The Neighborly Faith Podcast

Threats to religious freedom abound. Can evangelical Christians and Muslims cooperate toward a shared future in America in which their freedoms are equally protected and upheld?

The fourth chapter in a series of online dialogues in April/May 2020, featuring R.R. Reno, Editor of First Things, and Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Contributing Writer for The Atlantic.

The fourth chapter in a series of online dialogues in April/May 2020, featuring Danielle Strickland (Amplify Peace and Brave Global) and Yasmin Mogahed (AlMaghrib Institute) on "Finding Light in a Dark Place."

The third chapter in a series of online dialogues in April/May 2020, featuring Pastor Micah Fries (Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN) and Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans (American Learning Institute for Muslims) on "Caring for our Community Physically, Spiritually, and Emotionally."

The second chapter in a series of online dialogues in April/May 2020, featuring Pastor Scott Sauls (Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville) and Omar Suleiman (Yaqeen Institute) on "Battling Fear in Uncertain Times."

Kickoff Neighborly Faith online dialogue in April 2020, featuring Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., Imam Mohamed Magid, and Rabbi David Saperstein on "Leaning on each other through Easter, Ramadan, and Passover."

This week Amar talks with Neighborly Faith Fellow Matt Henning. They reflect on the close of Matt's time as a Fellow by talking about his favorite parts of the Fellows program, his funded initiative, and what he has learned through the Fellows program.    To learn more Fellows program, our current fellows, and our world-class mentors - visit: neighborlyfaith.org/fellows Read the story of the Fellows program on Sojourners Magazine here 

This episode features a panel discussion at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019. The panel features Saad and Omar, two Muslims students from nearby Benedictine University, a Catholic University in Lisle, Illinois, and Petra Alsoofy, Outreach & Partnerships Manager for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. The title of the panel is, “Understanding the Muslim Midwest Experience.”

This episode features Dr. Matthew Kaemingk's presentation at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019. Dr. Kaemingk is an associate dean and an assistant professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear, which was named one of the best books of 2018 by Christianity Today. The title of Dr. Kaemingk's talk is “Christian-Muslim Friendship in an Age of Fear.”

This episode features a panel discussion at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019.  The panel featured five talented and influential evangelical leaders including Greg Jao of InterVarsity, Dr. Kristen Deede Johnson of Western Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Jennifer McNutt and Dr. Noah Toly of Wheaton College, and Pastor Kevin C. Brown.  The panel begins with a response to Dr. Matthew Kaemingk's keynote presentation on Christian-Muslim friendship. The panel is entitled, “Ask Five Experts: Why Loving All Neighbors is Important.”

This episode features Dr. Shadi Hamid's presentation at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019. Dr. Hamid is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of several books including Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World. Recently, Hamid was named one of the world's top 50 thinkers of 2019 by Prospect magazine. The title of Dr. Hamid's talk is “A Muslim Perspective: Can Muslims and Evangelicals Be Friends?”

This episode features Luke Goodrich's presentation at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019. Luke Goodrich is Vice President and Senior Council at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and author of the brand new book, Free to Believe: The Battle over Religious Liberty in America.  The title of Luke's talk is “Why Christians Must Care about Freedom for Muslims.”

This episode features Daniel Hill's presentation at the Neighborly Faith Conference, held at Wheaton College on November 1-2, 2019. Daniel is the Founding and Senior Pastor of River City Community Church, located in the west Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. He is also the author of several books including White Awake and the forthcoming The End of Supremacy. The title of Daniel's talk is: “Responding to Christ's Call to Engage 'Others'”

This week Kevin talks with Rev. Angela Denker, author of the new book Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump. Kevin and Angela talk about her transition from sports journalism to writing about Trump voters, and her journey through ministry across the country. 

This week Kevin talks to Jeff Christopherson and Daniel Yang of the Send Institute about church planting in the United States. They talk about a new era of planting in a religiously and culturally pluralistic society and how planting churches can be an act of love towards one's community, not an act of separation. Jeff and Daniel also share some of their favorite resources they've read over the summer. 

