It’s not every day all five of us are on the podcast, and we wish it was for a more cheerful reason. But in this episode, we say goodbye to Foreword as we’ve known it.

As the Foreword team goes our separate ways, we want to express what a pleasure it has been to do this together. It’s been a highlight for each of us during our time together, and we hope that it’s been enjoyable for you too. And we, of course, want to thank our producer Curtis Pierce, without whom none of this would have ever been possible, our graduate assistant, Lauren, and especially you. Thank you for investing in us, in our guests, and in the Church we are all striving to serve.

These words are the last in our Foreword.

Our final guest for the season is Dr. Ahmi Lee, author of God’s Grand Drama: A Biblical Theological Approach. Ahmi is an MDiv. graduate of TEDS, and she also gave the 42nd Annual Rohm Lectures on Preaching on campus this year. She has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary, and is now the Chief Partnership Officer at Resource Global, a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping young professionals for having an impact for the gospel in their contexts. She is interviewed by Dr. Michelle Knight and Dr. Madison Pierce.

Ahmi begins by sharing her calling to develop Christian marketplace leaders to make a difference for Christ at Resource Global, along with her prior experiences teaching preaching at Fuller. Her discovery of this calling originated from a life of preaching and ministry, beginning in South Korea and Japan. The secular and pluralistic environment she encountered in Japan instilled in her a desire to share the gospel to those around her. Ahmi reflects how these experiences taught her how to be a flexible preacher who listens to her or his people in order to identify areas where God is already working. She also speaks about how the church can be both faithful and faithless, beautiful and ugly, but how God still operates through all of it. The group then shift to discuss Ahmi’s book on preaching. She notes how her approach splits the difference between a more traditional, propositional approach and a more listener-based approach. To do so, she recommends four “perspectives” to which the preacher ought to attend when she or he preaches. From there she talks about her future project on the office of the pastor and the benefits the early church can provide. In particular, there are lessons to be learned from these figures on how to preach during difficult times. She concludes with some recommendations on how to prepare sermons, the role of delight in that process, and how one’s understanding of God ought to be formative.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• What it’s like to do street preaching in Japan when you’re a highschooler
• Ahmi’s hopes for pastors and teachers as they construct beautiful things
• The best tools for preaching in a way that invites others into God’s great drama

To learn more about Dr. Ahmi Lee, you can watch her Rohm Lecture here, you can watch the follow-up Q&A here, you can acquire her book here, or you can see the kind of work she does with Resource Global here.

Joining Foreword this week is Dr. David C. Kirkpatrick, Assistant Professor of Religion at James Madison University. David is a historian of religion, politics, and social movements working at the intersection of Latin America and the United States. He completed a PhD. at the University of Edinburgh’s prestigious Centre for the Study of World Christianity, but not before passing his way through TEDS, earning an MDiv and MA in Intercultural Studies. Dr. Fellipe do Vale and Dr. Madison Pierce have a lovely conversation about David’s work on Latin American Evangelicals and their contributions to understandings of how evangelicalism is defined.

David’s work focuses on 20th-century figures like René Padilla, Samuel Escobar, and Orlando Costas, evangelical theologians who called for a holistic understanding of the gospel that extended to concern for the poor as a corrective to approaches that neglected such dimensions. They trained alongside and in conversation with familiar figures like John Stott and Carl F.H. Henry, yet often speaking from convictions forged in their own Latin American contexts. There is something noticeably distinct about these figures; while they are recognizably evangelical in their doctrinal commitments, they also differed strongly from their North American conversation partners on social issues, even whether Christians ought to engage them, and David brings out these differences well. This, of course, is a fundamental question about what the gospel is and its relationship to every element of life, and the answer of these evangelicals is illuminating for the contemporary concerns of many Christians. Finally, David shares about his rewarding experiences teaching in a research university as a Christian.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• What makes the state of Wisconsin so wonderful
• What Madison was like as a seminary classmate
• Which TEDS professors had the biggest impact on David in shaping his studies

To learn more about Dr. David C. Kirkpatrick, we encourage you to check out his book, and keep an eye out for his two other forthcoming books, Global Visions of Violence: Agency and Persecution in World Christianity and Blood and Borders: Violence and Intolerance at the Intersection of Latin America and the United States. See also his department page at JMU, where he teaches some excellent courses!

Leslie Rogers, who is the Director of the Intercultural Development Office here at Trinity, joins Dr. Joshua Jipp and Dr. Michelle Knight for a conversation. The IDO serves to “promote unity in diversity through engaging students in each of their journeys through identity development, spiritual formation, and intercultural competency,” and Leslie’s brilliant vision and commitment helps make it the beautiful place that it is.

