Removing Barriers

Episode 218

Have you ever recommended a Christian fiction book, only to preface the recommendation with tons of warnings, disclaimers, or caveats? Why are there so few books in that genre that can be recommended without reservation? Today on the Removing Barriers podcast, we interview a guest who at one point wondered the same thing and decided to do something about it. Bethany Klassen was born in Canada but grew up in Mexico after her parents obeyed God's call on their lives to serve the Mennonite population there as missionaries. An avid reader from her youth, Bethany always struggled to find books that exalted Christ and did not pollute the reader with questionable content or doctrine. She is now a talented author that has stepped into the Christian fiction space to create books with biblical (not just moral) values, encouraging stories, and the shameless exaltation of Christ. Her works include Sins of the Past, Tomorrow's Promise, and the newly published Seven Seconds. Listen in as we interview her about her upbringing as a missionary kid, her motivations and goals in writing Christian fiction, and the future endeavors God has in store for her. We will also be giving away one of her novels, so stay tuned for details on how to score a copy of your own.

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Episode 217

Series: On the Mission Field - 24

We have another great opportunity to sit down and talk with missionaries! In this episode, we are talking with Zach and Sarah Smith, missionaries to American Samoa. If you are anything like Jay, the only thing you might know about American Samoa are the famous people that originate or descend from there, like Tulsi Gabbard or Dwayne Johnson. There is so much more to the territory than its celebrities, of course, like the more than 50,000 souls that currently live there. Many of them would say they are Christian, but they do not have a personal relationship with Christ. These are the ones with whom Zach and Sarah would like to share the gospel. You will get to hear about God's call on both their individual lives and their life as a married couple, the work that has yet to be done in American Samoa, and what God is doing there right now. Could God be moving you to partner with them in the work?

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Episode 216

Bonkers - 15

Let's continue our Bonkers series with six headlines sure to have you scratching your head. We are one step closer to providing engineered babies to paying couples as Silicon Valley quietly pushes the legal barriers to genetic editing, A fourteen year old boy murders his elderly neighbor and show not a shred of remorse or concern. Don Lemon hits the streets and tries to convince people that crossing the border is not illegal because it's a misdemeanor and not a crime (make it make sense!). Canadian laws render citizens sitting ducks to armed criminals. The Chicago mayor equates the term "illegal aliens" to "slaves" and slams a reporter for calling the illegal aliens illegal aliens. The world we are living in is bonkers, ladies and gentlemen. Join us and let's discuss!

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Episode 215

You may have seen these ads in subways,  billboards, and other public spaces as you go about your day, claiming that we don't need God to be Good. You don't need God, we're all basically good, and we can all discern right from wrong without Him. Is this true? After all, some argue, not everyone believes in God, so we have to create a more inclusive and tolerant morality in our society. In this episode of the Removing Barriers podcast, we interview recurring guest MD and explore this statement. What does the Bible say about "being good?" What does it mean to be good in the first place? Who decides? Let's see if we can explore the word of God together and find answers to these questions. 

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Episode 214

As any believer who shares their faith will tell you, we will inevitably encounter tough questions about God, the Bible, life, and truth. Why do bad things happen to good people? Where do babies go when they die? Where did Cain get his wife? What happens to people who've died having never heard the gospel in life? On this episode of the Removing Barriers Podcast, we are grateful for recurring guest Pastor Todd's willingness to tackle these tough questions with some simple answers. With wisdom, truth, and grace, Pastor Todd explains not only the answers to these tough questions, but also how they square with what we know about God and his word. We needn't fear tough questions because God's word is clear and true. We can trust it wholly. At the heart of every answer is a desire for lost souls to be saved and saved souls to be discipled in truth. Join us and be equipped with some answers so that whether we are questioned by a seeker or a scoffer, we can be ready to share the truth with love.

Listen to the Removing Barriers Podcast here: