The Conversation with Adam Weber

Over 2.3 million people in the U.S. are incarcerated each year. This group of people are the most unchurched and unreached population in our country.  An organization called God Behind Bars is on a mission to change that by introducing inmates to Jesus and connecting them to a local church. Jake Bodine, founder of GBB, joins me to share his personal faith story and how he went from a rebellious pastor’s kid to the pastor of a prison church that has grown to reach more than 1 million inmates with the good news of the Gospel! Last November, Embrace (the church I get to pastor) launched a God Behind Bars Campus at Mike Durfee State Prison and it’s one of the best decisions we’ve ever made as a church. Jake & I also talk through practical ways you can take the message of Matthew 25 to heart by helping and supporting inmates and their families.  Visit the God Behind Bars website & follow them on Instagram Thanks to our amazing partner on this episode: Vern Eide Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full episode with Jake: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Granger Smith is back on the podcast to talk about the peace he has come to know since leaving country music to pursue a career in ministry.  As anticipation about the final show of the tour built up, Granger took the stage and happily surrendered everything he had ever known and gave it to God. He gave up being praised and worshiped by fans, for a greater call that God had on his life. Granger’s journey is an example of how trusting and obeying God can lead to something beautiful… even if there’s heartache along the way. Listen to Granger’s first episode on The Conversation Podcast here.  Get a copy of Granger’s book Up Towards The Light. Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Granger: youtube.com/@adamaweber  If you are not part of the Crew, you need to be! It’s totally free and takes less than 30 seconds to sign up: adamweber.com/thecrew

Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty joins me for a conversation about marriage, family and Jesus. Willie and his Wife, Korie, met in third grade, got married a year after high school and have now been married for 32 years. What’s their secret?  The easygoing power couple have six children and five grandchildren and have found that being consistent in character has been key to leading their kids to the Lord.  Willie also talks about how sharing the Gospel with others should be as easy as talking about your spouse, pets or favorite hobby. And the more you share about Jesus, the easier it gets! If you need some easy and practical questions to start faith conversations with, Willie gives some great examples and also covers what he NEVER asks (which might surprise you).  Grab a copy of Willie’s book Gospeler Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: Generous Coffee & Vern Eide Motorcars Generous Coffee sells some of the best coffee in the world AND 100% of profits are donated to nonprofit organizations that are fighting injustice facing humans around the world. You can find out more (including purchasing in bulk) at generousmovement.com  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Willie: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew 

Today, we’re celebrating episode #250 on The Conversation Podcast with one of my good friends and favorite guests, Pat Lencioni! Pat is one of the most well known leadership experts in the world who spends his time speaking and writing about leadership, teamwork, and organizational health. Pat and I chat about how to find joy when it doesn’t come naturally, how important it is to see a Christian therapist, and how to know what to say yes and no to. Whether you lead a team or you’re a team of 1, I hope you’ll be as impacted by this conversation as I was! Learn more about The Working Genius here. As I look back on the last 249 episodes, here are just a few of my personal favorites: Jon Acuff JB Brown Lisa Bevere Pat Lencioni  Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

Did you know an estimated 1 in 25 Americans has had a near death experience? My guest John Burke has studied more than 1,000 near death experiences. He’s personally interviewed people across the globe who have been brought back from clinical death and he’s made an incredible discovery - many of these people are encountering the same captivating God.   One specific thing to mention: If you are unsure of where your loved one is who has passed and you wonder, “Are they in Heaven?” John gives a powerful message of encouragement and hope that all God needs is “one instant of a heart turning to Him.”  John passionately shares evidence that God exists and loves us beyond what we could ever imagine. And that He pursues us to the last minute.  Check out John’s Books on Near Death Experiences: Imagine Heaven & Imagine the God of Heaven Check out my friend Carey Nieuwhof’s interview with John here. Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice MIssion & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

Are you longing to find peace for your soul?  You might be surprised to hear that the path to peace is found in humility. On Today’s podcast, I’m joined by my friend Joel Muddamalle, the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Joel works closely with Lysa TerKeurst and is a part of the preaching team at Transformation Church. Joel has a PhD in Theology and loves studying and teaching the brilliant truths found in Scripture and helping us apply them to our everyday lives. According to Joel, humility is the missing piece for the security, strength and confidence we all want. It's time to stop trying so hard to avoid our limitations or overcompensate for them. God has better for us and it begins with bowing low in humility. Grab a copy of Joel’s book The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength and Confidence through Humility Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: Generous Coffee & International Justice Mission Generous Coffee sells some of the best coffee in the world AND 100% of profits are donated to nonprofit organizations that are fighting injustice facing humans around the world. You can find out more (including purchasing in bulk) at generousmovement.com  International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

