Videos and Podcasts

In this opening episode of the Free Methodist Identity Series, Bishop Kevin Mannoia explores why identity is crucial for both individuals and churches. Using his powerful iceberg metaphor, Kevin explains how our identity forms the foundation that shapes everything we do.
Kevin draws from his extensive leadership experience and writings, including “The Integrity Factor,” to demonstrate how identity provides the stabilizing anchor that keeps us secure in changing circumstances. He challenges viewers to understand that Free Methodist identity isn’t just a set of practices or phrases, but a deep DNA formed by generations of faithful people.
This foundational teaching prepares viewers for the complete Identity Series journey, exploring what makes Free Methodists uniquely equipped to serve God’s kingdom. Whether you’re a pastor, lay leader, or church member, this series will deepen your understanding of our denominational heritage and mission.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

This episode tells the complete story of how Free Methodism was born from Methodist revival, shaped by the holiness movement, and influenced by major cultural upheavals including slavery, women’s rights, and Pentecostalism.
Bishop Mannoia traces the path from Wesley’s circuit riders in America to the Methodist Episcopal Church’s institutional decline. He introduces key figures like Phoebe Palmer (the “mother of the holiness movement”), Ellen Stowe, and Benjamin Roberts, showing how their passion for holiness and social justice led to conflict with the established church.
The “burned-over district” of western New York becomes the backdrop for understanding why Free Methodists care about issues like abolition, women in ministry, free pews, and opposition to secret societies. Kevin explains how the word “free” started as an adjective describing desired reforms before becoming part of the denomination’s name in 1860.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
He also covers the complex relationship between holiness and Pentecostal movements, including the Azusa Street Revival led by William Seymour and how Free Methodists navigated between spiritual vitality and organizational control. This episode helps you understand why Free Methodists have always connected personal holiness with social transformation.
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

This episode traces the path from Protestant Reformation to John Wesley’s heart-warming experience that shaped Free Methodist DNA. If you’ve wondered why Free Methodists approach faith differently than Reformed churches, this explains the historical divergence.
Kevin walks through Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, John Calvin’s systematic theology, and King Henry VIII’s English Reformation, showing how each shaped different denominational personalities. But the real focus is on John Wesley – the Anglican priest whose failed missionary trip to Georgia led to a transformative encounter at Aldersgate Street.
Unlike Calvin’s rational defense of Christianity, Wesley sought the face of God and found a powerfully transformative experience. This experiential approach to faith, combined with outdoor preaching and small groups, created the Methodist movement that would eventually birth Free Methodism.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
Dr. Mannoia shows how Wesley’s emphasis on personal transformation rather than systematic doctrine explains why Free Methodists prioritize experiential faith, social action, and life change over propositional theology. This isn’t about right or wrong approaches – it’s about understanding your denominational DNA.
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

Kevin dives deep into what makes Wesleyan theology distinctive. This isn’t just academic theory – it’s the foundation that shapes how Free Methodists approach ministry, relationships, and Scripture.
The episode explores three key Wesleyan distinctives: emphasis on experience over systematic doctrine (like Wesley’s heart-warming vs. Calvin’s systematic theology), the central role of grace in all its forms (prevenient, saving, and sanctifying), and the approach to Scripture as inspired, infallible, and authoritative rather than inerrant.
Bishop Mannoia explains why Free Methodists don’t use “inerrancy” language and how we understand Scripture’s authority through the Holy Spirit rather than textual accuracy. He shows how Wesleyan thinking led to founding colleges and universities because it sees all study as discovering more about God.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
Whether you’re wrestling with theological questions or trying to understand why Free Methodists think differently about grace and Scripture, this episode provides the theological framework that drives Free Methodist identity and practice.
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

What is the nature of the Free Methodist Church? Why do we do things differently than other churches around us? Kevin tackles these questions by introducing ecclesiology – not as academic theory, but as the key to understanding our denominational DNA.
Using a simple continuum model, this episode explores the sacramental side of church nature. For emerging leaders, this isn’t just theology – it’s about understanding why we practice infant baptism, use episcopal structure, and view sacraments as means of grace. When you grasp these foundations, you can lead with confidence rather than constantly questioning why we don’t just copy what other churches do.
Bishop Mannoia explains how sacramental churches see the church as God’s gift to humanity, extended through ordained agents like bishops and priests. The seven sacraments become central ways people participate in God’s active presence. Understanding this helps us appreciate our own identity and avoid trying to become something we’re not.
Assignment: Create your own ecclesiological continuum on paper, marking the sacramental characteristics discussed. Talk to someone who participates in sacramental practices to deepen your understanding.
Note: This content is part of the forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity” – stay tuned for publication details.
Links:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

