Halfway There

348: Sara Billups and Moving Toward Community

Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Ekstasis, and others. Sara writes Bitter Scroll, a monthly Substack letter. She is completing her Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at the Peterson Center for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary. Today, Sara shares about her 90’s youth group kid upbringing, moving to Seattle and finding a devastated church, and the dark season when she compartmentalized her faith. Sara’s story reminds us that while the spiritual desert is isolating, community is the best way through.
Listen to Sara’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Sara shared:
Growing up in a house where her father converted to Christianity from Judaism
Her parent’s relationship and her father’s conversion
Celebrating Jewish holidays and how that shaped her
How growing up in 80s Christianity influenced her
Exploring a Christian counterculture and finding her people
Reading creative people in high school
Moving to Seattle to start an intentional community
The cultural impact of the Mars Hill implosion
The season of disillusionment she faced
Realizing that her husband was carrying her
Writing for believers who feel like they are orphaned by the Church
Her church experience as she processed
Practices that help when you feel alienated
Great quotes from Sara
If I actually believed the Christian story, I needed to make a change.
There are seasons when the people who love us carry us.
It doesn’t do any good to burn things down but I do think we need to talk about this stuff.
Being faithful to a congregation through many waves, throughout decades is a really interesting place to sit and I’m grateful that I can.
Resources we mentioned:
Sara’s website
Orphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles Can Find the Way Home by Sara Billups
This Cultural Moment 
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
The Case Against Sermon Centric Sundays by Skye Jethani
Related episodes:
Brian Zahnd and the Beauty of Christ
Brandon Andress and the Controversy of Love
Becky Castle Miller and Trusting Your Emotions
The post Sara Billups and Moving Toward Community appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Mike Bolton and the Power of Yes

Mike Bolton is a husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. While he defines himself more by relationships today, he also is an author, podcaster, former pastor, and businessman. Today, Mike shares the story of how he found faith in Christ, the scholarship he lost and how that changed his life, and the ways crisis has shaped him. He tells the story of how he discovered the Lord at work in unexpected places which taught him to say yes to opportunities and see what He was up to. Mike’s story reminds us that while life with God has twists and turns, it’s a beautiful sight to behold.
Listen to Mike’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Mike shared:
Growing up in Manitoba, Canada
Deciding not to go to church in high school
Life falling apart and the question it made him ask
Deciding to follow Jesus because of the peace he saw in others around him
Why we need to ask, seek, and knock
Losing his hockey scholarship in school because of his faith
How the Lord provided at his church instead
The mindset that helps him face adversity
Having a crisis in his marriage and digging in to figure it out
His wife’s business and living out her faith in it
Discovering God at work where he did not expect
Learning how to think of others
Unlearning the sacred/secular divide
Great quotes from Mike:
God’s got a great track record.
I thought everything had to happen in the church but it seems like God is at work everywhere.
What you believe about God and his purpose in your life has to be tested.
Resources we mentioned:
Mike’s website
Ignite Your Mission: The Spark That Empowers Your Purpose by Mike Bolton
Related episodes:
Todd Johnson says Just Say Yes
Shā Sparks and Finding Purpose
Andrew Klavan and The Truth and the Beauty
The post Mike Bolton and the Power of Yes appeared first on Eric Nevins.

346: Lisa Lamb and the Spiritual Formation of Preaching

Lisa Lamb is a professor of preaching, a writer, and a pastor working to equip leaders in South East Asia. Her passion is to develop leaders who preach radically good news, deeply rooted in Scripture. The Lord took her and her husband on a surprising pandemic journey to seven countries, where they experienced his amazing provision at every turn. Today, Lisa shares the story of how she fell in love with preaching of the Word, the journey of becoming a professor, and why she wrote a book for pastors. Her story reminds us that the Lord is leading even when the circumstances may not appear so.
Listen to Lisa’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Lisa shared:
Serving in South East Asia and how that’s different from the US
Growing up in California in a Christian family full of prayer
How she was shaped by her sister’s disabilities
The wholehearted way here sister approached life
Reading a lot of four views books in college
Going to seminary right after college and leaving
Her sense of calling as a child
The moment she realized she wanted to help others learn
Going on staff with InterVarsity, getting married, and doing campus ministry
Her first homiletics class
Going to get her PhD in homiletics
Graduating in 2008 and how that affected her
The spiritual formation of preaching
The hope of the preacher for the listener
Trying to move overseas during the pandemic
Why she wrote a book for pastors
Great quotes from Lisa:
I still think there’s something really holy and beautiful when we open the Word together.
When it’s working as intended, preaching is meant to nourish us.
God is still at work through the Church to bless the world, to be a light and a witness.
Resources we mentioned:
Lisa’s website
Resonate: How to Preach for Deep Connection by Lisa Lamb
Related episodes:
Dan Rudman and Ripples of the Gospel
Christy Boulware and Love that Casts Out Fear
Markus Watson and How Suffering Transforms
The post Lisa Lamb and the Spiritual Formation of Preaching appeared first on Eric Nevins.

