Behind The Podcast
Ashley Pozo
Ashley Pozo, the daughter of a Community of Christ career minister, has moved around quite a bit. After her birth in Kansas, she soon moved to Florida, then back to the Independence/Blue Springs, MO area, and on to Lamoni, Iowa. From there she moved to Kirtland, Ohio (just making her way around the Community of Christ hotspots!) and later to just outside Chicago, where she now lives with her husband and their dog, Payton.
Ashley received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Legal Studies from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After a short stint in law school (deciding it wasn’t for her after 1L), Ashley went on to get her MBA from DePaul University. She now works as Senior Digital Content Manager for Rentokil North America.
When she’s not busy spoiling Payton, you can find her attempting some new physical challenge — likely cycling, powerlifting, or teaching dance. She loves political podcasts, show tunes, and a good to-do list.
Blake Smith
Blake Smith is a southern boy at heart who loves beaches and warm weather yet has spent the last 30 years moving around the too often cold Midwest where he currently serves as Mission Center President and Financial Officer for the Chicago Mission Center. Blake is a Seventy with a heart for mission and a passion for social justice. Blake enjoys singing, dancing, woodworking, reading, movie watching, game playing and anything that involves spending time with his family or creating sacred community.
Brittany Mangelson
Brittany Mangelson is just an average gal from Utah who dove head first into a faith transition in 2013. She and her husband Josh joined Community of Christ in 2015 and she recently graduated from Community of Christ’s Seminary. She is a full time minister in the church, the pastor of the Salt Lake City congregation, and is the mother of twelve year old twins and their sly but adorable little brother. She considers herself a cotton candy connoisseur, is a terrible cook, and can usually be found wearing a striped shirt. She believes in grace, the worth of all persons, and is grateful to call Community of Christ her faith home.
Carla Long
Carla Long is from a small town in Kansas (682 people small, well, now 681 people small). After growing up on a hobby farm and excelling in FFA (Future Farmers of America) in her high school, Carla went to Graceland University and graduated with a BA in Mathematics. That is when the teaching profession called her into its ranks. After three (long) years of teaching high school mathematics, Carla realized that she felt a call to ministry in Community of Christ and decided to volunteer for a long term assignment with World Service Corps. She was sent to Binalonan, Pangasinan, The Philippines, where she preached her first sermon (half in English and half in Tagalog, simply put, it was terrible) and taught in a local school. After the assignment was over, Carla volunteered again for World Service Corps, but this time in Australia, where she learned what a caffeine addiction looked like, as well a deep desire to serve God and the church for the rest of her life.
Upon returning from Australia, Carla started seminary (Masters of Arts in Christiana Ministries) with Graceland University and also taught in a local university for a year before accepting a positon as a Financial Officer for the Sierra Pacific Mission Center in Northern California. After six years of blonder hair and a deep love of the weather (and the church!) in California, Carla accepted another job as a Financial Officer for the Eurasia Mission Field. After five years of wandering around Europe and developing a deep love of Dutch mayonnaise (and the church!) in Europe, Carla accepted a call to be a Latter-Day Seeker minister in Salt Lake City, UT, where she now resides with her husband, Kuzma.
Jason Eyre
Jason Eyre is a techie at heart. He recently relocated to Saratoga Springs, Utah, and attends the Utah County House Church. He works as the Technology Department Coordinator at a local school district and enjoys the reach and power of using technology for teaching and learning. He learned about the Latter-day Seekers movement a few years back and is happy to be involved in moving it forward. He has four children and a happy marriage of over 18 years.
Retired from the team November 2021
John Wight
John S. Wight, a minister of Community of Christ, officially retired from church employment effective January 1, 2021. However, he was asked to continue to serve as a president of seventy and senior president of seventy, roles he has served in since 1998 and 2010 respectively. He currently serves as president of Quorum 3 which covers the United States. He also is continuing to serve as a volunteer with functional foci which include supporting Mission Center Invitation Support Ministers and compiling a collection of examples of New Expressions.
John received a bachelor of arts in communication arts from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, and a master of arts in religion from Community of Christ Seminary at Graceland University, Independence, Missouri.
He was formerly employed as director of computer operations for Joint Action in Community Service, a national non-profit, volunteer organization working with at-risk youth. He is a professional registered parliamentarian and member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. John received the World Church International Youth Service Award in 1981 for his volunteer service and ministry to youth.
John and his wife, Carole, have six children and four grandchildren who live in various parts of the United States including California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, and Missouri.
John loves scuba diving, hiking, backpacking and canoeing.
Josh Mangelson
Josh Mangelson is a Utah native and was raised in the LDS church. After a long faith transition, he and his family decided to join Community of Christ. His interests are studying biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and psychology. He loves folk music and cooking good food. He works for Kennecott Utah Copper as a lab technician. He earned a BA in English at Utah State University where he met his wife Brittany. They together have three children and live in Saratoga Springs, Utah.
Retired from the team December 2022
Linda Booth
Linda L. Booth is a self-sustaining member of the First Presidency Team.
She is the past president of the Council of Twelve Apostles, was one of the first two women ordained to serve as apostles in 1998, and was director of communications for the church.
Her other assignments included the South Central, Southeast, and Central USA Mission Fields, serving as secretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles, and director of Herald House. She was pastor of the Olathe, Kansas, congregation and counselor to the president of the Quorum of High Priests.
A native of Independence, Missouri, Linda received a bachelor of science in journalism and communication from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and a master of arts in religion from Community of Christ Seminary through Graceland University, Independence, Missouri.
Matt Davisdon
Matt Davisdon is Oregonian by birth and was raised in Eugene near the banks of the Willamette river. He went to the University of the Pacific and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After college he got married and spent the next two years volunteering for Community of Christ with his wife Chris in Malawi, central Africa. He currently works as an engineering supervisor for John Deere in Dubuque, Iowa. He hates to read but loves to listen; audio books, podcasts, hymns, even electronic dance music. He has a deep sense of call to minister and share with others. His nerdiness knows no bounds. While not volunteering with Community of Christ, he enjoys playing Minecraft, LEGO, and woodworking.
Retired from the team November 2022
Mike Hoffman
Michael A. Hoffman, a minister for Community of Christ, serves as Graceland University Campus Minister, a position he has held since August 2015. He holds the priesthood office of high priest.
In his role at Graceland, Mike oversees a team of specialized student ministers and leaders, serves as an advisor to the Council of House Chaplains, and facilitates InSpire, the Community of Christ ministry and leadership development initiative. In addition, he serves an instructor and advisor for students in their first semester through a first-year seminar experience, and as co-adviser to the Acacia, the university’s yearbook.
Before coming to Graceland, Mike served as the youth disciple formation specialist on the Integrated Formation Ministries team for International Headquarters; president of the Arizona USA Mission Center, president of the Kentucky-Indiana USA Mission Center; team coordinator for Discipleship Ministries (specifically in young adult ministries); World Church Youth Minister and coordinator for the Forefront Children and Youth Ministries team; chair of the 1997, 2001, and 2005 International Youth Forum committees; and Kansas City Stake (now Midlands USA Mission Center) youth minister.
Mike received a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a minor in journalism from Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri, and a Master of Arts in religion from Community of Christ Seminary, part of Graceland University.
Mike is married to Nancy A. Imlay Hoffman. Nancy serves as the program director for Americorps at Graceland. Together they have two daughters and four granddaughters. Mike and Nancy reside in Lamoni, Iowa.
Karin Franklin Peter
Karin Franklin Peter is a coffee-dependent bibliophile, a once a year baker, an arts and crafts dabbler, and a Liturgical Calendar nerd. She lives in Olympia, Washington, where she is well suited to the grey skies and dreary weather. Karin and her spouse Ray, have a multi-level blended family where everybody tries to get along. Karin is a Community of Christ minister and serves on the Council of Presidents of Seventy.
Robin Linkhart
Robin Linkhart is an analytical mystic, a lover of people, an avid reader and power tool quilter with a heart for God’s vision and Christ’s mission: Peace. She lives in Colorado with blue skies and snow capped mountains. Robin and spouse Kevin fight over who gets to spoil the grandkids first, while their four young adult children look on wondering what happened to the no-nonsense parents who raised them. Robin is a Community of Christ minister and serves on the Council of Twelve Apostles.
Sara Tubbesing
Sara Tubbesing is a high priest and currently divides her time as Mission Center President for the Arizona Mission Center and as a Latter-day Seeker Minister. Her professional background is in education, having worked in public school and adult and community health education with a BA in Elementary Education and MS Ed. in Adult and Continuing Education. While not currently practicing, she is a Registered Nurse and enjoyed blending her experiences as both teacher and health care provider through the years. In her ministry, Sara has pastored, directed and staffed camps, but enjoys most the ministry of music she and her husband, Brian, have provided throughout their marriage. Together they have raised a daughter and son, both their finest accomplishments, and are now embracing life as grandparents with equal joy.
Hi Everyone,
I haven’t met everyone but I can truly say this podcast draws on the finest Community of Christ has to offer. What an amazingly talented group of ministers. I am truly blessed with each encounter. Thank you all for offering yourselves so freely to the mission of Jesus Christ. Peace be with you
Valeria