https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/pastoring-the-impoverished Pastoring The Impoverished: Church Planting, Poverty & Gospel Ministry SHOW NOTES: What does it look like to intentionally pastor and plant a church among people impacted by poverty? In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben sits down with Pastor Will of Reconcile Community Church to hear his storyfrom coming to faith as a teenager in Greenville, South Carolina, to discovering a calling to share the gospel, pursuing missions, and eventually serving among poverty-impacted communities. Will shares how his desire to reach unreached people groups led him toward international missions and eventually to Northwest China, where he and his family lived for a year, taught English, and served within a different culture. That experience eventually helped him recognize that there are cultural and gospel barriers within the United States as well. The conversation then turns toward the intentional decision to plant Reconcile Community Church in a low-income area of Greenville County. Will explains why he didnt want people experiencing poverty to become a churchs side project, but instead wanted to pursue them as neighbors and fellow members of the community. Ben and Will discuss the importance of incarnational ministryliving among the people you hope to reachand why ministry becomes different when a church sees the struggles of its neighbors as shared struggles rather than someone elses problems. This is a conversation about missions, poverty, church planting, discipleship, community, and what it means for the church to genuinely live among and love the people it is trying to reach. TAKEAWAYS: Wills journey to faith began with an overwhelming realization that God wanted not only to forgive him but to have a relationship with him. His desire to share the gospel with others began almost immediately after coming to faith. Reading Acts helped shape his understanding of evangelism, prayer, and ministry. His early interest in missions eventually led him to pursue ministry among unreached people groups. Will and his wife spent a year in Northwest China teaching English and seeking to minister cross-cu https://video-meta.open.video/poster/pAxo7fXWV26B/pAxo7fXWV26B_upload_t1779061505-VtJMKt.png https://streaming.open.video/contents/pAxo7fXWV26B/1778853821/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=FIXL1PEJkku 3488 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/tpj13-big-daddy-weave-interview Finding Joy Through Adversity: A Conversation with Mike Weaver Show Notes: What does it mean to be truly free when your circumstances havent changed? In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben sits down with Mike Weaver, lead singer of Big Daddy Weave, for a conversation that goes far beyond music. Mike shares the story behind one of Big Daddy Weaves most meaningful songs, Redeemed, and how God used a song that came out of Mikes own struggle with self-worth and self-hatred to bring hope and freedom to people around the world. Ben also shares how Redeemed impacted him while he was incarcerated in 2012. Although he was physically behind bars, the message of the song helped him recognize a deeper freedom in Christ. Mike explains why the band ultimately gives all the glory to Jesus for the ways God has used their music in peoples lives. The conversation also explores the story behind Alive, which Big Daddy Weave received from Zach Williams after his own journey back toward God. Mike recounts how Redeemed unexpectedly became part of Zachs story and how the two artists eventually shared the stage during the pandemic. One of the most powerful moments comes when Mike tells the story of a concert in Liberty, South Carolina. His brother Jay Weaver had prayed over every seat in the venue, including one specific seat where God had apparently directed his attention. The man who would eventually sit in that seat had walked away from ministry and his relationship with God after experiencing a devastating tragedy. What happened after the concert became a profound picture of faith, suffering, honesty, and Gods presence in the middle of pain. Mike also opens up about losing his brother Jay and his mother, and how those experiences have changed the way he understands suffering. Rather than seeing suffering as the opposite of victory, Mike has learned to see it as an opportunity to worship God in a way we wont have forever. Ultimately, this conversation is about redemption, freedom, grief, suffering, faith, and the goodness of Godeven when life doesnt turn out the way we hoped. Takeaways: God https://video-meta.open.video/poster/YLcOpvGJQBSc/YLcOpvGJQBSc_upload_t1782222230-SwieTt.jpeg https://streaming.open.video/contents/YLcOpvGJQBSc/1779055520/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=AVq0vixYdI2 2845 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/tpj-guest-interview-on-reconcile-stories-podcast Reconcile Stories: How Gods Grace Meets Us In Every Story SHOW NOTES: What happens when we make space for people to tell the stories of what God is doing in their lives? In this introductory episode of Reconcile Stories, Will, pastor of Reconcile Community Church, sits down with Ben to talk about the vision behind this new church podcast and why sharing stories of Gods grace matters. Will explains how his experience as a pastor has allowed him to hear countless stories of Gods faithfulness, transformation, struggle, and redemption. He wants Reconcile Stories to create a space where members of the church, ministry