The Word Of Life Podcast

Today, Jonathan and Tyler are joined by Rich Andrews, the Director of Word of Life Florida. Rich has a lengthy background with Word of Life. Today he shares an overview of the unique culture and ministry in Florida, including the Bible Institute, youth camps, RV Park, brand new Genesis production (coming soon!), and more. In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, Rich announces an exciting upcoming opportunity for Word of Life. You do not want to miss this! Find out more at wolcamps.com, or email us at podcast@wol.org.

Check out recording artist Ian Zumback's brand new, never released single, "Hope Beyond Despair," played for the first time ever, here on the Word of Life Podcast! Jonathan and Tyler sit down with Ian and discuss the heart behind his music, the creative writing process, and how he got started in the music industry. Ian is a talented musician, but even moreso, and incredible lyricist who writes with sincerity. You can hear more of his music and follow his tour dates at ianzumback.com or oldbearrecords.merchnow.com

On this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we sit down with Mark and Malachi Hall and hear about their ministry with Word of Life in the Caribbean. The father/son duo spend most of their time in Bermuda, an island with a passion for training up youth to share the Gospel. Bermuda’s churches are small but growing, as is the need for youth leaders, pastors, and missionaries to help train and equip the next generation. Could God be calling you to serve overseas? Listen in as Jonathan talks with Mark about how to know when God is leading someone to the mission field.

How much do you really know about foster care? On this week's episode of the Word of Life Podcast, Ray Deck exposes many of the common misconceptions surrounding the foster care system. Ray is the founder of Skookum kids, an organization based in Bellingham, WA, that seeks to serve children and families in foster care by providing safety and care in the most critical hours. Tune in as Ray, Tyler, and Jonathan discuss the story of how Skookum kids came to be, and find out how you can be involved follwoing God's command to look after "the least of these."

On this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we are joined by "Mike," a native missionary to Vietnam. Vietnam is a country where Christians are not allowed to share their faith publically. Mike shares his story of how his family came to know Christ, discusses the spiritual state of the nation, and how Christianity is growing despite the widespread persecution. This is an eye opening episode that you do not want to miss!

This week on the Word of Life Podcast we had Dominick Cox from Driven Eleven join us in the studio. He talked about his past and how God saved him. But what Tyler and Jonathan really went deep on was a simple question, "How do you know God is calling you to something new?" Dominick talks a lot about how he went from selling buses (literally) to leading a band with a purpose for God. How his family put their house on the market when they sensed God moving them on to something else.  Dominick also tells us about his work with Food for the Hungry and using his platform to further the Gospel in more ways than just music. From his work with Driven Eleven to helping Food for the Hungry Dominick shares a wonderful story of how God can use our talents and abilities for His glory.

When Jacob was young his father killed his mother and changed his life forever. By the grace of God Jacob was sent to a loving home to live with his aunt and uncle. Through growing up in a loving home with a loving church that served him, Jacob learned the power of the Gospel to free him from being a victim. Now years later Jacob is a full-time missionary with Word of Life. He sat down with Jonathan and Tyler to talk about his past and what God has taught him along the way. He opens up about how the Gospel helped him to reach out to his father who is now serving consecutive life sentences in prison. Jacob explains how he was able to forgive and talks about his current ministry reaching the lost as a missionary in South Korea with Word of Life.

This week on The Word of Life Podcast we sit down with Brice Futch and talk politics. Now we don't talk about politics in the way you think we might. We tackle the question of can I get involved with politics as a Christian. We know that politics can be a touchy subject now days, but we take a step back to look at a couple facts on how we should get involved.

This week on the Word of Life Podcast we talked with Lynn Andrews. She works in Word of Life's Florida ministry with her husband Rich Andrews Director of Florida Ministries. Lynn joins us on the phone to talk about her testimony of God graciously bringing her to himself and how He brought her to a point of total surrender to His will. Lynn also talks about the pain of hearing that her daughter was deaf, after suffering a deadly illness. She also talks about dealing with the pain of almost losing a son just a few years ago. God never promised that our families would always be safe. Hear how God has walked with Lynn and Rich through each of these trying times and their faithfulness through the storms of life.

