What does God think about depression? Can believers even struggle with depression?
On this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we hear from Jarrod Jones, Pastor of Grace Community Church Orange County, about his experience with mental illness.
Join Jonathan and Tyler as Jarrod explains in a real, honest way how he deals with the ups and downs of clinical depression, and what that looks like as a husband, father, and leader of a growing church. If you struggle with depression, or you've tried to understand a loved one who struggles with mental illness, this episode will be incredibly insightful to you.
For more information on Grace Community Church, visit www.graceoc.com
You can download a free eBook that Jarrod wrote about his journey through mental illness, called 10 Ways to Support a Loved One With Mental Illness by visiting his personal website at www.jarrodjones.com
Ever thought about starting your own non-profit? Do you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of a group of people? This week on the Word of Life Podcast we sit down with Justin Miller from Care for Aids a non-profit ministering to people in Africa afflicted with the Aids virus. He talks about what stirred in him the passion to start a non-profit and what God has done in the last 10 years of the existence of Care for Aids.
He also tells Jonathan and Tyler about a new website project he is launching to help others start their own Non-profit. This is another powerful episode of the word of life podcast. If you've ever thought about starting a non-profit this is the episode for you!
Today's show is a very special episode of the Word of Life Podcast. This week we take a step back to look at the journey that we've been on with this show over the past year. We review some of our absolute favorite episodes. Jonathan and Tyler discuss what God has taught them as they listened to stories of God's working in people's lives and they give a sneak peak at the future of the podcast. It's an episode that you will absolutely love whether it's your first time listening to the show, or whether you've heard every episode. Get the behind the scenes story of everything that's happened on the Word of Life Podcast this year.
This week on the show we sat down with Dr. Jay Strack to hear a powerful testimony of how God worked in an amazing way to bring him to Jesus. Dr. Strack was one car ride away from an accident that could have taken his life. Through losing a close friend he came face to face with his mortality and Christians involved in the "Jesus movement" who challenged him to listen to and believe the Gospel. Being saved in High School Dr. Strack knows first hand the power of students to change the world. Hear how God has used him now to help student's reach their leadership potential for Jesus and how he's spoken to more students than almost anyone in the country.
Dennis Swanberg is a hilarious Christian comedian who uses a powerful tool to teach powerful truths. He uses his gift of humor to help people consider the truth of God's Word. In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast you'll hear Dennis discuss how he got started as a comedian, valuable lessons he's learned about accountability and having people to encourage you in your life. You'll also hear about the struggles he's had with two sons who have struggled with alcoholism. It's a great episode of humor, tears, and powerful truth from God's word.
On the Word of Life Podcast this week we have an amazing story teller Chief Straight Arrow - Tim Patterson. He grew up in a Catholic home and was sent to religious classes where he felt like his questions about heaven and hell weren't answered. After his dad died at a young age Tim had a spiritual hunger that eventually led him to a four day Gospel meeting event. The speaker each night; Jack Wyrtzen found of Word of Life. Tim then spent a few years at the Word of Life Bible Institue where he found his true calling - preaching the Gospel to children.
This week on the show we feature a special interview Christian hip-hop artist Propaganda. He talks about his salvation experience, and his long process of starting in hip-hop and finally making it as a full-time artist. Listen to the episode this week or watch the video in our show notes or on our youtube channel. Propaganda also talks about a powerful truth; all of us are struggling to grow closer to God even those Christian leaders we put on a pedestal.
"I realized my whole world was more money, more sponsors, and more winning..." Matt Manzari had exploded onto the wake boarding and wake skating scene at an early age. This week on the Word of Life Podcast we interview Matt Manzari and his wife Bobbye. He talks about the emptiness of the success he had and how God doggedly pursued him to "get into the game." He felt God leading him into the ministry but didn't feel like he was ready yet. As God moved Matt realized he needed to take his relationship with God seriously and it changed his life!
Matthew Maher grew up as a normal, active Christian kid. He played soccer, got good grades, and didn't get in trouble. Until one night after a major injury and his future uncertain he made the biggest mistake of his life. That mistake landed him in prison and taught him lessons that he now shares with anyone who will listen. It also gave Matt the chance to do something that most people never get the opportunity to do; share the Gospel in prison, from the inside. In the midst of his grieving God used him to shine a light in the darkest place on earth. Listen as you hear the work God did in Matthew Maher's Life and how God used him to do a work in the lives of others.
Just a few weeks into attending the Word of Life Bible Institute Damien heard devastating news...his best friend from home had been killed in a random shooting. In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we talk to Damien to hear how God worked to remove him from the streets and change his life. Damien talks about how he should have died with his friend that night, and the regret he has for not sharing the Gospel with his best friend before his life was taken so suddenly. You'll hear a powerful story of how God works and what God is doing in Damien's life today.
If you're a youth leader or children's worker you will love this episode of the Word of Life podcast. We are featuring to ministry experts with combined ministry experience of over 30+ years. They are from Word of Life's Local Church Ministries branch and they will be giving us some powerful tips to help you reach parents of your children's and student ministries. We'll dive deep with practical advice and powerful tips to help you take your youth ministry to a new level.
