Faith Outside the Box

Kurt Esslinger and Hyeyoung Lee, Presbyterian Missionaries

Kurt Esslinger and Hyeyoung Lee grew up Presbyterian on opposite sides of the world, in Texas and South Korea. Their faith journeys have taken them in directions they never could have imagined, to seminary, to travel around the world, and into marriage and missionary work in South Korea. Along the way, the most important lesson they've learned is that, "The things that make you different make you beloved."
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Faith Outside the Box is a production of the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, a communications ministry of the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches of greater Chicago in cooperation with the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Regi Paul

Dr. Regi Paul grew up in India steeped in faith, and trained to be a missionary. When he arrived in the United States, he discovered that many youth didn't know the full story of Christ's Passion. Dr. Paul has dedicated the last 25 years of his life to introducing youth to Christ through the play, Our Children, Our Good Friday.
Support our programming! Visit our website to make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Faith Outside the Box is a production of the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, a communications ministry of the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches of greater Chicago in cooperation with the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Sophia Hiatt

As a young, queer Christian, Sophia Hiatt is still discerning God's call. Though she wasn’t part of a church community when she was young, Sophia listened to her mother’s bible stories and lessons about spirituality. When she was a teenager, her family joined a United Methodist church and she got involved in the youth group and music ministry. She continued to grow in her faith as she came out as bisexual and queer. Sophia is now a religious studies major at North Central College.
Support our programming! Visit our website to make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Faith Outside the Box is a production of the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, a communications ministry of the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches of greater Chicago in cooperation with the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

LaShondra Stephens, Media Minister

LaShondra Stephens shares her journey growing up with two preacher parents, hearing a call from God at age nine, and following a winding path to media ministry. She is now Co-Director of Multimedia Communications at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
https://www.lashondrastephens.com/
https://www.trinitychicago.org/
Support our programming! Visit our website to make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Faith Outside the Box is a production of the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, a communications ministry of the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches of greater Chicago in cooperation with the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Rev. Ken Hockenberry

Presbyterian pastor Ken Hockenberry shares lessons learned during his 40 years in ministry, including the challenges of dating in seminary and the advantages of co-pastoring a church with your spouse.
Support our programming! Visit our website to make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Faith Outside the Box is a production of the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, a communications ministry of the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches 
of greater Chicago in cooperation with the Council of Religious Leaders
 of Metropolitan Chicago.

James and Natalie Crockette

James grew up on the mean streets of Chicago and found his faith and a sense of mission while in prison for armed robbery. Natalie came from a sheltered environment and discovered her calling on a mission trip to South America. Together, they found love and a passion for helping kids and former gang members through C24/7 Father's Arms Ministries.
Faith Outside the Box is a production of Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries. Support our ministry! Visit our website to donate today.

Rev. Phil Blackwell

In his first pastorate at a rural Methodist church, one of his parishioners visited Rev. Blackwell's office, pointed to his impressive Yale Divinity School diploma, and asked, “Don’t they make locks and keys too?”
Rev. Blackwell learned a great deal over his 45 years of ministry, including 12 years pastoring the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. He shares what he learned and how his faith expanded as the church underwent historic changes.

Lydia Talbot, leader in religious television

Lydia Talbot, recently retired Executive Director for the Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries recounts her years teaching on Chicago's West Side and as a long-time member of Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ. She was one of the shining voices in ecumenical broadcast television for over 40 years.

Dan Schwerin, Poet and United Methodist Bishop

United Methodist Church bishop and poet Dan Schwerin shares stories of a faith shaped by his childhood in Waukesha, Wisconsin, his years as a church pastor, and a parishioner who told him, "Christ is greater than our differences."