Our Urban Voices

Ruth Ripken shares why its so important for Christian women to be the ones to reach out to Muslim women with hospitality plus 4 ways to overcome fear and love their neighbors well. With 35 years of experience in missions, she has lived in several countries in Africa, learned about different cultures, ministered to believers in persecution and participated in relief efforts with her husband Nik Rip...

Dr. Matthew Kaemingk separates the Christian response from the political rhetoric that can dominate the conversation about Muslim immigration in America. Looking at Jesus’ example and with practical examples from around the globe, he looks at failures and successes of Christians loving their Muslim neighbors well despite fundamental religious differences. Dr. Kaemingk is the author of Christian Ho...

Pastor Mike Rubino, Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Bible Church, saw the congregation grow from 40 people to 400 people. The fruit of revitalization was plain to see, soon after the church started down that road. Pastor Mike now works with many other congregations — offering a bird’s eye view of local congregations and a simple roadmap to a thriving body of Christians. Pastor Mike Rubino shares that j...

Brant Hansen compares toxic masculinity to what it actually means to follow Jesus. Moving from generational trauma to generational hope, he shares his discoveries about mentoring, adulting, and fatherhood as a man in today’s culture. How can a man defend his family against harmful intruders and cultivate a life where the people around him can thrive? Brant Hansen's most recent book is The Men We N...

Divya Maiya gives us a peek into the world of South Asian dance. She is the co-founder of the South Asian Arts and Theater House — SAATH — based in Minneapolis, MN. More than Bollywood and Bhangra, she looks at how dance can be a fun way to build community across and beyond the South Asian diaspora. And, she talks about breaking stereotypes, appreciating cultural traditions and the motivation for...

Jami Staples discovered a unique approach to reveal lies and trauma that often ensnare Christian and Muslim women—same lies, different contexts. Through the Truth Collective, Christian women are empowered to see themselves through God’s eyes—with inherent value—and be empowered to heal from trauma. Then, Christian women can be free to humbly and boldly engage Muslim women who share similar experie...

Dr. Matt Bennett unpacks sin, forgiveness and atonement – comparing the Biblical and Quranic views. In a conversation between Muslims and Christians, the same word can communicate very different ideas. Those unexplored differences can become obvious in how the afterlife is described. How is the Quran’s Paradise understood in comparison to the Bible’s description of Heaven? WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 6 key...

Rachel Pieh Jones discusses four common questions about Christmas from Muslims in her community and she offers ways American Christian families can grow closer to Jesus by learning from the global Christian community. Rachel offers tips for families about how to make new Christmas traditions, all while she sheds light on her family's experiences celebrating Christmas where Christians make up less...

The Power of Proximity Series: Steve Moses shares examples, how to spot symptoms of trauma, how to help Muslim refugees who may be affected by trauma and the critical roles of joy and listening well. He outlines seven keys to begin the process of healing from trauma. What You’ll Learn: When suffering becomes trauma and who is affected by it? What are the symptoms of trauma? About seven effective s...

The Power of Proximity Series: Pastor Daouda Zongo discusses the roles of prayer, healing and deliverance in evangelism to communities in metro NYC. He highlights ministry to French-speaking West African immigrants and recommends two initial steps for a church to begin an outreach ministry. What You’ll Learn: About the role of healing and deliverance in evangelism About the role of prayer in Jesus...

The Power of Proximity Series: Laura, a mobilizer in South America unpacks five cultural similarities between Latinos and Middle-Easterners that can be crucial in near-culture missions. She discusses the difference between understanding a language and understanding a culture and the responses she gets when she talks to churches about bringing the gospel to Muslims. What You’ll Learn: Five meaningf...

Adam Muhtaseb shares his unique perspective having been raised Muslim, becoming a Christian in his teens and being a pastor and church planter in partnership with his wife. The family moved to Baltimore because they saw the brokenness of this often violent, transient, post-Christian city in America. What You’ll Learn: How the family of a Muslim background believer may react to a new found faith in...

