When we meet Jesus for the first time, it is the most exhilarating feeling you can imagine. A rush of love over takes you and an overall amazement that God is who He says He is overwhelms your mind. Then something happens. If we aren't careful we can become so familiar with God's ways that we lose our amazement for who He is. This message is a call for Christians to return to their first love and fall in love with Jesus all over again. There is no mastering God. The wisest theologian is no close to knowing God in totality than an infant child, yet often the longer we are in relationship with Jesus the less fervent we become. Let's turn our hearts back to the Him so He can set us on fire again!
In this episode I interview Aaron Heeg, a husband of 24 years and a father of 6 who's served in leadership in several ministries over the years. On today's episode we discuss how to self-examine and, with the aide of the Holy Spirit, get free from the things that attract us to toxic environments. We also delve deeper into why leaders get abusive and how we can heal and thrive as the people God made us to be. As always, if you like what you hear, leave a review and don't forget to subscribe!
In this episode I interview my friend Michael Dore, a man with extensive experience in ministry and the marketplace, about how leadership is supposed to look in a church and organizations in general. We discuss the differences between healthy and unhealthy leadership paradigms and how leaders can properly shepherd and get the most out of God's people. You won't want to miss this episode. Be sure to subscribe if you like what you hear!
Have you ever wondered why people stay in an abusive church when they know things aren't as they should be? Cassandra and myself tackle some of the main mindsets that get build over time that keep people coming back for more. They're often taught to distrust their own instincts, they'll never experience the power of God again, or sometimes people keep going because they love the people they fellowship with. We tackle all of these and more from our own experiences. Be sure to subscribe!
On today's episode I interview my friend and fellow GSSM alum, Zach Ducote. Zach is an entrepreneur with a missionary's heart. On today's episode we discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy thought life and how your inner world determines your outer world. We evaluate this truth in the context of spiritual abuse and examine why it's important to renew your mind so you can propel yourself forward into your destiny. If you haven't done so already, be sure to subscribe!
On today's episode I sit down with my friend Stephen Thor. Stephen is a former campus pastor who's currently an engineer. We go deep today discussing emotional health in the life of a Christian and the importance of embracing your humanity to have compassion for yourself and for others. With culture adapting to value authenticity and vulnerability, we as Christians will have zero impact if we insist on maintaining a façade. Be sure to like this episode and subscribe to the Podcast!
On today's episode, my guest and friend Heidi Bastaros dives into Scripture to show the differences between healthy and unhealthy church cultures. If you have been engrained in an unhealthy environment, Heidi shares deep wisdom to help you heal and move forward victoriously. You will walk away from this episode with a great ability to discern the intentions of others, establish healthy boundaries, and how to forgive yourself. This is an episode you won't want to miss. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already!
Recently, the news broke that the now deceased Ravi Zacharias, a legendary apologist, was living a double life. RIZM, the ministry that bears his name, recently released a report which confirmed the accusations which were made against them. In this episode we dissect the report and draw out lessons from this terrible scandal so the Church can embrace the coming purity and holiness movement. Please subscribe if you haven't already!
On today's episode I interview my good friend John Gallagher. John has an extensive background in media both in the ministry and marketplace contexts. On today's episode we discuss how relationships and expectations from leadership in a church can turn unhealthy when we seek their approval over God's approval. This naturally lead to a discussion on the importance of a strong devotion life for a Christian. Unhealthy dynamics in our relationships with leaders is one of the hallmarks of an abusive church culture. As always, don't forget to subscribe!
Welcome to season 2 of Raw Faith! We are kicking off the new season with an interview with my friend Shane Latham. Shane has an extensive background as a licensed professional counselor and brings unique perspective from a psychological perspective on the effects of spiritual abuse. For today's episode we are digging into some takeaways from the landmark book on the subject of spiritual abuse, "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse." This episode will help further clarify the makings of an abusive environment which will set the stage for later conversations in this season. As always, please subscribe if you haven't already!
In season 2 we are shifting the podcast to an interview platform where you'll be able to hear various perspectives on subjects such as spiritual abuse, spiritual narcissism, the orphan mentality, and more! As always, the conversations will be raw, real, and authentic. We feel led by God to make Raw Faith a platform for conversations to initiate on difficult topics in the Body of Christ. Be sure to tune in to this new season! Subscribe and rate this podcast if you haven't already!
Recently I heard a sermon that cut me deep. The speaker said, "being offended is inevitable, living offended is a choice." Another way to frame that is, getting hurt by people is inevitable, but getting stuck in that hurt is a choice. God's intention is not for you to stay in a place of hurt, but for you to walk in victory as an overcomer. This episode discusses some of the effects church hurt can have on you and some tips on how to go free from the effects of hurt. Please subscribe if you haven't already!
Last episode we highlighted how to confront abuse in a church or ministry in a healthy way. Once you do that, it's time to make the decision to either stay or go. If you decide it's time to begin a new chapter, how do you do that in a way that honors God and people without compromising your integrity? Listen to this podcast for answers to those questions and more. Please subscribe if you haven't already!
Recently I was a guest on my good friend John Gallagher's show, Talks with Gallagher. Together we discussed the perils of spiritual abuse and how harmful a spiritually abusive church or ministry can be in shaping a warped perception of God and Christianity. Most importantly we discuss how to confront spiritual abuse in a healthy way and move on with your life in a healthy way. If you haven't subscribed already be sure to do so, and be sure to check out John's show: Talks with Gallagher
So you've identified that you're in a spiritually abusive environment. Now what? The first step towards freedom is acknowledging the abuse you've been sensing is real. From there you can take concrete action steps to address the abuse head on. Whatever you do, don't bury your head in the sand! Keeping abuse a secret is what keeps abuse a stronghold. Listen to this episode to hear the proactive steps you can take before it's too late. If you haven't subscribed already, be sure to do so today!
Have you ever felt like you were being victimized by spiritual abuse in a church or ministry, but quickly squashed those thoughts out of fear that the enemy was talking to you? Trust your discernment! The human spirit was not meant to withstand abuse. Toxic church cultures will try to convince you that you're being deceived. Listen to this podcast to learn 7 of the MANY signs that the environment is actually abusive and to affirm you to know that YOU'RE NOT CRAZY! Please subscribe to this podcast if you haven't already!
Ever wonder how a spiritually abusive environment can get created or how it gets re-enforced? Have you identified that you may be in a spiritually abusive environment but are afraid of what might happen to you or what might be said about you if you leave? Listen to this episode to hear real-life experiences of what happens when you make the difficult decision to move on from such an environment. Be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast!
In today's segment Alex discusses the importance of the local Church from a Biblical perspective, highlighting Romans 8. Be sure to leave a comment and subscribe to the channel!
Listen to this episode to get a preview of what to expect in our first season! We will be highlighting spiritual abuse in the Church, why it's important to talk about it, and how you can heal. You don't want to miss this season.