The Lovelight Stories® Podcast

Today on the podcast I'm sitting down with Steve Stirling. In this episode, you'll learn how Steve, who was stricken by polio and orphaned at a young age, has been able to live a thriving life in America and ultimately serve those with needs that are similar to the needs of his own as a young boy in Korea so many years ago.    Today, Steve is President and CEO of MAP International, a kingdom assig...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Kurt Kandler. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of The 410 Bridge. Founded in 2006, and deriving its name from 1st Peter 4:10, The 410 Bridge is a Christ-centered, community-initiated development organization.   From time to time, I like to bring guests on in a thought-leader capacity to help us think about issues of humanity in a new way. This is one o...

Meet Patricia Jones! In this episode we're sitting down to understand Patricia's experience living as a black woman in America. You'll also gain a new perspective as you hear her story of walking through multiple divorces (due to some pretty surprising circumstances), raising black children, enduring racial tension, and serving as a therapist in her day job.   Patricia is one of my favorite people...

In this episode, you'll have the chance to meet Tracy Alin. She founded Amistad Worldwide in 2010, and she has served as a social worker and chaplain in long-term care facilities for 25 years. Tracy's also currently an online professor teaching in Bible colleges in both India and Nepal. Before this episode is over, she may just encourage you to begin following your heart too!   Today you'll hear T...

Well hello there, Lovely! Welcome back to the LS Podcast, where we create space for real personal stories to be seen, heard, and understood.    After a very unexpected 2-month hiatus from this show, I'm so happy to be back!  (Before we dive into today's topic, I'll fill-you-in on what's been happening here the last 2 months and why we took such a sudden break on this show.)    Today's episode is a...

In this episode, Pamela is sharing her own personal story of experiencing sexual abuse 3 different times beginning at age 5, the addiction to drugs that ensued to numb the pain by age 9, and the 35 years of addiction that ultimately landed her in prison for 18 months in 2010. Learn how God saved her life with His redemptive love while she was still in prison, and how He's equipped her to grow an o...

Amilcar Valencia is a founding member and Executive Director of El Refugio, an organization accompanying immigrants detained at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA. The topic of immigration is very complex. It's a difficult topic to discuss, because there's so much to consider from both sides of the issue. This episode provides a glimpse into the "other side" of this issue we hear less abo...

Missy Williams co-founded Seed Effect with her husband after a mission trip to South Sudan where they witnessed the need for displaced families to be supported in creating opportunity as they rebuild their lives. Since then, they have built a thriving organization with human dignity and the value of work at the heart of what they do.   In this episode, you'll gain a better understanding of the ref...

When Manda Carpenter stepped outside her marriage in unfaithfulness to her husband, the guilt and secrecy around what she had done spiraled into suicidal ideations. She didn't see a way out, and thought it would be better that she weren't alive…Until she confessed her greatest mistake and began to heal what was broken. Through her intentional soul care practices and a lot of grace, she was able to...

In this episode we're flipping the mic! James Barnett, founder of Neighborly, is back on the podcast, this time to interview ME! I thought that while I'm asking others to share their story, it only makes sense to share mine too! In this episode, I'm sharing part of my personal story with you. It's my best attempt at sharing who I am, why this podcast exists, and all the ins-and-outs of what it too...

When James Barnett became disillusioned with the church, he knew he needed to go find Jesus elsewhere — by living in the margins. After having chosen to live homeless for two years, James founded Neighborly, a relationship-based poverty relief organization advocating for biblical justice. Their mission is to deinstitutionalize charity by helping you become friends with those at a disadvantage. In...

Simone Gordon is the founder of The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation, whose mission is to restore Black and Brown families' stability by removing the barriers that keep them in abject poverty and domestic violence situations. In this episode, Simone shares her personal story as a single mother trying to find resources for her son with autism. She gives us a glimpse into understanding what it was l...

Jessica Randall has shared her story of turning her "mess into a message" for over sixteen years and has been featured on major international media outlets such as ABC's 20/20, Katie Couric, The Guardian, MTV, Netflix, and many more.  When Jessica was a freshman in college, she made a life-altering decision that resulted in the death of her best friend. In an effort to raise awareness, cope with h...

Welcome to The Lovelight Stories Podcast, a space where we uncover a deeper understanding of humanity through beautiful, redemptive stories that inspire our hearts.     I'm Stephanie Jacobs, a storyteller and advocate for social justice, and your host of The Lovelight Stories Podcast. After spending multiple years studying social justice issues, I've realized the power story has in helping us to u...

Hello there! Welcome to The Lovelight Stories Podcast, a space where we uncover a deeper understanding of humanity through beautiful, redemptive stories that inspire our hearts. I'm Stephanie Jacobs, a storyteller and advocate for social justice. After spending multiple years studying social justice issues, building relationships with dozens of nonprofits, and walking alongside those in difficult...