Halfway There

140: Michelle Schaeffer and One Answered Prayer

Michelle Shaeffer is an award-winning blogger, podcast host, international speaker, author, marketing consultant and human psychology junkie. She grew up a missionary kid in rural Alaska, became a pastor’s wife, and then the picture-perfect life fell apart…and along the way discovered that even when we walk away from God, He never gives up on us. Michelle inspires us to keep looking for God in unexpected places because you never know how he will answer your prayers.
Listen to Michelle’s story above or in your favorite podcast app!
Stories Michelle shared:
How she helps people start businesses that align with their values
Growing up in very rural Alaska
How she learned to see the world from other perspectives
Getting married at 18 and moving to West Virginia and the struggles they had early on
The moment her business was born in a prayer
The UPS delivery she didn’t expect
The bubbles that proved God’s love to her
Asking about the very nature of God
Discovering herself while starting her business
Starting her podcast to help people do what they care about
Great quotes from Michelle:
The biggest thing I was looking for was who accepted you.
There are people out there like you who want to do business differently.
The fact that somebody I had never met…had listened to God to that degree of preciseness to know not only what I needed but what I wanted, that was the moment that I went, okay, God must be real, he must love me, and there must be more than what I’ve been taught.
When we’re willing to open up and share our stories, other people look at it and go “If you made it through then so can I.”
I’m glad people didn’t give up on me.
Resources we mentioned:
Michelle on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Michelle’s website
Michelle’s podcast, The Art of Actually Giving a Damn
Wiersbe Bible Commentary NT (Wiersbe Bible Commentaries)
 Do you enjoy Halfway There? Consider making a small, monthly donation to keep the show running. I’ll be deeply grateful to you!
Are you a Christian podcaster trying to grow your show? I’ve got great news for you!
The first ever, Christian Podcast Summit is happening on June 15, 2019!
It’s a virtual summit so no need to pay for flights, hotel, rental cars, etc. Just log in and watch from the comfort of your own home, office, or coffee shop.
What will we be talking about? Glad you asked!
Michael Woodward of JumbleThink on Getting Great GuestsAndrew Rappaport on Truth in PodcastingTracy Winchell on Growing Your Email ListAnna Scheller on Using Twitter PartyChristel Kurr Taylor on Creating Your Podcast’s Media KitBryan Entzminger on Steps for Great AudioEric Nevins (me!) on Streamlining Your Guest Process
How do you get access to this summit?
Click here for more information. Early bird pricing is at $49 and available until May 19, 2019. After that the price goes up.
Just click “All Access Passes” to register.
Can’t wait to see you there!
The post Michelle Shaeffer and One Answered Prayer appeared first on Eric Nevins.

139: Cliff Ravenscraft and Finding Yourself in Christ

Cliff Ravenscraft is a motivational speaker, coach, and podcaster who taught podcasting to thousands of people. If you know Cliff, you’ve probably heard his business journey but I was curious about his spiritual journey. Today, Cliff shares how he was exposed to many streams of Christian faith as a young man, how his characteristic zeal led him on a search for what God required of him, and how he learned to accept and love himself because Christ already did. Cliff’s story reminds us that finding ourselves means being in Christ.
Please listen to Cliff’s story now!
Stories Cliff shared:
Cliff’s mission in life
His diverse exposure to various churches as a child
His obsession with having a relationship with Jesus and staying out of hell
December 9, 1991 as the moment he gave his life to Christ (kinda)
Dating Tammy and her parent’s requirements
Trying to live a perfect life
Finally giving up in college and living it up
Meeting his future wife Stephanie and sensing the presence of God at her church
Receiving a word from God through Bill Grim
Becoming an associate pastor in the Nazarene church
Giving up on church meetings
Meeting David Foster and the advice that changed Cliff’s life
What living in the freedom of Christ looks like daily
Great quotes from Cliff:
I’m already enough today to instantly start adding value to other people’s lives according to the purpose that God has planned for me.
If they’re wrong about all this stuff, I wonder if maybe this whole God thing is not as complicated as they’ve led me to believe that it is.
From the time I was a kid I had a passion and a desire to know God and to be known by him, to be accepted and loved.
Our faith is not a segment of our life; our life is derived by our identity in Christ.
I found myself in Christ and it freed me up to love me.
Resources we mentioned:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Cliff’s website
Are you a Christian podcaster trying to grow your show? I’ve got great news for you!
The first ever, Christian Podcast Summit is happening on June 15, 2019!
It’s a virtual summit so no need to pay for flights, hotel, rental cars, etc. Just log in and watch from the comfort of your own home, office, or coffee shop.
What will we be talking about? Glad you asked!
Michael Woodward of JumbleThink on Getting Great GuestsAndrew Rappaport on Truth in PodcastingTracy Winchell on Growing Your Email ListAnna Scheller on Using Twitter PartyChristel Kurr Taylor on Creating Your Podcast’s Media KitBryan Entzminger on Steps for Great AudioEric Nevins (me!) on Streamlining Your Guest Process
How do you get access to this summit?
Click here for more information. Early bird pricing is at $49 and available until May 19, 2019. After that the price goes up.
Just click “All Access Passes” to register.
Can’t wait to see you there!
The post Cliff Ravenscraft and Finding Yourself in Christ appeared first on Eric Nevins.

