On this episode, Dr. Gadson discusses what does it mean for the church to be a witness for Love during the season of Advent 2023.  Today marks the fourth and final week of Advent as we focus our hearts and minds on the birth of our Savior and on His Second Coming.   Dr. Gadson looks at John 3:16 to set our focus on how Love is modeled for us. As we continue to focus on the person of Jesus, the reason for the season, we look at His life to understand how to be a witness for Love.   Tune into this episode to hear Who Love is and what love does. ”.   How do we understand wh ..read more

On this episode, Dr. Gadson discusses what does it mean for the church to be a witness of joy during the season of Advent 2023.  Today marks the third week of Advent as we focus our hearts and minds on the birth of our Savior and on His Second Coming.  The difficult and dark circumstances across the world that we are enduring in this present day can certainly discourage or depress any feelings of joy.   Dr. Gadson looks at Luke 2:10-11 & Luke 24:52 and understands the word joy that appears in these verses mean a “calm delight” in the Greek. Interestingly, the joy surroundi ..read more

On this episode, Dr. Gadson discusses what does it mean for the church to be a witness concerning peace during the season of Advent 2023.  Today marks the second week of Advent as we focus our hearts and minds on the birth of our Savior and on His Second Coming.  The difficult and dark circumstances that we are enduring in this present day can certainly disrupt our peace. Or impede our experience of peace and  with the Prince of Peace.  How do we come to know and experience Jesus as the Prince of Peace in the right now? How do we understand and relate to “The Prince of Pe ..read more

This episode mentions the word suicide as an excerpt is read from a chapter about finding Hope in dark places.  On this episode, Dr. Gadson discusses what does it mean for the church to witness Hope during the season of Advent 2023.  Advent begins today as we focus our hearts and minds on the birth of our Savior and on His Second Coming.  There are difficult and dark circumstances that we are enduring in this present day. Much like those who heard the prophets of old, we await not the birth, but now the return of Jesus. We draw from the Hope those possessed thousands of years ..read more

Members, Visitors, and Friends!  Happy Thanksgiving 2023! We want to acknowledge that we understand this day is complicated and very nuanced. People are grateful and spending time in joyous celebrations and gathering with friends and family. And also, the same people and others are feeling the weight and heaviness of many circumstances, currently and historically.  On this episode, Dr. Gadson looks at Malachi 3:8-9 and asks one question that was given to her by the Holy Spirit. Is it thanks or is it theft?  Tune in to this episode as she compels us to pause, to ponder, and to ..read more

Today’ we review a previous episode, where Dr. Gadson continues to reflect on Pentecost and what does it mean for us as witnesses for Jesus on behalf of His bridegroom, the Church. She reflected on the mandate to wait found in Luke 24:48-49. Dr. Gadson considers the wisdom found in the command to wait until one is empowered from on high.  She imagines how this command can guide the members of the church to become equipped BEFORE going out to witness to those who have been  hurt by the church,  Tune in to this episode as she discusses how churches should disciple the members i ..read more

Dr.  Paul Hoard and Dr. Doug Shirley join the podcast today for part three of the discussion on knowing, being known, and trusting. Both Dr.  Hoard and Dr. Shirley are associate professors of counseling psychology at The Seattle School. Today, they continue to delve into conversation with Dr. Gadson on building relationships across differences, discussing collective shame, and identifying perpetrator trauma. Tune in to part three as Drs. Gadson, Hoard, and Shirley reflect on what’s next as well as their emotional processes regarding these intimate conversations. Information for Dr ..read more

Dr.  Paul Hoard and Dr. Doug Shirley join the podcast today for part two of the discussion on knowing, being known, and trusting.  Both Dr.  Hoard and Dr. Shirley are associate professors of counseling psychology at The Seattle School. Today, they continue to delve into conversation with Dr. Gadson on building relationships across differences, discussing collective shame, and identifying perpetrator trauma. Tune in to part two of this episode as these three reflect on their lived and shared experiences as they have leaned into the processes of developing trust,  knowing ..read more

Dr.  Paul Hoard and Dr. Doug Shirley join the podcast today. Both Dr.  Hoard and Dr. Shirley are associate professors of counseling psychology at The Seattle School. Today, they engage conversation with Dr. Gadson on building relationships across differences, discussing collective shame, and identifying perpetrator trauma. Tune in to part one of this episode as these three reflect on their lived and shared experiences as they have leaned into the processes of developing trust,  knowing, and being known.  Information for Dr. Paul Hoard: https://paulhoard.substack.com Inf ..read more

Historian, author, speaker  - Dr. Jemar Tisby - joins the podcast today. Dr. Jemar Tisby shares his lived experiences and the emotional effects of realizing when he did not belong, especially in the church.  Dr. Tisby recounts how he was introduced to Jesus and the positive encounters he experienced in his formative years. We engage dialogue to honor the emotional aspects of Dr. Tisby’s story as he delves into the feeling of betrayal he experienced and endured. It is because of those previous positive experiences and his remembrance of Who Jesus simply is, that propels him to conti ..read more