The Ambassador Podcast

This week, we have our final debrief episode of the season as we talk to a good friend, Rudy Hartmann, Salt Company Director of Doxa Church in Madison, WI. Rudy is a passionate ministry leader with a great amount of experience in college ministry. Born and raised in Florida, he has made his way around the midwest, overseas, the east coast, and most recently finding a home in Wisconsin.

On this episode, Rudy and Jarryd debrief James Roberson’s episode, Pray. March. Act. as they dive into conversations on what the Bible has to say about social justice and the impact of and our responsibility in addressing the disparities among us.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Guest: Rudy Hartmann

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

This week, we have our final regular interview of the season as we talk to James Roberson, pastor of The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, NY. James is a passionate ministry leader that loves people and desires to see God's Kingdom reign on earth as it is in heaven. On this episode, James walks us through his story and how he ended up in Brooklyn, NY. He is a church planter that has planted and helped plant churches in multiple cities. 

One of his most recent developments is the Pray. March. Act. initiative. This organization's goal is to create a nation-wide collective of churches and organizations that are committed to Christian Anti-Racist work by dismantling racist structures in their cities through praying, marching, and activism. There has always been a remnant of believers who have spoken into the void of injustice, mainly from the black church, but James is seeking to extend this idea from the margins to the forefront as he spear heads the controversial issue of social justice and sheds a biblical light on social action.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Guest: James Roberson

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to the second installment of a 4-part series on Black History Month 2022. Jarryd will be joined by two local guests, Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones. Both of these guests have appeared on the podcast before in Season 01. Abdul contributed to the Just Thinking Episode and Dr. Jones contributed to the Race and the Next Generation episode. Both men are wise family men and invested community members in Ames, Iowa and have lived committed lives to see social change and racial justice/reconciliation in tangible ways.

The entire month will be spent addressing these pressing topics:

1. The Importance of Black History Month
2. How to Celebrate Black History Month
3. Black Contribution
4. Local Black History

Our normal rhythm is to release episodes every other week on Mondays, but we will be releasing every week on Wednesdays for the month of February. Subscribe to our podcast to receive notifications for our latest episodes!

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones

For more content from Abdullah Muhammad, check out these two podcasts:

1. The Christian Souljah Podcast
2. The Equileader

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to the third installment of a 4-part series on Black History Month 2022. Jarryd will be joined by two local guests, Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones. Both of these guests have appeared on the podcast before in Season 01. Abdul contributed to the Just Thinking Episode and Dr. Jones contributed to the Race and the Next Generation episode. Both men are wise family men and invested community members in Ames, Iowa and have lived committed lives to see social change and racial justice/reconciliation in tangible ways.

The entire month will be spent addressing these pressing topics:

1. The Importance of Black History Month
2. How to Celebrate Black History Month
3. Black Contribution
4. Local Black History

Our normal rhythm is to release episodes every other week on Mondays, but we will be releasing every week on Wednesdays for the month of February. Subscribe to our podcast to receive notifications for our latest episodes!

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Abdullah Muhammad, Dr. Anthony Jones

For more content from Abdullah Muhammad, check out these two podcasts:

1. The Christian Souljah Podcast
2. The Equileader

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

This week, we are presenting an episode from our friends, Phillip Holmes and Taelor Gray, and their “insightful and challenging” podcast Make It Plain. In this episode of the Make It Plain podcast, host Phillip Holmes and Taelor Gray discuss how Malcolm X was slandered. Holmes and Gray reflect on how Malcolm X’s quote was frighteningly accurate and how this perception of him is alive and well today. They explore the motives for this misrepresentation and why Malcolm X predicted that the press would be the culprit rather than the government or FBI. Phillip closes by sharing a story about how he was recently slandered to serve as an illustration of what they believe are the effects of slander and ends with biblical applications regarding how Christians should view slander.

Phillip Holmes is a marketing executive, podcast host, and owner of Highest Good Media. Phillip is married with children and his family are members of Redeemer Church.

