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The Jordan was at flood stage when the priests waded in — before the water moved. Obedience came first. Click here to read the sermon “Walk This Way” Joshua 3:1–4; 3:14–16; 4:18–24 It's such a treat to be back with you. My name is Rob Stone. If we haven't met yet, it's so good to be with you. This is my second of what will be three weeks preaching for you here at Yates Baptist Church. And we are in a series we started last week called Onward: Moving Toward the Uncharted. Onward, moving toward the uncharted. And of course we're walking through the book of Joshua. The book of Joshua is one of my favorite books of the Bible, because Joshua finds a people in the middle of a dramatic change, a dramatic shift. The people of Israel, if you follow from the book of Exodus, have been set free from their captivity, from their slavery in Egypt, but they have spent the better part of the last forty years wandering in the wilderness. They essentially lose a generation in the wilderness. But God is raising up a generation that's going to lead them into the promised land. So after the death of Moses, Joshua finds himself tasked with leading the people of Israel into the promised land. They're going to cross the Jordan River and make their way into Israel. I'm very excited about where we are today, because last week we discovered the what. Last week, we discovered the what: that God has called Joshua to lead the people into the promised land, and He made a lot of promises. We saw that Joshua will only inherit what he inhabits — Joshua will only inherit what he inhabits, which is another way of saying God's promise to Joshua is that every place the sole of his foot treads, God has given to him (cf. Josh 1:3, HCSB) [see "A New Dawn, A New Day," July 12, 2026]. And we talked about last week how that can be a promise, but it's not just a promise — it's a principle. And a principle is a promise that is user dependent. It's a promise that depends on whether or not you live it out, because God's promise to Joshua is a promise that depends on Joshua's action. Joshua has to take steps of obedience in order to receive the blessing that comes with God's promise. But if Joshua keeps his feet planted exactly as they are, if Joshua is not willing to be obedient, then the promise becomes a curse for him. Joshua has to take action. Joshua has to take steps of obedience. And I believe that is what God has called us to as well, because as we talked about last week, I believe God has not brought us this far just to bring us this far. There is more to go. There is further to go. And I believe, by God's power, that the best is yet to come. So before we jump into the second week of the series — looking not just at the what, but the how — because the what is great, but a what without a how leaves us all feeling a little confused. It leaves us lacking clarity, especially if we don't know how to get where we're going. Now, we live in 2026, and I have my phone right here — it has some points of the sermon that I'm going to cover. How many of you have your phones with you? Raise your hand if you have your phone, lift it up high. There we go. We are a smartphone people. Okay, let's try it this way — just for my own interest: if you're an iPhone user, raise your hand. Okay. If you use anything else, raise your hand. [Laughter.] Look at you. Come on now — a bunch of green dots showing up in the group texts. "So-and-so reacted to a photo." We can see it now, all you green-dot people, you non-iPhone users in the room. But here's why I mention it: a smartphone is beautiful, especially if you are lost. And really, with a smartphone, how could you ever truly be lost? But I want you to journey with me back to 2001 — December of 2001. I'm a college student at the University of Central Florida. I'm from Florida, by the way — I don't know if there are any other Floridians in the room. Come on, Sunshine State, look how far we've made it. I was a junior at the University of Central Florida, working with a campus ministry called Campus Crusade for Christ that now goes by Cru. Cru has Christmas Conference every year — our big regional conference. Because I was a student in the Southeast, Christmas Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia. And there are lots of things to love about Atlanta, Georgia — Waffle House, Chick-fil-A, it's all wonderful, I appreciate it. But here's the thing I can't stand about Atlanta: driving in Atlanta is awful. Amen? Around the city of Atlanta is a circle, the perimeter, if you will, and it is a ten-lane highway that just forms a circle all around the city. And depending on where you get on this circle, the directions you're following make no sense, because there's an inner circle and an outer circle. Here I am in Atlanta before the invention of the iPhone. I want you to remember back in the days of a road atlas — you're pulling it out, maybe you've got it hidden in a map somewhere, and you pull that map out and try to figure out, as you're driving, where you're going. None of it is safe. We're going to our service project — how many of our youth went to Passport, by the way? Raise your hand if you were at Passport last week. Come on, vámonos, I love it, great job. So here's the thing: we're doing our service project as part of this conference, and we're headed into a place in Atlanta, and my friend who lives in Atlanta is like, "I know exactly how to get there." And then he proceeded to tell me — and if you don't live in a city, someone telling you the roads and the various points along the way isn't really helpful. So I do what dumb young men do: I go, "Got it. Gotcha. Totally see you there." And I take off, and I'm getting on I-285, this giant thing that goes around the city. I hop on I-285, and I know I need to go two exits west of where we are on the northern part of this highway. So I follow the sign that says west. But the west sign takes me in the opposite direction, because it's telling me where I'm ultimately trying to end up — not where I'm immediately going. Again, a highway that makes no sense. The fine folks of Atlanta, Georgia need to get their stuff figured out. But I turn the wrong way, and now I spend the next hour just looping around the city, seeing all the sights all the way around Atlanta. Finally, someone in my car has a cell phone — I don't own a cell phone yet, this is 2001, this is pre–cell phone days for me. Someone in the car has a cell phone: "Where are you all at?" "We're still on 285, looking for the exit." We eventually make our way there. This time, as we're going back to the hotel from the service project, I didn't just listen to what my friend told me when he told me how to get back. I said, "You go first, and I will follow you." We got back to the hotel in about five minutes. Now, there are wives in the room being very sweet about not elbowing your husbands right now — I appreciate that, I'm grateful for that — because if I had been married at that point, my wife would have said, "Hey, you don't know where you're going. How about you follow someone who does?" You don't know how to get there — why don't you follow someone who knows how to get there? I knew the what. I knew what we were going to do. I just didn't know how to get there, and I thought I could just figure it out. And of course I didn't, because you can't just figure out everything. Sometimes the only way to learn is to watch someone who knows what they're doing, who knows how to do it. And so here we are in week two of the sermon series Onward, with a message I have titled "Walk This Way." Because just like Joshua and the people of Israel, and just like us today, we need to know not just where we're going — we need to know how to get there. And so this is what we find as we open up Joshua chapter three and Joshua chapter four. We're not going to read the entirety of the two chapters — we're going to read some selections of Scripture from these two chapters. But beginning in Joshua chapter three, verse one — this is Joshua 3:1–4: Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia Grove with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing. After three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don't go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven't traveled this way before." (Josh 3:1–4, HCSB) I love how practical this section of Scripture is. It's this beautiful thing — it's Joshua saying, "Hey, we're going to follow the ark. We're going to follow God. We're going to follow God where He is leading us, but we're going to let God lead the way. We're not going to jump ahead of God," because sometimes in our lives we try to jump ahead of God's will, and we find ourselves not in the place we wanted to be. Amen? Sometimes we go, "I know what God wants for me," and we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be — in a circumstance we never imagined we would be in. And here's Joshua, and he's saying, "Come on, we're all going to be ready. You're going to get ready to follow." And the reason you're going to follow is because you don't know where we're going — you've never been there before. There's a French philosopher who said these beautiful words: "If we want to reach new lands, we must be willing to lose sight of the shore.”1 I don't know how many of you have maybe been out on a cruise ship — have you been out on the water? There's something terrifying that happens when you get out in the ocean, and suddenly you look around, three hundred sixty degrees, everywhere you look all you see is horizon. That's a scary spot to be, because if all you have is horizon, you don't really know where you are, you don't really know where you're going. For Joshua, he's saying, look, so much of our wandering, so much of the place we've been stuck in for the last forty years, is because we didn't know how to get out of it. We didn't know how to take the next step. We didn't know how to move forward. And here's Joshua saying: we're going to follow God, and God is going to lead us into a new place. But in order for God to lead us to a new place, we're going to have to walk in a brand-new way. We're going to have to go to a place we have never been before. To put it another way: if we want to reach new lands, we must follow a new path. Church, I want you to hear me when I say this. If we want to reach new lands, if we want to be in a new place, if we want to go where we have not been before, then we're going to have to take a brand-new path to get there. Because all the paths that are familiar to us, all the ways that are known to us, all the directions we are comfortable with, just lead us to the places we've already been. If we want to reach new lands, we've got to follow a brand-new path. We've got to be willing to do some new things and move in a new direction. And if we're honest — new is scary. New is scary, and let's be real: I'm in my forties now, I have three kids, I have teenagers at home. New isn't just scary — new feels sometimes a little irresponsible, because I've got people who are counting on me, I've got kids I'm trying to pay for college for. The older I get, new feels like more and more of a risk. So the older we get, new seems to be a bridge just too far. But God didn't bring us this far just to take us this far — which means it's time for us to get used to new. It's time to get comfortable with new. It's time to get comfortable with the risks that come with new, because we want to reach new lands, and you only reach new lands by following a new path. We're going to skip ahead to verse fourteen — this is Joshua 3:14–16: When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. (Josh 3:14–16, HCSB) I want you to track what's happening here. There has been a command from Joshua to the officers for what all the people are going to do: hey, we're going to follow a new path, we're going to go a new direction. And the people are being obedient — the people are saying, "I'm ready, we are ready." They have broken camp. The people are leading. The priests carrying the ark step their feet in the water, and the water stops. Now, here's something to know: the Jordan River is not a large river. If you look at pictures of the Jordan, through most of the year it's about the width of this stage — so crossing it through most of the year is not really a huge deal, especially this far south, because once you get this far south, this is the lowest-lying region on planet Earth. The Dead Sea is just south of here. But it's flood season, so we're not talking about just crossing the stage — we're talking about a flood. In October 2024 (sic) [Hurricane Helene's catastrophic inland flooding in Western North Carolina occurred primarily September 26–28], Hurricane Helene came through Western Carolina and dumped an amount of rain the region had not seen in nearly a hundred years. What happened to all the rivers there? They immediately flooded. The problem is, in any mountainous terrain, you build roads next to rivers, because rivers do what water often does — they follow the path of least resistance. If you're engineering roads, you also want to follow the path of least resistance; otherwise, you're going to spend tons of time, energy, and resources cutting roads into a mountain. So when these rivers flooded, it didn't just flood the rivers — it flooded the roads, it flooded the homes, it flooded the businesses. Suddenly you have this whole area of Western North Carolina destroyed essentially by rain, by floodwaters overflowing these rivers, and you become acutely aware of how powerful floodwaters can be. So we get this detail — this is what the Jordan River was like as they're getting ready to cross. Now again, we've got to be comfortable with new, we've got to get comfortable with the risk associated with new, because let's be honest — if any of us was part of the team with Joshua that day, wouldn't we go, "You know, Joshua, if we could just chill here for another three months, this crossing would be much easier. Joshua, you've picked the worst time to do this — these are flooding rivers. We've waited forty years to do this; another two weeks ain't gonna kill us." That's what, let's be honest, that's what we would say if we were with Joshua that day. But we get this detail, and the reason we get this detail is to understand the power of what comes next: "But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge, and the water flowing downstream stood still." Now, what does this immediately remind you of? [A member of the congregation responds.] Q: And what's your name? A: Gail. Y'all give it up for Gail — Gail had the right answer, come on, that's right. This is the same group of people who, forty years earlier, was fleeing Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, and they get to the Red Sea, and what happens when they get to the water (cf. Exod 14:21–22)? Here they are — an entire race of people, an entire ethnicity of people, fleeing their enslavers, and they get to a body of water they cannot cross. It looks like it's over. It looks like this is the end of the story. Surely the people in that moment are terrified for their lives. But God tells Moses to stand up, and what happens to the waters? They part. Now here we are, forty years later, Joshua leading the people to cross the river — a much smaller body of water, but still a significant body of water in flood season — and the priests are carrying the ark, and their feet hit the water, and when their feet hit the water, a wall of water stands. I don't know about you, but when I am afraid, nothing comforts me faster than remembering how God has rescued me before. The older we get, the harder new becomes. But the older we get, the more testimony we have in our rearview mirror. The older we get, the more we have seen, time and time again: "I didn't think there was a way out. I didn't think there was any hope in this situation, and God came through." How many of us — the greatest testimony of our life is something we would have never asked for, something we would have dreaded if someone said it was coming, and yet we can look back on that season and go, "God, thank You. Thank You for bringing me to it, and thank You for bringing me through it. God, thank You, because now I know what You're capable of." There's this beautiful thing that happens before the people step into a new land, before they take this new path to their new destination, to their new future: before any of that happens, God reminds them of His past faithfulness. Church, we need our memories of God's past faithfulness. We need our memories of God's past faithfulness. We need that. [Addressing the media team.] This is the time for that slide to move on — thank you. We need our memories of God's past faithfulness. We need it. Every one of those stories you have — those stories we call your testimony — every one of those stories of God's past faithfulness, we need them. We need every one. We need the stories from the previous generations of God's faithfulness. If you were lucky enough to grow up with a mother and a father who worship the Lord, then you have generations of past faithfulness to talk about. Some of you in this room know what it's like to have generations and generations go before you, and you can tell the story of God's past faithfulness to those generations. And when you hear the stories of God's past faithfulness, it should not lead you to be afraid. It should not leave you suddenly more conservative in your decision-making. The more you are aware of God's past faithfulness, the more boldness you should have to take steps down a new path to a brand-new destination — because God has proven it time and time again, in your own story, in the story of your family before you, in the story of the generations that have gone before. God has been faithful time and time again, and He's not about to quit right now. He's not about to stop! This should be so encouraging for us, church, because seeing this story is the reminder that God is always true to His promise — He is faithful yesterday, today, and forever. So church, when we find ourselves at a crossroads where we've got to pick — hey, are we going to do the same thing we've always done and end up in the same place we've always been, or are we going to do something brand new? Are we going to have enough faith to take a new path to a new destination? If you're struggling with that today, if you're like me, if you're someone who — the older you get, the more you struggle with that kind of decision — I want to encourage you to take a moment today and just remember God's past faithfulness. I want you to remember the ways God showed up time and time again when people were willing to trust Him enough to follow a new path to a new destination. Joshua and the people of Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel, make their way across the river. Historians disagree on the predicted size of the nation of Israel at this time, but somewhere between eighty thousand and two hundred fifty thousand people is what we're talking about, and they have made the journey across the river. Now, moving across a river, especially when it's dry because the water has stopped, doesn't take forever — but when you've got that many people, it takes a while. It takes a while, and I wonder how many people got to the river, saw the water standing still, and still rushed, still ran — "Hey, it's been hours now, it was good for that tribe and that tribe, but I'd better get working fast, I'd better run my way across this river." The people of Israel make their way to the other side. And before they get out of the river entirely, Joshua orders each tribe to choose one person and send that person back to the riverbed to pull a rock out of the dry place they have crossed on. Joshua orders the people to go back, take twelve rocks, and bring those rocks to the west side of the river. They've crossed from the east side to the west side, and here they are on the west side, and they stack up these twelve stones as a monument. And the monument was not to an event. The monument was not to a thing that happened. The monument was about God's faithfulness. When we turn to Joshua 4:18–24, this is what we read: When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan and their feet stepped out onto solid ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over all the banks as before. The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, on the eastern limits of Jericho. Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan, and he said this to the Israelites: "In the future, when your children ask their fathers, 'What is the meaning of these stones?' you should tell your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord's hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God." (Josh 4:18–24, HCSB) I want to stop here for a second. Look at the Scripture — "This is so." Now, last week we opened up and talked about the what: it's God coming to Joshua — "Joshua, you're going to lead the people into the promised land, into the land I am giving them as an inheritance. You're going to do it, Joshua." There's the what. We started this week looking at the how: here's how we're going to do it. We don't know the way, so we're following God, and God is going to lead us on a new path to a brand-new land. So we've got the what and the how. But as Simon Sinek would say, the most important thing in your life is not the what or the how — the most important thing in your life is the why. Why are you being faithful? Why are you here in church this morning? Why do you give? Why do you sacrifice? Why do you do the right thing when no one is watching, when no one will ever know if you didn't? What's your why? I love that Joshua hears from the Lord — this is the why: "so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord's hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God." There's a lie we can get sucked into if we're not careful — the lie that everything God has done in the Old Testament is about giving one ethnicity a place to call home. I want you to know that what God is doing in the Old Testament is so much bigger and so much greater than that, because what Joshua is doing is not about a people receiving this plot of land — it's about the whole earth knowing that the Lord's hand is mighty, and so that we may always have fear of the Lord our God, which is what Solomon will say is wisdom (cf. Prov 9:10, HCSB). God's why in getting a group of less than a quarter million people from one side of the river to the next, God's why in what He's going to do next week as we look at the Battle of Jericho, God's why in everything that happens in the rest of the Old Testament is the same: that all the earth may know the Lord and have wisdom, because the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. God's why is that the whole earth would know Him and have wisdom. I wonder today for us — we've got a called business meeting right after the church service. There's a lot going on at Yates Baptist Church, and let's be honest, I think there's still some confusion. But what I want to let you know is this: if we focus too much on this, we'll miss the whole story, we'll miss the bigger picture, we'll miss what God has come to do. And what I want to let you know is this: everything God has done in your life, everything God has done in this church, everything God has done in every church that has ever been, has been the same as God's why in Joshua chapter four — that the whole world would know Him and walk in wisdom. God's why is that the whole earth would know Him and walk in wisdom. And I wonder today, if that became your why — if that became your why, that everything you did was so that people could know God and walk in wisdom — how would it change things? How would it change your life? How would it change your choices? How would it change your community? How would God bring dead things to life all around you if we adopted that as our why? I love that Joshua gives the why to the people this way — he says, "In the future, when your children ask you." Do you see what's happening? It's Joshua saying, right now, I want you to prepare yourselves to remember, prepare yourselves to remember what God has done, because the day is coming where the next generation is going to ask you what this means, and you go, "I'm so glad you've asked" — because my why, my motivating factor in my whole life, has been to tell you this story. Let me tell you about my God, and let me give you all you need to begin walking in wisdom. So church, we've celebrated two weeks in a row of children and teenagers spending time in camp, spending formative time in community, hearing more about the God we worship. You've got to be a part of it — you've gotten to be a part of it already, in the last two weeks. In the future, when your children ask, you've been able to send your children to places where all they've done is learn about who God is and how to walk in wisdom. So church, today — are you prepared? Are you prepared to remember what God is about to do? Because the testimony of God's might and His work is not just a story for yesterday — that's a story for today. Tomorrow, you have no idea what God might do. You have no idea what God might do. So the question for each and every one of us: are we prepared to remember what God is about to do — what has not yet come to fruition, but which we see by faith and not by sight (cf. 2 Cor 5:7, HCSB)? I believe that's our why, and I believe if it becomes your why, it just might change the whole world. Let me pray for us. Heavenly Father, we love You, we praise You, God. We are people who have testimony, who have story after story of how You have been good, how You have been faithful, how You have delivered us when there seemed to be no other way. And so God, we are asking the same right now, and we are believing by faith, not by sight, that You are about to do a new thing. Would You give us the obedience? Would You give us the courage? Would You give us the boldness to follow You on a new path to a brand-new future? And would You prepare our hearts now to remember what You're about to do, so that as generations come, we can declare Your faithfulness to each and every generation. God, would You help us to live with a why like Yours, like Joshua's? Would You help us to live with a why that says everything I do is so that the whole world will know Jesus and walk in the wisdom His Holy Spirit provides? Jesus, we pray this in Your name. Amen. Endnote 1 This is a summary of the French novelist and essayist André Gide's words as they appear in dialogue near the end of his novel Les Faux-monnayeurs (The Counterfeiters), spoken between the characters Édouard and Bernard. The standard English rendering, from Dorothy Bussy's translation, reads: "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight, for a very long time, of the shore." The French original reads: "On ne découvre pas de terre nouvelle sans consentir à perdre de vue, d'abord et longtemps, tout rivage." Works Cited Gide, André. Les Faux-monnayeurs. Paris: Gallimard, 1925. Gide, André. The Counterfeiters. Translated by Dorothy Bussy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1927. The Holy Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible. 2004, rev. 2009. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers. Sinek, Simon. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. New York: Portfolio, 2009. © 2026 Rob Stone. All rights reserved.

