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

This is my dad at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.Happy Memorial Day, my friends! This is one of those holidays that I always think of fondly because (a) it’s the unofficial start of summer and I usually smoke some sort of meat, (b) my grandmother traces the widespread adoption of this holiday to our family (naturally!) so why not enjoy it, and finally, (c) it’s a perfect time to reflect on those who gave their lives for all that the United States represents. Today on Halfway There, I share some reflections on my father-in-law who also gave his life in a roundabout way for the cause of freedom. This is a blog post that I wrote about him on an old blog I used to write. Perhaps you’d like to share a story about someone you know who has sacrificed for their country, too. Feel free to do that here or on social media. The post Happy Memorial Day! appeared first on Eric Nevins.

In this betweenisode, we talk about the amazing transformation of King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. You’ve heard the Sunday School stories but did you know he acknowledged God as the true sovereign of the universe? That story doesn’t get shared as often but it’s one we can learn from. Listen above or in iTunes, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Radio now! Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. The post The Testimony of a King (Daniel 4) appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Welcome to Halfway There’s 50th episode! When I started this show last year, I hoped but did not know if it would become something that people would listen to and enjoy. The stories were compelling and there was enough depth in the experience of these ordinary Christian to make at least the first set publishable. Here we are 50 episodes later and the show has been downloaded over 11,680 times, featured nearly 1,220 years of experience walking with the Lord, and it’s reaching new people every day. The future looks bright as preparations for the next season are underway getting ready to share even more great stories from ordinary Christians who otherwise might never share what God has done in their lives. These are stories you need to hear. But now, let’s celebrate the last 50 episodes with a look back at some of the things we’ve learned over this last year. Episode 50 features four things I learned from doing 50 interviews for this show which are: Seek and you shall find (4:45) God still speaks to people (10:

Mike is the gracious husband of Jan Costas who shared her story with us in two parts here and here. In today’s episode, we learn hear his story, why he went on the Camino, and how he learned to trust God in a whole new way on the trail. Stories Mike shared with us: How he and Jan met in Germany (6:00) Why he ended up in Germany during the time the wall went up (10:23) His experience overseas working in Arab communities (28:14) Why he went on the Camino (38:10) How Mike’s journey with the Lord started before they even left town (43:06) The amazing food they enjoyed (1:00:13) Great Quotes from Mike: The Army does not put it’s posts in wonderful places. They are the armpit of the world. * It took me three days to realize walking with her was a benefit…because in the end we really bonded like we’ve never done in 50 years so it was wonderful in that way. * My actual first step with the Lord on the Camino was at DIA (Denver International Airport) If you haven't subscribed in iTunes, or left a rating & re

This episode is a continuation of our conversation with Jan Costas. Jan Costas is one of the sweetest and courageous people I know. She and her husband Mike took the trip of a lifetime last year that really changed them and their relationship when they did the Camino de Santiago, which is an ancient pilgrimage. Jan learned a number of significant lessons on the trail and she shares them with us. Some of the stories Jan shares: What she told herself to keep herself going after the Camino did not start the way she expected. (3:00) The moment she are her husband Mike got on the same page about the journey (7:29) The guitarist that appeared from nowhere and no one else saw (18:48) How God showed her love on the journey and what the thin spaces meant to her (20:36) How she became the blister queen (27:09) The time she turned down God’s overture (31:47) What she learned about the journey with God by taking a long journey (46:09) Great Quotes: Poco a poco. Little by little. Step by step. * One thing common to all

Jan Costas is one of the sweetest and courageous people I know. She and her husband Mike took the trip of a lifetime last year that really changed them and their relationship when they did the Camino de Santiago, which is an ancient pilgrimage. Jan learned a number of significant lessons on the trail and she shares them with us. Some significant stories in the episode: How she came to Christ after attending church for much of her life (5:45) The story of their theater company that went under and the problems that caused for their family (16:35) What is the Camino is and why she wanted to do it (26:00) The Camino angel story (50:08) How she made friends, many friends, on the trail (whole thing!) Great Quotes: We don’t have any money but we have our family, we have our friends, we have our faith. And our health. We have what is important. * The Camino called me. * You don’t when you say something how it’s going to affect someone. * I’m going to cry all the way to Santiago. If you haven't subscribed in iTu

This week’s super short episode brings Resurrection Day greetings from me to you and a quick preview of the story that finishes out season 3 of Halfway There. The post Happy Resurrection Day appeared first on Eric Nevins.

