What if one of the simplest ways to strengthen your marriage is also one of the easiest to overlook?

Prayer is more than a conversation about God—it’s an invitation to talk with God. On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler welcomes back Genee Francis, Assistant Director for Content and Programming at Winshape Marriage, to explore the power of praying together as a couple.

Genee shares how developing a daily rhythm of prayer with her husband helped them understand each other’s deepest thoughts, fears, hopes, and concerns. Together, Raleigh and Genee unpack why couples can struggle to pray together, how vulnerability and boundaries play a role, and why learning to rely on God can transform the way we communicate and connect.

From personal prayer time to praying as a couple, this conversation offers a practical reminder: you don’t have to be perfect at prayer—you just have to begin.

Key Takeaways

• Prayer deepens intimacy. Praying together can strengthen emotional and spiritual connection between spouses.
• Start small. You don’t need an hour-long prayer session. Genee encourages couples to begin with just seven minutes of prayer and devotion together.
• Practice makes prayer easier. Like any habit, praying with others becomes more natural as you do it consistently.
• Personal and shared prayer both matter. Couples can maintain individual time with God while also creating intentional time to pray together.
• Healthy boundaries are important. Marriage doesn’t eliminate the need for a personal relationship with God.
• Prayer changes your posture. Instead of trying to control or solve everything ourselves, prayer teaches us to trust and rely on God.
• God belongs at the center. Like a three-stranded cord, a marriage strengthened by husband, wife, and God can withstand adversity.
• Just try it. You don’t have to know the perfect words. Start the conversation and bring your real life to God.

Take the next step: If you’re married, set aside seven minutes today to pray with your spouse. And if praying together feels uncomfortable, remember: you don’t have to be good at it to begin. Remember, You are loved.

Listen, like, subscribe, and share The MercyCast with someone who could use encouragement in their marriage, faith, or prayer life. Find more episodes at MercyCast.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What if the content your kids consume could do more than entertain them—it could help shape who they become?

On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Christian storyteller Debbie A. Thomas, creator of King Kenny, to explore faith-based children’s content, parenting, creativity, and the power of telling stories that point kids toward faith and positive values.

Debbie shares how a simple, God-given idea grew into books, songs, videos, characters, and live experiences that reach children through schools, churches, healthcare institutions, and youth organizations. Her story also reminds us that meaningful work often starts small—with an idea, a willingness to step out in faith, and a community willing to help bring the vision to life.

Key Takeaways

• Kids need content that entertains and builds character. Wholesome stories and songs can help children learn faith, responsibility, confidence, and positive values.
• Start with what God has placed in your hands. Debbie’s journey shows how one simple idea can grow when you’re willing to take the next step.
• Authenticity matters. Creating for people—not simply for algorithms—can lead to deeper and more meaningful connections.
• You don’t have to do it alone. Debbie emphasizes the “whole village” of family and friends who helped bring King Kenny to life.
• Your gifts have a purpose. Everyone has a story, testimony, or ability that can encourage and impact others.

Take the next step: Share this episode with a parent, grandparent, teacher, or ministry leader looking for better content for kids. Then subscribe to The MercyCast for more conversations about faith, purpose, compassion, and living out your God-given calling.

You are loved.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

About Debbie A. Thomas

Follow Ms. Debbie on Instagram. Watch songs with Ms. Debbie and King Kenny on YOUTUBE,

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What if the goal isn’t to escape suffering, but to learn how to walk through it with God?

On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler welcomes back Karis Meier, author of Suffering Redeemed, for an honest conversation about chronic illness, unanswered prayer, faith, and finding purpose when the pain doesn’t go away.

Karis shares how years of illness, medical challenges, and uncertainty have reshaped her understanding of God’s goodness. Together, Raleigh and Karis explore why suffering doesn't always have an easy explanation—and how faith can help us hold joy and suffering at the same time.

In This Episode

• Finding faith when suffering continues
• What to do when prayers seem unanswered
• Why suffering isn't necessarily a sign of weak faith
• Learning to trust God when you can't control the outcome
• The importance of daily dependence on God
• How worship can transform our perspective in dark moments
• Why we need Christian community when life gets hard
• How suffering can equip us to comfort others
• Choosing vulnerability instead of suffering alone

A Powerful Reminder

You don't have to understand your suffering to trust God in the middle of it.

Karis shares how her relationship with Jesus became a foundation long before chronic illness entered her life—and how that foundation continues to sustain her one day at a time.

Don't Walk Alone

Suffering can make us want to isolate, but we're not meant to carry it alone. Karis encourages listeners to invite trusted people in, ask for prayer, and allow the body of Christ to offer encouragement and support.

If you're walking through suffering—or know someone who is—share this episode with them. Then subscribe to The MercyCast and join us for more conversations about faith, compassion, and finding hope amid life's adversity.

You are loved.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

About Karis Meier

Karis is back to give a part two to our conversation on redeeming suffering. You can connect with Karis on Facebook,Instagram, and her website. Also, if you haven’t read her book, Suffering Redeemed, you can find it here.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What if the hardest thing you're carrying could teach you how to carry someone else?

On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with pastor and author Tomy Cummins to talk honestly about trauma, mental health, emotional health, suffering, and what it means to care like Christ when someone is hurting.

Tomy shares his deeply personal journey of confronting childhood trauma, seeking healing, and learning how his own suffering equipped him to shepherd others better. Together, Raleigh and Tomy explore how the Church can create safer spaces for difficult conversations—and why we don't need perfect words to show up for someone in pain.

In This Episode

• Breaking the silence around mental health and emotional health
• Tomy's journey through childhood trauma and healing
• How to become a safe person for someone who is suffering
• Setting healthy boundaries while caring for others
• The difference between carrying someone's burden and carrying it for them
• Compassion fatigue and secondary trauma
• Why shepherds need shepherding, too
• Practical ways to respond when someone shares something difficult
• How the Church can create greater psychological safety

A Powerful Reminder

You don't have to fix someone's pain to love them well.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is sit with someone, listen, and remind them they're not alone.

Tomy also offers a practical challenge: practice how you'll respond before you're in a crisis. Learn to listen. Check your face. Know your boundaries. Build your own support system. And don't be afraid to point someone toward professional help when the weight is beyond what you can carry.

Take the Next Step

Who in your life might need someone to sit with them in the midst of a difficult season?

Share this episode with a pastor, parent, friend, ministry leader, or anyone who wants to learn how to care for people experiencing mental health struggles and emotional pain.

Subscribe to The MercyCast and help create a Church where people can bring their suffering into the light—and meet the hands and feet of Jesus.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Tomy Cummins is a longtime student pastor and author of Shepherds of the Mind: Caring Like Christ in an Age of Silent Suffering. See what people are saying about it! His work focuses on helping Christians respond to mental and emotional health challenges with biblical truth, compassion, wisdom, and hope. Follow on Instagram.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Remember, You are loved.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Imagine never having read the Bible because it doesn't exist in a language you understand.

On this episode of The MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler talks with Stephanie de Oliveira, Director of Church Relations at Wycliffe Bible Translators, about the urgent global mission of Bible translation and reaching communities still waiting for Scripture.

Stephanie shares her journey into missions and explains why Bible translation is a ministry of the global Church—including the growing need for oral, audio, visual, and sign-language Scripture.

In This Episode

• Why Bible translation is still needed
• The challenges of reaching remote and persecuted communities
• How local churches are leading translation efforts
• Why Scripture must be accessible in the language people understand
• How churches can participate through prayer, giving, advocacy, sending, and going
• The Adopt a Verse initiative connecting churches with translation projects

The Bigger Picture

Bible translation isn't simply about putting words on a page. It's about giving people the opportunity to encounter God's Word, hear the Gospel, and see themselves as part of God's story.

The global Church has a role to play.

Take the Next Step

How is God calling you to participate? Pray. Give. Advocate. Send. Go.

Share this episode with your church, missions team, or small group and help others discover why Bible translation is foundational to the Great Commission.

Subscribe to The MercyCast and join the conversation about faith, compassion, and God's work around the world.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Remember, You are loved.

Follow Stephanie on Instagram. Learn more about Wycliffe Bible Translators.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What happens when a child turns 18... and has no one to call?

Every year, nearly 25,000 young adults age out of the U.S. foster care system without the lifelong support of a family. Many face homelessness, incarceration, poverty, or isolation—not because they lack potential, but because they lack belonging.

In this powerful episode of The Mercy Cast, I welcome Dr. Kimberly Offutt, Executive Branch Director of Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta, a foster and adoptive mom, and a child welfare leader. Together, we explore what it means to move beyond programs and systems to become the kind of people who offer hope, community, and lasting relationships.

This conversation will challenge the way you think about foster care, compassion, and the Church's role in caring for vulnerable children.

In This Episode

• Why foster care was never designed to raise children
• What really happens when youth age out of foster care
• The hidden crisis facing thousands of young adults every year.
• Why belonging matters more than programs
• How one caring adult can change a child's future
• The power of mentoring, community, and showing up
• Why empowerment is more effective than rescue
• How churches can support foster families before crises happen
• The importance of listening to people with lived experience
• Why healing often happens while helping others
• Practical ways anyone can support children and families impacted by foster care

Key Takeaways

Children don't need a perfect system—they need people who won't leave.

Dr. Offutt explains that foster care is meant to be temporary, yet thousands of children spend years in the system before aging out without the support many of us take for granted.

One trusted adult.

One emergency contact.

One mentor.

One family willing to say, "I'm here for you."

Sometimes that's enough to change the trajectory of a life.

Empowerment Over Rescue

Rather than approaching vulnerable neighbors with a savior mentality, Dr. Offutt encourages us to walk with people instead of trying to fix them.

Real transformation happens when we:

• Listen before leading.
• Empower instead of rescuing.
• Value lived experience.
• Build relationships instead of programs.
• Create community instead of dependency.

Memorable Quotes

"Systems weren't designed to raise children."

"Children don't need another program. They need belonging."

"You are the hero of your own story."

"We're not called to be saviors—we're called to walk alongside people."

"Sometimes all it takes is one person willing to say yes."

Practical Next Steps

If you've ever wondered how you can help children in foster care, Dr. Offutt offers simple encouragement:

• Learn about foster care in your community.
• Attend an informational meeting or orientation.
• Support foster families through your local church.
• Become a mentor to a young person.
• Listen to those with lived experience.
• Say yes to opportunities to serve.
• Remember that you don't have to be perfect to make a difference.

Share This Episode

If this conversation challenged or encouraged you, share it with a pastor, foster parent, social worker, teacher, ministry leader, or anyone passionate about caring for vulnerable children.

One conversation can inspire one "yes."

And one "yes" can change a life.

Subscribe to The Mercy Cast for more conversations that inspire compassion, challenge assumptions, and equip you to love your most vulnerable neighbors well.

• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Remember, You are loved.

About Dr. Kimberly Offutt

Dr. Kimberly Offutt serves as the Executive Branch Director for Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta and has spent decades serving children and families through foster care, adoption, and child welfare. As both a leader and an adoptive mother, she brings professional expertise and deeply personal insight into what children need most: lasting relationships, hope, and belonging.

Learn more about Bethany.org and find resources for helping you care for your neighbors in and through foster care.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What if the thing your family needs most is less screen time—and more presence?

In this episode of The MercyCast, host Raleigh Sadler sits down with Amy Lowe, director of Winshape Camps for Girls, for a timely conversation about kids, smartphones, social media, anxiety, parenting, faith, and the lost art of being present.

