Emily Trapp Young - We Are Not That Different
You are listening to the Cumberland Road, and I'm your host, TJ Malinoski. When we think of church buildings, we think of a sacredness, a holy space, From carpet to ceiling, altar tables, stained glass windows, pianos and soundboards, kitchen spaces and pews are all brought up on par to be as revered as the almighty. But what if they are not? What if we are to love people more than things? Today's faith journey for Cumberland Road is with Reverend Emily Trapp Young. She co pastors at Presbyterian Church in Alabama with her husband, Ryan. She is also a coordinator at a non profit called Room in the Inn for those who are experiencing homelessness and are needing emergency shelter. Emily shares what it is like for her growing up in church and experiencing a call to ministry as a young adult. She also talks about what it is like to move away from holding the church buildings as something fragile and wearing them out for others. Enjoy this faith conversation with Emily Trapp Young.
T.J.:Emily, tell me about Room in the Inn. What is it? How does it work?
Emily:Okay. Well, Room in the Inn was started in the eighties in Nashville by a wonderful human being named Father Charlie Strobel, and the basic part of Room in the Inn is providing hospitality to those experiencing homelessness. So with Room in the Inn, it's usually in the winter months, November through March, and churches, congregations open up their doors, open up their buildings when they're normally closed, and provide a meal, and provide a warm building for our friends to spend the night, and they provide fellowship. And in the morning, coffee is a necessity, and breakfast, and then we bring them back normally to downtown. And we do that throughout the winter months so that, these these people will have a safe and warm space to spend the night.
Emily:I have been a part of Remini N since college. I, probably my senior year of college, I was at University of Memphis, and, I was at the burrito ministry downtown, and one of my friends invited me to come to Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church because after burrito ministry, they were doing Room in the Inn.
T.J.:Had you heard
Emily:And I didn't know what it was.
T.J.:Yeah. I was about to ask, had you heard of Room in the Inn before?
Emily:No. I had never heard of this. I'd never heard of this. I was just in my last semester at college. I graduated in December.
Emily:And so I was in my last semester of college and I was kind of if anybody had asked me at that point what I wanted to do with my life, just said I wanted to travel the world in a hot air balloon because I didn't wanna answer big questions like that.
T.J.:So you were putting people off?
Emily:Yes. I kept putting people off, but I kept searching myself. I just didn't wanna talk to anybody else about it.
T.J.:So what were you majoring in at the time?
Emily:I was majoring in Spanish.
T.J.:Okay.
Emily:And I think in my heart, I thought I would be a missionary one day.
T.J.:Okay.
Emily:And so I was majoring in Spanish, but I was minoring in British literature. And originally, I was majoring in interior design because I thought I would be on trading spaces, but, you know, that didn't happen. So, so I just said yes to this this friend. I just said, sure. Let's go.
Emily:And I went to Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and I sat down and ate with people that I would not normally sit down and eat with. And then we played a game of spades. And I'm a very competitive card player. And, they kicked my butt. So, and then I helped with the clothes closet there, and I helped people pick out things that they couldn't normally pick out.
Emily:And, I just remember it being just transformational for me where I was just like, I could do this. This this is this is something that brings me joy and this is something that I see, just the kingdom of God right here in front of me, like and I'm watching it with my eyes, and I'm just ready to be apart. Like, put me in.
T.J.:Alright. Going back to that time, what was your perception of the homeless in the mid south area of the United States prior?
Emily:Well, so growing up in Memphis, I was, a part of church, Olive Branch Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and, I remember when I was very young, we weren't in Olive Branch yet, so we were 1st CP of Memphis, and, I remember my mom would volunteer our van to be the one that would take all of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches downtown to the soup kitchen to feed the homeless. And a little known fact about me is that I hate peanut butter and jelly, and I know that's weird, but it's just a part of it. And I used to hate having to sit in the back of that van and smelling it, but my older brother kept wanting to open all of it and eat it all because he loved peanut butter jelly. And I just remember that that being my my, introduction to, people experiencing homelessness was being 4 or 5, very young and sitting in a van filled with peanut butter and jelly and taking it downtown. And then later in high school, because I was in West Tennessee, we would do, a spring retreat called urban plunge.
Emily:And for people who aren't familiar with that, instead of us going to our campground for senior hires, we would go to Memphis, and we would stay either in a church or in, like, a bunk building, and we would do ministry in Memphis. And one of those was the burrito ministry. And so since I was, like, 14, I had been at least once a year, if not more, going downtown and making burritos and passing out water bottles and cookies and, seeing these people. And so I had been around it, but not a lot. And I always, in the back of my brain thought, I'm going to be a missionary.
