POPULARITY
Categories
842 episodes with American Baptist
47 episodes with American Baptist
9 episodes with American Baptist
3 episodes with American Baptist
3 episodes with American Baptist
2 episodes with American Baptist
2 episodes with American Baptist
2 episodes with American Baptist
3 episodes with American Baptist
July 19, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
This was a live one, recorded on the eve of the 250th at Wake Forest Divinity School with the Double Deans in the room. Corey Walker's Theology Summit lecture — which spent six hours at the top of Substack the week we recorded — uses two moments in American history to name where we are: James Duane's October 1775 letter hoping this winter would bring revolution, and Gil Scott-Heron's 1973 album Winter in America, a lament for the arrested development of democracy after Nixon. Corey's argument is that 2026 is another winter. Bill Leonard, the founding dean who trained a generation to think about dissent, added the second layer: a perfect imperfect storm in which Christian nationalism has fused with authoritarian government and the church is the least helpful it has been in his lifetime. Three questions run through the conversation — Is God dead? (Sojourner Truth to Frederick Douglass in 1850), Is America possible? (Vincent Harding), and What does our religion say to those with their backs against the wall? (Howard Thurman) — and none of them get answered. What they get instead is Corey's proposal that the 250th is calling us to a counter memory — not the memory of those who prevailed, but of Miss Audrey, Mister Pugh, and Mister Linwood, the neighbors whose first names were their titles. Plus the Snake Handler Fund is officially open. Join our Online Summit - Unsettled Ground: Faith & the American Story at 250 This summer, Diana Butler Bass and I are launching Faith at 250 — an online summit featuring scholars like Randall Balmer, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Elesha Coffman, and more, each offering their own take on religion and America at 250 years. We built it so faith communities have something honest and substantive to turn to when the nationalist narratives start flying. Sign up at www.TheologySummit.com to get access to every lecture, livestream, and discussion guide. The summit is donation-based, including 0. Dr. Corey D. B. Walker is Dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, and inaugural Director of the Program in African American Studies. A native of Norfolk, Virginia and an ordained American Baptist clergyperson, he previously served as Vice President and Dean at Virginia Union University's Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, founding dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education at Winston-Salem State University, and chair of Africana Studies at Brown University. He is a former student of Cornel West at Harvard, and sits on the board of Lincoln University (the country's first HBCU). Books: A Noble Fight: African American Freemasonry and the Struggle for Democracy in America (University of Illinois Press); Community Wealth Building and the Reconstruction of American Democracy (co-edited with Melody Barnes and Thad Williamson, Edward Elgar, 2020); and Beyond a Politics of Nostalgia: Religious Freedom and the Ends of Democracy (co-edited with Sabrina E. Dent). Forthcoming: Disciple of Nonviolence: Wyatt Tee Walker and the Struggle for the Soul of Democracy(University of Virginia Press). His Theology Summit lecture — Winter in America — is at theologysummit.com. Dr. Bill J. Leonard is the founding Dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity and Professor of Divinity Emeritus. He writes a regular column for Baptist News Global. His most recent book is Appalachian Mountain Christianity: The Spirituality of Otherness (University of Georgia Press, 2024). Earlier books include A Sense of the Heart: Christian Religious Experience in the United States (Abingdon), Baptist Ways: A History (Judson), and The Challenge of Being Baptist (Baylor). He is, to the best of anyone's knowledge, the only person in Wake Forest history to have brought a serpent-handling preacher to campus with actual serpents (Reverend Carl Porter, 1997, five snakes minimum). The Snake Handler Fund at Wake Div is now, officially, open. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 5, 2026
June 28, 2026
June 21, 2026
June 14, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
June 7, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
May 31, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
May 24, 2026
May 17, 2026
Hosts Luke Stehr and Dr. Dennis R. Wiles welcome missionary Sarah Pursley to discuss Ephesians chapter 5 and explore how believers discern convictions that go beyond explicit biblical commands.Drawing from Dr. Wiles' sermon on the Holy Spirit, they examine why Baptists historically took stances on alcohol, tobacco, and dancing—practices without direct biblical prohibition. The conversation explores how cultural context shapes these decisions, using First Baptist Arlington's 1991 vote on deacon standards as a case study.Sarah shares valuable perspective from her eight years in Slovenia, where church attitudes toward alcohol differ dramatically from American Baptist traditions. This leads to broader discussion about navigating cultural differences while maintaining biblical witness.A key theme: the difference between baptism of the Holy Spirit (one-time) and being filled with the Spirit (ongoing discipline). Dr. Wiles reflects on his journey from a purely intellectual faith approach toward greater openness to the Spirit's leading.The episode concludes with hopeful reflection on the current state of the Church—noting decreased denominational polarization and renewed spiritual hunger among younger generations.
May 3, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Nikita G. McCalister
April 19, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
Amidst the ashes of the Opium War, a new flame is beginning to kindle – not in the halls of power, but in the distant, forgotten hills and mountains. While the would-be prophet Hong Xiuquan returns home, his closest friend vanishes into the wilds of Guangxi – a world of ethnic tensions, criminal brotherhoods, pirates-turned-river-bandits… and a government far too distant and preoccupied to care. What Feng Yunshan finds there, and what he builds among its dispossessed and desperate Hakka denizens, will become the backbone of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom: the God Worshipping Society. Time Period Covered:1844–1847 Major Historical Figures:Feng Yunshan, organizer, founder of the God-Worshipping Society [1815–1852]Hong Xiuquan, Second Son of God [1814–1864]Hong Ren'gan, cousin, convert [1822–1864]Issachar J. Roberts, American Baptist missionary [1802–1871]Karl Gutzlaff, German missionary, founder of the Chinese Union [1803–1851] Major Sources Cited:Kuhn, Philip A. "Ch. 6, The Taiping Rebellion" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10.Platt, Stephen R. Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom.Scott, James C. The Art of Not Being Governed.Spence, Jonathan D. God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 12, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
March 22, 2026
In this episode of The Grow Your Occupancy Podcast, Julie Podewitz, CEO & Founder, is joined by Austin Blilie, COO, and Tommy Tyler, Director of Sales, Marketing & Development at American Baptist Homes of the Midwest—an organization with nearly a century of service in senior living. Austin and Tommy unpack how a mission-driven, nonprofit provider is successfully navigating today's rapidly evolving senior living landscape. From shifting prospect behaviors and rising acuity levels to the lasting impact of COVID-19, they share what today's residents and families expect—and how communities must adapt to meet them where they are. You'll learn: - How digital transformation has reshaped the buyer journey (and why prospects are more informed than ever) - Why speed to the lead is now a non-negotiable competitive advantage - The shift from traditional tours to needs-based, consultative selling - How occupancy gains in 2025 were achieved through intentional sales training and process improvements - The evolving role of technology, home care, and aging-in-place strategies - How nonprofit, faith-based organizations can differentiate through mission, reinvestment, and trust This episode is packed with practical insights for sales directors, executive directors, and marketing leaders looking to increase occupancy, improve conversion, and stay competitive in a changing market. If you're still relying on outdated sales approaches—or responding to leads “when you get to it”—this conversation is your wake-up call.
March 15, 2026
March 8, 2026
March 1, 2026
On the second hour of 2-13-26 HR2 The Shelley Wynter Show, Shelley interviews American Baptist minister, politician and activist James Woodall.
February 15, 2026
February 8, 2026 by Guest Preacher Rev. Ashley Bair
This episode of Dangerous Dogma features a conversation between Word&Way Editor Brian Kaylor, Lutheran minister and journalist Angela Denker, and Disciples pastor and author Beau Underwood. The conversation includes discussion about ICE actions in Minneapolis, how many clergy are leading protests against ICE while others are supporting ICE, and new research worried about the loss of "purple" churches. You can watch a video version of the conversation here. Here are a few pieces related to the episode: Brian wrote about two American Baptist congregations ministering in Minneapolis. Angela mentioned a statement from the chaplain of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Brian wrote about a pastor who gave a pro-ICE prayer. Brian wrote about the protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Angela wrote at MS NOW about the church protest. Angela mentioned a Substack piece by Stacey Patton about how a civil rights law is being twisted. Brian and Beau wrote about how ICE is targeting churches. Sarah Stankorb wrote at The New Republic about polarization in mainline Protestant churches. Also, check out the most recent books by the three panelists: Brian Kaylor, The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power Angela Denker, Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood Beau Underwood (with Brian Kaylor), Baptizing America How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism
February 1, 2026 by Rev. Susan Sparks, with special guest Paul Lambert
In this episode, Word&Way President Brian Kaylor talks with American Baptist ministers Anna Piela and Michael Woolf on Islamophobia, immigration, and how Christians can better engage with interfaith efforts. Anna and Michael are coauthors of the new book, Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice. Watch a video version of this conversation here. Here are a few pieces related to the episode: Brian wrote about Michael's advocacy outside an ICE facility in Illinois Michael wrote for Unsettling Advent about Advent in a time of soldiers in the streets Brian recently testified against anti-Sharia law legislation in Missouri Brian wrote about Franklin Graham preaching at the Pentagon Note: Don't forget to subscribe to our award-winning e-newsletter A Public Witness that helps you make sense of faith, culture, and politics. And order the new book by Brian Kaylor, The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power.
January 25, 2026
January 18, 2026
January 11, 2026
Voters Right Act, Chicago Tribune, Slate, NY TimesAugust 6th, 1965 the Voting Rights Act was Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson., C.T. Vivian, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, was violently attacked by Sheriff Jim Clark while attempting to escort a group of African Americans to register to vote. Steve Fiffer is a New York Times Bestselling Author. His Book is "It's in The Action": Memories of a Nonviolent Warrior, Rev C.T. Vivian's Memoir.Reverend Vivian was a Major Force in the Fight for Civil Rights & Voters Rights in the Twentieth Century till he Passed July 17th, 2020.Regardless of Social Status, Party Affiliation or Belief, Race: Libertarian, Democrat, Progressive or Republican or Other, All Americans Should Have the Right to Vote!Senator Barack Obama, speaking at Selma's Brown Chapel on the March 2007, anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, recognized Vivian in his opening remarks in the words of Martin L. King Jr. as "the greatest preacher to ever live."Studying for the ministry at American Baptist Theological Seminary (now called American Baptist College) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1959, Vivian met James Lawson, who was teaching Mohandas Gandhi's nonviolent direct action strategy to the Nashville Student Movement. Soon Lawson's students, including Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, John Lewis and others from American Baptist, Fisk University and Tennessee State University, organized a systematic nonviolent sit-in campaign at local lunch counters.Vivian helped found the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference, and helped organize the first sit-ins in Nashville in 1960 and the first civil rights march in 1961. In 1961, Vivian participated in Freedom Rides. He worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. as the national director of affiliates for the SCLC. During the summer following the Selma Voting Rights Movement, Vivian is perhaps best known for, Vivian challenged Sheriff Jim Clark on the steps of the courthouse in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 during a drive to promote Black people to register to vote."You can turn your back on me, but you cannot turn your back upon the idea of justice," Vivian said to Clark as reporters recorded the interaction. "You can turn your back now and you can keep the club in your hand, but you cannot beat down justice. And we will register to vote, because as citizens of these United States we have the right to do it."Vivian conceived and directed an educational program, Vision, and put 702 Alabama students in college with scholarships (this program later became Upward Bound). His 1970 Black Power and the American Myth was the first book on the Civil Rights Movement by a member of Martin Luther King's staff.On August 8, 2013, President Barack Obama named Vivian as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Steve's own Memoir is "Three Quarters, Two Dimes, and a Nickel". His work has appeared in Chicago Tribune. & Slate. He's also a Guggenheim Fellow© 2026 All Rights Reserved© 2026 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy: https://tinyurl.com/BASAud
December 28, 2025 by Guest Preacher Derrick T. Jordan
December 21, 2025
December 7, 2025
Dr. David Saxon, professor of Church History at Maranatha Baptist University, tells the story of Obadiah Holmes, a colonial American Baptist, who was whipped for the crime of preaching without a license.
Dr. David Saxon, professor of Church History at Maranatha Baptist University, tells the story of Obadiah Holmes, a colonial American Baptist, who was whipped for the crime of preaching without a license.
November 30, 2025
November 23, 2025
November 16, 2025
November 2, 2025
October 26, 2025 by Guest Preacher Rev. Patricia Haggler
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
