Rashan Frost joins Austin to discuss the ten year anniversary of the shooting at Mother Emmanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Frost is the ERLC director of research and senior fellow focused on issues of human dignity. He is the teaching pastor of Centerpoint Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is also an adjunct professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University. He and Austin discuss the tragedy, the responses, and how Charleston has changed as a result. This is an anniversary we are not happy to observe, but we hope you will listen and lift up the families affected in prayer.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. Here is an article by Dr. Frost that published on the day of the anniversary.
2. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

ABOUT UWP

United? We Pray (UWP) is a ministry to help Christians pray and think about racial strife. We want to encourage Christians amid the strife to rely upon God in prayer. So our prayers can be informed, we strive to learn and write about race, racism and its effects, and theology. We aim to be biblical, beneficial, and clear in all our efforts. While we’re burdened for all racial strife, we focus on racial strife between Christians because of the unique privilege and stewardship God has given his people: to bear witness to Him and to love all people, especially one another (Gal. 6:10).

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Ivan Gonzalez serves at Christos Para Las Naciones Church in Penson, Alabama, which is a Hispanic Church primarily serving immigrant families. Ivan joined Austin to talk about what life is like for Christians in Hispanic churches in 2025. We really enjoyed this conversation because Ivan is so Biblical in his approach to ministry. We hope you are encouraged to pray for your Hispanic brothers and sisters from this conversation.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

ABOUT UWP

United? We Pray (UWP) is a ministry to help Christians pray and think about racial strife. We want to encourage Christians amid the strife to rely upon God in prayer. So our prayers can be informed, we strive to learn and write about race, racism and its effects, and theology. We aim to be biblical, beneficial, and clear in all our efforts. While we’re burdened for all racial strife, we focus on racial strife between Christians because of the unique privilege and stewardship God has given his people: to bear witness to Him and to love all people, especially one another (Gal. 6:10).

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Dr. Daniel Rienhardt is a 24 year veteran of the police force. He is the author of Rethinking the Police: An Officer's Confession and the Pathway to Reform (IVP, 2023). This book is a refreshing change from most conversations about police reform. Daniel is a retired officer brimming with love for his fellow officers but who understands that serious changes need to be made. We hope this conversation gets you thinking and hope that you'll read and share the book!

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. Dan's book on police reform here.
2. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

ABOUT UWP

United? We Pray (UWP) is a ministry to help Christians pray and think about racial strife. We want to encourage Christians amid the strife to rely upon God in prayer. So our prayers can be informed, we strive to learn and write about race, racism and its effects, and theology. We aim to be biblical, beneficial, and clear in all our efforts. While we’re burdened for all racial strife, we focus on racial strife between Christians because of the unique privilege and stewardship God has given his people: to bear witness to Him and to love all people, especially one another (Gal. 6:10).

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Caryn Rivadeneira is the author of several books for both children and adults. Her latest book, Gritty and Graceful (Beaming Books) is one we would recommend to all of our listeners. Caryn managed to give a Biblical survey of the work of women in redemptive history and did so in an age-appropriate way for little girls and boys. It's really special. We hope this conversation is encouraging to you and we hope you'll check out the book!

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

ABOUT UWP
United? We Pray (UWP) is a ministry to help Christians pray and think about racial strife. We want to encourage Christians amid the strife to rely upon God in prayer. So our prayers can be informed, we strive to learn and write about race, racism and its effects, and theology. We aim to be biblical, beneficial, and clear in all our efforts. While we’re burdened for all racial strife, we focus on racial strife between Christians because of the unique privilege and stewardship God has given his people: to bear witness to Him and to love all people, especially one another (Gal. 6:10).

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Gavin King is a partner at Beasley Allen law firm in Montgomery, Alabama. He has been a friend of this ministry for a long time, and in this episode, he talks with Isaac about growing up in the black church and highlights some of his personal heroes of the faith. We hope this testimony of deep roots encourages you to press on.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Walter Strickland is Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the author of Swing Low: A History of Black Christianity in the United States (Intervarsity Press, 2024). Dr. Strickland joins Austin to talk through his new book.

Dr. Strickland approached his new book theologically, which is not a surprise for a theology professor. He has chronicled a massive amount of source data and come up with a list of five theological characteristics of the theology of black Christians over time. He and Austin discuss those characteristics and their history. Through it, we see God's faithfulness to His people over many generations.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.
2. You can find Dr. Strickland's excellent book here.

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

On January 31, United? We Pray's longest-serving staff member resigned to spend more time with her family. Jeri Choi has been a blessing to this ministry for many years, and all of our listeners have benefitted from her hard work. Please join us in thanking her and praying for God's blessing on her life and family!

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!

Walter Strickland is Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the author of Swing Low: A History of Black Christianity in the United States (Intervarsity Press, 2024). Dr. Strickland joins Austin to talk about black history, and why he took a slightly unusual path to write his book.

Often times, works on black history can focus more on the oppression black people have faced more than the accomplishments and contributions they offer. Dr. Strickland's work is a refreshing change of pace. We hope you are encouraged by this conversation.

LINKS & SHOW NOTES:

1. This UWP Podcast Episode was produced by Josh Deng with editing by Roshane Ricketts.
2. You can find Dr. Strickland's excellent book here.

Support the show

To learn more about United? We Pray, follow us on Instagram and keep exploring our website. Please consider rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe using your favorite podcast client to hear more!