In this powerful episode of Bleeding Daylight, Rodney Olsen speaks with Rebecca Medina Stewart, a resilient author and trauma survivor whose journey from sexual assault victim to hope-filled advocate is transforming lives. After growing up in a fire-and-brimstone church that taught her to fear an angry God, Rebecca experienced a horrific sexual assault in college that led to 20 years of depression and spiritual darkness. Through her raw and honest testimony, she reveals how she finally found healing through returning to faith, discovering God's tenderness, and embracing spiritual disciplines that therapy alone couldn't provide.

Rebecca's 60-day devotional "Seen: Experiencing God's Tenderness After Brokenness" offers practical tools for trauma survivors seeking to get unstuck from dysfunction and pain. Her message resonates with anyone who has experienced trauma, loss, or mental health struggles, as she shares not only her own story but also accounts of others who have found healing in their darkest moments. This episode offers hope that even the deepest wounds can become platforms for spiritual transformation when we take that first step of faith.

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In this illuminating episode of Bleeding Daylight, Rodney Olsen speaks with Dea Irby, a community-building expert whose journey includes owning a tea room, becoming a successful realtor, raising eight children, and authoring multiple books. Dea shares her powerful CLAIM framework (Chosen, Loved, Acknowledged, Invested in, Matter) for building authentic communities where people feel they truly belong, whether in business settings or personal relationships.

Drawing from her faith and diverse life experiences, Dea explores the tension between our individualistic tendencies and our innate desire for connection. She offers practical wisdom for creating safe spaces where people can be their authentic selves, discusses the challenges of church hurt, and explains how the principles of community building reflect God's own trinitarian nature. This conversation provides valuable insights for anyone seeking to build stronger, more meaningful connections in any area of life.

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In this powerful episode of Bleeding Daylight, Reverend Dr. Alvin Sanders shares his transformative approach to urban ministry as President of World Impact. Drawing from personal experience with poverty and three decades in ministry, Sanders challenges traditional church models by advocating for a "neighbourhood-as-parish" approach where churches become institutional assets to their communities. He reveals how World Impact's "glocally urban" strategy equips untrained pastors in 19 countries through innovative programs like their "seminary in a backpack."

Sanders unpacks the true nature of poverty beyond finances and outlines practical strategies for churches to engage their communities authentically. From creating "third spaces" that combat loneliness to implementing Asset-Based Community Development models, he demonstrates how churches can move beyond paternalistic charity to foster genuine community flourishing. His stories of transformation—from Cincinnati neighbourhoods to closed countries experiencing revival—illustrate how trained urban leaders can catalyse lasting change when churches approach ministry with humility, genuine care, and a commitment to meeting people at their point of need.

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In this episode of Bleeding Daylight, host Rodney Olsen speaks with Cathy Garland, co-author of "Revelationship – Transformative Intimacy with Christ." Cathy shares profound insights about building an authentic relationship with God through His revelations in Scripture, suffering, and everyday experiences. She explores theological concepts like God's holiness, omnipresence, and the balance between divine order and human structure in faith communities.

Through her personal journey of relationship struggles, miscarriages, and physical injury, Cathy reveals how suffering became a powerful teacher in her spiritual walk. She challenges listeners to move beyond religious routine into genuine intimacy with God, explaining how effective prayer and discipleship can transform anxiety and renew our first love for Christ. This conversation offers both theological depth and practical application for believers at any stage of their faith journey.

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In this enlightening episode of Bleeding Daylight, host Rodney Olsen speaks with Sara Dangerfield, pastor, author, and passionate advocate for discipleship. Sara shares insights from her over two decades in ministry, including her experiences serving in oil boom communities where she observed Christians hesitant to share their faith with those who needed it most.

Sara discusses practical approaches to everyday evangelism, challenging the notion that we need to know everything before sharing our faith. She emphasizes the importance of one-on-one discipleship, the power of every believer's story, and how simple intentionality can transform casual relationships into opportunities for spiritual conversations. Her book "Leading Spiritual Hoarders: Creating a Culture of Disciples Who Make Disciples" offers church leaders a roadmap for cultivating authentic disciple-making movements.

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In this compelling episode of Bleeding Daylight, Rodney Olsen speaks with Kari Hunnicutt, a passionate advocate for international missions and author of "Dormant Faith." Kari shares her transformative journey from simply sponsoring a child to becoming deeply involved with Christian education in Senegal through Go On The Mission. Her experiences witnessing persecuted believers' unwavering commitment contrasted sharply with Western Christianity's struggles to move beyond passive church attendance.

Kari challenges listeners to examine their own spiritual lives, discussing how modern distractions create what one Iranian believer called a "satanic lullaby" that dulls Western Christians' spiritual senses. Through personal stories of witnessing the Holy Spirit's power in remote African villages and her own family's busy life balancing four children and multiple passions, Kari offers practical insights for keeping faith active and responsive to God's invitations in our hectic world.

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In this raw and powerful episode, author Karen Dittman shares her family's harrowing journey through addiction, abandonment, and unexpected grace. When her daughter disappeared into drug addiction, leaving behind a young child, Karen faced impossible choices while simultaneously caring for her sick husband during the early pandemic. Through it all, she discovered a deeper understanding of God's grace as "His power at work in the world, overcoming the impossible to accomplish His purposes."

Karen's story doesn't end with neat resolutions but continues as an ongoing testimony to healing and hope. Now the author of "Thriving in Grace" and "The Fruit of Gratitude," she translates her painful experiences into practical wisdom for others facing life's hurricanes. Her insights on gratitude, wellness, and experiencing God's love from the inside out offer a refreshing alternative to the "try harder" message that leaves so many Christians defeated.

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In this illuminating episode of Bleeding Daylight, host Rodney Olsen speaks with Amy Lykosh, founder of Workplace Prayer, about transforming our approach to prayer. Raised in a home deeply committed to international missions, Amy shares her journey from stepping away from prayer due to fear and pressure, to rediscovering its power through simple daily practices and eventually building a ministry that provides professional prayer coverage for businesses and organizations.

Amy offers practical wisdom on developing a sustainable prayer life, finding grace in imperfection, and recognizing God's presence in everyday moments. She challenges conventional thinking about the relationship between prayer and business, sharing remarkable stories of transformation while honestly addressing the limitations and ethical considerations of professional intercessory prayer. This conversation will inspire listeners to reimagine their own prayer practices while offering fresh perspectives on integrating faith with work.

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In this compelling episode of Bleeding Daylight, author and storyteller Andy Buckwalter shares his transformative journey from being trapped in anger and negativity to discovering authentic joy. Through candid conversation, Andy reveals how a simple gratitude practice became the catalyst for profound change in his life, marriage, and parenting. His story demonstrates that joy isn't just for naturally optimistic people - it's available to anyone willing to put in the work.

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In this episode of Bleeding Daylight, storyteller and author Taylor Lyall shares his 13-year journey of waiting on a dream to serve in South Africa. After spending a transformative year teaching in a township and working with orphans, Taylor felt called to return permanently. However, that door has remained closed for over a decade, leading to profound lessons about faith, purpose, and divine timing.

Through his story and his book "I Can't Wait," Taylor explores the challenges and unexpected blessings found in seasons of waiting. From learning to put down roots in Chicago to discovering ministry opportunities right where he is, his journey offers hope and wisdom for anyone experiencing their own period of waiting. Taylor's experience reminds us that sometimes our detours are actually destinations, and that God is actively working even in our seasons of pause.

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