Our Christian Heritage

Come with Randy Melchert as we travel America to find the people and places behind the history of Christianity in the United States.

S2E12: The Lone Star Revival 10/31/2022

S2E12: The Lone Star Revival In this episode, Dr. David Saxon tells about the endless strife, burnout, and discouragement many missionaries faced in India before God worked mightily and the Lone Star Revival was born. He also tells the incredible story behind the name and how this mission field was repeatedly kept from being abandoned, despite the many efforts to do so. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23289707

S2E11: What Is Revival? – Part II 10/24/2022

S2E11: What Is Revival? – Part II In 1971, evangelist twins, Ralph and Lou Sutera, were involved with the Saskatoon Revival, which traveled around the world and impacted lives, churches, communities, and mission fields. In this episode, Ralph Sutera continues to weigh in on what revival is and on who needs to be revived. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23289419

S2E10: What Is Revival? - Part I 10/17/2022

S2E10: What Is Revival? - Part I In 1971, a revival took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, where God saw fit to work in a marvelous way. Not only has this moving of the Spirit of God affected that area, but it has also gone around the world and continues to minister to people even to this day. So, what is revival all about and what does it means to really meet God at a deeper level? Listen as Evangelist Ralph Sutera weighs in. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23289335

S2E9: An Interview with Ralph and Lou Sutera – Part II 10/10/2022

S2E9: An Interview with Ralph and Lou Sutera – Part II In 1971, there was a spiritual tsunami that happened in Saskatoon. It sent shockwaves throughout all Canada and North America and has touched many parts of the world. Listen in as twin evangelists, Ralph and Lou Sutera, continue to tell the powerful story of how God showed up and sent true revival. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23287832

S2E8: An Interview with Ralph and Lou Sutera - Part I 10/03/2022

S2E8: An Interview with Ralph and Lou Sutera - Part I On October 13,1971, twin evangelists, Ralph and Lou Sutera, began revival meetings at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Little did they know that this was going to be the beginning of the great Saskatoon Revival. Listen in as they share the powerful story of how God showed up and worked in lives, families, churches, towns, and countries. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23287598

S2E7: Emilee Nelson on Remembering Dr. Ed Nelson 09/26/2022

S2E7: Emilee Nelson on Remembering Dr. Ed Nelson Dr. Ed Nelson has been in full-time Christian service for over seventy-five years. He has worked as a pastor, evangelist, educator, author, and mentor and has been a huge influence in Christian education in America. Listen in as Emilee Nelson remembers her grandfather and recounts key stories from the life of "a sinner saved by grace." Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23287232

S2E6: Pastor Ken Spilger on His Near Death Experience 09/19/2022

S2E6: Pastor Ken Spilger on His Near Death Experience On September 17, 1980, a small plane crashed near St. Louis, MO. The plane was carrying a small group of pastors who were returning from a pastors' conference in Kansas City and only one survived. Listen in as Ken Spilger, senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO, recounts the story of the crash; his recovery from the third degree burns, which he sustained on about a third of his body; and of God's amazing grace through it all. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23275961

S2E5: Jeremy Beller on American Baptist History 09/12/2022

S2E5: Jeremy Beller on American Baptist History Dr. James Beller was the author of America in Crimson Red, a book which takes a look at some of the lesser-known figures in American history and the Christians who, many of them, sacrificed their lives to ensure that we would have the religious freedom that we take for granted today. Join Jeremy Beller, Baptist history expert and son of the late Dr. James Beller, as he shares some of the inspiring stories from church history and why it’s important to study church history. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23192375

S2E4: Vickie Beller on America in Crimson Red 09/05/2022

S2E4: Vickie Beller on America in Crimson Red Dr. James Beller was the author of America in Crimson Red, a book which takes a look at some of the lesser-known figures in American history and the Christians who, many of them, sacrificed their lives to ensure that we would have the religious freedom that we take for granted today. Join Vickie Beller, wife of Dr. James Beller, as she tells the story of her late husband and how he came to write the book. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23273819

S2E3: Dr. Clayton Shumpert on the Sin of Neglect 08/29/2022

S2E3: Dr. Clayton Shumpert on the Sin of Neglect What does “the sin of neglect” mean for the Christian? We have the message of the Gospel and can save lives, but is it possible that Christians are involved in murder by neglecting to do so? Listen in as Dr. Clayton Shumpert illustrates this point and shares seven benefits to our churches having a Bible-based, missionary outreach. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23273684

S2E2: Pastor Bob Hassel on “A Revival Story” 08/22/2022

S2E2: Pastor Bob Hassel on “A Revival Story” In September, 2006, Faith Baptist Church of Champaign, Illinois, was going to be holding revival meetings. They had held revival meetings many times before, but this time was going to be different. Instead of just the evangelist showing up, God was going to show up, too. Listen in as Pastor Bob Hassel tells the inspiring story of how God brought revival to his church. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23273624

S2E1: Dr. David Smith on Hymn Stories 08/15/2022

S2E1: Dr. David Smith on Hymn Stories Dr. David Smith is the son of Al Smith, founder of Singspiration. In this episode, Dr. Smith tells the fascinating histories behind some of the most loved hymns of today. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23273582

