Eddiefied

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Pastor Tony Arnds, founding pastor of Folsom Bible Church, for a deep and encouraging conversation about one of the most important — and sometimes controversial — doctrines in Scripture: the Sovereignty of God.

After graduating from The Master’s Seminary, Tony faithfully served as a pastor of a rural church in Northern California from 2002 until January of 2021. By God’s providence, he was later called to Folsom, California, where he began planting Folsom Bible Church, a gospel-centered, Christ-exalting church that has been gathering weekly since January 2022.

In this conversation, Pastor Tony shares his personal testimony, reflecting on how the Lord led him to salvation and eventually into pastoral ministry. From there, the discussion moves into the rich biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty, exploring what Scripture teaches about God’s rule over all things and how that truth shapes the life of a believer.

Together, Eddie and Pastor Tony discuss:

• What the Bible actually teaches about God's sovereignty
• How God’s sovereignty relates to human responsibility
• Why this doctrine often creates tension or disagreement among Christians
• How to think about suffering, tragedy, and hardship in light of God's rule
• Why belief in God’s sovereignty should fuel evangelism rather than hinder it
• How the sovereignty of God brings assurance, hope, and comfort to believers
• How Christians can maintain unity while holding strong theological convictions

This conversation also addresses common objections such as:

• “If God is sovereign, why does suffering exist?”

• “Does sovereignty remove free will?”

• “Does it make prayer or evangelism unnecessary?”

Ultimately, the goal of this episode is to encourage believers and help us think biblically about the God who reigns over all things. When properly understood, the sovereignty of God does not produce anxiety — it produces humility, confidence, hope, and deeper worship.

As Hebrews 10:24 reminds us:

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."

Our hope is that this conversation will strengthen your faith and encourage you to trust the God who rules over every detail of life.

What is Christian moralism — and why is it dangerous for the church?

In this episode, Pastor Robert Briggs explains why the church must recover confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ, not moral behavior alone.

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Pastor Robert Briggs, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church and Executive Director of the Union Gospel Mission Sacramento, for a powerful conversation about the gospel, Christian moralism, and the mission of the church.

Pastor Briggs has faithfully served in pastoral ministry for over 34 years. A native of Scotland, he has pastored Immanuel Baptist Church in Sacramento for 22 years and recently stepped into the role of Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission, where he now leads a ministry serving the poor, the homeless, and those in need throughout Sacramento. He also serves as the chaplain for Sacramento Republic FC.

Pastor Briggs holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Queen's University in Belfast and a Master of Theology in Historical Theology from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The history and mission of Union Gospel Mission Sacramento
• How the gospel transforms lives among the poor and broken
• Powerful stories of redemption and restoration
• Why the church must recover confidence in the power of the gospel
• What Christian moralism is and why it is dangerous
• The difference between behavior modification and true heart transformation
• The proper relationship between God's law and the gospel
• How believers can avoid performance-based Christianity
• Why the gospel—not moralism—is the power of God unto salvation

Pastor Briggs shares pastoral wisdom from decades of ministry and firsthand experience working among the poor, reminding us that true change does not come through moral effort alone, but through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

This episode will encourage pastors, church leaders, and everyday believers to keep the gospel central in their lives, churches, and ministries.

As Hebrews 10:24 reminds us:

"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."

If this conversation encouraged you, consider sharing this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Union Gospel Mission Sacramento
https://ugmsac.com/

📍 Learn More

In this powerful episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with his friend Omari Lee to walk through a raw and honest testimony of redemption.

Omari shares about his upbringing, the decisions that led him into prison, life on the streets, addiction, relapse, and the moment when religion stopped being enough — and true surrender to Jesus Christ became real.

What began as a drug deal gone wrong turned into prison time. But prison was not the end of his story. Through conviction, brokenness, a life-altering accident, and the mercy of God, Omari experienced real transformation.

Today, Omari is married to his wife Maria, a father to his three-year-old daughter Priya, and is currently pursuing certification as a substance abuse counselor — helping others walk out of the same darkness he once lived in.

This episode explores:

• Prison and consequences• Addiction and relapse• Religion vs true surrender• The transforming power of the gospel• Marriage, fatherhood, and sanctification• Ministry to the homeless and addicted• How the church should biblically respond to people with a past

No one is too far gone for grace.

Whether you are battling addiction, coming out of prison, struggling with sin, or wondering if God can use your story — this conversation is for you.

Hebrews 10:24 calls us to spur one another toward love and good works. This episode is a reminder that God redeems broken stories and uses surrendered lives for His glory.

If this episode encourages you, share it with someone who needs hope.

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How should Christians share their faith in today’s culture...especially on college campus's?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Anthony Marquez as he shares his testimony of transformation and his years of evangelism at Sacramento State University.

