Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

*This episode mentions abuse and may be triggering for some listeners.*
This week, we hear from Chris Edmonds, who shares the story of his father, World War II hero Roddie Edmonds, who was honored with the Medal of Honor for saving hundreds of Jewish American soldiers in a Nazi POW camp.
Next, we’ll hear from Caleb Altmeyer, founder of Helping Captives, who will tell us about a childhood friend’s tragic story, which eventually led him and his family into the fight against sex trafficking.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Jochen Wurfl
Upcoming interview: Giavani Cairo

Chris Edmonds
Roddie Edmonds
Battle of the Bulge
Stalag IX-A
Isaiah 26:12
www.roddieedmonds.com
No Surrender

Caleb Altmeyer
Helping Captives
Union Gospel Mission

Interview Quotes:
“From the moment [Dad] surrendered to Christ as a teenager at Vestal United Methodist Church in South Knoxville, God’s Word became his marching orders. And I think that’s what gave him the moral clarity he needed in the worst conditions, because he really understood life from a biblical perspective, and it sealed his moral code to where he wanted to live by that clarity.” - Chris Edmonds
“Dad saved his Jewish men because a Jewish man named Jesus had saved him, had redeemed his life, and redeemed him from his inhumanity to where he could actually be who God wanted him to be.” - Chris Edmonds
“When you stop and think about it, that’s all God expects for us—to do what’s right for Him, for the Lord first, and then for others. If we do what’s right for the Lord, then we’re going to do what’s right for others.” - Chris Edmonds
“Dad being saved in that camp and all of his boys getting out safe—that’s all the Lord’s doing. And then for it to be buried in the ashes of the Holocaust for seventy years before it ever comes to light, that’s all the Lord’s doing. And I think it’s for such a time as this, when we so desperately need to start treating people with the highest respect and honor that God calls us to.” - Chris Edmonds
“When we esteem others better than ourselves, we take people to the place where God resides, for that unconditional love—regardless of who they are, regardless of what we think about them, regardless of how they think about us, we love them with the love of Christ. And that is a love that’s beyond this world, but it’s a love that we have to share through the power of Christ.” - Chris Edmonds
“I shouldn’t be here. My family shouldn’t be here. A lot of those Jewish guys and the POWs in that camp should have been killed, but [Dad] talked the Nazi down and told him the truth and he told him in love. I hope someday in heaven when I’m there with Dad, that the old Nazi’s there and we get to celebrate that we’re all one in the Lord. - Chris Edmonds
“I think, unfortunately, sometimes the movies just help us reiterate in our head, Oh, this is kids in shipping containers, and this happens overseas, when the reality is that a lot of human trafficking is happening in your own community.” - Caleb Altmeyer
“Traffickers exploit unmet needs. And I think one of the greatest needs that we all have is belonging.” - Caleb Altmeyer
“If you have a relationship with your kids, and you’re actively parenting them, and you have a good relationship and know who they’re talking to, the chances of them being trafficked are much lower. I can’t say this enough: build relationships with vulnerable young people. Traffickers are really good at finding vulnerable people. The church should be better at finding them first.” - Caleb Altmeyer
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Interviews: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Video Interviews: https://bit.ly/4f79RAW
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/4q5iTCx
Scripture Series: https://bit.ly/4wAVGKU
Celebrity Readings: https://bit.ly/4bIS5BJ
Video Devotionals: https://bit.ly/4fG1kFb
Sleep Meditations: https://bit.ly/4w0xu37
Shorts: https://bit.ly/3RHFubh
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we hear from hockey playing brothers Jaccob and Josiah Slavin—Jaccob a veteran defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes and Josiah now playing for the Chicago Wolves in the same organization. They share about the night they finally played in an NHL game together after dreaming about it since childhood, and how they keep their personal convictions strong in a challenging environment.
Next, we’ll hear from Sara McDaniel, whose marriage fell apart around age thirty-two, leaving her angry at God. She shares how a cottage in Minden, Louisiana—and the social media account she started to document its transformation—became a place to talk about her story, and how she held on to hope through her father’s death and the health scare and job loss that followed.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Jenny Marrs
Upcoming interview: Chris Edmonds
Jesus Calling: Harvest of Blessings

Jaccob and Josiah Slavin
Jaccob’s NHL Profile
Josiah’s NHL Profile
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Wolves

