The Rev. J. C. Austin, director of the Center for Christian Leadership at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City is the featured speaker Sept. 16 on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally syndicated ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org.
A minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Austin spent 10 years as a pastor in New York City before coming to Auburn Seminary in 2009. He is a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton (N.J.) Theological Seminary. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the field of theology and public life at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Austin’s “Day 1” sermon for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, based on Mark 8:27-38, is entitled “Following Jesus Is for Losers.”
“Suffering on the cross was not imposed on Jesus; he took it up himself willingly to redeem all of us,” he says. “To take up our cross and follow Jesus means we follow him in refusing to think only about ourselves, but to suffer for the redemption of others, even at the risk of losing our lives.”
The program includes opening and closing interviews with Austin conducted by Wallace, who is also executive producer.
“Day 1,” has been broadcast every week for 67 years, formerly as “The Protestant Hour.” Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga. The alliance includes the PC(USA).