Have you ever wondered if God really can turn your pain into purpose? Our guest today shares the peace he felt when he found Jesus after a lifetime of violence and how he uses it now to help others get free. Hector "Lefty" Perez is a mental health and sobriety advocate. He works installing HVAC systems and helps as many people as he can know the love of Christ. Today, Lefty shares what it was like growing up in East Los Angeles among violence, gangs, and drugs. He tells how he got sucked into th...
Feb 24, 2025•56 min•Ep. 372
You grew up in church but suddenly, you can't tell if God cares about you. What do you do? Our guest today shares the moment when she didn't recognize herself, didn't feel God's presence, and what she did next. Ciara Laine Myers is an award-winning business owner, blogger, and author of Glasses Off: Seeing God When Your Vision Is Gone . Today, Ciara shares with us her reaction to trauma, the moment her secrets became known, and the practices that brought her back to health. Plus, we talk about c...
Feb 17, 2025•49 min•Ep. 371
What was the experience for you that changed your faith dramatically? Our guest today shares the moment that moved his faith from his head to his heart and how it changed how he sees everything. Jeff Haanen is a writer and entrepreneur. He’s the founder of Denver Institute for Faith & Work, an educational organization that creates content and experiences around topics related to faith, work, the economy, and modern culture. Today, Jeff shares how he found faith while recovering from an injur...
Feb 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 370
Sometimes life just doesn't go the way you planned. Give me an amen if that resonates! When the unexpected happens, it's tempting to believe that you did something wrong or that God is punishing you. Our guest today says that community, communion with God, and even medication helped her overcome life's unexpected speed bumps. Sarah E. Frazer is author of several books including her latest I Didn’t Sign Up for This. Today, Sarah shares about her friend from another denomination helped her grow, f...
Feb 03, 2025•55 min•Ep. 369
How often do you think about the end times? Ever come home to an empty house and wonder if you'd been left behind? If so, you're going to love this episode because our guest explains where that theological belief—and others you probably hold—came from. Dr. Dan Hummel is the director of The Lumen Center in Madison, WI and a research fellow in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He authored The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle of the End Tim...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 368
Have you ever tried to ask hard questions about your faith only to run into a roadblock somewhere? Sometimes it's simple answers. Sometimes it's others who don't want to acknowledge the questions. Sometimes it's your own heart begging to keep life simple. Our guest today says it's worth asking the questions and offers a path through the uncertainty. Angela J. Herrington is a faith deconstruction coach and host of The Deconstructing Faith Summit who helps people break free from toxic religious cu...
Jan 20, 2025•54 min•Ep. 367
Is heaven a far away place that you'll go to someday or an imminent reality? Depending on what you were taught, you might have strong feelings about this. You may even wonder why the question is being asked at all. Our guest today explains how Jesus viewed the idea of heaven and why it's a crucial idea to understand biblically. Skye Jethani is the co-host of one of the most popular podcasts in the Christian space, The Holy Post, and author of some of the best books with the Kingdom of God in min...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 366
It's the new year! Were you one of those who made a commitment to read your Bible more frequently and regularly this year? If so, you're not alone. Our guest today offers a resource to help you reach your goal easier this year. Michelle Nezat is passionate about inspiring you to read, study, and understand the Bible. She is the host of the More Than a Song podcast where she helps you use the songs you listen to on the radio to meditate on God's Word. Today, Michelle shares her story including ho...
Jan 06, 2025•47 min•Ep. 365
Are you afraid to address that one thing in your life, even though you know your life would be better if you did? Our guest today says it's time to open the door to change, no matter what mess waits for us on the other side. Jason VanRuler is the author of Get Past Your Past: How Facing Your Broken Places Leads to True Connection . Jason is known for his ability to relate and connect with his clients and offer hope to those who have felt hopeless. Today, Jason shares how he ignored God for many ...
Sep 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 364
Does how we think about humanity—ourselves included—really matter? A bad understanding of the human person has led to everything from indifference to unspeakable atrocities. Worse still, some theological camps look at human beings so negatively that it shows in their interactions with others. Fortunately, the Bible gives us a way of viewing humanity through God's lens. Our guest today reminds us how to see humanity as the image of God that the Bible reveals us to be and what it means for us. Dr....
