Ahead of an online event on the 9th August Abi speaks to Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana about racial justice in the UK.

We also discuss the intersection with climate justice, mental health and how the UK church can respond and recover.

Abi has been out and about again, visiting the wonderful people at Leeds Craftivists to hear about their collaborative and crafty campaigns. Including campaigns around food waste, the cost of living crisis and local transport.

If you want to know more about the principles behind craftivism, we have two episodes here and here with Sarah Corbett, author and founder of the Craftivist Collective. Or you can buy her books here.

Abi met Emma Temple and Anna Bland, who co-founded the Leeds Craftivists. I was also able to talk to Husain Alogaily, who co-founded Compost It, a fantastic organisation collecting food waste from households and delivering it to local growers who then turn it into compost.

The Leeds Craftivist group is open to anyone who loves to craft for change.

To donate to The Praxis Centre please visit our website (scroll right to the bottom) or go to PayPal here.

A great interview with the Rev Dr Ash Barker today! For over 30 years Ash has lived on the front line of urban poverty with his family, and Ash is the founder of Seedbeds, which is all about growing the capacities of urban leaders where they live. I went down to Birmingham to meet Ash at his community church building and there are so many riches to mine from him and we’ll also hear more from James Crystal, who we heard from in our Christmas episode about his experience on the Change Makers Programme, which Ash Barker set up. 

Find out more about Generosity Dinners here.

Last Christmas both Levi and Paul were in prison, this year they are free from addiction and rebuilding their lives and relationships. A real story of hope.

For support around addiction please visit:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/addiction-and-dependency

For more information about The Oaks, where Paul and Levi live, please visit.

themec.org.uk/the-mec-in-a-nutshell/theoaks/

This episode contains a description of a violent attack.

For the first in our advent series we hear an incredible story of hope from Sandra who suffered a violent attack.

"Your circumstances might be completely unique: but whatever your circumstances, God is there, and he never leaves, and he has a way through."

If you need support around any of the issues raised in this podcast please visit:

For support around mental health issues - mind.org.uk

This is not a story about domestic violence, but may be a trigger for someone to get help who is experiencing domestic violence. Please visit https://www.refuge.org.uk or call 0808 2000 247

"Landlord" is a dirty word, but Gavin Mullaley is putting people first in an industry with a bad reputation. He shares his unlikely inspirations, and why we don't need as much money as we think we do!

Plus find out more about the Praxis Labs from the wonderful Hannah Ling, who took part in the last course and now runs the social media for The Hopeful Activists' Podcast.

www.cornerstonepartnership.co.uk

https://praxiscentre.org/labs/

LICC have great resources to support and inspire you in your faith at work:

https://www.licc.org.uk/about/work/

Jane Sullivan from Wedding Angels shares how her own difficult upbringing fuelled her passion to help others through a sustainable business.

How to stop, let others lead, and embrace the mess (and transformation!) that results, with CEO of the award-winning youth organisation PrimeTime Bradford.

primetimebradford.com

primetimeyln.com

Comedian and preacher Andy Kind shares his wisdom on finding your calling.

http://www.andykind.co.uk

A challenge to think about our attitude to others and how to be builders of reconciliation today from Luke and Victoria, Reconciliation Programme Co-ordinators for The Archbishop of Canterbury. Brexit or no Brexit, how can we listen and truly hear each other's stories and bring healing and hope?

Abi goes to a beautiful part of North Yorkshire to meet Alex Evans to talk all things Brexit! How can we move beyond the divisions in society in a new and creative way as people of faith. What is our responsibility in the midst of all the anger and division? Alex brings depth and wisdom to the debate.

www.collectivepsychology.org

Twitter: @alexevansuk

The first episode of a new series (we will return to next month), on business as a force for good.

Abi speaks to Tom Partridge from Holos Kombucha about building a business that has a lasting positive impact.

