In this episode, we get a close-up look at immigration - from the immigrant’s perspective.
Ken welcomes veteran actor, Stelio Savante who plays a key role in the new independent film, “Between Borders.” In his nearly forty years as an actor, Stelio is a SAG award nominee with over 140 credits in television, and theatrical releases. In the popular series, The Chosen, Stelio plays the role of Moses.
Ken and Stelio talk about his career in film. They follow his journey of faith, starting in his country of birth - South Africa. From Capetown, Stelio goes to college in the United States where he excels in sports - and in theater.
Then they get into the powerful drama of the film, Between Borders. Stelio plays the role of an American Missionary who meets Armenian refugee Ivan and Petrosyan family in Russia. Here’s a summary from the official web site -
“In a crumbling Soviet Union, the Petrosyan family finds themselves as outcasts—wherever they go. Their Armenian heritage marks them for discrimination, first in their home country of Azerbaijan and then in Russia. After finding their eternal hope through a church planted by American missionaries, the hostility of everyday life pushes them to seek refuge in the United States. In the shadow of exile, hope became their home. Based on a riveting true story of faith and hope set amidst great oppression.”
The role of Violeta Petrosyan is played by Elizabeth Tish (who plays Mary in The Chosen). Ken and Stelio unpack the power of the story and Stelio’s identification, himself an immigrant and now a citizen.
Stelio also tells the story of his role as Moses in The Chosen, and Demas (one of the thieves crucified with Jesus) in The Two Thieves.
SHOW NOTES - See links to Stelio’s work.
Between Borders Official Site - How to see the film
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The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com
Racism is not about hate and ignorance. It’s about greed. And it always has been.
In The Anti-Greed Gospel, Black Christian historian Malcolm Foley shows how racism is part of a cycle of self-interest that begins in a lust for power and money and causes violence and exploitation. The church can break this cycle by building communities of deep economic solidarity, anti-violence, and truth telling.
“Presents a searing critique of the status quo and points Christians to a redemptive path forward. A must-read book for the American church.”
—Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and John Wayne
“This book, properly understood and applied, has the potential to topple our monuments to Mammon and make room for real racial justice in both church and society.”
—Jemar Tisby, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and The Spirit of Justice; professor, Simmons College of Kentucky
Dr. Malcolm Foley is the Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement at Baylor University and the Director of Black Church Studies at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Finance from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Religion from Baylor University. His doctoral research examines African American Protestant responses to lynching between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring the intersection of theology, race, and social justice.
In addition to his academic and administrative roles, Dr. Foley is a co-pastor at Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church dedicated to fostering inclusivity and community engagement. He also serves as Treasurer of the Big XII Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, advocating for institutional diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Foley’s scholarship and public engagement focus on racial justice, theological responses to systemic oppression, and the role of the Black church in addressing social issues. His recent book, The Anti-Greed Gospel, examines the links between racism, economic exploitation, and Christian ethics. Through his academic, pastoral, and leadership work, Dr. Foley is committed to advancing equity and reconciliation within both church and society.
More Pending
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