In Light of the Gospel with Dan Blatz

In this episode, I sit down with Riley Wall... (son of Tony Wall, who many of you will know and who I had the pleasure of working with for many years!) Riley was raised in a stable, godly home, yet he still wrestled with surrendering to Christ until the age of 16. When he finally embraced the Lordship of Jesus he was filled with a profound joy. He and his wife Natalie navigated a unique "hands-off courtship," leading to their marriage during the height of the Covid pandemic—a time that introduced significant strain on both family and church relationships. Riley opens up about the challenges of those years, the bitterness that crept in, and the healing he found through Christ, forgiveness, and community.

One of the most beautiful truths in the Bible is that Jesus is ONE OF US! We have a man that has overcome, a MAN that represents us before the Father, the overcoming MAN Christ Jesus!

I've been doing a 5 minute a day bible study through the book of Hebrews on my Whatsapp group. This is the first few recordings through chapter 1. I hope it's as much of a blessing to you as it is to me!

In this episode, I sit down with Peter Thiessen from Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico—a pioneer in the real estate industry among the Mennonite colonies. Peter shares the story of his childhood, shaped by a hardworking entrepreneurial father and a loving, supportive mother. At the age of 15, he came to faith in Christ, a decision that would become foundational in his life.We talk about the ups and downs of his journey—how he launched a gym business after getting married, only to lose everything due to severe economic challenges. Undeterred, Peter shifted gears and stepped into the world of real estate, where he has since found great success.What sets Peter apart is not just his accomplishments, but the heart behind them. We explore how his perspective has matured—from chasing financial gain to pursuing human flourishing through his work. His story is one of resilience, faith, and the redemptive power of re-centering our motivations.

From Old Order Mennonite to Freedom in Christ | Melvin Martin's StoryMelvin Martin grew up in an Old Order Mennonite community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, living the horse-and-buggy lifestyle. Though raised in a religious environment, he never truly understood the meaning of Christ's work on the cross—until he reached a breaking point at the age of 33. That's when everything changed.In this episode, Melvin shares how the gospel transformed his life, setting him on a new path for his family and business. Now, he works alongside his sons in the construction industry, encouraging other families to build strong relationships through hands-on work together.Follow Melvin on Instagram: @martinfamilycraftsmen

Pedro Neufeld, pastor at Lighthouse Gospel Church in Milverton, shares his powerful testimony of redemption. Born and raised in Zacatecas, Mexico, Pedro moved to Canada as a young man and was led to Christ at age 18 by a Plautdietsche pastor named Peter Wiebe. Though he experienced an initial transformation, he later fell back into sin, spending years as a prodigal. Even as he married and started a family, he struggled until God mercifully restored his confidence in Christ, breaking the chains that held him captive. Now, as an unlikely pastor, Pedro has had the privilege of witnessing and serving in a great move of God in Milverton. His story is a testament to God's grace and faithfulness.

In this episode, I sit down with Rene Friesen, a successful businessman from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. Raised in poverty, Rene once believed financial success was the ultimate goal. But over the years, he discovered that true success isn't measured by wealth—it's defined by the willingness to endure pain and stay faithful to God's calling.Rene shares his journey of coming to faith in Christ and then building multiple businesses. He strong encourages to keep priorities in order: never put business above God and family. He explains why happiness doesn't come from financial gain but from pursuing excellence in what God has called you to do.Beyond business, Rene is a co-host on the Benny and Rene show, he runs and organizes the annual Eleva Conference, an event designed to challenge and inspire others to elevate their lives and faith.

In this episode, I talk with Isaac Dyck from Durango, Mexico, about the growing need for Low German literature among the Plautdietsche Mennonite people. No Greater Joy's comic book Good and Evil has recently been translated into Low German, called Goot and Bees. We discuss the challenges and importance of making gospel-centered resources accessible in our mother tongue, as well as the process of translating and printing this powerful book.

Children are natural hypocrisy hunters—they see through pretense and recognize what is real. The Bible warns strongly against hypocrisy because it is fake, and nothing damages a child's faith more than seeing their parents say one thing but live another. In this final part of the Biblical Child Training series, I challenge parents, especially fathers, to lead by example. Your children will learn how to love, worship, and walk with God primarily by watching you. How you honour the Lord, love your wife, and instruct your children will shape their understanding of faith and family. If you want to raise godly children, start by being a godly example.

