Podcasts about pastor mark sowersby

In this episode of the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, host Diana Winkler interviews Pastor Mark Sowersby, who shares his powerful testimony of overcoming childhood abuse and finding forgiveness and healing through faith. Mark recounts his early life filled with abuse, meeting Jesus at 16, and wrestling with his identity as a victim. Through the love of his church community and personal determination, he not only found freedom but also pursued education and ministry. He also speaks about reconnecting with his birth father and how the loss of his mother catalyzed the launch of his ministry, 'Forgiving the Nightmare'. The episode serves as an inspiring account of transformation, resilience, and the power of unconditional God's love. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:25 Introducing Pastor Mark Sowersby 01:40 Technical Difficulties and Apologies 02:17 Pastor Mark's Testimony 05:49 Childhood and Abuse 07:10 Finding Faith and Forgiveness 18:06 Weight Loss Journey and Healing 23:08 Dyslexia and Education Struggles 24:42 Writing a Book and Ministry 28:14 Reading the Bible: Audio vs. Written 28:27 A Life-Changing Christmas Story 29:20 Overcoming Illiteracy with Help 30:14 A Love Story Blossoms 30:56 College Journey and Divine Guidance 32:49 Answering the Call to Ministry 33:13 Struggles with Self-Worth 35:15 Finding Confidence in God 35:56 Weight Loss and Self-Love 40:01 Victim to Victor: A Personal Transformation 45:00 Reuniting with Birth Father 48:20 Launching Forgiving the Nightmare Ministry 54:40 Final Thoughts and Prayer   website: www.forgivingthenightmare.com email: mark@forgivingthenightmare.com    Bio:  Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Transcript: [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Welcome back. You made it well. I have a great guest for you today. I told you about him last week. Pastor Mark Sowersby and he has knocked this interview out of the park, and we had an amazing time. We did not have an amazing time with the Zoom platform. I could not hear him, but he could hear me, and it was a half an hour of back and forth trying to get it to work. So I wound up having to record this episode on our phones with the earbuds. So I don't normally do [00:02:00] that. I usually have my $300 studio microphone. So if it doesn't sound as good, I apologize. But this content is so great that I think you'll forgive me, but I'll try to do some, post-production, to make it sound better. So without further ado. Here is Pastor Mark. Yeah. Nice. Nice to meet you. Yes, nice to meet you also. And I saw your wife there too, so, and I think you saw my husband's beard anyway. Yes. And my wife is the strength and the brains of this operation around us. I'm blessed. I'm a blessed man there. Amen. Thank you. Yes. So we got the, um, the technical, uh, demons outta the way. Well, I appreciate that. We tried two computers and my Apple phone. And I have to tell you, I am a novice at computers at best, so Yeah, me too. So we're kindred spirits for sure. Amen. Amen. And I read your testimony about your [00:03:00] website and your faith and your podcast and everything. What a beautiful testimony you have. Oh, thank you so much. So you, you're in Arizona, is that correct? Yes. Wow. Wow. Well, I have to tell you of one of my bucket lists because I'm a northeast guy. I'm a New England, New York. We have snow. It's freezing. They're saying we could have a possible blizzard tomorrow. Uh, I love that. Go to the Grand Canyon. That's my, on my bucket list. My, my family. Hear me speak about that all the time. I've never seen it. But I long to, let me tell you, it's more breathtaking than you can imagine. The pictures don't do it justice. I've been there many, many times, of course. And yes, you should come as soon as you're allowed to travel. I would be over here. Yeah. There's so much more to see. We long to go. We really want to see it. You know, if somebody said, you really see the significance when you look at that great canyon and you see how [00:04:00] small you are, it humbles you and reminds you of what a great big God we serve. So, you know, we just, uh, amen. Thank you for hearing my story and my testimony, and it's an honor to be here with you and celebrate the victories that we have in Christ. Amen, brother. We're gonna get to know you a bit here for my listeners. So why don't you tell the, listeners a little bit about yourself. My name is Mark Sowerby. I'm a husband, a father, a friend. I'm a sports fan. I eat too much. I talk too much, but I'm a pastor and a servant of Jesus Christ. I was looking at all your pictures and stuff, and I saw your progression of your weight loss. That is so amazing. Thank you. Thank you. And my weight loss journey is really just a symptom. Or result of the greater healing that's taken place in my life. Uh, I'm very proud of it. It's something [00:05:00] I have to work hard for and be very disciplined in. So yes, there's a work towards it, but really it's the sub to the main plot. The main plot is what Jesus did in my heart to help me forgive and help me heal the abuses and the pains. And as that began to fill my life, this weight loss journey with the discipline and that burning good habits and exercising, and I'm up to running, uh, six miles a day on the treadmill. So, wow. Six miles. Yeah. So well, remember, we're not in Arizona heat, so it's not hot, well, I have a treadmill. That's usually what I exercise on. I have an exercise room, I don't run unless somebody's chasing me or the laxative has started working. Those are good reasons to run. so let's start at the beginning. So what was your childhood like? Well, unfortunately I have a story of brokenness, pain, and sorrow. I was born from an affair. Uh, so my [00:06:00] father never really had a relationship with him. I am assuming that as soon as he, uh, got the news, he, he left. So I was raised by my mom. I have two siblings that my mom had from a prior marriage. So the three of us kind of lived together at my grandmother's house, and that's what I knew. That was what life was. I was seven years old. A young man came into our family, and that young man eventually married my mom 20 years, her younger, and when he came into our home, he brought abuse and pain. He brought death and destruction. He brought lies and poison. And as any abuser, those abusers have touched many people. And as not only did he abuse my mom in a and. With just vulgarness and pain, but he also abused me and with sexual abuse and physical abuse and emotional abuse. And it was just a very difficult time in my life. So from seven to 14, that's kind of the world I knew. Not only did he abuse my body, not only did he steal from [00:07:00] me, my dignity, my value. Not only did he try to control me, but he also sold me for other men to abuse me. Mm-hmm. Other men to take my body. He stabbed me and beat me and burnt me. And at 16, I was invited to church, I ran into a youth group. And, uh, there's a whole story in that. But let me tell you, I ran into youth group and I ran into Jesus. Jesus was Amen loving. Amen. Jesus's loving arms. He wrapped him around me and started me on the journey, journey of forgiveness. And it's been a journey up. I just turned 50. We just lost my mom earlier this year. Wow. They say a flu. Some say COVID, but we lost her earlier this year and it was really kind of a season for me to walk through some even deeper, deeper healing. We have a lot in common. 'cause I just lost my brother this week. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for your loss. Yeah. So we both have losses today. Yes. Yes. I'm so [00:08:00] sorry for your loss. You as well. Thank you. Your mother was a believer? She was at the end of her life. As we say, the 11th hour of Thief on the cross remember me. Mm-hmm. My mom did have one of those kind of conversions. Unfortunately, she never, the last few years of her life, she came to understand Jesus, but she never forgave herself or forgave. Her pain. She lived with the regrets and the shames and the guilt of her pains. She knew the love of Christ, and I believe that when she closed her eyes on this earth, she opened her eyes there because of what Christ did for her. But she carried this burden of shame and guilt and hurt. But I forgave her, not because I'm special, not because I'm better. I forgave her because Christ forgave me. And in that journey of learning with to forgive people say to me, how could you forgive such a great thing? I just forgave what was in front of me. That's it. Step by step, precept by precept. That's how I forgave. I [00:09:00] couldn't think about the whole journey all at it was too hard. What's in front of you? Well, we'll definitely get into, your process of forgiveness. Would it be okay to, circle back to your stepfather coming into your life? Now it sounded like it was a very violent to way he treated you. Did he do any grooming of you to start the abuse or was it violent right away? I believe there was grooming, again, being so young and, uh, being so, uh, naive. I probably didn't recognize it, but I'm sure there was grooming you know, there was this natural longing. From a child without a father to find a father figure. Mm-hmm. Um, being so young, not understanding the process of that, and any person that would gimme attention, I would run to them to try to find somebody who would govern me or lead me or [00:10:00] guide me or accept me. So I'm sure there was some manipulation in that, as I became more groomed or broken or became more pliable, if you would, because of my young immaturity. He began to have more of his way on it, just so you know. And I always refer to him as my mother's husband. Never as my stepfather? Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Oh, no, you didn't offend. No, I have forgiven him. I think in forgiveness, it's okay to have, uh, some boundaries. Sure. I think that, to have some healthy boundaries, I've forgiven him. I've put him in the hands of God, and I pray the grace of God will meet him and his pain and his sorrow, and only God can reach him. Uh, but again, there's some healthy boundaries around my life and my families. So what was your relationship with God when you were going through all this abuse? We grew up in a very religious home. I was a New England Protestant, so most of New England are [00:11:00] Irish Catholic, Italian Catholic, Polish Catholic, French Catholic. But I was the rare Protestant. And I remember saying to my grandfather one day, I asked him, I said I, well, let me back up and say, I always knew what I wasn't. I knew I wasn't a Catholic, but I didn't know what I was. So, grandpa used to tell us we weren't Catholic. He announced that pretty clearly. But one day I asked him, I said, then if we're not Catholic, what religion are we? And all he said was, go ask your mother. So, you know, we didn't really grow up in any kind of. Formal faith-based community, uh, you know, sometimes went to Christmas Eve service, you know, those kind of what we call Sea Easter and Christmas. The CE. The CE crowd. That's right. But it really wasn't, a church was not a part of my life. We knew God was there, be good and you go to heaven, be nice to people, you go to heaven. But there really wasn't a faith-based situation. I'll be honest with you, uh, the [00:12:00] only religion I got, or the only faith I got was the one album that was played in our home. It's not a Christian album, it was Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm a kid of the seventies. Yes, I'm very familiar with that. Yeah. And but God's name is so powerful now as a Bible college graduate, as a pastor, I could see all the holes of the theology in that and how it was really written, dragged down the gospel. They say Jesus Christ, and as a child, that name is so powerful. So, I mean, I didn't know anything. So here I was, I, I remember seven years old with a big headset on sitting in front of the speakers and listening to Jesus Christ Superstar. And, and now I realize what a mockery it was. But then just the name has power. Yeah, there was no resurrection in that movie. No, no, no. You know, when you have Mary Magdalene sing to, to him and say, you're just a man, [00:13:00] only a man. I mean, it's such a mockery. But again, at eight years old, 10 years old, I thank God that all truth belongs to God. Amen. And his name is so, amen, powerful. Amen. That every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And as that name, Jesus was smoking, it pierced my darkness. Now, I didn't know about crying out. I didn't know about prayer, but God was preparing me for such a time. And at 16 the lifeguard at the apartment complex invited me to church. She was a pretty girl, and I didn't wanna say no. Uh, she invited she invited me and picked me up with her boyfriend. Oops. We went, yeah, we went to church that night and there began my journey into meeting Christ, knowing his mercy and grace into my faith walk and it's been a journey ever since. So is that when you, met the Lord for real [00:14:00] and got saved? Exactly, I was 16 years old. It was the early part of the summer and I went to that youth group and everybody told me that. To throw away my rock and roll music and to cut my hair and take my earring out. And everybody wanted to hug me and I didn't wanna be hugged by anybody. It's an evangelical Pentecostal church. And I was like, I don't, yeah. But come to find out, the youth pastor lived in the same apartment complex I did. I had a ride to church anytime it was open. So, later on that summer, mid-August, I remember a man inviting me, a young man from the youth group. It was raining. He was giving me a ride home. We got into his car and he asked me right there, uh, mark, do you wanna ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? And we prayed right there the sinner's prayer. And I recognized the grace of God and the mercy of God and the Spirit of God. And at 16 years old, I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord. And I thank him that he was calling me at such a time. So, and then I [00:15:00] had to grow up. Wow. And then I had to grow. I was still 16 with a messed up background and, still was spilling life all over myself. But that church loved me. They hugged me and kicked me in the can at the same time. Now were you out of your mom's house? Away from your abuser? Well. When the abuse first became, and I don't wanna say public, but when it became outside of the family when I meant the first person I confessed it to or, or shared it with, was my uncle. And I think that people have to remember my abuse happened from 19 7 7 to 1984. And the awareness and the advocacy that's out there today wasn't there then. And things like this happen behind closed doors. And I think culturally, not everybody, but culturally in most families said, we keep that stuff behind closed doors. We don't share it. We handle it as families. I told my uncle at [00:16:00] 14 years old. He was the first person I confessed to, and I ended up living with my uncle for about a year. He became my defender. So from about 14 to about 15 and a half, I lived with my uncle, and about 15 and a half I moved back with my mom. And yes, her husband was still there. But he, uh, he was very sickly at this time. So, he wasn't able to hurt me physically anymore. And I was strong enough to not allow anybody to hurt me anymore. So Now you said the word confess. Well, you didn't do anything wrong. Thank you. I, yeah, I just meant, I told. You shared your story, your abuse, uh, your victimization. So yeah. You don't have to apologize for anything. Amen. Thank you. That's right. It was probably a poor choice of words. I was just reading. I announced to my uncle, or I, I shared out, I took it out. I took it outta that simple family unit that I would tell my mom, [00:17:00] my mom having so much hurt and pain in her life, didn't know how to handle that. And just would say, well, he promises not to do it again. And he promised not to do it. And of course, so in a lot of ways I felt like my mom was a victim. And, and. Even though I've had to learn to forgive my mom because of what she allowed to happen, but in some ways, not that I justify it, but I've begun to understand it. Because she was abused by her first husband who broke her heart because, uh, just pain who had many affairs on her, and she was so broken down, so hurting and she did not understand love. I think she, um, interpreted love in a very, uh, trying to think of the word here you know, an enabling way. My mom was more of an enabler and I think she interpreted her love in enabling. So she enabled people. I mean, it sounds like [00:18:00] codependency. Was that the word you're looking for? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So you struggled with your weight for years. Was that a symptom of your. Abuse your childhood? I, I think it was, you know, I'm, I'm not a psychologist or, a social worker. I'm a preacher, but you know, I think what I was trying to find in food was comfort, friendship. It always accepted me, uh, it comforted me when I was having a bad day and it rewarded me when I was having a good one. But like any drug, if you would, it lies to you. And it says, Hey, is everything will be okay. Just have a little bit more, have a little bit more, and, it just is. So for me, food became my drug of choice. Mm-hmm. Uh, it became where I found comfort, found peace, found acceptance. I punished myself with it. Boy, I'm no good. I'm going to eat ice cream. Oh, I'm having a great day. I'm gonna eat [00:19:00] ice cream. So, you know, it was one of those things. Uh, what I tell people is that I wish I could say to you that, that God has taken away all the hurt, all the pain, all the sorrow. It's still there in my life. It's still a familiar. Familiar pain that continues to call to me. But what God did is he became bigger. He became bigger than the pain. He became bigger than the shame. He became bigger than the hurt. So is it still there? Sure. And the flesh wants to run to it. And the psyche wants to run to it because I know it, it's comfortable. I, I know my role there. I, I understand what my protection and my manipulation that I can find there. But God became bigger. God became bigger. You know, I was telling a friend today, and I climbed a mountain after I lost about 50 pounds. I climbed a mountain. And it was about a half a mile long. And to me it was Everest. It was the biggest mountain in the world. And it took me hours [00:20:00] to go up and I had blisters on my feet and bruises on my toe. I was very proud that I climbed it. But after I lost about a hundred pounds, I climbed the biggest mountain in the state of New York called Mount Marcy. And what was the difference between those two mountains? One was bigger and I think that's the same thing. What happened to me is that even though that sometimes the enemy wants to try to bring me back to those familiar pains, those familiar insecurities, those familiar foes, God became bigger. His word, his spirit his love all became bigger. And I have to hold onto that and I have to claim, not claim it, but I have to run into it. You know, I have to run into that every day. So. Oh, you would love the mountains here. We have so many mountains to climb. So yeah. If you come to Phoenix, then we'll have to go hiking together. Yes. I wanna see that Grand Canyon. I wanna come to Phoenix. I am a New Englander, but it's cold [00:21:00] all the time here. But I hear that you guys leave for the summer and go back in the winter. We leave for the winter to warm places because it's so hot in Phoenix in the summer. Yeah. We're not snowbirds. We are here all year. Now we get to 110 every year. That's, that's normal. It gets to 120 here every summer. But this year it was 55 days of 110 degrees. Wow. Which, um, that killed all my plants and, uh, two of my trees, so Wow. Yeah, it's 70 degrees outside now, but in the summertime it's brutal. Wow. Don't come in the summer. Come in the winter. Okay. I, um, I did get to do a mission chip for Juarez, Mexico, which is obviously south of you guys and a little east, but at the same time, I got a touch of hot weather and I have done a lot of missions trips to Central America and the Caribbean, but they do have a different climate because of the sea and the water. So it's not that dry heat. [00:22:00] It's, definitely that, more moist, heat. Yeah, I think you'll do fine. Like I said, I looked forward to it. We were just in Israel in, November November, 2019, and it was 85 degrees. In Jerusalem and I roasted, I had such a hard time because the elevation was different and the humidity from the from the sea. Yeah. I don't know if you've been to Israel, I have not. Another, another bucket list, yeah yes, definitely recommend that for sure. Thank you. My wife and I, we love to travel. You know, we, we have four children, so right now our kids are in the ages of 15 to seven, so we are right in the midst of it. You know, we're, we're mom and dad, taxi and, and we homeschool. So my wife is going a hundred miles an hour all the time. Pastor wife. Homeschool mom and she's taking care of [00:23:00] me. So, I mean, this is, God bless her. If there's a hero in this story, it's my wife. Your wife's a homeschooler. Um, you had said in your story that you had dyslexia growing up. What was that like? Well, you know, I think that I still have it. Uh, God hasn't, hasn't healed me from it. So what happens is, is I tell people when the way I was raised, I survived my childhood. I wasn't raised, you know, I didn't have parents that, that looked out for me. I didn't have somebody who wanted to govern my experiences or, or was an advocate for me. So I, I really just kind of survived my childhood and one of the casualties of that. Was my education. Uh, it was the early seventies, so I think there was a lot going on with sight reading and some different kind of philosophies of teaching. So here I was in a broken home with a learning disability. I [00:24:00] was being bullied at school because the way I felt about myself and, you know, so yeah, reading has always been a chore for me. It still is a chore today. But again, the lord, he helps and he, he brings me through and he gave me a brilliant wife. Uh, she is a, a teacher by education. And my children love to read. My son will walk into walls. He reads books this thick. I mean, and I remember holding him the moment he was born, praying, Lord, give him just a heart for reading. And he does. I mean, my son 15 says, dad, can we go to the library? Love the library. Oh, he, yeah, we're friends with the librarian. Uh, if they need somebody to help him out, move books and they call him. But yes, reading has always been a chore and I, believe it or not, I'm in the midst of writing a book. Oh, I was just gonna ask that if you had a book out or not. We are just started to speak to a publisher, it's self-publishing company. Uh, so we're definitely in [00:25:00] conversations. We have written, just kind of let it pour out of me. It's been there for 50 years, so just kind of. And, uh, now we've kind of put it in front of people who really know what they're doing. I tell everybody, I wrote it my ways, I handed it to my wife and she interpreted it and made it legible. And, uh, we have some local friends who have done some basic editing, so they're kind of editing for us, and now we're sending it to the publisher who knows how to edit in a professional way. So, so, you know, the Lord told me years ago that this testimony would be written down. I remember I chuckled when he told me that because I said, Lord, I can barely read or write. And I remember saying to the Lord, Lord, if you want this written down, what am I gonna call it? He said, you'll call it Forgiving the Nightmare. So that's why the name of the ministry, the name of the book, the name of the website is called Forgiving the Nightmare. I think everybody uh, regardless of [00:26:00] how one came, you know, yours and I came in by probably hands of other people's, but sometimes nightmares come in by all different ways. Loss, regrets pains, hurts. And we all have to kind of say, Lord, how do we go through that? And I know as Christians, we want it instant, you know, we wanna stand on the word, we wanna claim it, we wanna save. Lord, give it to me. But I think sometimes we have to, uh, go through the process. I think of Jacob and how he wrestled with God, or he wrestled with the angel and they wrestled all night long. And, and God, the angel touched his hip and then he said, what do you want? And Jacob said, I want a new. And he became Israel, the promise. Mm-hmm. So he left deceiver, as you know, and he became Israel promise. And I think sometimes in that journey of forgiveness as much as Christians and people, we want it and we want it so true and so earnestly, [00:27:00] but sometimes we have to wrestle. We have to wrestle with the past. We have to wrestle with ourselves, we have to wrestle with the fears, and wrestling doesn't make us bad, doesn't make us sinners, doesn't mean God has left us. I think God's working with us, the process as a pastor, I've seen so many people who are unwilling to go through the process. And they get stuck. They get stuck in the cycle, in the the hurts and the pains of life. Just kind of build up on them. And I know God wants to set 'em free, but again, it, you have to learn to die to self crucify the old man, you know, tame the tongue. And it's hard. It's hard, especially when everything in the, especially when everything in the world tells you you're okay to have that. It's okay for you to hate. It's okay for you to be angry. It's okay for you to, when God says, for us to let him go first, let Him lead us. And God is, if we forgive those who trespass against us, he'll be faithful and just to forgive us. [00:28:00] And that scripture boy haunted me for a long time because I said, Lord, I'm not ready to begin. I'm sorry I'm preaching. No, you're awesome. I'm enjoying this. Um, I'm curious how you read your Bible. Do you use an audio bible or do you, um, do use an actual written Bible? Well, I do read Bible. I like the ESV, I like the NIV, I like those verses. I do read it. I do listen to audio at times. What happened was, is about 20, I was in my early twenties and a woman at church asked me to read the Christmas story out of Luke in front of the youth group. Now, when I say youth group, we had about a hundred youth in our youth group, maybe even 150. It was a large youth group and she was the kind of woman who would not take no for an answer. You know, the church lady? Yeah. I think every church has one of those. Yeah. And you know, I tried to give her every excuse in the [00:29:00] book, I lost my glasses. I was too embarrassed to say that I couldn't read. So I got up in front of the youth group and I read out of Luke chapter two and I. Stumbled over my words and I read slowly and I read broken up. And people were very kind to me that day. The youth pastor and the youth group, they were not cruel. And after service, that woman came back to me and said that she homeschooled her children and she would like to homeschool me if I'd want to. Now I was, I was a grownup. I was 23 and I went back to her house and there I sat with her 6-year-old, five-year old as she was teaching her 5-year-old, 6-year-old how to read. She was also teaching me phonics. I never learned phonics. I tell everybody, when I learned TION and Sean and not ion, it changed my life. Unbeknownst to me that church lady had an older daughter [00:30:00] and that older daughter watched me. Watch me struggle over my words, watch me go to the house and sit with her five-year-old sister and learn ae IOU and learn the rules of bowels and phonics. Well, years later, that older daughter would become my wife. Oh. Oh. So, yep. So, you know, she told me that she fell in love with me and she watched me there. And so that, that's a little bit of our love story. But yeah, she watched me from afar and, and now today we have four kids together and she still helps me read. So I do read. I a much stronger reader than I ever was. Uh mm-hmm. So I, I can read a much better than I could then. Well, I certainly can see looking back that you had so many people in your corner to that God sent to help you, and what a blessing. Now, did you go to college? I did. I [00:31:00] graduated from what's now called North Point Bible College. At the time, it was called Zion Bible College. It was in Barrington, Rhode Island. It was a very focused school for ministry only. Uh, so I did go there. I didn't wanna go there. I'm a New Englander. I knew about the school. It was in my backyard. I wanted to go to Southeastern to Florida. I wanted to go to pennsylvania and go to Valley Forge. Uh, those doors were not open to me. I remember saying, the Lord, I'm done. Lord, I've tried. Everybody's rejecting me because of my education. And he said, go to Zion. I went in and I met with the Dean of students. In that meeting, the dean of students said to me, mark, do you have a call? I said, yes, I believe I do have a call. He got up from his desk and he went to a big picture window, a woman who was walking in front of his picture window, and he tapped onto the window and he called this woman in. As she came [00:32:00] into his office, he introduced me to a woman named Jan Kruger. He let me know that Jan was led by God to go to school, to go to Zion the week earlier than me to start a learning center. And Jan and I became our first student in the learning center and we worked hard. The first year, most of my, classes were uncredited 'cause I had to learn how to be a student. I didn't know what a syllabi was. I didn't know how to take tests. Uh, we sat in that learning center. I cried, I complained. She was a mom. She hugged me sometimes and she told me to. To suck it up sometimes. And, uh, that was the best advice I could get. So yeah, i'm a proud graduate of Zion Bible College, and I'm ordained with the Assembly of God. So when did you get called into the ministry? Well, pretty much after, it was about my 17th year, 16 years old, I got saved and 17 years old, I was [00:33:00] at a Youth convention, and I pretty much felt like the Lord called me then. Now, I ran from that call for a long time because of my insecurities, my fears, my inabilities. See, when I walked into the room, I always felt like I was junk. Like I was dirt. Like I could offer nobody, nothing. And I was, no, you know, I, that's how I felt about myself. So who would let me be that pastor? What do I have to offer? I could barely read. Look what happened to me. So. For many years I wrestled with it and about 24, 25 years old, I had a brand new truck, little S 10 pickup truck. They called it Bernie because it was purple. I was listening to Petra, remember a Petra? I love Petra. And I was, I was listening to Petra from the seventies not the nineties. Petra and I remember I was listening to Petra and the Holy Spirit filled with the cab of that car and that truck I had to [00:34:00] pull over. I was on old post road. I'll never forget tears coming down my face. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, mark, choose this day whom you'll serve. I've called you and I will equip you. And I said, God, I want you. That's when the journey of. Colleges, and I wish I could tell you it was all roses and cherries after that. It wasn't, you know, there's still a lot of growing up and a lot of overcoming, and a lot of dying to self. And, and there still is. But yeah, that's how I got called and I went to that school and they loved me. They were honest to me. You sound like you had a lot , in coming with Moses with his speech impediment. He was, exiled to be a goat and a sheep herder. They're not gonna listen to me, Lord. You know? Did you feel like that? Oh, sure. I sure did. Like I said, I, for most of my life, I felt like what can I offer? So what I did is I put a facade on myself or I, I lived up to the role that I [00:35:00] thought people wanted from me, or a role to, to find acceptance or protection. So, if I had to be the clown, I was the clown. If I had to be the fool, I was the fool. If I had to be the weak, I was the weak because I felt those things about me. Recently in this weight loss journey and this giving, God has given me confidence. And I say that with much humility because I know it's not my confidence, it's confidence in him. But I've never had confidence before. I feel like a carpenter with a new tool. I feel like, you know, a businessman with a new suit that I've never had confidence before. Now again, it's not confidence in what I have. Because I'm still weak, but it's a confidence going, my Abba father makes a way for me. My Abba father heals me and, and goes before me. So it's, it's a kind of a new season for me to be confident and say, you know what? I can live a healthy life. People ask me why I lost the weight. [00:36:00] And I remember I was reading the scripture, and you're probably familiar with it, is when the Pharisee comes to the Lord or it says to him, Lord, how does one enter the kingdom of heaven? And the Lord says, well, what is written? He says, Lord, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, and with all your spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself. I've read that a million times. I've preached on it. I've studied it. One day I was reading it, he said, Lord, I know you love me, mark, but you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love yourself, so you can't love your neighbor. And I realized because I didn't love myself, I wasn't taking care of myself. I love my children. I love my wife. I wanna take care of 'em. They don't need me. I wife can, but I want to. I wanna do things for, I wanna take care of 'em. I wanna help 'em be better and stronger and smarter and wiser, and love the Lord. And I realized I didn't love myself. So the weight loss journey, forgiving the nightmare, forgiving my mom, forgiving the abusers, forgiving those [00:37:00] who betrayed me as a child, helped me begin to love myself again. No visions of grander. I'm still a just a normal guy saved by grace. Uh, I still put my big foot in my mouth, my wife can come in and tell you all the stories, but, uh, but you know, I started to love myself and. It sounds like, you found your self worth in the Lord Jesus because Jesus sees you as his child. You are a child of God, and that's where your worth is. So it sounds like your healing journey brought you to that place. Yeah. It's not self-confidence like the world says it is. It's how God sees you. You're precious and you're loved. Amen. And you're valuable. He died for you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You're gonna get me going now. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, hallelujah. I want others to [00:38:00] experience this. You know, I, my whole ministry, I've been surrounded by hurting people and hurting churches. I've worked with people that have had major traumas in their life. Not that I ever sought it. I can't. I think the Lord just led me to it. And as I've worked with people, people say that I've been able to bring comfort. I'm easy to talk to. I thought, well, okay, Lord. And I want people to find that freedom that I have. I understand being shackled to pain in the past. I understand allowing those things to form the way you think about and believe about yourself, and never truly being set free. Waking up with that numbing feeling of brokenness all the time. All the time, just constantly. But God truly set me free. He set me free. And because he set me free, I'm nobody special. And being a pastor, I see so many people that have a [00:39:00] form of this and they don't. They haven't gone through it. So they're still living with a confession in Christ, but still the hurts of the past. Blame them. I don't, I'm not putting fingers, I'm not taking the log out on my own eye before I take the twig from their eye. But I'm saying the freedom that God has for his people. Uh, and again, do we still stumble? Yeah. Do we still need refining? Sure. Are we still the clay? And he's still the potter of court, but there's a freedom that we find as a pastor. I've just met so many people who will say, pastor, I'm killed. I'm delivered. And you realize it's, it's only an inch deep. It's, you know, as soon as they get tested, as soon as they get, get bothered, it just spills out. It pulls out of them in, in a defense or in, in a rejection or in a way they, they have a self view of the world or of themselves. Now God's consent is free. God can set [00:40:00] us free. So, what's the difference between being a victim and being victorious? Hallelujah. Well, in my humble opinion, a victim is somebody who always sees themselves broken, sees themselves in a way that, that that allows them to stay in their victimhood. For a long time, my victimhood became my identity. I remember one day when the Lord brought me to the altar and he said those words to me. He said, mark, I want you to give this up. And I literally said, in an audible voice, Lord, if I'm not a victim, then what am I? Because all I knew was the, the role of being a victim. Oh, my victimhood was good. I could manipulate with it. I could win every argument with it. Oh, when I was 16 years old, my mom, who was a single mom with not much money she bought me a car. I had a phone in my room. I had cable on my own [00:41:00] tv. She made me breakfast in bed. Why she owed that to me. Why? Because I was a victim. And I got to see how I could win every argument at school. I could put my head down and I could lift up my head and go, well, who here else was molested? I was, and no one would say anything. And the Lord rebuked me at that and said, said, yeah, that's what victims do. At least that's what I did. He said, I wanna make you victorious. And I remember him saying, me saying to the Lord, if I'm not a victim, what am I? And he said, you're victorious in me. I had to learn what it meant to be victorious. Amen. I had to learn to let that facade go. Let that personality go, let that old man die and let the new man of Christ rise up inside him. That is awesome. I just love that. I've never heard anybody describe it like that. Now, I prefer the, word survivor instead of victim. But I think you took [00:42:00] it up another notch. We are, victorious in the Lord. Well, my victimhood, you know, as much as I was a victim, but I used it for my own gain. Mm-hmm. Which made me just as not guilty of what happened to me, but made me not a healthy place. It put me in a Right. But it's all I knew, you know, I could manipulate, I could win the argument. Right. I was the guy. Who else here was stabbed and burnt and abused? I could show you my scars where they stabbed me. I could show you the burn marks. I was prostituted for other men to abuse me. Boy, you know, I could really win the, the argument. But that was wrong. Yeah, it was wrong. It was wrong to put that on my mother, it's wrong to put that on my family. It was wrong to put that on others. And the Lord had to rebuke me and, uh, wow. And he did, because he loves, he rebukes the ones he loves, so he rebuked you. I just so appreciate your raw [00:43:00] and honest, telling of your story. Because, you've heard stories where they just put the fluff or they put the stuff that's gonna, bring up the ratings or whatever. But you really, kept it real. And I think you're a great pastor because people see that you're a real person. You're not some fake up there that can't relate to your congregation's problems, do you feel that way? Oh, definitely. You know, my congregation, as you know, like we talked earlier, I wrestle with dyslexia and every once in a while I'll stumble over a word while I'm reading the Bible and in front of my congregation. And, and that really bothered me for a long time. My Lord, I'm a pastor. How can I not read this and now. When I stumble over a word, my congregation yells it up to me. So I'll be on the platform. And you know what? They'll see me stumbling and you know, they'll yell it up to me and it's just a term of endearment. [00:44:00] It's not been one of rejection or shame, and I say, you know what? I'm doing that just to make sure you're in the Bible. That's what I tell 'em. But I'll be reading the scripture and, and my dyslexia kick in, or, or the word will be all scrambled. And, and they're the kind voices. Oh, pastor, that's, that means this. And, and it's kind of a nice direction. I tell people the church I pastor is a real church with real people serving a real God. Wow. So, wow. Fancy fluff. Church don't come to us because, you know, we're real and we cry together, we do life together. We step on each other's toes. We don't always agree, but we always love God. That is so awesome. Pastor of Christian is Alia Scott. That's right. I didn't announce your church name. I wanted to ask you to tell another story about. You said that you met your birth father at one point. What happened during that reunion Union? [00:45:00] Well, I was 45 years old and I wanted to reach, I wanted to know, I tell people my birth father and I met at the right place in life. I think if I would've met him younger, I would've still been angry. Rejected Kyle, but I was 45. I was the father of four. I've made my own mistakes, my own problems. I learned to mature a little bit. To be really frank, my father's wife passed on, so he was more ready to meet me. So his wife that he had the affair on to si me, if you would, she passed. So he was more open to meet me and uh, I just didn't meet him, but the whole family met him together. We met in a restaurant, we met in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the family came in and the kids instantly. Started to call him grandpa. I thought, I don't know if I'm okay with that. And he never rejected it. So the last few years of [00:46:00] life, we just lost him. I, I had him for about four years. It wasn't warm and fuzzy, daddy and son, but it was something, we had a relationship. We'd talk about sports, we'd talk about life. He was a snowbird from Massachusetts to Florida and he just kind of let me know. So I'm very thankful for the four years I had. Again, it wasn't, Hey buddy, I'm proud of you kind of moment, but I got to find out a little bit about. Who my dad was and who some of my relatives are on my father's side. I got to learn about some of the health conditions of, of my father. And you know, he said he was pretty, he made it to 84. He liked to drink and he liked ladies, I like Jesus, I like one lady, Wow. That's an incredible story. I tell people it was the right time. Again, if I would've met him at 25, I would've been angry. I would've said, you know, why did you abandon me? 45 was a good time because. You know what, by that [00:47:00] time I, I stepped in enough life of my own to, to not, to be slow to judge, oh, God does have the perfect timing. I haven't spoken much about my story at all on here, but my husband and I talk about, boy, I wish that we had met, long time ago, you know, and skipped all the pain because we were both victims of abuse from our previous spouses. I'm sorry. And, um, but we thought about it and we thought we were different people. If we met at that time, I don't think I would've been interested in you and you wouldn't have been interested in me. And, I think that God brought us together this time of our life. No, we've been married 11 years. Congratulations. Thank you. So, God brought us together at our time of life because that was the perfect time and Sure. We're best friends. We never even have had a real fight. We didn't disagree, of course, but now you should write a book [00:48:00] about that. Okay. I mean, we disagree and, um, get on each other's nerves, but the Lord has just, you're normal. Just blessed us. Yeah, we're definitely normal. Um, especially during pandemic. It's like you learn about your spouse when you're stuck with them 24 7. Right? That's true. That's true. Yeah, we had to make some adjustments. Amen. And, um, we still love each other, and that it's great when you're talking about times of life, you know, for such a time as this, and I think for me, the Lord spoke to me years ago about forgiving the nightmare ministry. He actually spoke to me when I was in college about this. I didn't know it was gonna, uh, blossom or what it was gonna look like, but he spoke to me years ago about writing it down and it was always inside me. And I kept, my wife knew about it. We would always think, how's the, what's the Lord gonna do with this? Is it distant inside me to guide me through life? Is it more for others? Is it, Lord, how's it, how's it [00:49:00] gonna? Blossom if you would manifest. And we lost my mom and I have to tell you that, not immediately, but pretty quick. After losing my mom, I felt like this ministry could just launch. And it has launched. God has brought, brought a web designer into our life. He's brought some, um, producers into our life to help me tell the story. We're talking with a, an editor and a publisher. All this has happened fairly quickly. And I think, Lord, why now? And I think, to be honest with you, and this is just my opinion, I, I don't know if I have chapter and verse to back this up, but my mom was so embarrassed. She was so full of shame because of my upbringing every time for the last 20 years of my life, every time me and my mom were alone together, she would just apologize. And I don't just mean say, sorry. She would grovel and I would say, mom, I forgive you. I forgive you, [00:50:00] Marky. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And if my mom knew that I was speaking to podcasts or writing a book, she would've been so, so embarrassed. So she may, it would've just troubled her so much. So I think outta the grace of God, and again, don't have chapter and verse, but I think upon her passing released me to be able to share this story, to be able to bring others into it, to just think God was being merciful to my mom on her journey. And again, it was almost pretty instant after her, uh, her own passing that I remember being on the treadmill one morning and the Lord just kind of. Just impressing upon me by giving the nightmare. Remember those words? I spoke to you. This is where it's gonna take place. And since then, we've made a couple videos, uh, we've launched a website. I'm talking to wonderful people like yourself and just trying to get the [00:51:00] story out of forgiving the Nightmare and trying to say to people whatever that nightmare was. Was it physical and sexual abuse like mine? Was it a tragedy in your life? Is it regrets? Is it fears? Is it the loss of a child or a loved one? Whatever that pain is that your nightmare. I want you to know that God can help you forgive it and overcome it and break the shackles so we don't have to be the man or the person. The hurt tried to make us. We no longer have to be Jacob. We can become Israel. Your mom would be so proud of you. And I think that, thank you. If, the Lord's probably told her, you know, the good things that have come out of a terrible situation, she said she had, you said she had some shame. Oh. I think if she was looking down at you now that, that shame would be gone. [00:52:00] That shame is no longer there. Look how God's using my son, my, my wonderful son to spread the gospel and to help people. And so Well, thank you. I'm so thankful for you, brother. Thank you for saying those words, sister. It's very kind of you. I used to say to my mom, even up to her last days, I would say, mom, who's your favorite? And she would say, I love you all, all the same. And I'd say, mom, stop lying to my siblings. I'm the youngest of three. My older brother and my older sister never made me feel like a step or a half brother. Uh, we just kind of always lived in the same house. We got real family problems and just life, but they've never left, never met me, felt, never let me feel like I was less than even to today. So I'm very thankful. My oldest sister, who is, a second mom to me, my oldest sister, she is my second mom and I'm thankful for her. So. Wow. Well, we [00:53:00] just had just a great time tonight. When your book comes out, please contact me. I would love to have you on the show again, to promote your book because obviously you, your story is so powerful and we wanna get it out to as many people as we can. So, tell the folks how to connect with you. Well, the best way to connect with me is@forgivingthenightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com is the best way to connect with me. If you go there, you'll find a email, it's called mark@forgivingthenightmare.com. That comes directly to me, right on my phone. So that's the best way to connect with me. Also you can go to our Facebook page called, forgiving the Nightmare. For giving Nightmare Facebook page. I try to put up pictures and little devotions there and stories there. So that's the two. Best way through Facebook, after Giving the Nightmare, after giving the Nightmare do [00:54:00] com, those are the best ways to connect with me. And I hope to get so Arizona someday. You have an open invitation. Wow. I'll be a tour guide for you. I know that Arizona like the back of my hand. Wow. Wow. Now my children could hear you in the background, so they're gonna be pretty excited about that invitation. There's so much stuff for, for their Edge group as well. So, we will hook you guys up. So thanks for being patient with the tech stuff and I'm glad we pushed through and didn't let the devil get the victory tonight. We found a way to get you on here. That's right. May I pray for you as we close. Oh yes, please. Thank you. Father God, we just come to you tonight and we thank you again for your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we thank you for the sacrifice that he gave to us upon the cross, Lord. And we pay the price we could not pray, Lord. And we thank you for the gift of life [00:55:00] and life more abundant. Lord, we thank you for the promises. It says in this life there will be many troubles, but fear not because you are with us always. And Lord, tonight I pray for my sister. Father, I thank you that you're using her Lord. To spread the gospel to share, hope to be a light and a dark place. But Father, now, I pray that you come beside her father as she's shared that she's lost her brother this week, Lord. And I pray you comfort her. Lord, you said you had to go so the comforter could come. I pray, the comfort of the Holy Spirit will come beside my sister and be with her and her family as they grieve their loved one, their family member, their friend, Lord. So Lord I pray peace upon my sister. I pray Lord that you use her, continue to bless her. I thank you for the testimony of her and her husband, 11 years that you've brought together for such a time as this. I pray, Lord God, that they grow closer to you so they can grow closer to each other. And Lord, we thank you tonight [00:56:00] that Lord, we're no longer Jacob. You've made us Israel Father, no longer do we have to be shaped by our past, but now we can hold on to the promises. Lord, no longer does, we have to be shackled by somebody else's abuse, and we can be set free by your word. So, Lord, I pray that you fill us. You lead us, and may we be the light and may we be the salt, and may we lift up your name. We pray for a unity across our nation. We pray for a healing across our land, and we pray, Lord, for a revival of your salvation to come to our our country again, in Jesus name, amen. Thank you so much, brother. God bless, sister. Thank you. Take care yourself. Bye now. Bye. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at [00:57:00] DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