Where did Free Methodists actually come from? If you’ve ever wondered about the historical path that led to our denomination, this episode maps out the journey from Jesus to today.
Bishop Mannoia uses the family tree metaphor to trace Free Methodist lineage through major church history moments. He starts with Jesus (the trunk of all Christian denominations), walks through the Council of Jerusalem, the expansion under persecution, the Council of Nicaea, and the Great Schism of 1054 that split Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
This isn’t a dry history lesson. Kevin shows how understanding our lineage helps you grasp why Free Methodists think and act the way we do. When someone asks what makes your church different, you’ll have the full story behind your brief answer instead of just memorized phrases.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
Whether you’re new to ministry or been around for years, this foundation helps you engage confidently with other denominations and understand where Free Methodist distinctives actually came from. Dr. Mannoia keeps it accessible while covering centuries of church development that shaped our theological DNA.
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

What is the nature of the Free Methodist Church, and where do we actually fit? After exploring both sacramental and congregational church models, Kevin reveals where Free Methodists really sit on the ecclesiological continuum. Spoiler: we’re not in the middle, and we’re definitely not trying to be everything to everyone.
For ministry leaders, this clarity matters. Understanding that we’re a “modified episcopacy” – leaning toward the sacramental side but with important congregational modifications – explains why we practice infant baptism, appoint pastors through conferences, and celebrate two sacraments as means of grace, not just symbolic acts.
Bishop Mannoia addresses the question “Are we evangelical?” with surprising nuance, explaining that evangelicalism is more about mission than theology. You’ll find evangelicals across the entire continuum because being evangelical doesn’t determine church nature – it describes a commitment to sharing the gospel, high view of Scripture, and Christ-centered focus.
The episode concludes with a powerful call to embrace our identity rather than trying to replicate other church families. We have a clear last name, and our future depends on living into that identity with confidence.
Assignment: Select one aspect discussed (baptism, communion, or appointments) and talk with someone from a different denomination about how their church’s history shapes their understanding of that practice.
Note: This content is part of the forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity” – stay tuned for publication details.
Links:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

How did the Free Methodist Church really come to be? Bishop Kevin Mannoia starts by challenging how we think about salvation itself – because understanding salvation shaped everything about our church’s founding.
Rather than seeing salvation as just “getting a ticket to heaven,” Kevin presents the Free Methodist understanding of salvation as the restoration of God’s image in us. This isn’t just theology for emerging ministry leaders – it’s the foundation that drove our founders to care about both personal transformation and social justice.
This relational view of salvation includes prevenient grace, repentance, justification, adoption, regeneration, and sanctification all working together. When you understand salvation this way, you can’t separate personal holiness from caring about systemic issues. The early Free Methodists invested in society because they believed the kingdom is now, not just something we wait for.
Assignment: Try drawing this understanding of salvation on a timeline, showing humanity’s journey from creation through separation to restoration through Jesus. Share it with your group to help describe salvation in relational terms.
Note: This content is part of the forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity” – stay tuned for publication details.
Links:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir

This episode breaks down what makes the Wesleyan Holiness stream unique. Kevin explains the two key components: “Wesleyan” as our theological framework (like the bones of a building) and “Holiness” as our spiritual heritage (how we actually live out that theology).
If you’ve wondered why Free Methodists approach faith differently than other denominations, this episode explains the difference between theological frameworks and practical expressions. Bishop Mannoia shows how Wesleyan theology emphasizes transformation through grace rather than rules or systematic doctrine.
He addresses why some want to drop “holiness” from the name, but explains how the holiness movement shaped Free Methodist distinctives around social engagement, personal transformation, and cultural involvement. The episode covers how Free Methodists went quiet during the mid-20th century but are rediscovering their prophetic voice.
Note: This content is part of Bishop Mannoia’s forthcoming book “Living Our Name: Free Methodist Identity.”
Whether you’re new to Free Methodist identity or trying to understand why we connect personal holiness with social action, this episode provides the theological foundation for our denominational approach to ministry and mission.
Resources:
FMCSC Website: https://fmcsc.org/
Ministry Training: https://fmcsc.org/training/
Identity Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28rnyZQWTXk_tn2mlevUIdkU_OZUA0Ir