Come.Union Podcast

Join us Season 2, Episode 20 with our dear friend, Zanele Mutepfa-Rhone, as she shares her incredible story of resilience and strength. Growing up in Zimbabwe, Zanele learned the importance of community from her mother, whose teachings left a lasting impact on her faith. Despite the heart-wrenching loss of her mother at a young age, Zanele's journey is a testament to the power of faith, relati...

Season 2, Episode 19 discusses the real struggles of spiritual warfare, addiction, and the importance of facing our pain in order to heal. Ramonita and Erin candidly share their recent battles with spiritual warfare, highlighting the need for authentic vulnerability. They focus on the misconceptions of addiction and the way forward in order to heal. Drawing from their experiences and guest insight...

In episode 18, Jordan Rogers shares his powerful story of addiction, incarceration, and redemption. Growing up in a loving and supportive family, Jordan found himself drawn to drugs and alcohol at a young age. Despite multiple attempts at rehab and legal challenges, he struggled with addiction throughout his adolescence. It was during a period of incarceration that Jordan had a moment of clarity a...

In episode 17, Ramonita and Erin candidly share their personal battles with anxiety, reflecting on how family history, life experiences and unrealistic expectations have influenced their mental health. They explore various coping mechanisms, including therapy, exercise, journaling, and spirituality, while confronting the challenges of medication and the stigma of mental health within Christian com...

In this episode, Emily Birrell shares her story of overcoming fear, anxiety, and the reshaping of her distorted views of God. Growing up in a home with a father battling addiction and mental health issues, Emily struggled to understand God's love and experienced a distorted view of Him. However, through prayer and seeking, she began to experience God's love and grace in a new way. Her stor...

In this episode, Ramonita and Erin discuss the power of waiting on miracles. They share their own personal stories and insights on how they maintain hope and faith in the midst of waiting. They emphasize the importance of trusting in God's timing and surrendering to His plan—even when it is so difficult to wait. The conversation highlights the transformative journey that occurs while waiting f...

In this episode, Ben Herr shares his personal journey of faith and how he encountered Jesus in a transformative way at the age of 18. He discusses the foundation of his faith growing up in a conservative Baptist family and the pivotal moments of his life that solidified his relationship with Jesus. Ben is honest about the challenges he has faced in his marriage and as a father, and how God used th...

In this episode, co-hosts Erin and Ramonita dive deep into their personal ministry journeys, sharing the highs and lows of their experiences serving in the church. They touch upon the critical importance of maintaining a strong connection with God amidst the demands of ministry and open up about their struggles with burnout. Throughout the conversation, they dissect the pressures of performing ver...

In this episode, Berm Dorante shares his journey of resilience and the healing power of worship and community. From his early encounters with church and music in Kansas City to his move to Jacksonville, Florida, Berm found peace and refuge in his faith and in worship music. He discovered his talent and passion for singing in eighth grade, which ignited his love for leading worship. Throughout his...

This is an episode you will not want to miss because it Come. Union’s very own Erin Olinger! In this episode, Erin Olinger, co-host of the Come. Union Podcast shares her personal journey of finding validation and worth in the midst of never feeling enough or at times, a little too much. She discusses her struggles with an eating disorder in middle school and how she found healing and hope. Erin al...

S2E10: Searching For Belonging In this episode, Ramonita and Erin discuss the importance of being authentic and vulnerable in a world that often makes us feel invisible. They reflect on their own experiences of searching for belonging and share how they have learned to embrace their true selves, who God created on purpose, for a purpose. They also explore the concept of fitting in versus belonging...

Episode 9 features our friend Jana Kelsay and we can’t wait for you to listen. Jana Kelsay is an American-born Chinese woman who grew up in Portland, Oregon. She is passionate about supporting marginalized communities and finding ways to make people feel valued, seen, heard, and cared for. Jana has a degree in organizational communications and has worked in various administrative support roles for...

