In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, talks with Joe Hox, the talented illustrator behind the Good News for Little Hearts series. They discuss the struggle to find our worth in Christ, moving forward in usefulness to the Lord when the path is unclear, and how artistic world-building brings imaginations to life.

JOE HOX ONLINE
Website
Instagram
Facebook
X/Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Good News for Little Hearts Series
Who is Jesus? by Kate Hox (Illustrated by Joe Hox)

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:40 - Intro
3:22 - Were you artistic as a child?
10:30 - Joe starts painting murals
14:00 - How were you shaped by a struggle to find your worth
18:36 - What was your breakout moment into successful illustrating
24:14 - The joy of working with NGP and the Good News for Little Hearts series
26:00 - A powerful perspective on finding worth in Christ
32:54 - Advice to aspiring artists and illustrators
34:36 - What's your process for building an imaginative world?
40:48 - Joe's joy of creating with his wife Kate
47:08 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, talks with Bob Lepine, an author, pastor, and radio host whose recent book, Build a Stronger Marriage helps married and engaged couples to apply the gospel to their relationship. They discuss resolutions to marital conflict, key problems couples face, and the signs of a healthy marriage.

BOB LEPINE ONLINE
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Build a Stronger Marriage
Reclaim Your Marriage by Jenny Solomon
Restore Your Marriage by Curtis Solomon
Table for Two by Dave and Krista Dunham

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:35 - Intro
3:20 - What’s your advice to a couple moving toward marriage?
7:20 - Is there a common issue most couples face?
10:40 - How have you seen conflict at work in your marriage?
15:25 - The central goal of marriage
18:45 - Practical examples of building a stronger marriage
23:10 - How to know when to overlook or confront a marriage problem
28:05 - Habits are key in healthy marriages
35:35 - What have marriage taught you about yourself?
39:30 - How can we help or teach other married people when we have our own marriage problems?
43:30 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, talks with Camille Cates, a biblical counselor, speaker, and author who works with post-abortive women. Camille shares her story of hardship and suffering as a young woman, including her own history with abortion. From experience, she reaches out to those who are desperately seeking hope and healing from their own personal tragedies. Camille’s story is an incredible testimony to God’s grace and help in the face of sin and suffering.

CAMILLE CATES ONLINE
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Moving Forward After Abortion
Pregnancy Crisis (Minibook)
Ask the Christian Counselor Series Set

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:35 - Intro and Camille’s upbringing and abortion story
7:13 - Camille’s experience in church before the abortion
8:34 - What was your understanding of abortion at that young age?
19:02 - We are all on even footing at the cross
22:16 - How Camille found healing in the Gospel
30:18 - The ministry of other Christians helped Camille heal
34:38 - How anyone can help post-abortive parents
39:47 - Comforting help from the Book of James
41:53 - What can churches do to help in the pro-life movement?
44:27 - How can listeners of this podcast be involved in the movement today?
50:30 - Farewell

Our host Rush Witt, sits down with Jonathan Holmes, a biblical counselor, author, and Director of Fieldstone Counseling Center in Cleveland, OH. Join them as they discuss Jonathan's adoption, his Korean heritage, growing up in the Deep South, and how these experiences shaped his life, counseling, and ministry.

JONATHAN HOLMES ONLINE
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Child Proof by Julie Lowe
The Life Counsel Bible
Helping Your Adopted Child by Paul David Tripp

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
0:25 - Intro
0:55 - Jonathan talks about his new book on identity issues
6:05 - How have you gained such an appreciation for poetry?
10:15 - Jonathan shares how biblical counseling changed the course of life and ministry
16:15 - What's the most obvious lesson of counseling and ministry you couldn't learn from a book?
22:20 - The Holmes family finds comfort and growth in the kitchen together
24:30 - How would you describe your upbringing and the impact of adoption on your life?
39:00 - How does your culture/heritage influence your family now?
47:10 - Who have been your strongest influences?
50:55 - What makes you especially happy today?
55:45 - Farewell

Rush Witt spends the hour with Chris Moles, a leading pastor and biblical counselor who helps churches and families confront the evil of domestic violence and promote healthy, God-honoring, relationships. They talk about domestic abuse ministry, how pastors and church members can grow in this ministry, and whether or not abusers can really change.

