IN LAYMAN'S TERMS
Religion & Spirituality
About
Todd Seifert shares stories about the body of Christ while reflecting on God's Word.
Episodes
- Miracle Sunday
Rev. Rodgers Chishiba, pastor at Colby UMC in western Kansas, joins Todd for a conversation about Miracle Sunday, an effort from the Council of Bishops to raise funds for an endowment for theological education outside the United States. Ro…
- Wichita First UMC's creative way to use its building for service
The church is the people, but we tend to latch onto the buildings that identify us as a congregation. But some churches across the Great Plains are putting unused portions of their often-larger-than-needed structures to use in new and crea…
- Institute for Discipleship
The Bishop Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship is tucked in a corner of the campus at Southwestern College. But its reach goes far beyond its Winfield, Kansas, home. In this episode, Todd talks with key leaders at the instit…
- Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run
Bishop David Wilson and three others representing the Great Plains Conference took part in the 2025 Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run in October. The annual event honors the more than 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people — mostly women,…
- Roland Fernandes, GBGM
Roland Fernandes considers it a privilege to serve as general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries in a time when there are so many opportunities to serve as the hands and feet of Christ. The top executive of GBGM and the Ge…
- Brian Kaylor on Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalism is not patriotism. It may actually be considered idolatry. Where is the line? And how do we ensure we aren't pushing Jesus from the center of the throne? Rev. Brian Kaylor, a Baptist pastor, journalist and author, wil…
- Disciple Bible Study App
The daughters of Bishop Richard and Julia Wilke, the authors of the Disciple Bible Study series, talk about the development of an app that allows people to take a fast-track approach to the study of the Bible. Guests for this episode inclu…
- Omaha Immigration Raid
The June 10 raid on the Glenn Valley Foods meat processing plant in south Omaha has left the community stunned, frightened and isolated. People now are fearful to leave their homes, and businesses are hurting. Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso, wh…
- Lydia Patterson Institute
Dr. Carla Cardoza, president of the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas, shares how students at the grades 7-12 school have been caught up in the immigration debate. Their students — almost all of whom have F-1 visas — have been pu…
- Ministry in Motion – Digital Marketing for Your Church
In this episode, we learn about a workshop available for Great Plains Conference congregations meant to help them develop marketing plans for their local churches. Don Osborn, a marketing professional who helped devise the marketing strate…
- Holy Land Task Force
As the war in Gaza continues, Todd talks with Carol Ekdahl-Garwood, chair of the Great Plains Conference's Holy Land Task Force. During their discussion, we learn about the peril of Palestinian people, the delicate balance between supporti…
- Coach Different with Matt Williams
Youth sports should be a time of fun, development and building character. But it's often quite the opposite. Matt Williams — a standout catcher at Duke University who played in the Chicago Cubs organization — joins Todd to talk about a one…
- Internship Possibilities
In this episode, Todd talks with Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford and Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford about changes to the Great Plains Conference's internship program. An additional guest — Rev. Grace Woods from Topeka First United Methodist C…
- Immigration Issues, with Andrea Paret
The issue of immigration continues to grow in prominence as we move closer to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. During the campaign, he promised mass deportations and the closing of our U.S. borders. What impact does that h…
- The Table
The Table is a different kind of evangelism tool used by Bonfire, a Korean-language and culture church start in Olathe, Kansas. The Table is a biweekly meal with invited guests who have the chance to build relationships through conversatio…
- Immigration Frustrations
The campaign promise by President-elect Donald Trump for mass deportations has created more than a little anxiety among people who are immigrants to the United States. While some Americans may think it worthwhile to deport people illegally…
- Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month. We celebrate by talking with Bishop David Wilson, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation and also with Cherokee lineage. We also share some remarks and interviews from a U.S. Indian Boarding Sc…
- Sights and Sounds from Leadership Institute
Each September, Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood, Kansas, hosts Leadership Institute. This time, Todd took along a microphone and recorded short interviews in hallways, in the backs of workshop rooms, in the corner of th…
- Public Service Series: Jeff Hart
We wrap up a three-part series on United Methodists serving in local elected offices with an interview with Jeff Hart, who has served on his village board in Lynch, Nebraska, for more than 20 years. He's also a school teachers and working…
- Orders & Fellowship Primer: Dr. Ashley Boggan
In a short episode of the "In Layman's Terms" podcast, Todd Seifert, communications director for the Great Plains Conference, interviews Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History for The United…
- Public Service Series: Robin Carlson
Todd continues his series on laity serving in public offices with a fun interview with Robin Carlson. She runs a nonprofit clinic in Courtland, Kansas, and she's also the town mayor. It's a story of a hometown girl who left for the big cit…
- New Church Development
New church starts can be difficult. The Great Plains Conference's New Church Development board has implemented some new strategies and is, literally, traveling the world to see how it's done elsewhere. Todd explores some of the new strateg…
- Public Service Series: Tyler Curtis
Todd starts an intermittent series on laity serving in elected office. With so much of the discussion focused on the presidential race, it's easy to forget that many more decisions that impact our lives are made at the local level. In this…
- Disaster Response with Rev. Hollie Tapley
The Great Plains Conference's Disaster Response/Assistance Fund could use a boost. To explain how the fund helps individuals, Rev. Hollie Tapley, the conference's Disaster Response coordinator, shares some details about the fund, informati…
- Getting to Good: A book and discussion with Rev. David Livingston
We still struggle with some of the same problems as Jesus' first followers — and some problems they didn't have to face. In this episode, Rev. David Livingston, lead pastor at Old Mission United Methodist Church in Fairway, Kansas, talks w…
