In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe present a talk by Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of ONE Campaign. Ndidi shares the vision she sees for the future of Africa and the role the ONE Campaign has played to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table. She takes us through the organization’s history of fighting for justice and equity and her personal motivation that is grounded in humility, curiosity and upholding the dignity of all people.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“(Ndidi’s) really one of the most compelling social entrepreneurs that I’ve come across in my life.” -Michael [00:26]

“So much of the advocacy and the wins that the ONE Campaign has had over the last two decades of their work have been grounded in faith-based activism and have been the result of faith leaders, pastors, Christian artists coming together to advocate for the end of global poverty.” -Phebe [02:29]

“What we want to do under my leadership is really invite people who are sitting across the aisle to connect in a deeply human level. A level where we see each other, where we trust each other, but where we also believe we’re here on assignment. And where we are here because we have a legacy that is bigger and deeper than our own.” -Ndidi [12:20]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:43] History of ONE Campaign

[08:07] Ndidi’s vision for Africa

[13:30] Humanity and equity

[17:06] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of ONE Campaign
• Drop the Debt campaign
• President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
• TED Talk: The role of faith and belief in modern Africa

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: www.ccpubliclife.org

X: @CCPublicLife

Facebook: Center for Christianity & Public Life

Instagram: @ccpubliclife

Podcast: For the Good of the Public

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly and Founding Women, moderates a conversation on creating a culture of care with Elissa Strauss, journalist and author of “When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others,” Joe Waters, co-founder and CEO of Capita, Tim Carney, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and Dr. Charles Daniels Jr., founder and CEO of Fathers’ Uplift. The panelists explore what it means to have a culture of care in this country and how it relates to today’s concept of care, drawing from their professional experiences and personal journeys with parenthood. They dig into the practical solutions that would approach care in a more humane way, both on a policy level and a community level.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Caregiving is a hot topic. It’s on the campaign trail right now. It’s in the headlines, but there’s such depth to what we need around caregiving.” -Liz [07:44]

“I believe that care consists of various peoples–aunties, uncles, teachers, coaches–that contribute to the being of one person. And I believe that it’s mutually beneficial. I think members of their culture have someone to contribute to their being. None of us arrive to this place of love and care by ourselves. It takes a village.” -Charles [13:35]

“Caring for others is self care. It is challenging and stressful and hard, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not nourishing us in other ways.” -Elissa [21:20]

“If we want to support stay-at-home parents, if we want to empower choices by parents to care for their children in the ways that they think best and align with their values, one of the most important things we can do is address the cost of housing.” -Joe [45:32]

“It’s really tough to fix this because what we have on one hand is parents who can’t afford safe, clean, reliable childcare, and the biggest input into that is the wages.” -Tim [52:15]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:04] About the panelists

[07:36] The deeper meaning of caregiving

[14:10] America’s concept of care

[21:29] Economic and cultural pressures

[25:43] The role of women

[32:05] Learning from other countries and cultures

[41:25] A more human approach to care

[51:12] Questions from the audience

[1:08:39] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly and Founding Women
• Elissa Strauss
• “When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others” by Elissa Strauss
• Joe Waters, CEO and co-founder of Capita
• Tim Carney, journalist at the Washington Examiner and senior fellow at the American...

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe present a talk from Eduard Heger, former Prime Minister of Slovakia. Eduard shares the challenges he faced leading Slovakia from 2021 to 2023, through the escalation of the Russian-Ukraine war, a pandemic and an energy crisis. He focuses on what is required of leaders in tumultuous times–moral, integrity and character–to help build a resilient society for a more positive and better future.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“What we need in this moment are leaders who are willing to tell the truth, who are honest about the challenges that their people are facing, who respond with care and compassion and have a spirit of generosity, and Eduard Heger is a leader like this.” -Phebe [01:44]

“One of the things we try to do throughout our summit, but really throughout the whole of the work at CCPL, is help to expand and reground our imagination for what public leadership can look like, the kinds of values that can ground public leadership and motivate it.” -Michael [03:14]

“Serving politics is about serving. Nobody really believes that anymore, because they think it’s about ruling. Well we know that if you want to rule, you must start with serving, because actually serving, that’s how you rule the best. It’s not in your interest. It’s for the interest of society, of the good, of human mankind.” -Eduard [24:20]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:50] Governing Slovakia in unprecedented times

[06:59] What’s going on in the World today

[13:47] In the digital era

[17:07] Building a strong resilient society

[23:54] Serving politics

[32:02] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Eduard Heger
• Russia’s War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: www.ccpubliclife.org

X: @CCPublicLife

Facebook: Center for Christianity & Public Life

Instagram: @ccpubliclife

Podcast: For the Good of the Public

Mentioned in this episode:

New Updated Feed Here!

