Ginghamsburg Church Podcast

Anchored Through Every Season: Melissa Leembruggen’s Story

In this episode of People of the Burg, Melissa Leembruggen shares a faith journey marked by change, resilience, and a deep trust in God’s leading. From a childhood spent moving across the country to navigating seasons of uncertainty, health challenges, and financial hardship, Melissa reflects on how God has remained her steady anchor through it all.

Melissa talks about learning to follow God’s direction, finding community at Ginghamsburg, opening her home in hospitality, and discovering her calling as a teacher and Bible study leader. Through every chapter of her story, one message shines through: when we understand our identity in Christ, it transforms how we see ourselves, connect with others, and live out God’s love in the world.

Join us for an encouraging conversation about faith, identity, and trusting God through every season of life.

What does it mean to bring hope into some of the darkest places imaginable?

In this powerful episode of People of the Burg, Pastor Sarah sits down with Steve Benner and Mark Starcher to share their experiences serving with Kairos Prison Ministry. Through stories of homemade cookies, prayer chains, life-changing conversations, and unexpected encounters with grace, they reveal how simple acts of love can break down walls built by years of isolation, guilt, and pain.

Steve and Mark reflect on the power of forgiveness, the impact of fatherhood, and the humanity they discovered behind prison walls. Along the way, they share moving stories of redemption that challenged their own assumptions and deepened their faith.

This Father's Day conversation is a reminder that no one is beyond hope, no one is beyond God's love, and sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can change a life forever.

Modesty in a Shameless World

We live in a world that monetizes attention and rewards exposure. Everything becomes performance, branding, image, and self-promotion. But the way of Jesus points somewhere quieter and deeper—a life rooted in humility, dignity, and substance instead of constant display. ginghamsburg.org

What does it look like to trust God through every season of life?

In this episode of People of the Burg, Tom Holl shares a remarkable journey of faith, loss, perseverance, and God's unwavering presence. From the responsibilities and hardships that shaped his early years to a life-changing encounter with Jesus, Tom reflects on how God transformed his heart and carried him through some of life's most difficult moments.

Through the loss of his wife Pam, serious health challenges, and family trials, Tom has witnessed God's faithfulness again and again. His story is a powerful reminder that even when God seems distant, He is present, working in ways we may only recognize when we look back.

Join us for a conversation filled with wisdom, hope, and a testimony to the truth that God never leaves us alone.

Conviction in a Tolerant World

Daniel 1-3. The pressure to blend in is relentless. Believe whatever you want—as long as it doesn’t challenge anything. In the Bible, Daniel shows us what it looks like to stand firm without becoming self-righteous, to speak truth without losing integrity, and to hold conviction in a culture constantly pulling us downstream.

Listener care note: This conversation includes themes of abuse, domestic violence, and trauma. We invite you to listen at your own pace and take care.

Sherry Loschi shares a powerful story of resilience, healing, and faith—from surviving trauma to serving others with compassion. Hear how God met her through community and transformed pain into purpose.

Positivity in a Cynical World

Cynicism feels smart these days. Outrage gets clicks. Negativity spreads fast. But followers of Jesus are called to resist the sludge—to become people who speak hope, life, and truth in a world addicted to criticism and despair. Positivity isn’t pretending everything is fine; it’s refusing to let darkness have the final word. ginghamsburg.org

Boldness

Acts 4 & 5 Following Jesus got people threatened, beaten, and told to shut up—and they didn’t. They kept going anyway. This is what happens when faith stops being private and starts getting real. ginghamsburg.org

From Self-Focused to Service-Driven: Chris Lundquist’s Faith Journey

Transformation