Native Drums

Savannah Grove Baptist Church
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Explore the powerful symbolism of drums in African American culture, once tools of communication and resistance during the darkest times of slavery. We confront the lingering shadows of economic exploitation and the pervasive influence of media and religion in controlling black narratives. Let’s reexamine the role of the black church and its mission to fight systemic injustices, urging a return to prophetic ministries that prioritize humanity and community over material wealth. This podcast episode is not just a reflection of the past but a call to action for the future, urging us to build a more just and liberated world.

  1. 4d ago

    Finding Myself: Recovering What White Supremacy Stole

    Send us Fan Mail What if the reason you’ve been searching for yourself isn’t because you’re lost, but because someone stole your access? Napoleon Bradford takes on that question with a clear framework drawn from Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair, naming three major thefts of white supremacy: truth, power, and wealth. When we describe racism only as bias or hurt feelings, we miss how it transfers, obstructs, and rewrites, and we miss why repair has to be personal, spiritual, communal, and institutional. We walk through how truth gets stolen by narratives that redefine Black identity, erase history, and shrink imagination, then ask the question that exposes the source code of shame: “Who told you?” From there, we move into power and agency, connecting slavery’s theft of bodily autonomy to ongoing fights over voting rights, representation, and the subtle assumptions we carry about what leadership “looks like.” This isn’t partisan, it’s formation, and it demands discernment that refuses to hand your conscience to a party, a preacher, or an algorithm. Then we talk wealth theft through extraction and obstruction, and why the honest question is not “Why didn’t Black people build wealth?” but “What happened to the wealth Black people built?” The conversation honors Black institution building, wrestles with how theological critique can slide into historical amnesia, and lands on Ubuntu: finding myself means finding us. If you care about Black history, Christian theology, reparations, voting rights, the racial wealth gap, and healing that comes with truth, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your answer: what are you recovering, and what are you building next? Support the show

  2. Sep 20

    Elijah Bradford Explains How Grief Became A Stage Play

    Send us Fan Mail He’s the guy you remember as the serious church musician… until a hat, a live video, and a name he didn’t plan created Mr. Thaddeus. We sit down with Elijah Bradford, a Sumter, South Carolina producer, songwriter, and playwright whose gospel roots run deep, but whose creative calling keeps expanding. From middle school songwriting and directing community choirs to building multiple vocal groups with Motown-influenced gospel flair, Elijah explains how he learned to lead artists, take risks, and keep the message intact. Then the pandemic-era pivot hits: God nudges him to slow down on music and step into comedy and acting, a transition that felt uncomfortable and exposed. Elijah shares how dinner theater and character-driven storytelling became the unexpected lane where he keeps selling out shows, not by having everything figured out, but by moving with obedience and doing the work. We also talk about the heart behind his stage play “Guess Who’s Coming to Mr. Thaddeus’ House,” supported by Savannah Grove Baptist Church for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After losing his mother to breast cancer quickly, Elijah wrote a story centered on diagnosis, family tension, hidden pain, and the hard truth that secrets can damage us. You’ll hear details on the Florence, SC performance on October 24 at 3 p.m. at the SIMT building (Florence-Darlington Technical College campus), plus VIP seating, group rates, and virtual tickets via Eventbrite. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the show with someone who needs a creative push, and leave a review so more listeners can find Native Drums. Support the show

  3. Sep 13

    What A State Treasurer Actually Does And Why It Matters

    Send us Fan Mail A $1.8 billion accounting error forces one big question: who’s watching the money, and how would we even know if something goes wrong? We talk with Vincent Coe, a candidate for South Carolina Treasurer, about what real financial accountability looks like when the office oversees more than $70 billion in public funds. For us, this is about trust, clear reporting, and the basics of transparency that taxpayers should never have to fight for. Vincent shares his path from Darlington County to a career built around numbers and oversight, including finance studies at the University of South Carolina and work as an FDIC bank examiner during the post-2008 era when bank failures were still fresh. That experience shapes how he thinks about controls, compliance, and protecting everyday people, not just balancing spreadsheets. We also talk about why the treasurer is often described as the state’s banker and why competence and integrity have to travel together in a role this serious. We get practical, too. The South Carolina Treasurer’s Office oversees unclaimed property, and many residents have money waiting for them if they take the time to search and file a claim. We also discuss the state retirement system and what it means when a pension system is not fully funded, plus the treasurer’s influence on statewide banking through the board of financial institutions. We wrap with key voting reminders, including early voting dates and the importance of checking your voter registration. If you care about South Carolina state finances, unclaimed money, public pensions, and government transparency, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs the voting dates, and leave a review with your biggest question about what the treasurer should be responsible for. Support the show