New Podcast

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

Michael and Phebe return for the second half of Season Two of For the Good of the Public podcast with six conversations from last year’s For the Good of the Public Summit. We start this week with a talk by Romanita Hairston, CEO of M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a 50-year-old organization that partners with non-profit organizations and community leaders around the Pacific Northwest to invest in transformational ideas that enable the region to flourish. Romanita is a respected national leader who not only guides the Murdock Trust, but shapes the entire philanthropic sector’s approach to strengthening democracy. In her talk, she shares her vision for the role philanthropy can play in shaping and supporting civic life, drawing on her experience leading the Trust, her broader philanthropic experience and her faith. She believes philanthropy can lead the way to civic renewal through these highly polarized times within a trifecta society, the civic and social sector, and its relation to faith.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Romanita is someone with real vision for the future of philanthropy." -Michael [02:57]

“One of the reasons why we wanted to host this conversation is because we believe philanthropy is an essential and powerful lever in the work towards civic renewal.” -Phebe [03:27]

“The best gift we give is love. Transforming enemies into friends, healing the divides, and honoring diversity. Not only can we all be philanthropists, we in fact, all are philanthropists, with every choice we make for our time, our resources, and our money to different degrees.” -Romanita [24:51]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:46] About the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

[09:57] Philanthropy in the tri-sector

[13:56] Philanthropy's role within the civic and social sector

[18:59] Philanthropy in faith

[22:38] In summary

[25:43] An act of prayer

[26:42] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Romanita Hairston
• M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
• Steven Garber
• Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: www.ccpubliclife.org

X: @CCPublicLife

Facebook: Center for Christianity & Public Life

Instagram: @ccpubliclife

Podcast: For the Good of the Public

Mentioned in this episode:

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

New Updated Feed Here!

We want to bring our communities together by combining our podcast feeds!

You can continue to stay up to date and follow For the Good of the Public Podcast at our new home HERE or search for "For the Good of the Public" on your favorite podcasting app.

For the Good of the Public brings you daily news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we catch up on the news of the day together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life, for the good of the public.

Mentioned in this episode:

New Updated Feed Here!

New Podcast

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

Michael and Phebe close out the first half of Season Two of For the Good of the Public podcast with a benediction by Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today, Founder and Executive Director of Soulfire International Ministries and founding board member for the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Dr. Nicole talks about hope as a metric for success and the key ingredient for having a peaceful life. Hope is part of our Christian life, and she reminds us through the inspiration of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” why it’s important to have hope in the midst of hopefulness with God’s strength. For the Good of the Public podcast will return with new episodes in September. Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Hope is something that actually makes a difference in our everyday lived realities, and it is something that is cultivated in our communities. It’s cultivated in our churches. It’s cultivated by a faith in the everlasting love and salvation of Jesus Christ. And it’s actually an essential resource for public life.” -Phebe [01:34]

“Nicole is very much someone who embodies our mission, our identity as an organization. She is an incredible leader.” -Michael [02:07]

“The challenge of our faith isn’t just to have hope in good times. The challenge of our faith is how do we have hope when everything around us looks dismal, horrible, hopeless.” -Nicole [11:06]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[02:54] About Rev. Nicole Massie Martin

[03:33] Habakkuk 3:17-19

[10:06] Hope in absolute chaos

[14:08] It’s our job to see the .1%

[18:50] Shaping us for the call

[26:16] Outro

REFERENCES

• Nicole Massie Martin
• Christianity Today
• Soulfire International Ministries
• Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender by Nicole Massie Martin
• For the Good of the Public Summit
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America by Michael Wear

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: www.ccpubliclife.org

X: @CCPublicLife

Facebook: Center for Christianity & Public Life

Instagram: @ccpubliclife

Mentioned in this episode:

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public...

