In this episode, our storyteller is Julie Castro. Julie Castro resurrected Fiesta Publishing, the company her mother co-founded over 20 years ago in order to publish the book she wrote, On Earth as It Is in Heaven, a Personal Allegory.  It was the catalyst for her call to ministry, a call she didn’t know existed until a few years ago.  Obedience to God’s instruction to write the book opened the door for Julie to assist with the women's ministry at her local church where she was responsible for minor tasks; this led to her current position as the women’s ministry director. Her faithfulness with the small things then opened doors to minister at local churches, pray for the Body of Christ and serve other ministries. Being unconventional in her walk with Jesus, Julie does not limit how the Lord wants to use her and the messages she shares. She passionately pursues Jesus, and her relentless fire for the Holy Word of God is leading her toward her destiny.

Website: www.fiestapublishing.com
Email: [email protected]​

For more information on this episode, please visit www.giverciseshorts.com

There’s something very special about Damien. Actually, “special” may not be the best word. In times like 
these, in the world that we live in, there’s something relevant,  significant and necessary about Damien--- 
and people like him. 
You can go to pretty much any search engine, put “Damien Horne” in the search field and read about his 
life story and credentials. The cliff notes is that he’s from Hickory, North Carolina. He’s one of 12 children (a 
blended family). He’s a middle child, adores his mother, is the first in his family to earn a high school 
diploma and now devotes a lot of his time and resources trying to make a better life for his loved ones 
and those around him. Although they din’t grow up with a lot of monetary wealth (barely any to speak 
of), Damien’s mother had a love for God that inspired him to develop a personal relationship with Christ 
at the age of 7.  
It’s there where his hope journey began… 
The loss of a brother, experiencing family members being incarcerated and figuring out how to make 
ends meet led Damien to want more for himself. As a young adult, he first moved to LA. After being 
homeless a couple of years, he returned back to North Carolina and saved enough money to move to 
Nashville. Damien found himself homeless again. Only this time, a country star by the name of John Rich 
(of Big & Rich) put a nice chunk of change in his guitar case---and extended an invitation…to basically a 
whole new life. 
As a musician. 
As a public speaker. 
As a world changer. 
From Faith Hill and Keith Urban to Robert Randolph and John Legend, Damien has either opened up for 
or performed alongside these award-winning artists. He’s been a part of a country trio known as The 
Farm. He’s also had a publishing deal with BMI and released several solo projects including his latest EP 
The Love Saga Vol.1. Yes, he has a few bragging rights. 
But if you were to ask Damien what he’s most passionate about, his answer might surprise you. After 
receiving his associate’s degree from Free Will Baptist Bible College and becoming an ordained minister, 
Damien is intentional about giving back.  
Giving back by sharing his testimony. 
Giving back by serving at his home church, The Salvation Army. 
Giving back by offering words of encouragement, support and faith---anywhere he can. 
 
Damien recently started a blog that centers around his mission to surround others with hope. It’s called 
 
 
encourageinspiremotivate.com. Each week, there are new videos and articles on platforms he’s 
committed to: homelessness, human trafficking, prison ministry, world outreach, youth, adoption and 
the Word. 

For more information on this episode, please visit www.giverciseshorts.com

In this episode, our storyteller is Kathy Strahan. As a totally blind person (since age two), she naturally inspires people. Inspire them just by being her. She sees herself as a regular person who finds that blindness for her is the least of her life’s challenges. For most people, her attitude about her blindness is surprising and inspirational. Especially when they observe that she has a regular life. She is Married to a sighted guy. Running their household. Teaching others about preparing healthy meals, making healthy lifestyle choices, ditching the standard American diet and learning how to optimize their nutrition etc. One of her favorite scriptures is: Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Even as a small child she’s always been someone who encourages others to be the best they can. What she teaches her subscribers is that healthy living is a journey. There is no need to make massive changes all at once. Go one small step at a time. She encourages her readers to go within and see what changes make sense right now.
 She has found that the first step that will give the biggest bang and major bounce to better health is to “dump the junk”.
 Dump anything that comes packaged from one of the major food manufacturers. If the item has more than 3 ingredients that you cannot pronounce and you have never heard of then it likely is not good for your health.
 Then the next step is figure out what to replace the junk with.
 Her book has lots of good ideas for how to prepare healthy meals that taste good, cost less, and that will help you fast-track your body to health and vitality.

