

Future Christian
Resonate Media
At the Future Christian Podcast, we talk to pastors, authors, and other faith leaders for helpful advice and practical wisdom to help you lead your church into the future.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 2, 2025 • 39min
Reimagining Seminary and Church Vitality — Insights from Doug Powe
What does it mean to lead the church toward vitality in a time of disruption, decline, and shifting cultural landscapes? In this episode, Loren sits down with Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr., President of Phillips Theological Seminary. Recorded live at the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), this conversation explores how seminaries and congregations alike can foster authentic belonging, support diverse pathways into ministry, and reimagine theological education for the future. Doug reflects on his first six months at Phillips, the seminary’s bold tuition initiative, and the vision behind Bedford House—a new space designed to embody belonging for marginalized and underrepresented communities. He also shares his hopes for how churches can model unity and reconciliation in a divided world.
Topics include:
Why belonging must come before believing for new generations
How Bedford House embodies Phillips Seminary’s commitment to inclusion
The challenges and opportunities of rural and small-church ministry
Alternative pathways into ministry beyond the traditional M.Div.
Why theological education must adapt without losing its core formation
The role of social justice engagement in calling new leaders
Dr. Powe’s hopes for the church in an age of disruption and division
Rev. F. Douglas Powe Jr., PhD is President of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Okla., where he leads the seminary in its work toward deep learning, faithful leadership and global impact. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Dr. Powe is a respected scholar, teacher, and author whose work explores congregational vitality, urban ministry, and innovative approaches to evangelism. Before leading Phillips, he served as Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and James C. Logan Professor of Evangelism at Wesley Theological Seminary. His books include Sustaining While Disrupting, The Adept Church, and Transforming Evangelism. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion, Dr. Powe is widely sought after for his insights on faith, leadership, and the changing ministry environment.
Mentioned Resources:
📖 Book: https://www.cokesbury.com/The-Adept-Church?vsl=2487
📖 Book: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506479200/Sustaining-While-Disrupting
🌐 Phillps Seminary: https://ptstulsa.edu/
🎧 Past Episode with Doug Powe: Sustaining While Disrupting
🎧 Past Episode with Doug Powe: The Adept Church
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Aug 26, 2025 • 52min
Safeguarding the Church: Integrity, Healing, and Hope - Insights from Lisa Compton and Taylor Patterson
What does it mean to build safer, healthier churches in a world where abuse and misuse of power have left deep scars? In this conversation, Loren talks with Dr. Lisa Compton and Taylor Patterson, co-editors of Skills for Safeguarding: A Guide to Preventing Abuse and Fostering Healing in the Church. Drawing on decades of counseling and trauma work, they explore how churches can recognize unhealthy dynamics, respond with integrity, and create cultures where both leaders and congregants can flourish. This is a vital conversation for pastors, lay leaders, and anyone who cares about the long-term health and witness of the church.
Topics include:
Why integrity, not charisma, is essential for church leadership
The difference between protecting a church’s brand and serving the people of God
The “tripod of relational safety”: safe self, safe community, and safe ministry
Distinguishing between guilt and shame, and how each shapes spiritual formation
Why forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation
Practical first steps churches can take toward safeguarding
Taylor Patterson is an instructor in the counseling department at Regent University. She worked for several years as a mental health counselor at a nonprofit agency serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and now sees clients in private practice, specializing in adult with a history of childhood trauma. She served as co-editor for "Safeguarding Skills: A Guide to Preventing Abuse and Fostering Healing in the Church,” a textbook for seminaries, parachurch ministries, and local churches, and has published in peer-reviewed journals. Taylor’s research interests include interpersonal violence, compassion fatigue prevention and treatment, and trauma-informed counselor education and supervision.
Dr. Lisa Compton is an Associate Professor and Director of the Ph.D. in Counselor Education program at Regent University. With over 29 years of experience in the mental health field, she is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), certified trauma treatment specialist (CTTS), and compassion fatigue educator (CFE). Dr. Compton has been a conference keynote speaker, presented internationally on trauma-related topics, and has been featured on CBN News discussing domestic violence and sexual trauma. She is the co-author of Preparing for Trauma Work in Clinical Mental Health and Safeguarding Skills: A Guide to Preventing Abuse and Fostering Healing in the Church. Her research focuses on secondary trauma and trauma pedagogy with numerous published articles, including "Absorption Vulnerability" in Traumatology (2024).
