Race and Redemption

Susan and Brooke have a lot to catch up on after taking a short break between seasons. Listen in as they share some very personal experiences- some are hard and some are hopeful.

Season three is coming to an end but we couldn't let it close without sharing our hearts around how the observation of Advent and Sabbath plays out in work of justice and reconciliation and also taking a moment to pray you into the days ahead.

David Bailey is a CEO, public theologian, author and culture-maker focused on building reconciling communities for the Kingdom. David spent much of his youth leading worship in churches spanning across denomination, class and culture. His experiences crafted a unique and powerful lens that has led him to the unifying work he does today. David shares his wisdom and perspective on worship, hospitality, diversity, reconciliation and the power of community through it all.

How does an SEC turned NFL quarterback retire from the game to serve and empower local organizations in their community changing work? Danny Wuerffel, Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, joins us to talk about his own journey from football to fundraising and beyond. Danny fills us in on the unity-building value of team sports and how playing sports shaped and grew his heart for others. We dig into the importance of resourcing existing organizations over starting new ones and what can be learned from having friendships that span across a wide variety of backgrounds, statuses and beliefs. Danny's heart for the Lord and for people shines through as he shares with us what he's learned by living a life poured out for others.

Jonathan Irons is a survivor of being wrongfully convicted in the Missouri Department of Corrections for over 23 years.

Jonathan was arrested at age sixteen and was sentenced to 50 years for the non-fatal shooting of a homeowner during a burglary. Irons’ conviction was based on unreliable eyewitness testimony and no evidence linked him to the crime. For decades, police officers hid critical evidence showing that another person had committed the crime. In July 2020, Jonathan’s wrongful conviction was overturned by Missouri courts when the concealed evidence finally came to light.

In this extremely personal interview, Jonathan shares the details of his upbringing and how he continued to slip through the cracks of the educational and judicial system way before his wrongful arrest at 16.

Always a source of hope, Jonathan shares insights on intervention and prevention techniques for at-risk youth, the positive impact prosecutors and judges can have on cases like his and the beauty from ashes that is his life today.

Flynn Broady Jr., an army combat veteran and recently elected District Attorney, educates us on the meaning, methods and outcomes of restorative justice and fills us in on the Ahmaud Arbery murder case he is helping to prosecute. DA Broady explains the roles prosecutors, defenders and judges play in the trying and sentencing of offenders and how they can work together to best serve the community at large. We discuss how restorative practices affect recidivism and influence overall crime rates and how they most closely resemble the type of justice we see modeled for us in the New Testament. Jesus, justice and so much more come together in this thought-provoking and informative conversation.

In this episode, first generation Nigerian American, speaker, social entrepreneur and former collegiate football national champion, Nosa Eguae, joins us to look at racial redemption through the lens of competitive team sports. Nosa shows us the power of sports to bring unity and teaches us how being an advocate is a lot like running on kickoff. He lets us into his thought process as a runner after learning of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and he details a very unique perspective on privilege and the responsibility of using it well.

You hear Brooke and Susan on the mic each week, but did you know that there are more hearts and hands behind the Race and Redemption podcast? Today we get the chance to talk with our sound engineer, Matt Owen, and our graphic designer, Kendra Harrell, to find out why they said yes to joining our mission in equipping white Christians to pursue racial justice right where they are planted. They share their honest reaction to receiving a call from two white ladies wanting to podcast about race and they get vulnerable about their own stories, insecurities and gifts that they are using for good. We love these two incredible people and you will too after hearing this episode!

Building on the historical foundation laid in our last episode, Dr. Ed Uszynski joins us to delve into the complexities of Critical Race Theory. Why was it developed and what are its key principles? Is it appropriate to question the righteous narrative of our country's past? How is CRT incongruent with a Biblical worldview? Are there any congruences between the two? Is CRT actually being taught in some schools or is it an incorrect application? How can Christians thoughtfully engage with this framework, and it's proponents, in a way that brings unity and healing? Ed answers all of this and more in this strong and timely interview.

Critical Race Theory. You can't open social media or turn on the news without hearing about it! Why is it suddenly so popular? How does it fit in with Marxism? Is it a threat to Christianity? What is it anyway?

To understand CRT, we have to understand the origins of critical theory and how it has evolved over the past century.

Brooke and Susan delve into the history of critical theory, the implications it has on modern society and the way we, as Christians, can Biblically respond to this analytical framework.

Be sure to tune into Part Two, where we bring in an expert to dig into the specifics of Critical Race Theory and how the Bible offers the very best framework for unity.