In this episode, we "Zoom" in with Paris Yanno is the Father's Heart Director at the Ohio Church Multiplication Network.  She is a wife, mom of three biological children, and a woman whose heart grew far beyond the walls of her own home. Paris and her husband felt called to open their lives to children in crisis, choosing to foster for an entire decade. Over those ten years, they welcomed numerous displaced kids—each with their own story, their own struggles, and their own need for a safe place to land.

Paris shares how fostering shaped her family, stretched her faith, and transformed her understanding of love and sacrifice. She also tells the powerful story of how three of those children became permanent members of their family through adoption.

This conversation is honest, hopeful, and deeply moving. Whether you’re curious about foster care, wrestling with a sense of calling, or simply needing a reminder that ordinary families can make an extraordinary impact, Paris’s story will inspire you to see what’s possible when we make room for others.

Fathersheartohio.com for more resources on fostering

emerge.or/givingtuesday

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

(This episode may not be appropriate for younger listeners)

In this episode, Matthew Knabe sits down with Joshua Rowland from Pure Life Ministries to have an open and redemptive conversation about breaking free from the grip of sexual sin. Joshua shares his powerful story of healing and restoration after years of personal struggle, and how God’s transforming grace led him to freedom and a life of purpose.

Together, they discuss how sexual sin takes root, how shame and secrecy can isolate believers, and what genuine repentance and recovery look like through the power of Christ. This episode offers practical encouragement for anyone battling hidden sin or walking alongside someone who is.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by guilt or wondered if real change is possible, Joshua’s story will remind you that God’s grace reaches even the darkest corners and brings true freedom.

https://www.purelifeministries.org/

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this episode of the ExEm Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Santymire, missionary, author, and current Member Care Director for AG World Missions. Dr. Santymire shares his powerful story of life on the mission field: the incredible ways he’s seen God move across nations, as well as the deep challenges and personal adversities that come with serving in cross-cultural ministry.

As the author of The Caring Life and The Caring Family, and host of The Clarity Podcast, Aaron brings a unique perspective on what it means to live a life of compassion and faithfulness in both global missions and personal discipleship. Join us for an authentic and hope-filled conversation about calling, endurance, and the sustaining grace of God through every season of ministry.

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this episode, our host has a thoughtful conversation with Pastor Austin McCann about the diverse ways people encounter Christ and begin their faith journey. While some stories of salvation seem simple and clear, others are marked by struggle, questions, and even deep anxiety. Pastor Austin helps us unpack the reality that there is no single blueprint for coming to faith—God works uniquely in every heart.

A significant part of the discussion centers on scrupulosity, a form of religious anxiety often tied to OCD-type thinking, where individuals become overly preoccupied with sin, confession, or the fear of not being “saved enough.” This intersection of mental health and spirituality can create heavy burdens for believers who long to follow Jesus but feel trapped in cycles of doubt and guilt. Pastor Austin shares wisdom and pastoral insight on how the church can come alongside those wrestling with these struggles, offering compassion, patience, and the hope of God’s grace.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith story “measures up” or struggled with relentless thoughts about salvation, this conversation will remind you that God’s love isn’t bound by formulas or checklists. Instead, it’s an invitation into a relationship—one that meets us in our questions, our weaknesses, and even our mental health battles.

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

What do you get when you run into a great friend at a convention in Orlando? A whole lot of laughs, a few life lessons, and one very traumatized mother-in-law. In this episode, our host sits down with Pastor Jason Burns to catch up on their friendship, hear about his annual Christmas tradition of tormenting his mother-in-law with outrageous gifts, and dive into something we all desperately need—rest. With a mix of humor, honesty, and heart, Jason reminds us that joy and Sabbath go hand in hand and that friendship makes the journey a whole lot better.

