Porch Talk with Father Aaron
Welcome! Here we have conversations where the Christian faith interacts (or intersects) with topics found outside of the typical, safe church environment. We wanted to address the question: "What happens when a priest talks with people of the community about topics that are important to them, but not necessarily what you might hear Sunday morning?" Our church porch (or patio) was designed to facilitate these meaningful and authentic conversations, so we called this "Porch Talk." Join us!
Episodes
Fr. Aaron spoke with Clay Dempsey, the Director for Art & Entertainment for the city of Dothan, Alabama. Clay shared about his work history and duties coordinating A&E for the City of Dothan. They talked about the various different types of acts and performers that have come to Dothan, and what future performances will find an appreciative audience. Smaller towns face distinct challenges for brining attracti...
Fr. Aaron spoke with Julian Diaz of Mission 991, Inc., a non-profit organization engaged in human trafficking detection and intervention (www.mission991.org). Julian shared about the tragic statistics regarding human trafficking (not just sex-trafficking, but forced labor as well), and how his military and law enforcement background has helped him act as a successful liaison with foreign governments to detect and in...
Father Aaron spokes with a local Dothan, Alabama resident Jimmy McCray, who has started a petition for the city of Dothan to intervene concerning the Dothan Wiregrass Mall. The shopping center has experienced, along with a trend of declining malls across the country, significant neglect over the previous years, with retail occupancy low and lackadaisical private security. Along with his associates Brianna and Gianna...
Fr. Aaron speaks with Dothan City Commissioner Dave Stock, who is the Commissioner for Dothan, Alabama city district #4. Having been in elected office less that a year, Commissioner Stock has stood out as being willing to "go against the grain" on numerous occasions and maintain the minority viewpoint of hotly debated topics. They talked about how his years in military service instilled in him the internal resources...
Today Fr. Aaron spoke with Marilyn Killingsworth, a donation coordinator with Life South Community Blood Centers. Marilyn and her associate, Hope, both shared about blood donation, why it matters and where it's distributed. Their informative visit gave the chance to talk about why everyone should consider donating blood since it's such an effective way to participate in saving lives.
Today Fr. Aaron spoke with Ashley Enfinger, who is a candidate for Houston County Commission district 3. Their conversation included a biographical sketch of Ashley's life spent in Alabama, his work ethic, and what skills he hopes to bring to the Houston County Commission if elected. They also spoke about their shared affection for law enforcement, the necessity of family support, and why being ambitious to be of se...
Today Fr. Aaron spoke with Jordan Stanley, a comedian local to Dothan, Alabama, but is expanding her reach through invitations to travel to new venues. She shared some of her life story leading up to performing at the Dothan Opera House. They both relayed their funny life experiences, why keeping a sense of humor is so important, and why God seems to let us go through embarrassing situations to keep us humble.
Fr. Aaron speaks with Dothan City Commissioner David Crutchfield, who is the Commissioner for Dothan, Alabama city district #6. They spoke about the "nitty gritty" of getting involved in local city government, working with others in city government, and making decisions when the best solution isn't always obvious. David shared a little of his story and they discussed some of the city planning that must take place th...
What drives us to seek elected office, challenging the incumbent and earning the trust of voters? It's not always easy to articulate that in a sound bite, so Fr. Aaron spoke with John Rogers, who is seeking election to the Houston County Commission Chairman's position. John Rogers is running to unseat and replace the the current chairman, Brandon Shoupe (see episode 14). They spoke about John's background, what move...
Fr. Aaron talks with Joel Sewell, a training Sergeant for Dothan Fire Department in Dothan, AL. The conversation covered Joel's experiences in the fire department, what he finds most fulfilling about it, and how we see God's grace deployed to people through the work that our first responders perform. Fr. Aaron's own experience as a fire chaplain came out, and the two were able to relate through their pastoral perspe...
Fr. Aaron speaks with Brandon Shoupe, the Chairman for the Houston County Commission in southeast Alabama. The conversation included the responsibilities that the country Commission Chairman faces, local politics, and the need for wisdom to meet the needs that local government can address.
Fr. Aaron speaks with Shelly Linderman, the Executive Director for Wiregrass Angel House (https://wiregrassangelhouse.org/) in Dothan, Alabama. For many years, they have maintained a ministry, covering eight countries in southeast Alabama, that helps families facing the trauma of a loved one they lost to either criminal homicide or tragic suicide. They discuss how Wiregrass Angel House walks "through the valley of t...
Fr. Aaron speaks with Dr. Virginia Mayer who founded Living Waters Counseling (https://www.lwcounseling.net/) in Headland, Alabama, along with Kingdom College (https://www.kingdomcollege.net/) in the same town. "Ginger" had recently published a book "Modern-Day Sandcastles: The Fall of Denominationalism." While we didn't agree on all points, we were able to find common ground regarding the hope that Christians will ...
Fr. Aaron speaks with local veterinarian Dr. Jeff Strickland, of Briar Creek Veterinary Clinic in Dothan, Alabama about caring for our pets and how animals deliver God's grace into our lives. This is in anticipation of the forthcoming "Blessing of the Animals" at St. Matthias Anglican Church on Oct 4th. We discuss a biblical theology of "dominion" and how our cooperation with Creation can reflect the life and legacy...
One of my parishioners, Mitchell Nalley, was gracious enough to sit down and talk with me. Buckle up for a longer "drive time" than usual because we discussed several topics including higher education in America, justifications for war (including the current conflict in Ukraine), and even Post-Traumatic Stress for those that return from battle. Neither of us claimed to be an expert on these subjects, but instead off...
Fr. Aaron talks with Morgan Blankenship, the Director of the Dare to Hope, Inc. in Dothan, Alabama which focuses on compassionate interventions for those that have been victims of human trafficking. Morgan shares startling information about the most common forms of trafficking happening all around us, what are some of the appropriate responses to it, and how she came to serve in this capacity. Along the way we touch...
Heath Robinson is a student attending Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also worships with us here at St. Matthias Anglican Church. Far too many clergy and elders in the church dismiss the upcoming generations as "snowflakes" or clueless rebels instead of engaging them in meaningful dialogue. In our church, we've had the privilege to facilitate deep conversations about life, faith, and the "hot button" topics of ...
In my conversation with Troy Fountain, owner of "Downtown Books" in Dothan, Alabama. This was our first time to chat and we discovered "it's a small world after all," having far more in common than we could have imagined. We discussed the charming bookstore that he has operated for four years now, the need for physical books and people passionate for reading, plus our shared experiences in Christian ministry. Troy's...
I sat down with Kerry Farrell, owner/operator of "The Thirsty Pig" in Dothan, a local family-friendly pub. Kerry shares her story leading up to starting the bar, why it comes from a place of hospitality. We discuss why God seemingly gives the "gift of hospitality" to people so that vital connections can be facilitated.
Years ago, my sister, Gaylene Tupen, had read the book "Cultish" by Amanda Montell. That book had since been the catalyst to a series of conversations Gaylene and I enjoyed over time about some of the quirky religious experiences we remember from our youth. Eventually she agreed to talk about this here for others to enjoy as well. We talk about the use of special language to identify "insiders" and the use of fear a...
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