The Kroc Center Omaha Debuts "Kroc Talk"
The pandemic prompted many of us to get creative in the ways we connect with others. Nearly overnight, meetings and events transitioned to Zoom and other virtual platforms. Book clubs, game nights and even Sunday morning church services went online. Although we lamented the missed opportunities for in-person connection, we also began to see the benefits of virtual meet-ups – namely, ease, accessibility and the opportunity to connect with a broader range of people than we might otherwise.
Over the past few months, leadership and staff at the Kroc Center Omaha considered how they might make better use of technology, especially during the pandemic, to connect with new people. As a result, the idea for Kroc Talk was born.
Kroc Talk is live-streamed the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. on the Kroc Center’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Hosted by husband and wife team Kevin and Tami Boesiger, the show offers a welcoming space for people to dig into questions about faith, explore Scripture, engage in dialogue and navigate the gray areas of life. Each episode features a specific topic and a guest, and viewers are invited to participate in the conversation by adding comments or questions to the thread during the live broadcast.
“Kroc Talk is intended as a comfortable place for people,” explained the Kroc Center’s Capt. John Gantner. “This is a great opportunity for people to ‘kick the tires’ so to speak – to find out what Jesus is all about, to ask hard questions and engage in challenging conversations in a non-threatening, welcoming way. Kroc Talk is a place to begin.”
“The Spirit of Jesus shows up not only in church on Sunday mornings but in a variety of unconventional ways,” added Capt. Tracy Gantner. “We consider everything we do at the Kroc Center to be ministry – from our fitness programs to our art and music classes to our Bible studies. Kroc Talk is one more way to minister to people.”
The show is broadcast live in order to encourage real-time interaction between viewers and the hosts and guests. “We want to engage people,” explained Kevin. “It’s a new opportunity to connect with people who maybe aren’t comfortable stepping into a church or aren’t really sure how they feel about different things.”
“This is dialogue and discovery,” added Tami. “These are conversations where we can learn and grow, even while not always agreeing. Society is not served if we all back into our corners with our opinions and we lock them down. Kroc Talk is an entry point for those conversations to happen.”
The topic for the Feb. 3 episode of Kroc Talk is “Keeping Peace.” Catch the show live at 7 p.m. on YouTube or the Kroc Center’s Facebook page, or circle back to watch the recording later.
For more information about the mission and format of Kroc Talk, watch the debut January episode on the Kroc Center’s YouTube channel or Facebook page.