partners, friends, and others can share what God is doing in their livesand hopefully encourage someone else who is listening. Ben and Will also discuss how the internet has become a modern public square where people exchange ideas and stories through podcasts, YouTube, and social media. Rather than seeing those spaces only as entertainment, they explore how Christians can use them to communicate the gospel and highlight the ways God is working in real peoples lives. A major theme of the conversation is the diversity of stories within the church. People come from different cultural, economic, and personal backgrounds, carrying different experiences of trauma, brokenness, faith, and transformation. Hearing those stories can help break down the assumptions people have about Christians and remind us that Jesus saves all kinds of people. The conversation eventually turns toward church hurt and what it can look like to find healing through Christian community. Will and Ben talk about the temptation to isolate after being hurt by the church, the importance of empathy and listening, and the example of Jesus sitting with people in their pain before trying to fix anything. They also talk about the tension between being honest about the churchs failures while still believing in the value of Christian community, using Pauls experience of being welcomed by Barnabas as an example of how compassion can help bring people back into community. Ultimately, Reconcile Stories is a https://video-meta.open.video/poster/qpsOsbuZIh-P/qpsOsbuZIh-P_upload_t1779061104-SHDBAv.png https://streaming.open.video/contents/qpsOsbuZIh-P/1779055760/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=AVW0142ZdI2 2397 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/eroding-or-refining-navigating-toxic-environments Eroding or Refining? Navigating Toxic Environments & Why Getting Fired Is A Compliment SHOW NOTES: How do you know whether a difficult environment is helping you grow or slowly eroding you? In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben and Dawn have an honest conversation about toxic environments, unhealthy leadership, workplace dysfunction, boundaries, faith, and the difficult question of when to stay and when to leave. The conversation grew out of Bens experience navigating a toxic work environment and the months it took to process what happened. Rather than focusing on one particular person or situation, they intentionally look at patterns that can help people recognize unhealthy environments for themselves. One of the central ideas of the episode is the difference between something being hard and something being harmful. Not every difficult situation is toxic, and not every season of pressure is something we should escape. But an environment can become toxic when patterns begin to slowly erode a persons clarity, dignity, health, identity, and ability to thrive. Ben and Dawn walk through several patterns that can signal a toxic environment, including control-based leadership, fear, inconsistent expectations, neglect of basic needs, manipulation, favoritism, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, retaliation, and leadership that refuses honest feedback. At its heart, this is a conversation about discernment, growth, faith, leadership, and learning to recognize the difference between something that is refining you and something that is eroding you. TAKEAWAYS: - A difficult environment isnt automatically a toxic environment. - Hard seasons can produce growth, but harmful patterns can slowly erode a persons health and well-being. - Toxicity is better identified through patterns of behavior than isolated incidents. - Dysfunction can become normalized when someone has been in an unhealthy environment for a long time. - Toxic environments can involve control, fear, inconsistent expectations, neglect of basic needs, manipulation, favoritism, and lack of accountability. - A healthy environment allo https://video-meta.open.video/poster/gZogsxbkUz1Z/gZogsxbkUz1Z_upload_t1779820719-iGenKS.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/gZogsxbkUz1Z/1779820078/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=YpWnCP-7Iku 7622 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/who-is-forming-you-the-power-of-spiritual-formation Who Is Forming You? The Power of Spiritual Formation Formation Series In this first episode of a new series on formation, I explore a question that has been shaping his own life: Who or what is forming you? I reflect on experiences in church, mens ministry, and discipleship, and explains why conversations about leadership, purity, marriage, and responsibilitywhile importantdont always answer the deeper question of who we are becoming. Drawing from the life of Jesus, this episode examines how our habits, relationships, communities, and daily practices quietly shape our character over time. Rather than offering a checklist for becoming a better man, this conversation invites listeners to consider what true spiritual formation looks like and how discipleship is ultimately about becoming more like Christ, not simply accumulating knowledge. Whether youre navigating church hurt, reevaluating your spiritual life, or simply longing to grow in maturity, this episode offers a thoughtful invitation to examine the influences that are shaping your heart. Key Takeaways: - Formation is happening whether we recognize it or not. - Our habits shape our character long before our actions reveal it. - Discipleship is about becoming like Jesus, not merely learning about Him. - Spiritual maturity is revealed during seasons of pressure and difficulty. - Knowledge without transformation can produce pride instead of Christlikeness. - The people and voices we consistently listen to are shaping us. - Healthy community is essential for lasting spiritual formation. Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming. If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here: theprodigaljourney.com/donate https://video-meta.open.video/poster/6Xi0YDedscNj/6Xi0YDedscNj_upload_t1788355358-GonIon.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/6Xi0YDedscNj/1785954666/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=Bl5Gy1-RRs2 2311 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/navigating-the-complexity-of-the-male-inner-world-formation-series Navigating The Complexity Of The Male Inner World Formation Series This podcast episode delves into the critical yet often neglected realm of mens inner worlds, emphasizing the necessity of self-examination and emotional awareness. We, as men, frequently articulate our external responsibilities with precision while neglecting to address the condition of our hearts. This episode serves as a poignant reminder that without acknowledging our internal struggles, we cannot genuinely surrender them to God. We explore the implications of this neglect, pondering how societal norms have conditioned us to prioritize productivity over introspection. Ultimately, we aim to facilitate a deeper understanding of our emotional states, leading to a transformative relationship with our inner selves and, consequently, with God. A significant theme emerges in this episode of the Prodigal Journey, where we eloquently address the often-ignored inner world of men. This exploration seeks to illuminate the emotional landscapes that many men neglect, focusing on the disconnect between external responsibilities and internal feelings. We reflect on the societal norms that have conditioned men to prioritize functionality over introspection, leading to an inability to articulate our emotional states. While men may easily describe their duties and tasks, we frequently resort to the superficial response of Im fine when confronted with inquiries about our emotional well-being. This episode is not merely a critique but serves as an invitation for men to delve deeper into the condition of their hearts, a crucial aspect of personal growth and spiritual maturity. Drawing from personal anecdotes, I candidly share my journey of recognizing the importance of understanding ones emotions before sharing them with others. I illustrate how offloading unprocessed feelings onto loved ones can inadvertently burden them, highlighting the necessity of first bringing those emotions before God. This discussion is enriched through scriptural references that emphasize the need for men to engage authentically with their inner lives. T https://video-meta.open.video/poster/C1ioED9OtsSt/C1ioED9OtsSt_upload_t1788355335-UOPZDr.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/C1ioED9OtsSt/1786626371/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=wtrzyuFtJs2 1021 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/v/what-does-emotional-maturity-look-like-the-life-of-jesus-formation-series What Does Emotional Maturity Look Like? The Life of Jesus Formation Series What does emotional maturity actually look like? As men, we can be good at describing everything happening around usour work, responsibilities, problems, and what needs to get donewhile struggling to recognize and describe what is happening inside of us. But what if emotional maturity isnt about becoming a man who feels less? What if its about becoming a man who knows what to do with what he feels? In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, we look at the life of Jesus as the ultimate example of what it means to be fully human and fully surrendered to God. Jesus experienced grief, compassion, anger, exhaustion, fear, and anguish. He never allowed His emotions to become His master, but He also never treated them as irrelevant. From Jesus weeping with those who were grieving to His anger in Mark 3, His need for rest, and His anguish in Gethsemane, we see a different picture of strength and maturity. Jesus shows us that emotional maturity isnt emotional denial, emotional suppression, or being ruled by our feelings. Its learning to notice what is happening inside us, bring it honestly before God, and allow surrender to shape how we respond. For men especially, this challenges the idea that strength means keeping everything together, never showing emotion, working harder, and carrying more. Becoming more like Jesus may actually mean becoming more whole. In this episode, we explore: - Why feelings arent factsbut they are information - What Jesus teaches us through His compassion, grief, anger, and exhaustion - What Gethsemane teaches us about emotions, suffering, and obedience - Why feeling the weight of obedience doesnt mean your faith is weak - How to bring your inner life honestly before God - Why men often confuse strength with emotional distance - What it means to become fully human and fully surrendered - How Jesus models a life where emotion and faithfulness belong together The goal isnt to become someone who never feels. Its to become someone who can feel deeply, tell the truth about what theyre experiencing, bri https://video-meta.open.video/poster/JefQ6FnjZnJa/AEqPrvFkIR2_qsRKrB.jpg https://streaming.open.video/contents/JefQ6FnjZnJa/1788358063/index.m3u8 https://videos.theprodigaljourney.com/embed?contentId=AEqPrvFkIR2 2104