Teena is joined by Esau McCaulley, PhD and John Onwuchekwa, DMin to talk about the narratives that shape our life and faith and the power of narrative in hospitality, business and theology. John shares his journey with Portrait coffee and then into his time curating conversations around grief and hope, connected with his book, We Go On. Esau opens up his story with Reading while Black and the shift into writing a much more personal narrative, How Far to the Promised Land. They also chat about their favorite coffee beans, Esau’s new church plant and the elusive nature of “success”.

Watch this conversation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShHjeH27DZ0&t=3678s

Explore more from Esau McCaulley: https://esaumccaulley.com/

Explore more from John Onwuchekwa: https://www.johno.co/

Discover the Global Faith and Work Initiative here: https://www.globalfaithandwork.com/

Learn more about the Surge Network here: https://www.surgenetwork.com/

00:00 Introduction to the Series

01:24 Meet the Guests: Dr. Esau McCauley and John Onwuchekwa

06:32 John's Coffee Business Journey

13:56 The Impact of Narrative on Business

22:45 Esau's Journey and Reflections on Ministry

34:39 The Provocative Nature of the Book

35:02 Unexpected Success and Public Attention

35:37 Navigating Fame and Personal Boundaries

37:05 Embracing the Impact of 'Reading While Black'

38:38 Family Dynamics and Hometown Recognition

40:03 Intentional Church Leadership

45:02 The Role of Liturgy in Personal Faith

47:03 Diverse Church Experiences

51:46 Writing and Touring: The Emotional Toll

01:03:57 The Power of Storytelling and Grief

01:07:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts