Centrally Speaking

The number of refugees continues to rise in the world. Currently, the United Nations  estimates that over 82.4 million people were displaced in 2020. With so many displaced people, how should we respond? In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Phil Gottschalk from Eastern Mennonite Missions. He has worked with refugees in the Former Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War, the Netherlands, and the USA. Most r...

Church attendance has been decreasing in the west. Particularly concerning is the fewer number of young people in church. Our guest, Prof. Dr. Jos de Kock, is well aware of this trend and is providing suggestions to churches as they tell the Christian story to youth. Prof. de Kock is Professor and Department Chair of Practical Ministry at Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven, Belgium. He...

Was Jesus a Real Person?  Can We Take the Gospels Seriously? How can you believe in a Virgin Birth? Why does Christmas Matter? In this podcast, Dr. David McKinley and Dr. Drake Williams from Central Schwenkfelder Church discuss the recent book by Rebecca McLaughlin entitled : Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four questions every person should ask about the World's Most Famous Story (2021). #christm...

Afghanistan has caught the attention of the world this year. Prior to the withdrawal of American forces, it was already one of the areas of the world where Christians were most persecuted. After the withdrawal, news reports tell us of potential widespread famine and other human tragedies. What will the future of the church be like? Craig Simonian who lives in Armenia, a country nearby Afghanistan,...

Some criticize Christian missions because it appears to be imposing values on others and subjugating their culture. After the recent withdraw of American forces in Afghanistan, many believe that nobody should impose their own values on another culture. Frequently, however, this discussion is held from critical perspectives without the point of view of missionaries. In this podcast, we interview. C...

It has been a year since the passing of George Floyd. His death generated outrage, protests, and further violence all around the United States. Now, a year later, three experienced pastors discuss what has taken place, what we have learned, and whether the gap between black and white has narrowed. In this podcast we are joined by Rev. Keith Williams who is the Senior Pastor at Nazarene Baptist Chu...

What is taking place on the southern border of the USA? In this podcast, we interview Rev. Dr. Henry Baldwin who has just completed his time of service at the Matamoras refugee camp with Trinity on the Border. While in Texas, he also served as a hospital chaplain in the Lower Rio Grand Valley Texas at the Matamoras camp which is near to Brownsville, Texas.  Rev. Dr. Henry Baldwin has had significa...

Pentecost is a Christian holiday but few understand what it is and what its significance is for today. Fewer still understand the Jewish roots about Pentecost. Roger Wambold, the Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship Director for 30 years, joins us to explain Pentecost and the important Jewish background behind it. Centrally Speaking is a ministry of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, PA ...

This is the continuation of our first discussion about the difficulties that communism has been to Christians. Communism continues to affect many around the world. Many religious groups are experiencing persecution from Communist regimes in places like China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. During the time of the cold war, most countries in Eastern Europe were communist, too. Dr. Octavian Ba...

Communism continues to affect many around the world. Many religious groups are experiencing persecution from Communist regimes in places like China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. During the time of the cold war, most countries in Eastern Europe were communist, too. Dr. Octavian Baban, who grew up in Romanian during communist rule will be our guest. He is Associate Professor of New Testamen...

How did Jesus die? Years ago he was crucified on a Roman cross. The church identifies with Jesus and his death. and as a result the cross is frequently seen on or inside church buildings. Some even wear the cross as a part of jewelry. Many, however, do not know how someone died on a Roman cross. Fewer know the significance of Jesus' death on one. In this podcast, we interview Rev. Dr. David M...

How does one make decisions for end of life issues? Less is known about this period of life and aspects of conscience, yet the decisions made can be so crucial. How do we talk about end of life issues and find guidance spiritually? In this session, we interview Dr. Brad Mellon about end of life issues. Brad was the former chaplain at Frederick Living in Zieglerville, PA. He has presented on topics...

Is belief in a God still reasonable? With all of the scientific information that is available, is belief in a God still rational? In this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Patrick Casey to discuss this topic. Dr. Casey received his doctorate in Philosophy from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. He has had several peer reviewed articles published. He is currently the Visiting Assistant Pr...

