Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith - Jesus Calling

Illuminating Hope in the Shadows of Adversity: Nikki Walton & Tori Hope Petersen

March 27, 2025 - 28 min

This week, we’re joined by Nikki Walton, host of GoOD fMornings with CurlyNikki and an influential voice in personal transformation, who shares her struggles with self-esteem and identity as a young woman to achieving massive success through her groundbreaking platform, CurlyNikki.com. Nikki's life was filled with accomplishments—but also a profound sense of emptiness. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tori Hope Petersen, an author, speaker, and podcaster. After enduring twelve different homes in the foster care system, Tori aged out without a permanent family. Through the kindness of a foster mom who introduced her to faith, the guidance of a track coach who became a father figure, and her own unwavering determination, Tori rose above her circumstances to find meaning and mission for her life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Patsy Clairmont Upcoming interview: Loren Ridinger Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter Nikki Walton GoOD Mornings with CurlyNikki www.curlynikki.com Wake Up To Love: Meditations to Start Your Day Tori Hope Petersen Orphan Sunday www.torihopepetersen.com Breaking the Patterns That Break You Interview Quotes: “I knew something was missing because I could look around and see what looked like success, like the American dream, and I felt empty. There was still this void. I had not found God and I didn't even know that that's what I was looking for.” - Nikki Walton “I love myself and it's not in that superficial, surface-level love. It's like I went from outer beauty to inner beauty to beyond beauty entirely, and I appear beautiful to some because of His light shining through me.” - Nikki Walton “I listen not for [God’s] voice booming, but for His silence, for His stillness, for His peace, And then I feel His stillness. I feel His peace. I know I'm in contact with Him when I feel lighter.” - Nikki Walton “You can still be aware of that humbled nature, that humbled posture inside. That way, when you go out into the world, even though you are smiling and walking upright, you're still bowing to Jesus everywhere you go.” - Nikki Walton “I had to learn through time that God doesn't just save us, He keeps us.” - Toire Hope Petersen “I do think that God speaks to us in the way that we can understand how to do what's next.” - Tori Hope Petersen “Our brokenness does not just point to the deficit in us. Sometimes our brokenness points to the disciples that we are, points to our faithfulness.” - Tori Hope Petersen “God does not hate you and He doesn't want you to hate yourself. He wants you to embrace who He has called you to be, because when we do that, we can walk out the calling that God has placed on our life. God did a good job making you and you’re allowed to be loved.” - Tori Hope Petersen “God is just so glad when we show up to be in His presence and to pray. He just welcomes me with open arms. He is our safe place.” - Tori Hope Petersen ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: <a href="https://b

[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] The Art of Prayer: Anne Neilson

March 25, 2025 - 12 min

Sometimes We Find Our Way By Waiting: Ann Voskamp & Brennley Brown

March 20, 2025 - 27 min

*This episode may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we have writer and speaker Ann Voskamp back on the podcast. Ann shares insights from her personal experiences with anxiety and brokenness and what she found out while she waited through those uncomfortable moments, and how she used scripture, prayer, and the practice of writing to heal her mind and become closer to God. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Christian country music artist Brennley Brown. Raised in the high desert of Southern California, and now playing music in Nashville, Brennley got her start in voiceover work before gaining national recognition as the youngest finalist on The Voice. She shares her own experience with waiting while her mother battled a health crisis, and how that time led her to find out where she should go with her music—and her life. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Alan Weissenbacher Upcoming interview: Nikki Walton Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter Ann Voskamp Sarah Young Agoraphobia Hagar in Genesis 16 Book of John www.annvoskamp.com Loved to Life Brennley Brown The Voice Waylon Jennings Emmylou Harris Dolly Parton Jesus Anywhere www.brennleybrownmusic.com Interview Quotes: “I'm not just getting up every morning and looking for a way through. But I actually have a way of life that centers and grounds me, roots me, and calms me, and keeps me such that the person of Christ, the being of Christ, is my way through.” - Ann Voskamp “What we're all looking for is, Is there a way of life that leads me into abundant joy? And if joy is a function of gratitude and gratitude is a function of perspective, how can I shift and change my perspective moment by moment? What needs to have a shift is my perspective, to see that not only other gifts and graces right here I can give God thanks for, but ultimately that God Himself, His very presence, His very being, is with me right here.” - Ann Voskamp “I think each of us—no matter whatever season of life we're in—there are things that we have laid before the Lord in prayer and we are in this open-handed posture of waiting. Can we feel like when we're waiting on the Lord and we're at the end of our rope, that we actually have hope because our hearts are being bound to the Lord's?” - Ann Voskamp “We don't want our devotions, our quiet time with the Lord, to actually be fragmented. We actually want that devotional time to weave through the rest of our day, all the moments and the hours keeping our hearts devot

