With You in the Weeds: Where Faith Meets Mental Health

Do you ever feel like you want to escape from reality? Do you find yourself repeating habits that cause more problems than they solve? We think that addiction is a universal struggle that is also a surprising gift that can lead you closer to God.

We are kicking off a new series called "Dealing with Your Addictions" because we want to empower you to face yourself honestly by helping you understand the complex world of addiction. Listen as hosts Lynn Roush and John Tinnin introduce the six A's of addiction so you can gain insight into the reasons behind your deepest struggles. We emphasize that addiction is not an unforgivable sin but can actually be a gift that, when explored, reveals the heart’s deepest needs for God’s love and healing.

The 6 A’s you need to know are:

Avoidance: Using substances or behaviors to escape painful emotions or realities, like shame, emptiness, loneliness or guilt. 

Affect Regulation: Seeking quick fixes (e.g., alcohol, social media) to manage intense emotions instead of processing them. 

Attachment: Unmet needs for being seen, soothed, safe, and secure drive reliance on substances or processes as pseudo-comfort. 

Abuse: Escalating use to harmful levels, chasing diminishing rewards due to the brain’s rewiring. 

Adverse Consequences: Negative impacts on relationships, health, work or finances from escalating conflict and stress. 

Addict Brain: Defense mechanisms (rationalization, denial) and neurological changes (e.g., dopamine craving that brings temporary satisfaction) perpetuate addiction.

We invite you to get curious through this series as we explore a biblical perspective on addiction, and dive into specific addictions such as alcohol, marijuana, sex and porn, food, shopping, gambling, religion and the many other ways we seek comfort through substances or behaviors. 

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Do you believe God loves you but struggle to feel it? Or do you wrestle with the need to control everything while believing God is in charge? If you’re stuck in the gap between what you believe and what you experience, this episode is for you!

We are excited to share this interview because we know it will speak to the common dynamics that show up in our relationships and spiritual journey. Host Austin Conner invites pastor and author Steve Cuss to share about his book The Expectation Gap, offering strategies to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.  

Most of us experience a disconnect between our faith and daily life, which is what inspired Steve to address relational patterns that fuel addiction and spiritual stagnation. Using the Systems Theory, Steve identifies the relational dynamics of: Reactivity, Assumptions, Stuck Patterns and Attempted Solutions as a map for understanding how and why we get discouraged in our faith and disconnect from others. 

This conversation also highlights the false needs of Control, Perfection, Knowing the Answer, Being There for Others and Seeking Approval, and how they drive anxiety and block God’s comforting presence. You will learn how to cultivate micro-habits that replace chaos and striving with awareness and stillness. 

If you want to learn more or find Steve’s Life-Giving List, visit stevecusswords.com or read Steve’s book The Expectation Gap. 

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When Dan Hanneken started reading a bible in a prison cell, he had no idea how God’s grace could offer a second chance for anyone willing to change.

This is the final episode in our “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself” series, and we end with the incredible story of how Dan Hanneken found God in an unlikely place. Host Shay Roush interviews Dan as he shares how his own journey, marked by addiction, three prison stints and a life-changing encounter with God’s grace inspired him to create In2Action, a ministry that offers practical and relational support to men entering the community from prison.

Dan’s turning point was when he “broke up with God” because he believed that he couldn’t try hard enough, memorize enough bible verses or be good enough to make his life better and stay out of prison. That’s when he finally understood the deeper meaning of grace: your best efforts aren’t enough to create and sustain personal transformation. Dan recognized that a relationship with God wasn’t a means to an end, but that a relationship with God was the basis for finding his identity as a fully loved and accepted child of God.

Taking a leap of faith, Dan founded In2Action, a faith-based nonprofit that supports men recently released from prison with housing, life skills, and community integration. Starting with a single rented house, the ministry now offers over 60 beds and a Reentry Opportunity Center, achieving a remarkable recidivism rate in mid-Missouri below 10% compared to the county’s 43%.

Dan recognizes that success goes beyond staying out of prison—it’s about fostering belonging through creating community and opportunity for social transition. This remarkable story is a reminder that loving our neighbors by giving them a second chance allows them to rebuild their lives, find purpose and meaning, and come to understand the depth of God’s love and the power of belonging in his family.

