The Wounds Of The Faithful

EP 206: Running As Fast As I Can: John David Graham: Part Two

In this episode,  Diana continues her conversation with John David Graham, founder of Good Samaritan Home. They discuss his extensive work in mentoring men and women re-entering society after prison, the transformative impact of his program, and his award-winning book, 'Running as Fast as I Can.' They also touch on the broader role of the church in giving second chances and offering hope, particularly to those marginalized by society. Graham shares stories of success and resilience, emphasizing the power of compassion and authentic service.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:40 Recap of Previous Episode with John David Graham01:32 John David Graham's Ministry and Mission03:40 Challenges and Realities of Ministry Work07:13 The Story Behind 'Running as Fast as I Can'12:46 Success Stories and Impact14:30 Current State and Future of the Ministry17:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Buy John's book here:
 https://www.amazon.com/Running-As-Fast-Can-ebook/dp/B0CKK418FB/
 
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Transcript:
John David Graham Part 2
​[00:00:00]
Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, Diana. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help.
Now here is Diana.
Hello everyone. Welcome back to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. I'm glad that you're here. We had a terrific conversation with John David Graham last time. He is the founder of Good Samaritan Home, the mentoring program, helping men and women restart their lives after prison. [00:01:00] He has 17 homes that he has started and we're talking about his
fantastic book. Running as fast as I can. I'm not gonna review too much of what we talked about last time, so if you have not listened to part one, as always, I say go back and listen to that first because you'll miss the foundation of the conversation and then come back here with us to hear the rest of John's story.
So I'm not gonna delay any further. Here is my continued conversation with John David Graham.
I think my audience hears me much better than any sermon I ever prepared.
Yeah, Jesus tells us to visit those in prison and serve people that are, less fortunate or struggling or the hated of society like the Samaritan. Jesus went out of his way to meet the Samaritan woman and to evangelize the [00:02:00] Samaritan people.
And they were, they hated ones in his day.
We sometimes forget, we make Samaritan into a compliment. But the truth is that you're exactly right. It was not just a criticism, it was a vile criticism. Yes. She as a woman, was rejected. And Jesus, if I remember correctly, didn't he take a drink from her?
Yes.
Yes he did.
And that was, again, forbidden because she was unclean according to his tradition. And when he would hug people and welcome the lepers and all of that, that to me is exactly what the church can do so well, if we would just do it instead of getting involved in I want you to look like me, then you can come to church.
Amen to that.
Yeah. In fact, you think about it, if I drive down the road and you see a church marquee that says, here's my sermon for Sunday, you are all welcome. But why would somebody who doesn't understand your traditions. Doesn't understand any of [00:03:00] your teaching. Never had been in that building.
Why would they come in and do something that's totally foreign? Just because you're Marquee says you're welcome. They'll never do that. No. But if you go where they are and help them with their hunger, then they'll hear you. I believe.
Yes. I had a a guest on the show that had he had a a ministry to bikers.
It was the same thing. He would invite these groups of bikers that come into church and they got all this, terrible treatment because they ride a bike and they wore leather jackets and they didn't want them there. And yeah, they're not gonna, they're not gonna feel welcomed just by a sign.
Absolutely. And I understand many of the traditions, but if I were to walk into a small church, I would immediately be noticed as a visitor. And even the welcoming would make me uncomfortable. And so identify, I go to a [00:04:00] large church. All of the the swell of people would make me uncomfortable unless I had somebody there walking me through it.
And. A friend, leading a friend , I think the only way you can actually introduce somebody into into your church. And the truth is we don't emphasize that at all because number one, we have so much power that's they'll never give us the right answer. They'll say, oh yeah, I believe all your doctrines.
And what they're saying is, I need this roof over my head. So I just try to be real. I just try to be myself and I don't put any religious pretenses into the conversation. If somebody asks, I will answer, but I try not to. I don't have a score sheet that said I, I witnessed the six people today.
That, to me, doesn't work.
Okay. I am I was a missionary for 13 years in the Baptist Church. I know exactly the kind of list you are talking about. Yeah. And I'm [00:05:00] kind of, sorry of some of the things that I did as a missionary with that particular list.
Yeah. And this, the whole idea, even what a missionary does if we're going and simply teaching, are we teaching our western ways or are we helping people dig a well so that they have water for their farm?
And are we helping them with their medical needs because that's what they need, and our faith motivates us to do these works of compassion, and they hear those works.
So tell me, what your wife, Kathy thinks of all this. What is her role in your ministry there?
She's sitting here with me, so Hey. Let me just say this, that I never could have done this alone because number one, it came out of our own house and when we bought our first house beyond our home, our first shelter, she had inherited a few thousand dollars that was supposed to be for retirement, [00:06:00] but she gave all of that to purchase this other house so that we could remodel it for the next two years.
So she gave not just her time, but her sweat equity and her meager retirement funds. And then she's been basically in charge of all the residential services. So even at her age, and she's the same age as I am, and she will spend her days either painting and patching a wall. Cocking bathtubs today, she was patching a floor that had a hole in it.
So she was working with wood putty and a sander. Now this is a woman who should be watching Oprah on television and at the local community luncheon. But she's more comfortable wearing work clothes. And and then when we leave here, we're gonna go do curfew rounds at the houses and she'll be right there with me.
Sounds like a servant's heart to me.
Yeah. It really is. Because we all, [00:07:00] I think all of us on my staff come from some point of brokenness and we're one step away from our residents and we try to walk with that in mind, and it makes us, I think, more forgiving.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. That you've been through some hard things you can relate.
I want to talk about your book running as fast as I can, and this Daniel Robinson, is he somebody that you actually know, and you then you fictionalized the story, or is it completely separate from your life and your ministry?
I started to write a book 50 years ago when I was homeless.
Actually. I was in my truck and I had a royal typewriter, if you remember those. Yeah. And I realized I had nothing to say, and so I put it on the shelf. And then 10 years ago I said, it's time because I want to tell this story of second chances. But, [00:08:00] I could present data and I could give you statistics. In fact, my doctoral work was in reentry and the social and psychological and spiritual benefits of reentry in the community.
And I, I think maybe six people read it. I spent three years writing that, and it had all the data, but nobody is influenced by data. So what I decided to do is write a story, and I'll give you an example. Let's suppose that I want to talk to everybody about lifeboat safety. It's very important if you're going on a cruise, if you know how to work the lifeboats, I'll guarantee you nobody will watch that video because it's boring.
But if I made a movie. And I had Jack and Rose on the Titanic and I made it into a love story that actually was about lifeboat safety. Everybody will watch it and remember when they get on a boat, where are the lifeboats? So that was my thinking [00:09:00] when I started writing this book. How do I write a story about second chances?
But I want people to read it and remember it and identify with it. And so Daniel Robinson is fictional, but it's based on my life and your life and my wife's life and every life of the men I deal with. But I brought it together. And it's Forrest Gump going through the sixties and the idea he grew up in a home that where he was neglected and eventually he was abused by his pastor, the one man he trusted, and he ran away from home and spent the next 20 years trying to undo the damage that was done to him.
