Introducing Credible Witness
Introducing the premiere season of Credible Witness, exploring stories of Christian faithfulness and the courage to listen.
Episode 7 | September 15, 2025
"When we think about Jesus proclaiming the good news, my deep desire is that this good news would be a comprehensive good news."
Ep. 7 | Walter Kim on the Impoverished Gospel, Belonging, and Public Faith
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In a world where the church’s credibility is in question, we share stories that still bear witness to Christ’s radical love, resilient hope, and transforming justice.
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Staying with Jesus When the Church’s Credibility Is at Stake
In the premiere episode of Credible Witness, host Nikki Toyama-Szeto is joined by theologian and public historian Jemar Tisby and pastor and scholar Mark Labberton to explore how the witness of the church has become compromised—and what might restore its credibility. -
History, Justice, and the Gospel of Courage
Jemar Tisby uncovers the deep spiritual and historical meaning of place, memory, and justice. From the haunting beauty of the Mississippi Delta’s cotton fields to the riverbank where Emmett Till’s body was found, Tisby shows how place carries history—and how Christians are called to remember truthfully, confront complicity, and pursue justice with courage. -
A Woman in Evangelical Leadership
Tara Beth Leach, pioneering female pastor, recounts her calling, opposition, and perseverance. From historic pulpits to painful smear campaigns, she navigates sexism, criticism, and hope. In conversation with Nikki Toyama-Szeto, she offers a redemptive vision of the church rooted in Jesus’s enduring belief in his people and the mission of God. -
Olympian Leadership, Heritage, and Identity
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado—Olympian and CEO of Compassion International—shares his journey of faith, identity, and leadership. From growing up across continents to leading the Willow Creek Association and serving global churches through Compassion, Mellado reflects on belonging, diversity, and what it means to be known and loved. His story challenges listeners to rethink church, embrace identity, and rediscover the credibility of the gospel today. -
Curiosity, Community, and the Beauty of the Church
This episode of Credible Witness with Nikki Toyama-Szeto features Mark Labberton reflecting on the credibility of the church in today’s fractured culture. Drawing on his pastoral experience in Berkeley, his leadership at Fuller Seminary, and his response during the AIDS crisis, Labberton challenges listeners with the urgent question: Will the church live its peculiar Jesus-centered identity? Themes include Schleiermacher’s “cultured despisers,” the scandal of small-making, public credibility, curiosity, and the Rethinking Church Initiative.
About Credible Witness
Credible Witness is a weekly podcast exploring what it means to live out an authentic faith in today’s world. Each episode features a compelling story of a Christian leader navigating social tension and personal sacrifice in pursuit of their calling to follow Jesus. Hosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto, executive director of Christians for Social Action, the podcast invites listeners to listen with courage and imagine a more credible church—rooted in love, truth, and communal hope.
