Professors, In Rooms, Getting Coffee

Justin and Stephen talk with Pastor Soriba Joseph Camara, President of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Mali. Reflecting on the Malian church’s experience with political turmoil Pastor Joseph shares recommendations for American Christians navigating the tumultuous start to the year. Pastor Joseph also discusses the witness and reputation of the church in Mali, where Christians are estimated to be between 2% and 7% of the population. Together, they reflect on questions of contextualization and the maturing of the church in Mali as it wrestles with the mixed legacies of missionaries. Pastor Joseph shares what he finds encouraging as he thinks about the global church, and his recommendations for Christians today. Justin and Stephen also discuss the inauguration, civil religion, and cars, as they talk through their highlights, lowlights, and insights for the week. We have show notes for you at profsinrooms.com and bonus material on Patreon! To donate to production costs, visit profsinrooms.com or become a patron. • Resources from Justin and Stephen’s conversation: ◦ Amanda Gorman’s Poem: The Hill We Climb (video) ◦ Stephen’s short stories ◦ Switchback Coffee Roasters • Resources related to the conversation with Soriba Joseph Camara: ◦ Mali Church Legacy project (includes an opportunity to give) ◦ AGEMPEM Association of evangelicals in Mali ◦ Pastor Joseph’s church (facebook) ◦ A message (in French) by Pastor Joseph (facebook video) About Soriba Joseph Camara Soriba Joseph Camara is a pastor and has served as President of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Mali since 2012. He has a regular television broadcast on national television and a popular call-in radio program in Bamako. He was a long-time director of Reed Bible Institute, Bougouni. Pastor Joseph studied Biology at University in Mali before studying pastoral ministry at Grace University in Omaha, NE, and a Masters of Divinity at Calvary Seminary in Kansas City. Together with Dr. Yousef Dembele and Mama Josias Sako, Pastor Joseph hosted and taught more than 30 US students through Grace University’s six month EDGE program between 2007 and 2012. Pastor Joseph’s family includes Marthe, his wife of 33 years, and three adult children.

Credits: Regular Theme Music by Josiah Enns. This episode was recorded on the land of the Wahpekute, Anishinabewaki, and the Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux). We may receive commission from Amazon or Bookshop.org for purchases made through some of our links. Thank you for your support.

Justin and Stephen talk about last week’s attempted insurrection in Washington, D.C. Then, Marcus Dip Silas joins to discuss Christianity from a Malaysian perspective. They talk about what it means to learn from the church that lives without political power, in the shadow of colonization. They also discuss contextual theology and continue the ongoing conversation about Christian nationalism. Marcus reflects on the journey of living with a refugee that was in the process of resettling, the way of Mercy, and abiding in prayer and lament. We have show notes for you at profsinrooms.com and bonus material on Patreon! To donate to production costs, visit profsinrooms.com or become a patron.Resources from this episode: • Background episodes: ◦ Profs in Rooms Season 2 Episode 9: Jesus, Lament, and Advent Hope - with D.L. Mayfield ◦ Profs in Rooms Season 2 Episode 8: Bonhoeffer and Living for Others - with Joel LawrenceAbout Marcus Dip SilasMarcus Dip Silas is an aspiring interculturalist of Chinese, Punjabi, and Pakistani-Malay descent. Malaysian by nationality, He grew up in his home country as a third culture person for 19 years of his life, before pursuing his undergraduate studies at Crown College where he graduated with two bachelor's degrees - one in Intercultural Studies and the other in Biblical and Theological Studies with an emphasis in Greek. At Crown, Marcus was an active part of student life on campus as Student Senate VP in 2013-2014, and Member at Large of MuKappa, Crown's international student community. He was also a worship leader and played a key role in organizing Missions Festival, Crown's student-led missions conference. After graduating in 2015, Marcus moved back to Southeast Asia and embarked on a 4 year nomadic journey, immersing himself in numerous Christian communities across 18 different countries in Asia, America, and Europe, listening and retelling the stories of international workers and local believers alike. In 2018, he obtained a Graduate Diploma in International Development from the London School of Economics. He was also certified a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Continuum. As a graduate of a Christian and Missionary Alliance college, the CMA has a special place in his heart and he has retained a close connection with the CMA, cultivating relationships especially with members of CAMA and Envision. He has also come alongside international workers from organizations such as YWAM, Novo and Interserve. Marcus works as a creative, telling stories through videography, photography, and writing. During the Covid-19 movement restriction in Malaysia, Marcus started a home bakery for three months, selling basque burnt cheesecakes. He is currently writing a book on technology and engineering founders in the Malaysian state of Penang. He also writes a mish-mash of topics ranging from public health, local government policy in sustainability, and food and culture, for a local publication called Penang Monthly. Marcus is the founder of The Dips Collective or The Dips.Co, a bootstrapped non-profit business focused on refugee advocacy. The Dips.Co partners with refugees to tell their stories and raise funds to support Syrian refugees in Germany, Malaysia, and Brazil, as well as Kurdish and Ismaili IDPs in Northern Syria. Find out more about his work at www.thedips.co Marcus married Lauren in May 2019, whom he met at Crown in 2014. The couple moved to Kulim, Malaysia after the wedding and Lauren works at a language center as an English teacher. They serve the local church that his parents pastor and are also part of the community at the Penang House of Prayer or PenHOP, a prayer house connected to the International House of Prayer global network. Together, they frequently open up their home as a place of rest for ministry workers, and organize community nights often. • Marcus’s Website • Find him on Instagram

Credits: Regular Theme Music by Josiah Enns. This episode was recorded on the land of the Wahpekute, Anishinabewaki, Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux), and Semang Kensiu and Kintaq peoples. We may receive commission from Amazon or Bookshop.org for purchases made through some of our links. Thank you for your support.

D.L. Mayfield, author of The Myth of the American Dream and Assimilate or Go Home, joins Justin and Stephen to think through what it means to live a Jesus-centered, love-your-neighbor faith. They wrestle with Christian Nationalism, what the word Evangelical means and how to relate to it, and the “thick gospel” of Jesus. They also discuss the painful process of engaging lament and the connection between Advent and lament. We have show notes for you at profsinrooms.com and bonus material on Patreon! To donate to production costs, visit profsinrooms.com or become a patron.Resources from this episode: • Resources from Justin and Stephen’s conversation: ◦ The book of Jude ◦ Charles Galbreath’s church videos • Background podcast: ◦ Profs in Rooms Season 2 Episode 8: Bonhoeffer and Living for Others - with Joel Lawrence • Resources related to the conversation with D.L. Mayfield: ◦ Never’s Decaf Coffee ◦ Reggie Williams: Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Soong-Chan Rah and Mark Charles: Unsettling Truths on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bob Ekblad: Reading the Bible with the Damned on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Lisa Sharon Harper: The Very Good Gospel on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice: Reconciling All Things on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Soong-Chan Rah: Prophetic Lament on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Walter Brueggemann: Reality, Grief, Hope on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Emma Green’s Article in the Atlantic ◦ Oliver Crisp’s Article on UK Evanglicalism ◦ Pew study on attitudes toward refugees • Music: ◦ “Complicated” by Arulo at Mixkit.co ◦ “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (Piano x Guitar Duet) by Bleerix is licensed under a Creative Commons License. About D.L. Mayfield: D.L. Mayfield is a writer and neighbor living in Portland, Oregon. Her most recent book is The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence. She also has a podcast called Prophetic Imagination Station. • D.L. Mayfield’s Website • Find her on Instagram or Twitter • D.L. Mayfield: The Myth of the American Dream on Bookshop or Amazon • D.L. Mayfield: Assimilate or Go Home on Bookshop or Amazon

Credits: Regular Theme Music by Josiah Enns. This episode was recorded on the land of the Wahpekute, Anishinabewaki, and the Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux). We may receive commission from Amazon or Bookshop.org for purchases made through some of our links. Thank you for your support.

