All That To Say

From skateboarding to spelunking to Bible college: In this long-form conversation, BibleProject co-founders Tim Mackie and Jon Collins tell the origin story of their nonprofit, crowdfunded organization that produces 100% free Bible videos, podcasts, blogs, and more. They reveal the behind-the-scenes exegetical, creative, and technical processes it takes to serve up their one-of-a-kind world-class animations and other content. And they discuss what it is about their approach that takes the Bible from a “theological tech manual” to a “hospitable, approachable” collection of divine, deep truth that the world is hungry for today. They also give a sneak peek into what’s next for BibleProject, including their new app, a 14-hour “deep dive” series called Classroom, and more. Tim Mackie is co-founder and chief education officer of BibleProject. He’s also a writer and creative director, and a professor at Western Seminary. Tim holds a PhD in Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies. Jon Collins is co-founder, chief product officer, writer and creative director at BibleProject. With a BA in Biblical Studies from Multnomah University, Jon has spent a decade founding and leading digital media and marketing companies before coming to BibleProject.

In this long-form conversation Kevin Palau, president and CEO of the Luis Palau Association, reflects on the historic ministry of his Argentinian-born father, who trained and participated in Billy Graham crusades, and led similar crusades throughout Latin America. He talks about new ways of telling the story of Jesus in a modern society, and how today that mission is just as much about transforming the individual as it is about “the desire for social justice and to see institutions and structures transformed.” Kevin also tells the origin story of TogetherPDX, a collaboration of churches he founded 15 years ago to meet the needs of the citizens of Portland, Oregon, where the Luis Palau Association is based. He discusses how that has been a catalyst for City Gospel Movements across the U.S., which helps churches in the same city join together to be an essential part of making a difference in things like public education, foster care, refugee communities, and people living with homelessness. Kevin Palau is President and CEO of the Luis Palau Association, which unites tens of thousands of churches in hundreds of cities to love and serve their communities and clearly share the Good News of Jesus. His book, Unlikely: Setting Aside Our Differences to Live Out the Gospel describes the ongoing impact of the movement. He enjoys serving on the boards of Alpha USA, Christians Against Poverty, and Transforming the Bay with Christ.

In this long-form conversation Steve Arterburn, founder and chairman of New Life Ministries, dives deep into his life’s journey through loss, grief, mental health issues, and shame and into freedom and redemption. He speaks frankly about his own experiences confronting abortion, human sexuality, homosexuality, and toxic leadership and abuse in the church. And he discusses some of his most-loved books including Healing is a Choice, Every Man’s Battle, and Toxic Faith, which he co-authored with Jack Felton. Steve Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries and host of the #1 nationally syndicated Christian counseling talk show, New Life Live!, heard and watched by over 2 million people each week. Steve is also the host of New Life TV, a web-based video channel dedicated to transforming lives through God’s truth, and the founder of the Women of Faith conferences attended by over 5 million people.

In this intimate, long-form conversation, Bill and Gloria Gaither reflect on their 55-year, international Christan music ministry, from writing gospel songs in their Indiana living room to singing for millions across the globe. Hear how they fell in love over poetry, and how “the stewardship of fusing words” is still core to their ministry. They also tell the origin stories of beloved Gaither songs like “Because He Lives” and “There Just Something About that Name,” and reflect on the influence of their ministry on other Christian music artists like Sandi Patty and Michael W. Smith. Since 1962 Bill and Gloria Gaither have been writing, recording, publishing, and performing some of the world’s most cherished music. Their collaboration has resulted in more than 700 popular gospel songs, eight Grammy Awards, and more than two dozen Dove Awards from The Gospel Music Association, including eight “Songwriter of the Year” titles. Bill and Gloria are still writing and touring today.

In this long-form conversation, USAID’s faith-based office director Adam Phillips talks about his journey in faith-rooted advocacy that ultimately led him to a position in the Biden-Harris Administration. From Guatemala to Ethiopia, from clean water to COVID, Phillips discusses his work identifying and coordinating with embedded faith communities around the world that are the “last mile,” as he says, “loving their neighbor as themselves, and in their own traditions, and looking to serve the greater good.” Hear his deep convictions about why unity is critical to solving the world’s biggest problems, and why he believes “the divisions that we might have at home can translate into opportunities to lean in together and serve our neighbors around the world.” Adam Nicholas Phillips is USAID’s director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Former lead pastor at Christ Church: Portland, he has served in community development and advocacy initiatives with the ONE Campaign, World Vision, Micah Challenge, Bread for the World, One Days Wages, and Oasis.

