Eddiefied

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits downwith Pastor Justin Schroeder from Redeemer Bible Church for a deep conversationon biblical discipleship, Christian community, and God’s design for spiritualgrowth through life-on-life relationships within the local church.

What does true discipleship actually look like according toScripture? Has modern Christianity replaced biblical discipleship with sermons,podcasts, social media content, and church attendance? Why do so many believersfeel spiritually isolated despite being surrounded by churches and Christianresources?

Throughout this conversation, Justin shares his testimony,pastoral insights, and biblical perspective on why God never intended the Christian life to be lived alone. Together, we discuss the importance of real Christian community, the role of the local church in discipleship, how Jesus modeled relational discipleship with His followers, and why spiritual growth often happens through the inconvenience of walking closely with other believers.

This episode also explores:

• What biblical discipleship truly means
• The dangers of consumer Christianity
• Why discipleship requires vulnerability and intentionality
• How believers can pursue deeper Christian community
• The difference between knowing truth intellectually and having a transformed heart
• How churches can cultivate a healthy culture of discipleship
• Why older believers should invest into younger Christians
• Spiritual growth during suffering and difficult seasons
• The role of pastors and church leadership in discipleship
• Why many Christians struggle with accountability and openness
• God’s design for growth through the local church

Pastor Justin also shares practical encouragement forbelievers who feel disconnected in church, as well as wisdom for pastors whodesire to lead their churches toward healthier, more intentional discipleship.

The Eddiefied Podcast is built around Hebrews 10:24: “Consider how to stir up one another toward love and good works.”

The goal of this podcast is to encourage believers throughreal testimonies, honest conversations, and Christ-centered discussions thatpoint people back to the goodness and faithfulness of God.

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it withsomebody else who may benefit from it.

Subscribe for more faith-based conversations,testimonies, and biblical discussions.

In Episode #25 of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Fred Mendrin for one of the most raw, honest, and Gospel-centered conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

After spending 15 years in prison and becoming deeply involved in the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, Fred shares how a life driven by violence, reputation, anger, and broken identity ultimately left him empty — until everything changed through an encounter with Jesus Christ inside a prison cell.

This episode is not just about prison or gang life. It’s about something every single person wrestles with: identity and self-worth.

Together, Eddie and Fred dive deep into:

• finding identity in Christ
• overcoming shame and self-hatred
• renewing the mind through God’s Word
• battling condemnation and past failures
• spiritual transformation
• healing from broken identity
• the danger of finding worth in reputation, performance, or approval
• and the freedom that only Jesus can give.

Fred also shares how Ephesians 2 became deeply personal in his walk with God — especially the words “But God…” — and how understanding forgiveness, adoption, grace, and redemption completely transformed the way he viewed himself.

This conversation is filled with wisdom, vulnerability, biblical truth, and encouragement for anyone struggling with shame, insecurity, comparison, hopelessness, or questions surrounding their identity and purpose.

Whether you’re a believer trying to renew your mind daily through God’s Word, or someone who feels too far gone for God to redeem, this episode is a reminder that no one is beyond the grace of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:24 says:
“Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”

That is the heartbeat behind every Eddiefied episode — encouraging believers through real stories of God’s transforming power.

If this episode encouraged you, please consider:

• liking the video
• subscribing to the channel
• sharing this episode with someone who needs hope
• and leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Thank you for being part of the Eddiefied family.

Connect with us:
YouTube: @Eddiefied
Instagram: @Eddiefied
Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Eddiefied Podcast

What does it look like to follow Christ while serving in law enforcement?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, I sit down with David Hogge (Retired Sergeant with 30 years of dedicated service) for a real and honest conversation about faith, calling, law enforcement, and what it means to honor Christ in high-pressure environments.David shares about his background growing up in California, and how he eventually stepped into a long career in law enforcement. Over the years, he served as an officer, detective, sergeant and Police Academy Commander, working in units ranging from narcotics and gangs to robbery investigations and community policing.

But beyond the badge, this conversation goes deeper.

We discuss:

• David’s testimony and walk with Christ
• What it means to view law enforcement as a calling
• Christianity and policing from a biblical perspective
• How believers can guard their hearts from cynicism and hardness
• Emotional and moral challenges officers face
• Loving your enemies while working in difficult environments
• Romans 13 and controversial questions surrounding Christians in law enforcement
• How the Church can pray for and support officers and their families
• Encouragement for Christians considering careers in law enforcement or public service

This episode is not about politics—it’s about faithfully following Christ wherever God has called you.

Whether you work in law enforcement, know someone who does, or simply want to think more biblically about faith, justice, authority, and culture, I believe this conversation will encourage and challenge you.

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to share it with someone who may need to hear it.

🎙️ Subscribe to the Eddiefied Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of Eddiefied, I sit down with my brother Christian Okeze to walk through a powerful testimony of redemption, restoration, and the transforming power of the gospel.

Christian was born in Nigeria and immigrated to the United States at a young age. His life was marked early on by loss, instability, and responsibility beyond his years. As life unfolded, those pressures led him down a difficult path of addiction, broken relationships, and eventually time in prison.