  4. Aug 30

    What Happens When Healing Becomes A Ministry Culture

    Send us Fan Mail A women’s conference can be inspiring, but what if it also helped you build a stronger marriage, face trauma with honesty, get serious about your money, and pour into the next generation, all in one weekend? We talk with Minister Zipporah Colvin about She Is Phenomenal Women’s Conference 2026, happening September 11-12 in Florence, South Carolina, and why the theme speaks directly to “unprecedented times.”  We walk through the full schedule: Friday night and Saturday night gatherings that welcome men and women, plus a Saturday morning women-only space shaped by what women asked for. Minister Colvin explains the heart behind sessions like “make it last forever” for marriages and “confronting comfortable” for singles, along with leadership and entrepreneurship, finances, home ownership support with a lender on site, and physical health and wellness resources. The goal is simple: build strong people who can build strong families and futures.  One of the most important conversations we have is about mental health in church, including the “trauma to triumph” focus and what it means to create a safe space of healing. We also highlight She Is Phenomenal Too, a free program for teen girls ages 13 to 18 that centers identity, self-worth, servanthood, sisterhood, and stewardship in a culture that pressures young women to perform and compete.  If you care about faith-based community events, women’s empowerment, Christian marriage help, singles ministry, and mental health and healing, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what to expect and why it matters. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. What part of your life are you ready to strengthen this season? Support the show

  5. Aug 23

    One Donor Can Save Eight Lives If We Talk About It

    Send us Fan Mail That tiny heart icon on a driver’s license can spark a huge question: do people really understand what organ and tissue donation means, and what actually happens when the time comes? We sit down with Chassity Benjamin, Community Events Coordinator at We Are Sharing Hope SC, to make the process plain, honest, and human for anyone in South Carolina thinking about the donor registry. We walk through the basics of organ donation and tissue donation, including what can be donated and the life-changing impact of transplantation. Chassity explains how one organ donor can save up to eight lives, and why tissue donation is often overlooked even though it can save and enhance dozens more through things like corneas, skin, vessels, and heart valves. We also talk about living donation versus deceased donation and where Sharing Hope SC fits as an organ procurement organization supporting the gift of life at the end of life. Then we address the myths head-on: the fear that doctors won’t try as hard to save you, confusion about the DMV donor check box, and the mistrust that can be especially strong in multicultural communities. Chassity breaks down why medical teams focus on saving the patient in front of them, why OPOs do not declare death, and why your family conversations matter as much as registration. You’ll also hear an inspiring recipient story and learn how donor family services and aftercare can support letters and connections over time. If you care about kidney transplant need, hypertension, diabetes, and health equity in South Carolina, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who avoids the topic, and leave a review with the myth you want to see eliminated next. Support the show

  6. Aug 16

    Grown-ish and Gone: Why Are Generations Missing from the Church?

    Send us Fan Mail Something is happening in our churches, and we can feel it in the seats, the silence, and the missing voices. We keep hearing “millennials aren’t coming,” but that phrase blurs the truth: many congregations are losing multiple generations at once, from millennials to Gen Z to school-age kids. We sat down with Pastor Nicholas  Bostic to get specific about who is missing, why it matters, and why the real audience for this conversation is often the adults who shape the church experience. We talk about what younger people actually encounter when they do show up. If someone is facing overdue rent, a cutoff notice, or the stress of raising kids with limited support, how do they hear teaching on giving, discipleship, and commitment? We explore how church communication can become “over their heads,” how tradition can unintentionally shut people out, and why clarity and compassion are not compromises, they are leadership. We also name what the church loses when young people are absent: technology skills, social media reach, fresh urgency, and the kind of honesty that helps surface real needs like depression and low self-esteem before they turn into crises. Then we broaden the lens to leadership development. If a 38-year-old can carry major responsibility at work but still feels too young to be trusted in church leadership, what message are we sending about belonging and the future church? We close by inviting you to the Future Forum, a hands-on working session where we bring real data, interrogate assumptions, and leave with a plan to strengthen youth ministry, intergenerational ministry, and long-term church growth. Subscribe, share this with a church leader, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation. Support the show

