Created For

Racially motivated hate crimes, mass shootings, and other tragedies have made so many of us feel unsafe in the world. In this latest episode of the Created For Podcast, Wendy Chen shares how she tries to make sense of her feelings about current events, and how she finds healing and is learning to bring her entire self to her faith walk.  Wendy is one of the Cru staff behind Created For. She's been a part of developing it from the beginning. You might remember seeing her at our two live events where she served as our excellent and hospitable emcee. She serves as the Executive Director of Cru Embark, a ministry that helps 20-somethings in the city live richer, fuller lives. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon, with her husband Josh and their four children. Wendy comes from an ethnically Chinese family, but was born in South Korea. She and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a child. In addition to talking about how her faith intersects with current events, she shares with us about how her immigrant experience has impacted her faith and her family, and how it's given her heart for the ones often overlooked and misunderstood in our society. You can find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in our show notes. Hosted by Cru. 

“Faith is always asking to put flesh on.” In this episode Drew Jackson invites us to explore how our profession of faith is connected to our story, context, neighborhood, historical context, and embodied life.  As we pay attention, engage in truth telling, lament, and explore our questions we can understand more of who God created us to be. Drew is a New York City based pastor and poet. His debut book, God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming is a deep and resounding reflection on the first 8 chapters of the Gospel of Luke. In our time with Drew, he treated us to a special reading of one of the poems entitled, “I Struggle with the Word Deserves.” His poem is included in our show notes so that you can follow along. You can also find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in our show notes. Hosted by Cru. 

As a minority woman growing up in a rural community, Tiffany Bluhm often wondered, “Where do I fit?” But her feelings were satiated when she found Jesus. In this episode, Tiffany discusses her faith journey and how her ethnic identity intersects her identity in Christ. She discusses parenting her multi-ethnic family; her experiences leading her to write her newest book, Prey Tell; and how women and men can be partners for human flourishing. Tiffany Bluhm, author of Never Alone and She Dreams, is a writer; speaker; podcast co-host of Why Tho, a show answering the existential and nonsensical questions we ask ourselves; and Gatherer-in-chief of Sip and Savor, a women's movement in the Seattle area centered around fine food, fine wine and community. She is passionate about inviting all to the table of faith, equality, justice and dignity. Her work has been featured by World Vision Magazine, Pentecostal Evangel, YouVersion Bible App, Scary Mommy, TODAY Parents, Thrive Global, the Hallmark Channel, and the Jenny McCarthy Show. Tiffany and her husband, Derek, live in the Seattle area with their two sons, Jericho and Kingston.You can find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in  our show notes. Hosted by Cru.

Milton Massie takes us on a journey through Scripture to more deeply understand God's heart for the marginalized and disenfranchised. As we learn how to marry the Great Commission and Great Commandment, we see a beautiful picture of God's kingdom. Milton invites us to “keep the way of the Lord” by participating in restorative justice and through a loving posture that acknowledges each individual as an image-bearer of God.  Milton and his wife Cynthia have been ministering on the Southside of Chicago since 1980. Milton is the Executive Steward and Director of Cru Inner City and also is a shepherding, governing and teaching elder of a church he helped to plant in 1999. Milton is a bridge and prophetic voice to help the church live out God's heart for the poor, to build up believers into mature faith through discipleship in the church, and to challenge the body of Christ to intentionally address the realities of systemic injustice using the Bible and the life of Jesus as the source of authority. And you can find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in our show notes.  Hosted by Cru. 

BONUS EPISODE: The episode we are releasing today is a little different for us. What we are giving you today is a conversation between three friends that share some key things in common. They are all women of color and they are all single. And they are navigating following God when life doesn't turn out as planned. Whether you are single or not, this episode is a must-listen because it addresses the unfulfilled longings we all have as a part of the human experience and the pursuit of God wherever life takes us.  Julie Chang was the host of Season 2 of the Created For podcast. She currently works as the Community Growth Manager at Circles, an IT company seeking to foster authentic human connection in the digital world. Emma Tautolo was one of our speakers at our March 2022 Live event and she is a regional director for Athletes in Action's campus ministry in the Pacific Southwest. Melody Copenny is the editor in chief of Cru Storylines, an online publication of Cru that covers national and international stories with the themes of hope and eternity in mind.  Together, this conversation has so much wisdom to share, and we are honored to present it to you today. And you can find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in our show notes.  Hosted by Cru.

Drew Hyun shares his journey of sacrificing the idols of money and prestige at the altar in exchange for God's presence. He also shares his Asian-American experience and how the incredibly equalizing message of the Gospel compelled him to Jesus.    Drew Hyun is the Founder and Pastor of Hope Church Midtown as well as the co-founder of the New City Network, a network of urban churches that value multi-ethnicity, Spirit-filled ministry, emotional health and mission. Drew is also a part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship team, a movement that is dedicated to transforming church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples.    You can find an episode reflection with invitations and more resources in our show notes. Drew Hyun's talk from our live event: To Be Seen and Noticed: The Longing We All Have to Truly Be Loved Just As We Are

We are joined this week by author, illustrator and advocate Danielle Coke. Better known as Oh Happy Dani, she tells us about her experience of coming face to face with Jesus' mercy and grace and her journey to discovering present purpose.    We also dive deep into Oh Happy Dani's work on how to love our neighbors well in a moment of tragic injustice. We discuss moving from apathy and performative allyship to finding our starting role and beginning the real good work.    You can find an episode reflection with invitations and more resources in our show notes. @ohhappydani Illustrations referenced in this episode:    16:00: The Cycle of Inaction 30:00: Finding Our Starting Roles

Are you struggling to discern your unique calling? You're not alone. Expectations of others, false messages we receive from Christian culture and a weakness-mindset make it difficult to discern the invitation God has for us. In this episode, leadership development coach and consultant Tracey Gee gives practical steps to not only discover what God created you to do, but also celebrate who God has uniquely created you to be.  See the show notes for an episode reflection and more resources.

