Cross Encounters

Join Chris and Rich this week as they discuss the core doctrine of the Christian faith: the Gospel!  The message of the Gospel is vital in the life of the believer.  It is what brings us to new life, it is what strengthens us in our daily walk, it is the promise of eternal glory.  It is the message that each and every believer is commanded to share with those dead in trespasses and sins.  It is the only hope we have in a dark and sin filled world.  Chris and Rich will discuss just what the gospel is, and what it is not.  The gospel is not a "fill pews quick" scheme.  It is not a church growth methodology.  It is a life saving message for those on the road to Hell.  And while not all who hear it will receive it, it is our duty as followers of Christ to proclaim it.  Make sure to tune and share the message with others.  This is one show you should not miss! 

Spiritual Principles for Life and Prophetic Evangelism "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). The above passage of Scripture includes a series of imperative, governing principles for life on and off "the box." Richard, and Chris will discuss what they are and how important they are today, especially in a world driven by social media and other forms of impersonal, personal communication. The May 2015 edition of Charisma Magazine features an article on "Prophetic Evangelism." Chris and Rich will discuss this un-biblical form of evangelism and the potential consequences of the unsaved, the world and the true body of Christ.

Episode: 20150425 A 90-minute episode On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio..... 1. Tony travelled to Butler, PA (30-40 minutes north of Pittsburgh), with his three younger sisters. Butler is where Tony's generation of Miano children were born. Tony will share some deeply personal details about the trip, which was the first time in more than 40 years Tony and his sisters have returned together to Butler. Tony learned, and he saw firsthand, that it is not too late to reboot family relationships. 2. "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). The above passage of Scripture includes a series of imperative, governing principles for life on and off "the box." Tony, Richard, and Chris will discuss what they are and how important they are today, especially in a world driven by social media and other forms of impersonal, personal communication.

Chris interviews Andrew Rappaport of Striving For Eternity Ministries about his new book, "What They Believe." Andrew shares why it is important why we need to understand what other religions believe and how it effects our ability to share the gospel with their adherents.  Andrew's new book details what various religions believe about their God, Jesus, their own holy texts, sin and salvation.  Knowing these details will help you as you share the gospel on the streets.  Also, Rich and Chris will discuss counting the cost of being a follower of Christ.  As a pluralistic culture races to accept various other world religions, it continues marginalize Christianity.  Followers of Christ will find themselves continually in the crosshairs of a culture that hates and rejects Christ as Lord and Savior.  Are Christians prepared for what is ahead? All this and Chris has a whale of a tale.

Episode: 20150411 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio..... 1. Recently Tony preached two sermons related to open-air preaching and preachers, at the Milton Herald Society: "A Defense for the Public Proclamation of the Gospel" and "Have You Been Sent?" Both Chris and Rich have some questions for Tony. Has Tony gone too far? Are his expectations for all open-air preachers to be qualified, called, and sent by the local church unreasonable? Are they impractical? We will take your calls. 2. There has been a major development with the Church of Wells. Catherine Grove who, for two years, was all but hidden from her family by church leadership (the church's leadership would insist it was completely voluntary on Catherine's part), has left the quasi-church and returned to her family. 3. Rich and Chris will present Tony with another "Always Ready" scenario. How will Tony transition the scenario into a gospel opportunity?

Episode #20150404 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: Tony's guests will be Jeff Rose and Bobby McCreery of JeremiahCry Ministries. Together the three will provide a recap of the recent Herald Society at First Baptist Church of Miltion (Milton, FL). In addition, listeners to this broadcast will get to hear clips from a number of sermons preached at the Herald Society. Clips will include the preaching of Dr. James White, Pastor Earl Blackburn, Pastor Jeff Pollard of Chapel Library, Jeff Rose, Bobby McCreery, and Tony. This is an expanded, two-hour edition of Cross Encounters Radio.

Recently a man invloled in street ministry by the name of Michael Overd was convicted in London, of homophobic hate speech for using a passage from the Bible to explain homosexuality is a sin. Following the conviction a newspaper in the UK used the term "radicalized" in describing Michael Overd. Chris and Rich will be discussing the case and what implications it has for street ministries in the future. Word of Faith Minister Benny Hinn has been hospitalized for heart problems. What does it mean when a Word of Faith Healer, can't heal himself and others within the Word of Faith movement don't show up, to heal one of their own? LifeWay Christian Bookstores have pulled all of the Heavenly Tourism books from their stores. We will touch on the why and is this beneficial for Christians.  Plus, we will announce the winner of this week's Cross Encounters Radio Contest. 

Episode: #20150321 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. A man's house burns to the ground. Sometime later, he catches two men trying to steal the air conditioner from the roof of his destroyed home. What would you do? 2. What's a "cairn?" Tony and Rich will pick a winner of this week's Cross Encounters Radio Facebook Page "Caption This" contest. 3. This week's Romans 3:10-18 Award goes to.....the PCUSA. 4. "Always Ready" Rich will present Tony with a scenario and Tony will try to transition from the given circumstances to an opportunity to share the gospel.

Join Cross Encounters Radio this week as we discuss the following: An American Baptist College is defending its invitation to an openly lesbian United Church of Christ minister, asserting that Christians are making an “idol” of the Bible.  Is American Evangelicalism Diving Headlong Into Accepting Homosexuality?  "Is Civil Disobedience Biblical?" Our answers may surprise you. Join us and help spread the show by using the hashtag #CER We look forward to hearing from you.

Join this power packed episode where Chris and Rich pull the velvet off the hammer and discuss the recent news articles regarding abortion worker Callie Chatman, wife of an Alabama Baptist Preacher. Recently Callie Chatman made several comments defending her work at a local abortuary. One of her defense statements: "I feel that we have all sinned." Can this statement justify supporting abortion?  The question we pose and will be discussing among other things is this, "Can a Christian Support Abortion?"

Episode #20150228 On this special, two-hour edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. The guys discuss the recent arrest of a street preacher outside a Southern California DMV and Tony's subsequent article about the incident. Both the officer and the street preacher were wrong. But the street preacher brought reproach upon Jesus and His gospel. 2. Getting arrested while open-air preaching is not automatically a case of Christian persecution. 3. Hee-Haw Church. You'll just have to listen. 4. Rich and Chris will hit Tony with another "Always Ready" scenario.

Episode #20150221 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. Jeff Rose, founder of JeremiahCry Ministries, will be our guest. Tony and Jeff will discuss the upcoming Herald Soceity event in Milton, FL, as well as the other three Herald Society events scheduled for 2015. Tony and Jeff will also talk about the state of open-air preaching around the world, especially in light of the growing number of atrocities committed by followers of Muhammad who represent orthodox Islam. Lastly, Tony and Jeff will talk about what a day is like in the life of an open-air preacher who is a husband and father of seven children.

Eposide: 20150214 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. Russell Wilson: another famous professing Christian who has brought a reproach upon Christ, with his recent positive tweet about the ographic movie, "Fifty Shades of Grey." 2. Tony will discuss his recent blog article, "American Evangelicalism: Where Bad Things Happen." 3. It's Chris' turn on the hot seat. This time Tony will present Chris with a scenario, during the "Always Ready" segment.

Episode #20150207 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. Picking up where they left off, Tony and the guys will talk about Russell Moore's recent statement regarding the Latter-Day Saints' decision to soften its stance regarding same-sex unions and the associated governmental protections. 2. Justin Edwards recently wrote a blog article titled: "Christian Submission vs. Belligerent Discontentment before Civil Authorities." 3. Tony will talk about his recent blog article titled: "American Evangelicalism: Where Bad Things Happen." 4. Chris and Rich present Tony with another scenario in the "Always Ready" segment. 5. And the guys will announce the winner of.....a "Give Tony's Friend an Avenger Name" contest?

Episode: 20150131 On this edition of Cross Encounters Radio: 1. The team will discuss Russel Moore and the ERLC's courtship with the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Latter-Day Saints. 2. The team will discuss the UK government's recent shutdown of a Christian school because allegedly "leaders are failing to prepare students for life in modern Britain.” 3. Tony will talk about his recent trip to Beaverton Grace Bible Church (Beaverton, OR) to assist the church with its Portland Comic Con outreach. 4. Rich and Chris will hit Tony with another challenging scenario in the "Always Ready" segment.