Aug 30, 2024•57 min•Ep. 363
What does your soul long for? Have you ever been hit with a wave of longing, at a loss for words for what to call it? What if I told you that those moments are deeply formational and there's even special word for it? Our guest today says that those longings of the soul need special attention and calls us to listen up. Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishing, and the author of “The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts,...
Aug 12, 2024•54 min•Ep. 362
Have you ever felt pressured to choose a cause over the Lord? Whether it's today's charged political culture or even certain theological camps, fitting in can be more attractive than staying faithful Christ alone. Our guest on Halfway There today reminds us that we're called to live for Christ and his cause, alone. Shadia Hrichi is a Bible teacher, award-winning author, and speaker who is passionate for seeing lives transformed through the power of God’s Word. She holds a master’s in biblical an...
Aug 05, 2024•52 min•Ep. 361
Have you ever wondered why the Bible says that Christians are aliens and strangers in this world? How can the Gospel spread through people without power in their land? Our guest today reminds us that the Kingdom of God often operates silently and without notice but is never inactive. Britt Mooney is an author, podcaster, and pastor who thrives on telling great stories. Today, he share how he rebelled against cultural Christianity, discovered what it was like to really be an alien, and the theolo...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 360
Ever wished you had a mentor to guide you through life and faith? Feeling isolated and trying to figure everything out on your own is not what Jesus intended for His church. Our guest today reveals how mentorship can transform lives, including your own. Nancy Lindgren is the Founder and CEO of MORE Mentoring, and author of Mentoring Made Real: The Power of Authentic Connection . In this episode, Nancy shares her journey from a young woman with a calling to the leader of a mentoring ministry. She...
Jul 22, 2024•51 min•Ep. 359
Have you ever wondered about your purpose on this planet? Do you feel destined for more, yearning to accomplish something meaningful, even if you can't quite pinpoint what it is? In today's episode, our guest is Paul Ybarra, a coach dedicated to helping people uncover their gifts and live up to their full potential. Paul's path to becoming a coach wasn't straightforward; it was a winding, sometimes bumpy road shaped by his faith in Jesus. Paul Ybarra's story is one of redemption and empowerment....
Jul 01, 2024•48 min•Ep. 358
Christina Dent is the founder & president of End It For Good and author of Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs & Addiction. She was previously with us on episode #235 which can be found below. Today, Christina shares with us about why she chose to write a book to support her endeavors, the integral link between connection and drug use, and why fear needs to stop being our motivator when addressing addiction issues. Christina paints a vision of creating a ...
Jun 24, 2024•59 min•Ep. 357
Have you ever found yourself bored with life? Maybe you're going through the motions but just not feeling it anymore? Our guest today was slumbering through his life until a radical encounter with revival changed everything...and him. Scott Brown is an author, historian, documentarian, and entrepreneur. Scott serves as the Director of Development for Globe International, an independent missions sending agency. In this episode, Scott shares how his early years on the farm shaped him, the health i...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 356
Caris Snider is a speaker, author, coach, and podcaster. Her latest book is There’s an Elephant on My Chest, a picture book for children she wrote to help kids understand what anxiety feels like. Today, Caris shares her story of growing up in a Christian home in the Bible belt feeling like she had to be perfect. Trying to live up to her beliefs led to anxiety and depression until she was willing to accept help. Caris shares with us how she found hope over anxiety and the Lord’s closeness during ...
Nov 20, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Jacci Turner is an author, spiritual director, trainer of spiritual directors, and a retried trauma therapist. Today, Jacci shares her story of discovering the Lord at camp, serving as a trainer for campus ministers for decades, and how her growing understanding of God’s love changed everything. She lost her position and became an outcast from a community she loved. Jacci shares how she got through that difficult season and how spiritual direction helped her see the way through the spiritual des...
Nov 13, 2023•49 min
Sam Black, author of The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography , and Director of Life Change Education at Covenant Eyes. Today, Sam shares how his life changed when he was first exposed to pornography, how it became a crutch for him, and why it’s so destructive. He explains the inner turmoil he felt which often kept him from church but then, he discovered a community that allowed him to be honest about his addiction. Plus, Sam tells us how to get started making your church a ...
