In this thought-provoking conversation, Pastor Stephen Russ and Martin Wickens sit down with Pastor Joe Shakour, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina. They discuss the Shakour’s remarkable journey from a Catholic-Charismatic background to his engagement with deep theological issues.

Pastor Shakour opens up about:

His parents’ conversion during the Jesus Movement and his own early faith journey

Wrestling with textual criticism, biblical languages, and why he holds to the King James Bible and the Textus Receptus

His perspective on staying biblically grounded without checking your brain at the door

Lessons learned through his battle with Calvinism and how returning to simple, contextual Bible study brought clarity

His heart for addiction recovery ministry and what it looks like to be light in dark and difficult places

This episode challenges young men in ministry to think deeply, live purely, and lead humbly—anchored in Scripture and driven by love for Christ.

📖 “The Bible wasn’t given to make you smart—it was given to make you holy.” – Pastor Joe Shakour

What is true revival? In this episode of The Issues Podcast, Pastor Stephen Russ and Pastor Martin Wickens continue the conversation on revival—what it is, what it isn’t, and how believers can steward the stirring we’re seeing in our nation today.

From the Welsh Revival to the Haystack Prayer Meeting, we explore Jonathan Edwards’ five marks of genuine revival:

This is a thoughtful, biblical, and balanced discussion on revival, awakening, and how Christians should respond to the current spiritual interest in our culture.

🎧 Listen now on The Issues Podcast — available wherever you get your podcasts, or visit theissuespod.com.

Busyness doesn’t equal godliness. In this episode, Martin and Stephen tackle the subtle but dangerous trap of equating a packed schedule with spiritual growth. They discuss practical ways to evaluate your schedule, set healthy boundaries, and keep your priorities aligned with what truly matters.

The word “revival” is being talked about everywhere—but what does it really mean? In today’s episode, we dig into the heart of the matter: What is true revival? Is it happening right now? And what role, if any, do we play in ushering it in?Join us for a thoughtful and timely conversation you won’t want to miss.

The Book of Acts records the birth of the New Testament church—a movement conceived in prayer, fueled by prayer, and sustained by prayer. In this episode, Stephen and Martin dive deeper into its powerful lessons for us today!

Charlie Kirk was not only a political figure—he stood as a bold witness for truth and faith in Christ, which makes his death both a political and spiritual martyrdom. In this conversation, we discuss:

🎙️ On this episode of the Issues Podcast, we sit down with two young men in their 20s who are faithfully serving the Lord in ministry. While their years of experience may be fewer, their perspective is fresh, their passion is contagious, and their insights are worth hearing. Join us for a thoughtful and encouraging conversation with Landon Street and Micah Still.

As social media grows increasingly toxic, Christians have a unique opportunity to shine as lights through gracious and Spirit-filled communication. In this episode, Martin and Stephen reflect on the future of the podcast while tackling how believers can use their words online to point others to Christ.

🎙️ It’s the season finale of the Issues podcast! Today, we dive deep into the challenge of responding to current events—not with knee-jerk emotion, but with wisdom that actually helps the people we serve. If you've ever wrestled with when to speak up and how to do it biblically, this episode is for you. Plus, stick around for a big announcement from Tom at the end!

We’ve loved every moment of this season—thank you for listening, sharing, and growing with us.

Welcome to ⚡️ Lightning Round  — where bold questions meet blistering opinions.

In this episode, a provocative topic is thrown on the table, and the crew has just 3 minutes to dive in. Whether it’s theology, ministry, culture, or controversy, expect passionate debate, raw honesty, and a few holy jabs along the way!

No filters. No fluff. Just camp-meeting fire and fundamentalist fury. When the buzzer hits, it’s on to the next one!