The BEMA Podcast: Sandra Richter — Abigail and the Waterfall

Episode 491 | January 8, 2026
Host: Marty Solomon and Brent Billings
Guest: Dr. Sandra Richter (Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies, Westmont College)

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, returning guest Dr. Sandra “Sandy” Richter joins hosts Marty Solomon and Brent Billings to discuss her new children’s book Abigail and the Waterfall. The conversation weaves together environmental theology, the importance of Sabbath and restraint, biblical stewardship, and the challenge of depoliticizing creation care within the church. Sandy shares recent experiences, case studies, and practical ways the Christian community can awaken to its role as stewards of creation, all with her signature warmth and scholarship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal & Professional Updates from Sandra Richter

• Family News: One daughter graduated college and pursues a pop star dream; her younger daughter chose to attend Westmont (03:08).
• Academic & Ministry Work: Sandy reflects on her dense schedule of classes, presentations, writing projects, and the ongoing need for “the church to awaken to its responsibilities” (03:40–04:01).

2. Environmental Theology & the Church's Responsibility

• Long-Standing Commitment: Sandy's commitment to “stewardship of creation” goes back to 2005, having spoken on environmental theology in Kentucky (04:19).
• Big Idea:

  “There is no force on this planet that is more powerful in the realm of social reform than the community of faith.” – Sandy Richter (05:30)

• Call for Awakening: The church, if awakened to its scriptural mandate, could lead transformational global change (05:55).

3. Sabbath, Restraint, and Environmental Practice

• The Gift of Sabbath:

  “God is talking to a rabble of ex-slaves ... God’s first gift to them is this gift of Sabbath where He commands them…to rest.” — Sandy Richter (08:10)

• Ideological Principle: Sabbath teaches “restraint,” a practice contrary to American culture but essential for personal, societal, and environmental health (09:00–10:00).
• Environmental Crisis:

  “Our environmental crisis is not built on need, it’s built on greed.” — Sandy (09:42)

4. Short-Termism vs. Biblical Long View

• Case Studies: Decisions impacting the environment often show effects decades later—Western political cycles struggle to address long-term consequences (10:32–12:09).

5. Creation Care and the Marginalized

• The Widow, Orphan, and Alien: Environmental degradation hits marginalized populations hardest, whether in Appalachia, Madagascar, or urban America (12:36–14:06).
• Recent Story: Appalachia:
  • At an academic conference in Tennessee, Sandy highlighted the impact of coal mining. Local scholar Ethan Johnson “flipped the room” by affirming her words and calling for help (14:07–17:00).
  • Ongoing work includes partnerships with Plant With Purpose and grassroots church response.

6. Forming the Next Generation: Abigail and the Waterfall

• Why a Children’s Book?
  • IVP approached Sandy to write a theologically rich children’s book on the environment.
  • She joyfully accepted:

    “It was like going from O Chem to watercolors.” — Sandy Richter (21:30)

• Illustration & Ecology:
  • The setting is Appalachia and special attention was given to accurate, region-specific flora and fauna.
  • Hidden “Easter eggs” in the illustrations delight young readers while teaching local biodiversity (23:10–26:01).
  • Example animals: darter fish, hellbender salamanders.
• Hopes for the Series: Sandy has ideas for three more books following the characters Abigail and Levi (27:09).

7. Bridging Political and Theological Divides

• American Political Polarization:

  • Creation care is wrongly pigeonholed as a “liberal” issue among some U.S. Christians. Sandy frames it as an “issue of the kingdom,” not partisan identity:

    “Our job is to live in this space…as representatives of that other kingdom. And this particular topic, environmental concern, belongs to our kingdom.” – Sandy (31:45)

  • In the UK and elsewhere, creation care is less politicized among Christians, which hosts find encouraging (33:44).

• Maintaining Kinship Amidst Division:

  • Sandy warns against letting ideological conflicts “tear apart the fabric of our kinship bond” in the body of Christ (30:16).
  • The goal should be “curiosity, dialogue, and peacemaking”—not polarization.

8. Deuteronomy, Possession, and Biblical Stewardship

• Interpretation of Deuteronomy 32:
  • Sandy believes Moses’ phrase “these are not just idle words” refers to all of Deuteronomy and the law—not just the “Song of Moses” (40:19–43:44).
• Language of Possession in the Bible:
  • Words for possession/conquest/inheritance are deeply linked from Genesis to Revelation, reflecting the idea of humanity as stewards under God.

  • “We were given authority over that planet so that we could live and thrive, and it could live and thrive…but all under the overarching Sabbath authority of the Almighty.” – Sandy (44:19–45:29)

  • Sandy affirms biblical hierarchy (God → humans → creation) as necessary for true stewardship, not domination.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "As Americans, we are trained from the tenderest of ages to squeeze every minute out of our day, every dollar out of our budget...In the midst of this, God commands restraint." — Sandy Richter (09:00)
• "I'm a theologian first and an environmentalist second. I am an environmentalist because the Bible is an environmental stewardship book." — Sandy Richter (44:19)
• "Our first allegiance is...that we truly are living stones being built up together into a holy edifice...the body of Christ." — Sandy Richter (37:16)
• "The fabric of our kinship bond is being torn apart by this cultural moment of accuse, vilify, and polarize." — Sandy Richter (30:16)

Timestamps for Key Sections

• [04:10] — Sandy’s history with environmental theology
• [05:30] — "Big idea" for church & social reform
• [08:00] — Sabbath as environmental theology
• [10:32] — Long-term environmental impacts vs. political short-termism
• [12:36] — Creation care & marginalized communities
• [14:07–17:00] — Appalachian coal mining story & modern church action
• [19:41] — Genesis of Abigail and the Waterfall
• [23:10] — Book illustration process and including accurate biodiversity
• [27:09] — Plans for more children’s books
• [29:41] — Navigating church apprehensions about “creation care” language
• [31:45] — Environmentalism as Kingdom responsibility
• [33:44] — Contrasts between American and UK perspectives on creation care
• [40:19] — Scope of “these words” in Deuteronomy 32
• [44:19] — Vocabulary of possession/hierarchy/stewardship in Scripture
• [48:22–49:21] — Stewardship as joy, not burden

Tone and Style

The episode balances deep, scholarly reflection with warmth, wit, and practical engagement. Dr. Richter’s humor (“maybe they’ll distribute [my Deuteronomy commentary] at my funeral”), vulnerability, and passion for both theology and creation unsettle stereotypes of biblical scholars. Throughout, the hosts and guest maintain an invitational and hopeful tone, even when facing the heavy realities of environmental crisis and church polarization.

For Further Exploration

• Sandra Richter’s Substack & Resources: sandyrichter.org
• Abigail and the Waterfall (IVP Kids)
• Stewards of Eden (2020)
• Epic of Eden
• Connections to organizations: Plant With Purpose, Evangelical Environmental Network

For more episode resources, links, and contact info, visit the BEMA Discipleship website.

This summary omits advertisements and unrelated pre/post-show banter. For the full episode, including rich dialogue and Q&A, see Episode 491 of The BEMA Podcast.