Praise Hands

“We’re still learning how to live a message of the Gospel that doesn’t favor any one color over another.” - Dr. Amos Yong Dr. Amos Yong is a theologian and professor currently serving as the Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary. He is also the author of numerous books on Pentecostal theology, race, and ethics, including “Who Is the Holy Spirit? A Walk with the Apostles.” In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Yong examines crucial contemporary issues through Biblical exegesis and his own background as an Asian American, addressing the following: A Biblical examination of Christ and the Holy Spirit The conflicted racial history of Pentecostalism How Christianity can overcome limitations of Western constructs Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists at the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“We’ve moved compassion further and further down the list of priorities and moved safety, protection, and money up. I’m hoping we can use this crisis to re-evaluate this.” Ben Walker From shortages of necessary equipment to inadequate staffing levels, COVID-19 is exposing the cracks in a healthcare system that many of us take for granted. In Part 2 of our conversation on the COVID-19 crisis and healthcare, Robby continues his conversation with healthcare insider Ben Walker as they discuss: • How to equitably address rising healthcare costs • Centralization and decentralization in church and state • Christianity’s history of caring for the sick Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists at the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“In a time of crisis, we start weighing the good of society versus the good of the person.” Ben Walker In light of Covid-19, an important question is emerging: “what roles should individuals, businesses, and governments play in finding solutions for a global health crisis, and who should decide?” To help answer this question, Robby invited his old friends and healthcare insiders Ben Walker and Ian Patterson on the show. In this timely episode, hear Ben and Ian discuss: Arguments for and against tighter government regulation How the FDA blocked initial testing for Covid-19 Balancing consumer choice and human equality Learn more about Ian Patterson at  https://ipatterson.com and https://twitter.com/ianesque. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists at the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“You can’t take a wait and see attitude with your church finances. The time to pivot is now.” Mark DeYmaz Mark DeYmaz and Luke Dooley are the creators of the Church Economics Accelerator, which helps ministry leaders leverage church assets to bless their communities and generate sustainable income. They’ve been helping churches prepare for a scenario like COVID-19 for years, and you’ll want to share this episode with every church leader you know. In this timely episode, hear Mark and Luke discuss how churches can: • Reduce their tithe dependency through creative thinking • Minimize job loss in their communities in light of COVID-19 • Position themselves to lead well in shifting economic landscapes Check out Mark DeYmaz’s latest book The Coming Revolution in Church Economics and find out more about him by visiting www.markdeymaz.com. Learn more about Luke Dooley’s work and the Church Economics Accelerator at www.churcheconomics.org. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from c

“Are you going to chase the dollar, or are you going to help preserve a community?” - Derek Minor Nashville-based Derek Minor is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur whose initiative “Ownership is the New Black” works to develop the next generation of Black owners. In light of the recent Nashville tornado, Derek and Robby talk about how racially-discriminatory government policies have made the Black community particularly vulnerable to displacement through natural disasters and gentrification. In this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Derek talk about: • How to shift from “consumer power to ownership power” • How Christian music and social justice can co-exist • The tragic ending of the “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma Listen to Derek’s music at https://www.derekminor.com and learn more about Ownership is the New Black at https://www.weownnow.com.  Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of churc

“It shocks me that every Christian on the planet doesn’t see themselves as a cultural translator.” Brock Shinen As an in-demand lawyer and consultant in the worship music industry, Brock Shinen understands the complex and sometimes messy relationship between churches, creatives, and business. In this third episode of the Praise Hands Podcast series “Can I Trust The Church?”, Brock shares from his new book “The Christian Entrepreneur”, touching on the following topics: The dangers of separating faith and business What it means to be a “cultural translator” “Win-win” relationships between churches and creatives Learn more about Brock’s work at https://www.brockshinen.com and https://www.worshipmusicindustry.com. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“The church has tried to protect position instead of holding up repentance as the greatest prize.” Andrea Burke “There is such a weight on shepherding people - each of your sheep are not the same.   Although there are godly principles, if you’re going into ministry, that means you’re ministering to a flock of individual sheep.” Sharona Sledge Amidst imperfect people and imperfect churches, the devastating consequences of moral failure and sexual sin affect us all. In this second episode of the Praise Hands Podcast series “Can I Trust The Church?”, worship leaders Andrea Burke and Sharona Sledge share how they navigated guilt, deceit, and betrayal in their evolving relationships with God and the church. Listen now to hear Andrea and Sharona talk about: ● Dismantling “church shame” through a culture of confession ● When and how to confront signs of abuse or wrongdoing ● How to find freedom from sexual sin and help others do the same Learn more about Andrea at www.andreagburke.com. Learn more about Sharona at ww