Emily:I'm going to go to a Spanish speaking country and do mission work. And then over the years I realized, oh, maybe the mission field for you is your backyard. Maybe it's not overseas or wherever. So
T.J.:Very true. Well and your knowledge of language can serve you here in the United States?
Emily:Yes. It can. It can.
T.J.:So how are you connected to Room in the Inn now?
Emily:Now, I am living in Cherokee, Alabama in a small community called Allsborough, and my husband and I are serving together at the Allsborough Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and recently I found out that the bigger the biggest city near us is, Florence, Muscle Shoals area, and I recently found out that they also have a room in the inn. And so I reached out to their director this summer. I just wrote them an email and said, hey. You don't know me, but, I worked I worked with Memphis Room in the Inn, and I volunteered with them and combined those together. It was about 8, 10 years, so use me.
Emily:I love this. Let me be apart. And, we went and had coffee and we talked, and she said that she was actually looking to hire her first staff members because she needed help. And this season this November was their 10th season being open. So 10 years, she's been doing it pretty much solo, and she finally, I mean, with volunteers, of course, and everything, but she finally the, nonprofit had enough funds for help.
Emily:And so I got hired on as an intake coordinator. And what I do is I communicate with the churches that host in the area, and I make sure that they're, good to go, they have enough cots, and they have dinner provided. They have enough volunteers. And I also, every night we host, every night we're open, I go down to Florence and I am a part of the intake with the guests where we talk with the guests, we see if they would like to come, and we transport them to said congregation each night. So
T.J.:How many nights does the, Florence area provide shelter for the homeless through room in the end?
Emily:Right. So this season, they're still working their way back from COVID. And so this season, we are providing 4 nights a week of shelter. However, this week is very cold, and so we are doing emergency nights through the whole week. And we keep an eye on the weather, and if it is an emergency night, we have churches on standby to call in and make it happen.
Emily:So that's that's another part of the gig.
T.J.:Okay. With your service with room in the end, what has been the biggest draw? What has spoken to you the most, just as Emily is a person and also your faith?
Emily:For me as a person, I think that just realizing that we're not that different, that it is through circumstances or choices. But one thing I've noticed throughout this ministry is that sit people down in front of warm food, good food, and you can become best friends. And you can see where you can see people for who they are. You can see them as a child of God. And, that probably the communal aspect of it, the the kingdom building aspect of it where you just get to know one another and be a companion to them, that has really just been a big part for me.
T.J.:There's something about sharing space around the table and food that levels the playing field. Yes. Not that life is a game, but it just kind of it draws you in with this commonality of of a shared time, a shared experience. The conversation can happen that way.
Emily:Yes. And community has always been a big part for me, and I think that's why I chose to follow the call to be a pastor because, my family is very, very small. I have never, I don't remember my grandparents. They all passed away either before I was born or when I was very young. I don't have any cousins.
Emily:I don't have I have 2 uncles. That's it. And I have a brother and my mom and dad. And so for me, church became family. And every Sunday morning at First Cumberland Presbyterian Olive Branch, I got to see my family.
Emily:And I had, my parents both sang in the choir, and so I sat with the lady and she became my grandmother. And I had cousins through it and and I have aunts and uncles, and I was definitely raised by a village. And so the church aspect of community has just been so profound and important for me in my faith journey.
T.J.:Emily, for those that aren't faith connected or didn't didn't grow up in the church at all, how would you share and how would you describe that that family aspect that you experienced in the church to someone that has no no reference point?
Emily:I know that, we receive unconditional love from God, And sometimes in the spaces that I have been blessed with to be a part of, I can see that unconditional love come through others towards me, and I've experienced that. And so I guess even though we're humans and we make mistakes, I have seen people. I've seen my congregations that I've been a part of. I've seen people at Room in the Inn, past that fallible barrier and enter into the, I'm gonna embrace you with unconditional love just like God would.
T.J.:So even when you were smaller and you were doing mischievous things in church, there was a church family member that filled the role of a parent or grandparent.
