United? We Pray

Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Alicia Akins reflects on coming to love something she used to hate about herself—her black skin. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng.

Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Nate Brooks remembers how a story shared by one of his Bible professors did not fit with his own understanding about the world. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Alejandra Hargrave shares how her experience with an identification form forced her at a young age to reckon with how her skin color places her in society. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng.

Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Chrys Jones details his experience in dating across ethnic lines and shares how the mixed reaction of friends and family shaped his understanding of race. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng.

Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Courtney Reissig explains how learning about disparities in women’s health led to her understanding more about racial inequalities in our society. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng.

Overview: “I rejoice in the way revealed by your decreesas much as in all riches.I will meditate on your preceptsand think about your ways.I will delight in your statutes;I will not forget your word." -Psalm 119:14-16 It is our aim as a ministry to be Biblical in all we write and say. But what does that mean? Austin and Isaac explore what it does and does not mean to esteem God’s word as our ultimate authority for life and godliness. As always, we want to hear from you about ways we can do this better. Links & Show Notes: Buy The New Reformation, Shai Linne’s book that Isaac referenced Austin’s article on whether race conversations are Biblical To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.” -John 17:20-21 Jesus prayed these words right before going to the Cross. Obviously, unity is a big deal to Jesus. For this episode, we had our friend Shai Linne on to talk about his new book, The New Reformation. Listen as he and Austin talk about reformed theology, ethic unity, why our language about these things matters, and more. You can order the book at the link below. Links & Show Notes: Buy The New Reformation Book response on The New Reformation by our friend, Chrys Jones To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “Who perceives his unintentional sins?Cleanse me from my hidden faults.Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;do not let them rule me.Then I will be blamelessand cleansed from blatant rebellion.May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heartbe acceptable to you,Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalm 19:12-14 This is our first live show! Isaac and Austin recorded this conversation in front of a church who invited us to speak to their young adult ministry. We discussed ethnic partiality and how it is similar and different from other sins. Like all sins, confession and repentance are the way forward. Links & Show Notes: Article Isaac mentions which stresses humility. Podcast interview with Tom Tarrants referenced in this episode To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “A word spoken at the right timeis like gold apples in silver settings.” -Proverbs 25:11 In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine our third aim as a ministry, which is that we aspire to be helpful. It’s not that we understand others to be trying to be unhelpful and we’re the only helpful ones. It’s that we intend to rein in our instincts and personal preferences so that our contribution to broader conversations is helpful and builds up. As we say, this is an aspiration to which we would like you to hold us! Please let us know how we’re doing in this, and as always, we covet your prayers. Links & Show Notes: Encouraging piece by Jonathan Morgan about the power of prayer (referenced in several episodes) Podcast interview with Tom Tarrants referenced in this episode (and better than this episode) To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand.” -2 Corinthians 1:13a In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine one of our aims as a ministry, which is that we intend to be clear in all that we write and say. Conversations about race are so hard, in part, because we so often talk past each other. Insofar as God enables us, we desire to build bridges of understanding between Christians of different traditions and groups. Check out the show notes for some helpful resources toward that end. Links & Show Notes: Encouraging piece by Jonathan Morgan about the power of prayer (referenced in intro) Our Word Study series referenced in the podcast Our series on Critical Race Theory referenced in the podcast Austin Suter’s post on learning from people outside your normal tribe To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine one of our aims as a ministry, which is that we intend to be hopeful in all that we write and say. Why is it that Christians can be hopeful about matters of justice when all around us looks so broken? We point to the empty tomb and the one who will outlast our troubled history. We pray that you are encouraged as you listen. Links & Show Notes: Encouraging piece by Jonathan Morgan about the power of prayer. Austin Suter’s piece on why we must not despair. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “Woe to those enacting crooked statutesand writing oppressive lawsto keep the poor from getting a fair trialand to deprive the needy among my people of justice,so that widows can be their spoiland they can plunder the fatherless.” -Isaiah 10:1-2 In this episode, Isaac and Austin are joined by Chandra White Cummings in a follow-up to our first episode about abortion and racial justice. These are heavy matters, but God has called us to consider justice and the weightier matters of the law. Listen in as we learn from someone knowledgeable on the history and practices of the abortion industry and their horrible effects on minority communities. As you listen and are burdened by these heavy truths, remember to take them to the Lord, the only one able to deal with them. Links & Show Notes: Our first episode on abortion and racial justice. Chandra’s pieces in the Washington Post and Christianity Today.

Overview: “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” -Acts 6:1-6 In this episode, Austin and Isaac do something a little different and work through a passage of Scripture to think through what it can teach us. The situation in Acts 6 is not perfectly analogous to our racial moment, but there are many things for us to learn. Listen and pray with us. Links & Show Notes: Is Talking About Race Unbiblical? Word Study: Injustice To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Overview: “And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3:15 Gratitude is hard work for sinners who are bent in on themselves. Turns out, that’s all of us. Scripture is clear that ungratefulness is a serious sin, and that gratitude bears good fruit in our churches. In this episode, Isaac and Austin talk about the importance of being grateful for all that God is doing, even when complaining seems to come more naturally to us.

Overview: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” -Matthew 23:23 When considering the weightier matters of the law, nothing is weightier than life and death. Because we live in a world in which abortion and racism are both realities, we can expect that abortion would disproportionately affect minorities. While this is a heavy topic, we did not feel we could avoid talking about it. We hope to do so in a way that hopefully points to the grace of Christ. Links & Show Notes: Resources about abortion To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.