Ministry Minded: A Podcast by Step Up To Life

In this conversation, Jimmy George — Executive Director of Fresh Start for All Nations — opens up about the deeply personal journey behind his ministry. Before he ever helped others walk in freedom, he had to confront a “missing piece” in his own sanctification.

Although he carried years of solid biblical training and pastoral experience, Jimmy realized that information alone wasn’t forming him into the kind of shepherd Christ was calling him to be. The Lord invited him to slow down, look honestly at his own hurts, and move from information to transformation. That required facing moments of woundedness, misunderstanding, disappointment, and pastoral pain — and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing where he had previously just pushed through.

In this episode, Jimmy unpacks what forgiveness truly is (and what it is not), how the gospel frees wounded hearts, and how leaders can walk in greater wholeness through the Fresh Start process. It’s a timely, hope-filled conversation for anyone longing to experience the deep, liberating work of Christ that restores the heart and renews the call.

www.FreshStartForAllNations.org

or Text: 'Fresh Start' to 55444

Get Dr. Bank's Book: 'Down Like Jesus: Navigating Pastoral Pain in the Footsteps of Christ' here: https://a.co/d/dVK5rWO

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Step Up To Life Champions Tim and Bente share how God brought them together unexpectedly in Sweden and called them to partner in making Christ known through the Step Up To Life method. Together, they train others to share the Gospel clearly—leading people from belief about Jesus to true saving faith in Him.

While Bente, a native of Norway, understood local customs, Tim’s humorous “Weekend Wings” grocery store moment became a memorable symbol of their cultural journey they had embarked upon.

Their story also honors the bold legacy of Norwegian missionaries, whose obedience continues to impact the world. Through Step Up To Life, Tim and Bente carry that mission forward, equipping believers to shine Christ’s light in fresh ways.

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www.StepUpToLife.com 

Taylor Foster wasn’t looking for God.
A hard-charging, wild-living young man with Celtic warrior blood and a bullfighting streak, he chased everything the world offered—drinking, drugs, sex, adrenaline—but none of it filled the growing void inside. Raised around church but  unchanged by it, Taylor ran hard in the opposite direction… until God caught him.

In this raw and redemptive episode, Taylor—now a Youth Pastor at LifeGate Church—sits down with Lincoln Murdoch and Nick Bank to share his story of wrestling with God, resisting His call, and how an unexpected conversation with Step Up To Life’s late founder, Elmer Murdoch, helped change everything.

Through Elmer’s simple challenge—“Let your sin drive you toward God, not away from Him”—Taylor began the journey from rebellion to repentance, and ultimately to Saving Faith.

Now he’s calling Gen Z to the same surrender that saved him.

www.LifeGateChurch.com  

https://www.lifegate.church/team/taylor-foster-efb70 

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Vaughn Perez, is the Student Ministry Director at CityLight Bennington Church in Nebraska. Vaughn wears many hats—he’s  an assistant high school boys basketball coach, a substitute P.E. teacher at Bennington High School, a volunteer with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a Podcaster (Vaughn & Clay All Day) and a husband to Megan Perez, who serves on staff with CityLight Bennington in Finance & Administration.

Though Vaughn grew up around church, he was largely disinterested in a serious relationship with God—until a friend’s simple invitation to church led him to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now, with a heart to reach students from middle school through college, Vaughn uses the 5 Steps from Step Up To Life to help young people identify where they truly are in their spiritual journey and walk with them toward a clear, biblical understanding of saving faith in Christ.

Whether it’s on the court, in the classroom, or at youth group, Vaughn is equipping the next generation with Gospel clarity and compassion.

Vaughn's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vaughn-and-clay-all-day/id1519035024

CityLight Bennington Website: https://www.citylightbennington.church/

Step Up To Life Website: www.StepUpToLife.com 

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Paul Tan joins Lincoln and Nick via Zoom to share his powerful journey from drug smuggler to evangelist. After a close brush with death in Singapore and a life driven by money, Paul encountered the Gospel and never looked back. He left a thriving business to start a halfway house that cared for up to 100 ex-offenders at a time and later stepped into full-time ministry.

Now, as Step Up to Life’s Asia Director, Paul oversees Gospel efforts across Asia, coordinating with leaders like Jonathan Chua (Philippines), Saman Kumara (Sri Lanka), Chandra Tobin (Indonesia), Bishop Dr. Panda (India), and others to spread the Good News throughout the region.

http://cbisingapore.weebly.com/about-us.html

https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossroads-prison-ministries?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company

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Bill Bowes (former Fire Chief of Papillion, Nebraska) talks with Linc and Nick about how Step Up To Life's founder (the later Elmer Murdoch) led him to saving-faith in Christ, his unexpected journey to Asbury College in the 70's, how even his training as a 'First Responder' wasn't enough to prepare him for the sudden loss of his wife,  how God had been subtly encouraging him to step out in faith to run for the Nebraska legislature through his friends and family regardless of the outcome, and how God had plans to renew and encourage him in a new relationship he never saw coming. 

More information on Bill: 

Overview from "www.VoteBowes.com":

"Bill Bowes has spent a lifetime serving others — from leading local fire departments to mentoring young athletes and supporting community organizations. After nearly four decades in public safety, he’s ready to bring that same steady leadership to Nebraska’s Legislature. A longtime Sarpy County resident, Bill is deeply rooted in the values that make our communities strong: faith, family, and service. He’s not a career politician — he’s a dedicated neighbor, coach, and leader who shows up when it matters. Learn more about Bill’s story and why he’s running to represent District 14."

https://www.facebook.com/VoteBowes 

8726 S 98th Street La Vista NE 68128

+1 402-657-3763

[email protected]

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Hip Hop artist Ryan Martinez of Bellevue Youth for Christ, and My Bridge Radio joins Linc and Nick to talk about how God got his attention through his future wife, how God persistently called him out of a self-focused spiritual improvement plan  into the true Gospel, and why he now uses Step Up To Life to reach students with the Gospel to help them pinpoint where they are in their own spiritual journey.

www.Lifeusd.com

https://lifeusd.com/ryanmartinezmusic

www.MyBridgeRadio.net 

My Bridge Radio Omaha, NE & Lincoln, NE (95.1, & 92.7)

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Adam Cabeen is Step Up To Life's Latin American National Director. He oversees, networks with, and helps coordinate our team of Spanish speaking SUTL Champions who take the Gospel into their local contexts throughout Latin America. These countries include Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and his own ministry locale of Columbia. 

Adam and his wife Libia Maria have been married since 2004 and have two children, David and Sarah. Libia Maria is a university professor and Adam has served with Christ For the City International in Colombia since 2002. He currently leads Mission Caleb, which focuses on serving local churches in the areas of missions and evangelism. 

If you would like to help support Adam or our other Latin American Champions you can give toward their work at: 

www.StepUpToLife.com/Give

https://cfci.org/support/adam-libia-cabeen/ 

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Gary Koenig and Ray Dotzler join Lincoln and Nick to talk about how they were both brought in on the 'ground floor' for Step Up To Life roughly 30 years ago, how God surprised them in the ways He used their skills in marketing and the visual arts to reach people all over the world with the Gospel, and some of their most fond memories about our late founder Elmer Murdoch. 

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On this episode Lincoln and Nick discuss Step Up To Life's global footprint and why this is a key aspect of the ministry biblically. 

Having ministered in over 40+ countries, Lincoln recounts how he became inspired to minister cross-culturally, how God has surprised him and impacted him personally over the last 40 years ministering internationally and how even in our local contexts, international evangelism can flourish without even stepping foot on a plane.

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www.StepUpToLife.com