Take Root

Evans Kaame is a graduate student at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. A student advocate, who is serving with passionate student leaders and multiple community organizations, he seeks to improve the wellbeing of students in our institutions of higher education across the state of Washington. In this podcast, he shares the incredible story of how he came from the streets of Lodwar, Kenya to the halls of a great university.

Rita Nussli is a Spiritual Director with the ministry of SoulFormation, and teaches at their Academy of Spiritual Formation and School of Spiritual Direction. Prior to this, she was the Executive Director of New Horizons for 22 years- an organization that serves homeless and street involved youth in Seattle. It was here that Rita learned the importance of personal closeness to God rather than just relying on her own skills and strength. Rita has a Masters in Social Work form the University of Washington and is an ordained pastor with the Methodist Church. In this episode, she shares her own journey of listening for God's direction and learning to grow in deeper intimacy with Him each day.

Karen Johnson is a Senior Associate with Centered, a Seattle based nonprofit whose mission is, "Raising up generations of Jesus-centered leaders." She is the director and host of the Take Root Podcast. In this episode, she shares her own story of being surprised by God.

Karen’s passion is building deep relationships that are rooted in the love and grace of God.  Working with young adults, marketplace and civic leaders, she seeks to build fellowship based on the reconciliation that is possible through Jesus. Karen leads a post graduate Women’s Fellows program and facilitates intergenerational discipleship groups. She earned a BSN from the University of Washington, first with a career in nursing and then teaching at Bellevue Christian High School.  She worked for the Luke 12:48 Foundation for seven years before joining Centered in 2014.  Karen is married, mother to three adult children, and Gramma to two precious grandsons. 

In this episode, Karen is interviewed by Sebastian Rogers, CEO of Peripheral Vision PDX.

Al Erisman is the Executive in Residence and the past Director for the Center for Integrity in Business in the School of Business and Economics at Seattle Pacific University. He is also executive editor of Ethix magazine, where he has interviewed business leaders from around the world on issues of ethics, values, and purpose.  He led a distinguished 32 year career at Boeing, and has authored three books.  

In this interview, Al shares how his deep faith is at the core of who he is and everything he does.

David Bluhm has spent the last 39 years starting and growing technology companies and has been involved in over 20 start-ups that have achieved a combined high water equity value of over 36 billion dollars. Above all, the most impressive thing about David is his love for the Lord and how he shares that with young people through mentorship in business. Listen in and be encouraged!

Norma Smith has lived a life of public service. For 13 years, she served in policy as a Washington State Representative sponsoring legislation that impacted privacy, government transparency, the environment, education, behavioral health, and much more. 

In this episode, Norma shares how her faith in Jesus informs every aspect of life and work, even through losing the love of her life. Norma lives on Whidbey Island and is the mother of 4, and grandmother of 11. 

Don Bonker is a former United States Congressman who is a world leader in international trade, security and human rights. His deep faith, humility and wisdom of many years make him a man worth listening to. Fortunately, he has written a book in which he shares from this deep well of faith and life: A Higher Calling: Faith and Politics in the Public Square.

At 85 years old, this statesman is celebrating 50 years of marriage (to Carolyn) and the joys of being a father and grandfather.  His life is a great example of a faith-filled journey.

Rick Newell is the founder of M.U.S.T.  (Mentoring Urban Students and Teens), and the owner of  Fairway Studios. In this episode, he describes God's leading to hand over the leadership of M.U.S.T. and begin a new ministry, called ROUTE 21.  This ministry uses the same mentoring model to support teens as they are aging out of the foster care system, preventing these kids from falling through the cracks.  Starting in high school, ROUTE 21 steps in to provide an "onramp to adulthood"  through 7 years of mentoring, and the very real possibility of effecting generations to come.

Rick is also the incredibly creative author of Life in the Trap (a golf comic strip), and he is passionate in his role as husband to Rebecca and dad to their 4 boys.

(Note: ROUTE 21 is a branding refresh of the current name, Hope Herd.  More information can be found at hopherd.org)  

Questions?  Contact [email protected]

Jesse Peone III is the youngest school board member ever elected in the State of Oregon. He owns 2 newspapers, a magazine, and a real estate business, is a full time MBA student at Willamette University... and he is only 27 years old.  Here he shares how God intervened in his life when he was living on the streets at age 17, a hopeless soul who had lived in 50 different foster homes. 

Listen in to an amazing story of a life redeemed.

JJ Breilh is the Collegiate Director at the University of Washington with Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  HIs passion for discipleship, love of sports, and pursuit of meaningful relationships makes him the perfect guy for this job. JJ and his wife Krista have literally moved in with the athletes they serve- living in an old sorority house in the U. District, and creating opportunities for fellowship. Just think of the ripple effects on this large campus!  

https://www.fcaseattle.org   

Vision: To see the world transformed by Jesus through the influence of coaches and athletes.