race

Episode 45

Episode 45

“Worship, Discipleship, and Holy Spirituality” w/ Dr. Emmett Price

“In the American church, we conflate worship and music… *everything* that we do should bring glory to God as our living worship.”

Dr. Emmett Price III is a leading expert on African American Music, Christian Worship and the Black Christian Experience, and leads the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Price switches seamlessly between his academic, pastoral, and musical hats, addressing the following:
• What Our Educational Models Can Learn From Jesus
• The Redemptive Song of Black America
• The Church’s Responsibility To Lead Cross-Culturally

Episode 44

Episode 44

“Jesus, Justice, and America” w/ Shane Claiborne

“What would it look like for love, not fear, to shape our policies?”

As an activist, author, and speaker, Shane Claiborne has shaped a generation’s view of Jesus and social change. His radical activism has led him to Iraq and Afghanistan (for anti-war efforts), jail (for homeless advocacy), Calcutta (for work with Mother Teresa), and to Washington DC, where today’s interview took place a few steps from The White House.

In this episode highlighting the 2020 Presidential Election, Shane shares:
• Why the death penalty is incompatible with Christian teaching
• How the American church has neglected the teachings of Jesus
• How restorative justice and forgiveness can fix the US prison system

EPISODE 41

EPISODE 41

“Why There’s Still Hope Beyond 2020” w/ Dr. Esau McCaulley

“What’s happened in 2020 can’t unresurrect Jesus.”

Dr. Esau McCaulley is an author, priest, and New Testament scholar whose work has been featured in outlets such the New York Times, Christianity Today, and the Washington Post. He completed his doctoral studies under the direction of N.T. Wright, and recently released his book “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope”.

In this second episode of Season 4, Esau and Robby chat about:
• Why voting can be a profoundly Christian act
• How Christianity addresses the brokenness of the world
• Why we must articulate Christian beliefs in public conversations

EPISODE 39

EPISODE 39

“Can Virtual Reality Make Our Communities Safer?” w/ Derek Ham

“We must work to view the world through our neighbor’s eyes.” Derek Ham

Would you be willing to walk a mile in the shoes of a Black man in the South at the height of the Civil Rights Movement? Or respond to a life-threatening dispatch call in the place of a modern-day police officer? Through virtual reality simulations, storyteller Derek Ham helps communities do just that, creating a bridge of empathy between people of color and law enforcement officers.

Hear Derek share about:
• His unlikely journey as an African American male in tech
• How virtual reality can disrupt implicit bias and prejudice
• How the non-violent usage of gaming echoes the non-violent protests of MLK Jr 

EPISODE 38

EPISODE 38

“Welcome To The Age Of The Microchurch” w/ Brian Sanders and Kathryn Eng

“It’s in the broken pieces that we find the church being reshaped to fit the mission of God in new places, new people and new contexts.” - Brian Sanders

The Underground Network is a diverse movement of microchurches living out the mission of God at the edges of society. In this episode, hear founder Brian Sanders share how their model of ministry activates the creativity of the church, and hear medical clinic director Kathryn Eng share how their Underground Clinic is doing exactly that in Tampa, Florida.

Listen to Episode 38 to hear Brian and Kathryn share:
• Why their church hub is a co-working space, not a sanctuary
• How to use healthcare to show and share the Gospel
• Why the hierarchy must serve the decentralized in the 21st Century

EPISODE 37

EPISODE 37

“How To Disrupt Poverty In Your Neighborhood” w/ Jason Janz

“Poverty as an economic condition only misses both the problem and the cure.” - Jason Janz

Non-profit thought leader Jason Janz is the CEO of CrossPurpose, a Denver-based nonprofit committed to abolishing economic, relational, and spiritual poverty in its neighborhood. In addition to talking through his booklet “Black Swan Leadership: Ten Recommendations For Your Non-Profit During A Pandemic”, he and Robby chat about:
• Best practices for collaboration between local churches and nonprofits
• Why the current social disruption may be an “innovator’s Disneyland”
• Mobilizing human and financial capital to fight poverty

EPISODE 36

EPISODE 36

“The Spirit Poured Out On All Flesh” w/ Dr. Amos Yong

“We’re still learning how to live a message of the Gospel that doesn’t favor any one color over another.” - Dr. Amos Yong

Dr. Amos Yong is a theologian and professor currently serving as the Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary. He is also the author of numerous books on Pentecostal theology, race, and ethics, including “Who Is the Holy Spirit? A Walk with the Apostles.

In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Yong examines crucial contemporary issues through Biblical exegesis and his own background as an Asian American, addressing the following:
• A Biblical examination of Christ and the Holy Spirit
• The conflicted racial history of Pentecostalism
• How Christianity can overcome limitations of Western constructs

EPISODE 32

EPISODE 32

“The Nashville Tornado and Black Ownership” w/ Derek Minor

“Are you going to chase the dollar, or are you going to help preserve a community?” - Derek Minor

Nashville-based Derek Minor is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur whose initiative “Ownership is the New Black” works to develop the next generation of Black owners. In light of the recent Nashville tornado, Derek and Robby talk about how racially-discriminatory government policies have made the Black community particularly vulnerable to displacement through natural disasters and gentrification.

In this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Derek talk about:
• How to shift from “consumer power to ownership power”
• How Christian music and social justice can co-exist
• The tragic ending of the “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma

EPISODE 28

EPISODE 28

“The Myth Of ‘Organic’ Diversity” w/ Patrick Chappell

“People want diversity to happen organically, but sometimes you have to be intentional on the way to organic.” Patrick Chappell

Growing up Black in the South, Patrick Chappell attended both predominantly Black and White churches and often felt like an outsider in each. But his pain led him to his purpose: creating grace-filled spaces for diverse relationships and intentional conversations.

Learn from Patrick’s story and expertise on the following topics:
• How he survived a childhood of physical abuse and deep-seated racism
• Why leaders must proactively pursue those on the fringes
• How intentional, encouraging words can overcome fear and division

EPISODE 27

EPISODE 27

“Rethinking Urban Church Planting” w/ NYC’s Ricky Ortiz

“If you want to change a society then you have to tell an alternative story.”

NYC-native Ricky Ortiz had a heart to reach his city, but knew that traditional church planting financial models would prove difficult in the high-cost Big Apple. A few years later, Ricky’s thriving Meta Church serves as inspiration for church planters across the US. In this episode, hear Ricky share the strategic steps he’s taken to develop socioeconomic diversity and financial sustainability in an urban context.

Hear Ricky’s wisdom on topics like:

• Inspiring A Shared Vision In Your Local Church

• Why He’s Okay With Members Missing Sunday Morning

• Tips For Reducing Your Church’s Tithe Dependency