Matthew Kaemingk separates the Christian response from the political rhetoric, fearfulness and romanticism that can dominate the conversation about Muslim immigration in America. With examples from around the globe, he looks at failures and successes of Christians loving their Muslim neighbors despite fundamental religious differences. Matthew Kaemingk is the author of the book: Christian Hospital...

Jayson Casper takes us into the world of journalism as a Middle Eastern correspondent for Christianity Today. Currently based in Lebanon, he shares insights about the region’s traditional Christian churches and how Christians in the Middle East are personally affected by what are foreign politics in America. What You’ll Learn: Some ways Muslims and Christians relate to one another in the Middle Ea...

Duane Alexander Miller shares frequent obstacles and lessons learned to better disciple new believers from a Muslim background. In Madrid, Spain — as an Anglican pastor, he co-founded an Arabic fellowship for new believers from a Muslim background. He shares insights from that fellowship, typical western churches and years of international ministry experience in countries like Turkey, Jordan and K...

Duane Alexander Miller shares five common motivations that draw Muslims to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church’s role during this unprecedented time for Muslim ministry. He is an Anglican pastor serving in Spain. He provides insight about shari'a law and calls from within the Muslim community for its own theological reformation. What You’ll Learn: Five Reasons that Often Lead Muslims to Cons...

Ruth Ripken shares insights from over 35 years in missions, 4 ways for Christians to overcome fear, why Christian women must be the ones to reach out to Muslim women with hospitality and what it means to love our neighbor well. She is a veteran missionary who has lived in several countries in Africa, learned about different cultures, ministered to believers in persecution and participated in relie...

Should a church move when many of its congregants no longer live nearby? What should a church do if it's neighborhood experiences drastic change? While economic and demographic changes are clearly visible in a gentrifying neighborhood, the unseen effects of trauma on those originally in the community are often overlooked. Dr. Mark Strong shares how pastors can help their churches process, grieve,...

Pastor Alfonse Javed looks beyond his personal experiences to Jesus’ heart for Muslims and His heart for the nations living in our communities. Christ’s command is straight forward, “love your neighbor.” But fear, presumption, or cultural differences may get in the way. Then what? Special Guest Host: Chris Clayman, co-founder of Global Gates Network and Heart for Muslims What You’ll Learn: Where t...

Pastor Alfonse Javed shares experiences that reveal the need to love our enemies, support religious freedom, find common ground and love our neighbors well. He grew up in a Christian family in a Muslim-majority country, Pakistan. Then in America, he was shunned as though he were Muslim. Special Guest Host: Chris Clayman, co-founder of Global Gates Network and Heart for Muslims What You’ll Learn: W...

Preity Upala calls all sports fans and geopolitical observers to consider cricket’s importance in India and the world. Though a holdover of British colonialism, Indian cricket is now a dominating force in the world's second most watched sport. Preity, a sports analyst, former investment banker, former Miss India International and geopolitical expert, examines cricket as a source of domestic econom...

Seth Bouchelle highlights how the command to love our neighbor and the great commission fuse in modern urban missions. He challenges assumptions about cross cultural ministry, the examples modeled by Jesus and effectively reaching out to Muslims. Plus as a peek in to the world of missions, he explains why being a missionary is a lot like being a standup comic. What You’ll Learn: How studying Islam...

Seth Bouchelle breaks down the obstacles that often intimidate Christians — preventing them from sharing their faith effectively, as a missionary or in a personal setting. As a church planter, missionary, and trainer who works with urban and diasporic churches, he also looks at the unique aspects of this ministry and how missionaries can better prepare for it. What You’ll Learn: A main reason Chri...

Dr. Dru Johnson explores the inescapable impact of ordinary and extraordinary routines. With examples ranging from tooth brushing to baptism, he encourages everyone to "examine our ritual lives." Those examinations can deepen our understanding about the traditions that define life and religion — the ways in which individuals and communities are different and similar. What You’ll Learn: Where to fi...

Elli Oswald reconsiders the ways American churches serve vulnerable children and honor them as image bearers of God. Through the Faith to Action Initiative, she advocates for systemic changes that would make orphanages obsolete around the world. What You’ll Learn : The Research about Orphanages, Family-Based Care and Child Development The Risks Involved with Mission Trips to Orphanages How Conflic...