This week Amar talks with Jonathan Walton, Area ministry director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and author of “12 Lies that Hold America Captive: and the Truth that Sets Us Free.” Amar and Jonathan talk about this new book, the concept of White American Folk Religion, America as a transformed plantation, and the perception of Christianity across the world.    Learn more about Jonathan's book: https://www.ivpress.com/twelve-lies-that-hold-america-captive    Learn more about Neighborly Faith: neighborlyfaith.org

This week, Amar talks with Ismail Royer  Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute. Ismail spent just over 13 years in prison, but dedicated himself to helping others when he was released over two years ago. Amar and Ismail talk about his conversion to Islam in the early '90s, his work with the Religious Freedom Institute, the importance of Religious Freedom and its history in the United States, and the unique positions of Muslims and Christians in Institutional Pluralism. They also talk about the purpose of truth in our society and how Christians and Muslims can work together. 

This week Amar talks with Dilshad Ali of Haute Hijab, a high fashion hijab clothing line. Amar and Dilshad talk about the vision and mission of Haute Hijab, overcoming negative connotation of Hijabs in America, Haute Hijab's blog, and how Evangelicals and Muslims can work together better.

Kevin interviews two Taylor University students who attended the nation's largest collegiate interfaith conference in August 2019 (Interfaith Youth Core's Leadership Institute). Interfaith has gotten a bad rap in evangelical circles, but their experiences might surprise you.

Amar talks with Pastor Jeremy Treat (Ph.D, Wheaton) about his position as Pastor for Preaching and Vision at RealityLA, his book “Seek First: How the Kingdom of God Changes Everything,” ministering in downtown Los Angeles, and following Jesus in a pluralistic culture.    Purchase Jeremy's book “Seek First” at https://www.amazon.com/Seek-First-Kingdom-Changes-Everything/dp/031058602X  Learn more about us at neighborlyfaith.org

Kevin chats with Dr. Ayaz Virji, author of Love Thy Neighbor: A Muslim Doctor's Struggle For Home In Rural America.

Amar and Kevin talk with Dr. Daniel Bennett of John Brown University about the Evangelical responsibility in advocating for Religious Freedom for all faith traditions. Can we do this without losing the core identity of Evangelicalism? Are we “going liberal” if we support this? They also talk about Christian Higher Education, non-Christian student groups at these institutions and universities, and complacency found in Christian education towards those of other faith traditions. 

Professor Najeeba Syeed talks with Amar and Kevin about the way religion is used for political aims by various coalitions and groups, the importance of multifaith literacy and community education, and the future of Muslim-Christian dialogue. 

Eboo Patel (Founder, Interfaith Youth Core) and Shadi Hamid (Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution) talk about the kind of pluralism our country needs right now and whether the revival of an American creed or grand narrative is necessary for healthy pluralism to take root in our country.

Amar interviews Steve Slocum, Founder and CEO of Salaam and author of the new book “Why Do They Hate Us?: Making Peace with the Muslim World.” Amar and Steve talk about Islamophobia, having integrity as Evangelicals when approaching multifaith work, and the importance of person-to-person interaction between Christians and Muslims. To learn more about Salaam, volunteer, or contribute visit www.salaamusa.org/ To learn more about Steve's new book, visit www.steveslocum.com/ To learn more about Neighborly Faith, visit www.neighborlyfaith.org    

Kevin talks with Stephen Trainer, Pastor/Planter of Graffiti Fellowship Church in Coney Island, Brooklyn and Executive Director of the Graffiti Ministries Learning Center.

Kevin and Chris interview Alex Kasprak from Snopes, who recently completed an investigation into a small group of fringe-right evangelicals, led by Kelly Monroe Kullberg, who created a network of Facebook pages that frequently posted abusive content about Muslims. The investigation led to all of the pages being taken down.

Kevin Singer interviews Zainab Baloch, candidate for Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina. This episode provides insight into the experiences and perspectives of young Muslims running for public office in America.

