Just Gospel Podcast

Throughout this entire season, we've addressed quite a few key issues to keep in mind as you enter the voting booth. As we approach voting day, today's special guest will give us a good reminder for us on how to vote justly with our Biblical Lens. Join us one more time as we talk with Jenny Yang on Just Gospel.   Guest: Jenny Yang Jenny Yang is the Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief where she provides oversight for all advocacy initiatives and policy positions for the organization and leads the organization’s public relations efforts. In this position, she coordinates and leads the marketing, programs, and strategic engagement division teams on media relations, public engagement and brand elevation strategies. She also represents the organization’s advocacy priorities to the U.S. government and leads mobilization efforts for churches on advocacy campaigns. She has worked over a decade in refugee protection, immigration policy, and human rights and was on an active deployment roster for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Previous to World Relief, she worked at one of the largest political consulting companies in Maryland. Jenny is co-author of several titles and contributing author to three other books. Jenny was named one of the “50 Women to Watch” by Christianity Today.   Resource: Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate  - by Jenny Yang See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abortion. Quality of life. Roe v Wade. You know these terms. They divide American politics and bring tension into conversations, even those among family members. There always seems to be a right side and a wrong side. We want to break down the stigmas and stereotypes surrounding the pro-life debate today and explore how we act upon our morals and defend every life. Dr. Dennis Edwards joins us on Just Gospel to dissect what it means to truly be pro-life in your daily lives.   Bio: Dr. Edwards has long been inspired with a hunger to understand scripture. Growing up in NYC, Dr. Edwards attended a storefront church whose pastor was an earnest, faithful, and dedicated spiritual leader. This example continued to inspire Dr. Edwards throughout college and his time spent teaching high school math and chemistry. Even after attending seminary, his desire to better understand scripture continued. Dr. Edwards says, “I pursued my PhD largely in an effort to quench my thirst for enlightenment and understanding of God’s Word.” Ordained through the Evangelical Covenant Church, Dr. Edwards brings a deep understanding of spiritual leadership. He also shares his diverse experiences as a church planter and pastor in Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C. with his students.   Resource: Might from the Margins: The Gospel's Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice- by Dr. Dennis Edwards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should Christians be tree huggers? How involved should the Church be when it comes to fighting to save the planet? Today on Just Gospel, we'll learn what it means to take charge of and care for the Earth God created and placed us on. Join Craig and Ernest as we learn why The Earth Is The Lord's. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guns. Are they necessary? Are they a right? Should Christians support gun control? Today our guest leads us through a discussion to answer these questions and steers us through the mire surrounding this debate using a Biblical lens. Join Craig and Ernest on today's episode of the Just Gospel Podcast.   Guest: Vince Bantu Vince Bantu joined the Fuller faculty as assistant professor of church history and Black church studies in 2019. Dr. Bantu teaches primarily on Fuller’s Houston campus, where he also serves as a liaison to the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and networks with African American churches, pastors, and students. Prior to coming to Fuller, Bantu taught in various capacities at a number of colleges and institutions, including Nyack College, New York Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, the Center for Early African Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary.  Additionally, he has years of pastoral experience in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic churches, as well as extensive involvement in multicultural urban communities. Bantu earned his PhD in Semitic and Egyptian Languages from The Catholic University of America, and his dissertation married his interests in African Christianity and social identity. He also directs the Meachum School of Haymanot, which provides theological education for urban pastors and leaders. He is the author of numerous articles on global Christianity, including studies of Syriac and Nubian Christianity, apologetics, justice, evangelism, and African American theology. Resource:A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity - by Vince Bantu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are they teaching kids in schools these days?! One look at some schools in America and you might find yourself questioning the effectiveness of the education system. However, there are solutions to these problems, and you can be involved. Listen in today as our guest takes us through an overview of the education system and addresses its flaws and how this system could be restored. Guest: Nicole Baker Fulgham A Detroit native, Nicole graduated from the University of Michigan and joined Teach For America (TFA) where she taught 5th grade in Compton, CA. Nicole received her doctorate in education from UCLA with a focus on urban education policy and teacher preparation. She joined the national staff of TFA and held several key leadership roles before starting The Expectations Project. Nicole has written two book and has appeared on CNN and ABC. Christianity Today named her one of, “50 Women Leaders Influencing the Church and Culture”. She lives near DC with her husband and their three children. Resources: Nicole's Website: www.expectations.org Schools In Crisis: They Need Your Help - by Nicole Baker Fulgham Educating All God’s Children: What Christians Can--And Should--Do To Improve Public Education For Low-Income Kids - By Nicole Baker Fulgham Nicole's Twitter: https://twitter.com/expectproject See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a global pandemic, healthcare has become a major concern for many people. Tune into today's episode of Just Gospel as our guest teaches us a Biblical perspective on healthcare and whether it is a basic right or a socialistic plot.   GUEST: Michelle Warren is the Advocacy and Strategic Engagement Director for the Christian Community Development Association, based in Chicago, IL. She has been working in Christian community development for 24 years utilizing her skills as an educator, non-profit manager and public policy specialist. Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Cedarville University and later earned her Master's in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. She is an immigration, education and human service policy specialist. Michelle is a consultant for the National Immigration Forum, a non-partisan, DC based immigration advocacy organization as the Western Regional Consultant for their Bibles, Badges & Business campaign.  Michelle’s immigration work has been featured in local markets like The Denver Post and Colorado Public Radio as well as national Christian and secular media outlets like The L.A. Times, the PBS News Hour, Christianity Today, CBN, Christian WORLD magazine and numerous others. She is the author of, The Power of Proximity, Moving Beyond Awareness to Action. She is married to David Warren, Executive Director of Open Door Ministries. They live in Denver with their three children, 21, 19 and 15.   RESOURCE:The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action - by Michelle Warren See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has locked up more people in jails and prisons than any other country in the history of mankind. Mass incarceration is now a lucrative business for some. And that needs to change. But what does it mean to Rethink Incarceration? What role does the Church and every one of us play in helping reform and indeed, rethink our approach to mass incarceration. Join Craig and Ernest as today's guest helps us Rethink Incarceration from a Biblical standpoint.   Guest: Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). He is the author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores, which won the 2018 Book of the Year Award for InterVarsity Press.  An ordained minister, Dominique DuBois Gilliard has served in pastoral ministry in Atlanta, Chicago, and Oakland. He was executive pastor of New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland, California and also served in Oakland as the associate pastor of Convergence Covenant Church. He was also a campus minister at North Park University and the racial righteousness director for ECC’s ministry initiatives in the Pacific Southwest Conference. Gilliard earned a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University, with an emphasis on race, gender, and class in the United States. He also earned an MDiv from North Park Seminary, where he served as an adjunct professor teaching Christian ethics, theology, and reconciliation.   Resource:Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE WEALTH GAP! Everyone talks about it and how it should be different, but rarely do we see a successful solution. Today we talk with an expert for a Biblical exploration of possible solutions for the racial wealth gap.   Guest: L. Brian Jenkins is the Founder and President of Entrenuity, NFP, and StartingUp BusinessSolutions, Inc., and has successfully provided entrepreneurship education, training and small business development for over 20 years in Chicago, nationally, and abroad. Brian has served as adjunct faculty at Moody Bible Institute, Illinois State University’s College of Business, The Urban Ministry Institute in Wichita, KS and at North Park University’s School of Adult Learning, focusing on entrepreneurship education. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Religion. Additionally, he earned his Masters of Arts in Theology from Wheaton College Graduate School and is the author of StartingUp Now: 24 Steps to Launch Your Own Business.   Resource:  Know More Nonprofits by L. Brian Jenkins See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is immigration? How does modern society view immigration and immigration reform? Christians are called to help those less fortunate than ourselves, so how do we get involved with immigration reform and ensure that we are defending those that seek help? Today's episode will set up a Biblical framework for immigration reform in today's America. Guest: Matthew Sorens serves as the U.S. Director of Church Mobilization for World Relief. He previously served as the Field Director for the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of evangelical organizations of which World Relief is a founding member. You can get his latest book, Seeking Refuge, from Moody Publishers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is justice really a Gospel issue? If so, why do we need to address this now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a lot happening right now. Pandemics, heightened awareness of police brutality, and race riots. To truly address these issues, we are joined by special guests Mary Hendrickson and Deb Gorton, hosts of the Becoming Well Podcast to discuss and learn how Biblical justice and mental health go hand in hand in addressing the violence and racism that exists in our world every day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history, racism and injustice appear over and over. How should we approach the racism and injustice we see in our culture today? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is a social justice really the biggest threat to the Gospel that we’ve seen in our lifetime? Are these ideas of justice and the Gospel really compatible? Debates like these are nothing new. They’ve been raging online in social media over the nature of the Gospel, its implications for the churches formation, and even missional practices. Many believers that are addressing racism and other forms of social inequality find it a distraction from the churches primary mission of evangelism at best. Or a heresy influenced by worldly impulses at worst. Just Gospel will seek to provide a biblically informed and Gospel centered discussion on this issue with some practical implications for everyday believers in a broken and divided system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.