In recent weeks, I have been teasing on Twitter that I have a big announcement to make. Well, here it is: I’m starting a podcast!

The name of the podcast is (A)Millennial. This title is meant to play on two ideas that are important to the show: 1) The Amillennial understanding of eschatology is typical of many Reformed Christians and speaks to the fact that my own theological views lie broadly within the Reformed Protestant tradition. 2) By another understanding of the term, I am a Millennial, a member of that generation which, contrary to popular belief that identifies us with current teenagers, actually sits in the middle of the societal pile in terms of age. We were born somewhere between 1980 and 1994-2000, depending on whom you ask. That means we are at least 20 but more likely 25-40 years old now. We make up a sizeable amount of the workforce, are raising the majority of small children, and are quickly taking up positions of influence in both the Church and society as a whole.

I developed the idea for this podcast after a conversation I had with a friend where I discussed the role of certain Christian organizations today and how we can not only strengthen ourselves in the faith but also pass on that faith to the next generation. You see, Millennials have become rather notorious for walking away from the Christian faith in which they were raised. More than any previous generation, we are ticking the “None” box when asked about our religion. When combined with our embrace of social media and our association with all things “woke,” this has given Millennials a somewhat negative reputation among older Christians, who are concerned about what will happen when the Church is turned over to us.

However, I have personally come into contact with many Millennials who give me great hope for the future of Christianity. Think about it this way: if I am a Millennial, then those who came before me are pre-Millennial and those after me are post-Millennial. It is my task to learn from the wisdom of the pre-Millennials, build upon it, and pass on that legacy to the post-Millennials, most especially my own son. Yes, I became a mother in 2020, and that has influenced my thinking in this area and given me a sense of urgency.

Over the years, and most particularly in 2018, I have struggled with the many philosophical questions raised by our current era, which the philosopher Charles Taylor has famously dubbed “A Secular Age.” We all sense that the world is changing quickly, and sometimes it is difficult to see how traditional, orthodox Christian belief can maintain its relevance. However, I believe it is just as relevant as ever, and I feel the need for a stronger personal faith as well as a Church that can face the challenges of the coming years with confidence and optimism.

There is also another motivating factor for this podcast launch: the past few years of my life have been largely spent within the Reformed tradition of Christianity, whether that be Presbyterian, continental Reformed, or the Particular Baptists with whom I am closest aligned. This has been a time of great growth for me in terms of theological knowledge, friendships, and practical spiritual experience. However, my passion for the Church extends beyond the Reformed world, and this is what I have really discovered this year, particularly as I have been faced with some rather painful controversies in Reformed circles. I am by no means suggesting that sound doctrine is not important, and I would love to introduce more people to the Reformed Protestant tradition of Christianity. But I also have a love for the whole Church of Jesus Christ, even as it extends beyond that tradition.

I myself am not part of a Reformed congregation in any popular sense of that word. My husband and I have been attending a non-denominational church since 2015, before my theological views had moved closer to the Reformed tradition. We are committed to that group of believers: they are our family, even if I might change some things about the church if I had my choice. But a family is not a group of people who agree with you about everything, but a group of people with whom you are connected by birth, and I am connected to that body through the new birth we share in Jesus Christ.

When I began to consider the possibility of doing this podcast, I recognized that I really wanted to produce something to which the congregants at my own church could listen and would find it accessible and helpful. (By no means do I expect them to listen, but I want people like them to have the option!) I have benefitted greatly from diving deep into academic materials and listening to seminary courses, but that is not where most Christians are. Nevertheless, I know that many of them do have an interest in growing deeper in their knowledge of the scriptures and theology. They just need the right resources to take them there.

My vision for the (A)Millennial podcast is therefore to engage a wide variety of Christians in a discussion of theological issues relevant in today’s world. I have no intention of hiding my own views, and I am sure a majority of people I interview will be from the broadly Reformed tradition, even as many of them will belong to the Millennial generation. But I am not going to draw a firm line and refuse to engage beyond that point. I want anyone to feel comfortable listening to this podcast.

So there you have it…The strange confluence of thoughts that caused me to sign up for what I previously had no intention of doing: hosting a podcast. As the mother of a small child, my time is not chiefly my own, so I am going to start with a limited run of just five or so episodes and then add more as the Lord allows.  In each episode, I will interview a Christian author or artist—maybe even two of them together. I very much look forward to interviewing some people you may know and others you will not. Hopefully you will come to appreciate them all.

Hosting a podcast on one’s own is a rather large undertaking, and more so for me since I am much more comfortable communicating through the written word. But if God could teach a donkey to speak, perhaps he can teach me. I won’t lie: I am nervous about this, but I hope it will be beneficial for anyone who listens. I have limited expectations, but simply seek to provide something of value for Christians. Anyone, regardless of gender, nationality, age, or ideological affiliation is welcome to listen.

Look for more updates about this podcast in the near future. I hope to start releasing episodes by the end of this year. Until then, if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at the new public address for this podcast, theamillennialpodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @AmyMantravadi, which is where I spend an inordinate amount of my time.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to learning about Christ together with you.