What If I'm Wrong?

On today’s episode Heather visits with theologian and author K.A. Ellis—the initials stand for “Karen Angela”—to kick off our three-part series for February, “Listening to Black Creators.” Mrs. Ellis, who was 42 when she married her husband Carl, talks about the experiences of single women in the church, as well as the true meaning of the word widow (it’s not just about the death of a spouse). She also offers practical wisdom for how to trust God’s faithfulness and Christ’s sufficiency when the way forward is anything but clear.

K.A.’s latest book is called Fannie Lou Hamer: The Courageous Woman Who Marched for Dignity. The beautifully illustrated tome is ostensibly written to introduce children to the famed Civil Rights heroine, but older readers will also be captivated by this colorful retelling of Hamer’s story. In just 24 pages, K.A. captures an indelible portrait of Hamer—the faithful Christian and defender of human dignity.

And don’t forget to check out the talk by K.A. that blew Heather away. Her message on “Loving the Widow” was given at The Gospel Coalition’s 2018 Women’s Pre-Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the message, K.A. references the book Spiritual Widowhood by Andy Mendonsa.

Elsewhere in the show, Heather also checks in with our favorite social media wiz Brady Shearer to get more tools for our Social Toolkit. Brady is the CEO of Pro Church Tools. His company helps churches navigate the biggest communication shift in 500 years.

Guest Bio

K.A. Ellis (Karen Angela Ellis) specializes in topics centering around World Christianity and Ethics, and she’s passionate about preparing the next generations to live faithfully under anti-Christian hostility. Mrs. Ellis teaches and disciples young people at her local church on Bible and Global Christianity, and is the Director of the Edmiston Center at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also the Robert Cannada Fellow in World Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

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On today’s episode Heather is joined by Kat Armas. Kat is a Cuban American theologian and author who specializes in seeing Scripture in new ways. Her lens for engaging with the Bible reminds us that there is always so much more to Scripture than we notice at first glance.

This week there’s also more of our new segment Friends in the Kitchen, featuring celebrity chef Danielle Kartes. Today, Danielle is sharing her delicious Chicken Piccata recipe, which you can find on her blog here.

Guest Bio

Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, Florida. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, de-colonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. She also explores these topics and more on her podcast, The Protagonistas, which centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color in theological spaces. Kat is currently living outside of Nashville where she preaches regularly at Gracepointe church. Her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture is available right now.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode Heather visits with researcher and licensed social worker Holly Oxhandler to discuss Holly’s latest book, The Soul of the Helper, in which she encourages caregivers and caretakers (both professional and nonprofessional) to recognize their need for stillness, rest, and spiritual renewal. Holly says helpers are prone to trying do it all and are likely candidates for burnout. She identifies seven stages that can help us see the sacred within ourselves, and that once we can see the sacred within ourselves, we can better see it in others.

Heather is also back with our new segment for January called Friends in the Kitchen, featuring celebrity chef Danielle Kartes. You may recognize Danielle from her regular appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Food and foodies are popular subjects among the Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube creators and influencers, so get ready to take notes. And if you like this segment, make sure to email us at [email protected] and let us know. Danielle’s latest cookbook is Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy. And you can find her quesadilla recipe here:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/viral-jesus/holly-oxhandler-soul-of-helper.html

Guest Bio

Dr. Holly Oxhandler is the associate dean for research and faculty development and an associate professor at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. Holly studies religion/spirituality, health and mental health, and is especially interested in whether and how mental and behavioral health therapists discuss their client’s religious/spiritual beliefs in treatment. Her latest book is called The Soul of the Helper: Seven Stages to Seeing the Sacred Within Yourself So You Can See It in Others.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather’s weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7pm EST; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode Heather visits with Madison Prewett Troutt to discuss dating, waiting, and falling in love. You may recognize Madison from season 24 of The Bachelor, where she was a finalist. Madison made national news when she shared on the show that she was a virgin and saving herself for marriage. She later eliminated herself from the competition. Fans fell in love with Madison and her commitment to her Christian faith. Now she has written a book about dating and singleness to encourage other women. The Love Everybody Wants: What You're Looking For Is Already Yours is available wherever you buy Christian books.

This week Heather also debuts a new segment that will run all month called Friends in the Kitchen, featuring celebrity chef Danielle Kartes. Heather and Danielle connected at a conference last year and became fast friends. You may recognize Danielle from her regular appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show. If you do, you’ll know why there’s no one better to talk recipes, friendship, and current events with than this spirited woman. As for why she’s doing a food segment on Viral Jesus? Heather says she started cooking regularly over the Christmas break and discovered how much she loves it. She also knows that food and food photography is a popular subject among the creators and influencers out here in the land of Instagram and TikTok. So get your taste buds ready! If you like this segment, make sure to email us at [email protected] and let us know you’d like us to bring you more recipes and more of Danielle.

You can find Danielle's recipe and this episode's complete show notes here:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/viral-jesus/madison-prewett-troutt-love-everybody-wants.html

Guest Bio

Madison Prewett Troutt first stood out for her stance on relationships during her season on The Bachelor. Since completing the program, young women have continued to turn to Madi for relationship advice, which she talks about frequently on her social channels (3.2 million social followers). She was single as she started writing The Love Everybody Wants and married her husband Grant Troutt last fall as she finished the manuscript. Although she shares for the first time some of their love story, her book isn’t a manual for how to get a boyfriend or a manifesto for getting married. It’s about understanding the foundations of love and your self-worth.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’llSee You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather’s weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7pm EST; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, in the final installment of our Meditation Monday devotions for 2023, Heather explains why Christmas is an appropriate time to be finishing this series.

“Biblically speaking, there are 400 years of silence between the book of Malachi, which closes out the prophetic ministry of the Old Testament, and the words the angel spoke to Zachariah, who would be the father of John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. Christmas is a reminder of the fulfillment of all the promises that happened despite that 400 years of silence.”

Though we now have the benefit of seeing God’s faithfulness on the other side of those 400 years of silence, it is challenging–often exasperatingly so–to have to wait on the fulfillment of God’s promises in real time. How do we maintain our faith in the midst of deafening silence? How do we keep following God when it’s not clear where he’s leading us?

Heather continues: “In the first chapter of John’s Gospel, when the disciples are approached by Jesus, they say to him, ‘Rabbi, where are we going?’ Come, he replies, and you will see. I think of this often. Even the disciples who walked with Jesus in the flesh often didn't know where they were going. Apparently, that is part of what it means to follow Jesus.”

Listen to Heather’s thoughtful message right now. And if it encourages you, please share it with others.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 PM EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

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Today Heather shares a devotional that reminds each of us of the place of hope. She says hope is how she gets out of bed in the morning. Hope is how she leans into the tensions of this life. It requires our vulnerability, but it also provides us with strength to keep going.

Heather will be bringing you one more meditation next week to close out 2023. We hope these devotionals have challenged your mind, encouraged your heart, and strengthened your hands.

Today’s Scriptures, as rendered in the Christian Standard Bible, are Genesis 14:14 and Philippians 4:12:

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 PM EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

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On today’s episode Heather sits down with Mike “Mikey” Planeta. You may recognize Mike as one of the contestants on season 17 of the ABC dating and relationship reality television series The Bachelorette featuring Katie Thurston. Mike was eliminated in week 6, right before the show’s hometown dates. He made national news when he revealed on the show that he was a virgin and saving himself for marriage. His celibacy was rooted in his Christian faith, and was a startling departure from the typical storyline we seen on reality television.

In this conversation Mike and Heather talk about his experience on The Bachelorette, how he stays grounded in his faith, and what the response was like to his appearance on the show.

Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, about the growing sentiment among many Christians that social media is inherently ill-equipped for doing good ministry. Brady’s tips will help remind us that social media is simply a tool that could be used with equal effectiveness for truth or harm.

Guest Bio

Mike Planeta was a contestant on the 17th season of The Bachelorette, which aired during the summer of 2021. He had a successful run as a Major League Baseball player before retiring to open a San Diego-based gym and fitness center for high school athletes. He can be reached via Instagram @mikeyplaneta or email [email protected].

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 PM EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week Viral Jesus hit 100 episodes. In honor of this milestone, Heather shares some thoughts on consistency, commitment, and patience.

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This is our 100th episode! Thank you so much for being a part of the Viral Jesus community. And a special thank you to those of you who have journeyed with us 100 times and back. In honor of episode 100, Heather shares a devotional thought about faith, consistency, and perseverance from Romans 4:19-22.

This week, Heather also sits down with author Aaron Armstrong. Aaron’s latest book is called I’m a Christian―Now What? A Guide to Your New Life with Christ. Heather and Aaron discuss Aaron’s experience of converting to Christianity in adulthood, what a pastor did that helped Aaron feel a sense of psychological safety, and the questions Aaron thinks new believers may be asking.

Guest Bio

Aaron Armstrong is the author of several books for adults and children, a documentary screenwriter, ministry leader, and podcaster. A Canadian living in the United States, he serves at his local church as a community group leader and as a part of the preaching team. He and his wife, Emily, have three children: Abigail, Hannah, and Hudson.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather’s weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 PM EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Heather shares a devotional message that reminds each of us that our circumstances do not correlate to God’s presence in our lives. Your circumstances are seasonal, situational, and circumstantial. They are not forever. They are not always. And they are not permanent.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who is forever. God is with us, even when it feels like our prayer life is blocked.

Today’s Scripture can be found in Isaiah 20:2-4 in the Christian Standard Bible:

During that time the Lord had spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, take off your sackcloth from your waist and remove the sandals from your feet,” and he did that, going stripped and barefoot—the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, stripped and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame....”

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Sign up for Heather’s encouraging devotional email, which goes out every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST, at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

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