Faith Encouraged Live

Fr. Barnabas returns to his program with an interview with Hank Hanegraaff, the president and Chairman of the Christian Research Institute and the author of Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life.

On this episode, Fr. Barnabas welcomes Fr. Lawrence Farley, author of the Bible Study Companion series and teacher on the Coffee Cup Commentaries. They discuss demons, demonology, and Halloween.

How should our parish communities live out the fullness of our Orthodox Faith by including and making a space for those who need a space in our worship that acknowledges their worth and our need to be a spiritual home for everyone? Fr. Barnabas talks with Summer Kinard, an author, a singer, and the mother of five autistic children. Then be sure to listen for a very special announcement from Fr. Barnabas in the second half of the show.

On his last live show, Fr. Barnabas welcomes the brother and the son of Fr. Gordon Walker of blessed memory. Fr. Gordon was one of the founding leaders of the former Evangelical Orthodox Church. Led By His Love is Fr. Gordon's memoir, compiled and edited after his repose by his brother Phillip Walker, Phillip and Fr. Gordon's son Tom are the guests on the show.

Fr. Barnabas talks with Jonathan Pageau about the Evil Eye tradition in some Orthodox traditions. This was a pre-recorded program. You can find Jonathan's artwork and essays at the following two websites: pageaucarvings.com and orthodoxartsjournal.org.

Our guests are Leah Libresco and Elissa Bjeletich. Leah is on the first segment discussing building authentic Christian community and her recent book Building the Benedict Option, and Elissa will be talking about preparing for the Nativity fast.

Fr. Barnabas interviews interview Dr. Peter Bouteneff about his new book How to Be a Sinner.

Fr. Barnabas Powell welcomes back Wesley J. Smith, a lawyer and award winning author as well as a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism.

Fr. Barnabas Powell welcomes the Founder and Executive Director of the Ages Initiatives, home of the Digital Chant Stand. Providing Orthodox churches with the texts and music needed to maintain the fullest possible liturgical life. Fr. Seraphim Dedes and Richard Barrett introduce us to this widely used resource particularly in GOA parishes. You can also hear Richard and his co-host Amy Hogg on their brand new AFR podcast A Sacrifice of Praise.

Father Barnabas Powell interviews John Sitilides, the Washington D.C.-based geopolitical strategist and professional corporate speaker, in a far-reaching conversation to explore and assess the complexities facing the Orthodox Church and its internal administrative challenges in addressing in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the hierarchical tensions between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate, Turkey's repression of Orthodox and other religious minorities, the Syria civil war, the Israeli-Palestinian divide, radical Islamism in the Balkans, the plight of Egypt’s Coptic community, and the stunning rise of Orthodox Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa.

Fr. Barnabas Powell interviews Frederica and Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green after they recently transitioned from full time parish ministry to "retirement." Of course, they remain as active as ever in continued outreach.

Kevin Allen was the host of two popular podcasts on AFR - The Illumined Heart and Ancient Faith Today. The latter was the first live call-in show on AFR starting in April of 2012. Kevin reposed in the Lord on August 7, 2018 after a 27 month battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Fr. Barnabas Powell welcomes special guests John Maddex, Steve Christoforou, Bruce Heying, and Abbot Tryphon as well as listeners to share comments and memories of Kevin and honor his legacy. May his memory be eternal. (Memory Eternal at the end of the program was sung by the St. Athanasius Orthodox Church Choir)

Fr. Barnabas Powell is joined by Steven Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez to evaluate the state of ministry for both young people and adults in our Orthodox Churches. Several resources were mentioned. We Are Orthodoxy podcast Y2AM Effective Christian Ministry

While in Crete for the Digital Media and Orthodox Pastoral Care conference, Fr. Barnabas Powell sat down with the other American speakers - Fr. Tom Soroka, Dr. Nicole Roccas, Fr. John Parker, Fr. John Peck, Richard Barrett, and Hank Hanegraaff to reflect on the conference and what they took away from it.

Fr. Stephen Freeman joins Fr. Barnabas Powell to talk about what happens when you tell your family, friends, and colleagues you are embracing the Orthodox Church.

Fr. Barnabas Powell welcomes the Executive Director of FOCUS North America Seraphim Danckaert to talk about the theology of caring for the poor and how it relates to our salvation.

Fr. Barnabas Powell went solo on this episode and opened up the phones for any comments or questions. Nine calls later the 90 minute show came to a conclusion. Lot's of interesting topics discussed!

Dr. Roccas is the author of Time and Despondency and talks about the meaning of despondency and how it is impacting the Church.

Fr. Barnabas Powell welcomes Abbot Tryphon to the show and they take several listener calls about hesychasm, lent, and monasticism.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick is the author of Bearing God: The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch He and Fr. Barnabas Powell discuss this Saint from the very early years of the Christian Church.