Sara McDaniel
Simply Southern Cottage
Better Homes and Gardens
Southern Living Magazine
Cottages and Bungalows
Hometown Kickstart with HGTV
In With the Old on Magnolia Network
Romans 8:28
Ephesians 3:20
The Bright Side of the Other Side

Interview Quotes:
“Our dad, every morning before school, would be at the table in the same spot every single day, just reading his Bible in front of us. As a little boy or a teenage boy growing up, you just wanted to be like your dad, and you wanted to pull out your Bible and read next to him. I think that was the biggest way that faith stuck in my life.” - Josiah Slavin
“It was an awesome moment that God just kindly gave us [to play hockey together], and we were just able to enjoy it and be able to be out on the ice for a couple shifts together and kill a couple penalties together. I mean, [it was] just what we both dreamed about growing up.” - Jaccob Slavin
“I was realizing that there was a very strong parallel between the renovation of this house and the restoration of my life post-divorce. I began opening up about my story, and when I would talk about slowly putting the house back together, I would draw this parallel about how the Lord was healing my heart and slowly putting me back together also.” - Sara McDaniel
“I could not believe that this little girl from Louisiana who’s doing these renovations caught the attention of magazines that noted, national interior designers are a part of, but then just realizing that the Lord was increasing my platform so that I could continue to tell the story of restoration, grace, hope, mercy, and redemption—and how He can take beauty from ashes.” - Sara McDaniel
“It was very hard to cling to hope through all of these trials. I was very upset with God for letting my marriage fall apart, thinking my life was never going to be happy again. But the further I got away from that situation and the more that I leaned into Him and His plan for my life and the promise of Romans 8:28—that He is going to work all things for good—I started to realize that there is a bright side on the other side of this pain.” - Sara McDaniel
________________________
Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Interviews: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Video Interviews: https://bit.ly/4f79RAW
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/4q5iTCx
Scripture Series: https://bit.ly/4wAVGKU
Celebrity Readings: https://bit.ly/4bIS5BJ
Video Devotionals: https://bit.ly/4fG1kFb
Sleep Meditations: https://bit.ly/4w0xu37
Shorts: https://bit.ly/3RHFubh
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, Susie McEntire sits down with author, actor, and filmmaker Nathan Clarkson for an honest conversation about letting go of perfectionism and embracing a faith rooted in grace. Nathan also talks about his new book, I’m the Worst, and the redemption journey that inspired it.

Guest’s Links
Facebook: @nathanclarksoncreations
Instagram: @nathanjclarkson

Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4cmdgKD
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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we hear from bestselling author Francine Rivers, who has been married to her husband, Rick, for fifty-six years. She shares how a home Bible study helped carry them from the edge of divorce, what caring for Rick—a Vietnam Marine with Parkinson’s—looks like now, and why she sees death as a beginning.
Next, Bible teacher and speaker Whitney Capps offers profound insight into the process of dying and holding fast to faith in the midst of questions, pain, and suffering. Her story touches on confronting her mortality daily, finding comfort in a supportive community, and experiencing deep peace through uncertainty.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens
Past interview: Esther Fleece Allen
Upcoming interview: Jaccob and Josiah Slavin
Jesus Calling: Harvest of Blessings

Francine Rivers
PTSD from the Vietnam War
Parkinson’s Disease
www.francinerivers.com
The Woman Between

Whitney Capps
small bowel adenocarcinoma
2 Corinthians
Romans 8
The Melody of Grace Bible Study

