Sacred Sitdowns
Sharing one’s personal story is sometimes hard, but it is holy. Sacred Sitdowns seeks to allow a safe space for faith-filled conversations with members and friends of Geist Christian Church. Hosts Kyle Brown and Danny Gulden hope that all those who hear will be enlightened and inspired. Listen with us. You’ll be glad you did.
Sacred Sitdowns
Michelle Latty
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Danny and Kyle are kicking off this season with Michelle Latty. She is a lifelong Disciple whose journey of faith began at First Christian Church in Kokomo. Now serving as Minister of Discipleship and Engagement at Geist Christian Church, Michelle is passionate about helping others find their place in faith. Recently commissioned as a minister, she brings wisdom, warmth, and a deep love for community.
Tune in as we dive into her story—faith, family, and a backyard paradise.
Let us tell you a story. A story that will challenge, inspire, and change the way you see the world. We're your host. I'm Danny Goolden. And I'm Kyle Brown. And this is Sacred Sit Downs.
SPEAKER_01A conversational podcast that explores how the Spirit of God moves within this world through the power of story.
SPEAKER_02In today's episode, we will sit down with a member or friend of Geist Christian Church as they share their dynamic, faith-filled story.
SPEAKER_01We hope that you will be enlightened and inspired by the words shared today as we gain deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. This is Sacred Sit Downs.
SPEAKER_02Well, hello, everyone. It is so good to have you with us today.
SPEAKER_01It is good to be back. It has been a while. We have been extremely busy, but um we got a great season three planned.
SPEAKER_02And what's really cool is we did a few recordings that didn't make it to the public in season two. And so we're gonna edit those and and get those out, uh, and they will be part of our season three. Uh, because we we really sat down with some really cool church members, and we want you to be able to hear that story as well. I'm really looking forward to it. Today we've got a great uh guest to keep with our tradition of of each new season. We usually sit down with staff here at Geist Christian Church, and today we have Michelle Laddie, one of our newest staff members. And uh, well, she's kind of an old man.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, she was here for what nine years and actually left about a week after I started in 2019. I don't think she wanted to work with me, but now she now she came around though. So she came back in September of 2025. I do get better with age. I'm kind of like an acquired taste. You have to get to know me a little bit before you you kind of want to be around me. So it's it's good to have you. How are you doing, Michelle?
SPEAKER_00I'm doing great. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02You look nervous over there.
SPEAKER_00Uh, you know, I just love this kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_02Do you? I do.
SPEAKER_01Your face says something completely different right now.
SPEAKER_00That does not surprise you.
SPEAKER_01You've had the state marked on your calendar for a very long time.
SPEAKER_00It keeps I put it in pencil because it has changed for about two years now. So I just keep moving it.
SPEAKER_02In all fairness, we are gonna have you on season two. We did take a little bit of a break. Life got a little chaotic at the church. All good things. It's just got really busy, and so it is good to finally have you on the podcast.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_01Michelle, I must say, is a hero to us because she was injured right before we started recording. Um, she cut her finger on the paper cutter.
SPEAKER_00I did. Don't let anybody fool you. Those things are sharp.
SPEAKER_01Very sharp. I refuse to use them because I do not trust them.
SPEAKER_02You know, the other thing really crazy about Michelle, which I think is fascinating, is you went you you were on staff when I came to work here back in 2015. Uh, you left, took another job, and then ended up being uh on the board. You would have been our boss this year. And instead you chose to step away from the board and come back on as a staff member. I mean, that's pretty amazing.
SPEAKER_00This is true.
SPEAKER_02Why?
SPEAKER_00You know what? I asked myself that daily. No, I'm just kidding. Um why? Well, you know, it was just on my heart. It was on my heart. And as um a board member, when the job opened up, I was prevy to the job description, and it just it read like this was my job. So I pursued it.
SPEAKER_02So we'll get a little more into that job and and what you do uh here at Geist, but I'm I'm curious how how did you get to not just Geist Christian Church the first time, but how tell us a little bit about your faith journey, where you come from, uh were you born and raised in Indiana? What what what was life like for you growing up and and how did faith play a part in that um nurturing of you as you got older?
