Connections with Mike Thom and Colleen Houde

Merv Peters is a Canadian financial expert. In this highly downloaded episode from 2020, Merv helps us take a biblical look at our finances and how money impacts our spiritual lives.  Merv owns and operates Fresh Ground Financial in Winnipeg, Man.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many churches aspire to be more culturally diverse-but they find that they have no idea how to approach that goal practically. This book addresses that problem with ten ways churches can truly engage and welcome other cultures. In 2014 Douglas Brouwer, a seasoned American pastor, took on the unique challenge of serving a multiethnic, multiracial, multicultural church in one of Europe's largest cit...

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. In January 2020, the Duncan family experienced a loss that left them with a void in their life.  Their son Kaius was born still. Their world was shattered. Andrea searched for comfort and found hope in a support group on Facebook. It was also there that she learned about cuddle cots.  A cuddle cot is a cooling unit that preserves a stillborn ba...

Many women struggle with the voice in their head that tells them they are not enough…not smart enough, not pretty enough, not capable enough, not present enough. In her book, Set Apart: How to Stop Comparing, Own Your Giftedness, and Rest in Jesus , Denisse Copeland uses the biblical story of Mary and Martha to share her own story of recognizing her unique giftedness and unpacks how women can embr...

Sheila Walsh is sharing candidly about her mental health struggles in hopes of encouraging the millions struggling to hold on to and live in the love of God. In her new book, Holding On When You Want to Let Go: Clinging to Hope When Life Is Falling Apart, Sheila Walsh vulnerably shares the traumatic events of her childhood, the loneliness, anxiety, and depression that still creep into her life, ho...

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. When a person experiences pregnancy or infant loss, they may find themselves in a life they never expected. And even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, they may not be common to you. Instead, they feel like a stranger in their own body, surrounded by well-meaning people who often don't know how to support them. That's according to t...

Joanna Weaver says that letting go of control is hard- unless we hold on to something greater, like God.  Joanna is the bestselling author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World . She also recently released a new book, Embracing Trust: The art of letting go and holding on to a forever-faithful God .   Today on Connections, Joanna talks about the importance of trust and the inspiration behind her...

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Patricia Myran of Long Plain First Nation is a second-generation residential school survivor. Her parents both attended residential school, and Patricia spent 12 years in residential school. She has also been a historical researcher for...

From a runaway street kid in Uganda to becoming a foster dad in America, Peter Mutabazi discovered the value of being known.   He is now sharing his powerful story with the world in his book, Now I am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth. Today on Connections, Peter shares his story and the role faith played in it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Awake In the Dawn: Living the Lord’s Prayer is a fresh new devotional concept, that shares a year-long journey of applying the Lord’s Prayer to our daily lives.   Craig Smith is a beloved pastor, musician, and teacher based in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. While he has pastored his home church for nearly three decades, his heart is to see the broader body of Christ genuinely deepen their relationship with...

Danielle Strickland is the proud mom of three boys, wife to Stephen, and has been affectionately called the "ambassador of fun". She is a speaker, activist, podcast host and author.  Her latest book is The Other Side of Hope: Flipping the Script on Cynicism and Despair and Rediscovering our Humanity. In this book, she discusses how we can overcome cynicism and despair and find hope by witnessing t...

Based on the inspirational novel by Ken Blanchard and Wally Armstrong, The Mulligan follows a man trying to right the wrongs of his past as he learns that the game of life is best approached with a clear head. The powerful film about second chances stars Eric Close (American Sniper, Nashville), Pat Boone (A Cowgirl's Story, God's Not Dead 2) and Tanya Christiansen (I Still Believe, The Hate U Give...

Many people can recall the exact moment their lives changed forever. Jenny and Evan Owens say what happened was wrong, and it hurt, but it does not have to define their lives forever. There is a way to overcome trauma and embrace a brighter future. Jenny and Evan, founders of REBOOT recovery,  talk about this in their new book, Healing What’s Hidden: Practical Steps to Overcoming Trauma. Today on...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Jay Lowder understands what it can feel like to be in a pit of darkness. He also knows what it feels like to be redeemed and to find God. He is now the founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries, an evangelistic ministry that works to help people who suffer the same depression and desperation that Jay once felt. Today on Connections, Jay shares his po...

It's been just over a week since the start of school and for many, this time can be challenging. Lucille Williams joins us today. She is the author of The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace.  She's also a national speaker and has ministered to families and couples for more than 25 years.  Today on Connections, Lucille shares how we can get through this season and o...

Square One World Media has been producing Christ-centred programming since 1947. Beginning with a simple radio program, their work has expanded to include television and online media. Yet even as their format changes, their commitment to delivering the Good News of Jesus Christ in a language people understand has not changed. Shoaib Ebadi has been the president and executive director of Square One...

Adoptive parents often discover that opening their hearts to adoption was the easy part. It’s the emotional journey after the surrender to the idea of adoption that leads to the hard seasons of testing. In Hope When It’s Hard , author Jennifer Phillips beautifully weaves together elements of her personal adoption journey with Scripture and encouraging words that will feed the soul of an adoptive p...

How do we teach our kids about being safe when it comes to strangers without scaring (or scarring) them? Today we talk to an expert with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection about just that.  They offer us five great tips to keep our kids safe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leilanie and Michael met when they were just 15 years old. Twelve years later they got engaged, but as they were preparing for their wedding something seemed off with Michael. Today on Connections, Leilanie shares her family's journey as they battle a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. She also talks about how faith and love have helped her family through the ups and downs of caregiving. This is a repe...

Erica Wiggenhorn is passionate about inspiring Christians to know God, not just know about God, by immersing themselves in Scripture. Now, with her third Bible Study, Erica digs deep into the Gospel of Luke, exploring the culture, the words, and the life of Jesus in  Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew .  Along with the book, Erica is preparing to launch a weekly YouTub...

Kenny Luck, the founder of Every Man Ministries, is a thought leader and expert on men and culture. Kenny has been called by God to revolutionize men’s ministry, free men spiritually and empower men’s movement worldwide. God is using Kenny to reach over a hundred thousand men each week through the Every Man radio show in Los Angeles and the worldwide LIVESTREAM of his weekly men’s meeting via Ever...

Born in Savlamar, Jamaica, Akeem didn’t have much of an advantage from the beginning. With limited options and tragic events happening early in life, he moved to Canada with his mother seeking a better life. However, they fell into tough times and struggled to find stability, moving many different times in a short period of time. Down but not out, with the help of some friends, they were able to g...

Talasi Guerra is a Christian author and communicator who is passionate about infusing Jesus into her everyday life and empowering others to do the same. In 2007, Talasi experienced a radical life change when God brought her through a period of healing from her long battle with anorexia and depression. Since that time, Talasi has been committed to bringing light and life to the world around her by...

Why are hit worship songs so different from Psalms? How do hit worship songs connect with the congregation? Should we be incorporating more hymns into our churches? Terry Mattingly is the founder and editor of GetReligion.org Today on Connections, Terry gives us some insight into the difference between hit worship songs and the Psalms.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happiness is considered a destination, but the finish line is constantly moving—when we get married, find that dream job, move away from home, have a baby, build a dream house, etc. We are promised that a happy life is tied to these milestones. But what if society has it wrong? What if happiness isn't the goal at all? Mary Katherine Backstrom, best known for her viral videos and candid writing on...