Interview Quotes:
“I think you start out with this passionate love for each other, it doesn’t die away, but your love grows and changes and matures.” - Francine Rivers
“You’re growing all the time. Things are changing, your life is changing, and you have a lot of different phases. And it’s worth the work. The love deepens, I think, as time goes by.” - Francine Rivers
“I’m in the Word every morning, and I think that’s really important to set the course for the day. I notice that when I don’t do that, for whatever reason, something happens and my day doesn’t go nearly as well. It’s a way to make sure God is in control of your day.” - Francine Rivers
“The way I look at death, you don’t really know what it’s going to be like, but you know what’s on the other side is joy that God’s promised us. So we kind of focus on that more than anything—what’s beyond, not necessarily the difficulties right now.” - Francine Rivers
“We have an embarrassment of riches in terms of community. The Lord’s kindness is not lost on me.” - Whitney Capps
“I’m really grateful that [God] was kind enough to superintend and go, ‘No, you don’t have to wait for a story to make a difference in ministry. Just being in the Word is enough.’” - Whitney Capps
“I think we should show up with our pain because whatever story we’ve been asked to steward can be heavy, it can be hard, and it shouldn’t be compared to somebody else’s hard. Whatever we’ve been asked to steward, those are stories that are worth talking about in the church.” - Whitney Capps
“I’ve followed the doctor’s protocols and we really have followed every avenue that the Lord gave us as an option. But the thing that I’ve discovered, more than any of those gifts of grace, is that He is the chief gift of grace. His presence is the thing that I want more than anything else, and His presence is the only thing that gives me any sense of control.” - Whitney Capps
“The reality is, when I see Jesus face-to-face, it’ll be the most alive I’ve ever been. Cancer cannot steal one day from me. We rest in the sovereign plan of God. He knows my final day before I was born, and cancer doesn’t have the authority to change God’s plan.” - Whitney Capps
“I know that [God] can heal me, and yet He chooses not to. I don’t think we talk about that enough—the spiritual kind of barrenness of going, I have not doubted for one day that God could miraculously heal me. And we pray for miraculous healing, but there is a wrestling that happens when His answer is no.” - Whitney Capps
“I have had to shift what the goodness of God looks like to me. I can’t think about it as ease or comfort. The goodness of God is being with me in the days of suffering. He is with me in the messy middle.” - Whitney Capps
“This has been a hard story, and there’ve been lots of tears shed as I think about the possibility of not being here for my boys, not being there for my husband. Those are some of the things I wrestle with. Ultimately, our family has chosen to just say, ‘Why not us? We have been incredibly blessed. So why not us? Why not a hard story, and what can we do with this story that makes much of Jesus?’” - Whitney Capps
“I think it’s so kind of our God to allow us lament, that He doesn’t expect us to hide our pain from Him. I find great comfort in that, that He’s not offended by our sorrow or our pain—that He entered into it, in the person of Jesus Christ, but even before the incarnate Christ, He allowed His people the space for our souls to cry out.” - Whitney Capps
________________________
Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Interviews: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Video Interviews: https://bit.ly/4f79RAW
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/4q5iTCx
Scripture Series: https://bit.ly/4wAVGKU
Celebrity Readings: https://bit.ly/4bIS5BJ
Video Devotionals: https://bit.ly/4fG1kFb
Sleep Meditations: https://bit.ly/4w0xu37
Shorts: https://bit.ly/3RHFubh
________________________
Connect with Jesus Calling
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we hear from Italian journalist and author Aldo Cazzullo. Aldo walks us through the Song of Solomon, a book of deeply passionate and romantic poetry which celebrates love the way God designed it: to reflect His creative power.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling Podcast
Jesus Calling
Jesus Always
Jesus Listens

Aldo Cazzullo
Song of Solomon
The God of Our Fathers


Interview Quotes:
“The Song of Solomon is a mystery, a text speaking about spiritual love but also physical love. When you open the Song of Solomon, you encounter a collection of deeply passionate, romantic poetry, unlike anything else in the Bible.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“The Song of Solomon stands out because it doesn’t impose rules. Its verses are among the most beautiful ever written, anchored by the assertion that love is as strong as death.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“This book stands as a triumphant ode because it does not shy away from the physical and emotional realities of human love, presenting it as a reflection of the divine image in which we are created.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“The boundary between physical and spiritual love is not as rigid as we imagine. By embracing both, the Song of Solomon shows us that at their best, our human connections can provide a glimpse of how devoted and loving our relationship with God might be.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“God values not only our spiritual life, but also our emotional and physical experience. The Song of Solomon teaches that the human body, desire, and intimacy are not separated from the divine, but in fact reflect God’s creative power.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“Daily connection with God and with Jesus is not about grand gestures, but about the small acts that remind us of our place in a story much larger than ourselves.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“The Song of Solomon reminds us that our capacity for love and deep affection is itself sacred, blessed by God. Our relationships can and should be places where the divine is present.” - Aldo Cazzullo
“In a world that sometimes feels disconnected, transactional, or superficial, I believe the Song of Solomon urges us to invest more fully in the bonds that matter, and to seek the presence of beauty in our everyday lives. The Song of Solomon teaches us to live boldly, sincerely, joyfully, and in doing so, to discover something eternal in each other.” - Aldo Cazzullo
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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.