EPISODE 31 57:07

Korie Little Edwards & Rebecca Kim

Pastor Bryan speaks with Dr. Korie Edwards (University Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Sociology and leading scholar of race and religion in the United States) and Rebecca Kim (Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Ethnic Studies program at Pepperdine University) about their new book "Estranged Pioneers". Estranged Pioneers reveals how pastors of color are leading the way towards a more united multiracial future.

Pastor Bryan speaks with Dr. Korie Edwards (University Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Sociology and leading scholar of race and religion in the United States) and Rebecca Kim (Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Ethnic Studies program at Pepperdine University) about their new book "Estranged Pioneers".

Estranged Pioneers reveals how pastors of color are leading the way towards a more united multiracial future.

Estranged Pioneers

Korie Little Edwards

Rebecca Kim

About Our Guest

Dr. Korie Little Edwards is a University Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Sociology and leading scholar of race and religion in the United States, with a particular focus on multiracial churches and the black church. She is the author or co-author of numerous books and articles, including The Elusive Dream: The Power of Race in Interracial Churches, the awarding-winning Smart Suits, Tattered Boots: Black Ministers Mobilizing the Black Church in the Twenty-First Century, and Estranged Pioneers: Race, Faith and Leadership in a Diverse World. Little Edwards is also a highly sought-after national and international speaker and co-host of The Elusive Dream Podcast. Rebecca Y. Kim is the Frank R. Seaver Chair in Social Science. She is Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Ethnic Studies program at Pepperdine University. Her MA and her PhD are in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on the intersections of religion, immigration, and race relations. She teaches courses on social theory, research methods, and race and ethnic relations.

EPISODE 30 33:52

Derwin Gray

Pastor Bryan talks with Pastor Derwin Gray about how he came to Christ while playing in the NFL and where that journey has brought him. He gives insight into some of the ways he has crossed the racial and political divide in his ministry as lead pastor at Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic church in South Carolina.

Pastor Bryan talks with Pastor Derwin Gray about how he came to Christ while playing in the NFL and where that journey has brought him. He gives insight into some of the ways he has crossed the racial and political divide in his ministry as lead pastor at Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic church in South Carolina. 

Resources:

Building a Multiethnic Church

How to Heal Our Racial Divide

About Our Guest

Dr. Derwin L. Gray and Vicki Gray are the co-founders of Transformation Church (TC), in Indian Land, South Carolina (just outside of Charlotte, NC) where he serves as Lead Pastor and she serves as Executive Director of Spiritual Formation and Staff Health. Dr. Derwin and Vicki met at Brigham Young University where he played football and she threw the javelin on the track team. They have been married since 1992 and have two adult children. After graduating from BYU, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL—five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993–1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God’s faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Apologetics. He was mentored by renowned theologian and philosopher, Dr. Norman Geisler. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. In 2018, he received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. Vicki has a degree in Clinical Dietetics and International Relations and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Wheaton College Graduate School. She has a passion for spiritual formation and leading out of a relationship with Jesus. Vicki oversees the culture and spiritual formation of the TC staff. In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Pastor Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide and is the author of several books, including bestseller The Good Life and Building a Multiethnic Church. Learn more at derwinlgray.com.

EPISODE 29 33:21

Carlos Lollett

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church in Miami, Florida, gives insight into reaching our Hispanic and Latino brothers and sisters who currently make up around 20% of the total US population today.

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church in Miami, Florida, gives insight into reaching our Hispanic and Latino brothers and sisters who currently make up around 20% of the total US population today.

Resources:

Harvest of Empire

Being Latino in Christ

Manana

About Our Guest

Carlos moved from Venezuela to South Florida at the age of 13, and served Jesus for many years as a musician. While in college, he met the love of his life, Cassie, and also discovered his desire, gifts, and calling to lead others to discover and grow in relationship with Jesus. They moved back to Miami to start Reality Church after Carlos completed his Masters of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He believes soccer is the greatest sport in the world, with baseball coming in at a close second. Both he and Cassie have a passion to know God and to help others know him.

EPISODE 28 38:13

Bobby Conway

Pastor Bryan talks with Bobby Conway, lead pastor of Image Church, about his journey in coming to Christ, his struggles with addiction and doubting, his ministry on apologetics and why the Christian worldview still makes sense, and his church's passion for authentic multi-ethnic ministry.

Pastor Bryan talks with Bobby Conway, lead pastor of Image Church, about his journey in coming to Christ, his struggles with addiction and doubting, his ministry on apologetics and why the Christian worldview still makes sense, and his church's passion for authentic multi-ethnic ministry.

Pre-Order

Does Christianity Still Make Sense

Out 4/23/24

About Our Guest

Bobby Conway is lead pastor of Image Church near Charlotte, NC. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM), Southern Evangelical Seminary (DMin), and is a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham, England. He is the author of The Fifth Gospel and Doubting Toward Faith and is the founding host of The One-Minute Apologist (www.oneminuteapologist.com. Bobby and his wife, Heather, are speakers for Family Life’s “Weekend To Remember”marriage conferences. They live in North Carolina with their two teenagers, Haley and Dawson.

EPISODE 27 43:03

Jared Alcántara

Pastor Bryan talks with Dr. Jared Alcántara about his book "Crossover Preaching" which analyzes the skill sets of Dr. Gardner Taylor in drawing a diverse audience to your preaching and teaching while staying biblically accurate to the text.

Pastor Bryan talks with Dr. Jared Alcántara about his book "Crossover Preaching" which analyzes the skill sets of Dr. Gardner Taylor in drawing a diverse audience to your preaching and teaching while staying biblically accurate to the text. 

About Our Guest

Jared E. Alcántara is Professor of Preaching and holder of the Paul W. Powell Endowed Chair in Preaching at Truett Seminary at Baylor University. He was born and raised in New Jersey and came to faith in Christ at the age of fourteen. He is half-Latino (Honduran) and half-White. An ordained Baptist minister, he has served as a youth pastor, associate pastor, and teaching pastor in Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Jersey. Before coming to Truett, from 2014-2018, he served as an associate professor of homiletics at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Dr. Alcántara is passionate about equipping students to preach God’s Word in ways that are faithful, effective, clear, creative, and inspiring. He also plays piano, enjoys disc golf, and is a rabid Philadelphia Eagles fan. He lives in the Waco area with his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.