cedar hill

For generations, churches in Texas passed down the tradition of Juneteenth, sometimes called "America's Second Independence Day." In this episode, Karl Berry and Curtis Phillips, elders from Cedar Hill Church of Christ in Cedar Hill, Texas, talk about how their congregation is keeping and sharing the Juneteenth tradition. The Christian Chronicle's globetrotting CEO Erik Tryggestad interviews Douglas Boateng, an elder in the Church of Christ community in Angola, in central Africa. David Heflin, minister to Woodward Church of Christ in Woodward, Oklahoma, shares his chronic pain story and the story of Broken and Mended, the ministry he started to help and support those who live with chronic pain.
SEGMENT ONE: Why Juneteenth? (Karl Berry and Curtis Phillips, Cedar Hill Church of Christ, Cedar Hill, Texas)

Link to Cedar Hill Church of Christ

Link to archive of The Christian Chronicle’s Juneteenth stories

Link to Juneteenth history and resources at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture 

SEGMENT TWO: Erik Tryggestad interviews Douglas Boateng in Angola, central Africa

Link to Erik Tryggestad’s Christian Chronicle report from his recent trip to Africa

SEGMENT THREE: Broken and Mended chronic pain ministry (David Heflin and Ronna Valentine, Woodward Church of Christ, Woodward, Oklahoma)

Link to Christian Chronicle story on Broken and Mended ministry

Link to Broken and Mended ministry website

Link to Woodward Church of Christ

Find more information and inspiration at christianchronicle.org

Donate to support this ministry at christianchronicle.org/donate

Send comments, ideas, and suggestions to podcast@christianchronicle.org

Host Becky Hennesy hangs out with one of her besties! It's Tara Bollinger-Okszuler, the creator of an incredible non-profit organization called Inspire School Programs. In this episode, they breakdown how Inspire was launched, how it's grown, and the secret power of starting small.

They also take listeners into Tara's own "inspiring" journey from Miss Missouri who had a degree in Broadcasting to her "crazy faith"  move to Texas in 2012 to start in Inspire program in Cedar Hill.

So what exactly is Inspire School Programs? Its primary purpose is to create SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) mentoring programs, events and curriculum that inspire students to discover their value, find purpose and build strength to be successful in life while positively contributing to their community.

Inspire School Programs focuses on partnering with local schools to provide SEL programs and mentor students. According to student survey results after a semester of classroom mentoring, Inspire had the following results:

• 86% - felt an increase in self-confidence
• 94% - respect themselves more
• 85% - respect others more
• 91% - make better relationship choices
• 66% - used at least one positive coping technique for anger or anxiety within a week 

Inspire uses classroom mentoring, curriculum and events to create a safe environment to help students develop in SEL competencies. Inspire works with local schools to determine their specific student issues and address them in programs. Inspire’s approach to student mentoring includes academic encouragement, positive coping skills, social and emotional intelligence development as well as mental health awareness.

The Reformers Collective podcast is part of the expanding Charisma Podcast Network (CPN).  Click here to visit the CPN main page. While at CPN, look for additional Reformers Collective resources such as Becky's blog articles on the topic of reformation.

Let's keep bringing godly solutions to earthly problems!

Meet former Cedar Hill City Manager Alan Sims as he sits down with host Becky Hennesy to discuss the amazing intersection of faith and public policy. He breaks down the original Greek word "ecclesia" that Jesus used to define as His "church." What you hear from Alan may surprise you when you learn how Jesus expected His followers to behave and interact as a unique governmental structure in the world.

Alan was elected to Cedar Hill City Council, Place 3 in May 2019.  Prior to his election to the city council, Alan retired from the city management profession after 32 years, nearly 15 of which were spent serving as the City Manager of Cedar Hill. From 1986-2000, he held various management positions, including Deputy City Manager with the City of Overland Park, KS (suburb of Kansas City). He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from the University of Kansas, earning the latter in May 1988.

Alan currently serves on the University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees of Trinity Church and Christian School in Cedar Hill, and Transformation Vision Board of Directors. He was also appointed by the State Supreme Court of Texas as a Public Member of the State Bar of Texas. In the past, Alan has served on the Board of Directors of the North Texas Tollway Authority and Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce. He served as a Regional Director for the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) and President of the North Texas City Management Association (NTCMA).

The Cedar Hill City Council bestowed the honor of renaming its recreation center the “Alan E. Sims” Recreation Center. TCMA and the Kansas University City Managers and Trainees (KUCIMATS) presented Alan with their “Lifetime Achievement Awards.” Additionally Northwood University conveyed to him an Honorary Doctorate degree.

Alan has been married to his “girlfriend” Gayle for 46 years and have 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren.

The Reformers Collective podcast is part of the expanding Charisma Podcast Network (CPN).  Click here to visit the CPN main page. While at CPN, look for additional Reformers Collective resources such as Becky's blog articles on the topic of reformation.

Let's keep bringing godly solutions to earthly problems!

It's one thing to talk about "soaring on eagle's wings" (Isaiah 40:31) but Neisha Byrd has mastered this mysterious verse. In the aftermath of back to back tragedy that rocked her family several years ago, Neisha has discovered the secret to trusting in the Lord and renewing herself in Him.

Neisha is also one of host Becky Hennesy's true BFFs and she's the feature guest on this inspiring episode. They walk through the tragic death of her college-age son Cameron while driving back from Oregon on a spring break trip in 2015. A few years later, Neisha lost her husband Wendell to cancer.

Yet instead of falling into unspeakable despair, something remarkable happened. She calls it Byrd Nation: a church family and community that rallied around her family in ways that mark what it means to be part of the Body of Christ. Becky and Neisha unpack all the ways she has experienced the love of God in action on her behalf.

Neisha has served in administration at Trinity Christian School (now part of the Texas Leadership Public Schools charter system) for nearly two decades and she is better known as Mama Byrd to her students.

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

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Host Becky Hennesy sits down with Nicole Hernandez who serves as the home Director for Bridges (formerly Bridges Safehouse). Her passion to help women in crisis is unmatched in the DFW community. 

Nicole has developed Bridges into much more than just temporary housing. Bridges has a boutique store, childbirth education, a community diaper pantry, parenting classes, trauma intervention, and much more. 

But Nicole has plans to expand. She wants to launch a resource center and work with local apartment builders to dedicate several units per building as designated temporary living spaces for women in crisis.

Becky also dives deep into what makes Nicole tick. Listeners will learn details about Nicole's own turbulent childhood resulting from being born out of a teenage pregnancy (her mother was just 15). It's evident from Becky's conversation that this experience has deposited into Nicole a deep reservoir of genuine compassion and energy toward other women who need practical and spiritual answers to life's challenges.

To learn more about Bridges and how you can support this amazing south Dallas outreach contact the staff at:
(469)-272-4441
admin@bridgessafehouse.org

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

Follow Becky on social media!
Becky's Facebook
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Twitter

Host Becky Hennesy sits down with a person she values as the queen of generosity! Her name is Sabrina Harrison and her conversation with Becky is a must-listen!

They discuss Sabrina's journey to faith in Christ, family/marriage, the impact of spending time with God through Scripture meditation/reading. They also unpack her life-changing mission trip to Israel and how she's transformed herself into an interior design expert in the corporate world.

But through Sabrina's entire story is the obvious fact that her life oozes with the spirit of financial giving. She loves to match a resource with a need in the the Kingdom of God. Sabrina explains to Becky how she learned why impossible to literally out-give the Lord. This episode will inspire you to embrace a generous life with your time, talent and treasure brings a blessing that far surpasses a selfish lifestyle.

Sabrina is married to Field Harrison who is the founder of MINT Dentistry. MINT dentistry now has over 50 locations in Dallas and Houston, TX and has served more than 80,000 people since 2009. Their support staff has introduced discount and dental insurance to thousands without insurance or whose insurance has let them down. MINT Dentistry has been named the “Best Family Dentist” two years in a row by Consumer’s Choice and has earned over 36,000 5-star Google reviews.

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

Follow Becky on social media!
Becky's Facebook
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Twitter

Host Becky Hennesy views Laura Allred as one of her own daughters in the faith. Their friendship is evident and so is Laura's passion for the sanctity of life. Their conversation will take you on a journey into how Laura is turning vision into action in her quest to see legal abortion end in America. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Laura's passion for God's presence runs deep and Becky explores the depths of that walk with the Lord.

They discuss Laura's own struggle with infertility, adoption, and how God ultimately gave her a miracle child....and they also unpack the supernatural move of God that Laura is stewarding over the Trinity Young Adults ministry (TYA) at Trinity Church. 

This episode will inspire you to seek Jesus in all things because He is the source of Life no matter how high the mountain top and or how low the valley!

Laura is married to renowned worship leader Gabe Allred who is also on staff at Trinity Church and at Christ for the Nations Institute.