His wife, Jasmine Holmes, has a recently released book called Carved in Ebony that invites you into a world that tells a history that doesn’t exclude the contributions of black women. It will educate you on many black women of faith who teach us about the intersections of faith and education, birth, privilege, opportunity, and much much more … What a resource to engage in if you’re looking for something to honor and celebrate black history month.

Taelor Gray currently serves as pastor at Linden Life Fellowship while doubling as a hip-hop artist. He is a husband to an amazing wife and the father of two children.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Collaborators: Phillip Holmes, Taelor Gray

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to the second installment of a 4-part series on Black History Month 2022. Jarryd will be joined by two local guests, Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones. Both of these guests have appeared on the podcast before in Season 01. Abdul contributed to the Just Thinking Episode and Dr. Jones contributed to the Race and the Next Generation episode. Both men are wise family men and invested community members in Ames, Iowa and have lived committed lives to see social change and racial justice/reconciliation in tangible ways.

The entire month will be spent addressing these pressing topics:

1. The Importance of Black History Month
2. How to Celebrate Black History Month
3. Black Contribution
4. Local Black History

Our normal rhythm is to release episodes every other week on Mondays, but we will be releasing every week on Wednesdays for the month of February. Subscribe to our podcast to receive notifications for our latest episodes!

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones

For more content from Abdullah Muhammad, check out these two podcasts:

1. The Christian Souljah Podcast
2. The Equileader

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to the first installment of a 4-part series on Black History Month 2022. Jarryd will be joined by two local guests, Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones. Both of these guests have appeared on the podcast before in Season 01. Abdul contributed to the Just Thinking Episode and Dr. Jones contributed to the Race and the Next Generation episode. Both men are wise family men and invested community members in Ames, Iowa and have lived committed lives to see social change and racial justice/reconciliation in tangible ways. 

The entire month will be spent addressing these pressing topics: 

1. The Importance of Black History Month 
2. How to Celebrate Black History Month 
3. Black Contribution 
4. Local Black History 

Our normal rhythm is to release episodes every other week on Mondays, but we will be releasing every week on Wednesdays for the month of February. Subscribe to our podcast to receive notifications for our latest episodes! 

Host: Jarryd Cole 

Special Guest: Abdullah Muhammad and Dr. Anthony Jones 

For more content from Abdullah Muhammad, check out these two podcasts:

1. The Christian Souljah Podcast
2. The Equileader

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

We are joined by Pastor Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church on the South Side of Chicago. Dr. Dates is a long time pastor who has committed his life to learning, teaching, and shepherding all in the state Illinois. He is a key figure and prophetic voice in the justice movement from a Christian perspective and truly embodies an MLK-like life when it comes to being impacted by his legacy and pursuing the change he would want to see. Dr. Dates is a husband, father, scholar, pastor, author, and truth teller.

Check out this episode for a semi-history lesson, a sober look at where we are today, and a gospel hope to lean into.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Today, Jarryd is joined by Mark Vance, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church. Mark is a wise pastor, faithful husband, and thoughtful farther. Check out this episode as they debrief Dr. Yancey's, Gridlocked, episode by exploring race, sociology, and CRT more in depth. 

Host: Jarryd Cole

Guest: Mark Vance

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Today, Jarryd is joined by Dr. George Yancey, sociologist and professor at Baylor University. Yancey has been a long time advocate for racial reconciliation where he has had a calm and measured voice over several decades. In this episode, Yancey walks us through his 15 year old book, Beyond Racial Gridlock and his soon to be released book, Beyond Racial Division, CRT, and action steps for us current and future reconcilers.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Guest: Dr. George Yancey

Website: weareambassador.com

Other mentioned content: Beyond Diversity: What the Future of Racial Justice will Require of U. S. Churches (Michael O. Emerson)

