Followed By Mercy

Send us Fan Mail "I grew up stirring the mash... that kid grew up and is getting to preach the gospel today." In this concluding session of Followed by Mercy , Austin Gardner and Pastor Rickey Howard dive deep into what it means to truly "change your story." Rickey opens up about his heritage—from a moonshining family to a life of legalism and "goofball" mistakes—to t...

Send us Fan Mail "Our God is I AM... and the I AM lives today and helps you right where you are." Pastor Ricky Howard joins Austin Gardner for the second installment of his incredible journey from trauma to trust. In this episode, Ricky gets honest about the anger and bitterness that grew from his past and how it began to poison his relationships. We often hold onto our pain so long that...

Send us Fan Mail How do you break a cycle of trauma that has claimed the lives and freedom of so many your age? Pastor Ricky Howard joins Austin Gardner to discuss the "survivor's guilt" and the overwhelming mercy that pulled him out of a life of instability. Ricky shares how he lost his entire freshman year of high school because he lacked the family structure to stay afloat. But i...

Send us Fan Mail Shifting your focus to serve others is the most powerful way to break free from the trap of self-pity and find the "mercy that follows you." In this final installment of our five-day series, I sit down with Stephen Underwood of the Black Flag Innocence Foundation to discuss how a life centered on others: specifically the protection of the most vulnerable: changes your pe...

Send us Fan Mail "Ignoring it will not make it go away." In this powerful episode of Followed by Mercy , Austin Gardner sits down with Stephen Underwood of the Black Flag Innocence Foundation to discuss the dark reality of child sex trafficking happening right in our own communities. This isn't just a global issue; it’s a "backyard" issue. Stephen shares the tactical and h...

Send us Fan Mail "What does a suicide bombing in Tal Afar, Iraq, have to do with the safety of your grandchildren in Georgia? Everything. Join Austin Gardner and special guest Stephen Underwood (Black Flag Innocence Foundation) for a raw look at the reality of child sex trafficking in America. This isn’t just about statistics; it’s about the spiritual and physical mandate to be ‘sheepdogs’ fo...

Send us Fan Mail Podcast Show Notes: "Freedom is hard. Freedom is heavy. It is the essence of 'you eat what you kill.'" — Alyssa Deltorre. Today on "Followed by Mercy," we are joined by Stephen Underwood and special guest Alyssa Deltorre, Secretary of the Black Flag Innocence Foundation. Alyssa, a former Miss United States and a master of business psychology, shares h...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a missionary kid becomes a Special Operations soldier—and then uses those skills to rescue children from the darkest places on earth? In this powerful episode of Followed by Mercy , Austin Gardner is joined by long-time friend and mentee, Stephen Underwood. Stephen’s journey is nothing short of miraculous: from the mission fields of Peru to long-range surveillanc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Austin Gardner welcomes Pastor Rickey Howard to "chew the fat" and share a story that will change your perspective on what God can do. Rickey is the pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in St. George, Utah, but his life hasn't always looked this way. From the oil fields to the pulpit, Rickey and Austin discuss the "complete 180" that happen...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever been surrounded by people and still felt completely alone? Have you ever been loved by others, yet still felt unlovable? In this deep-dive session, Austin Gardner (50+ years of pastoral experience) tackles the root cause of why marriages, friendships, and even our relationship with God can feel so unstable. The problem isn’t a lack of effort—it’s a misunderstanding o...

Send us Fan Mail Are you tired of trying to "become" a better Christian? What if the biggest struggle in your life isn't your lack of discipline or your battle with sin, but your effort to achieve an identity you already have? In this final session of our series, Austin Gardner (50+ years of ministry experience) breaks down the theology of rest. Using Hebrews 4:10 and Ephesians 2:6,...

Send us Fan Mail "Jesus became what you were, so you could become what He is." Are you tired of waking up and feeling like you need to "fix" yourself before God can accept you? In this episode, Austin Gardner tackles the deepest trap in the Christian life: the belief that righteousness is something we achieve through our behavior. Inside this conversation: The Bank Account Exch...

