Why does living in a "Christian" culture sometimes make it HARDER to actually hunger for Jesus?In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with pastor and Forge speaker Chris Prather to unpack a phrase from writer Flannery O'Connor: the South (and much of American culture) isn't "Christ-centered" — it's "Christ-haunted." Jesus is everywhere — on billboards, in hotel drawers, woven into politics and small talk — but that overexposure can leave us inoculated against ever truly encountering Him.Chris shares the conversation that changed how he pastors, the story of the woman who touched Jesus's garment in a crowd of people all "touching" Him but not seeking Him, and three practical postures — fasting, denial, and community — for cultivating real desperation for God in a culture that's overfamiliar with Him.🔑 In this episode:0:00 – Intro2:01 – Growing up in the "buckle of the Bible Belt"5:04 – Why planting a church in LA is "a dumb thing to do" (and why that's the point)9:06 – Is Denver more like LA or Mississippi?12:03 – Flannery O'Connor's idea of a "Christ-haunted" culture15:01 – The woman who touched Jesus's garment: touching vs. reaching for healing21:02 – Trading intimacy with God for sermons, podcasts, and social gatherings25:25 – Building hunger for Jesus: fasting, denial, and community26:00 – The "snack before supper" analogy34:00 – Denying yourself: Dallas Willard's challenge to the church37:44 – Acts 1:8 and what it really means to be a "witness" (martys)41:21 – Closing thoughtsWhether you grew up in a place where "everyone" goes to church or in a post-Christian city where almost no one does, this episode will challenge you to move from familiarity with Jesus to real hunger for Him.🎙️ Guest: Chris Prather, pastor and Forge speaker🎧 Host: Nathan👉 Subscribe for more episodes of Fuel for the Harvest, where we equip everyday believers to become laborers in God's harvest.#FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Discipleship #Fasting #SpiritualHunger #ChrisPrather #BibleBelt #FlanneryOConnor #Acts1_8 #ChurchCulture #Christianity #FaithPodcast

What does it look like when the book of Acts happens again, right now, in 2026? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan talks with Kashif (not his real name, for his protection), a ministry leader working to reach unreached people groups across South Asia, about what God is doing in some of the most spiritually dark and physically dangerous regions on earth.Since 2018, Kashif's team has grown from reaching just one unreached people group to thirty-three, planting organic house churches, baptizing new believers in ponds and plastic swimming pools, and raising up local kingdom laborers who disciple their own communities. Kashif shares real, documented stories of persecution, arrest, and violence faced by his team, alongside powerful testimonies of Muslim and Hindu background believers publicly renouncing protective amulets and false idols after putting their faith in Jesus.Nathan and Kashif also talk about the scale of impact: over 30,000 Bibles distributed in partnership with Voice of the Martyrs, and how a single audio Bible given to one woman can ripple out to reach an entire family and community.In this episode you'll discover:-How one unreached people group in 2018 grew into thirty-three today-What house churches and baptisms look like in remote, unreached regions-Real stories of persecution, arrest, and God's protection over local believers-Why Muslim and Hindu background believers are publicly removing protective threads and idols after coming to Christ-How Bible distribution multiplies far beyond the number of physical Bibles given out-Specific ways to pray for and financially support this workWhether you want a front-row seat to what God is doing in one of the hardest places to be a Christian, or you're looking for a way to practically support persecuted believers and unreached communities, this conversation will move you.📖 Scripture: Matthew 9:37 | Acts (the early church)👇 If this episode gave you a front-row seat to what God is doing in Pakistan, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#FuelForTheHarvest #Persecution #ChristianPodcast #Missions #GlobalChurch #Evangelism #BookOfActs