And at one point in his life when he married a woman named Kate who had her own limp. We like to say that when two broken people lean on one another, then they can walk straight. And Daniel and Kate were married and started to create the family they were both looking for. But he [00:10:00] said one line.
I think that probably the most important, he said, Kate, it's been 17 years since that man did that to me, but it's like it was yesterday. I can still smell the after shave he wore, I can still see the room. I still feel that man touching me. And they say, you get over it, but you never do. Some hurts last forever.
And that is the theme of the book. It's the idea of some of us are born so far behind in the race that we have to run hard to even find the starting line, but the object is as long as you're willing to keep running. You will reach your goal. It just, some of us need longer time. And the truth is that the stories resonate very well with readers.
It's garnered 26 awards for literary and inspirational fiction. It, and it's sold thousands of copies [00:11:00] and we're really not even advertising it. We're simply putting it out there on social media. But the object is that I believe, particularly in this day and age, I. Where on the internet, on Facebook, all your sins from sixth grade keep coming back at you, and every little thing you've done wrong will haunt you.
We are all looking for a second chance, and that's why I think this story is resonating. People believe in second chances. They want it and they need it. And here's a story that says you can get a second chance.
Amen. That sounds intriguing. I'm sure that everyone would want to get a copy of this book.
Where can we get a copy of the book? Is that on Amazon?
Yeah. Easiest way is to go to John David graham.com. That's my website and that will link you. To Amazon, and [00:12:00] it can, it's electronic, it's print, it's audible version. So it's available in all the versions. And the truth is that, it's I definitely think that it's one of those it deals with issues that we wrestle with, like homelessness. It deals with drug addiction, it deals with sexual abuse and the response of the church or lack of response to that. What I'm hearing again and again of people who have been victims of sexual abuse often become victimizers too.
Yes,
because they've never learned to forgive and be forgiven. And I had a mentor in college who taught me that healing of the memories only comes when we're able to face our memories and find forgiveness. And that's the intent of this story, is to help people forgive themselves.
Now, do you have a story of someone specific that has really come out on the other side and [00:13:00] has done really well? Obviously don't give their name, but do you have someone like that you could tell us about?
Oodles of stories. Interesting you should say that because just the last week one of our first residents who was with us, I will say his name is Walter, but he came to us when he was 26 years old.
He had been in prison for nine years. That meant he went to prison as a juvenile. And he came out after nine years in prison and he was homeless and he stayed with us for several years, in fact, well beyond the normal time, but he was able to get a job with somebody who's willing to mentor him, and he stayed at that job and he's become a manager in that factory.
And just last week. He put a posting on Facebook. He said he just read my book and how much he appreciated not just the book, but the work that we did in [00:14:00] helping him.
Aw.
And then. Then just a few days after that, I had a call from another fellow named Reggie, who was our very first resident. And he said virtually the same thing.
He's been out of prison for 20 years. He's married, got kids, has a family, and he's working as a truck driver. And he just touched base to say thank you. And we don't solicit those stories, but when they call like that, it makes it all worthwhile.
Oh yeah. You feel like you're making a difference in the world.
One person at a time. Definitely. Now you're in Dayton, Ohio. Is that right?
Yeah we we we started off in a rural area, a small town, and that's why there was so much nervousness with our program. But we quickly expanded to Dayton, which is a larger area, and the truth is that by going into. Homes that were in distress, we're able to remodel the neighborhood while we're also remodeling our residents.
[00:15:00] So we haven't had nearly the politics in the bigger city that we had in the small town. Oh. But on any given day, we may have upwards of 90 to a hundred men and women in all of our houses.
That's a lot of people.
We don't have to do day-to-day management. We just do, like I say, it's independent housing, so we just touch base so that way we're good landlords because we're there regularly, but also we're mentors, so if somebody wants to talk, we're there to listen.
So you said that the guys they come to you through the prison system. They're the ones that. Give you the fellows that need a place? You don't have people just coming up to you and asking for a place to stay?
We used to do that originally, we called it off the street. And the truth is that's actually more dangerous because you have no control.
No filtering. And so we don't do the off the street anymore. Because the need in the community was for men who are [00:16:00] required to be released. It they had a release date. And if you're released from prison and you're put out onto the street with no money, no place to stay, you'll do whatever you have to do to survive.
Our priority became to make the community safe. We need to help those people. And it turned out that we were one of many providers when we started in back in 2003, but most of those other organizations, faith-based organizations disappeared. So we've become the only official provider of reentry housing in the entire southwest corner of the state.
That's why we've had to grow from house to house. The need is so great. And on the positive side, the state will pay us a per diem for this because it costs $109 a day to keep somebody in prison. But what they'll do is they'll pay us a fraction of that.
And [00:17:00] so the state saves tax money, we're able to pay our bills and our staff and then our residents get free housing for six months a year. Some people stay two years, and so everybody wins. Even the community wins because they're now working and spending their taxes their income in the city and paying child support too.
So everybody wins with this.
Absolutely. That's that is amazing. And I know we talked a lot about a variety of different things. Was there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention to our audience?
I see a lot. Again, I mentioned that I see a lot of similarities to the sixties, and the only thing I'm seeing now more so is the church.
Has taken on the role of what I call a political action committee, where it's trying to influence the politics, and I feel that's not what the church does [00:18:00] well, and I would strongly recommend the church go back to do the acts of mercy that we are best at. In fact, the word hospitality, the word hospice.
It comes from the Greek words in the Bible for loving the stranger, what we did. And if we try to get political, we're gonna end up with a Spanish Inquisition. We're gonna end up with all the issues where we have the crusades, where we do battle for God and we do nothing in reality, for God.
But we're just, becoming another army. And right now I see a lot of that, and the numbers are showing, particularly among the Gen Z, they're not responding to the church's actions. They're looking for authenticity. They're looking for honesty. And they're not finding it. And so the numbers in churches have declined 20% over the last decade.
People are not going because they don't want to get involved in [00:19:00] politics on Sunday. They want to find Jesus with the woman at the well. Yes. And I think I've been on these podcasts for just six months and everywhere I turn I hear the same response. There's the sense of hope that if the church were doing this, if we've stumbled onto something that I believe is what the church can and should do.
And I think if the church more churches were to do this without trying to evangelize, just do the work of the evangelist. I think it would change the world.
Yes, it would. Be Jesus.
Yeah. The irony is that we like to think we're too old, but I started Good Samaritan home at 53. I published my novel at 75, and I'm working on two sequels now, so I believe
that you're never too old to do ministry of some sort. In fact I've searched the Bible and I cannot find the [00:20:00] word retirement anywhere.
No. How old was Moses? How old was Caleb in the Bible? How old was, Noah for crying out loud. It
I forget how old he was, but he was a senior. He wasn't a young man.
And to my knowledge, he wasn't a sailor either until he learned to be No.
So yes, I agree with you. There's really no retirement in the Bible. We're called to serve with whatever we have, where we're at in our life right now.
 