SPEAKER_00Well, I am a born and bred Hoosier. I grew up and was born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana, just north of here, um the fighting wild cats. And um, I was originally um my mother grew up Methodist, so we went to the Methodist church in the beginning, but in elementary school, uh we decided to make the move to disciples of Christ. And I was a member of First Christian Church in Kokomo since my elementary years. Through that, my mom was very active in the church. She sang in the choir. They my mom and dad were deacons. Um my mom was, we called it Cairo back then for the middle school kids. Old school. She was one of the um sponsors. So she made sure to do things to keep get my sister and I um involved in the church. And one of my best friends at the time, her mother was one of the uh she worked at the church and also became a minister while she was working in the church. So we kind of, you know, did the the PK things and ran ran around in the church and rang the bell and played in the baptistry and those kind of things.
SPEAKER_01There is some freedom though to running around the church. I mean, I think there's a I think that I I personally love it when kids here like run around and feel really comfortable and come in the kitchen and eat the communion bread because that tells me they're comfortable at church.
SPEAKER_02There's an affirmative ship to the building, right? They they Miriam has always done the same way. She kind of runs around the building like she owns it. And some parents get really anxious about that. Like, you need to stop running. And I'm like, man, this is exactly what you want your children to do is to enjoy this space and to to play, if you will.
SPEAKER_01Uh right. So parents don't be anxious. We l we love it. We really love it when your kids run around and tear things up and all that. And it just means they're comfortable. It's like home.
SPEAKER_02And I say second home for the I say a quiet church is a dead church. So, you know, the la you know, the loud laughter, fun. I mean, kids bring that, and you know, it's an important part of ensuring our church is sustainable as we continue to move on into the future.
SPEAKER_00Totally agree. Totally agree. When I well, to move on to my story, um, I started here. Well, let's let's go back. So my as a member of First Christian in Kokomo, um I got real involved with the youth group and with Cairo and um some of the sponsors. And it was a young c member, our youth group sponsor, we didn't have youth minister, we just had volunteers.
SPEAKER_02Sure.
SPEAKER_00And they were a young couple. When they started, they didn't have kids. They ended up having a a little boy while we were in school, which was fun. Um, but they were just a real important part of my life, and the church was an important part of my life, and had some stuff happen. My summer before my senior year in high school, um, my mom passed away. And so the church was um a big support system for my sister and I uh back then. And um there was an a gentleman, um, Cliff Fouts, and he was the John Smith of First Christian Church. And he was just an older gentleman, him and his wife Charlotte. They um let the youth come to their home. Um we they had a lake cottage we used to be able to go to. We we would take a weekend up in their lake cottage um each summer, and they just they they were a huge inspiration to me as well.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. I mean, it's really cool. Did you have Danny folks in your church experience growing up that were like those foundational uh building blocks? Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01And in fact, I was fortunate enough because we moved when I was going into eighth grade, and so we switched churches too. Um and I knew some of the youth and some of the adults here from church campus. I really had two churches where I kind of grew up that way and felt comfortable. And yeah, for sure. I mean, there's certainly people. I mean, I remember growing up there was a man who um uh his name was Claude, um, and he would hand butterscotch to all the kids. You know, he'd have the butterscotch in his party. And so you'd always find Claude on Sunday morning because you knew you'd get free candy. But I mean, what a welcoming, welcoming spirit.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that was I mean, same for me. I'm sure you did too. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's just those people were part of my village growing up that that nurtured and cared for me and you know continued to support me even uh, you know, some now. Uh a lot of those folks have have passed away or saints of the church that hold a special place in my heart, but uh there are still folks that uh, you know, send cards and care and and remind and support me and what God's calling me to do. And and that is a gift. I mean, that that really is a gift.
SPEAKER_01As as I've grown up, one of the things Michelle's really good about is um just getting here serving. I mean, she's always good at that not she's good at reminding me that not everyone had I mean, I've always been comfortable in a church. I think all of us around this table have. Um, and I'm reminded there are plenty of people that have not have had bad church experiences, traumatic church experiences, whatever. Michelle's really good at at, I think, reminding me of that. And also, um, but that's also to say to the people that help make others feel comfortable on a Sunday morning a John Smith who talks to a kid. I mean, that's so priceless because that's that I kind of take it for granted because I always had that good experience. So I have to remind myself that that's not always true. So I think that's really special when we're able to do that for others. So, Michelle, you talked about youth group, you know.