-What does it actually cost to follow Jesus in Nigeria right now? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan talks with Walter Egbe, a field missionary in Nigeria and leader with Perfect Edifiers, about the two major threats facing the Nigerian church today: violent persecution from Islamic extremism in the north, and the erosion of biblical truth by the prosperity gospel in the south.Walter shares sobering numbers, an estimated 500,000 Christians displaced from their homes, and describes a reality where believers risk their lives, families, and communities simply for changing their faith. But rather than framing this as only tragedy, Walter offers a striking perspective: he sees the current crisis as a divine open door for the gospel to advance in places it's never reached before.Nathan and Walter also dig into the practical, on-the-ground strategy Walter's ministry uses: translating gospel and discipleship materials into local languages, disguising them so they can reach restricted regions, training and sending back believers to disciple their own people, and running free Sunday school and leadership training resources to counter prosperity gospel teaching that has taken root in many churches.In this episode you'll discover:-The scale of Christian persecution happening in Nigeria right now-How Walter's ministry gets gospel materials into regions hostile to Christianity-Why prosperity gospel teaching has become one of the biggest threats to the church in southern Nigeria-The training and discipleship pipeline that equips local believers to reach their own communities-Practical, specific ways listeners outside Nigeria can actually help-Why Walter sees this moment of crisis as a divine opportunity, not just a threatWhether you want to pray more specifically for persecuted believers or you're looking for a real, on-the-ground ministry to support, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what's happening and how to respond.📖 Scripture: (no specific verses cited in this episode)👇 If this episode opened your eyes to what the church in Nigeria is facing, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#Nigeria #Persecution #ProsperityGospel #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Missions #GlobalChurch #Evangelism #Discipleship #PrayForNigeria

In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Jonathan Sherwin to tackle a subject many Christians either love or quietly fear talking about: the Holy Spirit.Jonathan and Nathan trace the Holy Spirit's work through the book of Acts, from Pentecost to Peter's vision of the sheet full of animals to Cornelius the Roman centurion, showing how the Spirit gave the early church boldness, discernment, and unity, and how that same Spirit is at work in believers today. They also dig into the tension a lot of Christians feel around this topic: how to embrace the Holy Spirit's work without either fearing it or reducing it to emotionalism and manipulation.Jonathan describes himself as "charismatic with a seatbelt," and this conversation lives right in that tension, affirming that the Holy Spirit is real, personal, and active, while also insisting he always leads in truth and order, never chaos.In this episode you'll discover:-Why the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force, and what that actually means-What the book of Acts reveals about the Spirit's role in the early church's growth-The difference between true conviction and emotional manipulation disguised as "the Spirit"-How to recognize false spiritual practices without dismissing the Spirit's real work-What 1 Corinthians teaches about spiritual gifts and why love outranks all of them-Practical ways to grow in dependence on the Holy Spirit in ordinary, everyday lifeWhether you grew up wary of this topic or you've wondered how to tell the real thing from a counterfeit, this conversation offers a grounded, scripture-first way to think about the Holy Spirit.📖 Scripture: Acts 1:8 | Acts 2 | Acts 6-9 | Acts 10-11 | Acts 13 | Ephesians | 2 Corinthians 3:17 | 1 Corinthians 13-14👇 If this episode helped you understand the Holy Spirit more clearly, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#HolySpirit #BookOfActs #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #SpiritualGifts #Pentecost #Discernment #FaithTeaching #Sanctification #CharismaticWithASeatbelt

Even the Apostle Paul said he hadn't "obtained it" yet. In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Nicholas Hindes to walk verse by verse through Philippians 3:12-21, and unpack one of the most misunderstood tensions in the Christian life: grace versus effort.Nicholas and Nathan dig into what Paul actually means when he says he's "straining toward what is ahead," why pursuing spiritual growth isn't a works based gospel, and how the church has sometimes swung so hard toward "salvation is free" that it's quietly rejected the call to maturity, discipline, and striving that Paul describes throughout the New Testament.Along the way, they get practical: how to use goal-setting (yes, even SMART goals) to actually grow in prayer, evangelism, and your relationships, and how to reverse-engineer big spiritual goals, like sharing your faith with a neighbor, into small, doable steps.In this episode you'll discover:-What Paul really means by "I don't consider myself to have taken hold of it"-Why effort and striving aren't the same thing as earning your salvation-The danger of doubling down on "free grace" to the point of rejecting growth-A practical, reverse-engineered framework for sharing your faith with someone specific-Why new spiritual habits feel hardest at the start, and what to do about that-The gardening metaphor that reframes what patience with growth really looks likeWhether you're wrestling with what it means to "try" in your faith without falling into legalism, or you just want practical steps to grow this week, this conversation will meet you there.📖 Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21👇 If this episode encouraged you to keep pressing toward Christ, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#Philippians3 #GraceAndEffort #SpiritualGrowth #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Sanctification #Discipleship #ApostlePaul #Evangelism #FaithInAction

