Followed By Mercy

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Mercy isn’t a mood; it’s the current we keep finding ourselves in. In this episode, we sit down with Chris in Arequipa and trace a family story that spans decades of missions, a son’s cleft lip and palate surgeries, a pastor school that gathered leaders from Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, and a faithful Shepherd guiding it all. What unfolds is a living picture of Psalm 23, the Good Shepherd steadying our steps through hard choices, holding our breath on tough days, and turning questions into clarity during packed evening Q&A sessions.

We talk about how Psalm 23 became the anchor for a week of teaching—seven messages that somehow made the familiar new again. The room filled with pastors, then with their children, some now grown, standing to say thank you for the gospel work that outlived the first wave of zeal. We talk about calling without pressure, letting God shape desire, keeping family first, and moving when the Shepherd leads rather than when expectations push. Along the way, we laugh about AirPods and oxygen tanks, honor David’s leadership while on furlough, and reflect on how a mature ministry shifts from planting to empowering multiplying teams who carry the mission forward with their own hands.

This conversation is both a story and an invitation. See the work in Peru for yourself. Follow the Peru Ministry on Facebook and Instagram. If this story resonates, consider helping David raise support while stateside to keep the momentum strong. Most of all, let gratitude lead your prayers this week. The Shepherd isn’t chasing you to catch you out; He’s pursuing you to bring you closer.

If this episode stirred something in you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and hit follow so you don’t miss what’s next.

In this episode:

 • Mercy and goodness as the frame for life

 • Family-first priorities shaping mission choices

 • A son’s cleft lip and palate journey and care

 • Returning to Arequipa to see mature ministry

 • David’s leadership during furlough and ongoing needs

 • Pastor school highlights and full Q&A sessions

 • The Good Shepherd theme through Psalm 23

 • Preaching with oxygen and learning to breathe

 • Pastors’ children, gratitude, and legacy moments

 • Calling without pressure, desire shaped by God

 • Invitation to visit Peru and connect with missionaries

 • Gratitude as the core posture of prayer

You can follow the Peru Ministry on Facebook and Instagram to see what God is doing in Arequipa. If you’d like to help David personally or host him in your church, reach out through those pages and join the story of grace at work in Peru.

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What if the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is already working in your hardest places, quietly, steadily, right now? In this episode, we open Scripture and our own scars to trace a path from the pit to praise, showing how mercy follows and how weakness becomes the doorway to real strength. We explore Paul’s rich language for God’s might and anchor it in a living throne, Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, and in our present position in Him. No ladders to climb, no performance to impress, just resurrection life flowing into ordinary days.

We name the moments that made us feel powerless and point to the Presence that never left. Romans 8, John 11, and John 16 stop being museum verses and become marching orders. More than conquerors looks like forgiveness instead of retaliation, courage when fear tightens the chest, and contentment when coveting whispers. The Spirit’s invisible power produces visible light, kindness, endurance, and love that turn heads and soften hearts. The result isn’t fireworks; it’s faithfulness. Not trying harder, but trusting deeper.

If you’re weary, doubting, or simply ready to live like it’s true, this conversation offers both theology and traction. Expect honest stories, gentle truth, and practical ways to let grace lead resting instead of striving, blessing enemies, and carrying hope into chemo labs, courtrooms, and kitchen tables. Christ reigns now, His power is yours, and the story isn’t over.

If this encourages you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can find a path from pain to praise. Where do you need resurrection courage this week?

In this episode:

 • Ephesians 1:19–20 and the reality of God’s power

 • From pit to praise: betrayal, cancer, and false accusations

 • Christ enthroned and our position with Him

 • Resurrection power as present, not past

 • More than conquerors amid real trials

 • Forgiveness, courage, and steady hope in daily life

 • Living as light: visible grace from an invisible Spirit

 • Trusting deeper instead of trying harder

Tell others about the podcast and help us spread the word about how good God is to everyone.

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When a man in chains prays for your freedom, it changes how you see your own life. In this episode, we walk through Ephesians 1:17–19 and listen to Paul’s prayer not for comfort or status, but for wisdom, hope, and power. From a prison cell, he asks God to open eyes, anchor hearts, and unleash the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. That kind of prayer reshapes how we face storms without shrinking them, and how we live with strength that’s quiet but unstoppable.

We talk about why wisdom and revelation matter more than information, because faith is meant to change how you see, choose, and endure. Hope becomes more than a wish. It’s a confident expectation rooted in God’s character. Power is no longer an abstract doctrine; it’s present and personal, holding steady in weakness and fueling daily obedience.

