ASP Staffcast 2026

Hattie Koher

ASP — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Hattie reflects on the weariness and frustration that often accompany summer staff life, sharing stories from her years on ASP staff. She recalls exhaustion, endless to-do lists, and small frustrations, but also the deep fulfillment of giving herself fully to meaningful work. She encourages staffers to pause amid busyness to appreciate the beauty of Appalachia, the uniqueness of volunteers and homeowners, and the sacredness woven into daily interactions.

Tom McClelland

ASP — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Tom reflects on the impact of service through the lens of Matthew 25, emphasizing that serving others is equivalent to serving Christ, and highlighting the spiritual significance of meeting tangible needs.

Mollie-June Miller Bachman

ASP — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Mollie June reflects on the emotional challenges of the final weeks of an ASP summer, acknowledging the exhaustion, bittersweet goodbyes, and uncertainty that accompany the end of the experience. Drawing on her own time as a first-year staffer, returner, center director, and fellow, she reassures listeners that these feelings are both normal and shared. She encourages staff to lean on one another, chaplains, homeowners, and the wider ASP community as they transition back to everyday life, reminding them that they are deeply loved and never alone.

Butch Barton

ASP — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Butch focuses on self-care through quiet reflection, journaling, and intentional learning. He shares practical methods for structured journaling to overcome mental clutter and encourages consistent reflection on emotions, growth, and gratitude, highlighting the value of reading, audiobooks, and podcasts as tools for intellectual and spiritual development.

Carson Tucker

ASP — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Carson offers encouragement and confidence-building, reminding ASP staffers that they are chosen and capable despite challenges. Drawing on biblical figures who felt unqualified, he emphasizes that God equips ordinary people for meaningful work, and urges staff to embrace difficult moments as part of a bigger purpose and to take pride in their impact.

John Esposito

ASP — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

John's devotion centers on prayer, trust, and reliance on God. Using Romans 12, he encourages joy, patience, and hospitality during difficult moments. Stressing that staff cannot do everything alone and should maintain constant communication with God.

Melisa Winburn

ASP — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Melisa centers her reflection on lifting one’s eyes beyond stress and anxiety to notice God’s presence and beauty already surrounding us. Using Philippians 4:4–7 and a story from her time in the Bahamas, she compares ASP life to walking along jagged volcanic rocks: focusing only on immediate obstacles can cause people to miss the beauty around them. She encourages staffers to intentionally pause and notice moments of grace—sunrises, transformed relationships, emotional volunteer reflections, and acts of community. Melisa connects this perspective to the Apostle Paul, who wrote about rejoicing and peace even while imprisoned, emphasizing that peace can coexist with hardship. She frames ASP as a glimpse of heaven: a community where neighbors care for one another so deeply that no one is left alone or without support.

Brian Erickson

ASP — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Brian speaks to the exhaustion and self-doubt common among summer staff, centering on the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. His key message: you are not responsible for being “enough”—only for offering what you have. He emphasizes trust over performance, reminding listeners that God works through limited resources, illustrating that small acts of faithfulness can have lasting impact.

James Henry

ASP — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0400

James emphasizes that "you matter" and highlights the importance of self-care amid chaos. He encourages practices like mindful breathing, rest, journaling, and asking for help. He stresses teamwork and rejecting the idea of handling everything alone. His message ties identity to being made in God’s image, reinforcing inherent worth beyond productivity.

Debra Arce

ASP — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Debra reflects on a lifelong journey of service, emphasizing that faith is expressed through serving others. She connects the theme “Love Your Neighbor” to Jesus’ teachings and encourages staff to care for both others and themselves, acknowledging burnout and spiritual disconnection, and urging balance through rest, community, and prayer.

Mike LaRock

ASP — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Mike addresses stress management through the lens of faith. Using Romans 12, he reframes stress as an opportunity for growth, encouraging hope, patience, prayer, and outward focus.

John Carns

ASP — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0400

John highlights the tension between task management and relational ministry. While logistics are important, he insists that people—not projects—are the true focus, framing service as building relationships rather than just completing work.

Owen Ragsdale

ASP — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Owen shares a story about choosing relationship over productivity, illustrating the power of hospitality, which he defines as giving without expecting return and encourages staff to use their unique gifts in service.

Kate Tanis McKinnie

ASP — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:27:29 -0400

Kate reflects on how exposure to poverty shaped her compassion and worldview, encouraging staff to let their hearts be broken by injustice, and urges reflection, meaningful conversations with youth, and openness to transformation.

Meredith Espina

ASP — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:53:52 -0400

Meredith uses food as a metaphor for community and purpose while reflecting on the deeper meaning behind daily routines; encouraging staff to reconnect with their “why” and emphasizing relationships—with homeowners, volunteers, and teammates—as the heart of the experience.

Michael Hensley

ASP — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:54:33 -0400

In our first episode, Michael Hensley, ASP's Development & Sustainability Officer frames ASP as a collective movement rooted in love and service and emphasizes the importance of self care while serving.