   SO the broadcast from Mars was a failure and what do you do when that happens? Broadcast from Venus of course, AND you get an extra special Venusian Expert to help out with the lay of the land, a guy who KNOWS women are from Venus, BILL CLINTON!!with all that happening we have our returning guest and good friend of the show, PASTOR MARK SOWERSBY with his new movie trailer and another new book! We also discuss our current state of country and laugh at it all because we know Gods got us covered and we're wrapped in his love!And we couldn't do this as well with out MRS A'S FAMOUS SALSA BUENA, RABBITINREDRADIO.COM, & Spreaker Prime & iHeart Radio & The Colonel with THE ADVISER facebook Group and our friends at Creative Clothing/Coatings!!

In episode 193, Pastor Mark Sowersby invites us to answer a difficult question: could we be choosing unforgiveness? Many of us have been wronged by another and found it hard to forgive, but in the midst we may believe we aren't then choosing unforgiveness, we're simply not giving them a pass. After intense childhood trauma, Pastor Mark found himself as an adult struggling to forgive, until God revealed the intense negative power of unforgiveness' and His power to forgive. How might God be inviting you to choose forgiveness? Connect with Pastor Mark:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://youtu.be/W07oCKA0iBk https://forgivingthenightmare.com  ~ Paul creates this as part of his full-time volunteer ministry. If you appreciate what God is doing through this podcast, you can help keep it going through financial support. Gifts can be processed at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://worldoutreach.org/707 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ Have a story to share? Hard questions to process? A desire for authentic, accessible space? You can leave a brief message at (804) 372-3836, or schedule a conversation (with a twist!) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.wheredidyouseegod.com/conversation-with-a-twist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ Check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.WhereDidYouSeeGod.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ One of these books will be relevant to your life right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amazon.com/author/paulgranger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ Wear an amazing conversation-starter! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bonfire.com/store/where-did-you-see-god/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ The music in this episode is "You'll walk, you'll run" by Urban Doxology, from their amazing album "Bread for the Journey." ~ Learn more about how God's calling us: Pray: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/GrangerPray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/GrangerList⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠worldoutreach.org/707⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ~ #authenticspace #dialogue #Godstillspeaks #WDYSG #conversation #invitation #Riversidefm #PodMatch #faith #stories #childhoodtrauma #abuse #sexualabuse #forgiveness #unforgiveness

We all go through moments where forgiving someone is really hard. But in this podcast episode, you'll hear a different perspective on forgiveness.Our guest, Pastor Mark Sowersby, bravely talks about his tough childhood marked by abuse and how he struggled to forgive and heal.He talks about how abuse affects the mind and how there wasn't much support or awareness back then. Pastor Mark also shares how he found faith and a supportive community, and how forgiveness changed his life.He opens up about confronting his abuser and the relief he felt after forgiving them. Pastor Mark ends with words of hope and prayer for anyone who has been through trauma.In this podcast, Pastor Mark Sowersby shares a strong message about God's grace and why being true to ourselves in our relationship with Him matters.Chapters00:00 Podcast's Introduction01:35 Guest's Background02:50 The Start of the Years of Abuse05:32 Impact of Abuse on Pastor Mark's family07:27 Effects of Abuse on Mark's Mind09:24 The Turning Point of His Life12:03 Finding Refuge and Protection14:41 Finding Faith and Joining a Church16:57 Seeking God's presence19:21 Receiving God's Answer20:45 Reading the Bible and Meeting His Future Wife23:39 Struggle with Forgiveness24:48 Moving the Mountain of Forgiveness26:30 Putting the Cross in Front28:18 Confronting the Abuser30:27 Understanding Forgiveness34:50 The Journey of Forgiveness37:02 Mark's Future Projects38:24 Encouragement and PrayerResources mentioned:Forgiving The Nightmare Website "Forgiving The Nightmare" BookGuest's bio and social handles:InstagramFacebookPastor Mark Sowersby accepted the position of Lead Pastor at Calvary Community Church in the summer of 2021. He grew up in North Attleboro, MA, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. He has been an ordained minister with the Assembly of God for 25 years. Pastor Mark also leads a ministry called Forgiving the Nightmare. In 2019 he went through a time of great healing and began speaking about the experiences of his past, God's grace, and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry and book Forgiving The Nightmare.When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes of New England, spending time with his family. He and his wife Jennifer are blessed with four healthy children. Call to action:To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.comTo find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.And if we like it, we might just read your review on the podcast!