  7. Aug 2

    A Police Chief’s Calling

    Send us Fan Mail A child gets told, flat out, that being a police officer is “not a career for a young lady.” Chief Angela Green didn’t just ignore that message, she outworked it. We talk with Florence’s new Chief of Police about what it really takes to lead in a male-dominated profession, why her faith and upbringing shaped her style of servant leadership, and how becoming a single mother early forced her to build resilience fast. Her journey runs from Union, New Jersey to a six-month Virginia police academy, up the ranks to captain, and into multiple chief roles before landing in Florence, South Carolina. We also get practical about modern policing and public trust. Chief Green explains how her legal background helps officers think through civil rights, privacy, and the real-world consequences of decisions made in seconds. Then we dig into police technology and AI, including how drones can improve response times and officer safety. She shares a striking real example where a drone helped identify armed teens gathering near a park as school buses were about to arrive, giving officers the information they needed to intervene and get guns off the street. From there, we zoom in on her vision for the Florence Police Department: evidence-based proactive policing, crime analysis, and being laser focused on known offenders rather than blanketing whole neighborhoods. We also talk community policing that shows up in everyday life, from “Coffee With a Cop” to community walks, youth engagement plans, and partnerships that help vulnerable seniors during extreme heat. If you care about smart public safety, police transparency, and what real community partnership looks like, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review with what you want to hear next. Support the show

  8. Jul 26

    Baptist Day In South Carolina

    Send us Fan Mail A region that once struggled to give $10,000 becomes the only one in South Carolina to consistently hit a $20,000 fundraising goal, and the spark is something you might not expect: a mass choir built on unity. We sit down with Pastor LL Cain, president of the 6th district, to unpack the real story behind Baptist Day and how churches across the state mobilize on the fourth Sunday in July to support the South Carolina Baptist E&M Convention with repairs, resources, and long-term ministry needs.  We also zoom in on Region 6, a massive footprint of more than 262 churches spread across multiple counties, and talk candidly about what it takes to organize, re-engage congregations after COVID-era setbacks, and keep a clear mission in front of leaders. Pastor Kane shares the vision that formed the Region 6 Mass Choir, how it grew from a simple idea into a movement, and why the choir welcomes believers across denominations to “just sing” for the glory of God. One moment says it all: a chance encounter with a woman singing at a gas station becomes an open door into a choir family.  From there, we look forward. You’ll hear plans for a marketing group to build local business support, a commitment to giving to HBCUs that are struggling, and the importance of Morris College, owned by the Missionary Baptist churches in South Carolina, as a vital piece of higher education and legacy. We also talk about upcoming music workshops designed to train singers, musicians, and music leaders because the church’s message often lands first through sound and worship.  If you care about church leadership, faith-based fundraising, South Carolina Baptist history, or the power of music ministry to bring people together, this conversation delivers practical insight and real hope. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Native Drums and join the conversation. Support the show

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About

Explore the powerful symbolism of drums in African American culture, once tools of communication and resistance during the darkest times of slavery. We confront the lingering shadows of economic exploitation and the pervasive influence of media and religion in controlling black narratives. Let’s reexamine the role of the black church and its mission to fight systemic injustices, urging a return to prophetic ministries that prioritize humanity and community over material wealth. This podcast episode is not just a reflection of the past but a call to action for the future, urging us to build a more just and liberated world.

Information

  • Creator
    Savannah Grove Baptist Church
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Native Drums
  • Show Website
    Native Drums