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, we hear from Rachael Denhollander about Christian resources for confronting abuse. Rachel is an attorney, educator and author who was the first person to pursue criminal charges against Larry Nassar, USA gymnastics team’s doctor, in 2016. Her act of activism inspired other women to come forward and has turned her experience into becoming a powerful advocate and consultant about the realities of abuse. Rachael provides a stirring, challenging keynote address on what is required to build a culture that recognizes human dignity and opposes abuse.

Content Warning: This episode contains material of a highly sensitive nature including sexual abuse that may be triggering for some individuals.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Rachael shows us how we can draw from the resources of the Christian faith to gain insights that get closer to the heart of reality than we would otherwise.” -Michael [00:49]

“One of the most meaningful aspects of the talk for me was hearing Rachael reflect on the character of God. She talks about how throughout scripture, God is referenced as a refuge and a safe place, and an ever-present help in trouble. And that is exactly what the church should be, and most importantly, the people within the church that are a safe place to come to.” -Phebe [02:27]

“What I find so beautiful as a Christian is that as Christians, we are actually uniquely positioned to speak to a culture of abuse, and to bring hope to those who have suffered devastating wounds.” -Rachael [18:32]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:01] About Rachael

[06:39] A starting point

[10:07] Who was the most helpful?

[18:51] Just and unjust

[23:23] A few framework concepts

[27:56] Outro

REFERENCES

• Rachael Denhollander
• CNN: Read Rachael Denhollander’s full victim impact statement about Larry Nassar
• What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

CONNECT WITH US:

Website: www.ccpubliclife.org

X: @CCPublicLife

Facebook: Center for Christianity & Public Life

Instagram: @ccpubliclife

Mentioned in this episode:

New Updated Feed Here!

New Podcast

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe present a panel discussion with pastors as they think about their approach to leading their congregation during this current political moment. Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today and founding board member of CCPL, leads the discussion with Lisa Cummins, Founder of Urban Strategies, Duke Kwon, Lead Pastor at Grace Meridian Hill and co-author of Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair and Chris Butler, Director of Christian Civic Formation at CCPL and a pastor at Ambassador Church (formerly Chicago Embassy Church Network). They consider the role of clergy when it comes to politics and the local congregation. Their deep insights grounded in practical experience help show how Christian resources provide crucial support for a healthier politics that benefits from positive Christian contribution.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“I think there’s an important role that spiritual leaders–pastors in particular–in our calling, we are called to testify to a transcendent reality… So when our eyes are only fixed at ground level, and our conversations are only engaged in a cacophony of discording voices and vitriol and anger and fear and wrath, that deforms the soul, even of the pastor herself or himself.” -Duke [29:23]

“I think that there is an opportunity for us to begin this conversation–a healthy conversation, biblically-rooted conversation–about what it means to be politically involved using the Good Word, publicly engaged and loving our neighbors.” -Lisa [45:16]

“I’m a preacher’s kid. So I remember when we were growing up, my dad never said the name of the political candidate from the pulpit, because of fear of losing the 501(c)(3). This feels like a different age where preachers are very, very flippant. I mean, they just use anybody’s name as a positive or a negative.” -Nicole [1:02:04]

“You have to dig in and do the work to allow the Holy Spirit to give your words that are going to wake people up and not shut them down.” -Chris [1:02:56]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[07:19] Meet the panelists

[14:09] Handling political engagement

[26:16] The role that fear might play

[28:32] How to avoid co-opting to a particular agenda

[36:44] The role of the church right now

[46:31] A prophetic word

[52:56] Love your neighbor and your enemy

[55:59] Immigration and how we speak about immigrants

[59:56] Addressing political discipleship

[1:08:41] Outro

REFERENCES

• The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear
• Chris Butler, Director of Christian Civic Formation at CCPL
• Ministry Leaders Interest Survey
• Christianity Today
• Soulfire International Ministries
• Urban Strategies
• Grace Meridian Hill