In a world where children can swipe a screen before they can tie their shoes, Amy has witnessed what happens when kids step away from technology and into nature, community, and meaningful relationships. At Winshape Camps, children spend time without phones, notifications, and the pressure to perform online—and parents often report something remarkable when they come home: “I got my daughter back.”

Amy and Raleigh explore why disconnecting from technology can actually help us connect more deeply with our families, our neighbors, God, and creation.

In This Episode, we learn about:

• The cost of constant digital distraction for children—and adults.
• How smartphones and social media can impact our levels of attention, anxiety, and relationships
• The importance of the camp slogan “disconnect to connect”
• What happens when children spend a week without phones
• Why parents say they feel like they “got their kids back” after camp
• The connection between technology, anxiety, and the pressure children face today
• How Christian camps create space for kids to develop faith, friendship, and spiritual growth
• How nature and quiet can help us become more present
• Why doing something difficult can build confidence and grit
• Practical ways families can create healthier technology rhythms at home
• How parents can overcome mom guilt and give themselves grace
• The importance of Sabbath and intentional technology-free time
• Why sometimes stepping away is the best way to rediscover what really matters

Disconnect to Connect

One of the central ideas in this conversation is simple but counterintuitive:

Sometimes we have to disconnect in order to truly connect.

When phones disappear, children have the opportunity to look at the person sitting across from them. They tell stories. They play. They explore nature. They have deeper conversations. They learn to be uncomfortable, try new things, and discover that they are capable of more than they thought.

And the same principle applies to adults.

Raleigh and Amy discuss how putting down our phones can create space to reconnect with God, family, community, nature, and our own thoughts.

What Can Parents Do Today?

You don't have to send your child to camp—or completely abandon technology—to start creating healthier rhythms.

Amy shares several practical ideas:

• Try a 24-hour technology Sabbath as a family.
• Keep phones away from the dinner table.
• Put your phone down when you're talking with your children.
• Create technology-free moments before bed.
• Spend intentional time outside.
• Look for opportunities for your children to experience healthy discomfort and independence.
• Give yourself grace when changing family rhythms is difficult.
• Remember that small changes can create meaningful connection over time.

A Word of Encouragement for Parents

If you've ever felt guilty about your child's screen time, you're not alone.

Amy offers a powerful reminder: if you're listening and looking for ways to love and parent your kids well, you're already taking a meaningful step.

Changing habits can be difficult at first. But new rhythms become easier with time—and the benefits can be worth the discomfort.

You don't have to be a perfect parent. You can start with one small step toward being more present.

Why Christian Camp Matters

Amy explains how Christian camps can create a unique environment for spiritual formation. Kids have the opportunity to step away from screens, spend time in creation, build meaningful friendships, learn from older mentors, and talk about what God is teaching them.

For families who aren't ready for overnight camp, Amy also discusses day camps and family camp as accessible ways to experience the benefits of unplugging and reconnecting.

Key Takeaways

1. Attention is a limited resource.

Constant notifications compete for our attention, emotions, and relationships.

2. Quiet isn't necessarily empty.

When the noise disappears, we can begin to notice God, creation, other people, and what is happening inside us.

3. Disconnection can create deeper connection.

Putting away technology can help families rediscover conversation, laughter, presence, and intimacy.

4. Kids need real relationships.

Mentors, counselors, parents, friends, and faith communities can provide something a screen never can: genuine human connection.

5. Confidence often comes through discomfort.

Trying something new, being away from parents, meeting new people, and navigating challenges can help children discover that they are capable.

6. Parents need grace, too.

Healthy technology habits aren't built overnight. Families can experiment, reset, and try again.

Questions to Consider

• What is technology taking your attention away from?
• When was the last time your family experienced a truly technology-free day?
• Are your children seeing you model the screen habits you want them to develop?
• What might happen if you created more space for quiet?
• Where could your family disconnect to connect this week?

Listen, Share & Subscribe

If this conversation encouraged you, share The MercyCast with a parent, grandparent, pastor, youth leader, or friend who could use the reminder that being present is one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love.

Subscribe & Share

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

• Subscribe to The Mercy Cast
• Leave a 5-star review.
• Share this episode with someone navigating a season of change.
• Follow for more conversations that inspire faith, leadership, and Kingdom impact.
• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Sometimes the thing we fear most—disconnecting—is exactly what makes the connection we've been craving possible.

You are loved.

About Amy Lowe

Amy Lowe is the director of Winshape Camps for Girls, a Christian camping ministry focused on helping children and families experience community, adventure, faith, leadership, and life beyond the screen.

Amy's own passion for camp began during college when she worked at a Christian camp and experienced firsthand the impact that a week of intentional community and ministry could have on young people.

Learn more about Winshape Camps and find resources for helping your family build healthier rhythms around technology and connection.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

How do you know when God is calling you into something bigger than your own plans?

In this powerful episode of The Mercy Cast, James Barnett shares the remarkable story of leaving a successful business career to become CEO of Come and See, the nonprofit ministry committed to translating The Chosen into 600 languages and making the story of Jesus accessible to billions of people around the world.

James opens up about navigating uncertainty, trusting God's timing, and learning to surrender control—even when the path ahead doesn't make sense. From leading DaySpring to helping one of the most impactful Christian media projects in history reach every nation, this conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone facing a season of transition.

Whether you're wrestling with your calling, leading through change, or looking for encouragement in your faith journey, this episode will remind you that God often writes the best stories through unexpected detours.

In This Episode

• James Barnett's transition from business leadership to global ministry
• The mission behind Come and See
• Why The Chosen is being translated into 600 languages
• How storytelling is transforming modern evangelism
• Trusting God's plan when life feels uncertain
• Living with "open hands" instead of tightly held plans
• Why perseverance matters during seasons of waiting
• Lessons on leadership, faith, and obedience
• The power of community and spiritual mentorship
• Encouragement for anyone questioning God's direction

Memorable Takeaways

"Don't give up on God—even when you can't see what He's doing."

