Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Dr. Paul Hall, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Pastor Ron Greer
Guest, Dr Sheila Schuller Coleman - Limitless Faith and the Possibility Thinking
Friends,
We are delighted to have Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman as our guest to share her testimony and ministry!
She is the first born child of Robert H. Schuller. As such, she had a front row seat to watching God move in her father’s life.
She served as assistant producer of the Hour of Power and also as his senior editor for more than 12 of his manuscripts, including “Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do”, and “The Be Happy Attitudes”.
In addition, Sheila has 16 years of experience in education. She combines a love for children with a deep devotion to the church. Sheila holds a Doctorate in Education from UCI and has authored several books, including “Unearthing the Lost Treasure: Wisdom”, which features an endorsement by Dr. Ben Carson. And her latest, “Claiming the Identity of Christ’s Children. A Handbook for Families”.
Today, she serves as the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Center of Christ in Orange, California. It is a house of prayer, the spiritual pentagon for the international prayer movement, Heart of a Warrior: Delivering the Children of the World for Christ.
She actively partners with 15 ministries that are being an answer to the varied attacks on our children world-wide.
This episode of Raising Expectations features an inspiring dialogue with Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman, daughter of the legendary Dr. Robert H. Schuller. The conversation explores the miraculous journey of the Schuller ministry—from an obscure Iowa farm to a global television platform—emphasizing the transformative power of "limitless faith" and the resilience required to navigate life's "bumpy roads."
The "Raising Expectations" Mission and Team
The program, hosted by Pastor Joe Schofield and his wife Melba, serves as a platform for leaders of all backgrounds to address life's most pressing questions through the lens of faith. The "extended family" of co-hosts includes Dr. Paul Hall, a counselor and writer; Dr. Craig "Tank" Thayer, a trauma surgeon and author of Saved: Finding God in the Ordinary; and Pastor Ron Greer, who works with Man In The Mirror to mentor men. The team emphasizes that faith in Christ provides answers to life's two biggest questions: how to live with purpose and what happens after death.
From Iowa Pastures to the Drive-In Church
Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman shares the humble origins of her father, who was raised on a "dead-end dirt road" in Iowa. Despite not being an athlete or having significant resources, he felt a divine calling at age five, famously practicing his sermons for the cows in the pasture. Upon moving to California to plant a church, he found no established congregation and adopted a missionary mindset, knocking on doors to ask neighbors what they needed. This led to the innovative "drive-in church" at a theater snack bar, where the motto was "Come as you are in the family car," allowing people who felt uncomfortable in traditional settings to hear the Gospel from their vehicles.
The Theology of the Seed and Limitless Faith
A core theme of the discussion is the "theology of the seed," based on Matthew 17:20. Sheila recounts her father’s belief that while anyone can count the seeds in an apple, only God can count the apples in one seed. This perspective encourages believers to look past their "lack"—whether in health, resources, or education—and focus on a "limitless God." Sheila illustrates this faith through a childhood memory of her father taking her out into a terrifying Iowa thunderstorm to show her "God’s power on display," teaching her that faith is a gift required for the tasks God assigns.
Global Expansion and the "Hour of Power"
The ministry’s reach expanded exponentially following a suggestion from Billy Graham to put the church service on television. Graham even loaned his production team to help launch the Hour of Power. The program eventually broke historical barriers, becoming the first religious program broadcast in the communist USSR on Channel One Russia after a meeting between Dr. Schuller and Mikhail Gorbachev. This global impact was rooted in the elder Schuller’s refusal to be deterred by critics; he famously stated that he didn't care what other pastors said about him because they were already saved—his focus remained entirely on the unsaved.
Navigating Adversity and Maintaining Hope
The dialogue concludes with profound advice on handling trials. Using the "potato" analogy, Sheila explains that just as big potatoes rise to the top of a wagon on a bumpy road, challenges forge character and tenacity in those who refuse to quit. She also shares her grandfather’s wisdom: "Never cut a dead tree down in the wintertime." This serves as a metaphor for not making irreversible decisions during seasons of despair, as life often remains in the "stump" waiting for spring. The hosts and guest emphasize that hope is the last thing to lose, and God always has the "last word," which is ultimately good.
The legacy of Dr. Robert H. Schuller, as recounted by his daughter, serves as a testament to the idea that no beginning is too small for a "limitless God." By embracing the "possibility thinking" that defined the Hour of Power, individuals can find the tenacity to grow through their trials rather than just go through them.
