Podcasts about Intervarsity

Today, we begin a month-long series examining how Scripture is sometimes misused by spiritual authorities—such as clergy, small-group leaders, biblical counselors, and Christian counselors—in ways that shame or further harm those who are already experiencing abuse in their marriages.In this special series, Twisted Scripture: When the Bible Is Weaponized, we take a careful and thoughtful look at passages that are frequently used in ways that silence the vulnerable or pressure victims to remain in harmful situations.Our first conversation features Dr. Steven R. Tracy, author of To Harm or To Heal: The Bible and Its Use in Counseling and co-author with Celestia G. Tracy of Mending the Soul. Together, we discuss two critical topics: spiritual abuse by church leadership in their counseling and pastoral care, and the biblical responsibility of leaders to protect those who are vulnerable. We also address commonly misused teachings about forgiveness and reconciliation and how these passages are often applied in ways that ignore the realities of abuse.Throughout this month-long series, we will continue exploring other frequently cited “clobber verses,” inviting theologians, pastors, and scholars to help us examine Scripture more faithfully and responsibly.Join us as we work to distinguish between Scripture that heals and Scripture that has been twisted in ways that harm. Steven R. Tracy - CBE InternationalSteven R. Tracy is a professor of theology and ethics at Phoenix Seminary and co-founder of Mending the Soul Ministries. He is the author of "Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse" and co-author of "Marriage at the Crossroads" (forthcoming, InterVarsity). Tracy's work focuses on providing education and resources for the church and community on abuse, sexuality, and healthy intimacy. He has extensive experience in pastoral, classroom, and clinical settings, bringing over 40 years of experience to his work with Mending the Soul.

What do you do when the church — the very community that's supposed to reflect the love of God — becomes a source of real pain? Host Dan Johnson sits down with Scott Bessenecker, author of Bad Religion, Good News: An Honest Guide to Spiritual Disappointment, for an unflinching conversation about church hurt, institutional failure, and the long road toward healing.Drawing on four decades of campus ministry with InterVarsity, Scott shares about being both a victim and participant in the church's sins, the role of self-examination in avoiding the spiral into deconstruction, and why honesty about the church's failures doesn't have to mean abandoning Christian community altogether. He also reflects on his own experience with disappointment with God — including his recovery from a stroke — and what it means to discover that God's presence in grief may be more powerful than miraculous rescue.Whether you've been wounded by a leader, disillusioned by an institution, or are simply trying to maintain an honest and hopeful faith, this conversation offers both clarity and compassion for the journey.IN THIS EPISODEWhat prompted Scott to write Bad Religion, Good NewsBeing both a victim and a participant in the sins of the churchWhy self-examination is essential to navigating disappointment without becoming toxicThe difference between deconstruction and honest disappointmentHow to talk openly about the church's failures without dismissing its goodThe hard work of forgiving an institution that may never apologizeScott's personal experience with a stroke and finding God in grief rather than rescueWhen it's time to leave a church community — and how to do it wellSigns of spiritual hunger in the current generation of young adultsWhat a healthier American church might look like in a decadeGUESTScott Bessenecker is a longtime ministry leader and author who spent four decades with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. His new book, Bad Religion, Good News: An Honest Guide to Spiritual Disappointment, invites readers into honest conversations about the church's failures — and how to find deeper faith on the other side.RESOURCEShttps://heraldpress.com/9781513817644/bad-religion-good-news/https://slbf.org/studioSend us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “Once you have been to the edge of the cliff, it gives you a heart for others who are feeling like they are barely hanging on.” — Pamela Simmons Pamela Simmons joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise and Courageous Podcast for a conversation about her journey to becoming an instructor who is passionate about serving community college students with a heart for each person's situation and needs. Professor Pamela Simmons found her calling as an educator while tutoring classmates as an undergraduate. She loves “demystifying” accounting — translating complex ideas into something clear, practical, and even enjoyable lessons for her students. A CPA with both an MBA and a Master's in Accounting from Kent State University, she taught at Kent State University, Hiram College, Wayne College, and Baldwin Wallace University before finding her home at the student-centered Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). She remains dedicated to helping every student overcome challenges and reach their fullest potential. How do you find the Lord's invitations in the midst of the circumstances of your life? Pamela shares her unexpected career journey, from working in the university business office to deciding she wanted to invest her time in teaching others in a student-centered college. She describes her experience as the mom of a disabled child and the way that has deeply impacted her teaching and her values. Listen for her determination to help a sight impaired student pass a challenging Accounting course. Listen to the end to hear about how prayer infuses her work with students. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“I think it's important to learn how to treat ourselves humanely and find opportunities of flourishing for ourselves — of course for ourselves, but also as an act of representation for others. I think that's really important.” — Elaine Howard Ecklund Social scientist Elaine Howard Ecklund and Management Scholar Denise Daniels join us on the podcast to talk about their research regarding the integration of faith and work and what it means for women. What does it look like to integrate faith and work within a normal, full life? Sociology professor Elaine Howard Ecklund and management professor Denise Daniels join us on the podcast to discuss their recent book Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work. In our conversation, we hear from Denise and Elaine about their research into faith and work as a connected whole. We hear their thoughts about the unique challenges for women in the workplace and the ways faith plays an unexpected role. Denise and Elaine also offer important suggestions for the ways we view power in the workplace and how we can use the power we have for good. In addition, we're pleased to let you know that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Working for Better for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you'll hear an excerpt from our interview where the authors share about their practices of finding rest in the midst of their full lives. One quick note before we get to this conversation. We'll be taking the summer off here at The Women Scholars & Professionals Podcast, but we hope that you can enjoy catching up on previous episodes during this short break. We'll return in August, when you'll hear interviews from my excellent colleagues as I take a few months of sabbatical leave. I'm planning to record an episode or two before I head off on sabbatical, and I'm delighted for the opportunity to have those cued up for you. I'll be eagerly anticipating hosting more episodes for you when my sabbatical ends in early 2027, and I'm grateful for my kind and generous colleagues who are making this period of rest possible for me. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “It took courage for me to transform myself from somebody who was comfortable in the background doing safe research to doing something much more controversial in the public eye.” — Cynthia Prescott Cynthia Prescott, Professor and Chair of the Department of History and American Indian Studies at the University of North Dakota joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise and Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership.  What happens when the research you are doing suddenly takes up more space in public exploration and debate? In this conversation with Cindy, opportunities to lead in the research sphere and in the university invite a new sense of identity as a leader and require growing in courage and wisdom. Cynthia Culver Prescott is Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History & American Indian Studies and of the Anthropology department. Dr. Prescott's work focuses on gender in the American West. She combines social history and material culture methods to study the intersections of gender, race, social class, and historical memory. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“Stability of the heart cannot come in isolation. It comes in community. It comes with the long haul — failing and getting up again. It comes with not living a life to minimize risk, and not living a life to minimize friction. We're not seeking ease, but to live a life that is full of resilience.” — Tish Harrison Warren Author and priest Tish Harrison Warren joins us on the podcast to talk about the ways we faithfully persevere in the middle seasons of life. When we are fatigued by the daily slog of work and chores and everyday life, how can we find the hope to persevere? Author and priest Tish Harrison Warren joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience. In our conversation, Tish helps us to acknowledge the fact that although we will have periods in life that feel spiritually dull and arduous, we can look at ways that we can dig deeper to find the stamina we need to persist with the good work we are called to do. Through her exploration of this expansive topic, Tish encourages us to be gentle with ourselves, finding way to ease the daily burden and point us toward nourishment and joy. Also, as a bonus, Tish's publisher has shared a chapter from her book that you can check out in our show notes, so take a look there. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you'll hear an excerpt from our interview where Tish talks about a former editor at The Well and the profound influence she has had on Tish's writing life. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

