Centrally Speaking

10/13/2025

Thankful to have published our 75th podcast!

10/13/2025

Many are recognizing that religious persecution is a problem. While this knowledge is increasing, the understanding has not led to persecution decreasing. In this podcast, we interview Prof. dr. Janet Epp Buckingham about these problems. As someone who is serving as the Director of the World Evangelical Alliance Geneva Office since September 2024 and previously as WEA Director of Global Advocacy, she is repeatedly raising awareness of this issue. In these roles, Janet advocates at the United Nations with national evangelical alliances. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1046041/episodes/17995556

Many are recognizing that religious persecution is a problem. While this knowledge is increasing, the understanding has not led to persecution decreasing. In this podcast, we interview Prof. dr. Janet Epp Buckingham about these problems. As someon...

10/03/2025

In a few days, we look forward to releasing a podcast on religious persecution and what can be done about it. We interviewed Prof. Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham from the World Evangelical Alliance. She advocates for freedom of religion for Christians and other religions at the United Nations.

09/29/2025

Migration is one of the largest issues of our time. More than ever before nations and faiths are encountering each other in unexpected ways. This is taking place in Marseille, the oldest city in France. In this southern city, many from North Africa have settled bringing a different worldview. Marseille now has many Muslims who intermingle with those who are Catholic or atheist. Craig Young has been observing this trend for over 35 years. As a missionary, he has befriended those from both North African and French backgrounds. He and his wife Katie lead the church Chapelle de Fuveau (https://www.chapelledefuveau.fr/) which straddles two neighborhoods in France of different backgrounds. This podcast provides some of Craig's reflections on the intermingling of different nationalities in Marseille https://www.buzzsprout.com/1046041/episodes/17849307

Migration is one of the largest issues of our time. More than ever before nations and faiths are encountering each other in unexpected ways. This is taking place in Marseille, the oldest city in France. In this southern city, many from North Afric...

09/17/2025

In a few days, we look forward to releasing a podcast "The Rising Influence of Islam in Marseille." This podcast surfaces issues of migration as well as the relationship between Christianity and Islam. Our guest will be Craig Young who has lived with his family in Marseille, France for 35 years. He and his wife Katie have planted a church there called Chapelle de Fuveau (website: https://www.chapelledefuveau.fr/). The Youngs also conduct a choral ministry there. Here is a song that they sing at church based on Psalm 23. It is all in French. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuDf2lNhjJA

Projet de chorale virtuelle "Chœur à cœurs"PSAUME 23 (Psalm 23)Musique : Clarissa Cox Paroles : P. Dauner1. Le Seigneur que j’adore, C’est le bon berger :Rie...

09/01/2025

Abuse happens in many places throughout our society. Does God have a word for those who are feeling manipulated? In her upcoming book, That God is For Me: A Study of God’s Heart Through the Stories of Women in Scripture, Lisa Radcliff points to several stories in the Bible that display his heart for those who have been misused. Lisa Radcliff is an award-winning author, speaker, and advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. (website: https://lisajradcliff.com/). Lisa and her husband, Doug, have been married for over 40 years, raising three sons and enjoying their nine grandchildren. She and her husband grew up at the Central Schwenkfelder Church. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1046041/episodes/17729964

Abuse happens in many places throughout our society. Does God have a word for those who are feeling manipulated? In her upcoming book, That God is For Me: A Study of God’s Heart Through the Stories of Women in Scripture, Lisa Radcliff points ...

08/27/2025

Our next podcast is about God's heart for women. We will be interviewing Lisa Radcliff, an accomplished author and speaker, about this topic. She is also an advocate for those who have been abused. In the podcast, she points to Psalm 56 that is a psalm that is frequently overlooked. This video is a devotional on this psalm.

08/12/2025

How were the ancient writings that compose our Bible translated into our current English Bibles? In this podcast, we ask Dr. Scott Hafemann who was a part of the translation committee for the New International Version translation of the Bible about this process. In his answers, he speaks about the earliest English translations, the King James Version, and the New International Version. His answers also share about his experience serving on a translation committee. Scott Hafemann was formerly a reader of New Testament at Saint Andrews University in Scotland, the Gerald Hawthorne Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, and the Mary Rockefeller Professor of New Testament at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

://www.buzzsprout.com/1046041/episodes/17578035

How were the ancient writings that compose our Bible translated into our current English Bibles? In this podcast, we ask Dr. Scott Hafemann who was a part of the translation committee for the New International Version translation of the Bible abou...

07/23/2025

What goes into translating the Bible from ancient languages into the versions that we have today? What is the difference between the King James version and the New International Version? We have interviewed Scott Hafemann, former lecturer at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. We look forward to releasing this podcast in the next few days.

05/21/2025

It is 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea, one of the most important meetings throughout church history. What took place at the council? Who came? How were the results shared?

In this podcast, we ask well-respected church historian, Donald Fairbairn, about this council and its significance. Click here to listen to the podcast:

How did the church globally make some of its decisions?  One of the most important decisions took place in AD 325 in modern day Turkey at the Council of Nicaea. Representatives from all over the Roman Empire came to this council. Eventually, ...

04/17/2025

We are on the eve of two very important dates in the church, Holy Thursday and Good Friday. While much of western society spends little time on these days, they are valuable for understanding who Jesus is. In this brief devotional on John 19:28-29, Dr. Drake Williams explains the significance of one of Jesus' last words, "I thirst."

04/17/2025

Jesus' crucifixion was a horrific event. An innocent man dies a cruel death. Was it completely out of control? Was Jesus just in the wrong place at the wrong time? What difference would it make if there was some divine plan behind it? In this podcast we interview David McKinley, Senior Minister at Central Schwenkfelder Church about this topic.