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

Who are we, really? In a world full of labels, expectations, and shifting definitions of self, it’s easy to lose sight of our true identity. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Darla Rakes, a leader, educator, and woman of deep faith, to talk about what it means to anchor our identity in Christ. Together, we explore why our sense of self apart from Him will always feel incomplete, how faith gives us clarity and purpose, and why knowing who we are in Christ brings freedom from comparison and striving. Dr. Rakes shares both personal stories and biblical truths that point us back to the One who created us, reminding us that identity isn’t something we achieve—it’s something we receive.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions of worth, belonging, or direction, this conversation will encourage you to find your answer in the unshakable foundation of Christ.

https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/the-real-you-discover-the-person-god-made-you-to-be-by-dr-darla-rakes-now-available/

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this episode of the Experience Emerge podcast, we converse with Tera Wages, CEO of The Connection Codes, to explore the art of emotional regulation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can transform your relationships and daily life. Tera shares practical tools from The Connection Codes framework to help you identify, name, and process emotions in real time so they don’t spiral into conflict, burnout, or shutdown. Whether you tend to bottle up your feelings or wear them on your sleeve, this conversation will give you a clear, compassionate path toward feeling your emotions without letting them control you.

https://connectioncodes.co/experience-emerge

https://terawages.com/

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this powerful episode of the ExEm Podcast, we welcome husband and wife duo Dr. Troy and Jana Jones, authors of The Mosaic Marriage: How Two Imperfect People Become One Masterpiece. Together, they share candid insights from their own journey—filled with broken pieces, grace, and redemption—and how God shaped their imperfections into something beautiful. With wisdom, vulnerability, and practical guidance, the Joneses reveal how couples can move from surviving to thriving by embracing their differences, communicating with compassion, and keeping Christ at the center. Whether you’re newlyweds or navigating decades together, this conversation will inspire you to see your marriage not as a mess, but as a masterpiece in progress.

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Marriage-Imperfect-People-Masterpiece-ebook/dp/B0F1ZX8ZCF#:~:text=Their%20anthem%20is%20to%20%E2%80%9CDon,Imperfect%20People%20Become%20One%20Masterpiece.

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this episode of the ExEm Podcast, host Matthew Knabe sits down with guest Tony Galieti to discuss the profound connection between marriage and the gospel. Drawing from biblical wisdom and decades of pastoral and relational experience, Tony shares powerful insights on what makes a marriage thrive, not just survive. We explore the purpose of marriage through a gospel lens, examining how grace and humility shape our relationships and the practical considerations couples need to be mindful of to build a strong, lasting union. Whether you’re single, engaged, newly married, or decades in, this conversation is filled with encouragement, truth, and real talk about love, faith, and commitment.

Emerge Soul Care Intensives:

https://ncrv2.ehryourway.com/?eyJSb3drZXkiOiI3Y2IzOGZiNS1mNGI2LTQxODUtYTM4OC0yYjFjNDljZDQ4YzIiLCJOQ1JrZXl0eXBlIjoxLCJOQ1JfUGF0aWVudFJlZmVycmVyRG9tYWluSW5mb0lEIjoxMDAwMX0=#!/ClientRegFormat2FromPortal

https://linworthbaptist.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3039097

https://linworthbaptist.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3038157

More Info:

https://www.watermarkresources.com/ministries/merge

https://www.watermarkresources.com/ministries/reengage

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support

In this powerful episode of the Experience Emerge (ExEm) podcast, our host, Matthew, sits down with Laura Howe, a Canadian mental health therapist and founder of Hope Made Strong. Based in Ontario, Laura is a passionate advocate for equipping churches and ministry leaders with practical tools to care for their communities, without burning out in the process.

We delve into the crucial—but often misunderstood—differences between burnout and compassion fatigue, particularly for those working in high-stress, high-empathy roles such as counseling, ministry, and caregiving. Laura explains how these two forms of exhaustion manifest differently and why recognizing the distinction is essential for both personal well-being and professional longevity.

Additionally, Laura shares an exciting glimpse into the Mental Health Summit, taking place online on October 10th, featuring 50 incredible speakers from around the globe, all dedicated to making mental health support more accessible in faith communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in ministry, leadership, or care roles who feels stretched thin and wants to find hope and strength again.

🎧 Tune in, be encouraged, and don’t miss your chance to join the summit: https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/a/2148114765/pqSiw8UG

https://www.hopemadestrong.org/
https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-ministry-collective

https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-ministry-cohort

https://www.hopemadestrong.org/podcast
https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to support their communities. This global day of generosity, celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people to support causes that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can create when we come together to give back. https://emerge.org/givingtuesday/

Mental Health Therapists... Apply today at emerge.org/careers and join us in the battle to help people find freedom and rest...

Emerge.org - "You Don't Have to Walk Alone" 

Support the show

Contact Us:

• Email the show: [email protected]
• Emerge.org
• facebook.com/EmergeCounselingMinistries

Thank you for listening, sharing, and praying for our podcast!

Support the ExEm podcast by clicking here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/882700/support