MOURNERS' BENCH: BLACK JOY & HEALING
THE FOUR
LEAD HOST: Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews GUESTS: Reverends Rudy & Juanita Rasmus Seeing Big Ma on the Mothers’ pew of the church, crying her heart out in grief, gratitude and joy, left an indelible mark on me…as a child I knew something powerful and transformative was happening in the front of the church, on “the Mothers Bench.” -MRM Conflating the Mother’s & Mourner’s bench as a child, Rev. Mathews has since envisioned ideas of grief, conquering fear, healing, joy and liberation that enflesh theology and hold much-needed space for trauma healing and...
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RECLAIMING THE WHOLENESS OF OUR STORIES
THE FOUR
LEAD HOST: Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews GUEST: Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Roshi Black contemplation and spirituality are a wellspring for the work of individual and social transformation. Drawing from his engagement with ’s seminal best-seller, , Rev. Mathews leads The FOUR as they explore with their good friend how the spiritual ways of Black folk are reshaping practice for Buddhists and others committed to liberation.
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SHOUTIN’ IN THE FIRE & FINDING FIERCE LOVE
THE FOUR
SHOUTIN’ IN THE FIRE & FINDING FIERCE LOVE LEAD HOST: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis GUEST: Dante Stewart Best-selling author and new voice, , stormed the scene with his personal story. In 2016, he was a rising leader at his predominantly white evangelical church. But then came Donald Trump and Dante quickly found himself isolated amid a people unraveled. He needed to leave his god box and Dr. Lewis challenges us to do the same. , Dante’s coming of age in a time of terror, calls us to reclaim and reimagine spiritual virtues like rage, resilience, and remembrance. Similarly, Dr. Lewis,...
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BONUS MINUTE - Linty: Under the Black Light
THE FOUR
Join The FOUR in an absolutely hilarious few minutes down memory lane and those basement parties of yore. (You know the ones...and if you don't, you've really got to give this a listen!)
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RECONNAISSANCE: WHAT DO WHITE EVANGELICALS WANT AND HOW ARE THEY TRYING TO GET IT?
THE FOUR
LEAD HOST: Lisa Sharon HarperGUEST: Kristin Kobes Du Mez catapulted to the top of the best-seller list with her book, . A leading church historian, joins The FOUR in a real eye-opener for the team. Kristin pulls back the curtain on conservative white evangelical America to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the white evangelical movement, what got us to January 6th, and where we may go next. In sum, at times The FOUR were left speechless. This episode features the track by Blue Dot Sessions
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BONUS MINUTE: "I will not hate."
THE FOUR
BONUS MINUTE: "I will not hate." Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. shares a deeply moving experience with MLK, Sr.
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PART 2: HOW TO DEFEAT AMERICAN FASCISM AND OTHER LESSONS FROM THE MOVEMENT
THE FOUR
LEAD CO-HOSTS: Lisa Sharon Harper and Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis GUEST: Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. The FOUR continue the conversation with Globally revered, Dr. Moss is one of America’s most distinguished leaders in the decades-long struggle for civil and human rights, health care, education and social justice. Join The FOUR for Part 2 of their conversation. Reverend Moss co-pastored with Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and was a board member and regional director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during Dr. King’s tenure as...
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PART 1: HOW TO DEFEAT AMERICAN FASCISM AND OTHER LESSONS FROM THE MOVEMENT
THE FOUR
LEAD CO-HOSTS: Lisa Sharon Harper and Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis GUEST: Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. Where to begin? is one of America’s most distinguished voices, advocating for the achievement of education, civil and human rights, health care and social justice. His influence is global and revered. The FOUR are honored to invite Dr. Moss into a two part conversation with this influential and very special leader. Reverend Moss co-pastored with Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and was a board member and regional director of the Southern Christian...
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BONUS MINUTE: "The Dyson-ator!"
THE FOUR
Catch another sneak peek into the word master, Michael Eric Dyson, as he joins The FOUR.
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BONUS MINUTE: What's the film that grabbed you?
THE FOUR
TheFOUR had a blast talking film with NPR's Josh Larsen. Catch a couple of minutes of the run-up to that interview here!
info_outlineLEAD HOST: Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews
GUESTS: Reverends Rudy & Juanita Rasmus
Seeing Big Ma on the Mothers’ pew of the church, crying her heart out in grief, gratitude and joy, left an indelible mark on me…as a child I knew something powerful and transformative was happening in the front of the church, on “the Mothers Bench.” -MRM
Conflating the Mother’s & Mourner’s bench as a child, Rev. Mathews has since envisioned ideas of grief, conquering fear, healing, joy and liberation that enflesh theology and hold much-needed space for trauma healing and transformation—not just in body, or mind or the abstracted spirit or soul— but the whole Black Body. The FOUR are joined by Rudy and Juanita Rasmus for a deeply personal and compelling conversation. They are pastors, authors and humanitarians with a passion for healing. Including their own.
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Once lost himself, (in his words, he owned “borderline bordello”), today Pastor Rudy co-leads St. John’s Downtown Houston with his wife, Juanita, of 32 years.
From nine members in 1992, the church has grown to the thousands where people of every social and economic background share the pew. Pastor Rudy attributes success to tearing down the walls of classism, sexism, and racism, and building compassionate bridges of unconditional love, universal recovery, and unprecedented hope.
With generous support from government agencies and Beyoncé, Tina and Solange Knowles, St. John’s offers permanent housing to formerly unhoused women and men; employment services, youth empowerment activities; and is one of few faith communities in the U.S. providing HIV/AIDS testing to churchgoers on Sundays. They also lead domestic and global anti-hunger initiatives in conjunction with Beyoncé’s concert tours and distribute over nine tons of fresh produce weekly to hungry families in Houston.