Forefront Podcast

WORK & CAPITALISM | WEEK 3 ”Work”

Christ disrupts everything we know about work, money, and merit. In this third sermon in our Work & Capitalism Series, we welcome guest pastor, Candace Simpson. In her message we are reminded that we do not have to work for pay to be worthy of life. Christ goes out to find the people who need a day’s wage. Because everyone has to eat. Christ disrupts everything we know about work, money, and merit. Minister Candace Simpson is a sister, preacher and educator. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Union Theological Seminary. She is an associate minister at Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, New York.

WORK & CAPITALISM | WEEK 2 ”OVERDOING”

Humanity wasn't destined to toil SamI Main is an accomplished life coach, media specialist and published author. In this sermon, Sami explains why our fixation on busyness, work and profession can be harmful to our spiritual health and that taking a step back to rest and to reflect on the glory of existence is not only healthy, but, perhaps even, the most important activity we can do.

WORK & CAPITALISM | WEEK 1 ”BOSSES”

Dealing with tyranny in the workplace Sarah Ngu starts off our "Work and Capitalism" Series with a deep dive into the power of "bosses" in organizations. The workplace in general is structurally set up as a tyranny where one person has the power to greatly determine the economic livelihood of another, and if you have a good boss, that’s nice but you’re lucky because that’s basically the equivalent of a benevolent dictatorship. The only leverage that workers have is that we have power in numbers, and so we can organize collectively together for fair wages, fair hours, otherwise known as a union.

Forefront Conversations with Kerry Connelly

Kerry Connelly believes that equity and restorative justice are possible, but first we must deconstruct the dominant identities that are a part of us and rely on the Divine because our ways of living have been so tied up in insidious systems of power and oppression. In this conversation, she talks about how white supremacy is "soul murder," which homogenizes and flattens the soul, and how white American identity needs to be explored with more imagination and then deconstructed because of how it has for so long been tied in with capitalism, patriarchy, misogyny, and racism. All of these biases must be removed because, as she asks, how can we fight for justice for a person if we are only fighting for parts of them? Interviewer: Jonathan Williams ABOUT KERRY Kerry Connelly describes herself as "Writer. Mystic. Coach." She has also dedicated her professional life to racial justice by focusing on breaking down the systems that have falsely convinced white people of their superiority. She is the author of "Good White Racist? Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice" and is the co-host of the "White on White" podcast. To learn more about her work and mission, visit https://www.kerryconnelly.com/

POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | Week 6 ”Justice”

In this Sermon, we are excited to present a first: a Panel Sermon with members of Forefront Church. In this conversation, Keli Young, Denia Perez and lead pastor Jonathan Williams, bring light to the many examples that show us that a life following Jesus is also a life working actively for social justice. They examine how Jesus calls us to literally proclaim freedom for people who are imprisoned; set oppressed people free.

POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | Week 5 ”Rest”

Rest because we haven't finished yet. Rest is a critical but often ignored part of social and spiritual movements. Listen to guest preacher, Alicia T. Crosby, as she explores how Matthew 14 highlights the role rest played in helping people move on after being profiled and losing their beloved to state sanctioned violence. Alicia T. Crosby (she/hers) is a justice educator, activist, and minister whose work addresses the spiritual, systemic, and interpersonal harm people experience. Visit aliciatcrosby.com.

Forefront Conversations with Drew Hart

Drew Hart grew up and went to school in areas with a largely white population, but it wasn't until he started attending a Christian college that he really started feeling like people viewed him as an other. It's his experience with white supremacy brought into sharp focus through the lens of the Church that he writes about in his book, Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism. In this interview, he talks about the historical and cultural oppression brought on by the proliferation of the image of the "whitened Jesus," how we should be responding to the truly radical love of Christ, and what hope he sees teaching young minds at the same college that opened his eyes to the insidious influence of white supremacy. Interviewer: Jim Rohner ABOUT DREW Drew is an author, a prominent voice in the discussion about anti-racism in the Church, and an Assistant Professor of Theology at Messiah University, of which he is an alum. To learn more about his work and mission, visit https://drewgihart.com/

POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | Week 4 ”Supremacy”

Christian supremacy, anti-semitism, and the origins of racism. Sarah Ngu explores how white supremacy is intertwined with Christian supremacy and how this is a key example of power and principality. This sermon focusses on how the church's treatment of Jews in the middle ages paved the way for its treatment of Africans and the creation of "race" as we know it today.

POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | Week 3 ”Family”

The sins of our ancestors. In this 3rd Sermon in our Series, Powers & Principalities, Jubi Williams explores racism and family history. Referencing her family history having immigrated from Kerala, India, Jubi reminds us of the complex racial injustice from that country. She shares her personal journey by unpacking race in her culture, family and shines the light on how we can confront our family history to clear unhealthy racist beliefs and liberate ourselves.

POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | Week 2 ”Spirit”

The Spirit is the ultimate disrupter. The foundation of our country is built on a hierarchy of Humanity. White folks have 12.5 times the wealth of Black folks. Asian Americans are statistically less likely to be approved for home ownership. The mortality rate for Black infants is double that of white infants. The list goes on. The Book of Acts speaks to these inequities and calls on the power of the Holy Spirit to be the great "disruptor." Listen to Jonathan's sermon as he shows us how the Spirit is absolutely present today.