In this special episode of In Light of the Gospel, I sit down with John Loewen from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. John is a pastor at Steinreich Mennoniten Gemeinde. He passionately shares the gospel in the Plautdietsch and Spanish. This entire conversation is in Plautdietsch, so my apologies to those who may not understand—but for our Low German-speaking audience, this is one you won't want to miss!John has dedicated his life to reaching Mennonite people with the message of Christ while also being deeply involved in a ministry serving underprivileged Spanish-speaking children in Cuauhtémoc. This ministry provides education – Teaching children to read and write, providing Food and care, showing hope for the future – Helping keep kids off the streets, and most importantly the Gospel – Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ!John's vision goes beyond the Mennonite community—he dreams of a cultural shift in Mexico, where families stay together and children grow up in stable, loving homes.

The Bible commands fathers to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and children are instructed to obey their parents in the Lord—a commandment that comes with the promise of a long life.In this video, I discuss the second essential thing every child needs: structure and discipline. Without clear boundaries and loving correction, children grow up feeling lost and unprepared for life. Discipline isn't about harshness; it's about teaching, guiding, and shaping them according to God's Word.If you missed Part 1 on providing security and love, be sure to check it out. And stay tuned for Part 3, where I'll talk about the importance of guidance and being a role model.Watch now and learn how biblical discipline leads to strong, godly children who walk in truth!

The foundation of biblical child training is a battle for the heart of your child. Before discipline, instruction, or correction, they need to know they are unconditionally loved and secure in your care. This begins even before birth—within the womb—where a child first experiences the safety and warmth of a loving home.One of the greatest ways to cultivate this security is by prioritizing your marriage. A strong, loving relationship between mom and dad provides the rich soil in which a child's heart can grow, knowing that their world is stable and full of love. In this episode, we explore how to establish this foundation and why it is the key to raising children who thrive.

In this episode I talk with Jake Hildebrandt, who has an incredible story of transformation. Jake grew up in Durango, Mexico, where he was often picked on and left out, which led him down a path of anger and sin. Over time, this opened the door to severe spiritual attacks and even possession. For years, he lived under heavy oppression, much of it caused by his own choices and actions. But two years ago, everything changed. Through the power of God in Christ, Jake was completely set free from the Devil's grip. His story is raw, honest, and a powerful reminder of the freedom we can find in Jesus.

In this episode I talk with George Klassen, a song leader and guitar player at Liberty Bible Church in Taber, Alberta. George shares his journey from a stable Old Colony Mennonite upbringing, through a rebellious season of drug use and partying in his teenage years, to finding freedom and deliverance in Christ. His story highlights the transformative power of God's grace to lead him and his wife Judy toward a life of faith in Christ!

In our third conversation together, John Fehr shares his incredible journey of transformation after being set free from meth addiction through simple faith in Christ. At his lowest point, when his life was unraveling, he found hope and restoration in a rehab (Joshua House) center in British Columbia. Since then, John has repaired broken relationships with his wife and children, launched a business, and developed a deep passion for helping others overcome addiction. John's current mission is to establish a new rehab center in northern Ontario called Born Again Ministries. Through this center, he hopes to offer the same hope and healing that changed his life. To make this vision a reality, he's using GiveSendGo and GoFundMe for crowd-funding, alongside an active Facebook page to connect with supporters. Join us in this conversation as John shares his story of redemption, his vision for Born Again Ministries, and how you can support this life-changing initiative. https://givesendgo.com/GE1QF?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=GE1QF https://gofund.me/3551ef75 You can also give directly to John by e-transferring money here Johnnytorch52@gmail.com Follow on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569351944614&mibextid=ZbWKwL

In this episode, I sit down with JP (John Peters) to hear his story of faith and personal growth. JP grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to Canada at the age of 11 without knowing any English. Being shy made it even harder for him to make friends, and he didn't really connect with others until much later in his teen years. We also talk about how JP got married in his early twenties through courtship rather than dating, and how he got involved in youth ministry at a young age. Eventually, he was put into a church Elder role—a position he took on because he felt it was his duty. After many years, JP finally found freedom from that sense of obligation and experienced peace in serving God in new ways. JP shares openly about his family as well, including how his father left the family when JP was a teenager, and the struggles of dealing with infertility in his marriage. It's a story of challenges, growth, and God's faithfulness that I know will encourage you.

