The Black Church Still Speaks

In this episode, Rev. Watts discusses with the General Secretary of The RCA about the AABC and its future. They talk about the importance of the Black church in the reformed denomination and the impact it has had historically and how the need for the AABC to be intricately involved in the shaping of its future. They also discuss the need for new fresh expressions of the church to be planted in the African American/Black context as well.

In this episode, Rev. Watts speaks with young adult pastor and filmmaker Sekou Browne about his new film "Inherited" which talks about mental health and long-term care of elderly parents. This important discussion touches on the role The Black Church plays in providing education and possible services for its members who deal with this phenomena constantly. Sekou's main goal is to write, direct and produce meaningful narrative and documentary films that intersect both his Christian faith and race.”

Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson is a preacher, pastor, and prophet. Dissatisfied with how the church talks about race, Riana makes space for “holy conversations” that are both hard and beautiful. The work of dismantling systemic racism and finding a way forward are firmly rooted in Scripture, and Riana invites followers of Christ to examine the Biblical call to racial justice and equity. Riana joins Pete Watts on the Black Church Still Speaks Podcast this month to share her experiences as a Black woman who doesn’t always feel welcomed in the Reformed church. They also discuss what it means to be a woman–in particular, a Black woman–preaching, pastoring, and leading in today's world.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Rev. Dr. George E. Young Sr. about the Black Church and its history with politics. Pastor George is a senator from the great state Oklahoma and has been pastoring for decades. We talked about the ways in which the Black church has always been a place for advocacy in the political arena and how pastors balance the two.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Dr. Efrem Smith talk about the unique history of Church planting in the African American context. They discuss the difference in church planting models that are eurocentric in nature versus how people of African descent historically went about planting churches. They also lament the role that the Black church has played historically versus the reality of today's church and the desire to plant new churches in North America. These two experienced leaders and church planters and pastors delve into the hopes and dreams as well as the challenges around historic Black denominations that are not thikning in a multiplicative sense on this topic.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Lisa Sharon Harper about her new book Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World and How to Repair it All. Drawing on her lifelong journey to know her family’s history, leading Christian activist Lisa Sharon Harper recovers the beauty of her heritage, exposes the brokenness that race has wrought in America, and casts a vision for collective repair. We spend our time talking about the last half of her book which focuses on three themes of Truth-Telling, Reparations as Repentence and Forgivness/Beloved Community. You can pre-order your book by February 7th and particpate in Black Fortune Month. You can learn more at her website at https://lisasharonharper.com/fortune/

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Chris Burton talks with Rev. Watts about Diversity Equity and Inclusion within the black church space and the larger church as a whole. They talk about the historic black church and its effectiveness but the need for a new paradigm with today's generation. They discuss what it means to be anti-racist and how the Black church plays a role in that work.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Rev. Dr. Micah McCreary...talks about the Black Church and the importance of Seminary eduation at the local church level. He then talks about Reformed Theology and Black people and the impact is has on scripture interperation and liberation theology. Lastly, we discuss "church-based seminary" to talk about access to seminary for under resourced and under served communities.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Rev. Dr. Robert Turner of Vernon AME. Vernon AME is the last standing structure to suriving the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. Rev. Turner talks about his ministry and calling to Vernon AME and the work he has been engaged in over the last four years in getting reparations for all of the African Americans in Tulsa who lost their lives during the destruction of what is called "Black Wall Street." Rev. Turner also discusses the challenges he sees in the Black church with regards to its desire of fitting into the larger culture of American society rather than being the conscious of America.

On this episode of The Black Church Still Speaks Pete talks with Chris Broussard Fox Sports NBA Analyst and Founder of K.I.N.G. Movment. They open up talking about the past NBA playoffs as Chris makes his prediction of who will win the NBA finals. Chris then discusses his viewpiont of what it means to be a Christian in public spaces as public figure. He also talks about the Black church and the need for Godly Black Men who will lead their families and communities. They round out the show talking about the Gospel and its implications for the Black church's continued existence.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Dr. Liz Rios of Passion 2 Plant Network whose work focuses on Latina church planters in urban communities. Pete and Liz discuss the implications of urban communities being multiethnic consisting of black and brown communities and how partnership in those communities could be a benefit to a declining church. Dr. Rios is passionate about leadership and church planting with women and gives her viewpoint on women in leadership in this area.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Natasha Sistrunk-Robinson about discipleship and mentorship in the Black Church. She is focused on the next generation of leaders for the church. She speaks about being a female leader in a male dominated world during her time in the miliatry and how it prepared her for discipleship and leadership in the local church. Nathasha Sistrunk-Robinson is a published author with several books that teaches leadership, mentorship, and discipleship for leaders in the pews most especially.

On this episode of the Black Church Still speaks Pete will interview elder, Jonathan Banks. He is motivated to see students and families Rise by challenging them to grow and maximizing their potential. Jonathan earned an undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Jonathan has enjoyed an amazing career path which has included Non-Profit Leadership, Youth Ministry, Food Ingredient & Flavor Research, Real Estate Finance and Business Development, Teaching and Tutoring K-12 & College level courses. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Urban Outreach Foundation. Jonathan lives in Illinois with his wife, Jacinta, and their sons.

In this episode, Pete Watts talks with Dr. Don Davis, founder and director of the Urban Ministry Institute about the future of the Black Church. They dive into the Black Church’s past to understand it’s future and how the Black Church has always had to fight to be in the fight. Dr. Davis argues that the future of the Black Church is in missions. He knows that this missional future will be challenging because of what he’s been a part of since 1975 through his work with World Impact in the areas of urban ministry and missions. He has seen how the role of religion has been diminished in black communities and replaced by what Pete Watts calls “inner city mystery cults.” Facing this reality, Pete and Dr. Davis round out the show by discussing how the Black Church can once again become a vital part of the community by engaging in mission work.

The vision of The Black Church Still Speaks is to acknowledge the historical legacy of the black church, reaffirm her biblical identity, and rediscover her missional vitality.