What if building a truly diverse community could heal even the deepest cultural divides? In this powerful episode of The Missional Leader, Rob sits down with Herbert Cooper, founder and senior pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City, to explore what it really takes to champion unity, break down barriers, and lead a multi-ethnic church in a polarized world. People’s Church is a thriving multi-site, multi-cultural church that has modeled reconciliation and inclusion in the broader community and nation at-large through Herbert’s bridge-building leadership.

From the very start, Herbert gets deeply personal, sharing how his own interracial marriage faced resistance, even from within his faith community, and how this journey of reconciliation shaped both his life and his vision for church. Together, Rob and Herbert dive into the essential question: Can the church look like heaven - diverse, loving, and radically inclusive - in a time when Sunday morning remains one of America’s most segregated hours?

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How intentionally building a multi-cultural church is not just a calling, but a necessity for leaders today
• Why unity isn’t the same as uniformity—and how embracing differences actually makes the church stronger
• The behind-the-scenes decisions and core convictions that drive
  Herbert Cooper’s leadership, from crafting welcoming environments to leading through cultural flashpoints with grace and consistency

Whether you lead a community, serve in ministry, or want to be part of healing what divides us, this conversation is an urgent and hope-filled blueprint for building bridges that last.

Episode Guide: https://robhoskins.onehope.net/leading-a-multicultural-church-with-pastor-herbert-cooper/
Access a resource designed to help you reflect and learn from this episode conversation!

TIMESTAMPS:

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Grandmother’s Letter: Challenging Racial Beliefs
02:19 Surprising Diversity in Oklahoma City
04:12 Why Multiculturalism Was Day One’s Mission
07:14 Family Reconciliation After Difficult Conversations
08:47 Intentional Diversity: From Billboards to Congregation
10:21 The Challenge of Black Leadership in Diverse Churches
13:26 Leading Through Cultural Flashpoints
15:43 The Power of Consistency Over Reaction
17:33 Unity Without Uniformity: Embracing Differences
20:16 America’s Changing Demographics Demand New Leadership
22:23 Pastoral Intentionality Shapes Church Demographics
25:49 Growing Through Different Perspectives
26:54 Why Pastors Must Become Missionaries
28:13 Creating Hard Conversations Across Racial Lines
29:33 The Church’s Role in Healing Division

What happens when seasoned leaders and rising voices sit down as peers, not just to teach but learn from each other? In this special “living room” edition of The Missional Leader, Rob is joined by two trailblazing friends and young leaders: Charlee Tchividjian, a passionate founder radically reshaping foster care prevention, and André Ito Gonçalves, a former Netflix executive turned global church planter and marketing leader. Together with these young leaders, Rob reflects on his experience in launching the podcast and how he values continuous learning from emerging nextgen voices.

Charlee shares her journey from a difficult, faith-shaping upbringing to founding EMA.org, a flourishing nonprofit helping thousands of at-risk moms stay with their children, reflecting on how pain, risk, and Spirit-led conviction formed her leadership. Andre unpacks “polycentric leadership” with Rob, a fluid multi-vocational approach to calling, and how mentorship across ages can unlock personal purpose and Kingdom impact. Rob reflects on the “ikigai” framework, and how leaders can discern their unique calling at the intersection of passion, skill, need, and sustainability in a rapidly-changing world.

Whether you’re mentoring or being mentored, building something new or stewarding something established, this episode offers practical insight and honest encouragement for leaders who believe the future is built together - across generations.

