Conversing

Civil rights activist John M. Perkins reflects on his storied life, friendship and justice, and the role of passion to shape our lives together. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Parker Palmer, celebrated Quaker author and speaker, reflects on a contemplative approach to life, the value of failure, and the difficult work of weaving together words and action. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Dave Gibbons, pastor of the Newsong global alliance of churches, reflects on disruption, risk, and the cultivating an imagination for the future of the church. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., reflects on international development, insights from his leadership, and the whole gospel. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, reflects on the complex social and political pressures on Christian higher education and considers why holistic Christian formation is “one of the best avenues to create a deep soul.” For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Tim Breene, CEO of World Relief, reflects on humanitarian aid, empowering the local church to serve, and the “obedient improvisation”  of navigating complex sociopolitical layers to serve those in need. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Right Reverend Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, reflects with President Mark Labberton on a wide variety of pressing topics: his own journey to the Church of England, negotiating power in the global church, and the spiritual disciplines that ground him in the midst of political and religious cross-pressures. The Right Reverend Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, is a Welsh Anglican bishop, theologian, and poet. Williams was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he held from 2002 to 2012. He was previously the Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales, making him the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern times not to be appointed from within the Church of England. His principal responsibilities as Archbishop were pastoral—leading the life and witness of the Church of England in general and his own diocese in particular by his teaching and oversight, and promoting and guiding the communion of the worldwide

Brad Brisco, director of Bivocational Church Planting for the North American Mission Board, and Lance Ford, co-founder of the Sentralized Conference in Kansas City, reflect together on a theology of place and rediscovering what missionary work looks like in a local context.  Learn more about studying church planting: https://www.fuller.edu/academics/areas-of-interest/church-planting/   For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Screenwriter and director Paul Schrader reflects on his Christian upbringing and how the unique language of film—especially the transcendental style—helps him explore religious questions.   Paul Schrader is an award-winning screenwriter, film director, and film critic. He wrote or cowrote screenplays for four Martin Scorsese films: Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Bringing Out the Dead (1999). Schrader has also directed 18 feature films.    Explore more on the intersection of faith and film through the Brehm Center's Reel Spirituality initiative: http://www.brehmcenter.com/initiatives/reelspirituality/   For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena, reflects on the complexities of preaching, female leadership, and how she finds comfort in Christ's treatment of the outsider. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Cameron Lee, professor of marriage and family studies, reflects on relationships through the lens of romance culture, the complexities of social media, community and peacemaking. Cameron Lee was the keynote lecturer at the 2018 Integration Symposium, ”Integration and Integrity: The Christian Therapist as Peacemaker.“ Learn more here: https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/fuller-dialogues-therapy-as-peacemaking For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Kate Bowler, assistant professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School, reflects on her research on the prosperity gospel, her recent stage IV cancer diagnosis, and her desire for authentic faith in the midst of suffering. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM), reflects on his work in Rwanda, the beginnings of IJM, and the ways Christian spiritual formation naturally leads to working on behalf of the suffering and poor. Note: This conversation contains explicit descriptions of sexual and physical violence that may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Michael McBride, pastor of the Way Christian Center in Berkeley, California, and national director for Urban Strategies at the PICO National Network, reflects on faithful discipleship in the context of racialized violence, economic exploitation, and white supremacy.   For more resources on a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Pixar’s Pete Docter, director of the animated films Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out, speaks with Mark Labberton about creating stories in community, the creative process, and more. For more on voices on faith and film, including an earlier interview with Pete Docter here: https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/faith-film/ For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

David Eubank (MDiv ’95), director and founder of Free Burma Rangers, shares stories from his years of ministry in war zones in Burma and Mosul, reflects on being “an ambassador for Jesus” while fighting ISIS soldiers, discusses the ways violent contexts have shaped the way he prays, and more. The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multiethnic humanitarian service movement working to bring help, hope, and love to people in the conflict zones of Burma, Iraq, and Sudan. Working in conjunction with local ethnic pro-democracy groups, FBR trains, supplies, and later coordinates with what become highly mobile multipurpose relief teams. After training, these teams provide critical emergency medical care, shelter, food, clothing, and human rights documentation in their home regions. Note: This conversation contains explicit descriptions of warfare and violence that may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Camille Wooden, senior pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Bible Church, and Len Tang, director of Fuller Seminary’s Church Planting Program, reflect with President Mark Labberton on unlearning church, committing to neighborhoods, and the challenges of church planters. Camille Wooden planted Abundant Life Covenant Bible Church in Pasadena, California, in 2003. She also serves as the chaplain of the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks. Len Tang is the director of church planting in Fuller Seminary's School of Intercultural Studies (SIS), which offers courses and a certificate in church planting. SIS was originally founded to proclaim the gospel through training cross-cultural missionaries, then later through equipping pastors at its Institute of Church Growth, and now trains church planters to reach an increasingly post-Christian culture. Learn more about studying church planting at Fuller: http://fuller.edu/church-planting/ For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

The Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Zac Niringiye, a theologian and activist, explores the gospel, justice, and his formative experiences as a Ugandan bishop. The Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Zac Niringiye is a theologian, pastor, Bible teacher, organizational development consultant, and a peace and social justice activist. He took an early retirement from his work as Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala in 2012 to focus on the work of peace and social-political justice in Uganda. He is now a Fellow in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Uganda Christian University, leading a project on Religion, Culture, and Public Life. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio

Alan Hirsch, celebrated author and missiologist, reflects on his conversion, Christian ministry, and spiritual gifts that can revitalize the church. Using Ephesians 4 as an interpretive lens, he sees ministry practices embedded in God’s created order and considers methods that can help churches “extend the logic and impact of Jesus ministry” in their own communities. As founder of 5Q Collective, Alan Hirsch writes and teaches on vital ministry practices through the lens of Ephesians 4. The 5Q Collective develops resources to activate the “latent capacities” of the body of Christ and “extend the logic and impact of Jesus' ministry.”  He teaches regularly at Asbury Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, and George Fox Seminary, and Wheaton College where he is co-founder and associate faculty for the M.A. in Missional Church Movements. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.

Jacquelline Fuller, president of Google.org, considers the complex intersections of public policy, technology, and philanthropy. She and Dr. Labberton discuss her previous work at the Gates Foundation, global health initiatives, and fostering a generous office culture. As president of Google.org and vice president at Google, Jacquelline Fuller manages over $150 million given annually to nonprofits and initiatives around the globe. With a background in public policy and American corporate culture, Fuller helps foster meaningful work through giving. For more resources for a deeply formed spiritual life, visit Fuller.edu/Studio.