? We would love to see a "Hello" and where you are watching from.Today's Message: Finding Life in Christian Faithfulness (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13) with Pastor Thomas LongIf you're new to Immanuel, please take a moment to tell us about yourself through our online connect card.We would love to connect with you this week!» https://immanuelbaptist.org/connect-card/You can also download our Free app — which makes learning more or watching services even easier.» https://subsplash.com/immanuelbaptist/appIf you would like to join a Community Group, meeting twice a month in homes throughout metro Richmond, visit:» https://immanuelbaptist.org/community-groups/You can learn more about us anytime at: immanuelbaptist.orgGiving remains available online. Thank you for your faithfulness, church family!» https://immanuelbaptist.org/give/

We talked about experts and dabblers, professionals and amateurs, and some of the many ways this applies to life in Christian communities. Enjoy!

Welcome our friend, the super-talented Derek Minor. On this episode the guys play a new round of Best and Worst with Derek. James blows Derek's mind with the life-hack of Sriracha on pizza and Derek prefers Miracle Whip over mayonnaise even though it's made in a lab. Derek talks about the early years of his rap career, selling CDs out of his trunk in Nashville, and meeting Lecrae when he moved to Memphis. We discuss the songwriting process and his musical influences from his early childhood. The evolution of recording equipment and producing. The dangers of the Crack epidemic and how it affected his family. Derek shares about the difficulties of being authentic about his life in Christian rap, and why he quit music… but now he's back with a new album called “Nobody's Perfect.”

The legacy of Christian anti-Semitism is not a happy one. Early in the history of Christianity, as the religion grew, the persecution of Jews became a normal feature of life in Christian lands. By the Middle Ages, the Jewish people were subject to dislocation, alienation, psychological torment, violence, and torture—all with the approval, and at times the official encouragement, of church authorities. Even in modern times, religiously inflected anti-Semitism has been an unavoidable part of the relations between the two religions. Is that still the case? Perhaps not. Relations between global Christianity and the Jewish people are fundamentally different than they have been. In part this is because of one document: the Vatican's Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, more commonly known by the Latin words with which it begins, Nostra Aetate, “In our time.” Nostra Aetate was promulgated at the ecumenical council called by Pope John XXIII known as the Second Vatican Council, only the 21st such council to have been convened in the nearly two millennia of the Catholic church. This month marks the 60th anniversary of its being convened. To help us understand what the Second Vatican Council was about, and its effects today, Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver speaks with one of the most incisive analysts of Catholicism: the author George Weigel. This week marks the publication of his new book about the Second Vatican Council, To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II, an excerpt from which was featured in the Wall Street Journal this month under the title “What Vatican II Accomplished.” Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

In this episode Bill talks with Joseph Rojas of the band Seventh Day Slumber.We talk about growing up in a single parent household and some of the troubles that led to. We also talk about his early days in music, our divine appointment back at Alive Festival in 2009, living a double life in christian […]

In this episode Bill talks with Joseph Rojas of the band Seventh Day Slumber. We talk about growing up in a single parent household and some of the troubles that led to. We also talk about his early days in music, our divine appointment back at Alive Festival in 2009, living a double life in christian music, the problems with christians today,overcoming cocaine addiction, the inspiration behind their latest album "Death By Admiration, and working with his son Blaise. We also talk about battling depression, how easy it can be to slip into alcoholism, working with Brad Blackwood, the power of prayer and forgiveness, starting Rockfest Records, plus so much more. Today's Boondoggle fans can receive 10% off their orders at dreemnutrition.com by using the promo code BOONDOG10 at checkout. So kick back with your headphones and cold one for this latest episode. Enjoy our additional segments featuring music from the Flo White Show and Stories from the VFW Hall. Remember Boondoggle Listeners Matter, so e-mail us at todaysboondoggle@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts so we can read them on air. Tweet us @2daysBoondoggle and Follow us on Instagram @todaysboondoggle as well as on Facebook. Please subscribe and give 5 stars and review. Every review we receive on either Apple Podcast or Google Music we will mention you on a future episode and our Social Media pages. Follow Today's Boondoggle also on our Social Media as well as DomainCle.com and on Anchor.fm Today's Boondoggle logo designed by Stacy Candow. Additional music by Evan Crouse Also please consider financially supporting us at Todays Boondoggle using Venmo, our GoFundMe, or sponsoring us on our Anchor.fm page, so we can continue to provide you with quality entertainment. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todaysboondoggle/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todaysboondoggle/support

