Halfway There

101: Tracy Winchell and the Value of Starting Over

Tracy Winchell is the host of the Reboots podcast focusing on turnarounds and rebounds in life. Tracy knows all about rebounding and today she shares how God went from the fringes of her life to the center. The journey took her through a career in television, a tremendous amount of grief, and finding a mission in Celebrate recovery and her podcast. Tracy has become a good friend whose story inspires me and I know she will inspire you, too.
Please listen and share Tracy’s story!
Stories Tracy shared:
Growing up in a great home and finding Jesus in 4th grade chapel
Why she waited until her 30s to get baptized
How her early teaching about God’s wrath shaped her
How life changed her views including of the death penalty
Stumbling into an on air position
Returning home to Arkansas to cover politics in Arkansas while Bill Clinton was governor
How trying to brush past a bad breakup changed her understanding of herself
Why the relationship with self matters
How Celebrate Recovery helped her understand grief
Why she started the Reboots podcast
Great quotes from Tracy:
Put all that stuff People have told me God is aside…
It was exciting to know that the guy I talked to all the time was running for president.
I’m probably never going to get my relationship with God perfectly right this side of heaven.
Recovery is about sanctification.
Resources mentioned by Tracy:
Tracy’s website where you can get a free Reboot Gear Guide
Victor Frankl’s Man Search for Meaning (Amazon affiliate link)
Chris Thurman’s the Lies We Believe (Amazon affiliate link)
Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way (Amazon affiliate link)
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100: Aaron Niequist and Swimming in The Eternal Current

Aaron Niequist is a worship leader and author of The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning (Amazon affiliate link). Today, Aaron shares how he stumbled into an historic and liturgical faith. When he realized he no longer believed some of the songs he was using to lead worship, he knew there had to be more. A friend introduced him to Dallas Willard’s work and the Gospel began to seem like good news again. Aaron shares how he collaborated to create a practical worship experience viewing the church as a gymnasium where faith is put into action. If your spiritual well is dry and you’re tired of the same old worship experience, Aaron’s story and his book will refresh your soul.
Please listen and share Aaron’s story!
Stories Aaron shared:
Growing up in the Plymouth Brethren tradition
The season when his faith ran out of gas
Discovering Dallas Willard and the idea of the Kingdom of God that reoriented him
Realizing his need for more tools for worship and learning to use others
Stumbling into a historic and liturgical faith
Receiving the invitation to create a community that practices faith
The movements of the gathering
The idea of the church as gymnasium
How to have a “healthy diet” worship experience
How receiving communion is different than grasping it
Creating a rule of life and the four relationships
Great quotes from Aaron:
It didn’t feel like my faith had much to say to the actual complexity of my life.
As a good Evangelical, I was born again, again.
Our traditions are really, really, good but not near enough.
Resources Aaron shared:
Aaron’s book The Eternal Current is available now (Amazon affiliate link)
Aaron’s website where you can contact him
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (Amazon affiliate link)
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099: Michael Kingsbury and The Story that Never Ends

Michael Kingsbury is a comedic storyteller in Vermont who recently became a Christian. The journey he took to faith is fascinating and will entertain you. Michael always knew he wanted to be a comedian as a young man and eventually attended a branch of the acclaimed Second City in Cleveland, Ohio. He was an atheist but how little he knew about a fellow comedian who died his questions led him on a quest to find God. He says he became a terrible atheist by reading the Bible in secret and attending church. One Tuesday in January 2018, in front of a Subway restaurant, Michael finally gave his life to Christ.
Please listen and share Michael’s story!
Stories Michael shared:
Growing up in Vermont loosely associated with the local Methodist church
Attending Second City in Cleveland, Ohio and his love for comedy
Becoming an avowed atheist with a fascination for the Bible
The verse that kept him from becoming a believer
The perseverance it takes to become a comedian
How success began to disappoint him
The community comedians share with one another
Why he sucked at being an atheist
The feeling that compelled him to read the Bible and go to church while he was still a professed atheist
The verse that led him to give himself to the Lord
How his conversion changed his family
Great quotes from Michael:
If you stick with anything you see success at some level.
You can think you know something about someone and not know anything of significance.
It [his faith] is so brand new. It’s like a set of shoes out of a box that I don’t really know what to do with.
Working on patience is as hard as working on your comedy set.
He’ll find you anywhere even if it’s in front of a Subway restaurant on a Tuesday.
Resources mentioned:
Contact Mike at his website or Twitter
Story in the Rutland Reader on Michael
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098: Chris & Joi Copeland Say When God Calls You Go

