In this powerful part 1 episode of Southern Soul Chats, we sit down with Ben Bland, whose life is a testimony to the transforming grace of God.Ben openly shares his journey—once identifying as a homosexual and now living a life redeemed by the grace of Christ. Through a radical encounter with God, Ben’s story took a turn that only the gospel could write.Today, Ben travels around the world proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ, sharing how God pursued his heart, transformed his identity, and called him to proclaim the gospel. His testimony reminds us that no life is beyond the reach of God’s grace and that true freedom is found in surrender to Christ.Join us as we hear Ben’s honest, powerful story and the hope that comes when Jesus changes everything.Biblical Rooting: Psalm 40:2 “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”Show Resources:Follow Ben Bland’s journey on Facebook at Ben Bland https://www.facebook.com/thetwistedstem(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)Your Support Matters:This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!Disclaimer:Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.

This week, Dr. Allison Barr, professor and author at Baylor, joins us to explore the often-debated topic of women in ministry. With wisdom, scholarship, and a deep love for the Church, Dr. Barr helps us look at Scripture and history with fresh eyes, uncovering how women have always been a vital part of God’s work.

In this episode, Dr. Barr walks us through the challenges, misconceptions, and encouragements that come with this conversation, sharing both her research and her heart for equipping the Body of Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered what the Bible really says about women in ministry—or how we can approach this conversation with grace and truth—this episode is for you.

Biblical Rooting:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:28

Show Resources:

The Making of a Biblical Womanhood https://a.co/d/0q8fhPY

The Blue Parakeet https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310538920?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_8J5WGCDN19Q511M4NTGQ_1&bestFormat=true

(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)

Your Support Matters:

This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.

Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!

👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!

Disclaimer:

Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.

Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry: https://a.co/d/3EmGdeE

That’s a wrap! Wow — it’s the season finale of Southern Soul Chats season Faithfully Funded!

Thank you so much for joining us this season. In this episode, we explore the difference between knowledge and wisdom — and why understanding both is key to stewarding money, making wise decisions, and living faithfully. We recap the season’s highlights, from early money beliefs and stewardship to generosity, debt, taxes, and leaving a legacy.

We hope this season has given you fresh perspectives on how God is speaking into your finances and life. Remember, knowledge without wisdom can leave us stuck, but God-centered wisdom transforms how we steward resources, make decisions, and impact the next generation. Make sure to be back in two weeks for our Summer series, Stories of Faith, where we hear firsthand how God is moving in everyday lives.

Biblical Rooting:

James 1:5 — “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

”Show Resources:

The Bible (NET Version)

The Two Sides of Every Dollar, (Miller)

https://tinyurl.com/MMillerAmazon

God & Money, (Cortines & Baumer)

All the Teachings of Jesus, (Lockyer)

Managing God's Money, (Alcorn)

Neither Poverty Nor Riches (Blomberg)

Simple Money, Rich Life (Lotich)

Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Alcorn)

The Good and Beautiful God, (Smith)

Margin, (Swenson)

(Please note: We may share links to external resources for your convenience. However, this does not imply full endorsement of the entire site, author, or organization. The views expressed may differ from our own.)

Your Support Matters:

This podcast is a branch of Stepping Forward Ministries, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using the unwavering truths of God’s Word to teach, equip, and empower people to step forward in their relationship with Christ. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is through this podcast! To learn more about us, visit www.steppingfwd.org.

Want to connect, support, or take a step of faith? Whether you have a story to share, want to sponsor our podcast, support the mission, or learn how to follow Jesus—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s put faith into action together!

👉 Click here to connect with us. Don’t forget to add us on your social media accounts! You can find us at @steppingfwdministries across all platforms!

Disclaimer:

Southern Soul Chats and Stepping Forward Ministries are not a church, pastoral authority, or licensed counseling service. While we aim to equip and encourage you through biblical truth and personal testimonies, all content shared is for spiritual encouragement and educational purposes only. By listening, you acknowledge that you engage with this content voluntarily and accept full responsibility for how you apply it in your life.