What I've tried to do, Diana, is I try to think, how is my message? How are my words heard? So when I write an article for Substack or if I put something on Facebook, or if I on these podcasts, I I try not to speak in church language. I try to speak in the language of my listeners. And the listeners that I'm I'm hearing back from are looking for hope.
They're looking for purpose, and they know. What they're seeing out there is not working and they're looking for authenticity. [00:21:00] And the feedback I've been getting has confirmed that we're on the right track and I'm just glad to be part of it.
I'm glad to know you, John, that you're out there being the hands and feet of Jesus to the people that need it the most.
And you're making a difference.
Tell folks if they go to my webpage, there's a contact link and they're welcome to contact me. I'm open for discussions. I do a Substack newsletter where I talk about this and other things, and we've had just a lot of positive feedback and I think if we can talk, if we can discuss, and we may differ, but as long as we're talking.
With one another and not at one another. I think we can make a difference.
Amen to that. I'm subscribed to a couple people on Substack and I'll subscribe to you too. I would really like to hear more especially about your theological discussions. Jesus.
So I have a lot of fun in [00:22:00] Substack 'cause you can actually wrestle with some ideas.
Yeah there's people that really like substack and you can get a real following on there. I really appreciate you coming on this show today, John. It's been educational and inspiring and if you have any new books coming out or another new ministry, you're always welcome to come back on the podcast.
I'd love to have you.
I find it ironic that there were two tragedies that happened today, filling the news, and yet the message of hope is what's gonna end my day. And hopefully the end the day of some of your listeners too, that no matter what happens on the news, no matter happens in the world, we can still present a voice of hope and I think people will hear that message.
Amen. God bless you, John.
Hey, thank you so much, really, I enjoyed this, Diana. Thank you.
Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please [00:23:00] hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us@dswministries.org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.
 
 

EP 205: Empowering Lives: From Struggle to Rehabilitation with John David Graham

In this episode Diana introduces her new sponsor, 753 Academy, which specializes in anti-bullying programs and holistic martial arts training. Diana's guest, John David Graham, shares his remarkable journey from experiencing homelessness to founding the Good Samaritan Home. John talks about the challenges and successes of providing post-prison housing and rehabilitation for former inmates. He emphasizes the importance of respect, community support, and teaching life skills to help individuals reintegrate into society. John also reflects on his personal experiences and how faith drives his mission to help others. The conversation provides valuable insights into the struggles of those re-entering society and the impact of compassionate support.
BIO: JOHN DAVID GRAHAM is the founder of Good Samaritan Home, a housing / mentoring program helping men and women restart their lives after prison. Prior to that, he was a door-to-door salesman, children’s home counselor, substitute school teacher, truck driver, fireman, building contractor, minister and journalist. As you can see, he has a lot of life experience. Sometimes the road home takes many twists and turns to develop what John calls “calloused hands and a tender heart” which he used to write his award-winning debut novel RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN. Readers Favorite hailed his book as “truly a masterpiece.” It has won 30 awards.
Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Running-As-Fast-Can-ebook/dp
00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:36 Exciting News: New Sponsor Announcement
01:30 Introducing 7 5 3 Academy 02:35 Martial Arts and Fitness Programs
04:45 Podcast Transition and Guest Introduction
07:13 John David Graham's Background and Ministry
13:13 Challenges and Success Stories
17:32 Community Resistance and Overcoming Obstacles
20:56 Daily Life at Good Samaritan Home
26:11 Faith-Based Motivation and Service
28:22 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
Link Tree
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Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma
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John David Graham
[00:00:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help.
Now here is Diana.
​ Hey everybody. Welcome back to the podcast. I have some big news for you today. I do have a new sponsor, a local business that I'm involved with, called 7 5 3 Academy. . You guys know me really well, that I am very particular who I endorse on this podcast.
I'm not just going to have mattress commercials. I want to support [00:01:00] somebody that is going to benefit you personally in your life and also benefit your healing and, recovering from abuse, trauma, or domestic violence. There are very few businesses that I'd be willing to go into a written financial agreement with, so you must know that this is, something that I really believe in , a business that is benefiting me personally,
So I would like to introduce you to 7 5 3 Academy.
So it says, our martial art programs specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids, to combat proven Filipino martial arts. We take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works.
We have a motto for our karate system, I train in martial arts for self-defense to protect myself, my [00:02:00] family, and my friends only. We follow the 7 5 3 code,
and they include seven warrior virtues, five keys to health, and three states of mind. So that's where they get their 7, 5, 3 from.
Are you concerned about your child's ability to handle negativity, stress, and anxiety while maintaining positive self-esteem and self-worth?
In an age where distractions are everywhere, karate helps students improve their concentration and mental clarity.
So the other thing that they teach is pekiti tersia kali.
The nature of PTK focuses the mind and improves hand eye coordination and improves cognitive function and ability. Training that helps improve self-confidence through combat geometry.
Learn to protect yourself and those you love [00:03:00] today.
They also have
health and fitness.
No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, we got you covered. We specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels.
We do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals.
All this to help you become more functionally fit and healthy in the simplest way possible. Our fitness community is friendly and supportive
without the over the top muscle gym atmosphere. Our coaching staff are professionally trained with over 30 years of experience, providing group semi-private and private classes, nutrition and health, fitness management.
Get started with a free class by claiming your free class voucher. So go to the link in the show [00:04:00] notes for your free class voucher. Now, this is in the Phoenix Metro area. This is a local business that is supporting the podcast. So reach out to Coach David and coach Eric, over at 7 5 3 Academy.
I've been training in the pekiti tersia kali program for over a year, and I definitely can personally recommend them. So check that out folks.
You'll be hearing more about 7, 5, 3 in the coming months. I am going to have them on the show here soon to talk about
Topics relating to abuse or trauma, and so stay tuned for that. And now onto our podcast and our guest today.
I hope that you're enjoying some of our guests this year. We've had quite a few really exciting people, and today is going to be no [00:05:00] exception. We have John David Graham on the show. I'm gonna talk about his ministry with Good Samaritan home, and his book called Running as Fast as I Can.
So this is a mentoring program for men and women restarting their lives after prison. We've had some folks on the show that are recovering from prison life. And I think you'll find this interview very interesting. John has had a lot of varied life experiences.
We have a terrific conversation about his story and then. His fantastic book that we're gonna talk about. Reader's Favorite has held his book as truly a masterpiece and it has already won 26 awards, so that's a good reason to read this book.
So the book [00:06:00] is
about the character Daniel Robinson as he struggles to overcome generations of poverty, neglect, and abuse that have left him totally incapable of the life and love he desperately wants. So I think some of us can relate to those things, can't we?
So I find it really exciting to see that he has started 17 good Samaritan homes in the greater Dayton, Ohio area. So he is doing some great work and I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of the episode of this interview.
So I'm not going to delay this any further. Here is my conversation. John David Graham.
Please welcome to the show my guest, John David Graham. Thanks for being with us today.
I'm very glad to be here, Diana, thank you very much.
[00:07:00] I'm really excited to hear about your Good Samaritan home, and we're gonna talk about your book that sounds very interesting. Running as fast as I can.
So before we do that, I'd like to hear about your story growing up. I see that you've had so many things that you've done.
You're being kind. Yeah.
You've had a lot of experience in many different things and. I know you have a story of how you went through life. You grew up in the sixties, huh?
And yeah. And give us a little a start of, your background, your upbringing, and how'd you get to here?
What I've noticed lately is even today on the news, you're seeing issues of bombings and terrorists attacks. And it seems every day we're seeing political violence and religious violence.
And [00:08:00] it reminds me a great deal of the sixties, particularly 1968. It was extremely tumultuous time and we had college campuses in protest and being shut down and it was, it was at best it was disorienting. And in fact, I was in even involved I went to see a girl at Kent State on the day of the shootings in 1970 and got involved at another campus that very day in a student protest.
And you get swept up in it just by following the crowd. But it took me years to come out of a college that period and even enter a voting booth. So there was a 30 years in fact because we were so bombarded with distrust and even to some of us contempt for the government because we felt betrayed, but also the economy was shifting.
And what we'd had in the sixties was prosperity in the mills and in the [00:09:00] factories. And that disappeared in the seventies. And so everybody who had these stable plans lost them. So as a result of all that politicking and all that turmoil. I went through a series of 30 years where I was just trying to find my place.
Went from job to job. I was a children's home counselor, a substitute school teacher, a truck driver, a fireman, a journalist, and at one point I was even a minister thinking that I could find some degree of stability. But what I found was that even into church, there's politicking, and particularly in the Protestant church where it's based on did you please the congregation, did you grow the congregation, did you fill the offering plate with your sermon?
And I found that, the vision of the ministry is a lot like Hollywood. It it's presented as being a wonderful [00:10:00] life, but in reality it's it's a D-Day front. You feel like you're under attack on all sides. I was 53 years old. I had a family. We had moved through several states and instead of looking at retirement, I was looking at what am I gonna do with my life?
So my wife and I decided to maybe we can help people who were struggling more than us, and we decided to open our own home. It was an old Victorian house that we were the only thing we could afford. It was very old and needed a great deal of repair. We decided to use it as a homeless shelter. To help people who were struggling more than us.
And we did that with really no money, but just using what we call sweat equity, our own labor. I promised her we get it remodeled in three months. Truth is, it took 14 years. Yeah, I there was a lot of sweat in that equity, but in the [00:11:00] process. We use that house as a model of what can happen when you take a broken life.
A broken house is like a broken life. If you put equity into it, if you put effort into it, if the community volunteers can support you, you can change a house and you can change a life. And we did that and eventually the Department of Correction asked us, can we take people coming from prison who are homeless, low risk offenders, but simply need a safe place to live temporarily?
And we did that, and that allowed us to expand to another house and another house. And over the next 24 years, we grew from our house helping one or two men to now we have 19 houses in three different counties and a staff of 10 people. And our company is called Good Samaritan [00:12:00] Home for obvious reasons, and it's a nonprofit, but the idea is that we are trying to give the least of these.
These are people coming from prison, by and large are lepers in our community. We went through a lock 'em up mentality in the eighties and we filled our prisons and we tripled the prison population only to realize that people come home from prison and if they don't have someone or something to help them, they're not gonna make it.
They're gonna go back to prison. And so the idea is in the community, if somebody has housing and structure and some degree of stability, then they'll get a job. They'll pay child support, they'll stay out of prison. I. And that's what happened. We've worked with upwards of 2,500 men and women over the past quarter century and by and large and yet obviously some people don't stay.
[00:13:00] But by and large, it's been extremely successful and be the idea is that we're not doing it just for them. We're doing it as an expression of our faith, and that's made all the difference.
You said you have been homeless before.
Have you been in prison before?
No I've never been to prison. But I have been homeless, particularly when I was single when I was married. Of course, I had to take my family through various different states to follow the work, but I never forgot what it was like to be living in my truck.
And have worried about where can I park my truck so that somebody won't come out and tell me to move? Or where am I gonna eat tonight? The weather's coming down, what am I gonna do? And then they repossess my truck. Oh. So yeah, I forgot you have to actually make payments on that thing, oh. But my, my homelessness was not the extent of some people, but.
I [00:14:00] do know what it's like to look at the clouds to say, is it going to rain? Where am I going to sleep? And so what I was able to do was transfer that, that understanding to my residents, because the idea of, say you get released from jail and you're told, okay, go out and get a job. You don't know what the first thing to do if you've never had a job.
And sometimes if you've been in jail for. 20 years. Can you imagine coming out and not have ever used a cell phone that everything is done on a cell phone today? Yes. Yeah, e even the idea if you're getting food stamps, it's all done on a bank card. Now, you used to get stamps in a paper booklet, and you took that to the grocery store, but now it's all electronic.
So what you and I take for granted. Is a whole new world for many people. We like to say that we're in rehabilitation, [00:15:00] but the truth is, I think we're in habilitation, we're teaching skills that some of these people have never learned. And that's, it's been an education for me. I'll guarantee that.
Now also the people that come out of prison, most people will not hire them because they have trust issues with people coming out of prison. So they have that against them too, right?
It's a double issue because technically, the you shouldn't discriminate. But we all do because, and you should in reality because if somebody has a felony, you know that they have something that you have to be aware of.
For example, if it's theft or drugs, then can you trust somebody to work in a at the cash register? Or if it's a violent offense, is that, are they safe even though the offense may have been 30 years ago? Or if it's an addiction offense, alcohol how do we know that addiction is not continuing?
You're absolutely right. You should be careful, but yet, [00:16:00] I believe as a community, we really have to give somebody a second chance because the alternative is. Is throw away. You just have to throw away people who have made mistakes and as a moral people, we can't do that.
Have you seen a TV show called Pit Bulls and Parolees?
I'm aware of it and I'm aware of the program actually.
 
