God, Country & the American Story With Billy Hallowell

"Be committed. ... Trust God all the way." Those are the two powerful lessons Pastor Corey Brooks learned while camping out 345 days in a tent atop a frigid roof on Chicago's South Side.

A preacher, who has been on a mission to raise $35 million to build a transformational community center in the heart of Chicago, has simply refused to give up on what he believes God laid on his heart.

"There are times when you just want to give up and throw in the towel, but when you are convinced that God is giving you a vision to do something, you gotta be convinced that He'll also give you the provisions," Brooks told the "Edifi With Billy Hallowell Podcast. "And so I have learned that God, if he gives you a vision, He will give you the provisions."

Brooks, who runs Project H.O.O.D., an organization that seeks to empower and equip individuals and families, has already raised $28.5 million of his goal. Listen to him share his incredible journey.

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Becket Cook, a former gay atheist who found Jesus and now shares his testimony, joins Edifi to discuss the viral Andy Stanley clip, his take on its contents, and why he's concerned about what he's seeing.

"Andy is a really talented communicator, but he never quite says what he means," Cook proclaims. Listen to the conversation.

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Actor Neal McDonough has starred in no shortage of Hollywood films and TV shows, but his latest project "Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist" is truly unique. The film, which tells the story of what life might look like after the biblical rapture, is directed by Kevin Sorbo — who also co-stars — and will hit theaters Jan. 26.

McDonough told "The Edifi Podcast" it was a "blessing" to be part of the cast and shared some insight on his character, Jonathan Stonagal, a wealthy and powerful man central to the "Left Behind" storyline.

"It's nice to tap into people who are the big decision makers on this planet, and how these people get to power, and how they at times use their power for good," he said. "And, at times, some of them use their power for obviously malicious intent and ... their own betterment."

He also explored his views on sex scenes, his love for his family, and his faith. Listen to this powerful episode!

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Former football star Tim Tebow boldly speaks about Jesus — but why? What motivates his bold faith? Listen to Tebow break it all down on the latest "Edifi With Billy Hallowell."

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Few evangelists have cemented a legacy so fervent that their names and notable moments are still commemorated more than 120 years after their deaths, yet D.L. Moody fits that mold.

Moody, who lived from 1837 to 1899, founded transformational institutions that are still around today, including the Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute, both located in Chicago, and the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts.

It was the robust and lively nature of Moody's faith walk that not only inspired his contemporaries but continues to transcend time to galvanize multiple generations. 

Dr. James Spencer, president of the D.L. Moody Center, recently joined Billy to explain why he was blown away when he saw the intensity of Moody's faith. He also shared a story that should inspire any Christian parent whose child is struggling in the faith.

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Welcome to the season premiere of Edifi With Billy Hallowell! Did you know: an NFL player-turned-pastor was the first-ever pro football player to take a knee in prayer after a touchdown (it was in 1977 and obviously wasn't Tim Tebow; it was the Rev. Herbert Lusk). We'll be talking about the phenomenal player's story and his recent death.

Plus: filmmaker and actor Alex Kendrick drops by to discuss his new movie "Lifemark" and the powerful stories he's hearing about people finding Jesus as a result of the incredible movie.

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Angel Studios co-founders Neal and Jeffrey Harmon had a vision to transform faith and family-friendly entertainment. But after the brothers launched VidAngel, a service that allows families to skip over violence, bad language, and other unpalatable elements, they found themselves in the crosshairs of Disney.

Amid a legal battle with the entertainment giant — a contemporary David and Goliath story — the Harmons came up with an incredible plan that birthed "The Chosen," a series about Jesus and his followers.

Listen to the Harmons tell their against-all-odds story.

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Author Douglas MacKinnon, a former White House and Pentagon official, is on a mission to stop culture from canceling the Founding Fathers. In his new book, "The 56: Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign The Declaration of Independence," he explores why the stories of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence are so essential — and why we shouldn't cancel the Founders.

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America is at a dangerous crossroads. As people mock "thoughts and prayers," we must ask: why? How did we get here? And are people truly understanding why people invoke God after a crisis?

Billy unpacks the gun debate and gets to the heart of the true crisis that cannot simply be legislated away. On this season premiere of "Edifi With Billy Hallowell," explore the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, and the dire state of our nation's morality.

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Atheist activists claim "nothing fails like prayer" and often attempt to diminish the importance of faith and God to individuals and culture — but here are three facts (and surveys) that totally implode their proclamations. Listen and read more: https://www.faithwire.com/2022/03/15/3-facts-that-totally-debunk-atheist-and-secularist-arguments-against-faith-and-god/