Along the way, we revisit Romans 8:28 without clichés, hear Paul’s voice from confinement, and trade the trap of performance-based religion for a clearer view of Christ. We also get practical: choosing gratitude on purpose, praying big for others when you feel small, encouraging instead of envying, and learning to see yourself in Christ instead of through the lens of failure.

Key Takeaways:

 • Paul’s prayer: wisdom, hope, resurrection power

 • Wisdom and revelation over information

 • Hope as confident expectation, not a wish

 • Power that raised Jesus at work today

 • Paul’s chains contrasted with our freedom

 • Rethinking Romans 8:28

 • From self-focus to serving others

 • Practical steps: gratitude, encouragement, identity in Christ

If you’re weary or stuck in self-focus, this conversation offers a way forward anchored in hope, resurrection power, and a new rhythm for everyday life. Please share it with someone who needs strength today, subscribe for more, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so others can find the show.

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Ever notice how God repeats the same truth until it finally sinks in? In this episode, we sit with Ephesians 1:15–16 and watch Paul pray not for his chains to be broken, but for people he loves. From a prison cell, he shows us a way out of self-pity and into a life marked by gratitude, intercession, and hope.
Chris joins me as we discuss why repetition in Scripture isn’t wasted space, but rather God turning up the volume on what we’ve been missing. Paul’s decision to “cease not” to give thanks and to pray by name for others is more than noble. It’s a lifeline. Gratitude lifts us when bitterness feels easier.

 Intercession steadies us when venting seems natural. Both faith and fear ask us to trust what we can’t see, so why not choose the path that leads to life?
By the end, you’ll have a simple rhythm to reset your mindset: name three things to be thankful for, pray for three people, and let gratitude lead your heart. If you’ve been stuck in self-focus and longing for a way forward, this conversation offers a grounded, Scripture-shaped path to get your life back on track one honest prayer at a time.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so others can find the show.

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What if the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is already at work in your everyday life? In this episode, we open Ephesians 1:19–20 and watch Paul pile up words for “power” to make sure we don’t miss it: this isn’t theory, it’s reality for those who believe.

I share pieces of my own story, from cancer diagnoses and false accusations to nights when bitterness felt easier than forgiveness, and how God met me with a strength that didn’t need fireworks to be real. Resurrection power shows up in hospital rooms, courtrooms, and kitchen tables. It looks like forgiving when you’d rather stay angry, blessing those who curse you, and refusing to quit when you’re spent.

We connect Ephesians, Romans 8, and John’s Gospel to show how Christ is reigning now, and we are seated with Him. That truth reshapes how we face fear, betrayal, and despair. Think of the Spirit like electricity: invisible but undeniable, lighting up a life that points back to the Father.

This week, you don’t need to try harder—you need to trust deeper. Live like it’s true. Forgive. Be brave. Keep going. His power in you is greater than what stands against you.

If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs strength today, and leave a review with one word that names your next brave step.

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This recording is a message preached at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Do you picture God the Father as stern and angry, while Jesus is the kind one who shields you from His wrath? You’re not alone, but that picture is far from the truth.

In this episode, we explore a life-giving reality from Ephesians 1: grace and peace flow straight from the Father’s heart. When Paul greets believers with “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father,” he’s not just being polite. He’s pulling back the curtain on who God really is.

Many of us grew up with fathers who were harsh or distant, which may have contributed to shaping our perception of God. But Scripture tells us something different. God so loved the world that He gave His Son. God demonstrated His love for us in sending Christ to die while we were still sinners. When He chose to describe Himself in Exodus 34, He said He was merciful, gracious, patient, and overflowing with goodness and truth.

Through Christ, we don’t just have a fragile truce with God. We have complete reconciliation. The Father looks on us with love, not condemnation. We can meet His gaze without fear. And His presence brings peace, like children who feel safe just knowing Dad is in the house.

This episode will help you discover the Father you may have never really known, not a judge waiting to condemn, but a loving Dad eager to welcome you home.

If you’ve never trusted Christ, today can be the day. Simply tell Him, “I believe You. I give You my life.” He’s already paid the price.

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Have you ever felt worn out from trying to earn God’s approval? You’re not alone. In this episode, we open Ephesians 3:14-21 and discover what it means to be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”

Through honest stories and biblical truth, we explore the freedom that comes from moving from performance-driven striving to Spirit-enabled rest. Christianity was never meant to be a grind. It isn’t about proving how well we can live for Christ but learning to let Christ live through us.