345: Christopher Grainger and Growing Through Trials

Chris Grainger is the founder of The Lion Within Us and has a passion for serving others. He is building a community that provides Christian men encouragement to become the leaders God intends them to be. Chris connects with others by sharing personal stories of professional success, hurdles encountered and how every circumstance is an opportunity to build the Kingdom. Today, Chris shares how he found Christ as a young man, sensed the Lord’s presence during one of the most difficult moments in his life, and the questions he asked when tragedy struck his family. He also shares how suffering catapulted him to a place of service and led to creating the men’s community, The Lion Within Us. Chris’ story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the Lord is with us.
Listen to Chris’ story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Chris shared:
Creating a ministry for men
Growing up in Virginia in the countryside
Started going to church because his girlfriend went to church
Giving his life to Christ at 16
Going to college at Old Dominion University and spending a lot of time at the bar
Feeling resistant to God as he got into adulthood
Believing his life was good before his wife left him
The eerie silence that told him he needed people
Having his Bible at the custody hearing open to James 1 to help him
Beginning to serve others at his church
How courting his wife helped him grow
Wanting to have children
Having a stillborn child and how it challenged him to run to God
The additional tragedies that came in a short period
Feeling angry at God and how he handled it
The emotional intimacy found through struggling with grief
Starting a podcast for his company
Starting The Lion Within Us as a membership for men
Helping men go from lost and along to connected
Great quotes from Chris:
Anytime we say “I got this” is a moment we are about to be humbled.
Most men’s ministry sucks.
What you’re really craving in your relationship with your spouse is intimacy.
Resources we mentioned:
Chris’s website
Related episodes:
Jerry Dugan and Becoming A New Man
Nicole Jacobsmeyer and Joy After Suffering
Jon Fugler and Ditching Performance Christianity
The post Christopher Grainger and Growing Through Trials appeared first on Eric Nevins.

344: Melony Brown and Empowered to Meet the Challenge

Melony Brown Author, speaker, and host of the Challenges Won’t Stop Me podcast. Today, Melony shares about the neurological condition she’s had since she was two years old, how living with her condition changed her relationship to the Lord, and the peace she felt leading up to brain surgery. We also talk about the mindset she developed that allowed her to overcome the challenges she faced and help her students as a result. Melony’s story reminds us that two things can be true at the same time: suffering is difficult and the Lord is present within them.
Listen to Melony’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Melony shared:
Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia
Having a stroke at the age of 2 and the health challenges that ensued
Her family’s reaction to the stroke and the mindset they instilled in her
The family’s sudden decision to return to church
Mom’s visit to find a church while she was in college
Meeting her husband at the first church she went to
Learning to study the Bible
Deciding to get baptized as a result of their studies
Beginning to have migraines and questioning God
The passage that helped her through a dark night
Struggling with how much she wasn’t able to accomplish
Learning the value of relying on others
Beginning to have mini-strokes and struggling with other issues
Getting a diagnosis and having neurosurgery
The peace that she felt leading up to the surgery
The mindset you need to overcome challenges
Knowing that God will empower you to meet the challenges you face
Great quotes from Melony:
It’s hard to pray when it feels like your head is in a vice.
I am glad to have gone through the challenges that I did.
We’re facing challenges all the time and we have to have the right mindset.
Trusting God as your navigator takes a lot of pressures off you.
Resources we mentioned:
Melony’s website
Challenges Won’t Stop Me: An Interactive Survival Guide for Overcoming & Thriving (Journey On!) by Melony Brown
The Journey On quiz
Related episodes:
Alicia Michelle and the Renewing of Your Mind
Jesse Eubanks and Relationships in the Enneagram
Dr. Amy Sherman and The God of Shalom
The post Melony Brown and Empowered to Meet the Challenge appeared first on Eric Nevins.

