The Community + Purpose Podcast

046 - Impacting the Kingdom by offering Relationships, Resources, and Rally Points; With Josiah Kennealy -

On today's episode, Austin sits down with Pastor, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster, Josiah Kennealy for a conversation about how relationships, resources, and rallying points are essential in impacting the Kingdom. About Josiah Josiah is a passionate pioneer for the next generation. He and his wife, Micah are both authors, pastors, podcasters, and speakers. Josiah finds a passion in financial freedom and wrote a book entitled Debtless: Helping Students Take on Less Debt. When he graduated from North Central University debt free in 2013. Dave Ramsey thought it was a great story to share, and interviewed him as a guest on the Dave Ramsey Show. He has served as a young adult pastor in the local church as well as a college pastor on a public university campus. The Kenealys also serve as the directors for Minnesota Young Adults - the Minnesota Assemblies of God’s effort to reach the next generation of 18-30-year olds. They help churches pioneer new young adult ministries, gather a network of passionate ministry leaders, and host events. Additionally, they host the weekly youngadults.today podcast where they interview prominent minds in ministry leadership, generational research, authors, and practitioners in the field. Youngadults.today also has an annual conference at the Mall of America for leaders from across the nation. Josiah and Micah travel frequently and speak to thousands of young people every year encouraging them to live their lives for Christ and the things that matter most. The Kennealy’s welcomed their first child in 2020, a daughter named Aurora. They make their home near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Follow Josiah www.josiahkennealy.com Facebook|JosiahKennealy Twitter|@JosiahKennealy Instagram|@JosiahKennealy YouTube|@JosiahKennealy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Equip-Saints-Josiah-Kennealy/dp/B0BW32R2NT/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1685641968&refinements=p_27%3AMicah+Kennealy&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Micah+Kennealy

045 - How to keep stepping forward even when it scares you. Living out your purpose takes grit; With Preston Smith

Fear motivates us. It can motivate us to stand still. It can motivate us to retreat to what was once comfortable. It can even motivate us to keep moving forward in the midst of uncertainty, which is scary. Living out your purpose requires grit, resilience, and the ability to keep stepping forward when it scares you. We know, it sounds really easy to say but how do you do it? On today's episode, Austin has a great discussion with pastor, leader, and speaker, Preston Smith about what it takes to keep going when it scares you. Preston shares a wealth of practical advice from his own experiences that will help anyone live out their purpose with boldness and intentionality. About Preston It all started for me in the small town where I was born and have lived most of my life, Albert Lea Minnesota. With a town no bigger than 17,000, it felt like I grew up in a Hallmark movie. I knew people on every corner, drama wasn’t far away and there were many happy endings. I married my high school sweetheart. I even worked a majority of my professional career at the church I grew up in. We bought a house and started growing our family within miles of where we grew up and the people that raised us. What a blessing it has been being so close to family.  I’m passionate about people. I love people and I love seeing people win. I’ve found from my experiences, work, and adventures that I want to use the power that words have in a way to encourage, bring life, better those listening, all to advance the Kingdom in the name of Jesus. My wife Sydney and I have one biological son Briggs. We also have been fostering for awhile and have had 6 children in and out of our home. We currently have one foster son. We are also in the process of adopting from Liberia and are patiently awaiting to be united with this child in the near future. The Smiths desire to do as we’ve been called: we will be present, love unrelenting, dream big by doing all things for, with, and because of God. We believe that the best is yet to come, yet we desire to do all that we can with the time we have and with the people we love the most. We want our legacy to outlive us, one that points to Jesus first, our care for others next, and the passions for life itself in our humble pursuit of the Lord. We’ve stepped out in faith to be a blessing to you. Let us know how we can best serve you and partner to bring about transformation, development, and Kingdom impact. Connect with Preston Website: www.wordsbypreston.com

044 - Staying Connected when it feels easier to disconnect; With Austin & Jonathan

Relationships are hard and they come with different complexities and situations that we must navigate. Some are good, and some, well, not so much. What do you do when you're faced with loving someone but you disagree with something they said or did? How do you remain connected when it feels easier to disconnect? On today's episode, Austin sits down with his friend Jonathan Collier for a hurt-so-good conversation about loving people without signing off on their junk. This one is prickly and will make you think, which is good! Check out The Wounded Healer by Henry Nouwen [https://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Healer-Ministry-Contemporary-Society/dp/0385148038/ref=sr_1_1?crid=264V7XF8MIVT&keywords=the+wounded+healer&qid=1683219210&sprefix=the+wounded+healer%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1] Have a question? Send us an email to Podcast@apexgathering.com

043 - Being well rounded and well read helps; with Austin and Calli

Comfort is a funny thing. It's a feeling that everyone enjoys and usually goes at least partially hand in hand with favorites. We have our favorite song, favorite movies, favorite comfort food...you get the picture. But here's the thing, if our primary focus is comfort then we can become complacent, and when we become complacent we stop growing, and well....life can become pretty boring. On today's episode, Austin & Calli have a great discussion about becoming more well rounded and why we can all benefit from finding ways to shape ourselves. One of the opportunities they discuss comes in the form of reading and why reading different types of literature can help us grow, and have a greater impact in the communities where we live. Have questions? Send us an email to podcast@apexgathering.com

042 - It's a Spring Check-in and Happy Easter; with Austin & Calli

Checking in on people is important. It's easy to allow the whirlwind of the week distract us from those around us, especially those closest to us. As humans we're relational, we want to be known, valued, and seen. That's also why we thrive in community and struggle in isolation. On today's episode, Austin & Calli unpack the importance of checking in and offer a few practical tips for finding out how those around us are doing...like really doing. Have questions? send us an email to Podcast@apexgathering.com