On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lisa Almon, Co-Moderator of the Hispanic Mission Ministry Network and hear about the Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today workshops. Lisa talks about how there was a need for training Commissioned Pastors and other Lay Leaders in Hispanic congregations and how the Holy Spirit guided some key leaders to create this series of six workshops.

Lisa describes the first five in-person training events that have happened over the Fall of 2024 and the Spring of 2025 and previews the sixth of these workshops that will take place at the HMMN Annual Meeting at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary on March 7-8.

To find out more about HMMN and the Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program:
https://www.austinseminary.edu/lifelong-learning/programas-en-espanol/hispanic-ministries-mission-network

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lindsay Freeman-McCarthy, Communications Contractor for the Synod. Lindsay is a 12th generation Presbyterian and daughter to two Presbyterian ministers. She’s an ordained Presbyterian Deacon and Ruling Elder, former camp counselor at Ferncliff, and was an active youth and young adult in the church.

While on a study trip to Spain and walking the Camino de Santiago with her mother, she meets a young Dutchman named Mitchell which led to her decision to move there instead of returning to the US. As she self-describes on her BlueSky account, she is now an American Girl who became Dutch by Way of Spain.

She once again became active in the life of the church when coming on board with the Synod. Lindsay assists with CSP, building websites for mid-councils and Presbyterian entities, as well as assisting Tom with mass e-mails, and creating beautiful social media.

To find out more about the Communications Services Plan: https://www.synodsun.org/csp

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Kristy Rodgers, who is a Commissioned Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville Director of Family Ministry. Moderator 2022 and Coordinating Team Chair 2023. Also with us is Rev. Jennifer Grantham, minister at large in Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery.

Kristy and Jennifer are leading a study in their Soul Training series called What Does the Bible Say About Immigration? Using the Women of Welcome’s curriculum, this study will take place on Zoom beginning on Thursday, February 13th from Noon to 1:00pm.

In the podcast, Kristy and Jennifer discuss the political climate surrounding immigration and the challenges immigrants face, such as the uncertainty of obtaining citizenship and the constant fear of deportation. Kristy stresses that immigration is not limited to border regions, noting that immigrants are also present in rural areas across the country. They also highlight the effects of immigration on local communities, particularly the relationships between immigrants and their neighbors. Both agree that the issue is complex and does not have a simple, clear-cut solution.

To sign-up for the class, email Kristy.Rodgers@fpcbok.org

To find out more about Women of Welcome: https://womenofwelcome.com