
On Advent, the Church, and Longing for Christ in the Psalms with Raphael Mnkandhla and Trevor Route
From Ministry Minded by Bradley Gray
December 19, 2025 · 1h 14m
About this episode
A conversation about pastoral ministry, community, and the significance of Advent in relation to the Psalms.
In this episode, I’m joined by pastors Raphael Mnkandhla and Trevor Route for a delightful conversation about pastoral ministry, the necessity for community, and the meaning of Advent. Among other things, we talk about the need for brotherhood among pastors and why the Christian life isn’t meant to be an isolated endeavor. We also discuss how the Psalms give the church a language for the Advent season and how the incarnation, shared worship, and the rhythms of the Christian calendar renew hope, strengthen weary faith, and remind us that Christ has come, and will come again. Raphael pastors City Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife Heidi and their six children. You can follow him on Facebook , Instagram , and Substack . Trevor also serves on staff at City Church, where he lives with his wife, Kelsey. You can follow him on Facebook . Resources: Cur Deus Homo , St. Anselm On the Incarnation , St. Athanasius Gospel Wakefulness , Jared C. Wilson Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment , Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted…
People in this episode
Host: Bradley Gray
Guests: Raphael Mnkandhla, Trevor Route
Topics covered
- Advent
- pastoral ministry
- community
- Psalms
- Christian life
- incarnation
- worship
- Christian calendar
Keywords
- brotherhood
- hope
- faith
- Christ
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Cur Deus Homo, Incarnation by Saint Athanasius
Books & works: Longing for Christ in the Psalms, Psalms, Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Grace Upon Grace
Places: Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania
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