Holy Heretics

This episode features Scott and Jon chatting with Steve Stone. In 2016, Starbucks debuted an original content video series called Upstanders. Upstanders highlighted ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their communities to inspire others to be better citizens. Steve Stone was a featured personality in one of these short story videos. At that time, Steve pastored a United Methodist Church in Memphis, TN called Heartsong. As pastor, Steve challenged his congregation to follow the teachings of Jesus, but then... an Islamic Community Center purchased property across the street from the church and began building a facility. Steve faced a challenge on how to respond to this Muslim community because American Christianity generally calls such groups outsiders. Steve decided that the teachings of Jesus called him to embrace his new Muslim neighbors, not as evangelistic targets, but as equals. Steve encouraged his congregation to do the same. Scott and Jon's chat with Steve is both a