"People trust pastors to handle their money and assume that everything is okay. It’s not.” Gina Zurlo By the year 2025, as much as $100 Billion per year in Christian-donated dollars will be lost due to embezzlement, estimates Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity. The Center’s co-director is Gina Zurlo, who, along with co-authoring The World Christian Encyclopedia, was named among BBC’s 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2019. In this paradigm-shifting episode, hear Gina share about: • The Pros And Cons of Entrepreneurial Christianity • Practical Ideas For Relationship Across Faith Backgrounds • The Biggest Trends Shaping The Future Of Christianity Follow Gina’s work at http://twitter.com/csgc and http://globalchristianity.org. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“People want diversity to happen organically, but sometimes you have to be intentional on the way to organic.” Patrick Chappell Growing up Black in the South, Patrick Chappell attended both predominantly Black and White churches and often felt like an outsider in each. But his pain led him to his purpose: creating grace-filled spaces for diverse relationships and intentional conversations. Learn from Patrick’s story and expertise on the following topics: How he survived a childhood of physical abuse and deep-seated racism Why leaders must proactively pursue those on the fringes How intentional, encouraging words can overcome fear and division Follow Patrick at https://www.instagram.com/patrickchappell and subscribe to the Patrick Podcast. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“If you want to change a society then you have to tell an alternative story.” NYC-native Ricky Ortiz had a heart to reach his city, but knew that traditional church planting financial models would prove difficult in the high-cost Big Apple. A few years later, Ricky’s thriving Meta Church serves as inspiration for church planters across the US. In this episode, hear Ricky share the strategic steps he’s taken to develop socioeconomic diversity and financial sustainability in an urban context. Hear Ricky’s wisdom on topics like: Inspiring A Shared Vision In Your Local Church Why He’s Okay With Members Missing Sunday Morning Tips For Reducing Your Church’s Tithe Dependency Follow Ricky at Instagram.com/rico6886/ and Meta Church at Instagram.com/metanyc. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“Averages only tell the average story. They don’t tell a minority’s story.” Brooke Hempell As the Senior Vice President of Research at Barna Group, Brooke Hempell and her team have interviewed thousands of leaders across America about issues of faith and culture. Yet some of her most meaningful insights have come from pursuing racial reconciliation and church planting in her hometown of Atlanta. In this episode, hear Brooke share trusted insight including: • Common Misperceptions About Economic And Racial Realities • How Millennial and Gen-Z Voices Are Challenging The Status Quo • Surprising Data About The Power Of Diverse Worship Music Follow Brooke’s work at Barna.com.  Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“Believing that the way that I know God is the way that everybody should know God is called religiously-powered ethnocentrism.” Angie Kay Hong Angie Kay Hong is a convener, a sought-after voice on issues of church and culture, and a worship leader with experience on staff everywhere from church plants to megachurch Willow Creek Community Church. Fresh off the heels of a summit of multicultural worship academics and practitioners, Angie and Robby speculate about the future of church music. Listen now to hear Angie speak to:• Evolving Strategies for Multicultural Worship • The Christian Populism Of Martin Luther • How Leaders Can Share Power In Healthy Ways Learn more about Angie at http://angiekayhong.com and follow her at http://instagram.com/angiekayhong. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Join the Year End Giving Campaign at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“The church was here before Kanye West, and the church will be here after Kanye West.” KJ Scriven As well as being the Creative Arts Pastor at Charlotte-area’s Transformation Church, KJ Scriven collaborates as a songwriter and artist with diverse voices outside the local church. Hear KJ’s thoughts on Kanye West, Kirk Franklin at the Dove Awards, and other issues shaping Christian creativity. Listen now to hear KJ and Robby chat through: Scriptural Perspective On The Christian Kanye West How Black Musicians Have Shaped The Sound Of American Music Creating Music With Those Who Don’t Share Your Faith Learn more about KJ at http://kjscriven.com and http://transformationchurch.tc/.  Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“Proximity breeds relationship, relationship breeds understanding, and understanding breeds compassion.” KJ Scriven Multiethnic worship pastor and songwriter KJ Scriven has a passion to see the church become the diverse family Jesus envisioned.  Dive right in to hear KJ and Robby discuss: How Slavery Shaped The African-American Worship Experience Robby’s Story Of Confronting A Distracting Tambourine Player In Church How The Early Church Gave Voice To Underrepresented Minorities Tune in next week to hear KJ and Robby talk through all things Kanye West, and learn more about KJ at http://kjscriven.com and http://transformationchurch.tc/. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