In a world where so many of us have relationships damaged by political and ideological differences, how do we love well? Rich Villodas diagnoses the forces behind the fractures we feel in our relationships and our world and gives us tools for moving forward in a way that honors God, ourselves and others. We discuss trauma, finding our voice, and how to move away from being “wounded wounders” on our journey toward wholeness.    Rich is the pastor of New Life Fellowship in Elmhurst, Queens and the author of The Deeply Formed Life.   You can find an episode reflection with invitations for deeper self-examination and more resources in our show notes. Our first conversation with Rich on the Created For podcast: April 5th, 2021, Loving One Another and a Life of Discernment with Rich Villodas Rich Villodas' 9-Minute Video Message: To Belong to One Another: How We Can Remain Calm and Curious with Others in Times of High Anxiety

In this episode, Terry Wildman invites you on a journey to rediscover the Scriptures through the Native lens. Terry Wildman's ancestry is Ojibwe and Yaqui. He is the lead translator and project manager for the First Nations Version, an Indigenous translation of the New Testament. Storytelling, the cultural practice of naming, and embracing the Great Mystery all play a role in this faithful and refreshing translation. Listen as Terry paints a picture of the church as a sacred family in which the gifts of all ethnicities are valued and have a seat at the table.    See the show notes for an episode reflection and more resources.

Jessica Wiarda is an illustrator and a designer. She is a registered member of the Hopi Tribe, and her work focuses on blending traditional Native American Hopi design with contemporary color palettes and design trends. Her apparel brand HONOVI feature various forms of authentic, Hopi-designed apparel, including scarves and hats. She shares how the tensions of her cultural and spiritual background shape her work and her perspective on forgiveness, identity and healing.

Eva Ting is the founder of Here to Honor, a centralized and curated resource hub providing training, tools, and service for end-of-life needs and grief support. She shares about collective calling and the importance of living, dying and grieving well.  See show notes for episode reflection, transcription and resources.

Christian Serge seeks to make beautiful things. An Emmy-award-winning editor, and co-creator of the first 3D-360 camera, making films that cause what he calls "fierce compassion" is one of his life goals. Christian discusses the many turns his calling has taken through music, film and his neighbors. See show notes for episode reflection, transcription and resources.

Amanda Best's passion is loving and advocating for lower income communities. In this episode, she shares about her journey, including lessons about God's grace she's learned along the way. See show notes for episode reflection, transcription and resources.

Dr. Kelly Mark is a clinical psychologist passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. She believes the work of restoration to God and each other happens in community. Listen to how she is still growing, recognizing her own brokenness, and finding a sense of belonging. See show notes for episode reflection, transcription and resources.

Josh Chen is a dreamer and a storyteller, who's passionate about inviting others into God's captivating story. By listening and asking questions of those around us, Josh thinks we can understand each other's deep longings and how God can meet us there. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources

Meet our new podcast host, Julie Chang, and hear more about who'll be featured on season two of the Created For podcast.

In this final episode of the season, Samantha Holland has a conversation with Wendy Chen, Executive Director of Cru Embark to discuss her reflections on the podcast series. Wendy shares how her family's immigrant story connects with her calling and how limitations can become invitations. They discuss mutuality, belonging, culture and how God is writing a story in each of our lives. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Rasool Berry, teaching pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, shares his ideas on moral imagination, argument culture, and what it means to be a faithful presence. He invites us to embrace diverse perspectives, to be culture makers, to be quick to listen, and to gain the fullness and richness of what God is doing in the world. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Hand-lettering artist, graphic designer and community advocate Jocelyn Chung shares about her fierce loyalty and devotion to her elders and others in her Asian-American community. She invites us to expand the picture of what it means to be a creative and to live a deeply rooted life in the beloved community around us. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Author and Bible teacher Jo Saxton invites listeners to align our lives with the Word, the way, and the work of the Kingdom of God. She discussed contextualized theology, burnout and losing your way, and what it looks like to serve God within the confinement of our current realities. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Pastor of New Life Church in Queens and author of The Deeply Formed Life, Rich Villodas invites us into a life of discerning God's presence. This episode explores staying present with one another despite our differences, embodiment as an outworking of the gospel, and redemptive uses of technology to draw us to God and to each other. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

David Robbins shares how following Jesus requires surrender, vulnerability and community. The president of Family Life, he shares his journey through a variety of realities, including the changing seasons of marriage and family, life in New York City and navigating a global pandemic. see show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources

Even though Liz Bohannon didn't get funded on Shark Tank, she kept dreaming. One small dream at a time, she watched a global community form through her business, Sseko Designs. She shares about creating instead of always critiquing, focusing on what we are for and not against, and what she learned from a statue in the park near her house. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Chris Ghubril grew up bicultural, in white churches and schools yet with 100% Arab American parents. Listen in as he describes how his story has informed the work he does to pave the way for other bicultural Christians, and to reach people across cultures for Christ. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Elizabeth McKinney invites you to reimagine loving your next-door neighbor. In this episode, she explores giving and receiving other people's kindness, her experiences neighboring during a pandemic, and why healthy boundaries help you love other well. See show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources

Justin Giboney shares how his own story informed his views on  idealogical tribes and social action. He invites us deeper into our calling, as believers, to love our enemies using 'moral imagination,' to live in community, and to stay anchored in Scripture. see show notes for episode reflection, transcript and resources.

Welcome to Created For, an exploration of calling and purpose. Episode 1 featuring Justin Giboney premieres March 2nd. Connect with us today at Cru.org/createdfor and on instagram @_createdfor