United? We Pray

Host: Isaac Adams Guest: Jarvis Williams Overview: “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Overview: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In the Season 2 Finale, Trillia and Isaac reflect upon God’s grace throughout another season of United? We Pray. They reflect upon 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Duke Kwon Overview: “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11) Should our conversations about race and the church only be black and white? What is lost if we don’t have a wider conversation, and what is gained from ha...

Hosts: Isaac Adams Guest: John Perkins Overview: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)  Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Fifty years later to the day, Isaac Adams sat with Dr. John Perkins, an 87-year-old civil rights activist, a few blocks from where Dr. King was killed.  There, Isaac heard Perkins’ refle...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Dr. Michael Emerson Overview: "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." (James 1:19) In this episode, Trillia Newbell and Isaac Adams talk with Michael Emerson, one of the authors of the seminal work, Divided by Faith. Published nearly 20 years ago, Divided by Faith examines evangelic...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Overview: Colorblindness is the theory that if we ignore race, then racial problems will eventually cease. Is this term and theory helpful or unhelpful. Why or why not? How is it present in our culture, and how is it present in our churches? Join Isaac Adams and Trillia Newbell as they discuss colorblindness and why the idea keeps appearing in Christian con...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Overview: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 13:9) In this episode, Trillia and Isaac talk and pray about the goal of racial reconciliation. Why is it helpful or unhelpful? What isn’t the goal of racial reconciliation? Join us in prayer. And as you do, consider what we suggest the goal of reconciliation is: NOT THI...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: SharDavia Walker Overview: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:9) In the opening to season two, Trillia Newbell and Isaac Adams talk and pray with SharDavia Walker about interracial marriages—the beauty of them and the difficulty of them in and outside the church. How do you humbly and honestly navigate conversati...

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12b) Taking racial struggles to the throne, United? We Pray is a podcast that calls for prayer about racial divisions in churches. With all that could be said about race and the church, why have a podcast on prayer? Here are four reasons:  1. The Bible commands prayer. 2. Church History commends prayer.  3. Pastors know about p...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Jasmine Holmes Overview:   “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2) In the season finale, Trillia Newbell and Isaac Adams reflect on the first season of United? We Pray, and they speak with Jasmine Holm...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Matt Hall Overview: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility...that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace…” Ephesians  2:14-15 In our last episode with Karen Ellis, Trillia Newbell and Isaac Adam looked at underground churches in other...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Karen Ellis Overview: “Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field…” (Matt. 13:31) Missiologist Karen Ellis joins Isaac Adams and Trillia Newbell to share insights about race and unity from her work with underground churches. Karen focuses on the faithfulness of brothe...

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”   – Micah 6:8 Episode Overview: In this episode, Jackie Hill Perry discusses the difference between boldness and foolishness in speaking about race and the church. Jackie, Trillia, and Isaac discuss the power of prayer to guard the believer against unfor...

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4 Episode Overview: Originally, Isaac and Trillia planned to talk and pray about white supremacy with Matt Chandler. However, given the recent tragedy in Texas at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, we thought it would be appropriate to pray fo...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Overview: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, ha...

Hosts: Isaac Adams & Trillia Newbell Guest: Ray Ortlund Overview: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Join Trillia Newbell, Isaac Adams, and Ray Ortlun...

Overview: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In this first episode, Isaac Adams and Trillia Newbell discuss the purpose of United? We Pray and share their hopes for the podcast. The Bible makes clear that God’s people are a praying people, and United? We Pray seeks to encourage mor...

One thing is clear: when it comes to unity in the church across racial lines, we need divine help. Prayer is how we ask for that help (James 1:5). Christians don't agree on how to address racial divisions, but Christians do agree that we ought to rely upon God in prayer. We must do more than pray if we are to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, but we cannot do less. Will...