THE UN-SILENT CHURCH

For reasons beyond our understanding, "social justice" has become a term of derision, often cast away as an unclean things that must be kept separate. However, when we read about the life and behaviors of Jesus—and pay close attention to His words—we quickly realize that those who would attempt to distance justice in the social sphere away from the heart of the gospel, may well be distancing themselves from the heart of God. In this episode of the Unsilent Church, Darryl Williamson drops this bomb along with many many others as it pertains to a Biblical theology of justice. If you've found yourself in a conversation with someone who believes the answer to injustice is to simply "preach the gospel," this is an episode to enlighten us all to a clearer understanding of grace, justice and God's heart for his people to act accordingly.

When you hear the word "gentrification," how does it make you feel? If you've grown up in the hood, or most neighborhoods of lesser means, when you hear the term "gentrification," it probably makes you cringe—and rightfully so. So much of what comes with gentrification and redevelopment deserves that kind a response, if not even resistance. But if gentrification is a tidal wave that's bound to come anyway, is it possible to ride that wave instead of drowning and being swept away by it? In this episode of The Unsilent Church podcast we have the privilege of speaking with John Onwuchekwa—pastor, author, network leader, and entrepreneur—about the relationship between justice and business. How does the church disrupt injustice and cultivate peace? There's a number ways, but at least one way is through just business. Listen as John tells his story about how he and the community are playing a role in the redevelopment of Atlanta's West End, learning how to swim in these waters usually intended to flood 'em out. Enjoy!

As we've been in this 3rd season of the podcast, we've had the indelible privilege of speaking to people who have been at the center of justice and peace activity, both in their life personally, as an application of biblical instruction, but also in their city…and fort us here, they've been active and at the center of justice and peace in our city, making the kind of difference that for our guest today, has spanned generations. Neighborhood Ministries is a pillar in downtown Phoenix. Located just on the other side of the tracks, Neighborhood has been at the forefront, demonstrating God's heart for the poor, the marginalized…and the immigrant. Established now 40 years ago this year by founder & president, Kit Danley, Neighborhood Ministries, has become a refuge for so many and continues to bring life, justice and peace to an area that was often faced with death, injustice and chaos. In this episode, Kit graciously dialogues with myself, John and Vermon about how to see justice, both in neighborhoods and for local communities here, but also for those abroad who, for many reasons, now find themselves here. We're reminded that God's heart is for them all, and in prophetic style, Kit has demonstrated that to our city, and explains to us today, just how much.

In this season of the podcast, we decided to address the topic of justice and how we might see more just societies. We've mentioned that we'd be inviting guests, and we had the greatest privilege enjoying conversation with Pastor Aubrey Barnwell, Senior Pastor at First New Life Missionary Baptist Church in South Phoenix. On the issue of justice, Christians have found themselves on opposite sides of the conversation, tensions rising about the varied involvement in social justice and whether we should be so involved. But with countless records of injustice all around us, how exactly do we overcome? Today, we get to share in the insight of someone who's actually been there…and done that.

We often lose the connection between spirituality and social justice, as if the body wasn't also formed by the hands of God, who is spirit. Today, Pastor Barnwell reminds myself, John, and Vermon about how our spirituality extends through our humanity and into society, so that we might, if even a little bit, effect change to see God's will done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Enjoy.

This episode is sort of a one off, and we'll have a few of these sprinkled in between our regularly scheduled programming throughout this season. But in case you missed it, Netflix released a documentary about the artist formerly known as Kanye West, entitled JEEN-YUHS—and before I go further, let this serve as a public service announcement that there's a good chance we may spoil it for you if you haven't watched it yet at this point. If that's you, watch it first, and then come back and engage with us. Kanye West has to be one of our generations most self-proclaimed greats…you might have seen the rants and fights with the media to convince everyone that he is as brilliant as he thinks he is…and it turns out he is probably right; but at what cost? Today, Vermon, John and myself discuss the film and a number of key themes we picked up on. Kanye has become just about everything he worked for; a producer, a rapper, a designer, a husband, a father, and…a billionaire. But is he healthy? And is he whole? We talk about how the film addresses these ideas and more on this episode of the Unsilent Church.

We're in proverbs 29 today, and our conversation takes an insightful turn into the character of our world leaders. Many have said in jest that people aren't voting pastors into office, but should we reframe our expectations of character and justice in the highest offices? God did? And the entire earth is his? So why wouldn't we? In this episode we carry on about this and other ideas around the systemic nature of God's expectation for justice and how we might participate in seeing more of it here on earth as it is in heaven.

