Christian Writing & Speaking (CWS) with Jacqui Wilson

Is your faith with you on the field, the court, the track, or even in the stands? Speaker and host of the Catholic Sports Radio show, Bruce Wawrzyniak, has interviewed some of the biggest names, but the challenge he issues is the same for all. Let us not be Sunday morning only Christians but allow our faith to intersect our sports activities to lift the name of Jesus Christ, change us internally, and serve as beacons of light for others to draw toward Christ. He emphasizes that we should DO it with boldness. Dare to be different in how we choose to speak and act toward others during sports activities. Utilize the symbols that connect us to our faith as introductions and reminders of our faith to others. Tune in now to hear more. #catholic #sports #sportsradio #christianpodcast #thecwspod

If you are someone who has had their heart smashed, did not know how you would brave through the situation, felt angry and abandoned by God, or found yourself struggling to get out of bed, this episode is for you. Pastor, speaker, and author Brenda Seedfelt Amodea shares her story of the difficulties she faced,, how she has dealt with the pain, and continued to work with people as a part of the spiritual formation. You can dive deeper by reading her book, I Wish I could Take Away Your Pain, or visiting her website Bravester.com. Tune in now for the interview, and don’t forget to like this episode and subscribe to our podcast.

Is God speaking to you? Do you recognize when He is speaking to you? What if healing and changing lives were tethered to your ability to hear Him? In this episode, we explore how God speaks to us with Rev. Dr. David Chotka, founder and director of Spirit-Equip Ministries and co-author of Healing Prayer: God's Idea For Restoring Body, Mind and Spirit. Dr. Chotka recounts his first experience of healing prayer and the challenges that led to him finally listening to God to have a supernatural experience that would change his and others' lives. Tune in, and hear more. #godisspeaking #prayer #HolySpiritencounter #resurrection #christianpodcast

*Trigger Warning: This episode's subject matter may cause strong emotional reactions. What can grow out of darkness? What can life look like after being trafficked? Where does God fit into it all? In this episode, we answer these questions with Amanda Blackwood. Author, speaker, artist, and podcaster, Amanda shares what human trafficking is, the misconceptions, and the discovery of knowing a name existed for her experiences. We delve further to talk about what it looks like to overcome and how forgiveness is a key component in not only surviving but thriving. Tune in to hear more.

Have you ever felt so desperate that you asked God for death? Aaron Guyett, the founder of the Discipled in Christ app, asked God for death while serving overseas. Discouraged by what he saw in certain "Christians' behaviors" while also questioning whether God existed led him on a journey to determine the truth. He explored other religions, but still found no satisfaction until he found his lifeline in Christ. When he did, God answered his prayer for death but not in the way he expected. Now, he is helping others to connect and live like Christ through his app. Listen to his story, and if you discover that you are dying to find Christ, reach out to us.

How important is diversity to your church or Christian ministry? Are you meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of your congregation and those you serve? In this episode, we talk with Andrena Sawyer, founder of the Minority Christian Women Entrepreneurs Network (MCWEN) and author of The Misadventures of a New Entrepreneur: 5 Things They Won’t Teach You in Business School. Andrena and I delve into what diversity should look like, concerns, and whether space is being made for diversity to sit at the table. Tune in to hear more, and be sure to comment your thoughts.

What does life look like after you have gambled it all away? The Rev. Dr. James W. Smith can answer that question for you. He was a young prominent attorney, but he had a problem. Fears railed at him. He felt urged not to lose or disappoint isolating himself, and he fell into a game that ultimately became his reality of risks, leading him to the other side of the law. However, that was not his end, and in this interview, you will hear about the fall, the hope, and the courage to start life again. Now, he is an author and uses his story as a beacon of light for those who have fallen and must get up again. Tune in to listen.

#sexualabuse #healing #survivor #christianpodcast #TheCWSpod When does the hiding start? According to Catherine Cooper, author of It’s Time Out for Hiding, the hiding starts when we protect the secret. Shame and fear DRIVE the hiding, but even with the secret hidden, something inside of you will feel broken until you release. This is what happened with Catherine. For years she hid her childhood sexual abuse. Though she was saved, she knew something was wrong because she had mood swings. She wanted God to fix it, and He did. When she attended a T.D. Jakes Conference, she released it all, and the chains of shame and fear broke. Learn more about her story and how you can release too.

How would you feel if you did not know the other half of you? Do you think God cares? Richard Kweku EzeAgu Akinyemi, author of Found My People, went to a Nigerian wedding with hopes of learning more about the people and the culture, but during his journey, questions sparked him to learn more about his roots. When the DNA test revealed his ancestry, it changed his life. He says God led him to the right connections and provided the opportunity that pushed him to learn more. Just as God uses Jesus's genealogy as a connection point, God is using Richard Kweku EzeAgu Akinyemi's story. Tune in to learn more.

How do you deeply and compellingly experience God through nature? Photojournalist Pasquale "Pat" Mingarelli gives us insights into his journey to experiencing God more deeply through his photographic devotional book Drawing Near: Meeting God in His Creation. He goes beyond the well-known creation story and delves into other biblical stories to provide another connection perspective. If you crave a deeper connection to God, tune in and learn more. We will meet you at the intersection of God, photography, and the outdoors.

Can we bridge the gap between science and Christianity? Poet and author Cynthia Wilkening, who has a background in science, is on a mission to show how the science and Christian communities can benefit from one another and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what the other has to offer. Often, a war has been waged between the communities as scientists define what is by the evidence they can hold and see while the Christian faith explores what can happen even when the evidence is not there. As a lover of both science and the Christian faith, Cynthia connects the two through the use of haiku and hopes others can do the same.