Twitter @holoskombucha

Crowdfunder: seedrs.com/holoskombucha (Capital at Risk)

https://holoskombucha.com

Academic and excellent communicator Elaine Storkey shares some of the wisdom she has gained throughout her life, including in her work with Tearfund. Her theological insights into God's redemptive plan for us, and how we can live in that power are deep, yet practical.

www.elainestorkey.com

Elaine's compelling book "Scars Across Humanity" can be bought here:

https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/scars-across-humanity-4435477.html

A special episode about faith and mental health. Please be aware that this episode includes reference to sexual assault, suicide and self-harm. 

Today we hear from three brilliant contributors. 

Aaron Shah from Worship on the Streets shares his personal mental health journey.  His book is called Being Still, A Quiet Revolution and you can get a copy here, or by signing up at his Patreon. You can hear more from him on this previous episode.

Bryn Abbott works for Mercy UK and talks to us about The Big Christian Mental Health Campaign. Do look at their website for more details on The Freedom Course.

James Crystal is a mentor to young men coming out of prison with the brilliant organisation In2Out. He is also a speaker and he shares his story of recovery from addiction and mental health struggles.

For other support with your mental health visit the NHS here if you are in the UK. You can also get support from The Samaritans. 

In the second instalment of the interview with Lara and Rachel we hear how they saw God's hand through their incredibly difficult journey getting Snowdrop off the ground.

https://snowdropproject.co.uk

Instagram: snowdropproject

Twitter: @SnowdropProject

Facebook: @snowdropproject

To donate: https://snowdropproject.co.uk/donate/ 

The incredible journey of The Snowdrop Project told by founder Lara and Rachel, who was also there from the beginning. The pain and burnout they saw is an experience shared by many activists - their story brings incredible lessons on how to survive and thrive when setting up a new project.

https://snowdropproject.co.uk

Instagram: snowdropproject

Twitter: @SnowdropProject

Facebook: @snowdropproject

To donate: https://snowdropproject.co.uk/donate/ 

Rose Hudson-Wilkin has been unafraid to go where God called her, even when women weren't allowed to be ordained. She will become Bishop of Dover in November and is currently Chaplain to the Speaker to the House of Commons, Chaplain to the Queen and Priest-in-Charge of St Mary-at-Hill, City of London.

Rose shares her wisdom on being a faithful disciple, and being a faithful presence wherever you are.

On the edge of burnout Tony Horsfall went on a silent retreat and God dealt with him a new way. Tony addresses the fear of intimacy with God that we can face, and how to build stillness, silence and solitude into our lives to feed our souls.

More information on Tony's work at www.charistraining.co.uk

Shane Claiborne talks justice and joy with Abi in Manchester as part of his visit with the Red Letter Christians. George Bush and Trump get a mention, but it's the "beautiful teaching from Jesus" that steals the show.

@shaneclaiborne

@RedLetters_UK

Revd Dr Sam Wells brings a dynamic approach to activism in this week's interview. Using Jesus' life as a model for our approach. Jesus spent 1 week in Jerusalem working for us, 3 years in Galilee working with us, and then 30 years in Nazareth being with us. An interview that may significantly alter your approach to change.

Sam Wells is Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields and also Visiting Professor of Christian Ethics at King’s College, London. He has published 30 books including The Nazareth Manifesto (which explores these ideas further).

https://www.shopatstmartins.co.uk/onlineshop/cat_1475620-Books.html 

https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

A hard hitting interview with a Zimbabwean activist this week, we aren't using her name for her safety. She was interviewed by Rich by computer link, and leaves Abi speechless.

David Hughes isn't your traditional climate change activist; his unusual journey brings into the open the common disconnect between our faith and action - and how there is always hope.

https://www.arocha.org.uk

https://www.climatestewards.org

“What does it mean to be a disciple if the normal way of living is trashing what Jesus has made?”

We are looking forward to the reactions to this week’s interview. Ruth Jarman on obedience and breaking the law in the face of the climate crisis.

Facebook @christianclimateaction @OperationNoah @ChristianEcologyLink

Twitter @Cclimateaction @OperationNoah @GreenChristian_ @ExtinctionR

Addicted to alcohol but in denial Jenny had an invitation to a BBQ at a new church plant on her estate. She met Jesus and her life has been transformed. Jenny is now a leader at a Celebrate Recovery group in Bolton, bringing the hope of lasting change to the people she meets.

https://www.celebraterecovery.com

twitter @oldhamschurch

Pete Portal was born in the UK but has lived in Cape Town, South Africa for the last 15 years.

