Pray With our Feet

Before Women's Herstory Month comes to a close, we're sharing our conversation about Spoken Black Girl magazine Issue 4: The Freedom Issue 2023. Mom and I chatted with Rowana Abbensetts Dobson, founder and author (Departure Story), along with contributing writers Lillie Watson, Reign, and Adrienne Prather.

We delve into the multiple ways Black women claim our liberation (collective and individual), the daily challenges we're navigating, why we must remain uncompromising in defining our freedom for ourselves and more! Check out the issue here. And connect with the poetry of Reign, "Free," Adrienne Prather, "What Freedom Means to Me?," and Lillie Watson's essay, "Black is Free."

Learn more about Reign, Adrienne and Lillie below:

Reign is a Philadelphia native who now resides in New Mexico. It is her place of fresh new inspiration. She has been writing poetry and essays since the age of 8 years old. She is a published poet, published essayist, mixed media artist and short filmmaker. She writes to honor the ancestors' voices. Stay connected - Instagram: @i_am_reignthecreator, YouTube: Magic Little Movies (short films for healing and meditation), and purchase Reign's poetry book, The Beauty of Dead Roses

Adrienne Prather is a writer, author and educator. She is a published author, and has written 3 books, Reflections of Love an Inspirational Poetry Book, Encouragement Cafe Self-Help, and Grace Finds Peace Children's Book. Adrienne enjoys writing and inspiring others. Ways to Stay connected - Instagram: @tmialuv and on Facebook: @AuthorAdriennePrather.

Lillie Watson is a writer based in Tucson, Arizona. She is a passionate reader and book lover, who believes in book accessibility and putting Black, Indigenous, POC, and LGBTQ+ representation and voices to the forefront of literary spaces. She has stories and poems published in SandScript Art and Literature Magazine's 2016 and 2017 issues, and a personal essay published in Spoken Black Girl Magazine Issue 4: The Freedom Issue 2023. She works as a manager at a local bookstore, and volunteers at a local literacy non-profit, as she determines where she'd like to take her love of all things writing and reading related. Ways to Stay Connected - Instagram: @lilliemarie221b and Twitter: @lilliemarie221b .

Stay Connected With Us!

Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop.

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.

Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.

Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

We don't have to tell you the world is on fire, as folks of faith committed to making a difference, many of us find it hard to stop, and care for ourselves. It often feels like a luxury, but in the radical tradition of writer, speaker and thinker Audre Lorde, Amy Jackson, founder of The Perch Place (a soul care org. based in downtown Aurora) is calling us to water ourselves, and make space for rest so we can rise another day, working for a world where justice, mercy, and Christ's love reigns. The Perch Place has in-person and online offerings: yoga, art classes, guided meditations, workshops, retreats and more!

"Learning about soul care helped me begin stepping into the healthy, flourishing life of purpose God created me for. It helped me become a healthier person spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically, and it helped me see and work on my blind spots so that I could be in healthier relationships as well," she says. Amy is soul care adovcate, entreprenuer, speaker, yoga teacher and meditation facilitator. You can read more about her story here.

Here are some key takeaways from this epiosde:

• Soul care moves beyond the superficial and focuses on living the healthy, thriving, and sustaining life God intends for each of us.
• Some core practices we can lean into are short meditations (5 min or less) like the ones Amy has on her podcast, Just Press Pause, breath prayer, yoga, and welcome prayer.
• Establishing a daily self check-in ritual can help ground you, beging asking: How am I feeling? What do I need? How might I gave that to myself?
• There are certain types of meditation (like a body scan) which are helpful for activists and change makers. Amy has two meditation offerings on her podcast which center expansive love and de-stressing: Loving Kindness and Release Anxiety.
• When we practice self kindness, we are better able to show up in community with compassion, love and grace.
• Check out Amy's book, 31 Days of Self Kindness which includes all kinds of practical and accessible support for prioirtizing your wellbeing daily. And one of Amy's favorite books, Soulful Spirituality: Becoming Fully Alive and Human by David G. Benner.

