Difficult Conversations

In 2020, Pastor Caleb Campbell watched Christian nationalism take over large swaths of his congregation in Phoenix, Arizona. He thought about giving up on the church, but over the years, he came to see himself as a missionary to Christian nationalists.In Episode 3 of our Difficult Conversations series, Caleb shares his journey from skinhead to pastor, and from accusations of demonic influence to restored relationships. Along with Dr. Sheila Heen at Harvard Negotiation Project, he offers a hopeful way to engage with those who hold extreme views.And you'll also hear Gabriel Salguero of National Latino Evangelical Coalition describe his own encounter with extreme views.Listen on your favorite podcast app. Show notes here: http://nae.org/christian-nationalism-podcast#difficultconversations #peacemakers #polarized #divided #church #christiannationalism

In this bonus episode, NAE President Walter Kim hosts an extended conversation with Carl Greene on the shifts that have been happening in rural America. Carl is a rural ministry researcher and advocate, having served as a rural pastor with his family and enjoyed life as a dairy farmer in partnership with his father and brother.Carl talks about his experience growing up in Upstate New York and how he has grappled with his identity as a rural white American. He also sheds light on the complexities and diversity within rural America, the sense of loss that many rural residents feel, and the lure of Christian nationalism as a response to that loss.This conversation peels back misconceptions of rural-urban divide and offers greater clarity for those seeking to be peacemakers among Americans with different lived experiences. Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. Do you like the podcast?Give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. This is the best way for others to discover this series too. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to friends and family.Go to Show NotesWatch MoreAre You TRAPPED in High Conflict? | Amanda RipleyDr. Francis Collins Talks With Outspoken COVID Response Critic

From mask mandates and school closures to social distancing and vaccines, COVID brought about one of the most contentious divides we have experienced in recent American history. Countless relationships between families and friends and within churches and communities were tested, and many of those relationships remain fractured.This episode of Difficult Conversations features two Christians who sat on opposite sides of the COVID divide. As director of the National Institutes of Health from 2009 to 2021, Dr. Francis Collins played a pivotal role in the COVID response. Wilk Wilkinson, who lives in rural Minnesota, was intensely critical of how the government handled COVID and is the host of Derate the Hate podcast.You’ll also hear from Amanda Ripley, a New York Times bestselling author and contributor for The Washington Post, about conflict entrepreneurs, the role of the media, and how to turn high conflict into good conflict. What can we learn from how we handled COVID in our churches, communities and national discourse? Is repair possible for the relationships that remain fractured? Our guests say that it’s not only possible but it’s essential to overcome the deep polarization in our country.Go to Show NotesGo to full interview of Amanda RipleyGo to full interview of Dr. Francis Collins & Wilk WilkinsonSubscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. 

The primary allegiances of Americans used to be to country and religion. Now Americans’ primary allegiance is to their political party. How did that happen? And what has it done to the state of conversations in our country? What has it done to our churches? Is there hope for the next generation?In this inaugural episode of Difficult Conversations, host Walter Kim interviews Dr. Jonathan Haidt, one of the world’s top experts on the psychology of morality and politics, to explore how we ended up so divided, including how technology and social media has shaped us and is shaping the next generation.You’ll also meet Heather Zempel, discipleship pastor at National Community Church, located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Over the years, NCC has successfully encouraged church members, from both sides of the aisle, to engage with one another through small groups and Bible studies. But as she shares, that’s gotten more difficult as our world has become more polarized. Both Jonathan and Heather leave those who want to be peacemakers in our divided country with some practical next steps. Their recommendations may surprise you.Go to show notesGo to full interview

A deeper look at a new podcast series on polarization and our call to be peacemakers.As a nation we are playing cultural and political Whac-a-Mole. On college campuses, at workplaces, in houses of worship, and even at the Thanksgiving table, it’s not just the ideas that we are trying to beat back. We’re using verbal mallets to pummel people because of their different views about the world or perceived threats to our identity.As we’ve become more polarized and divided than ever, it feels like meaningful, respectful conversations between people who disagree have become a thing of the past. Is it still possible to have difficult conversations with people who see the world differently from us without sacrificing our deep convictions and beliefs? What is the role of Christians in this moment? How can Christians be peacemakers within their churches, and among the larger society?From the National Association of Evangelicals comes a new podcast series, Difficult Conversations. It’s an exploration of how we ended up so polarized, and how Christians can become the peacemakers that Jesus called blessed. Hosted by NAE President Walter Kim, this series will share incredible stories of people who’ve stepped into enemy territory for the sake of building bridges, and you’ll hear from experts on why difficult conversations are so hard, how to have them, and why they matter for the kingdom of God.The series features:Jonathan Haidt, renowned social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation”Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed scientist and served as director of the National Institutes of Health during the COVID pandemicDerwin Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, NCKaitlyn Schiess, public theologian and author of “The Ballot and the Bible”Christina Edmondson, author and cohost of the Truth’s Table podcastMark DeYmaz, founder of Mosaic Church of Central ArkansasSean McDowell, apologist, podcaster and author of “End the Stalemate”and many more…Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. The full series launches on September 26. To find found more: http://difficultconversationspod.org/Do you like the podcast?Give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. This is the best way for others to discover this series too. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to friends and family.