Shame. Fear. Identity crisis. Our generation—especially young adults and parents—is silently drowning in hidden battles. We long for freedom, yet so often search for it through striving, rituals, or more information. All the while, we navigate deep waters of confusion, facing demonic resistance and relentless cultural pressure. Does God still show up in the chaos? Can Jesus really meet us in our mess—just as He did the woman at the well? And when we finally meet Him — can we still find it in ourselves to wholly and completely surrender to God?

In this episode of the Revelations Podcast, host Reagan Kramer welcomes Laurel Bunker: preacher, educator, and spiritual mother to many. With over 30 years of ministry in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Laurel shares her deeply personal journey from performance-based religion to radical intimacy with the Living Word. She opens up about confronting demonic oppression, overcoming self-hatred, and raising daughters in a world flooded with lies.

Rooted in the story of the woman at the well, this conversation is a call to lay down shame, reclaim identity, and rise in kingdom authority. If you’re weary from the fight, questioning your worth, or longing to hear God's voice again—pause. Take a seat by the well. Encounter Jesus. Surrender to God; drink deeply of His grace and be restored.

1. Gain biblical clarity on how to surrender to God and live fully in “Spirit and Truth,” beyond mere rituals and religion.
2. Understand how shame, demonic influence, and the culture of people-pleasing hinder identity.
3. Learn how a transformational encounter with Jesus breaks lifelong bondage, as told through Laurel Bunker’s story.

• More from the Revelations Podcast hosted by Reagan Kramer: Website | Instagram | Apple Podcast | Youtube
• Pulse Evangelism - Website
• Connect with Laurel Bunker: Website | Instagram | Facebook
• Salt Company (College Ministry): Website
• Aspen Grove Network of Churches: Website
• Bible Verses
• John 4
• John 17
• Ephesians 1 
• Hebrews 4:12
• Romans 10:9-10
• Psalms 91:11

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• Reagan welcomes guest Laurel Bunker, a dynamic preacher and opens with a story where spiritual thirst met the Living Water.

[01:12] Laurel: “I gave so much of my life away before Jesus. I'm giving it all away for Jesus now, you know. We got to redeem the time.”

• The cultural tension between Jews and Samaritans sets the stage for Jesus’ radical act of compassion and revelation.
• This moment shatters cultural shame and personal guilt, proving Jesus meets people right where they are.

• One conversation with Jesus turns the Samaritan woman into an evangelist to her entire town.
• Her transformation ripples outward, showing that personal encounters with truth can spark collective revival.
• According to Laurel, true worship isn’t tied to a location or ritual. Instead, we must act our faith through a surrendered, Spirit-filled life.
• Living in spirit and truth becomes more than theology—it becomes a multiplying force of freedom.

• Legalism, shame, and spiritual burnout are real struggles for modern believers.
• Laurel shares how her own religious performance led to exhaustion and how encountering Jesus brought lasting freedom.

[22:51] Laurel: “I promise you, growing up all the way into my 20s, in my early 20s, I would look at Christ or images of him, or Christ on the cross, and I wouldn't know who- I didn't know who he was.”

• Wounds from church experiences don’t have to write the final chapter of your faith. Healing and purpose remain possible when we surrender to God.
• Believers are encouraged to live a lifestyle of repentance, humility, and unfiltered honesty before God.

• The Holy Spirit isn’t a concept confined to the early church—it’s a present force guiding and healing today.
• Laurel shares stories of spiritual breakthrough and reminds believers that revival begins with personal obedience.
• Following Jesus means actively listening, discerning, and stepping into purpose led by the Spirit.
• The call is clear: lean into the Holy Spirit’s presence and let Him do the work only He can do.

• Shame distorts identity and silences spiritual authority, but it doesn’t have the final word. 
• Laurel herself has journeyed through a valley of deep shame — but Christ’s love shattered every lie.
• Freedom came not through hiding, but through confession and grace. Through the relentless pursuit of truth, she was able to surrender to God.
• Listeners are urged to stop hiding, start healing, and reclaim their place as sons and daughters of the King.

[47:20] Reagan: “That's what Jesus does. He unites people. He does so because he's bringing people together through the truth of the gospel.”

• Being able to surrender to God and worship goes beyond music—it’s found in daily acts of obedience, faithfulness, and service.
• Laurel encourages believers to discover how their unique gifts can be expressions of worship.
• Even small acts of faithfulness carry weight in the Kingdom when done in love and obedience.
• Listeners are reminded that God honors hearts surrendered in both the big and the quiet, hidden places.

• Living by the Spirit requires intentional daily surrender.
• Laurel explains how believers must crucify the flesh and embrace the eternal life birthed through the Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit becomes the source of joy, healing, and clarity in a chaotic world.
• It’s not about trying harder, but walking in step with the Spirit who renews us from the inside out.

[1:03:38] Laurel: “I refuse to give human beings and this world more praise and more of my energy and my day than I give the one who gave his life for me.”

• Rather than striving to fix what’s broken, listeners are encouraged to sit with Jesus—just as they are—and receive the healing that only His love can bring.
• No weapon formed against you will prosper.
• No lie of the enemy can stand against the truth of your identity in Christ.
• Say yes to restoration. Say yes to Jesus. Surrender to God and let your journey of healing begin—right here, right now.

Laurel Bunker is a seasoned preacher, educator, and spiritual leader with over three decades of ministry experience across higher education, nonprofits, and the local church. As Vice President of Training and Education at Pulse Evangelism, she equips the next generation to live boldly for Christ in a culture clouded by confusion and compromise. Known for her unapologetic biblical teaching, prophetic insight, and fierce compassion, Laurel brings both fire and clarity to the spiritual battlefield.

Formerly the Dean of Campus Ministries at Bethel University, Laurel has discipled thousands of students through spiritual formation, leadership development, and practical theology. Her ministry is grounded in the authority of Scripture and marked by deliverance, identity restoration, and deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit. She balances her global ministry with a personal mission: raising up rooted, resilient followers of Jesus who know who they are and whose they are.

Connect with Laurel on her website and Instagram.

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