INFEMIT Podcast

In this episode, we feature a conversation on "Nurturing a Gospel Imagination in a Consumptive Culture" that we had with Ruth Padilla DeBorst and members of the INFEMIT community. Explore with us as we discuss the juxtaposition of the Advent season with the consumption of our cultures, and how to embody alternative living in transformative community.  This conversation connects to the theme of our next Stott-Bediako Forum, Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination.

Mentioned Article: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/church-in-palestine-decorates-christmas-tree-using-debris-due-to-israel-s-attack-on-gaza/3073317

So you’re aware, you’ll hear a few different voices while you’re listening to this podcast. We are including reflections and questions received from our community members - Laura Yoder, Mark Meynell, Sarah Adegbite, Kristin Caynor, George Hunsberg, Emil Jon Soriano,  Rei Lemuel Crizaldo, and Tori Greaves. Listen and learn with us!

In this episode, we feature a conversation that we had with Nina Balmaceda and members of the INFEMIT community. Join us as we listen and learn about “Imagining Shalom Together: Examples of Transformation on the Ground, the work of Paz y Esperanza in South America.” This conversation connects to the theme of our next Stott-Bediako Forum, Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination.

Please note, we will be discussing some sensitive topics in this podcast, so listener discretion is advised. Sensitive topics include: sexual assault, domestic violence, and genocide.

So you’re aware, you’ll hear a few different voices while you’re listening to this podcast. We are including reflections and questions received from our community members - Felipe Preciado, Kristin Caynor, John Shorack, Nash Azaki, Nina Mantalaba, and Samuel Onyait. Listen and learn with us!

In this episode, we feature a recording of Ciprian Gheorge-Luca’s plenary presentation from the Stott Bediako Forum on Jesus and Empire: Christian Witness in the context of power. Join us as we listen and learn more about Ciprian’s contribution “Empowered Citizens of Heaven, Witnessing Neighbors on Earth: Rethinking Citizenship in Light of the Pentecost(al) Narrative”

Rev. Dr. Ciprian Gheorghe-Luca is a Romanian Pentecostal theologian and the senior pastor of Emmanuel Christian Center in Bucharest, Romania. He holds a degree in Pentecostal pastoral/didactic theology from the University of Bucharest and has earned a PhD in Pentecostal/public theology from Aurel Vlaicu University in Arad. 

He has held various leadership positions, both at ecclesiastical  and organisational level. Most recently, between 2015 and 2022, he has been the Headmaster of "Emanuel" Pentecostal Theological High School in Bucharest, where he has also taught several theological subjects. His field of research and competence is Pentecostal theology and the relationship between the church and public life.

In this episode, we feature a conversation that we had with Marcel Măcelaru and members of the INFEMIT community. Join us as we listen and learn about “Mission and the Christian Imagination: Biblical and Practical Examples.” This conversation connects to the theme of our next Stott-Bediako Forum, Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination.

This conversation features reflections and questions received from our community members - Mariel Muford, Külli Tõniste, Adeel Samuel, Marcel Măcelaru, Melody Wachsmuth, Phil Hilditch,  Andreas Osterlund Nielsen, Sithembiso Hlophe, and John Cheong. Listen and learn with us!

In this episode, we feature a conversation with Arthur Aghajanian. Arthur is a Christian contemplative, essayist, and educator. His work explores visual culture through a spiritual lens. Arthur connected with INFEMIT to share part of his own journey and to express the importance of aesthetics in our theology, which he explains further on his website, imageandfaith.com

Listen and learn with us as, Arthur shares about the connection between theology and art, Finding God in the silence, and ways we can use images in our spiritual practice.

We invite you to tune into our latest podcast with Dr. Rudolf K. Gaisie on Jesus Christ as Logos Incarnate and Resurrected Nana (Ancestor). In this conversation, we explore together how Christians in the early Church and today have faced a similar task of understanding Christ in and through local cultures and languages. Rudolf sets the table for a wider conversation about what it means for each of us to engage the gospel faithfully within our cultural contexts.

