Halfway There | Christian Testimonies | Spiritual Formation, Growth, And Personal Experiences With God

It’s time, my friends, to let go of some bad beliefs. This episode is a special bonus edition with Cliff Ravenscraft that will challenge you to reconsider the idea of beliefs. Cliff often says “All beliefs have consequences” but what is a belief exactly? And how do bad beliefs affect us? And, what if some of the Christian doctrines we consider important are actually holding us back from enjoying life with God? Well, that’s what this conversation with Cliff is all about. I hope you enjoy it and adjust some beliefs because of this conversation. Cliff’s conference, Free the Dream, takes place in Franklin, TN on September 13-15, 2019. I went last year and it proved to be a pivotal moment in my life. I couldn’t recommend it more! The post Cliff Ravenscraft and the Trash Heap of Bad Beliefs appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Hey friends! This month’s bonus episode is with Chris Copeland. Chris and his wife Joi appeared on Halfway There episode #98 back in July 2018. They had been raising support to go to Ireland as missionaries for four years at the time. Yesterday, they shared a special update that they finally reached 100 % of the funding they needed to begin the process of moving to Ireland. If you’re wondering why reaching 100% is only the beginning, well, I was too. Listen to the conversation to find out what the process is like from here. Once I heard they finally reached the goal, I just had to have Chris on to talk about the perseverance it takes, how that shaped their family, and what they see the Lord doing now. You can hear the entire conversation by supporting Halfway There on Pateron at any level starting at just $5 per month. Have you ever had to wait way longer than expected for something? The post Bonus Episode with Chris Copeland appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Jim Bowman is a missionary to people who learn orally which makes sharing the Gospel a different process than most of us in the West are used to using. Today, Jim shares the story of learning to trust God as his father because his own father was less than trustworthy (hint: he stole a diamond later worn by Elizabeth Taylor). He also shares how he and his wife discovered that written words are not always the best way to communicate the Gospel and the methods they developed to share it instead. Turns out, the Gospel is still a great story from the greatest Storyteller ever. Listen to Jim’s story today! Stories Jim shared: Growing up in San Diego in a troubled background Learning his father was a famous diamond thief Going to a Billy Graham meeting and deciding to follow Jesus Missions trips that began to foster a love for missions His calling to missions in Mexico where he discovered the oral nature of learning Learning how to minister to Mexican tribes Discovering that many oral cultures have great memories

Amy Jackson is founder and director of The Perch, which provides space and skills for soul care. She is a former publisher at Christianity Today and has served in pastoral ministry. Today, Amy shares how she went from kid who didn’t think God was worth it to all in on him. Her story teaches us how faithful the Lord is to lead even when we question whether or not he knows what he’s doing. If you have more questions than answers, this episode is for you. Listen to Amy’s story here or in your favorite podcast app now! Stories Amy shared: Growing up in Aurora, Illinois in a family that didn’t go to church Asking too many questions in her confirmation class Going to testimony night at her friend’s youth group Giving her life to Christ in that youth group and quickly becoming a leader Quickly outgrowing formulaic expressions of her faith The Christian Campus House where her discipleship deepened Discovering her pastoral skills through ministry Running a small group ministry at her church Losing her job and lookin

Wesley Ross Harris is an author and personal trainer. Today, he shares his story struggling with mental illness. Wes began to give up his identity as he joined the football team in high school. In time, the Lord began to reorient him toward others which slowly changed his perspective. Things really began to change when he decided to write his story and share it to help others. Now, he writes to destigmatize mental illness and assist others who suffer with it. Listen to Wesley’s story today! Stories Wesley shared: Growing up as a military kid moving all over Moving to Austin, TX and experiencing culture shock Struggling with depression for the first time Beginning to reach out to God for help How helping others helped Wes to grow How reading the Bible resurfaced his interest in writing The discipleship relationship that helped him grow Deciding to write his story Why he wrote about OCD and depression Practices that have helped him deal with OCD Breaking the stigma of mental health in the church Great qu