We're in Season 3 now, and this go ‘round we decided to unpack ideas that the Bible clearly affirms, but for whatever reason, have become polarizing conversations in our society. So in this season, we're taking a deep dive into biblical affirmations of justice, peace and the grounds for a more just society, as it reflects the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. John, Vermon and myself begin the conversation in this first episode in the book of Amos where we find the famous words employed by the late great Dr. (Martin Luther King, if you didn't know) to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. And as we spend time discussing this issue in the first episode, be on the lookout for experts and guests we'll have on other episodes throughout this season, who will help us walk through God's revealed heart on these matters so that we carry His name in every place we go and don't do so in vain.

If you're interested in reading Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, here's the link!Watch the video on YouTube!

Today we're talking about deconstruction, the practice many have undergone to reevaluate the place of faith in their life and work and relationships. With the kind of back to back years we've had, everyone seems to be in the middle of some form of it—whether people are #leavingLOUD from toxic church cultures or deciding to leave the faith behind altogether, we had to ask the question: What does it look like to preach to a deconstructing heart? 

We get to have that conversation with a special guest, friend and pastor, Abe Cho, who helps us decode what seems to be bad programming in the hardware of American Christianity. In the end, our hope is that this conversation helps facilitate a new way forward towards more healthy rhythms that lead God's people to listen first, speak carefully and above all else love—even our enemies. Enjoy.

Happy Juneteenth! If you're thinking, “Juneteenth, what's that?”—allow me to fill you in. Juneteenth is a moment in US history where more Americans in this country attained their right to the promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It was the day that enslaved people finally received the message (two years after the Emancipation Proclamation) that they were free. A messenger, from a foreign land, came to spread a message that for everyone enslaved, was the best news they'd ever heard. Sound familiar? In this episode of the Unsilent Church, we're talking not only about the facts of Juneteenth, but why we all as Americans and even more as Christians, should celebrate one of the best gospel pictures we have in a holiday we've too long overlooked in our own country's history. Juneteenth was good news, and for that, we celebrate! Enjoy.

At the time of this recording, it was tax season, that time that you've probably heard people say is the other one of the two things no one avoids (you know the other one)? But as much as we all have experience with taxes, how much experience do we have understanding the money that we have to pay taxes from? And among the church, at least in some people's experiences, it's been a sort of psychologically, emotionally polarizing topic. I mean really, is it ok to get money? We're familiar with a number of things the Bible says about it, but in this conversation we hoped to carry on a candid discussion about what God's people should understand about making money, the economics around it, and how in the end we might one day create a kind of ecosystem that displays God's will on earth as it is in heaven.

We've reached a moment in history as the church that is not unlike moments the church has seen before. “History is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily… Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but groups are more immoral than individuals.” And we've unfortunately seen that in so many of our spaces amongst the Evangelical church in America, especially as it pertains to race. Reading MLK's letter from a Birmingham jail, you couldn't help but notice similarities in the language of his response and the language many black Christians use today. He said, “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that Black people's (and other minor groups') great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action”…Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will…We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.” And it is in many ways, this, that has led so many black Christians to do what the Pass The Mic Podcast calls #LeaveLoud. Shoutout to the Witness Podcast network who inspired this episode's thematic: #LeaveLoud, in which Black leaders and congregants who have chosen to leave homogenous, predominantly white spaces not only decide its time they transition out, but the stories to both call a spade a spade—or racism, racism—and reclaim the dignity lost while being among these institutions that failed to value the fullness of God's image expressed through black and other minority cultures; and choosing to go where that image is not simply tolerated, but truly celebrated and represents a kingdom picture more like the one we all hope for with every tribe, language, people and nation. Today, Myself, Vermon Pierre and John Talley sit with our brother, businesses man and entrepreneur, Josh Miles, who has his own #LeaveLoud story that we believe has something we can all learn from. Enjoy

“Mental health” is a major part of today's dialogue, being considered a central player in every stage of our lives. More now than ever before, more and more people have come out publicly to talk about their own personal struggles with mental health; be it professional athletes dealing with bouts of depression, celebrities uncovering childhood trauma, and many others who've written popular books, published viral content and produced iconic films. Everywhere you turn, mental health is part of the discussion in one way or another today, but what if the concept of mental health was much more of a spiritual one—and the degree with which we can sustain the most healthy mental state correlates to the degree with which we abide in and abide by the person, life and teachings of Jesus the Messiah. In this episode of the Unsilent Church, we're having that conversation, and we get the undeniable privilege to have it with dear friends all the way from Chicago, Ashanti and Amanda Pettaway. Ashanti is a pastor in the Chicago area, currently pursuing his MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He couldn't be more right for this conversation; along with his wife, Amanda, a gifted vocalist (having sung with Grammy award winning & Broadway performing artists), vocal coach and overall titan in her approach to life and godliness. We have one of our longest conversations to date because it was that good and the insights ran that deep, as we explored the spirituality of mental health.

