Forefront 360

Forefront Podcast Director Cody Schweickert talks to Peter Englert, the Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church. Peter co-hosts the Why God Why Podcast, which explores the questions that matter most in people lives — often the questions people do not feel safe to ask in church. 

In this episode, Cody and Peter discuss what it means to look at the Bible as literature instead of as a purely descriptive or scientific text. If the Bible is art, how does that change how we read it, and how will it change our relationship with God?

Rich, Nate, Zack and Dan discuss what they've been creating recently.

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Forefront board member Zack Osinski talks to percussionist Josh Graham about music, church, racial reconciliation, and the joys and challenges of life as a musician.

The Christmans and the Mancinis review "A Week Away," Netflix's new musical set at a Christian camp.

Rich Christman interviews painter Misato Pang. Born and raised in Hong Kong to Japanese and Chinese parents, Misato migrated to the United States during late adolescence. Up until recently, she lived in New York City and relocated to St. Louis in the past year. Misato's works overlap personal narrative and cultural events, some of which allude to current social phenomenon and political discourse in Asia. She has participated in various residencies and exhibitions in the United States and Japan. Her most recent solo exhibition, "Breakdown", was a two-part exhibition that guides viewers through phases of the artist's creative process using verbal and visual languages. The synthesis of visual and auditory cues recreate spaces and moments in time, hence inviting the viewers to reflect and enter these intimate spaces that happened in isolation and solitude.

We invite you to enjoy this multi-layered conversation about faith, artistry, and identity.

Cody and Rich review Justin Bieber's new (explicitly Christian) EP "Freedom."

Rich, Cody, and special guest Aaron Lowin discuss whether video games count as "art."

“You can walk on water if you are painting it.” 

Forefront leaders Nate Mancini and Rich Christman had the opportunity to speak with renowned artist Makoto Fujimura about the intersection of art and faith. In this far-reaching conversation, they talk about Mako’s routines & practices, his slow process of creation, how artists can bring God’s abundance to a world of scarcity, and ultimately, how Christ is deeply present in our experiences of darkness & trauma. 

As a special bonus, we conclude with some audience questions from artists like singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken and tap dancer Andrew Nemr.

Makoto Fujimura (b. 1960, Boston) is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. 

Fujimura’s art has been featured widely in galleries and museums around the world, and is collected by notable collections including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library as well as Tikotin Museum in Israel. 

Fujimura is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts.

Fujimura founded the International Arts Movement in 1992, now IAMCultureCare, which oversees the Fujimura Institute. Most recently, he co-founded the Kintsugi Academy.

We are honored to share this special interview.

In this new arts review episode:

• Nate reads a passage from East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Cody, Rich and Nate review Pixar's latest film, "Soul." What were the best moments? Was the film overstuffed? What does it try to "say" about the spiritual realm, and do those ideas align with a Christian worldview? And finally, what are the top 5 Pixar films of all time?