Centrally Speaking

As part of our Day of Remembrance service each year, we tell the story of the Schwenkfelder migration from Silesia, Germany to Philadelphia. On September 21, 2025, H. Drake Williams, Jr. relayed the story to the General Conference of Schwenkfelder Churches at the denomination's Day of Remembrance Service that was held at Palm Schwenkfelder Church.

#Schwenkfeldermigration  #emigrationfromSilesia  #Schwenkfelderdayofremembrance

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

In December, many celebrate Christmas or the Christmas season. Many who are not a part of the church are unfamiliar with the season of Advent. In this podcast, we speak with Rev. Dr. David McKinley, senior minister of Central Schwenkfelder Church about the Advent season. During the podcast, he also will speak about the Advent Wreath, which is a symbol that is used in the church service.

#advent  #adventwreath  #Germanadventwreath  #adventcelebration  #adventworship

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

At Christmas time, many will recognize that the church speaks about the birth of Jesus. As part of the celebration, Christians also sing Christmas carols. These used to be prominent in western society, but they are heard much less frequently outside of the church. In this podcast, we interview Sally House, the Director of Music at the Central Schwenkfelder Church and someone who has instructed about music for over 30 years in the school system nearby. We ask her questions about great carols such as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Joy to the World," and "Silent Night."  Then, she discusses lesser known carols like "Of the Father's Love Begotten" and "Lo, how a Rose E'er Blooming." At the end of the podcast, she compares carols like these with what is heard in offices and department stores today.

#Christmascarols  #SilentNight  #Christmasmusic2025 #Schwenkfelderchoir  #UnitedSchwenkfelderchoir

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

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.

In this podcast, Prof. Buckingham provides statistics about religious persecution, gives reasons for why Christians are persecuted more than other religions, shares about certain countries where religious persecution is most intense, and suggests several ways for Christians to be involved in assisting those who are being persecuted.

#religiouspersecution #christianpersecution #supportforthosepersecuted #internationaldayofprayerpersecutedchurch

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

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. 

#migrationFrance  #IslamChristianityMarseille  #CatholicFranceMuslim  #CatholicIslamFrance  #atheistMuslimFrance

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

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.

#gettingbeyondabuse  #churchabuse  #Godisforme  #God'sheartforwomen  #womenintheBible  #womenBible

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

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. 

#bibletranslation  #Bibletranslationcommittee  #NIVtranslation  #ESVtranslation

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

The events surrounding the death of Jesus on Good Friday are truly tragic. As Christians remember it, 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.

#deathofJesus  #sovereigntyofGodcrucifixion  #prophecyMessiahdeath  #crucifixionJesus  #GoodFriday #PassionofJesus #centralschwenkfelderchurch

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

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, decisions made there led to the Nicene Creed, which many say before taking communion (the Eucharist). 

On the 1700th anniversary of this important date in church history, we ask Dr. Donald Fairbairn about this council. He is the Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Union School of Theology (Wales). He has authored or co-authored twelve books. Some of the questions discussed include: Who organized this council? Who came? Why was a man named Arius such a problem?  What were the results of the Council?

#councilofnicaea  #AD325  #firstecumenicalcouncil  #ecumenicalcouncils  #nicenecreed  #donaldfairbairn

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org

How do we connect with youth today? What are the characteristics of what some people call Generation Z? Dr. Dave Coryell has been answering this question through Christian Endeavor for over 18 years.  In the past 8 years, he has been the Director of Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor (website: https://www.ceworks.faith/) and also serves with Christian Endeavor World (https://www.christianendeavor.com/). He is also an adjunct youth ministry professor at Lancaster Bible College. He and his wife Jen have four children.

Recently, he has authored a book about the 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.

#reachingGenZ  #PennsylvaniaChristian Endeavor  #Lesslikehippos  #morelikehoneybees #youthinAmerica  #Christianyouth  #GenerationZ

Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA  USA. Website: www.cscfamily.org