Kristen Leigh Kludt is co-creator of Field Guides for the Way and author of A Good Way Through: My Journey with God from Disappointment into Hope. Today, Kristen shares how art brought her closer to the Lord in a time that she didn’t understand what he was doing. Through her struggles with infertility she grew deep friendships and found a relationship with God more connected than ever before. Now, she inspires others to find their own connection with God using her experience and love for art. Listen to Kristen’s story today! Stories Kristen shared: What Field Guides for the Way is about Growing up in a Christian family in Wisconsin What her relationship with God was like early in her life Wrestling with God through infertility The reflection her therapist gave her about God How discovering creativity helped How the Spirit works through the Bible Learning to live in God’s love for her Waking up and deciding to write a book How Field Guides for the Way was born Great quotes from Kristen: I was afraid of th

This month’s special episode is with my friend and fellow podcaster Chris Staron. Chis is the creator and host of Truce Podcast, a show that uses journalistic tools to look inside the Christian church. Chris has made two Christian movies and talks about the filmmaking process. In this conversation, Chris explains the difficulty of making a Christian film, why he supports the industry, and we talk about his podcast Truce. This episode is only part of the story. To hear the entire conversation, support Halfway There on Patreon. It’s only $5 per month for more thought-provoking ideas. Stories we shared: Why he started Truce Why he wants to use journalistic tools in the church The kinds of issues he likes to address The Christian film industry What it takes to make a film The difficulty of getting a message across in a movie The question of whether a Christian film has to be clean Why audiences have to invest in order to have better films Strategies Christian filmmakers are using to create more lucrative movies

Leonard Olivares is a podcaster, father and Christian man living for Jesus. After getting involved in gangs and drugs from a young age, Leonard saw no hope for his future but when he called out to God he realised that while he may have given up on himself, God never gave up on him. God brought him back from the edge and showed him the community and goodness in his people. God turned his life around and now works through him to help others in the community through his work uniting Christians in the singular name of God. Listen to Leonard’s story now! Stories Leonard shared: Growing up the child of immigrants His mother’s pentecostal roots Being molested as a child and the behavior that followed Getting into a gang Hearing the voice of God all his life Forming his identity in lock up Going to boarding school and washing his mind of the world The prayer when he called out to God for salvation How hard it was to find a church looking like a gangster The dream that convinced him to leave the Mormon church Dec

Lisa Kohut is a faith-based counselor/psychologist. Today Lisa shares her story of learning to surrender herself to God in order to truly experience all that he is. After a dream that changed her life she decided to take both her degree and her connection to the Holy Spirit into the world to bring others closer to God and all that he wants for them. God showed Lisa how close he really is all the time and wants use her to spread his love. Lisa’s story pushes us to give more of ourselves in order to receive more of God. Listen to Lisa’s story today! Stories Lisa shared: Growing up in a non-christian family Meeting a friend who operated in her gifts Asking God to experience him fully Having a dream and receiving an interpretation from her friend Speaking in tongues for the first time Learning to interpret dreams for people How to know interpretations are from God How she learned to yield to God constantly Moving from Ohio to Chicago during a divorce and how that affected her relationship with God Starting her o

David Jacob serves as the missionary in residence and chair of the intercultural studies department at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in Ellendale, ND. He is also the author of It’s Your Call: To a Missional or Missionary Life. Today, David shares his calling to the mission field, wrestling with God’s silence, and the burning desire that led him to the classroom. Along the way, we discuss why our mission is to pursue the Lord not merely the next step he wants us to take. David’s story reminds us that if we will trust the Lord, he will make the path straight. Listen to David’s story now! Stories David shared: What it’s like being a missionary in residence Growing up in a nominal Christian family going to church on the bus Rededicated his life at a Wednesday night group Discipleship with his youth pastor Becoming the midwest director of Operation Christmas Child Wrestling with God’s silence while he sensed a call for more The vision he had of Jesus in the car with him Starting to sense God’s call to