Sociologist George Yancey fields questions about his research on anti-Christian bias in American society and academia.

Kevin interviews Jami Staples, Founder/CEO of The Truth Collective, an organization helping Muslim and Christian women to seek and believe what is true about God and how He sees women. Jami believes the greatest hurdle to faithful engagement with Muslims is a diminished confidence in God's Word in our post-truth society.

Kevin Singer interviews one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2017, Women's March Co-Chair and Muslim-American activist Linda Sarsour. What does she think about calls for civility? Is her faith just an anecdote in her progressive political work? Is she totally bought in to the liberal agenda? What does she really think about evangelicals?

Episode 5 of 5. Eboo Patel, Khalid Latif, Hatem Bazian, and Salim Kassam discuss the evolution of American Islam and the next generation of Muslim youth. Eboo runs a national bridebuilding organization, Khalid is university chaplain at NYU, Hatem founded the first Muslim liberal arts college, and Salim runs one of the most popular Muslim media outlets in the world. Major themes include Muslims and pluralism, social justice, digital media, and evangelical Christians.

Episode 4 of 5. Ustadh Evans, John Ederer, and Moustafa Bayoumi discuss American life from their unique vantage point. Ustadh is a leader in the civic sphere, John works as an Imam at a mosque in Charlotte, and Moustafa is an accomplished writer who works as a professor in Brooklyn. Major themes in this episode include the Black Muslim experience, converting to Islam, and the future of evangelical-Muslim relations. Are evangelicals ready to seek "brotherhood from sea to shining sea"?

Episode 3 of 5. Asma Uddin, Sarah Sayeed, and Haroon Moghul discuss their upbringing, their work, and their experiences with Christians. Each are leading efforts to carve out spaces for Muslims in the American public square. Major themes in this episode include religious liberty under the First Amendment, bridge-building across divisions, and the dynamic journey of being Muslim in America. Are evangelicals ready to call them neighbors?

Episode 2 of 5. Zainab Chaudry, Dalia Mogahed, and Omar Suleiman discuss their upbringing, their work, and their experiences with Christians. Each are leading Muslims to serve their communities as they try to dismantle stereotypes. Major themes of this episode include grounding justice work in faith, giving Muslims a voice to tell their own stories, and the exciting ways that Muslims are contributing to society for the common good. Are evangelicals ready to call them neighbors?

This Spring, we'll introduce you to 14 of the most significant Muslim leaders in America. They'll share stories about their upbringing, American Muslim life, and their experiences with evangelicals. They'll also talk about their work, their traditions, and their beliefs. This project is the first major effort to introduce America's Muslim leaders to a conservative evangelical audience using a popular medium.

Presentation at Coray Gymnasium and dialogue with President Philip Ryken. Wheaton College (IL) welcomed Eboo Patel to campus to speak about the importance of bringing people of different faiths together to solve some of our country's biggest challenges, and to overcome today's polarizing social and political climate. Eboo is an Ismaili Muslim who is founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core.

Interview with Kevin Singer. Wheaton College (IL) welcomed Eboo Patel to campus to speak about the importance of bringing people of different faiths together to solve some of our country's biggest challenges, and to overcome today's polarizing social and political climate. Eboo is an Ismaili Muslim who is founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core.

Kevin Singer sits down with Ben Williams, who is a lay-pastor at Church of the Redeemer, located on the campus of Northwestern University. Ben's ministry is a unique hybrid of Anglican liturgy and college-campus ministry. In this episode, Ben about how the Church of the Redeemer is different from college campus ministries such as Intervarsity or CRU, and how his congregation has interacted with the non-Christian students on campus. Lastly, Ben talks about loving our neighbors through the willingness to hear and respect people of other faiths.

In this episode, we will hear answers to the question “How should the Church follow the teaching and instruction of Jesus in John 17:20-23?" How does this teaching apply to building relationships and loving our brothers and sisters in the Faith who are a part of a different tradition or communion?   20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (Jesus, John 17:20-23).

