Pray With our Feet

  What does it mean to pray with our feet? How can we spark change through conversation, one moment, one day, at a time?  What is the biblical basis for activism (Proverbs 31:8-9, Matthew 25:40 and Amos 5:24 and Isaiah 54:6-7).  All this and more on our first episode lifting up the intersection of faith and social justice / activism.  We delve into -  Sharing God's grace and love with folks who have different lived experiences than us.  Why activism must be intersectional - immigrant children in detention centers, folks caught in the web of mass incarceration, climate justice, dismantling white supremacy - all of it is connected.  The story behind the phrase "pray with our feet", a quote from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.   How we connect to God through our creativity.  Why we're so excited for you to hear our upcoming guests, some include: Rev. Amanda (founder of Raising Imagination, an online community, and co-Pastor at Middle Church), Avril Sommervile, activist and writer (Journey of a Life on Purpose) and Rev. Lyvonne Proverbs (founder of Beautiful Scars and Emmy-award winning media producer) and Dr. Marisela Gomez, author, activist and public health physician. Watch her TEDx talk.    Our podcast is generously edited by my husband Keston De Coteau, talented videographer / photographer / editor. Find him: https://www.keston.online   Get Social with Us:   Instagram: @praywithourfeet Twitter: @praywithourfeet 

What does it mean to embrace the revolutionary nature of Jesus - seeing ourselves as inextricably linked to the most marginalized: children on the border, folks caught up in the cycle of the prison industrial complex, etc.? How can we begin to cultivate transformation in our daily actions, and lean deeper into God’s grace. Join Emelda as she enters into a heartfelt discussion with Reverend Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, Executive Minister for Justice, Education and Movement Building at Middle Collegiate Church.  Rev. Amanda is also an activist, writer and founder of the online community, Raising Imagination, crediting its origins to her small town roots, the curiosity and openness of her three young children, the Presidential Election Cycle of 2016, the book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt, the Theologian Walter Bruggeman, and her countless friends who, over time, expressed poignant interest in Amanda’s ability to seemingly incorporate an activist lifestyle with her family. Passionate about the intersection of poverty, faith, politics, and feminism, her work is cited on CNN, Refinery29 the Wall Street Journal, WNBC and the Women’s March, Inc. An ordained Minister, she’s presented nationwide on topics including systemic injustice, religion, and involving young children in advocacy. Originally from a small town in Kentucky, she now lives in Brooklyn with her husband, 4-year-old twin boys, 2-year-old girl and thinks pizazz & grit (along with a lot of love and justice) can change the world. In this episode, we explore - What it means to reclaim and reframe Christianity, centering the revolutionary message of Jesus (James 2:16 and Matthew 25:40) How standing alongside the least of these, and speaking out against oppression and injustices like racism, white supremacy, climate change, is in line with revolutionary nature of Christ. What steps we can begin now to uplift change - starting with our own families. We go deep in this dialogue, because God calls us to action. Grab your cup of coffee, tea or smoothie, and pull up a chair! Stay Connected with Rev. Amanda: Raising Imagination Middle Collegiate Church @middlechurch Twitter: @raisingimagine Instagram:Raising Imagination Additional Resources for Further Study: Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman  White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk about Race by Robin DiAngelo Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad  The Conscious Kid  Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglass, Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online 

Join us for a conversation with writer, activist and faith warrior Avril Somerville. Born in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Somerville writes at the intersection of identity, community and love. She is the author of A Journey of Life on Purpose, a book of personal essays and poetry, and a forthcoming novel.  She is also an English teacher, wife and mother of three who lives in Pennsylvania. Avril is excited about her independent micro-press, SomerEmpress Publishing, Inc., and looks forward to publishing transformative literature of other gifted women writers of color. In this episode, we dive into: - The power of our words, and how understanding this helps us walk in liberation.  - Seeing ourselves as deeply connected to those around us, especially the most marginalized, understanding Jesus stood for justice (Matthew 25:40 and Amos 5:24).  - Why mindfulness, really being presented and grounded in God and our faith, is vital. - Realizing activism takes many shapes and forms; if you are not able to be on the front lines, you can still show up and serve. Avril says: "Use your gifts, where you are, to tap into your purpose." - God has designed us for intimacy, the act of sitting down and beholding one another. We must not allow technology to strip this away from our consciousness.  - Avril's own creative journey and sources of inspiration. Stay in Touch with Avril Somerville: www.somerempress.com IG: @somerempress  Twitter: @somerempress  Show edited by my talented husband Keston De Coteau (videographer,  photographer and editor) www.keston.online 

Join us for an engaging conversation with Lyvonne Proverbs, MDiv, a New York City native, and body and sex-positive light-worker, pastor, preacher, transformational speaker, writer, poet, educator, and conscious creative social entrepreneur. An Emmy-award winning media producer, Proverbs graduated from Seton Hall University, Yale Divinity School, and Columbia Theological Seminary. She is a highly sought after presenter and has partnered with Lyft, Auburn Seminary, the Atlanta University Center, San Francisco Department of Health, Young Women Social Entrepreneurs and more. Rev. Lyvonne offers consulting for sacred and secular institutions, as well as individual and group spiritual life coaching. Rev. Lyvonne has been featured in ESSENCE, Cosmopolitan, and The Washington Post magazines and is the host of Courageous Currents podcast on KPFA, where she fosters conversations with her guests about life at the intersection of faith and social justice. Sojourners named her one of “11 Women Shaping the Church” in March 2019. We delve into quite a bit during this episode: - Understanding Jesus as liberator for the most marginalized.  - How thinkers rooted in black liberation theology, founded by Dr. James Cone (God of the Oppressed and many other books) and womanism (defined by Alice Walker in her 1983 book In Search of our Mothers' Gardens), expanded her own personal understanding and expression of Christianity. Some of these womanist thinkers  include: Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, Rev. Dr. Emilie M. Townes, Delores S. Williams, and Ebony Janice Moore.  - Healing from incest (at the hands of her biological father) and founding Beautiful Scars, an online storytelling agency focused on trauma, healing and resiliency. - @WereSurthrivors platform, a digital community for Black Christian women who are also survivors of childhood sexual abuse. By harnessing the power of narrative, she helps survivors (and communities, at large) shift from silence to storytelling. - Moving beyond the shaming of our bodies and sex / sexuality  which is so prevalent in many churches so we can realize our personal and collective liberation in Christ.   - Seeing the body as a divine expression of God's love for us, and embracing various practices to center self care with intention. - The importance of therapy for our well being. Check out Open Path Collective for affordable care options.  Connect with Pastor Lyvonne via her website: https://lyvonnep.com (where you will find links to all her social media pages).  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online.

Join us for an interesting discussion with Elizabeth Rhodes, writer, designer, and author of the children's book, Feminism is for Boys (for ages 0-3). Elizabeth is an advocate for women’s rights and a self-proclaimed feminist. She believes feminism is for all genders, including boys. Elizabeth hopes parents will find this book useful in helping inspire boys to connect with the word feminist, as well as show all children a book representing diverse boys that are proud of their interests, express emotions confidently, seek friendships outside of their similarities, and believe unapologetically in true equality. Elizabeth is a mother to Alora - a loud, strong, fierce human. Her partner Russell was a huge inspiration for the creation of this book. Russell identifies as a feminist and proudly teaches Alora to expect equality. We delved into - - Common prejudgements about feminism, and her journey into feminist thinking. Elizabeth says: "It has been a common misconception in our culture that feminism is reserved for women, and is pursued at the detriment of men. In fact, when feminism is truly successful, all genders will benefit." - Understanding social media as a tool to speak across differences, learn about various lived experiences, and build community, online and off line. - How the Feminism is for Boys book empowers parents to have discussions around gender equality and the diverse beauty of differences at a young age. - How we can all begin to build bridges in everyday life: listening deeply, connecting across generational divides with conversations that acknowledge our lived experiences differ (and that's OK). - How we can create change: speak up when you see something happening that marginalizes others, be honest about your own mistakes along this journey, acknowledge them and then share those lessons with others and honor the value of others lives daily. Connect with Elizabeth via her website: https://www.feminismisforboys.com (where you will find links to all her social media pages).    Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for an engaging conversation with Lou-Ann Wattley Belk, creative Mama and founder of Well Worth Watering, a newly birthed blog and online community that channels the pregnancy, birth and mothering stories of black women in order to nourish and empower black birthing people.  As we work to dismantle the roots of the deep injustice that exist for black women’s maternal health, we can't ignore the narrative. We have to uplift as many stories of success as we do stories of sorrow. Lou-Ann's goal is to fearlessly hold space for both. Well Worth Watering serves as a call to elevate the voices of black mother’s unique stories—stories that might otherwise wither on the landscape of the maternal health crisis. It has also become a mantra for Lou-Ann to unapologetically use her voice, creativity and writing for something greater than herself. Committed to learning and growing in her roles as a mother of 2, wife, brand design consultant and creative writer, Lou-Ann now calls Northern Virginia home. We delved into:  - Challenging our ideas / notions of black motherhood, birthing experiences… honoring the many narratives. - How anti-blackness impacts black mothers and children.  - Ways we can all support black mothers - from listening to our lived experiences to donating to organizations like Black Mamas Matter Alliance .   - Lifting up self-care along our motherhood journeys.  Resources and Ways to Support  - Submit your birthing / motherhood story to Well Worth Watering  Why Black Mothers and Babies are in a Life-or-Death Crisis, The New York Times  Black Mamas Matter Alliance  Black Mothers Keep Dying after Giving Birth. Shalon Irving's Story Explains Why (NPR)  Sisters in Loss podcast Spotlights faith filled black women who share their grief and loss stories and testimonies. Black women experience miscarriage and stillbirth four times more than white women according to the NIH and CDC. The case of Lashonda Harris Kira Johnson's Case (Judge Hatchett's  Daughter-in-law) Stay Connected with Well Worth Watering: https://www.wellworthwatering.com IG: @wellworthwatering  -  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for a dynamic conversation with Danielle Frisby, founder of  UnBoxing Change, a community engagement event business  created to tackle the most pressing problems people face on the planet. UnBoxing Change allows customers to become Agents of Change by way of creating events that are mission-driven and are attached to the communities that are in need of service and support. Danielle is a Social Impact Event Planner; she organizes families and entrepreneurs with healthy plans of action - from startups ready to launch to Mommies ready to pop, she's got you covered! She is a complete believer of holistic healing and planning, her passion is deeply rooted in the balance and rhythm of life, work and love!  We delved into -  - Centering God and prayer in business, creative projects and everyday life.  - Empowering young people and building intergenerational dialogues.  - How she builds hubs through Unboxing Change to connect youth from around the state of Maryland (middle and high schoolers) who are interested in ministry, business, activism, etc. to mentors who are doing that work, on the ground.  - Her system to help you move from overwhelm to calm and clarity: The Stress Shred (21 Day Challenge). For more info., reach out to her on Instagram through direct message or email: UnBoxingChange@gmail.com - Stay Connected with her: Unboxing Change  - If you enjoy this podcast, please rate, like, share and leave us a review on iTunes.  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for a heartfelt chat with Christine Gibson about creativity, motherhood, activism, and progressive Christian faith. Christine was born and raised in Queens where she still resides with her husband and two children. She is training to be a certified birth doula with Carriage House Birth. She became passionate about birthwork after delivering her two children at home with a midwife. She has a BA and MA in International Relations and professional experience in the non-profit. She operates a small handmade business, Queens Knits and runs a monthly group called the Queens Knitting Circle to fulfill her passion of crafting and community building. Christine has been a member of Middle Collegiate Church for the past ten years and loves to share the church’s progressive message to whoever will listen. We delved into -  - Her relationship with God and the power of her church community (Middle Collegiate Church) which lifts up radical love, justice and cultivating change in the world.   - Centering authenticity and community  in creative entrepreneurship.  - Using social media as a tool to foster dialogues around social justice, and how the death of Mike Brown propelled her into a new season of activism.  - How a miscarriage eventually led her to study becoming a doula; Christine wants to give other women the birthing experience she didn't have.  - Seeing her progressive Christian faith as inextricably linked to movement building.  Helpful Links mentioned during this episode:  Middle Collegiate Church https://www.middlechurch.org/ Shi Shi Rose https://www.shishirose.com/ Valarie Kaur: Breathe and Push speech (mentioned at the end of this episode) https://valariekaur.com/2017/01/watch-night-speech-breathe-push/ Carriage House Birth (doula training organization) https://www.carriagehousebirth.com/

