Family Conversations

Dr. Dennis Edwards is an Associate Professor of New Testament at North Park University in Chicago. During our conversation, we talk about his book, Might From The Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice, the unique aspects of grace that God gives people living on the margins, and the dangers of leading people to be with and advocate for the vulnerable.

Chandra Crane is the author of Mixed Blessing: Embracing the Fullness of Your Multiethnic Identity. During our conversation, we talk about the strange gifts she has received through her seminary experience, why she remains committed to a complementarian view of the role of men and women in the church, and the opportunities we have to build the world we all want when our tables become more diverse.

Dr. Luke Bobo is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Made to Flourish. During our conversation, we talk about ways the Church has failed in its efforts to become more diverse, how all truth is God’s truth and what we should seek to cultivate in relationships across ethnic and cultural lines.

Julie Pfeifer is a Senior Marketing Manager at Sodexo and part of the Advisory Board at the church I help lead in Athens, GA. During our conversation, we talk about the experience of loss during the pandemic, what it’s like to be adopted into a White family, and how she feels connected to her Korean ancestors through her creativity.

John Richards serves as the Pastor of Assimilation at St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, Howard University School of Law, and Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian Leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Darryl Ford II serves as Pastor of Ikon Community Church in Atlanta, GA. During our conversation, we talk about growing up in Detroit, theological lessons learned in the military while stationed in Iraq, and the unique opportunity that his background in engineering and music provides as a pastor.

Tyler Burns serves as Pastor of New Dimensions Christian Center in Pensacola, FL and as President of The Witness, A Black Christian Collective. Our conversation focuses on the ups-and-downs of leading a church and the need for communities that exist primarily for BIPOC Christians.

Dr. CJ Rhodes is the Pastor of Mt. Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, MS, while also serving in other roles at Wesley Biblical Seminary, Alcorn State University, Clergy Prison Reform and The AND Campaign. During our conversation, we talk about the recent insurrection in Washington, D.C., the history of civil rights in the state of Mississippi, the ongoing trauma of racial injustice, and the tools available to us as we try to make sense of what’s wrong in the world.

Dr. Robert Chao Romero is Associate Professor of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA. During our conversation, I ask lots of questions about his book, Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology and Identity. I learned so much and I think you will, too!

Dr. Drew Hart is Assistant Professor of Theology at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA. He is also the author of Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing The Way The Church Views Racism and Who Will Be A Witness: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance. We talk about his story, what the Church is learning about racism and the resources God provides for us to actively pursue justice together. You can thank Dr. Hart by buying a copy of his books and checking out an episode of the Inverse Podcast