Honoring Origin Stories with Pastor James A. White

We’re thrilled to welcome back Pastor James A. White, who
challenges us to think deeply about the stories we’ve been told —
and the ones we haven’t.


Who decides which stories get remembered and which are forgotten?
How has a Western lens shaped our understanding of the gospel?
And what can happen when we truly honor the origin stories of
everyone — individual cultures, histories, and experiences?


Pastor White believes that our past holds the key to both
understanding the present and shaping a better future. In a world
where truth is often distorted or silenced, he calls us to
reclaim the power of storytelling — to listen well, read with
intention, and resist narratives that erase or exclude.


Drawing from the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, Pastor
White highlights how Jesus intentionally crossed cultural divides
to connect with and honor another’s story — a powerful example of
wisdom, humility, and compassion.


The conversation calls for greater humility and curiosity in how
we engage with others' stories, especially those shaped by
trauma, resistance, and survival, while acknowledging the ways
history and power influence how stories are told and remembered.