Summer Programs 2026 is coming!

In this catch-up and course preview conversation, Claire and Rachel reconnect with Dr. Elizabeth Sung, who shares her journey through systematic theology to moral theology and questions of spiritual formation. She shares her reflections on the good life and how biblical principles from the gospel can transform our understanding of flourishing here and now. She shares her lived experience and perspectives on the depth and breadth of salvation, love, shalom, and spiritual formation. Lisa offers reflections on the particular pitfalls of "false gospels," the expansiveness of agape love, and the delusions of the false self. Lisa shares her insights and takeaways from the Scriptures, the writings of Dallas Willard, and other key theologians and spiritual writers in ways that have touched and formed her own life.

Lisa's Bio

Elizabeth (Lisa) Sung, PhD, is a systematic theologian and spiritual director. She served as Visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Regent College from 2022 to 2025, and continues to teach courses for Regent as a Faculty Teaching Fellow. She now serves as Theologian-in-Residence at The InterVarsity Institute, where she brings her life and her ministry and academic experience 15 years as a full-time theology professor at 3 major seminaries in the US and Canada, preceded by 13 years as a campus minister, mostly serving graduate students at The University of Chicago, to her work. Lisa’s primary specialization is theological anthropology, and secondarily (in connection with it), soteriology. Currently, she is writing two books: Race, Racism, and Christian Moral Identity and a volume on theological anthropology. She also speaks on these topics at churches, conferences, and professional development workshops. We are glad to say that Lisa will be back with us this summer from June 8-12, teaching “The Good Life and Christ: A Theological Reframing of the Gospel of Salvation.”

Previous Podcast Appearances

Do Racial Categories Contribute to Racism? (August 2022)

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In this conversation, we catch up with our friends at Strathcona Vineyard, a small, vibrant, multi-ethnic, mixed-socio-economic congregation in the heart of Vancouver's DTES, Canada’s poorest urban postcode. Dawn Humphreys, Jamie Hellawell, and James Witwicki share what incarnational ministry means, emphasizing the importance of presence, relationship, and community engagement that levels inequalities and invites people to participate. They share their experiences living in the DTES, and the challenges and rewards of long-term commitment to a community. We touch on the significance of kinship, the need to challenge power dynamics, and the transformative nature of living in proximity to suffering. If you've ever wondered what living in inner city Vancouver will do to your ecclesiology and how you measure success in ministry, listen in, and perhaps embrace the risk of following God's call into this community, or another community like it.

Guest Bios

Dawn Humphreys helped plant Strathcona Vineyard Church 20 years ago and has served as lead pastor for the past 17 years. She was also on the founding team for Jacob’s Well, a relationally focused ministry in the DTES, and served on staff there for 11 years until 2012. Dawn is passionate about inspiring and equipping others to engage with God’s heart for the poor and oppressed. She has supervised Regent Interns for many years, including during her time at Jacob’s Well and at Strathcona Vineyard, and worked part-time as a Pastoral Representative for the M.Div. Program at Regent College for just over two years. She also works as the Engage Catalyst for Vineyard Canada, helping unify efforts in justice and societal impact so Vineyard Churches and the people who belong to these communities can flourish. Before her life in Vancouver, Dawn spent eight years living in various parts of Southeast Asia with St Stephen's Society, an incarnational missional community based in Hong Kong, where she learned the rhythms of faithful presence and how God moves in everyday life. Dawn brings a vital challenge and encouragement to the Church regarding current paradigms of ministry and the empowerment of people on society’s margins.

