Listen Now

On this episode, I interview Morgan Guyton, Director of the NOLA Wesley Foundation and author of "How Jesus Saves the World from Us." We discuss his work in the ministry, racial tensions, church toxicity and performance-based worship. SHOW NOTESGrowing up as a Southern Baptist and later becoming a United Methodist pastor.Raising pastor’s kids to not be typical pastor’s kids.His work with the NOLA Wesley Foundation.Racial tensions, how sin is collective.How the modern church is toxic and problematic.Is being “spiritual but not religious” a cop-out?Performance-based worship and connection with God.Thoughts on spirit vs. flesh.Morgan’s book “How Jesus Saves the World From Us” Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/revmorganguytonPatheos blog - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mercynotsacrifice/Twitter - https://twitter.com/MAGuyton or @MAGuyton PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

Kay and I talk about how she was raised a "good girl" in church, missionary life, and how the constant striving for perfection lead to her inner breakdown. She talks about the rebuilding process, how she became a therapist, and more.SHOW NOTESKay talks about growing up a “good girl” in the church and her missionary upbringing.How she had everything on the outside but eventually fell apart on the inside.When we wear masks and don’t even know it.How she discovered and dealt with her husband’s pornography addiction.Talks about the rebuilding process, and God’s love through it all.Her road to becoming a therapist, and how to choose a therapist.Raising children in an unfundamentalist way. Kay talks about turning 50 and taking inventory on her life. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kay-Bruners-blog-friends-118566074911667 Website - http://kaybruner.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/kay_bruner or @kay_bruner Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Bruner/e/B00F9D9UA4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

David Henson and I discuss Lent, laundry, and politics. SHOW NOTESDavid discusses laundry as a spiritual practice.Lent and how miserable and great it is at the same time.Being honest and vulnerable.The solidarity of Lent and eating/not eating meat.His background and how he became an Episcopal priest.Liturgy being saturated with Scripture.The church offering room to wonder and question, and how the church isn’t dependent on whether I believe or not.Why social media is such a hotbed of argument for religious and politics.The Christian’s involvement in politics.What Dave’s reading now and the importance of fiction.Upcoming projects.Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/unorthodoxologistTwitter - @DavidRHensonPathos Blog - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidhenson/Podcast - http://moonshinejesus.podbean.com/PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

Faydra, America’s Crisis Coach, shares her abusive background, we discuss her incredible story "through the fire" and how she came to a faith in God through it all. She also shares practical tips for dealing with crisis and overcoming struggle. SHOW NOTES:Faydra shares her story of “coming out of the fire”, years of abuse and negativity.How her husband maintained his faith while being falsely accused of a white color crime and losing everything.How Faydra and her children became Christians through this situation.We address cliche “positive thinking” Christianity, and how what Faydra does is NOT that.Putting her suffering in perspective with those that have suffered even more.Dealing with people in spiritual crisis.Faydra discusses some of her podcast guests, and how they make themselves available to listeners.Finding your tribe.Impact of social media and reaching people in crisis.Why we need more grace and validation.Website: http://doinglifewithfaydra.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faydratvTwitter: @CoachFaydraPODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

Jonathan and Jessica talk about founding Sick Pilgrim, a space for fellow travelers to rest a while, whether Catholic or drawn to Catholicism. Show Notes: How Jessica and Jonathan met and how Sick Pilgrim came to be.Happy Christianity and the darker side of spirituality and Catholicism. The edge between the seen and the unseen.Accepting yourself in the darkness, but not losing yourself there.The importance of community, online and the church level.Finding your tribe within the tribe.Theology of the “Both / And.”Wrestling with God. Website: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/sickpilgrim/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sickpilgrim Twitter: @sickpilgrim PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

Jason, Christian, and I sip whiskey and discuss whether or not Christian's mom is saved, their journey through the Calvary Chapel Church into agnosticism and Catholicism, why pastors don't like to be questioned, and maintaining their friendship despite their theological differences. SHOW NOTESJason Stellman and Christian Kingery discuss their upbringing in the Calvary Chapel denomination and whether Christian’s mom is saved or not.Their overseas mission work.Getting kicked out Calvary Chapel.Joining the cult of Calvinism.Why many pastors don’t like when they are questioned.What caused each of them to go in different spiritual directions - Jason into Catholicism and Christian into agnosticism.Throwing Bad Religion CD’s away.Maintaining their friendship despite huge theological differences.Jason discusses some Catholic misconceptions.Christians and politics.Kentucky weather, global warming, and my Bieber.Future plans for the Drunk Ex-Pastors. Website: http://www.drunkexpastors.com/ Twitter: @DrunkExPastors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drunkexpastors PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