Visit in2action.org to learn how to join this transformative work.

At Coyote Hill, every child’s life is a worthy investment.

Host John Tinnin sits down with special guest Kari Hopkins, Chief Operating Officer of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries in Columbia, Missouri, to discuss what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” through the ministry of fostering. Kari shares how Coyote Hill, a faith-based ministry, restores childhoods for kids in foster care by providing stable, loving homes. 

Despite the challenges that come with fostering, Kari believes that every child is created in the image of God and worthy of a safe and caring home. Coyote Hill’s mission is to bring back simple childhood joys like bike rides and playgrounds, countering the chaos many kids face. With specialized training, foster parents are encouraged to see the child’s needs behind their behaviors, while providing security through consistent care towards the goal of reunification or adoption. 

Success at Coyote Hill is measured by the smiles on the faces of children who are experiencing stability and connection through parents who are willing to step into the calling of foster care. For those not ready to foster, Kari suggests respite care—short-term hosting to give foster parents a break—or supporting families with meals, donations, or time. 

There is nothing closer to the heart of Jesus than caring for a child who needs a home, which is a biblical call that everyone can be a part of in one way or another. If you want to learn how to take a step to supporting the efforts of Coyote hill, visit coyotehill.org to learn how small acts of love can transform a child’s life.

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Can one day change your city for the better? 

Listen in as host Shay Roush sits down with Shelly Mayer, Care Ministry Director at The Crossing, to explain how one annual event called For Columbia unites 55 churches and over 2,100 volunteers to serve the people of Columbia, Missouri, in a single day.

This initiative includes diverse projects from landscaping for elderly homeowners and painting in residential or community centers, to delivering food to those with dwindling resources and rehabbing homes for the most vulnerable in our city. Putting differences aside, For Columbia fosters unity among local churches and is a unique opportunity to make a powerful impact with many hands tackling huge tasks to meet the felt needs in our community. 

Shay and Shelly also discuss how many of the care ministries at The Crossing have evolved over the years to meet people where they are hurting, whether it’s in Divorce Care, Grief Share, One-to-One Care, Single Moms, Cancer Care and more. Many practical ministries now exist to offer simple yet profound ways to show care, proving small acts of service can be multiplied to impact the church family and the community beyond. 

Loving your neighbor as yourself may not be an easy task, but when you link arms with others on the same mission, you can change a city one person, and one day, at a time. 

Do you want to get involved on a Care Serving Team at The Crossing? click here. 

Are you ready to get plugged into a support group within our Care Ministry? click here.

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Are you ready to confront a harsh reality? The state of Missouri is ranked #4 in the number of people being sex trafficked daily in our nation. In this gripping interview, host Austin Conner talks with Julie Meranda and Lauren Gray from Magnolia Ministry, as they walk alongside sex trafficking survivors toward healing and freedom. 

Julie and Lauren share the heart-breaking stories of how sex trafficking exists in places where you would least expect it. They also explain the different types of trafficking and how difficult it is to break the bonds that form when a person is exploited and controlled. 

Magnolia’s practical steps include prayer, giving small gifts, visiting the environments that house exploited women and providing community education. They rely on God’s redemptive power to truly set captives free and bring women and children out of bondage.

Despite the issue’s complexity, Julie and Lauren believe that everyone can make a difference through prayer, donations, or volunteering. The good news: there is hope for these women thanks to the Magnolia Ministry, which prioritizes walking alongside survivors as they find safety, healing, and freedom.

To get more information about Magnolia Ministry, click here

To reach out to Julie Meranda, email her at [email protected]

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Is it possible to end homelessness for veterans in your community? Megan Sievers is on a mission to make that vision a reality.

In this episode of our series, Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself, Shay Roush sits down with Megan Sievers, Executive Director of Welcome Home, a Columbia, Missouri-based nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless veterans. 

You may not realize that many who have given of themselves to serve our country face challenges that go unnoticed and deserve our attention. This conversation highlights how Welcome Home embodies this mission by supporting veterans in need. 

Welcome Home began when Vietnam veterans, heartbroken by seeing their comrades die homeless, established a shelter in 1992 to provide a lifeline for veterans. Since then, this organization has evolved from offering basic shelter to comprehensive services like emergency housing, case management, and homelessness prevention, all rooted in a commitment to honor veterans’ sacrifices.

