Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Chrys Jones details his experience in dating across ethnic lines and shares how the mixed reaction of friends and family shaped his understanding of race. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website . Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produc...
Jul 22, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Overview: We have asked contributors to our When I Recognized Race series to read their articles for this summer mini-series. In this installment, Courtney Reissig explains how learning about disparities in women’s health led to her understanding more about racial inequalities in our society. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website . Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced by Jo...
Jul 15, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Overview: “I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word." -Psalm 119:14-16 It is our aim as a ministry to be Biblical in all we write and say. But what does that mean? Austin and Isaac explore what it does and does not mean to esteem God’s word as our ultimate authority for life and godliness. As always, we want to hear from you about ways we can do ...
Jun 09, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Overview: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.” -John 17:20-21 Jesus prayed these words right before going to the Cross. Obviously, unity is a big deal to Jesus. For this episode, we had our friend Shai Linne on to talk about his new book, The New Reformation. Listen as he and Austin talk about reformed theology, ethic ...
May 26, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Overview: “ Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalm 19:12-14 This is our first live show! Isaac and Austin recorded this conversation in front of a church who invited us to speak to their young adult ministry. We dis...
May 12, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Overview: “A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.” -Proverbs 25:11 In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine our third aim as a ministry, which is that we aspire to be helpful. It’s not that we understand others to be trying to be unhelpful and we’re the only helpful ones. It’s that we intend to rein in our instincts and personal preferences so that our contribution to broader conversations is helpful and builds up. As we say, this is an aspiration to which we wo...
Apr 28, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Overview: “For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand.” -2 Corinthians 1:13a In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine one of our aims as a ministry, which is that we intend to be clear in all that we write and say. Conversations about race are so hard, in part, because we so often talk past each other. Insofar as God enables us, we desire to build bridges of understanding between Christians of different traditions and groups. Check out the show notes for ...
Apr 14, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Overview: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 In this episode, Isaac and Austin examine one of our aims as a ministry, which is that we intend to be hopeful in all that we write and say. Why is it that Christians can be hopeful about matters of justice when all around us looks so broken? We point to the empty tomb and the one who will outlast our troubled history. We pray that y...
Mar 31, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Overview: “ Woe to those enacting crooked statutes and writing oppressive laws to keep the poor from getting a fair trial and to deprive the needy among my people of justice, so that widows can be their spoil and they can plunder the fatherless. ” -Isaiah 10:1-2 In this episode, Isaac and Austin are joined by Chandra White Cummings in a follow-up to our first episode about abortion and racial justice. These are heavy matters, but God has called us to consider justice and the weightier matters of...
Mar 17, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Overview: “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ...
Mar 03, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Overview: “And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3:15 Gratitude is hard work for sinners who are bent in on themselves. Turns out, that’s all of us. Scripture is clear that ungratefulness is a serious sin, and that gratitude bears good fruit in our churches. In this episode, Isaac and Austin talk about the importance of being grateful for all that God is doing, even when complaining seems to come more naturally to ...
Feb 17, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Overview: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” -Matthew 23:23 When considering the weightier matters of the law, nothing is weightier than life and death. Because we live in a world in which abortion and racism are both realities, we can expect that abortion would disproportionately affect minoriti...
Dec 30, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Overview: “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:24-25 Moral clarity is a tricky thing, because most of us believe we already have it. In this episode, Austin and Isaac discuss what it looks like to have moral clarity, what works towards and against it, and ways we as saints can stir one another up towar...
Dec 16, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Overview: “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” -Revelation 7:9-10 Christians understand that diversity is good. We long for the day when all of God’s people will be gathered to pra...
Dec 02, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Today on giving Tuesday, Isaac and Austin invite our listeners to consider giving to support the work of United? We Pray. Your donations make our ministry possible, and we appreciate you so much. To give, head to https://uwepray.com/donate. Thank you! Support the show To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!...
Dec 01, 2020•4 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Overview: “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” - Ephesians 4:1-5 In this episode, ...
Nov 18, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Overview: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” - Matthew 18:20 What does it mean for a church to be gathered in the name of Jesus? What is at the center of a church’s gathering and agreement? Are there things about which we need to agree? Are there things on which we can disagree? Race and racism make these hard questions even harder in our local churches. In this episode, Austin and Isaac talk through some different hypothetical scenarios and encoura...
