Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

[Revisiting] Transforming Post-Resurrection Encounters with Jesus

Christ is risen! Happy Easter Monday, friends. Once again, Ruth invites us to celebrate the Risen Jesus through five powerful post-resurrection encounters. These stories have been shared before, yet they continue to speak. As you listen, step into the story—imagine the wonder, the questions, the joy. May they draw you into His presence today.

S26 Ep 7 | Going Through: Tarrying for God’s Strength in Times of Trouble

In the final episode of season 26, we are sharing a poignant discussion with Ruth and  TC team member, Tina Harris. Tina shares her experience of tarrying as a communal and immersive practice deeply rooted in music, openness, and collective healing. Ruth and Tina explore various themes, including the confrontation of disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, and deconstruction within the tarrying process, and the transformative power of redemptive suffering. They also touch on the importance of lament in spiritual practice and the significance of embracing vulnerability, especially during Holy Week. At the end of this episode we encourage you to reflect deeply and engage fully in the practice of tarrying, to sit with your suffering in the presence of Jesus.

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

Tina Harris (TC15) is ordained in the United Methodist Church and holds a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology. She has served the church in a variety of roles, including Lead Pastor of Grand Avenue Temple UMC and Director of Mission, Service and Justice Ministries in the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. Tina is passionate about community engagement and has served and/or actively supported several civic organizations and ministries. As an attorney and diversity leader, a common thread in her work is to gather individuals into communities, challenge comfort zones and invite those whom society has overlooked to take their place at the table.

 

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

Strength to Love by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

The Way of the Cross from Lent- Music in Solitude

Moan (Matthew 2:18) by Julian Davis Reed

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 6 |Desperate for God to Intervene: The Ongoing Tarry

S26 Ep 6 |Desperate for God to Intervene: The Ongoing Tarry

In this episode, Ruth engages in a profound conversation with Joy and David Bailey. Together, they delve into the themes from Dr. Selena Stone's book 'Tarry Awhile,' focusing on chapter six about healing. Joy and David share their extensive journey of dealing with Joy's chronic health issues, exploring how it has shaped both their faith and community life. They discuss the complexities of suffering, the importance of community support, and how leaning into God's presence has been vital in their ongoing struggle. 

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

As a photographer and writer, Joy Guion Bailey (TC15) walks the tension between the hopeful, faithful now and the not yet. Her desire is that the spaces she curates in her life and work invite willing participants to their place at the communion table through pieces that encourage the viewer to stay, listen, and engage deeply with their own story and the narratives playing out around them. A practicing professional artist for 15 years, Joy resides in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, David Bailey. 

 

David Bailey (TC15) is a public theologian, culture maker, and catalyst focused on building reconciling communities. David is the founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon, a spiritual formation ministry that equips the American Church to actively and creatively pursue racial healing in their communities. He is the co-author of the study series, A People, A Place, and A Just Society, and the executive producer of the documentary 11 am: Hope for America's Most Segregated Hour and the Urban Doxology Project. David is rooted at East End Covenant Fellowship, serving on the preaching team, and his greatest honor is to be married to his wonderful wife, Joy.

 

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

One is Theology of the Womb by Christy Bauman

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Made for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Besides Still Waters by Julian Davis Reed

Surely Goodness and Mercy by Julian Davis Reed

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 5 | Quiet: Stewarding the Tarrying Moment in Worship

This week, Ruth welcomes artist and pastor Delwin Eiland to discuss the spiritual practice of tarrying. Delwin shares his experience as a worship leader, emphasizing the importance of silence and restraint in spiritual life. The episode delves into how communal tarrying can create space for deeper connection with God and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding these moments. Ruth and Delwin also discuss how silence can act as a form of resistance and sovereignty over one’s inner life. The episode concludes with a tarrying moment held by one of Delwin’s songs, titled 'Wait for You.’

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

Delwin Eiland (TC19) is an artist, pastor, & leader who exists to create trustworthy connections, God-centered affirmation, empathetic challenge, and steady, vulnerable leadership. He sees his work as a means to the end of building bridges and cultivating lasting connections. With over 25 years as a professional musician, Delwin brings experience and leadership in church environments and venues ranging from 30 to 30,000. He is a proven strategic & creative collaborator with work including Bethany Christian Services, the FILO Conference, and the Global Leadership Summit. Delwin currently serves as the worship pastor for Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, as well as the worship leader for The Transforming Center. He and his wife, Ashlee, have three children.

 

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture by Kevin Quashie

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Yesterday, Today, Forever from Music in Solitude

Wait For You by Delwin Eiland

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 4 | Tarrying with the Spirit of Justice: Orienting Ourselves Towards Ultimate Reality

Ruth is joined this week by Rasool Berry, teaching pastor and director of partnerships and content development at Our Daily Bread Ministries. They continue our conversations about tarrying, this time focusing on justice and the transformative nature of tarrying. Rasool shares his journey from a non-church upbringing to embracing faith, how tarrying helps him orient himself to God’s reality, and highlights the deep spiritual lessons learned through practices of waiting and quiet. The conversation underscores the importance of embodying the spirit of justice and the need for contemplative action in today's disorienting world.

