#12minconvos with Jesus Believers

Kerry Damiano is a woman who has built a life defined by curiosity, reinvention, and fearless exploration. With more than 140 countries on her passport and a career that continues to expand well into her 60s, she aims to show others that your best years are still ahead. Known as "Ms. World Traveler," Kerry has turned her passion for culture, beauty, and connection into a multifaceted career recognized with numerous honors, including the Titan Women in Business Award, AVA Digital Award, 8x Global Beauty Awards winner, Vega Digital Award, NY Digital Award, and Dot Comm Award.

For more than 40 years, the former Miss Idaho USA, has been a trusted and influential voice in the pageant world, celebrated as a coach, judge, sponsor, and creator. Kerry's talents extend far beyond the stage. She mentors young women in confidence and communication, designs award-winning fashion and jewelry, performs as an accomplished pianist, and shares her faith through "The Amazing Word," a Scripture memorization ministry. Her mission is simple: inspire others to embrace their journeys with courage, authenticity, and joy.

Website:

https://kerrydamiano.com

After an incredibly difficult beginning, I way dying and was involved in a medical experiment hoping to keep me alive. The experiment became illegal to humans just 4 months because the side effects included birth defects including malformed bones and muscles, dwarfism, sterility and 100% mortality by 20. Add to that Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 6 causing me chronic pain that increased with age. Being the smallest kid in the school, being the target of bullying till 12th grade, not being able to do any sports made me feel like I had to hide my pain trying to fit in.

Graduating at 16 I started college on a disability scholarship and lasted 3 semesters of me trying to be "normal" and having a nervous breakdown. The college arraigned to freeze my scholarship and allowed me to leave without penalization. What I thought they were saying was "You are a failure, a loser and a disgrace" which spun my pain driven depression to new depths. My friends thought I needed to relax and took me to a bar and month of that involvement ended up with me being able to drink all my friends under the table. I had inherited my mother's alcoholism and added drugs to self-medicate and began sinking faster. The pain increased till it seemed the only escape to my pain driven, drinking and now behavior only had one way out. I met a girl who brought me to church where I found out that Jesus was real. Once I surrendered myself to Christ, He delivered me from drinking and drugs, demon possession, a hemorrhaging ulcer and once I was surrendered, He then called me to preach in a audible voice. Once I received Jesus's love I was mentored on how to live for Christ.

As time went on, I came to realize that I was 20 years old and had no clue who Jesus is. What if I had been told when I was a child, what kind of life would He have done in me? I married a woman with the same vision and heart and had 3 children doctors said could never happen. That opened me to figure out how to reach kids and families introducing them to the love of God. That motivated me to be excellent at what we do therefore I would seek professional magicians, storytellers, puppeteers and ventriloquists and then I became trained by Ringling Brothers professional clowns to become a Master Clown. From that I created The Kid's-Celebration Circus which I took internationally sharing the good ness of God's love. We toured for 12 years full time 48 weeks a year and 20 shows per week. Eventually medically, I had to leave the road and began starting churches successfully. I taught seminars I wrote, 8 manuals/Seminars and trained in uncountable seminars and classes. I toured 48 weeks of churches, youth camps and school shows across America and was featured on TV, radio, magazines and podcasts.

In the Salvation Army where I serve as an Officer/pastor, one location the need required me to become trained in disaster response including being certified in Critical Incident Stress Management and Grief, Trauma and Loss by the highly respected author, trainer and responder, H. Norman Wright who then mentored me for 6 years. After all that training I then became an internationally dispatched trainer in all these topics empowering hundreds so they also could train lives in crisis. I also ended up serving as Chaplain for Fire Departments, Police, Salvation Army disaster responses and hospital and institutional locations. After serving for over 50 years, we retired and I began doing award winning photography and wrote my first internationally published book: "When the Doctors say NO! God says YES!!!" I would be honored to serve in any way that would help people know that their lives can grow.

My mission is to help people with "Renew and Restore, Rebuild and "Be Re-inspired". If you think I would fit in your program I'd be honored to be considered.

Email: [email protected]

View my NEW website: www.davidwebel.com

Pastor Peter Nnamdi Okereke Jr. is the Senior Pastor of The Living Word Ministries in Evanston, Illinois, USA. A devoted husband, loving father, and faithful servant of God, he is passionate about equipping believers to live victorious lives through the truth of God's Word.

Pastor Peter is also the author of Living Victoriously, Marriage: A Gift from God, and Praying the Scriptures, inspiring readers to deepen their faith, strengthen their families, and grow in prayer.