For more information on this episode, please visit www.giverciseshorts.com

In today’s episode, our storyteller is Elliott Katz. Elliott

To learn more about this episode, please visit:

In this episode, our storyteller is Alexis Nicole White. ALEXIS

For more information on this episode, please visit: www.giverciseshorts.com

​In this episode, Nancy Virden will be sharing her story. She is a suicide attempt survivor who is passionate about sharing hope with those in emotional pain. She is also an author, a Mental Health and Recovery Advocate, and Founder of Always the Fight Ministries. 

Her books titled​, Called to Live: A Chronicle of Recovery After Attempted Suicide, and Always the Fight: A Living Testimony of What Only God Can Do, inspire readers to relate and find hope. You can learn more about these and her third book They Were Real: Short Story Gateways Into the Thoughts of Bible Characters, on her website, NancyVirden.com. 

If you'd like to discuss having her come to share with your group, email her at [email protected]. 

For more information on this episode, please visit: www.giverciseshorts.com

In today’s episode, Braxton Cosby will be sharing his story. Braxton Cosby is a father of three girls and a husband of one amazing wife. He is a believer and has been called to share his experiences of his life as a Christian. Also, he is an award-winning author and currently has about ten books out in the marketplace. 

For more information, please visit: http://www.giverciseshorts.com/

In this episode, our storyteller is Mrs. Sonya McGirt. She is married with five children (2 step-children). She obtained her masters in Social Work in 2007 and is currently in college to obtain her masters in Organizational Management. She and her husband have a Christian non-profit known as Crossroads Christian Counseling Center Inc. She has had the organization for 2yrs. The reason she started the organization was to counsel those who were seeking help, but using Christian concepts to help them. Also they assist with clothing, meals, and whatever else they can for the homeless. She has a longing in her heart to help others and also to speak to others about what God can do in their life. She recently had her first book published through Cosby Media Productions, A Woman's Journey: Living Through Christ Victoriously. She just finished her first kids book and have started a book in regards to marriage. She hopes to help people remain active in their relationship with God through her books.

For more information, please visit http://www.giverciseshorts.com

In today’s episode, David Ingerson is our storyteller. He is a father of five children and served 24 years in the US Air Force as an officer and pilot. Now as a civilian corporate pilot, he frequently travels to Africa, South America, and Europe. He owns a dry clean laundry enterprise and invests in real estate. He also enjoys teaching and speaking about God, his relationship to Him, and his faith as well as the importance and benefit of having hope in the midst of heartache.

For more information, please visit   http://www.giverciseshorts.com/

In this week’s episode, our storyteller is Christy Johnson. Christy has a free ebook available on her website, How to Live Soul Healthy in a Toxic World. To receive your free copy, visit www.christyjohnson.org. Christy Johnson is a national speaker, soul-health trainer, founder of Living Soul and the author of Love Junkies, 7 Steps for Breaking the Toxic Relationship Cycle. Her life’s journey through domestic abuse and the death of her youngest son leaves audiences spellbound. But counting it all as loss, she uses the tragedies of her past as a pathway to inspire other women to ditch the drama, walk in forgiveness and live soul healthy lives. For more info and a free ebook, How to Live Soul Healthy in a Toxic World, visit Christy at www.ChristyJohnson.org.

Love Junkies, 7 Steps for Breaking the Toxic Relationship Cycle: http://www.christyjohnson.org/store/

Find out more info about leading a Love U for Love Junkies small discipleship group visit:
Lead a Group http://www.christyjohnson.org/lead-group/

For more information on this episode, visit:
http://www.giverciseshorts.com