In this inspiring, long-form conversation, Sseko Designs founder and social entrepreneur Liz Forkin Bohannon tells the story of how her fair-trade, by-women-for-women lifestyle brand literally began on the back of a motorcycle in Uganda. She also discusses her book Beginner’s Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now, why she believes leaders need to “channel their inner beginner,” and how gender inequality is just as damaging to men as it is to women. And she dives into the philosophies that have built Sseko into what it is today: That every human deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and that how we spend our money matters. “As consumers, every dollar we spend is a vote for how we're saying, this is how we want the world to work,” she says. A former journalist, Liz is passionate about conscious consumerism, social justice, creative leadership, gender equity, risk-taking, and empowering women. She believes deeply that business is a powerful platform for social change and that girls are our future.

In this in-depth conversation, CityServe’s vice president of children & youth initiatives Lynn Johnson recounts her journey from a pardon and parole officer to being tapped for a position in the Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration. Hear her describe in detail the state of the foster care system in America, and her firmly-held belief that real change can happen when government, churches, non-profits, and the business community work together for kids in need. Johnson is the former Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and has spent most of her career advocating for the underserved, the homeless, the incarcerated, and most recently children and youth.

The guest for this episode is a Jordanian refugee we call “Samir.” After converting to Christianity as a teenager, he was questioned by the secret police and forced to flee the 97% Sunni Muslim country because of threats to his life and his family. In this in-depth conversation, Samir discussed his experience of how 14 centuries of culture, poverty, and ignorance have fed a distorted view of God that has led to suffering, hate, and war. He also reflects on the American intervention in Afghanistan, how the figure of Jesus is perceived by other religions in the Middle East, and how the Christian ideals of human dignity, human rights, and freedom have the potential to change a centuries-old culture of fear. As Samir says, “Christianity is the only faith in the word that tells people, ‘I don't care about your performance. I love you regardless of your performance.’” Hosted by: Jim Lyon SUBSCRIBE to the All That To Say podcast on YouTube (http://youtube.com/allthattosaypodcast​) or wherever you listen to podcasts. - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-that-to-say/id1555624956 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jDZ3gy653r3jhyS8mWXF2?si=rRo81YRZTF6Zmg2hnPqf5Q&nd=1 FOLLOW the conversation and like us on social media: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllThatToSayPodcast - Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllThatToSay​ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthattosaypodcast/ LEARN MORE about the podcast online: http://www.allthattosay.org/​ #AllThatToSay​

In this intimate conversation, Immigrant Connection executive director Zach Szamara tells the story of how a two-week assignment in Logansport, Indiana evolved into a life passion that has affected thousands of U.S. immigrant families, refugees, asylum seekers, and dreamers. From offering start-up immigration legal services in his local church to 18 locations coast-to-coast, the non-partisan Immigrant Connection has become a trail guide to those navigating legal paths to citizenship. Listen in as Zach discusses the history of U.S. immigration, and his efforts to change the ways that Americans view immigrants today. "Immigration is an issue," he says, "but immigrants are people." He also discusses what the Bible has to say, and the church’s place in all of this. A Department of Justice accredited legal representative since 2014, Zach has served more than 2,200 immigrants from 100+ nations in the last seven years. He also serves as the pastor of The Bridge Community Church – a multilingual, multicultural, multiethnic church in Logansport, Indiana. He has spoken nationally on the topic of immigration, diaspora, multi-cultural/multi-ethnic diversity, and holistic outreach to immigrants and refugees. Hosted by: Jim Lyon _____________________________ SUBSCRIBE to the All That To Say podcast here on YouTube (http://youtube.com/allthattosaypodcast​) or wherever you listen to podcasts. - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-that-to-say/id1555624956 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jDZ3gy653r3jhyS8mWXF2?si=rRo81YRZTF6Zmg2hnPqf5Q&nd=1 FOLLOW the conversation and like us on social media: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllThatToSayPodcast - Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllThatToSay​ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthattosaypodcast/ LEARN MORE about the podcast online:

In this episode, we sit down for an intimate conversation with Steve Brallier, lead author of Mitka’s Secret: A True Story of Child Slavery and Surviving the Holocaust. Listen in as he traces his unlikely career path from director of information for Anderson University; to concert promoter with the William Morris Agency representing gospel megastars like Bill Gaither and Amy Grant; to storyteller and author. Hear him relay the heartbreaking story of Holocaust survivor Mitka Kalinski escaping execution in the German concentration camps, his seven-year enslavement by a German officer, his rescue by American GIs, and his ultimate journey to safety, love, and redemption. Steve also discusses the fear and difficulty of the writing process, and how writing Mitka’s Secret led him to his own personal redemption from hurt and pain.