Pull up a chair, your favorite beverage and get comfy! You don't want to miss our conversation with visual artist Paige Meredith. This was recorded on the go so excuse some of the slight background noise. Paige has such a heart for lifting up others through her artwork. We know you'll leave this conversation inspired. She is a self-taught illustrator living and working in the beautiful Ozark hills of Northwest Arkansas. Days spent in the studio consist of making both digital art on her iPad and more traditional art with an absurdly large collection of watercolor, acrylic paint, gold foil, micron pens, color pencils, as well as another ridiculously massive collection of audiobooks. Because, Paige says, "I love getting lost in a story almost as much as I love making my own. And both at the same time are my happy place... Encouragement makes the world better by reminding us that we each have a gift to with which to make the world sparkle. To put more encouragement into the world {whether through a reminder that you can stick on your computer or a class where you can explore your creativity} : that’s why I’m here."  We delved into quite a bit during this episode:  - Being community taught as an artist - recognizing that all we learn comes from numerous sources.  - Joy and creativity as forms of revolution and resistance!  - How living with a learning difference (ADD) helps her build  a community which goes beyond the surface. - Moving away from the guilt so often associated with being a Mama, and learning to center self care.  - What it means to live out your faith / commitment to change.  Stay Connected with Paige: Paige Meredith Art Find her on Instagram: @_paigemeredith_  Resources Mentioned During this Episode: The Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes Reject the Hustle (a new movement...)  Make sure you pop over to their blog!  Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Happy New Decade! We're sharing prayers and scripture verses with you for the months ahead. And, we're also excited to launch an e-newsletter (you can sign up here)! During the next several episodes we're lifting up the intersection of wellness and social justice with some amazing guests: Rowana Abbensetts, founder of Spoken Black Girl magazine, Leilani, founder of Raglin Consulting and a Healing Retreat for Women of Color, and Kellene Diana, founder of The GREEN Heart Community; there is one active division, the GALS Division and two upcoming divisions: the GUYS DIVISION and GLOW DIVISION (for teens and preteens dealing with social anxiety). You can join over 1,500 GALS in  the GALS division: www.bit.ly/ibaad (subscribe to the newsletter and get alerts when the other divisions will start); if you are in Baltimore area, don't miss her upcoming event, Light the City Green, Jan. 11. Far too often, wellness and healing are overlooked in discussions related activism; yet, we cannot do this movement work without commitment to caring for ourselves - mind, body and spirit. The brilliant writer and thinker Audre Lorde once said: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.  - Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: Sign up for our NEW e-mail newsletter IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for an inspiring discussion with Kellene Diana, mental health advocate, bestselling author, and proud founder The G.A.L.S. Green Heart Community - a multi-level, member-based community providing numerous resources and accountability for purpose-driven women seeking personal and professional development as they continue to heal from anxiety and depression.  G.A.L.S. was developed in Baltimore, MD as a result of Kellene Diana’s personal struggle and triumph over anxiety and depression. She has a commitment to erasing the stigma associated with anxiety and depression amongst women of all nationalities from all over the world.  The GREEN Heart Community has one active division - the GALS Division, and two other divisions on the way - GUYS DIVISION and GLOW DIVISION (for teens and preteens dealing with social anxiety).  Join the Community!  You can join over 1, 500 GALS in the GALS division at  www.bit.ly/ibaad ; the website is still under construction, but people can sign up for the newsletter for alerts on when the other divisions will start: www.thegreenheartcommunity.org.  G.A.L.S. has assisted over 1,000 women worldwide in achieving their dreams despite anxiety and depression by encouraging members to seek therapy in conjunction with providing resources and training to encourage personal development. -  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: Sign up for our NEW e-mail newsletter IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for a heart-centered conversation with Leilani Raglin about finding our path in activism, faith, advocating in organizational / corporate spaces, and her work with self care / wellness for women of color. Leilani is the founder of Raglin Consulting, and EmpowerWOC Project: Healing Retreat. She is a social entrepreneur with a background in business, leadership, organizational development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), specializing in growing radically authentic, empowered, and equity-minded organizations, leaders, parents, and families, while creating intentional, positive change in the community.  Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo Ibram X. Kendi (author, professor and anti-racist activist) Support the work Leilani is doing with her retreat, and learn more: https://www.empowerwocproject.org and follow their new IG page.                                EmpowerWOC Project: Healing Retreat Photo Credit: Irah Dizon                                              EmpowerWOC Project: Healing Retreat Photo courtesy of Leilani Raglin -  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: Sign up for our NEW e-mail newsletter IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Grab your smoothies, and join us for a great chat with Rowana Abbensetts, writer, mental health advocate and founder of Spoken Black Girl Publishing, about the power of centering wellness and self care as activists / change makers and parents.  Far too often, we push these practices to the back burner, but they are essential for our well being. As a lifelong writer, Rowana has made it her mission to help women heal through telling her own story and inspiring others to do the same. Spoken Black Girl Publishing is designed for women of color to share mental and emotional holistic wellness experiences.  Her fiction and poetry has been published in Obsidian Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, Moko Magazine, Free Verse, Late Fee and many other publications. Support the Work of Spoken Black Girl Publishing: Become a supporter of Spoken Black Girl on Patreon! Shop the Spoken Black Girl Online Store  Spoken Black Girl Self-Love & Healing Journal  -  Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet: Sign up for our NEW e-mail newsletter IG: @praywithourfeet  Twitter: @praywithourfeet  This podcast is generously edited by my hubby, Kes, a talented videographer / photographer / editor at www.keston.online. 

Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Marisela Gomez about prioritizing wellness in daily life, centering spiritual messages rooted in love (Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman), being intentional about how we use social media, and the importance of listening to the body, a transformative practice which helps us heal from various forms of trauma and more.  Dr. Gomez is a mindfulness practitioner (ordained in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing), public health scholar activist, and physician. Of Afro-Latina ancestry, she lives in Baltimore exploring the intersections of social justice activism in community building/research from a ground of love in action.  She is the author of Race, Class, Power and Organizing in East Baltimore, and numerous book chapters in popular and scholarly publications. She practices with Baltimore and Beyond Mindfulness Community for people of color (POC) and social activists. Connect with Dr. Gomez Further / Additional Resources:  Her blog at Huff Post and http://www.mariselabgomez.com/ on the intersection of wisdom justice and mindfulness. Baltimore Mindfulness Community  TedTalk on healing racism through waking up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSZEsPnhlXg Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of this World for Crucifixion  and Empire  Liberate Meditation app (available on Android  and Apple) 

Welcome to Season 2 of the Pray with our Feet podcast! It's been a while since Season 1 wrapped, and we are excited to be in conversation with you all again. And, if you're on Instagram or Twitter, we regularly share there, too!  This season our theme is racism in the church: How do we dismantle it, along and also begin to move towards reconciliation? Throughout the season, we'll explore  -  - Racism in the Church (form a historical perspective), looking at    the early church. - Racism & the early church (biblical roots): how this connects what we are seeing in the American church today? - In what way does the church need to rediscover the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to deal with racism? - What are the shifts - administrative, cultural and individual - that need to take place in the collective body of Christ to uproot racism and the ideology of white supremacy? - What are the strategies we can begin to lean into as individuals, and church bodies to uproot racism within our own hearts and minds? We're excited to bring you conversations with ministers, activists, and organizers doing the deep and necessary work of anti-racism. Here are a few of our upcoming guests mentioned in this episode:  Rev. Jacqui, Pastor of Middle Church. You can donate here to help rebuilding after the fire.  Rev. Fran Pratt  Rev. Brown TY to our Season 2 Sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs (power the revolution with your purchase. They have donated $9,800 to progressive causes!)  Shop small and conscious today.  Announcements: Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Jan. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

What does it mean to reclaim Christianity, committing to the daily work of anti-racism, and revolutionary love of Jesus? We sat down with Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Ph.D., Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a 1,300-member multi-ethnic, welcoming, and inclusive congregation in New York City (and full disclosure, my home church, loves!) for a conversation which delved into: - The need for each of us to make anti-racism a daily practice  - Rooting our minds and spirits in revolutionary love  - The challenging joy of leading a diverse church that is radically inclusive and leaves no one out regardless of race, sexuality / gender identity or ability.  - The essential duty of church membership to push leaders towards anti-racist practices which goes beyond the pew and into our daily lives - the way we love, work, shop and come in community.  She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and earned her Ph.D. in Religion and Society/Psychology and Religion at Drew University. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Lewis hosted “Just Faith,” an on-demand television program on MSNBC.com and is a frequent media commentator. Her books include The Power of Stories: A Guide for Leaders in Multi-racial, Multi-cultural Congregations, Ten Strategies for Becoming a Multiracial Congregation, and the children’s book, You Are So Wonderful!  She is currently at work on a book about how to heal souls and our world.   Stay Connected to Rev. Jacqui and Middle Church:  Middle Church is rebuilding after a tragic fire. You can support this ongoing work by donating here.  Visit Rev. Jacqui's website, and follow her heart-centered work.  Join the Movement at Middle Church!  Announcements: Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Jan. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

Merry Christmas, Pray with our Feet Community! We caught up with Rev. Fran Pratt, pastor, writer, musician, and mystic about her deeply moving prayers which call us to the daily work of anti-racism, honoring the earth and uplifting the Beloved community. We delved into her faith journey -  leaving a fundamentalist evangelical background into progressive Christianity, prayer as both spiritual practice and art form, her powerful prayer: Litany for Racism in the U.S., the need for Christians to understand Jesus through the eyes of those pushed to the margins (liberation theology).  Fran is author of Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational and regularly creates and shares modern liturgy here and on Patreon. She serves as Pastor of Worship and Liturgy at Peace of Christ Church in Round Rock, Texas, where she lives with her spouse and two young daughters. Resources Mentioned During this Episode: James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree  Lisa Sharon Harper's work  Thank you to our Sponsor:  TY to our Season 2 Sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs (power the revolution with your purchase. They have donated over $9,800 to progressive causes!)  Shop small and conscious today.  Stay in Touch:  Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Jan. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

Jesus came to extend radical love and compassion to "the least of these," (Matthew 25:40) - people pushed to the margins of society. We chat with Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III, Senior Minister at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, social entrepreneur and activist,  about how he centers social justice in his ministry, the significance of the black church - its origins, roots, pioneering thinkers and theologians - and why we must come to understand Jesus as a community organizer, who came to "preach the good news to the poor." (Luke 4:18)  This is part 1 of our discussion, stay tuned for part 2, released next week, the first Friday of Black History Month.  More on Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III: He is the Founding Director of Orita’s Cross Freedom School. Based on the Freedom Schools of the 1960's, Dr. Brown works to reconnect Black youth to their African heritage while providing them hands-on learning opportunities to spark their creative genius and build vocational skills.​ Additionally, in 2015 he launched the Black Church Food Security Network a multi-state alliance of congregations working together to inspire health, wealth and power in the Black Community.  The BCFSN accomplishes this by partnering with historically African American churches to establish gardens on church-owned land and cultivates partnerships with African American farmers to create a grassroots, community-led food system. Resources Mentioned During this Episode:  - Black  Baltimore: A New Theory of Community  - Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, author of The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors, among other books.  - Rev. Harvey Johnson, Union Baptist Church  Thank you to our Season 2 sponsor:  Earth is an Island Designs makes conscious apparel and household goods  affirming our commitment to a better world, sharing $20 per item purchased for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic to help repair humanity + our beautiful, all-giving  island Earth. Use the code Invest20 for 20% off your purchase. Earth is an Island Designs has donated $10,560 to progressive causes to date!  Announcements: Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Feb. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

Tune in for Part 2 of our stimulating discussion with Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III, Senior Minister of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, and founder of the Black Church Food Security Network.  We unpacked quite a bit during this episode, including:  - Understanding God stands on the side of the oppressed (through the lens Black liberation theology) and thinkers like  Rev. Dr. James Cone (The Cross and The Lynching Tree) and Howard Thurman, author of Jesus and the Disinherited (among other books).  - The essential work of believers in building bridges across generations and empowering ourselves. Check out his work with the Black Church Food Security Network, a partnership between black churches and black farmers around the country.  - Being unapologetic about the beauty of blackness, and seeing this way of moving through the world as linked deeply to a loving and affirming God.  - Why we must build beloved community (in the tradition of the Maroons, formerly enslaved people who set up their own communities), and understanding the unique finger print of God on not only individuals, but church bodies (each has a different calling).  Announcements: Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Feb. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

As activists, we carry so much - emotionally, physically and spiritually. Take a moment to breathe, grab your notebook and get these tips from my Ebony Westbrook, meditation coach, vegan chef, and multi-passionate creative. During this episode we delved into the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, caring for the body by listening to it deeply (with healthy eating practices, body scans using meditation), self awareness and more.  Born and raised in Los Angeles California, as a young girl, Ebony grew a passion for singing/songwriting, jewelry designing and health wellness. She uses her gifts to bless others as well as blessing herself.  Connect with her work here.  Listen to the podcast here.  And follow her on Instagram: @shine_with_ebony.  Announcements: Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," starting in Feb. 2021, where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here. 

Anti-racism work is daily; it's a choice to embrace discomfort, the uncertainty of how folks around you will react, and a commitment to unapologetic truth telling. This week's guest, writer (founder of the blog, Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend), anti-racism activist / educator, podcaster (Upside Down podcast), Patricia A. Taylor is on the journey. We have long admired her work, and this conversation is full of thoughtful insights, we delved into: -  Her journey -  aligning her writing with social justice and listening to the call from God to move into anti-racism work.  - Why proximity to BIPOC communities doesn't absolve churches and individuals from doing the work of anti-racism.  - How she embraces care for her mind, body and spirit, rooted in scripture from Jeremiah to the Psalms, and 2 Corinthians 3: 3-5. - The necessity of lament and repentance for the church as it relates to racial and social justice.   - Why spiritual bypassing is dangerous, and why being vulnerable around safe people (particularly for those in BIPOC communities) about what we're feeling is a form of self care.  - What Patricia hopes those in her community take away from her work: questions that guide them toward action, and keep them rooted in compassion.    More about Patricia Taylor // Follow Her Work:  Patricia Taylor is a wife, mom and California native turned Georgia peach. She believes in Jesus, truth-telling, loving all our neighbors, and having critical conversations around racial justice with grace and honesty. Her work is rooted in anti-racism education, and she serves as the BIPOC Educator for Be The Bridge. Patricia is also a cohost for Upside Down Podcast, which is an ecumenical faith space that has unscripted conversations around justice, spirituality, and culture. You may find her on Instagram @patricia_a_taylor and on Facebook at Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend by Patricia A. Taylor. Announcements: Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Our podcast store is opening soon. In the meantime, get your The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Stay tuned for our NEW Instagram Live pop-up series, "Continually Awakening," where we make space to keep the conversation going around social justice and faith in between PWF podcast episodes.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here.   

Creativity is a powerful tool for change. We caught up with Kris, founder of Earth is an Island Designs (our Season 2 sponsor!) about the beautiful ways art can spark change, rooting our activism in sacred community, loving kindness and the practice of mindfulness. And what it really means to put your money where your mouth is!  Check out our new tee shirt collaboration with Earth is an Island Designs: "Love is the Revolution." Use the code Invest20 to save 20% off! When you purchase your tee, choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate durning check out. Earth is an Island Designs will donate a portion of the proceeds to us! More about Kris & Earth is an Island Designs: Kris works as a clinical psychologist with military veterans and in private practice. Through Earth is an Island Designs, a social enterprise, at the guidance of his customers, he invests in progressive organizations (donated 10K+ to date!) that promote peace, social justice, human and animal rights and mindful wellness on a liveable planet. Kris aspires to be anti-racist, feminist, pro-social, and peace-loving, and is guided by the energy of biophilic lovingkindness for our beautiful, abundantly-giving Island Planet Earth, the elements and forces that offer life, and for all beings. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: The work of Yung Pueblo, Rev. angel Kyodo williams, and Lama Rod Owens.  Stay Connected: Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now! 

What if we embraced our faith more deeply - moving towards a closer relationship with Christ? How could this shift our view of the world for the better? We're chatting with writer, columnist for Austin American-Statesmen), speaker, social justice advocate and environmental attorney, Walt Shelton about his new book: The Daily Practice of Life: Practical Reflections Towards Meaningful Living. We delved into quite a bit, including:  - The importance of a mindful morning routine to ground our spirits in God's word.  -  What is means to embrace your faith in ways which cultivate transformation of the heart, and roots daily actions in a love of  Christ, community, and building bridges across differences.  - The lessons we can all learn from Walt's Dad, who took time to genuinely see people he encountered daily, living out God's call to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  Stay Connected with Walt's Work: Don't miss his upcoming event - you can register through March 20: “Cultural Transformation: An Open Discussion of Respect, Inclusiveness, Racial Harmony, and the Pursuit of Justice” will meet on Zoom from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings from March 25 through April 29 Central Time. Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now! 

Join us for part 2 of our discussion with Walt Shelton, writer, columnist for Austin American-Statesmen), speaker, social justice advocate and environmental attorney. His new book The Daily Practice of Life: Practical Reflections Towards Meaningful Living centers Christ and mindfulness, while lifting up the urgency of living out our Christian faith by making a difference in the world. Walt reminds us: "Jesus is synonymous with social justice."  We delved into quite a bit, including:  - Jesus' powerful example of being in genuine relationship with people, and how embodying this way of being can transform us all.  - The call throughout scripture to tear down walls we erect (because of difference), and embrace a radical love of our neighbors and community (Lev. 19:18 and Mark  12:31).  - What the prophet Amos teaches us about resisting oppression and God's concept of justice. Check out Walt's essay within his book, Chapter 32: "Social Justice is Always in Season"  - Reclaiming Christ's message of embracing service for others: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free." Luke 4:18  Don't miss his ongoing event series - “Cultural Transformation: An Open Discussion of Respect, Inclusiveness, Racial Harmony, and the Pursuit of Justice” on Zoom from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday evenings, March 25 - April 29 Central Time. Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now! 

Join us for this bonus episode where Mom and I delve into King's legacy of freedom fighting, and his last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?  written in Jamaica (1967) away from the pressures of the civil rights movement.  Given all we are facing in the U.S., and around the world, we couldn't think of a better moment to release this bonus episode (originally recorded in January of this year).  We discuss King's first essay, "Where Are We?" Here he wrestles  with key questions we must all continually ask ourselves: Are we in this movement of liberation and revolutionary love for the long haul, or are we satisfied with surface-level reforms? King reflects on those who supported The Civil Rights Act (1964) and The Voting Rights Act (1965), but unwilling to stay the course for Phase 2,  ending vast inequality (economically, socially, etc.). Mom and I discuss the relevancy of King's essay from the Reconstruction period to Black Lives Matter movement and our calls for collective liberation and radically reimagining what is possible.  Resources for Further Study: - Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  - Sit with these scripture: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9 and "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)  - From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation, by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Far too often prayer is seen as passive. But we know, as Christians,  that speaking to God and listening to the voice of the Divine is powerful. During the month of May, we celebrate the National Day of Prayer in the U.S. We honor this time by sharing some powerful thoughts around the urgency of prayer as resistance from Rev. Fran Pratt (Ep. 3), and Rev. Heber Brown (feat. on Ep. 4 and Ep. 5),  Patricia Taylor (writer and antiracist activist feat. on Ep. 7), and Walt Shelton -  writer, social justice advocate & environmental attorney featured on Ep. 9 and 10.  Resources on Prayer: You can listen to our offering for the National Day of Prayer on Instagram. Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice  Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer A Rhythm of Prayer

Pastor Kelsey challenges us to understand the multi-dimensional power of prayer as grounding our activist work, and offering a pathway to see God's spirit within everyone we meet. We also unpack the destructive rise of Christian nationalism, why there is such apathy and silence within churches (White evangelical congregations), and the power of art to break down barriers. She  sees creativity as deeply connected to the Holy Spirit, the artistic element of God. Pastor Kelsey is a trained dancer, yoga instructor, and ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She serves as a solo pastor at two churches just south of Milwaukee, WI, and is the Executive Minister and President of Dancing Pastor Ministries and host of the Lady Preacher Podcast. She has performed, preached, and led retreats all around the United States and even in Costa Rica. Her life's work is based on 1 Corinthians 16:14: “Let all that you do be done in love,” and her favorite part of ministry is helping people experience the transforming love of God that moves around, among, and within us all. Connect with Rev. Kelsey on Instagram and Facebook, check out her blog.  Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now! 

It's Juneteenth weekend, y'all!  And Mom and I are discussing an important documentary - White Savior: Racism in the American Church (directed by Aaron J. Christopher). Using a combination of interviews and research, White Savior traces the historic relationship between racism and American Christianity, present day segregation in churches and  and asks hard questions about racial reconciliation. The film is divided into chapters, Mom and I discuss four: Chap. 1 (White is Race), Chap. 2 (The Bible and Race), Chap. 6 (Christianity in Black and White) and Chapter 7 (The Problem of Reconciliation).  We hear from an array of prolific thinkers and figures: Pastor Lenny Duncan (Jehu's Table), professor Soong Chan Rah, author Jacqueline Woodson, Native American pastors Jim Bear Jacobs and Rev. Joan Conroy, Rethinking Mass Incarceration author Dominique Gilliard, historian Dr. Crystal Moten, and others who unpack U.S. Christianity's links to racism and the false ideology of White supremacy.  Resources for Further Study:  Stream White Savior: Racism in the American Church White Over Black, Winthrop Jordan  The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James Cone Can Multi-Ethnic Churches Help Bridge the Racial Divide? Aired on NPR You can listen to our offering for the National Day of Prayer on Instagram. Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice  Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page.  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now! 

In this bonus episode, Mom and I chat with Dr. Nicole Davis about the urgency of uprooting gender discrimination within the body of Christ. Her new book - Eve, Where Are You? Confronting Toxic Practices Against the Advancement of Women, is an essential read.  Within these pages, we come to understand why many women are discouraged, emotionally absent, leaving churches, or considering giving up religious pursuits altogether. Throughout the book, Dr. Davis thoughtfully contemplates the scriptural significance of God's creation of Eve; compares women's leadership advances in the marketplace and church; and shares real-life stories and perceptions about women in leadership offered by present-day church leaders. Dr. Davis is an author, mediator, facilitator, conflict coach, a certified Marriage Today and Marriage on the Rock trainer, as well as a marriage and relationship coach, and the co-founder of Empower to Engage, which she co-leads with her husband.   Connect with her Work Here: Eve, Where are You? Confronting Toxic Practices Against the Advancement of Women on Instagram  Empower to Engage  Eve, Where are You? podcast   Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase. 