Jamie Hellawell has lived in Vancouver’s DTES for over 20 years, during which he completed a PhD in philosophy. He served as Associate Pastor at Strathcona Vineyard Church for over 8 years. After completing a master’s in counselling, Jamie began working as a counsellor at the end of last year. Jamie loves connecting with people from diverse educational, cultural, and life experiences. Over the years, he has overseen Small Groups, led Bible studies, and discussions exploring the intersection of faith, philosophy, and theology, among many other initiatives. He was also a key part of Strathcona’s Housing Project, where derelict houses were renovated into liveable homes for community members, allowing the church to continue offering hospitality. In this work, he drew on his skills as a professional painter, his love of working with his hands and seeing a project through to completion. Jamie is married to April, who has her own counselling practice, and together they have three daughters. Jamie brings a compassionate and steady leadershi

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In this wide-ranging, holistic conversation, we catch up with theologian and practitioner, Dr. Ruth Padilla-DeBorst, who discusses her experiences living between cultures and her understanding of justice and peace from a biblical perspective. She emphasizes the importance of integral mission and evangelicalism's struggle to integrate evangelism and justice work, as seen in her experience at the Lausanne Global Conference in 2024. She also reflects on how peace and justice go hand in hand. A member of the newly formed A Rocha Costa Rica, Ruth reflects on Casa Adobe's engagement with ecological justice and the impact of climate migration. She advocates for a Latin(o/a) perspective in reading Scripture and theology, reflecting on the fact that all theology is contextual. Finally, she calls for the Western church to learn from the resilience of global communities in our particular historical moment.

Note: This podcast was recorded on Thursday, Jan 22, 2026.

Ruth's Bio

Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst is a theologian, scholar, and advocate for global justice, with a focus on mission, community development, and social engagement. Originally from Argentina, Ruth has dedicated much of her career to integrating the gospel with issues of poverty, inequality, and human dignity. She is the author of several key publications, including Reading the Bible Latinamente, and has contributed to numerous academic journals and books on faith, justice, creation care, and mission. Through her work, Ruth continues to shape global conversations around the intersection of faith and justice, with a particular focus on marginalized communities.

Previous Podcast Appearances:

Wise Leadership #3: Becoming Leaders in Community (March 2022)

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Join us for a lively conversation as we meet the 2026 Laing Lecturer, Dr. Meghan Sullivan, who explores how Christian faith provides a profound framework for navigating AI's ethical challenges. Though a serious topic with deep philosophical underpinnings, Meghan offers practical insights and ideas about the human implications of the DELTA framework (Dignity, Embodiment, Love, Transcendence, and Agency). In her work at Notre Dame, these are the key pillars underpinning an ethical approach to AI that ensures we don't lose sight of what makes us human and gives us hope for the future of our humanity and relationships.

We delve into how AI challenges our notions of dignity and embodiment, and why love must remain the central organizing principle of our lives. Megan also addresses the environmental and political implications of AI, advocating for responsible stewardship and ethical boundaries. Her insights offer a practical guide for individuals and communities to engage with AI thoughtfully and faithfully.

If you want to hear more, join us March 23-24 at Regent College for the 2026 Laing Lectures!

Meghan's Bio

Dr. Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, where she directs the university-wide Ethics Initiative and co-founded the popular “God and the Good Life” course. Meghan holds degrees from the University of Virginia, the University of Oxford, and Rutgers University. Her research explores time, value, and the role of love and meaning in human life. She’s the author of Time Biases and co-author of The Good Life Method, and she leads major projects on ethics, social transformation, and how philosophy can guide us toward flourishing lives. She will join us at Regent for the 2026 Laing Lectures, March 23-24, in the Regent Chapel, where she will present on “Faith-Based Ethics for a World of Powerful AI.”

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In this conversation, we introduce our new Academic Dean, Dr. Jerry Hwang, who shares his journey to Regent College and discusses his diverse background in IT, pastoral work, and academia. He emphasizes the importance of cultural context in education, the role of language in understanding the Bible and theology, and the influence of the Old Testament on Western culture. Dr. Hwang understands systems, institutions and people, as well as many languages and cultures. Jerry urges students to care for their whole selves throughout their studies and emphasizes the importance of building relationships within the academic community, cautioning against knowledge acquisition at the expense of relational health and collegiality.