Continuing our #SoulCare series, Mom and I caught up with a dear friend of the pod, Walt Shelton, about his latest book, Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless and Balanced, which calls us towards 3 elements of qualitative living:

Focusing on the present moment (not stuck in the past or preoccupation the future). Not allowing fear to immobilize us. Beginning to ask, what can we do with fear? How can it fuel our actions for good? And "periodically identifying, refining, and balancing our life priorities to progressively live them as fully as possible with necessary questions for continual self reflection: How do I want to show up in the world, and embody Christ's heart? Am I centering kindness, justice, and actively reaching across differences? Am I making space for repenting when it is necessary?

Key Takeaways:

-Mindfulness and living a life which lifts up justice, equality and being in beloved community are interconnected. God calls us to see one another fully. We should hear a lot more about mindfulness in our churches, "Go out and pay attention to the people around you, and be kind and compassionate with them," Walt says.

- In his book, Walt lifts up the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (found in Luke 16:19-31), and connects it to mindfulness which helps us live awake. The rich man had multiple opportunities to help, and didn't because of being consumed with his own life. This way of centering self above community is normalized in our society, and around the world; it cuts us off from connecting with one another in the ways God intends.

- We must move away from the disease of multi-tasking; scriptures speak of the importance of a healthy eye, and Walt sees this as connected to singular focus which helps us engage in community with deeper intention, "one person, one need at a time."

- Living a mindful life is a process; we can start where we are right now. Even if it is just a few moments a day. Set aside time to be with God, away from distractions. If Jesus needed time away to replenish himself, we certainly do!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

-Walt's book, Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless and Balanced (stay connected with his work on his website).

-The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31

Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh (nominated by Dr. King for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967, King called him an "apostle of peace and nonviolence."

Stay Connected With Us!

Visit the website and find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.

Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.

Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

REWIND: In honor of Black history month, and this year's theme of resistance, we are revisiting past conversations with guests committed to the active and everyday work of resisting racism and the false ideology of white supremacy.

Anti-racism work is daily; it's a choice to embrace discomfort, the uncertainty of how folks around you will react, and a commitment to unapologetic truth telling. This week's guest, writer (founder of the blog, Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend), anti-racism activist / educator, and co-host of the Upside Down podcast, Patricia A. Taylor is on the journey.

We have long admired her work, and this conversation is full of thoughtful insights, we delved into:

- Patricia's journey aligning her writing with social justice and listening to the call from God to move into anti-racism work.

- Why proximity to BIPOC communities doesn't absolve churches and individuals from doing the work of anti-racism.

- How she embraces care for her mind, body and spirit, rooted in scripture from Jeremiah to the Psalms, and 2 Corinthians 3: 3-5.

- The necessity of lament and repentance for the church as it relates to racial and social justice.

- Why spiritual bypassing is dangerous, and why being vulnerable around safe people (particularly for those in BIPOC communities) about what we're feeling is a form of self care.

- What Patricia hopes those in her community take away from her work: questions that guide them toward action, and keep them rooted in compassion.

More about Patricia A. Taylor: Patricia Taylor is a wife, mom and California native. She believes in Jesus, truth-telling, loving all of our neighbors, and having critical conversations around racial justice with grace and honesty. Her work is rooted in anti-racism education, and she serves as the BIPOC Educator for Be The Bridge. You may find her on Instagram @patricia_a_taylor and on Facebook at Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend by Patricia A. Taylor.

Stay Connected with Us - Pray with our Feet website where you can check out our online shop, blog and devotionals.

Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.

Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor! He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here.

REWIND: In honor of Black history month, and this year's theme of resistance, we are revisiting past conversations with guests committed to the active and everyday work of resisting racism and the false ideology of white supremacy.

We sat down with Rev. Dr. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a 1,300-member multi-ethnic, welcoming, and inclusive congregation in New York City (and full disclosure, my home church, loves!) for a conversation which delved into:

- The need for each of us to make anti-racism a daily practice.

