Faith Against Stigma Podcast
Faith Against Stigma is a national campaign spearheaded by the HIV and Faith Ambassadors program of the Black Faith and HIV Movement at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. We aim to end all HIV-related stigma by dismantling harmful narratives and promoting wellbeing within and beyond the walls of our faith communities. This campaign will include proper webpage assets, graphic assets, public relations, social media content, and podcast content.
Faith Against Stigma Podcast
Episode 3: Starting the Process of Re-learning
Faith Against Stigma Episode 3
In Episode Three of the Faith Against Stigma Podcast, Apostle Gloria Samuels, Senior Pastor of Great Commission Community Church, Inc. in Winston-Salem, and Buddist Monk, Heiwa No Bushi, Co-Director at Wat Thepnimit Mediation Center, discusses the process of critiquing their faith and the process of re-learning.
Featured Guests:
APOSTLE GLORIA SAMUELS-LEAK is Senior Pastor of Great Commission Community Church, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC. Under her leadership, the ministry is transforming lives by empowering communities and offers various ministries designed to touch the total person spirit, soul, and body. Samuels’ education allowed her to have the opportunity of 14 years in the Health Care Industry, and nine years as Director of Sales for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She has a love for entrepreneurship owning her own boutique for over 17 years. Her ministry focuses on strengthening relationships but she has a passion for women, youth, marriage, family and interpersonal healing.
HEIWA NO BUSHI is a Buddhist Monk and Co-Director Wat Thepnimit Mediation Center. He is a former Christian minister, having served in the Christian denominations of Southern Baptist, Missionary Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and Church of God (Anderson, IN). He has advanced degrees in philosophy and systematic theology. He also received training in both Mahayana and Daishin Zen Buddhism. Heiwa no Bushi places his teachings under the moniker of “BodhiChristo,” which means “enlightened Christ,” an amalgamation of the two rich streams of Buddhism and Christianity. Here he describes the arc of his journey until the present.
The COMPASS Initiative® Faith Coordinating Center, at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, focuses on educating and preparing ministry and nonprofit leaders to address HIV and faith in the Southern US. Through the Center, the Black Faith & HIV Initiative is a signature program of the School of Divinity and works to empower faith communities to address HIV and other health disparities and promote whole-person wellbeing.