Melissa and Amanda are thrilled to welcome the first man to the table, Pastor Mark Sowersby. Mark shares his journey of forgiveness and healing from sexual abuse. Learn more about Mark and his book "Forgiving the Nightmare" at https://forgivingthenightmare.comThank you for joining Melissa and Amanda at the Table! This has been a production of Asha Media. Please share the Tablecast with other women by leaving us a rating on your listening platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please help us share it more with other women just like you by leaving us a rating!

Trauma is such a difficult topic but we don't shy away from the hard here at Treasured Wellness.  Today's guest shares his story with abuse and trauma but also shares the role of forgiveness through God's grace in trauma recovery. Pastor Mark Sowersby is the founder and pastor of Forgiving the Nightmare Ministry. The Lord brought Pastor Mark on a journey to forgive the ones who trespassed against him.   Forgiving the Nightmare is a ministry to help people walk through forgiveness from past hurts or abuse by sharing the love of God and encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I pray this encourages you, strengthens you and gives you hope today! XO, Michelle   Contact Pastor Mark: www.forgivingthenightmare.com https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 https://www.facebook.com/forgivingthenightmare?mibextid=LQQJ4d     **If you need help in making better food and lifestyle choices, reach out to me. I have opened up additional slots for the month of Sept for a Food & Lifestyle review session. We will take 1 whole hour to have my eyes on your food and lifestyle routines, habits and to spot potential causes for fatigue or just not feeling like you want to feel.  This also includes a  follow up call 2 weeks after session to see how you are doing with the implementation of the changes we discussed. (Payment plan available w/fees waived for September!) Constantly tired and feeling stuck on how to increase your energy? Book your 1 hour FATIGUE FREEDOM COACHING SESSION for only $47! In just one hour you will get clarity on what your personal fatigue causes or triggers are so that you can be intentional in your day to banish them and have more natural energy. You will walk away with a simple customized holistic health plan to take the next steps to where you want to go in your health journey. Grab your session now!   Join me in my FB Group, Holistic Health for Christian Women over 40, to be supported, encouraged and educated in your health https://www.facebook.com/groups/933692933927629   Want more FREE tips on how to regain your energy in a natural way using clear daily action steps along with some delicious and supportive recipes? Grab my FREE Foggy and Fatigued Blueprint Let's DO IT!! Know that you want to be ALL IN for 4 months of intentional lifestyle change and rid your body of toxic inflammation? Want to also improve your immune system as you begin to implement fresh, consistent changes? I have your back! Make the changes you need to move the needle forward in your health in a way that is doable. The SHAPE ReClaimed Anti-inflammatory Lifestyle Modification Program is for you!   **Catch the Treasured Wellness Podcast on https://christianmix106.com/   YouTube  AND https://actsmediagroup.net/radio-free-america-internet-radio/   Related Episodes:  Ep. 156 Healing from Trauma? Ep. 167 Unresolved Trauma keeping you sick? Ep. 162 Can you have more peace & less anxiety?

Your nightmare may be a trauma of any kind, a story of pain, abuse, and hurt. Pastor Mark Sowersby from New England, MA shares his story for God's glory to help people find healing in Jesus Christ. He admits his journey is a messy one but one with a beautiful outcome. Tune in and be uplifted, and encouraged - know you are not alone and that healing is only found in Jesus Christ. Connect with him @ www.forgivingthenightmare.com; follow him @forgivingthenightmare or Mark Sowersby and get his book on Amazon- Forgiving the Nightmare. Do you want to be a guest on the show or connect with me? Send me an email @info@aaopcs.net To purchase book, Empowerment for you: Encouragement for your Emotional and Spiritual Wellness, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JRQC2M4 and to purchase the Empowered to Empower you Reflection Workbook, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MDGXRVW --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bewindi-aquilla-bobb/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bewindi-aquilla-bobb/support

Have you been the victim of abuse? Have you experienced trauma in your life? Are you finding it difficult to forgive someone who hurt you? In this episode Minister Paula talks with the Author of Forgiving The Nightmare,Pastor Mark Sowersby. Mark Sowersby is an ordained minister and has been in ministry for over 25 years. He and his wife, Jennifer have been married for seventeen years and are the parents of four children. He is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in central Massachusetts. Mark and Jennifer launched Forgiving The Nightmare Ministry in 2020. Mark's testimony is not for the faint in heart. It is a testimony of forgiveness, God's grace, and overcoming in the midst of life's hurts, pains, and abuses. Although we can't change the past, by God's Grace and the power of prayer we can forgive the nightmare. Mark's testimony reminds us there is hope in Jesus! Connect with Mark Sowersby via email mark@forgivingthenightmare.com and website https://forgivingthenightmare.com/about/ To purchase book: Forgiving the Nightmare https://a.co/d/6Birgtt "God became bigger than the hate and louder than the hurt.” Mark Sowersby

Even though your past can be painful, it doesn't have to be your identity. Today's featured bonus author is father, husband, and Pastor, Mark Sowersby. Pastor Mark and I had a chat about his book, "Forgiving the Nightmare", his process of dealing with the tough memories to write it, and more!! Key Things You'll Learn: What led him to become a pastor after going through abuse as a child Three leadership lessons learned from being a pastor Mark's Site: https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ Mark's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 You May Also Like… 290 – "The Forgiveness Solution" with Rev. Misty Tyme (@Rev_Misty_Tyme): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/290-the-forgiveness-solution-with-rev-misty-tyme-rev_misty_tyme-c2h/ Ep. 539 – "Run to the Father" with Michael Towers (@mikesbestlife): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-539-run-to-the-father-with-michael-towers-mikesbestlife/ Ep. 368 – "Unfailing Grace" with Julie Carrick (@julie84602521): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-368-unfailing-grace-with-julie-carrick-julie84602521/ Ep. 364 – "7 Deadly Thoughts" with Pastor Travis Hall (@PastorTHall): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-364-7-deadly-thoughts-with-pastor-travis-hall-pastorthall/ Ep. 336 – "The Radical Gospel" with Jayson Derowitsch (@JaysonDerowits1): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-336-the-radical-gospel-with-jayson-derowitsch-jaysonderowits1/ #HolidayBonus Ep. – "Fireproof" with David Hollenbach III (@HollenbachLEAD): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/holidaybonus-ep-fireproof-with-david-hollenbach-iii-hollenbachlead/ #Bonus Ep. – "Perfectly Flawed" with Janae Sergio (@janae_sergio): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/bonus-ep-perfectly-flawed-with-janae-sergio-janae_sergio/ Ep. 564 – "Bigger Better Braver" with Nancy Pickard (@cnancyrun): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-564-bigger-better-braver-with-nancy-pickard-cnancyrun/ 229 – "Unbroken" with Tajci Cameron (@TajciCameron): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/229-unbroken-with-tajci-cameron-tajcicameron/

On this episode we have a special guest who will share his testimony. How do you forgive when you've been wounded deeply? Pastor Mark Sowersby shares his testimony with his ministry and book by the same name, Forgiving The Nightmare. If you are in an abusive situation please reach out to someone. There is a way out. https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 https://www.facebook.com/forgivingthenightmare?mibextid=LQQJ4d http://linkedin.com/in/mark-sowersby-660aa1236

How do you forgive when you've been wounded deeply? How do you move past the pain that keeps you up at night, leaves you isolated, untrusting, and afraid? How can you possibly forgive them, especially when they don't deserve forgiveness? Pastor Mark Sowersby shares his testimony with his ministry and book by the same name, Forgiving The Nightmare. He writes — "After living through years of sexual and physical abuse, the Lord brought me on a journey to forgive the ones who trespassed against me. Forgiving the Nightmare is a ministry to help people walk through forgiveness from past hurts or abuse by sharing the love of God and encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In 2019 I began speaking publicly about my personal journey, being transparent, open, and genuine. I have also written a book by the same name Forgiving the Nightmare Here is a link to my website and video." https://youtu.be/W07oCKA0iBk www.forgivingthenightmare.com FTN has been asked to produce a Forgiving The Nightmare TV series. They are fundraising to support this. Mark shares, “Thank you for your prayers and help. May the Lord be glorified. God bless you.” https://www.givesendgo.com/FTNTV?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=FTNTV

How do you forgive when you've been wounded deeply? How do you move past the pain that keeps you up at night, leaves you isolated, untrusting, and afraid? How can you possibly forgive them, especially when they don't deserve forgiveness? Pastor Mark Sowersby shares his testimony with his ministry and book by the same name, Forgiving The Nightmare. He writes — "After living through years of sexual and physical abuse, the Lord brought me on a journey to forgive the ones who trespassed against me. Forgiving the Nightmare is a ministry to help people walk through forgiveness from past hurts or abuse by sharing the love of God and encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In 2019 I began speaking publicly about my personal journey, being transparent, open, and genuine. I have also written a book by the same name Forgiving the Nightmare Here is a link to my website and video." https://youtu.be/W07oCKA0iBk www.forgivingthenightmare.com FTN has been asked to produce a Forgiving The Nightmare TV series. They are fundraising to support this. Mark shares, “Thank you for your prayers and help. May the Lord be glorified. God bless you.” https://www.givesendgo.com/FTNTV?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=FTNTV

