In our season finale, Christopher M. Hays and Evan Hunter talk with premier African theologian Dr. Tite Tiénou about the future of theological education. Drawing from decades of leadership and ministry across Africa and North America, Dr. Tiénou reflects on what first drew him to theology, the mentors who shaped his vision, and the challenges theological institutions face today.

This is a podcast of Scholar Leaders. For more information, visit https://www.scholarleaders.org/

For years, church leadership scandals have made us ask: Are seminary students being trained but untransformed? In this episode of Faith on the Road, we sit with Dr. David Wang, Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders and Professor of Psychology and Spiritual Formation at Fuller Seminary, to talk about spiritual formation—why theological education as it currently stands often falls short, how trauma shapes students and clergy, and why lament belongs at the center of worship.

Dr. Wang draws from his global research and experience to offer a vision of formation that is holistic, relational, and incarnational—one that takes both spiritual and human development seriously. This conversation is a timely reminder that theological education is about more than training minds; it’s about transforming lives.

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Scholar Leaders is honored to be a partner in the Global Formation Project. Learn more about the project, meet the partners, and explore publications & resources here.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Valentyn Syniy, president of Traviski Christian Institute.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, TCI found itself directly in the army's path. The invaders seized the seminary, even turning its library into a waste dump. Thankfully, by then, Valentyn had already managed to led his students and faculty to safety. While still refugees themselves, they turned to help others. They risked their lives to evacuate the elderly, deliver medicines to the wounded, and provide food and shelter to those in need.

Valentyn reflects about his family's story of faith and we talk about his upcoming book, ⁠Serving God Under Siege⁠, which collects many of these experiences.

A message from our sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Eerdmans, publisher of ⁠Serving God Under Siege⁠ by Valentyn Syniy. Part memoir, part wartime theology, part call to courage – this is essential reading for anyone who refuses to look away from the cost of faithfulness in a broken world. ⁠Preorder⁠ your copy today.

¡Este es nuestro primer episodio completamente en español! En el mismo, conversamos con Jocabed Solano, hija de la nación Guna, panameña, actual Scholar Leader, y directora de ⁠Memoria Indígena⁠ acerca de el quehacer teológico desde las comunidades indígenas de Abya Yala (nombre con el que muchos pueblos originarios designan al continente americano).

También contamos con la presencia y sabiduría del Dr. Gene (Eugenio) Green, profesor emérito de Nuevo Testamento de Wheaton College. El Dr. Green sirvió por 13 años en República Dominicana y Costa Rica, y ha estado envuelto en iniciativas y proyectos liderados y al servicio de comunidades nativo americanas en Estados Unidos y Canadá.

Nuestros invitados exploran cómo el pensamiento cristiano desde comunidades indígenas surge de contextos donde los valores de la reciprocidad, lo holístico, la comunidad, la tierra y los ancestros son centrales para la fe. Reflexionan sobre las profundas heridas del colonialismo y la urgente necesidad de prácticas reparadoras dentro de la iglesia que nos permitan no solo imaginar, sino actualizar un futuro teológicamente justo.

Este es un podcast de Scholar Leaders. Si quiere conocer más acerca de nuestro trabajo, visite ⁠scholarleaders.org⁠.

What does it mean to do theology when your homeland is under siege? In this episode of Faith on the Road, we bring evangelical Palestinian Israeli theologian Dr. Yohanna Katanacho and Ukrainian theological leader Taras Dyatlik to discuss how they approach theological work and living in their contexts.

From the streets of Nazareth to the cities of Ukraine, their dialogue bridges two contexts of conflict, exploring how they reflect theologically about suffering, how the global Church can respond faithfully, and how local believers wrestle with the call to forgive and seek justice.

This is not a conversation about war as an abstract idea – it's about lived reality, spiritual courage, and the unshakable belief that God is present even in the darkest valleys.

A message from our sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Eerdmans, publisher of Serving God Under Siege by Valentyn Syniy. When Russia invaded Ukraine, a seminary president led his students and faculty to safety and kept their mission alive. Part memoir, part wartime theology, part call to courage – this is essential reading for anyone to refuses to look away from the cost of faithfulness in a broken world.

Preorder your copy today!

This is a podcast of Scholar Leaders. For more information, visit https://www.scholarleaders.org/.

What does it mean to do theology in the midst of violence, displacement, and loss? In this episode of Faith on the Road, Palestinian theologian John Munayer shares about his life and work in the context of war and occupation.

We recorded this conversation in late April, and we are releasing it as the world marks 77 years since the Nakba and 1 year and 9 months since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. In that time, we have continued to witness unspeakable and disproportionate violence in Gaza, including the deliberate starvation of its people. We encourage listeners to approach this conversation with open hearts, mindful of the pain and the deep hope held together in John's words.

A message from our sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Orbis Books, publisher of ⁠The Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Theology amid Gaza⁠. This powerful volume is essential reading for anyone who refuses to look away from the cost of faithfulness in a broken world. Preorder your copy ⁠here⁠.

What does it mean to do theology amid war? In this episode of Faith on the Road, we speak with Dr. Ivan Rusyn, president of Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), about the lived reality of theological education in Ukraine during ongoing conflict.

Dr. Rusyn reflects on how war has reshaped the questions theologians must ask, the role of the Church in times of crisis, and what faithful witness looks like when bombs fall and communities are displaced. This is a conversation about resilience, hope, and the urgent relevance of theology in the hardest places.

Why are we re-releasing this episode?

We are re-releasing this episode as the official start of our four-episode mini-series "Doing Theology in a War Zone," exploring how faith and theology are lived out amid the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Palestine.

A message from our sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Eerdmans, publisher of Serving God Under Siege by Valentyn Syniy. When Russia invaded Ukraine, a seminary president led his students and faculty to safety and kept their mission alive. Part memoir, part wartime theology, part call to courage—this is essential reading for anyone who refuses to look away from the cost of faithfulness in a broken world.

Preorder your copy today!

This is a podcast of Scholar Leaders. For more information, visit https://www.scholarleaders.org/

What is a prophetic voice, really – and why does it matter for Christians around the world today?

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst (Costa Rica and broader Latin America) and Kaz Okaya (Japan) to talk about:

- How they understand and embody prophetic voice

- The unique challenges and insights of speaking truth in contexts of injustice

- What the Western church can learn from the prophetic witness of the church in the Majority World

Join us for an honest conversation that will challenge and inspire you wherever you are on your faith journey.

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Read Kaz's article "Lausanne and the Voice of the ‘Flies’: Concerns From a Majority World Church Leader."

Read Nathanael Somanathan's article "A Sri Lankan’s Reflections on L4 and Integral Mission."

Both Kaz and Nathanael are current Leader Studies recipients.

Learn more about who we are and what we do at Scholar Leaders here.

What does it mean to do theology amid war? In this episode of Faith on the Road, we speak with Dr. Ivan Rusyn, president of Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), about the lived reality of theological education in Ukraine during ongoing conflict.

Dr. Rusyn reflects on how war has reshaped the questions theologians must ask, the role of the Church in times of crisis, and what faithful witness looks like when bombs fall and communities are displaced. This is a conversation about resilience, hope, and the urgent relevance of theology in the hardest places.

This episode is sponsored by Eerdmans, publisher of Serving God Under Siege by Valentyn Syniy. When Russia invaded Ukraine, a seminary president led his students and faculty to safety and kept their mission alive. Part memoir, part wartime theology, part call to courage—this is essential reading for anyone who refuses to look away from the cost of faithfulness in a broken world.

Preorder your copy today!

This is a podcast of Scholar Leaders. For more information, visit https://www.scholarleaders.org/