Who was Joseph Smith and what childhood experiences shaped his life, worldview, and the start of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? What are some of his positive characteristics that drew so many people to him and what were his flaws? How did his theology develop throughout his life? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with John Turner about his fascinating biography: Joseph Smith: The Rise & Fall of an American Prophet.John Turner is a cradle-to-halfway-to-the-grave Presbyterian (straddling mainline and evangelical Protestantism) and belongs to Burke Presbyterian Church. He came of age in evangelical parachurch organizations, namely Young Life and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. One of the things that drew him to the study of U.S. History was a desire to understand the institutions and personalities that had shaped my own religious culture. His dissertation-turned-first book, Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America, won Christianity Today's 2009 prize for best History / Biography.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Yosef was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, then at fourteen years old he was placed in the Foster Care system when his parents passed away. Yosef attended Illinois State University.  He remembers hearing the rock song “Jesus Christ Superstar” and it made an impression on him. A representative of Campus Crusade for Christ came to his dormitory and seeds were sewn.  There came a time when God spoke to him and told him about Yeshua.   He was challenged to read the New Testament.  The next morning there was a box of free books near the mailbox.  He began reading “Good News for Modern Man”  and it all started to make sense.   He met a Methodist minister and began going to his church. Then at 20 years old he became the youth director there.  Yosef still didn't know that there were other Jewish believers.  He obtained a Masters degree from Messiah Biblical Institute in Washington, DC and another from Gratz College in Philadelphia.  He lived in Israel for a while and teaches Yeshiva courses online. 