On today’s podcast, I’m joined by one of my favorite guests, the amazing Katherine Wolf! This is Katherine’s 3rd time on the Conversation, in previous episodes she shared her story on surviving a near-fatal brainstem stroke in 2008 and how she and her family were left with a bittersweet new “normal” - living a miraculous second chance but also dealing with long-term, life-changing disabilities. In today’s conversation, Katherine so candidly talks about finding treasures in life’s darkest moments. About how so ​much ​of ​life ​is us ​expecting ​more of ​this ​world ​and ​less ​of ​God. Katherine challenges us to flip that, “we ​should ​really ​expect ​more ​of ​God ​and ​less ​of ​this ​world.” Listen to Katherine’s first and second interviews on The Conversation.  Order Treasures In the Dark here.   For more on Katherine’s ministries, visit Hopeheals.com Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice MIssion & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

Adam is back for this month’s South Dakota series episode with Matt Paulson, the founder and CEO of MarketBeat! MarketBeat is an Inc. 5000 financial media company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With more than 4.5 million subscribers, MarketBeat is the largest digital media company in the Dakotas. Matt cares deeply about the Sioux Falls community (where he lives with his wife, Karine, and their two children) and has a huge heart for giving. Over the years, he has made significant investments to grow the region’s startup ecosystem, enhance community amenities and in ministries.  Because of his success, Matt gets asked to give. A lot! So he understands how giving can be an area where joy isn’t a part of it. Listen in as Matt shares his personal and professional journey with giving and ends with tips for those of us who find it difficult to give with a cheerful heart. Whether you’re a millionaire like Matt or you make minimum wage, I hope this conversation challenges you in the very important area of faith and finances. Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: First Interstate Bank & The Tyler Goff Group  First Interstate Bank has a mission to help people and their money work better together. They do this by ensuring clients can manage their money conveniently wherever they are while also providing the friendly service. They have over 300 locations throughout 14 states! For more information and to find a location near you, visit firstinterstatebank.com Are you on the hunt for a new house? Genuinely look no further. The Tyler Goff Group has a proven process that has transformed the lives of many clients. With the Tyler Goff Group by your side, you're not just buying a house – you're investing in a future home you'll love. To learn more and to contact Tyler or his team, visit tylergoffgroup.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

I recently read a book that I absolutely could not put down. I’ve literally told almost everyone I know to go buy it and read it for themselves. That book is called The Great Dechurching "The current Great Dechurching ​is ​larger ​than ​the ​First ​Great ​Awakening, ​Second ​Great ​Awakening, ​and ​all ​the ​Billy ​Graham ​Crusades ​combined, ​just ​going ​the ​opposite ​direction.” Today, I have the honor of talking with one of the co-authors of this book, Jim Davis. Jim is the teaching pastor at a church in Orlando, Florida where he  had a hunch they were experiencing a large and fast religious shift for the worse but had no data to prove it.  So, with the help of two sociologists, they commissioned the largest and most comprehensive study of dechurching (somebody ​who ​used ​to ​go ​to ​church ​at ​least ​monthly ​and ​now ​goes ​less ​than ​one ​time ​a ​year) in America.  What they learned was fascinating. In this conversation, Jim and I talk about the different groups of people leaving the Church, why they are leaving and what we, as believers, can do about it.  Grab a copy of Jim’s incredible book The Great Dechurching here. Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: Simple & Vern Eide Simple provides an easy, secure way to make giving super user-friendly. If you are a church or lead a faith based nonprofit, you have to look into working with Simple. You won’t regret it! For more info, check out their brand new website simpledonation.com Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew

Today I’m joined by pastor and author Nick Connolly.  He and his wife, Jess, are founding pastors at Bright City Church in South Carolina. At the end of 2023, Nick was rushed to the hospital for what he thought were cardiac events but would later learn were severe panic attacks.  This led to 12 of the darkest days he’s ever experienced. No sleep. Spiritual warfare. And many, many more extreme panic attacks.  “But I thought he was a pastor?” (Yes, pastors are human too!) Nick shares some advice for those who may have experienced similar struggles. We also unpack trusting God’s provision in our lives and how being persistent when you experience resistance - and NOT giving up - can lead to victory on the other side. Grab a copy of Don’t Give Up Just Yet here.  Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode: International Justice Mission & Vern Eide International Justice Mission is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world, taking special care of survivors from the moment they’re rescued all the way through their healing and restoration. To learn more and support their mission, visit ijm.org  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew