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Between the Pew
If you’re black in the Presbyterian Church in America there is a good chance you are one of the few if not the only, black person in your congregation. Has knowing that there are so few of us in the PCA ever made you wonder how black people got here in the first place? What makes black people enter a sacred space knowing we will be the minority? What makes us leave the comfort of our black church experience? What makes us stay in the PCA? Remember those times after church on some Sundays after most everyone had gone, sitting on a couple of pews turned around facing each other, laughing, sharing your testimony of triumph and struggle and talking to each other about life? Asking each other questions that you never get to ask and hearing each other’s stories? This podcast is a chance to get to do just that in the same way many of us grew up doing and maybe even still do. A chance to hear stories of how we came into the PCA, and maybe even hearing our own story in someone else’s. Join us each week as we get to know black people in the PCA all across the country and discover their origin story. Welcome to Between the Pew.
Episodes
38 episodes
Meet the Inces | Black Love, Ministry & Marriage in the PCA
Welcome to our Season 4 of Between the Pew. This season will focus on Black love & ministry where we will explore the experiences of five couples as they manage marriage and life in ministry. We will explore the highs, the lows, the pitfall...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:08:53

LDR Weekend 2025 PRE-CAP
Hear Charles and Kellie talk about all the details for LDR Weekend 2025 and find out how to register now! Link for LDR registration: https://aampca.org/conference/
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Season 4
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37:55

Meet The Robinsons | Black Love, Ministry & Marriage in the PCA
Welcome to our Season 4 of Between the Pew. This season will focus on Black love & ministry where we will explore the experiences of five couples as they manage marriage and life in ministry. We will explore the highs, the lows, the pitfall...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:02:51
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AAM Presents LDR 2023: Black Love: The Greatest of these is Love
African American Ministries hosts a weekend conference each year called LDR Weekend (Leadership Development Resource Weekend). LDR Weekend is our annual gathering for African Americans in the PCA and this weekend is an opportunity to connect wi...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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27:04
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Professor Suzanne Bates; My Story and Why I Stay, Part 2
In the second part of this two part episode, Jenell and Kellie continue the conversation with Professor Suzanne Bates. Suzanne is a Licensed Professional Counselor and PhD candidate. She serves as the Assistant Professor of Counseling at Covena...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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45:10
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Professor Suzanne Bates; My Story and Why I Stay, Part 1
In the first part of this two part episode, Jenell and Kellie sit down with Professor Suzanne Bates. Suzanne is a Licensed Professional Counselor and PhD candidate. She serves as the Assistant Professor of Counseling at Covenant Theological Sem...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:04:20
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Vanessa Hawkins; Black Woman, White Seminary... Twice!
In this episode of Between The Pew, Jenell and Kellie talk with Dr. Vanessa Hawkins. Vanessa is the Director of Community Life at Redeemer Lincoln Square in New York. Redeemer LS is a church that is part of the Redeemer network of churches foun...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:17:12
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Haley Williams and the Intersection of Dance and the Gospel
In this episode of Between the Pew, Jenell and Charles get to know Haley Williams. Haley has worked in campus ministry with RUF City Campus in New York for the past three years. Haley talks about her upcoming move to Washington DC, her new mini...
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32:32
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Carine Lewis and the "Forgotten" Black Woman
In this episode of Between the Pew, Kellie and Jenell sit down with Carine Lewis, Women's Ministry Director at Urban Hope Community Church in Fairfield, AL. Carine talks about her Haitian roots, her name, why she decided to attend seminary, and...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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1:10:42
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What's Up With This New Black Culturally Centered PCA Church?
"Planting, in partnership with Perimeter Church and MNA's African American Ministries, Kindred Hope will ignite a movement of black church planting and ministry for and by Black Americans."In this episode of Between the Pew; Jenell, Cha...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:04:14
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The Bible and The Black College Student
Incorporating what he's learned in almost a decade of doing ministry at HBCUs, Rev. Cyril Chavis wrote, "The Bible Explained: A College Student's Guide to Understanding Their Faith." This book explains some of the Bible's most basic and unchang...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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49:05
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BTP Bonus Episode: Why We Must Be Reaching HBCUs
Jenell and Kellie sit down with Cyril Chavis, RUF Campus minister at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard is an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), and, in this episode, Cyril shares his heart for HBCUs and why it is impor...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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1:15:00
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LDR 2022 Recap
It’s been ONE MONTH since LDR! Jenell, Charles, and Kellie wanted to hop on the mic and do a BTP recap of LDR 2022. If you missed LDR and want to hear how it went or if you were there and want to reminisce a little on your time there, check out...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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1:21:23
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What Is LDR, Why Is It Important, and What Can I Expect During LDR 2022!!
