Race and Redemption

In all likelihood you’ve never heard of James Forten but all Americans are living in his powerful legacy today. A free black man who fought in the American Revolution and was in the crowd for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A patriot, a leader and, ultimately, an abolitionist. This just begins to explain James’ story, so why have so many of us never learned about his life? Author Kesha Grant joins us to discuss the details of this unsung founding father and answer our questions around knowing our nation’s full history in this season’s final episode.

What happens when a Muslim Kurd from Syria meets a white supremacist, combat veteran, former Klansman? Surprising things! Documentary filmmaker Din Blankenship unpacks this true story, centered in the most diverse square mile in America, as she tells about the power of love, hope and simple conversation, demonstrated in her new film Refuge.

After visiting historical sites together on a civil rights tour through Alabama with church leaders, Courtney Walton and Troy Jackson of Courageous Love join Brooke and Susan to debrief the trip and how such immersive experiences can hit people differently. They discuss voting rights and how these factored into racial justice then and now, as well as Courtney and Troy’s work in reconciliation through Living Undivided groups.

Executive Director of OneRace Movement, Josh Clemons, joins us to talk all about his upcoming book. We break down OneRace's model of transformation- Know Own Change- to better understand how each step in this process is vital to true racial redemption. Josh takes us to the Scriptures to better understand the roles of discipleship, embodiment, process and Kingdom in this work and we delve into a few commitments of a reconciler that you can implement into your life today.

In Part Two of our dialogue with Pastor Lee Jenkins, we learn more about his work creating greater unity in local churches through building deeper relationships between pastors and members. Through "Conversations", local churches are creating ethnically and racially diverse groups that go through a guided series of conversations meant to build understanding and relationship between fellow members of the Body of Christ. Pastor Lee shares with us the moment that sparked the formation of Conversations and what results they have seen thus far.

Pastor Lee Jenkins' journey has taken him from the NFL to Wall Street and then to the pulpit. We got the opportunity to learn from his vast experience, focusing specifically on the relationship between economics and the Church. The connection may not be initially clear but there is a rich history between banks, equity and the role of the Black Church in making capital available to African American communities. Pastor Lee also helps us understand how the African American experience uniquely affects financial management and investments and he shares his heart on diversity and multiculturalism in the Church today.

Throughout his life, Charles Robinson has shared about his Choctaw Native American heritage to preserve the history of his culture while also sharing about Jesus. In this episode, Charles discusses the history of Christianity and Native peoples, the struggle against assimilation, the lasting impact of boarding schools, the reality of living on reservations, how we can help Indigenous communities and the hope he derives from educating others with grace and truth.

Ty Lewis and Adam Thomason join us to share all about the history and care of natural hair. What is natural hair and why is it so important? Why have black people felt the need to alter their hair and what have been the ramifications? What is the Biblical and cultural history surrounding styles like locs? Are there different types and textures of black hair and does care look different for each one? How can styles like locs create great confidence and also a feeling of bondage? We dig into this and much more on this episode!

Therapist, life coach, podcaster and author, Dr. Anita Phillips, joins us to for a dynamic conversation centered around Scripture, ethnicity, mental health and church unity. As Christians, how human are we allowed to be? What does it look like to be well emotionally and mentally? How do plants help us understand what it looks like to be emotionally healthy? What is the difference between welcoming and belonging in a church environment? Have people of color experienced trauma in churches? Do ethnic groups in America have different value systems? Dr. Phillips answers these questions and more in this not-to-be-missed episode!

Second generation Latina pastor, activist and author, Sandra Maria Van Opstal, is a powerful leading voice on the intersection of faith and justice. Drawing from her own experiences and those she's worked with through her global ministry, Sandra shares perspectives of women and BIPOC in ministry and how we can create more welcoming and empowering environments across the board. She also gives us insights from her upcoming book about being an Enneagram 8, particularly focusing on how that impacts her as a leader working for justice and reform in Christian spaces.