Shows / Centrally Speaking
Centrally Speaking
“Centrally Speaking” is a podcast from the Central Schwenkfelder Church and speaks about issues that would be of interest to our society. In particular it addresses how a Christian worldview intersects with western secular culture. In the spirit of the church's founder, we take the perspective of "the Middle Way," which is in agreement with the historic Christian church.
Episodes
Centrally SpeakingLiving with Buddhism
Western society is being increasingly confronted with religions that are not from the Judeo-Christian perspective. Many do not understand what these religions…
Centrally SpeakingEncountering World Religions: Living with Judaism
Western society is being increasingly confronted with other religions. Many do not understand what these religions believe and fewer understand how Christians…
Centrally SpeakingEncountering World Religions: Living with Hinduism
Western society is being increasingly confronted with religions that are not from the Judeo-Christian perspective. Many do not understand what these religions…
Centrally SpeakingLatest News from Eastern Ukraine: A Christian Worker's Perspective
What is some of the latest news in Eastern Ukraine? In February 2022, Russia launched a massive attack against Ukraine. At first the western media paid great…
Centrally SpeakingAn example of Schwenkfelder persecution - the Viehweg in Harpersdorf
The Schwenkfelders are a persecuted group from the time of the Reformation. They originated from Harpersdorf in Silesia during the 1500's. Because of their…
Centrally SpeakingFive hundred years of the New Testament in English: The Testimony of William Tyndale
How did we get the New Testament in English? The person responsible for the translation of the Bible into English was William Tyndale. His New Testament was…
Centrally SpeakingThe Last Mile of Missions
Mission work has always been associated with the church. Some mission work takes place in remote corners of the world where telecommunication, airplanes, and…
Centrally SpeakingThe Value of a Tenebrae service for getting the most out of Easter
The week leading up to Easter is one of the most important weeks in the church calendar each year. A special service during this week is a Tenebrae Service, a…
Centrally SpeakingDevotional Literature from Caspar Schwenckfeld: Heavenly Balm and the Divine Physician
Caspar Schwenckfeld was a Radical Reformer who emphasized the importance of the inner life. As part of his Christian service, he composed a number of pieces of…
Centrally SpeakingWhy is the Second Century important for a Christian?
Many think of the church as being a first century phenomenon. After all, Jesus and the disciples like Peter led the church then and the books of the Bible were…
Centrally SpeakingIlluminating News about Iranian protests and the Iranian Church
News coming out of Iran is limited. On January 8, 2026, the Iranian regime initiated a near total internet blackout. Many digital rights and internet…
Centrally SpeakingThe Schwenkfelder Migration as told at the Day of Remembrance
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…
Centrally SpeakingAdvent and the Advent Wreath
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…
Centrally SpeakingChristmas Carols - Then and Now
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…
Centrally SpeakingReligious Persecution and a Christian Response to It
Many are recognizing that religious persecution is a problem. While this knowledge is increasing, the understanding has not led to persecution decreasing. In…
Centrally SpeakingThe Rising Influence of Islam in Marseille, France: A Christian Missionary's Perspective
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…
Centrally SpeakingGod is for Me: A Study of God's Heart through the Stories of Women in Scripture
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…
Centrally SpeakingWhat is Involved with Bible Translation?
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…
Centrally SpeakingJesus' Passion and the Sovereignty of God
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…
Centrally SpeakingIt's Been 1700 Years since the Council of Nicaea: Why is that Event so Important?
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…
Centrally SpeakingEngaging Youth In our Day: A conversation with Dave Coryell from Christian Endeavor
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…
Centrally SpeakingLatest News from Eastern Ukraine from a Career Missionary to Zaporizhzhya
During the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, American news was running many stories about the news. In recent months, however, the mainstream news is sharing much…
Centrally SpeakingSpiritual Practices for a Faith Filled 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…
Centrally SpeakingThe Early Schwenkfelders: An Extraordinary Culture of Prayer
Prayer is an indispensable part of Christian experience. As the world has modernized, deeper and richer spiritual experiences have dissipated. Some Christian…
Centrally SpeakingChristian Conversion, Dramatic and Ordinary
Why are some conversions to Christianity so dramatic while others seem more ordinary? Rev. Dr. Luminița Nichols knows both types well from her experience…
Centrally SpeakingSchwenkfelders and the Sacraments - Then and Now
The small Schwenkfelder denomination began in Silesia, Germany during the Reformation. It was particularly born out of the controversies about the Eucharist…
Centrally SpeakingDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the University
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is a viewpoint promoted by American universities that has had substantial influence. This perspective encourages greater…
Centrally SpeakingIslam and Christianity: Practical Differences
Christianity and Islam are two of the major religions in our world. How do Muslims practice their faith? How do Christians practice the faith? Are they alike?…
Centrally SpeakingThe Renovation of the Central Schwenkfelder Church: how the church building intersects with the community
Central Schwenkfelder Church has been a noted edifice in the Lansdale/Worcester, Pennsylvania community since 1951. It was originally formed by merging two…
Centrally SpeakingThe Christian and Lent: A Perspective from Central Schwenkfelder Church
What should a Christian do during this time period to get the most out of it? Many Christians have an opinion on this, especially since the time has been in…
Centrally SpeakingSchwenkfelders, Fraktur, and the Christian Faith: An artifact of a vibrant Christian community
Christian communities frequently produce art that represent their common life and values. The Schwenkfelders as well as other German based Christian groups…
Centrally SpeakingHow to Find Yourself: Why Looking Inside is Not the Answer
In the 21st-century in the West, identity is everything. It seems that it has never been more important to know who you are and be true to yourself. In this…
Centrally SpeakingWhat is the Danger of Antisemitism?
