Even You

Join us for a milestone Even You Podcast episode as we celebrate our one-year anniversary! Our hosts, Scott and Mariah, look back at a full year dedicated to helping ordinary people discover their extraordinary purpose in Christ. In this special episode, we unpack the highs, the lows, and the fun times that defined our journey. We also revisit specific conversations that profoundly impacted us and our listeners, exploring how we've grown in faith and understanding. This episode is packed with reflections on living out the Great Commission and finding your unique role. Don't miss this inspiring look back and a renewed call to embrace the remarkable life God has for you. _____ Take the spiritual gifts assessment: https://www.auburncommunitychurch.com/spiritual-gifts Want to give to East-West? Visit: https://www.eastwest.org/give/ Want to go with East-West? Visit: https://www.eastwest.org/short-term-team-types/ To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups/

Episode 12 Description What happens when faith shifts from following rules to living on mission? In this episode, Michael O'Neal shares how knowing Jesus personally transformed his life, leading him to start Reel Life International. As he embraced true obedience, his fear faded, and joy overflowed. Now, his passion is to invite others into God's mission. If you've ever felt stuck or dry in your faith, this conversation will encourage you to step into the abundant life Jesus calls us to! _____ Learn more about our Reel Life International: https://reel-life.org/. To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org. To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups/. _____ Music: Intro track - https://www.musicbed.com/songs/good-times-with-oohs-ahhs-instrumental/70974 Wrap-up track - https://audiio.com/que-parks/move/its-about-time-freeinstrumental Ending track - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/lizard/70033

The age-old question: Is there a God? If so, how can we prove it? For many, including Lee Strobel—best-selling author and former atheist—this question lies at the core of their worldview. Lee was once firmly convinced that there was no God, believing that, without proof, faith was nothing more than a delusion. But everything changed when his wife became a Christian. Determined to find evidence to discover the truth, Strobel launched a journalistic investigation into the origins of Christianity and the credibility of Jesus. Little did he know, this search for truth would eventually turn his world upside down and transform his life.   As we navigate the intersection of logic and faith, we can take heart knowing that God has given us the tools to seek the truth. He desires for us to know Him and love Him. Ultimately, faith in Jesus alone leads to righteousness (Romans 3:22). It's not only crucial to understand what you believe but also to consider those around you. How can you use the logic God has provided to engage in meaningful faith conversations with others who may see the world differently?   _____   Learn more about our guest at: https://leestrobel.com/   To purchase the books mentioned in this video, visit: The Case for Christ: https://a.co/d/iV0JqjD Seeing the Supernatural: https://a.co/d/c9a27Tu   *DISCLAIMER: East-West does not earn any commissions on affiliate links or transactions from book purchases; all commissions go directly to the author and/or publisher.   To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org.   To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups/. _____   Music:   Intro track - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/odd-numbers/67169   Bumper track - https://www.musicbed.com/songs/good-times-with-oohs-ahhs-instrumental/70974   Wrap-up track - https://audiio.com/que-parks/move/its-about-time-freeinstrumental Ending track - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/lizard/70033

Is your view of gender and sexuality too narrow? The church often struggles with these discussions, but the truth is found in God's design, which we learn through His word. Join us today with Dr. Sandra Glahn, professor of media arts and worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, as she shares her insights on biblical sexuality and gender roles, revealing God's extraordinary plan for women as daughters of the King. You'll hear her personal story of struggling through infertility for years and how that impacted her own sense of femininity. Despite that hardship, she didn't give up. That's our challenge for you: discover how to live in God's purpose and persevere through trials, knowing God has extraordinary plans for your life. _____ Learn more about our guest at: https://sandraglahn.com/. To pick up a copy of her latest book, visit: https://sandraglahn.com/shop/p/nobodys-mother. To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org. To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups/. _____ Music: Intro track - https://www.musicbed.com/songs/good-times-with-oohs-ahhs-instrumental/70974 Wrap-up track - https://audiio.com/que-parks/move/its-about-time-freeinstrumental Ending track - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/lizard/70033

You've probably heard of mission trips. Maybe you've even been on one! But are they really worth it? Some people think they're only for adventurous types or the “extra spiritual.” Others question their effectiveness. But what if God wants to use you among the nations? What if a short-term trip could be part of your story? Today, Scott and Mariah share how a short-term mission trip impacted their lives. They invite you to consider joining a short-term mission team with East-West. After all, you're one step away from impacting someone's life for eternity. Make this opportunity count! _____ To learn about our short-term mission team opportunities, visit: https://www.eastwest.org/mission-trip-schedule. To support our gospel work overseas, visit: https://www.eastwest.org/give/?c_src=website&c_src2=home-page. To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org. To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups. _____ Music sources: www.musicbed.com, www.artlist.io

The world tells us that success is the key to happiness. Get a better job, make more money, buy a bigger house, and then you'll be content. If that's the case, why do some of the wealthiest people in the world feel so empty? That's how John Rinehart felt. At 25, he had a great career and plenty of money, and yet he knew something was missing. As John searched for answers, he discovered that success means nothing if it isn't used to advance God's Kingdom. Success doesn't satisfy, and it was never meant to. Instead of accumulating wealth, believers will find greater satisfaction in giving it away. Today, John helps ordinary business people find extraordinary purpose in being gospel patrons—those who use their resources for God's glory. How might God be calling you to leverage your career for the sake of the gospel? GIVE TOWARDS THE $1 MILLION MATCH: www.eastwest.org/evenyougive Learn more about Gospel Patrons at: https://www.gospelpatrons.org. Check out the Gospel Patrons book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hIQPBvb. Follow Gospel Patrons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gospelpatrons. To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org. To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups.   We source music and SFX from: MusicBed, Audiio.com, and Artlist.io.