Emily:Yes. Even then, When I was younger. I was at the church if the doors were open. My family was there all the time. And so there were many times where I would
T.J.:have
Emily:brought my dolls or or whatever and or I was playing hide and seek in the church and I had been, you know, reminded, hey, we don't run-in this area or, and I just always felt I mean, sometimes I was, you know, bummed that I got yelled at, but I always felt that people cared. And if they didn't care, they wouldn't have said anything. Right. And even when I was older and the, and me getting in trouble was not leaving my barbies in the middle of the choir room or or something like that. And I had core people and and important people in my life, whether they were Sunday school teachers or youth leaders or anybody in the church, really, that would just say, hey, are you doing okay?
Emily:And they noticed and they they extended that. That love and that grace, even when the problems were high school problems or college problems.
T.J.:Were you a good kid growing up, or were you mischievous? Did you get in trouble?
Emily:Oh, I'm gonna say I was a pretty good kid. I I think I was a good kid growing up. I think I think I knew. I had so many people that were setting such great examples for for me. And when I think about my childhood, I think of helping set out the the hymnals on all the chairs and then collecting them back up at the end of church because that was our job.
Emily:I remember my best friend down the street was Catholic and so we would take turns having slumber parties and going to each other's church on Sunday mornings. And so she was just as come from Presbyterian as I was, and I was just as Catholic as she was. So I remember stuff like that. And I think I think I was a pretty good kid, though.
T.J.:Was there a moment in time when you were a child or teenager where you felt your relationship with Christ deepen or become significant or have meaning or change?
Emily:I feel like there's a lot of moments, but a couple that really stand out. I remember when I was first old enough to go to camp, my brother was a year older than me. And a lot of the people and a lot of the youth and kids in the church were older. And so I had to be the one that waited.
T.J.:And were you excited, though? Were you
Emily:looking forward to it? So I was ready to go even when I wasn't old enough. And I remember, being at Camp Clark Williamson and we were at night sounds or vespers and just getting to be in that area and hearing all of the sounds of nature and everything and just remembering, like, okay. There's a presence here, and and and I wanna get to know that feeling, and I wanna get to know God more. I remember that.
Emily:Mhmm.
T.J.:And to carry it beyond camp, the week of camp. Yeah.
Emily:Yes. When I was a young adult, we went to I went on the mission trip called Connectados. I went to Colombia with, with several other young adults. And at one of the nights at the retreat, we had communion together, and it was a bunch of young adults from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the United States as well as in Columbia. And at this evening, we were paired up with somebody that was not from our country.
Emily:And we. Had community together. And the I remember the girl that I was with was about my age, and, she didn't speak a lot of English. And even though I studied in school, I was not fluent by any means in Spanish. And we shared communion together.
Emily:And it just was this beautiful, sacred moment of realizing, like, that the kingdom of God is just just so vast and so beautiful and so just wonderful. But at the same time that the con the connection that we have Is. And the community that we have is. Undescribable. It's it's a core part of my faith, and it has maintained a core part of my faith.
T.J.:Yeah. It goes beyond the spoken language.
Emily:Yes.
T.J.:And yet, we still may not have language to kind of describe those experiences to others, but we know that it's deepening our faith.
Emily:Right. It's hard to explain, but it is wonderful and just in I mean
T.J.:Were there any more any more kind of changes, deepening of your faith affirmation that being in relationship with Christ, have being in discipleship is is for Emily. It's for you.
Emily:I could go on and on. I but I think I think that things like when I was finished like I said earlier, when I was finishing up college and and somebody saying, hey, come to this, I think that just me trying really hard to be present and to say yes to things that might take me a little bit out of my comfort zone, but would be so rewarding in the end. And just trying to be in tune with God on those yeses and noes. Yeah. I think that that can lead you to some pretty extraordinary places.
T.J.:Alright. Let's go back to the time. We're recording in December right now, and not too many Decembers ago, you were graduating from college with a degree.
Emily:That was many Decembers ago.
T.J.:What were your plans, you know, a few years ago, several years ago?
Emily:Several 100 of years ago when I was in college. That was the thing I I joked like I said earlier, I joked about living in a hot air balloon and traveling the world. That was the plan.
T.J.:I know. But if but if you had told me that, I mean, I would well, as probably most people, they are just too kind. I was like, okay. You're putting me off, you know, and why? So Emily, you're putting me off.
T.J.:Right?
Emily:I I think I was scared. I think that I knew that I was called to something grander than myself. And I had not seen a lot of women do that. I had not I had seen I had I grew up with wonderful pastors, and I grew up with wonderful teachers and leaders, but I've never really truly seen women clergy. And until I started working with Room in the Inn, until I started getting involved with, general assembly and going on these mission trips with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, that was when I really started to get to meet all of these women clergy.