Raised Roman Catholic, Anthony later walked through a season of rebellion and became involved in the International Church of Christ—a group he now describes as spiritually manipulative and works-based. After experiencing disillusionment and bitterness toward Christianity, God pursued him. At age 29, after losing his career, Anthony encountered Jesus Christ personally and was radically changed.

Since then, he has devoted his life to faithfully sharing the gospel—without manipulation, without pressure, and without fear of results.

In this conversation, we cover:

✔️ True conversion vs religious tradition
✔️ Legalism, spiritual pressure, and false assurance
✔️ Law and gospel in evangelism
✔️ Compassion and boldness in public ministry
✔️ Reaching Gen Z on secular college campuses
✔️ How to overcome fear when sharing your faith
✔️ Faithfulness vs visible results
✔️ Living on mission under the local church

If you’ve ever struggled with fear, felt unqualified, or wondered how to share your faith in today’s culture, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Hebrews 10:24 reminds us to stir one another up to love and good works. Our hope is that this conversation does exactly that.

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What happens when God redirects a faithful pastor of nearly 30 years into global missions — without a clear roadmap?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Pastor Alan and Bev Ginn share their journey from growing up in non-Christian homes, to decades of pastoral ministry in Sacramento, and ultimately stepping into the mission field to train and equip pastors in regions where Christianity is restricted and often persecuted.Pastor Alan opens up about the catalysts that reshaped his calling — including a major health crisis and short-term mission trips that ignited a burden for under-resourced church leaders. Together, he and Bev share what it means to walk in obedience, surrender comfort, and trust God when the next step isn’t fully visible.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- Growing up and coming to faith in Jesus Christ

- Long-term pastoral ministry and lessons learned

- How God redirects calling later in life

- Serving in “creative access” countries

- Training pastors in persecuted regions

- Faith under pressure

- The role of a wife in missions

- Practical encouragement for those feeling called to the mission field

- How believers can wisely support global missions

This episode is a reminder that obedience doesn’t require a full blueprint — just a willing heart.

To Support Pastor Alan's Mission Work: If you feel stirred toward missions or want to support the work Pastor Alan is part of, you can learn more or give through WordPartners by using the website below and & choosing "Asia" or to support the work in that region:

👉 https://wordpartners.org/give/

Whether you're sensing a call to go, to send, or simply to grow deeper in faith — this conversation will encourage you.

If this episode blesses you, consider sharing it and subscribing so you don’t miss future conversations.

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with pastor, teacher, and coach Denis Gerasimov for one of the most honest and necessary conversations the church needs right now.Together, they address a struggle that affects millions of believers—but is rarely talked about openly: sexual lust, shame, and hidden sin, and how these battles quietly impact marriages, leadership, mental health, and spiritual life.Denis shares his personal story of wrestling with lust over many years—even while serving in ministry—and how secrecy, shame, and isolation kept him stuck. Rather than focusing on surface-level behavior management, this conversation goes deeper into the heart, exploring how unmet emotional needs, distorted beliefs, and lack of healthy community often fuel destructive patterns.This episode covers:• Why lust is often a coping mechanism for deeper emotional pain• The difference between temptation and sin—and why clarity matters• How shame isolates believers and keeps them from healing• The devastating impact hidden sin can have on marriage and trust• Why accountability alone is not enough for lasting freedom• How renewing the mind, understanding identity in Christ, and building healthy rhythms lead to real change• What Hebrews 10:24 looks like in real life—not theory• Why freedom is possible, even if you’ve struggled for yearsThis is not a conversation about condemnation or “trying harder.”It’s about bringing things into the light, rediscovering hope, and learning how God’s grace transforms us from the inside out.If you’re a man who feels stuck, disqualified, or exhausted from fighting alone—or if you’re a leader, husband, or believer who wants to walk in integrity—this episode is for you.👉 Connect with Denis Gerasimov for coaching and support:https://www.instagram.com/denisgerasimovvv/🎧 Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and hope.

What happens when a marriage reaches the breaking point — and God steps in?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Amy and Matt Atkins where they share a deeply honest Christian marriage testimony marked by separation, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration through Jesus Christ.

Matt and Amy walk through their upbringing, early faith, how they met, and what their marriage was built on — before everything began to drift. They openly share a painful season of isolation, broken trust, and separation, including the moment they realized something was seriously wrong. Most importantly, they testify to how God intervened, confronted lies with truth, and rebuilt their marriage through the power of the gospel.

This conversation covers:

- Early warning signs of marital drift

- The danger of isolation and lack of accountability

- What real repentance looks like beyond words

- How forgiveness works when it feels impossible

- Rebuilding trust after betrayal

- The role of Scripture and church community

- What a gospel-centered marriage looks like when life gets hard

This episode is an honest picture of the gospel lived out — showing that no marriage is too far gone, no sin is beyond God’s grace, and restoration is possible when hearts are surrendered to Christ.

