Join Emunah host, Dr. Tamara Henry, as she explores the powerful, and often overlooked story of Moses and Zipporah. In this episode, we uncover how grace reveals itself in critical momentsthrough obedience, decisive action, and divine mercy.

Discover how Zipporahs swift and courageous response not only preserved Moses life but also protected Gods unfolding purpose. This episode reminds us that grace is not always quiet or gentleit often arrives unexpectedly, urgently, and right on time.

Key Topics

• The significance of Zipporahs intervention in Moses life
• How grace operates within leadership, obedience, and accountability
• The role of covenant and identity in shaping biblical narratives

Sound Bites

• Grace is not always soft and gentle.
• Zipporahs quick action saved Moses life.
• Grace often arrives in moments of urgency.

Scriptures Referenced

• Exodus 4:20, 2426
• Genesis 17:14
• Psalm 84:11
• John 1:1617
• Romans 6:1415
• Ephesians 2:58
• 2 Peter 3:18
• Revelation 22:21

Resources & Further Study

• Ashby, Godfrey. The Bloody Bridegroom: The Interpretation of Exodus 4:2426. Expository Times 106 (1995): 203205.
• Aubry, A. Zipporah: Fulfilling Her Purpose. Women of the Bible for Women of Color. Urban Spirit LLC, 2021.
• Got Questions Ministries. Who Were the Midianites? GotQuestions.org
• Kingdom, Rev. Dr. Denise. Women of the Bible Study Series: Zipporah Reminds Us Who We Are. Faithward.org
• Newman, Stephen A. Why Moses Did Not Circumcise His Son. Jewish Bible Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 1 (2016)
• Szokovski, Miriam. What Does the Name Tzipporah Mean? Chabad.org
• Wolf, Emera. Zipporah: Grace Under Pressure. The Blessed Woman, April 15, 2024

Join the Conversation

Wed love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, reflections, or personal testimonies:

Email: Wordconsultingllc@gmail.com
Website: https://wordconsultingllc.com

What is prayer, reallyand why does it matter?

This episode first aired on June 2, 2023 and again on December 20, 2024

In this powerful episode of Emunah (Faith), Dr. Tamara Henry, her co-host Charisse Henry and two prayer powerhouses, guests Zereta Mother Z Young and Cynthia Howie, explore the true meaning of prayer, moving beyond routine words into a dynamic, personal connection with God. Whether youre new to prayer or seeking to deepen your spiritual life, this conversation will help you understand how prayer strengthens faith, builds trust, and transforms everyday life.

Prayer is more than askingits a relationship, surrender, and alignment with Gods will.

Both Mother Z and Cynthia Howie are members of First Baptist Church of Glenarden International and are active in a variety of ministries, especially the Adult Bible Study class that meets at 9 a.m. each Sunday at the FBCG Worship Center in Upper Marlboro, Md. Mother Z is a former/retired missionary, and Cynthia Howie teaches in the Prince Georges County, MD public school system.

Key Topics Covered

• What prayer is (and what it is not)
• Why prayer is essential to a growing faith
• How prayer builds intimacy with God
• The role of faith and trust in effective prayer
• Barriers to prayer and how to overcome them
• Learning to hear Gods voice through prayer
• The difference between routine prayer and relational prayer

Key Takeaways

• Prayer is a conversation, not a performance
• God invites honesty, not perfection
• Faith and prayer work togetherprayer strengthens belief
• Consistency in prayer deepens spiritual awareness
• Even unanswered prayers have purpose and meaning
• Prayer aligns our hearts with Gods will, not just our desires

Spiritual Insight

Throughout Scripture, prayer is shown as a powerful and personal actone that connects believers directly to God. True prayer is not about eloquence or length, but sincerity and faith.

Practical Application

• Set aside intentional time daily for prayer
• Speak to God honestlyin your own words
• Incorporate Scripture into your prayer life
• Listen as much as you speak
• Keep a prayer journal to track growth and answered prayers

Why You Should Listen

If youve ever struggled with what to say, how to pray, or whether your prayers matter, this episode will encourage and equip you to approach God with confidence and clarity.

Call to Action

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, subscribe to Emunah, and continue growing in faithone prayer at a time.

Closing Thought

Prayer is not about getting God to hear youits about positioning your heart to hear Him.

Email Emunah with comments at wordconsultingllc@gmail.com. Leave a testimony on our Women of the Word website at: https://wordconsultingllc.com.

