Gracism and Multicultural Bridge-Building with David Heiliger

Love covers. When God gave us his Son Jesus, who gave his life to pay for our sins, He covered us. It’s the opposite of exposing and shaming. Sadly, it seems to be the opposite of what people often do. And yet this is what God has called us to do for others, in small ways and big ones.  

Join me for a special conversation with my wonderful husband Pastor Gary Coiro as we talk about the difference between cancel culture and cover culture.  

“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins.” - 1 Peter 4:8  

Passion City Church has birthed some special artists and music that have been a light to my path. I’m so grateful for them. One of my favorites is Kristian Stanfill. He’s a gifted worship leader, singer/song-writer and he‘s been a part of my regular playlist for years now. But Kristian has been in a personal battle, that until November of last year, was a private one.  

How do you heal from a personal addiction to alcohol, when you’re a public worship leader? Kristian joins me for an encouraging, honest conversation about real life and a real God who helps us in our darkness. He has been sober for 2 ½ years now, but he has learned some important things along the way about healing and the love of God.  

I am so honored to share this important conversation with you and I hope, as I know Kristian does as well, that it helps others who are struggling too. You can make it out alive...  and if you trust the process, God will bring healing and joy back into your life.  

Stacey Loveless has a passion to help people and she’s convinced of the healing power of God’s love to restore lives. She knows because she’s been there.  

On this special episode of the podcast, I am honored to introduce you to my friend Stacey Loveless who is the Director of Love Wins House, a place for women struggling with addiction to find community, hope, and healing. Stacey is on the front lines of this battle that is raging in our country and she shares her wisdom with us.  

If someone you love is battling addiction or in recovery, or, you’re burdened for all who are fighting this battle, this conversation will give you insight and real hope on how we can help.  

Pat Linnell is a man on a mission... Equipping people to do intentional acts of kindness that implicate Jesus as the source. He’s been at this for a few years and Grace Bomb-the Movement is spreading worldwide.  

If you’ve ever wondered how to share your faith in Christ in a tangible way, or you feel slightly intimidated by talking to your neighbors, Grace Bomb is designed to help you build those connections in a way that’s fun and fruitful.  

I LOVE this concept, I love Pat and his passion for Jesus! He is full of stories that he shares with us in this fun and inspiring conversation about how God is working through people just like us... who are willing to be intentional about the source of their kindness.  

The one and only Lauren Daigle joins me on the podcast! Lauren is such a lover of people. Even the title song of her latest record, Kaleidoscope Jesus, is about how beautifully God has made people, with different colors and cultures and she loves to see how God reveals Himself through all of his creation.  

The question Lauren loves to pray every day is... Jesus, would you show me something special in someone today? Would you help me to see people through your eyes? 

Join me for this delightful conversation with the free-spirited, kind, and authentic, Lauren Daigle.  Oh, how I love her!

When Sandy Hartranft’s youngest son Ben was 3 years old, she walked into the dining room and could hardly believe what she saw. Ben had climbed up on the table and was literally swinging from the chandelier!  With incredible humor, faith, and wisdom, Sandy shares her story of discovering her son had autism. How this amazing family has navigated the force of energy that is Ben, is inspiring. Ben is now a young man with hopes and dreams and an irresistible joy, and he’s even become a public speaker/advocate for people with autism.  But the journey began with a mom who had to let go of what her idea of her family might be and learn to trust God with something even better.  

In this warm and wonderful conversation, Sandy shares her story and her advice to other families on this journey too. I love this family so much and I know you will too.  

You can find joy in the journey of autism. You just might need some help from someone who’s been there.  

Christy Nockels is one of my favorite singers ever. Period. I fell in love with her voice from her days with Watermark, the popular duo with her husband Nathan. It was in the late 90's/early 2000’s and I was just beginning to really get into Christian music. Christy had this elegant and humble way of inviting me into a sacred space. She never over-sang. She just seemed to know what to do with every song she sang. To connect you to God seemed to be her agenda and for me, it just clicked. That gentle, honest, gorgeous voice has been singing over my life for decades.  

Christy has recorded many solo albums, been a founding member of Passion City Church, and sang with so many artists- you know her voice. You just might know her name. How did she do that?  

I am convinced it’s that unique ability she has to lead people in worship and almost disappear from the spotlight herself. There aren’t many like her...  

Her latest project, “This is the Hour”, is the most beautiful worship album I’ve heard in a long time and is one of my all-time favorite albums. For real.  

I can’t believe I get the honor of talking to Christy... and I get to share this conversation with you!  I will try not to fan-girl too much because clearly, Christy is not about that.  

Does a white man have a voice in the conversation around racial reconciliation?  

How can I be a bridge-builder if I don’t live near people who look different from me?  

What is God calling ME to do to help bring unity and healing to our world?  

20 years ago, Dr. David Anderson introduced the world to the concept of “Gracism-the Art of Inclusion.” Because how we talk about race has changed since 2007, the revised and expanded “Gracism”, has just been released. A mentee of Dr. Anderson, my friend David Heiliger has been learning and joining in this important work around the world.  

Join me and my special guest David Heiliger, Pastor of Multi-Cultural Bridge Building at Bridgeway Community Church for an honest conversation about the racial divide in our world and Jesus’s heart to heal it. We all have a part to play.  

...And I hope that failure comes your way  

And shows you there's a limit to your own strength. Til you can't help but offer other people grace, Yeah, I hope that failure comes  

That's what I wish for you  

What I hope you find  

May it all come true  

Knowing sometimes good things come from suffering  

Yeah, sometimes good things can come from suffering..."  

Jason Gray's lyrics for a song he wrote for his kids may make you flinch at first - but he knows the treasures God can bring through our failures.  From the complex relationship with his own father to his painful divorce, Jason has found forgiveness and faith coming alive again and the healing that comes when we tend to our wounds.  

Join me for an honest conversation with one of my favorite songwriters. Jason has been through a hard season and God is just showing him more of what love and grace really are. 

If you saw the movie "Jesus Revolution" chronicling the life stories of Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith, you'll be fascinated to hear how Kathy Gilbert's story intersects.    

Growing up in a conservative Catholic family in Maryland in the late 60's, Kathy was searching for answers to life's deepest questions. She thought the hippies had the answers and she left home to join a commune. Traveling across the country as a teenager, Kathy hitchhiked, experimented with drugs, and stayed at different communes trying to find what her heart was longing for. After a few close calls with danger, Kathy landed at a place called Shiloh in Oregon. It was there the Jesus revolution met her face-to-face and changed her life.  

I can't wait for you to meet this amazing woman! Kathy Gilbert has quite a story to tell of this tumultuous time in our country but also an amazing move of the Holy Spirit to draw young people to Christ.