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to our third debrief of the season! On this episode, Jarryd is joined by Solomon Rexius, director of The Salt Company. The Salt Company is a college ministry based in Ames, IA that has turned into a church planting movement called The Salt Network. Sol is also the national director that pours into and leads over 20 other Salt Directors across the country. As a Eugene, OR native, Sol has made Ames his home for the last several years and has been a faithful leader at Cornerstone Church. Check out this episode as he shares his insights about Rich Villodas' episode, “Deeply Formed”.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Guests: Solomon Rexius

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team! Special Guest: Quentin Riser

On today’s episode we have Pastor Rich Villodas who serves as the current lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens (New York). Pastor Rich is a husband, a father, and an author who recently released his first book called The Deeply Formed Life. Pastor Rich is a leader of Christian thought on emotional and spiritual health. In his book, he mixes his expertise on these issues with Christian discipleship as he engages in areas of life that are uncommon to think about in terms of spiritual formation. On this episode, Jarryd and Purshia interview Pastor Rich about racial reconciliation as it relates to spiritual formation, as he addresses in The Deeply Formed Life.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Purshia Gambles

Special Guest: Rich Villodas

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team! Special Guest: Quentin Riser

On today’s episode we have Pastor Jerome Gay who is the pastor of Vision Church in the Raleigh-Durham area, president and founder of the Urban Perspective which is an organization shaped by Jerome to see gospel centered churches and leaders raised up within the urban context and sent out to plant other gospel centered churches. Pastor Jerome is also an author and his most recent contribution is his newly released work, The Whitewashing of Christianity: A Hidden Past, a Hurtful Present, and a Hopeful Future. In this book, he rightly balances the tension between being confrontational and combative. In order to get to a hopeful future, we have to address the past and the pain in the present with an honest wrestle with the truth. This is exactly what Pastor Jerome provides in this episode and more. His contributions to the church and Christian faith have been blessed and we are honored to have his voice inform some of the ways that we think.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Jerome Gay 

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

On this episode, we have Dr. Matt LaPine debriefing the Non-Binary episode from Raymond Chang. LaPine is a scholar and thought leader on emotional and mental health and how it impacts the church and the Christian faith. He is a pastor theologian at Cornerstone Church in Ames, IA where he serves as the Pastor of Theological Development. He is also a writer and author with many published articles. In 2020 he released a book based on his dissertation topic called The Logic of the Body: Retrieving Theological Psychology, where he tackles the difficult reality of our emotions and the psychological impact they have on our body, faith, and logic.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special Guest: Matt LaPine

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome to the first interview of season three. On this episode, Jarryd interviews Raymond Chang as he lets us in on his life, ministry, and convictions. Ray is an author, campus chaplain, and Bible teacher at Wheaton college. He is also the president of the Asian American Christian Collective (AACC).

With a heart for reconciliation and justice, Ray’s is a helpful and challenging voice that breaks into a tension that is most popularly known and spoken into from a black-white binary. As we think towards multi-ethnicity and unity, we will need to think broader. On this episode, Ray helps us do that.

Host: Jarryd Cole

Special guest: Ray Chang

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Website: weareambassador.com

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Justice is a difficult yet important topic to discuss for our faith. Mike Edmondson, lead pastor of Koinonia  in Nashville, TN, joins Jarryd and Tracee as he sheds light on the topic. Mika is a husband, pastor, theologian, author, and well rounded scholar. He is passionate about Jesus and the multiethnic church and is committed to seeing and being a part of holistic reconciliation and unity through the bond of Jesus Christ.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Mika Edmondson

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Our guest, Kari Minter joins us as we debrief the Assimilation vs. Accommodation episode. Our interview with Hosanna Wong was dense and this episode was no different. One of the most divisive topics in Christian spaces, aside from race and diversity, is the role of women in ministry. On these two episodes we tackle both.

Kari is a wife, a mom, a student of Jesus and a gifted Bible teacher. We were grateful to hang out with her and hear her wisdom and conviction on this issue as she discloses the joys, pains, wins and losses in answering and standing in her calling.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Kari Minter

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Hosanna has a website that has all of her dealings from poetry to sermons. She is also an author with a new book soon to be released and available for preorder titled How (not) to Save the World. 

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special guest: Hosanna Wong

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

In this episode, our guest, Troy Nesbitt joins us to debrief Dhati's episode, Why I Stay. Troy is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Ames, IA and the director of the Salt Network. The Salt Network is a church planting network that focuses on reaching the next-generation in every major university center in the U.S.

Check out this episode to hear Troy's story and how this timely question has impacted him, his life, and his ministry.

Host: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Troy Nesbitt

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

On this episode, Jarryd and Tracee sit down with Dhati Lewis lead pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, Georgia and VP of the Send Network. Dhati is a husband, father, pastor, and author and has been influential in reaching the city and equipping city leaders for the work of ministry.

Dhati speaks on his life experiences, the Gospel, and answers the question why he stays in white evangelical spaces. Check out his YouTube channel "Where Life Exists" where he has a series called "Why I Stay" that will provide more background to the information and topics discussed in this episode.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Dhati Lewis

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

In this episode, we interview Mark DeYmaz, lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Little Rock, AK. Mosaic is a multiethnic church in the heart of Little Rock that has a passion for reaching the city and blessing the city. Mark is also the founder and director of Vine and Village and Mosaix Global Network that offers services to train, encourage, and equip ministry leaders with a multiethnic church vision.

Check out this episode to hear Mark talk about his story and how he became one of the nations pioneers in the multiethnic church movement and how his efforts have faired this far.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Mark DeYmaz

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

On this episode, Shane Rothlisberger joins us to debrief Derwin Gray's Multiethnic Church Episode. Shane wears many hats among which is a pastor at Cornerstone Church and a business owner with Versalifts. If Shane is passionate about anything, its Jesus and squats! And kids. He has a lot of kids!

Shane and Jarryd were able to go to Derwin Gray's Multiethnic Church Round Table in the Spring of 2020 and had a transformative experience. Check this episode out to hear Shane talk about what that was like and what he has been learning ever since.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Shane Rothlisberger

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

Welcome back! We are excited to kick off our first episode of season two of The Ambassador podcast. On this season, we have been blessed to be able to interview a handful of key voices on race, the church, justice, culture, and the ministry of reconciliation. It has been a blast and we hope you all find these episodes as encouraging and challenging as we did.

On this episode, Derwin Gray joins us as lead pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC. Derwin, former NFL football player turned author and pastor, has been a catalyst for the multiethnic church and has committed his life, time, and talents to seeing the multiethnic church become the standard expression of church in America. Understanding the tough road ahead and the barriers that stand in the way, Derwin presses forward with a confidence in the hope of the work of the Gospel.

Check out this episode to hear Derwin speak about his life, ministry, and racial issues that are plaguing us today. He offers a lot of food for thought and a lot of practical ways to see and engage the racial tensions in America with a holistic Gospel.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole, Tracee Wassenaar

Special Guest: Derwin Gray

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you listeners. Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!

We are joined by Pastor Bryan Loritts who shines light on some of these realities and helps us see with a Gospel lens that which is so easy to see through the lens of the world. Bryan is a long time pastor who is currently the teaching pastor at The Summit Church in Raleigh/Durham, NC. Bryan Loritts is a great speaker, an author, and a committed ambassador of reconciliation. He values the multiethnic church and routinely uses his prophetic voice to call God's people the see people how God sees them.

Check out this episode for a semi-history lesson, a sober look at where we are today, and a gospel hope to lean into.

Hosts: Jarryd Cole

Special guest: Bryan Loritts

**Our efforts are possible and matter because of you! Thank you for coming back to listen and support our podcast. If you are looking for financial and other ways to support us check out our support page. Your partnership is welcome and we would love to have you part of the team!