Joel Lawrence, Bonhoeffer scholar and Executive Director of the Center for Pastor Theologians, joins Justin and Stephen to discuss the life, theology, and ethics of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Joel also talks about the difficulties and benefits of applying the lessons of 20th century Germany to the American context today. The discussion includes conversation Bonhoeffer’s time in the US, the African American influence on Bonhoeffer, and the illegal seminary at Finkenwalde. Justin, Stephen, and Joel discuss themes of confession (vs. accountability), morality, ethics, the church in a world come of age, Christian nationalism, power, and eschatology. They also consider the role of pastor theologians and the academy. Justin and Stephen also consider the theme of nostalgia as the holidays approach. We have show notes for you at profsinrooms.com and bonus material on Patreon! To donate to production costs, visit profsinrooms.com or become a patron. Resources from this episode: • Resources from Justin and Stephen’s conversation: ◦ Prof in Rooms guest (S2, E1) Michial Farmer on “The Uses of Nostalgia” ◦ Stephen’s post about “Feeling the Loss in Leaving” ◦ Stephen’s book Transitions Across Cultures on Bookshop or Amazon • Background podcasts and videos about Bonhoeffer and about Joel: ◦ Two podcasts episode Joel appeared on entitled “Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Pastoral Journey” ◦ Lecture (video) Joel gave entitled “Death Together: Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Becoming the Church for Others” ◦ Podcast about “Becoming a Pastor Theologian” • References from the conversation with Joel: ◦ Center for Pastor Theologians ◦ Martin Buber’s I and Thou on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ James Loewen’s Sundown Towns on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Kathrine Stewart’s The Power Worshippers on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Joel’s article “Pastoring in the Age of Anger” ◦ Pankaj Mishra’s Age of Anger on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Oliver O’Donovan’s Common Objects of Love on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Jaques Ellul’s The Subversion of Christianity on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Jaques Ellul’s Money and Power on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Jaques Ellul’s The Technological Society on Bookshop or Amazon • Bonhoeffer Resources: ◦ Joel’s book: Bonhoeffer: A Guide for the Perplexed on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Sanctorum Communio on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Christ the Center on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Ethics on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Cost of Discipleship on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Life Together on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Letters and Papers from Prison on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Creation and Fall on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Martin Doblmeier’s documentary: Bonhoeffer at IMDB ◦ Eberhard Bethge’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Paul House’s Bonhoeffer’s Seminary Vision on Bookshop or Amazon ◦ Bonhoeffer: Act and Being on Bookshop or Amazon About Joel Lawrence: Dr. Joel Lawrence serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Pastor Theologians. Prior to this role, Joel served for seven years as the Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church (St Paul, MN) and for eight years on the faculty at Bethel Seminary, teaching systematic theology and ethics. Joel holds degrees from Texas A&M University (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM.), and Cambridge University (MPhil. and PhD.). He is the author of Bonhoeffer: A Guide for the Perplexed (T&T Clark, 2010), as well as numerous articles and chapters in books on a variety of theological and pastoral subjects.

Credits: Regular Theme Music by Josiah Enns. This episode was recorded on the land of the Wahpekute, Anishinabewaki, and the Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux). We may receive commission from Amazon or Bookshop.org for purchases made through some of our links. Thank you for your support.

Poet and spoken word artist Jason “Smiley” Abrams joins this episode to talk about his process of writing poetry, and how performing it transports him back into the emotional space that the poem responded to. Smiley shares how God met him through dark times in his life and how he got his name. Smiley also reflects on mentoring, the church, and campus ministry in the age of COVID. Smiley shares two of his poems from Curing the Midas Touch, and this episode includes excerpts from Smiley’s spoken word album 3:13 AM, including clips from WYD, Hopelessness Disease, Trust God Period, and Darkest Valley. We have show notes for you at profsinrooms.com and bonus material on Patreon! To donate to production costs, visit profsinrooms.com or become a patron. Resources from this episode: • Smiley’s Website • Smiley’s Spoken Word Album: 3:13 AM • Smiley’s book Curing the Midas Touch at Amazon or Bookshop.org • Find Smiley on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter • Andy Abrams Foundation • Special Resources on Patreon: ◦ Cut conversation Justin and Stephen had about politics (free) ◦ Stephen’s recent devotional message from a local youth group (free) ◦ Smiley talks about his artistic influences (all patron access) ◦ Smiley talks about publishing his book (all patron access) ◦ Justin reflects on leaving a legacy (all patron access) ◦ Conversation about teaching and technology in 2020 (all patron access) ◦ Justin and Stephen reflect on the conversation with Smiley (tier 2 and 3 patron access) About Jason “Smiley” Abrams: Jason "Smiley" Abrams is an inspirational speaker and poet. He has been in full-time ministry since 2008. He is the author of Curing The Midas Touch. He currently resides in Mississippi, serving as an Area Ministry Director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship supervising college ministry in the entire state of Mississippi, Memphis, and West Florida. Smiley is also the co-founder of The Andy Abrams Foundation, a nonprofit in honor of his late father. His first spoken word album, entitled 3:13 AM, is available now on all music streaming platforms.

Credits: Regular Theme Music by Josiah Enns. This episode was recorded on the land of the Wahpekute, Anishinabewaki, and the Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux). We may receive commission from Amazon or Bookshop.org for purchases made through some of our links. Thank you for your support.