Tatiana's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Consistency, Harmony, Analytical, Responsibility & Relator   Tatiana lives in Costa Rica with her husband and 2 teenage kids.  She enjoys hiking in nature and exploring Costa Rica and the world.  Tatiana works with Campus Crusade for Christ, leading Operations for the Cru ministries in Latin America and the Caribbean countries. She loves Jesus and using her skills to make Him known.   Link to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment Coaching and Workshops with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths    

Send us Fan MailStart the school year with a healthy, thriving youth ministry...let's work together to make it happen! Check out GrowYourYouthMinistry.com for more info - or feel free to email us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com with any questions ***  A Christian club at school can be one of the most effective ways to connect with students in your youth ministry and to reach students who maybe wouldn't normally come to church.  We talk through how to start a student led Christian club that feels welcoming, simple, and sustainable, especially during a tight lunch period where you have only 20-30 minutes to build community, share a short message, play a quick game and still let kids eat.In this episode, we will be discussing Christian Club resources (links below), benefits to partnering with organizations like Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). If FCA is not active in your area, we walk through what it looks like to launch from scratch and build a healthy student leadership team with the right adult mentoring. We also talk about various ways to be able to get on campus to reach students.  Finally, we give a simple “typical club” template / schedule to better utilize your time and give a bridge from school to church.RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:FCA: https://resources.fca.org/P7: https://upciyouth.com/resourcesCRU: https://www.cru.org/sg/en/ready/resources.htmlIntervarsity: https://intervarsity.org/Decision Point: https://decisionpoint.org/If you have it on your heart to support this ministry, please consider going to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/ministrycoach======= If you found this helpful, subscribe for more youth ministry strategy, share it with a youth leader who wants to reach their campus, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review so more youth pastors can find the show.=======You may also enjoy these episodes:(#265) 3 Unacceptable Mistakes that Youth Ministries Make With Event Planning(#285) 3 Common Mistakes Youth Pastors MUST AVOID in Their Youth Ministry=======We love hearing from you all and we do our best to provide powerful and insightful youth ministry content on a weekly basis to be that coach and mentor you may not have, but desperately need.If you have an episode idea, please E-Mail us at MinistryCoachPodcast@gmail.com!=========

Give to help Chris continue to make Truce A bunch of evangelicals like Tim LaHaye, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell pushed many in the evangelical movement to support Ronald Reagan for president. The New Right tied them to the Republican Party. But... what did they get for their efforts? In this mini-episode, Chris lays out some of the few things they got. And some of the things that Reagan did that upset these evangelicals with large followings. One thing they didn't like was the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female Supreme Court judge. But Reagan did dedicate a day of prayer and offered an amendment to protect prayer in schools (though it was never going to pass). It's possible that what Reagan really left these evangelicals with large followings was not legislation, but permission to use deeply flawed individuals to achieve their goals. Sources: God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams The Invisible Bridge, Nixonland, and Reaganland by Rick Perlstein Proclamation 4999. National Family Week 1982 Reagan: An American Journey by Bob Spitz The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald New York Times article about the O'Connor opposition Christianity Today article about O'Connor's opposition New York Times Article “Reagan Proposes School Prayer Amendment, May 18, 1982. Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ by John G Turner Article on National Ice Cream Day Letter from Gary North to Paul Weyrick Article on the US overthrow of Grenada Revive Us Again by Joel Carpenter Discussion Questions: What did evangelicals get from Reagan? How did these evangelicals with large followings continue after Reagan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the continuation of the series, Addressing Today's Confusion from the Word of God. In this episode, Lori teaches from Genesis chapter two about how mankind was formed from dust and how we came to be living beings.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here Six Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

Dr. Bill Thrasher joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation remembering those who have given their lives in the service of their country and thanking God for the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. (click for more...)Website:  www.VictoriousPraying.orgThis week's First Person is a Memorial Day weekend episode featuring host Wayne Shepherd in conversation with Dr. Bill Thrasher, a longtime professor at Moody Bible Institute. The discussion weaves together two themes: honoring military sacrifice on Memorial Day and reflecting on the sacrifice of Christ. Thrasher shares his personal faith journey — from a "cultural Christian" upbringing to his conversion at a 1965 Billy Graham crusade and deeper spiritual growth through a Campus Crusade-connected fraternity brother in college — and expresses gratitude for mentors who shaped him, including pastor Ben Haden, theologian Charles Ryrie, and radio preacher Stephen Olford. The theological heart of the conversation centers on Paul's charge to Timothy to "remember Jesus Christ," with Thrasher drawing on Oswald Chambers to caution against burying faith under busyness, and exploring the doctrines of propitiation and redemption as reasons for gratitude. The episode closes with Thrasher leading a prayer of thanksgiving for religious freedom, spiritual mentors, and the liberating work of Christ on the cross.               NEXT WEEK:  Ben Olsen of the Global Center for CoachingSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Give to help Chris make Truce The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), announced by President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983, was a proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from nuclear attacks, particularly those launched by the Soviet Union. Often dubbed "Star Wars" by critics, the initiative aimed to develop a space-based shield that could intercept and destroy incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) before they reached U.S. territory. The plan called for the use of advanced technologies, including ground-based interceptors, space-based lasers, and other futuristic weapon systems, many of which were in the early stages of research or purely theoretical at the time. Reagan's vision for SDI was rooted in his desire to shift U.S. defense policy away from the Cold War doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which relied on the threat of retaliatory strikes to deter nuclear war. Instead, SDI aimed to make nuclear weapons "impotent and obsolete" by providing a defensive solution that would render enemy missiles ineffective. The initiative sparked intense debate, both domestically and internationally. Critics argued that it was technologically unfeasible, enormously expensive, and risked escalating the arms race by undermining existing arms control agreements like the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. Despite its ambitious goals, the Strategic Defense Initiative faced numerous scientific and budgetary challenges, and many of its proposed technologies never moved beyond the conceptual or experimental stages. Nevertheless, SDI played a significant role in the strategic dialogue between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1980s, influencing arms negotiations and highlighting the role of technological innovation in defense policy. By the early 1990s, after the Cold War ended, the program was scaled back and eventually evolved into the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization under subsequent administrations. Sources: Way Out There in the Blue by Frances Fitzgerald Reaganland by Rick Perlstein JFK Library article about the missile gap PBS article about Reagan's security plans Reagan's "evil empire" speech Article from harvest.org about their predictions for Magog Bill Graham's sermon, which uses the fear of communism to create a sense of urgency Armageddon and the Coming War with Russia pamphlet by Jerry Falwell Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ by John G Turner Discussion Questions: What was the Strategic Defense Initiative? What were its goals? Why did they keep it around even after it was obvious it didn't work? Does Reagan fit the mold of conservatives of his time? Of conservative Republicans through American history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast episode features Evangelism Coach Daniel King interviewing Bill Wolfe from the Jesus Film Project, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru).  Bill Wolfe shares his personal conversion story, explaining how he became a Christian at age 19 in college when a friend shared the Gospel with him using a booklet called "The Four Spiritual Laws." After his conversion, his friend discipled him for three months, meeting five days a week for 30 minutes daily, and encouraged him to participate in evangelism just two and a half weeks after his conversion.  Wolfe describes how the Jesus Film has become a powerful evangelism tool available in over 2,000 languages. The film is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most translated film in history, with 2,274 languages as of the recording. According to the Guinness Book, the total viewing audience over more than 40 years is approximately 11 billion viewings.  The Jesus Film's effectiveness stems from three key characteristics: it is visual and oral, requiring no literacy; it is presented in viewers' heart languages, the first language they learned; and it contains only the Gospel of Luke. The film has been made available to churches and ministries worldwide at no cost, and is used by over 1,800 denominations and organizations across every country.  Wolfe has served with Cru for 55 years after Dr. Bill Bright challenged him to help fulfill the Great Commission. Bright emphasized that ministry power comes from the Holy Spirit's work in believers' lives, prioritizing right relationships with God and others before discussing strategy.  The Jesus Film Project has developed multiple distribution methods, including the Jesus Film app available on smartphones and solar-powered backpack units for remote areas without internet or electricity. These tools enable evangelists to share the Gospel in any of the film's available languages. 

Send us Fan MailIn Honor of Dr. John Perkins 1931-2026(REPRISE) Ken is pleased to welcome Lisa Sharon Harper and her new groundbreaking book, Fortune - How Race Broke My Family and the World--and How to Repair It All. It all began with the results of her submission of DNA to Ancestry.com. Lisa learned of her Nigerian roots - and ancestry that extends all the way back to the onset of slavery in America in the 1600s. Lisa shares her story of awakenings, which began when she became a Christian as a high school student in Young Life. She soon learned that her new faith was inextricably linked to white Republican politics - her activist mother was horrified. At Rutgers, as an undergraduate, she was active in Campus Crusade for Christ. She encountered the writings of John Perkins. In her book, Lisa traces the history of her family tree including the Lawrences, the Weeks, and the Fortune Magee Game born in 1689. Her family lived with the heavy consequence of race laws that governed slavery and defined "whiteness" as they were written over 300 years. Jesus, Lisa reminds us, was not white; he was brown, indigenous, and colonized - and killed by Empire. Lisa has a great insight into "white fragility" - it's worse. Resistance has been weaponized. Lisa traveled with "Nuns on the Bus," uncovering the roots of the MAGA narrative.  SHOW NOTESSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you!Ken's Substack PageThe Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

Sign Up Free Mini E-Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Mini Courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Up for Prayer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Orbis Prayer Ministry Network – Receive prayer for healing, prophecy, inner healing and deliverance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give - Orbis Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Ken Fish welcomes Dr. J.P. Moreland—philosopher, theologian, and longtime professor (Biola / Talbot)—for a candid, intellectually grounded conversation about faith, reason, and one of the most common “deconstruction” flashpoints: Old Testament passages where God commands the destruction of certain peoples in the land.J.P. shares his personal story: a chemistry major who came to faith through Campus Crusade door-to-door evangelism, then pursued philosophy to help Christians answer skeptical challenges with humility and clarity. From there, Ken and J.P. tackle why these passages feel uniquely difficult today, how modern culture tends to elevate “soft virtues” (love/mercy) while minimizing “hard virtues” (justice/holiness), and why many people unintentionally rewrite Scripture to match cultural expectations.They focus heavily on context—historical realities, existential threats, and Israel's role in God's redemptive plan—and point listeners to a key resource: Paul Copan's book Is God a Moral Monster? for deeper study.

How do we live faithfully for Jesus in a world that often pushes back against faith? In this message, we explore Jesus' final teaching to His disciples before the cross and discover the incredible help God has already given us—the Holy Spirit.Drawing from John 15:26–27 and John 16:5–15, this teaching unpacks how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary believers to be faithful representatives of Jesus Christ where we live, work, and play. You'll learn why help is not on the way—help is already here.In this message, you'll discover:-How the Holy Spirit is with us and in us-Why faith is rooted in truth, not feelings (illustrated by the classic train analogy from Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ)-How the Spirit opens blind eyes to sin, righteousness, and judgment-Why the Holy Spirit always keeps Jesus at the center-How God guides believers into lifelong growth and truthThis message is part of the series Living for Jesus in a Pushback World and offers practical encouragement for believers of all ages—kids, students, and adults—along with a clear invitation for those exploring faith to respond to Christ.

