Community is on all of our minds during this time of social-distancing in order to help flatten the curve of the spread of coronavirus. Fittingly, Bob and Chris connect with the founders of Reality Ministries, a highly relational, Christ-centered community of persons with and without disabilities in Durham, NC. Jeff and Susan McSwain share the theological convictions which led to and have been gathered from the creation of a community of mutuality and presence. Episode features new communal worship music from the Meek Squad.
Jeff and Susan McSwain are the founders of Reality Ministries, in Durham, NC (founded 2007). Reality Ministries fosters friendships amongst people of all abilities marked by mutuality, authenticity and the reality of Christ’s love for all.
Susan currently serves as the Executive Director. Jeff is the Theologian in Residence. He has published various articles and two books, Movements of Grace: The Dynamic Christo-Realism of Barth, Bonhoeffer and the Torrances (2010), and most recently ‘Simul’ Sanctification: Barth’s Hidden Vision for Human Transformation (2018).
Keen to stay at the interface between systematic theology and practical ministry, in the last ten years Jeff and Susan have helped plant a new church and launch the North Street Neighborhood, an intentional community (17 houses) near downtown Durham where people of various abilities share life together.
Our interview mentions an article Chris wrote years ago about the beginnings of the North Street Community. Please consider supporting Reality Ministries financially during this tough time.
Featured music: The Meek Squad consists of Sloan Meek, Suvya Carroll, and Lee Anderson (of Look Homeward, featured on RTNT 15). This highly collaborative musical product grows out of the creative soil of worship, prayer, and community of Reality Ministries and the North Street Community. The album is produced by Daniel Levi Goans (of Lowland Hum, featured on RTNT 13), and engineered by Jeff Crawford (of Arbor Ridge Studios, featured in RTNT 5 and RTNT 14).
Bandcamp (release date: 3/27/20)
Episode theme music: Jesus Said by David Childers
Episode edited by Gary Fletcher.
Episode produced & hosted by Bob Crawford & Chris Breslin.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy these similar RTN Theology episodes:
RTN Theology #11 w/Stanley Hauerwas
RTN Theology #14 w/Music from the Gathering Church
RTNT Theology #16 w/ the Porter’s Gate Worship Project
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