Josh and Michelle begin by asking Leslie about her story, a truly inspiring account of how she originally did not want to attend university but was inspired to do so by Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates (a friend of the pod!). During her time, positive interactions with professors and nourishment from her community helped her to find an inroad in academic study, ultimately earning both her undergraduate degree and MDiv at Trinity. During this time, Leslie developed a passion for developing leaders with a special focus not so much on garnering a platform but in shaping their character in the entirety of who they are. Being well-acquainted with the school, Leslie also shares what she considers to be the blessings and shortcomings of being at TIU. She loves the togetherness and proximity a Christian university offers, but realizes that there is a challenge to being a Black woman in an evangelical institution, especially in its limitations with regard to offering students of color an opportunity to learn deeply from their own communities. She helpfully provides some advice for those facing similar challenges, assuring students that God sees them, validates them, and grants them dignity and worth. She also recommends having designated places of “refilling” in order to avoid being burnt out.

Along the way, listeners will also discover…

• Which Foreword spouse has preached alongside Leslie
• How good of a cook Michelle really is
• The value and benefit of having a good community as one studies

Leslie’s directorship of the Intercultural Development Office is truly impressive, and you can learn more about it here. You can also enjoy Leslie’s preaching and writing here, and be sure not to miss her podcast, In Process, which explores Christian leadership.

In this episode, Dr. James Arcadi and Dr. Michelle Knight interview Dr. Christina Bieber Lake, a Henry Center Fellow this year, and Clyde S. Kilby Professor of English at Wheaton College. Christina made the long journey north from Wheaton to spend this year researching at TEDS, and in this episode, she shares the work she is doing to show how novels and poetry have a profound impact on how we inhabit our worlds.

Christina began her career with a strong desire to teach English in a way informed by her Christian confession, an impulse supported by her initial work on Flannery O’Connor. O’Connor also stimulated her efforts to combat Gnostic tendencies in Christian practice, tendencies that prefer to see human beings more like disembodied “angels” than embodied and finite. Instead, Christina calls Christians to inhabit their worlds differently—slowly, more appreciative of the mundane, more sensitive to beauty—and the primary way she calls them to do so is through stories. Narratives, she argues in her book Beyond the Story and in her current Henry Center work, invite us into new worlds that are opened to us, calling us to remember the world as enchanted and that times of leisure and non-productivity are not times that are wasted. She concludes with some reflections on how this can be applied in the work of a teacher (and ostensibly beyond), from her book, The Flourishing Teacher. 

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• What American fiction author Christina really does not like
• The importance and value of contemplative prayer
• Some great new poets to read

To find out more about Dr. Christina Bieber Lake, there is no better place than her website. Also check out her profile at the Henry Center, her faculty page at Wheaton, or read one of her many books.

Pastor Aaron Reyes joins Dr. Joshua Jipp and Dr. Madison Pierce from Austin, TX to talk about his work at Hope Community Church, the Crete Collective, and the Vida House. Aaron is an MDiv. alumnus from TEDS and continues to partner in ministry with TEDS in various ways.

Aaron begins by sharing his experiences growing up in Texas in an immigrant community, and how that had significant impacts for the shape of his ministry. Though he did not originally have intentions to return to Texas after doing his education in the Chicago area, the convictions he acquired in TEDS classes about the teachings of Jesus led him to emphasize the least of these in his ministry, especially those whose lives have been made difficult on account of bias regarding race and ethnicity. Aaron then reflects on his approach to ministry in his context, especially how it relates to knowing the particular history of his city and a sensitivity to the stories of the people around him, especially those who have immigrated to the United States. At his church, therefore, you’ll see languages and other forms of cultural expression that reflect the people who have been gathered in the community. He also shares about the work of his wife, Michelle, who has two books on engaging issues of race and culture wisely. Finally, Aaron describes his work with the Crete Collective, an association of churches that seeks to embody both justice and justification, and with Vida House, which provides theological education for the communities around him.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Why middle-aged people like Tom Brady
• Why Liverpool is the best football club
• The kinds of interactions that brings the most joy to a pastor working in multicultural contexts

To learn more about Pastor Aaron Reyes, visit his profile at Hope Community Church and learn about the wonderful work they are doing, read about the Crete Collective or his and Michelle’s approach to preaching in Christianity Today, or watch this news piece that highlights the work Hope did to set up hand-washing stations during COVID.

Dr. Luke Tillett, who teaches in the mental health counseling program at TEDS, is this episode’s guest. Dr. James Arcadi and Dr. Fellipe do Vale have the opportunity to talk about the vital work he does in the program.