Nov 04, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Overview: “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. - Matthew 22: 34-37 In this episode, Isaac and Austin talk about loving God with all our minds, specifically in regards to Critical Race Theory. They explore the field of study and ...
Oct 21, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Overview: Would you consider your church a "white church" or just a "church"? Isaac and Austin discuss the dynamics around a minority member of a church leaving their predominately white church. We discuss: Why is it important to recognize the ethnic makeup of your church? What characteristics of your church's culture do you take for granted, but may be seen as starkly different for a person of color? For the minority member, what should I consider when deciding whether to leave my white church?...
Oct 07, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Overview: We are back! As we start our sixth season, we take a minute to explain some of the changes with the ministry and in our personal lives. We also preview some of the topics for this season and ask for God to bring about a day when this ministry is no longer needed. Please join us in prayer. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website . Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more! Produced...
Sep 30, 2020•11 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Overview: Isaac Adams gave a two-part lecture to a group of churches desiring to play a small role in bringing greater awareness to the historical roots and present forms of racism in Washington D.C. Their goal was not merely greater intellectual knowledge but greater compassion, so that they'd be better positioned to empathize and strategize toward the end of “adorning the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:10) In Part 2 , Isaac speaks to why Christians care about justice and injustice, why ...
Aug 19, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Overview: Isaac Adams gave a two-part lecture to a group of churches desiring to play a small role in bringing greater awareness to the historical roots and present forms of racism in Washington D.C. Their goal was not merely greater intellectual knowledge but greater compassion, so that they'd be better positioned to empathize and strategize toward the end of “adorning the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:10) In Part 1, Isaac answers three questions: What does the bible say about race? Wha...
Aug 13, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Overview: ”O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”” Psalm 94:1-7 We’re on break for...
Jun 07, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Overview: ”One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” Romans 14:5 How does conscience relate to faith? Isaac and Austin discuss how differences conscience can lead us to differences in acting out our faith, and how to live in biblical community whilst holding different consciences. Join as they answer questions like: Why is a conscience critical to the conversation on race? Does liberty of c...
May 27, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this video, brothers and sisters lament and intercede about different matters given this woeful pandemic—matters ranging from the loss of lives to exacerbated racism in these times. Join us as we take racial struggles to the throne of grace, and sign up below and we’ll send you a free prayer guide. Support the show To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and subscribe using your favorite...
May 20, 2020•1 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Overview: ”Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” Proverbs 28:27 Is a virus racist? Isaac and Austin explore the news that COVID-19 is disproportionally affecting African Americans. They also explain why we often tie racism today to America's history of slavery. Links & Show Notes: COVID-19, Xenophobia, and a Prayerful Response (by James Choi) King Jesus, COVID-19, And Vulnerable Black People (by Austin Suter) Courtney Reiss...
May 13, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Overview: “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1 In this short episode, Austin and Isaac discuss the recent shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, and how his death ties into a long chain of innocent black men murdered in recent history. They talk about reasons why they can’t watch the videos of the events anymore, and advocate a few ideas on what can be done in light of this tragedy. To learn more about United? We Pray follow us on Twitter or our website . Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts , and...
May 08, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Overview: What do you see in the church and the world that is not in line with God's word and His will? Isaac and Irwyn Ince discuss their "divine dissatisfactions" in the church and the world with regards to race. They also touch on Ince's new book. Listen as they answer questions like: What is the racial status quo of today's American Church? How did Wilmington, North Carolina go from 56% black to 15% black? How does the racial history of a city affects the ways one plants a church? Does a chu...
Apr 29, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Overview: "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (Romans 12:16) Austin and Isaac continue the discussion on unity, diving deeper into the particulars of racial unity. They give insights on how to be wise around the conversation on race, and share ways that people live out their faithfulness in the pursuit of racial justice. Listen in as they answer questions like: What roles do pastors and church leadersh...
Apr 15, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Overview: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) In a tip of the hat towards the name of our ministry, Isaac and Austin give a two-part series on Unity, a hot touch word in the conversation on race. Listen in as they discuss: How would we define unity, and specifically, Christian unity? Why is unity so important anyway? What is unique about the American experience that we should pay special attention to unity? If unity is so important, why should we...
Apr 08, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 38
