In this timely and honest episode of the J29 Coalition Podcast, pastors Vermon Pierre and Darryl Williamson reflect on the tensions of leading gospel-centered churches in an age of political hostility, racial division, and theological drift. Both members of The Gospel Coalition’s Council, Vermon and Darryl share from their experiences pastoring multiethnic churches in Phoenix and Tampa, offering insight into how Christian leaders can form people who are resilient, humble, and shaped more by the Kingdom of God than by partisan ideologies. With wisdom and clarity, they unpack themes like political discipleship, spiritual formation, pastoral courage, and the need for long-term, relational investment in shaping the imagination of the church.
Vermon Pierre is the lead pastor of Roosevelt Community Church, a gospel-centered, multiethnic congregation in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. He is a Council member of The Gospel Coalition and a founding leader in the Surge Network, where he equips pastors and leaders for contextual, justice-oriented ministry. Vermon is widely respected for his theological clarity, missional heart, and commitment to helping the local church engage cultural and political realities with biblical wisdom and pastoral integrity. His book, Dearly Beloved: How God's Love for His Church Deepens Our Love for Each Other, is available wherever fine books are sold.
Darryl Williamson serves as the lead pastor of Living Faith Bible Fellowship in Tampa, Florida, a diverse and disciple-making church committed to gospel proclamation and community transformation. As a Council member for The Gospel Coalition and a frequent national speaker, Darryl brings theological depth and pastoral experience to conversations about racial reconciliation, justice, and kingdom-centered discipleship. His leadership is marked by humility, clarity, and a deep trust in the power of the gospel to unify across division.
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