Podcast

Of the 10 years Josh Summers spent as a missionary in western China, the last few months were by far the hardest: Twice he was hauled into jail by Chinese police for interrogation, the second of which lasted 17 days. And as he sat alone in a cold, barren holding cell with nothing, not even his Bible, he tried to take inventory of what scripture he could remember by heart—and realized he didn’t have nearly as much of it down as he thought he did.

This week, The Redeemed founder Paul Amos and director Nate Dewberry offer thoughts on the topic of perseverance: How do we do it? Why do we do it? And how do our struggles make us stronger, better people?

Jordan Castille was a skinny kid who was good at gymnastics and a member of his high school’s cheerleading squad—something it wasn’t easy to be in Texas in the late ’90s. The bullying he experienced, combined with some flawed family relationships, drove him to fill the void with pornography. It was only in college that Jordan came to terms with the damage his addiction was causing and sought help from the Lord.

How do you know which of your friendships are real, and which are built on performance, convenience, or what you can do for one another?

His 30th birthday was just around the corner, and Nigel Darius was at a crossroads. He felt like he’d worked hard and done the right things in his twenties, but he didn’t have anything to show for it. He asked God for a new path and a new opportunity, but when God asked him, “Do you believe I can give them to you?” he realized the answer was “No.” Or perhaps more accurately, “Not yet.”

Let’s face it, obedience isn’t a fun topic for most of us. Between an American ethos that prizes individualism and innovation, a culture that pushes indulgence, and a natural human desire to be free from control, we don’t like to feel compelled to follow anyone else’s rules. So how do we break down that resistance and embrace obedience to God? And how can we build in ourselves a desire to heed God’s word, rather than just doing so out of grudging obligation?

Micah Davis has more experience with forgiveness than he probably ever wanted to have. The hurtful words spoken over him as a child that stuck with him throughout adolescence, the betrayals by both his father and his godfather, the family secrets that only came to light years later—all of them forced Micah to confront emotional pain at a relatively early age and weigh the cost of reconciliation.

For 17 years Jason Romano had what many American men would consider a dream job: working at ESPN producing shows ranging from College Gameday to Monday Night Football broadcasts. So why did he leave it behind to make less money at a startup podcast? For Jason, it was simple: he realized he was drawing too much of his identity from work and not enough from Christ.

Pastor, author, and scholar Terry Parkman shares his thoughts on the generational change the church is currently undergoing, overcoming distraction and self-doubt, and making prayer a regular, meaningful part of our lives.