Podcast

Prayer amid Pandemic

A Reformed Black Pastor’s Observations on a Pandemic and Racism

The Spanish influenza was afflicting everyone—regardless of skin color.

The Presbyterian minister Francis Grimké was born in 1850. His father was a slaveholder and his mother was enslaved. While Grimké was still young, his father died of the yellow fever epidemic, and although his father had tried to preventatively take care of his family before he passed, the death catapulted Grimké and his siblings’ childhoods into hardship and mistreatment.

After the Civil War concluded in 1865, an academic mentor helped him relocate to Philadelphia, where Grimké began pursuing ministry. A staunch proponent of Reformed theology, Grimké also spent much of his ministry involved in the battle for civil rights for African Americans.

On this episode of Prayer amid Pandemic, Eric Washington, an associate professor of history and the director of African and African Diaspora Studies Program at Calvin University, shared how Grimké spoke out about the evils and folly of American racism during the Spanish flu pandemic.

This week’s prayer is from Amanda Jackson, the executive director of the Women’s Commission at the World Evangelical Alliance.

Read Christianity Today’s latest coronavirus coverage

What is Prayer amid Pandemic? Read more

Rate Prayer amid Pandemic on Apple Podcasts

Follow the podcast on Twitter

Follow the host on Twitter: Morgan Lee

Music by Urban Nerd Beats, Prod. Riddiman, and Oliver Dúvel

Prayer amid Pandemic is produced by Morgan Lee, Mike Cosper, and Erik Petrik

Our Latest

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Why ‘The Screwtape Letters’ Is Uncomfortable to Watch

The two-actor play uses C. S. Lewis’s classic work to warn people—especially Christians—about the dangers of lukewarm faith.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Tiffany Loftin: How Everyday People Win Big Change

A conversation about the challenges of sustaining joy while fighting injustice.

Public Theology Project

A Real Revival Is Not Controllable 

It implies a movement of the Spirit, not just a boost in numbers.

From Our Community

For Vince Bacote, the Black Evangelical Story Has Something for Everyone

The theologian behind a recent documentary on what compelled him to tell a challenging and beautiful story.

Tribalism Comes with a Warning Label

When tribalism turns us inward, we live like the rest of the world apart from the gospel.

Excerpt

Shutdown Highlights Challenges in Rural Health Care

Small-town doctors grapple with looming budget cuts and lack of support.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube