Ancient Faith
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"Our Life in Christ" at 25: Steve Robinson and Bill Gould Reunite
52:01
What the video says
Steve Robinson and Bill Gould, co-hosts of the early Ancient Faith Radio podcast "Our Life in Christ," reflect on their 25-year journey since starting the show in 2001. They recount how a local priest's scheduling conflicts led them to take over a live AM radio program, which later became one of Ancient Faith Radio's first podcasts, recorded from a basement "catacomb studio" and distributed via mailed CDs.
Over eight years and 125 episodes, they focused on addressing Protestant objections to Orthodoxy — such as sola scriptura, icons, and the Eucharist — while avoiding jurisdictional disputes and intra-Orthodox controversies. They stopped in 2014 when they felt their core mission was complete and parish responsibilities grew. Now reuniting for a final three-episode retreat at St. Patrick's in Carrollton, Georgia, they plan to discuss moving from theological information to spiritual transformation, emphasizing that Orthodox tradition exists to lead people to Christ, not merely to be analyzed intellectually.
Key moments
- Father Andrew Barakos started a live AM radio show but couldn't consistently host due to pastoral duties; he invited Steve and Bill (recent converts) to fill in, leading to a 51-week run and eventual takeover of the program in 2001.
- John Maddox, founder of Ancient Faith Radio, contacted them in 2004 to air their hour-long programs; they mailed CDs burned from cassette tapes, becoming one of the network's first podcasts.
- To save costs, they moved to a basement studio ("catacombs") and gave away hundreds of Orthodox Study Bibles at cost from Nelson Publishers, a ministry that still generates listener contact decades later.
- They ended the podcast around 2014 after ~8 years, feeling they had addressed the main Protestant hurdles to Orthodoxy (Mary, icons, Eucharist, sola scriptura) and didn't want to produce content without purpose.
- Their mission was to present a pan-Orthodox, non-jurisdictional faith, avoiding "third rail" intra-Orthodox debates (toll houses, calendar issues) to remain accessible to inquirers.
- Steve highlights their 4-part series on sola scriptura (using Hank Hanegraaff's arguments) as a standout; Bill recalls the trinitarian anthropology episode as uniquely deep.
- Over 25+ years, their faith has deepened through parish life, mission work, and personal struggles — seeing their own sins more clearly in small community settings where egos and conflicts cannot be hidden.
- The 25th-anniversary reunion (Oct 3, St. Patrick's, Carrollton, GA) will cover Steve's booklet "Becoming and Staying Orthodox," moving from information to transformation, and recovering "first love" for Christ amid Orthodox externals (Rev 2:4).
In this interview, Melanie speaks with Steve Robinson and Bill Gould, co-hosts of "Our Life in Christ," one of the earliest podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio, as they look back on 25 years since the show began in 2001. They recount its unlikely origin: a local priest, Father Andrew Barakos, had started a live AM radio program but could not host it consistently due to pastoral duties, so the two recent converts were invited to fill in.
After a 51-week run they took over the program, and in 2004 John Maddox of Ancient Faith Radio invited them to air their hour-long episodes, which they mailed as CDs burned from cassette tapes. To cut costs they built a basement "catacomb studio" and distributed hundreds of Orthodox Study Bibles at cost, a gesture that still brings listener contact decades later.
Over roughly eight years and 125 episodes, their mission was apologetic and pan-Orthodox: addressing Protestant objections to Orthodoxy—sola scriptura, the veneration of Mary, icons, and the Eucharist—while deliberately avoiding intra-Orthodox controversies such as the calendar or toll houses, so that inquirers would not be alienated.
They highlight a four-part series on sola scriptura drawing on Hank Hanegraaff's arguments, and a deep episode on trinitarian anthropology. They ended the show around 2014, feeling their core task was complete and their parish responsibilities had grown. Now they are reuniting for a final three-episode retreat on October 3 at St. Patrick's in Carrollton, Georgia, centered on Steve's booklet "Becoming and Staying Orthodox."
The theme is moving from theological information to spiritual transformation—recovering "first love" for Christ (Revelation 2:4) rather than merely analyzing Orthodox tradition, which exists to lead people to Him.
Main points
- The podcast began when a priest's scheduling conflicts led two recent converts to take over a live AM radio show in 2001.
- It became one of Ancient Faith Radio's first podcasts, recorded from a basement "catacomb studio" and distributed via mailed CDs.
- Their focus was answering Protestant objections (sola scriptura, icons, Mary, the Eucharist) while avoiding intra-Orthodox disputes.
- They stopped around 2014 after about 125 episodes, believing their main mission was fulfilled.
- A 25th-anniversary reunion retreat on October 3 at St. Patrick's in Carrollton, Georgia will explore moving from information to transformation in the Orthodox life.