Our Urban Voices

Youth ministry veteran Amy Williams ministers to teens involved in gangs and those lost in the criminal justice system with a key strategy of life-on-life mentoring. Amy Willliams' Website Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God’s Eyes Amy Williams on IVPress WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Seeing People “through the lens of God” in Daily Interactions and Decision-Making Meaningful Inclusion with At-Risk Yout...

Pastor Joshua Hayden has recently authored Remissioning Church, A Field Guide to Bringing a Congregation Back to Life, where he talks about transforming a church from the inside out to bring a new missional presence that brings life and flourishing to the neighborhood. Book: Remissioning Church WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why the tried and true strategies for church growth not working so well anymore Creat...

Josh has recently authored Remissioning Church, A Field Guide to Bringing a Congregation Back to Life, where he talks about transforming a church from the inside out to bring a new missional presence that brings life and flourishing to the neighborhood. Book: Remissioning Church WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How and why congregations might be dying Remissioning vs Revitalizing Inside-out transformation ABOUT...

Dr. Octavio Esqueda, full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph. D. and Ed. D. Programs in Educational Studies at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, shares on how the gospel redefines masculinity. Dr Esqueda's Website Dr Esqueda's Website (Spanish) Dr Esqueda's Books Dr Esqueda on X.com WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Mother's Day vs Father's Day in Churches Important M...

Pastor Drew Hyun explains how the Christian faith provides a lens through which we can understand the beautiful and disappointing world we live in, while offering the kind of promising hope we long for. Book:   Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful Hope Church NYC Website Drew Hyun Website WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Three Types of Books About Christianity Tension that Many Believers Experience Three Deep...

Carl Jamal dedicated his life to serving underserved communities, equipping churches, and empowering individuals through faith-based outreach. Our conversation today will center around effective urban ministry—how churches can serve inner-city communities with dignity, navigate challenges, and build lasting relationships. We’ll also explore Carl’s unique approach to ministry through hip-hop, priso...

Dr.  Mark Glanville shared thoughts from his new book, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Neighborhoods and how preaching can adapt to the complexities of faith in our time—especially where traditional assumptions about faith and Scripture no longer hold and where people are seeking relational leadership. Dr Mark Glanville's Website Book Info: Preaching in a...

Dr.  Mark Glanville shared thoughts from his new book, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Neighborhoods and how preaching can adapt to the complexities of faith in our time—especially where traditional assumptions about faith and Scripture no longer hold and where people are seeking relational leadership. Dr Mark Glanville's Website Book Info: Preaching in a...

Aimee Huber is the Executive Director of First Choice Women's Resource Centers in New Jersey. She has dedicated over three decades to supporting women and men facing unplanned pregnancies, providing them with counseling, medical services, and practical support.  Aimee Huber's Website WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How Pregnancy Resource Centers support men & women How church can support Pregnanc...

Brandon has extensive experience living and serving among least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. His time spent in the Middle East cultivated a deep passion for diaspora Muslims residing in gateway cities. Brandon's website WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Christians may be hesitate or fearful about engaging with Muslim neighbors Muslims might not have significant relationship with Christ...

Brandon has extensive experience living and serving among least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. His time spent in the Middle East cultivated a deep passion for diaspora Muslims residing in gateway cities. Brandon's website WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The Gap Between the Christian and Muslim Communities Most Effective Ways for Churches and Believers to Serve Muslims Heart for Muslims...

Dr. Octavio Esqueda, full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph. D. and Ed. D. Programs in Educational Studies at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, shares on higher education for Christian minorities. Dr Esqueda's Website Dr Esqueda's Website (Spanish) Dr Esqueda's Books Dr Esqueda on X.com WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Challenges of Hispanic faculty in Christian col...

Pouring back into the next generation of missionaries, Carol’s experience is shared in her non-fiction work on Islam and missions and four novels written under the pen name of Um Daoud which tell the stories of Muslims who come to faith in Christ.  Carol Ghattas' website Carol Ghattas' Facebook page Carol Ghattas' books WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Answering God's Call Challenges of and Encouragement f...

Dr Alfonse Javed, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Metuchen, shares a Christmas message on God's Grace on Christmas (Ephesians 2:8-10). What is grace and why do we need to talk about God’s grace on Christmas? What if I told you that the Christmas story is the story of God’s grace and that most people celebrate Christmas without considering God’s grace, the first cause behind Christmas? There is no g...

Natisha Matthews, an ordained elder and attorney, shares about the importance of estate planning for Christians, particularly in the urban community. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Cost of not planning for your estate (even if you think you don't have anything) What are wills, power of attorney, health care proxy? Mindset for estate planning ABOUT THE GUEST:  Rev Matthews areas of practice are Trust...

Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller, an Anglican author, pastor, and professor, discusses interpreting the book of Revelation. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Genre of Revelation and Its Importance Old Testament and Revelation link Host's & Guest's Interpretation Example ABOUT THE GUEST:  Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller was born in Montana and grew up in Colorado and Puebla (in Mexico). He completed a BA in p...

Quilen Blackwell is the president and co-founder of the Chicago Eco House, whose mission is to train inner city youth in sustainable social enterprises to alleviate poverty. The Chicago Eco House’s signature program is Southside Blooms, an off-grid flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. ...

David ministers among Muslim immigrants in a major US city. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How Ramadan affects outreach Sharing the gospel more effectively Practical steps in cross-culture ministry ABOUT THE GUEST:  David and his family serve as the Strategy Coordinator and unit on the Global Gates West African Team. Though they have a specific people group focus, the vision is reaching the ends of the E...

Join us as we countdown the top 5 episodes of 2024. The fifth most popular episode was #94. The Journey from "Truth" to TRUTH. Pastor Otis (O.L.) Buckley is the pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in the Bronx, NY. He shares his journey in discovering the Biblical truths that moved him from denominational theology to denominational theology. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to Search for Answers Big God Theolo...

Anita Rahma currently lives with her family in the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia. She discusses discipleship, incarnational urban ministry, and loving Muslim neighbors.  Book: Downward Discipleship Book: Beyond Our Walls WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Definition of "slum" What downward discipleship is Building relationships in Jakarta ABOUT THE GUEST:  Anita’s high school years were spent as an Americ...

Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance caring for our missionaries well and how to engage the local church.  Book: Holding the Rope Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: When does missionary care start Practical ways the local church can care for their missionaries How pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needs ABOUT T...

Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance of missional awareness in the local church, particularly through local international ministry.  Book: Holding the Rope Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What missional awareness is Three practical suggestions for engaging the local international community What missional discipleship looks like ABOUT THE G...

Dr. Mark Glanville discusses how churches can love the stranger because Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger. Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger Challenging the fear-based ethic approaches to refug...

Dr. Mark Glanville discusses how churches can adapt to and impact their own neighborhoods in a post-Christian world. Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Christian vs Post-Christian Culture Four Key Questions of Scripture Beauty is a Glimpse of God ABOUT THE GUEST:  Dr. Ma...

Dr. Darren Hercyk discusses the local church developing a heart for mercy ministries. Dr. Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Right WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The balance between social gospel and evangelism Ministering to the community in which you are placed Broadening the impact of the...