Embracing Reflection and the Heartbeat of Sing Winter
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
In this episode, Jonathan & Melissa Helser and Chris Miller un-pack some of the stories behind our new Christmas album, Sing Winter. While the conversation revolves around this album, the heart of what they share is so much deeper than simply song stories. The purpose of this record is to embrace every part of the holidays and the winter season; the joy and the sadness, the pain and the relief. Jonathan & Melissa share beautiful stories from their lives and open up places where they have been meet by Emmanuel, God With Us. Through the laughter and the tears in this episode, we...
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The Gift of Sadness, Nostalgia & Practices for Winter Seasons | Jonathan & Melissa Helser
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
This episode is a special conversation between Jonathan & Melissa Helser and Chris Miller. They dive into what it means to live in the full range of emotions during winter seasons. They talk about how “Sadness is required to truly experience Joy” and what it means to share our feelings with the close people around us as well as talking about practices to stay centered in hard seasons. We hope that this conversation gives you new tools for any season you are in and tools for engaging with the seasons your friends or family are in. This conversation was inspired by the release of...
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Worship for the Long-Haul
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
In this episode, Jonathan shares about living a life of wholehearted worship and becoming a lover of God for the long-haul. King David cultivated a well-worn path of honest worship with the Lord throughout His whole life. Our dream is that you would be 80 years old, still clinging to Jesus, astonished at who He is. This podcast is full of stories and reflections from Jonathan about being steadfast, honest, and passionate in the lifelong pursuit of God’s presence. The introduction to this podcast was recorded at David’s Tent in the United Kingdom, where our team leads worship every single...
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What is The God Story? with Adam Cox
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
In this episode, Jonathan sits down with his longtime friend, Adam Cox. They reflect on their decades of friendship, and how Adam's passion for helping people encounter the unfailing love of God has impacted our community, and schools (The 18 Inch Journey). Adam's first book, "The God Story," (co-authored by Alain Emerson) is a compelling and creative retelling of the biblical story to help you move from familiar to fascinated. It is out now and available wherever books are sold! Get "The God Story" here: If you'd like to learn more about our ministry, go to:
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Discipleship Can Change the World
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
This episode was captured live at a recent 18 Inch Journey Fundraiser where Jonathan and Melissa shared on our vision for discipleship, the history and mission of the 18 Inch Journey, and how discipleship can transform the hearts of men and women. Learn more at: If you’d like to be a part of what the Lord is doing through our ministry, go to Thank you!
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Beautiful Jesus - Q&R with Melissa Helser
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
This episode is a special conversation between Melissa Helser and Chris Miller. Melissa shares about her song, Beautiful Jesus, and a worship moment from the 2023 18 Inch Journey that was recently shared on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel. She reflects on the season of her life during which that song was first written as well as what it’s like to lead worship within the context of our discipleship schools. At the end of this podcast, we play the full worship moment that Melissa is referencing, so please stick around to the end and enjoy this song and spontaneous worship moment! You can...
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Living a Life of Radical Worship
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
What kind of worshiper do you want to be in 40 years? In this episode, Jonathan unpacks the life of King Saul and King David, and what it means to live a life of radical worship before the Father. One of the most important things about David’s story is how he pursues honesty with God in the midst of the pressures of his life. This message was originally recorded in 2021 at . We have exciting news to share with you – we have completed our Audio Upgrade Campaign! Thanks to your generosity and financial support, we were able to overhaul the entire sound system on our campus, upgrading the...
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The Land I’m Livin’ In – Song Stories (Part 1)
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
This episode features an excerpt from a conversation Jonathan and Melissa recently had with our friend, Morgan Snyder. In it, the Helsers share song stories from their most recent album: The Land I’m Livin’ In. This episode features the stories behind the songs I Believe, and We Make Space! Morgan Snyder is an entrepreneur, teacher, writer, speaker, and friend of our community. His passion is to both be shaped by and shape the men and women who are shaping the kingdom of God. He is the creator of Become Good Soil and the author of the book “Becoming A King.” For more about Morgan, head...
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Maturing as Friends of God – The Work of Perseverance
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
In our previous episode, Melissa taught from 2 Corinthians 9 on living generous lives without reluctance or compulsion. In this episode she opens up James 1, unpacking the way perseverance produces maturity in us, and how the discipline of the Lord brings us true wisdom and discernment as we walk with him. This message was originally recorded in 2022 at . Six years ago, we finished building the Art Barn, a space that become such a gift to our campus: the home of our video, design, and marketing departments, and a multi-purpose hub for so many things that happen in our schools, retreats, and...
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Maturing as Friends of God – Living Generously
Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
In this episode Melissa unpacks the difference between growth and maturity, and how living a life of generosity is an integral part of maturing in friendship with God. This message was originally recorded in 2022 at . Our podcast is made possible by the generous support of people all over the world. If you were impacted by this episode, we’d like to invite you to partner with us to disciple a generation into wholehearted living! To support our non-profit ministry, head to You can donate to the general fund, support one of our Cageless Birds staff, or sponsor a project. Thank you! To...
info_outlineThis is the third episode in a brand new three-part series.
Featuring Jonathan and Melissa with Chris Miller and Phyllis Unkefer, this conversation focuses on doing the hard work of growing and maturing in community, through practicing honesty with the Lord and with others, and finding balance in the rhythms of life.
**This month, applications are open for our 18 Inch Journey Phase One discipleship school and Becoming Wholehearted Men’s Retreat! Phase One Apps close 2/1, Men's Retreat Apps close 1/26, (or when our cap is reached).**
Our discipleship programs are centered around learning and receiving the rest and companionship that Jesus offers in everyday life. If you are interested in learning more or applying to one of our discipleship programs, go to http://18inchjourney.com!
If you know someone who would be interested in our school or retreats, please share this podcast with them!
You can also watch this podcast on the Cageless Birds YouTube channel HERE.