SHOW NOTESSarah speaks on being a former know-it-all, on not-knowing, and sometimes not knowing that you don’t know.Shares her background and upbringing, churchianity and losing your identity.Committing in marriage while going through spiritual challenges or religious disagreements.Confusing conformity with intimacy.Maintaining creativity with writing and blogging.How parents can teach their children about God without complicating it.Ways in which she has witnessed her children respond to the Holy Spirit.Raising children unfundamentally. Talks about her book, “Out of Sorts” and it’s intent to reach the “in-betweeners.”Being a “gateway” feminist, and her book “Jesus Feminist.”What she’s reading now and future projects.http://sarahbessey.com/Twitter @sarahbesseyFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/sarah.styles.bessey PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

SHOW NOTESLeah and I discuss snacks and her Christian background.Singleness, singles ministries in church, and why there are disappointed single people in the church.Disconnect between singles and married couples in the church.Egalitarian vs. complementarian teaching in the church.Social media, shameless stalking, and how the game has changed.Celibacy, the single Christian, and the over-sexualization of our culture.The stigma of being single, male vs. female.Leah addresses some popular Christian myths regarding singleness.When does the single person give up pursuing marriage?Website: withleah.comTwitter: @leahbarterian PODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

SHOW NOTESJudy speaks on her family, musical, and Christian upbringing.We speak on “blind faith,” failing to have answers, learning to unlearn, and struggling with faith.Being a Christian and “famous.”Touring with Lady Gaga on the “Little Monsters” tour.The importance of art and the arts in the church, art as worship, and being yourself.judykang.comsoundcloud.com/judykangTwitter @JudyKangPODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

How Stephen came to be known as the “Steve Jobs” of student ministry.Stephen’s growth in church and what caused him to end up spiraling into severe depression.How the youth ministry he was involved was what kept him going, and how telling his story led into being actively involved in youth ministry.Us vs. Them tension in the microcosm of youth ministry.The importance of youth group being a constant to guide through adolescence. The question of millennials leaving the church.Youth and their questions on agnosticism and atheism. Engaging parents in youth ministry.Why not having the easy answers is what actually grows your faith.Why “certainty” often leads to so many disillusioned evangelicals. Deconstructing American Christianity.Pros and cons of youth and social media.Challenges he sees with today’s youth.Creating margin in our kid’s lives.http://www.organicstudentministry.com/https://www.facebook.com/stephen.ingramhttps://twitter.com/StephenLIngram or @StephenLIngramPODCAST LINKS:iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/never-forsaken-podcast/id1039377610Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/never-forsaken-podcastTuneIn - http://tunein.com/radio/Never-Forsaken-Podcast-p805426/Website - http://neverforsakenpodcast.com/Patreon Support - https://www.patreon.com/NeverForsakenPodcast

Show Notes: Jon’s upbringing in a family that really lived the gospel, loving the “least of these.”Keeping the gospel simple.Being the “Lead Follower.”Taking a team approach to ministry.Shepherding over a large church such as Southland.Placing over 4,000 people into small groups in the last 3 years.Moving from “milk to meat.”Large church challenges.Being a young pastor starting off in a large church.Southland ministries.Jon speaks on his haters.His new book, “Me Too” on God and suffering.The Christian response to pain and suffering.Jon’s word to those that have been beat up and abused by church. Website - http://jonweece.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jonaweece/Twitter - @jonweeceSouthland Christian Church - http://southlandchristian.org/    

Show Notes: Cindy discusses growing up as a “good Christian girl” in a non-religious family.Her focus on perfection and excellence in her adolescent-aged faith.Her devotion to missions at an early age.Doubt and the “dark night of her soul.”Her feelings of frustration were not against God but the institutions. Being comfortable in gray areas.“Assurance of salvation” being a mask for fear.Conflict and being transparent.How being a Chinese woman she was expected to be compliant.How writing brought life and hope out of this time of struggle.Her scholarship from Billy Graham for her efforts in street evangelism.Results-based vs process-based evangelism.The “Raising Children UnFundamentalist” Facebook page and her upcoming book of the same title.Website - http://cindywords.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cindybrandtwriterTwitter - @cindy_w_brandtRaising Children UnFundamentalist Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/665348930273216/

Preston Sprinkle speaks about Jesus' teachings on non-violence, the Jewish Messianic mindset, the intersection of Christianity and government, and misconceptions of the "Old Testament God." SHOW NOTES: We discuss the political and religious climate when Jesus arrives on the scene. Jewish worldview and how they had the expectation of a violent military Messiah.Jesus forbids his disciples to tell anyone that he is the Messiah.Jesus redefining power and where power comes from.Addressing the disciples doubt that Jesus was the Messiah.Luke 22 passage where Jesus talks about buying a sword, and it’s fulfillment of prophecy.“Just War” concept then throughout history.Marriage between religion and politics.Unchecked addiction to military might, guns, and violence.Our desire to have a “king” serve over us.Contrasting the “Old Testament God” vs. the teachings the Jesus.Preston shares some of his current reading selections and speaks on his work with Eternity Bible College.prestonsprinkle.com http://eternitybiblecollege.com/

