Charisma Connection

Pastor Ruth Hendrickson knows what it means to be labeled wrongly and in a way that defines your life. As a child, she was once incorrectly labeled "retarded" because of a speech impediment. She had to learn not to let what other people said about her define her, but instead to walk out her identity in Christ. Today, after years of serving on staff in a church setting, she trains believers to find emotional healing, operate in the prophetic and serve on ministry teams. Listen and enjoy this wide-ranging conversation between Pastor Ruth and host Chris Johnson on Charisma Connection.

"Lord, if you're there and you can hear me, I can't get myself out of this one." After Candice Smithyman prayed that prayer years ago, Jesus radically changed her life. Today, after working the Scripture and being transformed by the Holy Spirit, Dr. Smithyman knows God meets you in your place of pain just as He met her. Serving the church along with her pastor-husband, Adam, Dr. Smithyman also leads her own ministry of healing, deliverance and miracles. Learn more about her ministry and her upcoming book, "Releasing Heaven," in this episode with host Chris Johnson and on her website, candicesmithyman.com.

Mark Casto grew up Pentecostal, and as a young man, he had a fervor for preaching. Being thrust into the pulpit and with his influence expanding, something radical happened. God shut it all down. Casto was stuck performing in ministry instead of living out of the overflow of God's love. Today, after being mentored and experiencing God's love, his life and ministry are radically different. Find out what Pastor Mark shares with host Chris Johnson about learning this life lesson the hard way and how you can avoid it in your own life.

Curt Landry unfolds the power and promise inherent in the feasts of the Lord, including Passover and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In these feasts, the God of the universe invites us to be with Him. We not only fellowship with other believers, but we also fellowship with Him. Find out more about what the feasts point to in this episode with host Chris Johnson. This is the final episode in our three-part Charisma Connection series on "The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith." We invite you to learn more about the feasts of the Lord at curtlandry.com.

Studying the Bible does not have to be daunting. There are plenty of accessible tools, including Bible dictionaries, guides and commentaries, for anyone who wants to better understand God's Word. Ellen Wildman, Bible marketing specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources, talks with host Chris Johnson about these "Bible helps" in the conclusion of our five-part Christian Standard Bible (CSB) series.

Gang member and heroin addict Louie Rosado nearly died at 22. But God. Rosado tells how God reached into his heart with love and radically took hold of his life. Today, he has a ministry that ministers through medical clinics and portable outreaches, from California to Cuba and beyond. Find out how this faith-filled man believes God to meet his ministry needs to help a hurting world. Listen to this episode with host Chris Johnson, and learn more about Medical Mission Adventures at mmadventures.org.

It's hard for adults to defend their Christian faith in a hostile society. Children also encounter friends or teachers who question their faith. But now, there's a great tool to help kids engage in these important conversations. The "CSB Defend Your Faith Bible" helps kids 8-12 speak about Jesus, find answers to tough questions and show that science does, in fact, support Scripture. Focus on the Family's Jesse Florea talks with host Chris Johnson about this special children's Bible.

Pastor Matt Rogers found a way to doodle his way to disciplemaking. After answering a confused young believer’s questions over breakfast, Rogers drew the 7 Arrows Bible study method on a restaurant napkin. The method became the basis for the "CSB Seven Arrows Bible" (sevenarrowsbible.com) and its simple tool for mature Christians to disciple younger believers. Learn more about this special Bible in Rogers' interview with host Chris Johnson.

Have you ever thought about owning more than one study Bible? LifeWay's Bible Marketing Strategist Eric Mullett has seen the benefit of using multiple study Bibles in his reading and study. Mullett brings his expertise on the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) to Charisma Connection in this episode with host Chris Johnson. He believes Christians can grow fast and deep when they choose to use multiple study Bibles to more fully grasp God’s Word. He offers an overview of the different study Bibles available in the CSB translation (csbible.com) in this show, the second of a five-part series.

If you're shopping in a bookstore or perusing the web for the best Bible to buy for yourself or a gift, you might get confused about the many options available today. But Trevin Wax, director for Bibles and reference at LifeWay Christian Resources, is thankful that so many translations are available. He believes the one he uses most, the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), is both accurate for study and readable even for new Christians. Find out why he thinks the CSB serves the body of Christ so well in this interview, the first episode of a five-part series on the CSB with host Chris Johnson. To learn even more about the CSB, go to csbible.com.

Southwest Airlines Captain Tammie Jo Shults lived through the near-devastating descent of her Boeing 737 in Philadelphia. On April 17, 2018, she and her crew successfully landed the plane after engine failure and rapid decompression, saving the lives of 148 people. Shults, one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in the U.S. Navy, overcome many obstacles in her career and found her value in Christ. Her training and God's peace kicked in the day she nearly lost a jet plane full of passengers. In this episode with host Chris Johnson and in her new book, "Nerves of Steel," Shults tells the story of how she got through that emergency landing.

World-renowned flutist and composer Peg Luke has sold out Carnegie Hall a dozen times. Now she brings her exceptional talent and encouraging heart to her music based on the biblical Psalms. Her new recording, "Peg Luke's Psalm Space" (psalmspace.com), aims to inspire listeners with hope and healing. Enjoy some of the music and her visit with host Chris Johnson in this episode of Charisma Connection and share it with friends who need their spirits lifted today.

God never lies. He stands by His promises. Believers can count on God to uphold the covenants He has made. Curt Landry reflects on the character of God and the covenants He has made with His people. Want to know the difference between the Old and New Covenants? What about conditional and unconditional covenants? How does the land of Israel relate to a covenant? Curt Landry, founder of Curt Landry Ministries and House of David Ministries, shares his expertise on the subject in this second of three podcast episodes with Charisma Connection host Chris Johnson.

As a public school science teacher for 45 years, Neill Russell has seen that America does not honor God as creator. America is at a "dangerous crossroads," Russell says in this episode with Charisma Connection host Chris Johnson. He believes it's time to declare God's sovereignty over America ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Americans must acknowledge God in every way and look to Him to direct our path, putting God first. Russell is also getting this important message out through a line of witnessing apparel at putgodfirstamerica.com.

Larry Stockstill thinks of himself as a missionary stuck in a pastor's body. Formerly the lead pastor of Bethany Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pastor Larry started a mission multiplication effort called the Surge Project (surgeproject.com) in 2000. Surge Project funds accountable national workers in their own countries to reach their own people and equips them with all they need to succeed. Pastor Larry calls this movement relational, organic church planting, and it's effective. Learn more in this episode as host Chris Johnson interviews him about this global church planting initiative.  

Reclaiming Your Forgotten Heritage, shares the story of how he was born an orphan and later in life reclaimed his Jewish heritage. Landry, founder of Curt Landry Ministries and House of David Ministries, believes that when the Christian understands the roots of his faith, it makes a significant difference in his spiritual walk. This episode with host Chris Johnson is Part 1 of a 3-part series on the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

Even though you're a Christian, do you find you're still in bondage to Satan's lies? Do you have the courage to move into freedom? Sterling Sawyer, founder of Liberty Tree Ministries, shares how the Holy Spirit can help us hunt out the lies we believe. Root out the lies and deal with your fears so you can find courage to walk in freedom. Put a smile on your Father's face as you live out your identity in Christ.

Are you looking for supernatural healing for your body and mind? Sometimes modern medicine and fallen creation don't have the answers we're looking for to get well. Acclaimed author and pastor Joseph Prince points believers to holy Communion for spiritual and physical health. The Last Supper is for you and can be taken even three times a day to remember the death of Christ and seek your healing. Listen to this special interview with Pastor Prince and to host Chris Johnson as she shares takeaways to apply to your own life.

Pastor Trey Kent and Dr. Kie Bowman, authors of City of Prayer, have seen thousands of believers come together to pray for one of America’s largest and most unchurched cities. If you’ve ever wanted to see your city or area transformed by the gospel, listen as host Chris Johnson interviews these two pastors about their experience leading a prayer movement in Austin, Texas.

Jennifer Wilde came from a life of wealth and fame but tried to take her own life in her early 20s. She only found meaning when she was saved at 25. Then God gave her a vision of many millions being saved. Now through the One God - One Day - One Africa (1GDA) evangelistic campaign, she prays her vision comes to fruition. Learn more about how this campaign is bringing global ministries together to reach people in more than 50 African nations in May 2020. Wilde shares her powerful vision in this episode with host Chris Johnson.