CHRIS MOLES ONLINE   
Website
Facebook
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE   
Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse
Something Scary Happened by Darby Strickland
Miles the Lamb (Plushy)
Trauma and Abuse Minibook Sample Pack

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:27 - Intro
3:28 - Chris shares his story of domestic abuse ministry
11:38 - How prevalent is domestic abuse?
19:40 - An abused person's experience provides a key entry gate for ministry
22:17 - How does abuse ministry look different in various situations?
26:36 - What does "safety plan" mean in domestic abuse ministry?
29:19 - What can a pastor do to begin growing in usefulness for abuse ministry?
38:53 - Christ coaches Rush
43:42 - Can abusers really change, and how often do you see change happen?
56:00 - How might other people help and encourage your ministry PeaceWorks University?
58:30 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, sits down with Sally Michael, co-founder of Truth78. They discuss how to help children know, love, and memorize God’s Word, and how her new Bible Verses to Remember series for children assists parents, teachers, and church leaders in this important ministry.

SALLY MICHAEL ONLINE  
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  
Give God Your Worries
Good Gifts Come from God
Our Great God
The Treasure: Ancient Story Ever New of Jesus and His Church

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:28 - Intro
2:19 - The Biggest Joy of Sally's Current Ministry Role
2:58 - Sally's New Children's Series, Bible Verses to Remember
5:27 - What are the best practices and goals of Scripture memorization?8:27 - How Memorizing Bible Passages Rescued Sally from Trouble
13:25 - What has been you path into developing so many resources for children?
21:11 - How can we help children across a broad age range love memorizing Scripture?
32:18 - Finding Moments to Emphasize Biblical Virtues in A Busy Family 36:35 - In what ways has John Piper influenced your time at Bethlehem Baptist Church?
39:51 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, enjoys a conversation with pastor, author, and blogger, Tim Challies. They talk about Tim’s prolific work, his family, and the death of his son Nick, which Tim discusses in his book, Seasons of Sorrow. Tim’s faith and hope in God shine as a comfort and example to all of us.

TIM CHALLIES ONLINE
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter/X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God
Someone I Know Is Grieving by Edward T. Welch
A Small Book for the Hurting Heart by Paul Tautges

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:35 - Intro
3:10 - Worship Around the World
7:30 - Tim Challies and Church Life
9:20 - Trusting God in The Death of Nick Challies
22:20 - How Seasons of Sorrow Helped Tim Challies Grieve and Hope in Christ
29:25 - How the Challies Family Stays Strong In Hope
33:00 - Tim Challies' Broader Life and Interests
37:55 - Farewell

In this episode of Straight to the Heart, our host Rush Witt, talks with Lifeway's Bible Publisher Andy McLean. They discuss how Bibles are developed, published, and printed. And they give special attention to a new edition called the Life Counsel Bible, which contains numerous articles and other tools for life and counseling. This episode provides an encouraging reminder of the invaluable ways the Bible speaks into daily life.

ANDY MCLEAN ONLINE
Website
Instagram
Facebook
X

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Life Counsel Bible by Lifeway and New Growth Press
Personal Growth Minibook Sample Pack

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:30 - Intro
5:46 - What exactly is a Bible Publisher?
6:44 - The Amazing Process of Bible Development
13:10 - How and where are Bibles created before they reach our hands?
16:24 - Why do we have so many different Bibles?
22:22 - The Life Counsel Bible
27:20 - What Andy McLean Hears from Readers of the Life Counsel Bible
30:06 - Gratitude and Farewell

In this episode, Rush talks with author and mother Jackie Gibson.  Jackie and her husband Jonnie have four children. She serves alongside him at Westminster Seminary and most recently published her book “You Are Still A Mother.” In this episode Jackie shares her journey through the still birth death of her daughter Leila. And they talk about the unique challenges of grief in the loss of a child, how caring friends can comfort and help, and the precious ways in which God meets us in our darkest grief and loss. 

JACKIE GIBSON ONLINE
Instagram

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
You Are Still A Mother by Jackie Gibson
The Moon Is Always Round by Jonathan Gibson
Helping a Hurting Friend by Garrett Higbee
Someone I Know Is Grieving by Edward T. Welch

Learn more about the podcast here.   

