Welcome to our Season 4 of Between the Pew. This season will focus on Black love & ministry where we will explore the experiences of five couples as they manage marriage and life in ministry. We will explore the highs, the lows, the pitfalls and wisdom gained from couples ranging in marriage from a few years to over 50. We will hear about the struggles and joys of being Black in an evangelical denomination and how that has shaped their marriages…or not.

After 32 years of marriage, Irwyn and Kim Ince are indeed an inspiration for thriving in ministry and marriage. As a former pastor and church planter and the current MNA Coordinator, the Inces have had plenty of struggles with married life, raising a family, and being in full-time ministry. Now in a new phase of life, Irwyn has started a Kettlebell Training Club, and Kim has started a new career in counseling. It is a privilege to learn some good and hard lessons from a couple that has seen multiple stages of life and ministry.

For Kim’s counseling practice: https://www.takomatherapy.com/therapists/kim-ince

For Irwyn’s book purchases: irwynince.com

For the DC Kettlebell Club: http://dckettlebellclub.com/

Hear Charles and Kellie talk about all the details for LDR Weekend 2025 and find out how to register now!

Link for LDR registration: https://aampca.org/conference/

Welcome to our Season 4 of Between the Pew. This season will focus on Black love & ministry where we will explore the experiences of five couples as they manage marriage and life in ministry. We will explore the highs, the lows, the pitfalls and wisdom gained from couples ranging in marriage from a few years to over 50. We will hear about the struggles and joys of being Black in an evangelical denomination and how that has shaped their marriages…or not.

Meet Marshall ‘Book’ Robinson and Tanisha Robinson; the first couple in this season's series. Tanisha and Book have been married for 22 years. They have a unique marriage story in that while having no biological children, the Marshalls have fostered and raised 17 children and adopted 2. Book has served and ministered to God’s people since age 13 in Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Illinois & Indiana and is currently Pastoral Resident at New City West End in St. Louis, Mo. He is also working on his Master of Divinity at Covenant Seminary. Book also heads up InsideOut Jail & Prison Works, a holistic ministry serving the incarcerated, their families, and the communities affected by the prison industrial complex. Tanisha is a Guinness Book of World
Records Holder, a wedding and event planner, a former Bible Study organizer and leader, a talented choir 1st Soprano, and a former Color Guard captain and pom squad member. Once a Pre-Med college major, Tanisha now is intrigued by and regularly studies criminology and trafficking by watching Law & Order SVU and Criminal Minds. Tanisha, like Book, is an avid lover of musicals.

Catch up with Book at https://restorestlouis.org/inside-out-prison-ministry or email him at Book@ncfstl.org

African American Ministries hosts a weekend conference each year called LDR Weekend (Leadership Development Resource Weekend). LDR Weekend is our annual gathering for African Americans in the PCA and this weekend is an opportunity to connect with and encourage one of our denomination’s most underrepresented demographics.

In this special episode, Kellie shares what attendees can expect from LDR 2023 in Atlanta, September 1-3! Get ready for sound teaching, vibrant worship, rich fellowship, and... a block party!

LDR registration is open now! To register visit:

https://brushfire.com/mna/ldr2023/558225/register

Got questions? Reach out to Kellie at kellie@aampca.org

In the second part of this two part episode, Jenell and Kellie continue the conversation with Professor Suzanne Bates. Suzanne is a Licensed Professional Counselor and PhD candidate. She serves as the Assistant Professor of Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Suzanne shares about her work in cultural identity development that the Lord has given her the opportunity to participate in. She also talks about her dissertation topic, the residual impact of slavery on sexual violence among African American women, and more!

To learn more about Professor Suzanne Bates visit,

covenantseminary.edu

To contact Suzanne, email,

Suzanne.bates@covenantseminary.edu

In the first part of this two part episode, Jenell and Kellie sit down with Professor Suzanne Bates. Suzanne is a Licensed Professional Counselor and PhD candidate. She serves as the Assistant Professor of Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Suzanne shares lessons she learned from her mother, her response to life's personal tragedies, her search for identity, how she discerned God's call on her life, and more! As the first black person to ever become a member of her first PCA church, Suzanne has a lot to share!

To learn more about Professor Suzanne Bates visit,

covenantseminary.edu

In this episode of Between The Pew, Jenell and Kellie talk with Dr. Vanessa Hawkins. Vanessa is the Director of Community Life at Redeemer Lincoln Square in New York. Redeemer LS is a church that is part of the Redeemer network of churches founded by the late Tim Keller (Keller passed away after the recoding of episode).

Vanessa received her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Cultural Apologetics and Communication from Covenant Theological Seminary. Vanessa shares about growing up in Arkansas, the sequence of events that led her to the PCA, the privilege of ministering to women, her doctoral research, and more!

To learn more about Vanessa and Redeemer LS, visit:

https://redeemerlsq.com/

In this episode of Between the Pew, Jenell and Charles get to know Haley Williams. Haley has worked in campus ministry with RUF City Campus in New York for the past three years. Haley talks about her upcoming move to Washington DC, her new ministry call, and how she plans to incorporate dance into her passion for growing in knowledge of the person and work of Jesus.

Click here to give to Haley’s work in Washington, DC.