Introduction

In a world filled with distractions and temptations, many believers find themselves wrestling with their faith. In a recent podcast, Emmanuel Manishimwe speaks with writer and podcaster Brad Church about his book, "The Strangers' Conflict," and the struggles that Christians face in their walk with God.

Understanding the Strangers' Conflict

Brad Church, who came to faith at the tender age of six, shares his journey of faith and the challenges that led him to write his book. He details how, despite growing up in a Christian household, he struggled with his faith during his teenage years due to a lack of grounding in scripture and real-life examples of faith around him. Brad emphasizes that the lure of worldly recognition and material wealth often pulls believers away from their spiritual path. His own questions about faith and the struggle to maintain a relationship with God prompted him to delve deeper into scripture, seeking answers that he believed could resonate with others facing similar dilemmas.

The Origin of the Title: "The Strangers' Conflict" speaks to the experience of believers feeling like outsiders in this world. Brad explains that the title is inspired by scripture, particularly Hebrews 11 and Paul’s writings in Philippians, which remind us that as believers, we are citizens of heaven and thus strangers on earth. This perspective frames the conflict believers face as they navigate their spiritual journey in a society often at odds with their values.

Experiencing Distant Relationships with God

Church candidly discusses moments in his life where he felt distant from God, drawing parallels to the parable of the prodigal son. He reflects on how he once wandered far from God, only to discover that the path back is always open. This resonates with listeners who may feel lost, reminding them that God is always waiting for their return, regardless of how far they have strayed.

Understanding Inner Conflict

At the core of the strangers' conflict is the duality of human nature—our physical and spiritual selves. Brad elaborates on the Genesis account of creation, explaining how each person is created with both a physical body and a spiritual essence. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity lost its intimate connection with Him, resulting in an ongoing struggle between the desires of the flesh and the call of the Spirit. This inner turmoil is universal among believers, as they contend with their sin nature while striving for spiritual growth.

Finding Solutions to the Conflict

While Brad acknowledges that believers will never completely silence this inner conflict, he offers practical steps to help manage it. He encourages listeners to strengthen their spiritual lives through practices such as prayer, worship, studying scripture, and fellowship with other believers. These activities create space for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, guiding them toward righteousness.

Key Takeaways

Brad Church’s insights remind us that the journey of faith is filled with challenges, but it is also a path of growth and understanding. The struggles we face do not separate us from God; rather, they provide opportunities for deeper connection and reliance on His grace. As we navigate our own strangers' conflicts, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone, and that God is always ready to welcome us back.

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Featuring Debra McNich, Founder of Battle Cry Moms

Being a Christian in today's world isn't always easy. As Debra McNich, founder of Battle Cry Moms, jokes, it can sometimes feel like a medicine commercial: we focus on the healing, but we often forget to read the warning label about the side effects. The world can be dark, and the opposition can be real. But as believers, we are called to be a city on a hill—a light that cannot be hidden.

In a recent episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, Emmanuel Manishimwe sat down with Debra to demystify one of the most intimidating words in the Christian vocabulary: Discipleship.

If you have ever felt unqualified to disciple others or worried that you need a theology degree to share your faith, this message is for you.

Discipleship is Simpler Than You Think

We often complicate discipleship. We view it as a structured, burdensome program that requires expert knowledge. But Debra offers a liberating definition: "It’s a fancy word that just means to tell somebody about what God is telling you".

Discipleship isn't about having a perfect curriculum; it is about "doing life" with someone. It happens when you fold laundry together, do the dishes, or cook supper while sharing how you rely on the Lord to guide you. It is as simple as reading a Bible verse in the morning and saying to a friend, "Hey, I read this today, and I wanted to share it with you".

You Cannot Give What You Do Not Have

To be a discipler, you must first be a disciple. The cycle of faith works like this: We spend time in His presence, He teaches us, and then we go and tell others.

Debra emphasizes that we cannot rely on past experiences alone. "We leak," she reminds us. We have holes. We must wake up every morning and ask God to fill us afresh with His Spirit so that we can overflow into the lives of others.

If you want to disciple others effectively:

• Get in the Secret Place: Spend time in the Word and prayer daily.
  
  
  
• Don’t Walk Alone: God is with you to correct and guide you, even when you make mistakes.
  
  
  
• Know the Word: You don't need a degree, but you need to know Jesus. Spend six months reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) until you can articulate who He is.
  
  
  

Discipleship Starts at Home

The most critical mission field is often under our own roof. Debra challenges parents to "get in the game." We cannot rely solely on the church to train our children. If a child attends Sunday school once a week, that is only 52 hours of training a year. Who is discipling them during the thousands of other hours? It is the parents' job to plant seeds.

But discipleship in the family works in all directions:

• Children Discipling Parents: Often, children find the Lord and bring that light home, leading to the salvation of the whole family.
  
  
  
• Wives Discipling Husbands: For wives with unbelieving husbands, Debra advises against nagging. Instead, let them see the change in your life. Your life might be the only Bible they read. Eventually, the kindness of the Lord, displayed through your transformation, leads to repentance.
  
  
  

Overcoming the Fear of "The Experts"

A common lie from the enemy is that witnessing is the job of pastors, evangelists, or "experts". This is not biblical. The Great Commission was a command for all of us to go and make disciples.

Whether your sphere of influence is a national platform, a local elementary school, or the grocery store, God has placed you there for a purpose. Do not wait for a certificate. As Debra says, "The best

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What does it actually mean to have the "Mind of Christ"? Is it a distant goal we strive for in the future, or a spiritual reality available to us right now?

In this episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, host Emmanuel Manishimwe sits down with James Early, a Bible teacher and host of The Bible Speaks to You podcast. Together, they explore the transformative power of shifting our mindset from human judgment to divine love.

James shares a refreshing perspective: the mind of Christ is a gift believers already possess but often fail to "unwrap." He offers practical advice on how to surrender personal agendas, love difficult people, and spot false doctrine—not by obsessing over the "counterfeits," but by becoming intimately familiar with the authentic life of Jesus.

Whether you are struggling to forgive someone or looking to deepen your daily walk with God, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for thinking, praying, and loving like Jesus.

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Introduction

The purpose of the 40 Days of Reconciliation journey is to help us understand the need to reconcile with God, His people and awakening the heart of responsibility for His Creation, which is also a sign for our own transformation.

You can take a lesson per day or one lesson a week. Please note that you can take this journey as an individual, family, Church, or corporate during devotions or breakfast meetings.  

God's Perfect Relationship with Humanity

Before there was noise, there was harmony. Before there was shame, there was purity. After God had spoken the world into existence, His final and most intimate creation was humankind. We were made in His very image, a perfect reflection of His love and creativity.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15, NIV)

This was our original blueprint: a life of purpose, honor, and unlimited fellowship with God. He blessed humanity and placed them in the garden of abundance with a single purpose: to tend and keep it. Imagine walking with your Creator in the cool of the day, living in perfect trust, breathing in unison with the Source of all life. This fellowship was the inheritance meant for us.

But with great freedom comes a great choice. God’s only instruction was a boundary of love, designed for our protection and built on trust.

This is where the fracture began. The serpent, the embodiment of Satan, did not arrive with a roar but with a whisper: “Has God indeed said…?” (Genesis 3:1). This question is the oldest temptation in the world, and it still echoes in our lives today, inviting us to doubt God’s goodness. Adam and Eve chose to entertain that doubt, and in doing so, allowed a foreign desire to take root: to be like God, choosing their own understanding over His wisdom.

In an instant, everything changed. Their eyes were opened not to glorious divinity, but to their own vulnerability and nakedness. An economy of shame was born. Where there was once innocent freedom, there was now a desperate need to hide, to cover, and to perform.

