Charisma Connection

If you battle with depression, fight alcohol or drug habits or endured trauma in your past, you are not alone. Millions of Americans face mental health challenges every day. Dr. Dave Hoskins visits with host Chris Johnson to discuss how Florida's Honey Lake Clinic (honeylake.clinic) serves people in need from around the country. "Dr. Dave" also reflects on how the church treats believers when they have mental or emotional health issues. Listen to learn more about this expanding top-rated mental health clinic.

Volunteers are critical to every local church. Author Christina Angelakos brings her strategic leadership training to Volunteer University, a growing church program that understands the value of volunteers and their need for training appropriate to their personalities and skills. Her book, Volunteer, helps church volunteers serve with excellence, whether they are parking lot attendants, children's workers or security guards. Angelakos visits with host Chris Johnson in the Charisma Podcast Network studio.

Born in communist East Germany, Sven Lauch was 15 when the unthinkable happened. The Berlin Wall fell, opening the East to the West. He found himself in a state of shock and realized overnight that his worldview was a lie. As a young man, life in East Germany was good, or so he thought. But his parents later admitted that they had had to live under 24-hour surveillance. On the lighter side of life, Lauch enjoyed going to coffee shops, and that led him to a youth cafe and a Christian camp. Eventually he was saved. Listen as host Chris Johnson talks with Lauch about how the fall of the Berlin Wall exposed his inner walls and how Jesus made a difference in his life.

Should I defend myself and my family? Should we simply obey whatever the government demands, or are there biblical alternatives?Thoughtful Christians often ask these questions. Author Larry Fox tackles these two controversial subjects in his book A Biblical Perspective of Self-Defense and Civil Disobedience, an in-depth study of the Scriptures that offers Scripture-based insights on self-defense and civil disobedience. If you ever struggled with these issues, listen to this episode as host Chris Johnson engages the author in a meaningful discussion on how self-defense and civil disobedience affects the Christian's life at home and in society. 

"Part of me didn't grow up," VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer tells stand-in host Taylor Berglund in this episode of Charisma Connection. Many kids and their parents are glad for that because Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are now back with 18 Scripture-based episodes, this time on TBN. Vischer also shares about his brand-new Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids.

The apostle Paul prepared well for the ministry, but he also continued in the tent-making trade. Today, for various reasons, many pastors also have a marketplace ministry. Now Master's International University of Divinity has partnered with Columbia Southern University to offer a combined graduate program that provides ministerial and business training. Listen as Master's International University President Dr. Dennis Frey discusses this new concept in ministry education with host Chris Johnson.

Worship pastor Andrew Bullins may be from the North Carolina home of Andy Griffith, but he wants his city to be known more for a Holy Spirit outpouring than for a famous actor. Walking in the Spirit combined with growing in the Word has become the focus of Bullins' life, but it wasn't always that way. To help believers mature in their faith walk, he has written a highly applicable devotional titled "I Have Decided: 31 Decisions For Your Christian Walk." Listen to this in-studio episode with host Chris Johnson and decide today to move forward in your relationship with Jesus.

Bestselling author and Bible teacher Dee Brestin has studied the Scriptures and led others in Bible study for years. But even with her rich experience, Jesus still surprises her in her own life and through His Word. His story is woven through the Old and New Testaments, and she helps us "spy Jesus" wherever He is in the Bible and in our lives. Brestin shares the delight of seeing Jesus through the eyes of a new believer, the fruit of her husband's prayer for his children as he neared the end of his life and many more powerful stories. Listen as host Chris Johnson asks her to share how Jesus still surprises her.

What must it be like to have a family member in prison? Far too many spouses and families know the pain and helplessness of seeing a loved one behind bars. Thankfully, there are ministries like Kairos Prison Ministry International with volunteers who give of their time regularly to care for prisoners and their families. Kairos CEO Evelyn Lemly joins host Chris Johnson to share how this successful ministry meets the spiritual and emotional needs of this population.

The nation of Israel was born in a day in May 1948, but it took the involvement of President Harry Truman, a Jewish businessman and others to bring to pass the rebirth of a homeland for the Jewish people. Listen as Craig von Buseck, author of I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel, shares how President Truman was convinced to support the new nation by his Jewish friend. Dr. von Buseck's book is a biography of the Zionist movement.