138: Idella Kercher and God’s Abundant Provision

Idella Kercher works with women spreading the gospel overseas. Today she shares her story of God’s great provisions after the death of her child and divorce. Throughout her life God has given her everything that she needed in miraculous ways, helping her to grow and trust in him. He taught her about generosity and brought her to where she needed to be.
Listen to Idella’s story now!
Stories Idella shared:
Growing up in the family that was at church whenever the doors were open
Working with ministries overseas
Losing a baby and finding trust in the Lord again
Discovering the cracks in her marriage
The wise advice Vernon Grounds gave her
Going through the fear of cancer and leaving her husband
Eating up the Psalms as her marriage was ending
How the Lord provided a job for her after the divorce
The abundant provision through the software industry
The company owner that taught her about generosity
Seeing her grandchildren as her legacy
Great quotes from Idella:
When you go through hard times you may not be happy but you can have joy that God gives you.
If you think about your purpose and passion, it kind of comes out of your pain.
He knows what is necessary to weave a wonderful pattern of our lives
Old, boring, and long Bible studies getting you down? Try my brand new 8 Day Experience series designed to get you thinking about the Lord beyond quiet time. It will refresh your relationship with the Lord. 8 Day Experience
The post Idella Kercher and God’s Abundant Provision appeared first on Eric Nevins.

137: Seth Price and a Bigger God

Seth is the host and conversation curator of the Can I Say This at Church Podcast. He started the podcast as a way to work out his own doubts and questions and quickly found that he was not alone in them. Today, Seth shares how his faith began to unravel after his kids were born, how his friends held space for him to question, and how those questions deepened his trust in the Lord. His story shows us that as long as our goal is to know God, we should never be afraid of questions or their answers because God is always big enough to handle them.
Listen to Seth’s story now!
Stories Seth shared:
Being involved in his church
Growing up in the Texas Bible belt
Attending Liberty College and doing community service
How his faith began to unravel after his children were born
The friends who held space for him to be openly doubtful
Taking his questions to his pastor who gave him permission to wrestle
Starting his podcast, Can I Say This at Church
Learning patience with people who don’t believe the same as he does
Shifts in the church and people who influenced us
Great quotes from Seth:
Agreement is not necessary to be a follower of Jesus.
I realized how badly I was following Jesus…I’m either a really bad Christian or I’m not one at all.
As far as the world, I’ve become way more patient especially with those who don’t hold the same views as me.
Whatever it is you’re questioning, question it.
Resources we mentioned:
Seth’s Website: Can I Say This at Church by Phyllis Tickle
The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle
The post Seth Price and a Bigger God appeared first on Eric Nevins.

136: Brandy Goebel and Running Back to You

Brandy Goebel is host of the Road Home to You podcast. Today she shares her story of healing and loss, humility and redemption and God’s plan through all of it.  After trauma and trials, she trusted God to hold her above the waves, even if she didn’t quite know how.  Those experiences put Brandy into a place to learn more about who he really is and what he wants for her life.
Listen to Brandy’s story today!
Stories Brandy shared:
Growing up in a church and giving her life to Christ at age 10
Rebelling when she got to college
Joining Youth With a Mission (YWAM) so her parents wouldn’t cut her off
How she came face to face with her pride in YWAM
Forgiving a prisoner in Perth, Australia and how it helped her heal from her own trauma
Marrying her high school sweetheart
How her dad’s death rocked her world
Learning that her secret affair became public
How her husband’s response changed her understanding of Jesus
Going to the “triage church” and her healing process
Learning about her husband in a new way
Starting her podcast The Road Home to You
Great quotes from Brandy:
I’m going to travel the world, do theater, and ignore God.
God had me there for a reason and he was not going to let go
Instead of rejection, he just gave me love.
Resources we mentioned:
The Road Home to You Podcast
Brandy’s Instagram
The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Christian Reflections on Money, Sex, and Power by Richard Foster
The post Brandy Goebel and Running Back to You appeared first on Eric Nevins.

