Praise Hands

“We should be in the places where people are suffering and we should be innovatively creating communities of solidarity amidst that suffering.” Michael Rhodes In a city known for segregated churches, racist politics, and intergenerational poverty, Sarah Lockridge-Steckel and Michael Rhodes are changing the conversation and creating a new Memphis. Sarah is a Harvard and Yale alum who serves as the CEO of The Collective which provides young adults in Memphis with pathways to jobs. Michael is the Director of Community Development at Union University and the co-author of the economic justice manual “Practicing the King’s Economy”.  In this episode, learn from Sarah and Michael’s expertise on: • Past and present examples of systemic racism • Surprising Old Testament models of economic justice • The roles of government, church, and business in promoting human flourishing ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCAST // Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists wh

"Every community can’t be a diverse community, but every Christian community ought to be a reconciling community.” David Bailey One person, song, and conversation at a time, David Bailey and friends are changing the narrative of Richmond, Virginia from the "capital of the Confederacy" to the "capital of reconciliation". Hear David share on the following: Why diversity alone is not enough How he walked alongside Gabe Lyons and Q on issues of race and culture Practical paths towards spiritual growth, culture creation, and community reconciliation Learn more about David at http://arrabon.com and http://www.urbandoxology.com. 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 // Special thanks to this episode’s sponsor The Church Ahead: offering resources and advice for forward-thinking C

“An orphan doesn’t just feel like an orphan at 10 o’clock on Sunday.” Robbie Reider With around 20 congregations throughout Ohio and Kentucky, Crossroads Church is a Jesus-following, people-loving, and city-changing machine. In this episode, hear Chuck Mingo and Robbie Reider share unbelievable moments of racial reconciliation and community transformation, as well as vulnerable stories of challenges they face every day. Hear Chuck and Robbie discuss the following: Local vs. centralized aspects of multisite ministry What their church has learned from Corporate America How their "Undivided" racial reconciliation curriculum and "City Link Center" are impacting the city of Cincinnati Learn more about Crossroads Church at the following links:  http://www.facebook.com/crdschurch Live worship every day at 8:30am EST https://www.citylinkcenter.org/2019-documentary City Link Center Documentary on Angela’s Nine Month Journey http://crdsmusic.com Learn more about Crossroads Music ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCAST // E

"We believe God exists in many dimensions: the physical, the spiritual, the digital, and we’ve experienced Him in the virtual." DJ Soto *This episode is also available via video on YouTube. Become a monthly donor and receive exclusive access to bonus content from this episode and others at http://praisehands.com/donate.* Across the world, Virtual Reality (VR) enhances the way we work, learn, and play. And according to DJ Soto of VR Church, it may also be changing the way we encounter God. Hear DJ address the following heavy-hitting topics: How VR helps eliminate physical and financial constraints to human connection The theology of digital church, including virtual water baptisms How VR's radically inclusive, decentralized platform is enabling marginalized groups to experience Christ Learn more about DJ Soto and VR Church at http://vrchurch.org. 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

“If you borrow, you become a slave to the lender. And this applies whether you’re a family or a government.” Andres Gutierrez The Mexican-American border has been called an economic, political, and humanitarian disaster. People who support border enforcement are labeled inhumane, and those who oppose it are deemed unamerican. In the midst of this seemingly impossible situation, how can we address immigration in a way that supports both human dignity and political reality? As a financial coach in the Hispanic community, Andres Gutierrez has an inside look at the stories of people on both sides of the border. In this episode, Andres sheds light on the following topics: • How Mexican debt and American economic policy created the border situation • Balancing the rule of the law with compassion and forgiveness • Why education and small business may be the best solution Learn more about Andres at AndresGutierrez.com. ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCAST // Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join host Robby Valderrama and

“Our brotherhood trumps my blackness. Our brotherhood trumps his whiteness.” Bernard Emerson “There has got to be a sustained, communal response from the church that's more than a tweet or a Facebook post.” Kyle Brooks Amidst daily headlines of racism and polarization, Pastors Kyle Brooks and Bernard Emerson of Tapestry Church in Oakland, California are taking radical steps to reflect the kingdom of God in their city. During this episode, Kyle and Bernard share how their desire to reimagine church God’s way led to the merging of a Black church and a White church—fusing different traditions, age demographics, and worship styles—into one congregation now known as Tapestry Church. Hear Kyle and Bernard discuss the following: • Why their friendship trumps their ministry goals • The challenges and rewards of cultivating a multicultural congregation • Creative solutions for equipping the local church’s social impact Learn more about Tapestry Church at TapestryOakland.org or find them on Instagram @tapestryoakland A