SPEAKER_02Do you remember one specific uh lesson or moment within youth group that was impactful or uh extremely foundational for you in your life?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I don't know that there was one specific moment that I can point to. Um alth well, there were a couple. I only went to youth or to church camp one summer. Um is that Camp Befford? No, it was um Barbie. Camp Barbie. Okay. I could sing you the song, but I'm not gonna. Okay. But I went with two of my friends from church, and um I think that was the first time I had heard Pass It On. And we were around a campfire and somebody was playing it on the guitar, and that was just it was magical. I mean, it was a beautiful moment. From that, from that point on, that has been one of my favorite songs. I used it in one of my first communion meditations. I mean, it's just it's it's a beautiful, beautiful song that had a huge impact on my life.
SPEAKER_02It is a great song.
unknownIt is.
SPEAKER_02Now, was it a campfire scene going on?
SPEAKER_01Oh 477 in the chalice hymnal.
SPEAKER_00Somebody look that up.
SPEAKER_02Pass it on. Yeah, one of those things that you may not know as a listener is you can sing or say most uh hymns found within the chalice hymnal, and Danny could tell you exactly what the hymn number is. That's quite impressive.
SPEAKER_01It's a gift. It only plays in certain places, but you know, I still think it's fascinating.
SPEAKER_00I bought I bought a hymnal just so I could check them though. Fact check.
SPEAKER_02Fact check. He's about 95% correct. He is. Yeah, he is. Pretty good. Pretty good. So after Kokomo, which by the way, you are the Wildcats, just like my beloved Kentucky Wildcats, right? And that's spelled W-I-L-D-C-A-T-S, correct?
SPEAKER_00Oh no, no, no, no. We do it our own way in Kokomo because we are the wild cats with a K, because a Kokomo is a good thing.
SPEAKER_02Is it a capital K? So it stands out? No, it's not. It's not even art an artistic interpretation of wildcats. It's just uh misspelling.
SPEAKER_00Different spelling.
SPEAKER_02Is it ever shortened to cats? Yeah, go ahead. And it's spelled K-A-K-A-T-K-A-S.
SPEAKER_00Fascinating. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02So from uh being a a Kokomo wildcat spelled with a K, uh where did you end up going to college?
SPEAKER_00The only Indiana University. IU Bloomington. Oh no, the only Indian University in Bloomington.
SPEAKER_01Sorry, Purdue fans, Butler fans. She she put out a the Ohio State, but the Indiana University. All right.
SPEAKER_00That's right. It's uh it was a family tradition started by my grandpa, then my dad, my aunt, and my sister and I, and now all three of my children follow the Hoosier tradition.
SPEAKER_02You have spent a lot of money at that university.
SPEAKER_00Yes, my family.
SPEAKER_02I was about to say you uh you ought to have a building name. I was gonna say at this point, I I would agree with that.
SPEAKER_00No doubt.
SPEAKER_01So do you know why? I don't know the answer to this question, but I was reading an article the other day that of all the like main state, you know, like University of Kentucky, University of Georgia, Indiana University is one of like only three or four that's not the university of, but it's the state and then university. Do you know why that is? I do not alumnus and big big time donor to me. Yes, donate a lot.
SPEAKER_00Um Noah, I do not. That's a good answer.
SPEAKER_01Never even thought of it. There's only like three, but you know, like University of Tech. There's only like three states where it's like state and then university. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Now do you see that?
SPEAKER_01Now you're thinking about your University of Florida, University of the University of the Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I'm starting to go. I love how we just keep naming SEC schools because you know that is one of the top tier conferences, but that's a story for another day. It's a podcast for another day.
SPEAKER_01Another day. Michelle does throw a very uh nice tailgate. Um, what I've learned. Can we say this about you? Sure. She's like the tailgate well, because she has all these generations of people at at IU, but she's only been to one football game. She's been to like probably six thousand tailgates and one game.
SPEAKER_00I went to every football game when I attended IU.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02And this would be the year to go to the games.
SPEAKER_00Yes. But if you look at our years past, since I graduated, the it's not been a stellar. So the tailgates are a big part of the IU experience community.
SPEAKER_01All right. So what do you especially love about Bloomington? Like how did that how did that contribute to your story life, um, your path? Like, what do you what do you love about it?
SPEAKER_00It's beautiful. I mean, if you've never been on Bloomington's campus, it is absolutely gorgeous. And I think it's such a big school, but yet if you find your community within IU, I mean it becomes a magical place. Um, I was lucky enough I I did join a a social sorority and I found my people, and they are my lifelong friends, and it's just it made a huge school seem so much smaller. And you just find your little niches. I did IU Student Foundation, which puts on a lot of events um at Bloom in Bloomington, and it was just it was just a really, a really cool experience.
SPEAKER_02And what was that? Social sorority?
SPEAKER_00That's social sorority. Yeah, I know versus an academic sorority. No, I know, but what what was your Oh, I was an alpha fee.
SPEAKER_02Alpha fee. Alpha fee. Okay. And what did you major? What what what what did you hope to go like when you went into college? Did you leave with the degree you thought you would have, or did it switch or change during your time there?
SPEAKER_00I left with a g a degree that I had convinced myself would get me a business job because didn't really want to do the Kelly School of Business. Um, I wanted to be more well-rounded. So I did College of Arts and Sciences, and I was a speech communication major with a psychology minor. My kids laugh at me and tell me that's not a real degree. Um, because that's they that's not even a major anymore.
SPEAKER_02I don't know. I think that would be yeah, that's a lot of stuff wrapped into a degree right there.
SPEAKER_00I think it is. It was a lot of uh Socrates and research and public speaking, and I mean it was a lot of oh well-rounded degree just like you're speaking our language.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. A lot of soft skills.
SPEAKER_00So yeah. But it was it was good. And my sister ended up doing the exact same major. Really? Yes, she did.
SPEAKER_02Now what's the age difference? With psychology?
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Wow, no kidding. Now, what's the age difference between the two of you? 18 months. 18 months. All right, so pretty close. All right. Yep. And she was in my sorority too. So you've got this really cool guy in your life, and I I I I I you got your man crush. I do. I Joe Laddie is is one of my favorite individuals here. He's a wonderful guy, he really is. How did the two of you meet? Because I love the I I think the first time I went to your house in your basement, you have this really cool picture because you you were a cheerleader. I was for the Wildcats with a K. With a K. And and Joe was the star uh quarterback of the football team. At HSE.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, at Hamilton Southeastern.
SPEAKER_02Wow. I mean that if you it's almost like that's a story of Jack and Diane. Two American kids living in the Heartland.
SPEAKER_01When Joe was at HSE, was Fisher's High School open?
SPEAKER_00No. No, it was just HSC's. It was just HSE. So how did the two of you meet? After college, um I we both were working at a restaurant, Charleston's restaurant. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Do they bring the biscuits out ahead of time? Is that Charleston's or Method? Oh, I'm thinking of O'Charlie's. Never mind. Very different. Very different. Charleston's is much nicer, right? Better. Well, first of all, one's nothing against O'Charlie's.
SPEAKER_02O'Charlie's isn't even open anymore. They're much they're one of the restaurants that didn't make it. But uh tell us a little bit. Well, we are people of resurrection. Who knows? Maybe O'Charley's will come back. You never know who's gonna make it. But Charleston's is where you two met.
SPEAKER_00Yes, Charleston's is where we met. Um I moved down here after college with uh two of my friends, and we had an apartment, and two of us didn't have a job. One of us was a student teacher. So the two of us decided we better find a job. So we went around and applied to restaurants, and Charleston's hired us. Um you walk in with your speech, communication, and psychology degree and told them why they needed to hire me. Right, absolutely. Um, and then Joe was already working there. He had worked there, I think, a little bit in in college. Okay. Um, but uh yeah, so I worked there for probably a year and a half, a year and a half to two years. Uh he was there a little bit longer. I was a waitress, a bartender, a manager. Did it all.
SPEAKER_02So who asked who out?
SPEAKER_00Uh Joe asked me out. Okay. I was a sub first for a date that canceled on him. Because we were friends. We were friends. Sure. Wait a second.
SPEAKER_01So he had a date, they didn't show up and he went out with you instead.
SPEAKER_00Well, I forget how if it was like that last minute or whether he knew she had canceled, but he'd already bought all the food, so he was gonna make the dinner anyway. So then I just stood in with the dinner. But yeah, that's a bold move by Joe Latty.
SPEAKER_01Bold move.
SPEAKER_02Well, what a great story. Yeah. So I mean, what this random meal, there was no pressure. Uh-huh. You just show up, and and that's that was really the first of many dinner dates. Correct.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Wow. That's really cool. Very cool. Very cool. And so you guys, how long did you uh date before you got married?
SPEAKER_00Uh four years.
SPEAKER_01That's a good long time. Yeah. Yeah. You knew. After four years, right?
SPEAKER_02I miss it.
SPEAKER_00It was it was time.
