Empowered Life Podcast

What happens when you stop keeping score and start living fully surrendered to God’s plan? In this episode of the Empowered Life Podcast, host Meredith Murray sits down with Chip Roop, the President and CEO of the Roop Family Foundation, songwriter, and musician. Chip shares his incredible journey from a small coal town in eastern Kentucky to seminary, and how God took his dream of being a youth p...

What does it look like when someone who spent decades furious at God finally lets Him in? In this powerful episode of The Empowered Life Podcast, we sit down with Lisa "Sunshine" Jennett, an unconventional, unapologetic, and radically authentic author and entrepreneur. Her life is living proof that where you start does not define where you finish. Born into a violent home in West Texas,...

What would hope say if it could speak directly into your darkest moment? Chaplain Desmond Haye has spent 20 years walking into the hardest places, and he wrote the book on it. Literally. Chaplain Desmond Haye is the Director of Pastoral Care and Ethics at Texas Health Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. Born in Jamaica as the 12th child, and orphaned of his father before he was even born… he has spent h...

1 in 7 adolescents around the world are struggling. Dr. Josh Roberts reveals how tending to the soul creates the internal foundation every child needs to survive the storm. Every child, regardless of where they live, what they have, or what they've been through, is searching for the same three things: a sense of worth, a connection to others, and something bigger than themselves. That's no...

Are you helping, or are you unintentionally creating dependency? In this episode of the Empowered Life Podcast, Meredith sits down with Stacia Miller (Director of Development at the Mansfield Mission Center) to discuss the thin line between compassion that restores and compassion that accidentally keeps people stuck.🌍 JOIN OUR MISSION: We believe lasting change happens when we equip people to sta...

He had seen the world. Over 50 nations. Thousands of lives impacted. But even then, he still had to ask himself one question: “Are you dead yet?” Not physically, but spiritually. Because the truth is, we can do a lot for God… without ever fully surrendering to Him. Johnny’s story is a powerful reminder that burnout doesn’t come from doing too little. It often comes from doing too much in our own s...

Less than 1% of orphans make it to college. We are changing that statistic today. 🎓When an orphan ages out without an education, the cycle of poverty repeats. But what happens when you give them a professional tutor and a mentor? You get doctors, engineers, and leaders.🌟 HELP FUND A TUTOR TODAY: https://alliesyouth.org/give.aspx🌍 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MISSION: https://alliesyouth.org💡 INSIDE TH...

⚠️ SENSITIVE CONTENT:  The following conversation contains honest accounts of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and suicide attempts. We share this to EQUIP you with the knowledge to step in and MINIMIZE these vulnerabilities for the next generation.  Viewer discretion is advised.  30 years old. That is the average life expectancy of an orphaned child without intervention, due to trafficking, suici...

When a single decision cost him everything, Shawn Serfass found himself at rock bottom. Facing the reality of broken choices, lost direction, and the weight of consequence.  But through mentorship, faith, and grace, Shawn’s story became one of redemption, purpose, and second chances. Now the founder of Second Chance Mentors, Shawn is passionate about helping young men rewrite their stories, discov...

Are you loving God with your whole life… or just the parts that are convenient? 🌿 Pastor Erik Erby joins Meredith to break down the Shema—the ancient blueprint for an empowered life. Discover how loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength naturally overflows into serving others with contagious joy. 👉 Join the Mission: https://alliesyouth.org At [50:00], Pastor Erik discusses “True Religi...

What really happens when someone chooses to protect the vulnerable instead of looking away? In this powerful episode of The Empowered Life Podcast, we sit down with Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, a man who has spent decades on the front lines fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the realities of human trafficking, not as something t...

Learn more or sponsor a child today at: https://alliesyouth.org  What happens when the pursuit of success is interrupted by a call to something deeper? In this raw and moving episode, we sit down with Mollie Lupinacci, a former global marketing executive turned child advocate, whose journey has taken her from Tokyo boardrooms to the mountains of Peru. Molly opens up about what it means to say yes...

What You’ll Hear in this Episode: 0:00 – Intro: How Chris Burgin’s “yes” sparked a global orphan movement 0:28 – Meet Chris Burgin, founder of Allies in Youth Development 1:41 – From one burden to 74 countries & 25,000 mentored kids 4:28 – The baby house that Chris could never unsee 8:47 – What really happens when orphans age out of the system 12:44 – Leaving a steady pastor job to follow God’...

Most people want to live a life of purpose…but somewhere between the daily grind and real responsibility, that purpose can feel out of reach. The Empowered Life Podcast exists to change that. This show is about more than inspiration. It’s about action. Real stories. Real people. Real impact. Powered by Allies in Youth Development, we’re bringing you conversations from leaders, mentors, and world c...