Capital Stories

The first Sunday in November is internationally recognized as Orphan Sunday, and we’re dedicating a couple episodes to shine a light on this important topic. To educate ourselves on the issues surrounding vulnerable children & families, we spoke with Sarah Swaydan, a volunteer at Capital who coordinates the CarePortal ministry, and Amy King, a missionary in Salt Lake and founder of the For the Orphan Network.

Nick & Alia Gonzales have been married 17 years, and are raising three kids—Aiden (12), Brynley (9), and Carter (7). They’ve learned that, for them, the best way to lead their kids to follow Jesus is to model Christ-like faith in their own lives first. That, plus surround yourself with supportive community to help along the way.

It’s a safe assumption that everyone knows someone who’s life has been deeply impacted by cancer. In more ways than one, cancer is a hugely influential factor in the life and faith of Jill Erickson. Jill, a Physician Assistant herself, spent 20+ years in her career in medicine before becoming the patient herself. In this episode, Jill gets personal with the data behind cancer’s ubiquitousness, and shares how God is working in her and through her as she navigates her own cancer journey.

Terresa Wood has been through hell. From her earliest memories, her story is intertwined with sexual molestation, substance abuse, addiction, and other circumstances that bring a grim reality to the “rock bottom” cliché. Yet, as he does, God used the things that literally tried to kill Terresa to transform her life, and now she is equipped to minister to others in their own ruts as the House Director of the Salt Lake City Rescue Mission Women’s Center.

Parenting is a huge responsibility! Johnny & Jessica Chang, married 10 years, with 2 children—Josh age 5 & Jillian age 3—are navigating through the everyday challenge of leading their kids to be disciples of Jesus in the ways they know how. They share tips, tricks, tools, and resources to equip other parents, and really all of us as we all have an influence on kids coming to know Christ.

Kelly & Chasen Robbins serve as missionaries with InterVarsity at the University of Utah. As live-in staff at the InterVarsity house right across the street from campus, their lives are intertwined with the students they serve. They share their personal story of what God used to bring them to college ministry and educate us about the challenges of college students navigating life and faith on their own for the first time.

DanaLee Simon is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, as well as a Spiritual Director who teaches on self-compassion. Especially in a world that’s fast paced, and with the pressure to go-go-go and do-do-do, you might lose touch with yourself in the process. DanaLee’s conversation on self-compassion can point you to a more grounded way of living as it provides tools to love yourself as God loves you.

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Events in 2020 sparked a renewed reckoning in America around issues of race. As individuals around the world responded, each in their own way, Kim Perry & Monique Morrison used the events to draw themselves closer to God and to each other by starting a “Be the Bridge” small group to foster interracial spiritual friendships.

Sometimes God brings healing by exposing past pain. He calls us to trust him by letting go of the parts of our story that vie for control over our lives. And sometimes he uses an unexpected new friendship to help us along… After attending an online Women’s IF Gathering conference together, Stacey and Judi are experiencing God’s timely and surprising provision first-hand. They’re growing closer to God and to each other in their decisions to say yes to trusting God in the deep.