- Rooting our minds and spirits in revolutionary love.

- The challenging joy of leading a diverse church that is radically inclusive and leaves no one out regardless of race, sexuality / gender identity or ability.

- Why one of the essential duties of church members is to push leaders towards anti-racist practices which go beyond the pews, and into our daily lives - the way we love, work, shop and come into community.

Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, and earned her Ph.D. in Religion and Society/Psychology and Religion at Drew University. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Lewis hosted "Just Faith," an on-demand television program on MSNBC.com and is a frequent media commentator.

Her books include:

Fierce Love, The Power of Stories: A Guide for Leaders in Multi-racial, Multi-cultural Congregations, Ten Strategies for Becoming a Multiracial Congregation, and the children's book, You Are So Wonderful!

Stay Connected to Rev. Jacqui and Middle Church:

Middle Church is rebuilding after a tragic fire. You can support this ongoing work by donating here.

Visit Rev. Jacqui's website, and follow her heart-centered work.

Join the Movement at Middle Church!

Stay Connected with Us - Pray with our Feet website where you can check out our online shop, blog and devotionals. Follow us on Social: IG and Twitter.

Our show is produced by my husand Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

Showing up in faith and action takes consistent work. None of us will ever have it "figured out," but commitment keeps us on the path. Mom and I caught up with Adam Hollowell and Jamie McGhee, founders of Praying with Baldwin, to discuss their powerful book: You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge.

One of the most prolific writers and thinkers of the 20th century, Baldwin's words continue to awaken us. Drawing from his extensive body of work - fiction, poetry speeches and interviews, McGhee and Hollowell call us to embody our activism. There are prompts at the end of each chapter to help us take action - whether concerning police brutality, racial justice or LGBTQ+ rights. Our discussion also lifts up the urgency of dialouging across differences, looking inward, intergating ways we are either unaware of oppression or compilict, what seeking justice and love within our communities and church spaces.

Learn more about the Praying with Baldwin project, "a sequence of prayers that originally launched August 2, 2017." Over 30 days Jamie and Adam prayed the last words of "those who have been killed by racism and police violence and prayed for the courage to take "First Steps" to change the world around them. You can download a PDF version here.

Stay Connected with Jamie and Adam:

Website: Praying with James Baldwin

Instagram: @prayingbaldwin

Twitter: @prayingbaldwin

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

Shop the Pray with our Feet Store or Donate!

Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement!

Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

What does it mean to live from the centered self in an off center world? We're delving into this challenge in today's chat with Keith Kristich, founder of Closer Than Breath, an online interspiritual community lifting up centering prayer and "the study of universal truths to deepen your relationship with God and develop peace within." Keith is a commissioned teacher of Centering Prayer through Contemplative Outreach, trained with the Shalem Institute and certified Enneagram teacher through the Conscious Living Center.

We discuss the transformative power of becoming still, listening to God's voice within us, moving from ego into deeper relationship with the Divine, and the wisdom of Father Thomas Keating (author, priest, teacher and leader within the contemplative prayer community), and Saint Teresa of Ávil, revered Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun and writer who once said: "Prayer is an act of love, words are not necessary."

Don't miss the next event from the Closer Than Breath community: Centering Prayer Summit, Jan. 21-23, a virtual space, to learn and practice with leading centering prayer teachers.

Download the God is Closer Than Breath Guide here.

Website: CloserThanBreath.com

Instagram: @keithkristich

Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet Podcast + Online Community:

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

What if today's church looked more like the early church described in the book of Acts - sharing resources, concerned not with power but being in genuine relationship with Jesus and one another? Jesus People, a church family of nearly 200 people, based in Chicago is living out this revolutionary call, and has done so since 1972.