Emily:And I got to start seeing I mean, representation matters, and I got to start seeing, oh, I could do this too? Okay. Well, then let's pray on that. Let's figure that out. Let's see what that means for for me.
T.J.:That's pretty cool. I guess I've taken it for granted. But to reframe what you just said, you you witnessed women in ministry from afar. You know, you were aware, you've seen it, but not, like, up close, like a a regular example
Emily:Right.
T.J.:Until young adulthood where you really got to see women in various roles in terms of ministry and and being great leaders.
Emily:Right. I got to have wonderful camp counselors that were going through seminary at the time that were women.
T.J.:Mhmm.
Emily:And in high school and college, I got to really start seeing that on a more regular basis than just going to church camp or just on a whim. You know? And so getting to see that was altering for me for sure.
T.J.:Yeah. How'd that make you feel? So you're coming out of college. You know you you know you're being called to something beyond you, greater than you. You don't know what that is.
T.J.:So how does it feel when you start experiencing and witnessing these little affirmations of like, okay, this is it. You know, was there a pivotal moment? Was there that that moment of realization of like, okay, I can do this. I now have words to what it is that I'm feeling.
Emily:Yeah. I I love puzzles and I guess I kind of started seeing the puzzle pieces fitting together.
T.J.:Mhmm.
Emily:I also knew when we were in Sunday school and I was a young adult, I had wonderful teachers. I always wanted more afterwards, and I I remember talking to my Sunday school teachers and saying, okay. What else though? Like, give me something else to to do or give me, I need more I need more. I need more.
Emily:And, and then finally, I was told, you know, well, MTS, Memphis Theological Seminary is right here in Memphis. And I had started meeting a lot of students doing room in the inn and doing burrito ministry and stuff like that. And I thought about applying. This was probably in the New Year after school after I graduated and I started getting more familiar with the community through all of this work. And and I met with admissions.
Emily:I remember meeting with, Barry Anderson and your wife, actually, at the time. And, and we yeah. I remember meeting with Melissa and talking with them a little bit, and I was just thinking, I just want to learn more. I don't need to be a pastor. I don't, you know, I don't need to do any of that.
Emily:I just wanna know more. I just wanna be more educated, more well versed, and so I started filling out my application 1 night and, writing my admissions essay, and I put it up for the evening. I went to bed, and then I woke up at, like, 1 or 2 AM, and I could not go back to sleep. And and I just kept feeling God say, no. I want you to do more.
Emily:I want I don't want you to just get the masters of art and religion, or I don't want you to just get a master's degree. I want you to do more. And I know this sounds cheesy, but I just heard, like, go big or go home, Emily. Come on. Just do you know?
Emily:And so sure enough, I filled out the rest of the, application applying for my MDiv and started that following fall at MTS.
T.J.:Wow. That that's amazing. So you really were approaching a master's degree just kind of, well, the continuation of your undergraduate exploring. Yeah. Just kinda seeing what's out there.
T.J.:The smorgasbord of life.
Emily:Yes. Yes. Jack Jill of all trades, if you will. That's but, it's been
T.J.:Pretty neat. You had you had that moment before you even turned in your application. That's pretty neat. I didn't realize the timeline either. I didn't know that, my wife was working at at the seminary at the time that you were applying.
Emily:Yeah. And that was another one of the examples for me of, oh, girls do this? Okay. Cool. Let's yeah.
Emily:Alright. So.
T.J.:Okay. Well, how did you meet Ryan, your husband?
Emily:So
T.J.:And and I don't know the story. I
Emily:Right. I know. Well, there's a cup we've met a couple of times before it kinda stuck.
T.J.:Where did you meet at? 1st meet him.
Emily:1st meeting we met, he he decided to follow his call to ministry and he moved from a little town called Smithville, Tennessee, and came to Millington, Tennessee to be the youth leader at West Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church while he started his seminary journey. Mhmm. So the first meeting was actually at Camp Clark Williamson. I was there to be a counselor for junior high, and it was literally his first day moving to Millington from Middle Tennessee area. And he came up with the pastor and dropped off the kids.
Emily:And my youth leader from growing up, who was also the director of the camp, and she said, y'all need to you just need to just come on. Like, I know you're moving, but just come this week. You'll have a great time. And she's like, tell him tell him, Emily. And I just said, yeah.
