Elli Oswald, executive director of the Faith to Action Initiative, shares how Christians throughout the U.S. can follow best practices and avoid unintentional harm in their support for orphaned and vulnerable children internationally this holiday season. By cultivating the right partnerships and focusing on strengthening families, Christians can have a lasting, positive impact.

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Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From

Produced by Laura Finch and Keith Conrad

Elli Oswald, executive director of the <a href="https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/65cc3f46766dc0f1639f12dcefe2b0b9cac50454?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithtoaction.org%2F&amp;userId=7825645&amp;signature=4ba65455bf6e9843">Faith to Action Initiative</a>, shares how Christians throughout the U.S. can follow <a href="https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/80f281d70d4a8eb73db81d203d8bc7d0f79717c8?notrack=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithtoaction.org%2Fmissions%2F&amp;userId=7825645&amp;signature=69956acb29cc4377">best practices</a> and avoid unintentional harm in their support for orphaned and vulnerable children internationally this holiday season. By cultivating the right partnerships and focusing on strengthening families, Christians can have a lasting, positive impact.
Follow The Common Good on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommonGoodTalk">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/commongoodtalk">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/commongoodtalk/">Instagram</a>
Hosted by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aubsamp/">Aubrey Sampson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/brianfrom7">Brian From</a>
Produced by <a href="https://twitter.com/laura_e_finch">Laura Finch</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/keithrconrad">Keith Conrad</a>

The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.

The idea of &ldquo;the common good&rdquo; has a rich history within the Christian church. It&rsquo;s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God&rsquo;s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God&rsquo;s design for all of us fulfilled.

The Common Good Podcast

The Common Good

“Help empower us, and we will take care of our own orphans”

Brian From sits down with Pastor Scott Oberle of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove to talk about ministry, calling, and what it means to truly serve a community. Scott shares his journey into pastoral ministry, his experience with street ministry, and how his church centers dignity, hospitality, and presence for people on the margins. Together, they reflect on how churches can move beyond self-preservation to live faithfully as salt and light in their neighborhoods.

Brian From sits down with Pastor Scott Oberle of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove to talk about ministry, calling, and what it means to truly serve a community. Scott shares his journey into pastoral ministry, his experience with street ministry, and how his church centers dignity, hospitality, and presence for people on the margins. Together, they reflect on how churches can move beyond self-preservation to live faithfully as salt and light in their neighborhoods.

Faith, Community, and Showing Up with Pastor Scott Oberle of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove

Brian From reflects on modern loneliness and cultural change, from a viral “Are You Dead?” app to the fading role of malls as community hubs, asking what real connection looks like today and where the church fits in. The episode also examines self-righteousness, political independence among younger Americans, and why an eternal perspective actually fuels meaningful engagement in the present world. Brian closes with sober but hopeful reflections on integrity, legacy, and what it means to live coram Deo—fully aware that our lives are lived before the face of God.

'Are You Dead' App Is a Smash Hit 

More Americans now identify as independents: Gallup polling | AP News 

Ed Stetzer on X: ""If you read history, you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next... Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither." -C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity" / X 

The Sticky Sin of Always Being Right 

Don't Love a Good Thing Less - Eric Geiger – Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church 

Given the Choice, Science Says the Average Employee Would Choose a Fancy Job Title Over a Pay Raise? 

Are Never Attenders More Secular Today? - by Ryan Burge 

The Yancey We Never Knew: Living Coram Deo and in Gospel Community Helps Guard Our Hearts 

Daily Devotional | Ezra: Back to Basics | Today in the Word 

Brian From reflects on modern loneliness and cultural change, from a viral &ldquo;Are You Dead?&rdquo; app to the fading role of malls as community hubs, asking what real connection looks like today and where the church fits in. The episode also examines self-righteousness, political independence among younger Americans, and why an eternal perspective actually fuels meaningful engagement in the present world. Brian closes with sober but hopeful reflections on integrity, legacy, and what it means to live coram Deo&mdash;fully aware that our lives are lived before the face of God.
<a href="https://www.newser.com/story/381787/are-you-dead-app-is-a-smash-hit.html?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">'Are You Dead' App Is a Smash Hit</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-independents-moderates-republicans-democrats-trump-ba353eb6807fd854f5b6e6de52d152fa?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">More Americans now identify as independents: Gallup polling | AP News</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/edstetzer/status/2010924789624451183">Ed Stetzer on X: ""If you read history, you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next... Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither." -C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity" / X</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/sticky-sin-always-right/">The Sticky Sin of Always Being Right</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://ericgeiger.com/2014/12/15/dont-love-good-thing-less/">Don't Love a Good Thing Less - Eric Geiger &ndash; Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/given-the-choice-science-says-the-average-employee-would-choose-a-fancy-job-title-over-a-pay-raise/91286422?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">Given the Choice, Science Says the Average Employee Would Choose a Fancy Job Title Over a Pay Raise?</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/are-never-attenders-more-secular">Are Never Attenders More Secular Today? - by Ryan Burge</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://churchleaders.com/voices/2211644-the-philip-yancey-we-never-knew.html">The Yancey We Never Knew: Living Coram Deo and in Gospel Community Helps Guard Our Hearts</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.todayintheword.org/daily-devotional/journey-through-the-old-testament/ezra-back-to-basics/">Daily Devotional | Ezra: Back to Basics | Today in the Word</a>&nbsp;

Loneliness, Nostalgia, and Living Before the Face of God

Brian From reflects on perseverance in the face of repeated setbacks, using everything from car trouble to playoff sports comebacks as reminders of faithfulness when life feels stacked against us. The episode explores what it means to leave a meaningful legacy—one shaped intentionally by how we live, love, and follow Christ today. Along the way, Brian highlights viral stories of unusual memorabilia, radical rest, and a grandfather’s powerful gift of Scripture, all pointing back to endurance, hope, and lives grounded in God’s Word.

Brian From reflects on perseverance in the face of repeated setbacks, using everything from car trouble to playoff sports comebacks as reminders of faithfulness when life feels stacked against us. The episode explores what it means to leave a meaningful legacy&mdash;one shaped intentionally by how we live, love, and follow Christ today. Along the way, Brian highlights viral stories of unusual memorabilia, radical rest, and a grandfather&rsquo;s powerful gift of Scripture, all pointing back to endurance, hope, and lives grounded in God&rsquo;s Word.

“Help empower us, and we will take care of our own orphans”

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