United? We Pray
337 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 174 ratingsTaking racial struggles to the throne of grace, United? We Pray is a ministry devoted to praying about racial strife—especially between Christians.
United? We Pray (UWP) is a ministry to help Christians pray and think about racial strife. We want to encourage Christians amid the strife to rely upon God in prayer. So our prayers can be informed, we strive to learn and write about race, racism and its effects, and theology. We aim to be biblical, beneficial, and clear in all our efforts. While we’re burdened for all racial strife, we focus on racial strife between Christians because of the unique privilege and stewardship God has given his people: to bear witness to Him and to love all people, especially one another (Gal. 6:10).
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Episodes
Second Generation Latinos
June 07, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBSalvador Blanco joins Austin to talk about what life is like in Alabama as a second generation Latino. Salvador believes that second generation Latinos are uniquely positioned to build bridges between their immigrant parents and majority-white Evangelical churches. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!
UWP127 - Empowering Minority Leadership with Kam Pugh
May 31, 2023 07:00 - 44 minutes - 76.7 MBKam Pugh is a pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He joins Austin on the podcast to talk about ministry in a city with a troubled racial history. When Kam convinced Isaac to come to Birmingham, it wasn’t only to co-pastor, but to lead. Kam talks about why that was important and what it looks like to empower minorities in leadership. Links & Show Notes:
Empowering Minority Leadership with Kam Pugh
May 31, 2023 07:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBKam Pugh is a pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He joins Austin on the podcast to talk about ministry in a city with a troubled racial history. When Kam convinced Isaac to come to Birmingham, it wasn’t only to co-pastor, but to lead. Kam talks about why that was important and what it looks like to empower minorities in leadership. Links & Show Notes: Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please conside...
Becoming More Gracious with Faith Côté
May 24, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBFaith Côté is a longtime friend of the ministry. She joins Austin to talk about her experience as a frustrated church member who learned how to channel her zeal into helpful contributions. She also gives tips for leading group conversations using Talking About Race. Links & Show Notes: Faith’s article about her experience as a public school teacher. Our podcast episode about “cage-stage.” Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our...
UWP126 - Becoming More Gracious with Faith Côté
May 24, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 31.4 MBFaith Côté is a longtime friend of the ministry. She joins Austin to talk about her experience as a frustrated church member who learned how to channel her zeal into helpful contributions. She also gives tips for leading group conversations using Talking About Race. Links & Show Notes: Faith’s article about her experience as a public school teacher. Our podcast episode about “cage-stage.”
UWP125 - Building Bridges with Darryl Williamson
May 17, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 61.8 MBAustin and Isaac are joined by Darryl Williamson, pastor of Living Faith Bible Fellowship in Tampa Bay, Florida. Darryl has been pursuing multi-ethnic unity as a pastor for over a decade and has much wisdom to share about working toward unity without growing bitter. We hope you are encouraged. Show Notes: Living Faith Bible Fellowship’s website. Darryl’s books: 12 Faithful Men and All Are Welcome.
Building Bridges with Darryl Williamson
May 17, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBAustin and Isaac are joined by Darryl Williamson, pastor of Living Faith Bible Fellowship in Tampa Bay, Florida. Darryl has been pursuing multi-ethnic unity as a pastor for over a decade and has much wisdom to share about working toward unity without growing bitter. We hope you are encouraged. Show Notes: Living Faith Bible Fellowship’s website. Darryl’s books: 12 Faithful Men and All Are Welcome. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep expl...
Heart Transformation with Nate Brooks
May 10, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBAustin sits down with Nate Brooks to discuss Nate’s new book, Identifying Heart Transformation. We talk about different Biblical frameworks for understanding the inner person and how that informs our view of human transformation. Nate Brooks (Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Associate Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Links & Show Notes: You can buy Nate’s excellent new book here. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We...
UWP124 - Heart Transformation with Nate Brooks
May 10, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 62.9 MBAustin sits down with Nate Brooks to discuss Nate’s new book, Identifying Heart Transformation. We talk about different Biblical frameworks for understanding the inner person and how that informs our view of human transformation. Nate Brooks (Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Associate Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article about preparing yourself for racial conversations. Courtney Reissig’s article a...
Experience and Reading Scripture
May 03, 2023 07:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBAustin and Isaac talk about what Scripture is and how we read it. What affect does our personal experience have on how we read the Bible? Does our experience change what is true? Watch, listen, and pray with us. Show Notes: Here is the Tim Keller interview Isaac referenced. Here is an article by Austin on learning from other traditions. Here is the book, Care of Souls that Isaac referenced. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring o...
