You may have seen Ross Raines leading worship at Mercy Culture Church or you may have seen him preaching at Thread Church, but today you will see him opening up about his life and the pursuit of God's heart on the I Like Birds Podcast. Ross shares insights about spiritual gifts, birthing Isaacs instead of Ishmaels, spiritual covering, being sent by Pastor Landon Schott, prophetic dreams, and being in unity as a church! Zach also shares a healing testimony about his wife after multiple seasons of...
Feb 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Two friends from my church come on and we get real! We open up the floor for much-needed conversations around the topics of pornography and the strongholds it had on us before Christ. We lean into purity while bringing truth to the table. From there, Savannah shares her testimony of losing her mom at 11 years old and growing up without her. From suicidal thoughts to abusive relationships, all while living life separated from God. Baptism was how Savannah celebrated her most recent birthday and w...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 45 min
KelliRae Campbell joins Zach in the studio to talk about what being a follower of Christ looks like without having a big ministry calling. We will dive into topics of what loving the lord looks like as a mom, in the workforce, and in your local church and community. KelliRae shares step by step how she anoints houses, intercedes for families, and ministers to people God sends her way! We laugh, we get real, and we discuss Taylor Swift! Sow a Seed into this ministry https://ilikebirdsministry.com...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Spiritual Covering doesn't get talked about enough for those who love Jesus and do ministry for him! Zach invites his Pastor Alex Burkins of Thread Church to come back on the show and bless the audience with deeper insights on what a spiritual covering looks like. I WAS BLOWN AWAY! We also discuss: - Alex's focus on Cleburne Texas and making it a Jerusalem for the Lord. - Dying to self daily (Pride, ego, being right) - Alex shares getting canceled for preaching about abortion - Zach shares a tes...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Pastor Lucas Bessey of The House of Joy Church invited me into his studio to be interviewed and share my story! We talk coming to Christ, the book of John, Christian Comedy , Jokes that cross the line, our love for black culture, and leaning into God's conviction rather than man's condemnation. Powerful conversation that will bless you and make you laugh! Experience JOY today! 👇🏻 Please support this ministry by sharing the show and/or sowing a seed today: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 9 min
You will OVERFLOW this year in all the ways God Provides for You! God provides our spiritual needs, our directional needs, our physical needs, and our emotional needs as we see in the first five verses…. But most importantly he supplies our eternal needs. Put on the jersey of Christ for 2024 and wear it everywhere you go. You do that by putting on the Armor of God, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation! If we take this mindset and sow into the spirit of God we will reap from it. When ...
Jan 10, 2024•57 min
Pastor Troy Brewer represents our ministry mission of "Do It For the One" in every aspect of his life. We are a testament to that truth as Troy blessed I Like Birds and lit a fire under our ministry with life-changing words, life-giving encouragement, and life-bearing fruit. He is a pastor I’ve looked up to for years as he was one of the few kingdom voices who spoke out against the 2020 nonsense and refused to be silenced. He is a vessel for Jesus at the highest degree and we are honored to shar...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Fear of the Lord... we often hear that, but today we define what that means in crystal clear language. You will hear firsthand why I want to get involved in prison ministries and how the door swung wide open for that to happen from Charlie Owens. We unpack the "Joseph Spirit" that was prophesied over me and what that means for us going forward. This is a Kingdom Threads episode at its finest that will lead you to have reverence for the Lord in a greater capacity. We share the Big Announcement of...
Dec 26, 2023•20 min
Time for Christians to Get BOLD for Jesus! In this episode, we share a testimony about a friend coming to Christ through the power of sowing seeds over time "Never Pushing Only Nudging!" We give end-of-the-year Patreon Shoutouts! Then we call LEON ANDERSON! I have been a huge fan of Leon and his music is straight fire and truth! He boldly proclaims the gospel in his music and leads listeners to the cross on every track! He's an LA-based artist who puts on for Jesus both in the booth and on the p...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 28 min
You've never heard a testimony like this before. Charlie Owens spent over 15 years in prison, while there his nose was down in the word of God to the point he received a full ride scholarship to Bible College. By the grace of God, he got released early and has been ministering to prisoners for the last 3 years! Suddenly, lightning struck Charlies house at 2am and he became the man known in India as the "MAN OF GOD WHO WALKED THROUGH FIRE!" Not a single burn was on him and the hand of God was all...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Solo Dolo! Jesus & Jokes Tour Preview at 14 min mark 👇🏻 Zach passionately shares his love for bread, admitting he loses self-control and kindness when it's around, humorously comparing his diet cheating to Tiger Woods and vowing to run over toddlers for the first slice. He connects this struggle to the fruits of the spirit, finding love, joy, and peace when indulging in buttered bread. Reflecting on the biblical significance, he links the Last Supper's unleavened bread to freedom from sin....