A few months after graduation, Justice received a heartbreaking message from an old classmate: Paul, his friend from a previous school, had passed away unexpectedly. Justice had endured a significant amount of loss over the past few years, but this experience was different. It was his first time processing the death of a friend or family member without his InterVarsity chapter next to him.Justice joins this week to share his experiences navigating grief and loss after graduation. And whether you've suffered the death of a loved one, or you're experiencing the grief that comes from saying goodbye to your InterVarsity chapter and the college experience, Justice has a few meaningful insights to help you process.RELATED EPISODEWhen Right Paths Meet Dark Valleys: Hope for the Road Ahead (E174) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeOTHER RESOURCESA Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss by Mel LawrenzGrieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul by Audrey DavidheiserAfter College by Erica ReitzSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“I believe that God loves women. Full stop. And the ways that Jesus treated women demonstrates his love for and respect for women. And I think if systems, if governments, if work places, if churches, if marriages, if there were places that took seriously what does it mean to love women well, then I think misogyny would fall.” — Dorothy Littell Greco Author and speaker Dorothy Littell Greco joins us on the podcast to discuss the ways we can identify and heal from the effects of misogyny in our culture. How can we identify and heal from the destructive effects of misogyny in our culture? Author and speaker Dorothy Littell Greco joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Misogyny in America. In our conversation, Dorothy unpacks the pervasive nature of misogyny, helping us to see how women are disadvantaged in ways that often simply seem normal to us. Dorothy explains that, despite undeniable progress for women over the past century, we still have a lot of ground to cover before we can heal and ultimately promote mutual flourishing for both men and women. Our discussion is expansive and instructive, and I think you'll learn a lot. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Dorothy talks about the generous way she invites people to contribute and support her in her work. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

How do I adjust to living in a new town?Many grads face this challenge at some point. The time comes to pack the car, relocate, and get settled in a brand new place. But once you arrive, how do you meet people? Discover your favorite coffee shop? Find the quickest route to the grocery store? Most importantly, how long before it starts to feel like home?This week, we're joined by Josephine, an InterVarsity alumna who's been living in a new town for 10 months but still doesn't feel at home. Jon and Josephine discuss strategies for getting settled, exploring her surroundings, and taking steps toward making new friends. RELATED EPISODESWhere Should I Live? (E183) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeThe Struggle for Friendship: Moving from Isolation to Connection (E168) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeOTHER RESOURCESAfter College by Erica ReitzSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

How do I know which job God wants me to take after I graduate? It's a big question and it can weigh on us sometimes. But is it possible that the decision isn't as complex as we might think?We're continuing our “HELP!” series this week with Tyler, an InterVarsity senior who's feeling stuck picking a job after graduation. He's praying, he's researching, he's asking trusted friends. But he's still not sure which job is the right job. Do you know how Tyler feels?Listen in as Jon and Tyler discuss some helpful next steps for making this big decision. We think you'll walk away with some next steps, too.RELATED EPISODE(S)Where Does God Want Me to Go? Developing Tools for Discernment (E166) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeA Foundation for Vocational Transition (E112) - Apple, SpotifyOTHER RESOURCESAfter College by Erica ReitzSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“The kingdom that is coming will actually be ordinary....There will be change, but there will not be crisis. The kingdom will be quite ordinary. So, no matter where you find yourself, if you're in a difficult place, that is on the horizon for sure.” — Amy Peeler Professor and priest Amy Peeler joins us on the podcast to discuss the gifts we can receive from the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. How can we approach the liturgical season of Ordinary Time with thoughtful openness? Professor and priest Amy Peeler joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Ordinary Time: The Season of Growth. In our conversation, Amy helps us to understand the deep theological riches of everyday spirituality and the ways this liturgical season invites us into a fuller understanding of ordinary life. We touch on rituals and Scripture passages that hold great significance for this time in the church, and Amy invites us to ponder the mysteries of birth and death, and the boldness of faith. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Ordinary Time for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Amy shares a vulnerable story about the circumstances she encountered while writing this book. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Your faith has grown so much during your time on campus with InterVarsity. How do you keep the momentum after graduation?Join us as we kick off our new series, “Help!” where we're chatting with InterVarsity seniors and recent grads about some of their biggest fears and hangups about life after graduation. As they share their real-life concerns and workshop potential solutions with Jon, you will experience two things: realizing you're not alone in feeling some anxiety about life after graduation and getting some practical tools for navigating common post-graduation scenarios.Helping us get started is Molly, a soon-to-be college grad from UW-Steven's Point. Molly is wondering how she's supposed to keep growing in her faith after graduation when she doesn't have her InterVarsity chapter right next to her. It's a common concern and by the end of the conversation, Molly (and you) will have some practical steps for continued faith development. WANT TO CHAT WITH JON ABOUT A CHALLENGE IN LIFE AFTER GRADUATION?Send a DM to @afterivpod on InstagramRELATED EPISODESThe Beauty of Reading Scripture (E193) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeToo Distracted to Pray - Developing Prayer Rhythms that Work for You (E167) - Apple Spotify, YouTubeEnding Well With My Friends on Campus (E102) - Apple, SpotifyOTHER RESOURCESAfter College by Erica ReitzSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “Somebody came to me and said, ‘You are not supposed to sit at the table. You work for the government; you are supposed to let the guests sit at the table.' And I reflected on it and I thought-absolutely not! You recruited me into government because I have a degree in medicine, because I have a Public Health and Policy degree. Why should I be sitting back and not contribute at the table? I think that was instrumental to my leadership style.” — Quyen Ngo Metzger Quyen Ngo Metzger joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise and Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership. How do your values help you to locate your own North Star for your engagement in your work? Why is a good mentor, one who gives you opportunities to do what you haven't done before, so critical? Quyen shares her wisdom on leading by inspiring others and developing them so that they focus on their strengths. She shares how she has learned to function authentically amid challenges. Quyen is a professor in the Health Systems Science Department and Interim Dean of Faculty Affairs at the Kaiser Permenente School of Medicine. The focus of her work is exploring population health, prevention and care, health disparities and evidence based medicine. Before working for Kaiser, Quyen Served the US Government, reviewing research and providing guidelines on clinical effectiveness. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“You need to know yourself. You need to know your personal challenges. You need to know your hardwiring before you engage in anything.” — Joey Stabile Schewee Author and management consultant Joey Stabile Schewee joins us on the podcast to discuss the Enneagram and its usefulness in business and work contexts. What wisdom can we glean from the Enneagram to help us thrive in our work environments? Author and management consultant Joey Stabile Schewee joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book When Working Together Doesn't Work: An Enneagram Guide to Productive Relationships with Coworkers. In our conversation, Joey gives us a brief overview of the Enneagram as a tool for self-understanding, guiding us to see the way this ancient personality rubric can help us to thrive in our workplaces. Joey's expertise comes through in her ability to keenly perceive challenges between different types and offering helpful suggestions for working well together. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on When Working Together Doesn't Work for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Joey talks about her experience in using enneagram wisdom as a parent. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