"We have a strong historic tradition. But there are also beautiful things happening now.” Caleb Deas Black Christian Influencers Tiffany Hines, Caleb Deas, and Kelli Marie are creating spaces for expression and encounter outside Sunday morning, and are impacting their respective communities in profound ways. During this episode, learn how these three are shaping the future of Christianity while honoring the rich religious and cultural heritage of Black America. Hear real-talk about the following: • Why the church must become more than a building • How to model Jesus' outward-focused ministry • Not being 'Black' enough for Black church Follow each of today’s guests on Instagram at @tiffanyhinesmusic, @calebjdeas, and @ms_kelli_marie. Enjoying the show? Leave Praise Hands a 5-star review and share this episode with your friends. Get Involved at PraiseHands.com. ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCAST // The Praise Hands Podcast examines the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics. Robby Valderrama is

"Christ didn’t come to create a Christian-brand. He came to manifest God on earth.” Lawrence Souffrant On any given day, you might find JR Rivera, Lawrence Souffrant, and Sharona Drake pastoring their communities, teaching young adults, or inspiring thousands of followers through a thought-provoking Instagram post. On April 5, 2019, these three powerful Black Christian Influencers were all in the same room, and we were honored to host a panel with them live at the Create Conference in Atlanta. During this episode, discover how to find your unique purpose, how to develop your personal brand, and how you can leverage your social media influence to show Christ’s love to the world. Hear this power trio address the following: • Promoting yourself online without oversharing • Being a healthy, intentional, and vulnerable leader • Reconciling your digital and spiritual identities Learn more about each of today’s guests at http://instagram.com/_jrrivera, http://lawrencesouffrant.com, and http://sharonadrake.com. E

"We’ve had a huge pulling away within the Black church. They’re not pulling away from the faith, but from the church. And I believe that the church is needed in this next phase.” Chicago-native Jackie The Educator has a two-part vision: first, to see Christian influencers affirmed in their respective cultural identities. And second, to see these various cultures united for the multicultural cause of Christ. During this episode, Jackie shares about the importance of Christlike reconciliation, provides education around factors preventing racial equality today, and opens up about the hidden wounds of the African-American community. Hear Jackie's practical insight on the following: • Is it "Black" or "African-American"? • Confronting racism inside the Black community • How she's leveraging social media as a tool for unity Learn more about Jackie at JackieTheEducator.com and BlackChristianInfluencers.com. Enjoying the show? Leave Praise Hands a 5-star review and share this episode with your friends. Get Involved a

"The majority of the top worship songs have been written by middle-class, Caucasian, males… there’s something missing in Christian music.” As a Korean-American in the Christian music industry, marketer Wisdom Moon has worked with countless artists including Lauren Daigle, Israel Houghton, and Darlene Zschech. During this episode, Wisdom shares about being bullied in school as an immigrant, working as a racial minority in the Christian music industry, and why he’s more encouraged than ever at where the music of the church is headed. Hear Wisdom's honest and hopeful take on the following: • How listeners can voice their demand for diverse Christian music • The inner workings of the Christian Music industry • Why Kingdom-collaboration is better than self-promotion Learn more about Wisdom at http://www.marketingwithwisdom.com and http://www.indieartistuniversity.com.  *FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE ON PRAISEHANDS.COM* Enjoying the show? Leave Praise Hands a 5-star review and share this episode with your friends. ABOU

"Everywhere you look in Christianity, relationships is the hallmark. And that makes it distinct from any other religion on the planet." Dr. Michael Schluter is the epitome of a creative, cross-cultural solutionist. He’s been honored by the Queen of England for his Biblically-derived social policy, and he's facilitated peacebuilding initiatives everywhere from Korea to Rwanda to South Africa during Apartheid. This episode is the last in a three-part series on Economic Healing, and will feature Dr. Schluter's eye-opening perspective on the following: • How prioritizing relational health over economic growth can help transcend political divides • Why Christians in particular should care about economics • How Biblical teaching on relationships speaks to capitalist concepts like advertising, limited liability, and interest. Learn more about Dr. Schluter at http://jubilee-centre.org and http://relationalthinking.net. *FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE ON PRAISEHANDS.COM* Enjoying the show? Leave Praise Hands a 5-star revie

