Our Church Speaks

Hosts Ben and Dan discuss the Advent-themed saint, Lucy of Syracuse who lived and died during the Great Persucution of Emperor Diocletian and gave her life for her faith in Jesus Christ. Ben and Dan talk about Lucy's life and why her memory is so associated with the power of the light, even amidst growing darkness.

Good news: Santa is real! Hosts Ben and Dan discuss the true story of Saint Nicholas ("Santa Claus") and how his care for the poor and helpless coexisted with his passion for precise Trinitarian theology. Ben and Dan discuss Nicholas' life and times, his legacy to the church, and traditions associated with his memory. Order the book "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place" by Ben Lansing & D.J. Marotta (published by InterVarsity Press) wherever books are sold. More info - www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

In this episode, Ben Lansing (Creator of Our Church Speaks) welcomes classical education teacher and podcaster Daniel Payne to discuss the life and work of celebrated Christian author C.S. Lewis. Daniel a teacher at Veritas School in Richmond, Virginia and is the host of the Lamp-post Listener, which you can learn more about at https://www.lamppostlistener.com. Support Our Church Speaks and learn about the new devotional book (written with D.J. Marotta and published by InterVarsity Press) at www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

Hosts Ben Lansing and D.J. Marotta talk about Hilda of Whitby, an inspiring 7th century saint who served as a monastic leader at a critical time in the history of the church in England. Ben and Dan trace the story of the English church to the earliest centuries of church history and reflect on the growing need for a revival of abbesses, abbots, monastic communities, and church mothers in our own day. Order the book "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place" by Ben Lansing & D.J. Marotta (published by InterVarsity Press) wherever books are sold. More info - www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

In this episode, hosts Ben Lansing and D.J. Marotta discuss the remarkable Russian saint, Herman of Alaska, his ministry to the subarctic Aleut people, and his significance as a Christian example of embodied, incarnational service. // Our Church Speaks is a history and art series by Ben Lansing and a devotional by Ben Lansing and D.J. Marotta. More information about Our Church Speaks (including how to order books, calendars, and prints) can be found at www.ourchurchspeaks.com. Support this project and help pay for its necessary expenses via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/ourchurchspeaks or leave a tip at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XRH6BZFJSSUFJ 

Ben and Dan explore the story of the South American Saint Martin of Porres, who overcame prejudice and hardship through a life of faith that was fed by his profound discipline of prayer. ----------- ORDER the book "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place", support this project on Patreon, get prints / calendars, and more at www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

Ben and Dan's book launches this week! "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place" (published by InterVarsity Press) will be officially released October 29, 2024. You can get your copy at www.ourchurchspeaks.com. To celebrate the book's release, Ben and Dan discuss "On the Reading of Old Books," a short essay by C.S. Lewis that has inspired much of the Our Church Speaks project. They discuss why the voices of the saints throughout the centuries are so important for a well-rounded Christian perspective and how we can be enouraged by the saints in our own life's circumstances. ---------- Order "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era and Place" by Ben Lansing and D.J. Marotta at www.ourchurchspeaks.com. Read C.S. Lewis' "On the Reading of Old Books" here - https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/christina.hemati/phil1301/readings/lewis-on-the-reading-of-old-books/view

Ben and Dan talk about Chinese Christianity, its history from ancient times to today, and the incredible witness of three 19th century Chinese women who helped to expand the Chinese church at the cusp of a wave of modern evangelization.  ----------- PREORDER the book "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place", support this project on Patreon, get prints / calendars, and more at www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

Ben and Dan talk about the courage of the 20th century African martyr, Janani Luwum and what it means to submit to governing authorities while living in the freedom of the Gospel. ----------- PREORDER the book "Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era & Place", support this project on Patreon, get prints / calendars, and more at www.ourchurchspeaks.com.

Ben and Dan chat about the Roman priest Valentine and the Eastern European missionaries Cyril and Methodius and they discuss why these three saints are often associated with each other and why their unique witness reveals what true love is.