In this episode, Lonnie Yoder joins me for a warm, candid conversation about his “Signs of Hope”—simple practices that help real people notice grace in ordinary life. Lonnie is a longtime professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (1991–2021), former Associate Dean and Director of Distance Learning, and a seasoned interim pastor; he holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Personality from the University of Iowa.
We record this as a live Sunday school–style podcast (“Sunday’s Cool”), and the vibe is family: Lonnie was my seminary professor and walked with me as a spiritual director during a hard ministry season, so we’re building on years of trust. We trace the origin of “Signs of Hope” in his home congregation’s pandemic worship—members submitted weekly photos (often kids, life milestones, and nature) set to music—which still shapes his vision for church life now. Lonnie shares why he commends churches to become more nimble than solid, more permeable than bounded, and more artistic than scientific, with practical stories: contextual worship he learned in Jamaica’s “lively choruses,” and an embodiment exercise churches can use in business meetings to help people talk across differences.
If you’re curious how faith takes shape beyond programs and propositions—and want a simple weekly rhythm for noticing hope—this episode is for you. Listen and subscribe on Substack: https://pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/s/faith-in-process
