Inspiring conversations with pioneers, change makers and social entrepreneurs who are creatively making a difference in their communities. Listen in as Rob Schellert talk with friends from around the world as they share their stories and reflect on their experiences and what they have learned along the way in doing good on the Rumors of Doing Good podcast. These conversations feature everyday heroes who are often making a difference away from the limelight.
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Rob Schellert Podcasts
Sermons from Cascade Church Portland
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Kurt Kroon shares about the ways that religion can be a crutch and how it can be a healing. A Karl Marx quote and a Jesus healing story frame this exploration.By Cascade Church Portland
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What is Faith For? From Instructions to Wisdom
36:06
36:06
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36:06Kurt Kroon continues the What is Faith For? by discussing our relationship to the Christian scriptures and the ways we've tried to pull out a few verses to follow instead of letting the whole of the scriptures shape us into people of wisdom.By Cascade Church Portland
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What is Faith For? From Control to Liberation
34:50
34:50
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34:50Kurt Kroon kicks off a new series looking at the containers that are holding our reimagined theologies and how they need the same reimagining. This week looks at how we can use faith as a mechanism of control in the world and how that will ultimately let us down.By Cascade Church Portland
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Sarah Swartzendruber finishes up our message series on the core values of Cascade with a discussion around intentionality, which we define as engaging in relationships a step beyond what is known or comfortable.By Cascade Church Portland
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A party celebrating 10 years of Cascade Church existing. Kicked off by a prayer and check-in from Scott Erickson and a co-taught message from co-pastors Sarah Swartzendruber and Kurt Kroon. Come for the memories, stay for the places yet to go!By Cascade Church Portland
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Kurt Kroon continues the series on Cascade's core values by looking at Advocacy, which is defined as fighting injustices by partnering with those treated insignificantly by individuals, systems or indifference.By Cascade Church Portland
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S5 E6 Counter Presence - Cultivating Communities of Counter Presence
32:23
32:23
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32:23In this final epsiode of the Counter Presence series, we reflect on what it means to actually form countercultural communities - communities that are more than just ideas, but embodied expressions of presence, care, and faith. We talk about how communities grow from shared life, small risks, and the daily work of showing up. Drawing from Anabaptist…
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Kurt Kroon shares about the Cascade Core Value of diversity by looking at our definition and reflecting on Paul's metaphor of the body of Christ as an instructive model for how diversity can function.By Cascade Church Portland
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Kurt Kroon talks through our 5 core values starting with prayer. This unusual look through the lens of the Genesis story of Jacob (mistakenly identified as 27 instead of 28) exposes the ways in which prayer can help us commune with the unknown parts of ourselves and God.By Cascade Church Portland
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S5 E5 Counter Presence - A Hope Filled Future
40:53
40:53
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40:53What does it mean to live with hope when so much feels uncertain or in decline? In this conversation, we explore the idea of post-Christendom - the shift away from Christianity as a cultural center of power - and how that creates both loss and opportunity. Rather than trying to reclaim influence, my friend & colleague Andrew Dungan joins me as we t…
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Kurt Kroon shares about a dominant theme in the life of Jesus. This thread from Genesis to Revelation ties together a picture of God's invitation to co-creation and mutual participation that is the Kingdom of God.By Cascade Church Portland
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Disability Pride :: An Interview with Rob Schellert
26:47
26:47
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26:47July is Disability Pride month, where we look to celebrate and recognize the contributions of folks with disabilities to our world while also acknowledging the ways our society disables folks with poor access and design. This interview with Rob Schellert reflects on the unique ways the Christian Church intersects with the disabled community.…
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S5 E4 Counter Presence - Seeking the Welfare of Our Communities
40:22
40:22
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40:22What does it mean to seek the good of the places we live — not through control or performance, but through presence, peace, and faithful attention? In this episode, we explore how the pursuit of shalom — wholeness, justice, and right relationship — invites us to stay rooted and work for the flourishing of our neighbors. Shaped by the life of Jesus …
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Harriet Congdon finishes up our series on Resilience with a keen insight from the story of Abraham, Hagar & Sarah while tying together all the previous messages on resilience.By Cascade Church Portland
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Ian Durias shares this week as we continue our series on Resilience by talking about the ways we love ourselves and how we categorize our shortcomings as screw-ups, weaknesses or growth opportunities.By Cascade Church Portland
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S5 E3 Counter Presence - Creating Experimental Communities