Send us Fan Mail "Have you ever seen a branch sweating?" In this incredibly personal message, Austin Gardner confesses how he spent years turning "abiding" into just another rule to follow. Now, after 50+ years of ministry and a battle with Stage 4 cancer, he’s seeing the simplicity of Jesus’ words in John 15:5 in a brand-new light. What we’re digging into today: The Struggle T...

Send us Fan Mail "What if the message of being 'In Christ' has been there the whole time?" In this session, Austin Gardner (with 50+ years of ministry experience) walks us through the "One Includes the Many" principle. From the loins of Abraham to the blood on the doorposts in Egypt, God has always dealt with humanity through a representative. Inside this episode: The...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like you’re walking the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," entirely on your own? In this session, Austin Gardner dives deep into one of the most beautiful truths in Scripture: Psalm 23:4—"Thou art with me." Drawing from over 50 years of ministry, missionary work in Peru, and his personal battles with Stage 4 cancer and COVID, Austin explains why o...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like the Christian life is a treadmill you can’t keep up with? Like if you just tried a little harder, you’d finally "get it"? In this episode, I’m sharing why your effort isn't the problem—it’s your starting point. Most of us are taught to "behave our way into becoming," but the Bible tells us to "believe where we already are.&quot...

Send us Fan Mail Stop trying to improve something that God has already ended. Most people think salvation is just a second chance or a clean slate. But in this episode, Austin Gardner reveals a much deeper, more shocking truth: You were included in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection before you even knew it. Using the metaphor of a bankrupt company, Austin explains that the cross isn't a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like something about you was broken before you even chose anything? In this powerful teaching, Austin Gardner explores the two "planes" of humanity: Being In Adam and being In Christ . Drawing from his personal journey with a genetic cancer diagnosis and 50 years of global ministry, Austin explains that sin isn't just something you do —it's a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever paid for something you didn't even know you were paying for? In this episode, Austin Gardner dives into one of the "strangest" passages in the Bible—Hebrews 7—to reveal a life-changing truth: In Christ, you were there. Using the "Airplane Principle" from his days as a missionary in Peru, Austin explains that your identity isn't something...

Send us Fan Mail We spend our whole lives trying to be David—trying to be the hero of our own stories. But after 50 years of ministry and a battle with Stage 4 cancer, Austin Gardner has realized that the pressure is off. In this episode of the DNA of Grace series, we look at 1 Samuel 17 and Romans 5 to see that Jesus is the real David who fought the battle we couldn't win. Learn why "To...

Send us Fan Mail In this "unplugged" episode, Austin Gardner invites you into his home during a quiet Easter break to discuss the heart of the New Covenant. If you’ve felt like you’re clocking in as an employee rather than resting as a child, this episode is your permission to stop the striving. From the "City of Refuge" to becoming "partakers of the divine nature," d...

Send us Fan Mail Names reveal nature, purpose, and function. Today, Austin Gardner explores the six cities of refuge to show that they aren't just geography—they are a promise. From "Shechem" (the shoulder that carries your burden) to "Golan" (the place where the outsider becomes family), see the Gospel in a whole new light. Pre-order/Launch Info: "DNA of Grace"...

Send us Fan Mail In the Hebrew language, names are never random. They reveal nature, purpose, and function. Today, Austin Gardner invites you to "flee for refuge" as we explore the six ancient cities established in Israel. If you’ve been walking through life feeling like a "Mara" (bitterness), it’s time to discover the identity God has set apart for you. Austin walks through th...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a prisoner of your circumstances or a prisoner of Jesus Christ? In this study of Ephesians 4:1-6, W. Austin Gardner explores the "Therefore" of the Christian life. Learn why "walking worthy" isn't about earning your salvation, but living out the identity God has already given you. Discover how to protect biblical unity, trade insecurity for humilit...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when the doctor uses the word "palliative" and your nights are filled with panic instead of peace? For W. Austin Gardner, the answer wasn't found in a performance-based religion, but in the first two words of a familiar Psalm. In this moving and transparent session, Austin recounts his harrowing journey through Stage 4 cancer and a 21-day battle on a...