In this heartfelt and reflective conversation, Yasmine Vick of Midwest City, Oklahoma looks back on her journey from childhood to high school graduation. As one of the original ASK the Girls! moderators, she shares honest insights about personal growth, decision-making, faith, and the anticipation of stepping into college life.

Join us as Yasmine reflects on how her perspectives have evolved over time, how she has navigated challenges, and what she has learned about identity, resilience, and becoming her authentic self. This episode offers encouragement and wisdom for young listeners who are discovering their own voices while preparing for the future.

Key Topics

• Personal growth and self-awareness
• Decision-making and emerging adult responsibilities
• Faith and spirituality during adolescence
• College aspirations and future goals

Earlier Episodes Revisited

OMG! Are We Really Like Our Parents?!

July 25, 2024
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5odcxnCi5qHn9Lt5SamUEy?si=1q3ECCjXS9SS17inpbFsFw

In this episode, Yasmine spoke with her mother about decision-making and admitted that the process sometimes felt scary. Her mother, LaKeisha Lewis, described a good daughter as someone who embraces growth, accepts herself, and remains open to learning.

In todays conversation, Yasmine reflects on those earlier thoughts and shares how her understanding has deepened since then.

Is the World Going to H*ll in a Handbasket?

June 11, 2024
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WCbEo6iFyCo556W7MtlEP?si=z6Y7ZJRvSV-y8lUUeze7gA

As a high school junior, Yasmine referenced Proverbs 22:6:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

At the time, she expressed strong frustrations with adult role models and concluded, God raised me.

Now, nearing graduation, Yasmine revisits those reflections and shares how her perspective has changed and what growth has taught her about grace, responsibility, and understanding others.

Interracial Relationships and Dating

January 5, 2024

https://open.spotify.com/episode/29VqZdJpNjdkFqXjeUwi2R?si=1vjiQ1eCQTukB6ZK392d6A

As a 10th grader, Yasmine shared this insight:

We miss out on blessings sometimes because God uses people often in ways we dont expect.

In this episode, she revisits that belief and considers whether her views have changed as she prepares to enter adulthood.

Join the Conversation

Emunah listeners, wed love to hear from you:
wordconsultingllc@gmail.com

Visit our Women of the Word website:
https://wordconsultingllc.com

What Do We Really Mean by Faith?

What is faith really?

In this episode of Emunah, host Dr. Tamara Henry sits down with guest minister Evora Thomas to explore the multifaceted nature of faith through personal stories, biblical examples, and practical spiritual wisdom. Together, they reflect on how faith is tested, experienced, and strengthened in everyday life.

We say we have faith.
We pray for more faith.
We encourage others to hold onto faith.

But what does faith actually look like on an ordinary Tuesday in seasons of uncertainty, or when answers dont come as quickly as we hope?

Minister Thomas offers thoughtful, Spirit-led insights that invite listeners to reflect, pray, and deepen their understanding of faith as both belief and lived practice.

Key Topics in This Episode

• What faith is and how it shows up in daily life
• Biblical examples of faith, including Esther and Peter
• The relationship between faith and reason
• Faith as a partnership between trust and understanding
• Acts of faith vs. the object of faith
• Spiritual practices that help strengthen faith
• Navigating doubt, silence from God, and spiritual warfare

Action Steps for Listeners

• Reflect on a biblical story of faith that inspires you
• Practice nightly gratitude for Gods guidance and provision
• Find an accountability partner to encourage spiritual growth
• Read and meditate regularly on Romans 12:12
• Identify personal doubts and bring them to God through scripture and prayer

Memorable Sound Bites

If I perish, I perish.
Hell direct your path if you trust in Him.

Resources Mentioned

• The Holy Bible Book of Esther
• Romans 12:12
• First Baptist Church of Glenarden International

About Our Guest: Minister Evora A. Thomas

Evora A. Thomas was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and later moved with her family to Newark, New Jersey, where she attended integrated public schools. She was among the first African American women to attend Princeton University after the institution began admitting women, graduating in 1974 with a bachelors degree. She went on to earn her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977 and was admitted to practice law in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

For more than 40 years, Minister Thomas dedicated her legal career to expanding access to civil legal aid for individuals unable to afford representation. She retired in 2022 from the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C., after nearly two decades supporting legal services providers nationwide.

