What began as a series of revival movements seeking to renew stagnant expressions of Christianity eventually gave rise to American evangelicalism. As historian Aaron Griffith notes, these renewal efforts not only shaped many evangelical denominations of the 18th and 19th centuries but continue to define evangelical identity today. 

In this episode of Today’s Conversation podcast, Aaron Griffith and NAE President Walter Kim explore how historical forces and social dynamics influenced denominational development, public life and the Church’s witness.  

You'll also hear Walter and Aaron discuss: 

• How a common thread of renewal shaped America’s evangelical story; 
• The varied expressions of revival across regions and theological traditions;  
• The significant influence of race and class on American evangelicalism and its public witness; and 
• How remembering our denominational roots can help us discern where God may be calling the Church to renewal today. 

Listen in for a compelling, historically grounded reflection on how God has worked through revival, complexity and diversity to shape the faith of our nation. 

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Resources 

• For further study, see 1 Corinthians 12 and Zechariah 4 
• “God's Law and Order: The Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America” by Dr. Aaron Griffith 
• “The Civil War as a Theological Crisis” by Dr. Mark Noll 
• NAE Denominational & Network Diagram 
• Christianity and the Making of Early America, NAE podcast with Dr. Mark Noll 
• Evangelicals — Shared Faith in Broad Diversity, NAE statement 
• What Is An Evangelical?, NAE webpage 

The pilgrims and Puritans brought a deep​ desire to honor God, build community and seek liberty. These values shaped our nation’s moral foundation, and they still matter today. Dr. Mark Noll and Walter Kim move beyond simplistic narratives about early America to uncover a richer and more honest account of faith’s influence on American life. 

In this conversation, they discuss:  

• What first drew Dr. Noll to the study of American religious history; 
• Biblical examples that model the importance of telling complex, faithful stories;
• The connection between the pilgrims, the Puritans, the founding fathers and early understandings of religious liberty; and
• What lessons from America’s founding era can help guide the Church today. 

This conversation invites believers to engage America’s past with honesty, humility and hope. 

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Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• Full conversation with Dr. Mark Noll on YouTube
• For further study, see Romans 13 and 1 Samuel
• Books written by Mark Noll
• “Evangelical: What’s in a Name?”, by Mark Noll in Evangelicals magazine
• What Is An Evangelical?, NAE webpage

Today’s Conversation is brought to you by NAE Chaplaincy.

Drawing from her family’s journey with disability, her ministry at Perimeter Church in Atlanta and her years of writing songs that have walked millions through sorrow and joy, Laura reflects on what it means to follow Jesus when the path feels unpredictable. She shares how worship can serve as a soundtrack for real life — not only celebrating God in seasons of victory, but sustaining believers through grief, confusion and change. 

In this episode, you’ll discover: 

• Why stepping out in faith can feel like a “free fall” — and why it isn’t; 
• Practical ways worship leaders and churches can walk alongside people in seasons of grief;
• How God is both our Savior and our Sustainer; and 
• The surprising ways God’s goodness can shine even in the most painful and confusing chapters of life.
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Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• Full conversation with Laura Story on YouTube
• For further study, please see 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 13, Ruth 1–4, John 9 
• Laura Story Music 
• “So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith” by Laura Story 
• “When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without” by Laura Story
• At the Heart of Justice, NAE podcast with Gary Haugen 
• A Global Vision for Human Flourishing, NAE podcast with Byron Johnson 
• Behind Christian Music, NAE podcast with David Crowder and Eddie Carswell

Today’s Conversation is brought to you by NAE Chaplaincy.

In this theologically rich conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, Gary reflects on how a biblical vision of justice — rooted in love and expressed through both personal compassion and systemic reform — has shaped his life and IJM’s mission. 

In their conversation, you’ll hear:

• How a life-changing investigation after the Rwandan genocide led Gary to found International Justice Mission; 
• The role of the Church to call rulers to protect the vulnerable; 
• Practical ways believers can join God’s work of justice both locally and globally; and 
• What gives Gary enduring hope for the future of the Church — and the work of justice.

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• Full conversation with Gary Haugen on YouTube
• Rest and Resisting the Pace of Pharoah, NAE podcast with Sheila Wise Rowe
• Justice, Rest and Rhythms of Flourishing, NAE podcast with Mike Kelsey
• International Justice Mission  
• “Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World,” by Gary Haugen 
• “The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence,” by Gary Haugen
• “Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian,” by Gary Haugen

• Show Notes: https://www.nae.org/gary-haugen-ijm-justice-violence-hope-joy/

Today’s Conversation is brought to you by Every Woman’s Bible.

For Mike Kelsey, pursuing justice isn’t an optional add-on — it’s an essential expression of discipleship based on God’s character. In this conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, Mike offers an honest reflection on what it’s been like to pastor through the cultural upheaval of recent years, and about the pressure that comes from trying to meet countless expectations. True rest, he says, doesn’t come from striving or disengaging, but from being deeply centered on seeking God’s approval above all else. 

