Episode 16--Politics and the Religious Right, my conversation with the granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, Mrs. Jerushah Duford

Episode intro:

Hello, Civilla Morgan here! Welcome to episode 16 of the Not Just Another Religion and Politics Podcast! Thank you for tuning in! So here’s the deal: 

I want this podcast to speak to people, not yell at people. Whether you are a Believer or not, a Christian or not, I want this podcast to be so plain in its language, that even if you have never stepped foot in a church, you will get this. You will get who Jesus is, and you will get what relationship with Him could be like, despite what people--Christians and non-Christians, try to do to get you to turn your back. Come along with me. I promise it will be a really cool experience! 

 

Guest intro: 

I first saw our guest on a CNN interview, link in the show notes. And  I watched in awe as she said what I thought. I found myself yelling at the TV ‘Yes! That’s what I've been saying all along!’  What was really cool was that my parents took us to see her world-famous grandfather many years ago. If I remember correctly, we were living in CT at the time. If it wasn’t CT, it was MA, where I grew up. Talk about a full-circle moment. 

It would be many months after that CNN interview that this limited edition, 25 episode podcast was laid on my heart. I started thinking about the handful of episodes that I wanted to have as guest episodes. I started thinking ‘what if?’, ‘could I?’, ‘dare I?” and then I did. 

Our guest was one of those handfuls of people that came to mind. Jerushah Duford is a speaker and author. She is currently finishing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health, she is married to the love of her life, and they are raising their kids in South Carolina.  Mrs. Jerushah Duford, welcome and thank you so much for agreeing to have this conversation! It’s such an honor! 

      

Body of episode:

• Let’s jump right in!  Tell us about your book, ‘Thank you, Billy Graham’? 

 

• What did your grandfather think of the book? 

 

• I know that although you had a grandfather who told an entire planet how to have eternal life, taught us the love of Jesus, and was truly obedient to God’s calling on his life, I’m sure the Graham family had many valley moments as well as mountain top moments just like any other family. And of course we know how the story ends, Revelations tells us so. But where do you think the family of America ends up, can we ever get back to where we were?

 

• When you said: 

‘My president does not have to be a Christian, I just don't want him held up as the poster boy for Christian evangelicals because he doesn’t represent most of us.’--Jerushah Armfield (Duford).

That's when you came onto my radar because it really is OK if our president is not a Christian. Isn’t it? Nowhere in the constitution does it say our president has to be Christian. I feel like the Christians who are all in for our current president feel that God needs our help to get His agenda through. Like they feel God has an agenda and the Religious Right feels it is their duty to help God even if it means looking the other way when our current president does and says things far from the heart of God. What do you think?

 

•  Besides praying, do you have suggestions, a final word for Christians and non-Christians, as we navigate the times in which we find ourselves?

  

Episode Takeaways:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D9hogyCixk

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAgFlDWE8Mc

 

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Thank_You_Billy_Graham/G-_KAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

 

Episode 11--They Think We're Hypocrites 

https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-mhn4i-e275d0

Closing commentary:

Don’t forget, I would love to hear from you on the question: 

‘Who is God?’ 

Episode outro:

Well, thank you for tuning in. Let me know via social media or by email if you have feedback. I would love to hear from you! You may email me at [email protected]. Please give me 24 to 48 hours to respond. And don’t forget to check the show notes for the sources used for this episode. Until next time! 

 

Episode quote:

‘My president doesn't have to be Christian, I just don't want him held up as the poster boy for Christians evangelicals because he doesn’t represent most of us.’--Jerushah Armfield (Duford).