Her distinguished career also includes serving as Executive Director and General Counsel of Peninsula Legal Aid Center in Hampton, Virginia; staff attorney positions with the Virginia Legal Aid Society and Essex-Newark Legal Services; and appointment in 1983 as the first Black and first female Presiding Judge of the Municipal Court of East Orange, New Jersey.

Alongside her legal work, Minister Thomas has remained deeply committed to ministry and service. She currently serves at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Connect with Emunah

Wed love to hear from you.

Email: wordconsultingllc@gmail.com
Website: https://wordconsultingllc.com

What does respect really mean especially when authority feels unfair?

In this special Ask the Girls episode of Emunah, middle school girls Samara and Shylah lead an honest conversation about authority, obedience, and respect in todays school culture as co-hosts Tamara Henry and Cynthia Howie contribute and guide. Concerned by how many students disrespect teachers and leaders, they explore what faith teaches about honoring authority while still thinking wisely and courageously.

Through biblical stories and a surprising Disney connection, the girls wrestle with big questions:

• Do we have to respect people we disagree with?
• What makes someone a good leader?
• Can authority ever be wrong?
• How do we follow God when rules feel difficult?

Using the stories of Ruth and Naomi, Queen Esther, and the Prodigal Son, alongside Disneys The Hunchback of Notre Dame, they compare examples of good authority and harmful authority and discover how faith helps us recognize the difference.

This episode reminds listeners of all ages that respect is not weakness, obedience is not silence, and godly leadership always reflects love, justice, and compassion.

Scripture Connections

• Ruth 1:1617 Ruths loyalty to Naomi
• Esther 4:1416 Courage and wise counsel
• Luke 15:1132 The Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son
• Romans 13:1 Understanding authority
• Ephesians 6:13 Honor and obedience

Pull-Quote Highlights from the Girls

About Respect

Respect isnt agreeing with everything its choosing how you treat people even when you disagree.

Sometimes kids dont respect teachers because they think respect has to be earned first, but maybe respect is something we choose to give.

About Authority

Having authority doesnt automatically make someone right but it does mean we should listen before we react.

Good leaders make you feel safe. Bad leaders make you feel scared.

Faith + Discernment

God gives us wisdom so we know the difference between obeying people and following whats right.

You can be respectful and still be brave enough to stand for whats good.

Bible Connections

Ruth didnt stay with Naomi because she had to she stayed because love guided her.

Esther listened to wise advice, but she still had to choose courage for herself.

Disney / Villain Insight

Frollo had power, but he didnt have kindness and thats what made him dangerous.

Just because someone is in charge doesnt mean theyre the hero of the story.

Personal Reflection Moments

Respect shows more about your character than the other persons behavior.

Maybe obedience is really about trusting God while you figure things out.

Ask Yourself

• Who are the authority figures in my life?
• What qualities make someone worthy of respect?
• How can I show honor even when I disagree?
• Which voices help me grow closer to God?

About Emunah

Emunah is a podcast where faith meets real life through honest conversations, storytelling, and spiritual reflection. Each episode explores practical ways to live God-honoring lives with wisdom, courage, and compassion.

Stay Connected

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation as we grow together in faith.

Until next time keep the faith and keep walking in Emunah.

Welcome to a special live taping of the Emunah Podcast (Emunah is Hebrew for faith and belief), recorded at historic 15th Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. This sacred space holds deep family and historical significance for host Dr. Tamara Henry, whose grandfather, Rev. W. R. Murray, served as the churchs pastor for 24 years and helped shape generations of faith and community leadership.

This episode is the first installment of a two-part live podcast series exploring the theme Legacy, Memory, and Erasure. The series features descendants of Rev. Murray and his son, Walter R. Murray Jr., one of the first African American undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University and the universitys first Black trustee.

Episode One: Carrying Forward The Legacy We Inherit

In this episode, voices from the younger generation of the Murray family reflect on what it means to inherit a legacy shaped by faith, courage, and social change. Panelists explore the emotional weight of legacy, the responsibility to preserve history, and how storytelling protects family and community memory from being forgotten or erased.

The conversation asks essential questions:

• What does it mean to carry a legacy you didnt choose?
• When does legacy feel like a giftand when does it feel like a burden?
• How do younger generations honor the past while shaping the future?

Through personal stories and honest reflection, this episode highlights how identity, faith, and memory shape the way legacy moves forward across generations.