You’ll also hear Mike and Walter discuss: 

• How practicing intentional Sabbath rhythms and setting boundaries with social media creates space for renewal and clarity; 
• The influence of the Black Church tradition on Mike Kelsey’s understanding of justice;  
• How McLean Bible Church is pursuing gospel-centered justice through foster care, disability ministry and racial equity; and 
• Practical wisdom for navigating justice fatigue, ministry burnout and deep cultural division. 
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Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• Full conversation with Mike Kelsey on YouTube
• For further study, read Isaiah 32, Jeremiah 9, Matthew 11 and 2 Corinthians 5
• Rest and Resisting the Pace of Pharaoh, NAE Podcast with Sheila Wise Rowe
• McLean Bible Church
• Jill’s House
• “At McLean Bible, Mike Kelsey Is Reimagining the Multiethnic Church,” by Kate Shellnutt in Christianity Today

Today’s Conversation is brought to you by Tyndale’s Go Bible.

In this episode, Carrie Sheffield recounts her upbringing under the influence of a father who claimed Mormon prophetic authority, enforced fear-based teachings and subjected the family to instability and trauma. After leaving faith behind for over a decade, her pursuit of truth — through science, philosophy and deep soul-searching — ultimately led her to God. Her story is a moving testimony of hope, healing and forgiveness. 

In her conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, they discuss:   

• Understanding how the brain’s ability to change offers hope for overcoming mental health challenges;
• How Carrie experienced personal healing through prayer and deliverance ministries;
• A call to action for the Church to actively engage in addressing mental health with truth; and
• How forgiveness is not just a theological idea but a lived reality that brings freedom, healing and redemption. 

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• Full conversation with Carrie Sheffield on YouTube
• For reflection, see Psalm 34:18, Ephesians 4:32 and John 10:10
• “Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness,” by Carrie Sheffield 
• “Called to Forgive,” by Anthony B. Thompson 
• Harvard Human Flourishing Program
• Healing Church Hurt edition of the NAE magazine
• Exploring Soul Care, NAE podcast with Dr. Curt Thompson

In this episode, Bill and Dana Wichterman, co-authors of “Stewards Not Owners,” join NAE President Walter Kim to explore what it means to practice financial discipleship in a culture shaped by abundance, anxiety and individualism. Dana and Bill offer practical wisdom and explain why financial stewardship is ultimately about joining God’s redemption project.

In their conversation, they discuss:  

• How God leads us from financial anxiety to freedom and joyful generosity;
• Trusting God’s provision for the good works he’s called us to;
• The reality that most living in the West can live below their means; and
• How sharing your financial life with others cultivates accountability and discipleship.
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Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Show Notes: https://www.nae.org/bill-and-dana-wichterman-flourishing-through-financial-stewardship/

watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6e4dEu8xJE

In this episode, Max Tegmark joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack the profound opportunities and alarming risks posed by AI. Drawing on vivid analogies, historical lessons and real-world examples, they examine why the stakes for wisdom, foresight and moral courage have never been higher.

In their conversation, they discuss:

• Why wisdom must stay ahead of technology’s power — and what happens when it doesn’t;
• How past successes in safety engineering, like airbags and the FDA, offer a roadmap for responsible AI development;
• The urgent need for faith communities to raise AI as a moral issue, not just a technical one; and
• How re-centering the conversation on stewardship and responsibility can shift priorities toward the common good.

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Do you like the podcast?

Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.

Resources

• “Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” by Max Tegmark 
• The Future of Life Institute 
• Redemptive Artificial Intelligence, NAE podcast with Andy Crouch 
• You Are Not a Machine, Spring/Summer 2025 edition of Evangelicals magazine

Byron Johnson joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack surprising and hopeful findings emergingfrom the Global Flourishing Study, a groundbreaking international research project he leads in collaboration with Harvard University and others. Together, they explore how flourishing is being measured across the world and why it matters now more than ever — for people of faith, for the Church and for the future of society. 

In their conversation, they explore: 

• What makes the Global Flourishing Study a truly unprecedented effort;  
• Why flourishing is about more than just health and wealth — it’s also about purpose, relationships and faith; 
• How the Church plays a vital role in shaping holistic well-being; and 
• How the Bible offers a compelling vision of what it means to thrive. 

Resources

• Full conversation with Byron Johnson on YouTube  
• For further study, see Ezekiel 47, John 7 and Revelation 22 
• Global Flourishing Study 
• “More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How it Could Matter More,” by Byron Johnson 
• “The Faith Factor and Social Welfare: Evidence, Practice, Policy,” by Byron Johnson (coming in December 2025) 
• Moving Society From “Me” to “We,” NAE podcast with Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett  
• “Faith That Flourishes,” by Walter Kim in Evangelicals magazine 

Sheila Wise Rowe, a counselor, spiritual director and author of “Healing Leadership Trauma,” joins this episode of Today’s Conversation podcast to explore the transformational power of rest — and why God’s rhythms for our lives are so different from the world’s relentless demands. 

While our culture tends to measure value by output, the gospel offers a rich vision of rest as a practice that nurtures emotional, spiritual and communal flourishing. In this conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and Sheila Wise Rowe discuss: 

• Why rest is central to the gospel; 
• How to recognize signs of emotional and spiritual overdrive; 
• Rhythms of rest woven throughout Scripture; and
• How God’s design for rest frees us.

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Find the show Notes: http://www.nae.org/wiserowepodcast

Watch the full Interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je-hAOSKoWI