One of the most powerful ways we resist racism and de-center Whiteness as representative of all experiences is to tell our stories. Towards the end of June (Immigrant Heritage Month), I caught up with my good friend Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson, writer, founder of Spoken Black Girl and mental health advocate, about her debut novel: Departure Story, which highlights the Black immigrant experience through the eyes of Celestine Samuels, a young Guyanese woman immigrating to the U.S. to attend college, who is finding her voice and speaking up for what she believes in and staying rooted in her native country.  Rowana and I delved into everything from the urgency of making space for writers of color to the role faith plays in her creative work, and why the Spoken Black Girl community she is building matters immensely, "our healing [as a community) is intertwined." Finally, you can hear more about her mental health advocacy and Spoken Black Girl Publishing on Season 1.    Stay Connected with Her Work: Spoken Black Girl  Instagram - @SpokenBlackGirl  Twitter - @SpokenBlackGirl  Purchase the latest magazine issue from Spoken Black Girl Publishing in the SBG shop, along with other beautiful offerings. Stay Connected with Pray with Our Feet podcast and Community:  Thank you to all who have donated to the podcast! If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Stay in community with us where the conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our sponsor, Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase. 

We've missed you all! Mom and I are back with Season 3 of the podcast, and our guiding scripture is Mathew 25:40 (Whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done it to me). We're unpacking what it means to embrace our faith in the margins - from welcoming immigrants instead of erecting barriers to helping those experiencing homelessness and poverty, while committing to anti-racism in our church bodies and daily lives. We're excited to be in conversation with one another, and host chats with ministers, community activists, artists and writers. Expect to hear our episodes bi-weekly on Fridays (with a few bonus episodes, too)!  Support our Work If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

There is a growing crisis in the Christian faith today. Across the country, far too many church leaders are pledging allegiance to the false ideology of white supremacy, American nationalism, toxic greed and exclusion of folks living on the margins. We sat down with Dr. Obery Hendricks to discuss his most recent book - Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021).  Dr. Hendricks is a life long social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is a Biblical scholar at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. His other books include The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings , The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic, and the novel Living Water.  Dr. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.” Support our Work If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

We sat down with Godfrey Molen whose passion for making a difference in the world and honoring the legacy of his late Mom, Florence, led to the founding of FLOGiving, a faith-based non-profit in our hometown of Baltimore. Florence, a woman of deep faith who valued giving back, often said "Up, up ever… down, down never," which means stay positive and leave your faith in God. Throughout this episode, we delved into -  - FLOGiving's multi-layered mission and vision: providing food, clothing, furniture, and supplies for people experiencing hardship, and inspiring men, women, and children in need, helping them transform their lives through hope. You can see testimonials of folks whose lives they have improved here and areas they serve.   - What it means to love loudly and love our neighbors in an expansive way, not leaving out those who are living on the margins of homelessness and economic insecurity.  - What Godfrey sees as the root causes of homelessness in Baltimore: addiction, eviction, domestic violence and mental health challenges. - How Psalm 123 and regular prayer keep him grounded and spiritually sustained in this ongoing work.  - Ways to Support the work of FLOGiving: donating, spreading the word about their work on social media (FLOGiving on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), and for local folks volunteering when in-person events start up again - watch their website and social media for updates. 

If ever there were a time to cultivate space for conversations that spark change, it is now! I chatted with Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, Executive Minister for Justice, Education & Movement at Middle Church about their latest offering - a year-long monthly discussion series, Freedom Rising Salons, featuring "thought leaders, organizers, poets, artists and modern prophets reflecting on crucial justice issues, addressing our nation's most pressing moral concerns, and what we all can do to rise and meet them. Throughout this discussion we delved into - - The inspiration behind Freedom Rising Salons , an extension of the annual  Revolutionary Love Conference.  - The upcoming December & January discussions on rising to a moral economy (Dec. 15, 7pm ET) and a King Day teach-in on the radical theology and politics of his last years (Jan. 16, 1pm ET).  - Supporting Middle Church's work and ongoing efforts to recover after their building caught fire last year (Dec. 5).  - Rev. Amanda's own work as an activist and writer, and what she believes is needed in this moment to reimagine what is possible.  In addition to her work at Middle Church, she is the Founder of Raising Imagination, a platform examining social issues through the lenses of race, gender, faith, and parenting. Rev. Amanda is the mother of three kids, and lives with them and her husband Graham in Manhattan. Check out our conversation with her from Season 1: "Jesus is with us on the Picket Line." Book Recommendation from this Episode: - Mariame Kaba, We Do This Til' We Free Us  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -  If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

Mom and I are back after our 2021 holiday break, and we're celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by unpacking one of King's most radical and controversial speeches Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, given one year before his assassination on April 4, 1968.  Focusing on three quotes (with clips), we'll explore how his prophetic words are ever-relevant, and a call for all of us to embrace the urgency of speaking up against injustice, despite the challenges. Resources for Further Study: Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (video) A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (print version, PDF)  King's anti-war activism, short reference (Stanford University)   Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -  If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

  I caught up with Rev. Bri-Anne Swan, founder of Resistance Church, minister at Jubilee United Church, and singer / songwriter. She has a heart for all those who have been told they do not belong (check out Rev. Bri-Anne's full bio here).  Resistance Church is a justice-focused, online ministry of Jubilee that reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible.  Throughout our conversation we delved into: - Her own spiritual journey and relationship with Christ, along with the unique way church functined for her growing up - not as a place you went to on Sunday, but as a community.  - How reading scriptures introduced her to an expansive relationship with Christ - particularly sititng with the books of Isaiah and Mark.  - The ongoing work, mission and offerings of Resistance Church, rooted in "rest, hope and  community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times."  - Why we should stop trying to make God into our own image and conform to our national ideals.  - Her friendship with death row inmtate Ramiro Gonzales (she also now serves as his  spiritual advisor), and the ongoing work of forgiveness and beloved community. Stay Connected with Resistance Church and Rev. Bri-Anne: Resistance Church on Facebook  and Instagram  Support finacially (choose Resistance Church on the drop down menu, and you may also support the work of Jubilee Church)  Listen to Rev. Bri-Anne's music on Facebook.  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast:  If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our NEW tee: Love is the Revolution, a collab with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

As Black History Month comes to a close, Mom and I sit down to discuss the ongoing attack on voting rights and voter suppression;  we also unpack the history of who received access to the ballot and who didn't, particularly folks in BIPOC communities. And we examine the denial of voting rights from a Biblical perspective, lifting up the prophet Isaiah's warning to the powerful rulers of his day: "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people... (Isaiah 10:1-3).  Resources for Further Study -  - Read and meditate on Isaiah 10:1-3  - History of voting rights (source of information - The History Channel  - Listen to the testimony of Fannie Lou Hamer (civil rights and voting rights activist) who came before the Democratic National Convention in 1964.  - Connect with the Work of Carol Anderson and listen to her interview on Democracy Now (on Jan. 6, 2022) about the connection between voter suppression and white supremacy.  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -  If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Snag our tee: Love is the Revolution, a collaboration with our friend Kris Earth is an Island Designs. Choose Pray with our Feet as an org. to donate to at check out, and we receive a portion of the proceeds. Use the CODE - Invest20 and save 20% off your purchase.  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Special thanks to my husband Keston De Coteau (founder of Keystone Productions) who edits all our episodes! 

In honor of Women's History month, we're  highlighting ministries run by women. Our first conversation in this series is with Latarsha Haughton, a woman of deep faith, and the founder of Breaking the Silence Healing the Pain. Latarsha endured decades of trauma – including sexual and emotional abuse. With the help of God, prayer, and trauma-informed therapy after 30 years, she transformed pain into purpose, and now creates community for other survivors. She is also an author (Breaking the Silence), and transformational life coach, guiding people to release wounds, and embrace their power. She is the CEO of two Assisted Living Facilities in Baltimore, and Co-Owner of Another Caring Hands. Stay Connected with her work:  https://www.latarshahaughton.com @haughtonslove @bts_healingthepain Breaking the Silence...Healing the Pain (Facebook Group)  Breaking the Silence...Healing the Pain (website)  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast -  If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter. 

How do visual art, contemplative prayer, social justice & children's ministry all connect? We're thirlled to chat with Sheila Whittenberg, artist and children's minister  based Germany about the rich lessons God brings forth in places we least expect. We delved into -  Sheila's faith journey: beginning with an intense spiritual experience at age 4, which left  her assured of God's presence. How she discovered Ignatian spirituality which "insists God is present in our world and active in our lives, and Contemplative (centering) prayer.  Sheila's beautiful artwork, and what inspires her to continue creating. Explore her full gallery here. You can also connect with her on Instagram.  The path God took her on to become a trainer and practitioner of Godly Play, a Montessori-inspired concept for the spiritual direction of children.  How she's showing up to help refugees from Ukraine.  Resources & Ways to Give Back Mentioned in this Epiosde:  The Tubman Network - helping BIPOC refugees in Ukraine.  You can follow them on Instagram.  Sarah Vecera, the author of “Wie ist Jesus weiss geworden?” (How did Jesus become White?).  The Dairy of Jesus Christ    World Central Kitchen   serving meals to families across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary.  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast   If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo). We are working on a Patreon page. Snag our Pray with our Feet mug and The Revolution Needs our Joy, Too mug now!  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Pray with our Feet podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winnning videogrpaher, photographer and founder of Keystone Productions. 

What does it mean for us to see Jesus in the faces of folks experiencing homelessness?  We chatted with writer Kevin Nye, who works in advocacy and homeless services. He is the author of the forthcoming book: Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness.  He also writes on the intersections of theology, justice and equity, and pop culture. We discuss -  - How he felt God calling him beyond the pew and into the streets.  - The urgency of moving from a savior complex as progressives and Christians when showing up to be of service to unhoused folks.  - Calling on churches to see unhoused folks as neighbors, part of their community.  - Lessons from the award-winning film, Nomadland, including our perception of what "homelessness looks like," various ways people experiencing homelessness build community, cultivate resilence, joy and more.  - Stay connected with Kevin's work here. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can donate to the organization Kevin works for (The Center in Hollywood), and learn more about their work here.  Support Pray with our Feet Podcast   If you're able to send a donation to further our work (on Venmo).  Stay in Community with us on Social The conversation continues on IG and Twitter.  Pray with our Feet podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winnning videographer, photographer and founder of Keystone Productions.