In this episode, we feature a conversation with Reverend Plaisance M’Bara. Reverend M’Bara is a PhD Candidate at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture in Akropong, Ghana, and his fields of study are Theology of Reconciliation and African Christianity. Reverend M’Bara gives us an early look into his PhD research on The Contribution of the Concept of Zo Kwé Zo Towards a Sustainable Peacebuilding in the Central African Republic.

Join us in listening to this podcast and praying for the important work and research being done in Central African Republic.

In this episode, we discuss Daniela Amestegui's art piece titled “Advent” from her larger collection called “Pallay: Andean Weaving of Liturgy and Design." We invite you to reflect with us on this piece of art that roots us in this season of anticipation, exemplifies a creative approach to liturgy, and inspires us to do art and theology from our local contexts.

**note: Daniela's upcoming show will be held in the New Year! We will let you know when more of her work is available online or at the Regent gallery in Vancouver.

In the second part of our spotlight on Ron Sider, we share a conversation between Ron and one of the many people he has mentored through the years, Al Tizon (Networking Team, INFEMIT).

Listen to Ron share about the founding of Evangelicals for Social Action (now Christians for Social Action), reflections on Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger and his other work, and about his message to the present and future church. 

For this series, we seek to learn about the work of INFEMIT members from those who they have journeyed with and mentored. We thank Ron Sider and Al Tizon for collaborating with us to create this piece.

In this episode, we return to a conversation that we had with Nina Balmaceda during the Stott Bediako Forum on Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from a lens of Postcolonialism and Indigenous Christianity. Listen and learn with us about “The Word Made Flesh: Seeking Transformation and Reconciliation.”

Together we discussed what it means to pursue reconciliation in our diverse contexts, the role and definition of lament, the need for a rights-based approach, and further resources to learn from. 

In this episode, we feature a conversation with Zach Stewart on his art featured in the music video for "The Medicine," a song composed by Common Hymnal, Dee Wilson, and Alex Aiono. We invite you to reflect with us on the experience of creating art that intertwines praise and protest and how art can be used as a space and an invitation.

In this episode, we feature a conversation with Abdiel Espinoza, on his collection of poems titled, "Days of exile. Let's reflect together on the experience of COVID-19 through the lens of exile and our shared lament.

En este episodio, conversamos con Abdiel Espinoza sobre un poemario que compuso llamado “Días de exilio”. Reflexionemos sobre la experiencia de COVID-19 a través del lente de exilio y nuestro lamento compartido.

In this episode, we return to a conversation that we had with Jayachitra Lalitha during the Stott Bediako Forum on Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from a lens of Postcolonialism and Indigenous Christianity. This conversation features reflections and questions received from our community members, Al Tizon, Jocabed Solano, Rei Lemuel Crizaldo, Ted Agbe, Tori Greaves, and Nina Mantalaba. Together we discussed decolonized retelling of Biblical and historical narratives, postcolonial feminist perspectives, and intersectional theology. Listen and learn with us about “Native Indian Bible Women, Jesus’ Movement, and Postcolonial Biblical Interpretation.”

In this conversation we discuss Thandi's story as an artist, how her context informs and inspires her art, and how we can begin to imagine a truly just future together.

In this episode, we feature a conversation with INFEMIT's Networking Team member Al Tizon on COVID-19 in context. In this conversation (originally recorded in November of 2020), we reflect on the implications of COVID-19 for mission and theology. Now, in mid 2021, it is apparent that it is necessary to continue these conversations in order to reflect on the role of the Church during the pandemic and what mission looks like in the midst of today's realities.

We return to a conversation that we had with Obed Manwatkar during the Stott Bediako Forum on Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from a lens of Postcolonialism and Indigenous Christianity. Watch and learn with us about Reconciling East and West: Life and Legacy of ‘Mahatma’ Jotiba Phule and the hope for OBCs in India.

After listening to Terry's full presentation, we continued the conversation with him about his ideas on "Walking in Reconciled Relationships: The Challenges of Christian History." In this episode, Terry recommends strategies on how to continue learning about reconciliation by living in right relationships.

Listen to Terry LeBlanc's full Stott-Bediako presentation- "Walking in Reconciled Relationships: The Challenges of Christian History."

