Becoming Church

When a 90s church kid from an immigrant family finds herself accidentally speaking out against mainstream church ideologies, the natural path to advocacy is comedy…right?! It was for Kristina Hart, who has learned to use humor as an open door to conversations that really matter.   This episode breaks down dating as a single adult, deconstructing traditional gender expectations, what happens when y...

While others call him a prophet, he calls himself a poet. He’s also now a published author, here to talk all about the poems and essays in “A Rebellion of Care,” his moving manifesto that will invite you to embrace your humanity and live fully alive.   David and I talk about sustainability, social change, hyper-capitalism, pervasive loneliness, the epidemic of social isolation and mental health in...

Immigration news is changing as quickly as we change the channel. It’s hard to keep up with accurate information, especially when misinformation spreads just as quickly. And does it really even matter? Should we care about what’s happening at the United States/Mexico border if we don’t live anywhere near there? Do we need to be informed about refugee policy if it doesn’t affect us?   Liliana Reza,...

Christianity is shaped by a mix of things: culture, time, leadership, politics, media and personal experience. But somewhere along the way, one specific expression of Christianity went off course and became a new thing, Christian Nationalism.   If you’re unsure about what Christian Nationalism even is, this episode will help you understand how it’s an off-shoot of Christianity. If you’re looking f...

The world is tiring but instead of taking the time to find true rest, we often find ourselves detaching, avoiding or numbing out just to find some release. Whether you’re chasing something or running away from something, Terry Crist has the solution to feeling restless. This conversation covers a multitude: from church hurt to running with MLK, from family systems theory to getting hyped up by Emi...

“I turned down Usher” is not a sentence most of us have said. But Kierre has! Kierre Bjorn shares his story of being invited to The Voice and how God used that experience to lead him straight into music ministry. He’ll share his hope for the future of the church as well as what changes he thinks are necessary to help us become the church the world needs. In this episode, Kierre will also introduce...

How do you find direction in times of uncertainty? If you’re feeling disconnected, lost, hurt, confused or wondering where God is, you may be in a wilderness season. Kristel Acevedo will give you hope and a way forward in her 6 week study of biblical figures who faced their own wilderness. This episode will re-introduce you to John the Baptist, Hagar, Adam and Eve, the Israelites, Elijah and Jesus...

Those weird faith thoughts you don’t want to admit? Mark Tabb wrote a whole book about them: “Why don’t I feel anything? Is God kind of mean but we’re all afraid to say something? Can I call myself a Christian if I don't watch The Chosen? If I believe God is in control, why am I upset about politics?” And the hardest (but maybe most important) one we should all be asking… What if I’m wrong?   If y...

You would never let anyone experiment with your kids. But when they get caught up in your personal healing process, it’s exactly what accidentally happens. The first step to helping your teen is helping yourself as you learn to process your thoughts, heal from hurts and navigate tricky emotions.   Whether you’re in your own spiritual journey or you’re looking for tips on raising the next generatio...

Fear is your biggest enemy. It sneaks in with lies of worry, uncertainty and discouragement, clouding your vision for a brighter future. But there’s a better way forward, a beautiful tomorrow filled with joy. But faith is not the opposite of fear and there is hope. Naeem Fazal shares stories of depression, despair and loss and explains what it is that will help you break through to the other side....

Disability isn’t a problem to fix and wholeness isn’t a cure. Advocate Amy Julia Becker believes we’ve been told an incomplete story about disability, and it isn’t synonymous with suffering. Human brokenness and human limitations are not the same thing. In this episode, Amy Julia explains what it really means to live a good life, especially after a diagnosis that shifts your expectations. This con...

If your life doesn’t look like you thought it would, you’re not alone. Best-selling author Jessica Turner shares how to rise from disappointment and rebuild with hope, even when everything falls apart.   For More ↓ Grab Jessica’s book: “ I Thought it Would be Better Than This: Rise from Disappointment, Regain Control and Rebuild a Life you Love ” Weekly reflection questions + newsletter: Turning t...

If you’ve spent your life being overlooked, it will change you in one of two ways. You can either stay stuck in bitterness, playing the singular role of underdog or you can quit playing small and move forward. Mary Marantz says the choice is yours and there is a right answer. If you have a hard story, if it feels like life is easier for everyone else or you feel like you just blend into the backgr...

Forget Preachers in Sneakers, we’ve got Reverends in Rhinestones and Priests in Hot Pink. This conversation between Reverend Lizzie McManus-Dail and Kristin Mockler Young will shut down the idea that women can’t be their feminine selves and preach the gospel at the same time. If you’re not a girly girl, fear not. This episode is full of ways to fight fear, reconnect with joy and liberate the gentl...

You can learn a lot when you stop at the weird. And there’s a lot of weird fun in this episode. Amy Seiffert shares her best tips on how to read the Bible in a way that makes the stories come to life using Holy Imagination to learn from what’s not documented on the page. Amy also brings Old Testament characters to life as she shows us how knowing their stories can help us better appreciate ours. —...

From health issues to unexpected loss, Aubrey Sampson has become part of the club that no one wants to be in, the group of people who know what it’s like to walk through deep, compounding grief. If processing suffering was never part of your faith or religious upbringing, Aubrey will help you understand the holy, and helpful, practice of lament. There is freedom in naming your feelings and being h...

Whether or not you recognize her name, you probably know Jenn Johnson’s voice. Not only that, but there’s a good chance you’ve been singing her words. As the president of Bethel Music for the last 25 years, Jenn has written songs like Goodness of God, I belong to Jesus and For the One. This conversation is a peek behind the mega worship curtain as we learn more about the hearts and minds that crea...

Funny Jesus people are the best people and Jo Saxton is at the top of the list. Jo is a fierce leader who empowers and encourages others and who always makes space to include the gifts and callings she sees so clearly in every other person. If you’re a leader, treat this episode like professional development that will help you create a more diverse and equitable environment. If you desire to be a...

Even as a tenured history professor and best selling author, Beth Allison Barr sometimes feels restricted to another title that she holds, the Pastor’s Wife. Through her research and lived experience, Dr. Barr has discovered patterns that connect the history of the church to the male-dominated field it is today. This conversation will help you understand why things are the way they are as well as...

If all of a sudden your body didn’t function the way it always has, how would your life change? Would you still be able to enter your church and worship freely if you required a wheelchair or other assistance device? Would your perspective of how God made you change? The only way to learn and grow is by listening to people who have different lived experiences than our own. Renee Dollenmayer, found...

When a political corespondent becomes an ordained minister, church and state collide in social justice. Joash Thomas set out to ask the question “If the Gospel of Christ is both physical and spiritual, then why do Western Christians over-prioritize spiritual salvation and under-prioritize justice and liberation for human bodies?” This conversation will educate you on how recent policy changes in t...

Brenna Blain, a contemporary theologian, brings the current problems and issues of the world together with scripture to help people understand how to interact and show up as the body of Christ. In a culture where the church seems divided between legalism and progressive Christianity, she stands in the middle where she finds Jesus. Brenna has learned from her own experiences that what matters to yo...

“It takes as long as it takes and it’s okay to be unfinished. God is not surprised at your process.” Those are just a few of the wise words Aundi Kolber has to offer you. If the world feels too fast, too heavy or too much, this episode will help you find your own pace so you can honor your mind, body and soul. Take what you need in these soft words for hard days. Figure out your attachment style i...

What’s the story of Becoming Church? What happened to Naeem Fazal as the co-host? And what makes this different from every other church podcast out there? Naeem is back to turn the mic on Kristin as she celebrates 100 episodes. Find out what makes a bad guest, what’s ahead for the future of Becoming Church and how you can be more involved in the conversation. ———— Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter...

Was Mary Magdalene Jesus’ secret wife? Is she the same Mary who anointed Jesus with oil? Why are there so many Marys in the Bible and how are we supposed to know which is which?! Award-winning church historian and theologian Jennifer Powell McNutt unpacks scripture and explains the context of history so we can better understand who Mary Magdalene was - and who she wasn’t. This episode is for both...