Shows
henrinouwensocietyNow & Then…Again | From Rapture Anxiety to Sacred Rest: Gen Z, Henri Nouwen, and the Longing for HomeIn this episode of Now & Then… Again, Wendy VanderWal Martin sits down with Matthew Vaccaro, a Divinity student, youth minister, and member of the Henri Nouwen Society’s 30 Under 30 cohort. Matthew reflects on his journey from an anxiety-filled rapture theology to the spacious, compassionate spirituality of Henri Nouwen. Together, they explore loneliness, community, Gen Z’s exhaustion with productivity culture, and the healing power of rest, ritual, and belovedness—offering a hopeful vision of what it means to find “home” in a wounded world.
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Resources & Links
2026 Conference Website - https://www.conference.henrinouwen.org/
Sponsor 30 under 30 https://www.henrinouwen.org/give
https...
2026-02-1233 min
St. Croix ChurchFrom Fear to LoveWendy VanderWal Martin shares a lesson from Henri Nouwen’s book, Lifesigns, in which he suggests that “fearful questions never lead to love-filled answers.” Turning to love (and 1 [...]
2026-02-0134 min
henrinouwensocietyNow & Then…Again | “I Feel Like Henri Was My Friend”: A 30 Under 30 StoryIn this episode of Now & Then… Again, Wendy VanderWal Martin sits down with Gavin Cogburn—a Texas-based spiritual director-in-training, retreat leader, and member of the Henri Nouwen Society’s 30 Under 30 cohort. Gavin shares her surprising journey from early childhood education to interfaith spiritual formation, her deep connection to Henri Nouwen’s writings, and her vision for creating retreats that speak to an overstimulated, longing generation. Together, they explore silence, safety, belovedness, and the ache for “home” in a wounded world—offering a hopeful glimpse of how Nouwen’s wisdom is being reimagined by young leaders today.
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Resources & Links
2026 Conference Website - https://www.co...
2026-01-2236 min
henrinouwensocietyNow & Then…Again | Beloved FirstIn this episode, Gaby Salib shares how Henri Nouwen’s spiritual wisdom shaped her faith, vocation, and sense of belovedness amid the pressures of academia and early adulthood. Drawing from her Coptic Orthodox roots and participation in the 30 Under 30 cohort, Gaby reflects on ecumenical friendship, mentoring across traditions, motherhood, and her creative project of children’s books inspired by Life of the Beloved. Together with Wendy VanderWal Martin, the conversation explores longing for home, hospitality, and finding freedom and identity as God’s beloved in a wounded and divided world.
2026 Conference Website - https://www.conference.henrinouwen.org/
Sponsor 30 > 30 https://www.he...
2026-01-0831 min
henrinouwensocietyNow & Then ... Again | Waiting for JesusAs the noise of the holiday season rises, how can we recover the stillness, peace, and joy at the heart of Advent? In this deeply moving episode of Now & Then, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes pastor and author Rich Villodas to explore his new devotional, Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal.
Rich shares how the rhythms of the church calendar have reoriented his life and ministry in New York City — “the city that never sleeps” — toward waiting, peacemaking, rejoicing, and beholding. Together, Wendy and Rich reflect on how these ancient Advent themes offer an antidote to our culture’s...
2025-11-0644 min
henrinouwensocietyHenri’s Bookshelf | PeaceworkIn this insightful episode of Henri's Bookshelf, host Wendy VanderWal Martin is joined by her daughter Renate Carson to dive deep into Henri Nouwen's powerful work Peacework. The episode explores how Nouwen’s teachings on peacemaking—rooted in prayer, resistance, and community—remain relevant in today's divided world. Renate, a theology and culture student at St. Stephen University, shares her personal journey of connecting with Henri's ideas and how they resonate with her generation's search for meaning in a fractured society.
From her own reflections on peacemaking, including the role of prayer in daily life and how small acts of hospit...
2025-10-1632 min
henrinouwensocietyHenri’s Bookshelf | Reaching OutWelcome to Henri’s Bookshelf, a podcast brought to you by the Henri Nouwen Society — where timeless words spark fresh conversations.
In this episode, host Dr. Wendy VanderWal Martin is joined by Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman for a rich and reflective dive into one of Henri Nouwen’s most enduring works: Reaching Out. Together, they explore Nouwen’s spiritual vision of the inner journey — from loneliness to solitude, hostility to hospitality, and illusion to prayer.
Whether you're a longtime reader of Nouwen or discovering his wisdom for the first time, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and reach out — to God, to o...
2025-07-0951 min
Islington Listens79. Celebration with our AncestorsOn June 1st, Dr. Wendy VanderWal Martin joined us to celebrate Pride Sunday. She reminded us of the ways we can connect with our ancestors as a spiritual practice.
2025-06-0522 min
Strays, Orphans, and ExilesEp. 22 - Church and the LGBTQ+ CommunityOn this episode, our guest is Wendy Vanderwal Martin. She is the Director of Development with the Henri Nouwen Society, and author of Generous Spaciousness, a book about the church's engagement with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Christians. We discussed the church’s fraught relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, including deeper questions it raises about the authority of scripture, how we respond to ideas that challenge our faith, and how we live together in a faith community that welcomes diverse perspectives.Further Resources and Links: • Check out the process to become an affirming church (not...
2025-01-151h 12