343: Alex Sezer and Creating Culture

Alex Sezer is helping other do business better by transforming their culture. Always a high achiever, Alex led the Texas A&M football team as captain and scaled multiple business in his 20s. Today, Alex shares how he learned the value of hard work, his calling to preach, and the season of doubting his faith that helped shape him along the way. Ales also shares how he knew it was time to leave his fancy job and start something new which is a fascinating look inside his experience. Then, we talk about how to create a culture wherever you find yourself.  Alex’s story reminds us that culture is what we create through our treatement of other.
Listen to Alex’s story in your favorite podcast app now!
Stories Alex shared:
Growing up in Orange, TX in a pastor’s family
How the Lord came through to get a scholarship to play football
How his grandfather and father influenced him
Giving his life to Christ at 13
Falling in love with the Lord and reading the Bible voraciously
Studying preachers like Dr. Tony Evans and H.B. Charles Jr.
Getting involved in apologetics in college
What God showed him through apologetics
Getting into the SEC to play football
Learning the value of hard work
Going to work for a consulting firm
Deciding to get into real estate
How God speaks to him and how he knew it was time to leave his job
Questioning his foundation
How to build a positive culture
Great quotes from Alex:
It’s hard when you feel it but nothing in your world looks like it.
Everything we are blessed to steward should be
If Jesus was here in the flesh, he’d probably be a content creator.
Resources we mentioned:
Alex’s website
On Preaching: Personal & Pastoral Insights for the Preparation & Practice of Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.
Related episodes:
Os Guinness and Carpe Diem Redeemed
Chris Staron Calls for Truce to the Culture War
Felicia Song and Digital Discipleship
The post Alex Sezer and Creating Culture appeared first on Eric Nevins.

342: Julia Gentry the Freedom of Dreaming

Julia Gentry is the Founder of The Dream Factory and Co & author of a best-selling book in Christian Leadership, Dream-I Dare You. Today, Julia shares about how her mom’s faith influenced her, the dream that moved her to action, and the beliefs she had to let go in order to embrace the life God had for her. Julia also shares how failure builds endurance and why it was a leap of faith to write her own book. Julia’s story reminds us that God’s dreams for us are bigger than we could imagine if we’ll listen.
Listen to Julia’s story wherever you get your podcasts!
Stories Julia shared:
The work she does with The Dream Factory
Yearning for something more in her mid-life awakening
Growing up in Denver, CO in a Christian family
Knowing God at a head level
Realizing that God was inviting her to something deeper
The dream she had that moved her to action
What she had to unlearn in order to grow
The moment that she learned her parents were getting divorced as a child and the ramifications for her beliefs
The core desire to control her life and be perfect
Building endurance through failure
The lanes of belief and how you can stay in the right one
Great quotes from Julia:
Growth is about unlearning what we think we know that isn’t so.
He will blow our minds in order to get to our hearts.
The hard is designed to be a blessing in our lives.
We want the dream. God wants our hearts.
The in-between is not designed to break you; it’s designed to make you.
Resources we mentioned:
Julia’s website
Dream – I Dare You: A Wake-Up Call to Greater Alignment in Your Faith, Family, Career, and Community by Julia Gentry
Related episodes:
Bill Brown and Waiting on the Lord
Kate Berkey and The Humility of Honor
Ryan George and Living with Courage
The post Julia Gentry the Freedom of Dreaming appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Bob Wheatley and The Moment of Conviction

Bob Wheatley is a bestselling author, podcaster, and former professional athlete. He serves as a co-host of That Singles' Show a singles ministry sponsored by KCBI Radio in Dallas and his work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio outlets like WAY-FM and THE FISH. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Bob played four years of professional baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays' and St. Louis Cardinals' minor league systems. Today, Bob shares the focus he had to have to become a professional athlete, knowing the right things to say and do, and the moment when the Gospel got ahold of his heart. Bob’s story reminds us that conviction of sin is part of the process when living life with the Lord.
Listen to Bob’s story in your favorite podcast app today!
Stories Bob shared:
Moving to Nashville, Tennessee
Growing up in California in a Christian family
Getting baptized because it was just time
Feeling that God was an umpire in the sky who will make you follow the rules
Learning to follow God’s will
Feeling conviction of sin and giving his life to Christ
Watching everything he dreamed of get taken away
Deciding to move to Nashville and finding godly men
Reading the Bible cover to cover in 2018
Deciding to become an author
Why we love to cheer for the hero in a story
How the stories we tell ourselves expand
Great quotes from Bob:
I know there’s more but back then, I didn’t know.
It was casual Christianity; it wasn’t a relationship.
My heart was not ignited until I was 25 and it didn’t happen until I was convicted of sin.
Resources we mentioned:
Bob’s website
Our Heart’s Desire: How Our Stories Reveal the Thing We Want Most by Bob Wheatley
Related episodes:
Karen Swallow Prior and the Spiritual Practice of Reading Fiction
Andrew Klavan and The Truth and Beauty
Tim Morris and How Your Heart’s Desire Unlocks Your Purpose
The post Bob Wheatley and The Moment of Conviction appeared first on Eric Nevins.