Talking with Your Kids about Race and Diversity with Trillia Newbell

On the sixth episode of the Family Discipleship Podcast the hosts (Adam Griffin, Cassie Bryant, and Chelsea Griffin) talk with a special guest, Trillia Newbell, about talking with your family about race and diversity and what it has to do with spiritual leadership. Trillia is an author and speaker in Nashville TN. To learn more about Trillia you can follow her on instagram @trillianewbell and find out more about her ministry at http://www.trillianewbell.com/. Questions we asked Trillia in this episode:What inspired the writing of your children’s books about race and diversity? Were you itching to write them or did someone else ask you to do it? In “God’s Very Good Idea” you say “Everyone you see is different than you, and the same as you.” You’re teaching about the image of God in diverse people. Why is this important for Christian parents to be teaching their kids? How is racial diversity a family discipleship issue? One of the questions you ask kids to consider in “Creative God Colorful Us” is “Why do you think it’s important to love those who don’t look or sound like you?” Can you answer that question for us? Why is that important for our kids?Can you think of examples in the Newbell home where race has been a difficult issue to navigate as you and your husband lead your home? For a lot of parents, racial tension or division in the news is a hard thing to talk about even with their peers. What wisdom could you offer our listeners on processing racism spiritually with their families? What do you say to the parent who is raising kids in a homogenous neighborhood, church, and school? How can they help their family see the beauty in diversity?  Racism and prejudice are sinful, we see that in God’s word. Why do you think parents have such an easier time addressing sins like selfishness, anger, impatience, and lust with our children than we do with addressing prejudice and partiality? If you could go back to when your first child was born and give yourself one piece of advice about the Newbell family’s spiritual life, what would you say? I’m curious about how this conversation has changed in your house for your kids as they reach different ages. You wrote books for different levels, what have the different levels of conversations on this topic looked like in your house? Is there any scripture that you or your family can point to that has been a guide to you in how you’ve led your home spiritually around issues of race and diversity? Before we let you go, would you mind sharing with us, what are the prayers you have for your kids right now? If our listeners want to pray for the Newbells, what can they ask God for on your behalf?Some of our favorite quotes from Trillia Newbell in this episode:Either you’re going to be teaching your children or the culture is going to be teaching your children and we have a choice. So we want to be engaged in what the bible says about people because the world has a different message. We have good, good news. It is good to know that we are all equal in the sight of God. That God has created us all to reflect him. Every person walking this earth has value and worth. It is essential that we are instilling that into our children...It’s of utmost importance, because if we don’t teach them that foundation, how are we going to then teach them about love?  There is evidence of a transformed heart by the way we look and interact with people. It is of utmost importance that we understand that God has created us and that we are commanded to love people who don’t look like us or sound like us. It’s really a foundation of the faith. If you are seeing racism on the news, one thing I wish that we’d all do is learn how to weep with those weep and mourn with those who mourn...We make everything about division or politics when really as families we need to shepherd their hearts and teach them how to pray and how to mourn.I felt valuable because my parents told me I was and no one could take that away. There are so many kids who are walking wounded because of the color of their skin. You have to make the effort to be intentional to enjoy different cultures. You’re not gonna address something with your kids that you haven’t addressed in your own heart. It’s really difficult if you haven’t said, “Ok Lord, where have I failed here? I confess. I repent.”...Parents have to do the hard work of really evaluating their own hearts. We can be apathetic about this topic. If it doesn’t affect me personally then it doesn’t affect me at all. One of the things I realized really early on is that I cannot save my kids. That burden has been lifted. Resources mentioned in this episode:God’s Very Good IdeaCreative God Colorful UsThe Big Wide WelcomeTo keep up with the Family Discipleship Podcast, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. To read more about family discipleship, check out the book Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home Through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Adam Griffin and Matt Chandler. The Family Discipleship Podcast is a Christian parenting podcast from Training the Church.  Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | TwitterOur Sister Shows:Knowing Faith | Tiny TheologiansThe Family Discipleship Podcast is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.