Suffering
Hold On
In the book of James, we read that we’re to take joy in trials and suffering. This sounds bizarre and completely counter cultural, but God has a purpose in our sufferings. Daniel Secomb from Israel, Islam, and the End Times counter-cultural to talk about the role suffering plays in the life of the Christian.
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Motivation
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Throughout the season, guests have shared how they held on to their faith through the most difficult situations, but what is the motivation. The greatest motivation for all is the age to come—Heaven. Unfortunately, modern Christian teaching sells Heaven short. Daniel Secomb of Israel, Islam, and the Endtimes shares further details about the future Millennial Kingdom. Dana Crosby of What Your Pastor Never Told You shares why these details have been missed.
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Behind the Scenes
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One’s faith is important, but so many things seem to be attacking it. Each episode of Season 1 has looked at particular attacks upon faith, but in this episode the curtain is pulled back to reveal faith’s true enemy. That enemy is a spiritual one. Author Beckie Lindsey and Teacher Timothy Gill go behind the scenes to share the reality of the demonic force working in this world.
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Preparation
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How can a wife and mother keep her faith in God when she loses her husband and children in a car wreck? How can a couple persevere in the face of dire medical issues with their child? How does the persecuted church stand so boldly? The answer—preparation. Hold On Stories writer and editor, Rita Halter Thomas, shares the secret behind the faithfulness of Lora Jones from Ep. 5. Author Nelson Walters shares the need for Christians to prepare now for the future challenges to their faith.
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The Horrific
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What is your faith threshold? Persecution is of one’s faith is quite possibly the most difficult challenge a believer will face especially when that persecution extends into one’s family. Timothy and Darcie Gill formerly with Voice of the Martyrs share real-life account of persecution as they tell of their time embedded with persecuted believers around the world. Christopher Mantei of Wings of the Eagle stops in to tell about the current condition of persecution.
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The Impossible
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Ralph and Evelynn Mann were told the situation was hopeless. In the womb, their son was diagnosed with a lethal form of dwarfism, Thanatophoric Dwarfism. The name means “death bringing,” but the Holy Spirit gave them peace in that doctor’s office. They did not follow the advice to have a therapeutic abortion, but rather believe God to do the impossible. Their son, Samuel, is now thirteen.
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Time Out
Hold On
Taking a pause from the powerful stories and interviews, Jake slows down to make sure everyone is on the same page as he takes a timeout and pumps the break to talk about what is faith and why people really are leaving. Jake also shares his own story of coming to faith in Jesus.
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The Unthinkable
Hold On
Hold On is encouraging listeners to hold on to their faith, but what if someone faces the most unthinkable tragedy. Lora Jones did just that--her and her family faithfully served and followed Jesus. Her husband Jay was a pastor, but they were still not spared tragedy. Fourteen years ago, Lora woke up and her world had changed. She has held on to her faith and been an example to so many. Hear her story and her battle to remain faithful to God.
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Returns Happen: Part Two
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Every believer has someone in their life or many people in their life who have left the faith or are away from the faith right now. Our guest in episode two established that there is hope that people could return, but there aren’t many such cases. Jake returns to the church he pastored to visit with Ronnie Guinn who has a powerful return story. Ronnie proves that returns happen. Listen in to hear his story.
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Returns Happen: Part One
Hold On
Statistics tell us that once someone leaves the faith they are not likely to return. The situation is bleak, and many believers find themselves in a position where people they love deeply have walked away from God. In episode 2, we learned that there is hope that someone could return and in this episode, we will hear the story of one who has returned, but not just his story—we’ll hear from his mom who prayed for him and his daughter who witnessed it.
info_outlinePast generations in America saw people leave the church and even the faith as teenagers, but they typically returned when they began to have families of their own. Statisticians tell us now that is not the case. That especially, young adults who have grown up in the faith and leave are not coming back. The research makes the possibility seem hopeless, but author David Sanford has personally been able to help others come back to their faith and even come into a stronger faith. David has been following this trend of people leaving the faith for over a decade. His book If God Disappears addresses this phenomenon and addresses nine major faith wreckers. In his latest book, Loving Your Neighbor: Surprise It’s Not What You Think provides ten steps to help someone return to their faith. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who feels it is hopeless for someone to return to the faith.