“We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace.” Dr. Karen Fancher from Multnomah University joins the show today to walk us through the profoundly Christian field of peacebuilding. In her conversation with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke, Dr. Fancher walks us through what it means to promote peace within the humanitarian space with direct application to situations in Palestine and Sudan as well as explores the biblical foundation for Christians to be actively engaged in bringing God’s Kingdom of peace and justice.
Author Archives: Brandon Stiver
Advocating for the Hungry with Eugene Cho
We are privileged to be joined today by a Christian leader that really embodies the ethic that we are all striving for as we pursue justice, mercy and shalom in the nations. We’re grateful to have Eugene Cho on the show today talking with us about the work of Bread for the World and what it looks like to advocate for the poor and hungry both in the US and throughout the world. Eugene shares a pastoral word for those of us engaged in global justice work and offers his own reflections of how he remains grounded in Christ in the midst of busy lives of pursuing justice.
Malaria, Haiti, Slavery and “Aid State” [March 3+1]
In this 3+1 episode, we’re talking the good (malaria vaccines), the bad (slavery) and a whole lot of Haiti. We’ve got Mac Archer back on the show to share with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke what she’s seeing on the ground in Haiti and what’s getting missed in larger media outlets. We talk through the utility of violence by those running the country and look at some potentially similar dynamics in other countries. We also discuss forced labor in Asia, the rise of malaria vaccines in Africa and get a book recommendation for a book that just released in the last couple of months.
Rethinking Orphan Care with Preston Sprinkle and Brandon Stiver
Today, we’re releasing our podcast collaboration with our friends at Theology in the Raw. Brandon had a chance to sit down with Preston Sprinkle and dive into all things global orphan care and discuss the realities of that children in orphanages face worldwide. Our conversation weaves between a theology of calling and mission and how American Christians intersect with orphans in the Global South. We discuss the reality of life within orphanages, why kids end up there and what risk factors and vulnerabilities arise when kids are raised in that environment. This is a good Ethical Orphan Care 101 type episode and we’re grateful for the chance to collaborate with Theology in the Raw to raise awareness and education.
Leading From Your Knees with Peter Greer and Ryan Skoog
Global nonprofits are notorious doers, always thinking, planning and taking action. In all of our intentionality for programs and justice endeavors, are we being equally intentional to pray? Peter Greer is back on the show, along with new friend Ryan Skoog, to share about the new book that they wrote (along with Cameron Doolittle) called Lead with Prayer. This is a conversation for everyone, because without God’s intervention, nothing would happen anyway. And here’s the secret that our guests share with us, “even better than answered prayer, is the very presence of God.” Let’s think, let’s do, but let’s also pray.
Pioneering Family Care in the Philippines with Chrina Henson
In honor of the World Without Orphans Global Forum and in honor of awesome work being done in the Philippines, we’ve got Chrina Cuna Henson joining the show. Chrina runs the Manila-based organization Generations-Home and talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about what it’s like to promote foster care and adoption in the Philippines. We discuss the reality of violence against children and the pervasive online sexual exploitation of children in the country and learn how Generations-Home is promoting the care and protection of children therein.
El Salvador, Localization, UNRWA and Bono [February 3+1]
In this 3+1 episode, we’re catching up on some global stories that you might have missed and have a recommendation of the pop variety. We’re continuing last month’s conversation on elections by looking at El Salvador, talking through localization efforts in global development, the scandal surrounding UNRWA-Hamas and then get Brandon’s take on Bono’s recent biography, Surrender.
Heal the Sick, Proclaim the Kingdom with Justin Narducci
What does it look like to meet the needs of very vulnerable people in the face of glaring global disparity? What does it look like to bring God’s Kingdom through improving access to healthcare in the Global South? These are the questions we’re looking at today as we dive into conversation with CEO of CURE International, Justin Narducci. Justin and his team CURE are distinctly rooted in Luke 9:2 where Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. For them that means running hospitals in eight countries, providing over 330,000 surgeries and sharing the gospel with 1.5 million people. We get to learn from their experience in this episode of the podcast.
Caring for Creation with Dr. Forrest Inslee
You cannot have a conversation around global issues without considering the state of the earth itself. We are talking today with educator, author and climate advocate Dr. Forrest Inslee to learn, “what on earth is happening with the earth?” Dr. Inslee brings a distinctively Christian viewpoint to the conversation as we consider the damage being done to the environment and how Christians that are engaging vulnerable communities around the world have a role to play in supporting not just people, but all of God’s creation.
Sudan, Elections, USAID and MEAL [January 3+1]
In our first ever 3+1 episode, we’re catching up on some global stories that you might have missed. We’re talking about the war going on in Sudan, elections throughout the world, USAID waste and then learn of a great recommendation from our guest on developing monitoring and evaluation.