In this episode of the Unsilent Church we have a conversation with two of our younger members—Josiah Stewart and his younger brother, Micaiah—about their generation and why at about this age, so many young people tend to distance themselves from the church. Our hope is to gain insight about what the church can be more aware of in order to better understand, connect and integrate our younger generation's voice in the effort as a people to demonstrate God's wisdom on earth as it is in heaven. The conversation was more than insightful; we hope you enjoy.

Martin Luther King once said to “always be sure that you struggle with Christian methods and Christian weapons. Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.” On January 6, 2021, the people who attacked the capitol building were not using Christian weapons—despite flags, banners or symbols they might have touted. In this episode, we address the events of January 6th and confront the misleading notion that Christianity and America are inextricably linked. They are not. Christians have a single allegiance—not to a nation, but to a name: Jesus.

We've reached the end of a season. The pandemic now finds some hope in the approval of new vaccines and our election in the United States has come to an end. Not only that, but we've also reached the end of our first season of the Unsilent Church Podcast, wrapping up a series of conversations centered around critical issues that were of intense concern—in many ways because it was an election year. Now reaching the end of it, the question becomes, "Where do we go from here?" Our hope is that these conversations have been helpful in the renewing of our minds, especially as it pertains to the care, consideration and treatment of one another. If you've been listening this season, we'd love for you to head over and leave a review; like the podcast (if that's an option on your platform; share it with your friends who'd value these conversations; and please, let us know what other topics you'd like us to bring up here on the podcast. Looking forward to the next season, we're excited for the guests we'll get to share dialogue with, along with the breadth of issues the Church must have a voice in to help set a tone for the kind of conversation the world needs to have when it comes to those things that matter to God. We are His people, we have His spirit and we pray that we will embody His character so that through us the manifold wisdom of God can be made known to the rulers and authorities, both here and in the heavenly places. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, we talk about another issue that's been a matter of intense discussion amongst our people—immigration. And our hope in this episode is that you walk away with a better understanding and better appreciation not of immigration as a general idea, but of the immigrant as a human being, made in the image of God, and in many of their cases, fellow citizens of heaven and heirs alongside us who have fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus the Messiah.

In this episode, we give you that race talk, a persistent issue we have not only in our own country of the United States, but an issues that's persisted throughout generations all over the world. Consider this a part one of a continuing dialogue around this subject that we hope leads to more productive conversations with brothers and sisters of our faith, prompting both a renewing of the mind and a resolve to act, so that the Church will demonstrate the will of God—as it pertains to even to race—on earth as it is in heaven.

In this episode of the Unsilent Church podcast, Vermon Pierre (Lead Pastor–Roosevelt Community Church), Tom Campbell (former practicing lawyer of 35+ years), Matt Maler (current law student), and James Nwobu (host) discuss the nature of religious liberty, what it is and why its important to have an accurate understanding of our Biblical convictions along with an accurate understanding of the law on the subject. Regardless, as Christians, it's important we continue to treat one another and our neighbors with dignity, respect and honor as image bearers of God, despite our disagreements. In so doing, we bear the most faithful witness in our hope to God's kingdom come and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

In this episode, we get the opportunity to sit down with Josiah Friedman, CEO and Founder of Voices for the Voiceless, which is a Phoenix, AZ-based, non-profit advocating for the dignity and value of every person, while working to create a world where no one is faced with unplanned pregnancy alone. We talk about the furious fingers that tweet around the pro-life and whole-life conversations to uncover and expand our understanding of God's heart around the value, dignity and worth of life, from womb to tomb.

In this episode, we get a chance to discuss more than how we think about voting, but how we think about each other when we vote. That makes all the difference, and we hope this brief conversation helps guide your approach as you visit the polls.

This episode of the Un-silent Church Podcast explains why we created this outlet and what we hope to achieve. The church exists to be a people shaped by the person and work of Jesus; his voice to the powerful and the powerless, his presence with insiders and outsiders, and his identity as the representation of God, the reconciler of all things, and the savior and redeemer of the world. Regrettably over the years, the church has also garnered a reputation of being silent on the very issues we should be vocal about and complicit with issues we should relentlessly oppose and stand against. Hopefully we can use this platform to speak on those issues where the Church has been indicted for being silent and pull together a collection of voices representing God's people to speak on the very things people expect the Church to have a voice in.