Forefront Podcast

WHAT IN THE...Story of Job

We're excited to welcome Forefront's Deacon Jim Rohner to deliver the message. Jim explores the story of Job. It's not a story that can be broken down into simplistic, easily conveyed morals. Instead, it's a complicated and nuanced look at a culture trying to find meaning amongst uncertainty, which in turn gives us permission to question the easy lessons that have been told we should believe. In fact, the story of Job has great relevance to what we're facing today with so many crises at our doorstep. With an ongoing COVID pandemic, climate change, an economic roller coaster, and social unrest, accepting uncertainty about the future has never been so difficult, especially when powerful forces seek to advance a narrative of certainty that keeps them in power.

WHAT IN THE...”Just” Storytelling

Language is life. Storytellers have great influence. Who gets to tell or interpret stories has a lot to do with privilege and power. Often times we find storytellers may not tell the most truthful or Just version. They may contort a story to fit their beliefs, or worse. This sermon touches on how storytelling through the lens of oppressive systems shape our lives and how we need to take control of the narrative. The sermon, broadly speaking, touches on poverty, immigration, and the myriad of oppressed identities. What if we're supposed to not only think about those whose lived experiences are being ignored or diminished but make sure those stories are told in the places and spaces where they’ve historically been left out? Keli Young, who took part in our Preaching Bootcamp, takes to the stage as we continue the series "What in the ....?". Keli is a Black Christian lawyer, community organizer, and Brooklyn native working towards Black liberation. After graduating from NYU Law, she worked in local and national criminal justice policy for 5 years. She currently works as the Civil Rights Campaign Coordinator at Voices of Community Activists and Leaders (VOCAL-NY). Keli is committed to living out her faith and advocating for actual justice.

WHAT IN THE...Imagination and Miracles

A full house at the Roulette for this powerful, emotional and uplifting experience. We celebrate change and disruption, we reaffirm Vision and Mission, we give thanks and gratitude for the William's family for nurturing Forefront Church to a strong, solid community; for setting the foundation for a new Christianity. We continue the work to usher in the next 500 years of Christianity. In Jonathan Williams' final Sermon for Forefront, the Church he co-founded a decade ago, he talks about miracles and asks us to reclaim our imaginations. We shouldn't care whether or not miracles happen. Instead we should ask, "What can be accomplished when you imagine miracles happening?" Read our announcement about Jonathan at: www.forefrontnyc.com/blog

WHAT IN THE...Women

In this joint sermon with outgoing co-founder of Forefront Church, Jonathan Williams, and new Teaching Pastor, Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins, Jonathan inspires us with the Vision and Mission of Forefront and Venida speaks women in the Church. Why are people so opposed to women leading in ministry when the first preacher of the Gospel was Mary? Read our announcement about Jonathan and welcoming of Venida at: www.forefrontnyc.com/blog

Forefront Conversations with Venida C. Rodman Jenkins

We did it again, y'all - another pastor who never had any intentions of being a pastor has been hired at Forefront! Venida has been recently hired as Forefront's Teaching Pastor, filling the role left vacant with the recent announcement of the stepping down of longtime pastor and church co-founder, Jonathan Williams. This is a disruptive and transitionary period for the church for sure, but we're excited to have Venida on board to help us usher in the next 500 years of Christianity and we want to help you get excited too! So, Deacon Jim Rohner and Executive Producer Makenzie Gomez sat down to hear Venida's story of the long road that led her to Forefront and just what's in store for the future. ABOUT VENIDA Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins is Forefront's Teaching Pastor who hails from Teaneck, N.J.. Venida's mission is to provide visibility, encouragement and spaces of belonging to underrepresented groups. She carries this out as a minister, educator, and advocate. Venida is the Director of the Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity at New Jersey City University; founder and pastor of EMBRACE Church and an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University and New York Theological Seminary.

WHAT IN THE...Disruption

In this sermon, Jonathan Williams explores how disruption is a place where God is perhaps most present. Disruptions mess with our lives and what we know. They take away our comfort. And worst of all, they make us grow. We hate growing. But these are the times when the divine is really up to something. On theme, Jonathan used this sermon to announce that he is leaving Forefront to pursue new challenges. He is choosing disruption in order to grow and learn. Read our announcement about Jonathan at: www.forefrontnyc.com/blog

WHAT IN THE... The End

In this second sermon of our “What in the…?” series, Joel Field, a “graduate” of our Preaching Bootcamp, tackles one of the strangest scriptures and uncovers how Jesus shows his love through the miracle involving a fish.

Forefront Conversations with Chris Dudley

It's one thing to be a Christian in a public space, but it's quite another thing to bear the mantle of being a "Christian band" when you're in your early 20s and playing music for millions of people around the world. Chris Dudley is a devout Christian and his band, Underoath, started out with the label of being a "Christian band" releasing their two most popular albums under the Tooth & Nail record label. But what does it mean to be a "Christian band?" What are the expectations thrust upon you? How do you answer questions that you're not equipped to answer as an inexperienced youth? How does the label shift and change as individual philosophies change and priorities shift? Chris talks through his experiences answering all these questions through Underoath's rise in popularity to their breakup to their reunion and redefining themselves as a group that has moved away from, as they say in their own words, "the realm of seemingly impenetrable polemics." ABOUT CHRIS Chris has played keyboards and synthesizers for Underoath since 2000 and has recorded and performed 8 albums (and counting!). In addition to his work with the band, he also composes scores for short form and feature length films, with God's Waiting Room having premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. He lives with his wife and kids, loves horror films, and is one of the friendliest and most approachable people you'll ever meet. Follow him on both Twitter and Instagram @ChrisUnderoath Keep up with Underoath developments at underoath777.com

WHAT IN THE...Sodom and Gomorrah

We welcome our second Forefront Guest Speaker, Emmy Brett. Emmy takes us on a fascinating journey into the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah isn't just about fire and brimstone, but about choosing holy resistance against evil and refusing to be a voyeur to systems of oppression.

WHAT IN THE...Our Bodies

Venida Rodman Jenkins joins us again as Guest Preacher and closes our "Sex Positive" series. Many of us have been taught that our "flesh is a mess" which can lead to body shaming. Let's unpack this message and more as we seek to reclaim our bodies.