In The Seams

Dan Finch shares his inspiring journey through life-threatening illnesses, faith, and perseverance. His story highlights how leaning into faith during life's most challenging moments can foster resilience and hope, offering encouragement to those walking their own difficult paths. Main Topics Covered: Dan Finch's health journey: pulmonary fibrosis and liver cirrhosis How faith strengthened during...

In this episode, we welcome Mandy Farmer back to the show to share her remarkable journey through grief, chronic illness, and finding hope in God's grace. Mandy discusses her new devotional book, "Dissonant Chords, Joyful Harmony," and offers insights on lament, the power of music, and authentic faith during suffering. Main Topics Covered: Mandy’s journey through grief after losing her husband to...

In this episode, Sarah Reid shares her inspiring story of living with chronic illnesses like POTS, ME-CFS, and fibromyalgia from a young age. We explore how her faith and community support help her navigate daily challenges, and she offers encouragement for others facing invisible health struggles. Plus, discover her innovative projects, including books and the annual Be Potsitive Conference, aime...

In this episode, David Heflin welcomes LA Sprague, the founder of "Christians with Chronic Illnesses," to discuss her inspiring journey with POTS, her faith, and her new podcast aimed at encouraging believers facing health challenges. They explore the impact of chronic illness on dreams, faith, and relationships, emphasizing the importance of community, vulnerability, and divine trust. Main Topics...

Tveen Verano shares her family's emotional journey from a joyful, ordinary life to the shock of a childhood cancer diagnosis. Her story highlights the power of faith, community, and the importance of spiritual resilience amid unimaginable hardships. Main Topics Covered: The emotional impact of childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment How faith and scripture sustain families during crises Practical...

In this episode, Miles Washburn shares his inspiring story of battling Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare and severe autoimmune disorder, and how, through this experience, God inspired a mission to support fellow patients. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, faith, and making a difference. Key Topics Miles’ background as an athlete and his life before GBS The rapid onset of G...

From www.restoreofada.com : Dana Hargus, M.Ed., LPC Founder Dana Hargus is the Founder of Restore of Ada. She was raised in the Ada area and holds a bachelor's degree in education and special education, and a master's degree in school counseling. After successfully working with students with behavioral and developmental issues, she returned to earn her degree in counseling. She has been working as...

Broken and Mended Vice President, Andres Ruiz joins David Heflin to recap the "Broken Apart, Mended Together" conference featuring Dave Furman, Aren and Trina Bahadourian, Shannon Cramer, and Vaneetha Risner. Before debriefing each of the sessions, David talks with Andres about his chronic illness journey, how he got connected to Broken and Mended, and what his role is today. Then, David and Andre...

In this episode, David interviews Lara Silverman, the author of the newly released memoir, Singing Through the Fire . Lara was a high-power attorney just entering the best and most exciting time of her life when she was struck with severe vertigo, nausea, and pain. This mysterious illness eventually claimed her career and left her bedbound. But God was still at work in Lara's life. As she gained s...

In this episode, David shares his personal story, starting with injuries to both hips and culminating in diagnoses of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Crohn's disease. David shares how disorientation marked the first few years, but with God's help, he eventually made his way to acceptance and renewed purpose. David shares how this renewed purpose resulted in Broken and Mended and its different reso...

Broken and Mended board member and fundraising consultant, Glenn Newton, talks about his long battle with severe back pain. Not many years after finding relief through a successful back surgery, Glenn was faced with an even more painful disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia. Glenn shares how it impacted his life, ministry, and relationship with God. Glenn's story is one of persistence and hope, even...

In this episode, Broken and Mended Executive Director, David Heflin, shares four ways from Scripture that Jesus identifies with sinners to fulfill his promise to be with us. Even on the days we suffer the most, Jesus is with us. Sometimes our experience may confirm this, and sometimes that experience proves elusive. That's why we start with Jesus' promise (Matt. 28:20) and not our experience. Stil...

