Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

Kim Anthony has been active in Christian ministry for over twenty years and is currently on staff with Athletes in Action. She served as Chaplain for the Miami Dolphins Wives for ten years and continues to coach and disciple the wives of NFL players, head coaches, and executives around the League. In addition, her ministry includes aiding women from all backgrounds in overcoming past pain, working through self-esteem issues, and discovering and walking in their purpose.

Today, Kim Anthony travels the country using her gift of communication to speak to audiences ranging from inner-city youth and the incarcerated to corporate executives. She has also spoken at top universities such as UCLA and the University of Miami, and in churches including Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Her message is one of hope, forgiveness, and purpose, along with practical ways of applying God’s Word to our everyday lives. Kim has been featured on several national radio and television programs. Her debut on Focus on the Family received such a positive response from listeners, that they re-aired the broadcast featuring her on December 5th as a part of their "Best of the Best" series of 2012.

One way Kim is having a notable influence on others is through her book, Unfavorable Odds. In this memoir, she shares her story of not only overcoming the unfavorable odds of being a 5’7” African-American gymnast from a low-income, urban community, but also the challenges she faced being surrounded by drugs and violence. The story is eye opening, in that it candidly describes the adverse circumstances in which many urban youth find themselves. Yet it is equally uplifting, as it chronicles Kim’s journey to escape the cycle of hopelessness that pervaded her everyday life.

Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!

December 26 – Best of 2012

6:00 p.m. EST

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey shares the best and most hilarious clips of 2012.

You won’t want to miss the Best of 2012, as we highlight clips from world class guests that graced our air waves. You will hear folks like Aaron Shust, Jim and Jill Kelly, BeBe Winans, Twila Paris, Ray Comfort, Jimmy Needham, Ken Ham, Britt Beemer, Trot & Kathryn Nixon, Jenn Gotzon, Rich Christiano, the Taylor’s of Blimey Cow and many more. You’ll also be treated to the funniest moments of bantering between all the hosts. And, as usually is the case, much of the focus will be on family and the testimonies we’ve shared throughout the year. 

Join Scott, Eddie Jones, and Cindy Sproles as they discuss the highs and lows of 2012 and what is in store for an exciting 2013. All the folks at Christian Devotions Ministries wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Elias' career spanned various facets of the arts, from leading worship to musical theater, to fully embracing her call to become a recording artist. Though she's wholeheartedly committed to help listeners tap into their God-ordained purpose, she didn't arrive at her current calling overnight. In fact, her performance path looked completely different just two years ago when the Nevada native found herself in Hollywood pursuing work in film and television.

"I studied musical theater in college and there's something fascinating, and downright fun about immersing yourself in a character. To participate in the preparation and rehearsal that goes into a performance is hugely enjoyable and gratifying. Making the move to Hollywood to pursue work in film and television seemed like a great way to make something I was passionate about into a career," says Elias.

After making the networking rounds in Hollywood, Elias was well on her way to becoming an up-and-coming actress thanks to various extra roles on Grey's Anatomy (where she was a regular for two seasons), CSI: New York, Bones, Flash Forward, Community, Parks and Recreation, Weeds and Dexter. 

A Christmas trip to her hometown in 2010 caused Elias to reexamine her career options. "It took a seemingly routine Christmas concert that year for me to realize what I've been called to do. In fact, Christmas of that year was the most clear-cut, obvious message I've ever received from God, period! It was as if He said, 'I am spelling it out for you, in bold caps: PAY ATTENTION,'" Elias says.

As Elias gears up to make her mark on the modern day music scene with her engaging songwriting style and fresh pop/rock sound—influenced by Amy Grant, Natalie Merchant, Carrie Underwood, and Sheryl Crow, she's committed to spreading faith-affirming messages that are just as uplifting to believers as they are inspiring to seekers.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott chats with blogger/artist Danielle Street.

As a certified teacher, freelance artist, and writer, Danielle Street has a passion for encouraging people to grow both emotionally and spiritually. She currently enjoys working for Cameron Press where she assists Fellowship Alliance Chapel writing articles and taking photographs for Connection magazine. In addition, Danielle provides art programs that highly motivate, actively engage, and positively encourage students to recognize their full creative talents. 

When her two children are at school, you will find Danielle maintaining her blog, preparing lessons for the small group she leads with her husband, and building relationships with the women who participate in their adult classes. She’s excited to instruct a new course this spring that she’s written called “Mighty Women.”  Each class will include exploring the creativity of God and discovering how to allow Him to transform us into strong individuals for His kingdom. 

Presently, she’s exploring her publishing options for her various non-fiction books. God Never Changes, But We Do is a devotional book which includes each of her blog posts, and Maturity: Rediscovering its Meaning is where readers can gain insight as to what it means to embark on the continuous journey towards emotional and spiritual maturity. In addition, she’s planning a family devotional book with her mother, Dr. Krilov, called Engaging the Heart, Mind, and Hands.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott interviews author Alice Wisler.

Alice Wisler was born in Osaka, Japan in the sixties. Her parents were Presbyterian career missionaries. As a young child, Alice loved to walk down to the local stationer's store to buy notebooks, pencils, and scented erasers. In her room, she created stories. The desire to be a famous published author has never left her. Well, two out of three isn't bad. She's the author of Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl, and A Wedding Invitation (all published by Bethany House) and Still Life in Shadows (River North/Moody). Her new devotional is Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache (Leafwood Publishers).

Alice went to Eastern Mennonite University after graduating from Canadian Academy, an international high school in Kobe, Japan. She majored in social work and has worked across the U.S. in that field. She taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Japan and at a refugee camp in the Philippines. She also studied Spanish at a language institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.