UWP123 - Experience and Reading Scripture
May 03, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 51.1 MBAustin and Isaac talk about what Scripture is and how we read it. What affect does our personal experience have on how we read the Bible? Does our experience change what is true? Watch, listen, and pray with us. Show Notes: Here is the Tim Keller interview Isaac referenced. Here is an article by Austin on learning from other traditions. Here is the book, Care of Souls that Isaac referenced.
UWP122 - Racial Justice and Your Job
April 26, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 52.5 MBAustin and Isaac talk about what Christians can do in their everyday lives to build toward greater ethnic unity. Racism has affected many aspects of their world, which means Christians have opportunities for redemptive work in many different walks of life. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article about preparing yourself for racial conversations. Courtney Reissig’s article about healthcare disparities. Our episode with Michael Emmerson in which he talks about buying a house. Faith Cote’s artic...
Racial Justice and Your Job
April 26, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBAustin and Isaac talk about what Christians can do in their everyday lives to build toward greater ethnic unity. Racism has affected many aspects of their world, which means Christians have opportunities for redemptive work in many different walks of life. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article about preparing yourself for racial conversations. Courtney Reissig’s article about healthcare disparities. Our episode with Michael Emmerson in which he talks about buying a house. Faith Cote’s artic...
The State of the Race Conversation
April 19, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBAustin and Isaac sit down to discuss the last five years of ministry for United? We Pray and some of what has happened before and since. We trust that God is still working, even if public attention has drifted away from conversations around ethnic unity. Links & Show Notes: Our aims as a ministry, which have been unchanged since 2017. The kit Isaac referenced regarding the CRT controversy. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring ou...
UWP121 - The State of the Race Conversation
April 19, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 52.7 MBAustin and Isaac sit down to discuss the last five years of ministry for United? We Pray and some of what has happened before and since. We trust that God is still working, even if public attention has drifted away from conversations around ethnic unity. Links & Show Notes: Our aims as a ministry, which have been unchanged since 2017. The kit Isaac referenced regarding the CRT controversy.
Agents of Grace, with Dan Darling
April 12, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBOverview: Dan Darling is director of the Land Center at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. He returns for the second time this season to talk about his forthcoming book, Agents of Grace. This episode is full of helpful reminders of how Christians can be more charitable as we disagree about the right things and extend grace over smaller matters. Here is more information on the Land Center at SWBTS. Click here to preorder Dan’s book. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We...
UWP120 - Agents of Grace, with Dan Darling
April 12, 2023 07:00 - 41 minutes - 62.9 MBOverview: Dan Darling is director of the Land Center at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. He returns for the second time this season to talk about his forthcoming book, Agents of Grace. This episode is full of helpful reminders of how Christians can be more charitable as we disagree about the right things and extend grace over smaller matters. Here is more information on the Land Center at SWBTS. Click here to preorder Dan’s book.
UWP119- The Stack
April 05, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutes - 46 MBOverview: Austin and Isaac discuss five books which have come out over the last two years, which we are calling, “The Stack.” These books work together to build a positive vision for racial unity which is self-consciously different than the most popular approaches in society. Links & Show Notes: Derwin’s book. Shai’s book and the interview we did with him. George’s book, the interview we did with him, and his article for us which outlines his thesis. Jarvis’ book, and the interview...
The Stack
April 05, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBOverview: Austin and Isaac discuss five books which have come out over the last two years, which we are calling, “The Stack.” These books work together to build a positive vision for racial unity which is self-consciously different than the most popular approaches in society. Links & Show Notes: Derwin’s book. Shai’s book and the interview we did with him. George’s book, the interview we did with him, and his article for us which outlines his thesis. Jarvis’ book, and the interview...
UWP118 - In Church As it is in Heaven with Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 35 minutes - 54.5 MBOverview: Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones have written a fantastic new book, In Church As it is in Heaven about working toward a redeemed vision of diversity in our churches. They join Austin to talk about it. Links & Show Notes: To pre-order As it is in Heaven, click here. For more info on Jamaal Williams, click here. For more info on Timothy Paul Jones, click here. Click here for the episode with George Yancey referenced in this interview.
In Church As it is in Heaven with Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBOverview: Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones have written a fantastic new book, In Church As it is in Heaven about working toward a redeemed vision of diversity in our churches. They join Austin to talk about it. Links & Show Notes: To pre-order As it is in Heaven, click here. For more info on Jamaal Williams, click here. For more info on Timothy Paul Jones, click here. Click here for the episode with George Yancey referenced in this interview. Support the Show. To learn more abou...
UWP117 - Life and Ministry with Omar Johnson
March 22, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutes - 58.5 MBOverview: Omar Johnson is a pastor in Maryland, just outside of DC. He shares about his ministry in a difficult context, and how other churches are cooperating to help. Links & Show Notes: Here is the sermon on Psalm 131 that Omar preached at Iron City Church. This is the book Omar mentioned about the history of prosperity gospel preaching in some black communities.