Where is the "sinner's prayer" in the Bible? Trick question. It's not there. In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Joshua McFann to unpack where this prayer came from, why it works, and exactly what to say when someone tells you they want to give their life to Jesus.Joshua and Nathan trace the sinner's prayer back to its roots, from baptism in the book of Acts, through the Second Great Awakening, to Billy Graham's altar calls in the 1900s, and explain why both baptism and the prayer function the same way in a person's life: as the starting line of following Jesus, not the finish line.You'll walk away understanding the three biblical components every salvation prayer needs (surrender, belief, and repentance), grounded in Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9, along with practical, word-for-word guidance for actually praying with someone in that moment.In this episode you'll discover:-Why the sinner's prayer isn't "magic words," and what actually has to happen in someone's heart-The real difference between baptism and the sinner's prayer (and why neither saves on its own)-The 3 non-negotiable components of a biblical salvation prayer-How to guide someone through their own words instead of just feeding them a script-Why what happens after the prayer matters just as much as the prayer itself-A powerful true story of transformation from Joshua's time in ZimbabweWhether you've never led anyone to Christ before or you do it often and want to sharpen how you disciple new believers, this conversation will give you real, usable tools.📖 Scripture: Romans 10:9-10 | 1 John 1:9 | Acts 8:26-39 | Mark 1:14-15🔥 Free resource mentioned in this episode: find "Multiplying Movements" at theforgeapp.com, a free discipleship tool for walking new believers through their first steps in following Jesus.👇 If this episode helped you understand how to lead someone to Christ, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.

How do you actually disciple your kids in the everyday mess of real family life? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with Forge speaker and father of five Paul Epperson to talk about one of the most important and most intimidating questions for Christian parents: how do I raise my kids to follow Jesus?Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, whether they're walking with the Lord or have walked away — this conversation is full of grace, wisdom, and practical tools you can use starting today.In this episode you'll discover:Why discipleship is a lifestyle to be lived, not a task to be accomplishedThe simple "bring them along" principle Jesus modeled with his disciplesWhat Paul's family devotion times actually looked like (including the naked Bible story 😂)How to pray for your kids — and why you need a whole prayer team doing it with youWhat PKs and MKs consistently say their parents did rightWhat to do when your child departs from the faithWhy parenting out of fear destroys what parenting in faith buildsIf you've ever felt like you're failing as a parent, or you don't even know where to start — this episode is for you. You've got what it takes.📖 Scripture referenced: Luke 15 | Galatians 6:9 | Ephesians 6 | 2 Corinthians 5:17📖 About Paul Epperson: Paul is a Forge speaker, father of five, and spiritual father to many. He is passionate about helping men lead their families well and raise the next generation of Jesus followers. Watch more from Paul on the Forge YouTube channel at @ForgingLives, invite him to your event, or reach out at [email protected].🔥 About Fuel for the Harvest: Nathan hosts conversations that exist to fuel kingdom laborers — everyday believers ready to share the gospel right where they are. Subscribe for new episodes each week.👇 If this episode encouraged you as a parent, please like, share, and leave a comment — it helps more families find this content.#ChristianParenting #DisciplingKids #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianDads #FaithAndFamily #Forge #ChristianPodcast #RaisingKids #Discipleship #Evangelism

