Race, Justice and the Church

In this episode we talk with Shanika Hart, a Brooklyn New York native, a licensed mental health professional and the co-planter and first lady of The Gathering Harlem. We talk about her experience of the gospel, planting TGH, speaking at a recent protest and her vision for mental health ministry.

Resources Mentioned:

Shanika's full speech at March for Souls and Bodies Protest 

"Speaking Truth to Power" Panel

IG:@nikahart

The Gathering Harlem

In this episode, I talk with a couple. Joseph & Loren Bassey are an interracial couple who are Duke alumni following Jesus in NYC. Loren in a public school special education teacher, and Joseph works in HR technology. We talk about their church experience, their relationship and navigating as an interracial couple.

Resources Mentioned:

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy (Movie Tie-in Edition, Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy the movie

IG: jbassey007

Bassey Print Shop

This episode we talk with David Carment, a New Jersey native, Pastor of Liberty Church and the Center Director of New City Kids NJ, a robust after-school program that empowers at-risk teens to become role models for this kids in their neighborhood.

Resources Mentioned:

New City Kids NJ

[email protected]

This episode we talk with Jonathan Springer, a pastor's kid, public school educator, historian, seminarian, and Afro-Caribbean. We talk about the legacy of his faith in Jesus, the history of his church in Harlem, and the legacies of Martin & Malcolm and a theology of justice. 

Resources Mentioned:

Divided By Faith by Michael Emerson & Christian Smith

Martin & Malcolm & America by James Cone

Unsettling Truths by Mark Charles & Soong-Chan Rah

Sacred Call Ministries

IG: @jsprings12

This week, I talk with Andrea Booker, a NYC native who is African-American & Latina. Andrea shares her experience following Jesus in various churches, in corporate America and in seminary.

Resources Mentioned:

Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller

Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss

IG: @drea_0615

The Gathering Harlem

I'm back with Season 2! We're talking about corporate America, church planting, mental health, Martin Luther King & Malcolm X, interracial couples, & how they all collide with race, justice & the church. Drops January 1, 2021.

In today’s episode I want to share a sermon that I preached at The Gathering Harlem on January 27, 2020. We were in the middle of a series walking through our Core Values as a church. And in this sermon, I preach on our core value: Unity Through Dignity & Diversity. Enjoy!

A continuation of our conversation with Pastor Kenny Hart.

Kenny is a Harlem native and founding pastor of The Gathering Harlem. Kenny grew up in a nominal Christian home and came to Christ while at college, playing baseball in Oklahoma and Missouri. Following God’s call on his life, he left behind a career in professional baseball and went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to become a pastor. He came back to NYC and served at Christ Crucified Fellowship in Washington Heights before planting The Gathering Harlem in 2017. Kenny lives in Harlem with his wife Shanika raising their three boys and their newly arrived daughter.

We continue our conversation with Matt Mueller.