Derrick Puckett is Pastor of Renewal Church of Chicago and President of The Chicago Partnership. During our conversation, we talk about growing up in Gary, IN, how his wife was instrumental in his decision to become an apprentice of Jesus, and how God has used his entrepreneurial tendencies to start multiple organizations that bless college campuses, cities and the world.

Lamont English is the Assistant Director for MTW West Coast while also serving as an intern at Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, CA. During our conversation, we talked about growing up in San Diego, Lamont’s journey from the Black church into the PCA, and the challenges that come from being “Presbyterian while Black”.

Jerome Gay is the founding and teaching pastor of Vision Church in Raleigh, NC. During our conversation, we talk about growing up in Washington, D.C., pastoring in an urban context and a more nuanced way to understand and talk about racism. Jerome’s brand new book, The Whitewashing of Christianity: A Hidden Past, A Hurtful Present and A Hopeful Future, is available now.

Paul Little is the Pastor-Teacher of Bibb Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Macon. GA. Our conversation covers what it’s like to pastor in your hometown, the role of technology in ministry and the legacy and ongoing reality of systemic racism today.

Marco De Leon is the Pastor for Preaching and Teaching at Storehouse Community Church in McAllen, TX. Our conversation covers growing up as a Mexican in the Rio Grande Valley, his conversion into the Protestant faith, and the culture of bodybuilding and powerlifting. After you listen, make sure to check out the Native Citizens podcast that Marco co-hosts, covering various topics about discipleship and mission.

Dr. Irwyn Ince is the Director of the Institute for Cross-Cultural Mission in Washington, D.C. Our conversation covers his experience growing up in Brooklyn, his conversion to Christianity and calling to vocational ministry and his new book The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity and the Church at Its Best.

Lora Smothers is the Director of Downtown Life in Athens, GA. Our conversation covers growing up in predominantly White spaces, how God has used her spiritual journey to give her an expanded vision of His work in the world and how the Scriptures and theology encourage action and activism on behalf of those living on the margins of society.

Dr. Phillip Pointer, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR. On this episode, we talk about growing up as a preacher’s kid, the challenges of becoming a senior pastor in your 20s and what it’s been like to lead a 9,000-person church during the pandemic.

Dante Stewart is a writer and speaker who contributes on the topics of black religion, history and theology. On this episode, Stew talks about his development as a writer, his time playing football at Clemson University and how we discern whether America has a race problem or has been built on a racist foundation.

Leonce Crump is the founder and lead pastor of Renovation Church in Atlanta. On this episode, Leonce talks about growing up in Louisiana and how his identity as both a black man and an apprentice of Jesus was shaped at Oklahoma University and at a church filled with white people in East Tennessee.