Storm The Gates

Storm The Gates is the official podcast of the Mid-Texas Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Join us as we provide timely updates on events within the conference and shine a spotlight on the impactful work of God throughout the Global Methodist Church. Stay tuned for insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and deeper dives exploring why following Jesus changes everything. Subscribe now to stay connected and become part of this community that is growing in the heart of Texas to make disciples of Jesus who spread scriptural holiness to all people.

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Latest episodes

09 June 2025

Ecclesiology Pt 3 with Dr. Brian Yeich

Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura. It's Reformation time! As we continue our Ecclesiology series on STG, the Protestant Reformation period is our primary subject. Dr. Brian Yeich joins the podcast to share some of the ecclesiological developments and retrievals in this period of church history. Dr. Yeich 's passion is helping people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ whether it is in the context of the community, the local church, or the academy. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church, Trinity Conference, and has pastored 11 years in both large and small congregations as well as a church re-start. Including his previous role at Asbury Theological Seminary as Assistant Provost, Brian has over eight years in theological education leadership. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Asbury Theological Seminary and Wesley Biblical Seminary teaching in the areas of Church History, Wesley Studies, and Pastoral Formation. Brian is currently appointed as Missional Discipleship Coordinator with World Methodist Evangelism in partnership with the Inspire Movement, a missional discipleship network based in the United Kingdom (https://inspiremovement.org/).

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02 June 2025

Ecclesiology Pt 2 with Dr. Justus Hunter

Medieval, Middle Ages, Dark Ages, are all labels sometimes used for the rough period of time that ranges from 500-1500 AD, with many disagreements around the beginning and end, for this period of time in history. As we continue to explore the history of ecclesiology on STG, Dr. Justus Hunter was kind to share with us about this particular period in church history. Dr. Hunter is an Associate Professor of Church History and the Director of the Doctor of Theology Program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH (united.edu). He offers great insight into the developments of doctrine, theology, and the organization of the church of Jesus Christ throughout the Medieval period. Please share with us if you have any questions or areas you'd like us to explore throughout the remainder of this four part series. Stick around to very end for a wonderful story about our dear friend in the church triumphant, Dr. Billy Abraham.

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26 May 2025

Ecclesiology Pt 1 with Dr. Matthew Esquivel

Introducing episode 1 of a 4 episode series on the history of ecclesiology. STG is grateful for Dr. Matthew Esquivel who speaks about the scriptural witness and early church expression of the church. This will not be the last time he's on the podcast. Please send us your questions or areas you feel like we need to explore further.

Matthew Esquivel seeks to contribute to the field of the History of Christianity by exploring the early Church’s notion of salvation as sharing in the life of God, what it means to be the Church, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. This includes how early Church communities, particularly in the Roman Province of North Africa, understood and practiced the sacraments, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, martyrdom and martyr veneration, and spiritual authority. He seeks to uncover insight as to how the Church today, including his own Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition, which he has pastored since 2009, could explore these questions in light of its own context.

For resources pertinent to our conversation:

Robert Louis Wilken. The Spirit of Early Christian Thought.

https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Early-Christian-Thought-Seeking/dp/0300105983

Robert Louis Wilken. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity

https://www.amazon.com/First-Thousand-Years-History-Christianity/dp/0300198388/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q9N345KGRBUU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-qpZC1tdcn2JYlxDgp3bG_oGRfuGcclkci6Qc3VB-VgXqdlXgo2QqFd9IWl6eQhC.lnLK7vUvPOMXDTLDC6_yK8s_MPzH0uZ7oa54jSxDrv8&dib_tag=se&keywords=wilken+first+thousand+years&qid=1746548388&sprefix=wilken+first%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1

Forthcoming: Podcast on early church history with Dr. Matthew Esquivel. Stay tuned to my Facebook page for launch information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012284504593

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19 May 2025

Is This For Us Or Is This For Everybody? with Rev. Mike Schafer

For those of you listening who call the Global Methodist Church home, we offer another one of her humble leaders for you to get to know, love, and pray for. Pastor Mike Schafer is the Connectional Operations Officer (COO) of the GMC. Based in Lubbock, Texas, Pastor Mike served the local church faithfully for many years before reluctantly submitting his name for consideration and then accepting the role he has now as the COO of the GMC. If there are more questions you have for Mike that we don't cover on the podcast, please reach out to him directly or let us know and we'll be glad to follow up for you. To subscribe to everything officially happening in the GMC, please go to globalmethodist.org and click subscribe at the bottom of the page. Hang in there until the very end for some banter about the Dorean Principle and the names he calls the bishops.

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12 May 2025

I Hear The Word Breakthrough with Dr. Luther Oconer

This is one of those times where words fail and the goodness of God is all we can muster to say. Dr. Luther Oconer is a gift from on high. He is the Associate Professor of Global Wesleyan Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary in addition to being the Conference Superintendent for the Mega Manila Conference in the Global Methodist Church. He is a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Please pray for the work of the GMC in the Philippines as well as the Middle East. With leaders like Dr. Oconer, there is much to be hopeful about as revival is at the heart of his ministry and academic pursuits. Please give God glory, honor, and praise for blessing us with teachers like Dr. Oconer.

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05 May 2025

The Mosaic of Atonement with Dr. Joshua McNall

This is a special Holy Week episode of STG. While it's being published after Lent, we recorded this on the Tuesday of Holy Week. Dr. Joshua McNall of Oklahoma Wesleyan University joins is our special guest. He directs the Honors College and is an Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology. Josh has taught at OKWU since 2009. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Manchester (UK), an MA in theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a BA in Pastoral Ministry from OKWU. Josh is also a Teaching Pastor at Grace Community Church in Bartlesville, OK and preaches regularly around the country as the Ambassador of Church Relations for OKWU. He blogs regularly at www.joshuamcnall.com and hosts the Outpost Theology podcast, sponsored by OKWU. You can find links and summaries to Josh's work referenced in this episode by going to his website. Josh and his wife Brianna are both graduates of OKWU, and they have four children: Lucy, Penelope, Ewan, and Teddy.

For more information about Oklahoma Wesleyan: okwu.edu

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