Featured Panelists

Simone Murray Thomas

Simone Murray Thomas is the granddaughter of Rev. Murray Sr. and daughter of Walter Junior Murray and Donna Taylor. She works as a biocompatibility scientist for a major medical device company and lives in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, with her husband Mike and their pets.

Charisse O. Henry

Charisse O. Henry, a great-granddaughter of Rev. Murray Sr., serves as a Patient Services Administrator at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Queens). A former classical pianist, she has traveled internationally for work and study, including time in Venezuela and the Commonwealth of Dominica. She is the daughter of James and Tamara Henry and granddaughter of Lillian Murray Cooke.

Capt. Brian Jackson

Captain Brian Jackson is a United Airlines pilot based at Los Angeles International Airport and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). With an extensive background in aviation mentorship and leadership, he represents the continuing impact of legacy through professional excellence and service. He is the grandson of Dr. John S. and Mrs. Etna Jackson, descendants of Rev. Murray Sr.

Key Takeaways

• Legacy is not only what is left behindit is what we intentionally keep alive.
• Each generation has a responsibility to protect and advance inherited stories.
• Carrying legacy can feel both empowering and overwhelming.
• Understanding our history shapes identity, purpose, and action.
• Storytelling is essential to preventing cultural and family erasure.
• Legacy is inherited, not chosenbut it can be reimagined.
• What we pass forward matters as much as what we receive.

Memorable Quotes

• What happens to Black legacies?
• Legacy isnt just what someone leaves behind.
• What does it feel like to carry a legacy?
• When does legacy feel like a gift?
• What will we leave?

Bonus: Surprise Outtakes

The episode concludes with special outtakes featuring additional Murray family voices:

Brandon Franklin great-great-grandson of Rev. Murray Sr., medical insurance adjuster in Lakeland, Florida.

Ian Dinkins great-great-grandson of Rev. Murray Sr., communications professional at the University School of Nashville.

Dr. Sharon Jackson granddaughter of Rev. Murray Sr., retired cardiovascular epidemiologist and biostatistician, ordained minister, and scholar of the Hebrew roots of Christian faith.

Join the Conversation

We want to hear from you.

Email: wordconsultingllc@gmail.com
Website: https://wordconsultingllc.com

Share your reflections, comments, and ideas for future episodes of the Emunah Podcast.

In this conversation, Dr. Joe Trotter discusses his book 'Building the Black City,' which explores the significant contributions of Black workers in shaping urban environments and communities. He emphasizes the dual role of Black individuals as both laborers in predominantly white cities and as creators of their own spaces that serve their communities. The discussion highlights the importance of Black institutions in fostering community, collaboration, and social change, while also addressing the complexities of working-class experiences. Dr. Trotter aims to reshape perceptions of Black communities as active builders rather than passive occupants.

Takeaways

• Dr. Trotter's book is a sequel to 'Workers on Arrival.'
• 'Building the Black City' highlights Black creativity and agency.
• Black workers built their own communities despite systemic inequalities.
• The book challenges traditional views of city building.
• Black institutions played a crucial role in community development.
• Working-class families have diverse experiences and challenges.
• The importance of multi-class collaboration in Black communities.
• Black neighborhoods were intentionally built, not accidental.
• Churches served as community centers beyond spiritual needs.
• Dr. Trotter's work aims to inspire and empower working-class families.

"I hope working families will be encouraged...," Dr. Trotter said.

About Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr.

Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr. is the Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice and former Chair of the History Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is the founder and director of Carnegie Mellons Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE), president-elect of the Urban History Association, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life (University of California Press, 2024) is his most recent book. It expands our understanding of Black urban history and labor as a sequel to an earlier book he wrote, Workers on Arrival: Black Labor in the Making of America (2019).

Dr. Trotter earned his BA from Carthage College and his MA and PhD from the University of Minnesota. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in African American history, U.S. urban history, labor history, and working-class studies. His scholarship and lectures have reached audiences across the United States and internationally, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, and the Middle East.

In addition to his teaching and writing, Dr. Trotter has served in leadership roles with numerous professional organizations, including the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, Southern Historical Association, and the Labor and Working-Class History Association, where he is a past president.

The book, Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life can be found on Amazon, at the University of California Press, Apple Books, Abe Books, and the Political Science Quarterly.

Emunah listeners, we want to hear from you. Have comments, opinions, questions? Email: wordconsultingllc@gmail.com