Teacher: Kristi Wile

Gordy DeMarais, founder and President of Saint Paul's Outreach in Minnesota joined us to talk about community, belonging, and the fundamental question that society is asking itself right now. We cover our role in the New Evangelization and the criticalness of discipleship, evangelism, and community in today's society. *The Important Things: * 2:37 - As the Church, we have the duty of scrutinizing the times of the signs so she might effectively proclaim and live the gospel in the circumstances that we find ourselves in. There are things that remain like the revelation of God, human questions and need, but then there are things that we need to discern with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 6:12 - The church has identified the New Evangelization and part of that is seeing the new mission field: our backyard. The solution to our times is not a book or program. It's about creating a place of belonging. 9:15 - We are moving from a guilt culture to a shame culture. People no longer feel guilty for sin so when they do sin, it actually creates a pain associated with their identity rather than their behaviour. 12:35 - The fundamental question people are asking is: Who am I? This question comes when we don't know God and in turn, we're left with this fundamental radicalism and selfishness of seeking our own happiness, purpose, and identity. 21:00 - This question isn't being answered because how we form community has changed. The Church hasn't needed to respond to people's need for belonging in the past because it was built into family and culture. That's not the case anymore. 24:45 - People are trying to find some place to belong which means one of the powerful evangelistic doorways that is emerging is the witness and experience of Christian community. 28:13 - Definition of way of life in Christian context: General principle of orienting our day around slowing down in order to catch up with God and have Jesus at the center. Finding a rhythm with God. 32:30 - What defines this kind of community is the encounter with Jesus and commitment to one another. This becomes a foundation of learning to love. 49:20 - It comes down to embracing the truth of who God is and His love for me. 57:30 - If people are unsure of where to start with seeking community, it begins with radical honesty with God. From there, it's about finding people, meeting in small groups, finding mentors, being in regular prayer, etc. List & Resources From Christendom to Apostolic Mission - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53637909-from-christendom-to-apostolic-mission SPO - https://www.spo.org/ Anxiety and loneliness up in our culture - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alarming-covid-19-study-shows-80-of-respondents-report-significant-symptoms-of-depression#Study-findings Called to Christian Joy and Maturity: Forming Missionary Disciples by Gordy DeMarais - https://www.amazon.ca/Called-Christian-Joy-Maturity-Missionary/dp/1593253877 SHOW NOTES In this episode we talk about the New Evangelization and the question society is asking themselves: Who am I? We talk about how a relationship with God and one another helps us understand this question and then become a primary agent of evangelization in today's world. The Church hasn't needed to form people in belonging before because culture and family did that for them. The Church now has to fill this role. We need to create intentional communities defined by encounter and commitment. QUOTES “One of the powerful evangelistic doorways that is emerging is the witness and experience of Christian community. The new way of life. People actually living together in Christ characterized by a certain kind of joy. A certain kind of respect for one another. That's what people are looking for.” - Gordy DeMarais “With the New Evangelization, the Church has recognized in part that there's a new mission field. And that new mission field is our backyard.” - Gordy DeMarais “There's something about God's very nature that informs this fundamental question about, who am I? And at its core is, I am not alone and I've never been alone. And not only am I not alone in my call to be in communion with God but by His very nature, it points to my living in relationship with other people.” - Gordy DeMarais “I think sometimes we think that just what we need to do is a better job at living church life. Our solutions need to be comprehensive. They need to be fundamental. There is no silver bullet; there is no quick fix. It's not going to be the latest book or bringing in some speakers or adopting this new program. In a lot of ways, those are not diagnosing the problem correctly. They really are band-aid solutions and they aren't going to be the seedbed that ultimately, the Church has in renewing the whole culture.” - Gordy DeMarais “You don't even start with the basic Gospel message of what God has done for us in Jesus. What you start with is the witness of a healthy, lived relationship.” - Gordy DeMarais “Way of life is moving through seasons well to be in the rhythm of God. It's not just reading your bible and praying everyday. It's that and so much more and with others. ” - Jason Jensen “You can't be the family of God if the only reason you are in relationship with other people is because you are doing some function together.” - Gordy DeMarais “Creatures created in the likeness and image of God who actually need to be formed in a school of love. To actually learn what it means to love.” - Gordy DeMarais “Before you even get to what you do together as a people there needs to be this underlying commitment to these relationships however that's expressed.” - Gordy DeMarais “Take an approach to your prayer and relationship with God that is radical honesty. The lord doesn't meet us in some future distant point that we need to get to. He meets us exactly where we're at.” - Gordy DeMarais

How can you be sure that your life in Christian ministry will be rewarded by God? Is it possible to be certain? In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul wrote that there will be a reckoning before Christ of the deeds we did in this life. Some of our deeds will result in reward and some will be burned up in judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 provides believers with two motivations that we can be certain will result in rich reward by our King.

Guest host Heidi Joy from Breathe Ministries interviews Ruth Calver to discuss a wife's perspective of life in Christian ministry on this week's podcast.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

We were created to be in relationship. The New Testament contains numerous commandments that expound on the particulars of what life in Christian community ought to look like. After living more than a year insulated from others, let's rediscover the call toward biblical community.

by Rev. Grant Armstrong Sunday, September 27, 2020 Luke 15:11-32 Donate Online - Secure, web-based giving for St. John's UMC SERMON NOTES  I. This is a story about the Father. II. Our worship life reveals our role in the Homecoming story. III. We align with God's story when we share the Father's joy. FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION - If you could be a background character or extra in any TV show, what would it be, and why? - Why is it helpful to remember that we're not the main character in God's story? - What about our life in Christian community can magnify our shortcomings? How can that become a beneficial experience? - Are you more inclined towards the cultural pull of extravagant living or the cultural pull of burying in busyness? What can you do to fight that pull? - What is one thing you can do to connect with God's heart this week to share in the Lord's joy?  - What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

Join us as we talk with Jennifer Knapp about her life in Christian music and life after it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dummiesontheology/support

Ridgeway Addison is an educator and researcher in the fields of spirituality, theology, and ethics. He is a specialist on the American minister and public theologian Howard Thurman. Thurman's own interest during his life in Christian mysticism and nonviolence, contemplative pedagogy, and interreligious encounter and dialogue inform and inspire Dr. Addison's current work in these areas. Currently working as an adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's School of Nursing & Health Studies, Dr. Addison was the first theologian to serve on the SNHS full-time faculty (2011-2015). He teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs offering two primary courses—Religious Perspectives on the Problem of Suffering and Health Care Ethics. Dr. Addison is an ordained Baptist minister associated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists. He brings his 22 years of experience in pastoral ministry, including 12 years of Protestant Chaplaincy work at Georgetown, to his work as an educator. Dr. Addison currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Washington Theological Consortium and is active in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation's programming. A musician and composer, he regularly incorporates music and other arts into his teaching, speaking, and scholarship. He is married to the Reverend Sarah Scherschligt, lead pastor and head of staff at Peace Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA. They have two young daughters, Magdalene and Lydia. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org

Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and Fr. Dan Hennessey consider the new pastoral guidelines for fostering priestly vocations from the Vatican that show that family, Catholic schools, the witness of joyful priests, and serving others in charity are they keys to more priests in our parishes, while families that discourage, priests who are marginalized or take the shine off the priests' life, and a growing secularism in society work to deter men from considering this vital vocation. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Dan Hennessey Links from today's show: Today's topics: The four keys to more priestly vocations and the four factors that work against 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed back Fr. Dan Hennessey, vocation director of the archdiocese of Boston. Scot said summer is busy for him, beginning with helping the newly ordained men who are now priests and continuing with helping men discerning their entrance to the seminary. Fr. Dan encouraged men who are finishing up their applications and applying to the seminaries. Scot noted that the men are from all different backgrounds, finishing college, starting college, or coming from a working background. Fr. Dan said a majority of men have just finished college or within the past couple of years. Scot asked what the rules and requirements are for seminary. Fr. Dan said men have to have graduated high school. If they don't have a college degree, they go to a college seminary at Providence College. At the other end of the age range, they don't have a hard and fast rule, but anything over 45 or 50 years old, it becomes less common. He said there are men in the 50s and 60s studying for the priesthood. Scot noted that it's a mutual discernment between the man and the Church. Fr. Dan noted that you can't really discern in a vacuum. He encouraged any interested man to start a conversation that has no obligation in it. Scot said he spent two years in the seminary and is grateful for that opportunity of discernment. Fr. Dan said the end result isn't simply that we get more priests, but that each man can know and do God's will in their life. His job is to challenge men to ask the questions well. Today's topic is a new document from the Congregation for Catholic Education on guidelines for fostering priestly vocations. Scot said he notes that Fr. Dan has Fr. Dan said they have an even in early August called the Blessed Pier Giorgio Hike. Fr. Dan said there's a story of Frassati climbing up this mountain with his friends and wrote on the bottom of the picture his friend took “To the Heights”. So the vocations office is gathering young men to have an outdoors event. Previously, they'd had a hike in June on Mt. Watatic, starting at St. John's in Townsend with breakfast by the Knights of Columbus. They drove to the mountain and hiked to the top where they had Mass. One of the knights literally built an altar that they carried to the top of the mountain. It was just ann event for seminarians and priests and young men to get together. In August, they're going to do it again by hiking Mount Monadnock on Saturday, August 11 at 8:30am. They won't be able to have a Mass at the summit, but they will have it at St. John's parish and breakfast again as before. Fr. Dan said a lot of the men who came in June were invited by the seminarians and other priests. Interested folks can call or email to register. Find the information at . 2nd segment: Scot said 20 years ago Pope John Paul published a letter on the formation of priest called , which guides all the ways that seminaries form men for the priesthood. The Vatican wanted to mark that anniversary. Fr. Dan said it's actually his longest papal writing and it goes through all the different aspects of formation in a seminary for a man to become a priest. There are four pillars of seminary formation: pastoral, spiritual, intellectual, and human. These four pillars together form a whole man. The seminary revolves around that. It's not just academics, but a formation of the whole person. He said we should believe that any man's time in the seminary is more than just an intellectual engagement. The Latin name means “I will give you shepherds.” It's become the Magna Carta for forming seminarians. Scot said as a father raising three kids to be good and responsible adults who know God and are good citizens, those four pillars apply to the formation of his kids as well. They should have good human qualities, strong spiritual qualities, intellectual formation, and pastoral formation to put others first through service and giving of self. Scot said it's good to read for anyone in any state in life. Fr. Dan talked about the identity of the priest and what the ministerial priesthood is for the Church and the world according to John Paul II. He said the priest stands there as an icon of Christ. That extends even to the human dimension, so that the man must become more and more a bridge to bring others to Christ. Now this new pastoral guidelines document was compiled by the Congregation for Catholic Education in the Vatican which sent out a survey to the bishops' conferences around the world. They asked them to complete a situational report on what's working and not in each culture. What they found was that the situation of priestly vocations the star is very varied in the world: The situation of priestly vocations is very varied in the world today. It seems to be characterized by both good and bad. While in the West there is the problem of a decline in vocations, in other continents, despite their lack of resources, there is a promising increase in priestly vocations. In traditionally Christian countries, the worrying fall in the number of priests, the rising of their average age and the requirements of the new evangelization are shaping a new situation for the Church. The reduced birthrate also contributes to the diminishing of vocations to a special consecration. The life of the Catholic faithful is suffering the effects of the unbridled quest for material goods and the fall in religious practice, which discourage making courageous and demanding Gospel choices. Scot asked Fr. Dan if he sees less support from family for men considering the priesthood. Fr. Dan said the document points out many times the importance of the family for passing on the faith and encouraging and nurturing the seed of the vocation. Unfortunately, in some families they don't see the value in their son considering whether God might calling them to the priesthood. Scot said the document also says there's a vocations boom in some places, especially African and Asia. Scot said wherever vocations are promoted and prayed for, men do respond to the call to the priesthood. If we want more priests, religious, and good marriages, we need to pray for them. Fr. Dan wanted to be sure to quote: “The key things to foster priestly vocations are those proposed by formation for Christian life: listening to the Word of God, participation in the Eucharist and exercising charity.” He often responds to parents who ask him how to encourage vocations in their kids by telling them that vocations grow from a strong Catholic environment. Scot said the family is very important: The family remains the primary community for the transmission of the Christian faith. It can be seen everywhere that many priestly vocations are born in families where the example of a Christian life in keeping with its calling and the practice of the evangelical virtues give rise to the desire for complete self-giving. Care for vocations presupposes, in reality, a strong family pastoral ministry. Also they note the joyful