Reverend Mark Sowersby Discusses his new book "Forgiving the Nightmare" He recounts his survival of both sexual, emotional, and physical abuse fro age 7 to 14 at the hands of his mothers husbandMeet Mark Sowersby. Speaker. Writer. Pastor. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the nightmare of abuse and years of suffering he experienced in his childhood. And how condemnation, shame, and guilt were replaced with forgiveness, joy, and life in abundance. He now speaks about his story and his testimony of healing, forgiveness and freedom through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. . Forgivingthenightmare.comhttps://www.instagram.com/forgiving_the_nightmare_/https://twitter.com/SowersbyMarkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKS97tXY8cSiQLfRXXBCMXwhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-sowersby-660aa1236/Book Pastor Mark to SpeakPastor Mark Sowersby has a testimony to share about how he was set free from a nightmare of abuse and years of suffering. Condemnation, shame, and guilt were replaced with forgiveness, joy, and life in abundance.Mark's ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare is on mission to help those who have experienced hurt, abuse, and pain find freedom and peace through God's love and the many facets of forgiveness.His testimony, told to live audiences, on television, and through his book, is a powerful reflection of the love of our Savior. Since 2019, he's been sharing his story around the world of how he went from hurting to health, from death to life.Transcript Link herehttps://forgivingthenightmare.com/How do you move past the pain that keeps you up at night, leaves you isolated, untrusting, and afraid? How can you possibly forgive them, especially when they don't deserve forgiveness? Pastor Mark Sowersby shares his testimony with his ministry and book by the same name, Forgiving The Nightmare.Pastor Mark Sowersby has a testimony to share about how he was set free from a nightmare of abuse and years of suffering. Condemnation, shame, and guilt were replaced with forgiveness, joy, and life in abundance.Mark's ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare is on mission to help those who have experienced hurt, abuse, and pain find freedom and peace through God's love and the many facets of forgiveness.His testimony, told to live audiences, on television, and through his book, is a powerful reflection of the love of our Savior. Since 2019, he's been sharing his story around the world of how he went from hurting to health, from death to life.Mark Sowersby·00:01John already knew that he was the Messiah. But the stress of prison, this man who lived outside that ete locust that walked everywhere, now he's confined into a prison. The stress of that started to steal his faith away. So he didn't need answer. He was there in the Jordan River with a votes for he just needed a testimony. Asked John. Does he remember? Remember? Does he remember? So I think in my sense I was in a prison of abuse, but I was free in Christ. And I had my answer that the ugliness of abuse is never what God intended for me. But I needed a testimony, not just answer. Introduction·00:44Marcus Averillius said, what we do in life echoes through eternity. What is your life echoing through eternity? Welcome to Echoes Through Eternity with Dr. Jeffrey Skinner. Our mission is to inspire, engage, and encourage leaders from across the globe to plant missional churches and be servant leaders. So join us and hear the stories of servant leaders reverberating lives as God echoes them through eternity. Brought to you by Missional church planting and leadership development and Dynamic church Planting. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·01:15International welcome in Echoes Through Eternity. I am your host, Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner. What is God echoing through your life today? I am joined in the studio today by Reverend Mark. Soarsby this is a pretty I just want to give a cautionary tale here. We generally deal with very G rated material and today is a very serious subject. We all recognize that we live in a fallen world and that no one is perfect except for Jesus. There's been one perfect man that has lived and we are certainly not it. And so our homes have a degree of brokenness. All of them do. And some of them have a further degree of brokenness than others. Mark has experienced some trauma and we'll be talking a little bit about that trauma today. He was sexually abused. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·02:05And so if you have young children and are listening to this podcast, probably do not want them listening to this one. I will always give you a warning. We're not going to get explicit or anything like that, but certainly just want to give you an opportunity that if you are particularly sensitive to that topic or if you have young children, then this probably will not be the episode for you. I think it is an important conversation to have within Christian circles because we do live in a fallen world and this is prevalent in the Kingdom of God as well as outside the kingdom, unfortunately. We know people that have been abused by parents, but also people have been abused by pastors, unfortunately, and Christian leaders. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·02:48And we're to the point that where we have to do background checks and things like that on Christian leaders today to be sure of that. So that being said, I just want to give you guys a second to check out the podcast. If you have just knowing what's coming here. Again, we will not be explicit, but I do want to offer cautionary tale to kind of let you know that today's subject matter is a little bit PG in the sense that it's very sensitive conversation here. We will not be explicit. I do want to say that beyond that, welcome in, Marcus. It's great to have you, man. Mark Sowersby·03:25Hey, thank you for having me, Dr. Jeff. It's wonderful to be with you and your audience today. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my testimony. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·03:33Yeah. And so Mark and I got connected through the podcast, through Echoes Through Eternity website. He reached out, said, hey, I've got a book, just wrote basically my personal story. I'd like to send it to you. You read over it, and if you feel like there's a fit for your podcast, have me on and I read it. Very good book is very personal stuff here. And as you said, it is your story, it is your journey, and it's what God has taught you through that journey. And one of the things that you say in your book is that when you go through something with God, make a record of it, record it, journal it, do something to mark that place. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·04:12We don't build altars to God necessarily anymore as we cross over these places, but we certainly see those as times where they became milestones in the journey of leaders from the Bible times. And so today, whatever that journey is for you, that is one of the things that you encourage. So, yes, the title of the book I'll show you here is Forgiving The Nightmare. It's going to show up backwards on your screen if you're watching on video. And we will include all of Mark's contact information. He's got lots of things in the work. He's been on 700 Club. God is using his story. But anyway, it is great to have Mark in the studio today. And again, the name of the book is Forgiving The Nightmare. Mark Soresby will put all that in the show notes there. He will have a blog. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·04:59He'll be doing a guest blog. We'll have that up for the show as well. That will be linked in the show notes. Anyway, I just want to get started here. Great having you, Mark. Thanks again, brother. Let me ask you a quick question here. So you are a danger in the Assemblies of God, right? Mark Sowersby·05:14I am. That's right, of God. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·05:17And you and I were talking before the show. We've got a mutual connection in the Church of Nazarene. You had a former pastor who was in the Church of Nazarene coming to Assemblies of God. Mark Sowersby·05:28Yeah, I kind of grew up in a church that had a blend of assembly of God, Nazarene. So I have a soft spot for both Fellowships, both churches in my heart because I had a lot of great Nazarene people. If you would love me. And the title on the door said assembly of God. That if you walked into the church, it was definitely a blend of both fellowships, learning to come together and to love each other and to lift up the name of Jesus. So, yeah, I would say there's a lot of nazarene in this AG guy. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·06:02Yeah, well, it's all part of the kingdom, right? And that's what we want to celebrate. And we're all lifting up here at the Kingdom of God. We can all have our opinions and interpretations, but in the end, it's all about Jesus, right? Mark Sowersby·06:13That's right. That's right. Dr. Jeffery D Skinner·06:20Well, Mark, let me get a quick question here. Who would you say this book is for? I know were talking a little bit before you said that it was really less about abuse and more about trauma. Who would you say it's for? Mark Sowersby·06:31Well, I think there's a three statement answer for this. First, when I stepped out to do this, I felt the Lord was calling me to do this. So it's the answer, the yes to the call, to allow myself to be so wid

Meet Mark Sowersby.  Speaker.  Writer.  Pastor.  In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing.  He began speaking about the nightmare of abuse and years of suffering he experienced in his childhood.  And how condemnation, shame, and guilt were replaced with forgiveness, joy, and life in abundance.   Mark Sowersby is author of Forgiving the nightmare where he shares his story, of abuse, neglect, torture, and much more.  At the age of 16 he found the love of Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as Lord, and Savior.  He now speaks about his story and his testimony of healing, forgiveness and freedom through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare.   "It's far more than just forgiving the abuse. It's walking in forgiveness. It's walking in joy. It's not allowing the things of the past to have control over the things of the future."Forgiving The NightmarePastor Mark is on mission to help others find freedom and peace through the telling of his story.  https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ Support the showLeave a review https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dorsey-ross-show/id1495921329 Check out my ministry website at https://www.dorseyrossministries.com Donate at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorseyross

We all have a trauma, trauma and hurt is a part of life! But you are not alone! On this weeks episode we speak with Pastor Mark Sowersby on the topic of forgiveness and how he ultimately came to the conclusion that God is bigger then his problems! Click the links below to check out Pastor Marks book forgiving the nightmare as well as a link to hit website and also a link to the called to act merch store if you feel led to support the ministry in that way! God bless! Pastor Marks book: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 Website: https://forgivingthenightmare.com Called to Act store: https://called-to-act-podcast.myspreadshop.com/called+to+act+podcast?idea=63487ac35d67384d00868bb9 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

WARNING-- This episode discusses the topic of sexual abuse, rape.Have you been hurt? Not just physical hurt, but emotional and psychological abuse? Pastor Mark Sowersby, founder of "Forgiving the Nightmare" Ministries, joins us to discuss his childhood abuse and neglect. He describes his tumultuous upbringing with abandonment, personal loss, neglect, and some of the horrors that he faced, but also describes how Christ completely changed his life.Check out his ministry:www.forgivingthenightmare.comJoin Kristi and Matt as they discuss some new year fun, but also focus on "forgiveness". This week's discussion focuses on  Biblical rationale for "Three Reasons Why We Should Forgive", and the 4 Sources of Hurt that often keep us from forgiving others.Sources:Basic Theology by Charles RyrieAnger: Facing the Fire Within by June HuntReflection Verse:Romans 12:1-2Sponsors and/or Advertisements:www.weaponsofrighteousness.orgwww.sevenweekscoffee.comThe Empty Nest (Facebook group page)Charlie Platt & The Dirt Road Sports Show (Facebook group page, YouTube channel)http://www.citizenimpactusa.org/NEW Ad-- SWGA Creations (swgacreations4@gmail.com)Please visit or contact us: creationandcompost@gmail.comOur webpage- Creation and CompostFacebook group pageYouTube 1YouTube 2 "teach THE truth" 1 Peter 3:15-16Support the show

Even though your past can be painful, it doesn't have to be your identity.Today's featured bonus author is father, husband, and Pastor, Mark Sowersby. Pastor Mark and I had a chat about his book, “Forgiving the Nightmare”, his process of dealing with the tough memories to write it, and more!! Key Things You'll Learn:What led him to become a pastor after going through abuse as a childThree leadership lessons learned from being a pastor Mark's Site: https://forgivingthenightmare.com/Mark's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 You May Also Like… 290 – “The Forgiveness Solution” with Rev. Misty Tyme (@Rev_Misty_Tyme): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/290-the-forgiveness-solution-with-rev-misty-tyme-rev_misty_tyme-c2h/ Ep. 539 – “Run to the Father” with Michael Towers (@mikesbestlife): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-539-run-to-the-father-with-michael-towers-mikesbestlife/ Ep. 368 – “Unfailing Grace” with Julie Carrick (@julie84602521): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-368-unfailing-grace-with-julie-carrick-julie84602521/ Ep. 364 – “7 Deadly Thoughts” with Pastor Travis Hall (@PastorTHall): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-364-7-deadly-thoughts-with-pastor-travis-hall-pastorthall/ Ep. 336 – “The Radical Gospel” with Jayson Derowitsch (@JaysonDerowits1): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-336-the-radical-gospel-with-jayson-derowitsch-jaysonderowits1/ #HolidayBonus Ep. – “Fireproof” with David Hollenbach III (@HollenbachLEAD): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/holidaybonus-ep-fireproof-with-david-hollenbach-iii-hollenbachlead/ #Bonus Ep. – “Perfectly Flawed” with Janae Sergio (@janae_sergio): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/bonus-ep-perfectly-flawed-with-janae-sergio-janae_sergio/ Ep. 564 – “Bigger Better Braver” with Nancy Pickard (@cnancyrun): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-564-bigger-better-braver-with-nancy-pickard-cnancyrun/ 229 – “Unbroken” with Tajci Cameron (@TajciCameron): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/229-unbroken-with-tajci-cameron-tajcicameron/

Remember God Loves You, and I, Will, Meet You at the Finish Line Podcast would like to introduce Pastor Mark Sowersbsy. Pastor Mark discusses his new book and his journey with God. He emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and moving forward after asking for forgiveness. I hope you guys tune in and Remember God Loves You, and I, Will, Meet You at the Finish Line:) Here is the link for Pastor Mark Sowersby if you are interested in getting in touch or up to date: https://forgivingthenightmare.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/soslan-temanson/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/soslan-temanson/support

In 2019 Pastor Mark Sowersby went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past abuse and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Upstate New York, spending time with his family. Listen Live on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8 AM CST on 99.1 FM WOMI Owensboro 1490 AM. Keep reading...

It's our 100th anniversary of the podcast! We have Pastor Mark Sowersby back on the podcast to celebrate! We are continuing on our series on How To Study The Bible For Abuse Survivors. Mark knows first hand what it's like to suffer horrible abuse and find his way back to God. We heard his story back on episode 11. He has inspiring and encouraging advice for your journey in reading the Bible and connecting with God. What does a bad restaurant review have to do with Bible Study and the Lord? Well, come and find out! Bio: Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently a Pastor in Massachussets. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. Transcript below: Mark's appearance on The 700 Club: www1.cbn.com www.forgivingthenightmare.com Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Listen Notes Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Mentoring https://youtu.be/WWgkERpkIoY An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Affiliate links: Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP Get one free month of Blubrry podcast hosting with the promotional code: FAITHFUL http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=FAITHFUL Get quality podcast guests and interviews from PodMatch! Get paid to be a host! Sign up below: https://podmatch.com/signup/faithful Visit my friends at the Heal Thrive Dream Boutique for some cool T-shirts, jewelry and other merch! Simply share the discount code we created just for you and receive a 10% discount on your order!  DIANA98825  https://www.htd-boutique.com/ Bible Study Notebook From Karen Robinson! Check it out! https://www.htd-boutique.com/products/bible-planner-for-survivors-includes-prayer-requests-sermon-notes-bible-study-notes-and-other-note-pages-to-enrich-your-spiritual-life Transcript: [00:00:00] Diana Winkler: Hey everybody. Welcome back. I hope that you enjoyed our interview last week. We're continuing on with our series on how to study the Bible. And this is coming from an abuse survivor concept and abuse survivor perspective. [00:00:30] And I feel that this is a very important topic, very important for our healing. So I have a great lineup. Different folks coming on to the show, folks that some of which have been on our show before, repeat guests. [00:00:55] And these are folks that are [00:00:58] Bible [00:01:00] teachers who love Jesus, nearly all of them have been abuse survivors, so they know where you're coming from, [00:01:10] and they are trusted Bible teachers. [00:01:15] These are people that I trust that I followed for a long time and can give you clear guidance on, Hey, how do I study the Bible for myself?

It's our 100th episode of the podcast! We have Pastor Mark Sowersby back on the podcast to celebrate! We are continuing on our series on How To Study The Bible For Abuse Survivors. Mark knows first hand what it's like to suffer horrible abuse and find his way back to God. We heard his story back on episode 11. He has inspiring and encouraging advice for your journey in reading the Bible and connecting with God. What does a bad restaurant review have to do with Bible Study and the Lord? Well, come and find out! Bio: Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently a Pastor in Massachussets. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. Transcript below: Mark's appearance on The 700 Club: www1.cbn.com www.forgivingthenightmare.com Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ https://dswministries.orgsubscribe-to-podcast/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Listen Notes Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Mentoring https://youtu.be/WWgkERpkIoY An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.orgproduct/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.orgdonate/ Affiliate links: Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP Get one free month of Blubrry podcast hosting with the promotional code: FAITHFUL http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=FAITHFUL Get quality podcast guests and interviews from PodMatch! Get paid to be a host! Sign up below: https://podmatch.com/signup/faithful Visit my friends at the Heal Thrive Dream Boutique for some cool T-shirts, jewelry and other merch! Simply share the discount code we created just for you and receive a 10% discount on your order!  DIANA98825  https://www.htd-boutique.com/ Bible Study Notebook From Karen Robinson! Check it out! https://www.htd-boutique.com/products/bible-planner-for-survivors-includes-prayer-requests-sermon-notes-bible-study-notes-and-other-note-pages-to-enrich-your-spiritual-life Transcript: [00:00:00] Diana Winkler: Hey everybody. Welcome back. I hope that you enjoyed our interview last week. We're continuing on with our series on how to study the Bible. And this is coming from an abuse survivor concept and abuse survivor perspective. [00:00:30] And I feel that this is a very important topic, very important for our healing. So I have a great lineup. Different folks coming on to the show, folks that some of which have been on our show before, repeat guests. [00:00:55] And these are folks that are [00:00:58] Bible [00:01:00] teachers who love Jesus, nearly all of them have been abuse survivors, so they know where you're coming from, [00:01:10] and they are trusted Bible teachers. [00:01:15] These are people that I trust that I followed for a long time and can give you clear guidance on, Hey, how do I study the Bible for myself?

In this episode of The On My Mind Podcast with RemyKeene, I have a fantastic conversation and interview with Pastor Mark Sowersby. He shares about overcoming Trauma from his childhood and the key to living with that hurt. His testimony is powerful and I hope it inspires you in some way, no matter the trauma that you've gone through you will be able to pull essential nuggets from the encouraging words in this conversation. The episode is a bit longer than our normal style but I encourage you to listen to the entire thing. You can find more from Mark Sowersby here: www.forgivingthenightmare.com Get the Book Forgiving The Nightmare: HERE LinkedIn: HERE Facebook: HERE Meet the Guest: Pastor. Husband. Father. Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Upstate New York, spending time with his family. Support The On My Mind Podcast Share this Episode with a Friend. Visit our website: https://theonmymindpodcast.com/ Podcast on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/theonmymindpodcast You can follow on social media at the following links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyMindPods TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theonmymindpodcast?lang=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn-0QR9Pa7UkQ7oyiWsu38w Please feel no obligation. You can support the podcast financially by clicking on the support button at the top of the page on this link through Anchor our podcast host. It is very appreciated if you do: https://anchor.fm/theonmymindpodcast ----------------------------- This show is produced, edited, and hosted by @RemyKeene Special Thanks to StreamBeats by HarrisHeller Song: Rocktune by Audionautix --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theonmymindpodcast/support

Forgiving the Nightmare  Mark Sowersby pt 2 https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT ()Forgiveness.  That's something all Christians are called to do, right? Sometimes, it is easier to say rather than do though. But for some, life is not all sunshine and roses. It's a nightmare. One that they cannot wake up from. One that drags them further and further into a deepening pit that they cannot seem to climb out of. Our guest today lived that nightmare… Suffering from physical, emotional and sexual abuse from the age of 7 until 14, in ways that most people cannot even imagine, Mark Sowersby emerged hurt, broken, resentful, rebellious and, well, the list goes on and on. Then, one day, someone asked him to go to church. He heard the message of salvation and a seed was planted. Forgiveness did not pop up like Jonah's gourd. No, it took time. Matthew tells us we need to forgive… But sometimes, there are time gaps between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Pastor Mark Sowersby is the author of a great book detailing his journey. It's titled, “https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (Forgiving the Nightmare.”) Mark is also the lead pastor at Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. He is here today to discuss his book and to share his story in the hope of touching someone somewhere with that same kind of seed. The seed of forgiveness. This is the conclusion of a great, two part interview with Pastor Mark... In your book, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare,”) you talk about the “journey” that you are on. Can you share with us about, what you call, “forgiving at different levels?” Are there still times when something happens that brings those nightmares back and you must forgive again? Do you still have a relationship with your mother? Your personal ministry is also titled, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare.”) Every person has their own kind of “nightmare” which they are living with. Something that the devil has used to try and keep us in some sort of bondage and not serving the Lord the way we would like to. How do you help those like that to overcome their nightmares? Pastor, this has all been so interesting. How can someone order your book, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare?”) Is it available on Amazon? If someone wanted to get in touch with you, to ask a question or possibly do an interview such as this, how can they do that? How can someone get in touch with you? I'll put links to all this down in the show notes below… Folks, not everyone has gone through life carrying the burden Pastor Mark has had to carry. But each one of us has had to carry something. Jesus is big enough to handle it. Jesus can remove those burdens and help you to forgive. Forgive those who have hurt you and even to forgive yourself. If you prayed that prayer with Pastor Mark, reach out to him today, right now!  Let him know that you prayed with him. Amen! Be sure to order his book, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare.”) The links to get in touch with Pastor Mark and to order his book are below. Click them right now – while you are thinking about it!   CONTACT INFORMATION: https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT ()   Email:   Mark@forgivingthenightmare.com Website:   https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ (https://forgivingthenightmare.com) Book:  https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare”) – on Amazon

Forgiving the Nightmare  Mark Sowersby pt 1 https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT ()Forgiveness.  That's something all Christians are called to do, right? Sometimes, it is easier to say rather than do though.  Don't shout me down when I'm preaching good!  You know what I'm talking about! But for some, life is not all sunshine and roses. It's a nightmare. One that they cannot wake up from. One that drags them further and further into a deepening pit that they cannot seem to climb out of. Our guest today lived that nightmare… Suffering from physical, emotional and sexual abuse from the age of 7 until 14, in ways that most people cannot even imagine, Mark Sowersby emerged hurt, broken, resentful, rebellious and, well, the list goes on and on. Then, one day, someone asked him to go to church. He heard the message of salvation and a seed was planted. Forgiveness did not pop up like Jonah's gourd. No, it took time. Matthew tells us we need to forgive… But sometimes, there are time gaps between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Pastor Mark Sowersby is the author of a great book detailing his journey. It's titled, “https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (Forgiving the Nightmare.”) Mark is also the lead pastor at Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. He is here today to discuss his book and to share his story in the hope of touching someone somewhere with that same kind of seed. The seed of forgiveness. Help me welcome to the program, Pastor Mark Sowersby. Pastor, thank you for taking the time to join us today! First question, other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is Mark Sowersby?” Your father was absent during your upbringing and you were raised by your mother. But that does not sound like it was a nurturing relationship either. Share with us just a little of what growing up in this environment was like? Did your mother know what was happening? Did any teachers or anyone in authority ever question what was going on? Did you have any friends you confided in? You said it stopped about age 14.  How did your uncle provided the support you needed? How did you come to meet the Lord? How did you receive your calling into the ministry? Surely, the enemy tried to dissuade you from answering that calling, right? You're familiar with the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel who touched his hip and gave him a new name. The Bible says, basically, he walked with a limp the rest of his life, that's the way I see it.  But it was a continual reminder that his past was past and he now had a new name, Israel. He could never forget that the “old Jacob” was different from the man named “Israel.”  Do you see yourself relating to Jacob in that matter? Why did you write your book, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare”) at this point in your life? Folks, not everyone has gone through life carrying the burden Pastor Mark has had to carry. But each one of us has had to carry something. Jesus is big enough to handle it. Jesus can remove those burdens and help you to forgive. Forgive those who have hurt you and even to forgive yourself. Be sure to order his book, https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare.”) The links to get in touch with Pastor Mark and to order his book are below. Click them right now – while you are thinking about it!   CONTACT INFORMATION: https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT ()   Email:   Mark@forgivingthenightmare.com Website:   https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ (https://forgivingthenightmare.com) Book:  https://amzn.to/3yTDIGT (“Forgiving the Nightmare”) – on Amazon

In this episode I interview Pastor Mark Sowersby. He wrote his book called Forgiving The Nightmare which is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 his website is http://www.forgivingthenightmare.com I hope this interview will truly bless you.

