Voices of Renewal Podcast
Voices of Renewal is a series devoted to rediscovering the renewing power of the Holy Spirit throughout the history of God’s church and today. In each episode, we will interview a leader in the field of Ministry, Church History, or Theology about how God has and is renewing the Church and world. It is our desire to seek God’s renewal in our own time in name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Episode 33: Dr. Michael Goheen on Lesslie Newbigin
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 a renewed vision of God’s mission brought by the power of the gospel. To learn more about his life and legacy, hear from Dr. Michael Goheen, Professor of Missional Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary and director of Theological Education at the Missional Training Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Episode 32: Ft. Mark O’Keefe on Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), also called St. Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish noblewomen, 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 Carmelites. To learn more about the life and renewal ministry of one of the Church’s greatest teachers, hear from Ft. Mark O’Keefe, Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Professor of Moral Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.
Episode 31: Dr. William Kay on George Jeffreys
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 Bonnke and his successor, Daniel Kolenda. Tune into this week’s episode of Voices of Renewal to learn more about the life of George Jeffreys from Dr. William Kay, Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at the University of Bangor.
Episode 30: Dr. George Kalantzis on Origen of Alexandria
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 remains important for any thoughtful Christian. Hear more about Origen’s life and renewal ministry in the theological rich episode of Voices of Renewal, featuring Dr. George Kalantzis. Professor of Theology at Wheaton College and Director of the Center for Early Christian Studies.
Episode 29: Dr. Bryan Litfin on Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria was a Christian theologian, a 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 interest in monasticism. Hear more about his life and renewal legacy from Dr. Bryan Litfin, Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School and former Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute for 16 years.
Episode 28: Dr. Rex Butler on Early Christian Martyrs
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 Professor of Church History and Patristics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Episode 27: Dr. Grant Wacker on Billy Graham
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 Christianity. To learn more about Graham’s life and legacy, hear from Dr. Grant Wacker, the Gilbert T. Rowe Emeritus Professor of Christian History at Duke Divinity School.
Episode 26: Dr. Daniel Isgrigg on Oral Roberts
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 Robert’s renewal legacy from Dr. Daniel Isgrigg, Assistant Professor and the Director of the Holy Spirit Research Center and Archives at Oral Roberts University.
Episode 25: Dr. Thomas Kidd on George Whitefield
George Whitefield was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. After ordination, Whitefield 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 reported that Whitefield preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million listeners in Great Britain and her American colonies. To learn more about his life and renewal legacy, hear from Dr. Thomas Kidd, Distinguished Professor of History at Baylor University and soon to be Research Professor of Church History at Midwestern Seminary (starting Fall 2022).
Episode 24: Dr. David Mayes on Martin Luther
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 with Dr. David Mayes, Associate Professor of History at Sam Houston State University.
Episode 23: Dr. Keith Stanglin on Jacob Arminius
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 Director for the Center of Christian Studies, to speak on Arminius on this week’s episode of Voices of Renewal.
Episode 22: Dr. Joel Woodruff on C.S. Lewis
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 about Lewis’ life and renewal ministry from Dr. Joel Woodruff, President of the C.S. Lewis Institute, in this week’s episode of Voices of Renewal.
Episode 21: Dr. Seth Osborne on Richard Baxter
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 faculty member for the Regent University School of Divinity, walks us through Baxter’s life, ministry, and renewal legacy.
Episode 20: Dr. Jonathan Taylor on Maximus the Confessor
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, Adjunct Professor at the Regent University School of Divinity.
Episode 19: Rev. Danny Hyde on John Owen
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 Owen’s life and legacy, hear from Rev. Daniel Hyde, Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church. Rev. Danny has written numerous books to help people of all backgrounds grow in the knowledge of Christ and is a leading scholar in the study of John Owen.
Episode 18: Dr. Jesse Payne on Carl F. H. Henry
Carl F. H. Henry was a 20th-century American evangelical theologian who provided leadership to the neo-evangelical movement and helped found several influential Christian organizations such as Christianity Today, Evangelical Theological Society, and Fuller Theological Seminary. It is not an understatement to say that every evangelical community has been influenced by Carl Henry. To hear more about his life and his ministry of renewal, hear from Dr. Jesse Payne. Jesse is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Burkburnett and author of the recently published Carl F. H. Henry on the Holy Spirit.
Episode 17: Dr. Gavin Ortlund on St. Anselm of Canterbury
St. Anselm of Canterbury was an Italian Benedictine monk, philosopher, and theologian during the 11th century. Anselm held the title of Archbishop of Canterbury for 16 years and wrote several important works the Church still uses today. However, he is most widely known for his motto of “Faith Seeking Understanding” (fides quaerens intellectum). In this episode, we are joined by pastor-theologian, Dr. Gavin Ortlund. Dr. Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai in Ojai, California. He is the author of several books, including Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t: The Beauty of Christian Theism, which will release in October 2021 by Baker Academic. He also runs a YouTube channel called “Truth Unites” which mainly focuses on ecumenical theology and apologetics.
Episode 16: Dr. Ewen Butler on David Mainse:
David Mainse was a Canadian televangelist, evangelical leader, and founder of Crossroads Christian Communications. Maines was an irenic leader helping to bridge the denominational gap of his time by focusing on the renewing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hear more about his life and legacy from Dr. Ewen Butler, Lead Pastor of Church on the Hill in Coburg, ON, and an Instructor for the Regent School of Divinity.