Jenny shares her testimony of growing up in a very close-knit, loving Christian family.How a car accident caused her to turn to to using pain pills, which led to her drug addiction.We spoke about the physical and chemical dependency of drugs, and how she moved into “street” drugs, thinking it would wean her off the opiates.When she blew up her sister’s house while manufacturing drugs.How through constant manipulations, she did “just enough” to stay clean for a while, until the next circumstance would knock her back down.How surrender to Christ more than restored what she lost, in what she calls her “Jesus Year.”Her work with the military and The Spencer Project, for soldiers with PTSD.http://www.jennyreeseclark.com/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Reese-Clarkhttps://twitter.com/jlreeseclark

Show Notes: Theresa shares her testimony of deliverance from sexual and physical abuse, brokenness, shame, and drug addiction.How being abused caused her to be angry with God. Losing relationship with her mom caused her to spiral even further.Faced 40 years prison time.           Started attending church in prison for the wrong reasons, but how the gospel message started to change her heart.How all these circumstances led her to give over her life to Christ.Shares about her missionary work and prison ministry, Breaking Chains International. How she came to write her book, “Forever Changed.”Book: http://foreverchangedbook.com Breaking Chains International: http://breakingchainsint.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakingChainsInternational Twitter: https://twitter.com/bciministries  

Show Notes: Alicia speaks on her being featured in a Time Magazine article, “Why the Young Religious Right Is Leaning Left” by Deborah Jian Lee.Growing up in the evangelical church as a pastor’s kid.Evangelicalism, war, and religion.How faith, gender, and sexuality issues were the start of her shift to the left.The work she is doing with the Center for Inclusivity.We discuss who needs to be at the conversations regarding inclusivity and human rights.Giving voice to the voiceless, to have all groups represented.What “All are welcome” really means.Being unsure in areas of your faith, and evolving on the journey.Seminary, engaging faith, and asking questions.Center for Inclusivity - http://www.centerforinclusivity.org/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/centerforinclusivity Twitter - https://twitter.com/CFI_Chicago Deborah Jian Lee's article in Time - http://time.com/4078909/evangelical-millennials/ https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJianLee  

Her conversion from Catholicism to the Muslim faith.Extreme vs moderate views of Islam.How the Qu’ran teaches justice, kindness, and equality.The belief that Islam is not something different from Judaism or Christianity but a continuation, a further revelation of God.Should Islam be the only religion?Islam not being a religion of violence.Explains the references to violence in the Qu’ran.Christian and Islam extremists and wars being fought for territory and power, not really religion.American foreign policy and occupation.Methods of fighting oppression.Her work with Muslims Against ISIS.Thoughts on Sharia and why women in true Islam are not oppressed.Us against them mentality.Practical ways to break down barriers with Muslims.   Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Muslims-Against-ISIS-1444672609121662/?fref=ts Twitter - @WeAgainstISIS  

Why we don’t talk about mental illness in the church, and what myths surrounding mental illness need to be eradicated from our Christian thinking.Mental health statistics and issues in America and around the world.Her ministry as a pastor and what inspired her to focus on mental health work.Her father’s death and his mental illness struggles.Best ways for Christian leaders to reach out if they are struggling with mental health needs.The lack of mental health training in most denominations.The “Jesus only” mentality in many churches that looks down upon any kind of medication or mental health therapy or intervention.How church should be a place to be authentic, not a place to hide.Mental health and the spiritual realm.Sarah closes with her favorite scripture, Psalm 23.http://sarahgriffithlund.com/

Pastor Brian Smith of the First Heavy Metal Church of Christ shares his passion for Jesus Christ and the ministries he is involved in with FHMCC. Links: http://www.heavymetalchurch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/fhmcc1 https://twitter.com/FHMCC @FHMCC      

How she made a huge career shift from advertising into ministry, and becoming ordained in the church.Growing up Southern Baptist and not seeing female leadership in the church.Her work through various television and social media networks on women’s rights and women’s issues, especially in politics and legislation. Her writing for Patheos and Huffington Post on women, faith, and politics.Speaks on female independence, how woman are taking more control of their lives, even in child-rearing and raising children without a husband.Her interesting thoughts on the character of Jezebel in Scripture.Patriarchal “lies” and how the gospel empowers women rather than hinder them.Thoughts on a “Romanized” Jesus, and how the Roman empire impacted patriarchy. Submission in the church.Contrast and similarities between Christian feminism and world feminism. Practical tips for helping to bring about change.Links:website: femmevangelical.comTwitter: @JenniDCrumpton