Lauren Watt has dealt with devastating chronic illnesses and pain since her early teenage years. After experiencing a massive disruption in her life, she graduated from high school at the age of 23. Lauren still struggles with some chronic conditions, but her life is greatly improved. She has been helped through a therapy called "brain rewiring." In this episode, Lauren shares her heartbreaking st...

Rachel Lundy has lived with various chronic medical conditions--all under the umbrella term, dysautonomia --since she was a teenager, robbing her of a normal teenage life and a promising athletic career as a swimmer. Rachel began her website and blog in 2007. Today, it is a hopeful collection of blog posts, book recommendations, and other resources for people with chronic health conditions. Rachel...

Dr. Timothy Gunnells, professor, preacher, and president of Broken and Mended Incorporated, shares from his struggles with the changes and stresses brought on by chronic illness in his Diamonds Conference 2025 talk. Diamond's Conference all-access pass to the 2025 Diamonds Conference and other past events can be purchased here: https://diamondsconference.org/past-events . Past blog post from Tim:...

Professor, counselor, and author Nate Brooks shares about his new book, Disrupted Journey: Walking With Your Loved One Through Chronic Pain and Illness.. Nate shares what he has discovered on his journey in supporting his wife, Kate, through her chronic health conditions. We cover the importance of faithful lament, finding ways to still have fun together as families, creating an atmosphere of acco...

This is the talk David gave for the Diamonds Conference on 1/24/25. How do you have joy in the midst of pain? Is happiness the same thing as biblical joy? How has the prosperity gospel harmed our ability to experience joy? How can Tolkien's vision of fellowship help us find courage and experience joy? David tackles these questions and more in this session. Here's the link for the all-access pass t...

In our final episode of 2024, we review the interviews and themes from all the episodes of 2024. Some of the dominant themes that emerge throughout all the conversations: embracing weakness as knowing the power of God, the overlap between chronic illness and mental illness, the need for the church to re-imagine its theology of suffering, practical resources for addressing chronic conditions (menta...

Mandy comes on In The Seams and shares her story of battling chronic pain for the past 13 years and how God has used her as an author to help others on this journey. Her children's book Soft Hugs For Mommy and her upcoming devotional book take unique approaches to help parents talk to their children about their chronic health issues and using music in a unique way to help us focus on God in the mi...

Amber has a multi-faceted ministry to help people with their mental health struggles as well as people living with chronic health conditions. Her website is here . Check out her resources and dance ministry ( Light in the Darkness ). In this conversation Amber shares her own painful struggle with mental and physical challenges and how God uses her pain to touch the lives of other struggling people...

Aren and Trina talk with us about their struggle with chronic Lyme disease and the loss of their son, Ori, after a life-limiting diagnosis. Remainwithus.org Podcast: Remain | Podcast on Spotify Podcast (Honey and Gold): Honey & Gold (Vol 1-3) | Podcast on Spotify Ministry referenced in the interview that helps families who are pregnant with a baby with a life-limiting diagnosis: Abelspeaks.org

Author and speaker Shannon Cramer shares about her journey with chronic illness (Narcolepsy and POTS), and why many chronic illness sufferers struggle with the question, "Is God Punishing Me?" Shannon's website. Shannon's book: How To Keep Believing When You're Suffering Host: David Heflin Producer: Andres Ruiz Editor: John Shields

Terry shares his journey from childhood depression to developing an impactful ministry to those who struggle with depression. Depression occurs at a higher rate amongst those with chronic illness and pain than the general population It is why we continue to speak out about mental health issues. Through his humility and by his radical dependence on God, Terry shows the church better ways to talk ab...

Dr. Timothy Gunnells shares his own experience with chronic pain in a vulnerable and gentle way. He teaches us that weakness is to be embraced as a way of experiencing the power of Christ (2 Cor. 12:9). This episode contains the Q&A that followed Tim's presentation, hosted by Sara Willoughby, Diamonds Conference founder. Here's the link to the all-access pass (hear from nearly twenty different...

David Heflin's presentation for the 2024 Diamonds Conference. Here's the link for the all-access pass: Diamonds 2024: Journeying Tickets, Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite