Amplify Peace Podcast

For nearly 20 years, Lori Navrodztke has walked alongside women and men who are struggling with a pregnancy loss experience including miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, and early infant loss. She shares her powerful personal story that formed her mission that brings healing to so many.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Large churches and well-resourced churches are often considered the most influential in our state.  Obed Escobar shares about the incredible importance of the Hispanic churches in Arizona and his heart to train future leaders.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recently celebrated May as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month . What many of us may not be aware of is that Asian Americans in recent years have become increasingly vulnerable to various acts of violence, racism, discrimination and harassment. How do we intentionally listen to their stories, their realities and their fears through the lens of peacemaking. This week on Counter Cultur...

Join us this week on Counter Culture/Amplify Peace Radio as we continue part 2 of our conversation with Pastor Jon Moton, Gilbert Campus Pastor at Central AZ. Jon continues to candidly share insights and challenges of living as a person of color in our culture today and how we all can respond more empathetically. Jon has been serving in ministry for over thirty years in several capacities in South...

Jonathan and Lisa share the mic with special guest, Jon Moton, Gilbert Campus Pastor with Central Christian AZ for a candid and insightful conversation. How does it feel to be a black pastor in a predominantly white church? How do recent events, like the racially charged Buffalo shooting, emotionally impact people considering their ethnicity and race? We need more people like Jon and more conversa...

What happens when you receive a vision so big you know it can only be accomplished by the movement and direction of God? Olivier, former director of Youth With A Mission in Switzerland, is compelled by an extraordinary vision to mobilize Christians and ignite a celebration of the 2,000 years of the resurrection of Jesus. You are going to be learning and hearing more about the “Jesus Celebrat...

What happens when you receive a vision so big you know it can only be accomplished by the movement and direction of God? Olivier, former director of Youth With A Mission in Switzerland, is compelled by an extraordinary vision to mobilize Christians and ignite a celebration of the 2,000 years of the resurrection of Jesus. You are going to be learning and hearing more about the “Jesus Celebrat...

There is huge gap to cross if you want to accomplish anything starting with good intentions.  Lisa and I talk about practical steps to starting a journey where you can make a difference in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are living in a world layered in trauma. It is seen in our own lives and in the lives of so many others. Sommer Knight , currently Co-Director of Foster360 , a nonprofit under Mesa United Way, helps young adults who have aged out of Foster Care through a holistic approach towards trauma-informed care and empowerment. She shares practical ways we can recognize trauma and move toward healing. Som...

We want to do good in the world.  We try to help those in need.  But often we don't know what to do, or if we do something, will it make any difference.  Trace Thurlby is the President of the Global Orphan Project and helped develop CarePortal, a platform that connects the needs of children in crisis to the nearest church.  He shares the story of how this simple concept has bec...

The idea of peace is very appealing.  But it is hard work especially when working across cultural divides and in war zones.  What does bringing people together look like when you've seen friends and family killed?  Colonel Lorenzo Valenzuela served for 30 years in the US Army including overseeing peace initiatives in Iraq, Afghanistan and shares some amazing stories and wisdom in ho...

When the bombs are falling in your neighborhood and your country is being invaded, what would you do?  What if you had a family?  Sasha Musiyenko is a teacher at Kiev Christian Academy and shares his amazing testimony of hearing from God in the middle of the night and how his family has been able to respond to the horrible suffering around them.  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

In the 90s, I spent several years living in Russia.  I lived with a Russian family, spoke Russian and made many dear friends.  I also taught churches and at conferences across the former Soviet Union including several trips to Ukraine.  My heart has been broken over the invasion of Ukraine.  Lisa and I try to process my experience through the eyes of pursuing peace.  See o...

I am thrilled to have a co-host!  Lisa Jernigan is the President of Amplify Peace and was a guest on my show when we realized how like-minded we are.  We both enjoy a good conversation and hearing people's stories to grow towards more peaceful understanding.  And my humor hasn't scared her off yet.  In this premier episode of Season 2, we talk about our backgrounds and why more...

Cecil Stokes was a successful television producer.  He always knew deep inside that he wanted to be a father.  Being unmarried and over 40, the dream seemed impossible until God opened up an amazing introduction to Boone.  Hear their story and bring tissues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Delph, President of NationStrategy has been ministering to churches and leaders around the world for 40 years.  His life of ministry has given him a passion to see everyday people in the church see how important their ministry is not just in church buildings but right where they work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Holmes had the hard job of removing children from dangerous situation.  Hear his incredible story of when he knocked down the door of a storage unit and how that changed his life.  He now helps churches care for children in the foster care system in South Florida. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the pandemic recedes and much of life normalizes, the aftermath of years of hardship to families has left many more children in our foster care system and far fewer families and resources to help.  Katie O'Dell, Executive Director of Arizona127 shares her heart and ways we can help make a real difference in the lives of local children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show I am joined by one of Arizona's heroes in caring for children through our foster care system, Berisha Black. Berisha shares her own powerful story of how God brought her through horrible circumstances to become an advocate for children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In my first show without a guest, I share about a very important conversation I had in an apartment in Siberia.  God has been teaching me a lot lately about the Kingdom of God and why it is so critical to living counter culturally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having you ever prayed to be a kinder person?  I have.  The answer to that prayer rarely just happens in us. It involves suffering to build the necessary compassion.  Janelle Shelton, Regional Director for CarePortal in the Midwest, shares her own journey being visually impaired and seeing God lead her down a rough road to make changes in her life to care for children in crisis.&nbs...

We almost all have faced periods of our life when we are waiting painfully for things to change.  Author Mike Brown shares his fresh perspective on how important that liminal and in-between space is to God and to us.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great conversation with Craig Detweiler, Dean of the School of the Arts at Grand Canyon University.  He encourages more Christians to come off the sidelines and be active in helping to shape and transform our culture.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Christmas episode where we ask the important question "Do we smell like beef and cheese?"  Nate Rogers and a very special guest joins me to discuss our approaches to helping others.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If someone was being chased and in danger and then knocked on your door, what would you do?  Mary Keach Director of Phoenix Refugee Connections joins me as we consider the implications of our faith and the plight of refugees.  With Phoenix set to receive many Afghans fleeing their country, it is a timely question.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.