This episode of Difficult Conversations features two Christians who sat on opposite sides of the COVID divide. As director of the National Institutes of Health from 2009 to 2021, Dr. Francis Collins played a pivotal role in the COVID response. Wilk Wilkinson, who lives in rural Minnesota, was intensely critical of how the government handled COVID and is the host of Derate the Hate podcast.

You’ll also hear from Amanda Ripley, a New York Times bestselling author and contributor for The Washington Post, about conflict entrepreneurs, the role of the media, and how to turn high conflict into good conflict.

What can we learn from how we handled COVID in our churches, communities and national discourse? Is repair possible for the relationships that remain fractured? Our guests say that it’s not only possible but it’s essential to overcome the deep polarization in our country.

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Go to full interview of Amanda Ripley

Go to full interview of Dr. Francis Collins & Wilk Wilkinson

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In this inaugural episode of Difficult Conversations, host Walter Kim interviews Dr. Jonathan Haidt, one of the world’s top experts on the psychology of morality and politics, to explore how we ended up so divided, including how technology and social media has shaped us and is shaping the next generation.

You’ll also meet Heather Zempel, discipleship pastor at National Community Church, located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Over the years, NCC has successfully encouraged church members, from both sides of the aisle, to engage with one another through small groups and Bible studies. But as she shares, that’s gotten more difficult as our world has become more polarized.

Both Jonathan and Heather leave those who want to be peacemakers in our divided country with some practical next steps. Their recommendations may surprise you.

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Go to full interview

As we’ve become more polarized and divided than ever, it feels like meaningful, respectful conversations between people who disagree have become a thing of the past. Is it still possible to have difficult conversations with people who see the world differently from us without sacrificing our deep convictions and beliefs? What is the role of Christians in this moment? How can Christians be peacemakers within their churches, and among the larger society?

From the National Association of Evangelicals comes a new podcast series, Difficult Conversations. It’s an exploration of how we ended up so polarized, and how Christians can become the peacemakers that Jesus called blessed. Hosted by NAE President Walter Kim, this series will share incredible stories of people who’ve stepped into enemy territory for the sake of building bridges, and you’ll hear from experts on why difficult conversations are so hard, how to have them, and why they matter for the kingdom of God.

The series features:

• Jonathan Haidt, renowned social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation”
• Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed scientist and served as director of the National Institutes of Health during the COVID pandemic
• Derwin Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, NC
• Kaitlyn Schiess, public theologian and author of “The Ballot and the Bible”
• Christina Edmondson, author and cohost of the Truth’s Table podcast
• Mark DeYmaz, founder of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas
• Sean McDowell, apologist, podcaster and author of “End the Stalemate”
• and many more…

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. The full series launches on September 26. To find found more: http://difficultconversationspod.org/

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