Antisemitism has risen to a top news story following the October 7, 2024 Hamas-led attack on Israel which killed 1200 people and led to 240 hostages. Since…
Centrally SpeakingCelebrating Christmas with Family and Christ in a Consumer Age
Christmas is a greatly anticipated holiday in America each year, but now some cannot think about it unless there are extravagant gifts. In this podcast, we…
Centrally SpeakingLatest Developments in the Conflict between Ukraine and Russia
What is taking place in Ukraine from the perspective of Christian workers who are working in the region? Much of the world's attention has been on the conflict…
Centrally SpeakingMaking Sense of the Conflict between Israel and Hamas
On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a deadly surprise attack on Israel. Thousands of armed Hamas men tore down the fence at the border between Gaza and the…
Centrally SpeakingGuardian Angels
Does God send angels to protect us and guide us? What might they look like? Does the Bible say anything about this? Should someone pray to a guardian angel?…
Centrally SpeakingSchwenkfelders, Faith, and the Peter Wentz Farmstead
The historic Peter Wentz Farmstead is known to represent colonial life from the 18th century in the Philadelphia area. While first settled by Peter and Rosanna…
Centrally SpeakingChristianity and Peace: Rebuilding a Historic Connection
Until recently, Christianity has been associated with peace. In the wake of the January 6 riot at the Capitol and past incidents like the Crusades, some are…
Centrally SpeakingHealth and the African Continent: A Perspective from Uganda
Many westerners take interest in world health, particularly in Africa. Diseases such as malaria, Ebolavirus, yellow fever, HIV, typhoid, are prevalent in…
Centrally SpeakingThe Cross and Violence
The cross is likely the most identifiable symbol of Christianity. What does it mean? Certainly, it represents the death of Jesus which was a gruesome one. When…
Centrally SpeakingRecent news from East Ukraine - a Christian Worker's Perspective
The pictures coming out of East Ukraine have been horrific. What is the perspective of a Christian leader who is living just over 25 miles (40 km) from the…
Centrally SpeakingYouth Ministry and Generation Z
How are the youth of today seeing our world? Generation Z (born from 1996-2012) has values that are distinct from other age groups. In this podcast, we…
Centrally SpeakingMessiah Here with Us
The Contemporary Worship Service will be presenting a Christmas Concert on Friday, December 30 at 7:00 pm. The Christmas program involves contemporary songs…
Centrally SpeakingBlue Christmas: A Perspective for finding joy even with the loss of a loved one
How do you find some joy at Christmas after you have lost someone very special in your life? You are not alone if you are feeling this way. In this podcast…
Centrally SpeakingThe United Choir Concert: Past and Present
Christmas Carols are some of the favorite aspects of the Christmas season for many. In this podcast, Sally House, the director of the United Choir, shares…
Centrally SpeakingFinding Hope in a Weary World
"While I breathe, I hope" is a famous expression from the time of the Greeks and Romans. In modern societies that are weary, hope is especially valuable. Our…
Centrally SpeakingDiscussing the Decline of Biblical Literacy in the West with Scott Hafemann
Why do people not understand the Bible as well anymore? Recent surveys show a decline of biblical literacy in the west. How can this happen when there are so…
Centrally SpeakingWhat is the Day of Remembrance for the Schwenkfelders?
The Schwenkfelders have the longest standing continuous thanksgiving service in the United States. It started first in September of 1734 and still continues to…
Centrally SpeakingFleeing from Zaporozhye Ukraine: a Testimony from a Ukrainian family
Many westerners do not know what it is like to be in a war, the difficult choices about leaving home, and then being a refugee. In this podcast, we interview…
Centrally SpeakingFleeing the Khmer Rouge: the Tha Family and Refugees from Cambodia
One of the worst mass killings in the 20th century took place in Cambodia. Between the years, 1975-1979 during their brutal regime in Cambodia let by the…
Centrally SpeakingThe Church, Jesus, and Refugees
The world’s attention has been drawn to refugees this year. The withdrawal from Afghanistan in August of 2021 and the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 have…
Centrally SpeakingMaking Sense of the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine: An Interview with a Missionary to Zaporizhzhia
The invasion of Ukraine has now taken place for over a month. In just over a month, over 3.3 million people are refugees and 6.5 million are internally…
Centrally SpeakingMaking Sense of the War in Ukraine: An Interview with a Missionary to Zaporizhzhia
How did the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia come about? In this interview, we speak with Ken Sears, an American who has lived io the Eastern…
Centrally SpeakingRichard Wurmbrand: A Persecuted Christian with an Important Voice for Today
In the last years, 340 million Christians were living in places where they experience high levels of persecution. Over 4,500 Christians were killed for their…
Centrally SpeakingEntertaining Angels Unaware: A Discussion about Refugees
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…
Centrally SpeakingTeaching our Youth the Christian Story
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…
Centrally SpeakingIs Christmas Unbelievable? Four Important Questions Everyone Should Ask
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…
Centrally SpeakingThe Church's Future in Afghanistan
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…
Centrally SpeakingAre We Imposing Our Christian Values on Them?: A Missionary's Response to the Question
Some criticize Christian missions because it appears to be imposing values on others and subjugating their culture. After the recent withdraw of American…