What does God think about depression? Can believers even struggle with depression?  On this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we hear from Jarrod Jones, Pastor of Grace Community Church Orange County, about his experience with mental illness. Join Jonathan and Tyler as Jarrod explains in a real, honest way how he deals with the ups and downs of clinical depression, and what that looks like as a husband, father, and leader of a growing church.  If you struggle with depression, or you've tried to understand a loved one who struggles with mental illness, this episode will be incredibly insightful to you.  For more information on Grace Community Church, visit www.graceoc.com You can download a free eBook that Jarrod  wrote about his journey through mental illness, called 10 Ways to Support a Loved One With Mental Illness by visiting his personal website at www.jarrodjones.com

Ever thought about starting your own non-profit? Do you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of a group of people? This week on the Word of Life Podcast we sit down with Justin Miller from Care for Aids a non-profit ministering to people in Africa afflicted with the Aids virus. He talks about what stirred in him the passion to start a non-profit and what God has done in the last 10 years of the existence of Care for Aids.  He also tells Jonathan and Tyler about a new website project he is launching to help others start their own Non-profit. This is another powerful episode of the word of life podcast. If you've ever thought about starting a non-profit this is the episode for you!

Today's show is a very special episode of the Word of Life Podcast. This week we take a step back to look at the journey that we've been on with this show over the past year. We review some of our absolute favorite episodes. Jonathan and Tyler discuss what God has taught them as they listened to stories of God's working in people's lives and they give a sneak peak at the future of the podcast. It's an episode that you will absolutely love whether it's your first time listening to the show, or whether you've heard every episode. Get the behind the scenes story of everything that's happened on the Word of Life Podcast this year.

This week on the show we sat down with Dr. Jay Strack to hear a powerful testimony of how God worked in an amazing way to bring him to Jesus. Dr. Strack was one car ride away from an accident that could have taken his life. Through losing a close friend he came face to face with his mortality and Christians involved in the "Jesus movement" who challenged him to listen to and believe the Gospel. Being saved in High School Dr. Strack knows first hand the power of students to change the world. Hear how God has used him now to help student's reach their leadership potential for Jesus and how he's spoken to more students than almost anyone in the country.

Dennis Swanberg is a hilarious Christian comedian who uses a powerful tool to teach powerful truths. He uses his gift of humor to help people consider the truth of God's Word. In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast you'll hear Dennis discuss how he got started as a comedian, valuable lessons he's learned about accountability and having people to encourage you in your life. You'll also hear about the struggles he's had with two sons who have struggled with alcoholism. It's a great episode of humor, tears, and powerful truth from God's word.

On the Word of Life Podcast this week we have an amazing story teller Chief Straight Arrow - Tim Patterson. He grew up in a Catholic home and was sent to religious classes where he felt like his questions about heaven and hell weren't answered. After his dad died at a young age Tim had a spiritual hunger that eventually led him to a four day Gospel meeting event. The speaker each night; Jack Wyrtzen found of Word of Life. Tim then spent a few years at the Word of Life Bible Institue where he found his true calling - preaching the Gospel to children.

This week on the show we feature a special interview Christian hip-hop artist Propaganda. He talks about his salvation experience, and his long process of starting in hip-hop and finally making it as a full-time artist. Listen to the episode this week or watch the video in our show notes or on our youtube channel. Propaganda also talks about a powerful truth; all of us are struggling to grow closer to God even those Christian leaders we put on a pedestal.

"I realized my whole world was more money, more sponsors, and more winning..." Matt Manzari had exploded onto the wake boarding and wake skating scene at an early age. This week on the Word of Life Podcast we interview Matt Manzari and his wife Bobbye. He talks about the emptiness of the success he had and how God doggedly pursued him to "get into the game." He felt God leading him into the ministry but didn't feel like he was ready yet. As God moved Matt realized he needed to take his relationship with God seriously and it changed his life!

Matthew Maher grew up as a normal, active Christian kid. He played soccer, got good grades, and didn't get in trouble. Until one night after a major injury and his future uncertain he made the biggest mistake of his life. That mistake landed him in prison and taught him lessons that he now shares with anyone who will listen. It also gave Matt the chance to do something that most people never get the opportunity to do; share the Gospel in prison, from the inside. In the midst of his grieving God used him to shine a light in the darkest place on earth. Listen as you hear the work God did in Matthew Maher's Life and how God used him to do a work in the lives of others. Episode 89: John Paladino (Lil John)

Just a few weeks into attending the Word of Life Bible Institute Damien heard devastating news...his best friend from home had been killed in a random shooting. In this episode of the Word of Life Podcast, we talk to Damien to hear how God worked to remove him from the streets and change his life. Damien talks about how he should have died with his friend that night, and the regret he has for not sharing the Gospel with his best friend before his life was taken so suddenly. You'll hear a powerful story of how God works and what God is doing in Damien's life today.

If you're a youth leader or children's worker you will love this episode of the Word of Life podcast. We are featuring to ministry experts with combined ministry experience of over 30+ years. They are from Word of Life's Local Church Ministries branch and they will be giving us some powerful tips to help you reach parents of your children's and student ministries. We'll dive deep with practical advice and powerful tips to help you take your youth ministry to a new level.