Give Me 1 Reason

Mackenzie grew up going to church once in a while but her values came form a strong sense of family and commitment. When she got to college, she joined a baptist Bible study and prayed a prayer that left her feeling uneasy and confused. In pondering religion and wondering what JEsus was really all about, MAckenzie asked a life changing question...'God, show me if you are real' Less than 48 hours later something happened to her that changed her mind and heart. Join me for this emotional exchange and honest discussion.

Josiah Price is a unique young man with an amazing journey. He has a unique perspective on life and God. A cancer survivor who had been declared brain dead at one point, he recalls how that has shaped his life, how he wants to be remembered and what he thinks is wrong with religion. He is witty and wise far beyond his years and even gives a shout out to some special people he has met along the way.

Colleen is a self acknowledged atheist but definitely identifies as 'Spiritual but not Religious.' A traumatic and abusive past with the only church goer she knew as a child left her with a strong distaste in her mouth for God. As she seeks for truth and clarity in her life, she navigates the world balancing her innate questioning cynicism with a sincere desire to have hope. Articulate and strong, Colleen engages on a personal level.

Kicked out of church and private school in sixth grade for asking the wrong questions left Jennifer scrambling to make sense of her religious upbringing. Surrounded and supported by her family, they journeyed together to maintain that which was important to them in spite of what they had experienced. For Jennifer, now in her second year of college she believes God is broader and bigger than what she had originally believed but still ponders the reason for suffering and struggles to see this God she still believes in at work in the world today.

Dacota is quickly becoming a music festival staple. His passion and style stopped me in my tracks when I had the chance to see him perform. His song 'Believe in Something' let me know I needed to interview him, I was not disappointed. His honest reflection about his journey from Christian to agnostic/atheist was sincere and thought provoking. No surprise he was definitely labeled as 'anointed' in the church and when you hear his music you know he has something different. Look him up on social media!

Remember the song 'Give me one reason' by Tracy Chapman? That song resonated with me on a different level and inspired me to ask young people 'what are your reasons to believe or not believe in God?' without an attempt to convert or convince.

I am inviting you to join the conversation and listen with an open heart. Though it may be painful as a parent of a millennial who is challenged by their own son or daughter's reservations, maybe it will be easier to hear the voice of someone else say things that you would benefit from hearing.

After all, we are all just walking one another home...lets love while we can... Life is short...and our young people are our richest resource.

Logan is a Political Science/Sociology major who is intrigued with his family 's spiritual journey while trying to carve out his own. His love and loyalty run deep as he struggles to make sense of what works for him. Passionate to make a real difference, he went to school to be an accountant but quickly changed directions as other things grabbed his attention. Logan was more than willing to talk on his views of faith, spirituality and his own identity.

This girl will rock your world. Growing up in a evangelical charismatic home, she talks honestly about how it has influenced her life now as a soft Wiccan. We cover speaking in tongues, patriarchy, creativity and her fear of childbirth because of her mom thinking it was ok to be a part of the process at the tender age of 3....and yes that mom is me. This one is well worth dealing with the car noise in the background :)

Jackson is an articulate IT major in his junior year of college. He comes from a rich family legacy of serving the poor and is particularly passionate about his Catholic Faith. He shares things that give him hope about the future of the Church and how his generation responds to issues of faith and doubt.

Thomas is an engineering student at UW Whitewater. He is from Norway and is passionate about philosophy and making a real difference in the world. His thoughts and reasons for being an atheist were well processed and thought out. His gentle, kind demeanor is compelling and I was honored to speak with him about Camus, the meaning of life and using our talents to improve life for others.