What would you do if you could no longer do what you love? The life of award-winning ceramic artist Morgan McCarver was drastically different ten years ago. As a child, she was fully immersed in the dance culture, but after her scoliosis diagnosis, failed treatment, and eventual spinal fusion surgery, she could no longer continue. A young teenager with a long road of recovery, her mother placed her in a ceramics class to help ease the loss. She fell in love. The artistic beauty she could no longer display through dance shaped its way into her art. At the same time, she realized she needed to go deeper in her faith walk. Thus, she eased away from being dependent upon her parent’s faith and developed her relationship with God instead. Now, she has released her first book, God the Artist: Revealing God’s Creative Side through Pottery. Tune in to hear the rest of Morgan's story and walk away inspired as you gain insight into how God may be reworking your life.

Is God done with you? If not, what is He teaching you through your situation? Bible teacher and counselor Shellie Wilson received a devastating medical diagnosis. One day, the doctor said nothing was wrong, and the next day, she was told to go to the hospital. Eventually, she learned she would need a new kidney. Flabbergasted by the news, she went to her porch and cried out to the Lord. She was at peace with dying if that was what God intended, but He was not done with her yet. Instead, the Holy Spirit directed her to focus on four disciplines that would strengthen her in her faith walk. As she focused on what God was teaching her, she joyfully shared the word of God with people who were receiving treatment alongside her. Tune in to find out what God said to her concerning the four disciplines. *At the time of this recording, someone had volunteered a kidney. Our prayers are with them.

Did you have one image of God in your mind, but later that imagery was shattered when you were confronted with the ugliness of the world? After joining the military, famous novelist and Navy veteran Jeffrey Wilson found himself face-to-face with a very different faith reality than what he had known in his youth. He questioned how a good God could allow such evil to manifest. He responded by digging deeper into his Word. However, even after God provided the necessary answers, he recognized that he struggled with issues that only he and others who had faced similar circumstances could understand. Thus, he and a friend launched a men's ministry specifically focused on those with a military history. Eventually, the group's growth exploded as they shared common experiences and explored where God was among all the terror. Tune in to learn what Jeffrey came to understand and why the formation of a ministry for those with a military history mattered.

Do you have a Christian parenting plan? Derek and Amy Weichel, authors of A Chance to Change and Founders of Faithful Parent, Questioned how they should raise their children. Viewing the statistics, acknowledging their inconsistencies, and dealing with the everyday overwhelm of raising four children age five and younger set them in motion to discover the best plan for their family. When they could not find what they wanted, they studied and developed what they needed. After implementing their plan, their family feels more focused, connected, and fun. Now, they are sharing what they learned with others. Tune in to discover more.

What is the culture of your workplace, and how are your leaders shaping it? Kerry L. Bass, CEO and Founder of Potential to Reality Consulting and a senior member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), initially struggled with the call on his life and wondered how he could meld his spiritual call with his job. However, he yielded to God’s will. Through his work, He repeatedly found that Christians must exhibit their faith in the workplace, especially those within leadership roles. Integrity, being true to who you are, is foundational in shaping the workplace environment. You determine whether it is a family or only a team. You determine the level of excellence and driving factors. Poor work environments yield inconsistencies, and employees will reflect what is set, not yielding more than what is asked. Thus, he urges people to be salt and light. Tune in to learn more.

Do you know how to invest in a biblically responsible way? Known as a financial rock star, Darryl Lyons, CEO and co-founder of PAX Financial Group, LLC, started his biblically responsible investment strategy simply. He gave and trusted God, even when he had needs. As he did, he experienced an increase. He dove deeper by determining whether his financial investments in other companies aligned with what he believed and made appropriate changes. Now, he is helping others do the same. If you want your faith and financial investments to align, tune in to learn more and start your biblically responsible investment journey today.

Have you ever been told that you need to keep your faith under wraps in the workplace? Katie Hornor, author of The Flamingo Advantage, took an unexpected detour from missionary work to entrepreneurship at the behest of God. As she delved into this unexpected call, she realized that the largest mission field was within the workplace perhaps. While Christians often settle into the background, she says we were meant to stand out and allow our actions to demonstrate our faith. It starts with a biblical mindset. Having a biblical mindset will affect what you do and how people view you, but it is even larger than this. Katie emphasizes that acting in faith is a form of worship. Thus, she helps people maximize the impact of their expertise without compromising their faith, core values, or non-negotiables. Tune in.

When you do mission work, do you see the people you serve, or do you see another project to be fixed? DeAnna Sanders, author of Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors and the Nations, realized that she was not seeing the people. Although she loved mission work, busyness ruled her days, and she found herself completing projects rather than being with the people. She says that when you do not see the people, you lose the joy of the mission and the opportunity to form deeper connections. Now, she shares powerful stories about the importance of seeing the people. Listen to learn more.

Moms, are you feeling overwhelmed, questioning whether you are getting it right, or experiencing mom guilt? You are not alone. Life coach and author Mirella Acebo understands. As she was becoming a mom, she lost her mom and often felt overwhelmed by her emotions as a new mom. Later, she discovered that it was natural for her to experience her feelings, she acknowledged them, but at the same time, she stood on God's truth to navigate her through. Now, you can learn more about how she did it in this episode and through her book, SOS for the MOM, and receive guidance as to how you can navigate it all. Tune in now.