The Current

Bearing Witness In Minneapolis: Clergy, Courage, And Neighbor Love

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372383/fan_mail/new] What does it take to resist injustice without losing our souls? We invited three friends—Jen Manleaf, Rev. Mindy Smith, and Lynn Price—who answered a clergy call to Minneapolis to share how they prepared, what they saw, and what comes next.  You’ll hear the anatomy of a strategic sit-in at Target, why corporate pressure matters, and how hyper-local organizing—signal chats, mutual aid, and neighbor care—forms a resilient net when systems fail. We dig into movement chaplaincy, de-escalation, and the spiritual work of refusing to dehumanize anyone, including ICE agents, while staying hard on the systems that cause harm. The march felt joyful and united, with music, hand warmers, and multifaith voices; the next day’s grief after Alex Pretti’s killing made clear this is a long road, not a one-off moment. We also bring it home. In Spokane, a clergy immigration table is connecting pastors and organizers, rallying support for Haitian neighbors, and turning prayer into action with training and secure sign-ups. In Seattle, we’re building safer systems—encrypted forms and vetted channels—to protect vulnerable data and coordinate real help. Along the way, we share evidence on why civil resistance works and why partnering with labor increases the odds of change. If you’re wondering how to support immigrants locally, organize a peaceful protest, or start a neighborhood safety net, this conversation offers steps you can use today. Lean in, share this with a friend, and tell us: what’s in your hand right now? Subscribe, leave a review, and join us as we build the muscles for sustained, neighbor-first resistance.

From segregation to solidarity: how young people unlearn hate with Stephen Hughes

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372383/fan_mail/new] The gates still close at 7 p.m. along Belfast’s longest segregation wall, but inside a small youth center, something braver is opening: kids learning to cross lines their grandparents feared. We sit down with Stephen Hughes—42 years in youth work, 13 in Lower Falls—to unpack how a simple, radical method turns inherited prejudice into shared purpose. Stephen paints the full picture: two Christian communities divided by politics, bound by grief, and weighed down by poverty that grows heavier the closer families live to the wall. His team’s answer is disarmingly human. Start with play, build trust, and let children make one friend across the divide. As they age, add depth: honest dialogue about identity, faith, and power; strength-based mentoring that treats all behavior as communication; and exposure to voices that rarely meet—faith leaders, police, ex-combatants, victims, and peacebuilders. Nothing is off the table, and dignity is non-negotiable. We follow real stories—from a first meeting that erupted in a fistfight to two former rivals now hosting sleepovers; from reactionary crisis work to a proactive strategy where teens plan cross-community hangouts and take civic ownership of their streets. They repaint hateful slogans, create photo exhibits that reframe the interface, and produce films that chart their journey from suspicion to solidarity. Along the way, churches model a new kind of leadership: humble, cooperative, and grounded in care rather than tribe. If you’re navigating polarization, propaganda, or rising far-right fear, this conversation offers a replicable path: safe spaces for hard truths, reflection that reshapes language and behavior, and steady mentorship that builds moral character. Share this with someone who needs hope, subscribe for more grounded peacemaking stories, and tell us: what’s one divide you’re ready to cross this week?

Beyond Division: Building Peace in a Fractured World with Jer Swigart and Osheta Moore

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372383/fan_mail/new] A conversation with peacemakers Jer Swigart and Osheta Moore reveals a profound alternative to our increasingly divided religious and political landscape. As founders of Global Immersion, they've dedicated their lives to training Christian leaders in the art of transformative peacemaking. Their journey began with a realization that the Christianity they inherited "promoted domination more than restoration." Through experiences in conflict zones and learning from marginalized communities, they discovered a Jesus who was "magnificently defiant against systems that dignified some while denigrating others" yet "indefatigably nonviolent." What makes their approach unique is how they combine big-picture vision with everyday practice. While Jer brings strategic thinking about global conflict, Oshita brings spiritual direction and embodied practices that help peacemakers sustain their work. Together they create transformative experiences that don't just inform but awaken participants to the question: "Who must we become?" Their flagship program takes Christian leaders on a six-month journey culminating in immersion trips to places like Belfast, Northern Ireland. There, participants learn directly from those who have navigated sectarian conflict—and surprisingly, find these experienced peacemakers expressing concern about America's growing divisions. The parallels are striking: in both contexts, groups "cloistered with people who thought just like them" and became convinced that "building enough power to crush the opposition" was necessary, all while claiming divine blessing. Against this mindset, Global Immersion promotes a vision of community that includes ideological "others," pointing to Jesus's own community of former enemies. Perhaps most compelling is their emphasis on "companioning" rather than converting. "It used to be that clergy made their living being certain," Swigart notes. Today's faith leaders must instead create "environments where people can be incomplete, imperfect, and in process." This conversation offers hope that even in our fractured world, another way is possible—one that builds bridges rather than walls, that restores rather than dominates, and that finds in faith not a weapon but a path toward healing.