Life and Ministry with Omar Johnson
March 22, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBOverview: Omar Johnson is a pastor in Maryland, just outside of DC. He shares about his ministry in a difficult context, and how other churches are cooperating to help. Links & Show Notes: Here is the sermon on Psalm 131 that Omar preached at Iron City Church. This is the book Omar mentioned about the history of prosperity gospel preaching in some black communities. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please cons...
The Gift of the Outsider with Alicia Akins
March 15, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBEpisode Overview: Alicia Akins is author of the forthcoming book, The Gift of the Outsider. She joins Austin to talk about how reading books by authors of diverse backgrounds leads to greater understanding. Links & Show Notes: Alicia’s new book will be available for pre-order soon. Her last book, which is excellent, is available here. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple ...
UWP116 - The Gift of the Outsider with Alicia Akins
March 15, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 38.3 MBOverview: Alicia Akins is author of the forthcoming book, The Gift of the Outsider. She joins Austin to talk about how reading books by authors of diverse backgrounds leads to greater understanding. Links & Show Notes: Alicia’s new book will be available for pre-order soon. Her last book, which is excellent, is available here.
International Perspective with Ryan King
March 08, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBEpisode Overview: Ryan King is a pastor in London, who also spends time in Ukraine. He shares what ethnic prejudice looks like in Europe and how that is similar and different than in the US. Links & Show Notes: Ryan’s article for us on the time he blogged about the lost cause and his dad confronting him over it. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe...
UWP115 - International Perspective with Ryan King
March 08, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 53.7 MBOverview: Ryan King is a pastor in London, who also spends time in Ukraine. He shares what ethnic prejudice looks like in Europe and how that is similar and different than in the US. Links & Show Notes: Ryan’s article for us on the time he blogged about the lost cause and his dad confronting him over it.
UWP114 - Kindness and Discernment with Dan Darling
March 01, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 38 MBOverview: Dan Darling is director of the Land Center at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. He stopped by to talk about discernment, truth, and Christian virtue. Links & Show Notes: Here is more information on the Land Center at SWBTS. The article Dan mentioned on negative epistemology. Austin’s article on learning from those outside your own tribe.
Kindness and Discernment with Dan Darling
March 01, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBEpisode Overview: Dan Darling is director of the Land Center at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. He stopped by to talk about discernment, truth, and Christian virtue. Links & Show Notes: Here is more information on the Land Center at SWBTS. The article Dan mentioned on negative epistemology. Austin’s article on learning from those outside your own tribe. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider r...
UWP113 - Seminary While Black with Dr. Mark Johnson
February 22, 2023 08:00 - 24 minutes - 37.9 MBOverview: Dr. Mark Johnson is a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He joins Austin and Isaac to talk about life as a black seminarian and professor. Links & Show Notes: For more about Dr. Jonson, see his bio here.
Seminary While Black with Dr. Mark Johnson
February 22, 2023 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBOverview: Dr. Mark Johnson is a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He joins Austin and Isaac to talk about life as a black seminarian and professor. Links & Show Notes: For more about Dr. Jonson, see his bio here. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!
Hiring Diversity
February 15, 2023 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBEpisode Overview: Austin and Isaac discuss the good desire to hire people from diverse backgrounds and the challenges that can present. Links & Show Notes: Parts one and two of our conversation with friends about being the lone black pastor at a majority-white church. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear m...
UWP112- Hiring Diversity
February 15, 2023 08:00 - 21 minutes - 31.6 MBOverview: Austin and Isaac discuss the good desire to hire people from diverse backgrounds and the challenges that can present. Links & Show Notes: Parts one and two of our conversation with friends about being the lone black pastor at a majority-white church.
How Big a Deal is the Race Conversation?
February 08, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBOverview: Austin and Isaac kick off season ten by answering a question we get often: “How big a deal is the race conversation?” We answer that by looking to Scripture, and by examining the relationships and contexts in which the question is asked. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article about historical asymmetry. Austin’s article about the different ways different people engage racism. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our we...
UWP111 - How Big a Deal is the Race Conversation?
February 08, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 28.9 MBOverview: Austin and Isaac kick off season ten by answering a question we get often: “How big a deal is the race conversation?” We answer that by looking to Scripture, and by examining the relationships and contexts in which the question is asked. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article about historical asymmetry. Austin’s article about the different ways different people engage racism.
UWP Season 10 Teaser
February 01, 2023 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.4 MBOverview: We’re back! 10 Seasons running and we are grateful to God for what He is doing through this ministry. Austin and Isaac give some good news about the ministry, and give some tastes of what this season’s podcast will be like. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!
UWP110 - Special: Why is it so Hard to Talk About Race?
