Today's Conversation

What happens when the Holy Spirit moves in our communities? Doug Beacham, a longtime leader in the Pentecostal tradition,reflects on the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work through holiness, sanctification and renewal. Pointing to moments like the Azusa Street Revival and the Memphis Miracle, he highlights how the Spirit brings spiritual renewal, fosters racial unity and expands the Church’s mission.  Toge...

What shapes your identity more — your faith or your politics? In this episode, sociologist George Yancey explores how Americansengage in public life today and why that engagement often feels louder, sharper and more polarized than in previous decades.  George Yancey, professor of sociology at Baylor University, distinguishes public engagement from political engagement, noting that evangelicals hav...

Faith has shaped our nation’s moral imagination in profound and sometimes complicated ways. Christians are called to reflect honestly on both the Church’s failures and the broken places in our own lives. Christian apologist Lisa Fields explores how prayer and lament help believers engage these realities, particularly as we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary.      Lisa Fields is a speaker, author ...

America’s founders crafted a bold and countercultural vision of religious freedom. In this conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and religious freedom expert Tim Schultz explore why those ideas were so revolutionary then — and what they demand of us now as we approach the  250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  Tim Schultz has helped shape more than 20 state religious freedom laws...

What began as a series of revival movements seeking to renew stagnant expressions of Christianity eventually gave rise to American evangelicalism. As historian Aaron Griffith notes, these renewal efforts not only shaped many evangelical denominations of the 18th and 19th centuries but continue to define evangelical identity today.  In this episode of Today’s Conversation podcast, Aaron Griffith an...

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, historian Dr. Mark Noll — one of the leading scholars of American Christianity — joins NAE President Walter Kim to examine the religious roots of early America. Their conversation explores a story marked by profound conviction and courage, and by contradiction. The pilgrims and Puritans brought a deep​ desire to honor God, build community and...

In seasons of disruption, loss or uncertainty, how do Christians hold onto beauty, hope and faith? Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter and worship leader Laura Story joins NAE President Walter Kim for a heartfelt conversation on learning to trust God when life doesn’t go according to plan.  Drawing from her family’s journey with disability, her ministry at Perimeter Church in Atlanta and her ye...

In a world marked by injustice, violence and overwhelming need, how can Christians bring lasting hope — without burning out? Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission, shares powerful lessons from decades confronting global injustice — on staying spiritually grounded, finding joy amid darkness and cultivating resilience that endures.   In this theologically rich conversation wi...

How can Christians pursue justice, lead with integrity and stay spiritually grounded in a divided and demanding world? In this honest and theologically rich episode, Pastor Mike Kelsey of McLean Bible Church shares how staying rooted in the character of God helps him navigate polarization, burnout and the challenges of leadership.  For Mike Kelsey, pursuing justice isn’t an optional add-on — it’s ...

Carrie Sheffield, author of “Motorhome Prophecies,” joins Today’s Conversation to share her remarkable journey from a childhood marked by spiritual and psychological abuse to a renewed faith in Jesus Christ. In this honest and powerful episode, Carrie reflects on how forgiveness became central to her healing — and why she believes there is lasting hope for mental health through Christ.  In this ep...

Investing in God’s redemptive mission through generosity When we think about Christian financial disciplines, tithing 10 percent often comes to mind. But what if Scripture calls us to look beyond giving a portion of our income and to embrace a new way of seeing — where everything we have, not just our money, belongs to God? Bill and Dana Wichterman join Today’s Conversation to discuss what it mean...

What does it mean to keep wisdom ahead of rapidly advancing technology? In this episode of Today’s Conversation, Max Tegmark, professor and AI researcher at MIT and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, explores the urgent question of how society can ensure artificial intelligence empowers — rather than endangers — human flourishing. In this episode, Max Tegmark joins NAE President Walter Ki...

