Centrally Speaking

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.

03/17/2025

It is now 1700 years since the important church council of Nicaea. In a few weeks, we will be releasing a podcast about what took place at the council and how it helped provide clarification for who Jesus is.

02/20/2025

How do the youth of America think currently? We asked the director of Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor, Dave Coryell. He has been answering this question for the past 18 years. Just recently, he has written a book about youth of today and the church. It is called Less Like Hippos . . . More Like Honeybees: Reject Consumerism. Embrace Maturity. Change how the World Does Youth Ministry. He will speak about this book on this podcast.

02/19/2025

We are pleased to have just reached 5,000 podcast downloads for Centrally Speaking! Thank you for everyone's support of the podcast ministry.

02/02/2025

What is the latest news from Eastern Ukraine? In this podcast, Ken Sears, experienced missionary to Zaporizhzhya shares the latest information. Click the link below:

01/31/2025

In a few days, we look forward to releasing a podcast about the latest news in Eastern Ukraine from a missionary's perspective. Ken Sears has been a career missionary to Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine and shares the latest news.

01/21/2025

In a few days, we look forward to releasing a podcast with Dr. David Coryell who is the Director of Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor. During the interview, we will speak with him about his approach to reaching youth in this generation. This is clearly spoken about in his new book, Less like Hippos, More Like Honeybees. We hope that you will listen in to this insightful interview about youth and generation Z.

12/23/2024

What was the star that the wise men followed? In this Christmas devotional reflection, Dr. Drake Williams shares some possibilities and then the implications of the star that led the wise men eventually to Bethlehem.

12/18/2024

12/16/2024

How can we have a more spiritual Christmas? In this podcast we interview Rev. Dr. David McKinley, Senior Minister of Central Schwenkfelder Church, about ways to keep Christ in Christmas.

How can we have a more spiritual Christmas? While many are focused on gift giving and parties, Christmas is so much more than this. It has spiritual origins. People like Mary and Joseph had distinct spiritual practices. How can we recover these?&n...

12/10/2024

In a few days, we look forward to releasing a conversation between Dr. David McKinley and Dr. Drake Williams about Spiritual practices for a Faith-filled Christmas in a Secular Time.

12/06/2024

This will be an inspiring Christmas concert for those in the greater Lansdale area. Please join us this Sunday December 8 at 2:30 at the Central Schwenkfelder Church!

Join the United Schwenkfelder Choir for their 93rd Annual Concert THIS Sunday, December 8th at 2:30PM. This will be an inspiring and uplifting program of sacred, seasonal choral and instrumental selections. A light reception will follow. The concert will also be livestreamed on the United Choir's website.

11/11/2024

Many communities of faith encourage prayer. There are some that emphasize prayer substantially. In this podcast, Drs. David McKinley and Drake Williams speak about the Schwenkfelders and their great emphasis on prayer.

11/09/2024

Prayer is an indispensable part of Christian experience. As the world has modernized, deeper and richer spiritual experiences have dissipated. Some Christian communities have been known for their devotion to prayer. One of these is the Schwenkfelder communities. In this podcast, Rev. Dr. David McKinley, Senior Minister of Central Schwenkfelder Church, interviews Rev. Dr. Drake Williams, Minister of Mission and Theology at the church. The podcast will share about aspects from the formation of the Schwenkfelders in which prayer was a focus.

09/19/2024

Why are some conversions to Christianity so dramatic while others seem more ordinary? Rev. Dr. Luminița Nichols knows both types well from her experience growing up in Romania and facing persecution during Communist times, and then serving as a minister in Lancaster, PA in the United States. In this podcast, she tells her experience and relates it to her time serving as a pastor in the United States. Click on this link to listen to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1046041/15752757-christian-conversion-dramatic-and-ordinary.mp3?download=true

Buzzsprout is the easiest way to start a podcast. It gets your podcast online and into Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify. Then you can track your show with the most advanced podcast statistics.

09/09/2024

We are looking forward to releasing an interview with Rev. Dr. Luminița Nichols about "Christian conversion: Dramatic and Ordinary" shortly. She is from Romania, and converted to Christianity during the times of communism. She later became a minister in Lancaster, PA. Her amazing testimony is found in this book, published by Wipf & Stock (2022).