Why I Believe

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 10:11-18, where Jesus declares, "I am the Good Shepherd." In a world filled with distractions, opinions, and constant noise, it can be difficult to recognize God's voice. Yet Jesus reminds us that He knows His sheep, cares for them deeply, and willingly laid down His life for them. The Good Shepherd doesn't abandon His flock when life...

What does it look like to build your life on faith… in the middle of constant change? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Yannick Hicks, man of faith, immigrant, and lifelong learner, to talk about identity, perseverance, and what it means to trust God through every transition. Originally from Cameroon, Yannick moved to the United States as a teenager, stepping into a completely new...

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 8:12-20, where Jesus boldly declares: "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Life often presents us with decisions, uncertainties, and challenges that tempt us to rely solely on our own understanding. Yet Jesus offers something greater—a light that guides our steps,...

What if your story doesn't have one defining moment… but a lifetime of quiet, consistent faith? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Elzie Flendard, podcaster, entrepreneur, husband, father, and man of faith, to talk about what it looks like to walk with God through every season of life. Elzie's story isn't built around a single dramatic turning point. Instead, it's a series of momen...

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 6:35-40, where Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life." In a world filled with distractions and endless demands on our attention, it's easy to feed our minds and hearts with things that leave us empty. Jesus offers something different. He offers Himself, the only One who can truly satisfy the deepest hunger of our souls. As you liste...

What if your life changed… in a single moment you almost didn't survive? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Lia Allen, relationship marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and woman of faith, to share a story of hitting rock bottom and finding redemption on the other side. From the outside, Lia's life looked successful. She was a business owner. A leader in her community. Someone other...

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 4:7-15, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well and offers her something far greater than water, living water. So often, we look to success, relationships, achievement, comfort, or distractions to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Yet Jesus reminds us that earthly things will always leave us thirsty again. Only He...

What do you do when everything you've built… disappears overnight? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Elaine Lankford, Christian entrepreneur coach, founder, and leader, to share a powerful story of loss, identity, and discovering purpose through faith. Elaine's life was thriving. A successful 16-year nursing career… leadership roles… a clear path forward… Until one afternoon in 20...

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 2:1-11, the account of Jesus' first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana. When a simple problem arose, Jesus took something ordinary, water, and transformed it into something extraordinary. Often, we bring God our biggest challenges but hold back the ordinary parts of our lives. Yet this passage reminds us that Jesus cares about ev...

What if the faith you grew up with… isn't the same faith you live as an adult? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Dr. Gabriel Warren, educator, former Division I athlete, and man of faith, to talk about identity, discipline, and what it really means to choose your faith for yourself. Growing up as a preacher's kid in Alabama, Gabriel was surrounded by faith from the very beginning,...

Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 1:35-39, where two disciples hear John the Baptist identify Jesus as the Lamb of God and choose to follow Him. When Jesus notices them, He asks a simple yet powerful question: "What do you seek?" Their response leads to an invitation that still echoes today: "Come and see." As you listen, consider this reflection question: What is Jes...

What if everything you've been chasing… still leaves you feeling empty? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Erin Harrigan; biblical business coach, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed "daughter of the King", to talk about identity, surrender, and what it really means to build your life with God at the center. Erin's journey didn't start with a deep relationship with Jesus. Raised i...

Welcome to the very first Faithful Friday. Each Friday, we'll spend a few moments in Scripture, reflection, and prayer as we intentionally pause and make room for God in our busy lives. Today, we're reading John 1:1-5, a powerful reminder that Jesus is the Light of the world and that no darkness can overcome Him. As you listen, take time to reflect on this question: Where in your life do you need...

What if you knew, deep down, that your life had been spared for a reason… but you weren't sure what that reason was yet? In this special episode of Why I Believe , the tables are turned as Marianne Callaghan interviews me, Michelle Von Ruden, about my own journey of faith, survival, and calling. From the very beginning, my story has been marked by moments that shouldn't have happened. Born with a...

What if everything you worked so hard for… still didn't bring you peace? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Jill Cirillo, former corporate leader turned founder of Faith Meets Leadership,  to talk about the shift from striving for success to surrendering to God's purpose. Jill spent over 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, checking all the boxes, achieving success, and carrying...

What if your life could change in a single moment… even before you felt "ready"? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Jayne O'Hara, Christian life coach, trauma recovery specialist, and women's ministry leader, to share a powerful story of deliverance, healing, and walking in faith. Jayne's journey began in the middle of addiction. Raised in a family with generations of alcohol abuse...

What if who you are… mattered more than what you do? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Becky Plautz, wife, mom, business owner, and faith-led leader, to talk about identity, intentional living, and what it means to truly anchor your life in Christ. Like many, Becky grew up in church, but over time, she drifted away and spent years navigating life on her own terms. It wasn't until...

What do you do when the pain you've lived through makes it hard to believe in God at all? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Cherryann Joseph,  educator, Maxwell Leadership coach, and retired military officer, to share a story of trauma, anger, and ultimately, transformation through faith. Cherryann's childhood was marked by abuse, instability, and unanswered prayers. Despite growi...

What if God is speaking… and we're just not listening? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Marianne Callaghan; wife, mom, and Director of Faith Formation, to talk about what it really looks like to move from simply knowing your faith… to truly living it. Raised in the Catholic Church, Marianne always had faith, but it wasn't until later in life, through marriage, motherhood, loss, a...

What happens when your life changes overnight… and nothing goes according to plan? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Kelly Melcher; wife, mom of two (with one on the way), and woman of faith, to share a story of unexpected diagnosis, shifting identity, and learning to trust God in the middle of uncertainty. Shortly after getting engaged, Kelly lost her vision and was diagnosed wit...

What if the things people said about you… were never true to begin with? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Kiersten Schlough; designer, photographer, youth leader, and woman of faith, to talk about identity, healing, and learning to see yourself the way God does. Kiersten's journey began with bullying in middle school, feeling like she didn't fit in, and struggling to understand w...

What if a simple childhood prayer… became the foundation for a lifetime of faith? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Ann Bodie; retired nurse, wife, mom, and grandmother, to share a powerful journey of faith that spans from childhood innocence to navigating unimaginable loss. At just 12 years old, Ann prayed for a sign that her mother and unborn brother would be okay. Her request?...

What do you do when your life changes in a single moment… and everything you planned is gone? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Julie Raque, speaker, business consultant, and single mother, to share a deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and faith through life's hardest seasons. At just 29 years old, Jule became a widow overnight after her husband was killed in a car acciden...

What if God asked you to do something that made absolutely no sense? Would you do it? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Heather Black—speaker strategist, event expert, and self-proclaimed "stubborn" follower of Christ—to talk about what it really looks like to trust God… even when you don't have the full plan. It all started with a simple (and slightly unexpected) instruction: "Go...

What do you do when your entire world changes in a single moment? In this episode of Why I Believe , I sit down with Jenni Bernal; wife, mom, and woman of deep faith, to share a powerful story of trauma, resilience, and trusting God through the unknown. After a devastating bike accident left her husband with a spinal cord injury and the possibility of paralysis, Jenni found herself facing decision...