SPEAKER_02It was time. So you have uh three amazing kids. I do. Uh Hannah, Olivia, and Coleman. And notice I feel like I I put the middle child who always gets overlooked, Coleman.
SPEAKER_01I know you put you put well, you put Olivia second. You promoted her.
SPEAKER_02I promote well, you know, only children, or not middle children, they tend to get, you know, forgotten about. But we see you, Coleman, when you listen to this. Uh tell us a little bit about your kids because they're all unique. They're all uh IU students or graduates of of the school. But uh tell us a little bit about your awesome kids.
SPEAKER_00Well, uh Hannah's my oldest, and she is uh I think she's realizing the older she gets, the uh unfortunately to her, the more she is like me a little bit.
SPEAKER_02Um what do you mean by that?
SPEAKER_00Well, we uh bedded heads a lot. Okay. Because we're a lot alike, our personalities, and she's my social butterfly. She's always um been involved and been a leader in high school. She was a spirit leader for Fisher's high school. Um, she was involved in a lot of different things there. Um, she also joined a sorority at IU. She was a Zeta Alpha at IU and active in that and has a she found her people. You know, she's got her great group of friends. And she moved to Chicago. She lives in Chicago now and is living her best life up there with um her roommate who she met freshman year at Fisher's high school. So they've been friends for part of her friends group. She's got a wonderful friend group. They've got a big old group and they still get together when they're in town, they go and visit each other. It's it's a really cool uh high school friend group, and then what she's got also uh a really nice um college friend group as well. So she's doing great.
SPEAKER_02Now you talked about uh you all butted heads a little bit. Has she has she gotten to the point where she's called you and apologized? Like or do you think that because I as one who and this may come if and when she has children, I have uh very much called my mother multiple times now that I have a 13-year-old and said, I just I just want to say I'm sorry. Like I don't give any context of why I just say I'm I'm sorry because I get it now, and I I I made I I did not make the best choices at times in my life, and I just uh just wanted to apologize. I made her life very miserable because we're very much alike, and now I'm like, I'm so so sorry.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't know that we've reached that yet, but um she we and I realize I made a lot of mistakes too. Obviously, first time mom, she's the she's the guinea pig, she's the one that goes through everything first. So we both probably um made our fair share of mistakes.
SPEAKER_02But she's got the most complete baby book, doesn't she?
SPEAKER_00She certainly does. Don't remind poor Olivia. That's totally an only child, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yes, she does. Olivia reminds me of that all the time.
SPEAKER_01And Coleman just moved into his first like adult apartment downtown, right? Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00He's living with two of his friends, uh high school friends that went on to college friends. And um, yeah, so he and two guys are living down near Stark Neurological Labs, and so it's not far from from where he is.
SPEAKER_01Like for Tony Stark?
SPEAKER_00I know, isn't that cool?
SPEAKER_01That is cool. That's what I tell people at least Tony Stark.
SPEAKER_00I work for Iron Man.
SPEAKER_01Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00Um he's he uh his degree was in um neuroscience. So he's trying to figure out, you know, he's working in a lab right now, and I think at this point he's uh contemplating pursuing his PhD through that. So That's amazing. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. And so you're you're youngest. Yeah. You don't even have a collection of how many teeth she had in her baby book.
SPEAKER_00I probably have her teeth. I didn't. They they each have a little tub kind of thing where I I throw things. And one day, one day, one day I'm gonna get to it.
SPEAKER_02I understand.
SPEAKER_00The problem is with Hannah, most of her pictures were developed. They were film pictures. And so they I actually had them in my hand. Coleman was started film, so I had he's got a little book, like his first year. Olivia, all digital. Sure. All digital. So they weren't in my possession in my hands. So I they just they did not get made.
SPEAKER_01That is an interesting shift. I mean, that's like a a long uh different conversation, but that's probably true for a lot of people, Olivia's age. Like their pictures are not, they're digital.
SPEAKER_02And you don't think to print them out. I mean, because they're on my phone. I have them right there. I want to pull it up. Right, they're in the cloud.
SPEAKER_00Yep, yep. So, you know, you need a school picture for when she was, you know, a baby or whatever. Well, then I'm not the most digitally organized person, so then you gotta go through and find it. Instead of just going and finding the actual physical picture, it was a little easier. And she's still at IU. She is, she's a junior at IU. Um, she also joined a social sorority. She's a Sigma cat pet down there and found her her peeps as well. So for as much trouble as it is for the sorority life, a lot, it it can be a wonderful thing for for people. It can.
SPEAKER_01What's her major?
SPEAKER_00She is a um speech pathology. Okay.
SPEAKER_01Very good.
SPEAKER_00So she is gonna go that route. Um Hannah was a um biology major, human biology major. So she and she's now in di in digital marketing and digital, uh, so that's really nothing. But Coleman um is was neuroscience, so he's doing his too. But you don't have to do what your degree was.
SPEAKER_01No, I I'm not. I'm not. I mean, kind maybe a little, but not really. I was political science secondary education. Yeah, I wasn't secondary education.
SPEAKER_00Well, when I started um taking this, you know, when took this job and started actually um helping in services, my kids said, Oh, mom, you're finally using your degree.
SPEAKER_01Well, that's a good that is a so supportive. That is a good segue. Kids always give it it's great how kids will give you a hard time no matter how old they are. They always that's a good segue because you did make um you were here at Guise serving in ministry um for many years, and as Kyle mentioned, left and then came back and have have embraced this commission ministry. And um so what's that been like? What's that transition been like in terms of just going from uh staff to because I what impressed me was when you were no longer staff, you kept coming to church. And a lot of people don't necessarily oh, I'll be around, but they aren't. But you were, um, as Kyle mentioned, vice moderator, you were on track to be our boss and then um decided instead to to join the team. And so what what kind of um how's that transition been? What's it what's it been like?
SPEAKER_00Well, I think at first when I when I left, I was like, oh man, I I don't have to actually get up and go on Sunday if I don't want to. You know, at first that was kind of my my uh thought process, but then uh let's see, I I left in September, I believe, and then I immediately got asked to be an elder. So um you left right when I started. Michelle's like, no coincidence there, though.
SPEAKER_01I don't know how to talk about.
SPEAKER_00No. Um so I I knew I wanted to, I mean, I wasn't going anywhere. I knew I was gonna be involved in the church because the churches meant so much to me. Um and it's my church family. So, you know, I of course I said yes and overwhelmingly happy to to be an elder and I was excited because I could I came from children's ministry. I was still gonna get to help with uh pastor's class and all that fun stuff. And then what year was that? 2020. 2020.
SPEAKER_01Nothing went as planned in 2020.
SPEAKER_00So I was always involved. I knew I was gonna be involved. Um I was the elder, and then when they asked me to be the vice moderator, I'm like, are you sure? Um but I never I never c thought in my mind that I would not still be um involved here at Geist, even not on staff. So I was happy to be able to be an elder and and the vice moderator. So and then being back um has been great. I has kind of just slid right back in. It feels like home. Um my office would reflect the same. So it's it's it's been an easy transition back and a great transition back.
SPEAKER_01You you have made it look really easy. I mean, I remember, I know your kids were giving you a hard time about the word, but I remember the first couple of Sundays that you led in worship. I mean, I was blown away by how not because I didn't expect you to be good, but just how natural you were at it, because you were not really when you were on staff here before, you were not in um the corporate worship a whole lot. And so, but I mean, I remember the first I vividly remember the first Sunday, and I it was like you had been doing this all of your life. And um I was just so impressed. I mean, I was fed at number one. I mean, it and sometimes when you're in worship leadership, I think we can all, it's harder to worship. But Michelle actually got me to stop and worship and listen and um kind of take it in. And so I was just blown away. I mean, I I can't say enough good things about just that that piece of it, which is difficult. I mean, I think a lot of people when they go into ministry, some of the behind-the-scenes stuff is a little bit easier, but it's the public leadership that makes them a little nervous. And um, I mean, you you just stepped right in and and and we're great.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Yeah, it's it's I I've loved it. I mean, I was I think being an elder helped because it was like baby steps because you were up at the table praying, you know, in front of everybody. So um that was kind of uh my introduction to being in front of the congregation. But yeah, for the most part, I mean I I dance and sing in front of the kids all day long back in children's ministry. Um, but being in front of the adults is a different thing, but um, yeah, it's kind of just it's felt like that's where I needed to be.
SPEAKER_02So moving back into this role on staff, what has been one of the easier things to kind of get back in the groove to doing that like you really missed and you're glad to be able to to do that? Uh and what has been one of the harder things uh or maybe the the biggest learning curve for you uh in this in this new role?
