Deconstructing and reclaiming Christianity on the margins. Hosted by Rohadi. Author of "When We Belong"; "Thrive"; and "Soul Coats"; pastor of Cypher Church, entrepreneur, & non-profit developer. Recording on Treaty 7 lands in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. With special guests joining to discuss deconstruction, reconciliation, anti-racism, spirituality, and decolonization.
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Featuring: Rohadi Nagassar, Janice Lagata, LetGregLive, Kristian A. Smith The term: Deconstruction defined in Rohadi’s book, When We Belong, is: the work to reclaim what gives life; discard what does not; and create beautiful stories. Welcome to Episode 8 where we venture through the land of religious deconstruction, only this time through the Black and brown church experiences. In this episode we hear from Janice Lagata who shares her story about the eventual implosion of Hillsong New York. Followed by Greg, who provides some insight on the work of deconstruction and decolonization out of a Black church experience. Lastly, Kristian A Smith and Rohadi talk about what faith can look like beyond the gaze of white hegemony. All this and more in Episode 8. Episode 8 Show Notes (00:00-04:00) Introduction with Rohadi (04:24) Janice Lagata (09:00) Broaching the Death of Hillsong New York (26:00) Interrogating the deconstruction space on socials. (29:40) Intro to Greg (31:00) Greg intro (34:00) Black Deconstruction (39:20) Christian supremacy (44:00) Intro Kristian A Smith (45:00) A different take on deconstruction. (53:20) The weird in Black and brown church traditions. (57:00) Reclamation project. Where to find life. (1:02:00) on decolonizing Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com) Rohadi’s books can be found here, including his latest publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. Visit his online church community: https://abeautifultable.ca/ Janice Lagata – Musician and Podcaster Find more from Janice on her website. Stream her latest album “Toxic Empathy” on Spotify or AppleMusic. Greg – Muscian and Teacher Educator. Baritenor. Musical Theatre Enthusiast. Sinfonian. B.M.Ed, M.S., Ed.S. Kristian A Smith – Pastor and Podcaster Find him on Instagram. Community Builder; Founder & Pastor @tfc.virtual; Host @holysmokesmovement; Curator of Greatest Commandment Theology. Find him over at kristianasmith.com Bumper music by Janice Lagata; Intro by Jesse Peters
Featuring the voices of: Rohadi, Scott Coley, Lamar Hardwick, and Robert J Callahan Episode 7 on white supremacy, a crucial conversation for churchgoers, particularly white churchgoers, to generate awareness to the ways white supremacist thinking invades thought and beliefs. Indeed, white supremacist theology is in the DNA, a feature not an add-on, of nearly every denomination across the Americas. We'll try to pinpoint some of the most egregious forms in this episode, with a hope that listeners will become alert to the ways you own formation/beliefs are filtered through racist understandings of the world around us. We discuss biblical examples used to support white superiority and how common they are; learn how ableism is a precursor to white supremacy; and end with naming the weird in white evangelicalism, with a side of hopeful alternatives to find your way out. (more…)
Let’s settle in friends for some quiet time…. Just kidding. Episode 6 in this serial series interrogating the malformed pillars in evangelicalism is here. We examine one of the most important elements in evangelical belief systems–perhaps THE most important religious icon–the Bible. Evangelicals claim the Bible has supreme authority in designing beliefs. It’s the “Bible alone”, used with complete disregard for malformed interpretations. You may be wondering why chat about the Bible mid-way through this series and not at the very start. After all, isn’t the Bible central to evangelicalism? It is, but not in the manner you might think. The Bible has been distorted to become a tool for religious propaganda that advances the interests of white evangelicalism. In other words, the Bible is used to define conservative and white supremacist worldviews, and believers stuck in the pew of these churches must adopt specific interpretations or risk being excommunicated (if evangelicals had such a thing.) Malformed beliefs like biblical inerrancy and literalism are not, ironically, biblical, yet are core attributes used to keep the faithful in line. Let’s talk about it, Episode 6 is here. Chapters (00:00-01:00) Introduction (02:30) Rohadi on why we’re interrogating the validity of biblical tradition in evangelicalism. (02:33-14:00) Quiet time. Just kidding. Unpacking the ways evangelicals twist the Bible to fit their own devices. (14:00-20:05) Unpacking one of the malformed pillars is used to justify: Patriarchy w/ Liz Jenkins. (20:05-22:00) Intro to Ryan Canty – Author of Deweaponize. (22:00-24:20) Naming malformed pillars including inerrancy and the Chicago Statement (24:20-33:00) Unpacking the Chicago Statement with Liz Grant (33:40) Ways evangelicals distort scripture using literalism wrong. (40:11) Rohadi and authoritarianism and the Bible. (43:40) Ryan on, What are the possibilities of change? (50:15) Possibilities of how we can reclaim biblical interpretation with Liz Grant. (59:50) Liz Jenkins with the final word on interpretation. (1:02:02) Outro Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Rohadi’s books can be found here, including his latest publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. Special Guests in Episode 6: Ryan Canty – Author of Deweaponize. Re-examining how we read the Bible in pursuit of a more Christlike interpretation Former Calvinist theology nerd on a journey to de-weaponize the Bible and love others like Jesus. Find him on Substack | Instagram Liz Charlotte Grant – Author of KNOCK AT THE SKY: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible. Liz is an award-winning nonfiction writer based in Colorado, USA. She is also an online columnist for The Christian Century. Her essays and op-eds have also been published in outlets such as the Huffington Post, Religion News Service, the Revealer, Hippocampus Magazine, Brevity, Sojourners, Christianity Today, US Catholic, National Catholic Reporter, and elsewhere. Find Liz on Instagram and Threads Liz Jenkins – Author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy. If you’d like to read more, check out her now-occasional blog, her Substack, and/or her book Nice Churchy Patriarchy. Find Liz via Instagram: @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
Following Episode 4 on Propaganda, we take aim at a crucial evangelical pillar: patriarchy. Patriarchy designed specifically around religious convictions to ultimately control the bodies of women and children. It’s also a tool to support authoritarian leadership explaining the rationale behind why evangelicals overwhelmingly support authoritarian governments: it’s what they practice in their own churches. Episode 5 welcomes three exciting guests. Cait West, author of Rift, opens our conversation by sharing her story growing up in the Christian Patriarchy Movement. CPM has developed an enterprise that pulls in billions of dollars in revenue from their materials overtly supporting the values of Christian patriarchy. Cait shares her journey escaping what she would ultimately describe as a cult, but in reality looks like a lot of conservative churches out there. How to attune to your bodies and trust your intuition are two important attributes for folks still stuck in the clutches of malformed churches. Liz Cooledge Jenkins is my second guest. She is the author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy. We discuss how evangelical churches hide their patriarchy; how they might look ‘cool’ on the outside, but in fact operate with the same tools of patriarchy behind the veil. Finally, DL Mayfield returns from Episode 4 to conclude a conversation about patriarchy and the intersections of white supremacy with eugenics. “There is no finish line to healing even though we want to be in a place where you’re perfectly happy. And there is a lot of resources now to minimize symptoms and heal from it. What worked for me was trauma therapy, which is different than talk therapy….” Cait West “[In patriarchy] there’s encouragement to not trust your gut, and encouragement not to talk to other women about unequal power structures.” Liz Jenkins “America has this horrific history of white supremacist patriarchal aims including in the realm of eugenics.” D.L. Mayfield Episode 5 – Chapters (00:00) – Introduction (04:40) – Introducing Cait West (09:20) – The size of Christian Patriarchy Movement including Goddard, IBL, Vision Form…. (12:20) – How to notice all that ain’t right in churches that love patriarchy. (18:00) – Pathways of healing from religious patriarchy. (30:00) – Introducing Liz Jenkins (32:00) – Chatting about patriarchy that’s not so ‘in your face’. (36:30) – Culture problems in parachurch and socialization. (40:20) – Returning to a conversation with DL Mayfield. (42:00) – DL on eugenics. (46:00) – DL Mayfield teasing out aspects of liberation from malformed intersections of patriarchy. (54:30) – Outro Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Rohadi’s books can be found here, including his latest publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. Special guests in Episode 5: Cait West – Author of Rift. A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy Cait West lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre, and Hawaii Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and cohosts the podcast Survivors Discuss. Find out more. Substack | Instagram | TikTok Liz Jenkins – Author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy. If you’d like to read more, check out her now-occasional blog, her Substack, and/or her book Nice Churchy Patriarchy. Find Liz via Instagram: @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers. Author/Podcaster – D.L. Mayfield D.L. Mayfield (they/them) is a podcaster and author. After a decade of writing for Christian spaces, they now write primarily about issues of neurodivergence and healing from high-control religion. D.L. and their partner Krispin Mayfield are currently working on a multimedia publishing project entitled STRONGWILLED, which is available on Substack. You can read along here. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
This episode is about propaganda: the mechanisms by which evangelicals and conservative Christians are formed. Evangelicals are suckers for conspiracy (Ep. 3) and are easily swayed by propaganda. The propaganda machine has done masterful job inoculating conservatives from developing worldviews beyond their own enrichment. In the first half, I invite Scott Coley to help unpack the how and why conservatives tend to accept damaging beliefs and theologies that harm vulnerable people and themselves. Connecting the dots between conservative political aspirations that seek power to preserve white supremacy and patriarchy, and the supprting belief systems in evangelicalism, opens a pathway for folks still in, leaving, or who have already left, to begin making sense of all the weird in the pursuit of freedom and liberation. “Evangelicals favor morally problematic social arrangements and political policies because they just aren’t thinking about the moral salience of institutions. They tend to focus on individual piety. They tend to not think about institutional injustice. I’ve come to recognize that is an incomplete picture. It’s true, bad belief leads to bad practices, but it’s also true that bad practices lead to bad beliefs. This ‘feedback loop’ is called ideology.” Scott Coley Later, DL Mayfield joins to discuss one of the most effective propaganda arms in evangelicalism: Focus on the Family. It, along with many others, are key reasons why evangelicals are harbingers of harm to the nation (and the world). “If you grew up with Dr. Dobson or Focus on the Family parenting methods, then you are a child of a positive eugenics movement. The continuation of the white supremacist patriarchy was the entire goal and they used religion to spread their ideology.” D.L. Mayfield Episode 4 – Show Notes (00:00) – Introduction (03:00) – Scott Coley on The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (05:40) – Why do conservative evangelicals appear to inhabit an alternate reality? (08:40) – Ideology and legitimizing narratives that provide moral justification. (11:47) – Propaganda as mechanism to bring folks into sub-culutre.. (14:30) – On fundamentalism and creation science example. (15:30) – Motivated reasoning and hermeneutics of legitimizing narratives. (21:30) – The pull of ideology, how do you know you’re on the ‘right’ side. (26:30) – Introducing DL Mayfield and Focus on the Family. (29:26) – The Strongwilled Child phenomenom. (31:00) – Focus on the Family is propaganada. (36:00) – Are folks leaving the church over the abuse they experienced as children? (40:38) – James ‘Fucking’ Dobson and white patriarchy. (47:30) – Speaking about estrangement. Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Rohadi’s books can be found here, including his most recent publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. Special guests in Episode 4: Scholar/Author – Scott Coley Scott Coley Scott M. Coley holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University, a Master's degree in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.A. in philosophy and English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests include philosophy of religion, moral epistemology and political philosophy. His book is entitled, Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Author/Podcaster – D.L. Mayfield D.L. Mayfield (they/them) is a podcaster and author. After a decade of writing for Christian spaces, they now write primarily about issues of neurodivergence and healing from high-control religion. D.L. and their partner Krispin Mayfield are currently working on a multimedia publishing project entitled STRONGWILLED, which is available on Substack. You can read along here. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
There's an enormous chasm between evangelical thought/praxis, and the actual teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. In this episode, we ask: how is it possible to sway so many evangelical traditions away from Jesus? We peel back the layers to reveal the methods that shape and form malformed beliefs, before describing the impact on evangelical culture. One of the primary tools used is the widespread adoption of conspiracy theories. Jared Stacy joins to share his insights on the ways conspiracy theories are entangled with evangelicalism. We then pivot to name how the reliance on conspiracy theories shapes evangelical culture with guest Dr. Ed Ng. We discuss how the religious right is shaped to stay rooted in fear as a key to guiding belief systems. “…when it’s ancient we call it a legend, when it’s modern we call it a conspiracy theory. – Jared Stacy” Episode 3 – Show Notes (00:00) – Introduction (05:30) – Jared Stacy on a history of conspiracy theory. (12:00) – Conspiracy theory in the 20th century. (19:00) – Naming some of the mechanism propogating conpsiracy in the 20th century. (25:17) – The use of media in consipracy. (29:00) – Introducing Dr. Ed Ng (30:00) – Dr. Ng on Terror Management Theory (37:30) – Describing contirbuting social conditions in the Religious Right. (44:00) – Rugged individualism and Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. (52:00) – Outro Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Special guests in Episode 3: Theologian/Author – Jared C Stacy Jared Stacy is a theologian and ethicist and former pastor to evangelical churches. He received a PhD in moral & practical theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His research focuses on the intersection of theology and politics. Specifically on ethics, extremism/conspiracy theory and US evangelicalism. Jared’s work & story has been featured on platforms like TIME, NPR, NBC News, the BBC, and Christianity Today. Psychologist – Dr. Ed Ng Ed Ng is a Registered Psychologist in private practice in Vancouver and is the founder and director of Eastgate Psychological Services. Ed has taught at Trinity Western University and Regent College in the areas of diversity and counselling. He is also the founder of the Eastgate Project and hosts its podcast, which focuses on the intersections of psychology, theology, and the experiences of the Asian diaspora. Intro Music by Jesse Peters. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
Episode 2 in this serial series called: Farewell Evangelicalism is here. In this episdoe we begin to peel back to layers of evangelicalism to make sense of how it’s become the broken and malformed expression it is today. When did the wheels fall off? When did evangelicals become white nationalists? It hasn’t always been this way. To get to the ‘how' evangelicals became associated with various monkers like white nationalism, we must develop cultural context, garnering information to begin naming specific components in the movement that produce harm to the neighborhood, city, and nation, and of course to those stuck within the confines of the four church walls. The hope for this episode is to help give name to cultural moments when the evil and broken pieces in evangelicalism emerged so more folks can make connections to their own church or belief systems. We go back into time connect the dots between political movements, the use of fear to sway evangelicals, and ways evangelicals have casually sided with white supremacy to inform their beliefs. Episode 2 – Show Notes (00:00) – Introduction (00:28) – Setting the Scenes (01:35) – When evangelicals lost the plot. (05:30) – Introducing Scott Okomoto including his time teaching at Aszuza Pacific. (09:00) – When evangelicals swung hard right. (10:20) – How white was APU? Explaining culture and culture shifts. (14:00) – From Bush to Obama and evangelical militancy. (19:45) – Unpacking MAGA. (26:00) – Outro and Intro to Dr. Marlena Graves (20:45) – Unpacking the connections between evangelicals, Republicanism, and white supremacy. (26:15) – History: Moments in the 20th century when evangelicals married Republicans. (39:00) – Connecting the Religious Right movement. (42:50) – Talking about the strategy behind preserving white supremacy. (54:00) – Outro and wrap. Featuring your host Rohadi Nagassar (rohadi.com) and: Scott Okomoto – Writer/Podcaster R Scott Okamoto is a writer and musician from Los Angeles. He is passionate about AAPI identity and politics, fly fishing, sex and sexuality, cooking, and religious deconstruction. Scot is the creator and host of the Chapel Probation Podcast and the author of Asian American Apostate: Losing Religion and Finding Myself at an Evangelical University, published by Lake Drive Books. Dr. Marlena Graves – Professor/Author Marlena received her M.Div. from Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York and his pursuing her PhD in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH where she is researching the influence American culture has on Evangelicals' view of immigration, race, and poverty. Marlena’s book, “The Way Up Is Down” (with IVPress) released in July 2020. Intro Music by Jesse Peters. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
“Find the Stories to Leave For Good.” Welcome to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast! There's space for you at the table. Receive this invitation to listen and learn, bemoan and curse, celebrate and liberate, around ideas towards deconstructing and decolonizing the Christian faith. This is Episode 1 in a serial series called: Farewell Evangelicalism. In this series we will interrogate the main pillars of formation in the evangelical tradition to answer the question: is evangelicalism still a legitimate expression of the Christian faith? And if not, what would it take to see more people leave the tradition? We give the insight and the tools to interrogate the movement and identify its malformed formation. It’s the first quarter of 2025, which is important to name, because depending on which side of the political spectrum you're on, and which country you're from, you're either in shock of the political upheaval dumped on your country, or you everything is trending your way. Amidst waves of confusion is a simple truth: the current state wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the unwavering support from white evangelicals. We ask the question: would society be better off if more people left evangelicalism? If you're on the fence about that, this series will help, as we offer tools and pathways for more folks to say, Farewell Evangelicalism! Episode 1 – Show Notes (00:00) – Introduction (01:00) – Setting the Table (01:50) – Saying Farewell to Evangelicalism (02:40) – Who is this podcast for? (04:45) – Introducing your host, Rohadi! (07:20) – Why did we choose evangelicalism/conservative Christianity? (12:40) – Right Rev. Dr. Mariann Budde (15:00) – Evangelical violence (19:00) – Introducing Marla Taviano (20:45) – Marla’s introduction and story (26:15) – What catalyzed Marla’s deconstruction and exit from evangelicalism? (31:50) – Marla wrap, Mason’s introduction (33:00) – Mason Mennenga’s intro and growing up in evangelicalism. (36:47) – Mason’s deconstruction journey from purity culture and weirdness. (40:30) – Mason talks about the toxicity spewed by theobros. (42:25) – Talking about Exvangelicals and whiteness in deconstruction. (46:00) – Wrapping up with a glimpse of hope. (52:14) – Outro and wrap. Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Special guests in Episode 1: Writer/Poet – Marla Taviano Marla Taviano (she/her/) is into: books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, poems (and a hundred other things). Reads and writes for a living (and a life). Wears her heart on her t-shirts. On a mission/quest/journey to live wholefarted (not a typo). (Big fan of parentheses—and em dashes.) She is mom to some freaking awesome kids and two cats and lives in South Carolina. Find more about Marla, including her trilogy of poetry on deconstruction, on her website. Social Media Influencer – Mason Mennenga Mason Mennenga (he/him/his) is an aspiring theologian, podcaster, YouTuber, and the Internet's youth pastor. He received his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in 2020 and a Master of Arts in Theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2022. Find all of his links including his podcasts on his website. Intro Music by Jesse Peters. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.
It's been written that the “scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is no evangelical mind…” A suggestion that evangelicals as a whole don't stand for anything in particular when it comes to the Christian faith. That's not to say today's evangelicals (and conservative Christians in general) don't have values. Rather, when evangelicals show up, it's for themselves. A real, “I got mine and screw everyone else” attitude. Evangelicals, ironically, choose to ignore the teachings of Jesus in favour of personally enriching themselves while reaching to accumulate more social power in America and beyond. Does this sound accurate? But don't take my word for it. Season 11 of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast is here. The most ambitious project to date: a serial podcast story where we bring all of the receipts behind the outlandish claims, with nearly 20 guests including experts in their field, to say: FAREWELL EVANGELICALISM. Guests include: DL Mayfield, Robert J Callahan, Kristian Smith, Tim Whitaker, Marlena Graves, Jared Stacey, and many more. We ask tough questions including: are evangelicals, and conservative Christianity, legit? Do they faithfully follow the teachings of Jesus? Do they even care about Jesus? Cause if we take a look at those receipts along this podcast journey, we will discover that the current form of evangelicalism is not only making our neighborhoods, cities, and countries worse off, but if enough adherents leave, a lot of the systemic problems in our society ranging from rugged individualism, unfettered capitalism, racism, misogyny, queer and trans-phobia, violence, murders, the overall quality of life for everyone…would improve! Could it be? That a key component to what ails us in this moment is more folks sayin, FAREWELL EVANGELICALISM. Find out more, Season 11, on the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast. Coming soon….
The FINAL episode of Season 10 arrives featuring Jenai Auman! Don’t forget to rate the show and share it widely! In this episode…. Our conversation revolves around themes explored in Jenai’s book “Othered,” focusing on her experiences navigating toxic church environments and the subsequent journey toward healing and liberation. After introductions, Jenai and Rohadi dissect the dynamics of gaslighting and DARVO within toxic church environments, shedding light on the emotional turmoil and internal fractures caused by oppressive church systems. We delve into Jenai’s personal narrative of betrayal and resilience, emphasizing the profound cost of leaving toxic communities while highlighting the transformative power of reclaiming agency and identity. Throughout the conversation, we underscore the importance of boundaries and cultivating genuine belonging outside of oppressive structures, ultimately revealing the potential for liberation and renewal found in embracing one’s “otherness.” (more…)
Prasanta Verma’s debut book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, is the topic for our conversation. If you’re not white then you have at some point or another, maybe even recently, have fielded the question, “so what are you?” or “where are you really from?” Trying to fit into community often means assimilating, or giving up a piece of yourself in order to find belonging. That posture leaves folks on the margins unseen, in a space of loneliness, and often causing loss of cultural identity. We talk about these realities and offer some solutions of what’s beyond–how to live out our whole selves. (more…)
One of the top books for Christian non-fiction in 2024, Lamar Hardwick joins Rohadi on the show to talk about his latest book and the topic: How Ableism Fuels Racism. This eye opening connection between disability and racism will shift paradigms for listeners. This episode is released as full hour long conversation. We begin the conversation surrounding the historical formation of white supremacy in America, tied to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and connect the dots to the root source of anti-Blackness: ableism. As soon as white supremacy becomes about bodies, something must be developed to build an understanding certain bodies (white) are more valuable than others (Black and Indigenous). What those factors are ranging from intellect to supposed inherent biological traits, are built on the ruse of “disability”. We interrogate not only historical formation but how the same factors remain at play in the present with the policing of Black bodies including other intersections like health and faith. This conversation ends with a cursory view on the theological underpinnings of ableist theology that not only look at contributing bodies of work from Black or brown traditions as inferior, but also how the disabled Christ is sanitized to accommodate white superiority and thought. (more…)
Theologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. Title pique your interest? Pastor Trey returns to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast for the second time. His first interview was so nice that we had to do it twice. We discuss expanding our imagination around the Bible. Many listeners have grown up in traditions where the treatment of scripture lacks humility. The Bible becomes a proof-text machine, applied to any sort of modern problem and often used to uphold malformed power structures. Is there a way to redeem it? That’s the bulk of our conversation as we meander way through some of the key features of Trey’s debut book. If you’re curious about new ways of approaching faith and scripture, this episode is a good place to start. (more…)
Forged: Following Jesus into a new kind of family. That’s TC Moore’s book title. We talk about what it looks like to redeem the language around family given so many have bad experiences in their own families, and in churches that use that type of language. You may be familiar with it, and how it can be used to harm rather than give life. We unpack what it looks like to build a new kind of chosen family with key features like sharing of your life; developing community rhythms; serving one another; and solidarity. Come through to meet T.C. learn about his story and ministry, and the possibilities of finding healthier community. Episode Summary: (more…)
Season 10 continues with a season of authors and their (mostly new) books. Rohadi invites author Tasha Jun to the show to chat about, Tell me the Dream Again. Reflections on Family, Ethnicity & the Sacred Work of Belonging. This episode discusses themes from her book including: The Why behind, Tell me the dream again, and how writing projects span decades to produce. On dissociation and assimilation for BIPOC/Asian folks. We discuss when a racialized person thinks they fit, and when the veil comes down. What to do with feelings associated with assimilation. A talk about embodied characteristics of fitting in. Food as a way to reconnect to your roots and ancestors. Dismantling individualization of finding one's self. (Yes, I bring up Brene Brown again.) Naming the grief with finding your community, but realizing what you've been missing for so long. Ways to bridge the gap when it comes to reclaiming yourself, your people and your culture. Why finding belong is sacred work. Find Tasha's book available wherever books are sold. Visit Tasha's website, her Substack, and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook. A little about "Tell me the dream again." Tasha Jun has always been caught between worlds: American and Korean, faith and doubt, family devotion and fierce independence. As a Korean American, she wandered between seemingly opposing worlds, struggling to find a voice to speak and a firm place for her feet to land. The world taught Tasha that her Korean normal was a barrier to belonging—that assimilation was the only way she would ever be truly accepted. But if that were true, did that mean God had made a mistake in knitting her together? Tell Me the Dream Again is a memoir-in-essays exploring what it means to be biracial in America today; the joy and healing that comes with embracing every part of who we are, and; how our identity in Christ is tightly woven with the unique colors, scents, and culture he's given us. We are not outsiders to God. When we let all the details of ourselves unfold—when we embrace who we were divinely knit together to be—this is when we'll fully experience his perfect love.
The Blues and Advent Advent is a rhythm of waiting. Waiting for deliverance from a darkness. That can mean different things for each of us meandering through various seasons and life. In the Christian tradition this observance awaits liberation ushered in by a Saviour. This idea, or notion in history, only means something if your faith tradition or worldview ties Jesus' victory over death as the pronounced symbol that ultimately all "that ain't right", in our lives and in the world, will and can be reversed for goodness. We hold this tension, a now but not yet, of living out the fulness of our humanity versus struggling with the defeats. A continuous cycle that clings to the hope spoken through Advent that in the end, the former will win out now and forever.
Give Peace a Chance? I've been thinking about this a lot lately following the violence in Gaza and Israel. What unique thought can I possibly add to the corpus of material and calls to action already online? Nothing really. I also think about how we ought to respond. Thought I suppose this makes an assumption--response. Christians should have a clear direction here. When Jesus shares his core teachings (Matt. 5 and Luke 6) peace making is explicit, "Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God's children." (Matt. 5:9) If this were a sermon I might opt for a phrase that, "Jesus is calling us to act as peace MAKERS not peace TAKERS!" It sounds better in my head....
I've often wondered if noticing beauty is a practice. We often say some folks have, "an eye" for things that strike us as beautiful. I think we all have it. And it's something we can cultivate--an intention to spot and create beauty. In fact, finding beauty is an act of repair. , This becomes more poignant when it's finding beauty amidst the rubble. My partner has been sharing Palestinian artists/creators on socials during this time of upheaval. That's beauty amidst the rubble for sure. A repair of brokenness in our midst, cultivated to pose as a form of resistance. Beauty and joy are connected. One follows the other. How so? Listen for more.
Hi Friends, Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent. Grab a blanket and cup of something warm and hot and settle in.... This first Sunday of Advent will look at hope and annunciation. *Advent as a liturgical tradition does not necessarily follow the typical Advent wreath lighting of candles (symbols of hope, joy, peace, love). They are (I believe) distinct practices (same same but different). I'm going to swing between the two by using the themes but also influence from the lectionary 'A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church' by Dr Wilda Gafney. I invite you to use these reflections over the coming weeks in whichever way that fit your own traditions be it lighting an advent candle or something else.*
I (Rohadi) have had the pleasure to endorse a number of books in 2023 and that includes Go Wide. Reimagining the Landscape of Theology. If we take seriously the notion of decolonizing and deconstructing Christianity, that journey needs signposts along the way to help guide us to a more life giving faith. This book by Matte Downey is going to help, and this podcast episode is a teaser of what's inside. Here's my endorsement: "Downey develops an expansive and relational hermeneutic adept for a more liberative and inclusive posture in our modern world. This wider theological imagination is indeed "dangerous", as Downey concludes, because it subverts hegemonic power systems that describe a far too narrow view of who God is." A little more about Go Wide: What happens when we sidestep the notions of hierarchy and verticality in how we think about God, the world, and all things theological? How does emphasizing the expansiveness and breadth of God affect how we read the Bible and engage with topics such as salvation and the church? Using the lens of latitude, Martha (Matte) Elias Downey reframes familiar biblical stories and reimagines theological concepts, purposefully circumventing the oppressive, top-down dynamics of hierarchy. This book encompasses a broad range of theology by combining biblical interpretation, systematic theology, practical theology, and a selection of personal anecdotes. Here is an accessible and inclusive foray into theology for anyone interested in a fresh take on an ancient course of study. I have a PhD in dramatic theology and spend my time pondering the meanings of stories and texts, seeking wisdom in unexpected places, learning to ask better questions, labouring over my words, taking photographs of every little thing, feeling all the feelings, and drinking copious amounts of chai. This is where I share what I'm learning, thinking about, and seeing in the world. Nothing is final. All is in process. Find her at https://mattedowney.wordpress.com/ and on Instagram. Find Rohadi at www.rohadi.com and on Instagram. Please rate the podcast wherever you're listening!
Leaders either become a scandal to those they lead or embrace the scandalous way of Christ. Part 2 of 2 featuring JR Woodward. We discuss his latest book, an iteration of his recent dissertation, on the Powers and church leadership. The Scandal of Leadership is now available wherever books are sold. Those in church leadership of any kind will find this conversation a crucial component to diagnosing systemic problems in church leadership formation. Both episodes derive from a deeply theological understanding of leadership, and digs into spiritual formation as well. CW: we do discuss Power through a spiritual lens that includes topics of spiritual warfare ranging from Christ, Satan, and so forth. Episode Summary of Part Two: Implications for Formation: - On Christian formation, shaping views of atonement and the world. Christ as the scapegoat unlocks a new awareness, inviting a reorientation towards a different worldview. Two Archetypal Models: - According to John, two primary archetypal models exist: Satan and Christ. - Gerard deconstructs Satan as part of a mimetic cycle, accusing and offering order to maintain power. Satan's Fall and Powers' Influence: - Satan falls when the mimetic cycle is exposed, revealing the powers at work. - While legal systems provide some order, they are insufficient in overcoming the fallen powers. Imitating Christ to Overcome Powers: - According to Gerard, the only way to overcome the powers is by imitating Christ. - Imitating Christ involves having desires for the Father, aligning with Jesus' actions. Mimetic Desire and Oscar Romero: - Mimetic desire is explored through Oscar Romero's life, where desires for status and honor are challenged. - Romero's boldness in naming and unmasking powers exemplifies imitating Christ. Philippians Two and Identity: - Jr examines Philippians 2, emphasizing a shift in identity. - Paul's journey from attributed to achieved honor illustrates the contrast between worldly and Christ-centered identity. Romero's Identity Transformation: - Romero's identity transformation is highlighted, moving from attributed and achieved honor to finding identity in Christ. - Romero's fearless stance against oppression and willingness to face death exemplify imitating Christ. Lord's Prayer and Solutions: - Jr suggests using the Lord's Prayer as a pathway for solutions. - Real Identity, Vocational Faithfulness, Contrast Community, Spiritual Formation, and Canonic Leadership are key components. Real Identity: - Acknowledges the first part of the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing being a beloved child of God. - Rejects the world's system of status and identity, finding value as a child of God. Vocational Faithfulness: - Focuses on seeking first the kingdom of God, aligning with the vocational faithfulness concept. - Romero's example illustrates the commitment to the kingdom's realization in the midst of societal challenges. Contrast Community: - Emphasizes economic and relational aspects in community life. - Contrasts with the world's systems by forgiving debts and handling economics differently, creating a distinct community. Spiritual Formation: - Links spiritual formation to deliverance from evil or the evil one. - Calls for attention to the powers at work in spiritual formation to prevent succumbing to worldly temptations. - Encourage a reversal of the temptation to build personal kingdoms, emphasizing a posture of humility and emptiness. The Scandal of Leadership: - Concludes with the idea that leaders either become a scandal to those they lead or embrace the scandalous way of Christ. - Acknowledges the challenge of living like Christ in contrast to contemporary desires for power and recognition. About JR Woodward JR Woodward, PhD (University of Manchester, UK) loves to awaken people to join God in the renewal of all things. He is a catalyst who has been passionately starting churches and ministries for the good of the world for over thirty years. He co-founded Missio Alliance and currently serves as the National Director for the V3 Church Planting Movement. He is an adjunct professor at several seminaries and universities, including Central Seminary, Missio Seminary, and America Evangelical University. He is the co-founder of the Praxis Gathering, and serves on six different boards, including Reliant Mission, Missio Alliance, and Fuller Global Mission Advisory Council. He is the author of Creating a Missional Culture and co-author of The Church as Movement. His most recent book, The Scandal of Leadership, is based on his PhD research and written to provide a remedy to the problem of domineering leadership in the church. Find him on Twitter.
Part 1 of a 2 part interview featuring author, catalyst, and teacher, JR Woodward. JR recently released a book, The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church. In an age where church leaders are hitting the news cycle for all the wrong reasons, JR details a theological outlook on WHY. If you're connected to church leadership, church planting, or overall interested in diagnosing the deep systemic problems in church leadership, these two episodes will be for you. Both outline interesting theological insights (which is typically not the style of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast). Listen in to learn more, and check out the episode summary for a snapshot. Episode Summary Introduction: - Discusses the shift in podcast focus towards church planting and leadership development. - Mentions Jr Woodward's contribution to the book "Thrive" and introduces his new book, "The Scandal of Leadership." JR's Previous Books: - "Creating a Missional Culture": Explores polycentric leadership and its connection to the New Testament. - "The Church as Movement": Co-written with Dan White, Jr., focuses on a missional movement approach to being a church. Introduction to "The Scandal of Leadership": - Jr's third main book, addressing power dynamics in leadership. - The book is an attempt to diagnose and provide solutions to the issues of power abuse in the contemporary church. Framework: "The Powers" and Leadership: - Examines the concept of "the powers" in Scripture. - Discusses Walter Wink's views on powers and how they shape sociological, psychological, and biological aspects. - Proposes re-mythologizing the powers for a more nuanced understanding. Domineering Leadership Problem: - Addresses the prevalent issue of power abuse, including spiritual and sexual abuse in churches. - Jr emphasizes the need to look at the issue mythologically, beyond psychological and sociological analyses. Naming the Powers: Image, Institution, Ideology: - Jr adopts William Stringfellow's categorization of powers into image, institution, and ideology. - Image: The powers' influence through self-image and desire. - Institution: Powers become problematic when seeking survival at the expense of others. - Ideology: The powers manifest through various -isms, shaping how individuals read and interpret Scripture. Introduction to Rene Girard: - Rene Girard's background as a French scholar, literary critic, and anthropologist. - Girard's initial exploration into literature led him to the concept of mimetic desire. Mimetic Desire: - Describes how desires are not self-generated but are influenced by models. - Girard's discovery that mimetic desire is a triangular relationship where individuals desire what their models desire. Scapegoat Mechanism: - Girard's exploration into anthropology and mythology. - Examines the role of mimetic rivalry leading to scapegoating in archaic societies. - Rituals and prohibitions aimed at preventing frequent scapegoating. The Bible and Revelation of Truth: - Girard finds the Bible unique in revealing the truth about mimetic desire and scapegoating. - Jesus as the willing scapegoat unveils the mechanism of scapegoating in society. - The resurrection reveals Jesus as an innocent victim, shifting the perspective from perpetrator to victim. Intelligence of the Victim: - Girard's concept that societies with the Jesus story have the "intelligence of the victim." - With this intelligence, societies are less likely to find peace through scapegoating. - Girard's concern about the contemporary world and his focus on the apocalypse. End of Part 1: - The challenges posed by having the intelligence of the victim in today's world. - The podcast delves into the complexity of power dynamics and leadership in the context of these frameworks. About JR Woodward JR Woodward, PhD (University of Manchester, UK) loves to awaken people to join God in the renewal of all things. He is a catalyst who has been passionately starting churches and ministries for the good of the world for over thirty years. He co-founded Missio Alliance and currently serves as the National Director for the V3 Church Planting Movement. He is an adjunct professor at several seminaries and universities, including Central Seminary, Missio Seminary, and America Evangelical University. He is the co-founder of the Praxis Gathering, and serves on six different boards, including Reliant Mission, Missio Alliance, and Fuller Global Mission Advisory Council. He is the author of Creating a Missional Culture and co-author of The Church as Movement. His most recent book, The Scandal of Leadership, is based on his PhD research and written to provide a remedy to the problem of domineering leadership in the church. He loves to surf, travel, read, and skateboard, as well as meet new people. He enjoys photography and film and tries to attend the Sundance Film Festival whenever he can. Find him on Twitter.
We interrupt Season 10 with this bonus episode responding to the war breaking out in Israel and Palestine and how Christians might respond. This is a repeat of last week's newsletter (sign up on the homepage). A important article to read is penned by: Rabbi Dayna Rattenburg.
Welcome to Episode #70 with author Mekdes Haddis. Her debut book is called "A Just Mission. Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality." Listeners who have read Rohadi's book, When We Belong, will know the nascent Ethiopian connection formative to his journey in deconstructing Christianity. We launch off from his story to draw into Mekdes and her formation as an evangelical Christian in Ethiopia, how her perspectives are different than western thought, and how that may inform the way the church can conduct missions, but more importantly, how we all can find life giving church community outside of white hegemony. Episode Summary Deconstructing Western missions and power systems. 0:00 Identity, culture, and ministry. From Ethiopia to America. 4:15 Christianity in Ethiopia and the role of missions. 9:51 Missionary work and cultural context in Ethiopia. 15:15 The introduction of evangelicalism in Ethiopia. 25:08 Decoloniality and contextualization in Ethiopian evangelicalism. 29:44 How contextual Ethiopian evangelicalism can inform mission in the West. 34:00 Finding our humanity and through mutuality in our faith. 44:00 About Mekdes: Mekdes Haddis is a sought after Millennial African Missiologist and thought leader whose voice is challenging the Church to undo its “missions as usual” ethos. Her work is a clarion call to redefine missions from charity giving to disciple making and justice seeking. In 2020 Mekdes created an online community “Just Missions” with the purpose of helping missionaries, receivers of missionaries and ministry leaders engage with one another on an open platform and discuss the harmful effects of western missions. The group gives westerners the chance to hear from the receivers of missions without the financial power dynamic that typically robs them from openly discussing the truth. Her hope is that these conversations will lead to a wholesome method of supporting and equipping local churches and their leaders without the focus being on the one who is sent but rather the ones God wants them to reach. Follow her Facebook Group or Instagram Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
How a Culture of White Supremacy Devalues Us and How We Can Reclaim Our Truth Worth A season on authors and their new books. In this episode I feature Caroline Sumlin. Here's a brief synopsis of her debut. BREAK UP WITH THE STANDARD Society has told you that you're not good enough unless you live up to the standard. Society lied to you. Our worth lies in our ability to measure up to the narrow, socially constructed standards rooted in colonization, racism, and white supremacy. From believing that the pinnacle of beauty lies in blonde hair and blue eyes, to believing we must maintain 24/7 productivity, we receive the message from every corner of society that, in one way or another, we aren't enough. As a result…we chase. We chase perfectionism. We chase productivity. We ignore trauma. We change ourselves to mold to the status quo. We erase our cultural identities to subscribe to Western culture. Our mental health suffers in silence. Our feelings of unworthiness deepen. All because we live in a society that determined that there was one ideal version of a human and everyone else was inferior. Your chase ends today. Episode Summary Welcome and the voice of public theologians and prophets. Caroline's story on the complexities and tensions of belonging and adoption. Balancing 'who are my people?' 6:58 Getting into the book. How white supremacy culture impacts belonging, identity, self-worth, and more. 20:00 Describing contemporary examples of systemic prejudice in economics, beauty culture, housing, and more. 27:28 Rapid fire questions on antidotes to white supremacy culture included in Caroline's book starting with the antidote to patriarchy, disability, beauty, capitalism, heterosexism is that there is no gender inequality. 43:24 Here's Caroline on her work and vocation: In short: I write, and speak, about liberation. Liberation from a world that exists to keep us chasing. Liberation from a world that works overtime to steal our self-worth. Liberation from a world that doesn't value your humanity and never ceases to remind you of this. And, liberation for this same world. Because we can't just stop with freeing ourselves. Our neighbors, our community, and society at large — we all deserve to exist in a world that honors our humanity above all else. And that starts with us. Find me on social media: Instagram; Twitter; https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinejsumlin; Facebook and my website: https://www.carolinejsumlin.com/ Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Season 10 already?! Hello friends, welcome to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe Podcast, where we journey through decolonizing and deconstructing the Christian faith. Season 9 just finished and this episode is the start of Season 10! It's also a "bridge" episode. Since last season was one on embodiment and mental health, and this season is for authors and their new books, I thought an episode that covers both would be fitting. Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes is someone I've been looking to invite on the podcast for sometime. You might remember her words if you've read my book, When We Belong. I reference, I Bring the Voices of My People, in my chapter on white supremacy. But this episode we talk more than reconciliation. We discuss Dr. Chanequa's latest book, Scared Self-Care. We go deeper to address the systemic issues that impact self-care and how wholeness and liberation are tied to community and reconciliation. Dr. Chaenqua's book is built to provide daily practices and strategies to survive what is often an unjust and hyper-individualized world. Listen in to this insightful and in-depth conversation to hear the expertise of a public theologian and clinical psychologist. Summary Introduction. 0:30 The belief that things could be better and that human beings can make it better. What drives the notion that things can be better, and what drives the belief that if there is a will and a vision, things can happen better. Vision for a better future? 10:16 Cultural differences between western and Black spiritual healing. On family systems therapist and is trained to look at the whole family, not just one person. How the pursuit of happiness fuels disconnection. 15:59 In our hyper-individualised world, happiness is celebrated as the one individual overcomer that celebrates the pursuit of happiness, fueling a greater disconnection. Self care as a survival strategy. Talking about Sacred Self-Care and hope filled community. 22:25 Getting in touch with your body. 27:24 Simple self-care practices that are doable and can be done in five minutes or less, like standing in front of a full-length mirror. Discussing intersectionality. 34:10 Racial reconciliation needs to be centred on women of colour. 41:34 White Supremacy and power preservation. 52:06 About Dr. Walker-Barnes (Twitter; Instagram; Facebook; Substack) Chanequa Walker-Barnes, Ph.D., is a prominent scholar, theologian, and author, known for her thought-provoking work on racial justice and spirituality. With a deep commitment to social change, she combines her expertise in clinical psychology and theology to tackle issues of systemic oppression, cultural trauma, and their impact on individuals and society. Through her research, writing, and speaking, Dr. Chanequa strives to inspire others to transformative social action and wholistic self-care. A professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, she has authored three books – Sacred Self-Care, I Bring the Voices of My People, and Too Heavy a Yoke. Her faith has been shaped by Methodist, Baptist, and evangelical social justice communities as well as by Buddhism and Islam. https://www.drchanequa.com/
The final Episode of Season 9, a season on mental health, embodiment, and in this episode we throw in change and some DEI (diversity equity and inclusion) as well. Recorded on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Change is hard, and harder still when it involves institutions filled with individuals who don't want to change. In this eye-opening and juicy conversation, Nkem Ndefo, founder of Lumos Transforms, joins Rohadi to discuss the pathways to embodying change. Change for both the self, and for organizations looking to become more equitable and inclusive spaces for all to work and thrive. I think in some ways it resilience has been weaponized. And as I've been teaching and working with people over the many years, I've seen a lot of people recoil from the word because it's been weaponized against folks in a very neoliberal context, in that we don't acknowledge the system's culpability in creating conditions of adversity. Instead, we look only at the individual and that unit, and we say that the individual must be more resilient, you must be strong, flexible to endure, whatever is going on, and that any resilience you build will then be extracted from you for greater production and consumption. - Nkem Episode Summary Intro to this episode. 0:00 Introduction to the show. 3:11 Reciprocity and collaboration in leading organizational and individual change. 8:24 The difficulty of existing in the liminal spaces that need to change. 15:08 The way resiliency has been weaponized and how to reclaim it. 21:25 The importance of naming systemic problems. 30:55 How do we bring awareness to embodiment? 37:14 How do we build resilience in the face of privilege and fragility? 43:43 About Nkem: Nkem Ndefo, MSN, CNM, RN, is the founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit. She is a skilled practitioner, dynamic speaker, and valued strategist. She is known for her unique ability to connect with people of all types by holding powerful healing spaces, weaving complex concepts into accessible narratives, and creating synergistic and collaborative learning communities that nourish people's innate capacity for healing, wellness, and connection.Social Media Handles: Instagram: @lumos_transforms Threads: @lumos_transforms Facebook: @lumostransforms Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Part 2. This episode starts off with an “ah ha” moment on wholeness and the way perceptions of community are shaped through time of past, present, and future. This conversation previews decolonized pathways unto embodiment and mental health look like. Part 2 of a 2 part interview with Frances Elizabeth Moore. Frances speaks to worldview, and how our Western perceptions miss pathways of embodiment and healing. Frances Elizabeth Moore is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Timiskaming First Nations, Quebec residing in London, Ontario. Summary Intro to this episode. 0:00 Seven generations in the past, present, and future. Why is healing at the family and community level so important? 3:47 Describing embodiment. 5:22 Challenging Western thought around embodiment and healing. 9:31 How not to systematize our healing. 10:53 Reducing barriers to access to healing. 14:56 The importance of listening to your audience. 19:08 Pathways to healing; what do you need to heal? 21:04 Bringing awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). 25:46 About Frances Elizabeth Moore Frances Elizabeth holds a Legal Administration Diploma from Georgian College; Building Abundance in Indigenous Communities (BAIC), Advancing Women's Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding for Community Development and Indigenous Women in Community Leadership certificates from the COADY Institute at St. Francis Xavier University; and an Indigenous Peoples Certificate in Indigegogy from Wilfred Laurier University where she currently pursuing a certificate in Wholistic Healing Practices and Colonial Trauma. Frances Elizabeth is currently a Program Manager with the Youth Opportunities Fund at Ontario Trillium Foundation and volunteers with LIFE*SPIN, Nii'kinaaganaa, Brescia University College, and Kings University College. Find her on Linkedin; Instagram; or Twitter. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
You don't have to be a mental health professional or therapist to talk about mental health. And that goes for everybody! Come on through this two part series featuring Frances Elizabeth Moore. Frances Elizabeth Moore is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Timiskaming First Nations, Quebec residing in London, Ontario. She is a storyteller, community advocate, facilitator/educator, non-profit leader, and mother who is invested in promoting awareness for and healing in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. Here is the summary of Part 1, which I highly recommend you listen to as it offers an important setup for Part 2. Episode Summary Introduction to Frances Elizabeth Moore. 1:21 Learning from other Nations and cultures. 3:31 About Frances. 5:14 The responsibility Indigenous women in community. 6:56 Holding grief and trauma well. 8:50 The importance of talking about mental health. 10:30 What could have been had we known more about ourselves? 12:54 How trauma shaped who we are today. 14:58 Resiliency is a necessity, not a choice. 17:35 Elders and knowledge keepers. 20:00 Our education system is misinformed. 21:55 What is land back? 23:55 The role of Indigenous People in the environment. 25:07 Wokeness and double consciousness. 29:28 The pathways to becoming more embodied. 31:23 The divide and conquer approach. 33:25 Teaching of the seven generations. 37:39 Mental health and embodiment. About Frances Elizabeth Moore Frances Elizabeth holds a Legal Administration Diploma from Georgian College; Building Abundance in Indigenous Communities (BAIC), Advancing Women's Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding for Community Development and Indigenous Women in Community Leadership certificates from the COADY Institute at St. Francis Xavier University; and an Indigenous Peoples Certificate in Indigegogy from Wilfred Laurier University where she currently pursuing a certificate in Wholistic Healing Practices and Colonial Trauma. Frances Elizabeth is currently a Program Manager with the Youth Opportunities Fund at Ontario Trillium Foundation and volunteers with LIFE*SPIN, Nii'kinaaganaa, Brescia University College, and Kings University College. Find her on Linkedin; Instagram; or Twitter. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Ever heard a phrase from the pulpit that made you cringe? But not only cringe, distinctly left you on the outside looking in in a community you're supposed to belong to? Let's talk about that. Let's talk about spiritual bypassing. Let's also talk about why mental health is still a touchy subject in churches. Dr. Peace Amadi visits the show to share her expertise on the pursuit of wholeness from spirit, body, and emotions. We've been given this body and our somatic experiences and our emotions by design, they're for our survival. They are part of us. There's no part of our selves that need to be cut off. And it takes skill to become more attuned to what our bodies need. - Dr Peace. We start with an intro and context for Dr. Peace and her work. We then transition to spiritual bypassing in the church and what it means to find belonging in full. Following that we interrogate the work marginalized folks need to do as we develop new skills around embodiment and mental health? We ask, what does a healthy response look like to systemic oppression? We end with glimpses, thoughts, previews of what a healthier, more liberated, community space (our context is the church) can look like, and what the key features might be and how leaders and those in power need to shift. Safety and belonging being two core attributes. That's it. The pursuit of safety and belonging, bringing our whole selves to the table. Let's go! About Dr. Peace Amadi From leaders, content creators, and entrepreneurs, to pastors, parents, and teachers, Dr. Peace is a coach and cheerleader to the people in our lives that everyone goes to. She is the Author of Why Do I Feel Like This? Understand Your Difficult Emotions and Find Grace to Move Through which hit #1 on Amazon's New Releases for Mental Health during its launch. In this book, she merges clinical insight and faith to encourage readers to listen to the hidden messages of their emotions rather than spiritually-bypass them. She's also the co-author of the highly anticipated ChiChi & Didi multi-book children's book series, set to release in 2024. She's a Professor of Psychology (ie. social psych, media psych, child psych, trauma, psych and religion, psych and law) at Hope International University. And she's a recurring TV Host— her most recent work as a co-host on The Blend – a digital, medical talk show co-hosted by four Black doctors. Her work is inspired by her own journey. As one example, she's battled the enduring impacts of childhood bullying – and the depression and anxiety that came along with it – and thus speaks from both personal and professional experience about the importance of recognizing one's pain, healing from it, and transforming it into personal power and influence. As a speaker, author + coach, Dr Peace has: delivered a TEDx talk about the impact of social media on self-esteem and mental health been invited to speak at UCLA, Yale, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Biola, and Azusa Pacific University among others. panelled alongside Hollywood producers and A-list actors to discuss race, justice, racial trauma and other concerns uniquely Black & African peoples. been published in the Journal of Psychology & Theology. been featured live on ABC NEWS, CBN News, Newsy, as well as in Women's Health, Essence, Blavity, Propel Women, Relevant Magazine, Mental Illness Happy Hour, numerous other podcasts, and top influencer blogs. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter |
What if instead of white knuckling through life trying to keep up with the 'Joneses', we became more attuned to what our bodies need? Season 9 continues with author and trauma therapist Aundi Kolber. Aundi recently celebrated 100,000 copies sold for her book Try Softer. She was also most recently featured on Good Morning America's segment on faith. In this episode we discuss embodiment, what it means to be attuned to our bodies, holding trauma, and then preview some pathways towards deeper connection in community and self. When culture demands we act a certain way, even if it's unhealthy or destructive, unlearning those demands, and coming alongside new ways to be whole, takes time, energy, and insight. We discuss what a better way might look like, and how we can be attentive and offer care to our bodies. From mapping internal systems, to finding life giving community, we cover a lot of ground here. In your own pursuit of embodiment, find a piece in this episode that resonates with you, and go deeper. Aundi's Full Bio: Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and author of the critically acclaimed Try Softer. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi regularly speaks at local and national events, and she has appeared on podcasts such as The Lazy Genius with Kendra Adachi, Typology, Go and Tell Gals, and The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Find her on Instagram. Description for Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy We don't have to white-knuckle our way through life. In her debut book, Try Softer, shows us how God specifically designed our bodies and minds to work together to process our stories and work through obstacles. Through the latest psychology, practical clinical exercises, and her own personal story, Aundi equips and empowers us to connect us to our truest self and truly live. This is the “try softer” life. In Try Softer, you'll learn how to: Know and set emotional and relational boundaries Make sense of the difficult experiences you've had Identify your attachment style—and how that affects your relationships today Move through emotions rather than get stuck by them Grow in self-compassion and talk back to your inner critic Trying softer is sacred work. And while it won't be perfect or easy, it will be worth it. Because this is what we were made for: a living, breathing, moving, feeling, connected, beautifully incarnational life. Description for Strong Like Water We've all heard the platitudes: “No pain, no gain.” “What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.” But if we spend our lives trying to be “the strong one,” we become exhausted, burned-out, and disconnected from our truest selves. What if it were different? Could there be a different way to be strong? Could strength mean more than pushing on and pushing through pain, bearing every heavy burden on our own? What if, instead, true strength were more like the tide: soft and bold, fierce and gentle, moving together as one powerful force? In Strong like Water, Aundi offers a framework for true flourishing. With each page, you'll: • Learn how your nervous system shapes your experience so that we can move through pain instead of being stuck in it. • Explore various practices, rhythms, and resources to support you in challenging circumstances with
It's with great pleasure to invite Dr. Hillary McBride to the show to kick-off Season 9, a season on embodiment and mental health. Formation in contemporary Christianity usually ignores the body, which is odd given the foundation of the faith is rooted in the mystery of incarnation. But it makes sense because every time one thinks of the body, the messaging from the pulpit is how our bodies are profane, sinful even, so we dissociate from our bodies. But it's not supposed to be this way. God came to earth in a body which can only mean our bodies indeed matter. We no longer have to compartmentalize the mind, body, and spirit, treating them as separate entities. Rather, we can embark on pathways to become more embodied. That's where this episode comes in. Enjoy this meaningful conversation from therapist, speaker, writer, researcher, Dr. Hillary McBride. (Like this? Check out her recent podcast creation on the subject of trauma in the church.) In this episode we begin by talking about Dr. McBride's practice and approach to therapy. We reflect on Christian formation and the loss of connectivity to our bodies. Following the break we speak to cultural factors that contribute to shaping our picture of our bodies. What does power and trauma have to do with becoming more embodied? And how can we reclaim a more embodied picture of ourselves? We conclude with discussing some practices that can act as a guide to becoming more embodied. Episode Summary Intro to this episode. 0:00 Sitting tangibly to the land. 2:57 How would you describe your practice and why you do what you do? 6:15 What is the difference between therapy and psychology? 11:30 The disconnection between mind and body culturally. 16:49 What are the contributing factors to body supremacy and trauma? 20:19 The role of the mind and embodiment in faith. 26:08 Cultivating disembodiment through spiritual practices. 31:58 How to reclaim a sense of ourselves. 38:31 The call of reclamation felt like a call of reclaiming a sense of ourselves, and that reclamation doesn't need to be placed. About Dr. McBride You might know Dr. McBride from one of her publications including "The Wisdom of Your Body", available wherever books are sold. Also check out her recent podcast creation: https://holyhurtpodcast.com/ More about Dr. McBride: I am a therapist, researcher, speaker and writer. I love to help see people grow, heal, change, and come into more fullness in themselves and their relationships. I am passionate about the well-being of all people, and want to make psychology and academic research accessible to a wide variety of people. Find her online on her website for more detail about her practice and expertise. Connect with her on social media including Instagram. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Listen to a preview of what is to come in Season 9 AND Season 10 from the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast. Guests including: Dr. Hillary McBride, Aundi Kobler, Dr. Peace Amadi, Mekdes Haddis, Caroline Sumlin, and more! Season 9 on Embodiment and Mental Health. Season 10 another round of authors and new books. Don't miss!
Biblical interpretation that does not result in love of God and neighbor is incorrect and compels you to go back and interpret again. Rohadi invites Karen Keen back for Part 2 of a small series on How to Read the Bible. What do we do with the way we've been formed around the Bible and specifically any teachings we've come to realize are incongruent with the way of Jesus, or at worse, spiritually abusive? Do we just give it all up? I pose this question to Karen, as we centre the start of our conversation on how humility and community are key pieces to shape our approach and picture of what we read in the Bible. Some key quotes form this episode: Episode Summary: Intro to this episode. 0:00 Her latest book, the word of a humble god. How we can approach scripture in the context of community. 2:26 Her book on scripture and ethics and the possibilities of same-sex marriage. Seeing ourselves within the community of faith. 5:29 How do the biblical authors deal with innovation and tradition? 6:52 How to interpret scripture in community. 10:51 Looking at the big picture. 13:00 The problem with misinterpretation of scripture. 15:56 The disposition of reading scripture. 18:16 The disposition of scripture. 22:53 “One of the problems of [biblical] interpretation now is that we try to re-invent the wheel rathe than looking at ourselves as a piece in the history that has come before us and the history that is coming after us. We are intergenerational connected…and my interpretation will happen in this broader sense of community. Remember, we have inside scripture itself interpretation of scripture. So how did they handle and navigate hermeneutics and interpretation? They didn't throw out the old, they put it next to the new, so you can kind of see this evolution of thought and development. There wasn't a throw away, but a respect for tradition for the community that has come before and now we build upon their shoulders.” Christ as lens (resists proof texting); looking at salvation (Scripture) as a whole. What is the whole story trying to tell us? It's not the method as much as the disposition. How we go into interpretation is more important than the “right” interpretive method. Karen R. Keen is a biblical scholar, author, and spiritual care provider. Through the Redwood Center for Spiritual Care and Education, she teaches classes on Scripture and facilitates groups on spiritual practices. Her books include Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibilities of Same-sex Relationships, and The Word of a Humble God. The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Do you have a complicated relationship with the Bible? This episode (in two parts) is for you. Are you struggling to figure out how to interpret scripture without past baggage? Wondering if there is a different way to move forward especially coming out of traditions that hold high importance for the Bible but often misuse it? Karen Keen is a biblical scholar and author who discusses what it's like to come from an evangelical context where women couldn't even teach the Bible, into a place that offers more humble approach to interpretation. Reclaim the Bible in this two part episode. Show Summary: Intro to this episode. 0:02 Expertise and about Karen; Making scholarship accessible to a broader audience. 5:49 The problem with biblical illiteracy. 10:06 A fan of Ignatian spirituality, what is that? 12:15 Where am I seeing God? 16:27 Why humility is crucial to spiritual formation. 19:40 Power vs. humility. 23:02 Karen R. Keen is a biblical scholar, author, and spiritual care provider. Through the Redwood Center for Spiritual Care and Education, she teaches classes on Scripture and facilitates groups on spiritual practices. Her books include Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibilities of Same-sex Relationships, and The Word of a Humble God. The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture. Rohadi's connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Have a listen to the latest podcast episode for some hahas, a blast into the worship past, and insight on REVIVAL! One thing is for sure, you don't name a movement 'revival' before it even gets started. Yes. I went there, and a lot of white evangelicals ain't gonna be happy, cause they used to be being the boss of everything. Claims of 'revival' swept contemporary evangelical-land this past month. I *think* the so-called revival out of Asbury University in Kentucky (of all places) is done (cause the students stopped going to class :P). It in its wake I ask two questions: who gets to dictate what constitutes a revival? and how might we know a revival is underway? I talk white supremacy, patriarchy, marginalization, and the last shall be first. Find Rohadi online @rohadi in most places (@rohadi.nagassar on Instagram). Get his latest book, When We Belong, available wherever books are sold.
A short little Bible study in this episode on the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast. Stemming from regular occurrences of oft cited cultural events that conservative Christians decry for whatever moral reason, Rohadi ponders the question, "why do some (conservative) Christians seem to hate the world so much? It all comes down to how you read the Bible, and we discover how many verses leading modern Christians to "hate" the world have been misinterpreted. Learn why and how a more liberating understanding can help lead us forward in a modern world. Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church
Part 2 in our two part episode centers around Patty's latest book, Becoming Kin. I begin with the question about the way forward: what does a decolonized and liberating community look like? Patty responds by sharing a story she recounts in her book about the deer. The relationships we have with the land can help inform and change the ways we organize our society. We examine how the racialized church creates barriers to belonging, and how some traditions must pause to interrogate how we form community and relationships. That includes the church as a whole wrestling with their central calling--is it mission? If so, is that inherently colonial? We then switch gears to ask whether or not church institutions today can change. What would the institutional church re-orient towards if it was serious about ushering in change. Or is it more inclined towards self-preservation? Patty then introduces the "trickster" figure in various traditions, and how they operate as prophets who provoke change. Where are the tricksters today? If the kingdom of God is among us, if it is here, shouldn't the [institution] be looking for it rather than imposing it? Shouldn't they be wondering, "what has God been doing here before we came?" But they never asked those questions, it was just about imposing their version of the kingdom on us. So if [this] institution fails, that's OK. We close off about the talk of inclusion. Inclusion into what? Why would BIPOC folks want chairs at tables established by the western church? So what does a new thing look like? We spend the last third of our conversation adding language and features into the new thing. We can start by looking at the communities that we like....listen for more beautiful stories including a re-telling of the 'Good' Samaritan. About Patty Krawec: Through writing and podcasting Patty Krawec (Anishinaabe/Ukranian) explores how we might live differently in the relationships we inherit. She is a co-founder of the Nii'kinaaganaa Foundation and her book, Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future was published in September by Broadleaf Books. Krawec lives on Twitter as @gindaanis. Find her online at htttp://daanis.ca
Every episode begins with two questions: where are you situated (the traditional lands on which you dwell), and who are your people. Patty is located in the Niagara region which is Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territory. Listen as she shares a marvellous story about finding her people. Her book Becoming Kin is part memoire describing her journey to find her people and what it means to be a good relative. From discovering her people--Ojibwae Anishinaabe--through on her father's side, to navigating her childhood brought up different in a 'typical' Canadian Ukrainian household. After the intro, our conversation takes a turn into making sense of identity as multi-ethnic/bi-racial human and what it means to be among your people. We then the process of growing up in white evangelicalism and growing out of old Christian formation. We touch on the legacy of Christian mission and colonization and why finding your people and your identity is important to press back against white hegemony. Even white folks! That will end part 1 before we join part 2 in progress that will discuss Patty's book in greater depth. About Patty: Through writing and podcasting Patty Krawec (Anishinaabe/Ukranian) explores how we might live differently in the relationships we inherit. She is a co-founder of the Nii'kinaaganaa Foundation and her book, Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future was published in September by Broadleaf Books. Krawec lives on Twitter as @gindaanis. Find her online at http://daanis.ca
Have you ever heard of the Enneagram? From church groups to corporate development, the Enneagram is a tool used to help find your personality type. Increasingly, church groups are adopting the tool in their small groups and leadership development. But what if, like so many personality systems out there, the way we understand the type numbers are filtered through a particular gaze? Jessica D. Dickson joins me for this episode to discuss decentering white hegemony in the Enneagram, in search of a more embodied and holistic perspective of self. Jessica challenges the implicit bias and assumptions wrapped within "typing" individuals. Your community, environment, and who you even learn the Enneagram from will impact how you perceive yourself through the tool. Show excerpt: "...so the Type-8...the reason it's taught often like a white male with a lot of power, is because the Type-8's focus is about who has power, are they wielding it well, my autonomy, who to keep it, how to make sure I don't get it. There's a focus on me controlling my destiny and having an impact on the world. That wasn't really encouraged in community, especially white evangelical community...but you can serve. Twos (2) can serve. A lot of women who come to the Enneagram through white evangelicalism think they are a twos (2s) at first. The reason why I (Jessica) don't recommend tests is because often when we are testing there's an ideal we are holding of ourselves, and it takes a good amount of self-reflection and the ability to be real with our selves, to be vulnerable, that it takes to answer that binary test with a level of honesty. Test also have bias, so its description of Types will describe the people that they know." We end our discussion on the Enneagram as a tool unto anti-racism, and how we may wrap embodiment into our discovery of self. Enjoy! Jessica Denise Dickson is a life empowerment coach who teaches and coaches for the reclamation of our full humanity, equity, justice, and freedom through the intersections of the Enneagram, antiracism, and embodiment. She does this in one-on-one coaching, in groups and workshops, and with organizations. To this work, Jessica brings a Master's degree in Counseling, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a career counseling certificate, and embodiment training with several teachers. She also has over 15 years of experience in diversity education; 9 years as an Enneagram student and teacher; years recruiting, training, and providing professional development for staff; and a commitment to her own personal and professional growth . . . and more. She believes when we do this work, we live more authentically with self-trust, self-safety, and fully-embodied freedom. When we do this, we change the world. Don't forget to rate and rank our podcast wherever you listen to this feed! You can support this podcast by visiting our podcast support page.
Season 8 continues with Episode #54 featuring the voice of Rose J. Percy. Listen in as the rain falls and the thunder hits in the background as Rose and I discuss all pieces decolonizing faith. We start off with a "get to know you" through a conversation on food, then quickly pivot to the importance of cultivating rest for imagination. We switch gears into identity, and how vocation is the work to uncover the things that make you you. Rose discusses some of her work helping others build strength through a 'ministry' of midwifery. We then trail off the second half discussing aspects of somatic (body) liberation and the wider connections to liberation. How might bodies on the margins find liberation through the stories of our families and beyond? Rose J. Percy, M.Div is a contemplative theopoet with a background in justice-oriented education and ministry. Rose writes affirmational prayers and poems for weary dreamers. Her work engages theopoetics, mysticism, identity, vocational discernment, trauma, and theology. Rose started “Dear Soft Black Woman,” a podcast and community space for Black women+ to inspire and celebrate flourishing beyond the “Strong Black Woman” myth. She writes affirmational prayers, poems, and grounding reflections through a newsletter called “A Gentle Landing.”
Season 8 is here and this opening episode features Camille Hernandez. Currently located in California, Camille is a writer and public educator pursuing an abolitionist world by dismantling systems of oppression created by settler colonization. Her forthcoming debut book is entitled, "The Hero and the Whore. Reclaiming healing and liberation through stories of sexual exploitation in the Bible." Sound intriguing? It's more than that, it's a fresh and exciting way to give space for marginalized voices in the Bible to speak unto collective liberation. We discuss Camille's book and ideas surrounding decolonizing Christianity, healthy boundaries, healing, liberation, and more. Follow Camille on Substack, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Camille Hernandez is an abolitionist, community facilitator, and poet. She describes herself as a doula using care-centered leadership models to help survivors know their voice, be nourished in community, and develop self-compassion practices in order to birth new liberated realities into existence.
Welcome to another season of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast! Season 8 picks up where Season 7 leaves off--deconstructing and decolonizing Christianity. To do so, we include a number of different guests who offer important insight on the Christian faith that you may not usually hear from. Centering voices from the margins, authors and public theologians, is crucial to the formation of our podcast and we are so grateful for all guests. This season features the likes of Camille Hernandez, Rose J Percy, Jessica D Dickson, Patty Krawec, and two thematic episodes on somatic healing (embodiment) and the Pope's visit to Canada. A couple of new ideas, a few new voices, and a whole lot of curious and compelling storytelling for your listening ears. Enjoy!
Advent is countercultural to the typical pageantry of many contemporary church routines that crescendo into Christmas Day. Instead of skipping directly to stories of Jesus' birth, Advent holds our attention to the way Jesus intercedes in the history of humanity and ushers in new possibilities of light overcoming all darkness—not merely a spiritual darkness, either; rather, a tangible material liberation from all powers that marginalize. This expansive form of deliverance is not initially announced by Jesus—after all, he's just a babe. The countercultural rhythm of Advent is carried by the brave truth sung by the prophetic voice of Mary. We conclude this year's Advent with this final reflection. Enjoy.
Thank you for listening to this season's Advent reflections on resistance, decolonization, and lingering in the dark. Welcome new listeners too. Here is a short reflection on this week's Advent theme: love. Two curious things strike me when I think about love....
Questioning your faith is often about questioning malformed ideas someone added on top of the foundations Jesus built. A "crisis of faith" can happen when we notice the ways embodying expansive love and inclusion are rejected in thought, word, or deed. In this way, rejecting "faith" is not about "giving up", rather it's a devotion towards reclamation. (Whether or not someone does the work of reclamation is a different issue.) Listen in for this week's Advent reflection on Faith.
You ever notice whenever there's a protest of some kind that upsets the "norm", people tend to reply with, "I believe in protest, but not like that…." It's as if there's a certain threshold of "protest" that protest can't cross because it will be to "protesty". But isn't that the point of protest to begin with? To focus a (non-violent) disruption against power and system? I think of protest as: Focussed disruption against powers and systems that oppress minority groups. (This is not a definition to don't quote me.) Listen to this week's reflection on hope....
Welcome to a last minute and surprising addition, an interlude of Advent reflections for the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast. Transcript is available exclusively in my newsletter. Advent is a season to linger in the darkness in expectation that the light will emerge and one day prevail. I enjoy the season of Advent for this reason and am happy to share these reflections on resistance to the dark. Enjoy and I hope this seasons offers you some respite.
BONUS: Marla Taviano Interviews Rohadi on His Writing Including His Latest Book, When We Belong Check out this Bonus Episode! Season 7 opened with a cool interview where Gena Thomas hosted and I was the guest. We talked about my book, When We Belong. In this episode, my friend Marla Taviano, whose episode you can find here, asks me questions about the book and how the ideas flow into a renewed faith formation and the venture out of white religious hegemony. Topics we cover: We talk about what books to read; what are some non-negotiables in the Christian faith?; on theodicy and why the resurrection; books for questions on atonement; on thinking in new ways; decolonizing Christianity; a conversation for budding authors - one writing. Find Marla Taviano on: https://itsmemarla.com/; Instagram: Marla Taviano and White Girl Learning; Twitter: https://twitter.com/marlataviano Faith in a Fresh Vibe connect: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram
Featuring Pastor and Author Jonny Rashid The oppressor would not be so strong if he did not have accomplices among the oppressed. Simone de Beauvoir In this conversation, pastor and author Jonny Rashid, shares a wonderful cross-section of topics ranging from being brown in America, and church leadership in predominantly white spaces. We discuss spiritual formation as it intersects the racialized brown experience in North America. But that's not all, Jonny offers a vulnerable look inside pastoral leadership, and his latest book, Jesus Picks a Side. His book is a must-read particularly for those who are digging into aspects of justice and politics. More Show Notes Tapping into the brown experience. Jonny shares his experience growing up as an Egyptian American as the war on terror began to pick up speed; Becoming conscious to the lived experience as an Arab American; Developing awareness of systemic racism caught in the 'in-between'; Navigating familial and generational differences along the political spectrum; Jonny speaks to his faith formation in Anabaptism; Moving forward into liberation (how?); We take a step back and talk about the call to ministry for Jonny and a bit about his philosophy of ministry; Leading white congregations into justice and the push back received when white supremacy rears in the home community; How to not get discouraged, finding affirming voices in your ministry/community context; What to do when the world is falling apart - God's faithfulness today; How do you know when to leave unhealthy community, paying attention to your body; 28mins Finding comfort making political stands as Christians, not to side with the oppressor but to stand with Jesus. We talk about Jonny's latest book, "Jesus takes a Side". Talking about faux diversity; Christian diversity seeks to centre the margins where as bipartisanship upholds the status quo.... How to be polarizing like Jesus rather than sanitizing Jesus. 45mins Dropping the 'third-way' language and follow the Jesus who liberates. Engaging in a wider imagination. Peacemaking vs Peacekeeping. We end with a story of liberation. Bio and Social Jonny Rashid has been pastor of Circle of Hope in Philadelphia for more than 10 years. He is an abolitionist and a housing activist. He is an avid cook, who blogs at https://jonnyrashid.com and hosts Circle of Hope's "Resist and Restore" podcast. He studied journalism, education and history at Temple University and completed his masters of divinity at Palmer Theological Seminary. His book "Jesus Takes A Side" is out now." https://www.instagram.com/jonnyrashid/?hl=en and https://www.instagram.com/foodpastor/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonnyrashid/ Coming at you from Treaty 7 Territory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Don't forget to rate and follow this podcast. Share it with your friends. Faith in a Fresh Vibe connect: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram
Featuring Mandy Capehart We live in a world that's a barrage of grief, yet we lack the skills and communities to support through it all. Why is that? In this episode, Mandy and I meander our way through what it takes to cultivate life giving community where all can belong. Before that, Mandy shares her story walking through deconstruction and her own seasons of grief. As a grief coach, she has a few things to share. Check out the show notes below. Show Notes A quick conversation about Oregon Trail; Deconstructing worship and the industrial worship complex; Mandy shares her recent journey through deconstructing evangelicalism; How loss and grief spiralled and catalyzed something new; Finding how contemporary church operates as self protective rather than walking in vulnerability in community; The search of belonging and community; Mandy shares about her story and experience with trauma and grief, her own journey, and holding space for others; Dissecting why churches struggle with lament and sorrow; The pursuit of wholeness walks through uncertainty yet through the human experience; When does grieving end? When does healing happen? Grief in every aspect of life....and what does fully alive mean. More about Mandy Capehart: Mandy Capehart is an author, speaker, and certified grief and life coach in the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of The Restorative Grief Project, an online community of grievers and grief supporters looking for movement while they heal. Her own experience with grief left her searching for resources while offering empathetic, long-term support without minimizing the pain of the moment. When she found nothing, she created it for herself and for you. Her first book is titled, “Restorative Grief: Embracing our losses without losing ourselves” released in 2021. This is a memoir and 31 day guidebook for managing grief and growth in the aftermath of loss, no matter how long it lasts. You can hear more about her grief work on her podcast, Restorative Grief with Mandy Capehart. She also co-hosts The Uncomfortable Grace Podcast, where space is held for growth amid the messy middle-parts of life. Mandy is a storyteller through and through, always in pursuit of adventure, grace, and opportunities to express gratitude. No matter the medium, her work revolves around learning how to honor our process of becoming. She currently lives in Southern Oregon with her husband, daughter, border collie rescue pup, and way too many houseplants. Website: MandyCapehart.com Instagram: @MandyCapehart Twitter: @MandyCapehart Coming at you from Treaty 7 Territory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Don't forget to rate and follow this podcast. Share it with your friends. Faith in a Fresh Vibe connect: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram
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