This week, we take a break from Christmas episodes. In this episode of Mercycast, my good friend Lewie Clark joins me as we dive into an often-overlooked topic: singles' unique and vital role in ministry and church leadership. In the church, there's often an implicit assumption that marriage is the "default" position for leadership, but we believe that single people have a crucial and powerful kingdom purpose.

It’s a Chris White Christmas, everyone!

In this episode of Mercycast, I am joined by my friend, Chris White, director of Electric Jesus, to dive deep into the themes and storytelling of Christmas movies. We explore how these films reflect vulnerability, redemption, and the human experience during the holiday season.

Do you have an Advent Calendar this year? If not, maybe you should consider getting one.

In this episode of Mercycast, join Jared C. Wilson, author of Gifts of Grace: 25 Advent Devotions, as he explores the themes of Advent, Christmas, and the deeper meaning of the holiday season. Jared, a pastor and professor, explores the powerful connection between vulnerability, hope, and grace during this time of Christmas anticipation.

Sometimes, we find faith in the most challenging places.

In this episode of MercyCast, I sit down with Cody Wilde, Senior Vice President of Correctional Programs at Prison Fellowship, to discuss his influential work in prison ministry and the profound impact of compassion and vulnerability in the lives of those incarcerated.

Parenting teenagers is not always easy. That’s probably the understatement of the year.

In this insightful episode, Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of You’ll Make It (And They Will Too), offers expert advice on parenting teenagers and understanding the complexities of family dynamics. With over 25 years of experience working with adolescents and families and as a contributing writer for Today Parenting, Amy has impacted over a million readers with her compassionate approach to adolescent behavior, emotional growth, and mental health.

There are over 400,000 children in the Foster care system. Roughly 125,000 are available for adoption, and 25,000 age out a year. What does compassion say do?

In this episode of Mercycast, Dr. Kimberly Offutt discusses the transformative power of compassion, community support, and advocacy in the foster care system.

How do you find your way back after the unthinkable?

After experiencing deep pain, we can lose a step. We may feel like we have lost our sense of purpose.

In this conversation, Raleigh Sadler and Esther Garrett explore finding passion and purpose after experiencing trauma and burnout. Esther, the founder and CEO of Safety Compass, shares her personal story of advocacy, the challenges she faced, and how her experiences shaped her ability to connect with others. They discuss the importance of vulnerability, gratitude, and redefining success through kindness and service to others. By 'redefining success, 'they mean shifting the focus from personal achievements to the impact we make on others. The conversation emphasizes that our stories, no matter how painful, can equip us to help others and that God's presence is constant, guiding us through our journeys.

Many people who leave the church cite “church hurt” as one of their reasons. What is it?

In this episode of the Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler discusses the topic of church hurt with the author Joe Dobbins. Together, they explore the experiences of individuals who have been emotionally wounded in places of worship and the impact it has on their faith. Joe shares his motivation for writing the book Hope After Church Hurt: How to Heal, Re-engage, and Rediscover God's Heart for You and highlights the need to address the issue of church hurt within faith communities.

In this episode of the Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Ashley Henriott discuss the topic of confidence and self-worth. Ashley shares her journey from being a single mom kicked out of her house to becoming a Christ-centered confidence coach.

When you are at the end of your rope, that's when you can grow the most.

Risa August, author of 'The Road Unpaved, Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike,' shares her journey of resilience and self-discovery after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Over 50% of Christians struggle with mental health.

For this reason, in this episode of the Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Chris Morris, a certified mental health coach and author of the new book Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about suicidality and depression from the psych-ward to discuss the often overlooked topic of mental health within the church.

"There's miracles in the monotony."

In this episode of Mercycast, host Adsum Try Ravenhill and guest Raleigh explore the profound significance of walking as a metaphor for life and faith. They discuss personal experiences of walking, the concept of pilgrimage, and the importance of community and solitude in life's journey.

What doesn’t kill you may make you weaker. And that’s okay.

In this conversation, Raleigh and Adsum Ravenhill discuss the concept of suffering and how it can be used for the good of others.

Do you ever compare yourself with others? Check out this conversation with author and podcast host Shannon Popkin.

In this episode, we have a podcast inception—yes, a podcast within a podcast. The hosts of the Freely Given podcast join me on the Mercycast. Katie Koplin, author of Encouragement for Motherhood, and Gretchen Ronnevik, author of Ragged, share their perspectives on being comfortable with being uncomfortable. We explore how the gospel meets us in our discomfort and talk about seasons in life and how, because of Christ, discomfort is not permanent or defining.

This week, rather than hearing a story, I want to pause and discuss the importance of sharing our stories and being vulnerable. Whether you believe it or not, everyone has a story that matters, and our stories have the power to impact others.

Julie Sunne, author of Sometimes I Forget, 60 Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Days, joins me to share her personal experiences of suffering, including miscarriages and caring for her daughter, and how these challenges have deepened her faith.

How do we heal? In this episode, I am joined by Jay Stringer, a licensed mental health counselor and author of the award-winning book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing.

In this episode, I talk with Ginny Owens about her journey of starting over and finding light amid suffering. Ginny Owens has spent the past two decades sharing her heart with listeners and readers as a singer/songwriter, author, teacher, and advocate. Her new book, Singing In The Dark, shows how we can experience light in the middle of our suffering.