38:58
38:58
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38:58What does it look like to join in the mission of God — not through programs or blueprints, but through presence, listening, and local response? In this episode, we talk about creating experimental communities as a way of participating in the Missio Dei. Rooted in the life of Jesus and shaped by Anabaptist values like simplicity, mutuality, and disc…
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Resilience:: Show up with Curiosity & Enjoy the Ride
17:57
17:57
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17:57Chelsea Gerlach shares about a resilience that uses curiosity to better inform itself in addition to finding enjoyment in the midst of difficult journeys.By Cascade Church Portland
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Sarah Swartzendruber shares about resilience as a learning space that is difficult to stay in and nobody would choose that has a way of working something out in us. Listen as we talk about how to stay in that learning space even when we don't want to as we look at the disciples' journey of resilience.…
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Kurt Kroon looks at Daniel 3 and how resistance can look in the face of fear-based and oppressive kingdoms.By Cascade Church Portland
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S5 E2 Counter Presence - Seeing God in Every Face
41:37
41:37
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41:37In this episode, we explore the deep and disruptive belief that every person bears the image of God — the Imago Dei. We reflect on how this conviction, rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and nurtured within the Anabaptist tradition, calls us to a radically different way of seeing and relating to others. In a world that often categorizes, deh…
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Kurt Kroon takes a look at the dividing path moments in our lives that invite us into a practice of resilience.By Cascade Church Portland
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S5 E1 Counter Presence - The Place We Find Ourselves In
44:17
44:17
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44:17In this first episode of season five, I am joined by my friend and colleague Andrew Dungan as we reflect on the place we find ourselves in — culturally, spiritually, and personally. We talk honestly about the restlessness many of us feel and how that led us to discover and appreciate the Anabaptist tradition. This conversation is about naming where…
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Resilience:: A Cascade Teaching Team Panel
42:04
42:04
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42:04Scott Erickson, Sarah Swartzendruber, Ian Durias and Kurt Kroon chat about the summer '25 message series on Resilience and how the Teaching Team works and collaborates on series just like this one!By Cascade Church Portland
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Dr. Greg Peterson talks about mental health and some ways that our brains get in the way of our mental health and ways that we can find greater mental well being in the world.By Cascade Church Portland
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Mental Health, Identity, Healing in AAPI Communities: Malia Vasquez
27:16
27:16
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27:16This Sunday Ian Durias interviews therapist Malia Vasquez about how mental health and AAPI identities impact healing journeys.By Cascade Church Portland
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Supporting Migrant Workers:: An Interview by Ian Durias with Daphne Auza and Jillian Mariano
29:43
29:43
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29:43Ian Durias interviews Daphne Auza and Jillian Mariano regarding their work with Malaya and organizing on behalf of Filipino workers around the globe.By Cascade Church Portland
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Cara Meredith, author of "Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation", shares with us about what belonging looks and feels like with a fresh look at the Philip & The Ethiopian Eunuch story from the scriptures.By Cascade Church Portland
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Kurt Kroon and Scott Erickson share about adult friendships. The struggles, the joys and ways we can get curious about better way of engaging ourselves and others.By Cascade Church Portland
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BONUS EPISODE: Stitching Warmth - A Girl Scout Story of Compassion
23:10
23:10
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23:10Bonus Episode – What happens when creativity meets compassion? In this special conversation, I sit down with my daughter Gwen to talk about a project she and her Girl Scout troop took on — knitting blankets for people experiencing homelessness. It started as a small idea, but quickly became a meaningful way to offer warmth, dignity, and human conne…
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Kurt Kroon shares a message about the largest cross in the world and what that can tell us about how this symbol of Christianity has been and could still be used in our world.By Cascade Church Portland
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In this sermon Harriet looks at the themes of prayer and perserverance on either side of some wisdom about integrity. Enjoy!By Cascade Church Portland
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Mysticism:: History & Practice:: Chelsea Gerlach
27:33
27:33
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27:33By Cascade Church Portland
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Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 5 - Wisemen
5:06
5:06
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5:06This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curi…
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Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 4 - Jesus is Born
5:24
5:24
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5:24This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curi…