Deanna Won is the Founder of Keynotes to Life, international bestselling author, speaker, leadership consultant, and holistic health coach who inspires people to reach their highest potential through integrating faith and leadership principles with purposeful and healthy living. Deanna shares the story of how she overcame adversity in the Air Force Academy, cancer through holistic practices, and learned confidence in herself and God through suffering. Time and time again, Deanna found God working on her behalf even before she knew it. Her story reminds us that God is truly a loving father and working for our good. Listen to Deanna’s story now! Stories Deanna shared: Becoming a holistic health professional Growing up in a Christian family believing in Jesus Getting into the Air Force Academy with God’s help The conflict between creativity and “solid” careers Learning to draw strength from the Lord in the Air Force Academy while facing opposition Developing ovarian cancer Deciding she would treat cancer holist

Patrick Meyers is a spiritual director, counselor, and coach. Today, Patrick shares the story of God’s kind pursuit of his life. He shares how he initially rejected the Lord’s work in his life, how God finally got a hold of him, and the process the Lord used to make Patrick dependant on him. Patrick works in his ministry, Vector Ministries and helps others experience the relationship God has given him. Patrick’s story teaches us that God is always in hot pursuit of our hearts even when we doubt him. Please listen to Patrick’s story today! Stories Patrick shared: Growing up in a dysfunctional home in Nebraska Asking God if he wanted the money in his pocket Developing a relationship with God while in rehab Finally finding Jesus in his life His career in the Marine Corps and how his life unraveled The season of loss after he was discharged How Jesus healed his beliefs over time Going to seminary as trusting God Learning about the dark night of the soul and the spiritual journey How the Lord introduced him to hi

Keith Giles is an author and previous guest on Halfway There. Today, Keith stops by to discuss his latest book, Jesus Unbound. We talk about some of the problems with an overemphasis on the Bible and how it may be keeping you from the kind of relationship with God he desires for you. Keith will challenge your ideas, make you think, and lead you closer to God’s heart as a result. If you want to hear the entire conversation, become a Patreon supporter at just $5 per month. Our conversation covers: Why he wrote Jesus Unbound: Liberating the Word of God from the Bible Why we doubt our experiences and what God’s intention is for us The heart of the New Covenant and how it applies to us today Why we’re not disparaging the Bible The problems with how we have been trained to approach Scripture How to interpret “All Scripture is God-breathed…” in 2 Timothy 3:16 How translation into English is interpretation The difference between Jesus and the Bible The relationship from which we read Scripture Great quotes from Kei

Misty Phillip is a speaker, blogger, author, and podcaster. Today, Misty shares her story of falling in love with Jesus over and over again throughout her life. Sounds charming, right? Would be except the way God often leads us to himself is through suffering and Misty is no different. She describes the seasons of her life when one thing after another seemed to go wrong and how she learned to trust God during it all. Misty tells us how she learned joy through sorrow which catalyzed her into a career of writing, speaking, and ministering to others. Listen to Misty’s story today! Stories Misty shared: Realizing she had opportunities after her children started leaving home Growing up in the rural Midwest Giving her life to Christ as a young child How her brother’s death affected her family Why she considered suicide after a break up Learning she was pregnant a month after meeting her husband How their not being married led them to pursuing other churches Having a son with medical issues How her community helped

Caesar Kalinowski is an author, speaker and coach. Today, Caesar shares how he discovered the gospel that really is good news for the weary. He shares the story of how he got into full time ministry, how he served an elderly neighbor, and overcoming doubt in his daily life. Caesar’s story reminds us how important it is to live in community and to experience the grace of God from one another. Listen to Caesar’s story today! Stories Caesar shared: Helping people with their walk with God through writing, speaking, and coaching Growing up in the church getting saved a million times Experiencing the difference between church services and being the church Discovering the house church movement Going to school to learn ministry How the truth will set you free and discipleship are related What the Good News really is Meeting old man Hal while cutting his grass Living with doubt in various ways Caesar’s writing about his experience in communities Great quotes from Caesar: Discipleship is, in fact, the mission. Disc

