Shalom Speaks

Sacred Disruption: Why the Church Can’t Stay Comfortable

In this episode of Shalom Speaks, Ash Dulin and Rev. Bob Clark are joined by Rev. Ray Altman—newly appointed director of Congregational Vitality and New Faith Communities in the Rio Texas Conference. Raised in the rhythms of church life as a pastor’s kid and now called to reimagine the institution he inherited, Ray brings both tenderness and clarity to the sacred tension between tradition and innovation. From invisible church to embodied community, neighborhood gatherings to digital parishes, he invites us to see the Church not as a static structure but as a living body—always in motion, always being reshaped by a living God. Together, we wrestle with questions that matter for every believer and leader today: 🔸 How do we bless the past without being bound by it? 🔸 What does it mean to notice God at work on the margins? 🔸 How do we rediscover “parish” in a world of both hyper-local neighborhoods and digital communities? 🔸 Can disruption be holy—and even necessary—for the Church’s future? ✨ Whether you’re weary of institutional decline, longing for renewal, or simply asking “what is the Church really for?”, this conversation is for you. This episode reminds us: 🔹 God’s Spirit is alive, present, and leading—if we have the courage to follow. 🔹 Innovation doesn’t erase tradition; it extends it. 🔹 The Church is not a brand or a building—it’s a gathering, a body, a people bound in love. 🔹 Discomfort can be sacred ground for transformation. 🕊️Listen in and imagine with us. Share this episode with someone who’s hungry for hope and open to the holy disruption that just might spark new life in the Church. Shalom, y’all. ✨🔥🫂

Peace with Power: Youth, Justice, and Sacred Imagination

In this episode of Shalom Speaks, Ash Dulin sits down with Haven Rivera—youth organizer, truth-teller, and a founder of San Antonio Students for Peace—for a powerful conversation about reclaiming voice, building community, and embodying peace that resists despair. It’s an honest and deeply grounded reflection on what it means to lead as a young person in a world heavy with injustice—and still choose love. From solo school walkouts to citywide organizing, Haven shares their journey from feeling isolated to finding a movement, and the sacred fire that keeps them going. They speak on grassroots activism and generational wisdom, Pride marches and political advocacy, burnout and belonging, and how their faith in community continues to transform them. ✨ Whether you’re a student organizer, a weary activist, or someone who’s ready to believe again in the power of people—this one’s for you. This episode reminds us: 🔸 Peace isn’t passivity—it’s daily, deliberate resistance. 🔸 Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are leading right now. 🔸 Community is not just where healing happens. It’s how hope survives. 🔸 Reclaiming your voice is an act of holy defiance. This isn’t about waiting your turn. It’s about stepping forward, even when your voice shakes. 🕊️ Listen in. Take heart. Share it with someone who’s ready to rise. And until next time on Shalom Speaks, may you speak boldly, love wildly, and remember: you are not alone. Shalom, y’all. ✨🔥🫂 San Antonio Students for Peace [https://sastudentsforpeace.wordpress.com/] @Sastudentsforpeace [https://www.instagram.com/sastudentsforpeace?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] ⬅️ Instagram

Created Good, Created Whole - The Sacredness of the Body

In this episode of Shalom Speaks, Ash Dulin and Rev. Bob Clark dive deep into the sacred truth that our bodies—yes, these bodies—are good. Created good. Holy, even. It’s a reflective and real conversation about what it means to reclaim that truth in a world (and too often, a church) that has taught us otherwise. From inherited shame to evolving theology, Ash and Bob unpack the cultural, spiritual, and personal messages we carry about our bodies—and what it takes to heal them. They speak on motherhood and ministry, purity culture and perfectionism, baptism and Barbie, and the sacred act of loving yourself just as you are. ✨ Whether you're deconstructing harmful theology, nurturing a new sense of self, or searching for a faith that blesses your bones and breath—this one’s for you. This episode reminds us: 🔸 You were created in the image of God. Very good. 🔸 Your body isn’t an obstacle—it’s sacred ground. 🔸 God’s love doesn’t wait on your worthiness. 🔸 To love others well, we must also learn to love ourselves. This isn’t about changing theology. It’s about reclaiming it. 🕊️ Listen in. Breathe deep. Share this truth with someone who needs it. And until next time on Shalom Speaks, may you live fully, rest freely, and remember: You are already enough. Shalom, y’all. ✨❤️🫶🏽

Flaming for Jesus: Queer Faith, Sacred Rage, and Radical Love

In this episode of Shalom Speaks, Ash Dulin and Rev. Bob Clark sit down with Nico—community builder, advocate, and founder of Flaming for Jesus—for a raw and radiant conversation about reclaiming faith, healing from religious trauma, and the sacred power of being fully, unapologetically yourself. Nico’s story is one of collision and calling: from surviving a near-fatal car crash to launching a movement of radical welcome for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking spiritual connection beyond shame and fear. With honesty, humor, and holy fire, Nico shares what it means to rise above rejection and co-create spaces where queer people are not just tolerated, but celebrated. ✨ Whether you're navigating faith and identity, longing for belonging, or learning how to love more boldly, this episode is a beacon of hope and honesty. This episode reminds us: 🔸 You don’t have to ask permission to belong. 🔸 God's love is not conditional. 🔸 Creating community is sacred work. 🔸 Joy can find you—even in the shower. Flaming for Jesus isn’t just a nonprofit—it’s a movement, a lifeline, and a mirror reflecting back the truth: you are wonderfully made, and you are not alone. Flaming for Jesus [https://flamingforjesus.com/] 🕊️ Listen in. Share freely. Support the movement. Until next time on Shalom Speaks, may you rise above, stay soft, and show up exactly as you are. Shalom Y'all! 🕊️❤️🫶🏽

Where Love Looks Like Jesus: Stories of Healing and Homecoming

In this powerful episode of Shalom Speaks, Ash Dulin and Bob Clark are joined by Jessica Styles and Stacy Harless for a heartfelt conversation on religious wounds, personal transformation, and the long, sacred road home. Together, they share raw and redemptive stories about navigating spiritual trauma, reclaiming faith, and rediscovering belonging in spaces that once felt out of reach. From tears to sacred audacity, this episode is a testimony to what’s possible when love truly looks like Jesus—healing, welcoming, and unwavering. ✨ Whether you’ve experienced hurt in the name of religion, longed for a more inclusive faith community, or simply wonder if healing is still possible, this conversation offers both tenderness and hope. This episode reminds us: 🔸 Discomfort can be a doorway to depth.🔸 Anger can burn with holy fire.🔸 Tears can soften what cynicism hardens.🔸 And love—real, radical love—can still bring us home. Subscribe, share, and leave a comment so we can continue amplifying stories that heal and inspire. We’ll see you next time on Shalom Speaks. Until then, walk gently, live boldly, and keep finding your way back to love. 🕊️❤️🏡