church

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Episode 46

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Episode 46

Kingdom Innovation For A Brave New World w/ Doug Paul

“The church must shift from a mindset of being reformed to being reformers.”

As an innovation strategist, Doug Paul has advised Christian leaders across the US, and his book Ready or Not: Kingdom Innovation for a Brave New World provides a roadmap for church leaders who are eager to shift their ministry during a COVID-19 and post-COVID culture.

On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Doug and Robby chat about:
• The relationship between diversity and creativity
• Predictions about the future of the church
• Systemic change in church, tech, & racial justice

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Episode 45

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Episode 45

“Worship, Discipleship, and Holy Spirituality” w/ Dr. Emmett Price

“In the American church, we conflate worship and music… *everything* that we do should bring glory to God as our living worship.”

Dr. Emmett Price III is a leading expert on African American Music, Christian Worship and the Black Christian Experience, and leads the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Price switches seamlessly between his academic, pastoral, and musical hats, addressing the following:
• What Our Educational Models Can Learn From Jesus
• The Redemptive Song of Black America
• The Church’s Responsibility To Lead Cross-Culturally

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Episode 44

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Episode 44

“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

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EPISODE 43

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EPISODE 43

“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

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EPISODE 42

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EPISODE 42

“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”

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EPISODE 41

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EPISODE 41

“Why There’s Still Hope Beyond 2020” w/ Dr. Esau McCaulley

“What’s happened in 2020 can’t unresurrect Jesus.”

Dr. Esau McCaulley is an author, priest, and New Testament scholar whose work has been featured in outlets such the New York Times, Christianity Today, and the Washington Post. He completed his doctoral studies under the direction of N.T. Wright, and recently released his book “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope”.

In this second episode of Season 4, Esau and Robby chat about:
• Why voting can be a profoundly Christian act
• How Christianity addresses the brokenness of the world
• Why we must articulate Christian beliefs in public conversations

EPISODE 40

EPISODE 40

“Worship Beyond Nationalism” w/ Dr. Rob Hewell

“The Christian faith is a narrative. Which narrative is shaping what I do every day?” Dr. Rob Hewell

Dr. Rob Hewell is the Professor of Worship and Director of Online Learning Initiatives for Ouachita Baptist University, and the author of the provocative and timely book “Worship Beyond Nationalism”.

In this opening episode of Praise Hands Podcast Season 4, Dr. Hewell and Robby Valderrama speak frankly about:
•The inherently political nature of Christian worship
•The priority of the Kingdom of God over earthly allegiances
•The tension of unity in the church and partisan convictions

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EPISODE 38

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EPISODE 38

“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

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EPISODE 37

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EPISODE 37

“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

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EPISODE 36

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EPISODE 36

“The Spirit Poured Out On All Flesh” w/ Dr. Amos Yong

“We’re still learning how to live a message of the Gospel that doesn’t favor any one color over another.” - Dr. Amos Yong

Dr. Amos Yong is a theologian and professor currently serving as the Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary. He is also the author of numerous books on Pentecostal theology, race, and ethics, including “Who Is the Holy Spirit? A Walk with the Apostles.”

In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Yong examines crucial contemporary issues through Biblical exegesis and his own background as an Asian American, addressing the following:
• A Biblical examination of Christ and the Holy Spirit
• The conflicted racial history of Pentecostalism
• How Christianity can overcome limitations of Western constructs