Mentioned Resources:
📱 Dennis instagram: @adventcelina
📖 Their book: https://www.ivpress.com/skills-for-safeguarding
🌐 Lisa's Website: https://drlisacompton.com/
🌐 Jeff Gill's Substack: https://substack.com/@knapsack
🎧 Mike Cosper on the Dangers of Ideology in Church
🎧 May Young on Biblical Lament
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Aug 19, 2025 • 49min
Revival, Renewal, and the Future of the Disciples – Live from GA with Dennis Sanders
Recorded live from the 2025 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN, Loren is joined once again by pastor and podcaster Dennis Sanders for a candid conversation about the state and future of the denomination. They reflect on what’s changed since past gatherings, the unique role and challenges of General Assembly in a time of declining attendance, and the ongoing tension between institutional loyalty and openness to diverse theological voices. From the missed opportunity of a revival resolution to the practical realities of costs, exhibitor layouts, and programming balance, Loren and Dennis bring both deep care and honest critique.
The conversation also moves beyond denominational borders—raising questions relevant to mainline and evangelical contexts alike:
How should denominations engage in political advocacy when their cultural influence has waned?
What would it take to be truly inclusive of conservative, moderate, and progressive voices?
Where might revival come from—and how will we know it when we see it?
Dennis Sanders is an ordained Disciples of Christ minister and lead pastor of First Christian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. A native of Flint, Michigan and big fan of the Detroit Tigers and Lions, Dennis is also a communications specialist for a Lutheran congregation in the Twin Cities and is the host of the Church and Main podcast, which tries to live out Karl Barth’s quote of reading the Bible and the newspaper and interpreting the news through the Bible. Dennis lives in Minneapolis with his husband Daniel and their cats.
Mentioned Resources:
🎧 Last GA Episode with Dennis: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-fgenv-1476ff7
📱 Dennis instagram: @adventcelina
📖 Mixed Ecology Book: https://www.churchpublishing.org/embracingthemixedecology
🌐 Ben Crosby's Substack: https://substack.com/@bencrosby
🌐 Jeff Gill's Substack: https://substack.com/@knapsack
🎧 Dennis Sanders: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-q2e35-134587d
🎧 Church and Main Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-and-main/id1660817140
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Aug 12, 2025 • 54min
Drew Crowson and the Parish Model Approach to Church Planting
What does it take to start a brand-new church in one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Drew Crowson, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Dallas planting a church in Celina, Texas—a city where 800 new residents arrive every month and there’s never been an Episcopal congregation. Drew shares his journey from growing up Baptist in East Texas, to ministry roles in Germany, the Middle East, and Alabama, to finding a spiritual home in the Anglican tradition. He explains why he believes the parish model is the future of the church, how a preschool can be a vital ministry and funding source, and the discipline it takes to keep showing up—even when no one else does. Whether you’re in church leadership, thinking about starting something new, or just curious about what it takes to plant a church in today’s cultural climate, this conversation is both honest and inspiring.
They discuss:
Why liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer resonate with non-liturgical Christians
How to plant a church in a mainline denomination with little recent church-planting history
Balancing entrepreneurial hustle with slow, patient spiritual formation
The importance of pastoral boundaries for family health
Building a prayer team and cultivating resilience in ministry
Drew Crowson is a church planter in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Before stepping into church planting, he served in young adult and youth ministry in diverse contexts—from Dallas to Düsseldorf, Germany, an oil compound in the Middle East, and Auburn, Alabama. Deeply shaped by the early 2000s emergent church movement, his journey ultimately led him deeper into Jesus and into the Anglican tradition. Drew is married to an incredible woman, and together they are raising three young children who daily remind them of their ongoing need for grace.
Mentioned Resources:
📱 Celina instagram: @adventcelina
🌐 Drew's Substack: https://substack.com/@andrewcrowson
🌐 WashPark UMC: https://www.washparkumc.org
Other Church planting episodes:
🎧 Cameron Trimble: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-8siub-10d0a4d
🎧 Paula Stone Williams: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-pgxda-f59f19
🎧 Tim Morey: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-25zwi-1059d6d
🎧 Nick Warnes: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ketw5-1172f9e
🎧 Jonah Overton: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-y28bz-13457f4
🎧 Even More: https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-wzbs7-173f5fc
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Aug 5, 2025 • 1h
Pop, Purity, and Power: Joelle Kidd on Unpacking Evangelical Influence
What happens when Christian faith gets filtered through purity rings, YA fiction, and pop-punk soundtracks? In this episode, co-host Martha Tatarnic welcomes writer and journalist Joelle Kidd to discuss her new book, Jesusland. Joelle shares her experiences growing up in a conservative Christian school and how the teachings she received influenced her understanding of faith, identity, and culture. This candid conversation explores the complexities of navigating a religious upbringing marked by purity culture, shame, and the impact of Christian pop culture on personal and political landscapes. Joelle reflects on the positives and negatives of her faith journey, the importance of self-ownership, and the need for a more inclusive and compassionate Christianity. Whether you were steeped in youth group culture or always felt on the outside looking in, this episode invites reflection on the messages that shaped us, and what kind of faith might lead us forward.
