What happens when shame becomes your identity?

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well—a woman carrying a complicated past, social rejection, and deep shame. Yet Jesus doesn't avoid her, humiliate her, or define her by what she's done. He sees her, speaks truth to her, and offers her something no relationship or circumstance could provide: living water.

In this episode, Ric is joined by Lea Newcomb, co-founder of Engedi Refuge, a ministry providing safety and restoration for women who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking. Drawing from 15 years of direct aftercare experience, Lea helps us see the Samaritan woman through the lens of women today who have been exploited, abused, abandoned, or forgotten.

Together, they explore the destructive power of shame, the importance of compassionate truth, why trust takes time, and how a person's past does not have to disqualify them from purpose.

Most importantly, we are reminded of the heart of Jesus: no one is beyond God's reach.

Rachel’s story is one of beauty, love, longing, jealousy, disappointment, and ultimately resilience. In this episode of Women in Scripture: Unseen, Unheard, and Unstoppable, Rachel Schaible helps us look beyond the familiar details of Genesis 29–35 and discover the deeper spiritual struggles reflected in Rachel’s life.

Rachel had Jacob’s love, yet she still felt empty. She desperately wanted a child, compared herself to her sister Leah, tried to control circumstances, and even depended on household idols. Her story reminds us how easily we can allow unanswered prayers and unmet expectations to define our worth.

But Rachel’s story also points us toward hope. God can bring gain from pain, beauty from ashes, and purpose from suffering. Instead of seeking only God’s hand, we are invited to seek His face—and to trust Him even when His timing doesn't match ours.

What happens when you’ve prayed for something for years, but Heaven seems silent?

In this episode of the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast, Tina Morrow joins Ric to explore the story of Hannah, a woman who experienced deep longing, humiliation, disappointment, and unanswered prayer.

Drawing from her own 11-year journey through infertility, Tina brings a deeply personal perspective to Hannah’s story. Together, they explore the danger of “name it, claim it” faith, the pain of comparison, why well-meaning people often say the wrong thing to those who are hurting, and what it means to surrender our deepest desires to God.

Hannah reminds us that faith doesn't mean we will always receive the answer we want. Sometimes faith means saying, “Even if this does not happen for me, I will still serve You.”

Because God’s promise isn’t that we will never walk through the fire or the flood. His promise is that He will be with us through it.

When conflict escalates, most people either run away or fight back. Abigail chose a different path.

In this episode of the DoorWays® Podcast, Rachel Middleton explores the remarkable story of Abigail from 1 Samuel 25—a woman remembered not for power or position, but for wisdom, humility, and courageous action. Married to a foolish man and caught in the middle of a crisis she didn't create, Abigail stepped between David's anger and disaster with words that changed history.

Together, Ric and Rachel discuss how God equips ordinary people to bring peace into chaotic situations, why our character is formed long before the crisis arrives, and how remembering our identity in God shapes the way we respond under pressure.

Whether you're navigating conflict, waiting for justice, or wondering if your quiet faithfulness matters, Abigail's story offers timely encouragement and practical wisdom.

What does real courage look like? It may not look the way you expect.

In this episode of the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast, Ric Shields is joined by his daughter, Tara Shields, to explore the remarkable story of Jael in Judges 4. Often overshadowed by Deborah, Jael was an ordinary woman who stepped into an extraordinary moment and changed history through courageous obedience.

Together, they discuss fear, risk, women's unique challenges today, and why God often works through those the world overlooks. If you've ever felt unseen, underestimated, or afraid to step into what God is asking of you, this conversation will encourage you to "do it scared."

What happens when God's people hesitate to act? In Judges 4–5, Israel is trapped in oppression, yet God raises an unlikely leader—a prophetess, judge, and spiritual mother named Deborah. Join Ric Shields and guest Sherry Jackson as they explore Deborah's remarkable faith, courageous leadership, and unwavering trust in God. Discover how her story challenges us to stop waiting, embrace God's calling, and become the people He is looking for in our generation.

In this episode of the DoorWays® Ministry Podcast, Ric Shields is joined by attorney and First Assistant District Attorney Joy Thorp to explore the remarkable story of Zipporah, the wife of Moses. Though she appears only briefly in Scripture, her decisive act of obedience during one of the Bible's most mysterious moments may have preserved the mission that led to Israel's deliverance.

Together, they unpack the cultural tensions of her marriage, the strange encounter in Exodus 4, and the powerful reminder that true spiritual leadership begins at home. Zipporah's story challenges modern assumptions about courage, leadership, marriage, and faithfulness, showing that God often works through those serving quietly behind the scenes.

Whether you're carrying unseen responsibilities, navigating difficult family decisions, or wondering if your faithfulness matters, this conversation offers encouragement that God sees every act of obedience, even those hidden from the world's applause.

What happens when the system designed to protect you becomes the very thing that abandons you?

In this episode of our Women in Scripture: Unseen, Unheard & Unstoppable series, Ric Shields welcomes biblical Hebrew teacher and ordained minister Barbie Odom to explore one of the Bible's most misunderstood women—Tamar.

Together they unpack the cultural background of Genesis 38, revealing how Tamar courageously pursued justice when every avenue of protection had failed her. Her bold actions not only exposed hypocrisy but became the turning point in Judah's redemption and ultimately placed her in the lineage of Jesus.

Discover what Tamar teaches us about dignity, courage, repentance, justice, and the God who redeems even the messiest stories.

What happens when your life is shaped by the choices of others instead of your own? We begin our brand-new podcast series, Women in Scripture: Unseen, Unheard & Unstoppable, with the remarkable story of Hagar—a woman used by others, driven into the wilderness, and convinced she had been forgotten.

In this episode, Ric Shields is joined by hospital chaplain and ordained minister Vicki LaFave to explore how God met Hagar in her darkest moment and revealed Himself as El Roi—"The God Who Sees Me." Together, they unpack themes of rejection, identity, waiting, God's provision, and the hope that even in our wilderness seasons, we are never beyond God's sight.

Whether you've ever felt unseen, unheard, or forgotten, Hagar's story reminds us that God sees you, knows your story, and is still at work in your life. It's the perfect beginning to a series celebrating the women of Scripture whose lives continue to reveal God's faithfulness, purpose, and power.

The prophet Joel delivered a sobering warning to a nation facing devastation, but his message wasn't ultimately about destruction—it was about restoration. In this episode, Deb Kalsbeck explores Joel's powerful call to return to God, the promise that God can restore "the years the locusts have eaten," and the remarkable prophecy of God's Spirit being poured out on all people.

Together, Ric and Deb discuss repentance, transformation, and why Joel's ancient message still speaks directly to the Church today. If you've experienced loss, disappointment, or seasons of devastation, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: restoration is at the very heart of God.