We turn the mike around this episode and talk to the host of the show, Loren Richmond Jr! Interviewed by Paul Romig-Leavitt, the intro voice and one of the producers of the show, Loren and talks about his church planting experience, why he resonates with Eeyore, and what makes him tick.

Loren is a pastor, podcaster, and social entrepreneur. Currently serving as a hospital chaplain, Loren is passionate about leading, serving, and creating to help churches better share the radical love and welcome of God's love made known in Jesus with their communities.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Shane Claiborne joins the show to talk guns and peacemaking. In the episode, we talk about gun idolatry in American, the reckoning we still have to face due to guns, and whether moving towards a way of peace is even possible. Shane also powerfully juxtaposes guns and the cross of Christ, pointing out that each represent two far different versions of power. 

Shane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living "as if Jesus meant the things he said." Shane is a champion for grace which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless, and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. Now grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty and help stop gun violence. Shane’s books include Jesus for President, Red Letter Revolution, and his newest book, Beating Guns, among many others. 

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Are you discerning your own purpose, accompanying others on their path, or leading organizational change? Stephen Lewis and Matthew Wesley Williams, authors of the book Another Way (with Dori Baker) talk about engaging wholeheartedly in profound change and learning to lead in a way that is deeply connected to your inner well-being as well as your communities of accountability.

Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE), which focuses on cultivating a new generation of Christian leaders. He is also the creator of DO GOOD X, a social good accelerator for diverse Christian social entrepreneurs. Stephen is an ordained minister with more than fifteen years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership and strategy, organizational and program development, and group facilitation. His interest lies at the intersection of leadership, vocation, and leading change. He is passionate about helping the next generation of diverse leaders discover their purpose, passion and calling to make the world a better place.

Matthew Wesley Williams is the 11th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), a historically Black ecumenical graduate theological school, located in the heart of Atlanta, GA. Williams is a recognized executive in the field of theological education who has built national programs and partnerships among top-level leaders to advance opportunities for institutional change, faculty development, doctoral education, leadership formation, young adult vocational discernment, diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Gabriel Gordon joins the pod to talk about his book God Speaks: A Participatory Theology of Biblical Inspiration. In our conversation, Gabriel talks about what he means by the term "Bible idolatry," why we need to stop equating God's Word with the Bible, and how the jelly donut is perfect analogy for understanding Jesus.

Gabriel graduated with a double major in Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Ministry from Oklahoma Baptist University. He is currently working on his Masters of Theological Studies with a specialization in Biblical Studies from Portland Seminary. He has authored two books and is featured in an edited volume of essays on Christian leadership. In addition, he is a confirmed member of the Episcopal church part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a self-identified Anglo-Orthodox; and one of the co-founders of The Misfits Theology Club, a blog, podcast, and annual conference dedicated to providing a place of dialogue and working to build unity amongst diverse Christians. He currently lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his wife Hannah, and his dog Karl Barth.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Steve Ringelspaugh joins the pod to talk about how technology is helping churches impact their community and spread the love of God.  Steve shares the story of Beautiful Redemption, a nonprofit that utilizes digital platforms so churches can more easily connect with and make a difference in the lives of people far beyond the walls of the physical church. Struggling to figure out how to reach your community in this new digital era? Listen in!

Steve is Director of Outreach for Beautiful Redemption, a ministry that connects faith communities, child welfare agencies, and individuals to help at-risk children. Steve and his wife, Katie have always had a passion for helping kids. After serving and leading in youth ministry, he realized that he was never going to impact an entire generation of kids by himself. From there, he began to dream about building a network of churches and individuals who could put aside differences to work together for the benefit of others. 

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Richard Stearns joins the pod to talk about his new book, Lead Like it Matters to God. In the conversation, we talk about how success can become an idol, the difference between faithfulness and failure, and how churches can better connect what happens on in worship on Sunday to what happens during the workweek on Monday.

Richard Stearns is president emeritus of World Vision US, where he served as president for twenty years, traveling more than three million miles as an advocate for the world's poor. Before leading the Christian relief and development organization, he was a corporate CEO at both Parker Brothers and Lenox. His bestselling book The Hole in Our Gospel was named the 2010 Christian Book of the Year.  Among the honors Stearns received for his humanitarian service are five honorary doctoral degrees, the Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award from InterAction, and the Christian Leadership Alliance's highest honor.  He and his wife, Reneé, have five adult children and six grandchildren, and live in Bellevue, Washington.

Lead like it matters to God podcast

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

H.L. Hix joins the pod to talk about his recent project, The Gospel, a new translation seeking to weave into one narrative all the canonical and non-canonical accounts of the life of Jesus. In the conversation, we talk about what inspired the project, the hermeneutic that guided his interpretive choices, and what he means by "translation inertia."

H.L. Hix teaches in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department and the Creative Writing Program at a university in “one of those square states.” His website is www.hlhix.com. His recent books, in addition to The Gospel, include a poetry collection, Rain Inscription; an edition of selected poems by Estonian peasant poet Juhan Liiv, Snow Drifts, I Sing, translated with Jüri Talvet; and an essay collection, Demonstrategy.  

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

The Many, a worship band featuring Darren Calhoun, Leslie Michele, Hannah Rand, and Lenora Rand, join the show to talk about their music and share their thoughts on the "worship industry' within broader Christianity. They also share some thoughts about the role of music within worshipping communities and the importance of seeing music as just one element of worship.

The Many (themanyarehere.com) is a liturgically-grounded, new kind of worship band, an intentionally diverse collective creating music for people who want to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with a God who so loves the world. With a sound that resonates with gospel, pop, and folk, The Many’s feet-on-the-ground, heart-in-hands, scars-revealed, wild and holy music of resistance and hope have made them, over the last five years, a significant creative voice in the movement for inclusion, anti-racism and justice-building within the church and beyond.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

The Many, a worship band featuring Darren Calhoun, Leslie Michele, Hannah Rand, and Lenora Rand, join the show to talk about their music and share their thoughts on the "worship industry' within broader Christianity. They also share some thoughts about the role of music within worshipping communities and the importance of seeing music as just one element of worship.

The Many (themanyarehere.com) is a liturgically-grounded, new kind of worship band, an intentionally diverse collective creating music for people who want to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with a God who so loves the world. With a sound that resonates with gospel, pop, and folk, The Many’s feet-on-the-ground, heart-in-hands, scars-revealed, wild and holy music of resistance and hope have made them, over the last five years, a significant creative voice in the movement for inclusion, anti-racism and justice-building within the church and beyond.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.

Chris Benek joins the pod to talk techno-theology, Christian transhumanism, and the biggest challenges and opportunities for churches as they make use of tech. In the conversation, Chris separates science from science-fiction, and tells why he sees the future as an incredible digital mission field. 

Rev. Dr. Christopher J. Benek is a follower of Jesus Christ, a pastor, husband, and father. He is also a global emerging tech & theology expert who is internationally known for his social and religious analysis and commentary. He is widely recognized as a techno-theologian, futurist, ethicist, Christian Transhumanist, public speaker, writer and tech pastor.  He is the lead clergy expert regarding Artificial Intelligence in the world.

The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.