Many believers today live the Christian life on the surface. They get busy with work, meet the needs of the family and serve God at church. But they often lack intimacy, unity and connectedness with God and other believers. Michael Thompson, co-founder of Zoweh Ministries and author of The Heart of a Warrior: Before You Can Become the Warrior, You Must Become the Beloved Son, joins host Chris Johnson on this episode to discuss this lack and share what he has learned about performance vs. relationship in his walk with God.

"To know is to be empowered." Author and Senior Pastor Mark Amoateng believes Christians need to understand when activity is heightened in the spiritual realm. In this episode with host Chris Johnson, Dr. Amoateng explains what spiritual portals are and how knowing about them can help believers be more effective in their prayer life.

Most everyone needs a cell phone these days. Now every time you make a call, you can contribute to the church or Christian organization of your choice. Faith Wireless business partners Christian Massi and Tim Theriot share with host Dr. Steve Greene why they got into the cellular business when there is such heavy market competition. Listen to learn how your cell phone use can not only be affordable but also can help you give toward kingdom purposes.

In 1981, when Doug Stringer handed out a business card reading, “Somebody Cares, call 24 hours a day,” it was the beginning of what came to be Somebody Cares International. In this Charisma Connection episode with host Chris Johnson, Somebody Cares Vice President Jodie Chiricosta reflects on the multifaceted ministries of this dynamic organization, from Adopt-A-Gang for prayer to leadership development to crisis response.

Are you a parent to spiritual sons and daughters? Dr. Shirley Brown, senior pastor of Destiny International Ministries Apostolic Training Center, is a spiritual mother to many and shares wisdom from her years of accepting this God-given assignment. Dr. Brown cautions mothers and fathers in the faith to not try to be friends with their sons and daughters but to guide them in their growth in the Lord and in life. Listen to learn why it's important for spiritual parents to be healthy themselves before helping sons and daughters in the faith.

Iraq War veteran, author and pastor Jason Tanksley discusses with host Chris Johnson the similarities between physical and spiritual warfare. Pastor Tanksley, known as "Tank" in the military, identifies how the enemy is at work in believers' lives and how Christians must learn to march in unity against the powers of darkness. Listen to learn more about his e-book, "Tactical: Exposing Demonic Strategies," and about his ministry in this episode.

Shane W. Roessiger lived as a drug addict for 20 years until his declaration of the blood of Jesus freed him. Now founder of H.O.T. House of Truth Apostolic Center in Southwest Florida and author of several books, including "Chunks of Meat," he experienced a miraculous healing of his leg at a Full Gospel meeting when he was just 7 years old. In this episode of Charisma Connection, Roessiger shares his powerful testimony and challenges believers to mature in their faith through God's Word.

Shalom Almog, co-owner of Coral Travel & Tours, goes the second mile is serving Christians who want to have their own experience of visiting the land of the Bible. This former "full bird colonel" in the Israeli Defense Forces has developed a great love for Christians and enjoys sharing the land he loves with them. He also is growing in his love for Jesus. And, as Almog told host Chris Johnson on this Charisma Connection episode: "Once you'll be in Israel, you'll not be the same."

Derek Grier had little experience with faith as a child. His Catholic mom prayed with him by his bedside and sent him to a Baptist summer camp. There he felt the presence of God but didn't experience the Holy Spirit in that way again until he was in class at Howard University. As an African-American, Grier felt Islam appealed to him more than Christianity, but when he encountered Jesus in a significant way, his life was thoroughly changed. In his new book, "When God Stops," Dr. Grier, now pastor of a large church, shares his own story alongside the accounts of eight biblical men and women. Listen as Charisma Connection host Chris Johnson asks him to share more of his life-transforming testimony.   

Rob Saunders, a fourth-generation investment banker known as the "Wealth Codes Coach," knows the language of business. More than that, though, he has learned to walk through life with love and laughter. No longer is he out for gain only, but he now has a kingdom purpose that drives his business and ministry. Listen to this conversation with Saunders and host Chris Johnson on this episode of Charisma Connection.