Chris & Joi Copeland are called to be missionaries to Ireland. Today Chris and Joi share why Ireland needs to hear the Gospel again and how you can help them go and share it. The call to go came at an unexpected time in an unexpected way. Joi valued stability but wondered aloud if they had missed their calling. When Chris said “Let’s go!” Joi didn’t know what to make of it. But as they explored the idea of moving their family to another part of the world for the Gospel the vision became clear that God wanted them in Ireland. They share the joys and the sacrifices the call gives and takes and why hope matters so much to them.
Please listen and share Chris & Joi’s story!
Stories Chris & Joi shared:
The work they will do in Ireland to reach the people
How Joi found a family in her friend’s church
Chris grew up learning from Irish Catholic nuns and realized he didn’t want to be confirmed
How Chris finally found Christ after a search for God
How God revealed himself as daddy to Joi
How Chris was discipled by an older person in his church and the tremendous need for
Starting their marriage over after a big argument
Giving one another goals on their anniversary and the goal Joi gave Chris that changed their lives
How God made it clear Ireland is their mission field
Why Ireland needs Christ represented once again
How you can support Chris & Joi and help them get to Ireland
Great quotes from Chris & Joi:
While I’m stable in Christ and his love for me, that does not mean we’ll have earthly stability.
It was a no-brainer. If God calls you to something, you do it.
Resources mentioned by Chris & Joi:
The website where you can support Chris & Joi
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09: Coleen Sharp and Building a Firm Foundation

Coleen Sharp is the host of the Theology Gals Podcast. Today, Coleen shares her story of how suffering revealed her firm foundation. She grew up in the church and never remembers a time without faith. But she did have questions and they led her deeper into the Bible and theology. Coleen shares the ways being a mother shaped her faith. When her family entered a period of suffering and illness she found comfort in Psalms where we can learn how to just cry with others. Coleen’s story shows how a solid understanding of God’s character and love can sustains us through immense suffering of all kinds.
Please listen and share Coleen’s story!
Stories Coleen shared:
Starting the Theology Gals Podcast
Growing up in a Christian home as the daughter of parents who worked for Billy Graham
She cannot remember not trusting in Christ
Her early passion for knowing what is in the Bible
How reading the Old Testament gave her a foundation for understanding God
Becoming a woman who mentors others
The unexpected ways being a mom shaped her relationship with God
The suffering that caused her son to leave the faith
How the Psalms help her trust the Lord
Why building a foundation of faith is crucial
How to help people who are suffering with service and presence
Great quotes from Coleen:
Every Christian is a theologian.
The Lord used parenting in my life to sanctify me.
I want to trust you, Lord, but what if you don’t do what I want you to do?
Resources Coleen mentioned:
Theology Gals Podcast
Find Theology Gals on Facebook
Mentioned by me: Doug Groothius’ Episode on Halfway There
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096: Dan & Lindsay McKenzie are Living a Big Adventure Together

