The legendary civil rights activist John Lewis once told us, "Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself."

One of the most urgent and necessary actions for every Black Christian to be concerned with is the protection of this act we call democracy. Democracy will always affect our families, our communities, and our neighbors. And today, we have a guest who is sounding the alarm for our urgent attention to preserving our rights.

Buckle up as we hear this stirring conversation with Rev. Cece Jones-Davis. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast if you have not already!

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This is a Mavrik Production. Special thanks to Yabui Media for providing the space for this episode recording.

For the past 20 years, Rev. Cece Jones Davis has partnered with national organizations to organize and lead dynamic grassroots movements

Her activism ranges from fighting to abolish the death penalty to advocating for menstrual equity—work that she does both on the ground to create immediate impact and in high-level rooms to drive policy changes, awareness and education. She served in the historic Obama Administration under Ambassador Ron Kirk, the first African American U.S. Trade Representative. She is known most recently for her work in creating the #JusticeforJulius campaign that saved Julius Jones in Oklahoma just hours before his scheduled execution in 2021.

Born and raised in Halifax County, VA—the home of the legendary Henrietta Lacks and the once-largest slaveholding county in the state—Cece's life experiences have given her a unique perspective in the work she does everyday to combat racism and advocate for people living on the margins of society.

Her impact has been recognized and celebrated throughout the United States, including an Emmy nomination for a KFOR News conversation on racial (re)conciliation, receiving the 2021 Change.org Changemaker of the Year Award and Special Congressional Recognition for her efforts in civil rights and social justice.

We're back with another one!

If you've ever wrestled with the Bible and how people have used it to oppress our people, this is for YOU. One of the most common conversations we have as Black Christians is "How can you read that book considering what it has done to our people?" That's a real question, and we want to tackle it honestly.

That's why I called on a brother and Biblical scholar, Hakeem Bradley, to help us process this tension.

Outside of being a husband and father, Hakeem wears multiple hats. He is a biblical scholar, teacher, speaker, blogger, professor, consultant, and researcher. He holds a Master's in Theological and Biblical Studies from Western Seminary and is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament Studies at Ridley College (Melbourne). He previously worked as an Associate Scholar at BibleProject and served as the chaplain for the College Park Skyhawks from 2024 to 2026. Additionally, he is an Academic Fellow with the Center for Hebraic Thought.

He has founded a new nonprofit, Sacred Patterns, to develop biblical literacy resources for children.

He is a brilliant, humble scholar and we are honored to have him on the podcast! Tap in and make sure you are subscribed to the podcast.

If you want to support this work, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebce/membership

This is a Mavrik Production. Special thanks to Yabui Media for providing the space for this episode recording.

Well, family...This episode is one for the books!

One of the hardest things to maintain in our walk with God is the ability to be grounded. Being grounded can keep us rooted and steady in an unstable world. And with everything that we are facing in the world, healthy roots can keep us whole.

That's why today, we are speaking with the one and only, The Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque.

For over 20 years, Dr. Jacque worked in student affairs at institutions such as Northwestern, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, ultimately serving as Legislative Liaison to California's 108 community colleges. After answering a call to ministry, she earned an M.Div. (Summa Cum Laude) and Ph.D. in Theology from Boston University and went on to serve churches of all sizes, including Alfred Street Baptist Church.

Dr. Jacque has taught at the University of Chicago Divinity School and Boston University School of Theology and led mission-driven organizations, including the Boston TenPoint Coalition and the Pastoral Counseling Center at Trinity Church Boston. She currently serves as President and Board Chair of National Senior Communities, supporting over 28,000 residents and 17,000 staff. She is also co-founder of Courageous Conversations, a national dialogue series on belonging and inclusion.

A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from BU, Citizen of the Year in Barrington, and the Women of Distinction Award, Dr. Jacque is widely regarded as a voice of grace, wisdom, and hope.

She is one of a kind and she blessed us in this episode! Tap in and make sure you are subscribed to the podcast.

If you want to support this work, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebce/membership

This is a Mavrik Production. Special thanks to Yabui Media for providing the space for this episode recording.