The true tragedy was not their nakedness, but their next action. When they heard the familiar sound of God walking in the garden—a sound that once brought them joy—they did not run to Him. They ran from Him. They hid.

The perfect relationship was broken. The distance they created by hiding from God became the source of all human suffering. This is the moment the need for reconciliation was born. It is the story of how we lost our way, and it is the starting point for our journey back home.

Question for Reflection

1. When have you, like Adam and Eve, "hidden" from God or others after making a mistake? 

Action Step

Find a quiet place, preferably outdoors. Spend a few minutes simply reflecting on the idea of "walking with God" in harmony, without any shame or fear.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for designing me for perfect harmony and fellowship with You. I confess that, like Adam and Eve, my instinct is often to hide in my shame when I make a mistake. As I begin this journey, quiet the voice of doubt and help me hear Your loving call to come out of hiding. Teach me to run to You, not from You. Amen.

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In a recent episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, host Emmanuel Manishimwe sat down with Texan author Mark Wood to discuss his deeply theological book, The Bride, The Wise Virgins and The Last Adam: The Greatest Love Story No One Knows. Wood shared a gripping personal journey from running away from his faith to a radical reconciliation with God, offering a sobering look at the urgency of the times we live in.

A Journey Through Fire and Faith

Mark Wood’s path to authorship was anything but conventional. Despite being raised in the church by a "very charismatic" pastor grandfather, Wood spent decades running in the opposite direction. His turning point came through a series of intense, often supernatural trials:

• Spiritual Warfare: In 2005, Wood experienced physical manifestations of demonic attacks in his home that drove him to seek God’s voice.
  
  
  
• The Voice of the Spirit: While opening his Bible, he heard the Holy Spirit tell him to keep his heart "steadfast on Jesus," marking the true beginning of his spiritual journey.
  
  
  
• A Brush with Mortality: A 2017 cancer diagnosis and the occurrence of Hurricane Harvey created a "deep fear of dying without knowing God," pushing him to study the scriptures for three days a week.
  
  
  

The Mystery of the Bride

The core of Wood’s work revolves around the Rapture—the "snatching away" of the Church—and the specific identity of "The Bride". Wood challenges the common assumption that all who identify as Christian will be part of this event:

• The One in Seven: Analyzing the seven churches in Revelation, Wood notes that only the Church of Philadelphia is promised to escape the "Hour of Temptation".
  
  
  
• Defining the Bride: He points to Mark 16:15-18 and the Church of Acts as the blueprint for the Bride, characterized by preaching the gospel, baptism, and signs following those who believe.
  
  
  
• The Trap of Idolatry: Wood warns that modern distractions—like social media or even loving one's spouse more than God—act as "lifestyle traps" that drain a believer's spiritual oil.
  
  
  

Urgency and the "Harvest Time"

Wood emphasizes that we are living in a prophetic "harvest time". He uses a variety of biblical timelines to suggest that the end of the current age is near:

• The Budding Fig Tree: He identifies the rebirth of Israel in 1948 as the "budding of the fig tree," signaling that the generation witnessing this event will see all things fulfilled.
  
  
  
• The 2033/2040 Timelines: Based on the concept of "one day is as a thousand years," Wood discusses the significance of 2,000 years (two "days" on God’s calendar) since the crucifixion, pointing toward potential milestones in 2033 and 2040.
  
  
  

"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom... if we don’t fear God, we’re going to lean towards disobedience in our lives."

A Call to Action

Ultimately, Wood’s message is one of preparation and intentionality. He urges believers to move beyond casual reading to intentional Bible study, which he calls the "foundation of faith".

For those interested in supporting a cause, Wood has dedicated half of the proceeds from his book to Be’ad Chaim, an Israeli charity providing abortion counseling and support.

Find the Book: The Bride, The Wise Virgins and The Last Adam is currently available exclusively on Amazon.

