Welcome to episode seventy-one of New Creation Conversations. I apologize that we missed an episode last week, we were hosting a denominational conference at our church last week, and it took up all my extra space last week. The good news is that it gave me the opportunity to sit down with a couple of the guests at the conference and have face-to-face conversations with them about their writing and work. I get to share one of those conversations with you today.
Rev. Caleb Cray Haynes is church planter and co-pastor with his wife, Emily, at Kalaeo Church in Nashville. He is also the co-founder of Nazarenes for Creation Care. Caleb grew up in the hills of rural Tennessee where the love of God’s creation grew deep roots in his early life and experience. Tending to gardens and wandering in the woods are still part of Caleb’s story. Following a call to ministry, he attended Trevecca Nazarene University and received a degree in Religion and Philosophy. Afterward, Caleb served as a volunteer Nazarene missionary through Mission Corp in Mainz, Germany, aiding in church planting with (one of our previous guests Philip Zimmerman) Church in Action. He is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Theology and Ecology from Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, UK.
We focus our conversation not only on his work with Nazarenes for Creation Care but also on his recently published book, Garbage Theology: The Unseen World of Waste and What It Means for the Salvation of Every Person, Every Place, and Every Thing. It’s not only a thoughtful book but an important conversation that – as those created to be reflections of God’s care and dominion of creation – the church desperately needs to have. I’m really thankful for young leaders like Caleb helping us have that conversation, and I’m glad you’ve joined us for this great conversation. Here is my New Creation Conversation with Pastor Caleb Cray Haynes.