Life hurts—sometimes deeply. Freddie Amos knows this firsthand. However, she overcame depression, trauma, and abuse by God's grace. Now, the Lord is using her story to help other young adults break free from similar battles. Extraordinary pain can lead to extraordinary purpose only with the help of Christ. How are you surrendering your story to God and letting Him use it in extraordinary ways?

If you follow Jesus, do you see your life as expendable or defendable? Are you defending your freedom to avoid persecution or willingly laying it all on the line for those who have never heard of Jesus? In this conversation, author and former missionary Nik Ripken explains what bold faith looks like. Serving in some of the most dangerous countries in the world as well as losing one of his sons on the mission field, Nik has seen unimaginable tragedy. However, he has also seen how insane faith can radically transform people's lives, even in the darkest places of the world. Our God doesn't call us to play it safe; He commands us to make disciples of all nations. Yet, no matter where we go, He is always with us. With that in mind, what would radical obedience to Jesus look like in your life?

On today's episode, we had the privilege of talking with renowned speaker, author, and influencer Sadie Robertson Huff. As you'll hear, her life was impacted by stardom from a young age, and she had to choose what to do with the platform God had given her. Like so many celebrities, she could have kept chasing the fame. However, she found her bullseye—to be a sister and a friend to millions of other females. Today, her ministry—Live Original—is impacting the lives of women around the world. Whether you're an influencer or just follow one, Sadie reminds us that we all have a God-given platform. The question is, “What is your bullseye?” Even you can leverage what God has given you to impact the lives of others right where you are.

Do you know what God's purpose is for your life? If your answer is, “I'm not sure,” you're not alone. As we explore that question in this episode, special guest Ricky Dickson gives us the inside scoop on his story of discovering God's will for his life. From a class project about Blue Bell in college to eventually becoming the ice cream company's CEO and President, Ricky explains how his faith helped him thrive in his leadership journey. As Ricky teaches us in his latest book, “One Scoop at a Time,” life can be difficult and outcomes uncertain. Yet, God can lead us from fear to faith as we rely on His purpose—not our own—for our lives.

The word “believer” has different meanings in today's society. From pop culture to Christianity, the phrase “I'm a believer” is fairly common. But in the Christian faith, what's the difference between a believer and a follower? Is there a difference? How you answer that question can say a lot about how you view your faith. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells those who want to be His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. All people who profess the name of Christ are called to follow Him—not simply believe. That's the difference. Believing in Jesus is a start, but following Jesus is how we show the world we are who we say we are, especially when life is difficult or we face persecution. So, the next time you call yourself a believer, think about how Jesus has invited all of His disciples—even you—into the extraordinary purpose of following Him by taking up the cross in their lives. Learn more about Providence Church Frisco: https://www.providencefrisco.com/ Follow pastor Afshin Ziafat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afshinziafat/ To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org.

How would you answer the question, “Why does the Church exist?” Many people will say things like, “It's for the betterment of the community,” or, “It's a place for Christians to gather and worship,” or even, “It's where you go to learn about God.” These answers may be true, but are they enough? Whether you grew up going to Sunday services or just visited one for the first time, it's important to know why the Church exists. In 1 Corinthians 12, it says the Church is the Body of Christ, made up of individual members who have different gifts. Those gifts are designed to help us proclaim the excellencies of Him who redeemed us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The Church is not a social club or a building you go to on Sunday. It's the hands and feet of Jesus, gifted and equipped by God to fulfill the Great Commission. This raises the bar for every Christian—even you—and begs the question, “What's my role in the Body of Christ?” Learn more about Auburn Community Church: https://auburncommunitychurch.com/ Take the spiritual gifts assessment from Auburn Community Church: https://auburncommunitychurch.com/spiritual-gifts/ Follow pastor Miles Fidell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milesfidell/ To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org.

Have you ever thought, “I could never be a missionary,” or, “I'm not cut out for missions. That's for ‘those people'”? More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations. What you may not realize is that this command—the Great Commission—applies to every Christian. It's not a suggestion or an idea. It looks different for every believer, but the bottom line is that we don't get to cherry-pick our destiny. Our Creator calls us to take the gospel to the ends of the Earth. That's huge. But it's also special because it means that God has a role for all of us—even you. You are uniquely wired by God to live a life on mission—to have an eternal impact on people's lives. This is what extraordinary purpose looks like. Have you given God your yes? To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org. To learn more about the unreached, visit https://www.eastwest.org/unreachedpeoplegroups/.  

The Even You podcast is hosted by East-West, a global missions agency focused on shining the light of the gospel among the unreached. This podcast exists to empower ordinary people to live for an extraordinary purpose. What does that mean? We want to see more Christians saying “Yes!” to what God is inviting them to participate in, especially as it relates to the Great Commission. We believe you are uniquely wired to play a role in this mission whether you're a missionary or commuting to a 9-5. Nothing is more important than leveraging our gifts, talents, and lives for the glory of God as we obey His command to make disciples of all nations. This is the most extraordinary purpose we can live for, and even you have a role to play. How will you give God your “Yes!” today? To learn more about East-West, visit https://www.eastwest.org.