Yeah. I love that show and I think that's a great thing for both the dogs and the people on parole. Now I will need to say that I'm very careful that people understand that this is not some sort of hug, a thug program where you simply say come here brother.
Let me give you a big hug. And Jesus loves you, and all is fine. Hug a thug. I believe we have to be why is this serpents and gentle as doves? And gentle sometimes can be pretty tough too because, you I never forget. It's like the adage about when you pick up a snake and the snake bites [00:17:00] you, why are you surprised?
Because that's the nature of the snake. Yes. But what we try to do is learn how to handle, and the key element, I believe, is to treat people with respect. Because that to me is the universal language. And we have guidelines, we have rules, we have accountability. But we also try to respect the people we're dealing with and I think that's why it's worked.
You started these Good Samaritan homes and you're in these communities. Did you get any resistance when you started housing former felons? What was that like?
It I got the the innocent part down right when I first started. I had a newspaper reporter call and say, you'd like to do a story about our house.
And I thought, this is good. We'll be able to get
people to support us and emotionally. And I wasn't looking for financial necessarily. I just wanted supporters in the community. And once the article came out. [00:18:00] The blowback was instantaneous and it was intense, and it was beyond anything I anticipated. That there were petitions passed immediately in town.
There were calls to the city council. There were meetings there were threats. I had letters to the editor from grandmothers parents. One fourth grade girl wrote to the editor and said, I'm afraid to go to school. Because of that house somebody else they moved the bus route away from my house so that students wouldn't have to drive by our house.
And I had a woman in McDonald's threatened to kill me, and she said, I'm a grandmother, but if one of your guys came around my house, I would I'd kill you and him too. We ended up in three lawsuits and it was I even had police protection at one point. Wow. It was incredible. But I will tell you this, that I.[00:19:00]
When you're under intense pressure and I can speak in a biblical reference here. When you're come before the authorities and it says that God will give you the words to say, I have found a calmness has come over me, and I have found that. When I'm speaking what I feel to be the words of, not words of God, but I'm speaking on what I feel to be the right mission because I'm very careful to give God credit for things that that often are mundane and, so I just try to act as if I am the hands and feet when I speak. And I found that I. I didn't feel the need to defend myself, nor did I feel the need to come at critics or even to combat the lies. I found that the best thing we could do was to not respond in kind. In fact, we used our snowblower to speak louder than I ever could.[00:20:00]
When it snowed in winter, we got the snowblower out and did the whole block, and we cleaned everybody's sidewalk all winter long without saying a word. And eventually the neighbors saw that we were not a threat, and eventually it took time. Those same people that used to wave at us with one finger. Now wave with all their fingers, if I'm so glad to hear that. Yes. Yeah. So it, it was an intense time, but also it was about as close to what I call an apostolic mission. As I've encountered where we were, we felt we were doing the right thing and we wanted to make sure that we acted accordingly and we did.
 
That sounds wonderful
that most of them came around eventually seeing the service that you were doing in the community. You talked about rules and staff. Tell us about what a typical day is for [00:21:00] those in your good Samaritan home. And is there anybody that you wouldn't take?
We we don't discriminate based on the offense.
It's based on the risk score and the Department of Correction technically is in charge of that. So if somebody is considered to be a a high risk, that doesn't necessarily mean they're dangerous because this is called independent housing. So we wouldn't get somebody who needs to be under lock and key.
Our housing is is in lieu of. Being homeless on the street. So it's almost like a boarding house. We have rules in that you have to, you're responsible to clean your room, you're responsible to be in a curfew. You're responsible to respect your your roommates. Basically it's what a boarding house is like.
And if you don't want to be here, you're welcome to leave, but you'll lose your free housing. What we try to do is we try to teach basic stills, like EE even something. Benign as making a bed is actually the [00:22:00] focal point because you're gonna go out and apply for a job and get rejected, just like you said, and you'll apply again and again.
You may get rejected. Dozen times. But when you come back at night and your bed is made and your room is clean, you feel like at least you have control over something in your life, and that gives you hope. So we're trying to teach rehabilitation through basic skills and one of which is respect for yourself.
And the object, the key element here is if I respect me and I respect my roommate, I begin to think in terms of we instead of I. And that to me is a critical element in rehabilitation. Because what got you to prison was thinking of I only we don't offer any, training programs because that's not our role.
We are only a housing element. We we offer mentoring. And [00:23:00] most of my staff has either been through the system on one level or another, so they're very aware of their own mistakes. And so we're not here to say, you need to do this. Our response is, how can we help you? So we don't necessarily cook for you.
We provide a place for you to cook. And with, there are food pantries in town, but more important through the county resources, there's a training program. The, what the counties have often done is that they've developed reentry offices. And the idea is that how do I help you get a job? How do I even teach you to to do a job interview?
I. You, you and I, you may take it for granted, but how many people have never conducted a job interview? And so what they do is they train them how to walk into a room, how to talk to somebody. And at the end of the course they volunteers even provide a suit so that men who have never had a suit.
[00:24:00] Are given something, a certificate that says you are a graduate and that, and they're wearing a suit and tie they've never done in their life. And I've seen grown men 50, 60 years old, been in prison for years, start to cry because they felt like they've accomplished something and that, that to me is really what it's all about.
And we didn't do it. We were part of the process.
I've been trying to find a transfer within my job and I've done like 12 interviews and two years, and it's really hard to get a job or a promotion or, make more money.
I can imagine how hard it is for them. But I might have to try that making the bed trick because I don't make my bed, John. Oh, this is being recorded, isn't it? Yeah. I might have to try that. Maybe I'll have some control over more of my life if I make the bed before I go to start my [00:25:00] day I need to tell you that it's not my idea.
That's a trick that the Navy Seal teaches their recruits. Yeah, I'm sure. And the idea is that at the end of the day, after being beat up on the training ground, you can get. Some degree of a satisfaction that you've done something, right?
Yeah. Is your is your good Samaritan home different than like halfway houses?
I. Well, a halfway house would be an extension of prison. It literally is halfway home. Okay. And that's where they do intense programming. And the idea is to they may have some sort of psychological program or offense training program, particularly if the offense was sexual in nature. They may need a halfway house to deal with the psychological issues.
We don't get into any of that. Because when they come to us, they are legally allowed to be free in the community, but they have nowhere to go. And that's a big difference. So in, [00:26:00] in effect, it's voluntary. Somebody who come to us says I want to get out and get my own place. I just don't have a job yet. I need time.
And that's what we offer.
You say you're mentoring them, but do you do any spiritual work with them? You are a faith-based organization, but how do you approach spiritual side?
One thing we started our program back under the faith-based initiative under George Bush.
Oh. And the idea was that the president Bush felt that the faith community was equipped to do much of the the good works in the community. And they did it voluntarily. But they had certain guidelines. For example, you couldn't proselytize while you were doing a program for the government.
And the idea was if you're a Christian dealing with a non-Christian or someone who was completely outside of any religious faith the idea was they still needed your service. So you had to be equally [00:27:00] servant to all the community, but what we found was that if your faith motivates you, you can speak volumes through your hands and feet.
You don't have to speak the words. And I'll be quite candid we sometimes get volunteers who want to come in and say, do you ask them if they're saved? And what I say is I ask them if they're hungry because that's the language they understand. And if I offer somebody food. The natural question is, why are you doing this for me?
And the answer is because my faith motivates me to help you as much as someone helped me. And that speaks volume without getting into details. And my experience in the church after years having grown up in the evangelical tradition, having seen the good and the bad of that. I have found that I have to speak the language of the community if they're going to hear me, not the language of the church.[00:28:00]
And the church today in particular has crossed into areas of politics and and yes, and and it's crossed into areas that I feel the church is not suited to do well. And what we are very good at is service. And I think that right now we are doing the work of the church in the way that I wanted to do.
I think this is a great place to stop. I wanna hear more about his story and what he's doing here with Good Samaritan, and I know that you do too. So please come back next time on the wounds of the Faithful Podcast to hear more. God bless you folks. Goodbye for now.
Thank you for listening to the [00:29:00] Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us@dswministries.org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