We're taking it back this week to a powerful conversation from Season 1 with writer, activist and faith warrior Avril Somerville. Born in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Somerville writes at the intersection of identity, community and love. She is the author of A Journey of Life on Purpose, a book of personal essays and poetry, and a forthcoming novel.  She is also an English teacher, wife and mother of three who lives in Pennsylvania. Avril is excited about her independent micro-press, SomerEmpress Publishing, Inc., and looks forward to publishing transformative literature of other gifted women writers of color. In this episode, we dive into: - The power of our words, and how understanding this helps us walk in liberation.  - Seeing ourselves as deeply connected to those around us, especially the most marginalized, understanding Jesus stood for justice (Matthew 25:40 and Amos 5:24).  - Why mindfulness, really being present and grounded in God and our faith, is vital. - Realizing activism takes many shapes and forms; if you are not able to be on the front lines, you can still show up and serve. Avril says: "Use your gifts, where you are, to tap into your purpose." - God has designed us for intimacy, the act of sitting down and beholding one another. We must not allow technology to strip this away from our consciousness.  - Avril's own creative journey and sources of inspiration. Stay in Touch with Avril Somerville: www.somerempress.com IG: @somerempress  Twitter: @somerempress  Show edited by my talented husband Keston De Coteau (videographer,  photographer and editor) www.keston.online 

What happens to the person who is connected to God, and still struggling with their mental health?  Mom and I caught up with Dr. Anglea L. Harris, founder of Harris 316 Consulting and Services who has made it her life's work to center faith, mental health  and holisitc wellness (mind, body and spirit).  Dr. Harris is a Mental Health Advocate, Workshop Leader, Motivational Speaker, Podcast Host, and Dog Mom to a pitbull mix named Lenni.  Dr. Harris has a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University, and currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students at a small liberal arts college in North Carolina.  In this episode, we discuss -  - The pathway which led Dr. Angela to connect holisitc wellness and her Christian faith, and found Harris 316 Consulting and Services, LLC.  - Dr. Anglea's offerings: mental health and wellness workshops to Black churches, community agencies that serve marginalized communities, and corporate entities.  Connect with her here. And follow on  Instagram:@harris316consultingandservices - Historical trauma present within the Black community and other communities of color, and how this impacts collective and individual mental health today.  - Rising rate of suicides within the Black community, and the urgnecy of creating spaces for vulnerability, well-being practices  and healing.  - Ways to release the shame around mental health, and how we can show up as advocates within church pews and beyond.  Check out Further Reading & Resources (on our new website!)  - Harris 316 Consulting and Services - Perspectives on Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy Edited by Richard W. Sears and Alison Niblick - Black Men Heal - Therapy for Black Girls - Dr. Joy DeGruy's book - Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing

Folks with invisible disabilities are often marginalized in our churches. "We don't know where to put them," Angie Alt says. She joins us this week to discuss her journey of  living with chronic illness (3 autoimmune diseases) while also navigating her faith journey, and showing up as an activist in these challenging times. Angie is author and co-author of the award-winning books The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook and The Autoimmune Wellness Handbook. She created a groundbreaking series of online group health coaching programs which have helped thousands of people transition their diets and lifestyle to the Autoimmune Protocol. In 2015, Angie partnered with Mickey Trescott, FNTP at AutoimmuneWellness.com, an award-winning website serving millions with autoimmune disease annually.  In this episode we delve into -  - How living with chronic illness deepened Angie's sense of compassion and impacted her spiritually.   - Two core ways the church can show up for folks in their congregations who are living with invisible disabilities like autoimmune diseases.  - Angie's definition of community care, and the ways it intersects with social justice and self care.  - Being honest about the ebbs and flows of our faith journey and releasing shame.  - What it means to pray with your feet through chronic illness.  Additional Resources Mentioned -  - Definitive Guide to AIP and sign up for the newsletter.  - A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God's Sovereignty  by Joni Earckson Tada 

  We're living through immensely challenging times, and it often feels isolating. In this epiosde, Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt reminds us our faith is a source of both strength and discovery, which can lead us to connect with our divine intuition, an inner knowing that flows from God.   She is the author of the fothcoming book: A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power, now available for pre-order. In addition to her writing, Rev. Aurelia is also a Pastor and sacred spacemaker. She helped found Peace of Christ Church , a sacred community in the heart of central Texas doing the work of radical love and disruptive peacemaking. Throughout this episode, we also delve into: - The urgency of creating spaces rooted in growth, humility and compassion, and why she sees herself as a paradigm shifter in the tradition of the Beattitudes.   - The inspiration and journey which led her to write A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power, now available for pre-order, and why stepping out of harmful paradigms is healing and necesary work.  - How her sermon, "Go and Do Likewise" lifts up the concept of radical empathy (a willingness to go near and see a situation), alongside some key questions we can continually ask ourselves: How can I serve? How can I give of my time and resources? How can I mobilze?  - Her faith path - it's roots in childlike wonder, and how this approach to our realtionship with Christ is liberatory, pushing us beyond the boxes we construct.  Stay Connected with Rev. Aurelia:  - Rev. Aurelia's Instagram as a space to center both art (her poems) and theology which lifts up inclusion and honesty, instead of division.  - Visit her website where you'll find her writing, speaking and more.    Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet:  Visit our new website which features our devotionals, blog, and online store with PWF merch. (tees, backpacks and more!). You can donate here to support our work.   

We're BACK with Season 4! We've missed you all. As you know, Mom and I choose a verse to guide us through each season, and this time it's wisdom from the book of Micah: "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?" (Micah 6:8, Amplified Bible)  Throughout this episode we: - Explore the prophet Micah, the ways God spoke through him to Israel lifting up his heart for compassion, justice and mercy, while also calling for repentance when these values are not lived out.  - What it means to embody justice, love and mercy in our daily lives, and how it expands our faith, deepening how we define community. Check out our deveotional, Seeing with Our Hearts inspired by Micah 6:8.  - Podcast conversations we are excited to share with you all incluude Jesus People (a community-based ministry in Chicago serving the poor), Jamie McGhee and Adam Hollowell, authors of You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge and creators of the online space Praying with James Baldwin, Keith Kristich, founder of Closer Than Breath, an online community rooted in centering prayer and meditation, and more.   Additional Resources:  We love this overview of the book of Micah from Bible project. James Baldwin's 1979 speech at Berkeley, Take Your Children Out of These Schools Support our Work: - Upcoming fundraiser on Double Good! You can purchase yummy popcorn and Pray with our Feet receives 50% of the profits to power our work. Double Good has helped organizations (creating change) raise over 90 million dollars. - Shop our NEW online store where you can find everything from sweatshirts to mugs and tees reminding you to Pray with your Feet! - Follow our IG Live series: Move it Forward Monday at 12:30pm EST. The series highlights change makers in our communities and is done in collaboration with our friend Rowana, founder of Spoken Black Girl, a wellness community and magazine for Black women writers and women of color.  Power the Movement: Pray with our Feet tee Stay Connected on Social: @praywithourfeet on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook  and TikTok (we're new to this platform).  Our podcast is produced by my husband Keston De Coteau, an award-winning videographer and photographer. Learn more about his work here.

What if today's church looked more like the early church described in the book of Acts - sharing resources, concerned not with power but being in genuine relationship with Jesus and one another? Jesus People, a church family of nearly 200 people, based in Chicago is living out this revolutionary call, and has done so since 1972. Mom and I chat with members Charlene and Tommy and discuss - - Jesus People's intentional community where members live communally in a 10-story building in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, - The ways their mission businesses and common purse (“combining monetary resources into a common fund…” ) support their ministry and communal needs, enabling them to serve those living in poverty, including Cornerstone Community Outreach, “one of the first shelters in Chicago to open its doors for women with children experiencing homelessness.” - Why it's imperative that Christians not allow the messsge of Christian to co-opt our faith. - Strategies to helping move your church from the pews to the pavement, and become involved in helping the surrounding community. - Donate and support Jesus People's ministry. Stay connected with Jesus People on social media: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. - In Loving Memory: This episode is dedicated to my Dad, Rudy Leocadio, a loving husband, father, and faith leader throughout his life. Dad was truly a man of deep faith with a servant's heart. God called him home on Sun., November 27, 2022. You can read my tribute to him on the Pray with our Feet blog.  Help Us Spread the Word! - If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. - Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement! - Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

  What does it mean to live from the centered self in an off center world? We're delving into this challenge in today's chat with Keith Kristich, founder of Closer Than Breath, an online interspiritual community lifting up centering prayer and “the study of universal truths to deepen your relationship with God and develop peace within.” Keith is a commissioned teacher of Centering Prayer through Contemplative Outreach, trained with the Shalem Institute and certified Enneagram teacher through the Conscious Living Center.  We discuss the transformative power of becoming still, listening to God's voice within us, moving from ego into deeper relationship with the Divine, and the wisdom of Father Thomas Keating (author, priest, teacher and leader within the contemplative prayer community), and Saint Teresa of Ávil, revered Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun and writer who once said: “Prayer is an act of love, words are not necessary.”  Don't miss the next event from the Closer Than Breath community: Centering Prayer Summit, Jan. 21-23, a virtual space, to learn and practice with leading centering prayer teachers.  Download the God is Closer Than Breath Guide here. Website: CloserThanBreath.com Instagram: @keithkristich Stay Connected with Pray with our Feet Podcast + Online Community: If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

Showing up in faith and action takes consistent work. None of us will ever have it “figured out,” but commitment keeps us on the path. Mom and I caught up with Adam Hollowell and Jamie McGhee, founders of Praying with Baldwin, to discuss their powerful book: You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge.   One of the most prolific writers and thinkers of the 20th century, Baldwin's words continue to awaken us. Drawing from his extensive body of work -  fiction, poetry speeches and interviews, McGhee and Hollowell call us to embody our activism.  There are prompts at the end of each chapter to help us take action - whether concerning police brutality, racial justice or LGBTQ+ rights.  Our discussion also lifts up the urgency of dialouging across differences, looking inward, intergating ways we are either unaware of oppression or compilict, what seeking justice and love within our communities and church spaces.   Learn more about the Praying with Baldwin project, “a sequence of prayers that originally launched August 2, 2017.” Over 30 days Jamie and Adam prayed the last words of “those who have been killed by racism and police violence and prayed for the courage to take "First Steps" to change the world around them. You can download a PDF version here.  Stay Connected with Jamie and Adam: Website: Praying with James Baldwin Instagram: @prayingbaldwin Twitter: @prayingbaldwin Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. Shop the Pray with our Feet Store or Donate! Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement! Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

REWIND: In honor of Black history month, and this year's theme of resistance, we are revisiting past conversations with guests committed to the active and everyday work of resisting racism and the false ideology of white supremacy.    We sat down with Rev. Dr. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a 1,300-member multi-ethnic, welcoming, and inclusive congregation in New York City (and full disclosure, my home church, loves!) for a conversation which delved into: - The need for each of us to make anti-racism a daily practice.  - Rooting our minds and spirits in revolutionary love.  - The challenging joy of leading a diverse church that is radically inclusive and leaves no one out regardless of race, sexuality / gender identity or ability.  - Why one of the essential duties of church members is to push leaders towards anti-racist practices which go beyond the pews, and into our daily lives - the way we love, work, shop and come into community.  Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, and earned her Ph.D. in Religion and Society/Psychology and Religion at Drew University. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Lewis hosted “Just Faith,” an on-demand television program on MSNBC.com and is a frequent media commentator. Her books include: Fierce Love, The Power of Stories: A Guide for Leaders in Multi-racial, Multi-cultural Congregations, Ten Strategies for Becoming a Multiracial Congregation, and the children's book, You Are So Wonderful!   Stay Connected to Rev. Jacqui and Middle Church:  Middle Church is rebuilding after a tragic fire. You can support this ongoing work by donating here.  Visit Rev. Jacqui's website, and follow her heart-centered work.  Join the Movement at Middle Church!  Stay Connected with Us - Pray with our Feet website where you can check out our online shop, blog and devotionals. Follow us on Social: IG and Twitter.  Our show is produced by my husand Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

REWIND: In honor of Black history month, and this year's theme of resistance, we are revisiting past conversations with guests committed to the active and everyday work of resisting racism and the false ideology of white supremacy.    Anti-racism work is daily; it's a choice to embrace discomfort, the uncertainty of how folks around you will react, and a commitment to unapologetic truth telling. This week's guest, writer (founder of the blog, Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend), anti-racism activist / educator, and co-host of the  Upside Down podcast,  Patricia A. Taylor is on the journey. We have long admired her work, and this conversation is full of thoughtful insights, we delved into: - Patricia's journey aligning her writing with social justice and listening to the call from God to move into anti-racism work.  - Why proximity to BIPOC communities doesn't absolve churches and individuals from doing the work of anti-racism.  - How she embraces care for her mind, body and spirit, rooted in scripture from Jeremiah to the Psalms, and 2 Corinthians 3: 3-5. - The necessity of lament and repentance for the church as it relates to racial and social justice.   - Why spiritual bypassing is dangerous, and why being vulnerable around safe people (particularly for those in BIPOC communities) about what we're feeling is a form of self care.  - What Patricia hopes those in her community take away from her work: questions that guide them toward action, and keep them rooted in compassion.  More about Patricia A. Taylor: Patricia Taylor is a wife, mom and California native. She believes in Jesus, truth-telling, loving all of our neighbors, and having critical conversations around racial justice with grace and honesty. Her work is rooted in anti-racism education, and she serves as the BIPOC Educator for Be The Bridge. You may find her on Instagram @patricia_a_taylor and on Facebook at Some Thoughts From Your Black Friend by Patricia A. Taylor. Stay Connected with Us - Pray with our Feet website where you can check out our online shop, blog and devotionals.  Stay in community with us on IG and Twitter.  Credits: HUGE thank you to my husband, Kes, our podcast editor!  He is also a talented creative entrepreneur, videographer and photographer! You can work with him and explore his work here.   

