The Better Samaritan Podcast

Do you want to foster real change and innovation in your organization, but feel unsure where to start? When you're leading a group of people waiting for your direction, how do you move them toward a new vision? In this episode, Jamie and Kent sit down with Dr. Margaret Diddams, a well-respected Principal Consultant at the Diddams Group, to discuss the art of innovation in leadership. Dr. Diddams,...

In this episode, we talk with Preston Hill, assistant professor of integrative theology at Richmont Graduate University, about theology and trauma. Preston's insights challenge us to rethink our understanding of trauma, moving away from viewing it simply as suffering. This important, timely conversation includes a discussion of spiritual hurt and the often painful reality of trauma within church c...

Join us on today's episode for a deeply enriching conversation with Laura Howe of Hope Made Strong on the crucial role of the church in addressing mental health issues, particularly in the wake of the pandemic's collective trauma. We leave no stone unturned, covering topics such as practical ways to empower your congregation to provide solace, support, and strength to those grappling with mental h...

Join us for a conversation about the much-needed, challenging world of disaster relief with Brent Davis, Director of Canadian Ministry Projects for Samaritan's Purse. Brent's mantra " anytime we're not responding, we're preparing " reinforces the commitment and readiness Samaritan's Purse brings to communities ravaged by wildfires and other disasters. We'll uncover the critical role of trust-build...

In this week's conversation, we navigate the complex terrain of foster care and adoption with our esteemed guests, Jenn Ranter Hook, founder and executive director of Replanted, and her husband, Josh Hook, a psychology professor. Jenn opens up about her personal experiences working with children in the foster care system and her realization about the Church's lack of support for families on that j...

About the episode: Have you ever felt that Christian practices and mindfulness are worlds apart? Joshua Knabb, a board-certified clinical psychologist and professor of psychology, joins us to bridge that gap. We unearth the deeply meditative heritage of Christianity and explore how secularized "mindfulness" can be adapted to resonate with Christian values. We also discuss Lectio Divina, a reading...

About the episode: Step into the trenches with us as we unpack the raw truth of providing humanitarian aid in war zones. We are privileged to have as our guests Anne Reitsema, CEO of Medair, and Meghan North, former country director for Medair in Ukraine and Poland. They share insights about the initial response to the crisis in Ukraine and details about the daily reality of living and serving in...

Imagine walking into a room and feeling an inexplicable sense of attachment. Have you wondered why? In this episode, we explore that very question with our guest, Dr. Victor Counted, a renowned researcher and associate professor at Regent University. Our discussion pivots around the psychology of religion and environmental psychology, unearthing how our attachment to places and God shapes our iden...

Discover the psychological secrets behind why people are leaving behind their faith and quietly quitting church as we sit down with esteemed guests, Dr. Aaron McLaughlin and Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren. In our eye-opening conversation, we dig into their recent study "Losing My Religion," funded by the John Templeton Foundation, which aimed to understand the characteristics, reasons, and mental health o...

What if anxiety, a feeling we often dread, could actually be an opportunity for spiritual growth? In this fascinating conversation with Curtis Chang— executive director of Redeeming Babel, consulting professor at Duke Divinity School, and senior fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary—we discuss his new book, The Anxiety Opportunity , and explore how to approach anxiety from a Christian perspective....

What if we could help every child flourish in the face of adversity and trauma? Join us as we speak with two staff members of Christian Heritage , a non-profit agency in Nebraska: Roy Baldwin, the executive director, and Emma Sugita, CH's training director. Christian Heritage's mission is to see the gospel redeem the most broken families through their programs and services, including Beyond Prison...

In this episode, Jamie delves into the crucial topic of helping your congregation become a trauma-informed church. He also notes the perils of non-trauma-informed congregations. With nearly 70% of people experiencing trauma at some point in their lives, it's essential for churches to understand trauma's prevalence and impact, in order to create a safe and supportive environment for those affected....