EP 204: Healing for Dissociative Identity Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder: Dr. Benjamin Keyes

In this week's episode host Diana speaks with Dr. Benjamin Keyes, an expert in trauma and the developer of the Heart Model for healing. Dr. Keyes has over 40 years of experience and multiple accolades in the field. The discussion covers his unique faith-based approach to trauma therapy, including self-forgiveness and contemplative prayer techniques, the differences between Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and the critical role of divine presence in recovery. Dr. Keyes also shares about his work with Green Cross, an organization that provides mental health support during disasters, and plans for future research on the Heart Model’s effectiveness. Personal stories and professional insights offer listeners a deep understanding of trauma recovery and the hope and healing available to survivors.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:57 Welcome and Opening Remarks02:33 Introducing Dr. Benjamin Keyes03:13 Dr. Keyes' Background and Credentials09:49 Understanding Trauma and Disorders13:39 The HEART Model Explained21:23 Green Cross and Disaster Response27:05 Success Stories and Real-Life Impact34:12 Final Thoughts and Contact Information37:38 Closing Remarks and Subscription Reminder
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960236075/?bestFormat=true&k=the%20heart%20model%20benjamin%20keyes&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k1_1_14&crid=1FG73O5TS5JW9&sprefix=Benjamin%20Keyes
Buy Dr Keyes' book on Amazon!
Website: www.greencross.orgemail: bkeyes@divinemercy.edu
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Dr Benjamin Keyes
[00:00:00] Next on the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast.
From a Christian standpoint, they may never forgive a perpetrator, but self forgiveness for healing is absolutely essential, and it opens them up to receiving God's forgiveness.
God has forgiven us, but sometimes we have to dare to forgive God for not being who we wanted God to be.
Where was God in the midst of what I went through, right?
Right. And that, and I told them, I said when we do this, when we use this prayer technique, that's the very first question I want you to ask him.
And I want you to sit expecting an answer.
And it's amazing. God, in all the years I've been using this model, God has never not shown up and has never not answered.
Oh, that's powerful.
[00:01:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer, songwriter, speaker, and domestic violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help.
Now, here is Diana.
Hey, everybody. Welcome to the podcast. So glad that you're here with us. It is a pretty volatile environment out there in the world, isn't it? I'm hoping that when you come to listen to the podcast that you get some encouragement and...

EP 203: Healing from Trauma: Insights from Scotty Aemis on Parenting Adopted Children

In part two of Diana's conversation with Scotty Aemis, they delve into the complexities of adopting children from traumatic backgrounds and the challenges that come with it. Scotty shares practical advice on finding trauma-informed counselors, the importance of creating a safe environment for children, and the necessity of establishing trust before enforcing discipline. They discuss how integrating trauma awareness into various facets of life, including church and social activities, can significantly aid in the healing process. Scotty emphasizes the need for parents to provide a stable, loving environment rather than focusing on correcting behaviors. The episode concludes with resources for connecting with trauma-informed support and announcements about a new trauma-focused book and ministry services.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:33 Recap of Part One with Scotty Aemis
02:00 Choosing the Right Counselor
03:34 Creating a Safe Environment for Traumatized Children
05:25 Navigating Family and Social Situations
08:16 The Role of the Church and Faith
12:07 Final Thoughts and Resources
14:40 Conclusion and Farewell
Scotty Aemis is passionate about helping parents navigate childhood trauma. After he and his wife adopted two children, they found themselves learning everything they could about helping their children thrive. Everything that felt instinctually “right” was actually not helpful for children trying to heal from trauma. That set him on a journey to develop out my PSR (Positive Safe Relationships) Approach to parenting. It’s helpful for all children and parents, but especially those navigating childhood trauma.
https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/
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Part Two Scotty Aemis
[00:00:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer, songwriter, speaker, and domestic violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help.
Now, here is Diana.
Hey everyone. Thanks for coming back to part two of my conversation with Scotty Aemis We had a wonderful time with hearing his background and how he came to adopt two children from Russia in a horrible orphanage And the surprises that he encountered when things just didn't go the [00:01:00] way that they planned.
All you need is love. It's not necessarily true. We need a little bit more. than love to parent children, including children that have had severe trauma.
So I'm excited to hear the rest of his story about
some examples of what works and what doesn't work, and what resources are out there for parents.
We're going to talk about discipline in detail. Sometimes discipline needs to put,

EP 202: Healing Childhood Trauma Through Positive Parenting: A Journey of Adoption with Scotty Aemis

In this episode, Diana is joined by guest Scotty Aemis, who shares his experiences with adopting two children from a Russian orphanage and the challenges they faced. Traditional parenting techniques failed to address the needs of his traumatized children, leading Scotty to develop his Positive Safe Relationships Approach to Parenting (PSR). Scotty, who calls himself the 'Child Trauma Sherpa', discusses the importance of relationships in healing trauma, the pitfalls of public schooling for traumatized children, and his journey towards finding effective therapeutic interventions. He offers practical advice and examples for parents in similar situations, emphasizing the need for patience, trust, and regulation. Scotty also touches on the role of trauma-informed therapy and specialized schools like Lakeside in Philadelphia, which are designed to support children with trauma. The episode concludes with a promise of more insights and resources in the next installment.
Bio:
Scotty Aemis is passionate about helping parents navigate childhood trauma. After he and his wife adopted two children, they found themselves learning everything they could about helping their children thrive. Everything that felt instinctually “right” was actually not helpful for children trying to heal from trauma. That set him on a journey to develop out my PSR (Positive Safe Relationships) Approach to parenting. It’s helpful for all children and parents, but especially those navigating childhood trauma.
Main website: https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/
Link to his book: https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/book/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1002238933611804
I have a number of free resources on my website, a free Facebook Group, and a bestselling book available. All of these can be helpful to your listeners.
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
01:05 Meet Scottie Amos
02:08 Challenges of Overseas Adoption
02:43 The Positive Safe Relationships Approach
03:40 Scottie's Personal Journey
06:24 Practical Parenting Techniques
15:25 The Role of Schools and Counselors
24:07 Lakeside School and Trauma-Informed Education
29:05 Conclusion and Next Steps
Main website: https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/
Link to his book: https://www.childtraumasherpa.com/book/
Link Tree
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EP 201: Confronting Forgotten Past Trauma: Jodeen Bradfield

