Welcome! Here we have conversations where the Christian faith interacts (or intersects) with topics found outside of the typical, safe church environment. We wanted to address the question: "What happens when a priest talks with people of the community about topics that are important to them, but not necessarily what you might hear Sunday morning?" Our church porch (or patio) was designed to facilitate these meaningful and authentic conversations, so we called this "Porch Talk." Join us!
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Fr. Aaron Ott Podcasts
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The Blessing of God to Us through our Pets
32:44
32:44
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Send us a text Fr. Aaron speaks with local veterinarian Dr. Jeff Strickland, of Briar Creek Veterinary Clinic in Dothan, Alabama about caring for our pets and how animals deliver God's grace into our lives. This is in anticipation of the forthcoming "Blessing of the Animals" at St. Matthias Anglican Church on Oct 4th. We discuss a biblical theology…
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Military Service, Just War Theory and Conscience
2:29:52
2:29:52
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Send us a text One of my parishioners, Mitchell Nalley, was gracious enough to sit down and talk with me. Buckle up for a longer "drive time" than usual because we discussed several topics including higher education in America, justifications for war (including the current conflict in Ukraine), and even Post-Traumatic Stress for those that return f…
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Human Trafficking, Christian Compassion and Finding Purpose
1:05:21
1:05:21
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Send us a text Fr. Aaron talks with Morgan Blankenship, the Director of the Dare to Hope, Inc. in Dothan, Alabama which focuses on compassionate interventions for those that have been victims of human trafficking. Morgan shares startling information about the most common forms of trafficking happening all around us, what are some of the appropriate…
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A Priest Talks to a College Student
1:15:23
1:15:23
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Send us a text Heath Robinson is a student attending Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also worships with us here at St. Matthias Anglican Church. Far too many clergy and elders in the church dismiss the upcoming generations as "snowflakes" or clueless rebels instead of engaging them in meaningful dialogue. In our church, we've had the privilege…
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Books, Churches, and Community Engagement
54:30
54:30
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Send us a text In my conversation with Troy Fountain, owner of "Downtown Books" in Dothan, Alabama. This was our first time to chat and we discovered "it's a small world after all," having far more in common than we could have imagined. We discussed the charming bookstore that he has operated for four years now, the need for physical books and peop…
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Pubs, Hospitality and Creating the 3rd Place
38:59
38:59
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Send us a text I sat down with Kerry Farrell, owner/operator of "The Thirsty Pig" in Dothan, a local family-friendly pub. Kerry shares her story leading up to starting the bar, why it comes from a place of hospitality. We discuss why God seemingly gives the "gift of hospitality" to people so that vital connections can be facilitated. Support the sh…
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"Cultish" Tendencies in Church with Gaylene Tupen
40:28
40:28
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Send us a text Years ago, my sister, Gaylene Tupen, had read the book "Cultish" by Amanda Montell. That book had since been the catalyst to a series of conversations Gaylene and I enjoyed over time about some of the quirky religious experiences we remember from our youth. Eventually she agreed to talk about this here for others to enjoy as well. We…
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City Government & Family Legacies with Mayor Mark Saliba
43:17
43:17
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Send us a text Fr. Aaron talks with Mark Saliba, the Mayor of Dothan, Alabama. We discussed the rigors of city government, his family story that prepared him for such responsibility, and the benefits of being in a town of "just the right size." We touched on the history and character of Dothan, where its commercial success is growing, and why it's …
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Choosing Life, Counseling for Women in Crisis, and Deploying Grace to the Culture
46:51
46:51
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Send us a text Fr. Aaron talks with Susan Anderson, the Executive Director of the Wiregrass Hope Pregnancy Center in Dothan, Alabama. Our conversation ranged from the history and development of that ministry, to Susan's journey in becoming the Executive Director. Along the way we discussed strategies for assisting not only young women in crisis, bu…
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Culture, Immigration, and Assimilation into the Christian Community
56:39
56:39
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Send us a text Fr. Aaron talks with Darlene Ott, an immigrant from the Philippines, naturalized as a U.S. citizen just months after we were married. We discuss her experience going through the legal immigration process, why it differs so much from illegal migration (which has been a contentious political topic for 30 years), and how the steps in jo…
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Family Trauma and the 5th Commandment to Honor Father and Mother
53:21
53:21
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Send us a text Our inaugural episode of "Porch Talk with Fr. Aaron" at Saint Matthias Anglican Church in Dothan, AL. We WILL work out the kinks and get better at our presentation, but as out first try, this conversation was too important not to post. Fr. Aaron talks with Tyler Jahraus, a student at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, about…
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