HOPE Talks

January is slavery and human trafficking prevention month. Sydney Hayslett joins us to talk about her call to minister to girls who are survivors of human tracking, her experience working with girls who have been rescued from human trafficking. Sydney also shares about a non-profit that she is starting in the valley to minister to girls that have been trafficked called Stone Haven. For more info. on Stone Haven you can visit their website https://www.stonehavenva.org. Also we want to share the National trafficking hotline phone number 1-888-373-7888. We invite you to take a quick six question anonymous survey to give us some feedback on the podcast. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JP55VX7

Walt Adams born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was adopted at six months of age. He spent the first few years of his life in Marion, Virginia. When Walt was three years old his family moved to Roanoke, Virginia. Walt is married to his wife Eyde and they moved to Harrisonburg in 2001. Walt joins us today on Front Porch Talks to share his testimony. We invite you to take a quick 6 question anonymous survey to give us some feedback on our podcast.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJWXDS6

Tony Lawson was born and raised in Elkton, Virginia. Tony is married to his wife of 47 years Carolyn. They Have two grown kids, three grandkids and one great grandkid. Tony joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony. Also we would ask you would take this short six question anonymous survey to give us some feedback on the podcast. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JP55VX7

This broadcast originally aired on December 30, 2018. It seemed very timely so we decided play it again today. On this particular broadcast Pastor Margaret Michael & Grayson Willis shared from John 19:28.

Brittany was born and raised in Hedgesville, West Virginia. She moved to the valley to attend and play softball at Eastern Mennonite University. She currently works at Turner Ashby with Behavioral Support which is a pilot position. She joins Grayson Willis and Pastor Olivia Michael on Front Porch Talks to share her testimony.

Pastor Cameron was born and raised in Indiana. He is married to his wife Allyse and they have a new born son Myles . Pastor Cameron services as Lead Pastor at Roanoke First Church of the Nazarene. He joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony as well as about how he ministers to those in his Church and community.

Rene is from Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he lived until he was 26. When Rene was 26 he moved to the Shenandoah valley of Virginia, where he has lived ever since. He started attending Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg, Esperanza Viva campus in 2005 and started working at the church on the facilities team in 2007. Rene is married to his wife Eli and joins Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony.

Mark was born and raised in Waynesboro, Virginia. Mark is married to his wife Sharon and they currently live in Harrisonburg with their three kids. Mark and his family are part of Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg and are planning to to be part of the East Rockingham campus when it launches. Mark joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony with us.

Susan grow up in San Diego, California as the youngest of five children. Susan attends Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg. She joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony with us today which includes loosing her husband in a car accident that they were involved in.

Pam grew up in the south eastern part of Virginia in the Newport News, Tidewater area. Pam is married to Brian and they have to grown daughters Suzanne and Aubrey. Pam joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony.

Kris is the Pastor at Rockbridge Community Church of the Nazarene. Kris grow up on the family farm in eastern North Carolina. Ruth grow up in Staunton, Virginia and they join us on Front Porch Talks today to share their testimony with us.

Today Jared Link joins Front Porch Talks to talk with us more in-depth about Romans 5:1-5. This passage was the focus of one of our Life group studies as we are studying the book of Romans this semester. Jared led the study in this session. Also here is a link to a commentary on the passage by NT Wright that Pastor Margaret references. https://vimeo.com/165350359

Cecil Wright was born and raised in Weyers Cave, Virginia where he has lived his entire life. He is married to Cindy. They have two kids. They also have grandkids and now great grandkids. Cecil joins Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony.

Mike was born and raised in Dumfries, Virginia, right outside of Manassas, Virginia. This dad was an FBI agent. He has an older brother and two younger sisters. Mike started and runs a local nonprofit called Communities for Christ, where they go around and share the Gospel with people. Mike joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony with us.

Jamie was born in Maine. Her dad was in the Navy, so they moved around a lot. They also lived in Maryland and Massachusetts before moving to Virginia Beach. Jamie attended JMU which is how she ended up in Harrisonburg. Jamie is married to Steve and they have a daughter Reagan. Jamie joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony.

Today Pastor Margaret Michael & Grayson Willis will be sharing an outline by Jennifer Heeren from crosswalk.com on 10 reasons to share your testimony. We will also be adding our thoughts and scripture to go with each point. Your Story is unique (even if you don't think so)God's word tells us to share our hope as a believerPeople love to hear stories- both believers and unbelievers It Removes fear and gives courageUnbelievers will have a hard time disputing what you say is your storyIt creates transparency within the churchYou become a resource for othersYou keep your initial salvation testimony alive in your mindYou deliver more testimonies as God continues His work in youIt Glorifies God

Leslie was born in Fulks Run, Virginia and was raised in Broadway, Virginia. Leslie has not lived in the same place more than four years since she turned 18.She has traveled to England multiple times, Mexico multiple time and she also spent six weeks in Colombia. In addition to her travels Leslie lived in New Jersey for a few years before moving back to the Shenandoah Valley. Leslie joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony.