Timestamps:
1:20 - Intro
1:39 - Moving from Australia
3:37 - Life and Ministry Now
6:08 - The Story Behind the Book "The Moon is Always Round"
16:37 - The Commonality of Loss
17:35 - What voices of friends and Scripture shined lights of hope?
24:40 - The Comfort of Psalm 139
17:49 - Advice for Helping Those Who Grieve
31:56 - Thinking About Leila Now
34:34 - Farewell

Season Two continues as our host, Rush Witt, sits down with author and Pastor Jerome Gay. Rush and Jerome talk about the challenges of ministry in our current culture, the important art of being winsome in conversation, and how pastors and Christians can productively engage others in discussion about difficult social topics like race.

JEROME GAY ONLINE
Jerome's Website
Facebook
X
Instagram
The Urban Perspective (Youtube)

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  
African Heroes
Talking to Your Children about Race

Learn more about the podcast here.      

Timestamps:
0:20 - Intro
1:25 - There are many good things keeping Jerome busy in life and ministry.
3:50 - Jerome founded a ministry called the Urban Perspective.
6:25 - What has been your point of view on keeping the gospel central in our highly charged societal issues.
9:10 - How to be winsome in conversation with others
17:00 - What are some ways individuals and churches can wisely engage in social issues?
25:55 - Jerome shares two helpful books he agreed with and two he disagreed with
28:00 - What would Jerome do with a $10 million inheritance?
31:05 - Farewell

We kick off the anticipated second season of "Straight to the Heart," as Rush Witt meets with counselor and author Ed Welch.

Rush asks Ed about the early years of Ed's life and faith in Christ, what it means to make counseling beautiful, and how to help people in the midst of grief and suffering. Join us for this wonderfully insightful start to Season 2.  

CONNECT ONLINE
CCEF's Website
Facebook
X
Instagram

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  
Someone I Know Is Grieving: Responding with Humility and Compassion
The Small Book Devotions Bundle

Learn more about the podcast here.    

Timestamps:
0:38 - Intro
2:52 - Ed's Conversion and College Story
8:33 - Ed's Introduction to Biblical Counseling
10:51 - What big shifts most impacted your work with people?
15:37 - How do you make counseling beautiful?
24:49 - Tell us more about your new book, Someone I Know is Grieving.
34:00 - What have you learned most about humility and compassion?
41:28 - Has there been a central theme to your over 40 years of counseling?
44:29 - Farewell

Preview of the second season of "Straight to the Heart," a podcast from New Growth Press, hosted by Rush Witt. 

Each episode includes thought-provoking conversations with leading Christian writers and thinkers. We hear who they are, what they believe, how they approach their work and ministry, and the moments and people who have changed their lives. In "Straight to the Heart," we go beyond the books to connect with the remarkable people behind them.

Learn more about season 2 of the podcast here.

Rush Witt meets with Daniel Henderson, Vice-President of Strategy for Publications Chrétiennes, a French publishing house based in Quebec, Canada.

In this bonus episode, they talk about the importance of book translation around the world and how churches and Christians can make a missional impact by supporting the translation of great Christian resources through publishing ministries like Publications Chrétiennes.

DANIEL HENDERSON ONLINE  
Daniel's Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  
Publications Chrétiennes
New Releases at New Growth Press

Learn more about the podcast here.   

Timestamps:
0:15 - Intro
1:25 - Daniel travels the world
5:35 - How do books become translated to reach the world?
16:15 - How did you and the publishing company become focused on biblical counseling?
18:35 - Foreign publishing impacts thousands of people
20:40 - What are the biggest needs in your work?
32:35 - Farewell

Rush talks to Jared Kennedy who is the co-founder of “Gospel-Centered Family,” and an editor with The Gospel Coalition. 

Jared and Rush talk about his ministry Gospel-Centered Family, his important work with The Gospel Coalition, and some of the key challenges every family faces to become disciple-makers at home. Jared shares helpful tools for your family, and what raising chickens in suburban Louisville taught him about parenting.

JARED KENNEDY ONLINE  
Jared's Website
Instagram
Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  
Faith Builder Catechism
Show Them Jesus
The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible
God Made Me for Worship

Learn more about the podcast here.   

Timestamps:
0:20 - Intro
1:43 - Tell us about Gospel-Centered Family and TGC
5:00 - How did you get into family ministry?
12:09 - What are two or three central issues with which every family needs help?
20:16 - What tools have been most helpful to your family?
28:10 - What’s going on with all these chickens you raise?
31:25 - How is God working in your life now?
34:01 - Farewell

Rush spends a rewarding time with author and counselor Kristen Hatton. Kristen has written a number of great books for teenagers, and has recently shifted focus to helping parents through her book, Parenting Ahead: Preparing for the Teen Years. Parents of teenagers will be helped by Kristen’s calm and focused approach to parenting teens. They talk about the difference between fixing our teens and parenting with grace, interesting ways to keep family life fun, and how to patiently walk through the pressures both parents and teenagers face today.

