Bridging the Gap Podcast

Episode 94: a conversation with Cheryl Wells–a business owner, John Maxwell Team certified speaker, trainer, and coach, and Side by Side Ministries founder–and our guest podcast host, Lindsay May. Cheryl shares about her childhood and how she navigated coming to the Lord as the only believer in her house. Cheryl loves talking about the power of God and the transformation that can happe...

Episode 93: a conversation with BTG Podcast host, Mykelti Blum, and Rachelle Rawson–a wife, mother of six, and the 2025 Lund Leadership Award recipient who is madly in love with her Savior. Rachelle shares her reaction to being surprised with the Lund Leadership Award at the 2025 BTG Leadership Conference. The two discuss what it means to be an exceptional leader, and Rachelle shares charact...

Episode 92: a conversation with global worker and mother Ann Marie and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. If you were at the 2024 Thrive Conference, you may remember Ann, as she spoke during our Missions session. Ann shares about being at Thrive, her story with missions work, and her journey of obedience to follow the Lord’s call on her life. If you’ve ever wondered how to pray with someone from anot...

Episode 91: a conversation with retired pastor and passionate Christ-follower Lindsay Willis and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Pastor Lindsay is eager to help people have a meaningful, lifelong relationship with Jesus, and she is passionate about golf! In this episode, the two talk about the importance of prioritizing rest, managing your capacity, and setting boundaries . They discuss how Jesus...

Episode 90: a conversation with parents, founders, and filmmakers Matt and Jill Reed and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. The Reeds are the founders of Know Curtains, which is an online resource tracking the tech world to source information that affects everyday people. In this episode, Matt and Jill share their heart for helping parents understand social media to better protect their kids . They t...

Episode 89: a conversation with author, coach, and speaker Tanya Prince and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Tanya shares about her newly released book, Designed for Purpose , which is a reflective guided journal to help us understand our purpose . She walks us through six categories of daily reading on which to reflect during our time with the Lord. You will also hear a discussion on the question,...

Episode 88: a conversation with Kristen Ostrem–author, pastor, and Bridging the Gap event coordinator–and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Kristen and her friend Rachel Hastings co-authored the 21-day devotional entitled Win the Wait  about waiting for a future spouse. Kristen shares the heart behind this book and what it looks like to win when you are in a season of waiting . Mykelti a...

Episode 87:  a conversation with author, speaker, and worship leader Natalie Runion and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Natalie is the founder of Raised of Stay and was a featured guest at Thrive 2024. In this conversation, Natalie walks us through her experience in starting the online community of “stayers” that fight for their faith in God. Mykelti and Natalie touch on Natalie’...

Episode 86: a conversation with author, speaker, and Pastor Carolyn Haas and BTG Podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Pastor Carolyn was a featured speaker at Thrive 2024 (watch Workshop ONE and Main Session FOUR ), where this episode was recorded. You will first hear about Thrive and Pastor Carolyn’s home church, Substance. Then the conversation turns practical to the topic of dealing with confrontation....

Episode 85: a recording of author, speaker, and radio show host Susie Larson as she has a conversation with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Recorded during a live-audience experience at the 2024 Thrive Conference , Susie shares her favorite parts of Thrive and what keeps her coming back year after year. They discuss Susie’s newly released Teen Edition of her book Prevail, which is a fantastic gift...

Episode 84: a conversation with professor, speaker, coach, and author Dr. Melissa Mork and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Dr. Melissa is a certified humor professional , and she shares with us the tragic story and deep loss that led her into the mental health field and ultimately into studying humor specifically. Dr. Melissa brings a surprisingly humorous approach to processing through grief and...

Episode 83: a conversation with Julie Cooper Nelson–Ministry Coach, Author, Wife, Mom, and Mentor–and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Julie started Bible Basics in 2017. Her newly revised Bible Basics book (available now on Amazon) continues to be a great tool for individuals and groups to dive deeper into the Bible and use it as a tool for their faith. Julie and Mykelti discuss the he...