Finding Hope Through Waves of Sorrow: Jay Lowder and Riley Kehoe

March 13, 2025 - 27 min

This week, we’ll hear from Jay Lowder, an evangelist who has spent more than two decades traveling the globe, sharing the message of the gospel with audiences ranging from NFL teams to prison inmates. Early in his life, Jay struggled with depression which led him to medicate with alcohol, but ultimately brought him no peace from his pain. Feeling like giving up, Jay considered suicide, and he shares about the series of events that led him to finally find the peace he was looking for. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Riley Kehoe, an influencer and author, who shares the harrowing story of how her family survived a tsunami in Thailand when she was just a little girl. Riley recounts the terrifying events of the day, how her family stayed to help those who lost everything, and how she leaned on scripture to deal with the aftermath of such a traumatic event. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Davey Blackburn Upcoming interview: Ann Voskamp Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter Jay Lowder Matthew 27:32-56 NIV Luke 23:34 NIV John 3:16 NIV John 3:36 NIV Salvation Army Madison Square Garden www.jaylowder.com Midnight in Aisle Seven Riley Kehoe 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami www.rileywithcourage.com Three Seconds of Courage Interview Quotes: “Church was just a place that we went, but not something that added any real value to my life. I didn't have a connection because I didn't have a relationship to Christ.” - Jay Lowder “I was in such a dark place that I questioned, Was God real? Was everything that I was ever told going to church authentic? Was that real? And I really didn't know the answer to that.” - Jay Lowder “The next thought that goes through my mind is, If God could forgive those Roman soldiers [who crucified Christ], maybe He could forgive me.” - Jay Lowder “I've never been the guy that says, ‘Well you know, if you come to know the Lord, all your problems are going to fade away.’ The truth is if you give your life to the Lord, there may be a season where things get worse.” - Jay Lowder “Knowing Jesus goes way beyond just going to heaven. It even goes beyond being forgiven. It goes to a Friend that's closer than a brother that wants to walk with you, lead you, and guide you. And it goes back to the verse that I heard the night I met Jesus. Christ said, ‘I came to give you not just life, I came to give you an abundant life.’” - Jay Lowder “We would go and do missions work wherever we would land—my family would just find somewhere or someone to love on.” - Riley Kehoe The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami hit the coast of Southeast Asia and with it took 230,000 lives. We were among the few that were survivors.” - Riley Kehoe “I was so confused at the

Empowering Recovery Through Belief and Self-Discovery: Ian Morgan Cron & Alicia Michelle

March 6, 2025 - 30 min

This week, we’re joined by Ian Morgan Cron, who shares his deeply personal journey with the Enneagram, addiction, and faith. Ian recounts how a chance encounter with a book on the Enneagram during a retreat sparked a life-changing path of self-awareness, ultimately inspiring his book, The Road Back to You. Through his story, Ian challenges us to see addiction not simply as a problem to be solved, but as an opportunity to draw closer to God and experience true healing, which he shares about in his latest book, The Fix. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Alicia Michelle, a certified neurocoach, podcaster, and author. Alicia shares how a health crisis led her to reevaluate her life and seek healing through the integration of neuroscience and biblical truth. Now, she helps others break free from limiting patterns, renewing their minds, and building emotional resilience. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Lecrae Upcoming interview: Jay Lowder Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter Ian Morgan Cron Enneagram The Road Back to You The Fix The Twelve Steps www.ianmorgancron.com Alicia Michelle Neurocoach Emotional Confidence Club brain priming www.AliciaMichelle.com Emotional Confidence Interview Quotes: “Addictions are very complicated. I see them principally as a spiritual problem, but they are not exclusively a spiritual problem.” - Ian Morgan Cron “It's when you hit bottom that you finally become available to the wooing of God. The spiritual life is so loaded with paradoxes that it's frustrating at times. But here is one—powerlessness actually is a superpower, because the moment that you declare your own powerlessness, like Paul, you finally say, ‘I can't stop doing the things I don't want to do, and the things I do want to do, I can't start doing.’” - Ian Morgan Cron “I sometimes see addictions as invitations from God. Are you ready to come back to the Source, to the Fountain? And are you also willing to accept that on this side of whatever divide we're on here, that you will never perhaps fully quench the thirst?” - Ian Morgan Cron “The gospel speaks about transformation, and transformation happens not when you try to be a good Christian, but when you actually give God consent to do in you what you cannot do for yourself, namely change.” - Ian Morgan Cron “I wonder if you could understand your seeming failures more as an invitation from God to a deeper intimacy with Him, rather than labeling them as failures or irredeemable misadventures. I think that lens has helped me to understand the peaks and valleys of my own life experience.” - Ian Morgan Cron “There was this core, broken soundtrack inside of me that had associated achievement, making o

Healing Old Wounds and Breaking Generational Cycles: Melanie Shankle & Lisa Steven

February 27, 2025 - 22 min

This week, we’re delighted to welcome back author and speaker Melanie Shankle. Through her reflections on overcoming a challenging childhood and breaking generational cycles of dysfunction, Melanie shares profound insights on motherhood, the power of faith, and how to turn painful histories into lasting legacies of hope and resilience. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Lisa Steven, founder of Hope House Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting and empowering teen moms. Lisa recounts her beginnings with a difficult childhood and teen motherhood, all the way to leading an organization that helps young moms rewrite their stories and find stability through faith. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Sarita Lyons Upcoming interview: Ian Morgan Cron Jesus Calling commemorative edition Melanie Shankle www.thebigmamablog.com Here Be Dragons: Treading the Deep Waters of Motherhood, Mean Girls, and Generational Trauma Lisa Steven Hope House Colorado Mothers of Preschoolers MOPS International Teen MOPS www.hopehousecolorado.org A Place to Belong Interview Quotes: “Having a daughter of my own made me realize I want to do what I need to do to be spiritually and emotionally healthy, to be able to raise her to be everything that God created her to be.” - Melanie Shankle “I'm a very flawed person trying to raise a flawed person. That’s just life. What I realized was I've got to depend on God if I'm going to do this in a healthy way. And He's going to give me the wisdom and discernment I need to know how to be the best mom.” - Melanie Shankle “The things that we want to protect our kids from as parents are the very things that God is putting in their lives to give them that grit and that resilience and that strength that they're going to need.” - Melanie Shankle “Jesus is the thing that will carry you through, and He will give you the strength to fight what you have to fight. He will give you the wisdom to know how to deal with different situations. He will give you the discernment that you need, and He will always love you back to emotional health.” - Melanie Shankle “There is something so incredibly powerful about being willing to say yes to God when you are the least equipped person, and then watching to see what He does with that.” - Lisa Steven ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________

[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] Prayers for Leaps of Faith: Rachel G. Scott

February 25, 2025 - 7 min

Transforming Limitations Into Possibilities: Steve Moore & Sue Corl

February 20, 2025 - 25 min

*This content may be triggering for some listeners.* This week, we’ll hear from Steve Moore, a lifelong music industry professional whose career trajectory took a sharp turn after a life-changing trip to Guatemala. After a storied career managing legendary artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Strait—and serving as CEO of the Country Music Association—a simple journey to help build a school became the spark for a deeper passion, one that led him to establish The Shalom Foundation and open the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center, bringing life-changing medical care to children in need. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Sue Corl, a missionary with over forty years of ministry experience, mostly with Campus Crusade for Christ. Growing up, Sue had to face the physical and emotional challenges of a severe cleft palate through her faith and the unwavering support of her mother. As the founder of Crown of Beauty International, her mission is to aid individuals, families, and communities to experience renewal, transformation, and hope. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Luke Sherman Upcoming interview: Melanie Shankle Jesus Calling commemorative edition Steve Moore Country Music Association Lamar University ZZ Top Stevie Ray Vaughan George Strait The Shalom Foundation Moore Pediatric Surgery Center Sue Corl Campus Crusade for Christ Crown of Beauty International Cleft palate John 15 NIV Psalm 139: 13-14 NIV Interview Quotes: “God had motivated me to [go to Guatemala]. I didn't do it under my own volition. I didn't pick Guatemala. I probably didn't even know where it was at the time, but God picked Guatemala for me. And it was one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me.” - Steve Moore “God doesn't call the qualified. He doesn't wait until you're ready to do something. He qualifies the ones who He's called. So when you're called to do something, even though it seems a bit scary, He will provide what you need to do it.” - Steve Moore “God has a plan for you. It's the best kept secret in most people's lives.” - Steve Moore “When I was born, my mother really believed and she prayed, ‘Lord, save my baby.’ And as she prayed, she really sensed God saying, ‘No, she will not die, I have a purpose for her.’” - Sue Corl “I started to believe their lies of saying that I was ugly. I was rejectable. I was a freak. And it got to the point where I really put a protective wall around myself that honestly stayed with me throughout my childhood and into my adulthood. It led to me walking away from God because I felt so much shame.” -

Carrying the Torch of Faith Through Music with the Van Zant Brothers and Alexandra Osteen

February 13, 2025 - 22 min

This week, we’ll hear from Johnny and Donnie Van Zant, brothers who share a rich legacy rooted in music, faith, and resilience. Renowned for their roles in the iconic bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special, the Van Zant brothers reflect on their humble beginnings shaped by family and music, and how they faced personal and professional challenges, including the tragic plane crash that took the lives of several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including their brother, Ronnie Van Zant. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Alexandra Osteen, daughter of Joel and Victoria Osteen and Worship Director at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Growing up surrounded by music and ministry, Alexandra developed a deep passion for inspiring others through worship and storytelling. Now leading Lakewood’s worship team, she uplifts her community with songs that carry messages of hope, faith, and resilience. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Matt Redman Upcoming interview: Steve Moore Jesus Calling commemorative edition Johnny and Donnie Van Zant Lynyrd Skynyrd .38 Special Hee Haw The Ed Sullivan Show Always Look Up www.vanzantband.com Alexandra Osteen Joel and Victoria Osteen Lakewood Church Matthew 6:33 NIV Oh How Worthy “Outnumbered” Pastor Steven Furtick Brandon Lake Mitch Wong Interview Quotes: “We're at an age where I guess we don't have to make any new music. But you know what? It's part of our life. And what better way to make music than to sing about Jesus and our good Lord above and our Father in heaven, the Holy Spirit.” - Johnny Van Zant “I think as you go through these storms in your life, you really realize how much you need Jesus. And you really have to lean on that cross. He wants us to come to Him. If you ask, you shall receive.” - Johnny Van Zant “Through this journey and through this life, I’ve just grown so much closer to God and I realize, in every aspect, how I cannot do this without Him, and how I don't want to do this without Him.” - Alexandra Osteen “Our job matters, our career matters, our family matters. But God will align all of those things if we seek first His kingdom.” - Alexandra Osteen ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stor

Champions of Faith: NFL Team Chaplains Kent Chevalier and Johnny Shelton & Pastor Earl McClellan

February 6, 2025 - 27 min

This week, we’re joined by Kent Chevalier and Johnny Shelton, two remarkable men who serve as NFL team chaplains, providing spiritual guidance, encouragement, and support to players, coaches, and their families. Kent serves with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Johnny works with the Baltimore Ravens. They each offer a glimpse into the challenges NFL athletes face both on and off the field, and the transformative power of compassion and understanding in high-pressure spaces. Later in the episode we’ll hear from Earl McClellan, the founder and lead pastor of Shoreline City Church in Dallas, Texas. With a deep faith that began in his teens, Earl shares the story of discovering his spiritual heritage, battling negative self-talk, and learning to live fully in his true identity. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Diane Chew Upcoming interview: Johnny Van Zant and Donnie Van Zant Jesus Calling commemorative edition Kent Chevalier Johnny Shelton Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Ravens Geneva College Fellowship of Christian Athletes www.kentchevalier.com Johnny Shelton’s Instagram Earl McClellan Shoreline City Church Get Your Spirit Back Interview Quotes: “To be able to serve the team that we grew up rooting for in this capacity is absolutely incredible, and one of those God winks that He gives to us.” - Kent Chevalier “We're ministering to the players and our coaches that God has called us to, but we need to minister to each other. We need each other because we are the only ones who know what the other chaplain is dealing with.” - Johnny Shelton “We, as chaplains, are called to be in this space with [the players and their families] side by side, walking with them. It is definitely a privilege.” - Johnny Shelton “Yes, the Ravens and the Steelers are rivals. But what I love is that moment after the game where we all come out—coaches, players, staff—and we come to that moment at the fifty after the game and we join hands and we kneel before God. And I love that players and coaches from both teams come together and recognize the unity of the brotherhood of faith in the NFL.” - Kent Chevalier “If your foundation is in your job, in your paycheck, if your foundation is in relationships, all of those things are easily shoved when they're taken away or they start to crumble. The only foundation that we can encourage these men to have is God at the center and at the foundation of their life.” - Kent Chevalier “When you're watching these players and coaches on Sundays during those games, at one point, would you just stop and would you pray for that player? Would you pray for their wife or their girlfriend? Would you pray for their families? Because let's remember that behind these players, these entertainers, these coaches, are incredible families that God loves deeply and He wants to reach them with His love.” - Kent Chevalier “God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us a spirit of power, love, sound mind, self-discipline. That's the spirit that He's given us.” -