But this isn’t just a story about brokenness — it’s a story about how God meets us there.

After hitting rock bottom and finding himself in Sacramento with nowhere to turn, Christian was led to Union Gospel Mission, where everything began to change. For the first time, the gospel became real — not just something he had heard growing up, but something he truly understood, believed, and surrendered to.

Since then, the Lord has radically transformed his life.

Today, Christian serves as the Head Chef at Union Gospel Mission, using his gifts to serve others and give back to the very community he once depended on. His life is now marked by purpose, humility, and a deep gratitude for the grace of God.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Growing up around faith but not truly knowing Christ
• Loss, trauma, and the weight of responsibility at a young age
• Addiction, brokenness, and hitting rock bottom
• How God uses unlikely places to draw us to Himself
• What it means to truly hear and believe the gospel
• The ongoing process of healing, restoration, and walking in obedience
• Encouragement for believers who are struggling or feel far from God

This conversation is a reminder that no one is too far gone.

No matter your past, your mistakes, or how broken things may seem — God is able to redeem, restore, and give new life through Jesus Christ.

📖 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…” — Hebrews 10:24

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe. Share this with someone who needs to hear this testimony.

What happens when culture and Christ feel like they’re pulling in different directions?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, I sit down with Pastor & Author Eugene Kovalenko, associate pastor at House of the Gospel in Fresno, California, and author of Cultural Crossroads, to unpack one of the most important, and often unspoken topics today — the tensions that ethnic churches navigate today.

From generational divides to language barriers, from identity struggles to mission drift, many believers—especially those in immigrant and ethnic church contexts—find themselves caught between two worlds.

Together, we explore:

• The tension between culture and faith in today’s churches
• The difference between 1st, 2nd, and 1.5 generation believers
• Why some churches struggle with mission and growth
• The dangers of ethnocentricity and inward-focused communities
• Assimilation vs. separation vs. integration — and what actually works
• How the Missio Dei (mission of God) reshapes the church’s purpose
• Practical models for building healthy, gospel-centered churches

This conversation is not about rejecting culture—but about putting it in its proper place under Christ.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected in church, wrestled with identity, or longed for a healthier, more mission-minded community, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

📖 I would highly encourage you to purchase Eugene’s book: Cultural Crossroads

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Crossroads-Challenges-Churches-American/dp/B0GQ2SS616/ref=sr_1_2?crid=36F0GRDE0HYAQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.56OaHOV5EkgXbHfnEwHeGj13vLfWX9M6TnzgZ1mhsphFsPmGNggBQMPxlE2h9PoXjwRdr1bCGXxuGOFJxJYZFk5dlP-9uYIEOenMgdaU25vkZ6JktZzxdma86rCGDg3U-EzH_h5eZPa8PAPa--zH-ispycbZ7zsVbKrvctPjBPf5QnBILf_njad2CrGhuBCVTN2wk5Vpri04kiKJyTHfO8OcTlmQnoC_HclHtsxeoLY.f0gT-85E7__2aJb4oEYcWIPbW9CghjRbe6yWQXBs2YM&dib_tag=se&keywords=cultural+crossroads&qid=1777361890&sprefix=cultural+crossroa%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-2

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations that stir us toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

What is the heart of worship—and what happens when the very thing you use to worship is taken away?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, I sit down with Serge Moskalets, Creative Pastor at Bayside Auburn, to talk about what it truly means to live a life of worship—not just on stage, but in everyday life.

Serge has been serving in worship ministry for over 20 years. From leading youth worship at 3rd Slavic Baptist Church, to serving at Heights Church in Citrus Heights, to stepping into an Executive Worship Pastor role at Skyline Church in San Diego, and now back in the Sacramento area at Bayside Auburn—his journey has been shaped by calling, faithfulness, and a deep love for the local church.

But this conversation goes beyond his experience.

On Christmas Eve 2025, Serge lost his voice—the very instrument he had used for decades to lead others in worship. What followed was a 3–4 month season of recovery that challenged not only his ability to lead, but his understanding of worship, identity, and calling.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What the Bible says about true worship (John 4:23-24, Romans 12:1)
• The difference between calling and performance in worship ministry
• How to guard your heart as a worship leader
• What worship looks like when there’s no music
• How God uses trials to refine our faith (James 1:2-4)
• What to do when God pauses or removes something you feel called to

Serge also shared a powerful resource for worship leaders and ministry teams looking to grow and evaluate where they are in their calling:

👉 https://worshipos.co/

This tool is designed to help leaders identify where they currently stand in their ministry and challenge them to grow with greater clarity and intentionality.

This episode is for worship leaders, musicians, and anyone seeking to follow Jesus more faithfully in every area of life.

If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, purpose, or what it means to truly worship God—this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

📅 New episodes drop weekly

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share to help spread the message.

You’ve probably seen him… standing on a freeway overpass in Sacramento, wearing a bright orange “John 3:16” shirt, waving at every car that passes by.