Emily:Come on. I don't know who you are, but sure. That'd be great. Cam's awesome. And he kind of looked at both of these crazy ladies like, I'm my parents are back at the the church manse moving me in.
Emily:I have to go unpack my house and my life before I I can go to camp for a week. So that was kind of our first meeting. But when we really met was one of our really good friends. His name is Micah Watson. He's also a pastor.
Emily:And Micah and Ryan have been childhood best friends since, like, 1st grade. And Micah is also a preacher's kid, and so when Micah's family moved to West Tennessee area, I met him in high school, and then we went through seminary together, all the things. And so Ryan and I met at Micah's wedding. Ryan was the best man, and I always there's I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere. How he's the best man.
Emily:But we met at the reception and I realized, oh, yeah, you just moved to the area. I was trying to be nice and he thinks I was trying to, you know, give him my number and stuff. And I was like, no. I'm really just trying to be nice, but since then, it just became what it is. We're, we realized how much we both have just a deep call to to not just ministry, but also ministry outside the church.
Emily:And so, the rest was history, I guess. That's what you say.
T.J.:So what's it like to be married to clergy, married to someone who is of the word and sacraments, and you also as well. Do your gifts complement each other? Are they very distinct? Are they they overlap? What does it look like?
T.J.:I'm always intrigued by, clergy couples.
Emily:I think that our gifts, complement each other. When we first were married, we were both at 2 different churches. I was at Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian as the associate, and he was at West Union as the youth leader while he was going through seminary. And I, it was hard for us to not have that time of worship together as newlywed couple, Mhmm. Because it is a big part of our lives.
Emily:And when we moved to Allsborough about 2 years ago, we, I was still working at Colonial. It was in the pandemic. Wouldn't recommend moving in pandemic, but you know, when God says go, you go. And Ryan was working at Alsboro as the head pastor and after about a year, we realized I can't I can't keep up my job in Memphis while I live 2 hours away, especially as churches are opening back up. And so we we did some soul searching and we talked with the session at Allsborough and said, would there be potential for a call for Emily here?
Emily:And I had already kind of been helping with leading worship, singing songs because they worshiped at a different time. I've been helping with the kids and the youth, and so this past January, we started working together as co pastoring together. He's the head pastor on the associate.
T.J.:Alright. So you're you're a year into it almost.
Emily:Yes. And and, you know, we've worked together for a year, and I think we've done okay.
T.J.:I was about to ask, what have you learned about yourself, about your marriage, and about doing ministry that complements each other. And you get to speak for a whole host of people. You get to speak for Ryan and you get to speak for the Alsboro church.
Emily:No pressure.
T.J.:But Let's start with you. I mean, your take, your perspective.
Emily:My perspective is I feel very rejuvenated that we get to worship together on a Sunday morning. And I feel beyond grateful that we get to collaborate together, and we do get to complement each other. There are Ryan is a wonderful preacher. He's a wonderful teacher when it comes to Bible study, and, he has a theological brain that is just the size of Texas. I, on the other hand, am more like sitting down and talking to somebody 1 on 1 or, I love the pastoral aspects.
Emily:That's where I shine. I feel like. And so I think that we complement each other very well. And I think I hope that Ryan and Alsborough would agree that there have been, you know, times where you've noticed as a clergy couple, you live together, you work together, that you might need to have your own time. And so things like ministry with Room in the Inn, like, that is where I get to be an individual, more so.
Emily:And Ryan has other aspects where he gets to be an individual more so than just the the dream team.
T.J.:Yeah. You're right. Because because you have gifts that can be shared that don't necessarily complement your spouse, your partner, and you also probably have needs that need to be expressed or affirmed or recognized where it isn't Emily and Ryan or Ryan and Emily. It's Emily came and did this. Emily shared this.
T.J.:Yeah. I can see that. For sure. Well, what am I saying? I can live that.
Emily:You don't? Don't you already live that?
T.J.:Yeah. Yeah. But I don't want I don't wanna speak for my wife. What do you think the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will look like in 10 years? What will what will our denomination look like in terms of mission and ministry?
T.J.:If you had a seeing eye that could leap into the future, what do you think it would look like? There's no wrong answer because no one knows.
Emily:Right. No one knows. I can say what I hope for our our denomination. I hope that we I hope that congregations start to get back the people that we have maybe lost track of are lost over COVID times. I hope that people feel safe and feel that need for community and congregational ministry.
