In this episode … we dive into the winding path from Episcopal summer camps to college campus ministries with guests who’ve lived the journey. From first-time campers to seasoned student leaders, they share how early nudges (or outright shoves!) into camp life planted seeds of faith, community, and identity.
We explore how those formative summer experiences shaped their spirituality and how stepping into college brought both challenges and opportunities for growth. Did Episcopal campus ministry help bridge the gap? How did community, ritual, and relationship carry over—or shift—in a university setting?
Guest Bios
Josh McCall (he/him)
Josh is a rising sophomore at Wichita State University studying Special Music Education. He is originally from Overland Park, Kansas and attended St. Thomas the Apostle (Diocese of Kansas). Josh now works as a youth volunteer at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wichita. Josh has been involved in the church for as long as he can remember: going to youth events, serving on the Youth Commission (Diocese of Kansas) and as a youth delegate at Diocesan Convention, and is a Peer Minister in the Wichita area. Josh is grateful for the opportunity to serve and grow with those around him and is glad he’s found his place in The Episcopal Church.
Brandon Kirmer (He/him)
Our Cohosts
Hayley Cobb
The Rev. Caroline Howard
The Rev. Karen Schlabach
Clare Stern-Burbano
The Rev. David Wilcox
Our Podcasts
We want to introduce the Episcopal Church from multiple perspectives and with different voices, utilizing social media to find out what questions students may have about who we are and what we do. Guest speakers, including college students from around our diocese, are already being scheduled for future sessions.
We do not currently have a physical presence on college campuses in our diocese, but we think podcasting offers a great opportunity to meet young adults where they are and share our faith in a way that is personal, comfortable, and always accessible. We hope that these sessions will be a bridge to connect college students with local parishes and with other young adults.
For more information and to suggest a topic or pose a question, please visit the College and Young Adult webpage. Look for All Things … Episcopal wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!
Deacon Alisa Carmichael currently serves as Chair of the College and Young Adult Commission in The Diocese of West Missouri. She assisted with an Episcopal campus ministry at the University of South Florida in Tampa prior to moving with her husband John to their current home in Kansas City. She is the organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lee’s Summit.