Mom and I chat with members Charlene and Tommy and discuss -

- Jesus People's intentional community where members live communally in a 10-story building in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago,

- The ways their mission businesses and common purse ("combining monetary resources into a common fund…" ) support their ministry and communal needs, enabling them to serve those living in poverty, including Cornerstone Community Outreach, "one of the first shelters in Chicago to open its doors for women with children experiencing homelessness."

- Why it's imperative that Christians not allow the messsge of Christian to co-opt our faith.

- Strategies to helping move your church from the pews to the pavement, and become involved in helping the surrounding community.

- Donate and support Jesus People's ministry. Stay connected with Jesus People on social media: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

- In Loving Memory: This episode is dedicated to my Dad, Rudy Leocadio, a loving husband, father, and faith leader throughout his life. Dad was truly a man of deep faith with a servant's heart. God called him home on Sun., November 27, 2022. You can read my tribute to him on the Pray with our Feet blog.

Help Us Spread the Word!

- If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

- Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement!

- Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

What if today’s church looked more like the early church described in the book of Acts - sharing resources, concerned not with power but being in genuine relationship with Jesus and one another? Jesus People, a church family of nearly 200 people, based in Chicago is living out this revolutionary call, and has done so since 1972.

Mom and I chat with members Charlene and Tommy and discuss -

- Jesus People’s intentional community where members live communally in a 10-story building in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago,

- The ways their mission businesses and common purse (“combining monetary resources into a common fund…” ) support their ministry and communal needs, enabling them to serve those living in poverty, including Cornerstone Community Outreach, “one of the first shelters in Chicago to open its doors for women with children experiencing homelessness.”

- Why it’s imperative that Christians not allow the messsge of Christian to co-opt our faith.

- Strategies to helping move your church from the pews to the pavement, and become involved in helping the surrounding community.

- Donate and support Jesus People’s ministry. Stay connected with Jesus People on social media: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

- In Loving Memory: This episode is dedicated to my Dad, Rudy Leocadio, a loving husband, father, and faith leader throughout his life. Dad was truly a man of deep faith with a servant’s heart. God called him home on Sun., November 27, 2022. You can read my tribute to him on the Pray with our Feet blog. 

Help Us Spread the Word!

- If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

- Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement!

- Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

We're BACK with Season 4! We've missed you all. As you know, Mom and I choose a verse to guide us through each season, and this time it's wisdom from the book of Micah: "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?" (Micah 6:8, Amplified Bible)

Throughout this episode we:

- Explore the prophet Micah, the ways God spoke through him to Israel lifting up his heart for compassion, justice and mercy, while also calling for repentance when these values are not lived out.

- What it means to embody justice, love and mercy in our daily lives, and how it expands our faith, deepening how we define community. Check out our deveotional, Seeing with Our Hearts inspired by Micah 6:8.

- Podcast conversations we are excited to share with you all incluude Jesus People (a community-based ministry in Chicago serving the poor), Jamie McGhee and Adam Hollowell, authors of You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge and creators of the online space Praying with James Baldwin, Keith Kristich, founder of Closer Than Breath, an online community rooted in centering prayer and meditation, and more.

Additional Resources:

We love this overview of the book of Micah from Bible project.

James Baldwin's 1979 speech at Berkeley, Take Your Children Out of These Schools

Support our Work:

- Upcoming fundraiser on Double Good! You can purchase yummy popcorn and Pray with our Feet receives 50% of the profits to power our work. Double Good has helped organizations (creating change) raise over 90 million dollars.

- Shop our NEW online store where you can find everything from sweatshirts to mugs and tees reminding you to Pray with your Feet!

- Follow our IG Live series: Move it Forward Monday at 12:30pm EST. The series highlights change makers in our communities and is done in collaboration with our friend Rowana, founder of Spoken Black Girl, a wellness community and magazine for Black women writers and women of color.

Power the Movement: Pray with our Feet tee

Stay Connected on Social: @praywithourfeet on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and TikTok (we're new to this platform).

Our podcast is produced by my husband Keston De Coteau, an award-winning videographer and photographer. Learn more about his work here.