How do you sustain your faith when injustice arrives at the intersection of race, culture and theology? Intersections with Phil Allen, Jr. addresses this challenge in this week’s episode, “The Latinx Lens: Keeping Faith in the Face of Injustice.” Joining us for this lively conversation is our guest, Inés Velásquez-McBryde, who describes herself as “a pastor, reconciler and imperfect follower of Jesus.” More specifically, McBryde is Chaplain at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, and received her Master of Divinity degree from Fuller’s School of Theology. She is also co-founder with Pastor Bobby Harrison of The Church We Hope For, a southern California-based church which continues its growth and outreach online in spite of the global pandemic.
Equally assured in her voice and her faith, McBryde was introduced to injustice early in life. Working in her youth as a translator for American missionaries in her native Nicaragua, McBryde saw first-hand the debilitating impact of systemic racism. In “The Latinx Lens: Keeping Faith in the Face of Injustice,” McBryde discusses her background as a Nicaraguan-American, her commitment to her faith and shares the tools she uses to battle injustice whenever and wherever it appears. In a journey punctuated by trauma and shattering revelations within her faith, McBryde continues to represent herself and her faith as a woman, as Latinx and a woman of color, and as a leader with a voice and vision.