June 19, 2024

Episode 69: Tear down this highway! One congregation, two full-time preachers (one Black, one White); Miss Juneteenth USA runner up Madison Swain

50 minutes

Segment One: Dr. Warren Blakney, North Peoria Church of Christ, Tulsa, Oklahoma

The North Peoria Church of Christ recently received a $1.6 million federal grant to study the removal of one mile of Interstate 244 through the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Senior minister Dr. Warren Blakney explains why this is the work that God is calling his congregation to do now.

Link to a report on the congregation and the federal grant from The Black Wall Street Times

Segment Two: Brandon Beatty and Todd Hamm, pulpit ministers with Deep River Church of Christ in High Point, North Carolina

When Deep River Church of Christ formed in High Point, North Carolina, a little over 20 years ago, its leaders wanted the people in the pews to reflect the diversity of the people in the community. That led to an arrangement whereby two full-time ministers, one Black and one White, share the same pulpit. Those two ministers tell how it works.

Link to 'At the River' podcast from Brandon Beatty and Todd Hamm

Segment Three: Madison Swain, Miss Juneteenth Texas and Miss Juneteenth USA runner up for 2023 (Westward Church of Christ, Texas City, Texas)

Nineteen-year old Madison Swain (Westward Church of Christ, Texas City, Texas) is Miss Juneteenth Texas and first runner up to Miss Juneteenth USA for 2023. She talks about what it takes to be Miss Juneteenth and what the tiara means to her as she represents both Christ and her community.

Link to a column Miss Juneteenth Texas Madison Swain wrote for The Galveston County Daily News

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