Continuing our #SoulCare series, Mom and I caught up with a dear friend of the pod, Walt Shelton, about his latest book, Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless and Balanced, which calls us towards 3 elements of qualitative living: Focusing on the present moment (not stuck in the past or preoccupation the future). Not allowing fear to immobilize us. Beginning to ask, what can we do with fear? How can it fuel our actions for good? And "periodically identifying, refining, and balancing our life priorities to progressively live them as fully as possible with necessary questions for continual self reflection: How do I want to show up in the world, and embody Christ's heart? Am I centering kindness, justice, and actively reaching across differences? Am I making space for repenting when it is necessary? Key Takeaways: -Mindfulness and living a life which lifts up justice, equality and being in beloved community are interconnected. God calls us to see one another fully. We should hear a lot more about mindfulness in our churches, "Go out and pay attention to the people around you, and be kind and compassionate with them," Walt says.  - In his book, Walt lifts up the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (found in  Luke 16:19-31), and connects it to mindfulness which helps us live awake. The rich man had multiple opportunities to help, and didn't because of being consumed with his own life. This way of centering self above community is normalized in our society, and around the world; it cuts us off from connecting with one another in the ways God intends.   - We must move away from the disease of multi-tasking; scriptures speak of the importance of a healthy eye, and Walt sees this as connected to singular focus which helps us engage in community with deeper intention, "one person, one need at a time."  - Living a mindful life is a process; we can start where we are right now. Even if it is just a few moments a day.  Set aside time to be with God, away from distractions. If Jesus needed time away to replenish himself, we certainly do! Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  -Walt's book, Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless and Balanced (stay connected with his work on his website).  -The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31  Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh (nominated by Dr. King for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967, King called him an “apostle of peace and nonviolence.” Stay Connected With Us!  Visit the website and find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

  We don't have to tell you the world is on fire, as folks of faith committed to making a difference, many of us find it hard to stop, and care for ourselves. It often feels like a luxury, but in the radical tradition of writer, speaker and thinker Audre Lorde, Amy Jackson, founder of The Perch Place (a soul care org. based in downtown Aurora) is calling us to water ourselves, and make space for rest so we can rise another day, working for a world where justice, mercy, and Christ's love reigns. The Perch Place has in-person and online offerings: yoga, art classes, guided meditations, workshops, retreats and more!  "Learning about soul care helped me begin stepping into the healthy, flourishing life of purpose God created me for. It helped me become a healthier person spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically, and it helped me see and work on my blind spots so that I could be in healthier relationships as well," she says. Amy is soul care adovcate, entreprenuer, speaker, yoga teacher and meditation facilitator. You can read more about her story here.  Here are some key takeaways from this epiosde:   Soul care moves beyond the superficial and focuses on living the healthy, thriving, and sustaining life God intends  for each of us. Some core practices we can lean into are short meditations (5 min or less) like the ones Amy has on her podcast, Just Press Pause, breath prayer, yoga, and welcome prayer. Establishing a daily self check-in ritual can help ground you, beging asking: How am I feeling? What do I need? How might I gave that to myself?  There are certain types of meditation (like a body scan) which are helpful for activists and change makers. Amy has two meditation offerings on her podcast which center expansive love and de-stressing:  Loving Kindness and Release Anxiety.  When we practice self kindness, we are better able to show up in community with compassion, love and grace. Check out Amy's book, 31 Days of Self Kindness which includes all kinds of practical and accessible support for prioirtizing your wellbeing daily. And one of Amy's favorite books, Soulful Spirituality: Becoming Fully Alive and Human by David G. Benner.       

  Before Women's Herstory Month comes to a close, we're sharing our conversation about Spoken Black Girl magazine Issue 4: The Freedom Issue 2023. Mom and I chatted with Rowana Abbensetts Dobson, founder and author (Departure Story), along with contributing writers Lillie Watson, Reign, and Adrienne Prather. We delve into the multiple ways Black women claim our liberation (collective and individual), the daily challenges we're navigating, why we must remain uncompromising in defining our freedom for ourselves and more! Check out the issue here. And connect with the poetry of Reign, “Free,” Adrienne Prather, “What Freedom Means to Me?,” and Lillie Watson's essay, “Black is Free.” Learn more about Reign, Adrienne and Lillie below:  Reign is a Philadelphia native who now resides in New Mexico. It is her place of fresh new inspiration. She has been writing poetry and essays since the age of 8 years old. She is a published poet, published essayist, mixed media artist and short filmmaker. She writes to honor the ancestors' voices. Stay connected - Instagram: @i_am_reignthecreator, YouTube: Magic Little Movies (short films for healing and meditation), and purchase Reign's poetry book, The Beauty of Dead Roses Adrienne Prather is a writer, author and educator. She is a published author, and has written 3 books, Reflections of Love an Inspirational Poetry Book, Encouragement Cafe Self-Help, and Grace Finds Peace Children's Book.  Adrienne enjoys writing and inspiring others. Ways to Stay connected - Instagram: @tmialuv and on Facebook: @AuthorAdriennePrather. Lillie Watson is a writer based in Tucson, Arizona. She is a passionate reader and book lover, who believes in book accessibility and putting Black, Indigenous, POC, and LGBTQ+ representation and voices to the forefront of literary spaces. She has stories and poems published in SandScript Art and Literature Magazine's 2016 and 2017 issues, and a personal essay published in Spoken Black Girl Magazine Issue 4: The Freedom Issue 2023. She works as a manager at a local bookstore, and volunteers at a local literacy non-profit, as she determines where she'd like to take her love of all things writing and reading related. Ways to Stay Connected - Instagram: @lilliemarie221b and Twitter: @lilliemarie221b . Stay Connected With Us!  Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop. Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.   

We're living through intense times; each of us wading through persistent grief, whether due to mass shootings, threats to American democracy, escalating attacks on marginalized communities, or our day-to-day struggles. It's clear constant movement without recharging spiritually, takes its toll. In this episode, I share a short grounding meditation, designed to help center calm in the midst of chaos using an ever-present anchor God gave each of us, the breath. You'll also hear a prayer (specifically for us, the acctivists) following the meditation, inspired by Jesus' challenge in Matthew 25:40 - "Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done it for me."  Join us on April 30, 6pm via Zoom for our first monthly ASK Ministry: Prayer + Action meeting. Read more about the story behind this ministry (in loving memory of my Dad, Rudy) on our website, and sign up here.  Resources -  Scriptures for dealing with anxiety / stress (you can use for meditation, jounraling and prayer):  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2  “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10  “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 Mindfulness Tools  I have trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and now also have certification as a TSD Mindfulness Coach.  Check out a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction workbook, there are great exercises at the end of each chapter which help you make the mind, body and soul connection.  TSD mindfulness helps reduce stress, move through grief and crisis, while healing from trauma; there are concrete teachings in resilience, acceptance, being present and self-compassion (which I see as deeply connected to community care). You can read more about it here. And look out for upcoming offerings through Pray with our Feet that center mindfulness for folks like us, spiritual activists.  Stay Connected With Us!  Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop. Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.   

The ASK: Prayer + Action ministry is a space for all of us to come together, communally, at the intersections of our Christian faith and activism; here we commit to praying together (virtually on Zoom) around a specific issue each month - climate justice, anti-racism, mental health, police brutality, violence and harm against people living on the margins ( immigrants, communities of color, our LGBTQ+ siblings, etc.), and taking a concrete action in the work towards the change we wish to see realized in our world.  This ministry is a continuation of Dad's work; he started the ASK prayer ministry when my brother and I were kids. It was rooted, Mom says in Matthew 7:7-8: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." You can read more about the ministry on our website.  During this first prayer meeting on Sunday, April 30, our focus is on climate justice. We're linking to some of the resources we are sharing in that meeting below (for folks who may not be able to attend):  What is Climate Justice (includes panel discussions around the six pillars of climate justice as defined by the University of California's Center for Climate Justice) What is Climate Justice (includes panel discussions around the six pillars of climate justice as defined by the University of California's Center for Climate Justice)     How Climate Colonization Impacts the Global South   In Addressing Climate Change, Business as Usual Is Climate Injustice   Action Steps - Reading & Organizing for Climate Justice    The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet   Resources from The Intersectional Environmentalist      Organizing with Climate Justice Alliance  and ways to get involved.        

I caught up Jennifer Magnano aka The Barefoot Preacher - writer, doula, maternal-child health advocate, and mother living with chronic illness. She honors the wild, holy work of local and global motherhood through resonant writing and speaking, companionship, resources & education. With personal experience of the chaos and complexity to exist throughout the caregiving years (in both our bodies and lives), Jennifer speaks with urgency; her goal to elicit a tender lived-response in humanity that echoes for and in our generations to come. We chatted about -  Breaking God out of the boxes, which can look like experiencing the Divine in the wonder of everyday moments, being in sacred relationship with God as Mother, Father, or however the Holy One shows up for us.  Jennifer's journey of healing from religious trauma.  What it's like to live on the edge of disability and raise two kiddos with their own health challenges.  Her writing, which challenges us to awaken continually in multiple ways; we delved into two essays from Reclamation (her newsletter on Substack):  It's Ok to Upset the Internet and Your Trauma is Welcome Here.  Creating space in our minds, hearts and spirits for a theology rooted in collective liberation. Jennifer lifted up the work of Rev. Wilda C. Gafney, Hebrew biblical scholar and professor, Episcopal priest  who teaches Biblical Hebrew, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and, Womanist and Feminist Biblical Studies. Stay Connected with Jennifer and Support Her Work:  Instagram instagram.com/thebarefootpreacher Reclamation Newsletter jennifermagnano.substack.com Website jennifermagnano.com Book Bliss & Blue available on Amazon &  Etsy My Story on Love What Matters    Stay Connected With Us!  Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop. Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.   

  The climate is in crisis, but that doesn't mean change is impossible. I caught up with Holly Petersen, the inspiring co-founder of Christian Climate Action (CCA) about planet activism rooted in our faith. Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians supporting each other to take meaningful action for the planet. Inspired by Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, and following the example of social justice movements of the past, CCA carries out acts of public witness, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed. We discuss how Holly sees Jesus and justice as inextricably linked (shared so powerfully in this YouTube video), the many ways CCA is standing up for the planet from prayerful protests to pushing church leadership, business, and government to divest from fossil fuels. Ways to Get Involved -  Holly shares practical steps we can all take in our church spaces to affect change, including calling on Pastors and church leaders to divest from fossil fuel investments, and stand alongside us, in the streets, at direct actions for the climate.  Although this movement began in the UK, there are CCA groups around the world, and anyone can start their own by reaching out to CCA direcly. You may also participate by attending their regular online events such as daily prayer and Saturday reflections (teaching sessions which examine various aspects of the climate emergency and biblical perspectives on how we might respond). There are also numerous ways to involve your church, learn more here.  https://christianclimateaction.org/get-involved/involve-your-church/ Stay Connected with CCA -   CCA on Instagram Follow CCA on YouTube and see past events / talks: https://youtube.com/@christianclimateaction3822 CCA on Twitter: @CClimateAction and @HollyAPetersen (co-founder of Christian Climate Action)  Stay Connected With Pray with our Feet -  Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop. Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

What if we broke away from fearing intuition, and began embracing it as another way God speaks to us? I recently sat down with Katrina “Trina” Dilag, founder of Radical Visionary Collective, 2x certified spiritual life coach, and social justice advocate.  We chat about healing as resistance to harmful systems, normalizing out-of-the box spirituality in churches, ditching toxic theology to develop an intimate relationship with God, and her latest offering, Intuition Activation, an 8 week course (launched June 19); it is a culmination of 20 years of experience in spirituality and healing which includes serving as a minister to youth and young adults and working within healing communities.  Trina supports conscious community leaders, ministers and mothers with stepping into their higher callings through alignment, abundance and inner healing. Throughout her work at the intersections of faith + justice (pulling from the wisdom of respected community elders of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement), she centers the power of visioning, ancestral connection, and decolonization to create a world of love & liberation for all. Stay Connected with Trina -  Instagram: @RadicalVisionaryCollective Website: Radical Visionary Collective  Stay Connected With Pray with our Feet -  Snag your Pray with our Feet notebook (Prayer without Action is Performance) and find more merch. in our online shop. Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our NEW online store.  Head over to Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the conversation continues between episodes.  Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

We've missed you all! We're back with our 5th season!  Given the state of our world, Mom and I are centering the urgnecy of rooting in God's radical love; our guiding verse of scripture this season is 1 Cornithians 13:13 - "And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Throughout this episode, we discuss embodying God's call to love radically, building beloved community, connecting more deeply with God in prayer (and some ways to do this), while also centering prayer for the many who are suffering in Palestine (hostages both Israeli and Palestinian), Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and here, within the U.S. as we live through election season.  Mom and I also uplift some upcoming guests this season - Lindsey Krinks, co-founder of Open Table Nashville (outreach and advocacy for persons experiencing homelessness)  and author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets, Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton (tees and merch. that powers the distribution of inclusive books for kids across the country), Porsche Veu (@ThePoeticActivist - poet, speaker, educator and artist) and Christians for a Free Palestine, among others. And this Disability Pride Month, we hear the voice of disabled Chrisitan civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer who said: "Nobody's free, until everybody's free."   Resources Mentioned during this Epsiode: Three Ways to Show Up for Disability Pride Month, a blog post written by our co-host, Emelda "E" for her  small business and communinity, When Motherhood Looks Different, LLC, inspired by her daughter Nai who is neurodivergent.  Check out this article on disabled voices of faith to start learning from today, including My Body is not a Prayer Request by Amy Kenny and Dr. Hardwick, The Autism Pastor.  Friends of Congo Munther Isaac and Christ at the Checkpoint  Sudanese American Physicians Association  Rabbis4Ceasefire  Pray with our Feet Shop:  Check out our online shop - official podcast tee, Pray with our Feet, The Revolution Needs our Joy tee, our water bottles, and more! Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Move It Forward Monday IG Live Series - @PrayWithOurFeet New season of our Move it Forward Monday IG Live series (now bi-monthly); the latest chat on Trauma-Informed Activism & Healing is with Kimberly Brazwell, founder of KiMISTRY, a story strategy firm that specializes in trauma informed social justice. One of her latest offerings (which is a series of books) -Jotnal Book (The Phoenix Edition), grounds us in this practice. Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

As Christians, we must say, "not in our name," as we continue witnessing the genocide of our Palestinian siblings. Mom and I sat down with Crystal Silva-McCormick, a member of Christians for a Free Palestine (CFFP), to discuss their mission, the urgency of unlearning Christian Zionism, and educating ourselves about apartheid in Palestine. Crystal also uplifts CFFP's upcoming Interfaith Action for Palestine, in D.C. (July 28-30, 2024) with a diverse coalition of faith partners (Jewish Voice for Peace, Mennonite Action, Hindus for Human Rights, RabbisForCeasefire, etc.) to counter Christians United for Israel's (CUFI) annual summit. "CUFI is the largest pro-Israel organization in the U.S." centering militarism, alongside white Christian supremacy and genocidal policies. This action focuses on "disrupting CUFI's supremacist agenda, and calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza."   Learn more about in-person public events such as the Interfaith Service (July 29) and Interfaith Rally (July 30) and participating online by visiting their website. Stay connected to the work of Christians for a Free Palestine here.  Additional Resources Mentioned in this Episode:   Israelism, a documentary by Jewish filmmakers When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns. They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism's relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.  Romero  Chronicles the amazing true transformation of an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader, who started a revolution without guns, without an army and without fear...)    HELP Spread the Word about Pray with our Feet Podcast!  >>> If you enjoy our podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach more people, and build beloved community in the spirit of Matthew 25:40 (Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.)  BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store. Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  (in honor of our 5th year anniversary) for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

In honor of Baldwin's 100th birthday, we are sharing this episode again - a conversation with Adam Hollowell and Jamie McGhee, founders of Praying with Baldwin, discussing their powerful book: You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge.  One of the most prolific writers and thinkers of the 20th century, Baldwin's words continue to awaken us. Drawing from his extensive body of work -  fiction, poetry speeches and interviews, McGhee and Hollowell call us to embody our activism.  There are prompts at the end of each chapter to help us take action - whether concerning police brutality, racial justice or LGBTQ+ rights.   Our discussion also lifts up the urgency of dialouging across differences, looking inward, intergating ways we are either unaware of oppression or compilict, what seeking justice and love within our communities and church spaces.  Showing up in faith and action takes consistent work. None of us will ever have it “figured out,” but commitment keeps us on the path. Learn more about the Praying with Baldwin project, “a sequence of prayers that originally launched August 2, 2017.” Over 30 days Jamie and Adam prayed the last words of “those who have been killed by racism and police violence and prayed for the courage to take "First Steps" to change the world around them. You can download a PDF version here.  Stay Connected with Jamie and Adam: Website: Praying with James Baldwin Instagram: @prayingbaldwin Twitter: @prayingbaldwin Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. Shop the Pray with our Feet Store or Donate! Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement! Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

Based in Oakland, CA, Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist is a gifted author, speaker, educator and poet, who tackles the challenging racial and social justice issues of our day head on, without apology.  We discuss her faith journey, the urgency of truth telling and becoming comfortable  with discomfort, the roots of White supremacy within the American church, and how she uses her work to move people beyond performative change while centering the urgency of inner work. Porsche uses her art to fight social injustice, empower women, youth, the Black community, and advocate for mental and emotional health. Porsche's first vulnerable stage poem "Caesar: A Poem About Suicide,"an ode to her dog and a story of fighting for mental health, pushed her to be unapologetically vulnerable and encourage others to erase shame, and tell their own stories.  Her book, Two Kinds of Fire, explores how spiritual and emotional fire transformed her life, and gives her a distinct voice for those who are overlooked in our society. From a Ted Talk to Google and The Black Women's March, Porsche has been invited to speak, perform, and teach at a variety of events, workshops, and creative spaces, leaving audiences feeling challenged, motivated and inspired. Because, “Jesus and justice go together, she reminds us. Stay Connected with Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist - - Visit her website - Follow her on Instagram, @ThePoeticActivist, YouTube, and LinkedIn. - And don't forget to check out her poem, Jokes (“America is the comedian whose been in the game for decades and still ain't funny. Tells the worst jokes known to mankind, then gets mad when you don't laugh.”) which we uplifted in our conversation.  Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store. Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  (in honor of our 5th year anniversary) for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer!   

    Kindness must move beyond pleasantries and root us in action and justice. Mom and I chat with Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton and former educator; she and her husband, Kevin, are on a mission to bring 1 million inclusive books to kids with every purchase of a Kind Cotton tee, tote bag or other product. Kind Cotton uplifts the work of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ children's authors, along with books focused on social emotional learning. “What we are putting out into the world are our values, " Kaitlin says.  Throughout this episode, we discuss what sparked the creation of Kind Cotton, the ways kindness is weaponized, and why moving beyond this is essential for collective liberation, building authentic community, centering inclusive education, and modeling social justice and activism for our kids. We also dive into Kaitlin's journey of discovering she is neurodivergent, and the importance of radical self care for activists. There are many ways you can support the work of Kind Cotton - join their Tee of the Month Club, and receive a brand new, discounted Kind Cotton release monthly.  You can also purchase inclusive children's books on their website and gift them to the kids in your life, or donate monthly to make sure kids all over the country receive access to a diverse array of books. And stay connected with the Kind Cotton community on social media through Instagram and TikTok.  Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

          Church hurt is widespread, and there are still many congregations which remain closed to Christians living on the margins because of sexuality / gender identity, disability, race / ethnicity, class, education level, etc. Young Prophets Collective, a growing online church and community, founded by JJ Warren, is working to shift this through building an affirming and intersectional space which welcomes all, and excludes none. I caught up with Jonelle Brown, an active member of Young Prophets Collective.   Throughout this episode we discuss -  Jonelle's faith journey and what it felt like to find an LGBTQIA+ supportive faith space in college, and how this led her to found the first open and affirming campus ministry for fellow LGBTQIA+  Christian students.  Young Prophets Collective, why they center, equip and empower the voices of young people (although older folks are part of the community) —  we cannot forget that Biblical prophets such as Jeremaiah started out young, too!  Why intersectionality is a critical part of Young Prophets Collective ministry, and their focus on growing intentionally vs. quickly.  Key components of building a digital faith community - time, energy and emotional investment, and how Y.P. Collective taps into this to guide their ministry.  How their weekly church service calls folks to the gathering practice (in the Methodist tradition) of sitting with and discussing pastor JJ's sermon, and also asking one another,” How is your soul? Jonelle's background as an educator, and how this experience led her to found  NelleRose Educational Services, which “empowers BIPOC scholars + their families to get through high school with confidence & success.”  As a success liaison and mentor, “she aims to address the systematic educational challenges faced by marginalized students of color in the U.S., especially those co-identifying as English learners, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals and neurodivergent students.”  Stay Connected & Further Resources -  Young Prophets Collective (website) and social media: Facebook,  Instagram  and YouTube. Donate to supoort their work.  Rev. JJ Warren (pastor and founder of Young Prophets Collective), he is the author of Reclaiming Church: A Call to Rejection for Religious Rejects and Where Two or Three are Connected.  Rev. JJ Warren's 2019 speech at General Counsel, United Methodist Church Learn more about Jonelle's work as an educational consultant, and founder of NelleRose Educational Services here and stay connected to her on Instagram, @nellerose_edu. Rafiki Project, an iniative of Y.P. Collective  - United Methodists in Kenya and United Methodists  in the U.S. united together in friendship and mutual aid. Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

  When we put our faith into action and center justice, fighting for the rights of everyone, particularly those most marginalized, we embody Christ. Mom and I caught up with Lindsey Krinks, Advocacy Director and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, a non-profit and interfaith community based in Tennessee whose work includes four core pillars: “street outreach, education on issues of homelessness, a solidarity network, and advocacy with our friends on the streets.”   Throughout this episode we discuss Lindsey's spiritual journey and embrace of liberation theology, and how it led her to the work she does now through Open Table Nashville (OTN) which focuses on collective liberation. OTN understands that without a systemic analysis of homelessness and poverty, we cannot, as a society, shift away from these issues. We also dive into the many ways scripture and spiritual teachers such as Saint Francis of Assisi (“Preach the gospel at all times; use words when necessary.”), call us out of the pews and into purposeful action. Lindsey shares practical tips for showing up in our church spaces, and within our day-to-day lives in support of our friends experiencing homelessness.  In addition to her work with OTN, Lindsey is the author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Street which invites readers into her story as a street chaplain, activist, and nonprofit leader standing at the margins of American society, and on the front lines of social justice movements where faith means getting your hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. You can support the work of OTN by making a donation (at any level) , signing up for an educational training session (so you can show up in your community and make a difference), or reach out to them to do a speaking engagement at your church / within your community.  Stay Connected with Lindsey's Work: Lindsey KrinksOpen Table Nashville  Instagram: Open Table Nashville (@opentablenashville)  Facebook: Open Table Nashville, Inc. Twitter: @OpenTableNash  Resources / Info. Mentioned: The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12  Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets  by Lindsey Krinks // Watch the book trailer here.  Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness by Kevin Nye. Check out our interview with him here.   Some of Lindsey's spiritual teachers:  Dorothy Day  Archbishop Oscar Romero  Richard Rohr  Walter Bruggemann Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