For the Stott-Bediako Forum, Terry LeBlanc shared his thoughts with us on "Walking in Reconciled Relationships: The Challenges of Christian History." In this podcast, René August interviews Terry on his personal story, his community and work, and the idea of postcolonialism.

After listening to Ruth's full presentation, we continued the conversation with her about her ideas on "Joining Hands in the Construction of a Reconciliation Politics." In this episode, we chat with Ruth about resources for those who are interested in wanting to learn more about reconciliation politics, the goal in calling the church to lament, and a continued reflection on her analogy of 'joining hands.'

Listen to Ruth Padilla DeBorst's full presentation- "North-South Partnership in God's Mission: Joining Hands in the Construction of a Reconciliation Politics."

For the Stott-Bediako Forum, Ruth Padilla DeBorst shared her thoughts with us on "North-South Partnership in God's Mission: Joining Hands in the Construction of a Reconciliation Politics." In this podcast, René August interviews Ruth about her work, different resources she recommends, and more on creating a reconciliation politics.

For the Stott-Bediako Forum, Al Tizon shared his thoughts with us on "Postures Toward Postcolonial Peace: Repentance, Forgiveness, and Lament." In this podcast, Esteban Améstegui interviews Al Tizon about his peacebuilding journey and the integration of justice and peacebuilding.

Entrevistamos a Jocabed Solano sobre su camino como teóloga indígena Guna y los conceptos y prácticas de la reconciliación en su pueblo. Jocabed dirige la organización Memoria Indígena, una comunidad que busca "Reconocer y recordar las memorias indígenas cristianas de Abya Yala, creando espacios de diálogos interculturales entre las comunidades indígenas cristianas, espiritualidades indígenas y la iglesia global y articulando propuestas teológicas, misionologicas y eclesiológicas que respondan a las realidades de nuestros pueblos."

Esta entrevista es parte del Foro Stott-Bediako de INFEMIT, en el cual hablamos sobre La Construcción de la Paz y la Transformación de Conflictos desde el lente del poscolonialismo y el cristianismo indígena.

This episode is a part of an ongoing series of reflections on COVID-19 from INFEMIT's Networking Team around the world. In this interview with Brooke Prentis, we explore the impact of COVID-19 on the context of Australia and the pandemic's implications for our understanding of mission and theology.

Entrevistamos a Benita Simón Mendoza e Ismael Conchacala Gil sobre los conceptos y prácticas de reconciliación en sus pueblos. Benita, del pueblo Maya Kaqchikel en Guatemala, e Ismael, del pueblo Wiwa en Colombia, participan en la comunidad de Memoria Indígena, una organización que busca "Reconocer y recordar las memorias indígenas cristianas de Abya Yala, creando espacios de diálogos interculturales entre las comunidades indígenas cristianas, espiritualidades indígenas y la iglesia global y articulando propuestas teológicas, misionologicas y eclesiológicas que respondan a las realidades de nuestros pueblos." 

Esta entrevista es parte del Foro Stott-Bediako de INFEMIT, en el cual hablamos sobre La Construcción de la Paz y la Transformación de Conflictos desde el lente del poscolonialismo y el cristianismo indígena.

In this interview with Seblewengel Daniel, we explore the impact of COVID-19 on her home context of Ethiopia and the pandemic's implications for our understanding of mission.

For the Stott-Bediako Forum, Martin Munyao contributed a paper on "Whiteness in Christianity and Decoloniality of the African Experience." In this podcast, René August talks with Martin Munyao in depth about the topic.

For the Stott-Bediako Forum, Alex Jones contributed a paper on "Imagining the Postcolonial Christian University." In this podcast, Terry LeBlanc and Tori Greaves talk with Alex Jones in depth about the topic.

Today we have the privilege to talk with Las Newman, the Global Associate Director for Regions for the Lausanne Movement. He lives in Kingston, Jamaica and is a former President of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST). He is also a  member of the INFEMIT Networking Team and the INFEMIT Board. The topic that we will talk about is "COVID-19, Theology and Mission".