Michael Klassen is a seasoned media professional and the visionary co-founder of the 5AM Podcast, which he established in 2019 alongside Susan Klassen. With extensive experience spanning broadcast television, video production, and project management, Michael brings a wealth of industry knowledge to his role as host and producer.

As the voice behind the 5AM Podcast, Michael is dedicated to helping listeners thrive through purposeful early rising, cultivating gratitude, and developing an abundance mindset. His engaging interview style and practical approach to personal development have made the podcast a valuable resource for those seeking business insights, lifestyle improvements, and motivational guidance.

Michael's background in broadcast television has equipped him with exceptional storytelling abilities and technical expertise, allowing him to create high-quality content that resonates with audiences. In 2025, Michael & Susan expanded the 5AM Podcast platform to include audio-visual episodes available across major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

A collaborative leader, Michael has worked alongside talented teams with collective experience in freelance writing, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Together, 5AM Podcast regularly publishes enriching content featuring insights from guest writers and industry experts.

Michael's mission extends beyond just podcasting—he's committed to providing practical tools and inspiration that empower people to seize each day and live their most fulfilling lives. Through the 5AM Podcast, he continues to build a community centered around personal growth, intentional living, and the transformative power of productive mornings.

Website:

• www.5ampodcast.com

Gayla Grace is the author of Beautifully Blended, 101 Devotions to Encourage Couples in Blended Families and co-author of Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul.

She is an international speaker and serves on the FamilyLife Blended® team, encouraging and equipping blended families. She holds a master's degree in Psychology and Counseling and hosts a popular livestream, Women & Blended Families, with a special guest each month.

Gayla and her husband, Randy, have been married since 1995 in a "his, hers, and ours" family that has grown to include five adult kids, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, three grandchildren and another grandchild on the way!

Gayla and Randy enjoy life as empty nesters in Conway, AR.

Learn more:

• Family Life Blended
• https://www.gaylagrace.com/

FB:

• https://www.facebook.com/gaylagrace1
• https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended

Rob René is a faith-based AI wellness futurist, speaker, author, and founder who operates at the intersection of biblical truth, modern science, and emerging technology. After a 25-year career in enterprise technology, four near-death experiences, and a Stage 3 malignant melanoma diagnosis, Rob underwent a radical transformation that led him to discover what he believes is God's design for true healing.

Once financially successful but spiritually empty, Rob's life shifted during the pandemic when he lost his career and sense of identity. This sparked a deep investigation into the medical and food systems, ultimately leading him back to faith and into the world of natural health. Through this journey, he became a frequency specialist and herbalist, founding QE Strong to help others reclaim their health and freedom.

Rob's story intensified after facing life-threatening health challenges, including a major dental reconstruction, dangerously low heart rate, and a pacemaker surgery where his heart stopped on the operating table an experience he credits to God bringing him back with renewed purpose. Today, he reports significant tumor reduction using his own protocols.

He is the creator of the Light Code System, a four-pillar approach to total body healing that integrates red light technology, frequency-based wellness, molecular hydrogen, biblical herbs, and faith. He is also the author of Light Code: The 4-Pillar System for Total Body Healing (forthcoming), host of the BiohackingVille Podcast, and publisher of The God Algorithm newsletter, which reaches over 50,000 subscribers.

Through Exodus Strong, the platform he founded, Rob is on a mission to help one million people restore their health—body, mind, and spirit by aligning with God's design and leveraging the tools of both ancient wisdom and future technology

Podmatch Profile:

• https://www.podmatch.com/guestdetailpreview/robrene

CONTACT & BOOKING:

• Website: http://ExodusStrong.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Newsletter: http://TheGodAlgorithm.ai
• Social: @‌TheRobRene

Wesley Farnsworth is an author, speaker, and U.S. Air Force veteran passionate about helping people find faith, freedom, and purpose through transformation. His debut book, The Blueprint of Becoming, blends personal story and biblical truth to show that no life is beyond redemption. With over sixteen years in photography, branding, and communications, Wesley brings creativity and authenticity to every platform—from the stage to the page. He also leads Farnsworth Creative and Service Ministries, serving churches and nonprofits through storytelling and strategy. Wesley lives in Iowa and speaks nationally on topics of recovery, purpose, and renewal.

Website:

https://wesleyfarnsworth.com/

Links:

I was born blind, and with other disabilities as well.