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 80.6 MBOverview: This is a talk given by Isaac at a local church in Alabama explaining why it is so hard for us, even as Christians, to talk about race. We pray you are encouraged by it. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match.
Why is it so Hard to Talk About Race?
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBEpisode Overview: This is a talk given by Isaac at a local church in Alabama explaining why it is so hard for us, even as Christians, to talk about race. We pray you are encouraged by it. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rat...
UWP109 - Season Finale: What is this ministry about?
October 28, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 39.4 MBOverview: This is the last new episode we plan to release this year. Isaac and Austin remember how United? We Pray started, the motivations behind it, where we are, and where we hope to go. We will be posting some classic episodes over the holidays, so stay tuned for that. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match.
What is this ministry about?
October 28, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBEpisode Overview: This is the last new episode we plan to release this year. Isaac and Austin remember how United? We Pray started, the motivations behind it, where we are, and where we hope to go. We will be posting some classic episodes over the holidays, so stay tuned for that. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match. Support the Show. To learn more a...
UWP108 - Jarvis Williams on Redemptive Kingdom Diversity
October 19, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBOverview: This sermon was given at an event hosted by Iron City Church and United? We Pray. Dr. Williams explains why Redemptive Kingdom Diversity has been God’s plan from the beginning and charts a way forward for the diverse people of God to live together in Gospel unity. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here.
Jarvis Williams on Redemptive Kingdom Diversity
October 19, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBEpisode Overview: This sermon was given at an event hosted by Iron City Church and United? We Pray. Dr. Williams explains why Redemptive Kingdom Diversity has been God’s plan from the beginning and charts a way forward for the diverse people of God to live together in Gospel unity. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep explor...
Questions and Answers with Jarvis Williams
October 12, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBEpisode Overview: Following Dr. Williams’ address at Iron City Church, we had a time of Q&A. Austin interviews Jarvis and then takes questions from the audience. Particularly interesting were Dr. Williams’ answers on how history does not define a person but must me acknowledged to understand a person. We hope this is helpful for you. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here. Support the Show. To learn more about ...
UWP107 - Questions and Answers with Jarvis Williams
October 12, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 36 MBOverview: Following Dr. Williams’ address at Iron City Church, we had a time of Q&A. Austin interviews Jarvis and then takes questions from the audience. Particularly interesting were Dr. Williams’ answers on how history does not define a person but must me acknowledged to understand a person. We hope this is helpful for you. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here.
UWP106 - Jarvis Williams on Life, Ministry, and Theology
October 05, 2022 07:00 - 55 minutes - 85.2 MBOverview: Our friend Jarvis Williams was in town! Dr. Williams is associate professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We talked to him about his life and ministry, then Isaac grabbed the steering wheel to ask him about race & ethnicity. He has great insight into how those words are used Biblically, which gives clarity to today’s conversations. Links & Show Notes: Dr. Williams mentioned this article he wrote with ways to help Eastern Kentucky.
Jarvis Williams on Life, Ministry, and Theology
October 05, 2022 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBEpisode Overview: Our friend Jarvis Williams was in town! Dr. Williams is associate professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We talked to him about his life and ministry, then Isaac grabbed the steering wheel to ask him about race & ethnicity. He has great insight into how those words are used Biblically, which gives clarity to today’s conversations. Links & Show Notes: Dr. Williams mentioned this article he wrote with ways to help Eastern Kentucky. Support...
UWP105 - What is Racism?
September 28, 2022 20:58 - 35 minutes - 51.2 MBOverview: This episode is a follow-up to episode 103, in which we discussed race. Isaac and Austin answer the question, “what is racism?” This touches on personal and corporate categories of sin. We compare our definition to others posed by our friends and highlight strengths of various approaches. Please join is in praying and working against this sin. Links & Show Notes:
What is Racism?
September 28, 2022 20:58 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBEpisode Overview: This episode is a follow-up to episode 103, in which we discussed race. Isaac and Austin answer the question, “what is racism?” This touches on personal and corporate categories of sin. We compare our definition to others posed by our friends and highlight strengths of various approaches. Please join is in praying and working against this sin. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rat...
Jared Torrence on Christ's Heart for Unity
September 21, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBEpisode Overview: This special episode is a sermon given by pastor Jared Torrence of Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA. Jared looks at some passages from the Gospels to see what Jesus has to teach us about ethnic unity in our churches today. Links & Show Notes: You can learn more about Covenant Fellowship here. Support the Show. To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Twitter and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, an...
UWP104 - Jared Torrence on Christ's Heart for Unity
September 21, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBOverview: This special episode is a sermon given by pastor Jared Torrence of Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA. Jared looks at some passages from the Gospels to see what Jesus has to teach us about ethnic unity in our churches today. Links & Show Notes: You can learn more about Covenant Fellowship here.