Phileena Heuertz is a founding partner of Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism and the author of Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation. Today, Phileena shares her journey from Bible belt roots to learning from some of the last century’s greatest contemplatives. The journey made her confront great suffering, the masks she was wearing, and her own feelings that drove her work. Phileena works as a spiritual director and you will hear her care for those who need a light in the darkness to find themselves in Him. Listen to Phileena’s story today! Stories Phileena shared: Growing up as a pastor’s kid in the Midwest The assumptions she made about God, herself, and the world living in the Bible belt How witnessing suffering caused her to question God’s goodness Realizing that she experienced a lack of love Wrestling with finding herself in Christ The difference between participation with God and trying to be Jesus in the world Realizing some of the masks she was wearing The work she does with

Alex Lombard is an entrepreneur and Instagram expert. Today, Alex shares the story of the people who invested in him, how he was almost pulled away from Christ, and why he dove head first into entrepreneurship. Alex shares how personal development can be dangerous and almost took him in a direction he did not want to go. We also talk about the importance of apologetics for building a solid understanding of what Christian faith is based on. Alex is both young and successful with a heart for the honoring the Lord with both. Listen to Alex’s story today! Stories Alex shared: Born in St. Louis and growing up in Michigan Growing up in the Lutheran church Discovering other denominations and finding a “cool factor” in church Connecting with Pastor Bob Being pulled away from faith through personal development How he realized he was on the right path Getting into apologetics and how that grounded his faith The morality and DNA arguments for God Diving into entrepreneurship especially Instagram What he would like the

Cari Jenkins is an author, spiritual director, and Executive Director of Urban Skye. Today, Cari shares how hard it was to find a mentor who listened to Jesus, her five years of undoing, and learning to sing the song of identity in Jesus. She found Jesus to be completely faithful, even accounting for her unwillingness to listen. Cari’s tender love and experience of him will encourage you to seek his love and your identity in him, too. Listen to Cari’s story today! Stories Cari shared: Becoming the Executive Director of Urban Skye and their work Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska in a strong, Christian family Deciding she wanted to love Jesus back at four years old Asking someone in her church how to hear God’s voice Meeting a woman who would hear from the Lord and making her a mentor How John 10:10 helps us listen to God’s voice Examples of how she has heard God’s voice and taken action Paying attention to the what Scripture says about Jesus Praying God would take away anything she placed identity in besides Jesu

In this bonus conversation, Marc Schelske talks with Eric about his journey of discovering what is really in his heart and why emotions matter. We also talk about the body and how learning to listen to our bodies is an essential skill for flourishing but somewhat neglected among Evangelicals. If you enjoyed this brief clip of our conversation, you can get access to the entire conversation by supporting the show on Patreon, a platform that allows listeners like you to support their favorite content creators. Any amount of support helps and helps keep us running. Bonus conversations will be available each month for all tiers and Halfway There t-shirts are available for supporters of $25 or more per month.  Hear the rest of the conversation. Or get Marc’s book, The Wisdom of the Heart here. The post Bonus Conversation with Marc Schelske appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Marc Alan Schelske is a husband, dad of two, writer, speaker, hobbyist theologian, recovering fundamentalist who drinks tea & rides a motorcycle. He grew up in Ohio, but he's lived in the Northwest long enough to feel like a native. After almost 15 years in ministry, Marc's life took an unexpected turn as he came face to face with depression and near burn-out, nearly losing his family and ministry. With the help of some trusted friends he began the arduous process of emotional and spiritual recovery. This unfolding process has shifted Marc's priorities, resulting in an intense interest in the connection between emotional growth and spiritual growth, and how God works in and through our internal brokenness and trauma. Marc serves as the teaching elder at Bridge City Community Church in Milwaukie, Oregon where he has served for 18 years. Marc writes about intentional spiritual living at www.MarcAlanSchelske.com. He's also the author of The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-given Purpose and Po