Godly Goosebumps

Last week, Abe Anaya told us where he'd been: a broken home, addiction, and a prison cell. This week, he tells us where God took him.    In the conclusion of this two-part  Godly Goosebumps  conversation, Pastor Dudley Rutherford and Abe pick up where they left off. What changed after the moment of faith? And what does he say to the person listening right now who thinks their past has already...

A hard past. A life-changing faith. A future rewritten. In Part 1 of this two-part  Godly Goosebumps  series, Abe Anaya tells Pastor Dudley Rutherford how God’s grace carried him through addiction and prison—and opened the door to a new life. Watch his story of hope and redemption.

A spider’s web may seem fragile—but in God’s hands, it became a fortress. Join Pastor Dudley Rutherford on  Godly Goosebumps  as he shares Frederick Nolan’s extraordinary escape and a powerful lesson about trusting God when the odds are against you.

Have you ever been around others who were dismissive of or even hostile toward your faith? Pastor Dudley shares the story of a young man who encountered a stubborn, unbelieving professor who smugly declared to a group of impressionable college freshmen that Jesus was not the Son of God. You'll hear how this student boldly stood up for Jesus, unknowingly planting seeds of faith in the heart of...

There are few experiences as painful as the loss of a loved one. On this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley reads a moving letter from a woman who faced unimaginable heartache when her nearly 7-month-old baby boy passed away. Her words, intended to encourage Pastor Dudley during his personal season of loss, are a display of profound faith in grief—and the reminder that there is hope, even...

Have you ever begged God for relief during a difficult or painful season? On this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley shares a sermon illustration about a beautiful talking teacup that was formed and refined through hardship. You’ll be strengthened with the reminder that the Lord authors and perfects our faith, often through our greatest moments of discomfort.

Have you felt like giving up on God after a difficult or painful season of life? In this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley shares the story of a woman who was deeply shaken by divorce and the sense that God had failed her. While her faith was eventually restored, it was soon challenged once more—this time, by cancer. Join in to hear how God offered her the loving, unexpected reminder that...

Have you ever felt that your heart was too broken or that your past was too messy for God to still love you? If so, this episode of Goldy Goosebumps is for you. Pastor Dudley shares the incredible testimony of a former adult film star whose life was totally transformed the day she walked into Shepherd Church and heard a message that seemed to be written just for her. Listen in, and be encouraged w...

Are you in a difficult situation and in need of the reminder that God is good—and always at work? If so, don't miss Pastor Dudley kicking off season five of Godly Goosebumps with this powerful story about an unlikely hero: a 12-year-old boy who discovered a classmate was in imminent danger due to an unseen battle with suicidal ideation. This true story of remarkable courage and compassion offe...

Do you ever question whether God is really working on your behalf? Join in for this episode of Godly Goosebumps as Pastor Dudley interviews special guest Pastor Ricky Jenkins. Through moving personal stories, Pastor Ricky shares how his life and ministry have been used by God to help mend the racial divide in this country—from his family’s experience with forced integration in the Deep South to hi...

Do you doubt the existence of the God of the Bible? In this episode of Godly Goosebumps, you'll hear the incredible story of a devout Buddhist who found himself on his deathbed at just 17 years of age. Longing to have his life restored, this young man offered up a desperate prayer to the God he didn't believe in. You'll be amazed at what happened next, and you'll be encouraged to a...

Have you offered up a heartfelt prayer, or maybe even a desperate prayer, that has seemingly gone unanswered? Waiting on God is something that we all experience—and truthfully, it can be painful, confusing, and trying of our faith. In this episode of Godly Goosebumps, you'll hear from Pastor Tim Dilena of Times Square Church. In a powerful message he recently gave at a Shepherd Church, Pastor...

With weapons concealed, ten young men discreetly entered the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1959 as thousands gathered for one of the world-renowned Billy Graham crusades. Their purpose was both singular and sinister: to assassinate the legendary evangelist on the very podium from which he boldly declared the gospel. Ready to fire, the men awaited the signal. But just as one of them—a deeply troubled...