 

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

Rasool Berry (TC19) serves as Teaching Pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York, and is Director of Partnerships & Content Development at Our Daily Bread Ministries. He is the host of the Where Ya From? podcast, is featured in the award winning, Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom documentary directed by Ya’Ke Smith. He is the general editor of the book and video series called, The Whole Man which focuses on spiritual development for African American men. Rasool graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies and Sociology. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Tamica, and their daughter.

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

The Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby

The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture by Kevin Quashie

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded from Lent- Music in Solitude

In the House of the Lord My Whole Life Long by Julian Davis Reid

 

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

 

Alumni: The Alumni Membership Community is here! For Transforming Community Alumni who are still cultivating rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership, you have the opportunity to stay on the journey with TC alums through a membership community! This exclusive membership is a safe place to be honest about the challenges of spiritual leadership, to remember the teachings and practices that open us up to God, and to be supported by an ongoing community that sustains us in the hope and the mystery of God's transforming work in the world — starting with us! Membership window is open March 12-31, 2025. Join today!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 3 | Active Tarrying: Finding Freedom to Move with God's Spirit

This week, Ruth and guest Reverend Dr. Phaedra Blocker are exploring chapter 3, “Movement,” of Selina Stone’s book Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith. The two delve into the rich tradition of waiting on the Holy Spirit as taught in Black spirituality and its relevance for people of faith. They explore the significance of being aware of our contribution to others' sense of belonging, the challenges of socioeconomic and physical mobility for Black communities, and the biblical narrative of Hagar as a lens for understanding agency and divine justice. The episode concludes with practical advice on active tarrying as self-examination and readiness to act on divine guidance.

 

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker (TC8) is a preacher, educator, and consultant dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations (particularly clergy and congregations) to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of shalom in the world. She is the Founder and President of the Center for Clergy & Congregational Wellness, a nonprofit organization that empowers ministry leaders to facilitate health and wholeness in themselves, their ministry contexts, and their adjacent communities. In addition, she serves as Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. She is also a visiting professor at Northern Theological Seminary. Her most recent professional affiliations have included serving on the boards of the Transforming Center, Grace & Race Ministries, Inc., and Black Faith Rising.

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Mercy We Need by Julian Davis Reid

 

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

 

Alumni: the Alumni Membership Community is here! For Transforming Community Alumni who are still cultivating rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership, you have the opportunity to stay on the journey with TC alums through a membership community! This exclusive membership is a safe place to be honest about the challenges of spiritual leadership, to remember the teachings and practices that open us up to God, and to be supported by an ongoing community that sustains us in the hope and the mystery of God's transforming work in the world — starting with us! Membership window is open March 12-28, 2025. Join today!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 2 | Minding the Gap: Moving Beyond Dualism to Oneness

In this episode, Ruth and special guest Reverend Dr. Prince Rivers discuss the second chapter of Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile. Prince shares personal stories from his life and ministry. He explores his experience of “two-ness” as a child, straddling two different worlds and identities. Prince also sheds light on the profound impact of communal worship, the importance of acknowledging embodied experiences in faith, and how these practices serve as a source of dignity and healing for marginalized communities. The conversation highlights the synergy between pastor, musicians, and congregation in creating transformative worship experiences, emphasizing the importance of being attuned to the Spirit as a part of the practice of tarrying. 

 

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

Reverend Prince Raney Rivers (TC8) is the Senior Pastor of Union Baptist Church in Durham, NC. Prior to this appointment, he served for twelve years as Senior Pastor of United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Rev. Rivers received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Morehouse College and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School. He has earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from North Carolina A&T University. He also completed the Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute and was a fellow of the Pastor-Theologian Program at Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Rivers and his wife, Dr. Monica Corbitt Rivers, have two wonderful children.

 

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

I Fear No Evil by Julian Davis Reid

 

Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!

 

Alumni: the Alumni Membership Community is here! For Transforming Community Alumni who are still cultivating rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership, you have the opportunity to stay on the journey with TC alums through a membership community! This exclusive membership is a safe place to be honest about the challenges of spiritual leadership, to remember the teachings and practices that open us up to God, and to be supported by an ongoing community that sustains us in the hope and the mystery of God's transforming work in the world — starting with us! Membership window is open March 12-28, 2025. Join today!

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S26 Ep 1 | Tarrying For the Spirit: Waiting to Receive What We Need From God

We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone’s book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present. 

 

In this inaugural episode of season 26, Ruth sits down with Dr. Selina Stone, herself. Dr. Stone, a lecturer in theology and ethics at the University of Edinburgh, shares her journey and the inspiration behind her book. They discuss the profound concept of 'tarrying' as a spiritual practice, its roots in Black Pentecostal traditions, and its significance in contemporary faith practices. Dr. Stone highlights the intersection of spirituality and social justice, the role of women in leading spiritual spaces, and the transformative power of waiting on the Holy Spirit. We conclude with a guided 'tarrying moment' accompanied by the music of Julian Davis Reed, emphasizing reverent waiting in the presence of God during the Lenten season.