How do I share the Gospel with my atheist friend?We're wrapping up our “Evangelism when…” series with InterVarsity Alumna and current Campus Staff Minister, Lacey Hansen. And Lacey's going to share her own story of evangelism with a friend who has communicated no real interest in changing her mind about Jesus or Christianity. And yet, just by being a thoughtful friend over the years and making contextualized invitations, Lacey has seen her friend take meaningful steps in curiosity and openness. Lacey's going to provide some practical tools for our evangelism toolkit and help us continue to simply be thoughtful friends who love Jesus.If you've been wondering about how to share your faith with an atheist friend after graduation, this episode is for you. RELATED EPISODESEvangelism When... I'm New in Town (E208) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeNavigating Conflict - Paraphrase. Praise. Probe. (E138) - Apple, SpotifySTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“You cannot decolonize the academy. So, let's get creative about what we can do.” — Kat Armas Author and theologian Kat Armas joins us on the podcast to discuss strategies for right-sizing our relationship with power in our world today. How do the ideologies of empire affect our daily lives and how shall we respond? Author and theologian Kat Armas joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World. Kat examines the concept of empire, uncovering ways that power structures infuse daily life and the broader culture. Her response comes in the form of liturgies, framing these ideas in prayer and offering a thoughtful and galvanizing call to critique and action. Kat's writing invites us to look carefully at the world around us and refocus on the example Jesus offers of loving God and loving neighbor. Our conversation is energetic and relevant and fun too — I think you'll enjoy it. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Kat tells the story of that one time when the Pope shared one of her articles. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

How am I supposed to talk about Jesus in a new town where I don't know anyone?We're continuing our "Evangelism When…" series this week. Getting used to a new place can be tough. Learning where the best coffee shops are, finding the quickest route to work, testing out new community. And speaking of community, how do we share the Gospel when we don't know anyone yet?This week, we're wrapping our minds around how to develop relationships in new spaces so we can build trust and share the Gospel. AND we're learning how to be ready to share even if we haven't developed that kind of bond with someone yet.RELATED EPISODE(S)Evangelism When... My Neighbor Practices a Different Faith (E207) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “God are you sure? Did you pick the right person? Why me? You are the only one who thinks I can do this, so tell me, what do I do?... That was a time when I felt like I had to be courageous and really believe in God, trusting that he knew who he chose and that he would equip me with wisdom and knowledge to be obedient and effective in serving the community.” — Diane Lee Diane Lee, professor in early childhood education at Monterey Peninsula College, and previously Chair of the program, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise and Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership.  What happens when you are invited to take a big step in leadership in a place where you had not intended to go? How do you relate others' expectations and find freedom to lead in unexpected ways? Diane shares her surprise journey to a job she relishes in a place where she did not expect to be. She exposes her sense of imposter syndrome and how she chooses to address it. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

How do I share Jesus with someone who practices a different faith?We're continuing our “Evangelism when…” series this week with a conversation about navigating the complexities of evangelism with a friend who's invested in a faith practice other than Christianity. Turns out, it has a lot more to do with connecting and far less with convincing. (Pro tip… we're learning that's the case in most scenarios.)We're joined by Eva Glick, Associate Director with InterVarsity's International Student ministry department. Eva is passionate about students and alumni like you developing meaningful relationships with people from different countries, cultures, and faith backgrounds. And Eva is going to help us prepare for representing Jesus well with our friends and neighbors who practice another faith.RELATED EPISODE(S)Evangelism When... I'm Talking to a Stranger (E206) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeOTHER RESOURCESMore resources from ISMHow to host a Peace FeastReach out to ISM: Ism@intervarsity.orgSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“Can you have reconciliation in the present if you are not acknowledging what has happened in the past?” — Dr. Karen J. Johnson Historian and professor Karen J. Johnson joins us on the podcast to discuss how the practice of history draws us forth into courage and action. How can the study of history teach us to grow in our skills of courage and hope? Historian and professor Karen J. Johnson joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice: A History of Christians in Action. Karen's calling as a history professor shines through as she teaches us about the tools of doing history and how this work can inform our everyday lives. Karen shares her thoughts on the way history can impact on our experience of faith, which we see firsthand through Karen's own integration of scholarship and faith. Her book highlights four important stories of racial justice work in 20th century America, and Karen draws out some lessons from these stories that we can take along with us. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Karen offers her thoughts on not waiting for the perfect time to have kids. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

How would you respond if the Holy Spirit randomly prompted you to share the Gospel with someone you don't know?Most of us would feel more than a little nervous. And that's how April felt when she was told to invite Marcia, the barista at her local coffee shop, to church. The catch… they'd only interacted two times before. And neither interaction went well. Which is why Marcia's response to the interaction was so unexpected.We're continuing our evangelism series this week. And InterVarsity alumna and veteran InterVarsity staff, April Foat, joins to help us prepare for “Evangelism when… I'm talking to a stranger.”RELATED EPISODEEvangelism When… I'm at Work (E205) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

How do I share Jesus at work? Is it even appropriate?We're kicking off a new series called, “Evangelism when…” Join us for an exploration of several common scenarios where you might find yourself presented with an opportunity to share Jesus in life after graduation. We're joined by alumni, pastors, and InterVarsity staff who have real-life stories and practical steps to guide you!Starting off the series is a conversation about “Evangelism when…I'm at work.” The research suggests that we will spend ⅓ of our lives “on the job”. That means a significant portion of the time that you're on mission with Jesus will take place in the presence of your coworkers. So, how do we take bold (but humble and appropriate) steps in sharing him in a professional setting?Pastor, InterVarsity alum, and gifted evangelist, Steve Douglas, joins for today's discussion. In addition to practical steps for sharing Jesus at work, Steve has a surprising story about thoughtfully (and successfully) navigating spiritual conversations in a work environment that explicitly prohibited evangelism. If it can happen there. It can happen anywhere!(Don't have a job or not planning on entering the job market? Not a problem! Steve's approach to evangelism is useful in any setting. And stay tuned for the rest of the series as we will likely cover a scenario that fits your post-graduation evangelistic needs.)RELATED EPISODE(S)Where's My Proxe Station?! (E81) - Apple, SpotifyOTHER RESOURCESA Christian Theology of Business Ownership by Bill EnglishThe Big Story Gospel SummarySTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“You need to build a network .... The biggest mistake we make is just walking in and doing our job and not recognizing we need advocates and allies for every space that we're in.” — Froswa' Booker-Drew Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss skills for navigating leadership pressures and barriers. What does it look like to successfully overcome challenges in leadership, particularly for women? Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Front Porch Wisdom: Navigating Leadership Pressures and Barriers as a Woman of Color. Froswa' shares from her wealth of knowledge and experience as she outlines potential difficulties for those exercising leadership skills and offers practical suggestions for mitigating the challenges. In our conversation, we talk frankly about role of race, ethnicity, and gender in the arena of leadership, and Froswa' explains how this book provides beneficial information for all readers, no matter their background. Throughout the conversation, Froswa' urges listeners to deepen and expand their networks of support for one another and shares helpful ways to do this. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Front Porch Wisdom for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Dr. Froswa' shares her reflections on the joy of working with her adult daughter. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Jon thought he was supposed to get married. And then he didn't…We're flipping the script this week. Selah Magruder joins to host the last episode of our “OOPS!” series, while Jon scoots to the other side of the microphone. Listen in as Jon shares his story of the day he (sort of) proposed and immediately knew he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life. Awkward…

If you're a Christian preparing to attend a secular college or university, you might worry about losing your faith or wonder how you can grow in your faith at school.So, in this episode, Shawn invites his daughters onto the podcast to share their experiences as Christian students attending secular universities. While every student's journey looks different, their stories may encourage you that it is possible to thrive in your walk with Christ, even while away at school.❤️ Find your campus' Christian community through Power to Change, InterVarsity, or Cru

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today's conversation dives deep into the heart of spiritual growth, as AJ Denson returns to interview Michael about his award-winning book, Sacred Attachment, Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love.The episode explores Chapter 3, focusing on attachment theory and its profound connection to both psychology and the divine. Michael lays a foundation by tracing attachment back beyond neuroscience and child development, all the way to the ultimate example: the Trinity. Together, Michael and AJ unpack how the Trinity models perfect attunement and connection, and what this means for our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “In any situation where you are uncertain about how to proceed: where you are new, where you have to have the courage to learn in public, to acknowledge publicly that yes, you are learning. And yes, learning is a process. And yes, you won't know all the answers. And yes, you will make mistakes. That in itself is a kind of wisdom that one learns both from experience but also from listening to other leaders.” — Pamela Collins Pamela Collins, Chair of the Department of Mental Health the John Hopkins School of Public Health joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about pursuing a path to do what you what matters most to you, even when the way is unclear. Pamela shares her journey toward her passion of engaging mental health challenges as they impact those who are most vulnerable in the U.S. and in the world. Pamela describes her work of gathering and hosting an array of people from world leaders to direct service providers to work on solutions. We explore how wisdom and courage involve the vulnerable work developing the right community of people and leading in humility. We discuss how prayer shapes her reflection and her decision making as a leader. Listen for the way she describes investing in a new generation of advocates in the process of mentoring others. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

If you obey God, everything will go right… Right?Well, that's not how it went for Selah. We're continuing our OOPS series on reframing failure this week and we're excited to be joined once again by Selah Magruder! On this episode, Selah shares about the time she literally did everything right. She worked hard, she prepared, and obediently followed Jesus into life after graduation… And then experienced rejection after rejection after rejection. And it was here, when her very best couldn't get her where she needed to go, that she met Jesus in a powerful new way.RELATED EPISODE(S)Oops! I Didn't Actually Graduate (E202) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“Whatever work you are doing you bring yourself to that work, so it matters what kind of person you are.” — Alyson Pryor Spiritual director and therapist Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss the benefits and the challenges of taking personal spiritual retreats. How can you cultivate a practice of taking personal spiritual retreats — and is it really worth the effort? Therapist and spiritual director Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Come Away and Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats. Alyson shares from her own experience of taking personal retreats, describing the benefits that come from the practice even amidst challenging circumstances. Alyson offers an accessible resource for those who have perhaps never taken a spiritual retreat, and she speaks invitingly about the joys of this particular kind of rest. Alyson is no stranger to the stresses of a busy life, and she speaks directly to those of us who feel like it's all but impossible to take a retreat by sharing practical suggestions. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Come Away and Rest for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Alyson offers her tips on waking prayerfully — even if you aren't a morning person. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

You graduate. You pack. You move across the country. But then... Your advisor calls to say you didn't actually graduate. Simultaneously, the industry you've been studying for 4 years tanks due to a recession. Now what?We're continuing our series about reframing failure after graduation with InterVarsity Alumnus Joel Anderson. Joel shares about a time when everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And, yet, somehow God used each perceived failure to accomplish his purposes and protect Joel in ways he didn't think were possible. RELATED EPISODE(S)Oops! My Passion Was a Dead End (E201) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

What would you do if your greatest passion turned out to be a failure?We're kicking off our first series of 2026 and it's all about… Failure? Yes! It's a guarantee that at some point after graduation you will experience failure. It's part of life. And it's a part of life that exists within the loving hands of God. Over the next few weeks, you're going to hear your fellow alumni share stories of failure after graduation and the way God redeemed them for his own purposes.This week, InterVarsity Alumna Nkao Hle Hang shares about going all in on her passion for the world of fashion after graduation. She was good at it, it was fun, and she even wanted to use it as a ministry. But… it became clear that it was not the right path for her. And it all fell apart. Listen in as she tells the story and shares how God was there to pick up the pieces with her.RELATED EPISODECelebrating 5 Years and 200 Episodes of After IV! (E200) - Apple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