But who is the man behind the message?

Before we dive in—if you’d like to support Sean and his ministry, I would really like to ask that you take part in supporting Sean by purchasing his book, “The Long Day Before My Birthday” on Amazon, and/or supporting him financially here through this GoFund me page:

https://gofund.me/d759d1a6b

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, I sit down with Sean Parrish, known by many locals as the “John 3:16 guy.” For years, Sean has stood on Highway 50 overpasses in Sacramento, simply waving and pointing people to one of the most well-known verses in the Bible: John 3:16.

But behind the sign is a story most people have never heard.

Sean shares his journey of faith, his past, and the calling that led him to boldly live out his beliefs in public. We talk about his experience with homelessness, ongoing physical pain, and what it truly means to depend on God for daily provision. Sean opens up about how, in the middle of suffering, he has experienced God’s presence in a powerful and personal way.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level Christianity and challenges what it really looks like to trust God—not just in comfort, but in uncertainty, hardship, and complete surrender.

We also discuss:

• The meaning and impact of John 3:16

• What motivates Sean to stand on overpasses week after week

• His journey of writing poetry and books inspired by his children

• How God has provided for him in unexpected ways

• A message to the Church about living out authentic, everyday faith

Whether you’ve seen him before or this is your first time hearing his story, this episode will encourage you, challenge you, and point you back to what it means to truly follow Christ.

📖 “For God so loved the world…” — but what does that actually look like lived out?

🎙️ About the Podcast: Eddiefied Podcast exists to stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) through real conversations, testimonies, and Christ-centered encouragement.

👍 If this episode encouraged you:

• Like, comment, and share

• Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

• Help us spread the message

Fatherhood is more than a role — it’s a calling.

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Pastor Chris Ritter of Doxa Church in Rocklin, California, to talk about what it truly means to be a Christian father in today’s world.

Chris shares his personal testimony, how the Lord led him into ministry, and why fatherhood has become one of the most important and weighty callings in his life.

This conversation dives deep into biblical fatherhood — not just in theory, but in real, practical ways that every dad can apply.

We discuss:
• Fatherhood as a calling and stewardship before God
• How fathers reflect the character of God to their children
• Discipline, grace, and leading without provoking
• Balancing provision with presence in a busy world
• Discipling your children in everyday life
• Modeling repentance and humility in the home
• Navigating marriage, ministry, and fatherhood
• Encouragement for fathers who feel like they’ve failed
• How young men can prepare now for future fatherhood

Whether you’re a father, a husband, or a man who desires to lead a family one day — this episode will challenge, convict, and encourage you.

The world needs faithful fathers.

Homes need men who lead with strength, humility, and love.

And by God’s grace — it’s not too late to start.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another dad, subscribe to the channel, and help us continue to stir one another up toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
📲 Follow for more conversations that edify and equip

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Moseley Collins—a personal injury attorney, Bible teacher, evangelist, and host of Real Christianity—to talk about what it truly means to live boldly for Jesus in everyday life.

With over 40 years of experience as a lawyer and more than five decades of walking with Christ, Moseley shares how he views his career not as his identity, but as a platform for the gospel. From placing Scripture on his law firm letterhead to regularly praying with people to receive Christ, his life challenges the idea that faith should stay private.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Moseley’s powerful testimony and journey to faith
• How God led him from Bible college into a legal career
• What it looks like to be a Christian in a secular profession
• Why every believer is called to be a missionary
• Practical ways to share the gospel without fear
• A simple and effective way to lead someone to Christ
• The danger of “burying” the gifts God has given you

This episode is a direct challenge to believers who feel hesitant, unqualified, or afraid to speak about their faith. It’s also an encouragement that God can use anyone—right where they are—for His glory.

As Hebrews 10:24 reminds us, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” That’s exactly what this conversation is about.

If you’ve ever wondered how to live out your faith more boldly, this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations that encourage and equip believers
👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to be challenged and encouraged
👉 Follow on Instagram: @Eddiefied_Podcast

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Rick Gregory and his wife Pat to talk about what it means to faithfully shepherd God’s church — and what it looks like to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership.

After more than 40 years in pastoral ministry, including over two decades as Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, California, Pastor Rick shares biblical wisdom on stewardship, leadership, and the responsibility of preparing future shepherds.

Together, Rick and Pat reflect on their upbringing, their journey to faith in Christ, their marriage in ministry, and the lessons God has taught them through decades of serving His people.

This conversation dives deep into questions many pastors and churches don’t often talk about openly:

• What does it mean to be a steward, not an owner, of Christ’s church?
• What are the dangers of authoritarian leadership in ministry?
• Why is pastoral succession so important — and often neglected?
• How can pastors faithfully prepare the next generation of leaders?
• What does a healthy church culture look like when raising up leaders?
• How should believers support and pray for their pastors during seasons of transition?

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or faithful member of a local church, this episode will challenge and encourage you to think biblically about leadership, humility, and faithfulness in the body of Christ.

🙏 If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a pastor, leader, or friend who would benefit from this conversation.