The State of Church, Race, Music & Economics w/ Robby Valderrama

“I have always believed that the music of the church has the power to shape the message of the church.” Robby Valderrama

Three years after the start of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear our host Robby Valderrama share brand-new data along with his one-of-a-kind insight on where the American church is, and where it might be headed.

On this episode, hear Robby discuss:
• How economic policies are affecting the local church, and what to do about it
• Exclusive data and inside analysis on today’s worship music industry
• The future of the Praise Hands Podcast

“Reparations: A Christian Call For Repentance And Repair” w/ Duke Kwon & Gregory Thompson

“We are not establishing some new morality that is an over-realized understanding of heaven on earth. Reparations are love of neighbor.” - Duke Kwon

Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair is a brand new book from Pastor Duke Kwon and cultural educator Gregory Thompson that’s sending shockwaves through the American church. On this timely and hotly debated topic of reparations to the African American community, Kwon and Thompson use theology and history to argue that the church has a unique moral responsibility to repair our nation’s original sin.

In this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Duke and Gregory talk through:
• Frameworks for understanding racism, white supremacy, and reparations
• The church’s crucial role in developing America’s racial caste system
• How Christian creatives can use their repentant imaginations to create change

“Praise Hands Podcast 50th Episode Party!” w/ Jackie The Educator, Barna Group’s Brooke Hempell, and more!

In honor of our 50th Episode, Robby chatted with past guests Jackie The Educator, DJ Chuang, Patrick Chappell, Lex The Advocate, Brooke Hempell, and Ricky Ortiz on a fun and laid-back Praise Hands Podcast 50th Episode Zoom Party, including a quick appearance from Robby’s wife Bria Jean Valderrama. Watch the Zoom on YouTube, or hear audio-only on your podcast app of choice.

“Loving Our Unborn And Undocumented Neighbors” w/ Rondell Trevino

“I think we trust politicians’ words more than God’s Word when it comes to immigration.”

Moving from a Trump to a Biden presidency, The Immigration Coalition founder Rondell Trevino shares his family’s immigration journey, along with how the church in America can have its priorities right on this urgent and complicated issue.

On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Rondell share:
• How Rondell’s family navigated through the U.S. immigration process
• His thoughts on Christian Nationalism and idolatry
• Why Christians must be pro-life across the political spectrum

“Jesus, Justice, and America” w/ Shane Claiborne

“What would it look like for love, not fear, to shape our policies?”

As an activist, author, and speaker, Shane Claiborne has shaped a generation’s view of Jesus and social change. His radical activism has led him to Iraq and Afghanistan (for anti-war efforts), jail (for homeless advocacy), Calcutta (for work with Mother Teresa), and to Washington DC, where today’s interview took place a few steps from The White House.

In this episode highlighting the 2020 Presidential Election, Shane shares:
• Why the death penalty is incompatible with Christian teaching
• How the American church has neglected the teachings of Jesus
• How restorative justice and forgiveness can fix the US prison system

“Christianity and the Corporatocracy” w/ Sherry Peel Jackson

“We have to get back to families supporting each other and not depending on government agencies.”

As a retired CPA, certified fraud examiner, and IRS agent who specialized in auditing pastors, Sherry Peel Jackson now helps churches and families achieve financial sustainability while preventing government overreach.

Tune in to hear Sherry discuss:
• Shocking revelations about the U.S. income tax code
• What churches and families can learn from President Trump’s alleged tax strategy
• How home-based businesses can turn your passion into profit

“How One Man Is Preventing Evictions In Boston” w/ Matt Pritchard

“Whether it’s material, spiritual, or emotional, everyone has experienced poverty.”

Amidst national conversations about eviction moratoriums, Matt Pritchard’s nonprofit HomeStart has saved 2,500 Boston-area households from eviction, with 95% of these households maintaining their housing long-term.

Lean in as Matt shares:
• What he learned by choosing to live in a shelter for a year
• How personal growth fuels organizational impact
• Why he avoids the term “Homeless People”

“Welcome To The Age Of The Microchurch” w/ Brian Sanders and Kathryn Eng

“It’s in the broken pieces that we find the church being reshaped to fit the mission of God in new places, new people and new contexts.” - Brian Sanders

The Underground Network is a diverse movement of microchurches living out the mission of God at the edges of society. In this episode, hear founder Brian Sanders share how their model of ministry activates the creativity of the church, and hear medical clinic director Kathryn Eng share how their Underground Clinic is doing exactly that in Tampa, Florida.

Listen to Episode 38 to hear Brian and Kathryn share:
• Why their church hub is a co-working space, not a sanctuary
• How to use healthcare to show and share the Gospel
• Why the hierarchy must serve the decentralized in the 21st Century

“How To Disrupt Poverty In Your Neighborhood” w/ Jason Janz

“Poverty as an economic condition only misses both the problem and the cure.” - Jason Janz

Non-profit thought leader Jason Janz is the CEO of CrossPurpose, a Denver-based nonprofit committed to abolishing economic, relational, and spiritual poverty in its neighborhood. In addition to talking through his booklet “Black Swan Leadership: Ten Recommendations For Your Non-Profit During A Pandemic”, he and Robby chat about:
• Best practices for collaboration between local churches and nonprofits
• Why the current social disruption may be an “innovator’s Disneyland”
• Mobilizing human and financial capital to fight poverty