Topics Covered:
What “Christian pop culture” really means and how it shaped Joelle’s youth
The collision of capitalism, conservatism, and evangelical media
How shame, purity culture, and literalist theology distort identity and faith
The rise of Christian influencers, tradwives, and mega-pastor empires
What the church can do differently—especially for young people today
Joelle Kidd is a writer, award-winning journalist, and editor who lives in a book-filled basement apartment in Tkaronto/Toronto. Her work has appeared in outlets such as The Walrus, This Magazine, Lit Hub, The Rumpus, and Xtra Magazine. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Guelph. Jesusland is her first book.
Mentioned Resources:
📱 Follow https://bsky.app/profile/joellekidd.bsky.social).
🌐 Website: https://joellekidd.com/
🎧 Mike Cosper: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-2m9ra-176f33e
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Jul 29, 2025 • 51min
Faith, Spectacle & the Business of Church: Marti & Mulder on Schuller’s Enduring Influence
What can we learn about the future of the church by looking back at Robert Schuller? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. speaks with sociologists Gerardo Marti and Mark Mulder about their new biography, The Church Must Grow or Perish: Robert Schuller and the Business of American Christianity. Together, they explore how Schuller’s entrepreneurial vision, drive-in worship, and architectural grandeur helped shape the megachurch model—and why his story still matters today. This wide-ranging conversation dives into Schuller’s deep pastoral commitment, his embrace of American capitalism, and the unspoken ways his model of church innovation continues to influence today’s pastors. Loren, Gerardo, and Mark also reflect on what it means to lead faithfully in a culture defined by speed, spectacle, and constant change.
Topics Covered
The rise and fall of Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral
Why Schuller’s legacy lives on in today’s church growth models
How capitalism and faith became intertwined in modern ministry
The unintended consequences of constant innovation
Schuller’s surprising theological conservatism and deep pastoral care
What “resonance” offers as a response to cultural acceleration
Mark T. Mulder is Professor of Sociology at Calvin University and director of the Common Good Collective. He is the author or co-author of five books In addition, Mulder has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in academic journals, including Social Problems, Religion and American Culture, and The Journal of Urban History. He has also published pieces for church audiences and won writing awards from the Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press.
Gerardo Martí is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at Davidson College and president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. A prolific and award winning author, his research explores religious innovation and the role of religion in shaping patterns of racialization and political engagement in the United States. Bluesky @gerardomarti.bsky.social
Mentioned Resources:
🌐 Faculty Website: https://calvin.edu/people/mark-mulder
🌐 Faculty Website: https://www.davidson.edu/people/gerardo-marti
📖 Previous Book: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/the-glass-church/9780813589060/
📖 The Book: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802878557/the-church-must-grow-or-perish/
🎧 Andrew Root: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/walking-into-sorrow-andrew-root-on-evangelism-in-the-age-of-despair/
🎧 Andrew Root: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/andy-root/
🎧 Andrew Root: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-jtzdu-1500e5e
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 6min
Loren & Martha Live from Canada: Faith, Loss, and Life in the Middle Years
What does faith look like in the middle of life? In this special in-person episode of podcast, co-hosts Loren Richmond Jr. and Martha Tatarnic reflect on the spiritual realities of middle age. Recorded together in St. Catharines, Ontario, they explore how faith changes through grief, caregiving, shifting theology, and the evolving nature of ministry. This deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation touches on everything from parenting and loss to theological mystery and sustaining joy in pastoral work. Loren and Martha offer hard-earned wisdom, honesty, and encouragement for anyone trying to live faithfully in the messy middle years of life and leadership.
Topics Covered
The spiritual needs of middle age (and why churches often overlook them)
How grief, caregiving, and loss shape our faith
What sustains ministry over the long haul
Changing theological priorities after seminary
Parenting teenagers and modeling faith without coercion
Embracing mystery, awe, and the Spirit’s leading
Mentioned Resources:
📖 Martha's Book: https://www.churchpublishing.org/whygather
📖 James Cone: https://orbisbooks.com/products/the-cross-and-the-lynching-tree
🎧 Andrew Root: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/walking-into-sorrow-andrew-root-on-evangelism-in-the-age-of-despair/
🎧 Arianna Molloy: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/healthy-calling-ariana-malloy-on-burnout-purpose-and-redefining-work/
🎧 Elizabeth Schrader Polczer: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/elizabeth-schrader-polczer-on-rethinking-mary-magdalene-part-1/
🎧 Suzanne Nadell: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/leading-with-grace-suzanne-nadell-on-navigating-faith-media-polarization/
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Jul 15, 2025 • 51min
Walking into Sorrow: Andrew Root on Evangelism in the Age of Despair
What if the most faithful act of evangelism isn’t preaching—but sitting with someone in their grief? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with theologian and returning guest Dr. Andrew Root to explore what it means to practice evangelism in an age defined by despair. Drawing from his latest book, Evangelism in the Age of Despair: Hope Beyond the Failed Promise of Happiness, Andy challenges the notion that evangelism is about strategy, persuasion, or growth—and instead reframes it as a practice of consolation. Together, Loren and Andy wrestle with the loneliness, sorrow, and disconnection of modern life. From Facebook Marketplace encounters to late-night hospital chaplaincy calls, this conversation dives deep into the spiritual significance of simply showing up and staying present with people in their suffering.