Nov 27, 2023•20 min
Talented Singer and Songwriter, Elizabeth Clark joins Zach Rippey in the studio to worship with us and share her testimony behind the powerful Christian song that has been sung by Kari Jobe, Gateway Church, and many more! We are blessed to have Elizabeth come on I Like Birds and share the stories of how miscarriages turned into miracles! She also opens up about an abusive marriage and how God not only moved mountains to get her out of that marriage but also led her into the arms of a Christ-lovi...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Get your socks wet for Jesus and come hear these testimonies! Olivier and I reflect on the insane weekend we had in Texas and Mercy Culture Church. We share the love and kindness of Jesus we have experienced in our three-year walk, the outpouring of prophesy, baptism, and spiritual gifts we are seeing in America. Zach opens up about his new ministry tour and you will be able to hear the brotherly love between two best friends who get to tell the world about Jesus in 2023! FORTIFY MY FAITH! Subsc...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 33 min
Powerhouse @LisaSchwarzLLC joins us alongside her son Turner Schwarz to share what it's like doing ministry together as a mother and a son! The Holy Spirit falls on Zach as the three of them dive into their favorite bible characters! Zach shares his heart for Nicodemus and goes all in on John the Baptist! Lisa brings the heart of the abused Hagar to the table and even the woman with the issue of blood! Turner's answer will 100% surprise you! Hear who his favorite character is now! Did you hear t...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 27 min
This sermon focuses on the theme of God's profound ability to use us beyond our understanding. Despite our doubts and insecurities, we are reminded of our inheritance in Christ and the potential for great works as he promises us in John 14:12. The story of Saul's transformation into Paul is highlighted, emphasizing that God can touch and use even the greatest sinners for His glory. Through Paul's journey from persecutor to apostle, we learn that God's transformative power can take us from doubt ...
Oct 18, 2023•6 min
Have you experienced being ghosted recently by loved ones? Are you the one ghosting? We ask the tough question, "Are you really too busy to give people 15 seconds of your time? Is a 15-minute investment too big of a commitment to love on people?" In this episode, Zach's focus is on the importance of being available and accessible to others. Zach shares stories and examples of how small acts, taking just 15 seconds or 15 minutes, can make a significant impact on people's lives. He encourages list...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 3 min
We pop off this episode with a weep-worthy worship set. From there, Joe and Kaley share with us their upbringing in a Christian home filled with love and God's Word. We share the news of Zach's wife getting a job at our local @threadchurchtx The climax of this podcast is when we open up the gospel and read the miracle of Jesus healing a blind man with mud and spit. We dive into some biblical truth in regard to why Jesus used spit to heal him! Kaley also shares with us a deformity she was born wi...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Once Gen-Z hears who Jesus REALLY is, the hunger for Him rises to a new level. Eric Rivera is witnessing that in real-time in his ministry. The same Zeal and Passion that Gen-Z has for Justice will be used by the Lord for HIS JUSTICE! We also discuss: Building Up Treasures in Heaven Reaping and Sowing what we do on Earth in rewarded in Heaven Giving Our Crowns Back to Jesus Kingdom Life in ALL we do Eric's Journey setting up a studio and launching his online ministry with the Spirit of Excellenc...
Sep 25, 2023•59 min
Hear my heart about my new book idea that I am currently working on in the mountains of Tellico Plains Tennessee. This is the last place Armani rested his head and enjoyed a couple of full days of life before we went home to be with Lord Jesus in Heaven. If you are touched by this video please support our Kingdom work by partnering with us on Patreon. You can join for as little as a cup of coffee. Tell me how I spilled coffee ALL OVER MY MACBOOK AND BIBLE on Sunday, the keys stopped working and ...
Sep 12, 2023•55 min
How much do you make off the Podcast? A question I get a lot that I'm going to share with you all today! We also dive into an incredible story of how one of our fans from the early days became a friend! I met up with Mike Garza in San Antonio after winning a GOLDEN TICKET TO GO TO A RUSS LIVE EVENT! From there we talk about four influential people in the last two weeks giving so much love and wisdom about our podcast and the future! God's hand is moving in Christians' lives all over the country ...