KRISTEN HATTON ONLINE
Kristen's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Parenting Ahead
Social Media Pressure
Alongside Jesus
Get Your Story Straight

Learn more about the podcast here.  

Timestamps:
0:30 - Intro
2:15 - Empty Nesting
7:30 - Time for Writing and Counseling
11:30 - How have you shifted to writing for a new audience?
15:00 - What are the biggest needs express by parents of teens?
17:10 - Teen Pressures
23:00 - Helping Teens Navigate the Big Pressures
27:20 - Kristen Help Parents Know How to Help Teens
33:30 - Why Should Teens “Get Their Story Straight?”
37:00 - Farewell

Rush enjoys a helpful conversation with Darby Strickland to learn more about her family and ministry in trauma and abuse care. They discuss important questions about the challenges of abuse ministry, how her own story has brought to her to this place of valuable ministry, and how God has grown her through it all, as well as how any Christian can learn to care for troubled souls.

DARBY STRICKLAND ONLINE
Darby's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Something Scary Happened
When Children Experience Trauma
Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse
Life Counsel Bible

Learn more about the podcast here.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:30 - Intro

1:30 - Welcome and Recent Conference Update

4:38 - The Psalms Were Not Written In A Day

6:40 - How do you help parents talk to kids about abuse?

9:18 - Learning to Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

15:14 - When We Feel Inadequate for Ministry

21:20 - Maintaining Compassion for Abusers

28:55 - How does Darby keep up with so much ministry?

33:42 - New Books on Abuse

35:58 - Farewell

Rush spends a fun and freeing time with Jared C. Wilson. They talk about how owning up to our imperfection as Christians is both frightening and immensely comforting. And yet it is the only way we can overcome the fear and enjoy the comfort is by daily embracing the gospel in deep, fresh ways.

JARED C. WILSON ONLINE
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Ruth: Redemption for the Broken
Friendship with the Friend of Sinners
Gospel Wakefulness
The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:41 - Intro
3:03 - Jared’s Story of Ministry
16:52 - Why Do You Feel Like An Alien?
25:54 - Understanding Gospel Wakefulness
33:07 - The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification
37:01 - Farewell

Rush sits down with Irene Sun, author of God Counts and Taste and See. Irene is an intentional and thoughtful mother, and she shares invaluable keys for making the most of reading to our children. Irene and Rush talk about why kids’ books are effective to change the way they think, and how to know if certain books are too scary or sad or mature for young readers.

IRENE SUN ONLINE
Irene’s Church
Facebook
Instagram

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World
Taste and See: All About God’s Goodness
The Acrostic of Salvation

Learn more about the podcast here.

Timestamps:
1:26 - Irene shares about her family and church in Pittsburgh.
3:45 - What are some of the best habits you’ve cultivated in your family?
5:37 - Irene and Rush discuss the value of reading aloud with kids.
10:12 - How are kids books powerful to shape their hearts and minds?
19:30 - What about balancing spiritual depth and pure enjoyment of reading in the lives of our kids?
28:39 - Irene explores the instrumental role of reading with children in the most intentional ways.
32:17 - What books have your sons enjoyed most over the years?
37:30 - Farewell

Daniel DeWitt and Rush Witt discuss the impact of C.S. Lewis on generations of Christians, the unique opportunities for discipleship on college campuses, and the importance of clear and biblical truth. Listeners will be helped and encouraged by Daniel’s down-to-earth way of helping students make sense of the world in creative ways.

DANIEL DEWITT ONLINE
Daniel’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Sketchy Views: A Beginner’s Guide to Making Sense of God
Pressure Points: Guide to Navigating Student Stress
Doubtless: Because Faith in Hard

Learn more about the podcast here.

Brad Hambrick and Rush talk about an exciting season of launching kids into the world, and hopefully into college baseball. And they also talk about counseling, the art and ministry of walking with people through hardship, and the beauty and freedom of real friends to whom we can entrust even our secrets. 

BRAD HAMBRICK ONLINE
Brad's Website - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Angry with God: An Honest Journey through Suffering and Betrayal
Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling: Models for Sustainable Church-Based Care

Learn more about the podcast here.