We all have feelings of failure and disappointment, in this conversation we learn to reframe our view of success within Jesus' framework.

Pete shares about the continuing impact of Apartheid on his community and how the Tree of Life Community are seeking to be a sign that another reality is possible. This includes hosting a programme for young men coming out of addiction and gang activity and also a home for abused women and children. Tree of Life is a 24/7 prayer community.

You can buy Pete's book here and find out more about it here.

Henri Nouwen's book In the Name of Jesus can be bought here.

Did you know that fridges have feelings? Lynda uses art to tackle the waste problem in Old Trafford. She shares about how she combines her love of alleyways, shopping trolleys, with her love of community, family and Jesus!

https://lyndasterling.co.uk

Openshaw is one of the most deprived areas of the country, but Nicci describes it as paradise. Lizzie and Nicci share their stories of looking for hope and tackling loneliness in one of Manchester's forgotten places.

The Earthbound Report blog (formerly Make Wealth History) has won many awards for it's creator Jeremy Williams. He talks to Rich about how his ideas make people bristle, and reaching the point where you have to stand up for change.

Contemporary Clowns Kate Mounce and Eleanor Young make Abi laugh in this week’s episode as they share their wisdom on “the teenage sex talk” and laughter as a form of activism. 

https://www.besideourselvescollective.com

Athena Stevens tells Abi about creating work that helps people to process trauma, her political work and the practical support she gives to activists so they can thrive. Her words on grace, forgiveness and equality propel us to work for a better world by God's grace.

The amazing Kate Monkhouse (executive officer at Creators of Peace) shares her wisdom on activism and spirituality. Her work of radical peace building with women has taken her around the world, including to Syria, Australia, Nepal and Burundi.

Hold on to your hats as Natalie Collins talks about effecting change in the church and obedience to God. She says "we don't need too many of me", but we disagree!

Also Abi and Rich have a slightly awkward conversation involving periods.

nataliecollins.info

praxiscentre.org

twitter @hopefulactivism

facebook @hopefulactivists

Music used with permission, thank you Dr J and Mira.

https://drjpresents.bandcamp.com/

Jack Wakefield shares his passion for and the theology behind his action on climate care. And Abi gets stressed out by some orange peel.

Linda Maslen radiates hope in her stories of healing and new life. She founded Saturday Gathering in Halifax, a church that welcomes people living on the margins and sees amazing transformation in people's lives.

Linda was licenced this week as leader of a new church in central Bradford under the Church of English.

Facebook @fountainsbradford

Twitter @fountainschurch

For our first episode we speak to Paul Blakey about seeing dramatic change in Halifax's night life, once described as the Wild West of Yorkshire.

Abi and Rich get together to discuss deep interviews with artist Barbara Keal and liturgist and author Cole Arthur Riley. They delve into embodied and contemplative activism and creative responses to injustice and trauma.

We hear all about the Coat of Hopes - there is a 10 minute video here telling you more about the project.

Cole Arthur Riley also shares about her book This Here Flesh and her digital project Black Liturgies.

Other helpful resources:

Nine Fold Path - a resource to help you work through Jesus' Beatitudes.

Our episode on Peacemakers seems particularly apt at the moment.

What if 9 sayings from Jesus could change the way we see and act in the world? The Nine Beats Collective have been creating music based on The Beatitudes and Abi went to meet some of the musicians ahead of an evening of their music in Leeds. Abi spoke to Rob Tayler, Heatherlyn and also Steve Bassett doing a visit to the wonderful Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

We also hear from Katie Dowds, senior pastor at Lighthouse Church in Leeds and also teaches at the Leeds School of Theology. Katie memorised the 9 beatitudes and tells us about the impact on her life. 

Music used by permission of the artists, with our grateful thanks

Heatherlyn’s new album Heatherlyn's Musical Apothecary is available now!