Chad was born into a Marine family and at 17 joined up to escape his home life. Although he had gone to church and called himself a Christian he thought being a warrior meant he couldn't be a Christian. As his time in the military continued he realized he was suffering from PTSD and that he had to do something about. Through the faithfulness of his wife and the discipleship of a man of God Chad came to give his life to God. Hear how God used these people to bring him back and start a program to help other veterans struggling. Now Mighty Oaks has served over 1400 veterans helping them to overcome PTSD and get a fresh start with God.
This week of the Word of Life Podcast we talk to Dr. Ray Pritchard about the book of Galatians. He gives us a quick look at the important points of the book and helps us dive deep into the mysteries of the Gospel. Ray’s enthusiasm for the Word of God and especially the book of Galatians is infectious. After listening to this free audio you’ll be ready to jump right into the Galatians Master Class and start taking the course right away.
Hungry for attention and looking for fulfillment in the opinions of others, Laura became enslaved by the desire to be accepted.
In this episode, she shares with us how she dealt with rejection, self-harm, and finding her worth in Christ.
This week on the Word of Life Podcast you'll hear the powerful story of Mark Fontana. Mark was removed from his family at a young age and had a hard time adjusting to his new life. In High School, he got into selling drugs, faced racism, and was kicked out of his house. As he pursued a budding rap music career God stopped him dead in his tracks with a small car accident that left him penniless and homeless. How God finally stepped in to bring the love of Christ to his life is an incredible story of God's continued pursuit of us even when we reject him over and over.
Lindsey is a gifted singer and songwriter her got her amazing talent from her father who also was a gifted musician. Throughout almost her entire life her dad battled cancer. He had beaten cancer several times before getting it again and passing away about one year ago. This week on the Word of Life Podcast we talk to Lindsey about how she dealt with such an extended period of battling cancer, and how she used the final time with her father and how God used it for His own plan and His own glory.
https://www.sixflags.com/greatescape/special-events/glory-day
https://soundcloud.com/ac-jr/acjr-x-bradyjames-we-were-children-feat-lindsey-shumaker
https://open.spotify.com/album/1qgRktgbUNDbJZa87xIYmB
On this week’s episode of the Word of Life Podcast we talk to Cara, a student from the Bible Institute. She had just given her life to God before she was hit with a rare form of Anxiety Disorder. From that time God has shown her how to overcome panic attacks by relying on the power of His truth. Listen as Cara talks about not being able to eat and random panic attacks that make her entire body freeze up. Yet in the midst of such a crippling psychological problem, Cara has hope in God.
Today on the Word of Life podcast we listen to the story of Rusty Brooks. He is a veteran of Iraq and speaks briefly on his time there as part of a sniper team. This weekend we want to honor the sacrifices of those who serve in our military as well as hear how God worked in the life of Rusty. You'll hear about fire-fights he shouldn't have survived, and a car accident that took his leg. You'll also hear about how he planned to end it all as his life spun out of control after serving in the Marines. Ultimately though it was the love of God and His truth that broke through to saved Rusty's life. Today he is a motivational speaker who loves to run Spartan events and inspire people to get everything you can out of life.
Luis Ortiz grew up in the projects on the streets of New York city. Even though he ran into drugs, gangs, and felt stuck in the streets the love of God broke through. Through the godly influence of the love of the church, Luis came to know Jesus as his Savior. As he got into boxing in a competitive way and had success it was his goal to use the sport to spread the Gospel to those he fought in the ring. Today Luis is at the Word of Life Bible Institute getting a solid foundation of Biblical truth and seeking God's will for his next steps.
Don't underestimate the power of good friends to either point you towards or away from, God. In this week's episode, we hear the testimony of Jenny Freebern. She is an Admissions Counselor at the Word of Life Bible Institute and she talks about dealing with a Father overtaken by alcoholism, running from God to pursue a relationship, and how God eventually brought her back to himself.
Would you put your dream on hold if God asked you to? Brady did. On this week's episode, we interview Brady Novak who goes by Brady James as a hip-hop artist. He's a first-year student at the Word of Life Bible Institue but just a year ago he was pursuing a music career as a hip-hop artist ready to sign a deal with a record label. Through God's conviction and the counsel of parents and friends Brady decided to put his music career on hold to spend time studying God's word at the Word of Life Bible Institute. Discover why Brady decided to put his dream on hold and what studying God's word at the Bible Institute has taught him about life and music.
What would you do if you were transported right into the middle of the death and destruction of a civil war? In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we talk to Jeff Subra, a man heavily involved in medical missions through Samaritan's purse and former Word of Life Employee. He recently spent two tours in Iraq serving Syrian Refugees with medical missions. You'll hear his stories of pain and loss, but also how God is using people like Jeff to shine a light in these dark times. This is a powerful and moving episode of pain and hurt, but also of God working in one of the darkest places on the globe today.
In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we talk to Pastor Chris Goeppner of the River Bank Church in White River Junction, Vermont. Chris was living happily in Florida with his family when he felt God calling him to pack up and start a brand new church in Vermont. God may not be calling you to move across the country to start a church but he may be calling you to something else. Then the question becomes, will you obey the call of God?
In this episode, we wrap up our interview with Matt. Not only does he serve in Utah starting a church to reach Mormons, but he is dealing with the reality of living with a child with a severe disability. We discuss how Matt and his wife saw God working through their child's disability, and how God is using it to change him and his ministry for God's glory.