"God's plan is often better than the one we would have written ourselves."

"The greatest stories are the ones where God gets the glory."

Who This Episode Is For

If you're interested in:

• Christian leadership
• Faith and purpose
• The Chosen
• Christian podcasts
• Evangelism and missions
• Spiritual growth
• Leadership transitions
• Trusting God through uncertainty
• Gospel-centered storytelling

...this conversation is for you.

Don't Miss These Moments

• James' unexpected journey from DaySpring to Come and See
• The vision to reach billions through The Chosen
• Why uncertainty is often where faith grows the most
• How God redirects careers for Kingdom impact
• Practical encouragement for anyone in a season of waiting

Subscribe & Share

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

• Subscribe to The Mercy Cast
• Leave a 5-star review.
• Share this episode with someone navigating a season of change.
• Follow for more conversations that inspire faith, leadership, and Kingdom impact.
• Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Faith grows when we trust God's plan more than our own.

About James Barnett

James Barnett serves as the CEO of Come and See, the global nonprofit dedicated to making The Chosen available in 600 languages so every person can experience the life of Jesus through authentic storytelling. His leadership combines decades of business experience with a deep passion for sharing the Gospel around the world. Read Blue Skies.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Money shapes more than bank accounts—it shapes anxiety, generosity, discipleship, and the way we love our neighbors. In this episode of the MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Aaron Caid to explore why financial literacy is ultimately a spiritual conversation.

From scarcity mindsets and family finances to stewardship, gratitude, and generosity, Aaron Caid, Chief Marketing Officer of Adelphi Christian Banking, shares how Christians can rethink money not as a master but as a tool for God’s kingdom. Together, Raleigh and Aaron discuss why Gen Z is struggling financially, why churches often avoid conversations about money, and how modeling healthy stewardship can become a form of discipleship.

This conversation also dives into emotional health, anxiety, exploitation, and how financial stress impacts our ability to see and serve others well. If you’ve ever wrestled with fear, debt, comparison, or the pressure to “have enough,” this episode offers practical wisdom and gospel-centered hope.

In This Episode

• Why financial literacy matters spiritually and emotionally
• How scarcity mindsets shape anxiety and decision-making
• What the Bible teaches about money and stewardship
• Why parents should openly model healthy financial habits
• The connection between generosity and gratitude
• How churches can disciple people through conversations about finances
• Why money is a tool—not an identity or savior
• The role of stewardship in caring for vulnerable neighbors

Key Quotes

“Financial decisions are truly spiritual decisions.”

“Money becomes dangerous when it becomes an idol instead of a tool.”

“Generosity rooted in gratitude changes the way we see everything.”

“Stewardship begins by remembering that everything belongs to God.”

Resources & Links

• Adelphi Christian Banking Official Website
• Learn more about Let My People Go and anti-trafficking advocacy through Raleigh Sadler.

Connect with MercyCast

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to The Mercycast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need a reminder that they are loved. The gospel speaks a better word—one of mercy, presence, and hope.

Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Fear is one of the most common human experiences, yet it's often the one we work hardest to hide. We disguise it as stress, overthinking, perfectionism, or simply "being responsible." For many Christians, fear carries an added burden: the belief that being afraid somehow means we're failing at faith.

In this episode of The Mercycast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with pastor and author Luke Kjolhaug to discuss his new book, Fear Not: How the Gospel Disrupts Our Deepest Anxieties. Together they explore how fear quietly shapes our decisions, relationships, and spiritual lives, and why God's repeated command to "fear not" is less about demanding courage and more about offering comfort.

Luke shares openly about his own struggles with anxiety and depression, his journey from engineering to pastoral ministry, and the ways God met him in seasons of uncertainty. Their conversation challenges the idea that maturity means becoming fearless and instead points to a deeper dependence on Christ.

Whether you're carrying anxiety about your family, finances, future, health, or faith, this episode offers a hopeful reminder: the gospel doesn't require you to conquer your fears before God meets you. He meets you in the middle of them.

Topics Discussed

• Why fear is often hidden beneath busyness, perfectionism, and control
• Understanding "fear not" as a promise rather than a shame-filled command
• The relationship between faith, anxiety, and trust
• Luke's journey from civil engineering to pastoral ministry
• How fear thrives in uncertainty and the unknown
• The difference between conquering fear and having fear disrupted by the gospel
• The role of counseling, community, and practical help in addressing anxiety
• Spiritual warfare and the lies fear tells us.
• The importance of hearing the gospel from outside ourselves
• What it means to be clothed in Christ when fear feels overwhelming

Memorable Quotes

"Fear not is less a demand shouted at trembling people and more a promise spoken to them."

"The gospel doesn't always conquer our fears in this life, but it absolutely disrupts them."

"Growth and maturity looked less like standing on my own and more like being willing to accept help."

"Fear is another voice at the table, but it doesn't have to be the loudest one."

"The more we recognize how perfectly loved we are by our Heavenly Father, the less fear gets to define us."

About Luke Kjolhaug

Luke Kjolhaug is a pastor, author, and former civil engineer serving in Minnesota. He is the author of Fear Not: How the Gospel Disrupts Our Deepest Anxieties, a book that explores how Christ's promises speak directly to the fears, anxieties, and uncertainties that shape everyday life.

Resources Mentioned

• Fear Not: How the Gospel Disrupts Our Deepest Anxieties by Luke Kjolhaug
• Read an article by Luke on 1517.org.

Connect with MercyCast

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to The Mercycast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need a reminder that fear does not get the final word. The gospel speaks a better word—one of mercy, presence, and hope.

Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

There are cities built on illusion. Places where people chase escape, reinvention, and distraction while quietly carrying wounds they hope no one sees. Las Vegas is one of them.

This week, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Lex Lutheran—vicar, teacher, and co-host of the Study Boys podcast through Extra Nos Academy—to discuss authenticity, grace, suffering, and why the gospel speaks most clearly in a world obsessed with image management.

Together, they explore how the law exposes our need for Christ, why perfectionism is exhausting, and how the gospel frees us from the burden of trying to save ourselves. From social media personas to ministry among society's most vulnerable, this conversation challenges listeners to abandon the masks they wear and embrace the freedom found in Jesus.

Lex shares his journey into confessional Lutheranism, the origins of his online presence, and what it means to proclaim Christ in a city known as Sin City. Along the way, Raleigh and Lex wrestle with Messiah complexes, discuss ministry among people experiencing homelessness, and remind us that God's grace flows to the deepest places of human brokenness.

The result is a conversation about honesty, humility, and the comfort of knowing that Christ meets us not after we've climbed out of the pit—but in the pit itself.

In This Episode

• Why authenticity matters more than image management
• How the law exposes our need for grace
• The danger of the modern Messiah complex
• Finding freedom from perfectionism
• What Las Vegas reveals about human brokenness
• Why Christians don't work for approval, but from it
• Lessons learned from ministry among people experiencing homelessness
• The relationship between orthodoxy and loving your neighbor
• How confession and absolution reshape the Christian life
• Why Christ meets us in our deepest struggles

Memorable Quotes

"The law calls a thing what it is."

"What ultimately matters is not what you do, but what was done."

"Now that you don't have to do anything, what are you going to do?"

"Grace flows downhill."

"Christ doesn't simply throw a rope into the pit. He climbs into the pit with us."

"The gospel isn't keeping us from people. It's opening us up to love them."

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Extra Nos Academy and the Study Boys podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Learn more about Let My People Go and anti-human trafficking initiatives.

Connect with MercyCast

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a conversation exploring justice, mercy, faith, and the gospel's impact on our world.

Because mercy changes everything.

Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What if generosity is about more than money?

In this episode of MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with Julie Wilson, President and CEO of Women Doing Well, to discuss purpose, stewardship, and the growing role women are playing in shaping generosity. Julie shares how a season of burnout led her to discover her God-given calling and how that journey ultimately brought her into a movement equipping women to steward resources with confidence and purpose.

Together, they explore the connection between faith, generosity, and personal transformation, challenging listeners to move beyond scarcity and embrace a life of open-handed stewardship.

In This Episode

• How burnout can reveal purpose
• Living from stewardship instead of scarcity
• The importance of understanding your unique calling
• What current research reveals about women and generosity
• The impact of the Great Wealth Transfer
• Why generosity is a spiritual practice
• How small acts of giving shape our hearts

Memorable Quotes

"You are a unique individual, and there will only be one of you ever in the whole history of the world."

"Generosity, if it's not a gift, it's a spiritual practice."

"What do I have that God hasn't given me?"

"I've never met an unhappy, generous person."

Key Takeaway

Generosity isn't reserved for a select few. It's a practice that grows as we learn to view our time, talents, and resources as gifts entrusted to us by God. Whether through finances, hospitality, encouragement, or service, every act of generosity shapes both the giver and the world around them.

Resources Mentioned

• Women Doing Well
• Women Doing Well on Instagram

Connect with MercyCast

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Together, we can cultivate lives marked by mercy, purpose, and generosity.

Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What happens when the prayers keep coming but the circumstances never seem to change?

In this episode of MercyCast, Raleigh Sadler sits down with authors Kristen Weatherall and Sarah Walton to discuss their new book, Jesus Will Meet You There. Together, they explore chronic illness, parenting through crisis, unanswered prayers, grief, fear, and the long seasons of suffering that can leave us wondering where God is.

Rather than offering quick fixes or easy answers, Kristen and Sarah share how suffering stripped away false expectations and revealed a deeper reality: Christ does not abandon His people in pain. He meets them there.

Drawing from personal experiences with chronic illness, family hardship, and years of uncertainty, they discuss how God's presence often becomes most tangible when strength runs out. This conversation is a powerful reminder that faith is not about escaping weakness but discovering the compassion of Jesus within it.

Whether you're walking through loss, disappointment, unanswered prayers, or simply feeling exhausted by life's burdens, this episode offers hope for the journey and encouragement to keep your eyes fixed on Christ.

In This Episode

• Why suffering often reshapes our understanding of God
• Finding Christ in seasons of chronic illness and uncertainty
• What to do when God feels silent
• The difference between God's presence and our feelings
• How weakness becomes a doorway to deeper dependence
• Learning contentment in difficult circumstances
• The compassion of Jesus toward those who suffer
• Living with both sorrow and joy
• Why eternal hope changes how we view present pain
• Encouragement for anyone walking through a long season of hardship

Memorable Quotes

"The most awful moments of my life have also become some of the most sacred because I experienced the presence of Christ there."

"Christianity isn't about getting your act together. It's about Jesus, who has done all the right things for you."

"Sometimes the gift isn't deliverance from suffering. It's discovering that Christ is with you in it."

Resources Mentioned

• Jesus Will Meet You There by Kristen Weatherall and Sarah Walton

Connect with MercyCast

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that Jesus meets us in the middle of suffering—not just after it ends.

Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and rate on Spotify.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

There are moments in life that expose what we really believe. A cancer diagnosis. A fractured relationship. A loss we never saw coming.

In this conversation with Wayne Jacobsen, we talk about what happens when faith moves beyond performance and becomes a lived experience of God's love. Wayne shares deeply personal stories—from surviving a cancer diagnosis to navigating one of the most painful seasons of his 51-year marriage—and reveals how God's presence met him in places where easy answers could not.

For decades, Wayne has invited people to move beyond religious striving and into a relationship rooted in love. His newest book, Just Love, explores a powerful truth: righteousness isn't about earning God's approval. It's about learning to receive His love and allowing that love to transform how we see and treat others.

This conversation challenged me personally. We discussed the difference between living for love and living from love, how God often takes the initiative long before we recognize it, and why genuine compassion grows out of being deeply loved ourselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why do so many of us spend years trying to earn a love God has already given?
• The difference between knowing about God's love and actually living loved.
• How performance-based faith keeps us trapped in fear and control.
• Why God's presence is often discovered in pain rather than certainty.
• What Wayne learned through a devastating crisis in his marriage.
• How unresolved trauma can shape our relationships and understanding of ourselves.
• Why love is not an obligation but the natural overflow of a heart experiencing God's affection.
• The connection between justice, compassion, and loving the person right in front of us.
• How to stop trying to fix people and start being present with them.
• What it means to trust God when circumstances make no sense.

Key Takeaways

You Don't Have to Earn What God Has Already Given

Wayne spent decades trying to earn God's approval before realizing he was already loved. Everything changed when he stopped waking up trying to be loved by God and started waking up as God's beloved.

God Often Initiates Before We Notice

Many of us think we're searching for God, but Wayne reminds us that God is often the One pursuing us. The Father draws us long before we recognize His presence.

Love Changes How We Walk Through Suffering

When Wayne's wife unexpectedly left after 46 years of marriage, everything in him could have reacted with fear, anger, and a sense of control. Instead, years of learning to trust God's love allowed him to remain present, patient, and compassionate through one of the hardest seasons of his life.

Justice Flows From Love

Rather than seeing justice as another religious obligation, Wayne argues that God's love naturally produces a life marked by compassion, mercy, and care for others. Love fulfills justice because love fulfills us.

The Next Person Matters

We often think about changing the world while overlooking the person directly in front of us. Wayne reminds us that the Kingdom of God is often expressed through simple acts of presence, curiosity, compassion, and care.

Memorable Quote

"I spent the first 42 years of my life trying to earn the love of God that I already had and didn't know it." — Wayne Jacobsen

Resources Mentioned

• Just Love
• He Loves Me

Final Thoughts

One thing Wayne said continues to stay with me: God's goal isn't only bring us into heaven someday. His desire is to free us from the constant need to prove ourselves so we can live in the freedom of His love today.

When we stop striving to earn God's affection, we're finally free to love the people around us—not because we have to, but because we've already received more love than we could ever exhaust.

That's where compassion begins. That's where mercy becomes real. And that's where lives begin to change.

If you are interested in reading Wayne’s books, please go to the links above.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Every child needs a place to belong.

A home where they are known. A place where they are safe. A family that sees them for who they are—not simply for the circumstances that brought them into foster care.

In this episode of MercyCast, I sat down with Callie Priest, Director of Strategic Partnerships at WinShape Homes. What made this conversation especially meaningful was discovering that Callie and I first met more than a decade ago while I was meeting at a church where she served. Since then, God has continued shaping her passion for vulnerable children and families.

Callie shared how her journey began with a family adoption that opened her eyes to the realities facing children without permanent families. Later, ministry opportunities around the world—including a life-changing visit to a cemetery community in the Philippines—deepened her understanding of vulnerability and God's heart for those who often go unseen.

Today, Callie helps churches engage foster care in practical and meaningful ways. Through WinShape Homes, she equips churches to support foster families, care for children impacted by trauma, and create environments where healing and belonging can flourish.

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centered on a simple truth: many churches want to help, but often feel unprepared. Callie shared how a foster family in her church helped her recognize an important gap. Churches were encouraging foster care without fully understanding how trauma impacts children and families. That realization transformed her approach to ministry and strengthened her commitment to trauma-informed care.

I appreciated Callie's honesty. She reminded us that faithfulness doesn't begin with expertise—it begins with awareness. We don't have to know everything before we take a step. We simply need to be willing to see the needs around us and respond.

We also talked about what Callie calls the "curb cut effect." Originally designed to help people in wheelchairs navigate sidewalks, curb cuts ended up helping everyone—parents with strollers, delivery workers, and the elderly. The same is true when we care for vulnerable children. When we make room for those most in need, entire communities benefit.

One of the strongest themes throughout our conversation was that foster care is not someone else's issue. It affects our communities, schools, churches, and neighbors. And for followers of Jesus, it presents a tangible opportunity to live out the gospel.

The story of foster care points us back to the story of redemption. We were all in need of rescue. Through Christ, we have been welcomed into God's family. Because of that, we are free to open our lives, homes, and churches to others.

You may never become a foster parent. But you can support a foster family. You can invite someone to your table. You can learn the names and stories of children in your community.

Sometimes belonging begins with something as simple as showing up, paying attention, and making room for someone who needs to know they matter.

Key Takeaways

• God often uses ordinary experiences to open our eyes to the needs of vulnerable children.
• Foster care is a community issue that impacts far more people than we often realize.
• Churches can play a vital role by becoming trauma-informed and supporting foster families well.
• You don't need to be an expert to make a difference—you simply need to be willing to engage.
• Caring for vulnerable children strengthens both families and the broader church community.
• Foster care reflects the heart of the gospel: welcoming others into a family where they belong.

Memorable Quotes

"The opposite of poverty isn't wealth. The opposite of poverty is enough." — Callie Priest

"We don't rescue people. We get to be a conduit for what God is doing." — Callie Priest

"When we care well for the most vulnerable, everyone benefits." — Callie Priest

"The church doesn't just support foster families. Foster families are a gift to the church." — Callie Priest

Resources

Learn more about WinShape Homes and how churches can engage foster care in their communities.