In this conversation, Jonathan Bradford shared his inspiring journey and dedication to memorizing the entire New Testament! Over the last few years, he has developed a unique memorization technique, refined through both personal trial and error and extensive study. His approach combines practical strategies with a deep, spiritual commitment, making Scripture memorization accessible and meaningful. Jonathan's primary motivation is to encourage others to fulfill the command in Colossians 3:16, "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." By internalizing Scripture, he believes people can be better prepared to face temptation and to walk faithfully. His vision is to guide others in adopting some of these practices so they can experience the transformative power of Scripture in their own lives.

Jake and I had a great chat about his story. As a kid, he moved from Mexico to Canada, speaking only Low German, and the transition was tough. He struggled to learn English and got bullied, which made reading and writing even more difficult. After he was born again, he had an unquenchable hunger to read—he couldn't get enough of it! And now, here he is, pastoring a young church plant in Niagara. You'd never have guessed, given where he started, but it's a powerful example of how God rewrites our stories in ways we couldn't imagine.

In this episode, I sit down with Johnny Dyck to explore his journey from strict religious rule-following to a life transformed by faith in Christ alone. Raised in a conservative Mennonite community, Johnny was taught to conform to a set of church rules—rules that everyone understood were extra-biblical. But as he wrestled with the weight of these expectations, the concept of forgiveness and grace was missing. Johnny shares how his struggle with the church's demands sometimes led him into rebellion, not only against the church itself but, at times, against God. This conversation reveals how he and his wife eventually reached a place of desperation, seeking a genuine answer from God about salvation. Finally they discovered that salvation isn't about man-made rules but faith in the finished work of Christ. Join us for this moving episode as Johnny reveals what it was like to move from legalism to the freedom found in faith, learning that it's Christ's work, not ours, that truly pleases God.

In today's episode, I have a conversation with Koby Wiebe from Arbourg, Manitoba. Koby serves as a missions pastor at his local church and plays a role in The Men's Encounter ministry, which focuses on spiritual retreats to help men find freedom in Christ. Fresh off an Encounter in Ontario, he's now heading to Paraguay for another impactful event. We also explore his work with 1 Gloowen, a unique outreach to Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonite communities. Koby's passion for missions and ministering to others is truly inspiring. Find his info here https://kobywiebe.taplink.ws/ And the info for 1Gloowen is still being added to the site here https://kobywiebe.taplink.ws/

John has quite a story for us—one that some believe is merely a figment of his imagination. To me, however, it speaks to the reality of the unseen world. There are principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, all seeking access to you and your family. John experienced this in a very real way, and it compelled him to dedicate his life to service and ministry. He is a husband, father, and the owner of Coyote Restaurant in Tillsonburg.

I recently used the word legalistic to describe a period of my Christian walk. I think I was being accurate, but I was also not clear and made some people feel like I was condemning them for their obedience. I am sorry for that and I'll try to clarify. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Michael and I go way back—about 18 years. We worked together for a time, back when I was in a more legalistic phase in my Christian walk, very plain and conservative. Meanwhile, Michael was attending a Charismatic/Pentecostal church but was diving into Catholic writers and thought. For several years, we didn't really stay in touch, but when we reconnected, it was refreshing to see that we had both arrived at many of the same truths and priorities in Scripture! While Michael and I don't agree on everything (of course), it's a blessing to share a similar focus and passion in pursuing the work God has called us to do.

George was born and raised in Chihuahua Mexico like many of our type of Mennonites. His father passed away when he was only 13 years old! Being without a father during some of his more formative years led George down a pretty dark road. It's a joy to hear how George found hope, acceptance and joy after coming to Christ for salvation!

Sorry about the echo! (I'll get better) Neil is my older brother by 3 years and we've always been fairly close, but never as much so as since we became brothers in Christ! Our views align quite well on so many things, and yet we can have some good conversations on the things that we don't agree on. Neil's description of his son, Landon's, conversion is a highlight for me in this conversation.... Leading our children to Christ is a delicate issue that requires wisdom and discernment, I think you'll learn something about sharing Christ with your kids.

I just met Dave, in fact we started talking with the camera on! It was very brave of him to be willing to share such a vulnerable and encouraging testimony! Talking with him reminded me of the excitement and joy of first discovering the beauty of the cross!

Some people feel we need to make a big stink about what the world thinks about Jesus! Jesus told us not to be alarmed by what the world thinks. Jesus has OVERCOME the world!