Luke describes the path he took to get to the point where is now, as someone who both teaches and practices mental health counseling. Counseling and pastoral practice were always intertwined for Luke, and he shares how his motivations to be a better pastor led him to gain skills in being a good counselor. He has professional experience in both roles and therefore possesses a remarkably useful set of experiences to form future ministers at TEDS for work that is sensitive to mental health concerns. Luke’s research, in fact, has investigated how religious practices impact mental health wellbeing, particularly how they can serve as a “protective factor” against mental health challenges and how a lack of emotional involvement in those practices also prevents them from being beneficial in emotion regulation. From these rich insights, Luke describes the difficulties raised by the pandemic, highlighting the benefits of a good therapist (and helps to address some Christian concerns surrounding therapy). He provides advice for pastors in these hard days, and for congregants who wish to help support them. Finally, Luke articulates a lovely vision for the role counseling plays in a seminary curriculum aimed at forming Christians for ministry.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Some concrete advice for church members interested in supporting their pastors
• How spouses can overcome not having anything to talk about
• Luke’s preferred method for painting a midwestern landscape in February

To learn more about Dr. Luke Tillett, visit his faculty page, read his profile at LifePlace (where he practices counseling), or listen to a recent interview he did.

For this episode, Dr. H. Wayne Johnson, Provost of Trinity International University and Associate Professor of Biblical and Pastoral Theology at TEDS, sits down with Dr. Michelle Knight and Dr. Josh Jipp.

Wayne has a rich history of allowing cross-cultural experiences to shape his understanding of himself and of God. During his twenty years at Trinity, he also has encouraged students and faculty to pursue similar experiences in his various roles. He has been Dean of Chapel for Trinity International University, Dean of Students for TEDS, Director of the MDiv program, and Associate Academic Dean of TEDS. In that time, he’s taught some key courses within the MDiv, including "Biblical Theology and Interpretation," "Christian Worship and Pastoral Practices," and "Spiritual Formation for Ministry." He has also dedicated significant energy to the formation of faculty and staff. Wayne shares how he identifies with the Anabaptist tradition, particularly its emphasis on peacemaking and offers some wisdom on that tradition would assist us in this era of increased polarization within the church.

Along the way, listeners will learn…

• What kind of motorcycle Wayne rides
• What happened when he met a shark
• What biblical passage plays a key role in his peacemaking efforts

To learn more about our Provost, Dr. H. Wayne Johnson, see his faculty page, listen to one of his recent sermons, or join us here at Trinity and enjoy his leadership!

Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards joins Dr. Madison Pierce and Dr. James Arcadi for episode nine. Dennis is Associate Professor of New Testament at North Park University, along with being an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He has attended Cornell University, completed an MDiv at TEDS, and finished his education with a PhD at the Catholic University of America.

Dennis is a multi-talented person, and Madison and James have a great time learning about his journey to faith. He recounts his early experiences in the church and how he eventually discovered a call to ministry and to academic teaching (after earning a chemical engineering degree!). Dennis explains further how he found his way to studying James 5 at Catholic University for his PhD, even while he continued pastoring. He describes how he balances these two dimensions of his life, the academic and the pastoral, and offers crucial insight for the role of study in the life of the church. From there, they discuss his most recent book, Might from the Margins, and how his own experiences of marginalization provide points of contact with other forms of marginalization, and how the church can be reframed to remedy this. He addresses how often evangelicals have operated with recourse to societal power instead of the way of Jesus, which is best exemplified by those on the outside. Dennis finally shares some vital insights from his work in 1 Peter, especially what it teaches us about what it means to live as Christians not understood (or even hurt by) the broader world. 

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Which theology book kept following Dennis around, despite his best attempts to avoid it
• What instrument Dennis plays, even when he preaches
• What Dennis’ hopes for TEDS are

To learn more about Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, see his faculty page, purchase Might from the Margins or his commentary on 1 Peter, or watch his recent message at Mosaic.

TEDS MDiv alumnus Cliff Nellis joins Dr. Madison Pierce and Dr. Fellipe do Vale this week to speak about his work as executive director of Lawndale Christian Law Center, located on the westside of Chicago. Cliff holds a BA in Philosophy and English from Illinois Wesleyan University, a law degree from the University of Chicago, and is working toward an MBA at the Booth School of Business, also at the University of Chicago.

Cliff’s rich and diverse training distinctively equips him for his work at LCLC, which provides care to the youth of north Lawndale in the form of legal services, social services, and other opportunities for healing in the community. Cliff elaborates upon the holistic approach preferred by LCLC throughout the episode, an approach that takes into account both social and legal aspects of the lives of the young people they serve, which he calls “wrap-around supports.” Through these services, Cliff and his team (most of whom live alongside those they serve in Lawndale) hope to enable and equip those they help not to recidivate. The ultimate outcome for which they work is restorative justice, or a state of affairs of broader reconciliation and restitution beyond the distribution of punishment. This approach is both motivated by distinctly Christian impulses and better addresses questions of racial and criminal injustice. Cliff describes how he got into this kind of work, and what Christians can do to cultivate practices that benefit the communities in which they find themselves.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• How God can change someone’s life during a very long bike ride
• How arguing with your sibling is a tool for sanctification
• What resources are helpful for learning about the criminal justice system in the United States

To learn more about Cliff Nellis and the work being done at Lawndale Christian Legal Center (and to work alongside them!), look around their website (where you can make a donation), read the book that originally inspired Cliff, Real Hope in Chicago, or watch the news piece done on LCLC on ABC News.