Pray With our Feet

We're living through immensely challenging times, and it often feels isolating. In this epiosde, Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt reminds us our faith is a source of both strength and discovery, which can lead us to connect with our divine intuition, an inner knowing that flows from God.

She is the author of the fothcoming book: A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power, now available for pre-order. In addition to her writing, Rev. Aurelia is also a Pastor and sacred spacemaker. She helped found Peace of Christ Church , a sacred community in the heart of central Texas doing the work of radical love and disruptive peacemaking.

Throughout this episode, we also delve into:

- The urgency of creating spaces rooted in growth, humility and compassion, and why she sees herself as a paradigm shifter in the tradition of the Beattitudes.

- The inspiration and journey which led her to write A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power, now available for pre-order, and why stepping out of harmful paradigms is healing and necesary work.

- How her sermon, "Go and Do Likewise" lifts up the concept of radical empathy (a willingness to go near and see a situation), alongside some key questions we can continually ask ourselves: How can I serve? How can I give of my time and resources? How can I mobilze?

- Her faith path - it's roots in childlike wonder, and how this approach to our realtionship with Christ is liberatory, pushing us beyond the boxes we construct.

Stay Connected with Rev. Aurelia:

- Rev. Aurelia's Instagram as a space to center both art (her poems) and theology which lifts up inclusion and honesty, instead of division.

- Visit her website where you'll find her writing, speaking and more.

Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet:

Visit our new website which features our devotionals, blog, and online store with PWF merch. (tees, backpacks and more!). You can donate here to support our work.

Folks with invisible disabilities are often marginalized in our churches. "We don't know where to put them," Angie Alt says. She joins us this week to discuss her journey of living with chronic illness (3 autoimmune diseases) while also navigating her faith journey, and showing up as an activist in these challenging times.

Angie is author and co-author of the award-winning books The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook and The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook. She created a groundbreaking series of online group health coaching programs which have helped thousands of people transition their diets and lifestyle to the Autoimmune Protocol. In 2015, Angie partnered with Mickey Trescott, FNTP at AutoimmuneWellness.com, an award-winning website serving millions with autoimmune disease annually.

In this episode we delve into -

- How living with chronic illness deepened Angie's sense of compassion and impacted her spiritually.

- Two core ways the church can show up for folks in their congregations who are living with invisible disabilities like autoimmune diseases.

- Angie's definition of community care, and the ways it intersects with social justice and self care.

- Being honest about the ebbs and flows of our faith journey and releasing shame.

- What it means to pray with your feet through chronic illness.

Additional Resources Mentioned -

- Definitive Guide to AIP and sign up for the newsletter.

- A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God's Sovereignty by Joni Earckson Tada

What happens to the person who is connected to God, and still struggling with their mental health? Mom and I caught up with Dr. Anglea L. Harris, founder of Harris 316 Consulting and Services who has made it her life's work to center faith, mental health and holisitc wellness (mind, body and spirit).

Dr. Harris is a Mental Health Advocate, Workshop Leader, Motivational Speaker, Podcast Host, and Dog Mom to a pitbull mix named Lenni. Dr. Harris has a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University, and currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students at a small liberal arts college in North Carolina.

In this episode, we discuss -

- The pathway which led Dr. Angela to connect holisitc wellness and her Christian faith, and found Harris 316 Consulting and Services, LLC.

- Dr. Anglea's offerings: mental health and wellness workshops to Black churches, community agencies that serve marginalized communities, and corporate entities. Connect with her here. And follow on Instagram:@harris316consultingandservices

- Historical trauma present within the Black community and other communities of color, and how this impacts collective and individual mental health today.

- Rising rate of suicides within the Black community, and the urgnecy of creating spaces for vulnerability, well-being practices and healing.

- Ways to release the shame around mental health, and how we can show up as advocates within church pews and beyond.

Check out Further Reading & Resources (on our new website!)

- Harris 316 Consulting and Services - Perspectives on Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy Edited by Richard W. Sears and Alison Niblick

- Black Men Heal

- Therapy for Black Girls

- Dr. Joy DeGruy's book - Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing

We're taking it back this week to a powerful conversation from Season 1 with writer, activist and faith warrior Avril Somerville. Born in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Somerville writes at the intersection of identity, community and love. She is the author of A Journey of Life on Purpose, a book of personal essays and poetry, and a forthcoming novel.

She is also an English teacher, wife and mother of three who lives in Pennsylvania. Avril is excited about her independent micro-press, SomerEmpress Publishing, Inc., and looks forward to publishing transformative literature of other gifted women writers of color.

In this episode, we dive into:

- The power of our words, and how understanding this helps us walk in liberation.

- Seeing ourselves as deeply connected to those around us, especially the most marginalized, understanding Jesus stood for justice (Matthew 25:40 and Amos 5:24).

- Why mindfulness, really being present and grounded in God and our faith, is vital.

- Realizing activism takes many shapes and forms; if you are not able to be on the front lines, you can still show up and serve. Avril says: "Use your gifts, where you are, to tap into your purpose."

- God has designed us for intimacy, the act of sitting down and beholding one another. We must not allow technology to strip this away from our consciousness.

- Avril's own creative journey and sources of inspiration.

