Christians Caring for Creation

Pulitzer Prize nominee, Justin Catanoso, joins us to discuss his memoir, My Cousin the Saint. What begins as a journalistic quest to understand his Italian cousin’s canonization by the Catholic Church becomes a deeply personal journey into faith, family, grief, and spiritual growth. Together, we explore the sacred hidden in ordinary life and the enduring power of a humble servant's devotion to God and his people.You can hear Justin's October 20, 2005 commentary on NPR's Morning Edition here.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What really shapes environmental policy—science, public will, or money and power? In this episode, Bill Holman, longtime North Carolina environmental advocate and lobbyist, shares decades of experience as often the lone environmental voice in high-stakes political rooms. We explore how influence works, what it takes to make change, and the role Christians can play in caring for creation through faithful, persistent witness.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Immokalee is a town in southwest Florida that feeds much of America during the winter.  The population is heavily populated by immigrant labor from Central America and Haiti.  These are the people that harvest our food, yet they lack sufficient healthy food for themselves.  Rick Burnette of Cultivate Abundance works with the Immokalee community to address their food insecurities.  In this podcast he tells us about his challenges and victories in helping put food on the table for those who bring food to our tables.  This podcast is about naming and confronting the injustices in our world.Learn more about Cultivate Abundance at cultivateabundance.org.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What do clean energy and affordable housing have to do with each other?More than many people realize.In this episode of the C3 – Christians Caring for Creation podcast, Don Gordon talks with Rebekah Whilden, Executive Director of Carolina Forward, about how policy decisions today are shaping the future of energy, housing, and environmental sustainability in North Carolina.North Carolina has quietly become one of the nation’s leading solar states. At the same time, communities across the state face growing challenges around housing affordability.Rebekah explains how if we want to care for both people and the planet, the intersection of clean energy and affordable housing may be one of the most important places to start.You can learn more about her work at carolinaforward.orgLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Don Gordon welcomes Sam Harrell of Africa Exchange for a compelling conversation on faith, climate justice, and the call to care for all creation. With insights shaped by Sam’s life and work in Kenya, this episode challenges Western assumptions about growth, invites a deeper theology of the land, and offers hopeful signs of faithful partnership across cultures. Learn more about Africa Exchange at africaexchange.orgLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Justin Catanoso, Pulitzer Prize nominee and professor of journalism at Wake Forest University, tells stories most of us don’t know that we need to know. In this podcast he talks about the miracle of the Yurok tribe in northern California reclaiming ancient lands and restoring a path for the salmon runs in the northwest Pacific coast.  He also talks about the fraudulent claims of the biomass industry as they de-forest much of North Carolina and the southeastern U.S.  Learn more about Justin Catanoso at justincatanoso.com. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

On July 28, 2022, the United Nations adopted a resolution that a "clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a universal human right."  John Knox, Professor of International Law at Wake Forest University, served as the special legal advocate for the U.S. during this process.  In this podcast, John tells about his 25 years of international advocacy to bring about this historic event of creating the universal human right of a clean environment.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Nearly 40% of the food produced in the United States is never eaten. For Christians called to feed the hungry and care for God’s creation, this is a sobering reality. In this episode, Dr. Pelin Pekgün — global leader and Chair of the Department of Analytics and Information Systems at Wake Forest University — examines why food waste persists and what it costs. She explores its impact on the environment, energy and water resources, and the poor, showing how faith, data, and practical action can address one of today’s most pressing moral challenges.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What if you could track where rain forests are being cut down or plastic is being thrown into the ocean or the migration patterns of endangered species?  Amy Rosenthal and her team at Planet are doing just that, using 100s of drone-like satellites circling the earth, 24 hours a day, capturing these images.  In this podcast you will hear directly from Amy and learn how this cutting-edge technology is providing new tools for caring for God’s creation. To learn more go to Planet.comLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Award-winning Harvard scholar, Sandra Richter, has combined her love for the Hebrew Bible and the earth in a just published children’s book.   In this podcast Richter tells how she came to write Abigail and the Waterfall, a sweet story about a family’s hike into the forest.  Along the way we learn about Scripture, animals in the Appalachian Mountains, and earthkeeping habits of an ordinary family.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Is there anything God can’t do?  Can God lie?  Can God act against God’s own nature?   Best-selling author Thomas Oord answers these questions in this provocative podcast, offering a new way to think and talk about God.  His answers have implications for our prayers, theologies and efforts to care for God’s creation.  You can find Oord’s books, blogs and podcast at thomasjayoord.comLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

David Wheeler, a global theologian who has taught in North and South America as well as in Russia, offers his perspective on the world‘s most pressing problems. From the patterns of human migration to the extinction of insects, Wheeler offers a biblical vision of what God intended and what God wants from us.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