Nov 06, 2023•51 min
Lyndsey Medford is a writer and speaker living with a rare autoimmune disorder in the crumbling empire of the American South. Today, Lyndsey shares what her disorder was like as a child, the pressure she felt to make her story a redemptive one, and the kind response of the Lord who only wanted to be with her. We talk about how to develop a holistic view of yourself and the spiritual implications of doing so. Learning to listen to God, to our bodies, and to one another is a crucial discipline for...
Oct 30, 2023•56 min
Matt Fagioli coach, consultant and a serial entrepreneur. His company is called Certain Success and he works with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them grow amazing Christ centered businesses while becoming (as closely as possible to) exactly what Jesus intended for them to be. Today, Matt shares his upbringing in the Roman Catholic church, why he decided to return to church after he had children, and how the pandemic shifted his perspective. He also tells the story of discovering that ...
Oct 23, 2023•54 min
Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and author of the book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Today, Beth shares how she grew up knowing Jesus, learning that there were some things women didn’t do, and how intellectual curiosity is deeply important for her spiritual journey. We also discuss how knowing Church history and taking a curious approach to biblical interpretation can shape our faith in positi...
Oct 16, 2023•59 min
Frank Viola is a bestselling author, conference speaker, blogger, and podcaster. Today, Frank shares how he found Christ, a moment when he experienced the overwhelming love of God, and an encounter with a demon. Frank shares that his calling is to those who want to experience Jesus more fully and he shares multiple stories from his writing. We also explore the idea of the dark night of the soul and how he understands it and whether he’s experienced one. Frank’s story reminds us that the Lord is ...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Ekstasis, and others. Sara writes Bitter Scroll, a monthly Substack letter. She is completing her Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at the Peterson Center for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary. Today, Sara shares about her 90’s youth group kid upbringing, moving to Seattle and finding a devastated church, and the dark season when...
Sep 11, 2023•50 min
Mike Bolton is a husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. While he defines himself more by relationships today, he also is an author, podcaster, former pastor, and businessman. Today, Mike shares the story of how he found faith in Christ, the scholarship he lost and how that changed his life, and the ways crisis has shaped him. He tells the story of how he discovered the Lord at work in unexpected places which taught him to say yes to opportunities and see what He was up to. Mike’s story ...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Lisa Lamb is a professor of preaching, a writer, and a pastor working to equip leaders in South East Asia. Her passion is to develop leaders who preach radically good news, deeply rooted in Scripture. The Lord took her and her husband on a surprising pandemic journey to seven countries, where they experienced his amazing provision at every turn. Today, Lisa shares the story of how she fell in love with preaching of the Word, the journey of becoming a professor, and why she wrote a book for pasto...
Aug 07, 2023•53 min
Chris Grainger is the founder of The Lion Within Us and has a passion for serving others. He is building a community that provides Christian men encouragement to become the leaders God intends them to be. Chris connects with others by sharing personal stories of professional success, hurdles encountered and how every circumstance is an opportunity to build the Kingdom. Today, Chris shares how he found Christ as a young man, sensed the Lord’s presence during one of the most difficult moments in h...
Jul 24, 2023•47 min
Melony Brown Author, speaker, and host of the Challenges Won’t Stop Me podcast. Today, Melony shares about the neurological condition she’s had since she was two years old, how living with her condition changed her relationship to the Lord, and the peace she felt leading up to brain surgery. We also talk about the mindset she developed that allowed her to overcome the challenges she faced and help her students as a result. Melony’s story reminds us that two things can be true at the same time: s...
Jul 10, 2023•55 min
Alex Sezer is helping other do business better by transforming their culture. Always a high achiever, Alex led the Texas A&M football team as captain and scaled multiple business in his 20s. Today, Alex shares how he learned the value of hard work, his calling to preach, and the season of doubting his faith that helped shape him along the way. Ales also shares how he knew it was time to leave his fancy job and start something new which is a fascinating look inside his experience. Then, we ta...
Jul 03, 2023•55 min