On today's episode I'm joined by Pastor Mark Sowersby. He is the pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA and also the author of a great book called “Forgiving the Nightmare” finding healing and forgiveness through Christ. Join the conversation and be encouraged. Make sure you share this episode with everyone you know and if you are listening with apple podcast leave a five star review. Here is a link to his website and to purchase his book. https://forgivingthenightmare.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Nightmare-Mark-Sowersby/dp/1951475186 God bless you all. Check out my website https://justbeingrealpod.wordpress.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ana-murby9/message

Is the trauma of unforgiveness holding you to your hurts of the past? In this episode, my guest is Pastor Mark Sowersby. Pastor Mark has written his story in a book called Forgiving the Nightmare, a story of how God's abounding grace transformed him to set him free from a nightmare of abuse and years of suffering.   Abuse, neglect, and adversity is everywhere in our culture. Many are searching for the answer to how to forgive when you've been wounded deeply. In order to be healthy, one must heal from the hurts of the past, but how does one deal with unforgiveness from deep trauma such as Mark experienced through child-abuse? Many people don't want to deal with it, but the trauma of unforgiveness is holding many people to their hurts. Pastor Mark Sowersby is an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, Massachusetts. He has been married to wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.

Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.  In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing.  He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. Mark's Bookwww.forgivingthenightmare.comCLICK HERE to register (FOR FREE) for Pastor Duke's class: "Demystifying Faith".Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reallivetalk/donations

Reverend Mark Sowersby is a husband, father, and an ordained pastor. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assemblies of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. It's a miracle and a work only God can do that brought him into and sustained him in ministry. In this conversation, learn about the story behind his book, Forgiving the Nightmare, and how God is working in and through Mark both in spite of and because of his story. Connect with our guest at forgivingthenightmare.com. Please welcome Pastor Mark Sowersby! Connect with Mark: www.forgivingthenightmare.com www.facebook.com/forgivingthenightmare / @ forgivingthenightmare www.instagram.com/forgiving_the_nightmare_ www.youtube.com/channel/UCKS97tXY8cSiQLfRXXBCMXw/ #OGHG #testimony #forgive #forgiveness #faith #healing #redemption #BloodoftheLamb

Pastor Mark Sowersby is an ordained pastor in the Assemblies of God, serving as lead pastor at Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. He's served in ministry for over two decades, but his journey to healing has taken over 50. Hear his powerful story and testimony of grace, forgiveness, and the power of God to heal. Connect with Mark at forgivingthenightmare.com.

       Slam the Gavel welcomes Reverend Mark Sowersby. He is a Pastor, Author, Husband and father. Pastor Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children.  Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA.  Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.       In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing.  He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life.  He now speaks about his story through his ministry through his book, Forgiving The Nightmare. His  book has been recently endorsed by Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker.     Excellent discussion on forgiveness and how in forgiveness there is justice and peace.     When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in State of Maine New Hampshire and  Upstate New York, spending time with his family.   To reach Pastor Mark Sowersby: mark@forgivingthenightmare.com and can be found on Forgiving the Nightmare onFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. https://youtu.be/W07oCKAOibkSupport the show(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://beentheregotout.com/https://monicaszymonik.mykajabi.com/Masterclass  USE CODE SLAM THE GAVEL PODCAST FOR 10% OFF THE COURSEhttp://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/Music by: mictechmusic@yahoo.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)

Slam the Gavel welcomes Reverend Mark Sowersby. He is a Pastor, Author, Husband and father. Pastor Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry through his book, Forgiving The Nightmare. His book has been recently endorsed by Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker. Excellent discussion on forgiveness and how in forgiveness there is justice and peace. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in State of Maine New Hampshire and Upstate New York, spending time with his family. To reach Pastor Mark Sowersby: mark@forgivingthenightmare.com and can be found on Forgiving the Nightmare onFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. https://youtu.be/W07oCKAOibk Support the show(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri) http://beentheregotout.com/ https://monicaszymonik.mykajabi.com/Masterclass USE CODE SLAM THE GAVEL PODCAST FOR 10% OFF THE COURSE http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/ Music by: mictechmusic@yahoo.com

DO YOU know someone who NEEDS TO LEARN how to forgive? - DO YOU know someone who NEEDS healing and redemption from the effects of abuse? - THEN THIS CONVERSATION IS A MUST. - In this interview, Pastor Mark Sowersby shares the amazing journey that led him to a church that loved him towards a relationship with Jesus Christ. Little did that church youth group know, that this 16-year-old had spent more than half his life being beaten, raped, burned, and sold as a sex slave BY his stepfather. - YOU JUST NEVER KNOW what people are going through...THIS STORY PROVES THAT THE LOVE OF JESUS can save anyone!

Have you ever had a nightmare? Not the most enjoyable thing.  So, what happens when a nightmare seems like it never goes away,  and the pain of abuse has you living a life that seems hopeless, dark and fearful. Well, this guest proves that he is an overcomer and you can be too! Please join MJ and Pastor Mark Sowersby as we discuss his journey on “Forgiving the Nightmare.”  I promise this powerful testimony will bless you!Visit our website: https://www.changemylifepodcast.comABOUT THE GUEST:Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children.  Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York.  Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.  In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing.  He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life.  He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare.  When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mjfave)

Church Hurts And is a listener-supported podcast. Go to ChurchHurtsAnd.org to click on the DONATE button and become part of our support team. Have you ever had something happen to you which has haunted you for your entire life?  Forgiving the Nightmare with Mark Sowersby “I really don't like Bob. He's rather arrogant and aloof I think.” “Oh, he's not that bad if you get to know him.” “Well, who would want to get to him? He's a jerk.” “Well, he's been through a lot in life. Give him a break.” Who among us has not had a conversation like this? I heard it so often when I was younger I got sick of it, but it got me thinking. What is it about people who manifest unattractive relational skills which drive people away, but whom underneath can be really nice people? And since I don't have the time to get to know everybody, what should I learn about how I should behave? Now that could be a book, but let me jump to the conclusion. Every person you meet has a story. Part of that story will probably include some very vulnerable life-changing events or relationships which made an indelible imprint upon them. I am not talking about the kind of things that come up in a two-minute cocktail party introduction. “Hi. My name is John and I had an evil stepmother who defined my childhood. How are you?” That isn't how it works, is it? But then there are those rare moments, those times in life when another opens up to you in a moment of vulnerability. They wouldn't be doing this if a certain amount of trust hadn't already been built. And then it comes. You hear a bit of their nightmare. Everything changes. They wonder if you will run away, ask more questions, or be frozen by the reality of it all. Today we have someone with a real nightmare and the courage to bring it into the light. He's even discovered some life principles which others have used to get them through their own nightmares. Let's welcome Pastor Mark Sowersby to Church Hurts And. For more about Mark: https://www.forgivingthenightmare.com John Bash is a shepherd with Standing Stone, a ministry that ministers to ministers, a need as important in this time as any in our lifetime. Consider joining this support team at www.churchhurtsand.org.

Church Hurts And is a listener-supported podcast. Go to ChurchHurtsAnd.org to click on the DONATE button and become part of our support team. Have you ever had something happen to you which has haunted you for your entire life?  Forgiving the Nightmare with Mark Sowersby “I really don't like Bob. He's rather arrogant and aloof I think.” “Oh, he's not that bad if you get to know him.” “Well, who would want to get to him? He's a jerk.” “Well, he's been through a lot in life. Give him a break.” Who among us has not had a conversation like this? I heard it so often when I was younger I got sick of it, but it got me thinking. What is it about people who manifest unattractive relational skills which drive people away, but whom underneath can be really nice people? And since I don't have the time to get to know everybody, what should I learn about how I should behave? Now that could be a book, but let me jump to the conclusion. Every person you meet has a story. Part of that story will probably include some very vulnerable life-changing events or relationships which made an indelible imprint upon them. I am not talking about the kind of things that come up in a two-minute cocktail party introduction. “Hi. My name is John and I had an evil stepmother who defined my childhood. How are you?” That isn't how it works, is it? But then there are those rare moments, those times in life when another opens up to you in a moment of vulnerability. They wouldn't be doing this if a certain amount of trust hadn't already been built. And then it comes. You hear a bit of their nightmare. Everything changes. They wonder if you will run away, ask more questions, or be frozen by the reality of it all. Today we have someone with a real nightmare and the courage to bring it into the light. He's even discovered some life principles which others have used to get them through their own nightmares. Let's welcome Pastor Mark Sowersby to Church Hurts And. For more about Mark: https://www.forgivingthenightmare.com John Bash is a shepherd with Standing Stone, a ministry that ministers to ministers, a need as important in this time as any in our lifetime. Consider joining this support team at www.churchhurtsand.org.

Pastor Mark Sowersby shares his amazing testimony to help those who have experienced hurt, abuse, and pain to find freedom and peace through God's love and the many facets of forgiveness. His remarkable journey was one where he finally was able to truly feel the love of God, by Forgiving the Nightmare. For all those who have struggled with forgiveness, this podcast will especially meaningful. Connect with us at: https://www.hopealongthejourney.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mark-cravens7/support

For this episode, I had a very interesting chat with Pastor Mark Sowersby (forgivingthenightmare.com). Pastor Mark has a very powerful testimony that it will undoubtedly be a blessing to all listen to it. Photo by Paul Gilmore for Unsplash --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/grace-touch/support

Our guest on today's episode is Pastor Mark Sowersby. He shares his inspiring story of overcoming abuse, struggles with his weight, and dyslexia. He tells us powerful stories about meeting Jesus, going into the ministry, and learning how to forgive. Join us as he show us how he went from being a victim to being victorious!  www.forgivingthenightmare.com  mark@forgivingthenightmare.com  bio:  Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family. Link Tree Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Listen Notes Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Mentoring https://youtu.be/WWgkERpkIoY An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Affiliate links: Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://members.walkingthebiblelands.com/pages/refer?referral_code=eHeeHacgekBDge Get one free month of Blubrry podcast hosting with the promotional code: FAITHFUL http://create.blubrry.com/resources/podcast-media-hosting/?code=FAITHFUL Get quality podcast guests and interviews from PodMatch! Get paid to be a host! Sign up below: https://podmatch.com/signup/faithful Visit my friends at the Heal Thrive Dream Boutique for some cool T-shirts, jewelry and other merch! Simply share the discount code we created just for you and receive a 10% discount on your order!  DIANA98825  https://www.htd-boutique.com/ Bible Study Notebook From Karen Robinson! Check it out!  https://www.htd-boutique.com/products/bible-planner-for-survivors-includes-prayer-requests-sermon-notes-bible-study-notes-and-other-note-pages-to-enrich-your-spiritual-life

Our guest on today's episode is Pastor Mark Sowersby. He shares his inspiring story of overcoming abuse, struggles with his weight, and dyslexia. He tells us powerful stories about meeting Jesus, going into the ministry, and learning how to forgive. Join us as he show us how he went from being a victim to being victorious!  show notes: https://dswministries.org diana@dswministries.org  Social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube-DSW Ministries  www.forgivingthenightmare.com  mark@forgivingthenightmare.com  bio:  Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.

If you are struggling with hurt or abuse from your past and think forgiveness is beyond your reach, may this episode bless you! For prayer requests, questions or comments email me at face2facekmj@gmail.com