If you’re listening to this on release day, Friday the 29th August, you still have time to catch the final date of the current tour, which is at the Oasis Centre in London, 1 Kennington Road, SE17QP at 7pm. More details at 9beats.org

MUSIC:

RIVER, live recording at Acoustic Nights at The Barn at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, from the album Dance of the Deep from Nine Beats Collective.

WILD WORLD (Euro Remix), Nine Beats Collective, Performed by Barry Taylor, Music & lyrics: Barry Taylor

IN RECOVERY Performed by Heatherlyn Music: Tony Bean Lyrics: Tony Bean/Heatherlyn

WHAT CAN LOVE CREATE? Performed by Heatherlyn Music: Heatherlyn Lyrics: Steve Bassett

WILD WORLD (Euro Remix), Nine Beats Collective, Performed by Barry Taylor, Music &

Huge congratulations to Ben Lindsay, founder and CEO of Power the Fight and all the staff for their award of charity of the year at the Charity Times Awards 2023. And Ben also won Social Media Leader of the Year!

We thought a great way to celebrate their win would be to remind you of this inspiring interview with Ben from 2021.

Power the Fight is an incredible charity tackling violence affecting young people. One example of how they do that is running a therapeutic support programme which is reducing school exclusions in London. In this interview Ben shares his spiritual journey with Abi, we talk about how and why he founded Power the Fight, including the importance of prayer and lament in that journey. We also touch on his incredible book We Need To Talk About Race. There is another episode with Ben that covers more of the topics raised in the book in our archive here.

Donate to Power the Fight here!

We are revisiting an archive episode this week, whilst Abi puts together some exciting new episodes over the next few weeks!

In this episode Abi and Sarah Small, from Proximity Network and the Message Trust dive into the controversial area of where evangelism and social action meet.

With contributions from Krish Kandiah, Deirdre Brower Latz from Nazarene Theological College, Simon Guillebaud from Great Lakes Outreach, Joel Edwards, Richard Reddie from CTBI, Amy and Ben Woodfield from The Antioch Network and Chris Lane from St Mellitus College and Langworthy Community Church.

We'd love to hear what you think. Contact abi@praxiscentre.org

John White from Hazelnut Farm in Bristol tells Abi about his own climate conversion, and his church which is connecting people with both creation and our creator. He also has some great challenges around Net Zero and growing vegetables. Plus the Golden Turnip challenge!

Book recommendation: What I Stand for is What I Stand On by Wendell Berry.

Twitter: @hazelnutfarmcom

Facebook: Hazelnut Community Farm

Instagram: hazelnutcommunityfarm

Youtube: @HazelnutCommunity

Vanessa Nakate is a renowned Ugandan climate activist, Abi talks to her about her faith , feminism, her brilliant book, A Bigger Picture and the importance of listening to activists from countries in Africa. Of course this makes the infamous incident where Vanessa was cropped from a photograph of activists at Davos all the more painful.

Hear more about the Vash Green Schools project installations here.

Pastor Dewey Williams is a man who has endured a lot of grief, but who has found great joy in Jesus, and through his encounters with men and women on death row in the American justice system. An incredibly joy filled man and a challenging interview.

CW: We hear about the death of Deweys father, which happened in tragic circumstances as Dewey’s sister was experiencing paranoia and schizophrenia. We also talk about the death of Dewey’s daughter, Charity, of health complications.

More info on Dewey's book and where to buy it here.

The joy filled episode with Lynda Sterling is here: Look Again Artist

We'd love to hear how you are finding joy in your activism too at the moment!

Social Media Links:

@DexterityBooks (FB, IG, TW)

@Deweymtm (IG)

@DeweyWill (TW) 

A super short episode to draw our attention to the new resource from Jubilee+ called Voting Like Jesus. Natalie Williams calls on Christians to engage with politics, to pray and to look honestly at our own hearts, as we face a general election.

Mekdes Haddis is with Abi to speak about mission trips, charity and hospitality. Mekdes was born and lived in Ethiopia until she went to college in the US and her book called A Just Mission: Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality is a challenging read for anyone who has been involved with missions work, or been on the receiving end.

