Good God Project

John Munayer: Understanding Israel–Palestine Through a Theology of Neighbor

Many American Christians want to understand Israel–Palestine but feel overwhelmed by history, headlines, and competing narratives. In this conversation, George Mason and John Munayer cut through that noise with a grounded, deeply human look at the lived experience of Palestinian Christians, the shifts happening in Palestinian theology, and why humility and attentive listening are essential for anyone seeking clarity right now. They explore everyday metaphors like the olive tree and olive oil, the weight of Holy Saturday after Gaza, and how a theology that truly blesses one’s neighbor can guide faithful engagement.

John Munayer is the Director of International Engagement at the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue and a Jerusalem-born Palestinian Christian theologian engaged in peace-building, research, and interreligious work.

interfaith, Judaism, Peace & ResolutionGood God ProjectNovember 13, 2025Dialogue, Interfaith, Israel

Building Peace Through Dialogue: A Conversation with Hana Bendcowsky

What does peacebuilding look like in a place marked by fear and trauma?

George Mason speaks with Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director at the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem. Hana describes the Rossing Center’s work fostering understanding and shared society among Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Israel through mindful listening, trauma awareness, and relationship building. Reflecting on the aftermath of October 7, 2023, she shares how the war has intensified polarization while making dialogue more essential than ever.

Their conversation closes with reflections on religious identity, nationalism, and compassion, as Hana and George recognize the parallels between Jewish and Christian struggles to uphold faith-based values amid political and social division.

Hana Bendcowsky holds an M.A. in Comparative Religion from the Hebrew University and has nearly three decades of experience in interfaith work in Israel and abroad. She teaches in seminaries, academic programs, and government settings, and leads educational tours in Jerusalem focused on the Christian Quarter and Jewish-Christian relations in the Israeli context.

interfaith, Judaism, Peace & ResolutionGood God ProjectNovember 6, 2025Dialogue, Interfaith, Israel

Faith Over Fear: Rev. Eric Folkerth on Prayer, Immigration, and Moral Courage

As fear and tension rise around immigration enforcement in North Texas, Rev. Eric Folkerth has helped lead an interfaith clergy vigil outside the Dallas ICE field office—an act of prayerful presence in the face of injustice.

In this episode of Good God, George Mason talks with Rev. Folkerth about what happens at these weekly gatherings, how they began, and why he believes prayer can be both faithful and prophetic. Together they discuss the growing anxiety among immigrants, the tragic shooting that drew national attention to the Dallas ICE facility, and the moral toll of policies that harm both migrants and public servants.

Grounded in scripture and compassion, their conversation calls people of faith to resist fear, welcome the stranger, and embody moral courage in public life.

Rev. Eric Folkerth is senior pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. A longtime minister, musician, and activist, he’s known for his work at the intersection of faith and justice.

advocacy, Faith, Immigration, interfaithGood God ProjectOctober 9, 2025Dallas, Justice, Immigration, Interfaith, Faith

Beril Berk on Building Bridges through Dialogue, Art, and Empathy

Beril Berk, Executive Director of the Dialogue Institute of Dallas, joins George Mason to explore how intentional relationship-building—across faiths, cultures, and communities—creates lasting impact. In this conversation, she reflects on the power of sitting at shared tables, the rich meaning of Ramadan, and the role of art and youth leadership in cultivating empathy. From feeding neighbors at shelters to launching a youth group called “Salam Shalom,” Berk’s work is rooted in the values of the Hizmet movement: education, service, and mutual understanding.

A lawyer by training, Beril Berk also practices immigration law and brings her personal journey as a Turkish immigrant to her work in both legal and community spaces.

islam, interfaith, multifaithGood God ProjectMarch 27, 2025Interfaith, Ramadan, Empathy