In this episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, host Emmanuel Manishimwe interviews Cathy Colver Garland. Cathy is a writer, podcaster, and minister who specializes in deliverance and healing prayer. She shares her journey of helping women overcome trauma and discusses the core themes of her books, which focus on God's active pursuit of humanity and the discovery of personal identity through his divine names.

The conversation with Reverend Keith Haney covers his journey to faith, approach to unity building, leading successful church change, addressing racial divides, and the impact of prayer and fasting. It also delves into the role of narrative in church change, healing cultural divides, balancing truth and grace, Christianity and politics, and the challenges in ministry. Reverend Haney shares a message for pastors and discusses his authorship and book titles.

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The central theme of the interview is the reconciliation of faith with the complexities of real-world struggle, doubt, and the disruptive nature of following Jesus. It explores how faith is not an escape from trouble but a journey of being "stretched" through challenges to achieve spiritual growth.

Congratulations! We've come to the 40th day in the 40 Days of Reconciliation, which is Day 4 in the Family Leadership Series. Glory to God. Let us start by thanking God.

Father, thank You so much for helping us go through these 40 days of reconciliation. Even me who has been leading this series, I will never remain the same. Lord, I hope You've transformed people in their thinking. I hope You've encouraged those who were already strong. Lord, I hope that the weak have been made strong by You. It's only You who can make them strong. These series only bring us to You; they show us who You are. Lord, may You reign in our hearts. May You continue to identify with us even as we go through the final topic. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today our final topic in the 40 Days of Reconciliation is Belonging. Just that—belonging.

Then we have another scripture from 2 Samuel 8:15:

"David ruled over all Israel and made sure that his people were always treated fairly and justly."

There is one more scripture again, Luke 19:10. It talks about Jesus Christ:

"The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."

We see from the days of Moses, God was preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. To David, He promises that a son from him would rule forever. And from David, we see Jesus Christ coming, who now rules forever.

It helps us remember that God has not forgotten His promises. He is ruling in Christ as the scriptures reveal. It shows there is a Kingdom running right now. God has promised more things about this leadership to come. There is a time coming and we will see this Kingdom much more clearly.

Revelation 19:15:

"Out of his mouth came a sharp sword with which he will defeat the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron. And he will trample out the wine in the winepress of the furious anger of the Almighty God."

It shows that the war isn't over. There is a war. Don't think so much about these wars of the earth... those are rooted in human weakness. But there is a war with the right cause, bringing righteousness. And the scripture clearly reveals Christ Jesus as a triumphant warrior. One who has already won—we know where He won from, on the Cross—and we know that we are coming to victory. He is bringing His church to victory.

God sent His Son into the world so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. We find that in John 3:16.

So God has loved everyone. And we thank Him. This includes everyone in His Kingdom. You don't say, "Me, I'm left behind." No. God is the God of justice. This is where you are included.

Now for people who feel oppressed: Will you please come to Jesus? Because in Him there is no oppression. The oppressed are set free. In Him, you have your justice. You have your freedom. When you accept Him, He sets you free. This is what it takes. It takes you to believe in Him. It takes you to accept the sacrifice which was made for you for the forgiveness of your sins. And then you relate with Him.

It is the Divine Belonging. Belonging with Christ. You know He is your Savior. You surrender. Sometimes we surrender to humans when we are defeated. But here He defeated, not us, but the enemy who held us captive. Failing to come and identify with Him is ignorance that keeps us in the dark under captivity. We need to know that we've been set free by the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Deliverer. We need to know we are free and come back to Him and live triumphant with Him.

May the Lord bless you. May the Lord keep you strong. In our relationship with Him, He expects us to feel accepted, valued, and connected with Him. This gives comfort, and the feeling that you are respected. You can see this in His relationship wit

Focus on the Lord of salvation. Blessings will flourish in the lives of those who obey. Give God your life and teach obedience to your children. May the Lord help us to stay attuned to him.