Emily:I hope that we also, in the same in the same time, I hope that the church continues and in addition to, adds goes outside of the four walls of the church, and reminds and remembers that the kingdom of God is all around. It's not just in these four walls and that we need to meet other children of God outside of these four walls.
T.J.:As somebody who has grown up in a suburban congregation and served in an urban congregation and now is serving in a more rural type congregation, what advice do you have for each of those types of congregations of getting outside the walls to do mission and ministry? Because you have a unique perspective or unique life experience and and really a unique ministry experience that can help these congregations that want to do just what you said, they just don't know where to begin.
Emily:Right. I think that growing up in the more suburban church setting, Pastor Jim Ratliff was my pastor when I was high school and on, and he always talked about turning the walls inside out, turning the church walls inside out. And that was one of his big big mottos, I guess. And and that was really important for me to hear in high school and as a young adult because a lot of times people go to college and they don't come back because they don't feel like they can relate. And I and then when I moved on to Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was the urban ministry, they they not only turned their walls inside out, they wore their building out, helping and serving and loving people in the community, people in the city.
Emily:It wasn't about that congregation gave and gave and gave, and it wasn't about keeping up the nice pristine church. You can't, you know, you can't put things on walls unless you use certain type of tape or whatever. It wasn't about that. It was about, oh, you need the space. We've got the space.
Emily:Come on. Mhmm. And and then here, I've realized that at Allspro, they do such a wonderful job of taking care and meeting the needs of their community more even before, like, the needs are voiced. They are so good at caring for one another and caring for the community even without being asked, without being. And so I think that continuing those things of of remembering that the church is outside the steps when you get done on Sunday mornings.
Emily:Remembering that this building is a tool for us to use to welcome others in and to wear out. And remembering that we need to be alert, and we need to listen, and we need to pay attention to our our brothers and sisters in recognizing the needs even before they're mentioned. And I know that that's a lot, but I think that I know that that is so much, but I think if we can bottle up all of those things and I think that if churches in whatever population they're in can just remember that the church is more than just that one hour on Sunday morning. I think that. Who knows how many blessings will come from that.
T.J.:Well, when you gave 3 distinct situations, 3 very distinct congregations, and they all respond to mission and ministry in a different way. So it's not like a congregation has to encapsulate all of those. It's just kinda find your voice, find your identity Yes. Find your niche, Find your gift and your passion, and then go do that really, really well
Emily:Yes.
T.J.:For others.
Emily:I think that in this current world that we live in, a lot of churches feel like they have to be all of it or they can't do any of it. And I think that something that is really important is to realize, like, no. If your congregation and if your church does this really well, then you do that really well. And you don't try to pick up something else that you can only do sorta, kinda, maybe.
T.J.:Right. Right. But, you know, individually, you're right. As a community, we do that. Individually, we do as well.
T.J.:You know, I do think of the vocation of ministry, for example, where, you know, a minister feels like they have to be the best preacher, the best administrator, the best theologian, and the best pastor. Mhmm. And if you can do one of those, like at 70%, then you're you're doing pretty well. I'm sure there's people that would argue with me, but, you know, in all honesty, if you can if you can nab one of those, I'd I'd say run with it. And then surround yourself with great people who may be able to do some of the other ones really well and and were better than you.
Emily:Yes. And recognize in in yourself. Recognize the things that you feel very called to and that you feel comfortable in, but also recognize the things that you might need to work on a little bit or practice.
T.J.:Right. Right.
Emily:And be okay with that.
T.J.:Yeah. Well, I was chuckling because I I don't I think I could work very hard, but my gift of music is where it is and and it's where it's always been, and you certainly do not wanna be leading music, or singing.
Emily:But you could surround yourself with lovely voices if you want to.
T.J.:My golly. I have a wonderful index finger that can push play. And I have the dexterity to be able to move a volume knob up and down.
Emily:Sounds good.
T.J.:For music. Yeah. Well, you've had I know at least 2 people that have had a great impact on your faith. So let's talk about those 2 and then we can expand on. But, I know your mom and dad, Gotten to know them over the years.
T.J.:And, they would shake me if we didn't bring them up in terms of the parents that they are and how they've impacted your faith. So let's start there. Talk about your mom and dad and how they've shaped you, and then let's add other people.
