Connections with Rich and Bobbi

Join us for our continuing visit with the talented artist and sculpturist Deborah Samia! With a God-given gift for art, she's been creating since she was a child. We’ve been talking with her about her exploring how to combine her art and her faith, "but communicating in a language that is not just for people who know the stories of the Bible!” 

We’d like to introduce you to a very talented artist- Deborah Samia. Her primary form of art is sculpture, and if you drive around town in the San Francisco Bay area, you might pass by one of her pieces of a public figure or an art form on display! She talks  about discovering her gift, and seeking to develop that now as a woman of faith… 

Our guest today comes from one of those countries - Mali, in West Africa. Mali is 90% Muslim, with Christians making up just 2% of the population, and is listed on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith. But, hear how our brother is living with, and spreading, the Good News! 

On our last few podcasts, we’ve been visiting Lillie Knauls. She’s most notably known for her performances on the Gaither Homecoming TV program, videos, and tours. On our concluding talk with her, she shares how she maintains her health and stamina, as well as her spiritual well-being, in this crazy and demanding world; and also, about a singles ministry she’s involved with...

As we enter a new year we’re continuing our visit Lillie Knauls, who’s most notably known for her performances as a member of the Gaither Homecoming friends and a singer with the number 1 hit song “Oh Happy Day,” with the Edwin Hawkins Singers. She’s traveled extensively across our country and has sung in many of the most prestigious venues throughout the world.

This is Christmas week and to help us celebrate, giving thanks and praise to God, is Dove award recipient Lillie Knauls! The effervescent Miss Lillie – smile, hat, and all – shares about what’s truly important at Christmas, in word and song! And what a treat – singing all over the world, she was also a regular singer featured on the Bill & Gloria Gaither Homecoming T.V. series!  

“Oh Happy Day!” was a gospel song by the Edwin Hawkins Singers that made it to the top of the charts during the late ‘60's and early ‘70's worldwide! Lillie Knauls, our guest, was one of those singers, who herself has been used mightily by the Lord. Miss Lillie, as many know her, with her radiant smile and her glorious hats, was also featured on the “Bill & Gloria Gaither Homecoming” TV progra...

Operation Christmas Child is an exciting project that happens this time of year, and perhaps your church is involved. It’s an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse. Operation Christmas Child is actively wanting to collect more gift-filled shoe boxes than ever before, because now more than ever, children need hope! And with us on the phone to talk about “Operation Christmas Child” is Dana Williams, the Med...

We’ve come to our concluding episode of our visit with Pastor Joe Jacowitz and his thrilling story. We left off where Joe and his wife were attending the orthodox Jewish wedding of his niece. Next day at the Rabbi’s dinner, all eyes were on him as several rabbis and other Jewish leaders confronted Joe as a Jew who had become a Christian! - “Why have you left us?!”

To help us to reflect on Thanksgiving, particularly as children of God, we've called upon a dynamic communicator and Bible teacher, Pastor Joe Jacowitz of Christ Bible Church in Pleasanton, CA, to share his thoughts with us. We sat down with him at a local café…

We’re continuing our visit with Joe Jacowitz, who grew up as a Jew and was on his way to becoming a Rabbi. His life took a dramatic turn while he was in the marines and he became a Christian! He instead felt called into the Christian ministry and became a pastor! This is where we’ll pick up his dramatic story...

Well, again we’re continuing to listen-in on the adventure of Pastor Joe Jacowitz’s life-changing story as he shares it as only he can! If you’ve missed any part of it, or would like to listen again, they’re all posted on our website at connectionswithrichandbobbi.com . So, now let’s jump in where we left off!

We’re again continuing to visit with Pastor Joe Jacowitz. He’s been sharing how God changed his life as a Jew growing up in Brooklyn, NY, as he joined the Marines, moved up the ranks to become a sergeant, and then, surprisingly, found his true Messiah, Jesus, and became a totally "new creature in Christ"!

Joe Jacowitz has been sharing his incredible story of how God changed his Jewish heart, as a Marine Sergeant, while being witnessed to by a private named Bob! Bob was sharing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the true Messiah, who can bring us forgiveness! But Joe had his doubts because of his past, particularly after having persecuted a soldier in his platoon named Metcalf...

We’re continuing to hear from Joe Jacowitz as he shares his testimony of how the Lord changed his heart as a Jew to follow Jesus. We left off when Joe was in the Marines, & a young Christian named Bob was showing him about the Messiah in Joe’s own Jewish Bible! But Joe wanted to hear what his Rabbi thought of it. So off they went to ask him...

We’re continuing with our visit with Joe Jacowitz as he shares his compelling  testimony of how a Jewish boy from Brooklyn joined the Marines, and through various circumstances, found himself in a quandary regarding his relationship with God. We left off with Joe madly driving away from the base, desperately lamenting before the Lord!

We’re continuing with the testimony of Joe Jacowitz, as he shares his earth-shattering experience of how God revealed to him that Jesus is the Messiah and that eternal life comes only through Him! Joe, who grew up as a Jew, is currently the pastor of Christ Bible Church and president of First Love Ministries.

So how does the Lord grab ahold of the attention of an intense young Jewish Marine who’s been studying to become a Rabbi, and shake up his faith with one question?! Joe Jacowitz continues his fascinating story of how God turned his spiritual journey upside down, leading him to become pastor of Christ Bible Church and founder and president of the Christian outreach, FirstLove Ministries!   

Today we begin an extraordinary story of a young Brooklyn Jewish boy who grew up right next to the boardwalk on Coney Island, in NY. Grown now, he recounts his journey from wanting to be a Rabbi, to the Lord changing his heart to follow Yeshua-Jesus-as his Lord and Savior! He’s Pastor Joe Jacowitz, the president and founder of First Love Ministries, and the pastor of Christ Bible Church. 

Our guest is Sadaf from Pakistan. He’s a dear servant of the Lord who shares about some of the struggles and difficulties for Christians living in a suppressed land where they’re considered outcasts.

We conclude our talk with a person who’s been deeply scarred from her childhood. She was sexually abused by not only her father, but, as we’ll hear, in one of the most unlikely places where we take our children! But God is always faithful, and she shares how He’s led her to ongoing growth and healing…

We’re continuing our talk with a woman who was sexually abused as a child, who shares her courageous story of survival and recovery from the scars of her abuse, by God’s Grace. (Portions of her story are somewhat graphic and may not be appropriate for younger listeners) 

We’re visiting with a person who shares her courageous story of growing up in a home where she was sexually abused as a child. Portions of her story are somewhat graphic and may not be appropriate for younger listeners. But, it’s an important message of what many households may be going through no matter where they live or their social or economic status - and how this young lady was able to survi...

We’re continuing our talk at a local café with Pastor Joe Jacowitz, president of First Love Ministries and pastor of Christ Bible Church in Pleasanton, CA. He shares the various ways that God speaks to all of mankind as we look at the topic, “Why the Bible?”

We’re talking with Pastor Joe Jacowitz, the president of First Love Ministries, and the pastor of Christ Bible Church in Pleasanton, CA. We asked Pastor Joe to explain to those who are searching for truth why we as Christians look to the Bible for guidance and direction. They may say, “Why the Bible?”