Viral Jesus

This week, Heather introduces you to her good friend Justin Khoe. Justin is a church consultant and a self-taught video whiz who now has over 116,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel. With series like “I’m Listening,” where he sits down with people who hold various opposing views and simply listens, Justin is turning YouTube into a spiritual laboratory for curiosity and understanding. In this episode, Heather and Justin discuss what it really means to be passionate about your calling, how to engage your critics, and things every content creator should know before they start creating. In addition to YouTube, Justin is active on Twitter @jkhoe and has launched a rapidly growing TikTok presence. Also, in the #GrowingViral segment, you’ll meet Benjamin Young. Heather and Benjamin discuss his podcast, Guard the Gift, and how his passions for ministry and education intersect. You can find Benjamin active on Twitter @BJYoung1990. Reach out to Heather Thompson Day on Twitter @HeatherTDay and Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Producer: Loren Joseph Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Heather welcomes pastor, radio host, and social media expert Douglas Bursch. Doug copastors Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, Washington. He earned his DMin from George Fox Evangelical Seminary with a dissertation focused on social media, and he opens up the topic for a lay audience in his latest book, Posting Peace: Why Social Media Divides Us and What We Can Do About It.  In an episode filled with candid insight and inspiration, Heather and Doug discuss online discouragement, platforming, the mystery of Twitter verification, and how to stay “fairly spiritual” even on contentious social networks. In addition to his Fairly Spiritual website, you can find Doug active on Twitter @fairlyspiritual. Also, in our #GrowingViral segment, you’ll meet Joshua Wu. Joshua serves as a vice president for a global communications and data analytics firm. He is also the editorial director for Reclaim, the magazine of the Asian American Christian Collaborative. Follow Joshua on Twitter @joshswu. Reach out to Heather Thompson Day on Twitter @HeatherTDay and Instagram @heatherthompsonday.  Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Hosted and created by: Heather Thompson Day Produced by: Loren Joseph Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Viral Jesus, Heather meets one of her online heroes, Kristina Kuzmic—mom blogger, YouTube storyteller, and author of Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still. Kristina was discovered by Oprah Winfrey in 2011 and crowned the winner of Mark Burnett’s reality-television competition Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star. Now, with over 1 billion video views, Kristina is providing her audience with encouragement, hope and humor in a role she never expected to fill.  Listen in as Heather and Kristina discuss resilience, hope, and knowing your purpose. And follow Kristina’s adventures on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Also, in our #GrowingViral segment, Pastor Aaron Duvall shares about his social media practices. Aaron is the teaching pastor and director of communication at Victory Highway Wesleyan Church in Painted Post, New York, where he resides with his wife, Chera, and daughter, Harper. You can find Aaron active on Twitter. You can find Heather Thompson Day on Twitter @HeatherTDay and Instagram @heatherthompsonday.  Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Hosted and created by: Heather Thompson Day Produced by: Loren Joseph Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This first episode of Viral Jesus, season 1, features Esau McCaulley, author of Reading While Black. Esau is a biblical scholar and assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois. In this episode, Heather and Esau discuss Black interpretation of Scripture, social media, and critics. You can find Esau active on Twitter. Also, in our #GrowingViral segment, meet Dorena Williamson. Dorena is the author of a set of children’s books that help parents introduce conversations of race and faith. Her books Colorfull, Thoughtfull, and Gracefull are books that every parent should have to teach kids how to be thoughtful and colorful rather than colorblind. You can find Dorena active on Twitter. You can find Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today The show was created by Heather Thompson Day Produced by: Loren Joseph Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Viral Jesus is a podcast from Christianity Today about digital communication and the power of social connections. Join author and communication scholar Heather Thompson Day as she dives deep with ministry founders, content creators, and social media thought leaders to find out how they’re starting important conversations online and making their faith go viral. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices