273 - Confronting Buried History and Living as All God’s Children with Storyteller and Public Scholar Dr. Terence Lester

Storyteller and public scholar, community activist and author Dr. Terence Lester invests his wealth of wisdom and stories from his own experience into the Be the Bridge community in this conversation with Latasha Morrison. Dr. Lester shares about his restorative work with Love Beyond Walls, a non-profit which is bringing true social change serving people who are experiencing homelessness in Atlanta and beyond. They talk about the disconnect the church in America has with seeing people on mission trips with dignity but not people in our own communities with that same dignity. And they have a vulnerable discussion around “the talk” that Black and Brown families in America have in their homes because of having to survive in and navigate this racialized society. This episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast will remind you of the power one person can have in someone’s life and the power there is in truly seeing people. It also brings continued conviction that covering up history and removing access to information prevents healing, reconciliation, justice, and redemption. We hope this conversation will prompt you to allow your own historical shaping to be interrogated and empower you to be a person of peace. May the power of God at work in Dr. Lester’s life offer encouragement that God is at work in and around you as well. Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! Host & Executive Producer - Latasha MorrisonSenior Producer - Lauren C. BrownProducer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment StudiosAssistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes:“There are a group of people in this world that feel forgotten, and how dare I, having experienced the grace of God, not pass along that same love and support to my neighbor?” -Dr. Terence Lester “There's a major theological problem that we have as the body of Christ that allows us to get here where we would think that poverty and sickness equates to criminality.” -Latasha Morrison “You’ve got to get proximate to be able to serve.” -Dr. Terence Lester Links:If you’d like to partner with the Be the Bridge Podcast, please fill out our Advertise with Us form. Ads:Spotify for Podcasters [Record, edit, distribute your podcast. Download the Spotify for Podcasters app or go to www.spotify.com/podcasters to get started] Become a Donor of Be the Bridge Shop the Be the Bridge Online Shop Resources:Love Beyond Walls WebsiteDr. Terence Lester’s dissertationHomesick Documentary by Dr. Terence LesterI See You book by Dr. Terence LesterWhen We Stand book by Dr. Terence LesterAll God’s Children book by Dr. Terence Lester Connect with Dr. Terence Lester:His WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn His Substack Connect with Be the Bridge:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Latasha Morrison:FacebookInstagramTwitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.