THE GOD WHO IS… Overflowing with Loyal LoveHave you ever filled out a job application and they say “tell us about yourself – describe your personality ; your core values”. You know what you write down is going to reveal whether you are qualified or the right fit for the job…  If you started out, “I'm basically a good guy… sharp, creative, personable, responsible…. BUT don't mess with me before my coffee in the morning – whoa – I can be grumpy and moody… Or Im pretty organized, but don't look in my closet… Or I'm patient – I get along with people but there's things that push my buttons… whoa unto you if you do… THE BEAR COMES OUT OF THE CAVE…This would not be recommended if you are looking for a job in HRSociologists say, there are over 4,000 religions in the world – cut and pasted from ancient beliefs and creeds as well as modern day thought…. Many of them with the same question – WHO ARE YOU GOD? Today – we are going to look again about what God says about HimselfWE ARE IN SERIES – THE GOD WHO IS…Looking at the history of the Children of Israel – the IsraelitesGod has chosen them to reveal Himself to the whole world – His nature, His desires, His eternal plan.He promises to keep a covenant with them that He made to their forefathers 1000 years prior – that He would be there God… Fast forward – the foundation of that covenant is now extended through Christ to you and me – That He would be Our GodAs God begins to form and develop the Israelites into His People – essentially Moses asks the same questions in the book of Exodus 33 _ He asks God to reveal Himself  -  in Exodus 34… Only a few times in Scripture – God describes Himself – His character and nature – our anchor text is the moment when God reveals His own character:FOUNDATIONAL SCRIPTUREExodus 34:6–7 (NIV) The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and graciousGod, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.We've looked at God's “Self Description:Compassionate — a God moved in His deepest being by our pain.Gracious — a God who gives delightfully undeserved gifts.Slow to anger — a God who is patient and does not rush to judgment.Today we come to the fourth phrase:“abounding in love” — or as we'll say it: “overflowing with loyal love.”LET'S TALK ABOUT “LOYAL LOVE”INTRODUCTION — WHEN SOMEONE STAYSMost of us know what it feels like to wonder if someone will stay.You messed up in a relationship…You failed to follow through on a promise…You disappointed someone who believed in you…And deep down, you're asking:“Are you still here? Or is this the moment you walk away?”Think about those rare moments when instead of walking away, that personlooks you in the eye and says:“I'm hurt - I'm honest about that…but I'm not going anywhere.I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”That is more than forgiveness.  That is more than a second chance.That is a kind of stubborn grace — a love that doesn't just pardon you, it stays with you.In Scripture, that stubborn, promise-keeping, staying love is not just something God does…It is something God is.I. THE HEBREW WORD —KHESED חֶסֶ (Khawsed) The word translated “love” here is the Hebrew word khesed (חֶסֶד).KHESED IS ONE OF THE RICHEST, HARDEST-TO-TRANSLATE WORDS IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.NO SINGLE ENGLISH WORD CAPTURES IT.It combines these qualities:Love – genuine affection and care.Generosity – going above and beyond what's required.Enduring commitment – a promise that sticks, even when it hurts.So you'll see it translated in Bible versions as:“steadfast love”“great love”“unfailing love”“lovingkindness”“mercy”“loyal love”Khesed describes promise-keeping loyalty motivated by deep personalcare.How do we contrast it to our ”natural love”, our transactional love? Not contract.Not cold obligation.Not “I'll do my part if you do yours.”Khesed is:“I'm not leaving.I'm not quitting.I'm not withdrawing my heart.”My commitment is not based on your performance, but based on my character of keeping vows, looking passed flaws; being quick to forgive; knowing your potential, trusting your growth; and believing the best;DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS LIKE THAT? COVENANT FRIENDS? I'M BLESSED TO HAVE SOME IN THIS ROOM … Oris Martin's memorial – his daughter was paying tribute to her dad – About his “Loyal Love To Her”HE SAID – “I ll always have your back” MORE DESCRIPTIVE  - ‘I'LL HAVE YOUR BACK LIKE A TIGHT BRA STRAP” (Im going to archive this) II. RUTH — The Lord gave us a s story to reveal it - A HUMAN PICTURE OF KHESEDOne of the clearest illustrations of khesed is found in the OT book of Ruth.Ruth is a Moabite woman from an outside tribe – she  married into an Israelite family.Her husband dies.His brother dies. – according to custom – next in line to provideHer father-in-law dies – last line of supportAll that's left are three widows: Naomi is Ruth's mother-in -law… left with the other two widowed daughters-in-law.Naomi has nothing left to offer.No income.No security.No future.She tells Ruth“Go back to your people. Start over. There's nothing for you with me.”From a human perspective, the logical thing is to leave.But Ruth does the opposite.She says, in essence:“Where you go, I'll go.Your people will be my people.Your God will be my God.I will stay with you—until death.”She binds her future to Naomi's empty future.She chooses the hard, costly road of staying.And as the story unfolds and people watch Ruth keep this promise, they call her faithfulness acts of khesed (see Ruth 3:10–11).Ruth's khesed is not based on Naomi's usefulness, worth, or ability to repay.It is a window into Ruth's character.She is a person of loyal love.She is a person of generous, promise-keeping commitment.And that is what khesed looks like in human form.III. GOD'S KHESED TO JACOB — LOYAL LOVE TO A DECEIVERBut as inspiring as Ruth is, the Bible is clear: No one shows more khesed than God.From earlier generations - Take Jacob – son of IssacJacob is not a moral hero.He lies.He deceives his father.He cheats his brother.He manipulates situations for his own advantage.Yet God chooses Jacob.God repeats to him the promise He gave to Jacob's  grandfather- Abraham:“I'm going to bless you, give you many descendants, and through your family I will bless the nations.”Jacob runs away in fear and shame.For twenty years he lives in exile.Then, on the way back home, terrified of facing his brother, Esau – whom he has cheated for his birthright, Jacob prays:Genesis 32:10 (ESV)“I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of khesed (steadfast love) and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.”Jacob is right.He is not worthy.But that's the point.God's khesed was never based on Jacob's worth.It was never “If you perform, I'll stay.”It was always “I have chosen you, and I am committed to My promise.”God's khesed is a display of God's generous loyalty, not Jacob's behavior.IV. GOD'S KHESED TO ISRAEL — HE KEEPS RESCUINGGod's khesed continues into the story of Jacob's descendants—Israel.They end up enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years.We're told that God “remembers His covenant” with Abraham and Jacob.To “remember” in Hebrew doesn't mean God forgot.It means God is about to act in faithfulness to His promise.So God defeats Egypt, raises up Moses, and leads Israel toward the promisedland.In the song of Moses, after the Red Sea, they sing:Exodus 15:13 (ESV) “You have led in your steadfast love (khesed) the people whom you have redeemed…”Their liberation is called an act of khesed because God is keeping His word.But the story doesn't stay triumphant for long.On the way to the promised land, Israel sees the nations around them, and feargrips their hearts.They doubt that God can protect them.They talk about appointing a new leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt.They are ready to kill Moses.LET THAT SINK IN:God has rescued them.God has provided for them.God has revealed Himself to them. And they want to go back to bondage.God is understandably hurt and angry.But in Numbers 14, Moses intercedes:Numbers 14:19 (NIV) “In accordance with your great love (khesed), forgive the sin of these people…”Moses doesn't base his request on Israel's behavior.He bases it on God's character.“God, be who You are. Do what is consistent with Your khesed.”And God does. He forgives.He recommits Himself to a people who don't want to be committed to Him.V. HUMAN LOVE VS. GOD'S LOYAL LOVEIn the Bible, God is loyal and loving for no other reason than that's who He is.Of course, God desires His people to respond with khesed in return—to love Him truly, to keep covenant, to love others with the same loyal love.But even when they don't… God's khesed remains.The prophet Hosea says:Hosea 6:4 - Israel's khesed is “like the morning mist” —here one moment, gone the next.Our loyalty is often fragile.Our commitment is often temporary.Our promises are often conditional.But God's khesed is enduring.That's why Psalm 136 opens with:“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…”And then repeats 26 times:“for His khesed (steadfast love) endures forever.”Over creation.Over history.Over rebellion.Over enemies.Over everything.God's loyal love outlasts human unfaithfulness.VI. JESUS — THE FULLNESS OF GOD'S LOYAL LOVEAfter centuries of Israel breaking their covenant,and after humanity's long history of violence, idolatry, and death…God still keeps His promise in the most dramatic way possible:He becomes human.In Jesus, God binds Himself to us in a new and deeper way.The New Testament writers reach for words like:agapē (ἀγάπη) – self-giving, sacrificial love.eleos (ἔλεος) – mercy, compassion in action.charis (χάρις) – gracious gift, undeserved favor.All of these overlap with the Old Testament idea of khesed.In John 1, we're told that Jesus comes “full of grace and truth.”That phrase “grace and truth” echoes the Hebrew pairing khesed we'emet —“loyal love and faithfulness.”The early followers of Jesus looked at Him and said:“In Him, we have encountered the God of Israelwho is full of loyal love and faithfulness.”Jesus is:The ultimate loyal and loving human,The perfect image of God's khesed in a human life,The one who loves “to the end” (John 13:1).In His life, death, and resurrection, God opens a new future for us and allcreation.Not because we earned it…But because this is who God is:Generous.Loving.Eternally loyal to His promises.VII. WHEN GOD'S LOYAL LOVE TOUCHES USWhen we truly experience the purity and power of God's loyal love shownthrough Jesus, it doesn't leave us neutral.It compels us.It moves us.It reorients us.We begin to reimagine:Why we love God.How we love people.What commitment looks like in a world of easy exits.Because if this kind of khesed is in God's character,it should begin to show up in our character.VIII. HOW WE SHOW KHESED BACK TO GOD AND OTHERS1. Khesed toward God — measured and revealed in faithful devotion, not occasional attention.If God has bound Himself to us in covenant love, we respond not with “casual spirituality,” but with whole-hearted devotion.Choosing Him when it's costly.Trusting Him when we don't see the way.Obeying Him when it would be easier to compromise.We don't earn His khesed by doing this.We reflect His khesed by doing this.2. Khesed toward people — “Staying” love in a Leaving world. We live in a culture of:ghosting,cancelling,quitting,disposable relationships. God calls His people to a different way:In marriage: keeping vows when feelings fluctuate.In friendship: showing up when there's nothing to gain.In church: staying engaged, serving, forgiving, building, instead ofbouncing at the first offense.In community: caring for the vulnerable when they can't pay you back.ILLUST: MARRIAGE - I CHOOSE YOU… OVER AND OVER AGAIN – 45 YEARSIn marriage, I chose you and I choose you againWhen I first begin to date… sitting in her living room – 2 phone calls from different guys – no cell phones or voicemails… I think- shes got a few choices  Then she tells me a “friend” from UCSB is coming down… wants to go to dinnerFine.. no problem… you are friends… “God, if Jan is the one it will all work out”… sitting there watching ‘sports center:… How good of friends are they?  AM I THE CHOSEN ONE? - “God if he tries to kiss her – take a coal from your altar and scorch his lips”A desire to be chosen… our commitment to that choice has protected our vows for 45 years   Khesed IS COVENENTAL LOVE . IT says:“Even when you're empty, I won't withdraw.Even when this is hard, I won't run.Even when you have little to offer, I'll keep showing up.”Not because people always deserve it, but because God is forming His loyal love in us.3. Khesed toward the undeserving — because that's how God loved us.Remember Jacob.Remember Israel.Remember you.We love with khesed not because people have earned it,but because God extended it to us first.“We love because He first loved us.”Story –  I'll call him “ Bryan” (Ryan Inclan) – from Passover Days- 25 years agoPaul Rogers from Intervarsity invited himBryan - Struggling w faith and as much with identity and habitsPaul moved – asked me if I would stay in touch with Bryan – and asked if he could give Bryan my number – I naively said “yes” not really knowing what that would mean - That was probably 25 years ago… Bryan died about a month ago now. Bryan moved to the Bay Area - fought major Bipolar Disorder along with several other Psychological disorders,He'd call up, friendly, hopeful. In a small group - happyThen weeks later - Midnight texts – desperate, self -hating… just been online doing things in chat rooms – struggling with sexual identity… pray for meI'd leave scripture messages – reinforcing this is Who You Are Now… encouraging him to connect with a church – he tried several churches – goes good – then collapses; there was always an enemy – somebody hurt him; offended him; doesn't understand himThrough the years - Dad dies; mother dies… desperationPaul & I drove to SF to get him in a psych hospitalThen Weeks – no communication… maybe he's better… connected with a local group… no… in relapse… hiding… ashamedTwo months later -  manic weeks – all is better… I found a mens group – im praying againMANY TIMES – Im done… You are way beyond my comfort zone… And my pay gradeSomehow we would re-connect – late night  1 hr caounseling calls … Jan would shake her headHe got liver cancer about 6 months ago… Me and a group of people on a Text thread – praying emoji's, heart emoji's… encouraging words and prayersHe died in peace, believing – GOSPELS – Guys tearing open a roof to lower a friend down to be healed.  For 25 years – tearing off guilt, shame, mental torment in short seasons of relief…Bryan finally made it – now he is healedIX. PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR HEARTSWhere am I tempted to walk away instead of stay?Where am I loving only as long as it benefits me?Where is God calling me to reflect His loyal love by keeping a promise,extending grace, or refusing to give up?And deeper still:Where have I underestimated God's loyalty to me?Some of you live like God is one failure away from leaving.In Exodus 34 and the whole story of Scripture shout:“His khesed endures forever.”His love Is LOYAL – so much so that:He may discipline. He may confront. But all for your best interestHe may hand you over to the consequences of your choices for a season, so we see clearly the destructive paths we are on.He does not abandon His promises to be with you and guide you through.He does not abandon His people. He is an Everlasting Father.He does not abandon His plan of redemption – toward you or anyone who calls upon HimCONCLUSION — THE GOD WHO WILL NOT LET GOSo when God says of Himself:“I am abounding in love…”He is saying:“I am overflowing with khesed—with loyal, generous, enduring love.I keep My promises.I stay.I do not quit on what I have begun.”Jesus is the ultimate proof of that.He stepped into our story.He took on our flesh.He bore our sin.He rose with new life.He promised to be with us “always, even to the end of the age.”This is THE GOD WHO IS OVERFLOWING WITH LOYAL LOVE.And if that is who He is, then by the power of His Spirit, that is who He is shaping us to become.ALTAR CALL… He is loyal in his love for us… Even when we aren't feeling itMaybe this is new to you – this foreign kind of unconditional love – it was for me – works basedMaybe you sense it right now – he does love you; He wants you to know him… and enter into this Loyal Love we are talking about.You might say – “I'll never be able to keep my end of the deal… I‘ve got too much stuff going on… Yea – but I can say “you've never been loved like this before…” It's transformativeIt starts w Romans 10:9-10 – a vow Altar Call – side room you sense He's pulled back or away from you… But I would ask… Have you pulled back from HimThere are places and things He won't condone or endorse… again It's about love… Strength to break free and walk it out..As we close – make a commitment to come up hereNext time, we'll look at the fifth trait in this powerful description:“THE GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL.” But today, may we rest in His loyal love,and may we mirror that loyal loveto a world that desperately needs to see it.  