Jerry's Bio

Rev. Dr. Jerry Hwang joined the Regent College faculty as Academic Dean and Professor of Old Testament in October 2025. He previously served as an Associate Professor of Theology at Trinity Christian College in the Chicago area. From 2010 to 2023, he served as a missionary with OMF International, seconded to Singapore Bible College, first as a faculty member and later as Academic Dean. Before beginning his academic career, Dr. Hwang worked as an IT professional and as a pastor in both Chinese and multicultural churches. Jerry has published widely in Old Testament and theological studies, with an emphasis on the Pentateuch and prophetic literature, mission studies, and the contextualization of biblical theology in Asian contexts. He has written commentaries on Hosea and Jeremiah, and is currently working on a commentary on Job.

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This week, we're talking with Regent alum and professor of systematic theology, Dr Barnabas Aspray, about his new book On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy, co-written with Dr David Elcott. Barney shares insightfully about the connection between religious identity and religious belief with immigration policy, arguing that religion significantly influences nations’ responses to immigration in ways that are not often acknowledged. Moreover, religious identification can be both compassionate and exclusionary, as demonstrated in European responses to the 2015 refugee crisis. Barney shares insights from the perspective of being an immigrant in the US himself, encouraging pastors and church leaders to have conversations around immigration in order to prevent polarisation. Barney urges us to maintain conversations across differences and identify Christian aspirations, as well as the harrowing realities of history that demonstrate the ways we have fallen short of those ideals.

Barnabas's Bio

Dr. Barnabas Aspray is a theologian and author who serves as Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore. His work bridges philosophy and theology, exploring themes of God, creation, and evil. Before entering academia, he worked as a software engineer in London. Since shifting to theology, he has pursued research in biblical studies, systematic and philosophical theology, and now he writes on topics like faith, refugees, and the ethics of belonging. Today, we’ll be talking to Barney about his new book, On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy.

Previous Podcast Appearances

Refugee, Asylum Seeker, Migrant and the Book of Isaiah (January 2023)

Regent Vine Article

On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy (Nov 17, 2025)

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The Saint John's Bible is a work of sacred scripture and art, including more than 160 hand illuminations. A team of scribes used ancient natural inks, hand-ground pigments, and gold and silver leaf gild to create the original, which was completed in 2011. The Heritage Edition is a full-size, fine art reproduction – and we have one in the Allison Library at Regent College. In this conversation with Rev. Dr. John Ross and Colton Whelpton, we learn about the Bible’s history and craftsmanship, where you can find copies, the ways communities engage with it, and how it is used in the life and rhythms of Regent College. We consider the artfulness of corrections, the power of reading in community, and the interweaving of art with Scripture in causing us to slow down and experience Scripture in a new way.

Interviewee Bios

The Reverend Dr. John F. Ross is the Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Prior to his work at Saint John’s, John served for 18 years as the Senior Minister of Wayzata Community Church in Minnesota. John completed his Master of Divinity at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and a Doctor of Ministry through the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Colton Whelpton has been a member of the Regent College community since 2017, graduating with an MATS in 2021 and serving as the Library Services Manager for the past 4 years. He oversees the day-to-day operations at the library, maintaining a large collection of resources and overseeing a team of student employees. Colton is currently pursuing an MLIS from the University of Alberta, and is particularly interested in topics relating to theology and technology, Indigenous spirituality, and new monasticism.

Links

Turning the Pages: The Saint John's Bible

Heritage Editions Around the World

Saint John's Bible Youtube Channel

Allison Library: Book a Viewing

The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at Regent College: Ancient Art for the Modern Era (Regent Vine article, Sept 2025)

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In this first episode of 2026, picture yourself in Boston in late November. It’s chilly, a little rainy, and there are scholars everywhere. Rachel is on the road, meeting Regent alums and early career researchers at the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature Conference. In this special episode, she catches up with Madison Lyonhart, Abraham Wu, James Smoker and Rachel Wilkowski, hearing about their presentations, research projects, and perspectives on the conference. They also share about how their Regent days influenced their career trajectories and interests. We're moving through history, theology, the arts, and biblical studies, so it's a smorgasbord of topics and perspectives. We hope you enjoy this episode and it whets your appetite for an array of great conversations in 2026.

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