Listen to Mercycast

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants to learn how compassion can transform communities. Together, we can learn the art of compassion through the adversity of life.

Learn more about Callie and her work on her podcast. Follow Winshape homes on instagram.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones are off. This was one of them.

In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with my longtime friend Rachelle Starr — founder of Scarlet Hope, author of Outrageous Obedience, and one of the clearest voices I know on mercy, trauma, exploitation, and the love of God.

We talk about her new documentary, He Calls Me Daughter, a powerful film exploring father wounds, identity, healing, and what happens when women who have spent their lives feeling abandoned begin to believe they are truly seen by God.

This conversation moved me deeply because it gets to the heart of things.

We talk about the hidden wounds people carry from absent, abusive, distant, or emotionally unavailable fathers — and how those wounds often shape vulnerability, exploitation, addiction, performance, overworking, relationships, and identity in ways we don’t even realize.

Rachelle shares stories from nearly two decades of serving women in strip clubs, online exploitation, trafficking, and the adult entertainment industry through Scarlet Hope. She explains how their ministry now reaches exploited women across the country through digital outreach, including text-based intervention with women being trafficked online.

One story in particular wrecked me: a woman trapped in exploitation for nearly ten years receives a single text message from Scarlet Hope — and that moment becomes the beginning of her freedom.

We also talk about:

• The rise of online sexual exploitation and trafficking
• Why “daddy issues” is often a cruel oversimplification of real trauma
• Compassion fatigue and burnout in justice work
• The difference between being a savior and being a neighbor
• How healing rarely happens overnight
• Why faithful presence matters more than quick fixes
• The power of staying when it would be easier to walk away

One of the most moving moments of the episode is when Rachelle shares the story of Priscilla — a woman she met in a strip club who wanted nothing to do with God, Christians, or ministry. Over years of consistency, meals, conversations, and love, everything changed.

Not through pressure.

Not through performance.

But through presence.

If you’ve ever wrestled with wounds from your past, burnout, identity, faith, trauma, or what it means to truly love people well, I think this episode will meet you where you are.

In This Episode

• Father wounds and healing
• Human trafficking and online exploitation
• Trauma-informed ministry
• Compassion fatigue and burnout
• Scarlet Hope’s outreach work
• The documentary He Calls Me Daughter.
• Faith, identity, and belonging
• Hospitality, mercy, and long-term presence
• Technology and trafficking intervention
• What it means to be called “daughter.”

About Rachelle Starr

Rachelle Starr is the founder of Scarlet Hope, a ministry serving women in the adult entertainment industry across the United States. She is the author of Outrageous Obedience and appears in the documentary He Calls Me Daughter, which explores the impact of father wounds and the healing available through God’s love.

Listen to Mercycast

If this episode encouraged you, share it. And if the Mercycast has impacted you, subscribe, leave a review, and help us continue having honest conversations about faith, suffering, justice, and the mercy of God in a broken world.

Listen to her last episode on MercyCast. Follow Rachelle and Scarlet Hope here:

• instagram.com/rachellestarr.co
• instagram.com/thescarlethope
• facebook.com/thescarlethope
• twitter.com/thescarlethope
• rachellestarr.co
• scarlethope.org

Watch the documentary, He Calls Me Daughter. You can also get a copy of her book—Outrageous Obedience: Answering God's Call to Shine in the Darkest Places—at Amazon.

You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

“The lead dishwasher.” A simple title that not only sets the tone of this episode, but serves as this week’s guest’s true north for his restaurant.

In this episode of the Mercycast, I sit down with Daniel Penovich, owner, chef, and self-described “lead dishwasher” of Koko Japanese Pub in Cocoa Beach. What started behind a sink full of dishes became a conversation about vocation, creativity, ego, hospitality, faith, art, and building authentic community in the middle of a changing city.

Daniel shares how running one of the most talked-about restaurants on Florida’s Space Coast has less to do with status and more to do with service. We talk about the tension between artistry and discipline, why creativity should feel deeply personal, and how hospitality can become a form of ministry without turning into performance or branding.

From anime-covered walls and Japanese street food inspiration to conversations about Jesus, meaning, loneliness, and identity, this episode explores what it looks like to create spaces where people feel truly seen.

If you’ve ever wrestled with ambition, authenticity, burnout, faith, or finding purpose in your work, this conversation will resonate deeply.

Key Themes Discussed

• Creativity, art, and vocation
• Humility in leadership and business
• Hospitality as ministry
• Faith in secular industries
• Japanese food culture and design
• Building authentic community in Cocoa Beach
• The relationship between ego and success
• Creating meaningful experiences through food
• Entrepreneurship and restaurant culture
• Why “Christian branding” often misses the point

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s a daily reminder of like, no, I just wash dishes. I’m here to make people happy.”
• “You can’t be all things to all people, but you can try to be most things to most people.”
• “I wanted people to feel like they were walking into my home.”
• “There’s no such thing as a Christian restaurant. But there is such a thing as a Christian living faithfully where they are.”
• “Live a life that begs the question, ‘Why?’”

Key Takeaways

• True leadership starts with service, not recognition.
• Creativity becomes powerful when it reflects authenticity instead of trends.
• Hospitality creates space for vulnerability, connection, and healing.
• Faith often speaks loudest through presence, peace, and consistency.
• Community is built one conversation at a time.
• Meaningful art and meaningful work both require sacrifice.
• The best creators invite people into who they really are.

About Daniel Penovich

Daniel Penovich is the owner and chef behind Koko Japanese Pub, a Japanese-inspired restaurant in downtown Cocoa Beach known for its creative food, immersive atmosphere, and deeply personal approach to hospitality. His work blends Japanese culinary inspiration, pop culture, art, and community into a one-of-a-kind dining experience on Florida’s Space Coast.

