The ProGrace Podcast

ProGrace International

5.0 (6)
CHRISTIANITY

If you don’t feel at home in either pro-life or pro-choice, explore new, nonpolitical ways to think about abortion. Instead of asking, “Should abortion be legal?” let’s ask, “How do we make this a human issue?” I invite trusted faith leaders to join me in discussing how Jesus put people first and how we can, too. Join us and discover how to look at the issue through a lens of empathy and avoid political rhetoric.

11/19/2024

Michael Wear: Moving Forward Post-Election as Christians

Michael Wear joins Angela for a conversation about how we should move forward after the election as grace-filled Christians. Their discussion dives into how to make the most of this moment by offering a positive vision for life: not just fending off the bad but pursuing the good. How can we tap into the grace that God offers each of us to be humble in our interactions and imagine positive possibilities for the future? Guest Bio: Micheal Wear is founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation's capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. He has served as a trusted resource and advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life for the last fifteen years, including as a White House and presidential campaign staffer. Wear previously led Public Square Strategies, a consulting firm he founded that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape. He is the author of "The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life," which argues that the kind of people we are has much to do with the kind of politics and public life we will have. Links: - Follow @ccpubliclife on social media and @MichaelRWear on X - Center for Christianity and Public Life: www.ccpubliclife.org - Michael’s book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life: https://www.michaelwear.com/spirit-of-our-politics

38 min
10/15/2024

Answering Your Questions: Abortion Conversations during this Election Season

In this episode of The ProGrace Podcast, Angela recaps some of our previous guests' most helpful advice as we enter the last few weeks of a contentious election season. Hear from Kaitlyn Scheiss, Skye Jethani, Andrew Hanauer, Christy Vines, Amy Peeler, and Laura McAlpine on ways we can prioritize people instead of politics. Episodes featured: Andrew Hanauer from One America Movement: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148861711 Kaitlyn Schiess, author and speaker: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148628778 Dr. Amy Peeler: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148341917 Skye Jethani: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2148027627 Christy Vines from Ideos Institute: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2147994081 Laura McAlpine: https://www.prograce.org/podcasts/new-conversations-about-abortion-the-prograce-podcast/episodes/2147946246 Conversation guide link: https://www.prograce.org/ndod Leaders Cohort interest list: www.prograce.org/groups

44 min
09/17/2024

Andrew Hanauer: Restoring Unity to a Divided America

Our world seems to become more divided by the day. We are ending relationships over differences in opinion on political matters. How can we restore unity to our families and communities? In this episode, Angela talks with Andrew Hanauer, the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization, about how faith communities and leaders can work to model unity during increasingly divisive times. In Andrew’s words: “politics will not fill the Spiritual holes in our lives,” but he believes that Scripture holds the answers we seek. Many of us feel that we can have little or no impact on culture or politics, but we have a lot of impact within our communities. Can we work together in the places where we can make an impact and effect meaningful change? How can our faith communities meet our needs so that we do not need to turn to political groups to find our identity? Guest Bio Andrew Hanauer is the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization. One America supports faith leaders and faith communities to reject toxic forms of division and offer a moral vision that transcends our divisive and disconnected culture. Under Andrew’s leadership, the One America Movement has become one of the largest and fastest-growing organizations combating division in American society, quintupling in size in the past three years. Andrew is a frequent public speaker at houses of worship of all kinds and has represented One America before gatherings of the National Governors' Association, Americorps, Points of Light, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and many more, and podcasts as wide-ranging as Fuller Seminary and Islamic Relief USA. His work has been published or featured by USA Today, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Salon, the Christian Citizen, and media outlets across the US. When he is not fighting toxic polarization, Andrew is spending time with his family, coaching little league, rooting for the Golden State Warriors and Arkansas Razorbacks, and participating in small groups at his church. Links Download the ProGrace Conversation Guide: https://www.prograce.org/about One America Movement website: https://oneamericamovement.org/ One America Movement Substack: https://oneamericamovement.substack.com/

41 min
08/20/2024

How to navigate political divisiveness around abortion: hope, encouragement, and answers with Angela Weszely, CEO of ProGrace

Things are heating up politically and socially as the United States prepares for a presidential election, and abortion is on everyone’s minds and ballots. You may be feeling overwhelmed, worn out, or stuck. What is Jesus asking us to do when it comes to abortion, and how should we, as Christians, behave during the politically divisive season we are in now? In this episode, Angela Weszely speaks from the heart about what this tense climate means for us as Christians, how we can engage in a way that makes people feel safe and represents Jesus, and why we should have hope now that God is working in these divisive times. Answering questions from the ProGrace audience, Angela gives insight into frequently asked questions such as what opinion we should hold on abortion as Christians, how and why men should speak on this issue, and more. Show Notes: Matthew 9:9-13 - The Calling of Matthew Luke 19:1-10 - Zacchaeus the tax collector Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus heals on the Sabbath Matthew 26:6-13 - Woman who anointed Jesus’ feet John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Transform Cohort information & registration: www.prograce.org/groups eBook: www.prograce.org/ebook Submit your questions and difficult topics by emailing support@prograce.org

29 min
05/21/2024

Kaitlyn Schiess: How prioritizing Biblical theology and spiritual formation helps us engage politically