Emily:Okay. Well, my parents are Charlie and Beth Trapp, and they have been members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for my whole life, and they are the reason why I, they're a big, huge part of the reason why I am where I'm at. Thanks, guys. They they were why I was at the church when the doors were open and even when other people weren't at the church, my father is currently the session clerk of of my home church and my mom is on the session of my home church and they both have completely different faith journeys, but they are both pillars, I guess, in my life. And my father is, he's so wise and he always knows more about theology, about, scriptures, then you he surprises me every time.
Emily:He is just a wise, wise guy. And my mom is someone who her prayer life is always surprising for me. Her, when I was in my early twenties, my brother, my older brother went to
T.J.:to
Emily:on tour in Afghanistan in the army. And seeing my mom take that take one of her 2 kids being a world away and struggle with it, but also give it to God was just one of the most inspiring situations and humbling situations, and it just sets such a great example for for me and for others around her. And so they, yeah, they're pretty awesome. They have been a big part for me.
T.J.:How are they a part of your faith and of your ministry now? You're an adult. They're adults. You're in ministry. How are they feeding your faith and your journey?
Emily:So my mom is a big, she loves kids. She, she probably could have been a really great, like, preschool teacher or something. And so every once in a while, she'll send me a link to some, like Bible lesson for children or I thought you would like this for your kids or, she she constantly is sending me things or, you know, reminding me I mentioned prayer earlier. She constantly is reminding me like, hey. I need you to pray for this.
Emily:What you know? And and I'm a lot you know, I also send her things. Hey. Pray for this, and we have that relationship. They're both very proud of me, and I never doubt that.
Emily:And, things like I just started at Room in the Inn of the Shoals. My dad was like, okay. When do I get a t shirt so I can wear it, and support you like that, and show off what my daughter does? But even now, we talk often about the church. We talk often about my church, their church.
Emily:We're on Facebook, and so they watch our church after they get home from theirs. Just very supportive parents.
T.J.:Yeah. It's it's been interesting to kinda watch over the years as I've gotten to know them. That even in adulthood, you know, they they, you know, raise you up and and, you know, really admire you and your ministry and what you're doing. Alright. Let's were there others besides your mom and your dad?
Emily:So one of the one of the bigger mentors for me with women clergy has been Lisa Anderson.
T.J.:Mhmm.
Emily:I was she was who I met, my finishing up college and it's funny because we could have met several times before. That's how the Cumberland Presbyterian Church works. Right?
T.J.:Right.
Emily:And, and to watch her and to work with her over the past 8, 10 years. I've been fortunate enough to, have her as a mentor to pastor with her. And so also just be really great friends with her, and that's just been wonderful, to watch and to learn from her. Her husband, Barry, as well. They're just incredible people.
Emily:Ryan has been, of course, a big a big part of my life and, and his family. His grandmother, who is the matriarch of his family, she is the secretary and the organ player for Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and she's been doing that forever. And Ryan comes from a completely different background of a huge family. And for her to be kind of the the cornerstone in that family and to have her welcome me in with open arms over the years and to learn from her and to see her faith and her grace and love as a lay member, as a leader in her own right, and has just been wonderful as well.
T.J.:Alright. Let's talk about books, music, movies, any of these that have impacted your faith. We're moving from people over to over to books and music and movies.
Emily:Okay. One of my favorite praise songs, is Lord, I Need You by Matt Mayer.
T.J.:How does that go? I'm being serious.
Emily:Do not make me say
T.J.:that. Isn't that one of your gifts either?
Emily:It it is. Actually, I can't believe I didn't say this, but both of my parents sing and they taught me to sing, and we, at the church growing up, we were always singing as a quartet for Christmas events, or my dad leads the music at his church now. I lead the music here. That was a big thing, but, but I'm not gonna say that. But it basically is a prayer for Lord for for it says, Lord, I need you.
Emily:God, I need you. My one defense, my righteousness, oh, lord, how I need you. And that's it's just a prayer. It kind of reminds me, ministry can be lonely sometimes, and, one of my favorite verses is at the end of the Great Commission where it says, remember I'm with you till the end of the age and I just have such comfort in that because, even if I feel alone, I'm not. And so, that song is really big for me because it just kind of calms me.
Emily:It makes me remember that I'm not alone, that that if I'm doing something that I'm a little nervous about
T.J.:Like right now?
Emily:Like right now, I'll sing it. I sang it before this. I listened to that before this because, it just reminds me why I'm doing it, why I'm, why I do what I do every day. So that's a big one.
T.J.:Okay. Any other music?