Listen to Mercycast

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who you think is a servant first. And if the Mercycast has impacted you, subscribe, leave a review, and help us continue having honest conversations about faith, suffering, justice, and the mercy of God in a broken world.

Learn More about Koko Japanese Pub and follow Daniel on Instagram and Koko Pub.

You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Something is shifting.

Not loudly. Not dramatically. But underneath the surface, people are searching for something solid again. In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with American Bible Society Chief Innovation Officer and Editor-In-Chief of the State of the Bible research series, John Plake to talk about what the latest research is revealing about faith, Scripture engagement, church culture, and why more people are opening the Bible in moments of disruption, grief, burnout, and uncertainty.

We talk about the “movable middle,” the millions of Americans who are spiritually curious but overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure where to begin. We also unpack how pastors, ministry leaders, and everyday Christians can stop speaking in Christian clichés and start actually listening to people again.

This conversation is a needed reminder that ministry is not about performing spirituality. It’s about knowing people, listening well, and helping them take the next faithful step toward Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• Millions of Americans are becoming more open to Scripture and spiritual conversations.
• Life disruptions often create openness to faith and deeper spiritual reflection.
• Many churchgoers want to engage the Bible but feel overwhelmed or unequipped.
• Ministry leaders must balance biblical truth with cultural awareness.
• Christian systems and methods should never replace authentic relationships with God.
• Research and data can help churches better understand and serve people.
• Sharing faith is less about perfection and more about faithfully offering the “next link in the chain.”
• People are looking for meaning, purpose, flourishing, and hope—not polished performances.

Memorable Quotes

“Culture doesn’t just eat strategy for breakfast. It eats everything.”

“A lot of times we think we know what people need without actually talking to the people.”

“The goal isn’t making disciples who follow us. It’s making disciples who follow Jesus.”

“God has bigger shoulders than we give Him credit for.”

“People who engage deeply with Scripture begin to flourish in ways the data can actually measure.”

What We Talk About

• The latest findings from the State of the Bible Project
• Why people often reconnect with faith during disruption and hardship
• How pastors can better understand the people they serve
• The danger of performative Christianity and “Christianese.”
• Why do many Christians feel incapable of sharing their faith?
• The connection between Scripture engagement and human flourishing
• How churches can equip people without overwhelming them
• Why listening may be one of the most important ministry skills

Resources Mentioned

• State of the Bible
• Next Step Bible Journey Tool
• Next Step for Church Assessment

Listen to Mercycast

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who feels spiritually stuck, burned out, or unsure where to begin again. And if the Mercycast has impacted you, subscribe, leave a review, and help us continue having honest conversations about faith, suffering, justice, and the mercy of God in a broken world.

Learn More about the American Bible Society and their work.‍ ‍

You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

Two people can sit at the same table, raise the same kids, and still slowly drift apart.

Schedules replace conversations. Logistics replace intimacy. And somewhere along the way, two people stop feeling seen.

In this episode of the Mercycast, I talk with Genee Francis, Assistant Director for Content and Programming at WinShape Marriage. We discuss marriage, emotional connection, faith, and how couples can quietly drift apart over time.

Genee offers useful advice from her years of helping couples reconnect before distance turns into disconnection. We discuss building healthy marriages through regular connection, emotional safety, good communication, identity, sacrifice, and the idea that consistency matters more than perfection.

One idea stood out to me in the course of our conversation: drifting apart can happen gradually, but it does not have to last forever.

That matters because many couples assume distance means failure. Often, it simply means the relationship needs intentional care again.

Key Takeaways

• Healthy marriages require intentional connection.
• Emotional safety creates deeper communication.
• Shared rhythms help couples stay current with each other.
• You can grow individually without growing apart.
• Drift happens slowly, but reconnection is possible.
• Covenant love calls for sacrifice, grace, and consistency.

Memorable Quotes

• “You can still be you in marriage.”
• “The marital drift is a progressive loss of connection, but it is not permanent.”
• “Marriage is a selfless journey.”
• “United goals and vision help navigate tension.”

Healthy marriages do not happen by accident.

They are built on honesty, grace, and the choice to keep showing up for each other.

If you’ve ever felt cut off, unseen, or unsure how to reconnect with your spouse, this conversation will encourage you.

Please subscribe to the Mercycast, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone who could use some hope for their marriage, faith, or relationships.

Learn more about Genee and her work at Winshape Marriage. 

You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content

What happens when the life you planned slips through your hands?

In this episode of the MercyCast, I sit down with author, speaker, and autism advocate Brigitte Shipman, host of The Mother’s Guide Through Autism podcast and author of A Mother's Guide Through Autism. Together, we talk about grief, letting go, self-compassion, and the long road of learning how to love without conditions or expectations.

Brigitte shares the quiet moment that changed everything after her son Joseph’s autism diagnosis, and how decades of caregiving, exhaustion, pain, and grace reshaped her understanding of love. We explore what it means to stop white-knuckling life, to listen to your body, to practice gratitude, and to embrace grief rather than outrun it.

This conversation is honest and deeply human. It’s about the stories we lose, the people we become, and the healing that happens when we finally let go.

Key Takeaways

• Why unconditional love grows deeper through hardship
• How caregiving can disconnect us from ourselves
• The importance of self-regulation and gratitude practices
• Why grief wears many hats beyond death alone
• How awareness and acceptance create lasting change
• What it means to “know better, do better.”
• How pain can become a teacher instead of an enemy
• Why letting go is often the beginning of healing.

If you’ve ever found yourself on the floor wondering how to stand back up, this episode is for you.

Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone walking through grief, caregiving, or uncertainty. Your support helps us continue learning the art of compassion through the adversity of life.

Learn more about Brigitte’s podcast, A Mother’s Guide through Autism. Also, don’t miss her book!

You can follow MercyCast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You can follow Raleigh on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!

Email us at info@mercycast.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mercycast/exclusive-content