"I’m not defined by the one thing that happened to me fifteen years ago." Lexie LaVallee Lexie LaVallee is a survivor of child sex trafficking. Her story of exploitation will leave you aware of the worst parts of our humanity, and her story of forgiveness will make you believe that healing is possible, even in the most tragic of circumstances. Recorded at the ABLE Flagship Store in Nashville, this episode is the second of a three-part series on Economic Healing, and will feature Lexie sharing on the following topics: How to forgive someone who has taken advantage of you The connection between media, pornography, and the sex trafficking industry How individuals and groups can make a real difference in the fight against human trafficking Learn more about Lexie at Instagram.com/Lexie.LaVallee and LexieLaVallee.com. To book a free 30 minute consultation with her, visit TheChurchAhead.com. MENTIONED IN SHOW: "The Dark Side of Chocolate" documentary "Johns: Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It" book by Victor Malar

"I’m not trying to hide anything. (You don’t) have to be perfect before you can be honest." Barrett Ward Social entrepreneur Barrett Ward is a capitalist with a conscience. Through his lifestyle brand ABLE, he seeks to end generational poverty through providing economic opportunity for women and help businesses and consumers amplify their social impact. Recorded at ABLE's flagship store in Nashville with guest co-host Lexie LaVallee, this episode is the first of a three-part series on Economic Healing, and covers the following topics: Money, technology, and collaboration in American fashion How consumers can research the ethics of their favorite brands How companies can build trust through financial transparency and measurable social benefit Learn more about Barrett and ABLE at Instagram.com/LiveFashionable and LiveFashionable.com. NEXT STEPS WITH PRAISE HANDSSubscribe | Instagram | Get Involved ABOUT PRAISE HANDS PODCASTThe Praise Hands Podcast examines the American intersection of church, race, music, and e

"When music is done at its height, it is multicultural. It’s like a magnet that brings in everybody." Clark Beckham American Idol finalist Clark Beckham has been called "a total star" (M. Orland) "one of the millennial generation's best artists" (J. Elyachar), and "an unforgettable talent" (Quincy Jones). Recorded at Nashville's Plaza Mariachi, Clark opens up about his humble musical beginnings, his creative process, and how his faith inspires him to use music to reach across cultural, political, and religious divides.   Hear Robby Valderrama chat with Clark about the following topics: Resisting opportunities to compromise for the sake of money How music brings people together from different backgrounds Operating as a Christian in a post-Christian culture Clark also talks about being a street performer, navigating awkward songwriting sessions, and what it's like to work with legendary musician Quincy Jones. Finally, Robby points listeners to Clark's Instagram and upcoming tour schedule. NEXT STEPS Subscribe |

"When church becomes about our preference... we stay separate." Nikki Lerner "We don't just serve a 'Gospel' God or a 'Contemporary Christian' God. We serve a really big God." Chris Baker In this episode, learn from two of the church's leading voices on Multicultural Worship. Our first guest is Maryland-based worship leader and recording artist Nikki Lerner. Nikki helps lead the Multicultural Worship Leaders Network and is the co-author of the book Worship Together: In Your Church As In Heaven. Our second guest is Grammy-Award winning producer Chris Baker. "Yes And Amen" is Chris' latest project with The Recording Collective by MultiTracks.com and is a resource for multicultural congregations around the world. Additionally, he serves as the Musical Director for Israel Houghton and as a worship pastor along with his wife Tina at The Potter’s House in the North Dallas area.  Hear Robby Valderrama chat with Nikki and Chris about the following topics: What is the Biblical basis for cross-cultural ministry? How ca

"The Church I love has filtered the Good News of Jesus through the lens of American consumerism." Robby Valderrama In this episode, hear Robby's experience as a biracial American Christian moving from secular Silicon Valley to the Buckle of the Bible Belt: Nashville, Tennessee. With equal credentials in music, pastoral ministry, and finance, Robby offers provocative and timely questions for the American church: If we value cultural expressions that are not like ours, why is the worship music industry racially segregated? If we are called to be leaders of culture, why are our church expressions built to encourage consumption rather than equip creativity? If we believe in human dignity, why are we okay with an economic system that awards limited liability to corporations and investors while offering unlimited liability to the millions of slaves we rely upon for everything from food to fashion? Finally, Robby points to the creative, cross-cultural life of Jesus and invites listeners from all faith backgrounds to