They discuss:
Why sorrow is "contagious"—and why that matters
The mystical, communal nature of consolation
How pastors and chaplains might be better theologians than academics
What happens when a society loses its rituals for goodbye
Why people turn to the occult when meaning is missing
Whether you’re a ministry leader, chaplain, or spiritually curious, this episode will help you rethink what it means to offer hope in a world hungry for presence, not platitudes.
Andrew Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations. His recent books are Churches and the Crisis of Decline, When Church Stops Working, and The Church After Innovation. Andy has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies.
Mentioned Resources:
📖 Book: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/evangelism-in-an-age-of-despair/423470
🌐 Website: https://www.andrewroot.org
🎧 Previous Episode: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/andy-root/
🎧 Previous Episode: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-jtzdu-1500e5e
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Jul 8, 2025 • 49min
Rethinking Seminary for the Next Generation: Bekah Buchterkirchen on Innovation, Inclusion, and Formation
As seminaries face shrinking enrollments, rising costs, and shifting demographics, what models of theological education will carry the church forward? In this episode, Loren talks with Bekah Buchterkirchen, a writer, speaker, and former dean of students with nearly a decade in Christian higher education. Drawing from her experiences in seminary leadership—and as a seminary spouse—Bekah offers a thoughtful look at what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change for theological education to stay relevant and form faithful leaders. Bekah also shares about her own spiritual rhythms as a mother and ministry partner, what she’d do if she were pope for a day, and why the legacy of Tim Keller continues to shape her hopes for the church.
Together they explore:
The shift away from traditional seminary students to older, working adults
The growing presence of women in seminary—and the challenges they still face
Creative cohort-based and hybrid models that foster both learning and community
The need for deeper church-seminary partnerships and real-time ministry formation
Stackable certificates, lay education, and the future of non-traditional theological training
Why poor digital presence is a turnoff—and how seminaries can adapt
Bekah Buchterkirchen is a writer, speaker, and creative collaborator passionate about cultivating joy and faith in every season. With nearly a decade in Christian higher education and ministry alongside her pastor-husband, she seeks to create spaces where curiosity, hospitality, and the love of Jesus meet. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with their two, almost three, young kids and writes to encourage moms in the trenches of motherhood to seek the Lord daily—even when they feel like it's not enough.
Mentioned Resources:
📱 Follow @bekahbuck
🌐 Website: https://www.bekahbuck.com
🎧 Arianna Malloy: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-gb5yr-18a44c5
🎧 John Hawthorne: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zgqq8-18c307a
🎧 Ulysses Allen: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-iumm4-1502da4
🎧 Ted Smith: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-w4nrb-15d747b
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Jul 1, 2025 • 48min
May Young on Biblical Lament as Resistance, Resilience, and Hope
What if the path to hope isn’t found in overcoming pain, but in naming it? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. speaks with Dr. May Young, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University and author of Walking with God Through the Valley: Recovering the Purpose of Biblical Lament. Together, they explore why lament—too often overlooked in modern Christianity—is not just a personal cry, but a prophetic act of faith. Dr. Young vulnerably shares from her own experience of heartbreak and disorientation, and how discovering the biblical practice of lament became a turning point in her spiritual life. From the Psalms to the prophets, she explains how lament gives believers a faithful way to grieve, resist injustice, and grow in spiritual resilience—even when nothing changes.
Topics explored:
Why biblical lament is more than venting—it's rooted in God’s character and promises
How lament helps churches stand with the suffering and resist apathy
Why modern worship often skips lament, and why that’s a problem
How unprocessed pain from the COVID era may still be shaping us
The difference between stoic acceptance and faithful sorrow
What it means to trust God when healing or justice may not come on our timeline
May Young (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is associate professor of biblical studies and chairs the Department of Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Intercultural Studies, and Philosophy at Taylor University. She has contributed to several volumes focused on lament, including Reading the Psalms Theologically (Lexham) and World Christianity and COVID-19: Discourses and Perspective (Routledge). She is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature and serves on the board of directors of the Institute of Biblical Research, as well as the editorial board for Sacred Roots.
Mentioned Resources:
📖 May Young's book: https://www.ivpress.com/walking-with-god-through-the-valley
Presenting Sponsor:
Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.
Supporting Sponsors:
Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!
Kokoro Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.
Future Christian Team:
Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer
Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host
Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer
Dennis Sanders – Producer
Alexander Lang - Production Assistant