Has God called you to something… only for it to fail completely?Bill Bright failed TWICE at UCLA in the spring of 1951—zero salvation decisions. But after saturating the third attempt with 24/7 prayer, over half the attendees at the first event received Christ. In a matter of weeks, it exploded onto the UCLA campus. The fall of 1951 launched Campus Crusade for Christ on a breath-taking trajectory for the next 50 years, growing into the largest global missions movement in modern history. Also known as Cru in the US, Campus Crusade celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.Brad Bright shares the untold story: success isn't in the plan—it's in prayer focused dependence on God.LIKE, SUBSCRIBE; hit the BELL for more God is the Issue Podcast episodes. Share your own “failure to launch” story in the comments!#Cru #BillBright #PowerOfPrayer #ChristianPodcast #FaithLessons #PrayerChangesEverything#GodsCalling #75thAnniversary

In this episode of Space for Life, host Tommy Thompson is joined by Dan Allan, Executive Director at Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru), for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, renewal, and what's unfolding across college campuses today.Dan shares his personal journey in ministry, how The Chosen has become a powerful catalyst for gospel conversations, and why collaboration across ministries is essential in this moment. Together, they explore the surprising signs of spiritual hunger among Gen Z, the tension between retreat and revival, and why this season feels bigger than any single strategy or organization.This episode offers clarity, encouragement, and real hope for anyone wondering what God may be doing in the next generation.Key TakeawaysGod appears to be moving in a unique way among Gen ZThe Chosen is reintroducing Jesus in a relational, accessible formatCollaboration strengthens impact more than competitionCollege campuses show both spiritual retreat and renewalWatch parties create natural entry points for faith conversationsPrayer and presence matter more than polished strategiesRising spiritual hunger is supported by both stories and dataTimestamps00:00 Introduction and global perspective02:08 The impact of The Chosen07:18 Dan Allan's journey into ministry16:52 Collaboration across Christian ministries30:05 Gen Z, retreat, and revival on campus54:10 Stories of faith and transformationResources & ContactThe Chosen Watch Party Discussion Guides (free and publicly available)Contact Dan Allan: dan.alan@cru.orgLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this powerful episode of the God is the Issue Podcast, Brad Bright shares a never-before-told story from his father, Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ), revealing the two life-changing choices that helped him resist intense temptation and finish strong for decades.After discussing the heartbreaking recent confession of Christian author Phillip Yancey's 8-year affair, Brad asks the tough question:“If a man like Phillip Yancey could fall, what makes you think YOU won't?”Drawing from his dad's own spiritual battle with overwhelming attraction to a Hollywood starlet shortly after marriage, Brad reveals the two critical decisions that protected Bill Bright

Give to help Chris continue to make Truce William R. “Bill” Bright was born in 1921 in Coweta, Oklahoma. Though raised in a religious environment, he initially pursued business success and personal ambition. While attending the University of Southern California, Bright experienced a dramatic spiritual transformation through the influence of Christian leaders like Henrietta Mears. This encounter led him to surrender his life to Jesus Christ and ultimately shaped his calling toward full-time evangelism. In 1951, Bill and his wife, Vonette, founded Campus Crusade for Christ at UCLA with a vision to reach college students with the Gospel. He later developed The Four Spiritual Laws, a simple evangelistic tract that became one of the most widely distributed Christian tools in history. Under his leadership, Campus Crusade grew into a global movement with ministries focused on students, athletes, families, the military, and professionals. Bright also launched the Jesus Film Project in 1979, which became one of the most-translated and widely viewed films in the world. What's missing from most short bios of Bright is the depth of his involvement in the Religious Right. He organized or was present at some of their key gatherings, founded a publishing house to print their words, and raised funds among them. Bill Bright remained dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission, often engaging in long periods of fasting and prayer for spiritual guidance. He received the prestigious Templeton Prize in 1996 for his contributions to religion and reinvested the award into Christian ministry. When he died in 2003, Campus Crusade for Christ had expanded into nearly every nation, with thousands of staff and volunteers sharing the Gospel worldwide. Bright's life stands as a testament to the global impact one person can have through faith, vision, and relentless obedience to God's call. My guest for this episode is historian John G. Turner, author of Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America. Sources: Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America by John G. Turner The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald Reaganland by Rick Perlstein God as Capitalist: Seminar Promotes Religion and Riches by Russell Chandler. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 1, 1981; starts on page B3. Accessed via ProQuest (thanks to the Teton County Library for access!) Tract: The Four Spiritual Laws The Politics of Rage by Dan T. Carter The Invisible Bridge by Rick Perlstein Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein God's Own Party by Daniel K. Williams One Nation Under God by Rus Walton (page numbers mentioned in the episode correspond to the 1993 paperback edition). I also used the 1987 version from archive.org Birchers by Matthew Dallek In the Spirit of '76, published by Third Century Publishers Inc. Jimmy Carter, the Politics of Family, and the Rise of the Religious Right by J. Brooks Flippen The 700 Club's coverage of the "Washington for Jesus Rally" Also, my guest, Dave Hopping, used to be in the comedy duo "Dave and Brian". They were pretty big! Here is one of their videos. Discussion Questions: Have you read The Four Spiritual Laws? How has Campus Crusade/ Cru impacted your life? The life of your loved ones? What threats did Bright perceive to American Christians? Where was he right? Where was he wrong? What did you think of Rus Walton's book One Nation Under God? Was Bright part of the Religious Right? To what degree? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Clary grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, in the shadow of the Marshall University plane crash that marked his hometown. Ministry ran deep in his family line—his great-grandfather and grandfather were both Baptist preachers—but his own childhood was shaken when his parents divorced at age seven. Shuttling between households, Michael experienced both the steady example of his Christian father and the destructive influence of a tyrannical stepfather. Those early wounds left him with a deep burden for healthy, Christ-centered homes.Though he professed faith from a young age, Michael's spiritual growth accelerated through Campus Crusade for Christ at Marshall University. Immersed in Bible study, evangelism, and worship leadership, his heart for ministry took root. It was during a summer project with Crusade that he met Laura, the shy young woman who would later become his wife. Married in 1999, Michael and Laura went on staff with Crusade before sensing God's call to local church ministry.In 2010, with nothing but faith and a handful of families meeting in his basement, Michael planted Christ the King Church in Cincinnati. Over 15 years, the church has grown, planted daughter churches, and recently moved to a new facility in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Along the way, Michael's convictions deepened around biblical manhood, womanhood, and family life—shaped by both his wounds and God's grace. Today, he continues to serve as lead pastor, husband to Laura, and father to four children, proclaiming God's good design for households and the church

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad interviews Dr. Helen Jin Kim, who unpacks the intertwined history of White Evangelicalism, U.S. empire, and the Korean Peninsula. The conversation explores how Cold War geopolitics and American missionary organizations like Billy Graham, World Vision, and Campus Crusade helped fuel Christianity's explosive growth in South Korea, while also advancing U.S. neocolonial influence. Dr. Kim highlights the nationalist visions and agency of Korean Christians, the racial dynamics that rendered Asian actors invisible in American Evangelical history, and the enduring legacy of anti-communist rhetoric across both U.S. and Korean Christian communities. The discussion sheds light on the intersection of race, religion, and empire, and the challenges faced by Korean American Christians as they navigate identity, theology, and politics in the United States. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SummaryIn this episode of the Stoke It Up podcast, Alan Stoddard and Kenneth Priest engage with Bob Tiede, a leader in Campus Crusade for Christ, as they discuss the transformative power of leading with questions in ministry and leadership. Bob shares his journey from a traditional leadership style to one that emphasizes inquiry and listening, highlighting the importance of developing future leaders and fostering genuine relationships through effective communication. The conversation explores how Jesus exemplified this approach and its implications for discipleship and evangelism.TakeawaysDeveloping the next generation of leaders is crucial for any organization.Leadership should not just be about telling but about asking questions.Leading with questions can lead to more effective outcomes than traditional methods.Jesus used questions as a powerful tool for communication and teaching.Listening is a vital skill in leadership and requires the Holy Spirit's guidance.People feel valued when they are listened to and their answers are affirmed.Questions can lead to deeper understanding and personal growth.Effective discipleship involves exploring people's stories through questions.Good questions can transform group discussions and enhance learning.The impact of a question can linger long after the conversation ends.

