Going the M.I.L.E.

Episode 15 - Julie O’Neal on Cultural Identity and Faithful Presence

In this episode of Going the MILE, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Julie O’Neal about a call shaped by youth ministry, seminary, and long-term service in conference and general church leadership. Julie is a Desert Southwest Conference delegate and staff member. As a PK (pastor’s kid), Julie grew up immersed in the life of the church, yet her discernment led her toward a lay ministry path rather than ordination. Her story highlights a deep commitment to helping the church thrive through thoughtful administration, formation, and support of young people.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 14 - Rev. Ashley Skinner Creek on Diligence, Discernment, and Saying Yes

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Rev. Ashley Skinner Creek, Assistant Dean at Seattle Pacific Seminary. Ashley reflects on a call shaped less by one defining moment and more by a series of faithful “small yeses”, serving in the local church, being affirmed by trusted voices, and gradually stepping into ordained ministry and seminary leadership.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 13 - Dr. Joyce del Rosario on Faith, Family, and Justice

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth is joined by Dr. Joyce del Rosario, Executive Director of the Faith Action Network in Washington State. Joyce traces her call back to family, faith, and a defining moment as a young adult that shaped decades of ministry with youth, immigrant communities, and families on the margins, eventually leading her into teaching, organizing, and public policy advocacy.
Joyce’s journey embodies the heart of MILE. Ministry that Matters is reflected in her lifelong commitment to justice. Itineration & Location show up in how her call has carried her from neighborhood ministry to statewide advocacy. Lay Ministry Enhancement is evident in her work equipping people of many faiths to act together. And Eliminating Racism runs through her insistence on listening to marginalized voices and trusting a God who moves first at the edges. Joyce’s story is a reminder that a single call, faithfully held, can shape a lifetime of transformation.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 12 - Maggie Mann on Kindness, Compassion, and Calling Through Public Health

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Maggie Mann, District Director at Southeastern Idaho Public Health, whose call centers on offering love in both everyday interactions and her long career in public health. Maggie sees health as a foundation for human dignity and believes access to wellness should never depend on income or circumstance. Her work meets people where systems often fail them, and she names this as part of the love she feels called to reflect.
Maggie’s story threads naturally through the MILE themes: Ministry that Matters in her commitment to health equity, Itineration & Location in her work within local systems of care, Lay Ministry Enhancement in her church’s hands-on approach to service, and Eliminating Racism in her belief that wellness should never depend on income or status. Her call is simple and steady: love people, and help them thrive.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 11 - Ken Johnson on Heart, Perseverance, and Holding His Call Through a Medical Journey

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Certified Lay Minister Kenneth Johnson of McMinnville, Oregon. Ken found his call later in life, encouraged by mentors, energized by preaching, and affirmed by a congregation that heard something true in his voice. His ministry continued even through a long medical journey that included  non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a stroke, and seasons of slow recovery. When he tried to step back, his church insisted he keep sending sermons from the hospital, a sign of the deep trust they shared.
Ken’s path reflects the MILE in full. Ministry that Matters shows up in his refusal to give up. Itineration and Location appear as he carries his call from Montana to Oregon. Lay Ministry Enhancement is embodied in his work as a Certified Lay Minister, and Eliminating Racism is present in his belief that clergy and laity stand side by side in grace. 
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 10 - Rev. Caleb Encinas Cortés on Connection, Courage, and Community

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Rev. Caleb Encinas Cortés, Pastor of Community Engagement at Federal Way UMC. Caleb describes a call that grew through community affirmation into a ministry shaped by organizing, advocacy, and neighbor care. His story moves from preaching at eighteen to showing up in Olympia with immigrant coalitions, always insisting that faith must act and protect the dignity of vulnerable communities.
Caleb’s journey reflects every part of the MILE. Ministry that Matters becomes real in his work with families facing harsh systems. Itineration and Location echo through his borderland roots and his service in his community. Lay Ministry Enhancement shows up in the way he equips others for advocacy. Eliminating Racism guides his commitment to building communities where justice and belonging are possible.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 9 - Kathy Bryson on Service, Strength, and Showing Up

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Kathy Bryson, who, along with her husband Dana, is the Pacific Northwest Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and early response team coordinator. From wildfires, to hurricanes, to floods, Kathy shares how her call began with a feeling, a quiet pull to serve, and how that heart-led yes has grown into years of ministry alongside those rebuilding their lives after disaster.
Her story lives at the core of the MILE. Ministry that Matters means showing love through action. Itineration and Location take shape in every community she serves. Lay Ministry Enhancement is evident in training and equipping others to respond, and Eliminating Racism is reflected in her commitment to inclusivity in leadership and care.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org
 
 

Episode 8 - Nica Sy on Faith, Belonging, and Organizing

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Nica Sy, a Seattle-based organizer whose faith was shaped at Beacon United Methodist Church and the Filipino youth camp, Christmas Institute. From her roots in church community to her work with Anakbayan Seattle, Nica shares how faith led her from service projects to organizing for justice alongside Filipino youth and migrants.
Her story embodies the spirit of the MILE. Ministry that Matters takes shape in the fight for dignity and freedom. Itineration and Location remind us that God’s call transcends borders, from Seattle to Manila. Lay Ministry Enhancement lives through her organizing work that uplifts everyday people, and Eliminating Racism shines in her advocacy for human rights and liberation for all.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 7 - Rev. Richenda Fairhurst on Faithful Climate Action

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth speaks with Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, a pastor whose ministry stands at the intersection of faith, justice, and creation care. From her childhood in the forests of eastern Canada to her leadership with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and Fossil Free UMC, Richenda’s story is rooted in awe for the natural world and a deep sense of responsibility to protect it.
Her call reflects the heart of the MILE. Ministry that Matters is found in defending God’s creation. Itineration and Location remind us that holy ground is everywhere, from congregations to coastlines. Lay Ministry Enhancement takes shape in mobilizing ordinary people to extraordinary acts of care, and Eliminating Racism extends to global solidarity with communities most affected by climate change.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org

Episode 6 - Larry Hermann on Service and the Call of the Laity

In this episode of Going the MILE: Stories of Calling and Ministry in the Greater Northwest, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth talks with Larry Hermann, a Certified Lay Minister from Bend, Oregon. Larry reflects on a lifelong call to serve that has taken shape through military service, community involvement, and faithful leadership in the local church.
His story embodies the heart of Going the MILE. Ministry that Matters is lived out through service and compassion. Itineration and Location remind us that God’s work unfolds in every setting, from hospitals to sanctuaries. Lay Ministry Enhancement shines in Larry’s commitment to equipping others for meaningful ministry, and Eliminating Racism extends to his awareness of inclusion and neurodiversity in the church. Larry’s journey is a reminder that every person in the pew carries a call, and that faithful service in ordinary life builds the extraordinary work of the kingdom.
For more information, feedback, or guest ideas, please reach out to: communications@greaternw.org