We will be praying together specifically for five key areas. FOCUS 1, Pray for one another (I Timothy 2:1): Who is hurting around you? Who is in need of hope and redemption? Who has a physical need? A financial need? A spiritual need? What we’re fighting: Sickness, discouragement, hopelessness. FOCUS 2, Pray for peace (Philippians 4:7): We are living in an unprecedented time of uncertainty. Many are attacked and some paralyzed by fear and anxiety. Peace does not come from our circumstances, but from our God who is our peace. Where is an area you are needing to experience peace? Where are you currently seeking peace from other sources than In Christ? Where is disruption and the Lord is inviting you to speak prayers of peace? Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. How can you embody His peace during these days? What we’re fighting: Anxiety, worry, timidity. FOCUS 3, Pray for courage (Joshua 1:9): Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather obedience in spite of fear. The source of our strength and courage is not found in ourselves, but in Christ. Where is God asking you to trust and walk in obedience in spite of your fear? Where is it that you are walking in obedience but not yet seeing God’s answer, His provision, or His next step? What we’re fighting: self-focus, disobedience, doubt. FOCUS 4, Pray for unity (1 Corinthians 1:10): We don’t seek unity for the sake of unity but unity in Christ (as we make Christ the focus, he can bring unity). Is there anywhere you see disunity in your life? In your family? In your community? What is it today that you are seeking instead of God? In place of God? What we’re fighting: discord, pettiness, negative talk. FOCUS 5, Pray for our church (Acts 1:8): Pray for us to be faithful in living out of mission: Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ. Pray for us to be obedient even in times of uncertainty. Pray for unity in the body as we seek the Lord and trust in Him to lead us. Pray for our leadership and volunteers. What we’re fighting: weakness, irrelevance, ineffectiveness.

Malisa was adopted at 28 days old into a Christian family. They lived in Pennsylvania for two years and Ohio for six years before moving to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where she has lived ever since. Malisa joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony.

Amanda was born in Puerto Rico. When she was three her family to Illinois near her grandparents. Amanda grew up as a pastors kids and her family also lived in Colorado and Washington State. Before Amanda started her freshman year of high school her family moved to the Shenandoah Valley when her dad joined the pastoral staff at Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene. She has lived in the valley ever since. Amanda currently serves as the director of worship ministries for the Spanish congregation at Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene and joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony.

Gabriel Montanez was born in Illinois and when he was about a year old his family moved to the Shenandoah Valley where he has lived ever since. Gabriel joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony with us. Gabriel also shares about a nine month mission trip that he is leaving for in September through World race. They will be doing training in the states until January when they hope to go overseas to Eswatini, Ethiopia and Cambodia. If you are interested in following Gabriel while he is on his mission trip or fell led to donate here is a link to his blog. https://gabrielmontanez.theworldrace.org

Kathy was born in Staunton, Virginia and her family moved to Harrisonburg when she was three. Kathy has lived in the Harrisonburg/ Bridgewater, Virginia ever since with the exception of two years when her and her husband Drew lived in New Jersey. Kathy and Drew have two Daughters Jenny and Emily. Kathy works at Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene. Drew and Kathy Planned Living Stone Church of the Nazarene in Verona, Virginia. Kathy Joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share her testimony with us.

Today we are joined by Director & Co-Founder of New Creation Sabrina Dorman-Andrew as well as a New Creation volunteer Eyde Adams to talk about New Creations, which is a non profit that helps girls who are rescued from human trafficking as well as bring awareness to the issue and help with prevention of the issue.

Pastor Drew Ridder was born and raised in Harrisonburg. He is the Pastor of Living Stone church of the Nazarene in Verona, Virginia. Drew is married to Kathy and they have two daughters Jenny and Emily. Before entering the ministry Drew worked in architecture for 15 years. Drew joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony with us.

Pastor Drew Ridder was born and raised in Harrisonburg. He is the Pastor of Living Stone church of the Nazarene in Verona, Virginia. Drew is married to Kathy and they have two daughters Jenny and Emily. Before entering the ministry Drew worked in architecture for 15 years. Drew joins us on Front Porch Talks today to share his testimony with us.