Emily:No. I was gonna say movies though. The movie Encanto is a Disney movie. And I'm I'm guessing working with Milton, you've heard about this movie several times. But, Encanto is a wonderful movie from Disney, and it's in Colombia.
Emily:And but also the family aspect of it, the communal aspect of it. The, everybody has a part, and, we all come together with our gifts to, to make the world a better place, to make the kingdom more present here on this earth. So that's a it's a cute new movie, and I really love it. And I like to sing with it. And, yeah, it's a fun one.
T.J.:How about books? And besides the Bible, I've asked that before, and I I don't remember which guest it was, but they were like, you know, the Bible, of course, why you ask me this.
Emily:Well, the confession of faith, obviously. No. I'm teasing it. But, for me, I really like Rachel Held Evans. Mhmm.
Emily:Searching for Sunday was a really great book. I love Anne Lamott Anne Lamott. Travel Mercies was a good one. I'm pretty open. I I like to read, a fair amount.
Emily:I'm a big reader, movie watcher, TV watcher. So, but those those really stand out in those.
T.J.:Do you get to balance your reading for pleasure and then reading for study?
Emily:Yes. I try to. I try to. I had to take a brief, break from reading for study after seminary. But now that I've been out for a few years, the past couple of years, I've started adding in more.
T.J.:Yeah. I I I've done that. Go back to reread maybe something that was required. Right. Now it's no longer required.
Emily:And you get a different take from it. It's kinda like when you do when you read the Bible, and you find something else in the first that you didn't catch the 500 other times you've read that verse or whatever.
T.J.:Right. So Yeah. Kinda like you were sharing about the great commission. Yeah. It's been there, but I haven't really considered the last verse in a way that you have, you know.
T.J.:I guess it's more on the sending. Yeah. Go go go go, you know. Exactly. But, yeah, that reminder, hey.
T.J.:I you know, it's almost like grabbing your, you know, your shirt tail. Wait. Wait. Wait. Before you go Right.
Emily:Don't forget. PS.
T.J.:Remember I'm always with you. Yes. I really like that. Let's see. So we covered books, movies, music.
T.J.:What else, Emily?
Emily:I'm trying to think.
T.J.:Any words of wisdom?
Emily:No.
T.J.:Words of faith?
Emily:One of the big things for me is even with all of the great movies and TV and music in the world, I just go back to one of the things that I need the most is to have that time with God, and one of my main things that I just kind of rest on is walking my dog, and just having that time outside. Thankfully, we live in a beautiful part of Alabama where it's all hilly, and we get to be in nature. And if I don't have that walk with God, turn off the music just to walk to hear the noises of the world and to listen for God's. And I'm miserable. And I've noticed that it affects me when it's cold like today and I can't go out and go on that walk with God.
T.J.:But do you use that time to listen or to speak to God?
Emily:It depends on the day. Mhmm. Some days, I use that as my prayer time where I'm asking or lamenting depending on the day, and sometimes where I have gratitude and I'm just so grateful for where we're at, And sometimes it's listening and saying, Lord, just smack me on the head with it. Tell me what you need.
T.J.:Emily, thank you for sharing your afternoon with me. I've I've I've enjoyed I learned new things about you. And, thank you for blending your faith journey with your calling as well. And I think it's important for us to be thinking about our ministry, whether we're lay or ordained, and how that could impact people through, the scriptures and approaching others who may believe or live differently than we do. And that sometimes is hard.
Emily:Thank you so much for having me. This has been a wonderful time to talk and get to know each other better.
T.J.:Yes. And you had nothing to be nervous about. It was fine. You've done fine. Well, thank you, Emily.
Emily:Thanks.
T.J.:Thank you for listening to the Cumberland Road. It's been about two and a half years since Cumberland Road started. Prior to that, I didn't know much about podcasting. I had to learn how to record, how to edit, how to upload and publish. It was a steep learning curve for me. But I want to say thank you. Thank you for your encouragement, for listening, and for sharing this podcast with others. I wanna thank all the previous guests and their patience, their kindness of giving of themselves and waiting for me to learn to know what it is that I'm doing and how to ask questions, how to be in conversation, how to be in dialogue. It is because of you, the listener, and the guest, that Cumberland Road is a podcast that is reaching many people, and I am grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to talk about God and to talk about the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In closing, from the confession of faith for Cumberland Presbyterians, It says, the church, being nurtured and sustained by worship, by proclamation and study of the word, and by the celebration of the sacraments, is commissioned to witness to all persons who have not received Christ as Lord and savior.