VJ and his wife run a business club whose motto is “to shape the values of business” and has 900 members. He wants to bring the principles in the Bible to bear on business in his country where 0.01% are Christians. “The church does not reach the influential in the society,” he says, so VJ to created his business club to share a video that helps business people learn skills that are biblically based even though the people may not know it. VJ was born in Central Asia to a mother who was a communist party leader and a father who worked on communication for the train system. While they never talked about God, he was curious about the great questions of life which became central in his teenage years. In case you wanted to know that God can use anyone – yes, even you – VJ came to faith because an American pen pal sent him a Bible in his own language. That pen pal was an 11 year old girl in rural Kentucky and the Bible she sent him had answers in the back to all the questions he was asking about life. “If God can u

Steve Simms serves a Salvation Army church in Nashville, TN at Berry Street where they hold a different kind of service than any you’ve probably ever experienced. In today’s episode, Steve shares with us how he came to faith by becoming agnostic, the difference between a faith that is dead and one that is alive, and how he lets the Lord lead his services. Steve first found Christ in college but that wasn’t the first time he was exposed to religious teaching. He calls it a two-step process. As a child, Steve talked about God often and joined a Presbyterian church at 12 years old. One day while listening to a boring sermon a though popped in his head. “If you were born a Hindu, what would you be today?” After thinking about it for awhile, he decided he would be a Hindu had he been born in that culture. Then the voice said, “What makes you a Christian?” He couldn’t answer the question so he became agnostic. Then, some years later during his freshman year in college, he finally accepted an invitation to a Christ

Sarah is from Muscatine, Iowa, the nose of the midwest (just listen, it’ll make sense). Her family has a long tradition of faith which is a fascinating story which she shares with us including the story of how her grandfather found new life in Christ at a Billy Graham crusade. You can tell the Spirit of God runs deep in her family and the special way this has shaped Sarah which “naturally birthed in me a gift of faith,” she says. Sarah also grew up in an environment where the Bible was taught and when she speaks you can hear the fruit of that value. Scripture she recalls just flows from her as we talk through her story. We cover many topics including the law verses grace, obedience, whether Christians should celebrate Christmas and eat pork and, most importantly, all of this in the context of how Sarah came to certain conclusions on her journey. Resources Sarah mentioned: The Word and Power Church Who Can Pluck Us Great quotes from Sarah: “I’d rather by faith, then, follow the Ten Commandments…” * “Being se

Moses Ehambe is a professional basketball player and a considers himself a missionary “doing God’s work with the talents” he’s received from him. Moses grew up in Arlington, TX, whose parents emigrated from Congo and serves as a pastor in the local church. His family was always at church and Moses was the worship band’s drummer so whenever there was worship music, he was there. When it came time for Moses to enter college, his talent was clear and he went through the visitation process to find a school where he could play basketball. His visit to Oral Roberts University was special and he found himself drawn there. While he was touring the university, Moses sensed God saying “This is what I have for you. This is where I want you to be.” The presence of God has never been far from him since. At college his faith really became his own as he learned about a personal relationship with Christ and followed God’s leading on the court and off. Moses generously shares his story with us including his being drafted to

Hugh Brandt works to “engage city leaders to help them live out their calling for the well-being of their city” with a part of CRU called Cities Project. Today he shares the journey that took him from missionary to missional. Hugh was probably always destined to be a missionary. His mother, who sacrificed her own dreams to care for others, prayed he would serve in South Africa before he was born. He didn’t know that until he went to Lesotho, the country inside South Africa. God had answered his mother’s prayers. Eventually his journey led him to Zimbabwe where he coached basketball and began his family. After twelve years, including some difficult seasons of loss, their work visas were revoked and the ministry they had built felt like it was ripped from their hands. While leaving Zimbabwe was an injustice, it was also God beginning to show Hugh new aspects of his ministry. There’s a lot more to Hugh’s story that you can hear by clicking play above or downloading Halfway There in iTunes or your favorite podca

Dan Rudman is an evangelist who works on campuses, prisons, and around the world to spread the Gospel. He shares how God called him to this life through circumstances that looked like failure. Dan grew up in a traditional, moralist family but didn’t really go to church and so knew nothing about the Gospel. Heading into college he was “stiff-arming religion,” and floundered his freshman year. One day, a student was sharing a film by Josh McDowell talking about relationships and his own story of coming to faith. Dan wanted nothing to do with that so he left. But then he thought, “I wonder what he’s going to say. I wonder if it’s something I need to hear.” He went back to the movie and heard McDowell encourage viewers to get a Bible and read the first three chapters of John. He found 1 John and by chapter 4 he was struck by a sense that evil was real. He realized that he was on the side of evil and needed the Son in his life but still didn’t know how to receive that life so he kept searching. Several weeks late

Tim Voss taught physical education for 22 years at Trinity International University. Today he shares the story of how God called him to teaching, led him to Trinity after developing a program at Moody Bible Institute, and saw him through the most difficult moments of his life. Those difficult moments revealed just how present God. His daughter went in for a procedure and died a week before her wedding. The grief, Tim says, was heavy. Even in the middle of that experience God placed the right people to share his grief and give the right grace to him. And while the grief never goes away, time does “insulate you” from the rawness of the emotion. Tim tells us how God brought him to some physical, outdoor experiences that helped him heal. Today, Tim is working around the globe to bring the Gospel meeting tangible needs with International Needs. You’ll hear the passion in his voice as he talks about traveling in Africa and India to serve people “all the while bringing the love of Christ.” Tim Voss is one of those

Jill May shares how she went from struggling mom and pastor’s wife to Season 1 winner of NBC’s Strong, a reality show that paired ordinary women with trainers and set them in competition with one another. Winning a reality show is very cool. But the story of God’s leading her there? Now that’s awesome. Jill grew up in rural Minnesota to a church going family. Sometime in her late high school years during a period of asking the big questions about life she began reading the Bible which changed her life. Her new hunger for the Bible led her to Bible school where she met her husband. After starting their family, they moved to Colorado to attend Denver Seminary. Several years later, after her husband Dan was called to serve as a pastor back in rural Minnesota, Jill began dealing with anxiety and began building walls. She explains how those walls began to come down with the revival of a bucket list item: going on a reality show. Jill explains the process of how she applied for, was selected, and appeared on NBC’s

Mark Casson of Metanoia Prison Ministries shares how he found the Lord in prison while being tried for his crime. He shares the story of how how he pleaded guilty and the ways that God honored that brave choice, how he learned to fellowship with believers of all stripes, and how God used his experience to almost immediately after he left prison to serve prisoners all over the country. Mark believes that prisoners are a neglected ministry in most churches (see Matthew 25:31-46) and is working to help churches do it better, sometimes to start for the first time. If you’re interested in prison ministry, please contact Metanoia Prison Ministries. Great quotes from Mark: Prison is one of the most spiritual environments a Christian can be in. * In prison, there’s one body. It’s not segregated by denomination, belief, race, socioeconomic, education. It’s one body of Christ worshiping together because there’s only one chapel. * The times we feel farther away are the times we get on our knees longer and we pray more

Today, Tonya Jewel Blessing shares how she learned to love the mess and serve with a joyful heart. It wasn’t always easy and we talk about the long process God used to prepare her for life in rural South Africa. But the process was full of moments that inspired her to trust just a little bit more. Tonya is also the author of The Whispering of the Willows (Amazon affiliate link), work of fiction that connects her to her roots. Her parents grew up in the area of Appalachia where the story is set and she drew from that inspiration. While she describes it as “a girl book,” (there is a budding romance in the selection she reads for us), the book is a fine depiction of the period and Tonya’s way with words makes for easy and delightful reading. Listen today for the following stories: How Tonya found Jesus The choice Tonya had to make when she married her husband How that choice led to rural and muddy Colorado and the spiritual struggle it ignited in her The  prayers God answered in South Africa while serving in sm

Today’s episode features author of Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics to Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb, Keith Giles (Amazon affiliate link which means if you buy from this link Amazon sends a little my way). How integrated should the Kingdom of God and the leaders of a nation be? The question may seem strange to Evangelical ears when the objective of some for multiple decades has been to pass laws and “influence” political leaders. But just because this has been the case does not mean it is what ought to be. Here, I need to give you a confession: I’m a political junkie. I like everything about politics including the maneuvering, the process of elections – especially at the presidential level – and watched with fascination the 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump as president. I worked, talked, and voted as conservatively as anyone in the 1990s and 2000s. In fact, my first online experience was a blog about Christians in politics where I read and wrote about various policies and issues of the day. I even s

Quentin Banks met Jesus in the St. Louis County jail. That’s just the beginning of his story. He is one of my favorite people ever to share on Halfway There because of the powerful work God has done in his life. Quentin is the definition of a man seeking after God’s heart while still wrestling with a world that is far from His ideal. The stories he shares about how he comes to trust God will encourage you, too. As always, please subscribe in iTunes and while you're there please leave a review of the show. It helps. The post Quentin Banks is Free in Christ Forever appeared first on Eric Nevins.

What have I learned after asking over 25 people about their life with God? Trust in God is learned sometimes the hard way. Today we look at how this experience of learning to trust God over a long period of time is common, even in Scripture. I show through the Abraham’s story that he learned to believe God through the ups and downs of his own life so that by the time God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22 he just does it. The following stories are featured in clips from today’s show: Amy Patton shares how she grew in faith and finally trusted God with more than her eternal destination but her whole life at a funeral. Sue Muckley shared a time when she did not trust God, the effect that had on her heart, and how God brought her back. Iain Bradbeer shared a story about how God broke his theology and the amazing prayer he prayed to ask God for more of himself. What was true for Abraham all those years ago is true for you and I, my friends. Trust in God isn’t experienced once. Trust in God is learned