In this lecture titled "The First Gospel," Sam elaborates on the teachings from Matthew's Gospel, specifically focusing on Chapter 5, which includes the well-known Sermon on the Mount, also referred to as the Beatitudes. The session is framed within a larger sermon series that spans from January to Easter, inviting participants to engage with the text personally over the upcoming months. Sam emphasizes the importance of exploring Matthew in its entirety, encouraging attendees to read passages not covered in the discussions and to pose any questions they may have to Ian, the lead teacher.The lecture begins with Sam referencing the Bible Project, an organization that produces engaging educational videos to simplify biblical concepts. He highlights a particular video summarizing Matthew's Gospel, which is presented in an accessible format that captures the audience's attention. Moving on, Sam emphasizes that Matthew's Gospel strategically links Jesus to Moses, particularly illustrating how Jesus, like Moses, imparts important teachings from a mountainside. This connection is crucial for the Jewish audience, who would recognize the parallels between Jesus' teachings and the traditional narratives of their faith.As Sam dives deeper into the Beatitudes, he outlines the blessings Jesus pronounces. He references Psalm 1, illustrating how the notion of being "blessed" resonates throughout the scriptures and prepares the audience to juxtapose these biblical ideals against contemporary societal values that often promote pride, entitlement, and cruelty. He presents an insightful interpretation of the Beatitudes by contrasting them with a set of “Bizarro Beatitudes,” which represent worldly values that stand in stark opposition to the blessings Jesus describes.The Bizarro Beatitudes serve as a powerful rhetorical device to challenge attendees. Sam articulates that in our current world, selfishness and indifference often lead to societal sentiments that contradict Jesus' teachings of humility, mercy, and justice. He reflects on how this disconnect manifests in daily experiences, questioning whether they reflect the divine calling towards righteousness or illustrate a descent into what he describes as "the bizarro attitudes." As he does so, Sam invites attendees to confront the uncomfortable realities of evil, injustice, and neglect present in their lives and communities.Bridging the text with personal anecdotes, Sam shares his journey of faith and service, specifically through his involvement with an organization called InterVarsity. He illustrates how this organization fosters leadership grounded in Christ-like principles and highlights the transformative experiences of students serving in Chicago neighborhoods. Through concrete examples from a service trip, he emphasizes the reciprocal nature of serving—whereby those who serve often find themselves blessed beyond what they give.Sam concludes by explaining what he refers to as "the economy of God," a concept suggesting that when individuals meet the needs of others using God's resources, it creates a cycle of blessing and glorification of God. He describes how serving should be life-giving, encouraging participants to view service as a path to experience God's love and grace. His insistence that true blessing transcends human understanding prompts a reflective moment for the audience, urging them to consider how they are called to live out these teachings.To wrap up the session, Sam invites participants to engage in prayer and reflection, acknowledging the Holy Spirit's role in guiding their next steps. He emphasizes that the mission of service should direct their focus outward, encouraging them to be instruments of change in their communities while fostering an understanding that their actions contribute to the greater narrative of God's kingdom.

