Storm The Gates

Podcast by Mid-Texas Conference of the Global Methodist Church

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

15 December 2025

Education in Hearing God with Dr. Kristina Cerling

We welcome one of Shea's high school teachers and current professor and administrator at Houston Christian University, Dr. Kristina Cerling, to STG. Dr. Cerling is the Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Education at Houston Christian University (hc.edu). While highlighting all that Houston Christian has to offer students, including the Global Methodist Church (free tuition for qualifying engineering majors anyone?), she shares much more about how faith is at the center of hers and her family's private and public lives. Prepare to be inspired!

Dr. Cerling’s primary teaching focus is school administration and secondary literacy. She spends much time studying teaching strategies, classroom management, and methodology. Through the National Writing Project and The Olga Lengyl Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights, Dr. Cerling has studied Holocaust Education and Social Justice in America.

Prior to coming to Higher Ed., Dr. Cerling has been an English, theatre, and speech teacher and also a principal, curriculum director, and superintendent of schools. She has been the Program Director and Department Chair of Bethel College Education Department.

Dr. Cerling has been actively involved in her church teaching Sunday School, small groups, and leading activities. She has enjoyed the opportunity to invest in and mentor undergraduate and high school students. Other hobbies include reading and attending events in which her children participate.

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08 December 2025

Love Goes First with Rev. Andrew Forrest

"Reaching others in an age of anxiety and division" is the subtitle of Andrew Forrest's first book, Love Goes First. This is a prescient book for the church. The main argument is clearly one that aligns well with the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition. Following the way of. Jesus, John Wesley made the first move in gospel love towards the other. We hope this conversation inspires you to check out Andrew's book and share it with family and friends. Use the link below to buy it at a discount.

https://churchsource.com/products/love-goes-first-how-to-engage-the-world-transform-your-relationships-and-live-out-the-gospel?variant=42117129437281

In August of 2022, Rev. Andrew Forrest became the new senior pastor of Asbury, a large local church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His desire is to build on the legacy of the past while leading Asbury toward the future of accomplishing its mission of Helping Others Follow Jesus.

Pastor Andrew started out in life almost as far away from Oklahoma as you can get! His family was a missionary family (his father was a pastor too!), so he did a lot of his growing up in West Africa before moving back to the US to live in Virginia. He attended college at Columbia University in New York City and earned his seminary degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

He is married to Elaine, and they have two children: Jack and Annie. The Forrest family moved to Tulsa from Dallas where Andrew was the Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church (a church plant of Highland Park United Methodist) for 12 years before becoming the Senior Pastor of Asbury.

Listen to the very end to discover one of Pastor Andrew's favorite beverages.

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01 December 2025

Up, In, and Out with Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle

Get ready to start planting churches and multiplying disciples of Jesus if you're not already doing so! You might hear God calling you through the testimony of His servant Steve today. Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle currently serves on the Commission for Kingdom Advancement in the Global Methodist Church in addition to being the Executive Director for The River Network (therivernetwork.org).

Steve is the founding pastor of Crossroads Church, now called The Table Church, a group-based church with 4 locations around Pittsburgh, Pa. His missionary heart can be traced to his coming to Christ through a missionary team while living in Brussels, Belgium.

He has also been a Master Trainer with Dynamic Church Planting International, and is the author of three books and soon to be more. Steve is a classically trained pianist. His most important partner is his wife Linda; they have three adult sons, three daughters-in-love and four grandchildren.

To get in touch with Steve, you can email him at steve@therivernetwork.org

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24 November 2025

Cancer Isn't Good But God Is with Rev. Bryan Rogers

Pastor Bryan shares about his year with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and how the Lord is healing him in many ways. Who hasn't been impacted by cancer in some way? Bryan shares a powerful testimony of the power of the Holy Spirit and God's goodness every step of the way.

Rev. Bryan Rogers is the Lead Pastor of Lutie Watkins Memorial Methodist Church in Llano, TX. He's a Presiding Elder in the MidTexas Conference of the Global Methodist Church. He serves as the COO for Revive (revivetexas.org). He's a husband and a father. If you need a "pick-me-up" today, this is it. We promise you can't listen to Bryan's testimony and remain unmoved.

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17 November 2025

Bishops & Board Games with Rev. Dr. Chris Ritter

If you're a process person who wants to know how the sausage is made, this is the STG episode for you! Pastor Chris shares with us extensively related to the new process for electing Bishops in the Global Methodist Church at the 2026 General Conference. As the chair for the Commission on Episcopacy for the GMC, he knows more than any human being about the process. This is an assignment of the Lord that Chris has been faithful to steward for many years.

In addition to his work with the episcopacy, Dr. Chris Ritter has been the Directing Pastor at Kingswood Church since 2009 and has a passion for connecting people with Jesus. He is the author of Seven Things John Wesley Expected Us to Do for Kids (Abingdon Press, 2016) and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. He graduated magna cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1997 and is ordained in the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Chris has been married to Becky since 1988, and together they have four adult children.

He manages the facebook page GMC Links which shares online content being produced regularly by and for the Global Methodist Church.

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12 November 2025

Sanctified Imagination with John Mark McMillan

Making music and touring for more than two decades, John Mark McMillan has felt God calling him to focus on other ventures and not solely music this year. Many listeners of STG might be familiar with the worship songs "How He Loves" and "King Of My Heart." John Mark wrote those. The latter of which he cowrote with his wife Sarah.

John Mark McMillan is something of an anomaly. A singer-songwriter, bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and a poet's eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each album has continued to explore new territory, it's McMillan's ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift.

He writes music from his sanctified imagination. This is nowhere more evident than in his latest album "Cosmic Supreme." Pleas enjoy the humble and deep reflections of John Mark in this conversation. For friends curious about his music, here are some songs that are great places to start:

Holy Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuYul9O4YM

Juggernaut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=govE9dPp1zc

Enemy, love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvqCKOL2uLw

Wilderlove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG2_TKNllaM

Future/Past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGNznfexvUA

Death In His Grave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTKbmNY1WA

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