Episode 15: Dr. Rakel Alegre on Thomas Ball Barratt:
Thomas Ball Barratt was a British-born Norwegian pastor and one of the founding figures of the Pentecostal movement in Europe. Starting in 1907, he held revival meetings in Oslo at his newly formed “Filadelfia” assembly, which attracted international attention, and he became one of the prime movers of the Pentecostal movement. Hear more about his life and legacy from Dr. Rakel Alegre, an alumnus of the Regent School of Divinity and current Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology.
Episode 14: Dr. Robert Menzies on R. A. Torrey:
R. A. Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. He was the second President of Moody Bible College and a former dean at Biola University. Torrey was one of the three editors of The Fundamentals, a 12-volume series that gave its name to what came to be called “fundamentalism”. Torrey saw no distinction between orthodox Christian belief and Spirit-empowered living. Hear more about his life and ministry from leading Pentecostal New Testament scholar, Dr. Robert Menzies.
Episode 13: Dr. Geoff Chang on Charles Spurgeon:
Charles Spurgeon, also known as the “Prince of Preachers”, was a 19th-century Baptist minister. He was the pastor at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for 38 years and helped bring about a wave of renewal in preaching. Hear more about his life and ministry Dr. Geoff Chang, Assistant Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Episode 12: Dr. Daniel Gilbert on John Calvin:
John Calvin was a theologian, pastor, and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. In addition, he is known as the “theologian of the Holy Spirit”. Hear more about his life and ministry from Dr. Daniel Gilbert, Assistant Professor at Regent University School of Divinity.
Episode 11: Dr. John-Paul Lotz on Ignatius of Antioch:
Ignatius of Antioch was an early Christian writer and bishop of Antioch. Tradition identifies Ignatius, along with his friend Polycarp, as a disciple of John the Apostle. Ignatius’ letters now form a central part of a later collection of works known to be authored by the Apostolic Fathers. Hear more about his life and legacy from Dr. John-Paul Lotz, Instructor at the Regent School of Divinity and pastor of Courtland Baptist Church in Courtland, VA.
Episode 10: Dr. Charles Fox on William Seymour:
William Seymour was an American holiness preacher who initiated the Azusa Street revival, the most influential event in the rise of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Seymour’s theology and ministry emphasized the renewing power of the Holy Spirit and love of neighbor. Hear more about Seymour’s life and impact from Dr. Charles Fox, senior pastor of Christ Community Church (Bowie, MD) and founder of Victory Breakthrough Ministries.
Episode 9: Dr. Kathleen Patterson on Corrie Ten Boom:
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker who helped save hundreds of persecuted Jews during World War II. After imprisonment in the Ravensbrück concentration camp, Ten Boom set up rehabilitation centers for concentration camp survivors. By the end of her life, she carried the message of God’s love to more than 60 countries. Hear more about her life and ministry from Dr. Kathleen Patterson, Professor, and Director of the Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree at Regent University.
Episode 8: Sr. Madge Karecki on St. Clare of Assisi:
St. Clare of Assisi was an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, also known as the Poor Clares, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. Hear more about her life and ministry from a world-renowned Franciscan scholar, Sr. Madge Karecki in this week’s episode of Voices of Renewal.
Episode 7: Gordon Robertson on St. Patrick of Ireland:
St. Patrick was a fifth-century Christian missionary and bishop of Ireland. During his youth, Patrick was enslaved in Ireland. Many years after escaping, God, through a visionary experience, called him back to reach the lost. Known as “the Apostle of Ireland” Patrick brought missionary revival to an area of the world previously neglected. Hear more about his life and ministry from the Chief Executive Officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Gordon Robertson.
Episode 6: Dr. Mara Crabtree on St. Catherine of Sienna:
St. Catherine of Sienna was the first woman to be declared a “Doctor of the Church” by Pope Paul VI. During her short life, St. Catherine helped bring renewal to the Church of her day. Today, Catherine is known primarily through her faithful service to the Church and her work “The Dialogue of Divine Providence”. Hear more about her life and ministry from Dr. Mara Crabtree, Associate Professor at Regent University School of Divinity.
Episode 5: Dr. Louis Morgan on R. G. Spurling:
Richard Green (R. G.) Spurling was an American Baptist minister who founded the Pentecostal denomination Church of God. Hear from the Dean of the Library at Lee University, Dr. Louis Morgan, on the life and impact of R. G. Spurling.
Episode 4: Dr. James Henderson on Jonathan Edwards:
Jonathan Edwards is widely regarded as one of America’s most important and original theologians. Through sermons and written texts, he contributed to and participated in the First Great Awakening. Learn more about Edward’s view of revival and renewal from Dr. James Henderson.
Episode 3: Dr. Brian Yeich on Francis Asbury:
Francis Asbury’s life and ministry was devoted to preaching the good news of the Gospel. During the Second Great Awakening, Asbury helped spread Methodism across colonial America. Hear more about him from Assistant Provost and Affiliate Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, Dr. Brian Yeich.
Episode 2: Dr. Bill Kostlevy on John Wesley:
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached boldly and widely on the renewing power of God. Hear about his life and ministry from leading Holiness Movement scholar, Dr. Bill Kostlevy.
Episode 1: John Michael Talbot on St. Francis of Assisi:
St. Francis of Assisi experienced the renewing power of God and lived a gospel-centered life. Hear from multi-platinum selling, Grammy / Dove award-winning Contemporary Catholic Christian Music pioneer John Michael Talbot about St. Francis’ life and ministry.