Over on Patreon this week Ruth and Selina discuss self-examination within the context of tarrying and how we can view tarrying as both a communal and a solitary practice. Become a $10/month patron to receive all the bonus episodes this season. 

 

Dr. Selina Stone is a lecturer in theology and ethics in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, UK. She is a theologian whose work is focused on the questions of justice, power, and healing within the church and in our shared life nationally and globally. Prior to her work at Edinburgh, Dr. Stone was based at Durham University and in the theological education sector. She is a trained community organiser, a preacher, and the author of several books, the latest of which, A Heavy Yoke: Theology, Power and Abuse in the Church, will be published in summer 2025 by SCM Press. She is the host of the Sunday School for Misfits podcast.

 

Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone

Azusa Reimagined: A Radical Vision of Religious and Democratic Belonging by Keri Day

 

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Returning from Lent- Music in Solitude

They Comfort Me from Beside Still Waters by Julian Davis Reid

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S25 Ep 4 | Advent Week 4: An Invitation to Find God in Unexpected Places

In this final episode of the season, we are joined by none other than the author of 'Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent’ herself, Enuma Okoro!! Enuma joins Charity, Colleen, and Jeff to share the inspirations behind her book, personal insights on faith, the significance of untold stories in the Bible, and the challenges of maintaining faith. Continuing with our Advent story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, they discuss the challenges and blessings of waiting on God's “inconvenient timing.” The four also reflect on God's presence in everyday life and the importance of recognizing divine manifestations in people and situations we least expect.

 

This season, as Advent falls on the heels of a contentious election season here in America and amidst the reality of war and violence around the world, we here at the Transforming Center wanted to approach the Advent podcast season with the awareness that many people are deeply in need of space and hope right now. TC staff member Charity McClure and ministry partners Jeff James and Colleen Powell will be walking listeners through Advent with the intention of broadening and deepening the practice and experience of silence as a way to hold that space. Using Enuma Okoro’s book 'Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent, which highlights the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah, for inspiration and wisdom, Charity and Jeff will be joined by guests as they explore themes of lament, barrenness, waiting, dependence on God, community, friendship, and hope.

 

Enuma Okoro is a Nigerian-American author, writer, lecturer, curator, and arts and culture critic. Her globally read column, “The Art of Life,” reflects her broader research and writing interests: how the intersection of art, philosophy, spirituality, ecology and culture can speak to the human condition and interrogate how we live with ourselves and one another, and how we relate to the more-than-human. She has contributed to a number of different publications and is the author of Reluctant Pilgrim and Silence and other Surprising Invitations of Advent. You can find more from her over on her substack A Little Heart to Heart, Letters about life and living, art and spirit, and staying curious and courageous.

Mentioned in this episode:

Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent by Enuma Okoro (You can also purchase this resource through The Upper Room!)

Enuma’s Substack A Little Heart to Heart

Poem reference:  Gerard Manley Hopkins’ Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

 

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Journey from Advent Music in Solitude

Help us expand our online and digital presence so that we can make teaching, practices and experiences more accessible for you as you continue to seek God in your life and leadership! To contribute towards our year end fundraising efforts, you can GIVE HERE.

 

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes that take the conversation deeper with a practice or continued dialogue.  Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links

S25 Ep 3 | Advent Week 3: An Invitation to the Wilderness

Charity, Jeff, and Colleen are joined this week by the Transforming Center’s ambassador and resident theologian, David Hughes. David brings a depth of wisdom and experience to this conversation. The four continue to explore the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, exploring the importance of finding safe spiritual companionship, the interplay between wilderness and community in spiritual growth, and the promises of hope and joy during Advent. They emphasize the need for vulnerability, acceptance, and spiritual community, whether within or beyond traditional church settings, to navigate transformative experiences.

 

This season, as Advent falls on the heels of a contentious election season here in America and amidst the reality of war and violence around the world, we here at the Transforming Center wanted to approach the Advent podcast season with the awareness that many people are deeply in need of space and hope right now. TC staff member Charity McClure and ministry partners Jeff James and Colleen Powell will be walking listeners through Advent with the intention of broadening and deepening the practice and experience of silence as a way to hold that space. Using Enuma Okoro’s book 'Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent, which highlights the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah, for inspiration and wisdom, Charity and Jeff will be joined by guests as they explore themes of lament, barrenness, waiting, dependence on God, community, friendship, and hope.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent by Enuma Okoro (You can also purchase this resource through The Upper Room!)

Howard Thurman’s prayer “Lord, Open Unto Me”

 

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

O Come O Come Emmanuel from Advent Music in Solitude

Help us expand our online and digital presence so that we can make teaching, practices and experiences more accessible for you as you continue to seek God in your life and leadership! To contribute towards our year end fundraising efforts, you can GIVE HERE.

 

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes that take the conversation deeper with a practice or continued dialogue.  Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  

 

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

 

*this post contains affiliate links