Pivotal People

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Chris Beth is the Executive Director of The Bucket Ministry. It is an innovative and practical approach to providing clean water to impoverished communities in developing countries, while ministering to residents to share Christ's love. 

I am fascinated with Chris' story, the technology he uses, and am touched by his sincere love for this cause. I will be a supporter of his ministry after meeting him and learning about his exciting organization.  

Their website www.thebucketministry.org describes their appproach:
"We share God’s love through the gift of clean, safe, drinking water. We provide under-resourced communities around the world with long-lasting water filters, forge and nurture new relationships with Jesus Christ, and inspire systemic, Christ-centered change through discipleship training."

Chris started this ministry after a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his daughter.  His personal story is inspiring and encouraging, and motivates the rest of us to help in very simple ways.

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In this episode of the Pivotal People Podcast, we welcome Mark Bannon, an author, speaker, and professional coach, to discuss his upcoming memoir titled "The Boy From the Cave: From Hopelessness to Purpose." Mark shares his personal story of growing up in poverty and the challenges he faced as a result of his difficult childhood. Despite the hardships, Mark developed a strong work ethic and achieved great success in his professional life. However, he realized that he was running from his past traumas and sought to find purpose and meaning in his life.

We discuss Mark's journey of self-discovery, including his exploration of spirituality and his pursuit of various Eastern philosophies. Ultimately, Mark finds his way to Christianity through an unexpected encounter with a coworker from India who radiated peace. He begins reading the Bible daily and emphasizes the transformative power of connecting with God through scripture.

Our conversation delves into the importance of mental health and finding balance in life. Mark advises his younger self and listeners to face their traumas, take time for self-care, and be mindful of what they ingest mentally and emotionally. He emphasizes the significance of reading the Bible and encourages readers to seek their own understanding of faith rather than relying solely on interpretations from others or organized religion.

Today Mark is helping clients as a life coach, executive business coach and a speaker. You can connect with him at MarkABannon.com and on Instagram @markabannon .

His book comes out in August 2023 and is available to pre-order in June.
Learn more here and get a FREE download of the first 3 chapters of the book: https://markabannon.com/

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I had the privilege to discuss the documentary "The New Abolitionists" with director and producer Christina Zorich. She shared her perspective on the documentary's topic of human trafficking in Southeast Asia as well as other parts of the world. As she sheds light on the topic, she also provided encouragement on how the rest of us can  help in easy and practical ways. I know you will find her conversation as inspiring and encouraging as I did, particularly in light of how challenging this issue is.

THE NEW ABOLITIONISTS, was directed by Christina Zorich and produced by Zorich, Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis, and Susannah Julien Barnes, and features the participation of Olympia Dukakis, Christina Zorich, Eng Veng, Annie Dieselberg, Daniel Vaupel, and Andrea Aasen. 

Three NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations) are featured in the documentary. These organizations are nobly dedicating their lives to battling human sex trafficking with inspiring results everyday.

Film Festival awards include Los Angeles Film Awards (2020) LAFA August Award, Best Inspirational Film; Bridge Fest, Vancouver (2020) Grand Prize, Best Documentary; Hollywood Verge Film Awards (2020) Winter Award, Best Documentary Feature; Manhattan Film Festival (2021) Film Heals Award, Documentary Feature.  

THE NEW ABOLITIONISTS is a must-watch film for all who desire to learn more about this devastating crime and those who are bravely fighting against it.

You can find more information and links to watch the film here:
https://thenewabolitionistsdoc.com/
Find more in Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thenewabolitionists/
https://www.facebook.com/TheNewAbolitionists/

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Beverly Harzog is a nationally recognized credit card expert and consumer finance analyst for U.S. News & World Report. She's also the bestselling and award-winning author of five personal finance books. You can read her columns and see her US News interviews and videos here.

Her expert advice has been featured in thousands of media outlets, including TV, radio, print, and major websites. She’s appeared on Fox News, CNN Newsource, NBC New York, NY1, ABC New York, NBC NY, ABC News Radio, Bloomberg Radio, and more.

In this conversation, we discuss how people can improve their credit scores to help get lower interest rates on major purchases. We also discuss how to stay out of debt and be prepared for unexpected expenses. I've found Beverly's finance columns to be very helpful and practical. Check them out here:
https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/experts/beverly-harzog#bucket5

Get in touch with Beverly:
https://www.beverlyharzog.com/
https://www.instagram.com/beverlyharzog/
https://www.facebook.com/CreditJunkie/

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Between Mercy and Me will be available nationwide, on June 20 for one night only, through Fathom Events. Spring boarding from the Juneteenth holiday, the film is set to challenge societal norms and spark honest and raw conversations around sensitive topics including race, gentrification, interracial dating within the evangelical church and beyond. Between Mercy and Me is a must-watch film for all who desire to learn more about having honest, authentic, and more meaningful conversations about race, and the impact of racial divisions within the church. 

Find a theater near you to see the movie June 20th here: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Between-Mercy-and-Me

The film was written and directed by Craig Lamar Brown and is based on some of his own experiences experiencing racism and microaggressions – with the police and with other Christians. It stars Andrea Summer and David J Driskill, and Andrea also co-wrote the screenplay and the original music featured through the film.

View the 2 minute trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrZHui76HXo

Synopsis: The film centers around Hugo, a talented musician and worship leader in a Cincinnati community grappling with the impact of gentrification and tragedy. When his pastor challenges him to produce more inspirational music for the congregation, Hugo struggles with writer's block. In his search for inspiration, he meets Mercy, a jubilant and outgoing fellow musician, at a neighborhood coffee shop. As they join forces in their songwriting efforts, their relationship blossoms romantically, but they soon face challenges from friends, family, and their own communities. Determined not to let hard conversations or tension tear them apart, Hugo and Mercy set out to create space for honest conversations and work toward unification in their community. They courageously challenge biases, both seen and unseen, often left unspoken. However, one fateful evening, their relationship is rocked by a routine traffic stop that forces them to confront their own internal narratives and beliefs. Will they choose to embrace vulnerability with each other or let their relationship crumble under the weight of biases they worked so hard to overcome?

Find "Between Mercy & Me" at your local theater on June 20th.

Contact Craig Brown at https://www.instagram.com/craiglamarbrown/

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Tyson Motsenbocker is a singer, songwriter and author of the new book, "Where the Waves Turn Back: My 40-day pilgramage along the California coast."  We had a wonderful conversation about his journey, learnings, and insights. Be ready to take notes because his observations and perceptions make us think--about love, relationships, grief, and what really matters in our lives. It's a must-read for anyone, especially mothers.

In this powerful memoir, following the death of his mother, Tyson Motsenbocker retraces the journey an 18th century priest took in this harrowing story of one man’s pilgrimage of healing and finding beauty and hope in tragedy. 

After years on the road performing at sold-out venues, Tyson Motsenbocker returned home to the impending death of his 57-year-old hero and mother. He begged God to heal her, but she died anyway. When they buried her body, Tyson also buried the childhood version of his faith.

Two days after they buried his mother, Tyson set out on a 600-mile pilgrimage of sorts, intending to walk from San Diego to San Francisco along the El Camino.  Tyson’s journey takes him down smog-choked highways, across fog-laden beaches, past multi-million-dollar coastal estates, and along the towering cliffs of Big Sur. And as he walks, Tyson also wrestles with his faith, questioning the pat answers and easy prayers he once readily accepted, trying to understand how hope and tragedy can all be wrapped up in the same God. The people he meets along the way challenge his understanding of the meaning of security, of what it means to live a meaningful life, and of the legacies we all leave behind.
 


Connect with Tyson here: https://www.tysonmotsenbocker.com/

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Kevin Lewis has been a coach, teacher, singer, performer, business owner, podcast host and an author.  I know him personally and will add that he is a super nice guy--who encourages and affirms everyone he meets. Kevin's new book, "Can You Trust Me This Much?" comes out in June 2023. You can preorder the book here to get a signed copy:
https://www.hizworks.com/the-book 

I read the book and enjoyed his entertaining stories, perceptive observations and life lessons that speak to all of us. It's a great read. What prompted Kevin to write this book? From Kevin's website, www.HizWorks.com:

"A mustard seed. God asks us to have faith the size of an itty, bitty, tiny mustard seed. Now that shouldn’t be so hard,  should it? And yet, so many times we experience difficult, even traumatic events in our lives that make  us ask questions like, “If God loves us and wants the  very best for us, why  does He allow such horrible things to happen?”

