Race, Justice and the Church

This week, I talk with Andrea Booker, a NYC native who is African-American & Latina. Andrea shares her experience following Jesus in various churches, in corporate America and in seminary. Resources Mentioned: Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss IG: @drea_0615 The Gathering Harlem

This episode we talk with Jonathan Springer, a pastor's kid, public school educator, historian, seminarian, and Afro-Caribbean. We talk about the legacy of his faith in Jesus, the history of his church in Harlem, and the legacies of Martin & Malcolm and a theology of justice.  Resources Mentioned: Divided By Faith by Michael Emerson & Christian Smith Martin & Malcolm & America by James Cone Unsettling Truths by Mark Charles & Soong-Chan Rah Sacred Call Ministries IG: @jsprings12

This episode we talk with David Carment, a New Jersey native, Pastor of Liberty Church and the Center Director of New City Kids NJ, a robust after-school program that empowers at-risk teens to become role models for this kids in their neighborhood. Resources Mentioned: New City Kids NJ david@newcitykids.org

In this episode, I talk with a couple. Joseph & Loren Bassey are an interracial couple who are Duke alumni following Jesus in NYC. Loren in a public school special education teacher, and Joseph works in HR technology. We talk about their church experience, their relationship and navigating as an interracial couple. Resources Mentioned: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Just Mercy (Movie Tie-in Edition, Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson Just Mercy the movie IG: jbassey007 Bassey Print Shop

In this episode we talk with Shanika Hart, a Brooklyn New York native, a licensed mental health professional and the co-planter and first lady of The Gathering Harlem. We talk about her experience of the gospel, planting TGH, speaking at a recent protest and her vision for mental health ministry. Resources Mentioned: Shanika's full speech at March for Souls and Bodies Protest  "Speaking Truth to Power" Panel IG:@nikahart The Gathering Harlem

I'm back with Season 2! We're talking about corporate America, church planting, mental health, Martin Luther King & Malcolm X, interracial couples, & how they all collide with race, justice & the church. Drops January 1, 2021.

In today's episode I want to share a sermon that I preached at The Gathering Harlem on January 27, 2020. We were in the middle of a series walking through our Core Values as a church. And in this sermon, I preach on our core value: Unity Through Dignity & Diversity. Enjoy!

A continuation of our conversation with Pastor Kenny Hart.

Kenny is a Harlem native and founding pastor of The Gathering Harlem. Kenny grew up in a nominal Christian home and came to Christ while at college, playing baseball in Oklahoma and Missouri. Following God's call on his life, he left behind a career in professional baseball and went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to become a pastor. He came back to NYC and served at Christ Crucified Fellowship in Washington Heights before planting The Gathering Harlem in 2017. Kenny lives in Harlem with his wife Shanika raising their three boys and their newly arrived daughter.

We continue our conversation with Matt Mueller.

Matt is white and grew up in the Christian Church/Church of Christ and graduated from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO. He grew up in the racially mixed suburb of Florissent, MO. Florissent is next door to Ferguson, MO, which we'll definitely talk about. Matt moved to NYC in 2010 to help start Everyday Church Church, where he first met Nate. He has been a catalyst for helping the Everyday Church work toward diversity and justice.

Tia grew up in a black pentecostal church. When she moved to NYC, she got connected with Renaissance Church in Harlem where she later heard about and joined The Gathering Harlem. Tia is a Brooklyn native and worked for the NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic & Gender-Based Violence. She now works for Safe Families, an organization that connects families in crisis to neighborhood resources and relationships. At The Gathering Harlem, Tia has been a major key is our hospitality ministry, growing it from a dozen volunteers to nearly 80. She has recently become our Life Groups coordinator & joined the staff as the Team-Development Coordinator.

Elisabeth (Libby) is a NYC native, raised in Fresh Meadows, Queens. Libby is Chinese-American and grew up in a Chinese church environment, before joining The Gathering Harlem. She is an early childhood educator with a specialization in special education. This year she started teaching her own pre-kindergarten class at the Harlem Children's Zone, a leading charter school in Harlem. Libby previously served as the Kids Team Director at The Gathering Harlem. We discuss her experience of race in church, the education system as well as the myth of Asians as the "model minority."

The episode we hear from Deborah Metts. Deborah's church experience was as an African-American family growing up was in a reformed, majority white church. She met Nate by being a part of the launch-team of The Gathering Harlem, planted in 2016. Deborah works in marketing for the Macy's Department Store, while also pursuing teaching business at LIM College in Manhattan, NYC. Deborah continues to serve and lead as a part of The Gathering Harlem.

In this episode Nate tells a little of his story and the origins of the podcast. Get to know Nate, the goals of the podcast and why it's so important to talk about these issues. Subscribe today!