She has four children—Rachel, Daniel, Benjamin, and Elizabeth. Daniel died on 2/2/97 from cancer treatments at the age of four. Since then, Alice founded Daniel's House Publications in her son's memory. This organization reaches out to others who have also lost a child to death. In 2000 and 2003, Alice compiled recipes and memories of children across the world to publish two memorial cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott interviews Amazon Best Selling Author, Kimberly Rae.

Kimberly Rae has been published over 200 times and in six languages. She has lived in Bangladesh, Uganda, Kosovo, and Indonesia, and now resides in North Carolina at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two young children.

Rae's three books in her STOLEN SERIES on human trafficking all made the Amazon Bestseller list in the Kindle edition. She is currently working on a teen series, which is being considered by several major publishers, to present trafficking to young girls in an age-appropriate way. Adult readers are also excited about the series, as it takes up where the STOLEN SERIES left off!

Also keep a look out in 2013 for Kimberly's new series on chronic health problems. Rae has Addison's disease, hypoglycemia, asthma, scoliosis, and a cyst on her brain. Though Rae could find deep books on chronic illness, she wanted a book that was funny and encouraging. "I want my Sick & Tired series to give empathy, encouragement, and a little practical help," says Rae. "When you've had health problems for years and years, you just want somebody to say, 'It stinks, you're not alone, and here's a funny story to help you get through your day!'"

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott discovers what “spiritual stomp” music is all about with new Christian group, Stomptown Revival.

Brandon Bee and Gabe Martinez met in 2004 during a record label retreat in Washington. Shortly thereafter, Brandon became an emergency fill-in for Gabe’s band Circleslide when the band’s guitarist injured his hand. Since that time, Brandon and Gabe kept in touch and gradually became aware of their mutual interest in certain obscure musical influences. Eventually, they started writing songs together, and the result was quite a bit different from their recent musical offerings.

“We wrote two songs that sounded like Americana bluesy music,” says Bee. “We’re both managed by the same guy, and he showed up and wanted to hear the songs. I was playing a dobro, Gabe was playing harmonica and acoustic guitar. Our manager loved it and thought there was definitely something there! Hence, the birth of our new brand of music we refer to as spiritual stomp.”

There’s something new about StompTown Revival, and much that might be unexpected for Christian music listeners. But there’s also something old about their sound that feels quite comfortable on a vinyl record player or your CD player. So while it’s certainly something different for Brandon Bee and Gabe Martinez, it’s somehow fitting to know that, like the songs themselves, the roots run very deep.

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott discusses the importance of the Christian believer in the trenches of the public school arena with Veneal Williams and Dalene Parker.

Veneal Williams has been writing and emailing devotions for over ten years to a group, The Salt Shakers, while working in an elementary school library. She is also a contributing writer to The Upper Room. Veneal attended the University of Florida and received a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in marketing. Her devotions are based on the needs she sees in others and her day-by-day life experiences.

Dalene Vickery Parker is first and foremost a teacher, but also a public speaker and writer who seeks to inspire others to share her enthusiastic passion for students. Her work has appeared in journals such as Home Life, Brio, and Focus on the Family. She currently lives with her family in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she is completing her doctorate in education.

If you know someone who would be a great guest on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! contact [email protected].

Dianne Barker began writing as a college student, working afternoons at the Johnson City Press-Chronicle, simply following a desire God put in her heart. After graduating, she accepted a full-time position at the newspaper, living her journalism dream and earning much acclaim as a news and feature writer. Her weekly column, “Of Cabbages and Kings,” was widely read, and her story on the death of a local soldier in Vietnam won the prestigious Associated Press Managing Editor’s Award.

An opportunity exceeding her dreams came when the newspaper assigned her to cover Billy Graham’s historic Knoxville crusade, which claimed national headlines when President Richard Nixon attended. She was chosen by the crusade’s executive committee to write a book commemorating the event, Billy Graham in Big Orange Country—her first book at age twenty-four.

After leaving the newspaper to be a stay-at-home mom to their two awesome children (now grown), she co-authored several books, including Twice Pardoned with Harold Morris, which quickly rose to number one on the national Christian best-sellers list. Discover more about Dianne and her books at www.diannebarker.com.

Jenn Gotzon is a small-town girl who has big dreams of making a difference in people's lives as a rising Indie film star. She will star in nine feature films coming to theaters and DVD this year ranging from family-friendly films, faith-based movies, romantic-comedies, action thrillers, to historical human interest portrayals.

Gotzon’s career break portraying President Nixon's daughter, Tricia Nixon, (cameo) in Ron Howard's Oscar nominee Frost/Nixon, launched her as an American leading lady starring in several movies (in theaters 2012 and 2013), shooting her to No. 2 on IMDB Starmeter. Gotzon strives to make a difference in people's lives through the roles she plays on and off screen through mentorship and educational programs via talent convention AMTC (Actors Models Talent for Christ), and motivational outreach high school program Inspiring Audiences.

Last year she starred in five feature films: Romance-mystery-drama Doonby opposite The Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider; political-thriller Dragon Day about a Chinese cyber-takeover of the U.S.; French and Indian War drama and true-story Alone Yet not Alone, in which she plays a historical British captive; musical with a twist of faith September Skies; and entertaining family drama, Gods Country, directed by her husband Chris Armstrong and set to be distributed by Sony. This year, Gotzon commenced principal photography on inspirational drama I Am…Gabriel, written and directed by Chuck Norris’s son Mike Norris (starring her Doonby co-star, John Schneider and Dean Cain); 1940’s old-Hollywood comedy The Screenwriters; crime suspense thriller Untouched as the district attorney; and The Divine Comedy triology as heroine Beatrice in Dante's Inferno Documented.