In this episode, Jamie introduces a Christian grounding technique he and Kent developed for the Spiritual First Aid certificate course, Grounded in Grace: The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique. The technique is designed to help manage stress and anxiety by directing our attention to the present moment through our five senses. Because it incorporates prayer and visualization, this practice can strengthen our fai...

In this episode, Jamie dives into the unholy trinity of burnout: burnout itself, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. This trio is familiar to many in helping professions, ministry positions, or volunteer roles. Understanding their definitions and root causes is essential for preventing—and overcoming—each of them. As Christian helpers, we can't ignore these issues. Instead, we must prioritiz...

One of the things Jamie and Kent have learned over the years is that "doing good, better" is demanding emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's quite common for helpers to feel a high level of stress, and they may eventually succumb to compassion fatigue or even burnout. In a special edition of the podcast, Jamie leads us through a 10-minute progressive muscle relaxation exercise t...

In this unique episode, Jamie and Kent sit down with poet and pastor Drew Jackson, author of two volumes of poetry, including God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming . Drew reads several of his poems, leading into discussions about Jesus as an outsider, how justice work is a core gospel ethic, and why remaining vulnerable and compassionate is imperative for Christians who want t...

In this wide-ranging episode, Jamie and Kent sit down with Bob Smietana, a veteran news reporter and author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why It Matters. Together they discuss why people are leaving American churches, examine the loss of resources from current trends (and scandals), and discuss what we can do to continue moving forward. Listen in to learn more a...

We're excited to begin a brand-new season of " The Better Samaritan " with a special episode. A few months ago, Jamie Aten and Kent Annan were invited by One Collective to teach Spiritual First Aid training for Christians serving refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) impacted by the war in Ukraine. In this episode, Jamie and Kent share audio they recorded on the field and reflections wh...

"Disillusionment is the loss of a lie that we have believed." —Peter Greer, HOPE International Most people who work in humanitarian and helping professions end up in a familiar cycle: idealism leads to disillusionment which leads to either cynicism, or hope. Peter Greer and Chris Horst, both with HOPE International, have seen it again and again. For their new book, " The Gift of Disillusionment: E...

"This issue is not going away, and it's not a one church issue. Has spanned the church world in all denominations. I think it's something that God is exposing because he loves the church and wants to see her well." —Danielle Strickland Danielle Strickland spent 22 years as a Salvation Army officer in 3 countries, fighting exploitation and human trafficking, before becoming a church planter and tea...

When Paul McLaughlin went to his advisor, Mark McMinn, to pitch a dissertation on wisdom psychology, Mark told him: "Paul, that sounds like a great topic, but psychologists do not really study wisdom." Paul proved him wrong, and years later they've together crafted a book on it: As Christians, what can we learn from the science of wisdom? And how we can cultivate this virtue in our hectic, tragic...

84 million people have been forcibly displaced around the world. Add to that a recent 5 million from Ukraine, and the world's borders are under tremendous pressure. According to Ali Noorani, founder of the National Immigration Forum, that creates a deep sense of fear that our borders are out of control. To 'do something' used to mean to treat refugees & immigrants in the harshest way possible. But...

As a helper, you want to help, serve and honor those you work with. That might be as a church leader, disaster relief worker, nurse or barista. But as an imperfect person, you may need to do some soul-searching in order to most effectively help those around you. Dr. Holly Oxhandler's book, The Soul of the Helper: Seven Stages to Seeing the Sacred Within Yourself So You Can See It In Others , is an...

How has militarism shaped our idea of the way a Christian 'should' be? Does it make sense to put theology at the center of what it means to be an evangelical—even if pastors would like it to be? Jamie and Kent sat down with Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of "Jesus and John Wayne," to ask her these questions and talk about her take on evangelicals' relationship with the 'outsider'—plus—the danger...

In 1995, a book was published with a provocative opening: "The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind." (Christianity Today would go on to award this Book of the Year. ) Today on the podcast, the author of that book—prominent evangelical historian Mark Noll—looks back on the last 30 years of the movement ahead of the book's re-release. He talks with Jamie...