Sep 04, 2023•29 min
Jesus is on the move through the non-profit Intuba, as well as in the lives of Chase Harman and Yvette Latta! We break down going from being a pre-saved culturally Christian to being in THE WORD daily and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. Chase shares the importance of having people in his life that led him to truth and Yvette pours her heart out for her home nation of Zimbabwe! She compares what has happened there over the last thirty years with what is happening in the United States. ...
Aug 29, 2023•58 min
Two Kingdom-Focused Men join me in the studio to discuss what Jesus is doing through the ministry of FCA. We talk schools and sports. We talk about racism and unity. We dive into personal stories and testimonies. And we even hear from the fellows about the podcast they are launching in this very studio! Ken Butler and Sylvester Stemley are two passionate people trying to tell everybody about a Somebody that changed everything. Tune in today! ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ MORE ABOUT I LIKE BIRDS ...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Let's talk business my Birds! Aaron Rocamontes and Mario Cedillo are blessing us with over a decade of knowledge in the faith and business world. We dive into: Leadership - In order to lead others, you must first lead yourself. Connecting - Providing value to others while building relationships leads to blessings for all. Mentorship - Have you ever heard a mentee and a mentor on the same podcast, today you have that opportunity. Generosity - The keys to success and aligning your heart posture wi...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 24 min
What a story Turner Schwarz shared with us on the newest episode "Highs and Lows". A freshman football player dies on the field and students and coaches turn to a 23-year-old character coach (Turner) for answers as to how God could let this happen. A hundred kids accept Christ and the impact will forever be felt in eternity and at Midwestern State. A must hear testimony that I encourage you to hear and SHARE! We are a small ministry with a Big God, please help us spread His Glory! Please Support...
Jul 30, 2023•11 min
Two Pastors and a Podcast Preacher Walk into a Studio... this is what happens! We laugh and cut up about being fathers and playing on the same men's league basketball team. The conversation gets super heavy when we talk about a freshman football player dying on the field when Turner was a character coach. We rejoice over the souls won during that time and celebrate the 100 lives who turned to Christ! We also shine the light on the baptisms that happened two years ago at Calvary Church including ...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 23 min
You will love this one! 🙏 In this heartfelt episode, Zach Rippey shares his personal struggle with jealousy and comparison as he reflects on walking away from his dream of being a stand-up comedian to follow God's path. Seeing his former comedy friends achieve great success triggers feelings of longing and what-ifs. However, through a conversation with his wife, he gains a new perspective on the blessings God has bestowed upon him, including a new heart and a fulfilling life centered around Chr...
Jul 20, 2023•18 min
Are you Eating the Word of God Regularly? In this compelling audio only episode, Zach Rippey dives into the transformative power of faith and the purpose of trials. With personal stories and biblical insights, he explores the need to strengthen our faith through suffering and highlights the respect we have for those who remain anchored in Christ amidst life's challenges. Zach also shares a fresh perspective on reading the Bible, emphasizing the importance of regularly ingesting and chewing on Go...
Jul 10, 2023•27 min
Did you know Lisa Schwarz has made the highest number of appearances as a guest on this show? She is loved by many of our listeners and always comes ready to bring that heat! On this episode, Lisa and I are talking about the Holy Spirit showing out at her House Meetings, her ministry trip to Nashville, and her social media accounts blowing up! As you know from previous episodes, Lisa is a walking Bible that utilizes scripture and The Holy Spirit to do some incredible Kingdom things. Every time s...
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min
What a testimony of faith! Kenneth opens up about the infertility and fearful words of the doctors but by Faith, they gave it to God and prepared the baby room waiting for His Promise. "Be fruitful and multiply!" is a promise and a command from the Lord! We as Christians must live in this faith when it comes to having children. Check out the full episode "145 Prepare the Room" with Worship Pastor Kenneth Clary ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Share t...
Jun 09, 2023•7 min
An episode that has OIL all over it. The Holy Spirit guided this conversation and the Lord SHOWED UP! Worship Pastor Kenneth Clary and Zach Rippey get to know each other better after their paths have crossed in the ministry world non-stop. On this episode you will hear nothing but Kingdom things like Business Ownership, Worshipping God, Infertility and God's Promises about it, Job Loss, Family Loss, and the sweet messages Kenneth leaves in his Bible for his children. Kenneth leans into faith wit...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 14 min
