Meta is multi-faceted leader, speaker and author who has international experience in promoting health and wellness.  She tells how her personal  story has led to her present ministry calling, including stories from Cuba and Hawaii.  https://www.surferspirit.org/ https://transformingyourpath.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

Calvin Terrell is the founder and director the Social Centric Institute and shares several powerful stories surrounding race in America - stories filled of trauma, hatred, love and hope.  You'll want to listen with full attention - he packs in a lot! Find more on the Social Centric Institute here:   https://www.calvinterrell.com/ Calvin's TED talk can be found here:   https://www.ted.com/talks/calvin_terrell_socio_spiritual_evolution --- Send in a voice message:...

The conversation w/ Pastor Rhonda continues, as she speaks of the blessings and challenges of her current call at Our Saviour's Lutheran, and reflects on ways to impact racial divides. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

Pastor Rhonda shares with us about her young life in faith at Bethany Church in Chicago, as well as her experiences  as a woman of color in predominately white colleges, seminary and youth camps. You don't want to miss this one. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

Steven Wagner  tells of his time as a student in Spain and his relationship with his host Dad and how that time has influenced his current work with a gap year program called the Awaken Project. Through his stories we are reminded of the importance of human connection, of serving one another and blessing others w/ hospitality, And, you may also learn a thing or two about the interstate road system. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

Discover how two women are partnering to meet food needs for kids, and at the same time developing a heart of service in local youth.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

In this episode we hear some of the Just Stories story, as told through a series of snapshots from Mark.  Get to know Mark a little more and discover how Just Stories got its start. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juststoriesoslc/message

Marilyn is a retired teacher who has followed God's call to care for neighbors and foreigners. In this case, her neighbors reside in Guatalmala, and foreigners are those seeking asylum in the U.S. from dreadful circumstances in their homeland.  Hear how she has lived a life of love and service to these.           Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants             Mission Impact --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Josh and his wife Lily immigrated as adults to the U.S.  Hear how their humble beginnings were used to create the foremost Chinese adoption agency in the world.   Chinese Children Adoption International --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Founder of the  Haïti College Fund, John Barba is dedicated to addressing the long-term needs of the Haïtian people to overcome the never-ending cycle of poverty and premature death by addressing one of the core issues giving rise to their impoverishment: lack of access to higher education. http://haiticollegefund.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Pastor Gail grew up on a Wisconsin farm and learned what it meant to be grateful for the bounty that the earth gives, and to live amidst the community that surrounds us.   These childhood influences helped to shape her ministry, as she advocated for the cause of the hungry throughout her ministry calls.  For more information:  ELCA World Hunger. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Jiyoon shares about her work with the Chicagoland AAPI community, and challenges faced with discrimination and safety.  She also shares about how her story has driven her to see improved education on Asian American history in our schools.  For more information visit: www.hanacenter.org https://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/asian-americans-pbs/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Drawn to the natural world from youth, Pete is a biologist who organizes volunteers to care for local natural spaces.  He talks about the creation of Emily's Prairie, devoted to the memory of his daughter, as well as other stories of the Illinois prairies. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

This friendship was borne through the University of Illinois Department of Rehab and Educational Services.  Listen to hear how shared faith and music deepened their ties and ultimately allowed them to impact one another, and their community.  InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.        Our God Can (6min mark) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Sandra shares her journey from pondering how to live a good life to helping others live a good life. Her sister, Darlene, inspired her through her life and death to move from working in journalism to non-profits. She was the director of the Milwaukee Breast Cancer Coalition and now is the director of ACAP, Adaptive Community Approach Program. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Andy Karol is a poet and photographer who identifies as gender variant.  She shares stories of how she's learned from Orion, her horse, and about how being vulnerable and authentic has propelled her life.  Be sure to get to the end when she shares a new poem.  It's brilliant! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Father Corey works with young men seeking asylum in the U.S., having fled their homelands for fear of their lives.  These men find refuge and hope at the Viator House of Hospitality.  Hear some of their true stories of courage and catch a glimpse of heaven.  For women asylum seekers, Bethany House of Hospitality provides similar services. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Sheryl Hilbert is co-director of the PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) program at her church which gives support to the homeless. She speaks about the ministry and shares some experiences as a PADS volunteer. More information about PADS and ways to support this ministry is available at oursaviours.org and journeystheroadhome.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Pastor Tony shares stories of his youth, his journey to ministry in Iowa and God's work in a multi-cultural student conference. He recently transitioned from serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, to his new role as the Strategic Initiatives Consultant with Wycliffe Bible Translators. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Kathy Khang, writer and speaker, shares an experience that would help to shape how she views everyday justice, and inspire her latest book! Kathy considers what everyday justice can look like in our everyday lives; is there an opportunity to stop a brief moment of injustice. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Rev. John Alan shares about his childhood in the Jim Crow south, his encounter with Martin Luther King Jr, and his march at Selma. Hear more from John Alan on March 4th at 6pm CST discussing the documentary - The Long Shadow. POWER - OSLC --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message

Add-2 the emcee shares about his life and mission in the city of Chicago, using hip hop and rap to provide alternatives for youth. Add-2 created Haven Studios as a positive outlet for youth to express themselves through music. The vision at Haven Studios is to positively impact the lives of at risk and in-need youth using mentorship and expose them to the many possibilities that exist within the music business. Learn more at havenstudios.org. Add-2 also teaches civically engaged youth how to...

Just Stories hosts a space for a variety of guests to tell their stories related to social justice, advocacy, and service, living out their call to do justly and love mercy.  Our hope is that such stories serve to kindle listeners' future stories. Our guests have done work in social justice for people of color, immigration, world hunger, gender equity, the environment, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-fasick/message