ow do you actually support a missionary well — beyond just writing a check or saying "we're praying for you"? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with John Vermilya, a former missionary kid in Haiti and Jamaica and a longtime support-raising missionary himself, to walk through seven practical, biblical ways to care for the people we send overseas.Missionaries aren't superheroes. They struggle with anxiety, loneliness, marriage issues, and finances just like the rest of us. This conversation will completely change how you think about prayer, giving, and what it really means to "remember their chains."In this episode you'll discover:Why praying "just be with them" misses the point — and how to pray with purpose insteadThe real cost of support-raising most Christians never think aboutWhy missionary kids remember care packages more than sermonsHow one church decided to fully fund fewer missionaries instead of spreading thinThe story of a Christmas gift that brought a missionary family to tearsWhy "welcoming them home" matters as much as sending them outHow to become a "Barnabas" — the advocate who opens doors for missionariesWhether you support a missionary financially, know one personally, or just want to understand the heart behind global missions, this episode will equip you to care for them the way Scripture calls us to.📖 Scripture referenced: Colossians 4:18 | 1 Thessalonians 5:11 | Philippians 1:3 | Romans 15:7 | Romans 10:15 | 1 Timothy 5:17📖 About John Vermilya: John grew up as a missionary kid in Jamaica and Haiti and later spent 10 years as a support-raising missionary in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is now a Forge speaker and pastor. Watch more from John on the Forge YouTube channel at @ForgingLives and invite him to speak at your next event.🔥 About Fuel for the Harvest: Nathan hosts conversations that exist to fuel kingdom laborers — everyday believers ready to support and share the gospel right where they are. Subscribe for new episodes each week.👇 If this episode encouraged you, please like, share, and leave a comment — it helps more people find this content.#MissionsSupport #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #SupportMissionaries #Missionary #Forge #Evangelism #ChristianFaith #GlobalMissions #KingdomLaborer

What's the actual difference between a spiritual revival and a spiritual awakening? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with Forge speaker Adrian Despres to break down a question that gets thrown around constantly in Christian circles — and rarely defined clearly.Drawing from church history, from the Reformation to the Great Awakenings to the recent wave of attention around Charlie Kirk's death, Adrian lays out a framework for understanding how personal revival turns into nationwide awakening — and why most revivals fizzle out before they ever get there.In this episode you'll discover:The real difference between revival and awakening (and how one leads to the other)Why repentance — not emotion — is the actual birthplace of revivalThe shocking reason the Second Great Awakening was cut shortHow to move from spiritual addition to spiritual multiplication as a believerWhy complaining is one of the most overlooked enemies of revivalWhat it really means to be a "minister" according to Ephesians 4Whether you're a longtime believer or just trying to understand why everyone's talking about revival right now, this conversation will challenge you to stop waiting on a movement and start being a laborer.📖 Scripture referenced: 2 Timothy 2:25-26 | Ephesians 4:11-13 | 1 Peter 2:9 | Revelation 2:4-5 | Revelation 3:15-16 | John 15:5 | Philippians 1:29📖 About Adrian Despres: Adrian is a Forge speaker who has ministered in 41 countries and all 49 states. He's a published author of seven books, several focused on apologetics. Watch more from Adrian on the Forge YouTube channel at @ForgingLives and invite him to speak at your next event.🔥 About Fuel for the Harvest: Nathan hosts conversations that exist to fuel kingdom laborers — everyday believers ready to share Jesus right where they are. Subscribe for new episodes each week.👇 If this episode challenged you, please like, share, and leave a comment — it helps more people find this content.

How do you share the gospel with young children — and actually make it stick? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with Forge speaker and former teacher Hope Radebaugh to answer one of the most important questions for Christian parents, grandparents, and Sunday school teachers: how do we plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of kids?Whether you have a toddler, a classroom full of kids, or grandchildren you're praying for — this conversation is full of practical, biblical wisdom you can use today.📖 About Hope Radebaugh: Hope is a Forge speaker, former classroom teacher, and grandmother based in Charleston, South Carolina. She brings a unique gift for combining biblical teaching with real-life application for kids and families. Watch her full message playlist on the Forge YouTube channel at @ForgingLives and invite her to speak at your next event.

🔥 About Fuel for the Harvest: We exist to fuel kingdom laborers — everyday followers of Jesus who are ready to share the gospel right where they are. Subscribe for new episodes each week.

👇 If this episode encouraged you as a parent, grandparent, or teacher, please like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more families find this content.#ChristianParenting #FuelForTheHarvest #KidsMinistry #GospelForKids #SundaySchool #ChristianPodcast #Forge #FaithAndFamily #RaisingKids #Evangelism