“Don't forget about the good. Don't forget that there are stories of people doing things that work out there.” — Christine Jeske Anthropologist and professor Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss ways to persevere in the long pursuit of racial justice. What does it look like to persevere in the long, hard work of pursuing racial justice? Author and anthropologist Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere (and Why). Christine explores the habits and mindsets that undergird the tenacity of those who persist in justice work, even in the face of discouragement and failure. Christine uses her anthropological lens to examine and categorize the practices of dozens of people who continue in their justice efforts despite all the inherent challenges. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Racial Justice for the Long Haul for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Christine offers her thoughts on working with her daughter on a project related to this book. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

We're back and we're ready to celebrate, alumni! Welcome to the 200th episode of After IV!Today, we're joined by three alumni listeners, each with their own stories of After IV helping them transition to life after graduation. Be sure to stick around to the end for a visit from a special mystery guest!Thanks for celebrating with us! We love you, alumni, and we love navigating life after graduation alongside you.SUPPORT AFTER IV HERE!RELATED EPISODEIs Church Worth Waking Up For? (E188) (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."―Psalm 37:4Delighting in God changes everything: how you experience your faith, relationships, and circumstances―and even how you see yourself.What if you've lost your delight in God? Or you've never really experienced it in the first place? What if a season of suffering has snuffed out your joy, leaving you spiritually discouraged and emotionally numb?Stephanie announces the upcoming release of her new book, AWAKEN DELIGHT: Satisfying Your Soul's Longing for God, releasing on July 28, 2026 with IVP. The book isn't just a project—it's an invitation for YOU to join a new adventure of discovering and sustaining authentic delight in God. This book has been taking shape for years in Stephanie's heart, and now everyone connected to Gospel Spice is invited to take part.Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight to preorder, and more!You can experience Psalm 37:4 as your daily reality. In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle connects scriptural and theological truth to your everyday life so you can experience what delighting in God really means. It's not about checking boxes on a spiritual to-do list or mustering a constant state of positive feelings. Rather, delight is about satisfying your soul's deepest longing through a vibrant relationship with the living God.Delight in God is neither a robotic or purely intellectual act, nor just a fleeting emotion. Instead, it arises from the intentional merging of knowledge and experience—head and heart, theology and personal encounter. Delighting in God is a conscious choice, something that not always comes naturally, but must be nurtured. While God could have programmed us to delight in Him, He instead gives us the freedom—and the gracious invitation—to respond and pursue that joy ourselves.The deepest delight in God grows when theology and experience meet. As Stephanie illustrates using chocolate—the joy isn't just in knowing about it, but in tasting it. Similarly, knowing God is delightful and tasting that delight through living relationship leads to sustained spiritual joy.By looking to Christ as your model of divine delight, you can discover that no matter what you're experiencing―whether weariness, sorrow, hope, or happiness―you truly can "taste and see that the Lord is good." If you are longing for a revived faith filled with hope, delight, worth, and grace, Awaken Delight invites you to cultivate a worshipful, life-giving delight in God that's rooted in God's delight in you. Delight in God slays hopelessness and anchors us in His reality.YOU are invited to engage in the adventure in two distinct, complementary ways:·         Pre-order the book: You will receive many worthwhile bonuses, including access to the Gospel Spice “French Faith” course, the Awaken Delight online book club, gorgeous giveaways, and other gifts. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight now!·         Become part of the launch team: This “next level” involvement is for those among you who really want to be part of the insiders' team. It's a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in God's Kingdom work, and to share God's love with your family and friends! It includes pre-ordering, sharing the book with others, writing reviews, and enjoying exclusive perks such as a one-on-one personal coaching session with Stephanie. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/booklaunchteam for more information and to signup!Awakening delight in God isn't about ignoring hardship; it's responding to God's invitation, rooting hope in His unchanging promises, and walking with intentionality and community. As Gospel Spice embarks on this journey, YOU are welcomed to join, grow, and awaken true delight together.SAVE THE DATE! We will host a wonderful book launch party on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Also, we will soon offer more details about the excluside Awaken Deligth Weekend Retreat on September 19+20 in the same location. Stay tuned for more!MORE ABOUT “AWAKEN DELIGHT”You can preorder on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Delight-Satisfying-Souls-Longing/dp/1514013584/ Or go to https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight for the details. Once you've preordered, make sure to fill out the form on this page so you can receive your gifts AND enter our giveaway for a chance to win a stunning prize!"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."―Psalm 37:4What if you've lost your delight in God? Or you've never really experienced it in the first place? What if a season of suffering has snuffed out your joy, leaving you spiritually discouraged and emotionally numb?Delighting in God changes everything: how you experience your faith, relationships, and circumstances―and even how you see yourself.You can experience Psalm 37:4 as your daily reality. In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle connects scriptural and theological truth to your everyday life so you can experience what delighting in God really means. It's not about checking boxes on a spiritual to-do list or mustering a constant state of positive feelings. Rather, delight is about satisfying your soul's deepest longing through a vibrant relationship with the living God.In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle- shows how delighting in God is crucial for spiritual growth,- provides spiritual habits that help you live in delight, and- includes discussion questions and Bible engagement great for book clubs or small groups.By looking to Christ as your model of divine delight, you can discover that no matter what you're experiencing―whether weariness, sorrow, hope, or happiness―you truly can "taste and see that the Lord is good." If you are longing for a revived faith filled with hope, delight, worth, and grace, Awaken Delight invites you to cultivate a worshipful, life-giving delight in God that's rooted in God's delight in you.You can preorder on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/eQx9DYT  Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “We say we can do it ourselves, but we can't — we have to bring others in and work as a community and hear their input-as valued as our own.” — Kelly Vaughn Kelly Vaughn, newly appointed Dean for the School of Education at Notre Dame De Namur University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about her winding and unexpected professional and personal journey to her current role, which began because of a momentous time in her childhood. How do our encounters with adversity and difficulty shape our journey? Kelly Vaughn shares two of the incredible challenges of her life and explores the way people around her impacted her growth in resilience and her values. She describes a Jacob season and Moses season and how they have shaped her leadership. Kelly talks about her career journey and the way surprises in her pathway impacted her understanding of herself and her passions. We explore the way the community undergirds the way she does her work and practices her faith. When we had this conversation, Kelly was in the role of Interim Dean and doing the hard work of leading in a transitional season. Listen for the ways she has been prepared for her new leadership role. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“God didn't call me in spite of who I am but because of who I am … and that's true of all of us.” — Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman Listen in on our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and Christian leader Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman where they talk about internal challenges for women leaders as we pursue our callings. In this finale of our Fall Book Club, we engage in conversation with Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman about her book 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership: Overcome Self-Defeating Behaviour in Work and Ministry. You'll enjoy this rich conversation even if you weren't able to participate in the book club! Kate Coleman examines internal attitudes and habits that sabotage women's leadership. In a landscape that has some understanding on external forces that undercut women's leadership, Kate's contribution is unique since she addresses barriers within women that negatively impact how women lead. She describes seven common ways that women undermine their own leadership, sometimes unknowingly. Kate's combination of theology, research, anecdotes, personal insights and practical tips will help women overcome unhealthy mindsets and lead well. Kate sees work as sacred and our platforms as pulpits, her book will help us lead from our rootedness in Christ. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Jasmine Obeyesekere For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Merry Christmas, alumni! We have one last special episode for you as we round out 2025. We are joined once again by Ekemini and Christina from Get in The Word with Truth's Table and they are going to gift us with a reading of Luke 2:1-20. Enjoy, have a Merry Christmas, and we will see you in 2026, alumni!And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODEE194: The Truth About Listening (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)Follow Get in The Word with Truth's TableExploreApple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