What does it really mean to flourish — not just as individuals, but as communities, cultures and societies? In this episode of Today’s Conversation, Byron Johnson, distinguished professor of social sciences at Baylor University and co–director of the Global Flourishing Study, expands our vision of human flourishing to a global scale. Byron Johnson joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack surprisin...

Rest can feel like an undeserved “luxury” for many of us — but what if it’s actually a gift from God to help us resist the “pharaohs” of our age that plague us with constant striving and endless productivity?  Sheila Wise Rowe, a counselor, spiritual director and author of “Healing Leadership Trauma,” joins this episode of Today’s Conversation podcast to explore the transformational power of rest...

What if the gospel is more vast, beautiful and multidimensional than we could ever imagine? Renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener joins Today's Conversation podcast to deepen our understanding of what Jesus meant by the “good news,” how the early Christians received it, and how it transformed not just individual lives — but entire communities.  While the gospel is often framed primarily...

Recent changes in government funding for international aid, coupled with public criticism of some faith-based organizations, have raised important questions. What responsibility does the government have in saving lives, especially those of non-citizens? Is it acceptable for Christian groups to receive government funding to further the public good? Michael Cerna, CEO of Accord Network, joins Today’...

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a conflict that seems impossible to resolve? What if there was a way to break these cycles of intense conflict? Amanda Ripley joins Today’s Conversation to explore why some conflicts spiral out of control — and how we can shift the outcome. As our country grapples with such high levels of conflict, NAE President Walter Kim and Amanda Ripley, author of “High Co...

It’s one thing to negotiate differences when you share a common moral framework. But how do you move forward with people who hold a completely different vision of the good life? John Inazu joins Today’s Conversation to discuss building bridges in a democracy, the role of the people of God in a pluralistic society, and the importance of empathy and forgiveness. In this episode, NAE President Walter...

Much has been said about our increasingly polarized society. It seems we are becoming more entrenched in particular ideologies and less capable of understanding others. But are we as polarized as we think we are? Tim Dixon, co-founder of More in Common, joins Today’s Conversation to discuss what we do have in common, and how we can find more in common with others. In this conversation, NAE Preside...

Our context — whether political, cultural or social — often determines the lens by which we read Scripture, for better or for worse. Engaging with the global church expands our context and encourages us to ask fresh questions of the gospel and of Scripture. Riad Kassis joins Today’s Conversation from Beirut, Lebanon, bringing deep convictions of fidelity to Scripture and its application to lived e...

What is the future of artificial intelligence, and how should Christians interact with it? Listen in to hear Andy Crouch, author and partner for theology and culture at Praxis, discuss AI’s potential to be a profound and fruitful extension of human image-bearing, as well as its potential to be destructive to human flourishing.  In Today’s Conversation podcast, host NAE President Walter Kim and And...

In a world where news is constantly streamed, the sheer amount of information can leave many of us feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to filter what is true.  Bonnie Kristian, journalist and author of “The Knowledge Crisis” joins NAE President Walter Kim to discuss how this issue is leaking into churches and becoming a discipleship issue. Listen in to hear them discuss a way forward.  In this e...

The country is divided across class, racial, gender and political lines, and churches are not immune to this. Sometimes they even exemplify this division. How can pastors preach to a divided audience, and how can congregants remain active participants despite challenging differences? Dr. Matthew Kim, of Truett Seminary and co-author of “Preaching to a Divided Nation,” offers a way forward in this...

In the midst of deep political and cultural polarization, there remains an underutilized space: the middle. Shirley Mullen argues that this “middle” is not “bland averaging, moral cowardice or lazy indifference.” Instead the courageous middle is a daring way to live and work together for a more hopeful future. Shirley Mullen, president emerita of Houghton University, joins NAE President Walter Kim...

The foundation of thriving communities is strong families. That idea resonates with many of us, but the data also demonstrates it. Join Dr. Brad Wilcox and NAE President Walter Kim as they confront common yet false narratives about marriage in society today. This conversation covers why marriage not only benefits those who have committed to forging strong marriages but also society as a whole. You...