In this episode, we will be laying the foundation for the remainder of the series by hearing from a number of prominent Evangelical and Catholic voices. These leaders will talk about their first impressions of the other, and how those impressions have changed over time. We also will hear some of our guests' perspectives on the differences that exist between these two groups. Lastly, we will hear some questions that our Evangelical guests have for Catholics.

In this installment of the series, we answer some questions surrounding the larger question of why unity is difficult among Evangelicals and Catholics. Our guests talk about some of the hindrances and obstacles Evangelicals must overcome in order to engage better, as well as some strong supports for why Evangelicals should be more intentional about engaging with ecumenical dialogue.

In this installment of the series, we ask the hard question of what unity realistically looks like in our world today. Is it the breaking down of denominations to become one Church, or is unity found in embracing the diversity within the Church? Furthermore, we will talk about if we, as Christians, should be hopeful for the future of Evangelical-Catholic relations.

We conclude our series with a two-part episode looking at how Evangelicals and Catholics are working together right now for the betterment of the church, their communities, and the world. In the first part, we will look specifically at three outlets of the work of UniteBoston. I'm sure you will find a number of these voices to be familiar, as we have from most of these people throughout this entire series. In this episode, you will hear from those same people as they discuss their specific Ecumenical work with UniteBoston.

Welcome to our final episode of this special series. In this episode, we will hear four more stories of Catholics and Evangelicals working together in action and dialogue. In this episode we will hear from Matt Crane, who is involved with working alongside Catholics to build refugee houses on the east coast; Alex Wilgus, and Anglican Deacon who describes how Catholics and Anglicans are working together; and Dr. Jeffery Barbeau from Wheaton College who talks about finding unity in diversity within the classroom.

In this episode, Kevin interviews Keith Whitfield and Micah Fries, authors of the new book Islam in North America: Loving Our Religious Neighbors (November 2018, B&H Academic). They were told not to read books by Christians about Islam, but they chose to write one anyway. Why? What are they hoping evangelicals will take from the book? All of this and more will be discussed in this inspiring new episode.

In this episode we interview Bob Roberts Jr., Pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, TX and Glocal.net. Bob has been a major trailblazer among evangelicals through his engagement with people of other faiths. In this episode, we'll ask Bob about his recent visit to Abu Dhabi for the widely publicized Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Majority Nations, as well as his work leading retreats for evangelical pastors, Imams, and Rabbis, how he navigates the criticism that he receives from fellow evangelicals about his work, and his advice for young evangelicals who are interested in following in his footsteps.

This week, Chris talks with the Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, the Program Director for Cardus Law. He is also an ordained deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in the Diocese of Toronto and Eastern Canada. Andrew and Chris talk about the state of religious freedom in Canada, how Dr. Bennett's organization (Cardus) has addressed some current events, and how these events impact believers in the United States as well.    For more information on Dr. Bennett and Cardus, visit cardus.ca and convivium.ca  For all things Neighborly Faith, visit us at neighborlyfaith.org

Families from Vintage Church North Raleigh visited the North Raleigh Masjid for dinner in November 2018. In this episode, I interview Pastors Tanner Griffith and Jared Trumbo about their impressions of the event. What did they think of the idea? Did it go as they expected? Would they encourage other pastors to do the same with their churches?

In this week's episode, Chris talks to Antti Pentikäinen, Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers as well as the Executive Director of Finn Church Aid. Antti and Chris talk about how Christian's can engage in International Peacebuilding even through secular organizations and structures like the United Nations. Antti tells stories from the many years of experience he has had working both in the States, as well as around the world in promoting these efforts through various venues. 

Dr. Shadi Hamid (Brookings Institution) and Dr. Matthew Kaemingk (Fuller Seminary) may come from different faith traditions, but they have similar questions and concerns about Western liberalism. In this episode we discuss this issue along with how their friendship started, their admiration of one another's work, and why they think Evangelical-Muslim friendship is so important.