“The American church is beginning to listen to the Spirit of God working through the global church.” DJ Chuang As the author of the books “MultiAsian.Church” and “Erasing Shame”, DJ Chuang is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Asian-American church, mental health, and radical generosity. Hear DJ and Robby discuss the following: • The Asian-American-Led Multiethnic Church Movement • Facilitating Conversations About Shame And Mental Health • Overcoming Church Consumerism Through Generous Giving Learn more about DJ at http://djchuang.com. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

As co-directors of Atlanta’s OneRace Movement, Josh Clemons and Hazen Stevens have seen firsthand how prayer and repentance can redeem even their city’s deepest wounds. Hear them share on the following: Overturning Atlanta’s History Of Church Segregation Why The Gospel Demands Racial Justice The Power Of Multigenerational, Multicultural Friendships Learn more at http://oneracemovement.com. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.  

"Jesus didn’t have a healing ministry. He had a reconciliation ministry.... and one of the ways that manifests is physical healing." Joshua Silverberg What if miracles are waiting for us on the other side of our comfort zones? Joshua Silverberg never thought he’d write worship songs with artists like Jesus Culture, Kari Jobe, and Matt Redman. He also never imagined God would use someone like him to pray and see hundreds of people experience miraculous physical healings. Discover new levels of faith and adventure as Joshua dives into the following subjects: An insider’s view of the worship music industry Why physical healing is a form of reconciliation Revealing the heart of Jesus through music and prayer Follow Joshua on Instagram at http://instagram.com/joshuasilverberg Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate. Special t

People should look at Christian art and ask, “What must I do to be saved?” Dwan Hill As a musician, arranger, and Grammy-Award Winning songwriter, Dwan Hill has long been a secret weapon for legendary artists including Lauren Daigle, CeCe Winans, Josh Groban, and others. But recently, local church relationships and a deeper exploration of the Gospel have launched Dwan’s artistry to new heights, resulting in the fresh and colorful songs of Nashville Life Music. Hear Dwan and Robby chat through: The diverse worship scene that’s emerging in Nashville How Lauren Daigle transcended the “Christian” and “Gospel” divide What Jesus’ resurrection means for creatives today Learn more about Dwan’s work at http://dwanhill.com and http://nashvillelifemusic.com. Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate. Special thanks to this episode’s

“The multi-ethnic church movement is nothing new... this is what was going on in the first century.” Mark DeYmaz As the founder of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and Mosaix Global Network, Mark Deymaz has pioneered a multiethnic, socially responsible, and financially sustainable church model that’s built to last. Hear Mark speak on the following topics: • How healthy multiethnic congregations communicate God’s love for all • Church theology in an age of technological disruption • Why tithes and offerings are no longer enough and what leaders can do about it Find Mark’s new book “The Coming Revolution In Church Economics” wherever books are sold, and register for the Mosaix National Multiethnic Church Conference at http://mosaix.info. ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCAST // Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists who are shaping the future of church, race, music, economics, and technology. Learn more at http://praisehands.com. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"The caliber of your future will be determined by the choices you make today.” Anthony O’Neal Best-selling author, speaker, and Ramsey Personality Anthony O'Neal grew up in a highly spiritual church and family environment. Yet a lack of financial education and bad mistakes as a college student left him homeless and hitting rock bottom at 19 years of age. As a result, he's now passionate about financial literacy, and is celebrating the release of his latest book “Debt-Free Degree: The Step by Step Guide to Getting Your Kid Through College Without Student Loans.” During this episode, Anthony shares how he went from homeless to homeowner, and how ditching debt set him up for a lifestyle of generosity. Hear Anthony touch on the following topics: • The importance of knowing your "why" when getting out of debt • Why the church should prioritize financial education • How cross-cultural relationships promote creativity Learn more at http://daveramsey.com and http://anthonyoneal.com. ABOUT PRAISE HANDS POD