In this long-form conversation, General Superintendent Emerita and Ambassador of The Wesleyan Church Jo Anne Lyon talks about the life and work of John Wesley who, much like Jesus, ministered at the intersection of spiritual, cultural, and political change. It’s in that light she reflects on the question of the church’s role in policy, as well as her participation as a member of the Council on Faith in the World Economic Forum, examining how faith affects the health and prosperity of nations. Jo Anne also speaks frankly about what the Bible has to say about the roles of women in the church, how early feminism – and its backlash – shaped those roles over the last several decades, and where the church is headed from here. “We need to come back and reclaim who we are,” she says. And don’t miss her reflections on racial justice, compassion, common ground, and the next generation of believers. Dr. Lyon holds a master's degree in counseling and has been granted five honorary doctorates. She authored the book The Ultimate Blessing and has served over 30 years in pastoral ministry. She has been an adjunct professor at both Indiana Wesleyan University and Asbury Theological Seminary. As the founder and CEO of World Hope International, she directed the faith-based relief and development organizations into over 30 countries to alleviate suffering and injustice.

In this intimate conversation, author, Bible teacher, and spoken-word artist Hosanna Wong offers reflections on the global pandemic as it relates to faith, loss, leadership, and where we go from here. The daughter of a heroin addict and Chinese gang member in San Francisco, she recounts her father’s transformation through faith, the impact of his loss, and how she met that loss with “the only thing I knew how to do,” which was poetry. She also speaks bravely about finding and embracing her identity as a Chinese American and as a Chinese American woman, and her passion to empower others – especially young people – to lean into their own unique identity and God-given worth in order to live out their purpose in a changing world Hosanna is the teaching pastor at EastLake Church in the San Diego area and the executive director of Calvary Street Ministries, an outreach bringing hope to the homeless and low-income families in San Francisco. Under the name Hosanna Poetry, she has released two spoken-word albums—Maps, Boots, & Other Ways We Get There (2013) and Figless (2015)—and authored three books, I Have a New Name (2017), Superadded (2018), and her new best-selling book, How (Not) to Save the World, available now.

In this in-depth interview author, leadership coach, and CEO of Building Champions, Daniel Harkavy sits down to talk surfing, growing up Jewish, and the responsibilities of influence in the modern world. Learn how a serious accident fueled this self-described Hebrew school dropout’s search for meaning, his conversion to Christianity, and the path to love and partnership with his wife of 33 years. And how the consciousness of his own influence – and using that influence for good – led to the founding of his company, Building Champions, 25 years ago. Daniel discusses the importance of taking personal inventory, measuring one’s net worth in life – not just in finances – and how writing your own eulogy can lead to enlightenment and direction. He also touches on how leaders today might re-imagine business, technology, and their roles in a post-pandemic world. Harkavy has authored several books, including The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders, Living Forward, and Becoming A Coaching Leader: The Proven Strategy for Building Your Own Team of Champions.

Director of Strategic Partnerships for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) David Austin sits down for a fearless conversation about the real consequences of hunger, and the potential of power to solve world hunger and create positive change on a global scale. In this interview David identifies hunger as a major driver of social and political upheaval, the immigration crisis, and more. He connects the dots between food and peace, and discusses how his faith feeds his service to the U.N. Listen in as he describes how the WFP collaborates with more than 1,000 NGOs in 92 countries to feed 114 million people each year. He also discusses how in 2020 the WFP was able to shift their massive supply chain network to help move 60,000 tons of PPE, diagnostic materials, as well as relief personnel to 171 countries in response to the global pandemic – all of which led to a Nobel Peace Prize. Prior to the WFP, David worked with such organizations as the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, Mercy Corps, and the U.S. State Department leading a variety of humanitarian efforts including hunger relief and business development in developing nations. David is a strong advocate for American humanitarian leadership, and investing in young people to secure a robust and stable future.

In this interview, Noel Castellanos, founder and president of Camino Alliance, recounts his upbringing as the son of migrant workers, his experience of disenfranchisement as a young Latinx in Texas, and his first introduction to Jesus at a Young Life camp. Learn how his personal life experience – and his experience working with poor and marginalized populations in the inner city of Chicago – has caused him to examine the immigration crisis from its sources, which include decades of political unrest, poverty, and economic destitution in other countries, along with the spirit that compels human beings to seek a better life. It’s also caused him to look at immigration and the idea of justice (“justicia” in Spanish) from a Biblical perspective. “God is for the outsider, for the embarrassed, for the scandalized, for the rejected and the ostracized,” he says. Over the last 35 years, Noel has become a leading evangelical voice for the Latino community and has challenged the church to address our immigration crisis from a Christian perspective. His most recent book is Where the Cross Meets the Street: What Happens to the Neighborhood When God is at the Center.

