Rev. Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggens, or Rev. Ace is the intentional interim pastor at First Baptist Church Kennett Square in southeast Pennsylvania. For almost 25 years, he was the chief executive officer of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies and Judson Press, where was designated Executive Director Emeritus at his retirement. Previously, he was pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in South Central Los Angeles and served as the Director of Peace and Justice with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He is also the mayor of Collegeville, PA. He has a doctorate from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Berkeley School of Theology, credentials from the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies a B.A. in the Sociology of Comparative Religions is from the California State University at Fullerton, and has been further awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Benedict College and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Alderson-Broaddus College, Ursinus College and the American Baptist Seminary of the West.

He’s married to the Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins, an American Baptist minister who serves as a spiritual director and Chaplain at Ursinus College. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Watch Aidsand's message at: https://www.youtube.com/live/bd47TFC27UQ?si=NjjTVUThbpfd3qgY&t=2355

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Rev. Aaron Coyle-Carr joined the staff at First Baptist Morehead Kentucky as senior pastor in June of 2021. He has served churches in North Carolina and Texas, and also completed a two-year stint as a stay-at-home dad. Professionally, his passions include ecumenical and interfaith cooperation, robust and thoughtful patterns of Christian worship, and in-depth, contextually sensitive Bible study. Aaron has a B.A. in Religion and Classics from Samford University, and an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is married to Leanna, a minister, mother, and environmentalist; together they have one daughter, Henlee, who sometimes gleefully corrects his sermons from the front pew. Aaron is a confessed nerd and can usually be found reading comic books or playing Dungeons and Dragons in his spare time. He also enjoys family hikes and splashing around in Cave Run Lake.

Sermon Link: (preaching starts at 29:00) https://youtu.be/cQxDfsTtvl4

Connect with Aaron: aaron@fbc-morehead.org

Connect with FBC Morehead, KY: www.fbc-morehead.org

Bible Worm podcast: https://www.biblewormpodcast.com/

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New episodes of Preacher Handshake start September 25! Hannah Brown and Evan Duncan share some updates on their lives since the end of last season and talk about what they are looking forward to in season two.

Episodes are also now available on video on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherHandshake

music by falling forever https://ffm.bio/fallingforever

This week on Preacher Handshake, we close out our first season by turning reflecting on one of our host's own messages. We'll talk about Evan Duncan's sermon "Ashes: The Book of Job - Part 3 - Argue With Heaven " that he preached on March 23, 2025 from Job 13:3-14:17

Evan serves as the Pastor of the Baptist Church of West Chester in West Chester, PA. He has received a bachelors degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a Master of Divinity degree from Baylor's Truett Theological Seminary. He is currently a PhD candidate at Eastern University.

You can view Evan's full sermon here: https://youtu.be/PJuekxBRPIg?si=RSDwcidWkVLuj5PS

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Have comments, questions, feedback, or suggestions for guests? Email us at preacherhandshake@gmail.com

New episodes coming in fall 2025!

Music by Falling Forever: https://ffm.bio/fallingforever

This week on Preacher Handshake, we talk with Rev. Dr. Trinette V. McCray!

Dr. Trinette Vernell McCray is a proud Milwaukee, WI native. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a Masters of Religious Education from Morehouse School of Religion, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. Trinette was licensed to preach and ordained in 1981 by the late civil rights leader, The Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy. Since then, she has been a leader in church, denominational, educational, and faith-based organizations. Most notably, in 1999, Dr. McCray became the first clergywoman elected as president of the American Baptist Churches, USA and she is currently the president of the American Baptist National Black Caucus of ABCUSA. She has also worked as the Executive Planner of the Urban Center-Milwaukee and is the author of Vital Spirit, Vital Service: Spirituality that Works.

You can view Trinette’s full sermon here:

https://youtu.be/kMBwxWXMpsY

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This week on Preacher Handshake, we talk with Rev. Cean R James!

He is the Senior Pastor of Salt & Light, an interdenominational, intergenerational congregation in Southwest Philadelphia and Mt. Airy. He has a BS in Biology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an MDiv from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, and has done doctoral work at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Rev. James is the Associate Conference Minister of Congregational Development for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, UCC. In 2023, he helped develop Kingsessing Heals Community Resiliency Center, a federally funded, trauma informed resource center that helps local residents cope and thrive in the face of gun violence. In 2025, Rev. James received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for Dedication to Community Service from President Joseph Biden. He is married to Kesha, and they share three sons, Clarence Milton, Jesse Joseph, and Cean Benjamin.

You can view Cean’s full sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JVveH7LwDk

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This week on Preacher Handshake, we talk with Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt!

Aurelia is the lead pastor of Peace of Christ Church, a radically loving community in Round Rock, Texas. Named by Sojourners as one of “Ten Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2022”, Aurelia is also the author of A Brown Girl’s Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power. Her writings have been featured in Progressing Spirit, Good Faith Media, Sojourners, the Alliance of Baptists, Baptist Women in Ministry, and the Austin American Statesman.

You can view Aurelia’s full sermon here: Link to "Wasted Time" Sermon

Follow Aurelia on Instagram: @revaureliajoy

Visit Aurelia’s website: www.revaureliajoy.com

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Music by Falling Forever: https://ffm.bio/fallingforever

This week on Preacher Handshake, we talk with Rev. James Williams!

Rev. James Williams Bio:

James serves as Senior Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church of Philadelphia—a 325+ year ministry in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. Prior to accepting his call, Rev. Williams attended Palmer Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity degree, serving as a Presidential Scholar, a Sider Scholar, a Campolo Scholar, and as a Church Mutual Religion Scholar. Before seminary, James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class (Brandywine Campus).​ Rev. Williams is passionate about his work with marginalized groups within society--particularly Philadelphia's unhoused population and the LGBT+ community. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Theology and Homiletics at Eastern University as the Kerygma Initiative Campolo Research Fellow, serves as a Special Assistant to Short-Term Mission for American Baptist International Ministries, and enjoys his role as an adjunct professor in Biblical Literature. In his personal life, James loves reading, drumming, and spending time with his family, including his wife ("Michele"), dog ("Eleanor Rigby"), and many cats..

You can view James’s full sermon here: Link to Full Sermon

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