In season 2, episode 8 of the Come. Union podcast, Ramonita and Erin discuss the powerful quote, "Scars don't bleed, wounds do," shared by their previous guest, Faith Corley. They explore the concept of healing from trauma and how scars serve as reminders of past wounds. They share personal stories and insights, emphasizing the importance of allowing ourselves time to heal and recogniz...

"Scars don't bleed. Wounds bleed." - Faith Season 2, Episode 7 is with Faith Corley, a former board-certified music therapist and mental health counselor who shares her own story of healing from trauma and heartache she has experienced. Faith opens up about her challenging childhood, the impact of her father's harmful beliefs, and how her view of God was shaped by her family dynami...

"Our need for control is evidence of our lack of faith." - Ramonita "Sometimes we have to feel out of control in order to realize that God is in control." - Erin In episode 6 of Season 2, we discuss the topic of control and how it affects our lives—and the struggles that come with seeking it. We explore the idea that our need for control stems from a desire for safety and security....

Episode 5 is jam packed with insight and wisdom as we invite Deb Williams to share her inspiring story of faith and obedience. From her unexpected journey to Georgetown University to her having an incredible career at Nike—and then walking away, Deb's story is a testament to the power of listening to God's voice and following His plan—even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. She dis...

  Confessing the lies we believe and sharing them with others diminishes their power over us. - The Come. Union Podcast  In episode 3 of season 2, Ramonita and Erin discuss the power of replacing the lies we believe about ourselves with the truth. Inspired by their guest from episode 3, Mark Godbolt, Ramonita and Erin explore how lies can impact our relationships—and how speaking the truth can lea...

We have so many powerful stories being told in Season 2 of the Come. Union Podcast and this week we get to introduce you to the incredible Mark Godbolt! In Episode 3 of the Come. Union Podcast we invite our guest, Mark Godbolt, to share his powerful story of healing and reconciliation. From a difficult childhood marked by abuse and absent fathers to finding his purpose and starting a community of...

Grief is a complex and multifaceted emotion, right?! We know that grief can come from many forms of loss, including the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the transition from one phase of life to another. In this episode we explore the different aspects of grief and how it impacts our relationships with God, self and others. We dive into the reality of grief being a journey and wh...

It’s the Season 2 premiere of the Come. Union Podcast! Your hosts, Erin Olinger and Ramonita Smith, are so excited for this new season and their refreshed vision for the show! In Season 2, you will still find all that you loved about season 1, but this season is all about sharing personal stories—featuring some of their closest friends—and how they found reconciliation with God, self, and others i...

Merry Christmas from Come. Union! In this special Christmas episode, titled "The Gift of Reconciliation," Ti-Ti and Erin delve into the topic of reconciliation during the holidays amid the joys and occasional dark clouds that may loom over the season. They explore the connection between Jesus' arrival on earth and the significance of reconciliation in His coming. While sharing their jo...

Summary: Ti-Ti and Erin open up about their recent experiences and the masks they have worn in their lives. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in friendships, and how true connection can only be achieved when we remove our masks. They discuss the need for grace and understanding in relationships, and the power of being fully seen and known by others. Ti-Ti and Erin als...

Summary: E and T discuss the book "The Cure" and its impact on their lives. They explore the concept of vulnerability and the importance of taking off the mask to be truly known and loved. They also discuss the two paths of pleasing God and trusting God, and the rooms of good intentions and grace. E and T share each of their journeys of healing and the role of therapy in their lives. They...

Summary: E and T discuss the challenges and rewards of navigating transitions in life. They share their personal experiences of leaving familiar careers and stepping into the unknown. They emphasize the importance of obedience to God's calling and the role of community in supporting and encouraging one another through the in-between seasons of life. Key Takeaways: * Transition is a process tha...

Summary: Ti-Ti and Erin reflect on the REAL launch of their podcast and the overwhelming support they received. They discuss the importance of focusing on what is already present in their lives and finding gratitude in the midst of challenges. They also emphasize the power of words and the need to speak life and encouragement into others. The episode ends with a cliffhanger, teasing a future discu...