Jesus Collective Podcast

Political polarization in U.S. church communities has never been greater, and the whole world is watching with uncertainty at what will unfold in the wake of the November 2020 election. In this live podcast, we converse with two pastors leading churches in North Carolina and Arizona, both highly polarized swing states. We discuss practical ways to talk about politics and explore strategies and experiential ways to keep Jesus at the centre of discipleship and mission.

Slowing down to listen, learn, and engage together is a critical step on the road to justice and racial reconciliation. We want to unite around Jesus and seek what it means to walk humbly, act justly, advocate for change, and love well as his followers. Listen in as thoughtful leaders of colour within the Jesus Collective community share this important conversation about white privilege, systemic racism, and reconciliation, with Jesus at the centre. Pastors Shawna Boren (St. Paul, MN) and Hank Johnson (Harrisburg, PA) provide perspective from American communities deeply impacted by the recent chain of events, and Denley McIntosh (Oakville, ON) adds insights from a Canadian context.

At our recent UNITE | ONLINE event, we created space to imagine what the landscape might be like after the Pandemic, what the church will be known for, and how we can be evolving, preparing, and innovating as we follow Jesus into the significant opportunities that lie ahead. Listen in as Jon Hand hosts this timely and engaging conversation with pastors Mandy Smith and Jeremy Duncan.

Pastor and church planter Rici Skei shares how her church has learned to serve the marginalized in their community during this crisis and inspires us with ways all of us can apply a hands-on approach to engaging the marginalized in our own context. She also shares her unique insights on our vulnerabilities as leaders in this time, and offers ways we can pastor ourselves while caring for and leading others. Interested in learning more about Rici and her work? Check out riciskeiministries.com/home.

We were able to engage with pastors from churches in some of the hardest hit areas, and heard from others who are working to mobilize their churches to do what love requires of us in this time. We have an amazing opportunity to redeem the impact and relevancy of the church in our post-Christian culture, and we'll do that best in unity and collaboration with one another! You can also check out the resources mentioned in this discussion by going to jesuscollective.com/covid-19resources.

In this enlightening discussion, Jeremy Duncan from Commons Church and Jeremy Jernigan from Abundant Life Church tackle the complexities of LGBTQ+ inclusion within faith communities. They share their contrasting approaches while emphasizing the centrality of Jesus. The conversation touches on personal narratives, the need for empathy, and navigating diverse theological views. Listeners hear about the transformative power of relationships and the importance of creating welcoming spaces for open dialogue, making it clear that love and community should lead the way.

Join Jesus Collective as we explore how to make disciples in our post-Christian culture. We will be learning from Ken Shigematsu, pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver. Ken is the author of Survival Guide for the Soul: How to Flourish Spiritually in a World

MaryKate Morse, an insightful author and teacher, dives deep into the essence of authentic, Christ-centered leadership. She discusses the importance of embodying Jesus' teachings, emphasizing humility and genuine connections in leadership roles. Tune in as she challenges the traditional empire mentality, advocating for a servant leadership model infused with creativity and community engagement. MaryKate also highlights the power of mentorship and the transformative journey of self-acceptance, reminding us that every leader's purpose is rooted in genuine faith and connection.

Greg Boyd shares why now is the time to unite a Kingdom movement.

Efrem Smith joins the conversation as we talk about how our movement can become racially diverse, and how to move towards multi-ethnic diversity within our churches.