Voices of Renewal

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential and his book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic. To learn more about his life and renewal legacy, hear from Pastor Nicholas Abraham,...

In this episode of Voices of Renewal, we speak with Dr. Dean Weaver about the historic and present revival going on in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). Dr. Weaver was elected as the Stated Clerk of the EPC in 2021, which is the denomination’s highest elected office. The hope of Voices of Renewal is to not only recover the lost voices throughout Church history but to hear from current min...

On this special episode of Voices of Renewal, we look at the modern-day renewal happening in the Catholic Charismatic community. Joining us is Monsignor Joseph Malagreca, pastor of the parish of the Holy Cross in Brooklyn, NY. Besides being a pastor, he is the Coordinator of the Charismatic Renewal for the Hispanics and the Haitians in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is also serving as the Coordinator...

P. T. Forsyth (1848–1921) was a Scottish theologian in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is primarily known today as an early opponent of liberal Christianity and a forerunner to the neo-orthodoxy movement. In his preaching, Forsyth consistently pointed people toward Christ as the fullest expression of God. Her more about Forsyth’s life and legacy from Dr. TK Dunn, Professor of History and...

Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) is a Church father and Doctor of the Church who fought for Christological orthodoxy in the fifth century. He was a central figure at the Council of Ephesus and helped combat heresy through his writings. Cyril was a prolific author and consummate pastor, leading the Church in Alexandria as archbishop for 32 years. To hear more about Cyril’s life and legacy, listen to D...

Walter Maier (1893-1950) was an American radio personality, prolific author, university professor, and Old Testament scholar. He is best known for his work on the radio show  Lutheran Hour in the 30s and 40s. To learn more about Maier’s life and renewal legacy, hear from Dr. Kirk Farney, Vice President for Advancement, Vocation, and Alumni Engagement at Wheaton College. Dr. Farney is also the auth...

Justin Martyr (100-165) was one of the first apologists for the Christian faith. Justin's most famous work, the First Apology, passionately defended the philosophical cohesiveness and reasonableness of the Christian faith to a Roman ruler set on persecuting the Church. This defense ultimately cost him his life. Hear more about Justin's life and legacy from Dr. Bryan Litfin, Professor of Bible at L...

Women have been central to the work of Christian ministry from the time of Jesus to the twenty-first century. Yet the story of Christianity is too often told as a story of men. In this episode of Voices of Renewal, hear from co-authors Leanne Dzubinski (acting dean and Associate Professor in the Cook School of Intercultural Studies) and Anneke Stasson (Associate Professor of Humanities and History...

Tertullian (155-220 AD) was a prolific early Christian author from the north African providence of Carthage. He is widely considered the father of Latin Christianity and was the first writer to use the term trinity to describe God. Although controversial in many branches of Christianity, Tertullian continues to be widely read today. In this episode of Voices of Renewal, learn about Tertullian from...

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is widely considered the most influencial theologian and Christian thinker in the Western Church. His major writings – The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and Confessions – are still widely read. He offered major contributions to the doctrines of predestination, original sin, the trinity, and ecclesiology. However, he was also a renowned teacher and mentor to t...

Lesslie Newbigin (1909 – 1998) was a British theologian, missiologist, missionary, and author. Though originally ordained within the Church of Scotland, Newbigin spent much of his career serving as a missionary in India and became affiliated with the Church of South India and the United Reformed Church, becoming one of the Church of South India's first bishops. Throughout his life, Newbigin shared...

Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), also called St. Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish noblewoman, Carmelite nun, and religious mystic. She is also one of only four women to be recognized as a “Doctor of the Church” by the Catholic Church. During her life, Teresa helped bring renewal to the Carmelite order for men and women. Eventually, this reform led to the formation of what is known today as Discalced Car...

George Jeffreys (1889-1962) was a Welsh evangelist who founded the Elim Pentecostal Church. George became a Christian during the famous Welsh Revival (1904-1905) and continued Pentecostal ministry – marked by miraculous healings, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and other acts of God – for six decades. His mantle continued well after his death through the international ministry of Evangelist Reinhard B...

Origen of Alexandria (185-253) was an early Christian scholar, ascetic, and theologian who has been described as “the greatest genius the early church ever produced”. His work On the First Principles was one of the first works of systematic theology ever produced and became the foundation for theological writings for generations. Although viewed as controversial in later centuries, Origen’s work r...

Athanasius of Alexandria was a Christian theologian, Church Father, the chief defender of Trinitarianism against Arianism, and a noted Coptic Christian (Egyptian) leader of the fourth century. Athanasius was a deacon during the Council of Nicaea and his writings were well regarded by subsequent Church fathers in the West and the East, who noted his devotion to orthodoxy, pastoral concern, and inte...

In a first for Voices of Renewal, this episode focuses not on an individual Christian but on a collection of Early Christian Martyrs. How do the stories of Stephen, Justin, Perpetua, and Felicity strengthen the early Church? What does it mean to be a martyr or ‘witness’ for Jesus Christ? Hear about these important figures from Dr. Rex Butler, the John T. Westbrook Chair of Church History and Profe...

Billy Graham was an American evangelist and the most well-known Christian figure of the 20th century. Graham ministered nationally and internationally through his “Crusades”, which were broadcasted through radio and television for nearly six decades. Due in large part to these Crusades, Billy Graham is credited as having preached in person to more people than anyone else in the history of Christia...

Oral Roberts was an American Charismatic Christian televangelist, ordained in both the Pentecostal Holiness and United Methodist churches. He is considered one of the forerunners for the charismatic movement and was one of the most recognized preachers in the US at the height of his recognition. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University. Hear more about Oral...

George Whitefield was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. After ordination, Whitefield immediately began preaching, but he did not settle as the minister of any parish. Rather he became an itinerant preacher and evangelist in North America, where he preached a series of revivals that became part of the "Great Awakening". It is re...

Martin Luther was a German priest, author, and theologian and is widely recognized as the man responsible for the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses in an effort to renew the Church of his day, which we continue to see and feel the effects of today. To hear more about Luther's life and ministry of renewal, check out this week's episode of Voices of Renewal wit...

Jacob Arminius was a Dutch theologian and reformer whose views became the basis of Arminianism. Although, much like John Calvin, his views themselves evolved after his death, Arminius is known today for his faithful ministry of renewal and his later impact on John Wesley and the Methodist movement. We welcome Dr. Keith Stanglin, Professor of Theology at Heritage Christian College and Executive Dir...

C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis is one of the 20th century’s most notable Christian thinkers and lay theologians. He held academic positions in the area of English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. Today, he is most well-known for his novels, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy , and apologetic texts, such as Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy . Hear more abo...

Richard Baxter was a 17th century English Puritan pastor, poet, and theologian. Throughout his life, Baxter emphasized the necessity of repentance and faithfulness in the life of believers, and his most famous work, The Reformed Pastor, is still in print today and used in training Christian Leaders to Change the World. In this week’s episode of Voices of Renewal, Dr. Seth Osborne, an adjunct facul...

Maximus the Confessor was a late 6th early 7th-century Christian monk, theologian, and scholar who suffered for his faith. Maximus is venerated in both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and called a Father of the Church. Today, he is primarily known for his formulation of the two wills of Christ (both human and divine). Hear more about his life, ministry, and legacy from Dr. Jonathan Taylor,...

John Owen was an English nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford during the 17th century. John helped revive the idea that it is only by the grace of God and merits of Christ that the sinner receives the gift of faith to believe in Christ. Owen's most famous work, which is read widely today, is The Mortification of Sin. To learn more about Ow...