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

Follow Becky on social media!
Becky's Facebook
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Twitter

Host Becky Hennesy has a heartwarming chat with her good friend Dehavilland Ford. She is a rising new voice in the realms of the prophetic and racial reconciliation. The insights Dehavilland shares with Becky are critical for the Body of Christ to hear in this hour.

In the current struggle for the American church to experience racial reconciliation, Dehavilland explains the Biblical balance between righteousness and justice, the importance of reasoning together with others in the Body of Christ, embracing the concept of deep listening, and why it's a mistake to leave a long-standing relationship over a misunderstanding of each other's cultural background.

Dehavilland also shares with Becky her remarkable journey to faith in Jesus. It's a wild ride worth a listen. Born to parents addicted to crack cocaine and other drugs, she was taken from her home and thrust into the foster care system. For four years, she lived with Chris Rock's family (yes that Chris Rock). Her story also includes undergoing a forced name change, searching for personal identity, living in shelters and eventually homeless on a park bench in New York City, experiencing the Toronto Blessing, and much more.

Another highlight of their conversation is how Dehavilland discusses the delicate transition from being single in her 30s to instant motherhood after marrying Will Ford who had previous children from a prior marriage.

Today Dehavilland and her husband Will operation a ministry called 818 The Sign. It's a global effort with a goal "to raise up a new generation of prophetic leaders by training them not only in the gifts of the spirit, but also in biblical righteousness and justice to tackle the issues facing the hour in which we live."

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Check out 818 The Sign!
818 The Sign

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

Follow Becky on social media!
Becky's Facebook
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Twitter

Host Becky Hennesy introduces her podcast audience to a familiar face and voice at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). Melissa Medina is a rising new voice in the growing prayer initiative across the DFW area.

As a member of the Trinity Church pastoral staff, Melissa has launched a fresh wave of corporate prayer and intercession for members/attendees. She is also a frequent teacher on the subject of prayer through in-person and Zoom-based Bible studies.

Becky and Melissa talk about the Holy Spirit's influence in prayer as a partnership with God. They also unpack the pain of Melissa's struggle to have children, how she experienced a miraculous pregnancy, and the moment when God supernaturally healed her son from a deadly disease.

Melissa explains to Becky her strong belief that is really no such thing as an unanswered prayer and how intimacy with the Father changes our perspective of God's timing in answering prayer.

This podcast is full of high energy, encouragement and hope for those seeking to walk deeper in a natural never-ending conversation with God!

Save the dates! New episodes of the Being Becky podcast release on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Subscribe, write a great review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

Becky Hennesy is co-lead pastor with her husband Jim at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). For more information about Trinity Church:
Visit Trinity Church

Follow Becky on social media!
Becky's Facebook
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Twitter

Becky Hennesy is a co-lead pastor at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas). She and her husband Jim have led the congregation located in south Dallas since 1995. Her legacy of ministry to the underserved and needy in her community is both contagious and effective.

Never short on expressing her unique personality and passion, Becky Hennesy is branching out to the exciting world of podcasting. In this short trailer, she shares the reasons why Being Becky is an important new avenue for her ministry.

The podcast will release a new episode on the first and third Wednesday of each month beginning on October 7. However, listeners will get to hear back-to-back episodes on same day as the first two shows both release on the official launch date. Becky shares why that first Wednesday is circled on her calendar.

"In Episode 1, you'll hear my conversation with Dr. Jill Waggoner, a medical and health professional who spoke at our very first Girlfriends event in 2010," Becky said. "Her message that day marked my life! It propelled me into a transformative journey in personal fitness and nutrition habits."

Dr. Jill Waggoner's influence reaches thousands through her medical practice (Duncanville, Texas), her active social media/online video presence, and as a conference speaker/presenter of practical medical research/application.

Dr. Jill Waggoner professional bio

"Then in Episode 2, you listen in to my chat with the young and talented Alexis Franklin. She's an amazing digital graphic artist and video editor who serves on staff at Trinity Church (Cedar Hill, Texas)," Becky said. "A few months ago, those creative gifts were noticed by the publisher of a monthly magazine connected to a TV talk show in Illinois. They asked Alexis to draw a digital picture of Breonna Taylor. The name of that TV show was Oprah and the name of the publication was O Magazine!"

Alexis is an African-American in her early 20s who is wise beyond her years. She's passionate about Jesus and about leaving her mark of positive change in her generation.

Official Video Teaser of O Magazine Cover (featuring Alexis Franklin)
O Magazine Article about Breonna Taylor featured on its cover
CNN Article about Breonna Taylor featured on O Magazine cover

If you like what you hear, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a good rating, write a good review, and share podcast on your own social media!

Important Links
Trinity Church Home Page
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