“My intention is that you too will find a hope that is weathered and wild. A hope that grows in the composted remains of suffering and produces the nourishing fruit of love.” —Jeske

We gathered at Upper House on December 4, 2025, for an evening conversation leading toward hope—an often-unexpected tone when discussing racial justice, a subject that has left many in a state of despair.

Together we explored accounts of believers relating across differences, reckoning with moments when racial justice efforts falter, and considering postures of grace and practices of perseverance.

By the end of the evening, we hope to have wrestled with the question, “Dare we even to hope?”—not a trite or naïve hope, but a hope that is sustainable, weathered, and wild.

About our speaker:

Dr. Christine Jeske is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Wheaton College (PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison; MBA, Eastern University) with expertise in helping people live good and just lives in a multicultural world. She writes and speaks widely on topics of race, work, vocation, faith, and the good life. Her publications include Racial Justice for the Long Haul (IVP Academic, 2025), The Laziness Myth (Cornell, 2020), and numerous other books, chapters, and articles. Before teaching at Wheaton, Dr. Jeske spent a decade in Nicaragua, China, and South Africa working with economic empowerment initiatives. She and her husband have raised chickens, pigs, innumerable weeds, and two wonderful children.

🔗 To purchase the book = https://www.ivpress.com/racial-justice-for-the-long-haul

There is a lot of discussion of "Christian nationalism" in the news today. Most of it is political, with pundits on each side advancing a vision of the United States that they believe conforms to the true spirit of the American founding. The pundits, activists, journalists, and academic sociologists and political scientists will continue to have their say, but this lecture is historical in nature. What did the founders believe about the relationship between Christianity and the American Republic?

Historian John Fea examined the idea of America as a Christian nation, the role the Bible played in the American Revolution, the religious beliefs of the Founders, and how those beliefs may or may not have influenced their work as statesmen. Join us for this critical conversation as the United States gears up for its 250th anniversary next year.

Friday Night Lectures feature three short, engaging talks interwoven with live Q&A, table discussion, and time to connect with others. Attendees will enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres as we reflect on challenging questions of faith, Scripture, and ethics.

John Fea is a Visiting Fellow in History at the Lumen Center and Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He is the author of six books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction, one of three finalists for the George Washington Book Prize.

There is a lot of discussion of "Christian nationalism" in the news today. Most of it is political, with pundits on each side advancing a vision of the United States that they believe conforms to the true spirit of the American founding. The pundits, activists, journalists, and academic sociologists and political scientists will continue to have their say, but this lecture is historical in nature. What did the founders believe about the relationship between Christianity and the American Republic?

Historian John Fea examined the idea of America as a Christian nation, the role the Bible played in the American Revolution, the religious beliefs of the Founders, and how those beliefs may or may not have influenced their work as statesmen. Join us for this critical conversation as the United States gears up for its 250th anniversary next year.

Friday Night Lectures feature three short, engaging talks interwoven with live Q&A, table discussion, and time to connect with others. Attendees will enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres as we reflect on challenging questions of faith, Scripture, and ethics.

John Fea is a Visiting Fellow in History at the Lumen Center and Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He is the author of six books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction, one of three finalists for the George Washington Book Prize.

There is a lot of discussion of "Christian nationalism" in the news today. Most of it is political, with pundits on each side advancing a vision of the United States that they believe conforms to the true spirit of the American founding. The pundits, activists, journalists, and academic sociologists and political scientists will continue to have their say, but this lecture is historical in nature. What did the founders believe about the relationship between Christianity and the American Republic?

Historian John Fea examined the idea of America as a Christian nation, the role the Bible played in the American Revolution, the religious beliefs of the Founders, and how those beliefs may or may not have influenced their work as statesmen. Join us for this critical conversation as the United States gears up for its 250th anniversary next year.

Friday Night Lectures feature three short, engaging talks interwoven with live Q&A, table discussion, and time to connect with others. Attendees will enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres as we reflect on challenging questions of faith, Scripture, and ethics.

John Fea is a Visiting Fellow in History at the Lumen Center and Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He is the author of six books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction, one of three finalists for the George Washington Book Prize.

This compelling memoir shares Calvin Duncan’s journey from incarceration to becoming a self-taught legal advocate, shining a light on justice, resilience, and hope. Phil Haslanger will moderate the conversation.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from the authors, engage in meaningful discussion, and deepen your understanding of hope in the face of systemic injustice.

Calvin Duncan is the founder and director of the Light of Justice program, which focuses on improving legal access for incarcerated individuals. Falsely accused of murder at the age of nineteen, he endured a life sentence without the possibility of parole in Louisiana prisons for more than twenty-eight years. While incarcerated, he became an inmate counsel substitute, or jailhouse lawyer, helping hundreds of fellow prisoners challenge wrongful convictions and unjust sentences. His efforts have contributed to landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Smith v. Cain (2012) and Ramos v. Louisiana (2020). Duncan holds a JD from Lewis & Clark Law School and resides in New Orleans, where he continues his advocacy for those behind bars.