Megan shares powerful stories of transformed lives as Welcome Home addresses the complex issues veterans face, including PTSD, substance abuse, and isolation. Loving others well means bringing dignity and hope to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, because those who have served our country deserve our love and support in return.

To learn how you can get involved in ending veteran homelessness, or to attend one of their upcoming events, visit welcomeveterans.org

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What if the key to loving your neighbor lies in meeting them with grace and compassion in their most vulnerable moments, no matter their choices?

In this episode of our ongoing series Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself, host Austin Conner sits down with Cassidy Teter and Molly Cover from My Life Clinic in Columbia, Missouri, to explore a compassionate approach to supporting women facing unexpected or unsupported pregnancies. 

No matter what your perception or personal experience with a pregnancy center might be, you will learn how offering evidence-based information, cost-free services like pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STI testing, and personal counseling can provide dignity and care that women need when they’re facing a difficult decision. 

While social media is rife with misinformation about women who have had or are considering an abortion, Cassidy and Molly understand the emotional, physical, and spiritual complexities that women face. My Life Clinic is committed to being a consistent, loving presence, reflecting Jesus’ heart of compassion, regardless of a woman’s past or future choices. They also share incredible stories of how a mother’s decision to protect and choose life can have a lasting impact for generations to come.

In an effort to embody Psalm 147:3 which states that “God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”, this episode will encourage you to love your neighbor by meeting them with grace, dignity and support, especially in complex and distressing situations like unplanned pregnancies. 

To get more information about My Life Clinic, click here.

To learn how to get involved at My Clinic, click here.

To reach out to Cassidy Teter, email her at [email protected]

Could “free prayer” transform your neighborhood? 

In this remarkable episode of our “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself” series, we dive into the transformative work of Love Columbia as host Lynn Roush interviews Jane Williams, Co-Founder and Executive Director, and Caroline Roush, Director of Communications. 

It’s true: Love Columbia grew from a simple gesture of offering “free prayer” to neighbors in need to a thriving hub for personal transformation in our community. 

Jane Williams has always been passionate about loving others well, but it was the experience of encountering her own limits when she lost her eyesight 13 years ago that deepened her reliance on God and energized her mission to build a ministry that meets both the physical and emotional needs for the most vulnerable in our city. Now a thriving non-profit organization, Love Columbia provides a holistic approach to caring for those who need a helping hand.

In this episode you will learn the secret to loving others well and the key elements needed for transformation: humility to acknowledge one’s need for help, faith in God’s provision, endurance to persevere through challenges, and social connectedness to build supportive relationships. You’ll also hear how Caroline used to underestimate the power of listening, but has since learned that you need to understand a person’s struggles and dreams before offering practical help, like financial coaching or car repairs. 

If you want to be a force for good in your community, you’ll be encouraged to know that transforming others with love always starts with one small act of faith, but can change the course of someone’s life and create a legacy of hope that you could have never imagined.

Visit lovecolumbia.org to volunteer or learn how to be part of this life-changing mission or get ideas for starting a hub of transformation in your own community.

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Did you know that we are in the midst of the greatest de-churching movement in the history of the world? In the last 25 years, over 40 million people have stopped going to church. While that may be cause for concern, Chris & Elizabeth McKinney see it as an opportunity to impact your neighborhood one small act at a time.

Listen as Austin Conner interviews Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, a perfect fit for our current series Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself. The McKinneys are passionate about intentional neighboring, which began as a small fish fry in 2012. Their desire to create a welcoming community in their Columbia, Missouri neighborhood has since grown into a ministry to equip others to love their neighbors purposefully. 

The McKinneys emphasize that being a good neighbor isn’t about perfection but persistence, and have countless stories of how a small effort can create a big impact in people’s lives. They address common apprehensions, such as time constraints for introverts or fear of awkwardness, and stress that small steps like simply waving, saying hello, initiating small conversations or sharing a meal with your neighbor are the key to getting started. 

This episode will challenge the cultural norm of leaving neighbors alone, and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, even just a little bit, so that you can play a part in “going where God is” in your neighborhood right outside your front door. 

Check out their books Placed for a Purpose and Neighborhoods Reimagined, or their podcast for more inspiration to see your address as a divine appointment.

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