We are living in a unique moment in Church history, the transition into a post-Christendom era. It is disorienting and new. While the mission of the Church has not shifted, the way we fulfill the mission to bring the Gospel to the world must change. We need the Holy Spirit to be the inspiration and guide. Pause with Jim Jansen and Fr. Lorig to reflect on the Holy Spirit and to pray that He moves in our lives.
Jun 01, 2020•55 min•Ep. 16
One thing is for sure, the digital church is not going away. Many have tasted its potential and while our buildings begin to open up, our online churches should not be shutting down. For those who want to take full advantage of the potential that digital church offers, it will require more strategy, more thought, and more planning than merely pointing a camera at your in-person events and services. Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen offer answers to questions like "Which metrics matter?" and "How do we re...
May 26, 2020•50 min•Ep. 15
As a young associate, Fr. Lorig asked Fr. (now Bishop) Hanefeldt, “As a priest, am I supposed to tithe?” Fr. Hanefeldt responded, “You know? The more I give, the more I receive.” While he didn’t directly answer the question, he got to the heart of the issue. Money influences our relationship with God, and it’s in a competition with Him for our hearts. Most of us in ministry hate to touch the topic of money, but if we want to raise disciples, we have to also start raising givers. Jim Jansen and F...
May 18, 2020•48 min•Ep. 14
Evangelization has been a buzzword in the Church for the past few decades, but many of us still don’t know what it means. It conjures up images of knocking on doors and standing on street corners. We know it’s necessary to do. After all, weren’t we commissioned to “Go and make disciples of the nations”? But, for some reason it’s hard to begin. In today's EquipCast, Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen discuss the hang-ups that many of us have when it comes to evangelization, and they leave us with a few tip...
May 11, 2020•59 min•Ep. 13
Sometimes the consumer culture of the United States creeps into our parish life. When this happens, the ideal parishioner becomes the loyal customer who shows up to all the events or the person who “does their time” volunteering. Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen suggest that the ideal parishioner is instead the person who comes alive because they are engaged in the mission of the Church. The ideal parishioner thrives because they say yes only to the things that give them life. Tune in for some tips on d...
May 04, 2020•46 min•Ep. 12
Whenever Jesus calls someone to be a disiple, he doesn't stop at "follow me", he says, "and I will make you fishers of men." We cannot separate the call to be a disciple and the call to be a missionary. But how does one create missionary disciples? Jim Jansen spoke at SEEK 2020 unpacking the everyday experience of forming others for mission.
Apr 22, 2020•21 min
Doing leadership doesn’t mean doing everything, and delegation doesn’t mean giving away tasks. Leadership means giving your superpowers to someone else.
Apr 21, 2020•55 min•Ep. 11
Everyone is crazy about best practices. Conventional wisdom says if you want to be successful at anything, particularly in ministry, you need to implement best practices, but they don’t always lead to success. Join Jim Jansen, Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, as he shares his insights on the topic of best practices.
Apr 20, 2020•47 min•Ep. 10
Most of us realize that everything we’re going through now will probably have long term effects on the culture and the Church. What hopes do you have for the Church when this is all over? Join Fr. Jeff Lorig and Jim Jansen share their insights and dreams for the Church that could be.
Apr 20, 2020•49 min•Ep. 9
On the Wednesday after schools shut down due to the Coronavirus, Christine French was in a continuous stream of webinars and on-line meetings. She felt anxious and busy, and she knew this was not what the Lord was calling her to. Hear from Christine about how she paused and listened to the voice of God. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41b-42) Special Guest: C...
Apr 06, 2020•33 min•Ep. 8
In the midst of the pandemic, what does Church life look like? Mark Nelson shares the lessons that he has learned working at St. Gerald’s and serving on their Servant Leadership Team. Special Guest: Mark Nelson.
Apr 06, 2020•36 min•Ep. 7
In a world where it is as easy to switch parishes as it is to switch the channel or click another link, Blair Bonczynski and David Hazen give their advice on how to rise above the noise and make a real connection with your parishioners. The secret? You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to get out there and try! Special Guests: Blair Bonczynski and David Hazen.
Apr 03, 2020•31 min•Ep. 4
Without a Sunday collection, parishes are wondering how to ask for money in order to keep the lights on and pay the staff. Shannan’s advice, “It’s not actually about paying the bills. It’s about vision, hope and transformation.” Make a connection, tell your story, build relationships, and invite people into the mission! Special Guest: Shannan Brommer.
Apr 03, 2020•38 min•Ep. 5
Accompaniment is the current buzzword that many speak about passionately. Jen and Jim unpack the word. Then, they challenge us to 1) intentionally and consistently journey with a number of people, and 2) equip others to do the same. “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of faith and…full maturity in Christ…” Ephesians 4:12-13 Special Guests: Jen Moser and Jim Jansen.
Apr 03, 2020•34 min•Ep. 6
We’ve always said, “It’s not about the building.” So if it’s not about building, then where does church happen? And where can it happen now? Join Calvin Mueller and Andy Dejka for Friday’s EquipCast as they discuss building a culture of community in small groups during the pandemic crisis and beyond. Members of our Evangelization team here in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Andy and Calvin are both former FOCUS Missionaries who have extensive experience translating those missionary values into parish ...
Apr 03, 2020•51 min•Ep. 3
On today’s Equip Cast, Craig Dyke and Jim Jansen will explain how you can help families stay faithful and perhaps even grow more faithful during this time. Sports and busyness are no longer barriers for families to engage in the Church. Therefore, as pastoral leaders we’ll need to be intentional about about helping our families be more intentional. Craig and Jim are both fathers of relatively large families. They’ll be able to offer theological insights on family and evangelization as well as th...
Oct 07, 2019•31 min•Ep. 2