While many Christians consider taking care of the earth as optional for Christian living, Steven Bouma-Prediger does not.  In his book Creation Care Discipleship: Why Earthkeeping is an Essential Christian Practice, he makes a theological, biblical and ethical case for earthkeeping as integral to the Christian faith.  In this podcast, we learn about Steven's work and words with university students at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, taking them on hiking field trips so they can see the beauty of God's world and hear the call of Jesus to keep it beautiful.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Alex Smith spent his formative years as a missionary kid in Southern Europe, a place torn by war and violence.  Today he is a minister, science teacher and award-winning videographer sharing his love for God, neighbor and creation in Atlanta, Georgia.  In this podcast, Alex talks about being a refugee, a minister and a millennial in the world today.  He's understandably troubled by wars, poverty and climate denialism, but he's hopeful about the resourcefulness of people to adapt and make changes in their lives.You can access more of Alex's work on his YouTube channel--youtube.com/@DirtyChristianityYtAlso, if you would like to invest in Alex's upcoming video series on climate you can reach him at [email protected] more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

When it comes to reading the Bible, you might think atheists and Christian fundamentalists are worlds apart. But surprisingly, they often share the same approach: both insist Leviticus must be read in a flat, literal way. For atheists, that proves the Bible is absurd. For fundamentalists, it reinforces their views on morality and sexuality. In this episode, C3 leader Don Gordon takes a fresh look at Leviticus. Drawing on the work of Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis, he explores how this often-misunderstood book points to a holistic life with God — one where food, sex, economics, and even our relationship to the land are woven together in a holy fabric. Along the way, Don shows how Leviticus can actually deepen our care for God’s creation today.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

How can a God who is all-knowing and all-powerful allow such horrors as the Holocaust or COVID-19, tragedies that claimed millions of lives, including those of children? Did they deserve it? Is it simply the cost of human freedom? Or must we accept the mystery of God’s ways? In his twelfth book, God, Pandemics and the Holocaust, Cliff Cain offers a compelling response—one that resonates with those weary of blaming either God or humanity for the suffering witnessed in these defining crises.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

In this podcast, Emily Hull McGee, Senior Pastor at First Baptist on Fifth in downtown Winston-Salem, NC talks about her congregation’s focus on creation care in the summer of 2024.   Revealing theological foundations and practical applications, she offers a model for other churches to give needed attention to this aspect of Christian discipleship.  You can learn more about First Baptist on Fifth at https://firstonfifth.org/  Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Ellen Davis, makes the compelling argument that if you want to understand the Bible you must read it as an agrarian.  The Bible is about land and food, more than it is about a ticket in heaven.  In this podcast, Davis discusses with C3 leader Don Gordon, the message of her highly esteemed book Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

In today's podcast spiritual guide and educator Lauren Graeber talks about her new book After the Flood, created in response to Hurricane Helene. She explores writing as a tool for reflection, healing, and rebuilding in the wake of collective trauma. You can purchase Lauren's book in bookstores across western North Carolina. You can access more of Lauren’s writings at [email protected] or see more of her social media posts on her Instagram account @definitelysometimes.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Kathleen Biggins noticed in 2014 there was a need to talk about climate change in a non-partisan, evidence-based style that drew people in rather than turning them away. So she founded C-Change Conversations.  She is very effective in communicating with those who are skeptical or unconvinced about the need to address climate change.  In this podcast she has a conversation about climate change with C3 leader Don Gordon.Visit her website here:  c-changeconversations.orgLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Wilson Dickinson’s The Green Good News offers a powerful message of hope and joy in a world often overshadowed by violence and despair.The Green Good News contrasts the good news of  Jesus Christ, lived out in covenant community, with the Bad News of the Empire where a few people win and most people lose. Through his writing and example, he inspires us to walk with Jesus in ways that nurture justice, compassion, and shared flourishing for all. You can learn more about Dr. Dickinson, his books and other writings at  wilsondickinson.com.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Christian nationalism is an emerging and growing threat to the church, the country and the creation.  In this podcast, C3 founder Don Gordon explains that Christian nationalism is a distortion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He then shows how a robust narrative and practice of caring for God’s creation becomes the best antidote to Christian nationalism.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What if the Parable of the Good Samaritan could be rewritten so that the good Samaritan did things BEFORE the man was beaten, robbed and wounded which prevented the terrible event from happening in the first place?  This is what Joe Blosser explores in his provocative book “To Love Our Neighbors: Radical Practices in Solidarity, Sufficiency and Sustainability.  Warning: Listening to this could upend some long-held thoughts about helping the poor and vulnerable.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What do you get when you combine a Baptist pastor and Roman Catholic St. Francis of Assisi?  You discover a path that offers hope for reconciliation between ourselves and God, with one another and brother earth.   In this podcast Eric Howell talks his just published book, Under the Francis Tree, inviting us to gaze upon the holy ground where we gather for worship week after week as a witness to caring for the earth and all that is within it. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Pope Francis is the strongest environmental advocate the Roman papacy has ever produced.  Author Clifford Cain tells us in this podcast about his life before the papacy, including his days as a bouncer in a bar.  He discloses Francis' vision of humanity’s relationship to the creation and his call to repent for our lack of real action on climate change.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Tom Nisbett has a PhD in Economics and has hiked the tallest mountains on all seven continents.  In this podcast we hear about the physical and spiritual experiences of these hikes, along with an eyewitness account of the effect of climate change all over the world.  You can get a copy of his just published book, Moving Mountains, detailing these experiences at the bookstore of your choice. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Can a human being do something to make it rain?  Chris Searles would say humans can’t make rain, but trees can.  And we can hydrate trees in a way that accelerates their capabilities in making rain.  The founder of Biointegrity.net, Chris has found success in enhancing a region’s rainfall.  This podcast tells the story of someone who may have discovered a way to cooperate with the natural world to save all of us.  For more information go to Biointegrity.net.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Hildegard was sent to the abbey at the age of 8, a tithe from her devoted Catholic parents to the church.  And what a gift she was.  Mystic, visionary, composer of hymns, and first female scientist in the Christian community, Hildegard was canonized by the Catholic church in 2012.  Listen to Cliff Cain, expert on Hildegard, tell about this 12th century saint from Germany.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Jimmy Carter did more for the environment than any other president in history, including Teddy Roosevelt.  As we reflect on his 100 years of life and leadership, we offer this podcast with Gary Gunderson, who worked for 10 years at the Carter Center in Atlanta.  Listen and learn how President Carter was ahead of his time in many areas, but especially in regards to caring for the earth.Gary Gunderson's website:  garygunderson.netLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Tom Nisbett is a Christian environmentalist, mountaineer, and organizational consultant with a PhD from Texas Tech University.  In this podcast, Tom tells us how he has “walked the Gospel,” hiking up mountains with Jesus across America and around the world.  The spiritual journal documenting these journeys is found in his latest book “Retreat Upward: A Mountain Pathway for the Soul.”Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Francis of Assisi left a life of luxury and privilege in the 13th century to become the leader of young Italian disciples devoted to poverty and simplicity. Author and professor, Clifford Cain, tells the fascinating tale of his life and his eventual canonization in the Roman Catholic church as the patron saint of ecology. You can find all ten of Clifford Cain’s books on many online retail stores.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Now that Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th President of the U.S., what happens to the environment?  We find the answer in two places—his first administration and Project 2025, a blueprint for his second administration.  Listen to C3 Founder Don Gordon highlight some of the polices and positions likely to take place in the next Trump administration.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Why did a hurricane making landfall in Florida have such a devastating impact on those living in the mountains of western North Carolina? That is the question addressed in this podcast by Robert Davies, C3 scientific consultant and physical science professor at Utah State University.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

This episode is the fourth in a series on “Why Care for Creation" and features C3 founder Don Gordon's top ten list on ways we can care for God’s creation today.   Some helpful links in this podcast include: Pulitzer Prize-winning, non-partisan website:Insideclimatenews.orgLink to contact elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officialsLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

How can I walk more gently on the earth?  That is a question Carol Devine asks individuals and faith communities.  A former preschool and kindergarten teacher called by God to connect her faith with her love for the earth, this is the story of one woman on a mission to remind humans to care for the one home God has created.  She is the facilitator of One Home, One Future, a dynamic campaign mobilizing faith communities for creation care. You can find great resources and learn more about One Home, One Future at  https://www.onehomeonefuture.org/Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has $500 billion dollars available to help the country transition to a cleaner economy.  John Morrison, leader of NC Clean Future, wants to help your faith community access these funds.  In this podcast John tells us how this can be done.  You can contact John Morrison at [email protected] more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

What is it like to be the leader of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with 15,000 employees and a budget of $8.1 billion?  Stan Meiburg tells about his "calling" to serve the common good in his 39 year career at the EPA.Currently he serves as the Executive Director of the Andrew Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

This is the third of a four podcast series on Creation Care by C3 Founder Don Gordon. This third podcast presents the scientific models and data that are the root of the ecological crises we face in the 21st century.  We've heard the biblical foundations and natural theological foundations of Creation Care.  Now, we get to hear what the scientists from around the world are saying. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, AR was named C3 Church of the Year in 2023. One of the key environmental leaders at the church is Ann Owen, a long-time lover of God’s Creation. A Georgia native who became a leading Arkansas environmentalist along with her husband Rick Owen, she has helped Second Presbyterian become a role model for other churches in the PCUSA denomination.  You can learn more about the environmental stewardship ministry of Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock at https://www.secondpreslr.org/environmental-stewardship/Learn more about sustainable living at ecochallenge.org.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

