Not only is Matt Campbell a licensed psychologist, he’s also a friend of Eddie and Chris (and a member of Chris’s church—which also used to be Eddie’s church—in Oxford, MS). Matt has worked in private practice since 2003, and is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Mississippi Psychological Association, and the National register of Health Service Psychologists. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Clemson University and his PhD in clinical psychology from The University of Mississippi.

“Everybody in the system affects everybody else in the system.”

Chris McAlilly and Eddie Rester dive into a thoughtful discussion about what it means to have a healthy church culture and leadership. They discuss everything from trust to gratitude to humor, while discussing their own personal experiences and with growing a strong team dynamic.

In this powerful discussion around faith, justice, and courage, Chris and Eddie sit down with Peter Storey, former president of the Methodist Church of South Africa and the South African Council of Churches. With over forty years of ministry, including serving as a prison chaplain on Robben Island, Peter shares firsthand experiences of following Jesus in the midst of apartheid and his time alongside Desmond Tutu.

Dr. Mark Chancey joins Eddie and Chris for an open and frank conversation about moral formation. Where should children learn about the Ten Commandments? Is it within families and the church or should it be put into public schools, as it has in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas? What are the implications of using religious symbols like the Ten Commandments to gain political influence?

Dr. Ted Campbell is a returning guest to The Weight, this time for an introduction into the Nicene Creed. 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which originally created the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that declares God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms the divinity and humanity of Jesus. The Nicene Creed is one of the most widely used Christian creeds, and unites Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestant denominations.

Suffering and pain are part of life. We all struggle with finding meaning in our suffering and the suffering of others. We all need help finding hope and encouragement in dark times, and one place we can find that hope is in prayer. It’s through prayer that we stand alongside our suffering friends and neighbors to offer them our attention and empathy. Prayer connects each of us in ways that can transform the world.

“I’m not necessarily a winner. Maybe I’m a loser that just never gave up.”

No one would call Robert St. John a loser. A life-long Mississippian and a successful restaurateur and entrepreneur, Robert has turned his mistakes and failures into valuable learning experiences that push his desire to help others. In addition to being a restaurateur, Robert is also an author and philanthropist and an advocate for the state of Mississippi, a place where he sees potential and opportunity for growth and change.

Eddie and Chris are joined by previous guest Austin Carty for the first part of a double episode about his new book, Some of the Words Are Theirs: The Art of Writing and Living a Sermon. Preachers are human, and just like all of us, they are influenced by their past, their community, and their surroundings. Preaching is a form of self-discovery that not everyone experiences, but Austin encourages all of us to take some time to sit with our pasts and write it out--if only to allow the transformational Spirit to work through us.

Zach Lambert wants to give you a better way to interpret the Bible, so he wrote the book on it. In Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm Into a Tool of Healing, Zach helps us deconstruct four common lenses for reading the Bible that lead to harm and then offers four new lenses that promote healing and wholeness.

Rev. Dr. Javier Viera is the President of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. A long-time friend of Eddie’s, Javier served in multiple roles in a congregational setting before becoming the Dean of Drew Theological School at Drew University. He earned his master of divinity from Duke Divinity School, a master of sacred theology from Yale Divinity School, and his doctor of education from Columbia University.

Javier’s experience gives him a deep understanding of how important diversity is in theological education. Including voices with varying backgrounds will only strengthen the formation of Christ-centered leaders who courageously cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and Gospel hope.