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Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 3 - Shepherds
7:06
7:06
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7:06This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curi…
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Pre-K Story Time with Sarah::Episode 2 - Joseph
5:18
5:18
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5:18This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curi…
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Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 1 - Mary
5:06
5:06
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5:06This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curi…
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S4 E10 Her Leadership, Our Lives: Celebrating the Role of Women in Our Lives
22:34
22:34
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22:34In the season four finale of Rumors of Doing Good, Ken Loyd returns to chat with Rob about the remarkable female leaders who have shaped their lives. Together, they reflect on the significant impact these women have made and emphasize the importance of making room for their unique gifts and perspectives in a world traditionally dominated by men. Th…
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S4 E9 Ray Motsi - Fostering Nonviolence Across Zimbabwe’s Tribes
37:00
37:00
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37:00In today's conversation, I'm joined by Ray Motsi from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has a complex history, marked by significant violence stemming from the colonial rule of the British Empire and the subsequent fight for independence in the 1960s through the 80s. This history has deeply influenced the culture, where violence often became the preferr…
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S4 E8 Gordon McDade - Being a Peacemaker in a Divided City
55:12
55:12
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55:12In today’s conversation, I’m joined by my good friend Gordon McDade, who hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still resides. Growing up, Gordon directly experienced and witnessed the conflict between those advocating for an independent Ireland and those loyal to the United Kingdom—an era known as The Troubles. In this tumultuous environme…
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Ken Loyd returns to the Rumors of Doing Good podcast to talk with Rob about their experiences of dealing with mainstream churches, organizations and leaders who don’t always appreciate or take the time to understand those who are trying to do good in the margins. Listen in as they share wisdom they have learned on how to navigate a world that doesn…
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S4 E6 Eagle Spits - Punk Rock Solidarity with Street Children
39:31
39:31
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39:31In today’s conversation, I'm joined by my friend Eagle Spits from Nottingham, England. As a teenager, Eagle discovered his passion for punk rock. In 2009, he had a profound experience with Jesus. Inspired by the writings and stories of Dorothy Day of providing radical Christian hospitality towards the poor, Eagle began organizing punk shows in 2010…
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S4 E5 Ariatna Karlet - Participating in the Rebuilding of Venezuela by Starting a Clothing Business
15:37
15:37
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15:37In today’s conversation, I am joined by Ariatna Karlet, a 24 year old remarkable entrepreneur from Colonia Tovar, Venezuela. Ariatna started Monos, a casual clothing company in the midst of recent social, political and economic turmoil of Venezuela. Through her business, Ariatna hopes to provide quality clothing as well as jobs while supporting her…
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Kurt Kroon talks through Nehemiah 2 and what we do with criticism. Do we internalize or reject it? What tools do you use to discern your areas of growth?By Cascade Church Portland
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S4 E4 Eric Knox - Mentoring Students of Color & Why It Matters
32:03
32:03
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32:03In today’s conversation, I’m joined by my friend Eric Knox from Portland Oregon USA. As a former pastor, Eric noticed how students of color often lacked role models of color within the Portland school system. As a result Eric started the HOLLA Foundation in 2013 with the goal of providing mentors for students of color in response to the lack of rep…
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Nehemiah::What to do with Power & Privilege
23:06
23:06
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23:06Kurt Kroon introduces the book of Nehemiah and talks about rebuilding in deconstructed spaces and what we do with power and privilege.By Cascade Church Portland
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Kurt Kroon shares about pep rallies, Shamrock Runs and the ever present cycle of death and resurrection pulling us into the present.By Cascade Church Portland
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S4 E3 Johanna Puirava - Providing A Mobile Resting Place for Vulnerable Folks in Helsinki
35:06
35:06
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35:06In today's conversation we are joined by Johanna Puirava from Helsinki, Finland where she started Levähdyspaikka (Finnish for Resting Place), a mobile outreach program for those struggling with homelessness and substance abuse out of the back of her Volvo. The underlying vision of Levähdyspaikka is the idea that every person is created and precious…
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This Sunday we hear from Harriet Congdon, Andrew Chang and Kendra Wenzel on their experiences with polarization and what has been helpful and harmful in that process.By Cascade Church Portland
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Sarah Swartzendruber shares about a recent social media experience dealing with theology on her Parenting After Deconstruction Instagram page and how she processed it.By Cascade Church Portland
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