Her book is called A Just Mission: Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality

The documentary Stop Filming Us, can be found on Netflix. The trailer is here.

Three incredible young people from Bradford share the interviews they have created especially for us. Ryan, Faith and Julia are from an incredible local youth project called e:merge. Abi has loved working with them to gain the technical and interview skills they have needed and we are so impressed with the results.

The Highs and Lows of Community Nursing

Ryan chose to speak to his sisters community nurse Sam Barrett.

Saving Lives and the Dark Humour That Comes With It

Faith interviewed her neighbour and paramedic Jon Robinson.

Boys, Sex Education and Andrew Tate

Julia decided to interview Kirsty Ferguson from Step2.

Grateful thanks to the Jerusalem Trust for their financial support for this episode.

Chris Ward is a speaker on the experience of homelessness and works at The Daytime Hub in Gravesend (see below) for people experiencing homelessness in Kent. He shares his story of addiction, homelessness, friendship, church and choosing life every day. Chris also talks about how to share hard truths with people and the incredible work of The Daytime Hub.

Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness and poverty for 30 years. He is a former government adviser on how faith groups address rough sleeping and is now CEO of Hope into Action, who partner with churches to enable them to house and support people. His brilliant blog can be found here .

Jon met Chris at an event at Greenbelt and they have been friends ever since. 

The book Chris and Jon wrote together can be bought here.

Gravesend Methodist Church and Community Centre

CHARITY NUMBER 1132238

To make a donation to their work:

Account name - Daytime Hub Gravesend Methodist

Account number - 55347668 Sort code - 30-93-6

A huge Happy Easter to you from Abi and all the Praxis team!

A short Easter episode for you today, to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. We are going to delve back into the archives to one of our earliest episodes, back in 2019 when Rich Gower interviewed Jack Wakefield from Tearfund. 

Find out more and sign up for Praxis Labs 2 on our website.

The Bible for Everyone: Scripture quotations [marked BfE] are reproduced from The Bible for Everyone, copyright © John Goldingay and Nicholas Thomas Wright 2018. Used by permission of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, UK. All rights reserved.

Amar D. Peterman is an author and constructive theologian working around faith and public life, including his work at Interfaith America.

Amar has a regular column in Sojourners, including this article on Good Friday as well as a newsletter This Common Life.

How do we understand the cross today? Why does Jesus call us to take up our cross and follow Him? How should activists spend Good Friday? Some rich and provoking theology in this special episode for Good Friday.

Is prayer a form of activism? Can we pray in hope when we are feeling weighed down or weary of injustice? What can other cultures teach us about how to pray?

Abi spoke to Philip Powell from The Justice Conference and Lynne Paterson from Tearfund. They share their journeys of prayer and give us a practical and theological guide of how to pray, listen and remain hopeful in a world of injustice. 

Tearfund prayer guide.

The Justice Conference is on tour! Book your tickets now.

You can donate to Tearfund's Emergency Appeal for people impacted by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey here, as well as accessing their special prayer guide.

Sandra Maria Van Opstal from Chasing Justice also shares her experiences of worship and work against injustice in her community in Chicago, and how time spent lying face down on her carpet before God is vital to her life. She reminds us of the power of silent prayer - to help us remember that we are the created and not the creator.   

You can buy Sandra's book The Next Worship here.

Subscribe to Chasing Justice to be sent a copy of the prayer "Audacity to Thrive" guide Abi talks about.

Find out more about The Hopeful Activists Community here.

Abi is joined by Elaine Storkey, philosopher, sociologist and theologian and author of “Meeting God in Matthew”. Also Helen Syrop, founder of Hope Housing and homelessness expert and Jen, an adoptive parent and currently researching faith group responses to hardship in the UK.

We take a beautiful walk through Matthew and along the way talk about that John Lewis advert, the sentimentality around Homelessness at Christmas and how to find beauty in the mess.

A HUGE thank you to Dr J for allowing us to use his track Immanuel (God With Us), you can support him and say thanks by buying his latest music at Bandcamp.

A very happy Christmas to all of you, and thanks for being with us this year. See you in 2023!