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 across the globe.

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Latest episodes

26 January 2026

Asbury or Wesley? with Dr. Andy Miller III

The question in the title isn't about U.S. seminaries nor is it asking who is a better leader and/or theologian. While the topic of theological education in the GMC is at the heart of our conversation today, the title question is directed toward which historical figure will be more representative of GMC worship life and practice going forward. In other words, will the GMC embrace more of the Anglican side of our heritage or equally hold space for the broader evangelical and charismatic worlds that are also part of our history? To the extent we choose to embrace all of the above, we will face challenges concerning how flexible or firm rules for faith and practice can be.

To set the record straight for everyone, insert laugh track, is Dr. Andy Miller III! Dr. Andy Miller III was named President of Wesley Biblical Seminary on July 1, 2024. Dr. Miller previously served WBS as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. He is the ninth permanent president to lead the seminary, which is in its fiftieth year of developing trusted leaders for faithful churches through biblical and theological education.

Prior to joining WBS in 2021, Dr. Miller had an extensive ministry in the Salvation Army, serving as a pastor, leader, and administrator as a Corps Officer and Area Commander. He holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Nazarene Theological College (University of Manchester) and a Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University). He is also an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary and Asbury University. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and a delegate to its upcoming Convening General Conference.

Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Miller is married to Abby Adams Miller, who served with him as a Salvation Army Officer. She homeschools their three children, Andy, Titus, and Georgia. The Millers reside in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Wesley Biblical Seminary: wbs.edu

More To The Story Podcast: https://www.andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Sanctitas Et Scriptura: https://wbs.edu/news/sanctitas-et-scriptura/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO5GoZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLa21WeG5VOExvcWE4U2Jxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrOHWSPcxh2ZPDVG6fsMaY3CCioBSOug3a6iSjRnl_JiIMgY5lfhqUS-np4Y_aem_ihDgo7Yaq9wx11XTzvgOMw

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19 January 2026

Why I Am Protestant with Dr. Beth Felker Jones

What should we be protesting? What does it mean to still be a Protestant Christian in the 21st century? Answers to these questions and more follow in our conversation with Dr. Jones. At the very end of the show notes are important links to Beth's work and Northern Seminary, where she is Professor of Theology and leads their Doctor of Ministry program which has a special focus on theology.

Beth Felker Jones (PhD, Duke University) is a Midwestern writer and professor who has published numerous theological books, short stories, and is working on her first novel. A lifelong book lover, she writes about relationships, identity, and redemption. For more information about Beth's work, please explore the following links:

https://www.ivpress.com/why-i-am-protestant?srsltid=AfmBOor8bBVMruzH3zTKr9rrN3a-qJ2mOqiA85yMxWP5SmqK8uBD_O3k

https://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/

https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/beth-felker-jones/

https://bethfelkerjones.com/

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12 January 2026

Ministry Myths & Re-Awakening Churches with Rev. Jeremy Smith and Rev. Robert McCormick

Brace yourself for an especially challenging conversation that is full of hope! Yes, God can use you to uniquely advance His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven by making disciples of Jesus Christ. Do you believe it? We pray you will after listening to this conversation.

Jeremy Smith is the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church in NW Florida. Crosspoint Church is a church of six physical locations with a special vision to do the work of multiplying disciples of Jesus. This special focus is called The Re-Awakening Initiative. The Re-Awakening Initiative is powered by Replicate Ministries, and is igniting a powerful disciple-making movement across churches and communities — and they want YOU to be a part of it.

This transformational initiative equips pastors and leaders with personalized plans, actionable strategies, and real-world training to inspire growth and re-energize their churches. Through immersive experiences like Pastor Huddles, Co-Lab Workshops, and Movement Ready Training Days, they’re helping churches discover clarity, build momentum, and multiply disciples. Find out more here: https://crosspoint.church/reawakening/.

Robert McCormick is a pastor and practitioner using the Re-Awakening Initiative resources for his local church context. Robert joined the staff at Madison Methodist Church in February of 2024 as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Assimilation. Prior to coming to MMC, he served at Trinity Methodist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi for over 6 years as the Director of Student Ministries and Associate Pastor.

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05 January 2026

Is There More To Holiness? with Rev. Dr. Matt O'Reilly

The theme for General Conference in 2026 is The Beauty of Holiness. The many faceted diamond of holiness as it's revealed to us in scripture, especially as it relates to worship and mission, is the heart of this STG conversation. Dr. O'Reilly goes on to share with us his perspective on some crucial questions that face the Global Methodist Church heading into General Conference 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a senior fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. A two-time recipient of the John Stott Award for Pastoral Engagement, Matt is the author of multiple books including Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification and Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice. His essays have appeared in both scholarly and popular-level publications, and he speaks regularly at conferences and churches. To access more from Dr. O'Reilly, go here: https://www.theologyproject.online/.

Stay tuned to the very end for a little Auburn football and nugget of wisdom on pastoral leadership.

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29 December 2025

Horror Films and the Gospel with Dr. Phil Tallon

Yes, you read that right. Dr. Phil Tallon reveals a little bit of what he's been working on which involved watching movies and considering what they say about the problem of evil and the world of enchantment we occupy.

Dr. Tallon is an Associate Professor of Theology at Houston Christian University in addition to being the Dean of the School of Christian Thought. He is the author of many publications including The Absolute Basics of the Christian Faith (https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-absolute-basics-of-the-christian-faith/) and co-author of The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way (https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-absolute-basics-of-the-wesleyan-way/) with Dr. Justus Hunter.

Dr. Tallon is a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society and the Wesleyan Theological Society. Involvement in ministry is important to Dr. Tallon, and he has held a number of full-time positions in youth and college ministry. He has a large family, who keep him on his toes. He likes outdoorsy sporting activities that don’t involve the application of game theory (e.g. biking, hiking, camping, running, frisbee, etc.).

Stay tuned to the very end for sweet Billy memories and discover where there may still be ground left to till in the areas of Lewis and Tolkien studies.

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22 December 2025

Communism, Patriotism, Immigration, and the Kingdom with Bishop Eduard Khegay

The war between Russia and Ukraine started in 2022 and continues. The death toll of civilians is in the tens of thousands and the total number of casualties is in the hundreds of thousands to over a million. Bishop Khegay is the spiritual leader for this region of the world in the Global Methodist Church. We are grateful for him sharing his testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ and leading the church in a time such as this.

Bishop Eduard Khegay was born in 1970 and grew up in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union. He studied at the Bauman Moscow Technical University and majored in Mechanical Hydraulic Engineering. He became a Christian through the missionary work of Jonathan Park during his years at University and went on to study at Moscow United Methodist Theological Seminary, which he graduated in 1996.

During the 1990s, Eduard served as a leader of the college student ministries at Moscow Central United Methodist Church (UMC) and Pastor of the First UMC in St. Petersburg. In the 2000s, he served as Director of Church Development of the Russia UMC, Pastor of Aspiration UMC, District Superintendent of St.Petersburg District, Pastor of Raduga Ministry of Moscow UMC, Assistant to the Bishop Hans Vaxby, and District Superintendent of Central Asia. In October 2012, Eduard was elected a Bishop of Eurasia Episcopal Area of the Methodist Church in Eurasia. In 2025, Eduard was received as Bishop into the Global Methodist Church.

He received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theologyof Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2001 and Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in 2010. Eduard is married to Viktoria Nogay and they have two daughters, Liudmila and Lydia. They live in Moscow, Russia.

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