Former Harlem Globetrotter, public speaker, and purpose coach Derick Grant sits down for a long conversation about his introduction to basketball and his unlikely path to the Harlem Globetrotters. He reflects on how his parents, who grew up in rural South Carolina during the civil rights movement, built a strong foundation for him grounded in faith. And he talks about his nine-year career with the Globetrotters, which took him to 70 countries, breaking language, cultural and political barriers, and culminated with his historic 4-point shot and entry into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He also recounts the history of the Harlem Globetrotters from their roots as the Savoy Big Five in 1926 Chicago to the world-class organization they are today. They broke racial barriers in the NBA in the 1940s, and Grant believes that sports continues to break down those barriers even today. Just as George Floyd’s death has changed the way he thinks about being a Black man in America, he points to the example of Colin Kaepernick using his platform to stand up for people who don’t have a choice...even though it cost him. “That’s what Jesus did,” he says.

In this in-depth interview, history and gender studies scholar Kristin Kobes Du Mez unpacks research that traces the roots of Christian nationalism, patriarchy, and masculinity, and the degree to which they align with the Biblical teachings of Jesus. She also discusses complementarianism, the reigning evangelical view of gender roles, and the historical reasons that drive many white evangelical men to look outside the Bible for a hero. Kristin Kobes Du Mez is Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for the Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and The Daily Beast, and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, in which this scholar of American Christianity presents a seventy-five-year history of evangelicalism that identifies the forces that have turned Donald Trump into a hero of the Religious Right.

Listen in on this in-depth interview with former U.S. Congressman from Indiana David McIntosh, as he recounts his experiences attending Yale University, how the Watergate scandal inspired his interest in politics, and the true story of how the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy was founded over pizza and beer during his tenure at the University of Chicago Law School. (Hint: One of his law professors was Antoni Scalia.) Hear McIntosh talk in-depth about the Federalist Society’s “founding fathers” view of the law and the ongoing tension between equity and justice, as well as his role in the Reagan White House and the failed Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork. He also reflects on what place his faith has held in his political career and the place it holds in his current efforts as president of Club for Growth, the leading free-enterprise advocacy group in the nation, and promoters and shapers of the careers of conservative politicians such as Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio.

In this long-form conversation, Brooklyn-based journalist and author Katelyn Beaty reflects on her Midwestern upbringing, why she got into writing, and her time with the evangelical magazine Christianity Today (founded by the late Billy Graham). She also discusses how her identity as a feminist (which she calls a “dirty word”) has been fed by scripture, and how that has shaped her writing, from a Washington Post op-ed about Donald Trump and the Access Hollywood tapes, to her recent book A Woman’s Place. You’ll also hear her opinion on why evangelicals continue to support Donald Trump and QAnon, and how younger Christians are experiencing a crisis of confidence and trust, not just with the traditional evangelical establishment, but with the news media and even truth itself. Katelyn’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Times on topics such as politics, gender, and theology. She has also provided commentary on faith and culture for CNN, ABC, NPR, Associated Press, Religion News Service, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

In this intimate conversation Paul Young, best-selling author of The Shack, speaks frankly about his experiences of tremendous loss, including sexual and physical trauma as a child of missionary parents, his struggles with mental health and suicidality, an extra-marital affair, and his journey through brokenness, reconciliation, and healing. He also reflects on the genesis of The Shack, which he began as a story for his children, writing on legal pads, the backs of napkins, and garbage sacks during his daily train commutes to work. Today, The Shack has been translated into 50 languages and sold more than 20 million copies. Most recently, hear how Paul responded to and survived the pandemic from a Hebrews 13:13 approach: "Encourage one another, as long as it is about today, so that you are not swept away by the deceitfulness of brokenness." Since The Shack, Paul has authored several books, including Cross Roads, Eve, The Shack Reflections and Cross Roads Reflections, Lies We Believe About God, and most recently The Pastor: A Crisis, a novella he co-authored with Brad Jersak.

In this in-depth conversation, Former Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Jerome Adams frankly discusses the opioid crisis, racial disparity and COVID-19, and the role of faith in leadership.

In this intimate interview, Christian Hip Hop artist Allen Swoope talks about the influences of Livingston Taylor and Charles Myricks, Jr., and explores the intersection of faith and culture.

Ready to Rise author Jo Saxton has a long, intersectional conversation about women’s empowerment as a strategy for building a stronger country, church, and culture.

A conversation with Portland, Oregon-based Ben Sand, as he imagines a new paradigm of mobilizing around Black community, and empowering leaders for the common good.

In this interview, Anderson University president and former FBI deputy director John Pistole shares stories about George W. Bush, his time in Washington, D.C., and how his faith grounds him in his work.