urbangems

The Urban Gems Podcast

Religion EN ↓ 11 episodes

The Urban Gems podcast is brought to you by the authors of the book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives On The Global City And Its People (releasing April 2026 on SacraSage Press), a group of urban ministry practitioners that have a love for urban places and a love for the Christian faith tradition. We believe that the city is like a diamond – forged out of intense pressure and crafted into something beautiful by its citizens. When we see the city this way, we can hold both the city's very real difficulties in one hand and its beauty in the other. When we enter the city seeking something beauti...

Author

urbangems

Episodes

S1:E11 - Vancouver: Dena Nicolai 22.06.2026 46:21

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. My guest on this episode is Dena Nicolai. Dena works in the areas of refugee resettlement and refugee sponsorship (associated with Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program) in Vancouver, British Columbia, connecting with newcomers throughout Metro Vancouver a...

S1:E10 - Guatemala City / Grand Rapids, MI: Joel Aguilar 15.06.2026 39:33

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode my guest is Dr. Joel Aguilar-Ramirez. Joel holds a PhD from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, a master’s degree in Global Urban Ministry from Bakke Graduate University, and a bachelor’s in theology from the Central American Theological Semi...

S1:E9 - Kansas City: Kurt Rietema 08.06.2026 30:29

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode our guest is Kurt Rietema. Kurt is the Senior Director of Youthfront Neighborhood at Youthfront. Kurt lives and works in a neighborhood called Argentine in Kansas City, Kansas, that may be short on money and status, but rich in culture. Kurt’s work in...

S1:E8 - Seattle, WA: Sparrow Etter Carlson 01.06.2026 43:57

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, we are talking with Sparrow Etter Carlson. Sparrow has spent more than 22 years in community with her unhoused neighbors. She is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of Sacred Streets and previously co-founded Aurora Commons, the Safe, Healthy, Empo...

S1: E7 - London, ON: Kenny Wallace 18.05.2026 29:06

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, I talk with Rev. Dr. Kenny Wallace. Kenny is an African American Choctaw Pawnee from the United States living in Canada. He holds a doctorate in Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies with a focus on ethnodoxology, t...

S1: E6 - Montreal: Jenna Smith 11.05.2026 34:04

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, I’m joined by Jenna Smith. Jenna holds a master's degree in theology from the University of Montreal and was ordained by Street Psalms, an international network of urban practitioners working with vulnerable communities. She is co-executive director...

S1: E5 - Seattle: Ron Ruthruff 04.05.2026 30:16

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, we hear from Dr. Ron Ruthruff. Ron serves as Professor of Theology and Culture at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and is ordained clergy with the Street Psalms Community. As a street-level theologian, Ron brings three decades of exper...

S1: E4 - Wyoming, MI / Guatemala City: Joel Van Dyke 27.04.2026 27:16

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. My guest on this episode is Joel Van Dyke. Joel currently lives with his wife and daughter in Wyoming, MI where he pastors Lee St. Christian Reformed Church and serves as Regional Director for Latin America with New City Networks. He is a member of the Senior Managem...

S1: E3 - Detroit: Mark Van Andel 20.04.2026 24:25

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, we hear from Rev. Mark Van Andel from Detroit. Mark has been engaged in community development and learning how to be a part of the Church in his home of Detroit since 2005. He holds an MA in Missions from Calvin Theological Seminary and a Master’s in...

S1: E2 - Book Release Party 13.04.2026 1:08:37

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. On this episode, the authors of Urban Gems gather for an online book release party and each shares a bit about their chapter. Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People, published by SacraSage Press, is available as an eBook or paperback: e...

S1: E1 - Welcome & Introduction 06.04.2026 11:07

Welcome to the Urban Gems Podcast, a companion to the new book Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People. This episode introduces the book and the podcast. Urban Gems: Ministry Perspectives on the Global City and its People, published by SacraSage Press, is available as an eBook or paperback at: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Apple Books, and Google Play books. Co...