Growing up, the school system assumed that I was incapable of learning enough to become a fully functioning adult. This ultimately led to a situation where I actually missed out on grades 7-11 entirely. Thus the idea that I would end up with multiple advanced degrees was inconceivable to most of the adults in my life.

I have also experienced other trials such as nearly losing custody of my first child due to disability discrimination. This occurred while we were helping her through treatment for a pediatric cancer, no less. She turned out ok, but those memories catalyzed me to strive for systemic change.

As someone who lives with chronic pain and mental health struggles, I have found the beauty in serving as a means for survival. I know what it means to fight for opportunities and defy expectations on the path to becoming who we are meant to be. Moreover, I know what it means to sooth our own pain by helping someone in need reclaim the hope that they deserve.

I feel blessed for having the chance to help people step into their brilliance, and facilitate changes within organizations that unleash the best in their people. In my mind, these are two sides of the same coin.

• Daniel Hodges's Website

Gary Janzen is a lifelong minister, missionary, and servant leader whose career spans more than five decades of dedicated service to the Church and to communities around the world. Gary married his best friend Karen in 1977 and together have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. Rooted in faith and shaped by rigorous preparation, Gary's journey has taken him from the plains of Manitoba to the mountains of Rwanda, and to nearly every continent in between.

Gary was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he completed his secondary education at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in 1974. Sensing a call to ministry from an early age, he went on to earn a two-year Bible College Diploma from Columbia Bible Institute in Abbotsford, British Columbia, in 1977. Recognizing the importance of practical leadership skills alongside theological training, he also completed a two-year Business Administration Diploma from Red River Community College in 1979, a combination of spiritual depth and administrative competence that would define his approach to ministry for decades to come.

While pursuing his education, Gary also began his professional life in the business world, managing an Olympic Sports Sporting Goods store from 1980 to 1985. This experience instilled in him a disciplined work ethic, an ability to lead teams, and a gift for connecting with people from all walks of life, qualities that would prove invaluable in his pastoral and missionary endeavors.

In 1985, Gary answered a clear call to full-time ministry when he became Youth Pastor at Glad Tidings Fellowship in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Over the next fifteen years, he poured himself into the lives of young people, building vibrant programming, fostering deep discipleship, and igniting a passion for global mission in a new generation. A hallmark of his tenure was his partnership with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), through which he organized and led annual summer mission trips to Mexico from 1988 to 1999 — introducing hundreds of young people to the transformative experience of cross-cultural service. He also served as the chairman of the school board for 3 years at the private school attached to the church, Highroad Academy. Rounding out his time in Chilliwack, he was an elder at the Church and head coach of the high-school basketball team that he initiated in 1985, for many years as well.

In 2001, Gary joined the pastoral staff at Southgate Church in Langley, British Columbia, where he would serve for a decade in a remarkable variety of roles. He served as director of the church's internship program, shaping the next generation of ministry leaders. He led Men's Ministry, creating spaces for spiritual growth, accountability, and community among men. And as Missions Pastor, he was part of an ambitious portfolio of church-planting and outreach initiatives spanning Jamaica, Japan, Taiwan, Spruce Grove (Alberta), the Philippines, and Peru, reflecting his conviction that the local church exists not only for its own community, but for the world.

In 2011, Gary stepped into one of his most profound and personal assignments: serving as an independent missionary in Rwanda, Africa. For three years, he ministered directly in orphanages across the country, bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to children who had experienced unimaginable loss. This season deepened his heart for the vulnerable and reinforced his belief in the power of presence, that showing up, consistently and sacrificially, changes lives.

Building on this foundation of hands-on global ministry, Gary was appointed Part-time Executive Director of International Christian Mission Services (ICMS) in 2013, assuming the role on a full-time basis in 2016, a position he continues to hold today. In this capacity, he provides strategic leadership for a mission organization dedicated to advancing the gospel and serving communities around the globe. Under his leadership, ICMS has deepened its field operations, expanded its network of partners, and sustained a long-term commitment to both evangelism and compassionate service.

Throughout his career, Gary Janzen has demonstrated that faithful ministry is not confined to a single role, a single country, or a single season of life. From the youth room in Chilliwack to the orphanages of Rwanda; from church boardrooms in Langley to mission fields in Peru and the Philippines, he has followed God's call with consistency, courage, and compassion. His life stands as a testimony to the enduring power of servant leadership, and to what is possible when a person commits, decade after decade, to showing up for others.

Website:

• www.icms.org