Sophie Cull is a criminal justice reform advocate who has published on the death penalty, life sentences, and prosecutorial misconduct. As a cofounder of The Visiting Room Project, she helped create the world’s most extensive collection of filmed interviews with people serving life without parole. Originally from Australia, she began her career in New Orleans, assisting legal organizations defending individuals on Louisiana’s death row.

Phil Haslanger has had careers in Madison in journalism and ministry. He served on the board of JustDane for six years, an organization that works with formerly incarcerated people. He also volunteers with the Prison Ministry Project, helping with their restorative justice program.

💻 Watch this event on YouTube = https://youtu.be/ZXQ8U_H75ec

What is charisma? Sometimes the word indicates someone who is simply charming, while other times it can imply manipulation. We often use it to describe that undefinable quality of a leader. The role of charismatic figures in American history stretches from early religious revivals to contemporary political movements. Across every era, Americans have turned to those who promise to restore order and meaning by channeling both sacred and secular power. When traditional religious institutions struggle to provide purpose, charismatic figures—both sacred and secular—step into the void, offering followers a sense of divine calling and cosmic significance.

Drawing from her acclaimed book Spellbound, historian Molly Worthen will explored how charisma in secular politics remains more connected to spiritual charisma, as witnessed in the New Testament sense, than we might think—and theological concepts like transcendence and idolatry are more relevant than ever. This lecture, the second in the Dallas A. Willard series presented by the Lumen Center, calls the university community to pay more attention to the spiritual dimensions that underlie much of American history and contemporary culture.

The Dallas A. Willard Lecture is generously supported by Fieldstead and Co.

Molly Worthen is Professor of History at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She writes regularly about religion, politics, and higher education for the New York Times and has also contributed to the Atlantic, the New Yorker, Slate, and other publications. Her most recent book is Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump (Penguin Random House, 2025).

🔗 Learn more about the Lumen Center

https://slbf.org/lumen-center

The “Formed to Lead” event brought together a vibrant community to celebrate the launch of Jason Jensen’s new book, which explores the intersection of spiritual formation and leadership through the lens of Luke chapters 1–4. Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, was joined in dialogue by Tiffany Malloy, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Blackhawk Church.

Together, they unpacked themes from the book, including:

• The inseparability of spiritual formation and leadership for followers of Jesus.
• The democratization of leadership as seen in Luke’s Gospel, where humble, faithful individuals play central roles in God’s story.
• Healthy leadership rooted in character, integrity, and humility rather than charisma or control.
• Discernment as a spiritual practice, with Jason introducing a four-season framework (repentance, baptism, testing, calling) and a metaphor from pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago to illustrate the journey of listening to God’s voice.
• The Examen prayer practice, inspired by Ignatius of Loyola, as a daily tool for reflection and spiritual growth.
• Spiritual authority as integrity rather than positional power, and the importance of recognizing spiritual abuse.
• Leadership development that prioritizes who we are becoming over what we accomplish, with practical suggestions for cultivating formation in teams and communities.

Jason emphasized the importance of communal practices, silence, and spiritual direction in shaping leaders who reflect the gospel in their lives and influence. The event concluded with encouragement to engage with the book not just intellectually, but through prayer, practice, and group reflection.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

Jason Jensen (M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary) is Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. Jason led InterVarsity staff teams in Berkeley, California, for 29 years. He and his wife, Susi, are based in Madison, Wisconsin, where Jason oversees the formation of InterVarsity staff in Scripture, theology, spiritual formation, and prayer. Their two adult children live in California.

ABOUT OUR MODERATOR:

Tiffany Malloy serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Blackhawk Church, where she oversees and leads the expression of spiritual growth of the Blackhawk community. Tiffany earned a B.S.Ed. in Math Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005 and a M.A. in Christian Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2010. Tiffany is married to Jake, and they have four children: Asante, Aly, Ada, and Anaya.

🔗 Link to the book = https://www.ivpress.com/formed-to-lead

This event was recorded live at Upper House on September 18, 2025.

Theologian and biblical scholar J. Richard Middleton joined us at Upper House on September 12, 2025. Middleton will explore the provocative question “Does God command immoral actions?” using the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) as a central example, inviting us to engage deeply with the moral and theological complexity of this foundational text.

J. Richard Middleton is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis, at Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University, in Rochester, NY. A native of Jamaica, he immigrated to Canada for graduate studies and moved to the USA for a teaching position. He is past president of the Canadian-American Theological Association (2011–2014) and the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (2019–2021). Middleton’s research area is Old Testament theology with a focus on creation, suffering, and the ethics of power. He is the author of five books; the most recent are The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 (Brazos, 2005); A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology (Baker Academic, 2014); and Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God (Baker Academic, 2021). He is currently working on two new books, one on the power dynamics between prophet and king in 1 Samuel and the other on the biblical worldview for our troubled times.