United? We Pray

Overview: ”Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” Proverbs 28:27 Is a virus racist? Isaac and Austin explore the news that COVID-19 is disproportionally affecting African Americans. They also explain why we often tie racism today to America's history of slavery. Links & Show Notes: COVID-19, Xenophobia, and a Prayerful Re...

Overview: “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1 In this short episode, Austin and Isaac discuss the recent shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, and how his death ties into a long chain of innocent black men murdered in recent history. They talk about reasons why they can’t watch the videos of the events anymore, and advocate a few ideas on what can be done in light of this tragedy. To learn more about United? We P...

Overview: What do you see in the church and the world that is not in line with God's word and His will? Isaac and Irwyn Ince discuss their "divine dissatisfactions" in the church and the world with regards to race. They also touch on Ince's new book. Listen as they answer questions like: What is the racial status quo of today's American Church? How did Wilmington, North Ca...

Overview: "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (Romans 12:16) Austin and Isaac continue the discussion on unity, diving deeper into the particulars of racial unity. They give insights on how to be wise around the conversation on race, and share ways that people live out their faithfulness in the...

Overview: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) In a tip of the hat towards the name of our ministry, Isaac and Austin give a two-part series on Unity, a hot touch word in the conversation on race. Listen in as they discuss: How would we define unity, and specifically, Christian unity? Why is unity so important anyway? What is unique about...

Overview: "Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins particularly." (Westminster Confession, Chapter 15.5,6, part two). Following James Choi’s article, Isaac and Austin discuss ways in which they see racism, particularly against Asians, in this unique season we live in. Listen in as they di...

Overview: "O God, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (2 Chronicles 20:12). During the coronavirus outbreak, there has been panic, fear, and disruption to our lives, both individually and corporately as churches. But praise God, we're not the only Christians who have had to weather this kind of storm. On Nov. 3, 1918, Francis J. Grimké, pastor of 15th Street Pre...

Overview: Austin has a curious interaction while hosting a booth at a recent conference. This makes Isaac and Austin reflect on why exactly it is that we do what we do here at United? We Pray. Surely it’s not for cool points for being part of the “social justice fad”? Why do we care so much about this conversation as it pertains to God’s Church? Listen in as they discuss: How do we help our friend...

Overview: Isaac catches up with friend and original co-host Trillia Newbell! Isaac and Trillia talk Black History Month and how they and their families are celebrating it. Listen in as we discuss: How does understanding history help us understand our current historical moment? How does understanding history help us love our neighbor? Why do we have black history month? What are good ways to celebr...

Austin was surprised find out that one of his former bosses in Christian ministry was a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. Having been redeemed by the Lord from his former nature, Thomas Tarrants now shares with us insights into the ideology of his past.  Support the show To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast...

Overview: Isaac has a new co-host! Isaac and Austin introduce season 5 and give a preview of what's to come. They take some time to mourn the death of Kobe Bryant, and discuss how it affects the African-American community. Austin also reflects on a recent talk he gave about race, and the outcome of it. Support the show To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep explo...

Overview: “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11) Collin Hansen, Editorial Director of The Gospel Coalition, joins Isaac Adams to discuss the wounds of racism in the South. From the history of the University of Alabama football team to 16th Street Baptist Church, the b...

Overview: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) "Racial logic is the air we breathe." If this is true, how does this affect our understanding of race and racism? Why are these issues about more than personal, individual morality and how do we see them manifest in structures and systems? Moreover, how might Christians faithfully disrupt patterns...

"Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?" (Psalm 94:20) "Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust." Why is understanding songs of sorrow so important for our thinking about race? Why is lament so important that a third of Psalms are lament? Join Isaac Adams and Mark Vroegop as they answer these questions: What does the Scripture teach a...

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1) Despite division over their alma maters, Thabiti Anyabwile and Isaac Adams come together to talk about hope and its importance for the work of racial reconciliation. The brothers considered these questions:• Wh...

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor." (Ecclesiastes 4:9) In this episode, the rest of the leadership team join Isaac to talk about what roles they play on the United? We Pray team, and why they do what they do. Support the show To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on...

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6) How are you praying for the 2020 election? How might we as Christians prepare to speak about it with one another in a way that shows the world we are Jesus’ disciples? In this episode, Isaac Adams and Trillia Newbell team up again to discuss the heightened political...

At the 2019 JUST Gospel Conference, John Onwuchekwa exposits one of the most puzzling and impactful stories of reconciliation in the Scriptures. Meditating on Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers, Onwuchekwa concludes that if you’re ever going to move past your past hurts, from frustration to forgiveness, you have to remember two things: 1) God’s part in your story and 2) Your place in His. W...

In this special episode, we hear Isaac’s talk from the JUST Gospel conference, which took place in Atlanta this past May, and it was hosted by The Front Porch. In this talk he answers the question, “Can we be reconciled without prayer?” Standing on Scripture, such as John 17, Isaac offers two answers: 1) No and 2) Why would we want to? Why would we want a reconciliation born of the flesh but not t...

In this episode, Isaac explains the break mid-season 3, forecasts a couple of sermons dropping on U?WP, and shares his poem of lament entitled: "Lord, I Cannot Fix this Brokenness." Here are the lyrics: Lord! I cannot fix this brokenness, Within the world, a thorny mess, Will war and sorrow win the day? Why has your justice so delayed? Lord! I cannot fix this brokenness, Within our churc...

"As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting." (2 Corinthians 7:9) Join Isaac Adams and Jemar Tisby as the two talk about politics, which so often combines race, religion, idolatry, and power. Still, Tisby maintains Christians are political creatures who need not shy away from politics. Tisby discusses the nature of systemic racism, and...

FYI: This episode was originally recorded August 2018. Given that we pushed season three back to 2019, we had it scheduled to release in Spring 2019. Host: Isaac Adams and Trillia Newbell Overview: " Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20). In this epi...

Host: Isaac Adams Overview: But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. (Obadiah 12) Join Isaac as he heads to Kenya to talk with Pastor Ken Mbugua about tribalism and its hidden faults. Kenya, along with some of its churches, has wonderful diversity as there are 4...

Host: Isaac Adams Overview: "And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great." (Job 2:13) Come hear a man reckon with the hard history of his lineage: His family sold slaves. To kick off Season 3, Isaac Adams travels through Africa to pray with and learn from African pastors about race, the lo...

Host: Isaac Adams Overview: “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” - Samuel Chadwick Isaac gives us an overview of Season 3 and its focuses. We say goodbye to some old friends and hello to some new....