For Christians, the coffee shop has housed anything from mentorship/discipleship meetings to sermon preparation.…
Missional. Black. Gentrifiers?
What if the plight of the poor, urban minority neighborhood is alleviated by middle-class missional minorities?…
Greenleaf and Gospel Music
At its best, gospel music is a soundtrack of hope despite life’s trials and tribulations.…
When Prayer Doesn’t Work
Prayer is meaningful action. In its expression of faith, it actually informs the next steps we take.…
Tone Police—Serve and Deflect
I am not ruled by my anger because I get angry at constant injustice.…
Black and Believable
You are heard and your cries are not falling on deaf ears. The true and living God does not sleep nor does he slumber in the face of injustice.…
On Black History: From Platitudes to Participation
It has often been remarked that American history has undergone a vigorous “whitewashing,” whereby contributions of minorities (namely black people) have largely been overlooked or flat out disregarded…
Naiveté, Nuance, and Narratives: Grieving Tyre King
I woke up the morning of Sept. 14 to a text that a 13 year old boy was shot dead by police in my city. Considering that there is so much to process within the short statement: “a 13 year old boy shot …
Black Lives Matter and Adoption
The recent shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille has given us cause to revisit the commentary on racism and police brutality towards the African American community. Many of us are trying t…
Hype, Hope, and Hip Hop
“Chance the Rapper’s ‘Coloring Book’ Is a Gospel Rap Masterpiece” reads the headline for a recent article from Rolling Stone Magazine. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Rolling Stone is sprinkling com…
Adding Friends in the Faith
About 7 years ago, I started seriously considering the beauty of diversity in the church. I’d begun to develop a myriad of distant discipleship influences from different theological persuasions. I sta…
Hostages to Homogeny: Why I’m Done with “Racial Reconciliation”
Taelor Gray gives a sharp rebuke to some Evangelicals’ indifference and insincerity towards race relations, and uses James 2 to argue for change.…
The Sell Out: Abandonment and the “Black Church” Tradition
For Taelor Gray, acting on a desire for a multicultural worship experience led to passive persecution from others in the black church. He highlights a similar situation between Apostles Paul and Peter…
Being Found Faithful in Charleston
In this article, Taelor Gray offers some poignant reflections on the Charleston tragedy.…
Clearly, We Are on the Same Page
In this article, RAAN contributor Taelor Gray, discusses the role of social media in the Walter Scott shooting and our nation’s need for God’s Spirit.…
Forgiveness: A Preemptive Pursuit
This week’s Monday Meditation deals with a silent, internal assassin in Christendom—forgiveness.…
The “God Aesthetic”
“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will n…
Family Talk: The Nature of Christian Disagreement
Scenario: Christian A meets Christian B for lunch. Small talk ensues, with the discussion ranging from Lebron’s Batman mask to being persuaded by their wives to get a minivan after the second kid. Bot…