SPEAKER_00Um I think when I wasn't on staff, but I was coming all the time, like not having a key, because I knew where everything was, and if somebody needed something, I'm like, oh yeah, well, I I can get that for you, but um but I couldn't. So, you know, that was kind of a little different because I still felt connected, but yet I was there was one step removed. Right. Um coming back on staff, uh I I don't know if there's been I guess trying to find the new rules. Um because when I was on staff before, we had a different model. You know, we had the the lead pastor and a campus pastor, and so uh I hadn't worked with or for Danny before. Um so just trying to figure out where you know where I fit in to everything um and trying to learn a new, you know, get to know Danny, get to know what how how his style was, because you know, I was I had Dustin before. So it's a little different, right?
SPEAKER_02Everybody's got a different personality, they bring different different skills to to the job. And so uh doing that dance, I'm surprised you didn't say which you've done a remarkable job. Uh before you didn't uh have to give sermons, but you've you've been preaching uh a lot more uh in this new role as a commissioned minister. Uh what is it like writing a sermon? Like how has that played out for you? Because it's I I don't think they come easy for people like Danny and uh those that do it on a regular basis, they say it gets easier the more you do it. Um I hope one day I I find that easy, Lane, but I I still think it takes uh it takes me uh more time to come up with a sermon. So what has that been like for you?
SPEAKER_00I think that's probably the most intimidating part because um I am expected to share biblical knowledge and biblical theology with um folks who are way more uh experienced and have way more knowledge than than myself. And so um trying to find that fine line of um how I can maybe put my experiences or and help them with some of the factuals, and that's kind of where I remember listening, sitting in church and listening to sermons and um some of it just going over my head. Like, and and if I didn't know the backstory, then I was, you know, lost. And so I try to make a point in my sermons to give that background, to give that history. So if there is somebody like me sitting out there, um, they're not gonna be lost. They're gonna be, they're gonna be right on the same playing field as everybody else.
SPEAKER_02And that also helps, I mean, you've spent a lot of your time working with kids.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02And so it allows everyone an opportunity to gain something from the sermon instead of just a certain segment of the population. And I think that's really important. I mean, kids are part of our community, and for them to understand, even if it's 10% or 15% of the sermon, but because you took the initiative and wanted to make sure that they were included, is important.
SPEAKER_00Funny that you said that because in my last sermon, was it the last one? Um during the 1115 service, we I was talking about playing games with your kids and you should let them win every once in a while so they know what it's like to win. Little Gwen Crutchfield came with Randy and Janice, and she's like, Yes, listen to that. So she was totally listening to the sermons.
SPEAKER_01I and I think it's a strength. I mean, what I've become, as I've done ministry longer, I've become more aware of my own limitations in preaching in terms of my experience and and my what I've learned. And so I think um having a different, I mean, I think anytime someone with a different voice, different perspective, even different approaches to how they've learned the Bible or theology preaches, I think it's a strength because it just makes the preaching more diverse versus well, everyone kind of sounds the same. Sure. So I think I think you, um, as one of the the preachers up here, I mean, I feel like our voices complement one another really well.
SPEAKER_00Well, um you're that you get tired of reading my uh my sermons over and over again. I before I enjoy it. Before I put one out, I make sure that Danny has gone over it.
SPEAKER_01But I'm I'm a sermon nerd, so I enjoy it. It's it's one of my favorite things to do.
SPEAKER_02So and and that may never stop. I've I've you know I've been doing this for uh almost 20 years. I still, when my sermon's done, I send it to a few people and let them read it just to make sure that I'm not walking off a cliff or I've just gone completely uh away from what the text. So I mean I think it's good to have those voices to kind of uh work with and partner with to make sure they're holding you accountable and and you're holding them accountable. I think that's great.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02So, Michelle, you talked uh one of the things that I a theme I think that's been in our time together is uh finding your people. Um you talked about your kids, finding their people. Uh I'm guessing that has been important to them because they've seen you and Joe model your people and and and the importance of being in community. Um probably deeply rooted uh in your time as as a kid growing up in church and seeing that. What do you look for in community? How did you know that you found your community? What are some of those characteristics that um are important to you as you as you surround yourself with folks that that are your people, your community, your tribe?
SPEAKER_00Well, I think it's fun because I feel like I have several different groups of people, you know, that I have found I have been lucky enough to find my people in different settings. Okay. Um my college friends, they are um my lifelong people. Um we would do anything for each other. We know all the dirt and where it's hidden, and you know, and so it's it's they're so we should have had them on the podcast.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Can we get their names and mail addresses?