In this inspiring episode of Bleeding Daylight, professional photographer Pasquale 'Pat' Mingarelli shares how he discovered God's presence while capturing the beauty of creation through his lens. From his early days in photojournalism and sports photography to his incredible travels with Campus Crusade for Christ, Pat reveals how a life-changing encounter with a bull moose in Montana's Glacier National Park redirected his calling toward celebrating God as Creator.   Pat challenges our culture's tendency to snap photos mindlessly, encouraging us instead to approach photography with wonder and intentionality. Through his Visual Bible Verse of the Day website and his devotional book "Drawing Near: Meeting God in His Creation," he teaches others how stepping into nature with a camera can become a powerful form of prayer and worship. Pat demonstrates how God's creation offers glimpses of divine character that Scripture fully reveals, showing us that the Creator can be found in the wilderness when we slow down enough to truly see. WEBLINKS Visual Bible Verse of the Day The Creation Speaks – YouTube The Creation Speaks – Facebook Drawing Near Nature Photography - Instagram  

Millions of American Evangelical Christians have believed that it's their patriotic duty to support the wars the US has been waging in the Middle East since 1991. They lean on the notion of "Just War" theory and that Jesus would approve of these beliefs. These "rationales for war based on Christian ethics can be found in the writings of theologians, such as St. Augustine (354–430) and St. Thomas Aquinas (1224/25–1274), whose Summa Theologiae (1265/66–1273) outlined the justifications for war and discussed the acts it is permissible to commit in wartime. In this compelling podcast, Chuck Carlson, Tom Compton and Craig Hanson of We Hold These Truths delve into various aspects of "just war" based on a perverted Christianity promoted by many prominent evangelical Christian leaders like Henry Blackaby, Chuck Colson (deceased), Bill Bright (deceased) of Campus Crusade, D. James Kennedy (decesead), Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Conference, Ted Haggard, John McArthur (deceased), Dr. Wayne Grudem (author of "Politics According to the Bible") and John Hagee among others. Their interpretations allow them to bless these "just wars". WHTT's founder, Chuck Carlson, warned his fellow Baptists in 1990 about not going to war against Iraq ("Iraq: Americans Prepped For 'War'." Also, before the 2003 Gulf War on Iraq, WHTT opposed going to war again (see here). An excellent article from 2004 in antiwar.com exposes evangelical Christians who support unjust wars:  Pro-War Christians Should Come Clean. 

Send us a textMy guest is Matt Mikalatos — author, screenwriter, producer, and all-around brilliant storyteller. He has written award-winning books, including the beautifully illustrated graphic novel God With Us, the devotional Praying with Saint Nicholas, and an imaginative Young Adult fantasy series, The Sunlit Lands. He's also co-authored Loving Disagreement with Kathy Khang — a timely, powerful book about how to stay in relationship, even when the culture says it's time to cancel.As an undergraduate student in creative writing at the University of California, Riverside, Matt studied under the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Percival Everett, author of the wildly popular novel entitled JAMES.  Matt's story doesn't stop there. He spent 20 years with a global campus ministry (Campus Crusade for Christ now known as CRU), lived in China, became fluent in Mandarin, and worked deeply in cross-cultural ministry. He's seen the evolution — or devolution — of Evangelicalism from the inside, and he doesn't shy away from talking about it. From Trumpism and anti-democratic rhetoric to hot-button issues like immigration, LGBTQ rights, and even “chainsaw massacre” politics, we go there — and Matt helps us understand the power of story over shouting matches.There's exciting news - he's just been notified that a script he's written has been greenlit. The production of a full-length feature film begins soon, with filming in Thailand.Join me as Matt and I talk about faith, storytelling, culture, and how, in this divided world, we can still communicate and respect each other — even when we disagree. It's a lively, eye-opening, and deeply human exchange you won't want to miss. Mike Mikalatos WebSiteSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

We're taking a small break this summer to gear up for season six of the Strong Women podcast. During this break, we'll be re-airing episodes we think you'll enjoy!   Sometimes we forget how radical and powerful God's grace is. This week's guest, Toni McFadden, has not forgotten. Toni travels the country to speak about abortion, promote healthy sexuality and relationships, and advocate for the unborn. After Toni had an abortion in high school, God transformed her life through radical salvation, healing, and a new calling. Her life testifies to how Jesus forgives our sin and redeems our stories.    Toni's Website   Redeemed: My Journey After Abortion by Toni McFadden or at https://tonimcfadden.com/  Campus Crusade for Christ (Now Cru)  Forgiven and Set Free: A Bible Study for Women Seeking Healing after Abortion by Linda Cochrane   The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis   Live Action  March for Life  Pro Love Ministries and Love Line  On the Threshold of Hope: Opening the Door to Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Diane Mandt Langberg   “Remembering Pro-Life Trailblazer Mildred Jefferson,” Feb 4, 2020 Commentary from The Heritage Foundation     The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Is Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) losing its focus? In this compelling and honest episode, Brad Bright (son of Bill & Vonette Bright) shares his firsthand experience at the recent Cru25 Staff Trainingand his robust optimism for the future of Cru under new president David Robbins. Meet David and Meg Robbins, discover why Brad believes "the best is yet to come," and hear how David is calling a new generation to help fulfill the Great Commission in this generation empowered by the Spirit of God.  This is the God is the Issue podcast—where we explore how God truly is the issue behind every issue.https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLdQhfIGtd0bqu71-RysD8rKhsMbUohp8R/editBrightmedia.orgtwitter.com/GodIsTheIssueGOD, Who Are You Anyway?  by Bill Bright, with Brad Bright brightmedia.org/resources#Cru2025 #GreatCommission #BillBright #DavidRobbins #VonetteBright #GodIsTheIssue #BradBright #ChristianLeadership #FaithRevival #Evangelism #CruStaff #JesusFirst #SpiritEmpoweredLiving #ChristianPodcast #MinistryFocus #BackToTheMission #CruMovement #FirstLove #GospelCentered #ChristianFaithChristianity, Christian Faith, Biblical Definition of Christian, Followers of Jesus, Bondservant of Christ, Meaning of Christian, Faith and Politics, God is the Issue,Spiritual Growth,Understanding Faith, Jesus as Master, What it Means to be a Christian, Christian Identity, Church and Faith, Rethink Your Faith, God, Brad Bright, Worldview, cru, Campus Crusade for Christ, Bill Bright, Jesus, Love, First love

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Phillippe Sterling are Continuing yesterday's topic, discussing some lessons learned as they served with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), especially the lessons learned from sharing the gospel through the CRU method. Please listen today and each weekday, to the Grace in Focus podcast!

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Phillippe Sterling are continuing yesterday's topic, discussing some lessons learned as they served with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), especially the lessons while sharing the gospel with others. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for part 2!

Can a woman be both a Christian and a feminist? In this compelling episode of the God is the Issue Podcast, Brad Bright shares personal stories about his mother, Vonette Bright—co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ—and tackles the controversial question: Was she a feminist? Through firsthand accounts and historical context, Brad highlights Vonette's unwavering faith, servant-hearted leadership, and deep love for Jesus and Bill Bright. This is more than a conversation about feminism—it's a powerful look at what it means to lead by serving and to walk in strength without chasing platform or power. Don't miss this tribute to one of the most influential women in modern Christian ministry.

In this season's final episode, Lori teaches from scripture how the Sabbath day is used to remember all God has done for us and how Jesus is our ultimate rest.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here Six Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori explores Genesis 3:1-3, where we learn that God rested after his creation work was finished. This does not mean he was exhausted! Jump in with Lori as she unpacks this two-part wrap-up episode on the 7th day of creation.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here Six Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori debunks the "millions of years" evolutionary theory. She shows from scripture how death and the extinction of animals did not begin until after mankind was created. Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here: Six Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps: Seven Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori debunks common objections to the multiplication mandate, such as overpopulation and starvation. Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori talks about the harmful effects of the transgender ideology and directs her listeners not to affirm gender confusion in others. She gives the biblical basis for this, as well as some helpful tips to use when dealing with a gender confused individual.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori teaches about the Multiplication Mandate and how nations and people hinder God's direct command to multiply and fill the Earth from Genesis 1:28.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this episode of God is the Issue, Brad Bright addresses a controversial claim made by Ray Comfort, who labeled Bill Bright's iconic gospel tract, The Four Spiritual Laws, as a “false gospel.” Was Ray Comfort right? Brad offers a heartfelt yet firm response, providing biblical context, theological clarity, and personal insights into the legacy of his father, Bill Bright—founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and author of The Four Spiritual Laws. If you're a Christian seeking to understand how faith, truth, and gospel clarity intersect with today's theological debates and cultural discourse, this video is a must-watch. Don't miss this honest conversation about evangelism, and what it really means to present the Gospel. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL for more content exploring the intersection of faith and culture.God is the Issue Podcasthttps://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLdQhfIGtd0bqu71-RysD8rKhsMbUohp8R/editBrightmedia.orgtwitter.com/GodIsTheIssueGOD, Who Are You Anyway?  by Bill Bright, with Brad Bright brightmedia.org/resources#UnderstandingChristianity#ChristianFaith #GodIsTheIssue #SinAndGrace #BiblicalTruth #JesusLovesYou #ChristianPodcast#worldview#Christianity#Faith#Jesus

In this week's episode, Lori addresses the gender confusion of our culture and how to respond to people who think there are more than two genders. Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori shares from scripture how mankind was created by God and did not evolve over millions of years. Mankind is special and unique and not a random accident of evolution and time.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori shares scripture verses about how we are the sheep and how Jesus is the door to eternal safety. In this unique episode, Lori gets personal and shares her own story of salvation.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

I met Mark Gauthier at our VIP lunch on Tru316 Day 2025 in Orlando. He is Vice President and US National Director of Cru. What a delightful brother in the Lord! At that same table was Dr. Jennifer Holloran, President/CEO of American Bible Society, and former COO of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Later that day she gave the Keynote Address. My wife, Dr. Joy Fleming and I, and the Tru316 Foundation team, had gathered that day to honor Judy Douglass with the presentation of the 2025 Tru316 Medallion Award for her lifetime of ministry, especially in encouraging women and men around the world to energetically use the gifts God has given to each one. This episode of The Eden Podcast, and the ones to come, we will present highlights from our Celebration held in the Bill Bright Strategy Center at the Headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ/Cru. We are grateful for their hosting us and for the Jesus Video Staff for recording the event! Special thanks to Judy, Diane, Andrea, Sam, Mimi, April and more! This was our annual fundraiser and awareness event! You can give now by making a gift as the Lord leads! Go to Tru316.com/donate The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

In this episode Rob sits down with David Robbins, President of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ International), a global nonprofit with staff in over 190 countries. David shares his leadership journey and dives into the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a multigenerational organization. With team members spanning five generations, David offers valuable strategies for fostering unity, avoiding mission drift, and empowering younger leaders in a rapidly changing world. From his time in Italy and New York to leading major nonprofit divisions, David reflects on the personal and professional experiences that have shaped his leadership philosophy. He emphasizes emotional health, vulnerability, and intentional development of younger leaders as critical components to successful nonprofit leadership. Key Topics Include: Strategies for leading an organization with five generations on staff Avoiding mission drift during leadership transitions The importance of emotional and spiritual health in leadership Building trust with a global team during a leadership change Empowering younger generations through stretch challenges Navigating generational gaps with compassion and shared understanding Practical rhythms and habits to prevent leadership burnout Mentioned in This Episode: Cru: https://www.cru.org Book: Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith This Episode is Sponsored By: DonorBox: https://www.donorbox.org Links to Resources: Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob's website: RobHarter.com Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com Subscribe and Share Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this week's episode, Lori discusses God's creation of dinosaurs and mankind on the same day, day 6 of creation. Dinosaurs did not live millions of years ago and went extinct before humans. In fact, humans and dinosaurs lived on the planet at the same time. Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She has traveled extensively and taught on a wide variety of topics. She currently lives in Katy, TX, with her husband, Alan, and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

In this week's episode, Lori discusses God's blessing and command over the animals he spoke into existence. She shares fascinating scriptures and headlines about how animals do the will of God to care for His people. Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Lori has traveled extensively, teaching on a wide variety of topics, and currently makes her home in Katy, TX, with her husband Alan and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

It's Thursday, March 20th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Irish pastor in hot water for preaching outside hospital Authorities in Northern Ireland are prosecuting a retired pastor for preaching outside a general hospital. Seventy-six-year-old pastor, Clive Johnston, held an open-air Sunday service outside the facility last July. While the hospital does perform abortions, he made no reference to abortion, pointing people to Jesus Christ. Officials are charging Johnston with violating the Abortion Services Safe Access Zones Act.  He now faces a criminal record and fines totaling thousands of pounds.  The Christian Institute is representing Johnston. Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of the group, said this. CALVERT:  “Prosecuting someone for preaching John 3:16 near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is an outrageous imposition on free speech and Gospel freedom.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Hungary bans events that celebrate sexual perversion Hungary's parliament passed a law Tuesday banning events that celebrate sexually perverted lifestyles. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pulled no punches. ORBAN: “I advise [homosexual and transgender] pride organizers not to bother with the preparation of this year's parade. It would be a waste of money and time.” Orban wrote on X, “Today, we voted to ban gatherings that violate child protection laws. In Hungary, a child's right to healthy physical, mental, intellectual, and moral development comes first. We won't let woke ideology endanger our kids.” In response, members of a liberal opposition party, known as Momentum, lit colorful smoke flares inside the Hungarian Parliament while Orban was talking. They also rudely displayed manipulated pictures of Orban kissing Vladimir Putin. Plus, homosexual and transgender activists blocked a bridge in central Budapest in protest.  And one homosexual man offered his analysis. PROTESTER: “It's quite terrifying, to be honest, because we had the same in Russia. It was building up step by step. I feel like this is what's going on here. I'm not surprised that Viktor Orban doesn't have any original ideas. He only copying Putin or Trump.” Hungary's new law builds on the previous Child Protection Law which bans the promotion of homosexuality.  Dept. of Defense to cut 60,000 civilian jobs In the United States, the Defense Department plans to cut up to 60,000 civilian jobs.  The department aims to cut 5% to 8% of its civilian workforce which numbers nearly 900,000. Already 21,000 employees have voluntarily resigned.  The department hopes to make many of the cuts by simply not replacing workers who leave on a regular basis.  The cuts are part of President Donald Trump's efforts to slim down the federal workforce.  Trump paused $175 million to UPENN over male in women's sports FOX Business reports the Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania yesterday. At issue is the university's inclusion of men, pretending to be women, in women's sports, specifically William Thomas, a senior, who now goes by the feminine name Lia, and stole first place from Riley Gaines, a biological woman. The Department of Education is also investigating the Ivy League school following Trump's executive order to keep men out of women's sports. At stake is the university's total federal funding which amounted to around $1 billion last year. Minneapolis ordered to pay $450,000 to pro-life group over violation The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota agreed to pay $450,000 in a pro-life case last week. The city had barred Pro-Life Action Ministries from working near an abortion mill. The ministry sued the city in 2023 and won their case thanks to the help of the Thomas More Society.  Peter Breen, executive vice president of the Christian legal group said, “Politicians seeking to hinder and silence the efforts of pro-life sidewalk counselors should think twice—or it will cost them.” U.S. birth rate up thanks to Hispanic women U.S. births rose slightly last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were just over 3.6 million births last year, up 22,250 births from 2023. The rise in births is due in part to a rise in births among Hispanic women.  The U.S. birthrate has been falling for years, and experts don't expect last year's uptick to change the overall trend.  52% of Protestant churches grew after COVID pandemic Lifeway Research released a new report on worship service attendance for Protestant churches in the U.S. since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The report found 52% of churches experienced growth in worship attendance. Meanwhile, 33% saw attendance plateau and 15% experienced decline.  Also, around half of Protestant churches had at least 10 people make a new commitment to Jesus Christ as their Savior in the past year. Christian college students wrote Gospel of John on sidewalks And finally, Christian students wrote the entire Gospel of John on campus sidewalks at Western Kentucky University last week. Nearly 70 students from Baptist Campus Ministry and Cru, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, and Hilltoppers for Christ got together with chalk to complete the task in about two and a half hours. Afterwards, they prayed for students at the university.  Luke Alford, Vice President of Baptist Campus Ministry, told Kentucky Today, “People look for answers in a lot of different things, and I think it's really good to have answers right in front of them.” John 1:1, 4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, March 20th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In this week's episode, Lori discusses God's infinite creativity concerning the many animals God created that fill our skies. With Genesis 1:20-23 as her text, Lori explains how God spoke into existence all the flying creatures on Day 5 of creation, including bugs! Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Lori has traveled extensively, teaching on a wide variety of topics, and currently makes her home in Katy, TX, with her husband Alan and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

