The Collide Podcast

Where do you go when God feels distant—even though everyone says He’s “with you”?In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Bob Marvel to talk about the deeply personal and sometimes confusing reality of Immanuel—God with us. Bob shares about seasons when God felt hard to sense, dismantling the myth that pastors have a “fast pass” to God. Through stories, theology, and lived experience, he offers insight on God’s nearness, spiritual dryness, false assumptions about faith, and how to meet God where you actually are—not where you think you should be. Whether you’re longing for God, walking through doubt, or feeling spiritually hungry, this episode will remind you that God has not moved—and He is closer than you think.Meet Pastor Bob MarvelPastor Bob Marvel has served as Senior Pastor of Cornwall Church for nearly 30 years and comes from a third-generation ministry family. A passionate teacher and shepherd, Bob has helped shape countless lives through his honest, Scripture-rooted approach to faith. His life and leadership reflect a deep love for Jesus, the local church, and helping people encounter a God who is truly present.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy God can feel distant even when Scripture promises He is nearThe myths we believe about who God is “with”—and who He isn’tWhy pastors don’t have a closer connection to God than anyone elseHow Jesus revealed God’s nearness to the overlooked and unlikelyWhere to look for God when you feel spiritually dry or desperatePractical ways to move toward God when you don’t even know where to startHow This Episode Will Encourage YouIf you’ve ever felt like God must be disappointed in you, far from you, or accessible to everyone but you, this episode will gently reframe everything you think you know about His presence. You’ll be reminded that God does not wait for you to get it together—He draws near right where you are, offering love, hope, and Himself.Love this episode? Partner with Us!Love what Collide is doing? Help us bring hope and healing to women through counseling, content, and connection.💛 Give today online or VenmoConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow’s New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!

How do you hold on to hope when grief feels overwhelming—especially during the holidays?In this honest and powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Doug and Laurie Bunnell to talk about walking through profound loss and choosing hope in the midst of deep grief. They vulnerably share about their experience with unimaginable loss and how God has met them in their pain, offering insights on grief, faith, resilience, and hope—particularly during the Christmas season. Whether you’re navigating loss, carrying quiet sorrow, or entering the holidays with a heavy heart, this episode will remind you that hope can still be found, even in the darkest moments.Meet Doug and Laurie BunnellDoug Bunnell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham, WA and Laurie Bunnell is a Preschool Director. Together, they are deeply committed to loving and serving people with compassion and authenticity. Their story is a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness in suffering and the courage it takes to keep trusting Him through grief.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhat it looks like to walk honestly through grief without rushing healingHow faith can be stretched—and strengthened—through devastating lossWhy hope is still possible, even when circumstances don’t changeHow to navigate the holidays while carrying griefHow This Episode Will Encourage YouIf you’ve ever faced loss that feels impossible to carry—especially during a season meant for joy—this episode will offer comfort, permission to grieve honestly, and hope that you are not alone. You’ll be reminded that God meets us in our sorrow and gently invites us to keep going, one faithful step at a time.Partner with UsLove what Collide is doing? Help us bring hope and healing to women through counseling, content, and connection.💛 Give today online or VenmoShop for Good - Support the work of Collide by shopping our thoughtfully curated collection of Bible studies, apparel, candles, and more. Every purchase helps fund our mission to help women experience the transformational love of Jesus.🎉 Special for Podcast Listeners: Enjoy 20% off your order with code PODCAST20 at The Collide ShopConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow’s New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!

What if the stories of people who have died and come back could reshape the way you understand God, heaven, and your purpose on earth?In this thought-provoking episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with pastor and author John Burke to explore the mysteries of near-death experiences (NDEs) and what they reveal about the God of the Bible. John shares how three decades of studying more than 1,000 NDEs—and personally interviewing people from every continent—has strengthened his faith and pointed consistently to a God of captivating love. Whether you’re navigating grief, wrestling with doubt, or longing to better understand eternity, this conversation will remind you that God is closer, kinder, and more glorious than you ever imagined.Meet John BurkeJohn is the founder and former lead pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, a multisite church that has grown to more than 4,500 people since its launch in 1998. He is also the president of Gateway Leadership Initiative, equipping church planters and everyday Christians to “raise the church out of the culture.” John is a New York Times bestselling author of Imagine Heaven and has written several influential books, including No Perfect People Allowed, Soul Revolution, and his newest work, Imagine the God of Heaven. He is passionate about helping people discover the real God revealed through Scripture and confirmed through thousands of NDEs. His story is a powerful example of curiosity transformed into calling.Connect with John - Website | InstagramIn This Episode, You’ll LearnWhat near-death experiences really are—and why they matterThe surprising commonalities people report across countries, cultures, and faith backgroundsHow NDEs align with what Scripture teaches about heaven, God, and life after deathThe personal story of how John went from agnostic engineer to follower of JesusWhat convinced him that these experiences cannot be explained by drugs, dreams, or hallucinationsHow these accounts can strengthen your hope, shape your faith, and transform your view of eternityHow This Episode Will Encourage YouIf you’ve ever feared death, questioned God’s goodness, or longed for assurance about your loved ones, this episode will offer hope-filled perspective. You’ll be reminded that God’s love is more personal, powerful, and present than you think—and that eternity is far more real and beautiful than you’ve imagined.Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful.Partner with UsLove what Collide is doing? Help us bring hope and healing to women through counseling, content, and connection.💛 Give today online or VenmoConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow’s New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!

What if pursuing what is lovely could transform every part of your life?In this inspiring episode of The Collide Podcast, we sit down with Jenn Johnson to explore her journey as a worship leader, songwriter, author, and mom. Jenn shares about her early love for music, how her faith became her own, and the stories behind some of her most beloved songs, including a personal love song written to Jesus. She also talks about her book All Things Lovely and how choosing what is true, pure, and praiseworthy can impact your home, heart, health, and hospitality. Whether you’re navigating your own spiritual journey, creative pursuits, or family life, this episode will encourage you to live more intentionally and beautifully.Meet Jenn JohnsonJenn Johnson is an American worship leader, songwriter, speaker, and author, best known as the co-founder and President of Bethel Music and its Worship School in Redding, California. Alongside her husband, Brian Johnson, she serves as senior worship pastor at Bethel Church. Jenn has co-written songs that are sung worldwide, including Goodness of God, You’re Gonna Be OK, and God I Look to You. She is also the author of All Things Lovely and founder of the lifestyle brand Lovely by Jenn Johnson, which inspires women toward holistic health and intentional living. Jenn and Brian live in Redding with their five children, including two adopted children who inspired some of her songwriting.In This Episode, You’ll LearnJenn’s musical roots and early dreams of worshipHow her faith became her own and shaped her life and ministryThe inspiration and core message behind her book All Things LovelyHer favorite love song written to Jesus and what it reveals about worshipPractical ways to pursue beauty, wholeness, and grace in your home, heart, health, and hospitalityHow This Episode Will Encourage YouIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by busyness, perfectionism, or the demands of life, this episode will inspire you to slow down, embrace what is lovely, and cultivate intentional rhythms. You’ll be reminded that worship isn’t just about music—it’s a lifestyle of beauty, gratitude, and wholehearted devotion to God.Shop for Good - Support the work of Collide by shopping our thoughtfully curated collection of Bible studies, apparel, candles, and more. Every purchase helps fund our mission to help women experience the transformational love of Jesus.🎉 Special for Podcast Listeners: Enjoy 20% off your order with code PODCAST20 at The Collide ShopConnect with Jenn - Website | Spotify | All Things Lovely BookConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow’s New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!

What if “I’m sorry” isn’t enough?In this thought-provoking episode of The Collide Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Thomas to talk about how to give and receive apologies that actually heal. Together, we unpack the power of restoration through meaningful apologies, explore why forgiveness is essential to our faith, and learn how understanding The 5 Apology Languages™ can completely transform how we mend relationships. Whether you’re longing to repair a friendship, rebuild trust in your marriage, or simply communicate better with the people you love, this conversation will remind you that grace and humility can turn brokenness into healing.Meet Dr. ThomasDr. Jennifer Thomas is a best-selling author, psychologist, and sought-after speaker who has spent decades helping people navigate the beautiful and sometimes messy work of relationships. She co-authored The 5 Apology Languages™ with Dr. Gary Chapman, creator of The 5 Love Languages®, and is one of a handful of approved presenters for his global teaching series. Through her research and writing, Dr. Thomas equips individuals, couples, and organizations to communicate more effectively, repair broken trust, and extend forgiveness rooted in biblical truth.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy “I’m sorry” often isn’t enough to repair broken relationshipsThe 5 Apology Languages™ and how to identify your ownHow to ask for and offer forgiveness in ways that build true reconciliationWhat Scripture teaches about humility, confession, and gracePractical steps to turn hurt into healing and conflict into connectionHow This Episode Will Encourage YouIf you’ve ever struggled to move past hurt, wished someone’s apology felt more genuine, or wondered how to forgive when it feels impossible, this episode will offer hope and clarity. You’ll be reminded that God calls us not just to say the right words—but to live out forgiveness that restores hearts and rebuilds trust.Partner with UsLove what Collide is doing? Help us bring hope and healing to women through counseling, content, and connection.💛 Give today online or VenmoConnect with Dr. Thomas - WebsiteConnect with Willow - Website | Instagram | FacebookPre-Order Willow’s New Book! Collide: Running into Healing When Life Hands You HurtFollow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith.📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more!