If you’re a Christian struggling in your marriage, feeling disconnected, or wondering if restoration is possible — this episode is for you.

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

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In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Peter Kondrashov, pastor over the English service at Bryte Church, for a powerful and honest conversation about faith, calling, obedience, and the mission of the Church.

Before stepping into pastoral ministry, Peter served in the corporate world as a Vice President over the Enterprise Project Management Office at One Inc. — a role that offered stability, success, and security by worldly standards. Yet God was quietly shaping his heart through years of faithfulness, generosity, and obedience, preparing him to step into ministry when the time came.

In this episode, Peter shares:

• His upbringing and testimony to faith in Jesus

• How God used his time in the corporate world to prepare him for ministry

• What it looked like to wrestle with obedience and let go of worldly definitions of success

• The cost — and joy — of following God’s calling

• Bryte Church’s journey from a Slavic-speaking church to a multicultural, bilingual congregation

• How Scripture speaks to church culture, language, tradition, and mission

• Biblical wisdom for believers navigating generational and cultural tensions within the Church

We also anchor the conversation in Hebrews 10:24, discussing how believers are called to stir one another up to love and good works — pursuing a Christ-centered culture rather than a tradition-centered one.

Whether you’re discerning your calling, wrestling with obedience, serving in ministry, or navigating church life in a multicultural context, this episode offers biblical clarity, pastoral wisdom, and real encouragement.

👉 If this episode encourages you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs it.

Thanks again for tuning in, and as always — stay faithful, stay encouraged, and stay Eddiefied.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Dellena Hoyer to share a story of profound brokenness—and even greater redemption through Jesus Christ.

Dellena’s journey spans an extremely difficult upbringing, years marked by trauma, addiction, exploitation, and loss, and a long road of survival before encountering the transforming power of the gospel.

This conversation is raw and honest, yet handled with care. While we do not shy away from the realities of her past, this episode ultimately points us to the faithfulness of God and the redeeming work of Christ.

Through every season— her life before Christ, searching for hope, to finally surrendering her life to Jesus—Dellena’s story testifies to a powerful truth: no one is beyond God’s reach, and no season is beyond His redemption.

Today, Dellena serves as a certified biblical counselor and is the incoming Ministry Director of the Women’s Damascus House in Woodinville, Washington. As she steps into this next chapter—she will be leading a gospel-centered residential ministry that helps women find healing, freedom, and new life in Christ.

This episode will encourage anyone who:

• Is carrying wounds from their past

• Is walking through addiction, shame, or brokenness

• Wonders if real change is possible

• Needs to be reminded of God’s mercy and grace

⚠️ Listener Discretion: This episode includes discussion of trauma and addiction. Listener discretion is advised.

For women seeking a Christ-centered residential program focused on healing, discipleship, and restoration, Dellena invites you to learn more about The Damascus House:

🌐 Website: https://thedamascushouse.com/
📞 Contact: Dellena (916) 213-4640

This podcast is rooted in Hebrews 10:24—“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
Our prayer is that Dellena’s story would stir your faith, strengthen your walk, and point you to Christ.

If this episode encouraged you, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who needs hope today.

💌 Resources & Support📖 Scripture Focus

What does the Bible actually say about money?

In this episode of the Eddiefied Podcast, Eddie sits down with Chris Grellas, CFP® and co-founder of ProsperPlan Wealth, for a deep, honest, and Scripture-grounded conversation on faith, finances, and biblical stewardship.

Chris shares his personal journey—from growing up in Sacramento, to encountering Jesus, to leaving a large financial firm to build a 100% fiduciary, fee-only advisory practice rooted in Christian conviction. This conversation goes far beyond budgeting and investing—it gets to the heart behind money.

Together, Eddie and Chris unpack some of the most controversial and misunderstood topics Christians face today, including:

• Is it wrong for Christians to be wealthy?

• Is investing in the stock market biblical—or just gambling?

• Should Christians avoid debt at all costs?

• Is tithing still a command, or a conviction of the heart?

• Is it okay for believers to spend money on themselves?

• Is retirement biblical—or are Christians called to lifelong Kingdom impact?

Throughout the episode, Scripture is used to bring balance, wisdom, and grace—reminding us that money is not our master, Jesus is, and that everything we have is entrusted to us by God.

If you’re a Christian trying to navigate money with wisdom, integrity, and faith—or if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, guilty, or unsure about finances—this episode is for you.

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

Advisory services offered through NewEdge Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser. The opinions expressed are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. ProsperPlan Wealth and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation.

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