Sarah's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Deliberative, Restorative, Input, Consistency and Learner  Sarah lives in Aguja, Nigeria snd works with Student Life Movement,  an arm of the Great Commission Movement of Nigeria (GCMN), also known as Campus Crusade for Christ International (Cru).  For 17 years  in her work she has  been actively engaged in discipleship, mentoring, and student outreach She began her spiritual journey in Christ  while watching the Jesus film as a young girl. Her spiritual growth was nurtured through follow-up, Sunday school, and discipleship programs over the years.   While studying Accounting at the university, she was introduced to GCMN staff, these  connections deepened her faith.. This journey continued throughout her university years and eventually became her divine calling in fulfilling the Great Commission.Her relationship with GCMN played a pivotal role in her personal life as well. A friendship with a fellow GCMN staff member during her university days eventually blossomed into a relationship, leading to her marriage to Dr. Mudasiru Yusuf!  They are blessed with 3 biological  children and one adopted daughter.  Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment   Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths      

In this week's episode, Lori discusses God's infinite creativity concerning sea life in Genesis 1:20-23. Lori explains how God spoke into existence all the sea creatures of the waters on Day 5 of creation, and she debunks the crazy evolutionary theory that sea life came from dog-like animals.Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Lori has traveled extensively, teaching on a wide variety of topics, and currently makes her home in Katy, TX, with her husband Alan and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

E Free Church Pastor, Jay Pound tells his three Stories. Yes. This is our own pastor!Plus NEWS on the upcoming 316 Day Celebration to be held in Orlando, Florida, with Keynote Speaker Dr. Jennifer Holloran, President of the American Bible Society of Philadelphia. We will present the Tru316 Medallion Award to former First Lady of Campus Crusade for Christ/Cru Judy Douglass for her lifetime of ministry! Plan to join us on site or online on the Tru316 Foundation LIVE feed on YouTube.Then, one of our Tru316 Foundation Prayer Partners, Pastor Jay Pound tells his stories in depth on The Eden Podcast. The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

*This content may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we’ll hear from Steve Moore, a lifelong music industry professional whose career trajectory took a sharp turn after a life-changing trip to Guatemala. After a storied career managing legendary artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Strait—and serving as CEO of the Country Music Association—a simple journey to help build a school became the spark for a deeper passion, one that led him to establish The Shalom Foundation and open the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center, bringing life-changing medical care to children in need. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Sue Corl, a missionary with over forty years of ministry experience, mostly with Campus Crusade for Christ. Growing up, Sue had to face the physical and emotional challenges of a severe cleft palate through her faith and the unwavering support of her mother. As the founder of Crown of Beauty International, her mission is to aid individuals, families, and communities to experience renewal, transformation, and hope. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Luke Sherman Upcoming interview: Melanie Shankle Jesus Calling commemorative edition Steve Moore Country Music Association Lamar University ZZ Top Stevie Ray Vaughan George Strait The Shalom Foundation Moore Pediatric Surgery Center Sue Corl Campus Crusade for Christ Crown of Beauty International Cleft palate John 15 NIV Psalm 139: 13-14 NIV Interview Quotes: “God had motivated me to [go to Guatemala]. I didn't do it under my own volition. I didn't pick Guatemala. I probably didn't even know where it was at the time, but God picked Guatemala for me. And it was one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me.” - Steve Moore “God doesn't call the qualified. He doesn't wait until you're ready to do something. He qualifies the ones who He's called. So when you're called to do something, even though it seems a bit scary, He will provide what you need to do it.” - Steve Moore “God has a plan for you. It's the best kept secret in most people's lives.” - Steve Moore “When I was born, my mother really believed and she prayed, ‘Lord, save my baby.’ And as she prayed, she really sensed God saying, ‘No, she will not die, I have a purpose for her.’” - Sue Corl “I started to believe their lies of saying that I was ugly. I was rejectable. I was a freak. And it got to the point where I really put a protective wall around myself that honestly stayed with me throughout my childhood and into my adulthood. It led to me walking away from God because I felt so much shame.” - Sue Corl “We're created in the image of God. And that's why I could know that I am beautiful and that I have talents.” - Sue Corl ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this week's episode, Lori discusses in more detail Genesis 1:14. The stars, moon, and sun are more than just created objects to admire and give light- they help us tell day from night, seasons, months, and years. Further, these objects, God's creation, declare the glory of God! Lori Joiner is a speaker, author, and discipleship coach. She is the author of Discipling Women, Start Here 6 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, Next Steps 7 Foundational Lessons for Growth in Christ, The Discipleship Starter Kit, and her newest book, Raising Children Unto the Lord. She traveled nationally and internationally as a full-time missionary with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for 23 years, gaining extensive experience in cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and directing women's ministries. She has lived overseas, undercover, sharing the love of Jesus in several countries. Lori founded and directed the Faith House, a discipleship home for college-aged women in Waco, Texas. She founded Lori Joiner Ministries, which serves the global body of Christ with discipleship resources, publications, and ongoing coaching and consulting of discipleship ministries. Lori's podcast, Your Discipleship Coach, is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Lori has traveled extensively, teaching on a wide variety of topics, and currently makes her home in Katy, TX, with her husband Alan and two teenage sons. To have Lori speak at your next event, to see a full list of her retreats and resources, or to donate to her ministry, please visit: https://www.lorijoinerministries.org/#retreatspeaker #LoriJoinerMinistries #disciplechurch #discipleship #womeninministry #Houston #Houstontx #katytexas #texas #churchlife #churchflow #biblestudy #christianity #christian #christianblog #christianspeaker #christianspeakerintexas #christianpage #godsplan #jesuslife #prayerlife #godislove #blessed #godsword #Jesusislord #faith #SmallGroupBibleStudy #author #christianauthor 

OUR FAMILY MUSIC ACADEMY:Affordable and effective online weekly music lessons designed for families. https://www.voetbergmusicacademy.comUse coupon code: PODCASTVMA for 10% off each month-Get it All Done Club: Stop drowning in motherhood and start thriving! https://www.nowthatwereafamily.com/get-it-all-done-clubIs your life just too complicated to ever feel peaceful? Learn how to create a peacefully productive home in one week. Check out Katie's Free Home Management Masterclass: https://www.nowthatwereafamily.com/peacefully-productive-home-masterclass-Sally Clarkson is a Discipler. Over the course of her life and marriage, she has continually called women to step into their God-given roles as lifegivers and influencers. She and Clay met through Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) during college and went on staff together in 1975. Sally ministered to students in Texas, discipled women in Communist Eastern Europe, and returned in 1980 to work with executive women and singles in Denver where Clay was beginning seminary studies at Denver Seminary. They were married a year later, in Dallas where they first met. After graduation, they served in international ministry in Vienna, Austria, served on the staff of two churches, and then started Whole Heart Ministries in 1994. Their four children, now all grown, are serving Christ in different ways around the world and online, through books, music, speaking, and film. Sally and Clay have recently expanded their ministry to mothers and Christian parents in the UK. Sally has currently written 33 books. Podcast - “At Home With Sally” - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-sally/id1041509070Website - https://sallyclarkson.com/Blog - https://sallyclarkson.com/blogBooks - https://sallyclarkson.com/books-1Most recent books:- “Uniquely You” by Sally Clarkson & Nathan Clarkson - https://amzn.to/4aDEHNP- “Well Lived: Shaping a Legacy of Gratitude and Grace”by Sally Clarkson - https://amzn.to/4aM9eZF