We discuss the vast dimensions of God’s love, its breadth, length, depth, and height, and how His love encompasses our lowest failures and extends all the way to heaven’s glory. Perhaps the hardest truth to accept is also the most freeing: God loves you personally, and He isn’t keeping score.

I share my own journey of performance-based living and the guilt that comes with always feeling like I had to do more. Maybe you’ve felt the same way. The good news is that you can rest. You can stop striving and start abiding. The fullness of God is not found in your effort but in Christ Himself living in you.
If your soul has been craving rest, this conversation is for you. Listen now and discover that you cannot do anything to make God love you more or less. He loves you because of who He is, not because of what you do.

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Freedom dawns when you finally grasp who you are in Christ. In this episode of Followed by Mercy, Robert Canfield, David Gardner, and I talk about what it means to live from your true identity instead of striving through religious performance.

We examine Ephesians 1 and celebrate the breathtaking truth that believers are holy, blameless, and spotless, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has already done. Many Christians live as if they have two competing natures, but the gospel tells us our old nature was cut away. The struggle now isn’t with a sinful identity but with old ways of thinking that haven’t yet caught up to the new life we’ve been given.

From there, we turn to John 15 and Jesus’ teaching on abiding. Abiding isn’t another task to perform. It’s simply staying close to Him. Like a branch drawing life from the vine, transformation flows naturally when we rest in our relationship with Christ. This shift takes us out of the exhausting “try harder” mentality and into the peace of “rest deeper.”

We also expose how rule-based religion often burdens people with guilt and hidden shame. True love for God grows out of a relationship, not regulation. When you live in Christ, pleasing Him is no longer about obligation. It becomes the natural response of a heart captured by love.

If you’ve been weighed down by performance-based Christianity or frustrated by cycles of self-effort, this conversation will encourage you to step into the freedom of your new identity. Abiding in Christ is where transformation begins.

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Have you ever wondered if your failures disqualified you from God’s plan? Maybe you’ve thought your mistakes derailed what He intended for your life. In this episode, we turn to Ephesians 1:11 and discover the freeing truth that God’s purpose for us isn’t built on our performance but on our position in Christ.

Robert Canfield and I talk about how God’s plan unfolds according to His will, not our ability to get everything right. When He adopts you into His family, He already has a destiny in mind, and no human failure can undo it. As Robert so beautifully says, “You cannot mess it up so bad that He can’t fix you, because He’s the one working in you.”

This is not permission to live carelessly. It’s an invitation to rest in the God who both begins and completes the work of redemption. From Adam and Eve to our own daily struggles, He has always been the one pursuing, restoring, and finishing what He starts.

We also look at the life-changing reality of our identity in Christ. You are chosen. You are accepted. You are reconciled and loved. The Father loves you as much as He loves His Son. That truth reshapes how we see our failures and empowers us to live from our true identity instead of our past.

If you’re carrying disappointment or just need a reminder that God’s purpose stands, this conversation will lift your hope and strengthen your faith.

Listen in as we talk about how God even takes what feels like “dirty diapers” in our lives and turns them into displays of His glory. And don’t miss tomorrow’s episode when David Gardner joins us to share how to live out the inheritance we’ve been given in Christ.

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What would your life look like if you truly understood your identity in Christ? In this episode of Followed By Mercy, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield explore the freedom that comes when we stop striving to earn what God has already given us.

Drawing from Ephesians 1:11, they unpack the difference between being “in Adam” and being “in Christ.” This isn’t just theology; it changes how we see ourselves, how we face our struggles, and how we grow. True transformation doesn’t come from rules, programs, or self-effort. It comes from God working in us, like a seed that mysteriously grows into a tree.

One of the most liberating truths they share is Colossians 1:12: God has already qualified us to share in the inheritance. We don’t deserve it, and we can’t earn it. But the Father has declared us worthy through Jesus. That truth alone can set us free from performance-based religion and the crushing burden of trying to measure up.

If you’ve been frustrated by failures, worn out by striving, or unsure of who you really are as a believer, this conversation will refresh your soul. Your worth isn’t found in your performance but in your position in Christ. When you know who you are in Him, everything changes, not because of your effort but because of His faithfulness.

Listen in and discover the joy of resting in your true identity and inheritance. And remember: when you stumble, just confess it and rest in His mercy. He is already producing the fruit you could never produce yourself.

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