Are you discouraged by the racial division that plagues our country today? If so, don't miss this episode of Godly Goosebumps, in which Pastor Dudley shares the story of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., and Joseph McNeil, also known as the Greensboro Four. In February of 1960, these four courageous young Black men walked into the F.W. Woolworth Company store and sat down at an al...

Have you ever been misread, misheard, mislabeled, or misjudged? Pastor Dudley offers a word of great encouragement through the story of Gillian Lynne—an acclaimed theater choreographer who was overlooked as a young girl because of her distinguishing qualities, the very qualities that would ultimately propel her wildly successful career. This episode will remind you that you are one of a kind, crea...

In this episode of Godly Goosebumps , Pastor Dudley Rutherford continues the series “Resilient,” focusing on the extraordinary faith of believers in the underground Church across China, India, North Korea, and Iran. Through a powerful interview, Pastor Dudley sheds light on the unimaginable challenges faced by Christians in these regions and the unwavering resilience of their faith. This inspiring...

Do you ever wish that you could be more courageous in sharing your faith? On this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley shares a sobering conversation he facilitated at Shepherd Church with special guests Kenneth Bae and Jieun Baek. Their dialogue sheds light on the unfathomable oppression being endured at the hands of the North Korean regime, under which followers of Jesus are threatened wit...

Have you ever been mistreated as a result of your faith in Christ? If so, this episode of Godly Goosebumps—in which Pastor Dudley shares the recording of an interview conducted during a weekend worship service at Shepherd Church—is sure to encourage and inspire you. Join Pastor Dudley as he revisits his moving conversation with Bob Fu, an educator and advocate for the persecuted Church in China an...

In this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley shares the powerful testimony of author, poet, Bible teacher, and hip-hop artist Jackie Hill Perry. After a life-changing encounter with the Lord, Jackie made the difficult decision to leave a cherished same-sex relationship and assume a new identity, found not in any earthly relationship but instead in a relationship with the one true God. While...

Are you curious—or perhaps even concerned—about life after death? In this episode of Godly Goosebumps, Pastor Dudley, with tear-filled eyes, recounts a dream he had shortly after the death of his beloved mother, Pattie Rutherford. In a fleeting moment of sleep, filled with images that seemed all-too-real, Pastor Dudley encountered someone he'd been desperately longing to see. Don't miss th...

In 1996, a pastor from Wichita, Kansas, sparked nationwide controversy after offering an opening prayer before a session of the state House of Representatives. Forgoing any expected politically correct niceties, Pastor Joe Wright stood boldly before legislators and lifted up an impassioned prayer of repentance. As the United States wades into another charged political season, this episode will con...

If you've ever questioned the reason for your existence, this episode is for you! Join as Pastor Dudley retells the incredible story of a single mother who was being held hostage by a violent criminal on the run. While the man had committed a number of atrocious crimes and it appeared that her life was in great danger, it soon became clear that their time together was a divine appointment. Thi...

Don't miss this episode of Godly Goosebumps as Pastor Dudley shares one of the greatest displays of faith he's ever witnessed—at Dodger Stadium, no less! While attending a game with a buddy, Pastor Dudley found himself seated next to a young boy who, though completely blind, sat in the stands wearing a firmly fit baseball glove, hoping to catch a foul ball he would be unable to see coming....

Who would have dreamt that an American man brutally enslaved in Africa in the 1800s would act as an impetus for the emancipation of those held in American chains? Join Pastor Dudley as he retells the true story of James Riley, captain of an American merchant ship that wrecked off the coast of Northern Africa in 1815. Escaping the dangers of the pounding sea, Riley and his crew miraculously made it...

If you have ever been mistreated—or even persecuted—and left unsure of how to respond, then this episode is for you. Pastor Dudley shares the true story of a man by the name of Shodankeh Johnson who was residing in war-torn Sierra Leone when he was captured and held at gunpoint. Moments away from death, as a commanding officer prepared to pull the trigger, Shodankeh offered up a bold prayer of fai...