SPEAKER_00So cell phone numbers. They let you the people that you can just be who you want to be with. Sure. Like we all learned, you're holy friends. I mean, they I have several groups of holy friends. Um, people here at church. I mean, you got the the Amy's and the Kim's and the Candies and you know, the Sue's and the Janises, and they they keep you honest.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and they accept you for who you are as you are. And um, I think that's that's awesome. Um, so I think if everybody can find their people, I don't want to have to put on pretense for anybody. Um I I just want to be able to be myself when I'm around them, and those are those are my people.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. That's so cool.
SPEAKER_01So, Michelle, as we begin to um wind down, um kind of a big big question for you here, and this is actually one we sent ahead of time, but I'm I would be interested to know if you could ask God one question, what would it be? We uh we we are a church where questions are welcome. So if you could ask God one question, what would that question be?
SPEAKER_00That's really hard because the first one that pops into my mind is why um why did you need my mom so early? So that that would probably be my first question.
SPEAKER_02That's a good one. And you're not alone in asking that question because there are others out there who have lost important people in their lives and oftentimes much younger than they should have. And so I think that's a a very vulnerable um question to ask.
SPEAKER_01And it's good to have people you can explore that question with. I mean, that's the other good thing about a church community or people, your people. I mean, that's something you can explore. Um we do like to ask every guest if there's a uh TV show or a book or a movie you've seen recently that you'd like to recommend, and it doesn't um, and I know we do have a running joke in the office. Michelle has not seen We're the Millers. So we're gonna have like a staff movie night at some point to screen We're the Millers. One of the great comedies of all time, pre-Ted Lasso, Jacob Jason Sadecas. There we go, and Jennifer Amston, right? Yes, yep, she's in it, and um Emma Roberts, and uh I think it's Will Patton. He's uh Alright, yeah. I have seen that. Yeah, especially when they go to a uh well, yeah. RV trip, yeah. RV trip across. Yeah, yeah. Michelle's not I've seen it like 132 times and Michelle's never seen it.
SPEAKER_00So now we'll have staff meetings. I I'm not a big I mean I watch T Joe likes the the NCIS, the FBIs, the Chicago PD. He's into all the the network TV.
SPEAKER_02The procedural, I tell you what. Okay.
SPEAKER_00So they we have staff meetings and they just all are talking about, oh, did you watch this? Did you watch this? They're all streaming shows or movies, and I'm just sitting over here, you know, blank.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_00And um get together with my friends and um they're readers and they're talking about the books that they've read. And oh, have you read this? And oh, this what this author's awesome, and I'm just sitting there. I just renewed my library card. I have not had a library card in years. I just renewed it because they've I I'm gonna do it. I am gonna either listen to books on tape or I'm gonna download them and read them on my phone, but I've gotta do it. Okay. I love reading, I just don't I don't make it a priority.
SPEAKER_01It's hard to find the time. I mean, it really is. So no no no shows. Oh no, well, so what's that?
SPEAKER_00What's that one that I that we all just watched that I didn't know you watched, but nobody knew this?
SPEAKER_01Nobody wants this. Nobody wants this. Nobody wants this. It's on uh Netflix. It's a it's uh it's about a relationship between a rabbi and a podcast host. Okay. Kind of the I think I've seen it pop up on my bell and um that guy. Adrian Brody. Okay, who was in Shazam, I think. All right. Not that anyone saw Shazam. Well, Michelle, thank you for being on the podcast.
SPEAKER_02This wasn't that bad, was it?
SPEAKER_00No, it wasn't.
SPEAKER_02This was great. You'd come back again, you'd do a part two.
SPEAKER_00Perhaps.
SPEAKER_02All right, that's good. Well, and and by that time, we'll reach out to some of your uh college friends. Yeah, exactly. We'll have them around the table. Absolutely. We'll have some really good stories. Uh but thank you for uh saying yes uh to coming back and and working on staff.
SPEAKER_00Oh, my pleasure. Yeah, it's a gift.
SPEAKER_02I mean it's a gift, it is a gift. You bring a lot of energy and excitement and fun uh to Geist. And for that, back at you. That is a gift.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, thank you.
SPEAKER_01Thank you, Michelle.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. This has been another episode of Sacred Sit Downs. We hope you will join us next time as we explore the power of story. We can be found on all major platforms, so be sure to subscribe. As always, thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Sacred Sit Downs.