We loved studying the Bible on campus with our chapter. How do we keep that up in life after graduation?In this episode, we take a look at our final method for engaging with scripture: Bible study. More specifically, the communal discovery method that so many of us learned and grew to love during our time on campus with InterVarsity. Veteran Campus Staff Minister, Meghan Fisher joins us to refresh our inductive methodology of Bible study and to help us contextualize the practice to life after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month! (Enjoy Meghan's study of Luke 8:40-56 HERE!)RELATED EPISODESE197: The Provocation Toward Praying (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)BONUS: A Guided Prayer (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)MEGHAN'S RECOMMENDED RESOURCESIVP Bible Background Commentaries (Old Testament & New Testament) IVP's Bible DictionaryInterVarsity's "How To" resourceThe Bible for Everyone - N.T. Wright & John GoldingayThe Bible ProjectSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “The caliber of my leadership depends upon the health and caliber of the rest of my life. I can't show up for people unless I am in a good place personally to show up. There's some humility with that. You can't just run on fumes and coffee.” — Elisabeth Rain Kincaid Elisabeth Rain Kincaid, Associate Professor of Ethics, Faith and Culture and Director of the Institute of Faith and Learning at Baylor University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership, ethics, and faith. How might the unexpected career path result in a richness that is unique? Elisabeth starts the story of her journey by sharing that she went to law school because she did not enjoy middle school ministry. She shares the rich gifts of the indirect path to her current role, where she lives out her own leadership while teaching and researching about leadership and ethics, and cultivating leadership with faculty in a unique program. Elisabeth explores the value of integrity and the invitation to be an integrated person. We talk about the work of integrating work and family life. Listen for her invitation to be discerning what God is calling her to engage with during the last 20 years of her career in prayer and with others and for her “aha” moment when a trusted colleague asked her, “Why are you putting out the cookies?” For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Have you ever felt provoked to pray? Do you ever feel so touched by time spent in the Bible that you just have to tell God what you're experiencing? OR have you ever felt like you wanted to pray but just didn't know what to say? Both of these instances indicate the usefulness of scripture in prayer. Sometimes God's word moves us to respond to him. And sometimes it gives us the right words to say when we just don't have them ourselves.Today, InterVarsity prayer specialist Andrea Anderson walks us through the process of incorporating the Bible as a tool for prayer and helps us continue exploring the best practices for engaging with scripture after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!OTHER RESOURCESBe sure to check out the Guided Prayer that accompanies this episode! (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)RELATED EPISODE(S)E196: The Tenderness of Memorizing (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Enjoy engaging with Andrea's example of using scripture as a guide for prayer using Nehemiah 1:5-11.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODEE197: The Provocation Toward Praying (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“If at all possible, resist the dehumanizing forces that are at work in grad school and in the early days of your academic employment.” — Emily Hunter McGowin Theologian and professor Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss the nature of family in the context of God's kingdom. How can we live as faithful followers of Jesus within our complex family narratives? Author and theologian Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God. Emily helps us to interrogate the cultural assumptions we bring into the work of family life and to consider them in light of the words of Scripture. She asserts that the Bible is far from prescriptive about the details of household life and that Scripture makes space for a variety of shapes and structures that support family connectedness. Emily challenges her readers to think carefully about the integration of community needs with personal flourishing, and she offers simple suggestions for integrating nourishing habits into the complex fabric of family life. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Households of Faith for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Emily offers her thoughts on centering lovingkindness at Christmas. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Which verses do you know by heart? In the beginning God created... For God so loved the world... Jesus wept... The invitation to hide God's Word in our heart is scattered throughout Scripture. But how much time and attention do we give to memorizing Scripture? And why is it such an important practice?This week, we continue our series Six Ways to Engage Scripture After Graduation with a conversation about memorizing. We're joined by Jacob Thies, an InterVarsity alum from UW-Whitewater who's had a very unique experience with Scripture memorization. While in school, Jacob had the opportunity to play the role of Jesus in The Mark Drama*, which required a significant amount of memorizing. On this episode, Jacob is going to share about his tender encounter with Jesus while memorizing, and a few of his best tips for memorizing Scripture for ourselves.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!(*If you're unfamiliar, The Mark Drama is exactly what it sounds like: a dramatization of the entire book of Mark. See below for more info.)RELATED EPISODEE195: The Path for Exploring (Apple, Spotify, Youtube)RESOURCESThe Mark DramaSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Happy Thanksgiving Week, alumni!While this week's episode may not include a new conversation, it does include a timely revisit of an opportunity Jon had to explore Scripture with a good friend. Enjoy this conversation with Halley, an InterVarsity alumna from Minnesota State - Mankato, as she and Jon explore Psalm 18 and apply it to some important questions Halley was asking after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODESE194: The Truth About Listening (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)E158: Recalibrating for Rest After a Major Health Scare (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

“Hospitality is not only external; it's internal. Hospitality is not only inside of spaces; it's also wherever we go.” — Laura Baghdassarian Murray Spiritual director Laura Baghdassarian Murray joins us on the podcast to discuss the place of spiritual hospitality in our everyday lives. How can we find authentic ways to offer and receive hospitality that can transform our lives? Author and spiritual director Laura Baghdassarian Murray joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Becoming a Person of Welcome: The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality. In our conversation, Laura broadens our understanding of hospitality, pointing out ways that our skills in receiving hospitality are just as important as our skills in hosting. This discussion was decidedly not about “entertaining,” but rather about finding that posture within us that welcomes and is welcomed by others through the Holy Spirit. In addition — I'm pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Becoming a Person of Welcome for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you'll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Laura offers a thoughtful suggestion for finding inner hospitality during potentially-stressful holiday gatherings. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

When was the last time you closed your eyes and just listened to the Bible? What was the experience like? Do you consider it to be an option for your regular engagement with Scripture? We're continuing our series on engaging Scripture after graduation with a conversation about listening. And we're joined by a couple of experts: Ekemini Uwan and Dr. Christina Edmondson, hosts of the IVP podcast, Get in the Word With Truth's Table. Every day, their podcast releases a narration of Scripture followed by prayer. And Ekemini and Christina are going to share what they've learned about listening to Scripture and some helpful tools for making this a regular part of your faith rhythms with Jesus after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODEE193: The Beauty of Reading (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)Follow Get in The Word with Truth's TableExploreApple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “I would like to leave a legacy of hope…. I get a lot of confidence knowing that God will win at the end. I know the end of this story. How amazing that we get that privilege.” — Ruth López Turley Sociologist and research leader Ruth López Turley joins us for a conversation about her journey, and her leadership of the Kinder Institute, an innovative educational organization leading the conversation about critical needs and systems in Houston. How do our earliest experiences contribute to our passions? Ruth López Turley joins us on the podcast to talk about how she went from being a child growing up in poverty to being the leader of a unique and pivotal research organization delivering research data to address some of the most critical challenges in Houston. In our conversation, she talks about her journey as a leader and the values that have shaped her. She shares how her mistakes have provided opportunities for learning and deeper partnership. We hear more about Ruth's work to bring changes in large systems for the sake of serving those in need in Houston, and to provide vital models to other cities. We explore together the attitudes and practices that support her in her growth as a leader of more than 80 researchers, and a partner with other organizations throughout the city and state. If you listen to the end, you will hear about the spiritual practice that sustains her in her work. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 In the second hour, Kerby will speak with Greg Jao about the upcoming InterVarsity conference Urbana 25. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with your opinions or comments. Looking for just the Highlights? Follow us on Spotify at Point of View Highlights and get weekly highlights […]