In this episode, host Diana welcomes Jodeen Bradfield, a survivor of 17 years of incest and sexual abuse, who shares her story of healing and faith. The episode delves into Jodeen's new book, 'This Is Not My Life: God's Providence Through My Story of Abuse and Recovery', her journey through trauma therapy, and the impact of Mending the Soul groups. Jodeen discusses the importance of seeking professional counseling, forgiving abusers, and how her faith journey intertwined with her healing process. The conversation offers support and encouragement for abuse survivors, emphasizing God's presence and the value of professional help and faith-based group support.
00:00 Introduction and Childhood Fears01:02 Welcome to the Podcast02:18 Diana's Personal Update03:48 Introducing Jodeen Bradfield06:15 Jodeen's Abuse Journey and Mending the Soul08:49 Writing the Book: A Therapeutic Journey12:37 Repressed Memories and Counseling21:03 The Stalking and Its Impact23:39 Faith and Healing25:58 Returning to Church and Growing Faith27:39 A Shocking Revelation About My Father29:51 Struggling with Depression and Seeking Help30:35 Unraveling My Past Through Counseling34:55 Support from My Husband37:32 Discovering More Family Secrets38:56 Healing and Forgiveness44:09 Sharing My Story and Helping Others47:13 Final Thoughts and Resources
Jodeen's website: https://www.Jbradfield.com
Her book is also available on AmazonFollow her on Facebook: Jodeen Bradfield
To find a group in your area, go to www.mendingthesoul.org
FREE GIFT!
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Jodeen
[00:00:00] Next on the Wounds of the Faithful podcast. So I was by myself a lot. And I would go out in the front yard and play, and he would drive down the street in the camp van when there was no one else on the street. I mean, there was no one in the neighborhood that he needed to pick up. And I remember being scared to death. And in fact, my whole plan was, I came out through the back door of the house, And kept the front door locked because now this is childish logic here.
[00:00:38] Um, I figured I could run faster and get at least to the back of the house before he got out of the car and got to the back of my house. Get in, lock that door. And if he stopped and thought he was going to fool me and come in the front door, ah, it was locked. had a whole plan, but I do remember the fear [00:01:00] this happened more than once.
[00:01:02] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer, songwriter, speaker,

EP 199: How Much Does It Cost To Save One Girl Out Of The Sex Trade? Kenny Sacht Part Two

This week on the podcast, Diana continues her conversation with missionary Kenny Sacht. Kenny shares his profound experiences and vivid visions of rescuing girls from the sex trade in the Philippines. The discussion covers the significance of prayer and fasting, the power of God’s intervention, and the importance of education and spiritual healing for the girls. They highlight Kenny’s mission organization, Wipe Every Tear, which provides safe houses, education, and holistic support to help these girls build new lives. The episode also emphasizes the need for financial support and volunteers to sustain and expand their impactful ministry.
00:00 Introduction and Vision00:57 Welcome to the Podcast01:32 Kenny's Story Continues01:58 A Vision of Compassion02:54 Treating Everyone with Dignity05:20 Revival in the Sex Trade06:27 The Power of Prayer and Worship08:22 God's Miraculous Guidance11:04 Success Stories and Challenges14:15 The Importance of Education21:52 Funding the Mission25:39 Call to Action and Support29:28 Closing and Prayer
Link to send listeners to: https://www.wipeeverytear.org
Kenny's phone number 208-866-1967
Our website will demonstrate our heart and what God is doing in the sex trade, and how to get involved. And for those desiring to give for her freedom, there is a link where it's quick and easy to do so! They can also go to our social media pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wipeeverytear, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wipeeverytear.
Wipe Every Tear started in a high school teacher’s classroom. After years of leading basketball and volleyball teams to the Philippines, Kenny’s eyes were opened to the nightmare of human-sex trafficking. Having five daughters of his own, his heart broke at the reality that girls were being sold for sex. In 2008, Wipe Every Tear was born, and in 2012 It all began in 2007 where Kenny lead a summer basketball mission team to the Philippines. The following year in 2008 while leading a girl’s volleyball team, Kenny’s eyes were opened to the nightmare of human-sex trafficking when his heart broke at the reality that girls were being sold for sex. After the 2008 trip he and his wife decided to help one impoverished girl he’d met during that time and they founded Wipe Every Tear. Helping one girl quickly became four, and then many. He entered into the sex trade (the good side!) in 2012. Kenny began with the mindset, “If these girls were my daughters, how would I want someone to treat them and come to their rescue?” Shortly thereafter he left his teaching and coaching career to dedicate all of his time rescuing and restoring girls and women from the sex trade. Their first safe house, called Hope House, was secured in 2012 in partnership with local Filipinos. Wipe Every Tear works closely with local Filipino churches to help women escape the imprisonment of sexual exploitation, providing a new life in Jesus along with formal college education which is a must in the Philippines to even work in the fast food industry. Kenny is passionate for revival and seeing the kingdom of heaven invade the poor, hungry, destitute, and lovely women trapped in the sex trade, believing the presence of God changes everything. Since our inception, many more women have been welcomed into our safe houses where they experience freedom, security, three meals a day, education, and discipleship. Through this simple act of providing a loving home, women’s lives are continuing to be restored to this day. We have had the privilege to see the transformation of dozens of young girl’s and women’s lives, bringing hope, freedom, and a great future in the name of Jesus. Kenny travels one third of his time in the Philippines and also speaks at churches, gatherings, and conferences in the Philippines, America, and other nations. Prior to Wipe Every Tear, Kenny graduated from seminary and pastored two churches. He was a high school teacher and basketball and track and field coach for ma...

EP 198: Rescuing Women from the Sex Trade: Kenny Sacht: Part One

This week, host Diana interviews Kenny Sacht, founder of the ministry Wipe Every Tear. Kenny shares his journey of discovering the reality of sex trafficking in the Philippines during trips with his basketball and volleyball teams. Touched by the plight of the trafficked girls, Kenny and his wife founded Wipe Every Tear to provide safe houses, education, and holistic care for women escaping the sex trade. He discusses the challenges, approaches, and the divine protection they've experienced in their mission work. The episode also highlights Kenny's transformation in his view towards the men involved in the sex trade and emphasizes the power of God's love and presence in their efforts. His joyful enthusiasm, love for Jesus, and care for these girls is contagious! You will love Kenny's interview!
00:00 Introduction to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast
00:04 The Reality of Sex Trafficking in the Philippines
00:37 Mission Trips and Building Relationships
01:57 Meet Kenny Sacht: A Life-Changing Journey
02:46 The Birth of Wipe Every Tear
04:16 Rescue Operations and Safe Houses
07:49 Challenges and Spiritual Battles
20:04 Loving the Unlovable: A New Perspective
25:29 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
Kenny's website:
https://www.wipeeverytear.org
Our website will demonstrate our heart and what God is doing in the sex trade, and how to get involved. And for those desiring to give for her freedom, there is a link where it's quick and easy to do so! They can also go to our social media pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wipeeverytear, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wipeeverytear.
Website: https://dswministries.org
Email: diana@dswministries.org
Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/
Social media links:
Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879
Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma
Affiliate links:
Can’t travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here!
https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP
An easy way to help my ministry:
https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/
A donation link:
https://dswministries.org/donate/
Rescuing Girls In The Sex Trade: Kenny Sacht: Part One
[00:00:00] Coming up next on the Wounds of the Faithful podcast.
[00:00:04] I saw these girls. There are 240 bars and over 12, 000 girls in Angela City, Philippines.
[00:00:12] So these are adult women, they're supposed to be, they can be minors, but they're supposed to be 18 years of age. Sex trafficking is illegal in the Philippines, and yet It's everywhere. On this street alone, this area, some bars have hundreds of these girls in them.
[00:00:29] So we go into the bars and Filipinos cannot go into the bars in the Philippines. Only foreigners can go in. And and that's why we do mission trips. We need Americans. We need foreigners. No matter what country you're from Canada, anywhere in Europe, all over the world.
[00:00:47] We get people coming and then we do these mission trips, and then we do teams and we get our Filipino staff with you, and we go into the bars and. And it's the foreigner it's they're the ticket to get in the bars. We go in we build [00:01:00] relationships you know during the week we feed meals. And so we have a very good reputation and God has just covered us.
[00:01:07] God has just been so gracious to us.

Bonus NYE Episode: New Beginnings, Memories, and Rants

In this solo episode Diana reflects on the past year, updates listeners on her personal journey, and outlines future plans for the podcast. Diana discusses her fifth year of podcasting, her dedication to helping domestic violence survivors, and her experiences in music and health. A surprise political rant, personal updates about her family and cats, and plans for community building through a new Facebook group are also featured. Diana closes the episode with a song, wishing listeners a Happy New Year.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:47 Personal Updates and Reflections
01:43 Podcast Goals and Mission
03:38 Diana's Backstory and Healing Journey
05:46 Community Building and Listener Engagement
08:27 Plans for the Podcast and Guest Highlights
11:15 Health and Fitness Journey
15:08 Vacation Adventures and Challenges
19:03 Cat Tales and Family Updates
23:40 Political Rant and Reflections
39:49 Closing Remarks and Song
Featured Song: A Million Dreams used by permission by license.
Website: https://dswministries.org
Email: diana@dswministries.org
Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/
Social media links:
Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879
Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma
Affiliate links:
Can’t travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here!
https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP
An easy way to help my ministry:
https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/
A donation link:
https://dswministries.org/donate/
NYE sermon
[00:00:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer, songwriter, speaker, and domestic violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help.
[00:00:26] Now, here is Diana.
[00:00:33] Happy New Year, everyone. This is a time for new beginnings. Actually, every day is a new day. Today will be a solo episode. We've had some great guests this year. I have cut down on the details of my personal life before or during the guest episodes, but today I thought I'd update you on what has happened this year, my [00:01:00] thoughts on some current events.
[00:01:02] And about future plans for the podcast this year. Well, this episode is for my regular listeners. If you are new here, you are welcome to stay. Uh, just know that I'm going to be talking a lot about my personal stuff. Uh, if you're not interested in my personal updates, then you can tune in. Then you can tune in to my guest episode tomorrow with Kenny Sackt.
[00:01:30] Hopefully you're, hopefully you regulars want to stick around because you care about me as a person and want to hear some of my, uh, news.
[00:01:43] So first I'll start off with some of the plans for the podcast
[00:01:49] so I thought there were a bunch of new people listening to the podcast since last year. Maybe you don't know what I'm about or what my [00:02:00] goals are for the podcast, so I'm gonna review those things today. This is my fifth year podcasting. I can't believe that I made it this far. Now, I started the podcast after Mending the Soul group that ended during the pandemic.
[00:02:21] They needed more resources for healing after the group ended.

EP 197: Healing With Silent Retreats: Ana Megrelishvili: Part Two

Welcome back to Part Two of my conversation with Ana Megrelishvili. From Ana's challenging life in Eastern Europe to finding healing and purpose in the United States, discover how silent retreats and a newfound faith transformed her life. This episode delves into the profound impact of understanding trauma, separating it from identity, and the powerful practice of silent retreats for deep spiritual and emotional healing.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:38 Recap of Ana's Story
01:50 Understanding Trauma and Identity
02:36 The Power of Hypnotherapy
03:36 Journey to Faith and Healing
04:35 Silent Retreats: A Path to Deep Reflection
06:28 Writing and Publishing a Book
07:27 The Impact of Silent Retreats on Life and Business
08:24 Practical Advice for Silent Retreats
21:23 Connecting with the Guest
22:27 Conclusion and Farewell
Ana's Website:
 http://cpnworldwide.com
Check out the work that Christian Professionals Network Worldwide is doing
Biography:
Ana Megrelishvili is the visionary founder of the Christian Professionals Network Worldwide (CPNW) in Atlanta, Georgia, where she skillfully blends her passion for positive change with actionable initiatives. CPNW transcends traditional networking by integrating business relationships with service-oriented values, fostering global community transformation. Grounded in Christian principles, Ana ensures CPNW serves as a collaborative hub, uniting leaders to pursue societal betterment. The foundation’s mission is to combat relational poverty through faith and community. CPNW pairs mentors with shelter residents, encouraging regular church attendance and community integration, providing a consistent support network to help them build positive relationships and professional connections. Over a year, mentors provide support, fostering a community of encouragement and love. Monthly networking events not only facilitate professional connections but also spotlight local non-profits, offering hope and inspiration. Graduates of the program join a networking community, with membership funded by CPNW’s for-profit business, enhancing their career opportunities and ensuring sustained success. Ana's dedication extends to her roles as a board member for Gift-Wrapping Stars for Children and chair of the Saprea gala committee, where she leverages her expertise to uplift vulnerable communities. Her impact is also reflected in her literary contributions, sharing her journey of healing and resilience in her book, "Finding Courage to Change," and in "Powerful Female Immigrants: Volume 3," which narrates her inspiring journey from Georgia to the US. Co-authoring "Success Redefined" with Jack Canfield, Ana has earned recognition as an Amazon Best-Selling Author. Her academic credentials include a BS in Business Management from Berea College and an MBA from the University of Kentucky, completed in just 11 months. Ana's unwavering commitment to fostering faith-based community support and professional growth continues to inspire and transform lives worldwide.
Website: https://dswministries.org
Email: diana@dswministries.org
Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/
Social media links:
Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879
Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma
Affiliate links:
Can’t travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here!
https://www.walkingthebiblelands.