This is the second of a four podcast series on Creation Care by C3 Founder Don Gordon. This second podcast lays the natural theological foundations for caring for God’s creation. The first podcast dealt with the biblical foundations.  The third podcast will present the scientific evidence for our current environmental crises, and the fourth will offer practical strategies for individuals and faith communities to care for creation.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Sandy Richter earned a Ph.D in Old Testament from Harvard and taught at Wheaton College, the Notre Dame of the evangelical world. Today she provides a bridge from the ancient texts of Israel to the modern crisis of environmental degradation. A much sought after speaker, teacher and preacher across America and Canada, we are honored to have her for this podcast. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

This is the first of a four podcast series on Creation Care by C3 Founder Don Gordon. This first podcast lays the biblical foundation for caring for God’s creation. Podcasts to come will deal with the natural foundations, the scientific foundations, and practical strategies for individuals and faith communities to care for creation.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

The East African nation of Kenya is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the east and Lake Victoria on the west.  In between there is  Mount Kilimanjaro and the captivating wildlife like lions, elephants and rhinos.  But did you know it’s leading the world in sustainability with net zero emissions?  Sam Harrell, born and raised in Kenya, our podcast guest, talks about his life and work in creating flourishing, sustainable communities in KenyaLearn more here:   africaexchange.orgLearn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

As a young industrial analyst for Electronic Data Systems in Dallas, run by former presidential candidate Ross Perot, Jean Ritok picked up some important mantras like, “Trudge through the snow barefoot to meet the needs of your customer.” Jean learned her lessons well and became an empowerment coach who helped people achieve their goals. She eventually led the Raleigh-Durham chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) to grow from 100 to 2000 members in 7 years. This podcast tells her story of a midwestern Catholic girl becoming an industry leader.  You can communicate with Jean by emailing her at: [email protected] more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

99% of the beef bought in grocery stories is raised in factory farms. These cows are grain fed instead of grass fed through grazing. They are injected with steroids to accelerate their growth and shot with antibiotics to deal with the diseases that come from living in confined spaces.  An environmentally friendly solution is to buy beef from local farms. Tim and Karen Harris own such a farm in Newton, NC and are members of Trinity Baptist Church, where I currently serve as interim pastor. Their beef is delicious.This is their story.You can learn more about or purchase their beef by emailing them at [email protected] more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

The climate is getting hotter in the physical world and the political world.  We are talking louder, but not communicating better. Karen Dougherty wants to cool things down. Her weekly blog Unheating.com is helping do just that. In this podcast, we’ll talk with Karen, a mom who decided to educate herself about climate change and then pass along her knowledge to others.   You can subscribe to her weekly blog by going to Unheating.com.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Amy Brooks Paradise doesn't just talk about climate change.  She is on the front line to change how we deal with climate change.  Amy is the North American organizer for GreenFaith, an international organization committed to averting the climate crisis.  Standing in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, Amy and her army of GreenFaith activists, challenge the banking industry for funding the fossil fuels which are imperiling the future of our grandchildren.You can learn more about Amy and GreenFaith at their website: GreenFaith.org.  And you can email her at: [email protected] more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas was C3’s first “Church of the Year" in 2022. Mike Massar, Associate Pastor of Woodland, tells the story of how their church became the first faith community in San Antonio to receive the Silver Star for environmental sustainability. This recognition led to many young families joining their church, desiring to be in a faith community that cared about the earth.Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

This episode of the C3 podcast  features Catherine Wright, a Canadian Roman Catholic eco-theologian teaching at a small Baptist university in North Carolina.  Dr. Wright talks about Pope Francis' letter to the church, Ladauto Si, calling Christians to care for God's creation as an act of thanksgiving and praise to God.  Dr. Wright is the Executive Director for The Collaborative for the Common Good and Associate Professor of Religion for Wingate University.  You can learn more about her work at thewrightecotheologian.com. Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com

In this episode of Christians Caring for Creation podcasts we will hear the incredible story of a church in rural America producing enough solar energy to meet the needs of every resident in their community.  Dr. Dennis Atwood, pastor of First Baptist Church Mount Olive, NC, talks with C3 Founder, Don Gordon, about this innovative ministry which no one saw coming. Dr. Atwood, having done theological training at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Eden Theological Seminary and Duke University, has served this congregation for the past 20 years. You can learn more about the ministries of FBC Mount Olive by going to their website: https://fbcmountolive.org/See a video about the project here:  https://vimeo.com/723877906Learn more about C3 at ChristiansCaringforCreation.org.Theme music by Christian McIvor - christianmcivormusic.com