Beyond Sunday

Send us a textEver wonder what actually makes someone leave family, routine, and comfort to serve in another country? Pastor Lee sits down with Ava and Martin, two missionaries with United in Christ ministry, for a candid, hope-filled conversation about calling, obedience, and the surprising power of simple presence. We talk about how children’s ministry opens doors to entire families, why discipleship looks like shared meals and long talks more than quick slogans, and how showing up with humility can change a neighborhood.Ava shares how her vision of missions shifted to relationships around tables, and how waiting at home prepared her for the internship when the timing was finally right. Martin opens up about battling the belief that he can’t learn Spanish, the importance of working from intimacy with Jesus rather than for it, and the joy of recognizing the same Spirit across cultures and languages. Together they recount vivid scenes from Mexico and Chiapas: soup kitchens where people ask to hear the Word, youth events that meet teens on their level, and a quiet moment when a man too weak to speak visibly embraced Christ.If the story moved you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. And if you want to support Ava and Martin’s work, visit cfochurch.org and click Giving. Your encouragement and generosity make a real difference.Support the show

Send us a textWhat if the person you’re ready to write off becomes tomorrow’s testimony? We sit with the sting of rejection in Luke 9—when a Samaritan village shuts its doors and the disciples reach for the quickest solution: burn it all down. Then we follow the long arc of grace to Acts 8, where the same ground hosts a move of God, and John returns not with wrath, but with open hands and a prayer for the Spirit to fall.We talk candidly about “Sons of Thunder” moments—the rush to justify anger as righteousness—and how Jesus redirects passion into mercy. An image of old barbed-wire fences anchors the conversation: God’s Word sets protective lines, yet love sometimes asks us to cross hard boundaries with patience and tenderness. We unpack what it means to “trespass in love,” expecting a few cuts yet refusing to let frustration lock another door in someone’s heart. Along the way, we name the everyday mission fields we often miss: the break room cynic, the slow checkout line, the neighbor who has heard our invite ten times and still says no.There’s a challenge and a comfort here. Go to God’s throne before anyone else’s table. Trade the impulse to win a moment for the desire to win a soul. Sometimes you love from a distance until the Spirit sends you back; when that day comes, you return to lay hands, not lay waste. If God can turn Luke 9’s “no” into Acts 8’s revival, imagine what He can do with the hardened places in your world. Write “potential hope” on your heart and step over the fence with grace.If this spoke to you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find these conversations. Then tell us: who is God sending you back to with love today?Support the show

Send us a textA steady heart can stand in the hottest fire. We open Jude 17–23 and Ephesians 6:10–13 to draw a clear map for real-world perseverance: put on the full armor of God, name the true enemy, and move toward the lost with mercy that refuses to quit. This isn’t a pep talk about trying harder; it’s a field guide for relying on the Spirit when the battle feels personal, the doubts get loud, and the path forward looks dim.We start with a frank look at perseverance—why it matters, where it breaks down, and how strength rises only when rooted in God. From there, we walk piece by piece through the armor: truth that anchors, righteousness that covers, gospel shoes that steady, a shield of faith that quenches lies, a helmet that guards the mind, and the sword of the Spirit that cuts through confusion. You’ll hear why partial armor invites attack, how to spot “unarmored” gaps, and practical rhythms of Scripture, prayer, and worship that keep you standing firm.Then we shift the lens to the real opponent. People aren’t your battlefield; spiritual forces are. That perspective transforms conflict into a mission of mercy. We talk about praying for the unsaved, showing compassion to doubters, and the courage it takes to “snatch others from the fire” without compromising holiness. Expect honest stories from ministry trenches, clear steps for engaging loved ones who resist the gospel, and a hopeful reminder that persistence can open doors no argument ever could.If you’re weary, this conversation is your invitation to armor up, lift your shield, and keep moving. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs strength today, and leave a review to help others find this message of perseverance and mercy.Support the show

Send us a textA husband and wife trace their separate descents into drugs, alcohol, abuse, and shame—and the moments where surrender to Jesus turned survival into purpose.  Charlie and Taylor share how recovery, church, and service keep their marriage steady and their faith alive.• childhood divorce, trauma and early rebellion• eighth grade weed and alcohol leading to harder drugs• blackouts, DUIs, probation and playing the system• abusive relationship dynamics and making an exit plan• overdose after childbirth and losing child custody• homelessness in a U-Haul and a bathroom surrender• meeting through AA, choosing a church and baptism• jail ministry, prayer at work and daily dependence on God• practical recovery rhythms that keep us sober and united• why silence is the real gateway and how to ask for helpFather, I pray if there be anyone out there today that is just feeling hopeless, they're struggling, they just need help they pray a prayer like this... Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, and I ask you, Lord, to come into my life and save my soul. I repent of my sins and I recognize that you died on the cross so that I could be forgiven in Jesus' name and blood. AmenSupport the show

Send us a textWhat truly controls your choices—stress, pride, fear, or the love of Christ? Pastor Lee opens 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 with a simple but life-altering claim: Jesus died for all, so those who live no longer live for themselves. From that anchor, we walk through what it means to let Christ’s love hold first place in our hearts and habits, shaping every response at home, at work, and in the community.We then explore Paul’s next move: stop seeing people “according to the flesh.” If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. That shift reframes how we view others, cutting through politics, class, and status to two essential categories—saved or lost. The goal isn’t to flatten people; it’s to focus our mission. When love leads, walls fall. Conversations open. Compassion replaces contempt. Pastor Lee’s brackish water metaphor brings this home: if we blend the old life with the new, we create conditions where old sins can still swim. Purifying the stream protects health, growth, and witness.Anchored in 1 John 4:13–21, we unpack how perfect love drives out fear and why we love even our enemies—because God first loved us. This love is not passive or naïve; it’s active, prayerful, and courageous. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us the real fight isn’t against people but against spiritual forces, which is why spiritual vision matters. See souls, not stereotypes. Minister to the root, not just the fruit. As we yield to the love of Jesus, we find daily opportunities to serve, share, and invite others into the new creation life.If this message challenged or encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us: where will you let Christ’s love take control today?Support the show