Operation Podcast – Creative Mission in Real Conversations
Back in early 2024, we applied for the Creative Ministries Grant with a simple idea: to create two podcasts, “Church Beyond the Walls” and “Braniel: Below the Surface”; each with a different focus but sharing one core aim: to tell real stories, open up honest conversations, and help people think differently about faith, mission, and what church can look like.
Church Beyond the Walls
This podcast is all about showcasing local churches and ministries and how they are stepping outside the four walls of the church and trying creative ways of engaging with their communities. Each episode features someone from a different church, ministry or even role within the church sharing what they’ve learned through their mission projects, outreach work and what they see going on across the connexion.
So far, we’ve released two series (eight episodes in total), and a third series is currently being recorded. It’s been brilliant hearing how churches/communities across the country are thinking outside the box and even better seeing how one story from one place can inspire something new somewhere else. It’s not about copying, but about learning and encouraging each other along the way. It has been amazing hearing peoples views and opinions on why connecting with those beyond the walls is so important and more importantly how it can be done well.
Braniel: Below the Surface
This one’s a bit different. “Below the Surface” is all about the people in our local community. The question at the heart of it is: what gives your life purpose? We’ve been asking local people some well-known, some not, to sit down for a chat about life, values, struggles, dreams, and yes, faith too.
It’s not an interview to push Christianity, it’s a genuine conversation. Some of our guests are Christians, others aren’t but all of them have been open and honest about what really matters to them. We’ve recorded four episodes so far two are already watchable, and two more will be released soon. Another couple of podcasts are lined up for next month. It’s been lovely to get to know people on a deeper level and have conversations you don’t usually get to have.
An Unexpected Bonus
One unexpected bonus from all this has been a link up with Dreamscheme, a local youth development organisation. Some of their young people have come alongside us to learn a bit about recording and editing audio. It’s been great to give them a chance to get involved and pick up some skills in the process.
What’s Next?
We hope to record more sessions and are currently in the process of creating a permanent space within the premises for recording the podcasts and doing a little bit of training too. But really, the heart of this project hasn’t changed it’s still about creating space for meaningful conversations, whether it’s helping churches learn from each other, or gently encouraging people to reflect on where they’re placing their hope.
We want to say thank you to MCI ministries and Home Mission team for the support via the creative ministries grant. The equipment you funded has already gone a long way in helping us start something new, something relational, and something that’s hopefully making a real difference in people’s lives. We’re excited about what doors could open up as the podcasting journey continues.
Keep an eye on Braniel Church YouTube channel for the latest videos. Next batch of Church beyond the walls features: Simon Kilpatrick, Rev Dr Stephen Skuce, Gillian Gilmore and Rev Dr Heather Morris.
Neil Curran
Pioneer Mission Leader, Braniel Church
The Methodist Church in Ireland is committed to the ongoing learning and development of its lay people and to the ministries they are involved in. To further enable this, creative ministries grants were made available to lay people within the Methodist Church in Ireland, whether voluntary or employed, for exploring, starting or maintaining creative ministries within their local church/context.