When a church exists in a neighborhood for many years, it is only natural that it would interact with the surrounding society.  The Schwenkfelders have been in what is now known as the Lansdale/Worcester area since the 1730's. The Worcester Historical Society (website: http://www.worcesterhistorical.org/) is interested in the preservation of the history of this area from that time and earlier...

Pandemics take place infrequently within history. With the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the globe, some Christians are wondering whether this has been announced previously in the Bible. In this podcast Dr. Todd Mangum, who is the Clemens Professor of Missional Theology at Missio Seminary (www.missio.edu), answers questions of prophecy and the pandemic. Dr. Todd Mangum​ has written many book...

Does grief different during the time over the Coronavirus? Have the restrictions affected the ways that we mourn or experience loss. Our guests Claire Drexler and Rev. Dr. David McKinley have a  great deal of experience with those suffering loss and speak about loss during the time of the coronavirus. Claire Drexler is an experienced therapist at the Center for Loss and Bereavement in Skippack, PA...

How can youth receive their best education in the public school system? Nikki Krelovich, the Executive Director of Methacton Education Foundation joins us to discuss this topic. The Foundation supports children to help enrich their education. They supply added resources for instruction in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They assist those who are economically disadvantag...

Young people and families are dealing with increasing levels of stress in the current western environment. Understanding resources and bringing them to bear is critical for overcoming it. Prof. Dr. Jos de Kock, an experienced academic and researcher on youth culture, joins us to address stress from a Christian perspective. He is the Rector and Professor of Practical Theology at Evangelische Theolo...

Why do cultures preserve themselves? What aspects can we see about their identity and lifestyle from art, furniture, and literature? Why would a Christian community, like the Schwenkfelders, preserve itself? In this podcast we interview Beth Twiss Houting the new Executive Director at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center. Mrs. Houting has thirty years of experience in the museum world and...

Some people have difficulty with the Old Testament. God seems to be harsh or mean in the Old Testament but kind in the New Testament. How can that be? Why does God strike down a man who is trying to steady the Ark of the Covenant? Why would God ask someone like Hosea to marry a prostitute? Why did God in the Old Testament seemingly promote genocide? How does the God of the Old Testament fit with t...

Hope is something that we all need. As former President Barack Obama said, "While we breathe, we hope." In this podcast, we speak with someone who has been examining the idea of hope for over six years. Dr. Steven van den Heuvel leads the "Hope Project" (website: https://www.thehopeproject.nl/en/home/ ) and is the Director of the Institute of Leadership and Social Ethics ( http...

How did the disciples change after the first Easter? What were they like before Jesus was crucified? How did they change afterwards? In this podcast, Rev. Dr. David McKinley, Senior Minister at Central Schwenkfelder Church asks Dr. Drake Williams, Associate Professor of New Testament at Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven, Belgium about the change in the disciples after this important ev...

Thanksgiving is a yearly feast in the USA. Americans take off several days of vacation in November. We eat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberries. Usually, they watch football games and other things on television. Does a Christian perspective add anything to this holiday? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Drake Williams, Minister of Mission and Theology at Central Schwenkfelder Church i...

Attention to youth is of vital interest in the church. In this podcast, Julian Scavetti, Pastor of Young Adult and Family Ministries, speaks about reaching out to today's young adults. Julian has worked with youth as a pastor at Central Schwenkfelder Church since 2008 and is now turning his attention toward young adults and families. Julian graduated from Eastern University in 2002 with a Bac...

How can people from different races get along better with each other? In this podcast, Rev. Dr. David McKinley and Rev. Dr. Drake Williams continue the discussion with Rev. Keith Williams from Nazarene Baptist Church on Germantown Avenue in Nicetown Philadelphia and Rev. Alfred Duncan from the Schwenkfelder Missionary Church that meets on Tulpehocken Street in Germantown Philadelphia. In this dial...