Future Christian

In this special episode, Martha Tatarnic interviews co-host Loren Richmond Jr. about his new book, The Church as Community Hub: Sharing Spaces to Help Neighborhoods Thrive.

Loren shares what inspired the book—including a visit to a small Canadian church serving migrant farm workers—and how years of conversations on Future Christian helped shape his thinking. At the heart of the...

What happens when the wounds we've experienced begin to define who we are?

Dr. Derwin Gray—former NFL player, founding pastor of Transformation Church, and author of It’s Time to Heal—joins Loren to talk about trauma, healing, identity, and the transforming power of the gospel. Drawing from his own experiences of childhood trauma, Gray describes how he learned to identify...

What happens when the church’s desire for growth becomes a form of idolatry?

Andrew Root returns to Future Christian to discuss his new book, Baal and the Gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry. Root argues that churches across the theological spectrum have become captured by a logic of escalation: more people, more resources, more innovation, more relevance, more affirma...

What if being told “you are enough” isn’t actually good news?

David Zahl, founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries and author of The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World, joins Loren for an in-person conversation about grace, exhaustion, guilt, and the pressures shaping modern life. Zahl argues that beneath our culture’s constant messages of s...

What if Christians were known more for what they're for than what they're against?

Dave Runyon, executive director of City Unite and co-author of The Art of Neighboring, joins Loren to talk about what it means for Christians and churches to pursue the good of their communities in an increasingly polarized culture. Drawing from years of bringing faith, government, and business leaders toget...

Can Mainline Christianity find its future?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with United Methodist scholar Lovett Weems to discuss his new book, An Aura of Hope: United Methodism's Next Chapter in the United States. While the conversation begins with the United Methodist Church's recent disaffiliation, it quickly broadens into a thoughtful exploration of the challenges facing Mainl...

What if the sermon wasn't something delivered to the congregation—but something created with the congregation?

In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with the Rev. Peter Levenstrong, associate rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and author of Collaborative Sermons. Peter shares how his congregation developed "Living Story Sermons," an interactive, tactile...

What does faithful Christian engagement in politics actually look like?

In this episode, Loren talks with Justin Giboney, co-founder and president of the AND Campaign, to discuss his book Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around. Drawing lessons from the Black Church during the Civil Rights Movement, Giboney argues that Christians today have much to learn about integrity, public witness, moral ima...

Why do so many church renewal efforts fall short?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Kris Vos and Larry Doornbos of the Center for Church Renewal about what they've learned from working with more than 120 congregations across North America. Rather than offering quick fixes or flashy programs, they make the case that genuine renewal begins with listening, discipleship, and a ren...

Every church tells a story. The question is: Is it the right one?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with sociologist Joel Thiessen about The Stories Congregations Tell, a research project exploring why some churches flourish through seasons of transition while others struggle. Drawing on case studies from congregations across Canada, Thiessen argues that the stories churches tell a...

Why do church search committees so often struggle to find the right pastor?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with novelist Michelle Huneven about her acclaimed novel Search, a witty and surprisingly insightful look at the dynamics of a church pastoral search committee. Although fictional, the novel captures many of the real-world challenges congregations face as they discern leadership, navigate competing priorities, and w...

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life—and what role should the church play in helping people navigate it?

In this episode, Loren welcomes theologian, pastor, and AI thought leader Christopher Benek for a conversation about artificial intelligence, spiritual formation, ethics, and the future of the church. Drawing on more than a decade of work at the intersection of faith and technology, Benek...

What does it mean to stay at the table when disagreement, division, and distrust seem to be everywhere?

In this episode, talks with Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), about her book Staying at the Table: Being the Church We Say We Are. Drawing on her experience as a denominational leader, pastor, and former corporate executive, Hord Owens reflects on the spiritual pr...

Why did religion decline in America—and was it really driven by hostility toward faith?

In this episode, Loren talks with sociologist Christian Smith about his book Why Religion Went Obsolete and the cultural, technological, and institutional changes that reshaped American religion over the last several decades. Smith, well known for coining the term “moralistic therapeutic deism,” argues that religion did not sim...

What happens when artificial intelligence goes to church?

In this episode, Loren talks with pastor, missiologist, and researcher Todd Korpi about his book AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence and the opportunities—and dangers—AI presents for faith communities.

Drawing from missiology, theology, and digital ministry research, Todd argues that AI is not merely a technical issue but a pastoral and...

What if church buildings are far more valuable to communities than most people realize?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Bob Jaeger, co-founder and president of Partners for Sacred Places, about the future of church buildings, the hidden economic impact of congregations, and why sacred spaces still matter in an era of church decline.

Drawing from decades of work helping congregations preserve and reimagine their build...

What if the story we’ve been told about Anne Boleyn is missing the most important part?

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Martha Tatarnic—priest, author, and co-host of the podcast—about her new book Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History and the overlooked role Anne played in shaping the English Reformation.

Drawing from historical research and theological re...

What happens when a pastor realizes they’re going through the motions—but not actually experiencing God?

In this episode, Loren talks with Rev. Dr. Katherine Willis Pershey about faith, formation, and the unexpected influence of Eugene Peterson on her life and ministry. Drawing from her own journey across multiple Christian traditions, Katherine reflects on the tension between justice, belief, and personal encounter wit...

What if the early church wasn’t built primarily on teaching ideas—but on forming people together in the way of Jesus?

In this episode, Martha Tatarnic talks with Dr. John Lewis about his book Discernment in the Early Church and Today and what we’ve misunderstood about the Apostle Paul. Drawing from deep study of Paul’s writings and decades of practical ministry, Lewis challenges the tendency to treat Paul as...