Stay in Touch with Avril Somerville:

www.somerempress.com

IG: @somerempress

Twitter: @somerempress

Show edited by my talented husband Keston De Coteau (videographer, photographer and editor) www.keston.online

What does it mean for us to see Jesus in the faces of folks experiencing homelessness? We chatted with writer Kevin Nye, who works in advocacy and homeless services. He is the author of the forthcoming book: Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness. He also writes on the intersections of theology, justice and equity, and pop culture.

We discuss -

- How he felt God calling him beyond the pew and into the streets.

- The urgency of moving from a savior complex as progressives and Christians when showing up to be of service to unhoused folks.

- Calling on churches to see unhoused folks as neighbors, part of their community.

- Lessons from the award-winning film, Nomadland, including our perception of what "homelessness looks like," various ways people experiencing homelessness build community, cultivate resilence, joy and more.

- Stay connected with Kevin's work here. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can donate to the organization Kevin works for (The Center in Hollywood), and learn more about their work here.

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo).

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

Pray with our Feet podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winnning videographer, photographer and founder of Keystone Productions.

How do visual art, contemplative prayer, social justice & children's ministry all connect? We're thirlled to chat with Sheila Whittenberg, artist and children's minister based Germany about the rich lessons God brings forth in places we least expect. We delved into -

• Sheila's faith journey: beginning with an intense spiritual experience at age 4, which left her assured of God's presence.
• How she discovered Ignatian spirituality which "insists God is present in our world and active in our lives, and Contemplative (centering) prayer.
• Sheila's beautiful artwork, and what inspires her to continue creating. Explore her full gallery here. You can also connect with her on Instagram.
• The path God took her on to become a trainer and practitioner of Godly Play, a Montessori-inspired concept for the spiritual direction of children.
• How she's showing up to help refugees from Ukraine.

Resources & Ways to Give Back Mentioned in this Epiosde:

• The Tubman Network - helping BIPOC refugees in Ukraine. You can follow them on Instagram.
• Sarah Vecera, the author of "Wie ist Jesus weiss geworden?" (How did Jesus become White?).
• The Dairy of Jesus Christ
• World Central Kitchen serving meals to families across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary.

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

Pray with our Feet podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winnning videogrpaher, photographer and founder of Keystone Productions.

In honor of Women's History month, we're highlighting ministries run by women. Our first conversation in this series is with Latarsha Haughton, a woman of deep faith, and the founder of Breaking the Silence Healing the Pain. Latarsha endured decades of trauma – including sexual and emotional abuse. With the help of God, prayer, and trauma-informed therapy after 30 years, she transformed pain into purpose, and now creates community for other survivors. She is also an author (Breaking the Silence), and transformational life coach, guiding people to release wounds, and embrace their power. She is the CEO of two Assisted Living Facilities in Baltimore, and Co-Owner of Another Caring Hands. Stay Connected with her work: https://www.latarshahaughton.com

@haughtonslove

@bts_healingthepain

Breaking the Silence...Healing the Pain (Facebook Group)

Breaking the Silence...Healing the Pain (website)

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

As Black History Month comes to a close, Mom and I sit down to discuss the ongoing attack on voting rights and voter suppression; we also unpack the history of who received access to the ballot and who didn't, particularly folks in BIPOC communities.

And we examine the denial of voting rights from a Biblical perspective, lifting up the prophet Isaiah's warning to the powerful rulers of his day: "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people... (Isaiah 10:1-3).

Resources for Further Study -

- Read and meditate on Isaiah 10:1-3 - History of voting rights (source of information - The History Channel - Listen to the testimony of Fannie Lou Hamer (civil rights and voting rights activist) who came before the Democratic National Convention in 1964. - Connect with the Work of Carol Anderson and listen to her interview on Democracy Now (on Jan. 6, 2022) about the connection between voter suppression and white supremacy.

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!

Snag our tee: Love is the Revolution, a collaboration with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes!

I caught up with Rev. Bri-Anne Swan, founder of Resistance Church, minister at Jubilee United Church, and singer / songwriter. She has a heart for all those who have been told they do not belong (check out Rev. Bri-Anne's full bio here).

Resistance Church is a justice-focused, online ministry of Jubilee that reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible.

Throughout our conversation we delved into:

- Her own spiritual journey and relationship with Christ, along with the unique way church functined for her growing up - not as a place you went to on Sunday, but as a community.

- How reading scriptures introduced her to an expansive relationship with Christ - particularly sititng with the books of Isaiah and Mark.

- The ongoing work, mission and offerings of Resistance Church, rooted in "rest, hope and community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times."

- Why we should stop trying to make God into our own image and conform to our national ideals.

- Her friendship with death row inmtate Ramiro Gonzales (she also now serves as his spiritual advisor), and the ongoing work of forgiveness and beloved community.

Stay Connected with Resistance Church and Rev. Bri-Anne:

Resistance Church on Facebook and Instagram

Support finacially (choose Resistance Church on the drop down menu, and you may also support the work of Jubilee Church)

Listen to Rev. Bri-Anne's music on Facebook.

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast:

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!

Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes!

Mom and I are back after our 2021 holiday break, and we're celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by unpacking one of King's most radical and controversial speeches Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, given one year before his assassination on April 4, 1968.

Focusing on three quotes (with clips), we'll explore how his prophetic words are ever-relevant, and a call for all of us to embrace the urgency of speaking up against injustice, despite the challenges.

Resources for Further Study:

Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (video)

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (print version, PDF)

King's anti-war activism, short reference (Stanford University)

Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -

If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!

Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.

Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.

Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes!