“Lord, help me to guard my lips, that no hasty, unkind, or untrue word may escape them. Keep my speech pure, seasoned with love, and full of the gentleness of Christ. Let my tongue be a fountain of blessing, speaking only what edifies and comforts. Deliver me from idle talk and from every word that wounds or misleads. Grant that …
Quote of the Week, Character in Every Word, by Phillips Brooks, 19th Century
“Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.” —Phillips Brooks (1836-1893), Episcopal preacher best known for O Little Town of Bethlehem and for his widely published lectures on preaching and Christian character Source: Phillips Brooks, Addresses (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1895), 12. Reflection: How do the small, everyday choices in my speech—tone, honesty, …
Column Entry, Leadership Life Stories, by Chris Hamstra
Column Title: Leadership Life Stories: Communicating and Leading through Your Story Column Entry: “Listening Before the Miracle: Leadership, Communication, and Naaman” By Chris Hamstra, PhD, Davenport University Description: There is a power when people come together to share stories. As people of faith, the practice and process of storytelling helps us understand ourselves, our communities, and our organizations. When combined with leadership, stories …
Column Entry, Exile and the Ache for Home, by Brandon Knight
Column Title: Exile and the Ache for Home June 2026 Entry: “Places, Spaces, and Refugees” By Brandon Knight, PhD, William Carey University Column Description: Have you ever felt disconnected? What if such moments of disconnect point to a greater reality? A lost memory of unity with creation only hinted through nostalgia. Often even as we experience nature and beauty, or a …
Thursday, June 25 Workshop, Teaching Intercultural Communication, Still Time to Register
Lead Presenters/Facilitators: L. Ripley Smith (Bethel University, St. Paul); Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith (Alphacrucis University College, Australia) Date/Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm EDT REGISTER HERE Description: Teaching intercultural communication at Christian universities has become both necessary and complicated by increasingly plural and polarized societies and student bodies. When faced with interacting with people from different cultural …
A Prayer for Speech Seasoned by Grace, by Thomas Becon, 16th Century
“Give unto me, O Lord, a watchful heart and a bridled tongue, that I neither speak foolishly, nor unadvisedly offend any of thy little ones. Let my words be seasoned with grace, framed in truth, and guided by thy Holy Spirit, that I may edify the hearers, comfort the weak, and glorify thy holy name. Keep me from idle talk, …
Quote of the Week, What Our Words Disclose, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 19th Century
“A man’s words are a fair index of his soul.” —Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) Source: Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 27 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1881), 613. Reflection: How do my daily words reveal the true condition of my heart, and what might they be teaching others about the God I serve?
Teaching Intercultural Communication, Workshop, June 25, Still Time to Register
Lead Presenters/Facilitators: L. Ripley Smith (Bethel University, St. Paul); Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith (Alphacrucis University College, Australia) Date/Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm EDT REGISTER HERE Description: Teaching intercultural communication at Christian universities has become both necessary and complicated by increasingly plural and polarized societies and student bodies. When faced with interacting with people from different cultural …
June 18 Workshop, Faith-learning Integration for Christian Administrators, Still Time to Register
Lead Facilitators: Donna Elkins, Campbellsville University; Robert Woods, CCSN Executive Director Additional Presenters/Roundtable Discussants: Tom Carmody (Vanguard University); Shane Garrison (Campbellsville University); Jeff Groeling (Taylor University); Kate Mead (East Texas Baptist University); Perry Glanzer (Baylor University) Date/Time: Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT REGISTER HERE Description: Administrators shape the conditions under which Christian teaching, scholarship, …
Monthly Raven Society Meeting, June 19th, 12-1 pm EDT
Join us for coffee and conversation about research and teaching with faculty, students, administrators, and others interested in the intersections between Christianity and Communication Studies. Our desire is to continue the kinds of rich conversations we have during our face-to-face pre-conferences each year at the National Communication Association. We hope to strengthen and extend our relational bonds and sense of …
























