Keisha’s talk invited the community to reflect on the power of identity and belonging through both her personal story and the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. She shared her own journey as a biracial woman navigating family, culture, faith, and the many social identities that shape who she is—often asking where she truly belongs. Drawing from John 4, she highlighted how Jesus not only engaged the Samaritan woman but fully saw and honored every part of her identity, placing her at the center of God’s work. Keisha challenged the community to consider the ways we place limits on which identities we deem worthy of belonging and to imagine what it would look like if Jesus met us at the well and named our whole selves with love. She closed with a blessing, affirming that God is big enough to hold every part of who we are, and encouraging us to embrace both our own belovedness and that of others in the family of God.

Garret’s message was a playful yet deeply honest reflection on life as an Enneagram Seven—the enthusiast. Using pool noodles as a lighthearted symbol of joy and energy, he shared both the highs of optimism, humor, and vitality, and the lows of impulsiveness, restlessness, and hidden struggles. He emphasized that while Sevens may appear to have it all together, they often mask deep pain and anxiety beneath their cheerful façade. Drawing from his own story, including moments of depression and self-reliance, Garrett highlighted how faith, self-awareness, and community can ground a Seven in healthier patterns of joy and presence. Anchoring his message in Jesus’ words, “where two or more are gathered, there I am,” he reminded listeners that God meets us in authentic relationship and that the Enneagram can be a powerful tool for understanding ourselves, supporting one another, and leaning into God’s joy together.

Jordan’s message explored the doctrine of hell, challenging traditional evangelical views that use it as a fear-based motivator rather than a lens for God’s love. He traced the concept’s historical development—from medieval art and Dante’s *Inferno*, through Jonathan Edwards’ fire-and-brimstone preaching, to modern debates like Rob Bell’s *Love Wins*—and showed how translations and cultural influences shaped our ideas more than scripture itself. Examining biblical terms like *Sheol* and *Gehenna*, Jordan noted that early Christian writings rarely depict eternal conscious torment, and presented three main Christian perspectives: eternal conscious torment, annihilationism, and universalism. He questioned the logic and theology of a God who punishes eternally, highlighting how beliefs about hell impact parenting, leadership, and community. Ultimately, he urged the church to move from a “spirituality of fear” toward one of hope, redemption, and love.

Josiah’s sermon challenges the traditional American view of sin shaped by penal substitutionary atonement, which paints God as wrathful and punitive. Instead, Josiah argues that Jesus’ life and the cross reveal a God of mercy and love—not a cosmic judge demanding punishment. Drawing on the *Christus Victor* perspective, he presents the cross as God’s victory over evil and darkness rather than divine wrath taken out on Jesus. Exploring two biblical stories of women labeled as sinners, Josiah broadens the understanding of sin beyond individual wrongdoing to include the harm done to us and oppressive systems that trap people in cycles of brokenness. Through these stories and reflections on Adam and Eve, he emphasizes that Jesus meets us with grace and restores belonging, reminding us that we are loved, treasured, and never alone.

Rachel shares how her faith journey moved from fear and rigid fundamentalism toward a more expansive understanding of divine love through the concept of the Cosmic Christ, popularized by Richard Rohr. She describes how early encounters with God in nature contrasted with the fear-based teachings of her upbringing, eventually leading her into deconstruction and a rebuilding of faith rooted in connection, inclusion, and divine presence in all creation. Drawing on scripture, theology, and personal experience, she explains that “Christ” is not just Jesus’ name but a universal presence permeating all life and nature. This vision invites a shift in how we see God, ourselves, and others—recognizing inherent dignity, practicing love, and embracing a transcendent, ever-present divine light that connects and sustains everything.

In her message, Leticia reflects on Good Trouble Week—a tribute to John Lewis—and explores what it means to resist injustice with joy, peace, and curiosity. She shares her personal struggles with feeling empty amid overwhelming news cycles and cultural division, even as she seeks belonging, spiritual renewal, and a deeper sense of community. Drawing from scripture, a recent trip to New Zealand, and her own metaphors of "good trouble pie" and a "spiritual diet," she invites others to examine their own patterns and embrace resistance grounded in love. Through storytelling, gratitude, and listening, Leticia encourages everyone to engage in the slow, sacred work of building belonging and standing up for peace in a divided world.

In her message, Jocelyn reflects on the deep ache of suffering and exclusion—particularly for people with disabilities—and contrasts it with God’s original vision of shalom, a peace marked by wholeness, justice, and belonging. Drawing on Scripture, theology, and her own experience with chronic pain, she affirms that while suffering is an inevitable part of life, it was never meant to be this way. Through stories like the bleeding woman and Zacchaeus, Jocelyn shows how Jesus restores not just bodies, but relationships and dignity, offering a fuller picture of healing. She invites us to be active participants in God’s work of restoration by holding space for pain, pursuing justice, building community, seeking peace through Christ, and celebrating every glimpse of shalom we witness in a broken world.

Nicole kicked off our Summer MixTape series with a powerful and personal message about belonging. Sharing her own story—through the lens of identity, loss, adoption, and chronic illness—she reminded us that the Bible tells a story of God's radical love and relentless pursuit of all people. Nicole challenged us to see Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging not as culture wars, but as core values of the gospel—reflected in the life of Jesus. In a world that often divides, she invited us to create spaces of belonging by showing up with vulnerability, curiosity, and love.