Episode 82: a conversation with Melinda Henderson–Founder of the INSPIRE Project , a world missionary for 24 years, and an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God–and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Melinda shares about the heart behind INSPIRE, which was birthed during the isolation and loneliness of the 2020 lockdown. Now traveling to 22 countries, Melinda tells of her first-han...

Episode 81: a conversation with teacher, wife, mother, and BTG Prayer Advisor, Melissa Schrock, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Melissa shares how prayer completely changed her life, including some incredible stories of how she has seen God radically move in people’s lives. Melissa talks about the different types of prayer: intercessory, agreement, corporate, tongues, individu...

Episode 80: a conversation as Mykelti Blum (BTG Podcast Host) talks with BTG Director, leader extraordinaire, and newly minted mother-in-law, Angie Goetz, and mama of five, BTG advisor, and Thrive emcee, Amber Gerstmann. In this episode, you will hear Angie’s heartbeat around the 2024 Thrive Conference theme, WONDER, and what this topic means to her and Amber. Amber relays a story of experie...

Episode 79: a conversation with pastor, wife, and mom of three Rev. Brooke Maxwell and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Brooke shares her testimony about losing her mom at a young age and going through a deep season of grief. She talks about how she continued to look to God and kept her faith in the midst of pain and confusion. Brooke also gives encouragement to those needing hope...

Episode 78: a conversation with Rev. Dr. Dan Lowery and Andrew Cress and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Dr. Lowery is the President of Pillar Seminary, a Bible scholar, and an associate professor of New Testament, and Andrew is the seminary’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, a teacher, and self-professed nerd. In this episode, Dr. Lowery and Andrew share about Pillar Seminary...

Episode 77: a conversation with teacher, author, speaker, and mentor Dr. Carolyn Tennant as she has a conversation with our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, you will hear about the Holy Spirit, His role in a believer’s life, and the many gifts He offers. Dr. Tennant unpacks baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and how we can pray and grow in our relationship with Him. She a...

Episode 76: a conversation with one of our 2024 Single Moms Retreat speakers, a Minnesota Assemblies of God Executive Presbyter, and the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Austin, MN, Rev. Dave Simerson, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. In this episode, Pastor Dave shares about his growing up with a single mom and the strength he saw her carry during challenging seasons. They also discuss how...

Episode 75: a conversation with pastor, evangelist, and mother of Allen Tennison, Ph. D., Martha Tennison, and our podcast guest host, Kristen Ostrem. In this episode, Martha shares miraculous stories of healing, as well as what she means by the term “praying through.” You will hear her recount stories of faith and healing and how to have faith when what you are praying for does not se...

Episode 74: a conversation pastors, parents, speakers Joe & Jen Anderson and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Joe is also the founder of Surrender Ministries. In this episode, Joe and Jen share their testimonies–Joe on overcoming addiction and Jen about a difficult time in their marriage and how they reunited after years of separation. Their story involves twists and turns, surrender, and...

Episode 73: a conversation with ordained minister, encourager of people, and the Director of the Minnesota School of Ministry (MNSOM), Pastor Pam Lund, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Pam shares the joys of watching people pursue God’s call on their lives. The two discuss ways to fight against the lies of being unqualified for God’s plan. Pam also encourages listeners to remember t...

Episode 72: a conversation with the MN District Youth Director, Pastor Kirby St. John, the MN KidMin Director, Pastor Chris Pruett, and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. Kirby and Chris share their hearts for Student and Kids Ministries and what drew them to these ministries. They talk about how they have seen God do incredible things in families when their kids go to church. They also share how God...

Episode 71: a conversation with pastor, speaker, consultant, and writer Portia Allen and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. You will hear Portia sharing about our strengths as ways God has uniquely designed us. The two discuss submitting our gifts back to God and not letting our strengths or growth-areas define us. Portia also encourages those who feel they were told they are “too much.”...

Episode 70: a conversation with Kaylie Crabtree—a North Central University (NCU) senior and former student body vice president—and our podcast host, Mykelti Blum. These ladies discuss the theme of mentorship, biblical examples of mentorship, and how this topic has become a passion project for Kaylie while at NCU. They also talk about women in ministry, and Kaylie shares part of her story of being...