135: Millie Cline and Being God’s Beloved

Millie Cline is a spiritual director for groups and individuals as well as an Enneagram trainer and consultor. Today, she shares her journey of finding her place in the world and discovering God’s steadfast love. As she advanced in her career she found herself never feeling like she was where she was meant to be. After giving up on trying to chase God’s love through actions, he reminded her that she isn’t loved because of what she does, she’s loved because she’s his child. We all have our doubts about where we belong, but Millie’s story reminds us that God always has a place for us, even if we can’t always see his plan.
Listen to Millie’s story now!
Stories Millie shared:
Serving as a spiritual director at Urban Skye
What the practice of spiritual direction is about
Walking down the aisle at 9 years old in her Southern Baptist church
Her “tame version” of rebellion in college
The crisis that made her question the Lord and her direction in life
Learning to take more risk and let the Lord use her
The mentors who listened to her and taught her to pray
Moving to Denver to attend Denver Seminary
The crisis of faith that helped Millie understand she didn’t have to earn God’s love
How she felt called to South Africa
Learning how to minister to others and honing her gifts
Discovering spiritual formation and direction
Practicing as a spiritual director and discovering the Enneagram
Great quotes from Millie:
What does it mean to follow Christ not just be a Christian?
God speaks loudly, clearly, and all the time.
The sad part of our lives is that we are rarely listened to.
I believe God is good but I’m not sure God is good to me.
Resources we mentioned:
Millie at Urban Skye
Millie’s Facebook Page where you can connect with her
Get your 8 Day Bible Study now!
The post Millie Cline and Being God’s Beloved appeared first on Eric Nevins.

134: Mike Savage and God’s Great Self-Sacrificial Love

Mike Savage is a fellow podcaster, author, and former criminal mastermind. After being caught and sentenced to 15 years in prison he dealt with the constant certainty that his wife would leave him. Today he shares how he came to Christ and made a shocking discovery that helped him understand just how much God loves him. His story proves that even when we think everything’s lost, he still works, if not always precisely how we’re expecting.
Listen to Mike’s Story today!
Stories Mike shared:
Growing up in a religious family at Southern Baptist churches
The moment in the prison chapel when he gave his life to Christ
How he ended up in prison in the first place
His prison Bible reading habits as he learned the Scriptures
The contrast between his learning and his certainty that his wife Cynthia was going to leave him
How he learned of his wife’s sacrifice
Walking out of prison and seeing his wife waiting
Getting a job as a professor
Great quotes from Mike:
I didn’t know how un-peaceful I was until the moment that the peace of God hit me
I understood the self-sacrificing love of God through the self-sacrificing love of my wife.
Resources we mentioned:
A Prisoner’s Perspective: The Redemption of a Criminal Mastermind by Mike Savage
Mike and Cynthia’s Podcast, A Savage Perspective
My appearance on A Savage Perspective
The post Mike Savage and God’s Great Self-Sacrificial Love appeared first on Eric Nevins.

133: Tricia Lott Williford and How God Works in the Waiting

Tricia Lott Williford is an author, speaker, and teacher. From a young age her life was set in God, but when the sudden death of her husband flipped her world upside down she had to re learn how to talk to God and put her life back together again. Today, she talks about raising two boys; finding the steady, little things; and growing into who God made her to be. With God and writing as her firm foundations, she has experienced pain and loss, but also joy and love and kept pushing on. Her story is a reminder that no matter what happens, God has a plan for you, you just have to wait.
Listen to Tricia’s story today!
Stories Tricia shared:
Growing up in a Christian family
Moving from being a teacher to a stay at home mom
Losing her husband, Robb in 12 hours of illness
Finding solace at Starbucks with the Psalms
Two years of winter
Working at Starbucks and meeting her current husband
Her book coming out this year and her writing process
Great quotes from Tricia:
I was born loving Jesus.
One of the greatest graces of God is how he numbs us.
Our prayers do not have expiration dates
Suffering isn’t scary. Worrying is scary.
Resources we mentioned:
Tricia’s next book: Just You Wait
Tricia’s Website
Tricia’s Facebook
The post Tricia Lott Williford and How God Works in the Waiting appeared first on Eric Nevins.