In this episode, author and Holy Post co-host Kaitlyn Schiess breaks down what it means to be a politically responsible Christian. As a theologian, Kaitlyn understands both the Biblical importance and limitations of legislation to solve the problems we are faced with, as well as the fine line we must walk between the two. In this conversation, she and Angela break down the questions that many of us have about how to be politically active in a way that respects and reflects our faith, the pull of political parties on our identity, and how to keep our priorities in the right place through it all. What does the Bible say about political involvement? How have past religiously-driven campaigns for legislation solved, or failed to solve, the societal problem they intended to address? Where do Christians belong in political movements and conversations? If you are overwhelmed by constant political messaging, this episode will give you clear direction and answers to some of our most significant political questions. Guest Bio Kaitlyn Schiess is an author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Ballot and the Bible (Brazos, 2023) and The Liturgy of Politics (IVP, 2020), and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Christ and Pop Culture, RELEVANT, and Sojourner. She is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast, and the host of Curiously, Kaitlyn. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School. Links Kaitlyn’s website: kaitlynschiess.com Kaitlyn’s new podcast: http://holypost.com/curiously The Ordinance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP7CFMIttGQ

45 min
04/16/2024

Andrea Leigh Capuyan: How grace and experience shape her work with people during and after unintended pregnancy

Andrea Leigh Capuyan, Executive Director of the LPC in the Baltimore/Washington DC metro area and ProGrace Equip learning community member, discusses how her life experience and grace changed how she and her organization operate. Rejecting industry norms and standards, Andrea has allowed her own experience and faith, as well as the ProGrace community and resources, to guide her toward a more empathetic and loving standard of care in her organization. Andrea faced an unintended pregnancy at 25, not at a time in her life in which she felt capable of raising a child. Her own experiences, both good and bad, with religious pregnancy centers impacted her stance on the goals and methods she would later employ as the Executive Director of LPC. Andrea is uniquely qualified to understand the guilt, shame, and panic that her clients experience and has reimagined her organization's response to unintended pregnancy support. She also has a unique story to tell the church about how we can and must treat people more like Jesus does. Guest Bio Andrea Leigh Capuyan serves on the board of the Center for Steward Leader Studies, and she is the executive director for the Laurel Pregnancy Center (the LPC) - a local counseling-based ministry with limited medical services for pregnancy support care and helping anyone impacted by reproductive loss, and post-abortion grief. The LPC team is centered on Christ, believing that God meets us in life’s most challenging circumstances. The LPC team is an awesome testimony to the power and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding us that our story isn’t over, and in situations of life and death, God resurrects and renews. There is always hope. Links: ProGrace Equip membership for direct service organizations: https://www.prograce.org/pregnancy-orgs ProGrace Transform: https://www.prograce.org/groups Center for Steward Leader Studies: https://www.thecsls.org/ Laurel Pregnancy Center: http://lpcpartners.org/

42 min
03/19/2024

Kristen Lonberger: Valuing Women Within a Christian Pregnancy Center

In this episode, Angela talks to Christian Pregnancy Center COO Kristen Lonberger of Living Alternatives about their center’s desire to treat their clients in a way that is congruent with their faith. They discuss how the practices of traditional pregnancy centers can make women feel shame and guilt, and how the staff at Living Alternatives has worked to ensure that their practices are both ethical and representative of Jesus. Guest Bio Kristen Lonberger is Chief Operations Officer for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center; a faith-based non-profit organization that serves Illinois and Indiana. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University and is working on her Master's in Organizational Leadership. Kristen seeks to empower others and is driven by the purpose of helping people step forward into freedom and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In addition to her role at Living Alternatives, Kristen is the Director of Family Ministries at Christ’s Community Church of the Nazarene in New Albany, IN. Kristen is an avid reader and plant lover; she has been married to her husband, Dr. Carlos Lonberger, since 2003, and they have four sons together. Living Alternatives is committed to providing excellent care, compassionate support, and honest information to those facing pregnancy decisions through authentic relationships that display grace, honor life, and foster community. All services, resources, information, and emotional support are offered at no cost to the client. Links ProGrace Equip membership for direct service organizations: https://www.prograce.org/pregnancy-orgs ProGrace Transform: https://www.prograce.org/groups Living Alternatives: https://livingalternatives.org/ More thoughts on grace from Phillip Yancey: https://philipyancey.com/q-and-a-topics/grace

37 min
01/16/2024

Why I Have Hope for 2024

In this episode, Angela discusses her recent experience participating in the National Day of Dialogue (NDOD) 2024. The event taught practical tools for having more constructive conversations. She explains the ABCs of Constructive Dialogue and how she learned to use them to increase understanding. She also recounts a time she used these skills in conversation with someone who held opposing views and how the conversation resulted in understanding, empathy, and even friendship. This episode will give you the hope and encouragement to navigate this election year and grow your faith in these divisive times. Show Notes: Download our FREE resource guide here: https://www.prograce.org/pl/2148165368 Ground Rules for Justice-Centered Conversations https://www.uraction.org https://www.nationaldayofdialogue.com

40 min

TRAILER

Abortion Conversations Without Politics: Now is the time to reimagine how Christians respond to abortion.

If you don't feel at home in either Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, welcome to the ProGrace podcast. Angela Weszely, CEO and co-founder of ProGrace invites you into a conversation on how to rise above the political divide and develop a compassionate approach. She founded ProGrace to equip Christians with a new way to think, talk, and engage around abortion so we can create safe spaces for conversations. Let's model our approach after Jesus, not politics. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

E1

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32 min

5

out of 5

6 Ratings

If you don’t feel at home in either pro-life or pro-choice, explore new, nonpolitical ways to think about abortion. Instead of asking, “Should abortion be legal?” let’s ask, “How do we make this a human issue?” I invite trusted faith leaders to join me in discussing how Jesus put people first and how we can, too. Join us and discover how to look at the issue through a lens of empathy and avoid political rhetoric.

Creator

ProGrace International
Years Active

2021 - 2024
Episodes

17
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025
Show Website

The ProGrace Podcast