Episode Guide: Access a resource designed to help you reflect and learn from this episode conversation!
https://robhoskins.onehope.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/TML-S2-E4-Charlee-Tchividjian-Andre-Ito-Goncalves-Episode-Guide-.pdf
Ikigai Framework: What Do I Do With My Life?
Polycentric Leadership
Gen Alpha Research: A Worldwide Look at the Most Connected & Curious Generation
EMA (Every Mother’s Advocate)
— Ministry founded by Charlee Tchividjian to support mothers at risk of losing custody.
Dunamis Movement / Zion Church | Dunamis Movement
— Brazilian-based movement and church led by Teo Hayashi.
The Send
— Global missions movement referenced in context of Brazilian stadium events.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 7 Months, 1.2 Million Downloads: A Surprising Milestone
02:17 Charlee’s Wild-Child Story and Africa Turning Point
05:00 Every Mother’s Advocate: Preventing Foster Care Crisis
07:43 From Netflix to Ministry: André’s Polycentric Leadership Journey
12:45 Building a Global, Intergenerational Podcast Community
15:13 Behind the Mic: Audience Stories of Transformation
18:02 Deep Dives vs. Longform: The Show’s Conversation Format
20:51 Authenticity & Completion Rates: Podcast’s Unusual Success
24:49 Most Impactful Episodes: Founder Stories and Legacy
27:16 Bob’s Faith and the Power of Fresh Anointing
29:35 Risk, Innovation, and Failures: Lessons from YouVersion
33:04 Real-Time Application: Leadership Through Failure
34:42 Dunamis Movement & The Send: Mobilizing Missions at Scale
37:41 Discipleship Deep Dive: Filling the Global Leadership Vacuum
39:32 The Ikigai Model: Finding Purpose in Calling
46:49 Serving to Find Vision: Breaking the Calling Paralysis
47:54 The Real Meaning of Ministry: Beyond the Pulpit
51:42 Calling and Purpose: Not Just for the “Elite”
53:34 Avoiding Comparison: Courage for Individual Vocations
56:25 Closing: Join the Community & What’s Next for Season 2

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Is AI a powerful tool for the Kingdom—or a ticking time bomb in the hands of the church? In this episode, Rob sits down with returning guest Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion, to tackle the hard questions surrounding generative AI at the intersection of faith and technology.

With over half of OneHope’s global reach now digital, and the rapid rise of generative AI making headlines worldwide, Rob and Bobby pull back the curtain on their own wrestling with the promises and pitfalls of this revolutionary technology. From initial enthusiasm to ethical hesitation, Bobby candidly shares how he’s navigating both hope and real-world concerns as he stewards the world’s most popular Bible app—and why this moment may be more transformational (or dangerous) than many imagine.

Discover why Bobby believes the hype around AI is rarely as simple as utopia or dystopia, and why it’s vital for Christian leaders to cut through the noise with discernment and wisdom. You’ll hear unfiltered stories from the front lines: the unexpected hazards uncovered when testing AI “Bible bots,” the non-negotiables for theological accuracy and safety, and why technology’s “messy middle” demands humility, not fear.

If you care about digital evangelism, ministry innovation, and the future of the church in an AI-driven world, this episode will equip you with questions, cautions, and conviction for the road ahead.

Subscribe for more conversations like this—where truth, technology, and mission meet.

Episode Guide: Access a resource designed to help you reflect and learn from this episode conversation!
https://robhoskins.onehope.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TML-S2-E3-Bobby-Gruenewald-Episode-Guide-.pdf

YouVersion Bible App
— Bible app founded by Bobby Gruenewald; frequently referenced as “the Bible app”
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/

Gloo
— Mentioned as a ministry/tech partner and for an AI study on Bible accuracy
https://gloo.com/

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Utopian vs. Dystopian Tech Narratives
01:06 Generative AI: Hype, Concerns, and Kingdom Use
03:10 Early Adoption and Digital Evangelism Realities
05:05 Why YouVersion Held Off on AI Chatbots
08:56 Shocking Flaws in Christian AI Tools
12:56 AI Prompt Test: 14-Year-Old Scenario
14:46 The Real Harm of Unsafe AI in Ministry
18:02 Scripture Accuracy: 85% Isn’t Good Enough
19:54 Three Harnesses: Safety, Accuracy, Theology
22:31 Embracing Reality and Promise of Tech
23:09 Unique Risks: AI Sounds Human, Gets Facts Wrong