The Beauty of Belonging, Redefining Church, and Learning to Love Yourself - w/ Pastor Bethany Nass Cseh

What does it mean to truly belong in a church community—and how do we get there when Sunday morning isn't an option? In this special midweek episode, guest Bethany Shea joins Mike and Tim to explore the essence of church beyond the traditional structure. They dive into rich conversations about spiritual loneliness, self-worth, deconstruction, marriage, inclusive theology, and how our past affects our faith journey.

Bethany brings deep insight from her experience as a church planter, United Methodist pastor, adoptive mom, and author of Stepping Into Advent and Stepping Into Lent. With wisdom, vulnerability, and humor, the team addresses questions from listeners navigating complex spiritual and relational terrain—from finding church community outside of Sunday mornings to helping others wrestle with bounded theology, and living with the heavy weight of spiritual unworthiness.

Key Takeaways: • Church Beyond Sunday – Why your weekly worship experience doesn’t have to be limited to Sunday services and how to cultivate community in new ways. • Redefining Leadership & Gender Roles – Bethany shares her journey from ‘just sharing’ to fully stepping into her call as a teaching pastor. • Deconstruction in Marriage – How faith evolution within a couple can mirror larger spiritual transformation and require healing, collaboration, and counseling. • From Shame to Belovedness – How we confront internal narratives of unworthiness and the spiritual tools to begin healing through community, therapy, and remembering our baptism. • Igniting Curiosity in Conservative Spaces – Tips for gently encouraging open questions and deeper exploration among those steeped in bounded theology. • The Still Small Voice – Rethinking how God shows up when emotional experiences fall short or never come at all.

Guest Highlights: Bethany Nass Cseh – Co-pastor at Catalyst Church in Humboldt County, California, and United Methodist Church. Bethany shares her insights on navigating leadership as a woman in ministry, parenting neurodivergent children, self-publishing spiritual reflections, and learning to embrace both personal and communal transformation.

Resources Mentioned: • Catalyst Church Humboldt (YouTube Sermons) – Catalyst YouTube Channel • Bethany’s Instagram – @bethany.nass.cseh • Stepping Into Advent and Stepping Into Lent by Bethany Shea • N.T. Wright Bible Studies – NT Wright Online • Justin McRoberts (Author/Mentor) – justinmcroberts.com • The Story of Elijah (1 Kings 19), Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3), and the example of corporate identity in church • Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller • John Coe’s teachings on emotional and spiritual formation – Institute for Spiritual Formation (Biola)

Rediscover the beauty of belonging—even when it's messy. We invite you to embrace a faith community that doesn't require theological rigidity, but cultivates grace, presence, and honest conversation.

Let’s continue to explore healing, belonging, and love together. Have questions or reflections of your own? Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or join the ongoing discussion on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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