witness of priests: The witness of priests united to Christ, happy in their ministry and united in brotherhood among themselves, has a strong vocational appeal for young men. Bishops and priests offer to young men a high and attractive image of ordained priesthood. ‘The very life of priests, their unconditional dedication to God's flock, their witness of loving service to the Lord and to his Church – a witness marked by free acceptance of the cross in the spirit of hope and Easter joy – their fraternal unity and zeal for the evangelization of the world are the first and most convincing factor in the growth of vocations.' Fr. Dan said it's amazing how much of an influence joyful priests have on young people. Very often he hears from men considering the priesthood is because they have a friendship with or are parishioners of a priest who loves being a priest. He often thinks that if more priests were proactive at inviting men to consider the priesthood, they might be surprised at the positive response they receive. Scot said someone who gives everything that they have and live their life with joy, it inspires other people to want to do that. A mom who is full of joy in her life inspires her daughters and other women to want to emulate her. Same with plumbers and electricians. Scot recalled Cardinal Seán's story of his vocation, how as an eight-year-old boy he met a Franciscan gardener at a retreat center who was the most joyful person he'd ever met. Fr. Dan said another group of influential people is the seminarians themselves, showing the joy in their seminary life. He said there's something about knowing you're not alone in the struggle. When young men realize there are other young men like them considering the same thing gives them courage. That's why the hike and events like it are so important. Scot said two other important contexts are service work and schools: It can also be seen that many young people discover the call to priesthood and to consecrated life after they have had an experience of doing voluntary work, in charitable service towards those who suffer, the needy and the poor, or after they have taken part for some time in Catholic missions. Fr. Dan said very often a year of service after college can be a life changing experience. The men come out of their comfort zones and encounter Christ in the poor, allowing them to consider what's most important. Discernment is when a young man or woman asks what really is most important in life? How can I live a serious life instead of just floating along? When a Catholic man comes to see that the priesthood is integral to the most important things in life, then he can ask whether this is for him. Scot said when we see heaven as the most important thing in life, that's when we can see rightly. Fr. Dan told the story of the Cure of Ars, when he arrives at his new pastorate for the first time. On the road he encounters a young boy and tells him, you show me the way to Ars and I'll show you the way to heaven.“ Priests are human beings who are fallible and weak, but who has been changed by God to be somebody who can stand in the midst of the community and say, ” I want to help lead you to heaven." Scot said when you spend life in Christian service you care for their material needs because you see them as God's children and you begin to ask who's caring for their spiritual needs. The other context is schools. In interviewing more than 100 priests and asking them where they first considered a vocation ,he said many point to Catholic schools as a place where they first thought of it. Fr. Dan said about 10 to 20% of Catholics attend a Catholic school, but over 50% of seminarians priests have gone to Catholic school. There is nothing more powerful than witness and the witness of religious brothers and sisters and priests in those schools has been key. Scot argues that the biggest context is experience of a big Catholic event like World Youth Day or the March for Life. He said many men talk about their experience at those events triggering the thought of God calling them. They see thousands or millions of people and wonder if God is calling them to serve the vast crowds. Fr. Dan said the next part of the document talks about the identity of the priest. “Before calling his disciples to a particular task, Jesus invites them to put everything to one side, to live in profound communion with him, indeed to ‘be' with him (Mk 3:14).” The first thing Christ did with his disciples was to “be” with him before sending them out. So all these contexts of family and schools and the like first start with prayer. When we know Christ, it isn't so scary to say that he might be calling us to a life because we know he will always be with us. 3rd segment: Scot said the document also talks about factors that depress Catholic vocations. The first is the sense that we are living in a growing secularized society: “The spreading of a secularized mentality discourages the response of young people to follow the Lord Jesus more radically and more generously.” Scot said Pope Benedict often talks about how don't act like a Christian in public; we are practical atheists who hide our faith in a box. We're told religion isn't something we share in public. Fr. Dan said priests are aware that secular environment more and more. He said when people recognize he's a priest wearing a collar, he finds that people are welcoming to him. Scot said in young people there's not the conversation or narrative that there used to be even in public schools: What do you think God has in store for you? People don't feel comfortable talking that way now. Children in Catholics schools today talk about how they are happy to be able to use the name of Jesus in school today. Another chilling factor: “Parents, furthermore, with their hopes for their children's future, reserve little space to the possibility of a call to a special vocation.” Fr. Dan said the further we get away from understanding the priesthood as a beautiful and important vocation in the world, the more the priest comes to be seen as a functionary. We need to understand the priesthood is not just a functionary activity. He thinks this is why Pope Benedict had a Year for Priests a few years ago. The priesthood doesn't boil down to what one does, but it's who he is. That's important for vocational discernment and it's unfortunate we don't recognize this. Fr. Dan is not a service provider. Scot said the response to secularism is the Year of Faith. The response to discouraging parents is to be the one who tells kids you know to consider their vocation. Scot said another factor is the lack of chastity in society today. The hook-up culture is normalized and the person trying to be faithful to chastity is seen as strange. Fr. Dan said it's important to recognize that when a parent is discouraging, they are motivated by great love even if they are not exercising it in the best way. They think their son going to the seminary is wasting his life. They don't think their son will be happy. We need to educate parents and help them to see that the vocation to the priesthood is a life-giving vocation. The fourth main concern is that some parents scandalized by priests not faithful to the priesthood are concerned about their sons becoming like that man, even those are just not joyful. In any vocation there are going to be people who live it well, who are mediocre, and those who are embarrassment to that vocation. Look for the holy and happy priests as the model. Fr. Dan invited everyone to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to form an invisible monastery of prayer for priests for the Archdiocese of Boston.