- Catching Up With Bishop Wilson
We kick off recording in our new sound studio with a discussion with Bishop David Wilson. The bishop shares reflections on General Conference, the Great Plains Annual Conference session and the challenges facing delegates at the upcoming S…
- General Conference Preview — Rev. Adam Hamilton
In the conclusion of a five-part series previewing the upcoming United Methodist Church's General Conference, Rev. Adam Hamilton, lead pastor of the denomination's largest congregation based in Leawood, Kansas, provides a summary of key is…
- General Conference Preview — Rev. Amy Lippoldt
In the fourth of a five-part series, Rev. Amy Lippoldt provides some education and great insights into the global nature of The United Methodist Church. As a member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, Amy has been expo…
- General Conference Preview — Rev. David Livingston
In the third of a five-episode series previewing General Conference of The United Methodist Church, Rev. David Livingston shares his thoughts on three widely known priorities for progressives and centrists, as well as some details from his…
- General Conference Preview — Lisa Maupin
Our five-episode series previewing General Conference of The United Methodist Church continues with Lisa Maupin, the lay leader of the Great Plains Annual Conference. In this discussion, Lisa shares her reflections on what have become know…
- General Conference Preview — Rev. Mark Holland
The first in a five-episode series on the upcoming General Conference of The United Methodist Church features Rev. Dr. Mark Holland, the co-founder of Mainstream UMC. He kicks off the series by explaining three priorities his organization…
- Nebraska United Methodist Foundation grants
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation has a series of grants to help local ministries get started, expand and augment their reach to their communities. This episode tells the stories of three ministries assisted by these grants in Nebra…
- Civil Rights Immersion — Episode 3
Members of the Great Plains and Louisiana conferences of The United Methodist Church took part in a four-day civil rights immersion trip to the areas around Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, in July 2023. It was the idea of former Great…
- Civil Rights Immersion - Episode 2
It’s Black History Month, and so this In Layman’s Terms podcast is providing a three-part series on a trip made by members of the Great Plains and Louisiana conferences to the areas around Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama — both places t…
- Civil Rights Immersion - Episode1
In July 2023, a group of clergy and laity from the Great Plains Conference met up with fellow United Methodists from the Louisiana Conference for a civil rights immersion experience. Over the course of four days, the group lived the histor…
- The Ark: Packing Perseverance
As we continue our lessons from the Ark, we'll explore what it means to persevere. We know we'll face storms in life, so how can we be prepared? And how can we endure? Thankfully, we can lean on the Holy Spirit as our traveling companion.
- The Ark: Packing Compassion for the Journey
As we continue considering lessons from the ark — as learned through other passages in scripture — we come to compassion. Just a little of it, along with encouragement, can go a long way toward lifting up others.
- The Ark: Building Our Spiritual Strength
Our short series on lessons from the ark begins in earnest with looking at our need for spiritual strength when the storms of life arise. And that means we have to prepare. In this and the remaining episodes about the ark, we have a specia…
- The Ark: Built in the Sunshine
Todd starts a five-episode series on lessons we can learn from Noah and the ark. In this first episode, we explore the importance of faith and of preparation.
- The Caring Congregation
One of the most important parts of being the church is caring for one another. But it's not just the pastor's job. Indeed, it's important that laity are heavily involved in providing excellent care for one another. Doing so strengthens the…
- Bishop David Wilson Talks about Native American Heritage Month
Bishop David Wilson talks with Todd about Native American Heritage Month, when we celebrate the contributions of Indigenous peoples during the month of November. This conversation covers an immersion experience in Oklahoma, recognition of…
- Luke, The Sequel: The Acts of Using the Tools We’re Given
Paul makes use of an empty altar to explain to skeptics who Jesus is and about our all-powerful God. We’ve been given all the tools we need to share the good news, even if we sometimes have to improvise. This episode wraps up our short ser…
- Luke, The Sequel: The Act of Accepting All People
The study of the book of Acts continues with a lesson about how we sometimes make following Christ more difficult than it needs to be. Love God, love others, and make disciples. A story about a Dallas-area pastor augments the scripture abo…
- Luke, The Sequel: The Act of Showing Trust in God
After a longer-than-expected hiatus, the podcast returns, and we resume our study of the book of Acts, the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Saying we believe is fine, but actions speak louder than word. Ananias teaches us that lesson.
- Luke, the Sequel: The Act of Staying Curious
The story of the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip teaches another lesson from the book of Acts. It's important for us to act on our faith by remaining curious and embracing the questions we ask about our faith.
- Luke, the Sequel: The Acts of Speaking Boldly
As we explore what the book of Acts has to teach the church today, we explore what it means to speak boldly for Jesus in the world today. And, yes, we are all capable of speaking up for Christ.
- Luke the Sequel: The Acts of the Apostles
We begin a multi-week series on the book of Acts. We'll look at the book as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke and a continuation of Jesus teaching how to lift up the lowly, engage the outcast, and embrace the outlaw. In this first episode we…
- Bishop David Wilson – 100 Days
On the 100th day of Bishop David Wilson's tenure as bishop of the Great Plains Conference, he shares in a discussion with Todd what he's been up to so far in Kansas and Nebraska, as well as plans for the weeks and months ahead.
- Book Tour: Lessons from Pandemics Past
One of the biggest disruptions in the life of the church in the past few decades was clearly the COVID-19 pandemic. I suppose you could make an argument that it’s still causing disruption. The Congregational Excellence team of the Great Pl…
- CCLI — Enhance Worship While Protecting Your Church
CCLI and similar licensing services allow for churches to make song sheets, project lyrics and use other tools to enhance worship. Their efforts support the composers whose work we use while also protecting churches from copyright concerns…