Marriage is a great mystery, and a it's a great privilege to have another eternal soul commit their life to you! I'm humbled by my wife's attention and affection to me, and it's even more humbling to know that our marriage is supposed to be a testament to Christ and His church!

I've know Cornelius Penner and some of his brothers for many years now. It was nice to sit down to hear his whole story! I hope you're inspired by his story and moved to reach into someone's messy life and see how you can help!

George Schmidt is a great example of how coming to Jesus can set someone free from depression! It didn't happen overnight, but the results through the years seem obvious to me. George was once the sad case of a man on the brink of self destruction, now he loves to give the gospel to people through singing! Go over and check out his YouTube channel and be blessed.  @georgeschmidtmusic4191 

Welcome back! I'm thrilled to have John Giesbrecht on the channel for the third time – it's always a pleasure. I had to cut us off at the hour mark due to other commitments or else we could have just kept chatting! This time, we delved into the important topic of taking responsibility as a man, specifically in ruling your household well and leading your wife and children. I understand that this is a controversial subject in today's feminist society, but I believe it's time to embrace our God-given roles with joy and confidence. Let's make them popular again or be prepared to face criticism from our detractors, as long as we earn the love and respect of our wives and children.

Frank has faced many challenges and hardships, but if you spend some time with him, you'll notice that patience has clearly shaped him. He remains as passionate about Christ and His work as he was when I first met him about 17-18 years ago. We talk about his personal testimony, the journey he and his wife experienced regarding having children, his ministry involving his tabernacle model, his involvement with the Men's Encounter ministries and much more.

If you haven't heard Eduard's testimony yet, get ready for a treat! He's a world class Harpist, and his journey from Paraguay to global stages is nothing short of amazing. Plus, he's been on a mission lately, spreading the gospel to Plautdietsch communities through his YouTube channel. You can't help but catch his passion for spreading the good word! https://www.youtube.com/@UCslD1hUfyU1ouClmB70UWuA

Henry came to faith in his early 20's. The realization of his forgiveness and acceptance by God ignited a radical commitment within him to fulfill God's will! Henry's dedication to the service of others has at times led to self-imposed hardships. Yet, amidst it all, his life has been humbled and molded by the God. Join us as we delve into Henry's inspiring tale of his steadfast devotion to answering God's call. You can follow Henry on Facebook for more information and to hear some of his Low German sermons you can find many of them at the Erwakjunk Kjoakj's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@erwakjunkkjoakj4732

God works in us all. Each of us has to choose between God and sin or even God and religion. Henry was mostly a "good" religious man, yet he knew that there was a choice to be made. First God saved his wife, then slowly worked on Henry to the point where he was willing to give up his religious ideas to cling to Christ alone!

Here's a new one for you... an interview in Low German! It was a bit of a struggle for me but worth it! Gerhard has long been labouring for the Lord among the Mennonite people in Bolivia. A few years ago he and a few others took on the mountainous task of translating the Bible into Plautdietsch! There had already been a couple versions of the Bible translated and have done a lot of good! However, they took more of a thought for thought approach and these men along with Gerhard felt it necessary to do a proper word for word translation. I really hope you get yourself a copy of it and start studying in our mother tongue! As you can imagine this is a large undertaking and the hours need to be covered in some way. IF you would like to give to the continuation of this work you can use this email address for E transfers... radiovozdelcampo_cg@outlook.com

Isaac does not come from a Mennonite culture...BUT having grown up in a religious homeschool environment he can identify with much of what we often discuss on this channel. Much of the same legalism that many Mennonites experience, made it's way into his life from a very early age. There was the ignorance of sexual sin and temptation, the lack of technology, and the temptation to think of "our way" of living as THE way of living. ALL religious people need saving! Christ provides the way through the confusion to freedom!

When David was recently faced with the choice of pursuing truth and the gospel or a relationship with his parents, he decided to lay it all on the line and he chose Christ! He moved to Texas on his own during Covid to start over and is getting married this coming summer! I just met David today...but first impressions are that he's trying his best to navigate some pretty tough stuff! It was a real pleasure to discuss his life story with him.

