She Speaks Stories

We love a good redemption story, and Melissa Huray’s story is a great one! As we wade through this season’s theme of addiction it’s important to us that we are chatting with authentic storytellers who want to share the truth of the hard and when and how they overcome it! Melissa shares her story, step by step, as she grew up and began to recognize the addiction in her life and what it took for her to say to Jesus, “I want to be done.” 

Oh and hey, if you enjoyed our chat with her today, we encourage you to check out her books (⁠Blackout to Blessings⁠ & ⁠Radical Freedom⁠) show (⁠The Hope Report⁠)  or ⁠website⁠ to hear more!

Join us this week as Katie and Julia chat about their summers! This summer She Speaks Stories had a NEW theme, where we dropped the "S" and had a summer filled with HEs! The He Speaks Stories Summer not only extended into our episodes but also our summer book club. The books we read over the summer were fantastic, so Julia and Katie share favorite parts and encourage all our listeners to get a copy:

1. The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth (https://a.co/d/cRFSM5j)

2. Me, Myself & Bob by Phil Vischer (https://a.co/d/1lttBLJ)

3. A Burning in My Bones by Winn Collier (https://a.co/d/babNHTA)

After chatting about the FUN of their summer our lovely co-hosts shifted gears to what to expect from the She Speaks Stories podcast!

Today we have the pleasure of hearing from Lou Minichini! He was chatting with the lovely Katie Hawkins at their Sunday School get-together and shared his conversion story. Katie's response was “you HAVE to be on our podcast!” and we are SO thankful Lou agreed! 

His story walks us through how a New Jersey Italian Catholic found Jesus. How his upbringing grew from a traditional awareness of God to a life changing relationship with his Savoir. 

And after he found Christ, he talked about the importance of sharing the good news! The discussion that follows that: unpacking preferences vs principles in our faith, was so interesting and fun!

Our host Julia Sifers is head over heels in love with today’s guest, and that’s a good thing because he’s her husband! 

Yup, Nik Sifers’, Julia’s other-half, joins us today to share some perspective of the trust that develops for those of us “stuck on hard-mode.” Nik in his own sarcastic and thoughtful way walks us through a few examples of God’s specific care and direction in ways he was not expecting.

This episode helps us see that God will always provide, and it’s always good, but it’s rarely what we were expecting!

Are you tired? Just worn out? In this episode Tom breaks down the simple beauty of intimacy with God. It seems like a big feat, but it starts with desire and grows into something wonderful. 

Tom, Katie’s brother, has been on our podcast a few times before because he’s a great teacher, one of Katie’s best favorite brothers and he genuinely enjoys our podcast! So that works out nicely!

In this episode shares dreams he’s had and the transformation that came when the meaning of the dreams were revealed. 

It’s such a good perspective on the power of valuing the presence of God. 

Let’s get the ark back, let’s eat the spinach, let’s rest in the awesome power of his presence!

SUSAN IS BACK for today’s episode!! And it’s so good! God has blown Susan away with all that he has shown her over this year! He has rekindled her love for the local church when it’s partnered with the gospel and shown her the power of community. In her new role in her church, God has showered her with goodness and perspective and this space has fueled the finishing touches on her new book (get excited! We are!) 

If you’ve missed Susan, as we have, join us for quality connection as we hear all that God is doing in her life!

Those of you who have been long-time listeners know Portia and the goodness she brings, and though God called her to step down as host of She Speaks Stories, he called her towards some other great changes. And in this episode, Portia shares with us what she’s been up to this past year. 

Jesus has held her, through changes, in her identity and quieted her fast pace with deep renewal. Her organization Imago Dei is growing as they learn exactly what it looks like to come alongside the church and help organize conversations about diversity. Their goal is to help leaders see what Jesus taught. That it’s not about the outcome, but about opportunities and looking around to see what is needed in the church’s community. Imago Dei is a much needed perspective. Not just sweeping these hard questions under the rug but really coming alongside the confusion to bridge the gaps and guide them through so Jesus can be seen in all cultures and corners! As they say, “Diversity is a garden to grow, not a problem to solve.” 

To learn more about Imago Dei:

Website:www.weareimagodei.co

Instagram: @weareiagodei.co

Our Heart

We'd love to be a part of your (all who hear this podcast) church staff development through our recorded 5 session course to help rediscover diversity through a biblical perspective. The Foundations Course is available through the website.

Not sure where to begin? We'd love to hop on a free call with you. Click here.

Kim joins us today to share the steps she took to find Jesus. Even though she was raised to know there was a God, she didn’t see beyond him as a structured God of Wrath. Through some hard times and with many seeds planted over time, she found what she’d been missing!

Life is hard, and it can be confusing! Questions and uncertainties come and it really is hard to see any hope in the middle of some of the hard. Kim’s story is a clear message of salvation. In her story we can see grace exemplified. When we have a life with holes, God comes in and fills in the gaps!

Check out the episode we did with Kim's daughter, Episode #181 Finding Healing in Marriage with Dane and Brooke Lopez.

Sarah was a military spouse who was slammed with hard times, affairs, financial difficulties and so much unknown. But God knew her and did not leave her. Every step of the way he provided for her in the most personal ways with scraggly old strangers, kind judges, supportive churches and friendly empowering bosses. 

This is a story of redemption. Her life exemplifies how God is always there, no matter where you are!

Doris is the kind of gal you want at your table. In this episode we’re getting a good introduction of the quippy Doris Lama! She’s so fun and filled with a confetti of eclectic and mosaic stories all centered around God’s answering her question: “What would you have me do?” With the Holy Spirit’s help she “moves from less than to more than” and encourages anyone who has the pleasure of her company! This is really a part one, because we’re going to have her back after hearing (too many!) teasers of some of the stories from her past, including how she met her husband. So get cozy and join us in chatting with Doris!