Dan & Lindsay McKenzie like to say they are “full-time adventurers” and today they share their adventure. Both Dan and Lindsay grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado in the church, explored a bit during college but ultimately returned to their faith. Their stories play off one another to weave one beautiful story. But as with every story, adversity changes the course of the narrative. Dan and Lindsay learned they could not have children. How they embraced the detour together is a story that will make you cry and inspire you to love everyone you know more deeply. It could have destroyed their faith and their relationship but instead they trusted and pursued the opportunities they could see.
Please listen and share Dan & Lindsay’s story!
Stories Dan and Lindsay shared:
Living full time in an RV
Dan grew up in a Christian home but drifted through college and returned after meeting Lindsay
Dan’s spontaneous and powerful baptism
Lindsay grew up in a Christian home and returning
Lindsay fell in love with Psalm 37:4 an how it shaped her
Dan’s interest in apologetics and learning that he does not need God to be proven
The difficulty of infertility and trusting God because of it
How their pain brought them together in a truly special way
The benefits of being intentional on the road
The community you can develop in the RV world
Great quotes from Dan and Lindsay:
We are full-time adventurers.
I wanted the desires that God wants for me not my own desires.
Sometimes you just have to follow and trust your heart and you aren’t always going to be able to carve out the plan or the life or the job or the career…sometimes the plans that you have aren’t the plans that God has and you have to listen to that.
Everything we do we think of as a team.
Resources Dan & Lindsay mentioned:
Dan & Lindsay’s website Follow Your Detour
Dan & Lindsay’s Instagram (seriously, you’re going to want to travel)
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095: Edith Leland and Intimate Friendship with God

Edith Leland is the only 97 year old I know with a YouTube channel. She may also have the most intimate friendship with God you have ever heard. Today, Edith shares the story of many miracles she has experienced in her life. Edith insists that she is merely an ordinary woman who loves the Lord but as you listen to her stories you will quickly be convinced that her relationship with God is anything but ordinary. She exclaims her joy about God over and over and it’s contagious. And the stories about her prayer life will inspire you.
Please listen and share Edith’s story.
Connect with me:
Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – LinkedIn
Stories Edith shared:
Why she has a YouTube channel
The influence her father had by reading Scripture at every meal
How she came to Christ at the age of six
How God has used her influence throughout her life
The hardest time of her life in West Virginia
How God used a rainbow to show her where she needs to be
Her ministry of prayer for missionaries
When her relationship with the Lord began to blossom
The time when the Lord multiplied food for their family
How God used her prayer to help her son on the mission field
Her prayer journal and how she keeps track of the people she prays for
An example of God’s answered prayer for her son
Her intimate friendship with God
Great quotes from Edith:
He lets us enter into what he wants to do to let us have some of the blessing of it. He just does such beautiful things.
So many miracles!
There’s nothing special about me. I’m an ordinary woman who loves the Lord and that’s all that I am!
Resources Edith mentioned:
Edith’s YouTube Channel
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094: John Schlitt is a Rock Star Redeemed

John Schlitt is a soloist and lead singer of Petra and one of my heroes. Today, John shares his story from rock star to cocaine addict to Christian rock icon. As he tells his story it’s clear that he is made for music. He joined a band the day after graduating college and lived the rock star’s life playing to 20,000 people at a time. Just when he seemed to be on top of the world, addiction was gaining control and John was eventually thrown out of the band. The five years he was out of the music business God used to refine and grow the maturity he needed for the ministry God had chosen for John. We hear how the connection with Petra came about and the call that changed his life.
After we finished this conversation, I told John that his voice is prominent on the sound track of my life. I am so grateful to the Lord for his talent, genuine love for the Lord, and message. John’s ministry means a lot to me and I know you’ll be blessed as you listen to his story.
Please listen and share John’s story today!
Stories John shared:
Being relevant and available to minister wherever he can
Growing up in Mt. Pulaski, IL in the middle of a religious struggle in his family
Joining and touring with Head East
How drugs and alcohol took over his life as the band grew more successful
The voice that almost led him to suicide
The pastor’s visit he agreed to make while he was drunk
The five years he was out of music and in the Word
What the Lord said to him when he finally was content being out of music
How Bob Hartman heard about John and their phone call
What the ministry of Petra was like when people found Jesus
His favorite Petra albums and how he handles shows these days
John’s daily dependence on Jesus
Staying busy since Petra retired
Great quotes from John:
I walked in with an attitude and out with the Holy Spirit.
I prayed to God every night but I didn’t know Jesus.
The only way I’d sing rock and roll again is if it’s in a Christian band like Petra.
We have to be as productive as we can, as Christlike as possible, and trust it’s going to be completed in God’s way not yours.
Resources mentioned by John:
John’s website where you can book him for an event
The Union of Sinners and Saints
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