We all get caught up in sin. We ALL need to be saved. We probably ALL get addicted to something that isn't good for us!...however, some of us sinners get addicted to terrible things like drugs! If you begin to take some of the more seriously addictive ones it's too late to turn back after just the first hit... There is not much hope for these people to get off of these addictions apart from Christ! With Christ there is always hope, and that's what Joshua house attempts to provide...hope and help through Christ! https://www.yahwehsavesrecovery.ca/ Contact Richard directly at 778-241-1499

Henry and his wife Tina have become overwhelmed at times, trying to get help to hurting people. There's been times when the waiting list to come to them for counselling has been well over a year long! Now they're taking a huge step in jumping full time into the the ministry that God has given them! Henry is soft spoken and has a very heart...He genuinely cares.

Cameron and I had a very enjoyable and uplifting conversation about his life in the Hutterite colony. I can see a lot similarities between Mennonites and Hutterites, but there's a fair share of differences as well! One conclusion is sure... both groups need to come to Christ in faith and accept salvation by grace!

Isaak grew up in a typical Old Colony Mennonite home. At14 years of age everything began to change... this was when his dad came to faith in Christ! This had a profound impact on Isaak, yet he resisted God's call for a couple more years. When he came to the realization that he wasn't such "a good guy", things shifted. Religion couldn't shake off his guilt, but trusting in Christ's finished work did the trick!

Jesus said to GO, go into ALL the world and preach the gospel! The book of Revelation states that there will be saints gathered to Jesus that are from EVERY tribe, nation, kindred and tongue... This is our mission as the church of Jesus! It is to reach the world with the gospel and to bring the "fulness of the Gentiles" into the body of Christ! Greg has that vision gripping his heart and he plans to move his family down to Mexico to try accomplish at least a small part of that mission! I really hope this conversation inspires your vision to get involved in some way! https://ethnos360.org/missionaries/greg-and-bethany-klassen

Mark understood the gospel "from a child". However, it was in his 20's that he felt God challenged him to recognize that he had been steering his life in his own direction. Being challenged by God to authentically follow Christ, Mark underwent a significant change. Today, he feeds his family by farming in Manitoba, and has established a ministry dedicated to distributing Good and Evil comic books to Canadian prisons. You can contact Mark directly by emailing him at GospelEquipmentMinistries@protonmail.com You can follow some of the updates to their ministry at https://www.facebook.com/GospelEquipmentMinistries

Johnny is a truck driver, and since his conversion to Christ has used his time on the road to fill his mind with things of God! Nothing seems to thrill him more than the good old fashioned Gospel! The gospel made him feel truly accepted and loved for the first time in his life and he really wants others to know the same, powerful truth!

Jake really struggled with stubbornness and a hot temper and it landed him in some hot water, which eventually led him to a place where Christ became his only solution. Jake Fast has found freedom from his SIN! No matter what your past looked like, no matter how bleak your future may seem... GOD can lift you out of your sin.

Andrew was raised in a very strict sect of the Amish and has learned to spot religion from a distance! He and I both struggle with reacting to what we see in religion around us and going back to "what saith the scriptures?". What does church leadership look like? Or more importantly, what SHOULD it look like? Andrew has some very valid questions about the nature of "pastors and elders" that we wrestle with in this conversation. Does every church have to have Elders ordained? Or can Elders simply rise to the surface? Is there a need for official ordination? We're not claiming to have all the answers... in fact we may be offering more question's then answers... but I think we need to think things through, and not assume we know what God wants, because of our preconceived beliefs.

Addiction can feel hopeless!!...both for the person that's addicted and the people that are stuck trying to help them out of it! There is hope in Christ! The Joshua house (https://www.yahwehsavesrecovery.ca/) was a huge part of getting John free from years of addiction and now he spends a lot of his time getting others into the same program that he went through!

Tony has made so many changes since the last time we spoke on this podcast!! Some difficult and challenging, some thrilling and joyous! Through it all he's been growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord!... and that doesn't always come naturally. If your life is often VERY busy, maybe you'll get some benefit from this conversation.

John loves the grace of God!! It's because he's had opportunity to taste the bitter flavour of sin and now knows that he's forgiven and loved! It takes a long time for some of us to really latch on to what grace really means. For John it was years in religion, in ministry, and in sin... but Jesus has truly gotten a hold of him.

I've been hearing about Mose for a number of years now and it was a real pleasure to be able to have this conversation. He was raised in a very strict sect of the Amish religion and began to question some of the traditions that held the community together... his questioning didn't end until Jesus finally found him! Check out Moses' website at the link below.. I think you'll find some very helpful information. http://freebyfaith.net