Feasting on Peace: Refugees, Food, and Community Building with Ross Carper

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372383/fan_mail/new] What happens when refugees share their culinary heritage with a new community? The story of Feast World Kitchen reveals something extraordinary about the power of food to transform lives. Ross Carper didn't set out to launch a nonprofit restaurant. His journey began with a food truck side hustle and volunteer work helping refugee families navigate life in Spokane, Washington. When these worlds collided, he discovered how sharing meals created deep connections and support. That insight sparked a vision: a restaurant where refugee and immigrant chefs could earn income, build skills, and share their cultural heritage. Today, Feast World Kitchen hosts a different chef family each day, all from refugee or immigrant backgrounds. They prepare authentic dishes from Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Sudan, Burma, and dozens of other countries. For customers, it's a delicious culinary adventure. For the chefs, it's transformative – they might earn $2,000 in a single day, develop entrepreneurial skills, and forge meaningful connections in their new community. Beyond the restaurant, Feast operates a drop-in program helping newcomers navigate housing, healthcare, employment, and other essentials. Community health workers, many former refugees themselves, provide culturally sensitive support. The result is a comprehensive approach to refugee resettlement built around food and hospitality. In an era of increasing hostility toward immigrants, Feast demonstrates a radically different approach – what Carper calls being "pro-human." Their model replaces traditional charity dynamics with mutual hospitality, recognizing that refugees bring valuable skills, knowledge, and cultural gifts. Through something as simple as sharing food, they're building bridges in a divided society and showing what's possible when we welcome the stranger. Hungry for a different way of thinking about food, community, and immigration? This conversation will leave you inspired – and probably craving international cuisine.

Father Greg Boyle's Radical Vision of Human Goodness with Rev Megan Pardue

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372383/fan_mail/new] Father Greg Boyle's decades long ministry in the gang-riddled neighborhoods of Los Angeles stands as one of the most powerful examples of faith in action today. As Pastor Chris and Pastor Megan unpack Boyle's latest book "Cherished Belonging," they explore how this Jesuit priest's radical vision has transformed thousands of lives through Homeboy Industries, now the world's largest gang rehabilitation program. The conversation delves into Boyle's two guiding principles: "We are all inherently good, no exceptions" and "We belong to each other, no exceptions." These aren't mere platitudes but the foundation of a ministry that has seen former enemies from rival gangs working side by side. Through what Boyle calls "therapeutic mysticism," gang members experience genuine belonging and form healthy attachments, often for the first time in their lives. What makes this episode particularly compelling is how Chris and Megan wrestle honestly with challenging aspects of Boyle's theology while still being deeply moved by his witness. They discuss his provocative framing of sin and mental illness, his understanding of systemic injustice, and how his approach challenges conventional religious thinking about human nature. The conversation weaves between theological reflection and practical ministry implications, offering insights for anyone working with marginalized communities. One of the most powerful stories shared describes a Homeboy manager confronting a gun-wielding former employee, willing to sacrifice his life rather than perpetuate violence. Years later, when that same person returned seeking reconciliation, he was welcomed home with open arms – a profound example of boundaries maintained without demonization, accountability paired with unconditional love. Whether you're familiar with Father Boyle's work or encountering it for the first time, this conversation will challenge you to see others with new eyes. As Megan notes, Boyle's ministry offers a compelling answer to those wondering if anyone is still following Jesus in meaningful ways. Listen in, and then grab one of Boyle's books to continue the journey toward seeing the divine in everyone you encounter.