"God meets us in our vulnerability, and the Holy Spirit isn’t just a concept—He’s a person who wants to walk with us."

In this episode of MercyCast, I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend Jenny Randle, the author of the new book, The Promised Presence, to have a deeply personal conversation about something that’s been on both of our hearts: the Holy Spirit. We explored what it means to welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives, not just as a theological concept, but as an active, indwelling presence that transforms us from the inside out.

In this episode of The Mercy Cast, I sit down with my friend Jen Thompson, author of Return to Jesus, for a heartfelt conversation that cuts right to the core of what it means to feel distant from God—and how His invitation to return never goes away. We talk honestly about those times when life feels overwhelming, when prayer feels empty, and when functional saviors (things we turn to instead of God) slowly edge Him out of our hearts.

But here's the truth we kept coming back to: God's love is unconditional. Period. It's not based on what we do or how we perform. He loves us because He made us. And He invites us—again and again—to come home.

Have you ever felt disillusioned?

In this episode of MercyCast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Nick McDonald, the author of The Light in Our Eyes: Rediscovering the Love, Beauty, and Freedom of Jesus in an Age of Disillusionment. Our conversation was a raw and honest exploration of vulnerability, adversity, disillusionment, and rebuilding faith.

What does it mean to reclaim your voice?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Vanessa Abraham, the author of the new book, Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life. Vanessa, a speech pathologist, shares her harrowing journey of losing her voice due to a medical crisis and the subsequent struggle to reclaim it.

Surrender and connection often go together.

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages in a profound conversation with Brittany Higgs, founder of the Her Campaign, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking. They explore the journey into anti-trafficking advocacy, the personal experiences that shaped their commitment, and the importance of connecting with vulnerable individuals.

How do we move forward when we are waiting?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Rebecca George, author of You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry Up World, delve into the theme of longing, exploring how unmet needs and desires shape our lives.

How vital is empowerment?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler speaks with Andrea and Haril Kazindra, co-founders of Musana, about their journey of taking legal guardianship of 80 children in Uganda. They discuss the importance of origin stories, the challenges faced in rescuing vulnerable children, and the need for empowerment over dependency in charitable efforts.

Have you ever experienced an answer to prayer?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Richard Gamble, founder of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer UK.

How do we finally achieve boss-level authenticity and deep connection?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Tom Bennardo explore the significance of authenticity and vulnerability in building meaningful relationships.

How do we break the relational patterns that have gotten us stuck?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler engages with Justin and Trisha Davis, authors of One Choice Away from Change. They discuss the patterns we carry from our past into relationships, the importance of self-awareness in breaking cycles, and the journey of healing and forgiveness.

What if you could enter any room or situation with complete confidence, knowing exactly what to say and how to act while still being fully true to yourself?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Dr. Mike Bechtle, author of the new book How to Read a Room: Navigate Any Situation, Lead with Confidence, and Create an Impact at Work, explore the themes of compassion, individual temperament, and how people engage with the world.

What does faith and leadership look like in a season of transition?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler discusses the theme of transitions in life with Greg Elzinga, the president of Calvin University.

Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. never learned to read?

In this episode of Mercycast, host Raleigh Sadler and guest Tony Kriz, co-founder of The Children's Literacy Project and co-author of READ: How God's People Can Bring Justice Through Literacy, discuss the intersection of literacy and justice, highlighting how personal vulnerabilities can motivate individuals to make a difference.

In this episode of Mercycast, Raleigh engages in a profound conversation with Sean Nowotnik, exploring themes of compassion, grief, and the search for meaning in life. Shawn Nowotnik, an artist and author of the new book F Happiness: The Search for Meaning in the World Gone Mad Chasing Happiness, is a filmmaker and therapist living outside Chicago.

What happens when your story overwhelms you?

This is what happened to Richard. In this conversation, Raleigh Sadler and Richard Hsung, author of Spring Flower, explore the profound challenges of writing a memoir, particularly the emotional toll of reliving painful memories.

Happy New Year1 This week, Matt Popovits returns to talk about his new book, Junk Drawer Jesus and how we can navigate the new year.

This week, we take a break from Christmas episodes. In this episode of Mercycast, my good friend Lewie Clark joins me as we dive into an often-overlooked topic: singles' unique and vital role in ministry and church leadership. In the church, there's often an implicit assumption that marriage is the "default" position for leadership, but we believe that single people have a crucial and powerful kingdom purpose.

It’s a Chris White Christmas, everyone!

In this episode of Mercycast, I am joined by my friend, Chris White, director of Electric Jesus, to dive deep into the themes and storytelling of Christmas movies. We explore how these films reflect vulnerability, redemption, and the human experience during the holiday season.

Do you have an Advent Calendar this year? If not, maybe you should consider getting one.

In this episode of Mercycast, join Jared C. Wilson, author of Gifts of Grace: 25 Advent Devotions, as he explores the themes of Advent, Christmas, and the deeper meaning of the holiday season. Jared, a pastor and professor, explores the powerful connection between vulnerability, hope, and grace during this time of Christmas anticipation.

Sometimes, we find faith in the most challenging places.

In this episode of MercyCast, I sit down with Cody Wilde, Senior Vice President of Correctional Programs at Prison Fellowship, to discuss his influential work in prison ministry and the profound impact of compassion and vulnerability in the lives of those incarcerated.