We are living through unprecedented times; as each of us continues processing the election, and moving through waves of grief, disappointment, overwhelm, etc., it is vital to remain rooted in God, and come into beloved community with one another. Mom and I share a few of our thoughts post-election (check out two recent Instagram posts,  Jesus Is… and Reclaiming Christianity), drop into discussing what soul care is, why it matters, and share two soul care practices you can lean into for support - breath prayer and meditating on verses of scripture.  Breath prayer helps us to focus on a short phrase (God, Give me strength to keep going…or uplift a verse of scripture). You say the first part of the prayer on your inhale, and the second part on your exhale. You repeat this over and over until you feel God's spirit.  And Mom walked us through meditating on scripture which she breaks down into a 3 step process of which begins with prayer, and then we observe (write down what you think the verse is saying), interpret (go deeper here and ask >>> what does this verse mean?), and application (how does this verse apply to my life? How can I embody it within my everyday living?).  Sign up for our next Prayer Moment gathering: Thursday, Dec. 5, 8pm EST  Soul Care Resources >>>Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I. >>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation - Check out our interview with  Jonelle of Young Prophets Collective. Middle Collegiate Church (my place of worship and community) - Check out our interview with  Rev. Jacqui, Senior Minister at Middle Church. The Perch Place  Check out our interview with Amy Jackson, founder of The Perch Place. Light of the Holy Spirit  by India Arie For My Good (feat. Todd Gilbert & Chandler Moore) by Maverick City Music & Naomi Rein  Ways to Organize

On the anniversary of Jan. 6th we are revisiting our conversation with Dr. Obery Hendricks, Jr.  and the discussion of his book - Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021). Across the country, far too many church leaders are pledging allegiance to the false ideology of white supremacy, American nationalism, toxic greed and exclusion of folks living on the margins.  In Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals are Destroying our Nation and our Faith, he writes - “Trump's evangelicals carried a pernicious message directly counter to the faith they profess: that it is acceptable to commit transgressions of virtually any kind against other human beings simply because their skin bears a different hue or they speak in unfamiliar tongues. The extent to which Christians enact, support, or tolerate these behaviors is the extent to which they are at war with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Dr. Hendricks is a life long social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is a Biblical scholar at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. His other books include The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings , The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic, and the novel Living Water. Dr. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.” Take Action - Sign the Statement - Christians Against Christian Nationalism Read our past blog on Christian Nationalism Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.  

As we honored Dr. King yesterday, we sit with the weight of this moment - stepping into another Trump presidency. Many of us remain committed to working towards a country rooted in collective liberation. Mom and I decided to root our discussion around Dr. King legacy, and his last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? In this two part conversation, we chat with three phenomenal women, Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, writer, organizer, speaker, and Consulting Minister for Justice & Community Organizing at Middle Church, the founder of Raising Imagination, Avril Somerville, writer  poet, and author of A Journey Of Life On PURPOSE, and Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, writer and author (Departure Story), editor, entrepreneur and founder of Spoken Black Girl, and host of The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast.  Together  we unpack - building beloved community, why the church must divest from the false ideology of white supremacy, continually organizing for collective liberation, decolonizing, resisting the rise of global fascism, standing in active intersectional solidarity with all who are oppressed (because of race, disability, sexuality, gender, gender identity, etc.) the importance of soul work, and the many ways our faith in God, and creativity can propel us forward (Micah 6:8). Rev. Amanda is passionate about the intersections of race, faith, politics, and parenting and having conversations that move us towards a liberated society. She has presented nationwide on topics including systemic injustice, religion, raising white children as anti-racist, and involving young children in advocacy. You can learn more about her work here. Way to Take Action -  Connect with the Poor People's Campaign which organizes across the country.  Soul Care Resources >>> Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I. >>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    As we honored Dr. King yesterday, we sit with the weight of this moment - stepping into another Trump presidency. Many of us remain committed to working towards a country rooted in collective liberation. In part two of our conversation, Mom and I chat with Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, writer and author (Departure Story), editor, entrepreneur and founder of Spoken Black Girl, and host of The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast, and Avril Somerville, writer, poet, and author of A Journey Of Life On PURPOSE. Throughout both conversations (listen to part 1 here), we unpack building beloved community, why the church must divest from the false ideology of white supremacy, continually organizing for collective liberation, decolonizing, resisting the rise of global fascism, standing in active intersectional solidarity with all who are oppressed (because of race, disability, sexuality, gender, gender identity, etc.), the importance of soul work, and the many ways our faith in God, and creativity can propel us forward (Micah 6:8). Action Steps:  - Check out Spoken Black Girl's Book Club which meets Saturday, Feb. 1, 1pm EST to discuss Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower. Sign up here. - Connect with the Poor People's Campaign in your state today! >>>> Learn more about Yaa and Avril by reading show notes on our website.  Soul Care Resources: >>> Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I. >>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

As activists and folks of faith, particularly in these challenging times, we must simultaneously commit to inner revolution and collective liberation. Prioritizing healing from these oppressive systems is also “the work.”  bell hooks reminded us often: "Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion." Last year I sat down with Kimberly Brazwell, a two-time TEDx speaker, author, CEO and founder of KiMISTRY for our Move It Forward Monday IG Live series to discuss trauma-informed activism. And it feels like a powerful moment to revisit this conversation.   We delved into healing as deeply connected to the work, softening around emotions instead of pushing past them, and guiding intentions to center for ourselves and others (grace, acceptance, and forgiveness). Kimberly worked with organizers in the wake of George Floyd's murder to create a healing container that still thrives today as they continue to build community. She calls us to remember: “We have to war for our wellness,” and be intentional about calling these practices into our lives!  One of her latest offerings (which is a series of books) -Jotnal Book (The Phoenix Edition), grounds us in this practice. Created by KiMISTRY, Jotnal Books offer trauma-informed approaches to reflection and restoration, and aids folks through processing emotions while passively teaching how to journal.  The Phoenix Edition offers brief writing prompts, questionnaires, wellness information, activities and exercises to inspire its owner to think, feel and grow. This Jotnal edition also highlights inspirational quotes and vibrant original artwork highlighting lifecycle stages of the mythological phoenix character. Its design especially embraces challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) women/femmes.  KiMISTRY is a story strategy consulting firm, which specializes in the art of storytelling to address the unique intersection of justice and holistic wellness for a trauma-informed experiential application to human engagement. Kimberly Brazwell is also the creator of the Nine Asks and KiMISTRY Labs. Move it Forward Monday is a bi-monthly series @PrayWithOurFeet where we uplift conversations with folks working to make a difference in the world - activists, creatives, theologians / ministers and more. 

An artisanal miner carrries a sack of ore at Shabara artisnal mine near  Kolwezi, DRC, on October 2022. Junior Kannah/ AFP via Getty Images  The pain of our Congolese siblings powers our cell phones and electronic devices. “Approximately six million people have been killed since 1996, and more than six million people remain internally displaced in eastern DRC, " journalist Shola Lawal, writes in A Guide to the Decades Long Conflict in the DRC. Mom and I caught up with Maurice Carney, co-founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Congo (FOTC), a non-profit based in the Washington D.C., and founded in 2004; FOTC supports Congelese-led organizations working on the ground to end this genocide, and bring healing to the country.  We discuss the impact of European and U.S. colonization and imperialism on the Congolese people, and the many forces preventing the country from thriving today (for example, multinational corporations, the World Bank, Western governments, local elites, etc.). Maurice also uplifts the mission of Friends of the Congo, multiple ways to take action, resources (films, books, etc. to educate yourself), and focuses on some of the biggest ways we can all help — using our platforms to raise awareness, encouraging people in our communities to speak up, and shifting our purchasing habits towards sustaining the greater good. For over twenty five years, Maurice Carney has advocated for the dignity and inclusion of Congolese civil society in all efforts towards peace, democracy, food sovereignty, and climate justice. Maurice provides consultation to political leaders in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Africa, the UN, as well as to international NGOs and funders.   Resources & Ways to Take Action: Visit Friends of the Congo wesbite Take Action with FOTC  Donate & Support FOTC   Urgent Support Needed for Goma  Fact Sheets on the Congo from FOTC   The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People's History  by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaj Climate Crisis and Congo  Basandja: The Living Wisdom of the Congo Rainforest Stay Connected on Social Media:   Friends of the Congo on YouTube @CongoFriends on Instagram  Congo Friends on Facebook  @CongoFriends on Twitter (X)   Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

  In this moment when all of our rights are under attack within the U.S., we are all fighting multiple battles simultaneously. But there is one area which unites us - health care; each of us needs it, and far too many people do not have access. I caught up with Kelly, an organizer with the Non-Violent Medicaid Army (NVMA) which is “a growing, politically independent force of the poor and dispossessed, united across identities, regions, races and issues, modeled after MLK's 'nonviolent army of the poor' from the first Poor People's Campaign of 1968.” NVMA “is not a coalition or a campaign but a network of organizations and committees that understand healthcare to be a strategic front of struggle to unite the working class,” and there are chapters across the country within Wyoming, Wisconsin, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland and Vermont. Throughout our time together, Kelly and I discuss her personal journey, and how liberation theology informs her activism, healthcare as a human right, the inequities within our healthcare system, and the need for collective action to address injustices while advocating for change.We also delved into the importance of community engagement and storytelling in pushing for healthcare rights, particularly through the NVMA; through #MedicaidMondays where they spotlight folks personal stories across their social media platforms (share your story by applying here), the impact of NVMA's National Call-In Days speaking up for Medicaid, along with the lessons they took away from last year's National Week of Action (September 21-28, 2024). Ultimately, Kelly and all the NVMA organizers remind us, through their daily work, that we belong to each other; and our voices are needed in the ongoing work of collective liberation.  Monthly Saturday schools educate the community about Medicaid and healthcare rights. Sign up to attend Saturday, April 5, 1pm EST and watch the March 2025 session. Stay connected with NVMA on social media: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. > Head to show notes for key episode takeaways, additional resources, and learn more about Kelly Smith who is on the national organizing team of the Nonviolent Medicaid Army and is co-coordinator of the New York Nonviolent Medicaid Army. She previously served as Tri-chair of the NYS Poor People's Campaign (NYSPPC), a role she held for several years. She is still involved with the Poor People's Campaign, mentoring leaders, working with the New York City Regional Committee and serving on the NYSPPC Coordinating Committee. 

In this special episode of Pray with our Feet podcast, Mom and I chat with Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, Michele Evans and Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas, about the latest issue of Spoken Black Girl Magazine (which focuses on the Black motherhood experience) while also uplifting Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance.  We dive into the urgent need for community care, creating safe spaces for Black mothers and their children, resisting the suffocation of our wombs by oppressive systems, and the vital need for rest, mindfulness and radical self care in the tradition of Audre Lorde and June Jordan; each of these practices is a sacred form of resistance, sustaining us in the ongoing work of collective liberation.  We call our joy back to us, and remain rooted in our faith, despite the challenges.  Purchase your copy of Spoken Black Girl (Motherhood issue), where you can read "Swan Song," by Michele Evans, "Our Wombs Cannot Breathe: Wellness Power for Facing the Harsh Reality of Black Maternal-Child Health Disparities in the United States, by Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas PhD & Dr. Kyrah K. Brown PhD, "Mothering at the Intersection of Blackness and Neurodiversity" by Emelda De Coteau alongside an array of talented writers and artists.  Stay Connected with the Writers: Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, founder of Spoken Black Girl and author of Departure Story  Michele Evans, author of Purl (a collection of poetry)  Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas, author of the forthcoming book entitled THE UGLY CRY: Essays and Meditations on Honesty, Anger, Grief, and Freedom. To be released Summer 2025.  >>> Head over to our webiste to see full show notes (includes the authors bios & additonal links to their work)   Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.