Mitch Randall

Ten Lessons On my 55th Birthday Curiosity is an invitation into a relationship, one that doesn’t judge but is inquisitive, with the hope of discovery.

@rmitchrandall.bsky.social: "At 55, I find myself knocking on the door of a new phase, thinking more about the generations that will follow me. I genuinely want to leave the world a better place than I found it."

Read more: ow.ly/rZhc50WBZ0R

Ten Lessons On my 55th Birthday Curiosity is an invitation into a relationship, one that doesn’t judge but is inquisitive, with the hope of discovery.

From my column: On my fifty-fifth birthday week, I want to share some thoughts as I inch ever so closer to sixty. These are not some proverbial lessons to live by, but observations I have gleaned over the fifty-five years I’ve been walking on this planet. So, I hope you enjoy them!

The Secularization of Teaching When diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and otherness are defined as wrong, the embrace of the gospel is weakened and learning becomes a thing of the past.

Daniel Andrés Rivera Rosado: Teaching is a holy practice of developing learning communities for the sake of justice, growth, healing, and intentionality. Teaching takes knowledge as a revelatory instrument extended to humanity’s journey and proceeds to a futuristic next.

Grief as Spiritual Formation | Being Present in an Unbearable Present “Go to dark Gethsemane,” the old hymn instructs us and if there is any present we can bear, maybe it’s this one.

Peggy Haymes: Spiritual formation calls us to be present with what is happening in our lives, to be here in this present moment. Yet in grief, “here” is the last place we want to be. How can we be present when the present is unbearable?

Earthbound: God as Be-ing God as Be-ing calls all of creation into life, movement and flourishing. In this divine dance of becoming, we are invited to participate as co-creators in the unfolding of love and life itself.

Grace Ji-Sun Kim: The Earth is crying out from the consequences of climate change. Forests are burning, animals are fleeing or perishing, plants are withering, and vulnerable communities—especially the poor and marginalized—are suffering greatly.

My Faith Compels Me: An Appeal for Love Critics will counter that my theology is too fond of humanism, and that’s a fair criticism. Humanism is the philosophical belief emphasizing the value and agency of human beings. So, if that’s the def...

From my column: Recently, I’ve been asked where my faith is rooted. It’s a fair question for those familiar with my faith journey. I have constructed, deconstructed, constructed again, deconstructed again, and now find myself aligning with one of my favorite emojis.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Psalms of Doom: The Gospel According to Ozzy Osbourne Chris Murphy reflects on how Ozzy Osbourne helped him and his generation navigate the space between the sacred and profane.

Chris Murphy: There’s a subtle irritation that comes from being immersed in a community of shared meaning— centered around an art form that names something true about your experience—only to be met with confusion or judgment by people who just don’t get it. Metalheads know this irritation well.

As Laughter Rises, Tyranny Falls Today is the day the courageous and the faithful step forward, and together we laugh in the face of fear.

From my column: Comedians, like prophets, inspire us to dream of different realities. They offer balm for the anxious and hurting soul, providing an opportunity to stare deep into the eyes of fear—and laugh.

Can the Spirit Change Baylor’s LGBTQ+ Policy? Josh Carney reflects on Baylor's rejection of a grant to study LGBTQ+ inclusion and asks whether the Spirit can change Baylor's stance.

Joshua Carney: How does one, like Huck Finn, decide to accept hell for doing what one thinks is right, even if someone claims that scripture says it’s wrong? Only the Spirit can do that, and only the Spirit can change Baylor.

Gazans Are Dying of Starvation

“There is no one in Gaza now outside the scope of famine, not even myself,” said Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, who leads the pediatric ward at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. “I am speaking to you as a health official, but I, too, am searching for flour to feed my family."

Seven Mountain Mandate | Creating a Christian Media Empire In the final installment of the Seven Mountain Mandate Series, Craig Nash describes how evangelicals have sown seeds of distrust in the media and have created their own media empires.

Craig Nash: Fast forward to 2025, and these religious media empires aren’t just allowed to exist. The Trump administration gives them a free pass at the same time Trump is waging war against their traditional, non-religious broadcast competitors.

Remembering Malcolm- Jamal Warner: Losing Theo Huxtable While the actor went on to star in dozens of other sitcoms, was a Grammy Award-winning artist and a poet, he was a member of “America’s family.” The fictional Huxtables revolutionized American televis...

Starlette Thomas: Like 44 million other viewers, I watched The Cosby Show on Thursday nights. Though it aired from 1984 to 1992, I rewatched episodes of the sitcom just last week.

Liberal Lies are as Damaging as MAGA Lies No verifiable photo currently exists depicting Trump being inappropriate with a teenage girl. I say this not as a defense of Trump, but as a defense of truth.

De La Torre Miguel: In an age of AI-generated fake images, the right and left are lying to achieve political goals through deception, not to save the lives of the vulnerable. And even if they convince themselves that they are lying on behalf of the vulnerable, then they are guilty of paternalism.

Should Racial Epithets Be Reclaimed? Greg Gutfeld, a Fox News host, told conservatives to say, “What up, my Nazi? Hey, what up, my Nazi?” His reason for using the word? African Americans reclaimed the N-word so he could do it too.

Starlette Thomas: Racial epithets are examples of dehumanizing language, which fosters intergroup conflict. It reduces empathetic responses and increases the likelihood of aggression towards the dehumanized group.

Can Loving the LGBTQ+ Community Come With Conditions? Non-affirming theology claims it can hold unconditional love for the LGBTQ+ community, while placing conditions on accepting them into their churches and institutions. Doesn't that sound like a contra...

From my column: Non-affirming theology claims it can hold unconditional love for the LGBTQ+ community, while placing conditions on accepting them into their churches and institutions. Doesn’t that sound like a contradiction at best or hypocritical at worst?

There is Only One Possible ‘Third Way’ for Baylor A “loving and caring community” for LGBTQ+ students cannot coexist alongside Baylor’s current statement on human sexuality.

Craig Nash: The gatekeepers of policies regarding baptism, ministry and marriage are exclusively those who do not believe God affirms LGBTQ+ identities.

Silence In the Face of Deception is a Denial of God We are often told to “speak truth to power.” However, I maintain that power already knows the truth about the lies it spews. Let us instead speak truth to the powerless.

De La Torre Miguel: While scripture condemns deception as a betrayal of God’s call for a covenant community, our current political system rewards falsehood.

“We Are in An Imagination Battle” I don’t want to lose my sight or these visions, compromised by the American empire and its leaders who leave little to the imagination as to their intentions for the marginalized and oppressed. I don’...

Starlette Thomas: I have looked away, averted my gaze, and stuffed lined paper in my mouth. I have picked up my mechanical pencil and put it down. I am unsure of the words that want to come out or even if I have the will to say them.

Too Ashamed to be Proud: Baylor Returns to the Closet Why is Baylor so scared of having conversations with LGBTQ+ students, alumni and churches? Is it because Baylor suspects the results of the research might not make the institution look like the "carin...

After 30 years of being at the forefront of Texas Baptists and earning a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Baylor, here's my honest assessment of what is taking place at Baylor University and its possible connection to a larger development between Baylor, Texas Baptists, and the Baptist World Alliance.

Clock Out: Rest as Resistance to Capitalism EXCERPT: “So, what do you do?” Introductions quickly move from the pleasant exchange of first names to business as usual. Defined by our work, our identity, personal worth, and social currency is dete...

Starlette Thomas: In a capitalist society, we order our lives around a work schedule. We set alarms and create morning and bedtime routines to cater to this third of the day.

House passes tax and immigration bill, sending it to Trump’s desk Republicans passed a mammoth tax and immigration agenda they hope will reshape the U.S. economy and unwind many of the Biden administration’s accomplishments.

If you're still wondering what a dictatorship looks like in America, you're living in one right now.

Good Faith Media Turns Five July marks Good Faith Media’s five-year anniversary. CEO Mitch Randall reflects on the past five years and envisions a bright future for the progressive faith-based media outlet.

Good Faith Media celebrates five years this week, and the best is yet to come!

New lawsuit targets Ryan Walters over social studies standards Thirty-three Oklahomans are suing to stop new state social studies standards, claiming they promote Christianity and were approved in violation of transparency laws.

My partial statement: “As a Christian, I object to Oklahoma’s new social studies standards that require teachers to deceive students by presenting inaccurate information as fact.”

The World Has Become Numb to the Killing of Innocent Civilians in Gaza The death toll in Gaza has risen to more than 56,000 and we have become numb to the killing.

Grace Ji-Sun Kim: The world is becoming numb to the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza. The images are being shared in real time, and so many in the West are ignoring them.

Rev. Randall v. Walters - Americans United

Let's go!

Brave Preaching? Brian Harrington was recently told something he said from the pulpit was “brave.” He reflects on whether telling the truth should be considered a courageous act.

Brian Harrington: Only moments after I finished co-officiating my aunt’s memorial service, the other minister told me that he found the words of my eulogy to be “brave.” I kindly thanked him for what I understood to be a compliment, but the description of my words as “brave” stuck with me.

Adriana Smith’s Story Joins a History of Ethically Flawed Medical Experimentation with African Americans Brain-dead after suffering a fatal stroke and in the early weeks of her pregnancy, the doctors at Emory University Hospital finally turned off the machines after the C-section delivery of her son, Cha...

Starlette Thomas: Brain-dead after suffering a fatal stroke and in the early weeks of her pregnancy, the doctors at Emory University Hospital finally turned off the machines after the emergency C-section delivery of her son, Chance, who weighed less than two pounds.

For my colleagues standing behind this desk tomorrow morning, my prayers go with you. Speak truth and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

The United States abandoned Ukraine, a country invaded by tyrant, but joined in bombing Iran because Israel started bombing them (and after withdrawing from a previously treat because Trump is petty). America has lost its way!

From immigration to Iran, this is feeling more and more like creating opportunities to solidify authoritarianism with Trump as the founder. It has never been about America first; it’s always been about Trump first. Please wake up conservatives before it’s too late!