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

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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10 November 2025

Shifting From Defense To Offense with Anna Grace Legband

The spiritual sense Anna Grace has for what the Lord is doing now is shifting the church from defense to offense and playing the long game. Anna Grace Legband is the Associate Director of Events for New Room. She is the author of the recently published Advent study, Brought To The Light: Advent For All Who Need It (https://my.seedbed.com/product-category/advent/). Anna Grace has global perspective through her ministry and is wise beyond her years as a soon to be mother. We're grateful for her generosity in sharing with us in this precious time leading up to the birth of her firstborn.

If you don't know anything about New Room, you need to know! seedbed.com/newroom

At New Room Conference, we come together first and foremost to meet with God. We pray—not just for ourselves, but for a great awakening that stirs hearts and changes the world. We connect with each other in deep and meaningful ways, sharing testimonies of God’s faithfulness that inspire, challenge, and build us up. In these moments, you’ll see how He’s moving, not just in your life but in the lives of those walking alongside you. We laugh and grow together in breakout sessions that spark joy, ignite creativity, and plant seeds of transformation. These are moments where the Spirit moves in unexpected ways—sometimes through laughter, sometimes through tears, and always through connection. And we worship together. Oh, how we worship! Voices raised, hearts aligned, Spirit flowing. It’s a glimpse of heaven, a powerful reminder that we are a people of the Word and the Spirit, bound together in the love of God. We want to hear about your discipleship band—the small circle of friends who are helping you sow seeds of grace and grow deeper in your walk with Jesus. Your story matters, and we’d love to share it with the community.

Here’s our challenge: step out, meet someone new, and build a connection. These moments of community may just become the foundation for something beautiful and eternal. So come ready to pray. Come ready to share. Come ready to laugh, worship, and connect. Let’s sow together for the great awakening God has in store.

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03 November 2025

Blended Worship Can Be Beautiful with Dr. Jonathan Powers

We pray your definitions of what worship is and it's primary aim is challenged and/or deepened in this conversation with Dr. Johnathan Powers. For example, if you always considered evangelism to be the primary aim of worship, this conversation will ask you to reconsider.

Dr. Powers is the Interim Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry as well as Associate Professor of Worship Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated from Asbury University in 2003 with a B.A. in English, from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009 with a M.A. in Christian Ministries – worship studies emphasis, and holds the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida. He received his Ph.D. through The London School of Theology where his dissertation focused on the worship theology of Robert E. Webber.

Dr. Powers has a passion for the intersection of liturgy and spiritual formation in the life of the church. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books, including Echo: A Catechism for Discipleship in the Ancient Christian Tradition, The 12 Days of Christmas Sermons, and Watchnight: John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service, all published by Seedbed. In 2009, he was awarded the Hoyt Hickman Award by the Order of St. Luke at Asbury Seminary for excellence in liturgical scholarship and leading public worship. He also serves on the board of the Charles Wesley Society.

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27 October 2025

Mr. Miyagi Method with Rev. Dr. Mike Voigts

The double doctor himself, Mike Voigts, joins STG to share with us all the importance of staying in love with God. Pastor Mike has been in pastoral ministry since 1993, when he served as an Associate Pastor at First Methodist in Waco. After serving churches in both Texas and Kentucky, he joined the faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2017, serving as a Professor of Christian Spirituality and Theology. In May 2025, he left higher education to return home as First Methodist’s Senior Pastor in Waco, TX.

Mike holds a B.A. from Baylor University, an M.Div. and D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Brunel University (through London School of Theology) in England.

Whether in a local church or a seminary classroom, Mike has stressed that the faithfulness of a local church begins with the faithfulness of each person within the local church. In preaching, he strives to show how God’s Word is relevant to our everyday lives. He enjoys introducing people to Christians throughout history, revealing how much we can learn from these giants in our faith.

Mike is the author of Regere Animas: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux (2013), and most recently, The Fourth Degree of Prayer (2022), written for laypersons.

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20 October 2025

Inspire Movement To Jesus with Dr. Brian Yeich

Dr. Brian Yeich rejoins the podcast to share more about his involvement with the discipleship movement called Inspire. Dr. Yeich's passion is helping people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ through the church and the academy. He is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and has pastored 11 years in both large and small congregations as well as a church restart

Including his previous role at Asbury Theological Seminary as Assistant Provost, Brian has over 8 years in positions of leadership for theological education. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for 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. Inspire is a worldwide missional discipleship network.

inspiremovement.org

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