A Christian lawyer defends a Somali Muslim accused of piracy

When is a pirate not a pirate?  That’s the question posed in a November 2013 article in the LA Times about the arrest and trial of Ali Mohamed Ali, an accused Somali pirate.  Mr. Ali, as he’s known, was recruited by Somali pirates to negotiate the payment of a ransom and the release of hostages when the cargo vessel CEC Future was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in 2008.  After successfully serving as a mediator, Mr. Ali was lured into the US by US authorities with a bogus invitation to attend an education conference, and arrested and detained for 30 months leading up to his 2013 trial.   What makes the case even more fascinating is that Mr. Ali, a Muslim, was represented pro bono by Matt Peed, a Christian attorney from Clinton Brook & Peed in Washington, DC.  Matt joins us to talk about the case and share insights he gained over three years defending Mr. Ali.

A call for us to get out of our comfort zone and meet people who are different from us.

Finding a passion for defending those who need a voice and in turn advancing God's Kingdom.

Full interview with Matt Peed from Clinton Brook & Peed.  (This may take 30 seconds or so to load.)

For more information:  Clinton Brook & Peed Website

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Opening and closing music by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace Is Enough

Retired Congressman Frank Wolf’s fight for human rights and religious freedom around the world

Today we’re hosting former Congressman Frank Wolf, who left Congress in 2014 after serving 17 terms (34 years) to focus full-time on his passions of human rights and religious freedom.  Congressman Wolf currently serves as a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative where their mission is to “create a world where religious freedom is recognized by nations across the globe as a fundamental human right.”  Congressman Wolf joins us to talk about his time in Congress, the work he’s doing today (including the development of a Congressional scorecard), and what keeps him driven after so many years of public service. 

The Western Christian church is failing on the issue of religious freedom in many ways including being silent too often in the face of injustice. 

A new scorecard that tracks the votes of Members of Congress on key issues of international religious freedom, and also reveals the silence of their constituents and faith communities. 

The profound threat from Nigeria that no one seems to be talking about. 

If you pray with someone, and pray for them, and break bread with them, it becomes hard to attack each other.

Full interview with Congressman Frank Wolf.  (This may take 30 seconds or so to load.)

For more information:  21st Century Wilberforce Initiative;  International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard

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Opening and closing music by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace Is Enough

A method to produce genuine and lasting racial, political, and religious reconciliation

We live in a country and world characterized by division.  We desperately need a method for reconciliation that tears down the racial, political, religious, and many other walls of division that separate us.  Today, we’re hosting John Slye, Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church in Arlington and Falls Church – a church for people who don’t go to church.  John joins us to talk about the keys to genuine/lasting reconciliation, including an honest assessment of ourselves, proximity to those who differ from us, intellectual effort, and prayer.    

We are wired for comfort, and comfort corrupts.  We need Christ to help us turn outward from ourselves.

A black man becomes the godfather to Klan members' children. 

When faced with aggression, the best option is neither fight nor flight, but standing our ground in peace.  The non-violent approach taught by Jesus has produced major changes like the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement. 

Christianity doesn't crush cultures, it lifts them up and promotes multiculturalism. 

CALL TO ACTION:  Go, cross the divide, and be with someone who is different from you.  One way is to host a gathering over a meal where people from differing backgrounds and points-of-view get together, break bread, and share their experiences.  Here's an example focused on racial reconciliation.   

Full interview with John Slye, Senior Pastor at Grace Community Church.  (This may take 30 seconds or so to load.)

For more information:  Grace Community Church Website;  Tables for 8

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Opening and closing music by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace Is Enough

Reconnecting homeless people with their loved ones via video messages and social media

Ask yourself, where would you be without family and friends?  The answer, too often, is homeless and possibly on the streets.  Miracle Messages helps people experiencing homelessness to record short videos for their long-lost relatives.  They use social media and volunteers to locate their loved ones and try to deliver the messages as a way of reuniting families.  Restoring those relationships at the beginning of a recovery process is the goal, and they hope to unite 1% of the world’s homeless population with their relatives by 2021.  How cool would it be to use our cell phones not only for texting and selfies but also as a tool to help end homelessness and help our neighbors in need.  Today we’re joined by Kevin Adler, the Founder and CEO of Miracle Messages.  Kevin joins us to share how this idea came about, some stories of family reunions, and how they plan to reach their audacious goal. 

Don't be afraid to engage your neighbors.

Look at the homeless as someone's brother or sister or mother or father, not as people who don't have housing. 

The story is the same over and over again.  The homeless don't realize they are homeless when they lose their housing but rather when they lose the family and friends that can help them.   

Full interview with Kevin Adler, the Founder and CEO of Miracle Messages.  (This may take 30 seconds or so to download.)

For more information:  Miracle Messages; Messages from Janette, Jeffrey, and Eddie; Reunion videos

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Opening and closing music by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace Is Enough

Dramatically improving the lives of prisoners and their families - Part 2

Our criminal justice system is broken.  We lock up way too many people in awful conditions; we generally don’t help them rehabilitate and heal; our prisons seem to drain the life out of inmates and train them in new forms of criminal behavior; and the majority of those released commit more crimes and return to prison.  James Ackerman, the President and CEO of Prison Fellowship, joins us to continue our conversation about improving the lives and futures of prisoners, former prisoners, and their families.  Prison Fellowship is active in 449 U.S. prisons and jails, and offers intensive year-long programs in 76 of those facilities across 23 states.  The non-profit estimates that it serves 25,000 prisoners each month, and impacts 200,000 unique inmates per year.  Prison Fellowship also operates the Angel Tree program where volunteers purchase and deliver Christmas gifts on behalf of parents who are incarcerated, providing gifts to 291,000 children last year alone.

Consider being a church that welcomes people coming out of prison and helps them integrate back into the community. 

When a man or woman goes to prison it often has a devastating impact on their family.

The warden at a Supermax prison takes the time to get to know his prisoners.

Incarceration should be restorative in nature.  Here's a program that improves prison culture while preparing people to return to society. 

Part two of the full interview with James Ackerman, Prison Fellowship's President and CEO.  (This may take 30 seconds or so to load.)