Jude 3 Project

When we hear about pastors falling, we often focus on the scandal. But what if the warning signs were there long before the headlines?

In this eye-opening conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with author and CEO of Whole Brother Mission, Dr. Maliek Blade to unpack the complex relationship between personality disorders, emotional health, spiritual authority, and church leadership.

Together, they explore:

• Why the word "narcissist" is often misused—and when it actually applies
• The difference between narcissistic traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• How emotionally unhealthy leaders create spiritually unhealthy churches
• Why gifted preaching can hide destructive character
• How untreated mental health issues can lead to spiritual malpractice
• Why churches reward charisma instead of emotional maturity
• What healthy accountability should actually look like

This conversation isn't about diagnosing people from a distance. It's about giving Christians the wisdom to recognize unhealthy leadership, protect vulnerable people, and build churches that reflect the character of Christ.

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

 

What happens when the people who helped shape your faith become the very people who wound it?

In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with Rev. Dr. Brianna K. Parker to discuss the reality of church hurt, leadership failures, betrayal, and the difficult question many believers are asking: Is it still worth staying?

Rather than offering easy answers, they explore what it looks like to pursue healing instead of bitterness, why social media often rewards outrage over restoration, and how to hold onto Jesus when people let you down.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
• Why church hurt doesn't have to define your faith
• The difference between accountability and revenge
• Why healing is harder—and more valuable—than building an identity around pain
• How to discern whether it's time to stay, leave, or simply let go
• What faithfulness looks like in a culture obsessed with calling people out

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

Church scandals don't just make headlines—they shape how entire generations view faith, leadership, and the Church itself.

Why do older and younger Christians often respond so differently when pastors fall? What does true accountability actually look like? And can the Church pursue both justice and restoration without sacrificing either?

In this episode, Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Cynthia James for a thoughtful conversation on the growing trust gap between generations, the impact of pastoral failures, independent accountability, trauma-informed care, and why rebuilding credibility requires more than public apologies.

Whether you've wrestled with disappointment in church leadership, wondered how restoration should work, or simply want to better understand today's conversations around faith and integrity, this episode offers wisdom, nuance, and hope.

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

Lisa Fields and Dr. Vincent Bacote wrestle with one of Christianity's most uncomfortable questions: what do you do when one of your heroes is racist?

Using Abraham Kuyper as a case study, Dr. Bacote shares how discovering the theologian's racist writings forced him to wrestle with whether profound theological insights can be separated from serious moral failures.

Together, they examine:

• Why we put Christian leaders on pedestals
• The psychology behind the "halo effect"
• How hero worship fuels disappointment and cancel culture
• Whether we should reject everything a fallen leader taught
• Why Jesus—not any pastor, theologian, or celebrity—is the only perfect hero

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

 

In this honest conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Esau McCaulley to discuss the difficult reality of fallen leaders, public scandals, and the impact they have on those who looked up to them.

Drawing from Lisa's book When Heroes Fall, they explore what Scripture teaches about accountability, grace, trauma, healing, and the danger of confusing gifting with character. Together, they wrestle with questions many believers face:

• Can someone do genuine good and still cause great harm?
• How should Christians respond when trusted leaders fail?
• What does biblical accountability actually look like?
• How do we process disappointment without losing our faith?

This conversation offers a thoughtful framework for navigating grief, disillusionment, and healing while keeping our eyes fixed on Christ—not human heroes.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

When a leader falls, why does it affect us so deeply?

Lisa Fields sits down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Stacie Otey Scott to unpack the emotional, spiritual, and psychological impact of hero failure. Together, they explore how unresolved trauma, misplaced expectations, and unhealed wounds can shape the way we respond when people we admire disappoint us.

From forgiveness and accountability to restoration and healing, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone struggling with betrayal, church hurt, broken relationships, or the fallout of a fallen hero.

Together they unpack:
• Why we place people on pedestals
• How trauma influences our reactions to disappointment
• The difference between accountability and punishment
• Why forgiveness is essential for healing
• How unresolved pain can shape future relationships
• What true restoration really looks like

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

What do young people really think about Christianity?

At Jackson State University, Jude 3 Project's ASK Initiative brought students and scholars together for an honest conversation about faith, doubt, suffering, sexuality, science, church hurt, and the reliability of the Bible. No question was off limits.

Featuring Lisa Fields, Dr. Quonekuia Day, and Damon Richardson, this discussion creates space for the questions many people are asking but few are willing to discuss openly.

Whether you're wrestling with faith, exploring Christianity, or looking for thoughtful answers to difficult questions, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

What does it mean to be Black and evangelical?

Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Vincent Bacote to explore the history, tensions, and contributions of Black evangelicals in America. From the legacy of leaders like John Perkins and Tom Skinner to the ongoing challenges of faith, belonging, and justice, this conversation uncovers a story that is often overlooked but deeply important.

They discuss:
• The origins of the Black and Evangelical documentary
• How the meaning of "evangelical" has changed over time
• The unique experience of Black evangelicals in predominantly white spaces
• Why faith must connect belief with action
• Lessons from church history that still matter today

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

In this episode, host Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Esau McCaulley to unpack the tension people feel around Paul’s writings on slavery, gender, sexuality, and biblical authority — while confronting the ways Scripture has been misused throughout history.

Is Jesus the loving Savior while Paul is the strict legalist? Dr. McCaulley breaks down the distinct cultural contexts of Jesus's and Paul's ministries to explain why their approaches and audiences were so different.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

In this powerful conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. JP Foster to unpack the pain, distortion, and truth surrounding faith in the Black community. From the slave Bible to Christian nationalism to deconstruction to liberation, this episode explores how the gospel was misused—and how Jesus still brings freedom, dignity, and hope.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/