For Kevin, it was a mass shooting in his town of Buffalo, Minnesota that brought him to ask this important question. And each time he prayed,  he heard the words, “Can you trust me this much? Those words kept replaying in his  mind over and over again. 

Kevin eventually wrote those six words down on strips of paper and Scotch-taped a mustard seed to each one. He proceeded to place the strips in random places. They were in his house, his business, on his computer, and even in his car.

What Kevin discovered was how the traumatic events we all face in life can either destroy  us or bring  us to place where we realize our pain has a purpose. And  when we finally get real and have the crazy courage to face the big hurts - those life-changing events - we can answer with certainty, “Yes…yes, I can trust you this much.”

A portion of the proceeds from Kevin's book will go to help people through The Least of These Ministries.

Also hear from Kevin on his podcast, The Next Step.
Find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-step/id1613368608?i=1000556141208
Follow his podcast on Instagram at @thenextstepwithkevinlewis

Find Kevin
Instagram: @officiallykevinlewis and @hizworks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.lewis.98499/
All links to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/officiallykevinlewis

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Erin Cuccio is a writer, speaker and podcast host. She is a wife, a mother of three young boys, and supports her husband in running their family-owned restaurant.

Erin's new book called "Unraveled: Finding the Lovely When Life Comes Undone" addresses the idea of finding purpose in the painful experiences of our lives. When Erin lost her fourth son in early labor, she was determined to find the purpose in the pain.

Maybe you are facing grief in loss, or maybe you're grieving a life that doesn't quite look like you pictured. Erin's story and her wisdom helps readers realize who we are created to be, and encourages us to live with reckless abandon in pursuit of that purpose.

Her stories are insightful and entertaining.  Author Kim Stuart says it best: "Erin Cuccio is the wise and kind friend you want walking with you shoulder-to-shoulder, both on the days that leave you breathless with joy and on the days that bring you to your knees. Just like its author, Unraveled extends a warm and honest invitation to find hope that battles and wins in every season."

Find Erin on Instagram @erincuccio 
Pre-order her book (coming out May 2nd) at book.ErinCuccio.com
Listen to her podcast "Room For Lovely" with new episodes every week

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BONNIE GRAY is the author of the new book, "Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm."  She loves encouraging women to experience deeper intimacy with God and refresh the soul with His love and rest. She guides women to live inspired, detox from stress and celebrate their calling as the beloved.

"Breathe" offers scientific and scripture-based methods to help you stress less, care for youreslf, and create new rhythms of rest. As a starting point, Bonnie offers a free quiz. Take this Soul Care Quiz to lower stress and anxiety – and learn what type of care you need to flourish in your life with God’s peace and joy.  When you take this FREE Personal Wellness Assessment  you will receive a stress less analysis - and discover which of the 4 types of soul care you may be missing  - so you can restore calm to your body and emotions with God's peace and joy. Break free from worry, stress, and anxiety and take better care of you. You are God’s beloved!

How It Works:
Answer each question that touches on a different stressor. You will receive an email that helps identify areas of soul care you may need most to replenish your well-being.

https://thebonniegray.com/soulcarequiz/

An inspirational retreat speaker, Bonnie touches thousands of lives helping women through topics of soul care, stress recovery, and emotional healing through storytelling, visual arts, nature, prayer and meditation.  Bonnie’s powerful writing is featured on Relevant Magazine, KLOVE, (in)courage, MOPS, and Christianity Today. She lives in California with her husband and their two sons.

Follow Bonnie @thebonniegray Facebook and Instagram. Pull up a chair and enjoy free soul care videos, encouragement, and podcasts.
Get free resources at her website, https://thebonniegray.com/ 

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Claudia Hawley is a counselor, speaker and a mental health advocate who owns Stoney Creek Counseling in the Denver, Colorado area. In this episode she shares her experience and perspective counseling married couples. She shares her Seven Principles of a Successful Marriage, as well as the four issues that can lead to divorce. WOW.  Her practical advice and insight can help all of us who are in or who are seeking a committed relationship.

Claudia holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary. Claudia is coming to mental health as a second career after spending many years as a small business owner. Working alongside clients in her former career as a realtor, instilled in Claudia a deep empathy, and a sincere desire to serve couples, families, and individuals in the journey through depression, anxiety, and trauma to healing, connection, and self-worth.

Connect with Claudia at 

Website: https://stoneycreekcounseling.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoneycreekcounseling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100032306993558

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