LDR IS ON!AAM hosts a conference each year called LDR. COVID set us back in recent years, but, believe it or not, LDR is ON this year! It’ll take place in just a few short weeks, but it isn’t too late to get your affairs in order and joi...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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56:50
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BTP Interview with Iain Coston, Justice and Neighborhood Manager, Redeemer Eastside, New York, NY
In this SEASON 2 FINALE, Jenell Chavis and Kellie Brown chat with Iain Coston. Iain is the Justice and Neighborhood Manager at Redeemer Eastside in New York, NY. In this episode, Iain talks about growing up biracial in San Francisco, struggles ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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1:23:29
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BTP Bonus Episode Part 2: A New Leader, A New Black Church, A New Beginning
In part 2 of this bonus episode, Wy Plummer passes the baton to Charles McKnight, the new African American Ministries Coordinator. Charles talks about how he came into this role, the vision and goals he has for AAM moving forward, and how you c...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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1:01:01
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BTP Bonus Episode Part 1: A Farewell To Wy
In part 1 of this bonus episode, Jenell Chavis, Kellie Brown, Charles McKnight, Howard Brown talk with Wy Plummer about his experience serving as the Coordinator of African American Ministries for the past 22 years. Wy shares how he landed in t...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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38:50
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BTP Interview with Devin Coleman, Pastoral Intern, Columbia Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC
Jenell Chavis and Charles McKnight get to hear from Devin Coleman. Devin is the Pastoral Intern at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC.In this episode, Devin talks about growing up in the small town of Pageland, SC, life as a pr...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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56:37
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BTP Interview with Ashley Williams, Ministry Coordinator, Grace Mosaic, Washington, D.C.
Jenell Chavis and Kellie Brown chat with Ashley Williams. Ashley is the Ministry Coordinator at Grace Mosaic PCA in Washington, D.C. In this episode, Ashley talks about growing up in an all-white church in the south, her decision to...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:14:45
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BTP Interview with Denine Blevins, Executive Director, Parakaleo
Kellie Brown and Charles McKnight sit down with Denine Blevins. Denine and her husband live in Huntsville, Alabama. Denine is the Executive Director of Parakaleo, an organization that trains, supports, and values women in church planting. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:05:56
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BTP Interview with Anthony English, Assistant Director, Mission to the World, West Coast
Charles McKnight and Jenell Chavis chop it up with Anthony English. Anthony and his wife and children live in Sacramento, CA. Anthony is the Assistant Director of the West Coast Hub of Mission to the World (MTW).In this episode, Anthony ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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59:26
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BTP Interview with Candace Robins, Assistant Music Director at Redeemer Church PCA in Jackson, MS
Kellie Brown and Jenell Chavis chat with Candace Robins! Candace is a Partner Services Coordinator at Jackson Leadership Foundation and is also the Assistant Music Director at Redeemer Church in Jackson, MS.In this episode, Candace talks...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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54:39
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BTP Interview with Alicia Akins, Author of Invitations to Abundance
Jenell Chavis and Charles McKnight get to know Alicia Akins! Alicia is a published author, she works for the Fulbright program, and she is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary in D.C.In this episode, Alicia talks about living in As...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:02:55
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BTP Interview with Jerome Douglas, Pastoral Intern at Christ Community PCA in Hartford, CT
Charles McKnight and Jenell Chavis sit down with Jerome Douglas. Jerome is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando, works full-time in brand marketing, and is a pastoral intern at Christ Community PCA in Hartford, Connecticut. Jerome...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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45:00
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BTP Interview with Shanez Padgett, Director of Worship at Christ Community PCA in Batesburg-Leesville, SC
Jenell Chavis and Kellie Brown get to know Shanez Padgett. Shanez is the Director of Worship and Media Arts at Christ Community Church in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. Shanez shares the sequence of events that led him to this position an...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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53:48
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