S1E12: Dr. Milton Loyer on Hymns of Central Pennsylvania 08/08/2022

S1E12: Dr. Milton Loyer on Hymns of Central Pennsylvania A surprising number of Gospel songs in our hymnals come from central Pennsylvania. In this episode, Dr. Loyer, the archivist for the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, talks about these songs and the stories behind them. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/20178968

S1E11: Pastor Brian De Jong on John DeWaard and Arthur Franklin Perkins 08/01/2022

S1E11: Pastor Brian De Jong on John DeWaard and Arthur Franklin Perkins Brian De Jong, pastor and archivist of the Midwest Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, talks about the early history of the OPC and introduces us to some of the lesser-known characters, like John DeWaard and Arthur Franklin Perkins. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/19774481

S1E10: Pastor Brian De Jong on J. C. Ryle 07/25/2022

S1E10: Pastor Brian De Jong on J. C. Ryle Brian De Jong, pastor and archivist of the Midwest Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, introduces us to J. C. Ryle, a man who was a gifted writer and broke the mold of the stuffy clergy elite. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/19711034

S1E9: Pastor Brian De Jong on Dr. J. Gresham Machen 07/18/2022

S1E9: Pastor Brian De Jong on Dr. J. Gresham Machen Dr. J. Gresham Machen was a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary when the crisis came. Was it merely theological issues… or was it a dividing line between truth and error? Brian De Jong, pastor and archivist of the Midwest Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, talks about the founder of the OPC, Dr. J. Gresham Machen. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/18120836

S1E8: Dr. David Saxon on George Whitefield 07/11/2022

S1E8: Dr. David Saxon on George Whitefield Dr. David Saxon, professor of Church History at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin talks with us about George Whitefield (1714-1770), the British Anglican who preached over 10,000 times to millions in England and America. A friend to Benjamin Franklin, founder of an orphanage in Georgia, and buried in Massachusetts. /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/16040762

S1E7: Dr. David Saxon on Charles Spurgeon 07/04/2022

S1E7: Dr. David Saxon on Charles Spurgeon Dr. David Saxon, professor of Church History at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin talks with us about the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon. Born in 1834, and dying at 57 in 1892, Spurgeon was a powerful preacher, and yet was converted in a humble church service. /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/15685616

S1E6: Dr. David Saxon on Roger Williams 06/27/2022

S1E6: Dr. David Saxon on Roger Williams Dr. David Saxon, Professor of Church History at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin, introduces us to Roger Williams, the founder of the first Baptist church in America. Williams grew up Anglican, was persecuted in his family, attended Cambridge University, and eventually came over to America and founded Providence Plantations, now the state of Rhode Island. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/16749974

S1E5: Bob and Mary Shaffer on The Old Rugged Cross Church and Museum 06/20/2022

S1E5: Bob and Mary Shaffer on The Old Rugged Cross Church and Museum In this episode, Bob and Mary Shaffer, of the Old Rugged Cross Church and Museum, invite us into the restored, 1913 church building where the beloved hymn was first sung. They talk about how they took a collapsing barn and turned it back into a church, some of the other sites that claim "The Old Rugged Cross," George Bennard, and more! Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23206352

S1E4: Ed Petrus on Ira Sankey and His Songs 06/13/2022

S1E4: Ed Petrus on Ira Sankey and His Songs Ed Petrus of New Castle, Pennsylvania, tells the story of Ira Sankey and the inspiration for his song, “The Ninety and Nine.” Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23206268

S1E3: Pastor Mike Frazier on the Christian Hall of Fame 06/06/2022

S1E3: Pastor Mike Frazier on the Christian Hall of Fame In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio. One year later, Pastor Harold Henniger was reading Hebrews 11, that great passage on faith and the heroes of the faith, and thought it would be a great idea to have a Hall of Fame for Christian heroes so, on April 12, 1966, Canton Baptist Temple instituted the Christian Hall of Fame. Listen in as Mike Frazier, senior pastor of Canton Baptist Temple, tells the story. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/23206214

S1E2: Bill Federer on D. L. Moody and Booker T. Washington 05/30/2022

S1E2: Bill Federer on D. L. Moody and Booker T. Washington Bill Federer, author of America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, joins us to talk about the visit by Abraham Lincoln to Moody’s Sunday school; Moody’s work in the Civil War with the U.S. Christian Commission; P. T. Barnum’s hippodrome; and Booker T. Washington, the freemen schools, and his famous “Cast Down Your Bucket Where You Are” speech. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/16617092

S1E1: Bill Federer on Charles Finney, William Booth, George Williams, Henry Dunant, Edgar James Helms, and Jeremiah Lanphier 05/23/2022

S1E1: Bill Federer on Charles Finney, William Booth, George Williams, Henry Dunant, Edgar James Helms, and Jeremiah Lanphier Bill Federer, author of America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, joins us to talk about social impact ministry throughout history, especially as a result of Charles Finney’s initial work. He talks about several Christians who founded global organizations, such as William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army), George Williams (founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association, aka the YMCA), Henry Dunant (founder of the International Red Cross), and Edgar James Helms (founder of Goodwill). He analyzes how Christian experience goes from a first generation convert, to a second generation legalist, to a third generation rebel. Lastly, he tells the story of Jeremiah Lanphier and the Laymen’s Prayer Revival in New York City, which began on September 23, 1857. Watch online: /episode/index/show/vcyamerica/id/16362608

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