The Where Ya From? podcast is gearing up for its 8th season. Get ready for more insightful and thought provoking conversations centered around faith and culture with host Rasool Berry. Subscribe to never miss an episode!Links: Visit our website to sign up for emails. Leave us a review.  Check out our VOICES Collection from Our Daily Bread Ministries Follow Where Ya From? on Instagram. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As someone who is still processing what it looks like for her to be a leader in ministry spaces that aren’t always the most welcoming, Rev. Dr. Nicole Martin’s definition of “excellence” has undergone multiple changes over the years. Yet in the last few years, this journey has invited her to ask tough questions of her, over and over, that has reshaped her definition of excellence: Am I leading in the way that pleases God, not me? Am I willing to possibly suffer, get down on my knees, and serve others if that’s what my leadership requires?Guest Bio:Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the chief impact officer at Christianity Today and founder and executive director of Soulfire International Ministries. She is an accomplished writer and author, serves on various boards and councils, and leads the Grow Ministry at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Maryland. She and her husband, Mark, are proud parents to two amazing daughters.Notes & Quotes: “I think everyone has to do their own work of seeking God through the Word of asking the Holy Spirit for revelation. And what you’ll find is that the gospel is full of examples of ways that God builds our identity in Him beyond the confines of the world.” “But redemptive leadership says actually who you are and who Christ has called you to be is represented by your lows. The cross becomes the core of our identity.” “The world says power makes you who you are. That needs to be crucified. The world says perfection makes you who you are. That needs to be crucified. When we crucify the things that the world says make us great, then we get to become who God calls us to be—people shaped according to the cross. People who are dependent on Christ.” The depth of your integrity shows up in how you handle your low moments. And we don’t learn that from a generation. We learned that from Jesus, who says, ‘I am Lord. Not because I came in riding on a horse. I am Lord because I died on the cross. Because I literally went to the depths for you. And if you want to be like me, then you’ve got to take on what I take on.’” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Learn more about Dr. Martin’s work with Christianity Today. Get your copy of Dr. Martin’s book, Made to Lead, on Amazon. Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: Romans 8:28  John 15:13 John 20:11-18 Romans 16:1-2 1 Timothy 2:11 1 Corinthians 11:5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you took one look at Danielle Marck’s resume, your first question would be how can one person get all of these things done? But she would be the first to tell you she hasn’t done it alone. As a singer, songwriter, CEO, founder, entrepreneur, and president of The Witness Foundation, Danielle excels at wearing a lot of different hats. But for every success she’s had, there was first the invitation to surrender and become attuned to God’s voice—even when what she was being called to do went against what she thought the plan was. Each pivot has required Danielle to first step out in trust—having no clue how God was going to work things out but being absolutely sure He will.Guest Bio:Danielle Marck, President of the Witness Foundation, is an emerging leader in the nonprofit sector with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, three of those years at the Witness Foundation, holding various roles within the organization. Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of The Didoc Group, a consultancy firm dedicated to empowering BIPOC leaders and helping them scale their organizations effectively. An alumnus of West Chester University, Danielle also holds a certification from the Yale School of Management, with a specialization in Fostering Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, she is in the process of obtaining her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. Her journey is marked by a commitment to fostering change through ingenuity and compassionate responses. Danielle has been named one of Radio One’s (formerly known as Urban One’s) Boom 30 Under 30, highlighting her impactful contributions and leadership in the Greater Philadelphia community through music and campus ministry.Recently married, Danielle resides close to Philadelphia with her husband, Josh. She enjoys going out to eat and making music in her spare time.Notes & Quotes: “I had these real experiences with God and with people seeing how one word, one moment, one act of obedience can really change somebody’s life. And I wasn’t in charge of that change. I was just in charge of doing my part.”  “Just because you’re not excelling in one area doesn’t mean you’re not intelligent. Just may not be your area of expertise when it comes to intelligence. That’s where God was like, ‘You never sought me about what I wanted you to do. You just pursued your plan B instead of asking me for my plan A for your life.’”  “God has given me glimpses of where He wants to take me. Some of them I’ve seen come to pass. Some are still yet to come. But there’s always that element of we have to trust Him, and we have to believe that what He says is going to happen. And whether we believe it or not, there are things that God’s going to make happen anyway. But there’s a beautiful intimate invitation that he gives us to trust Him.” “It’s the forming [of us to be like Jesus] that makes us more like [God] and where we find joy and peace.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Learn more about Danielle's work with The Witness Foundation. Check out Danielle’s consultancy firm, The Didoc Group. Visit the VOICES website to learn more about our partnership with The Witness Foundation and sign up to receive emails. Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: Luke 16:10 Romans 8:28-29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On paper, pastor and author Brady Boyd may seem like an unlikely choice to lead a church. With never receiving any formal seminary training, his path to the pulpit is evidence of God bringing the right mentors and discipleship into Brady’s life to help develop his gifts and passion for loving people. Yet Brady’s biggest test of holding steadfast to the example of Jesus came to a dramatic crossroads. Only 100 days into his new job, he had to comfort his congregation through the devastation of gun violence that shook the entire community—a community that had just gone through a dramatic scandal that played out on the front page of every national newspaper.Guest Bio:Brady Boyd is married to his college sweetheart, Pam, and is the dad to great kids named Abram and Callie. He has written several books, including Remarkable, Speak Life, Fear No Evil, Addicted to Busy, Let Her Lead, Sons & Daughters, and Extravagant. He has most recently published the book, Life-Minded: 8 Intentional Practices for Belonging to God and Each Other, and its complementary Bible study with Our Daily Bread Publishing. He’s also really serious about caring for the people of Colorado Springs by opening numerous Dream Centers.He has a degree in Journalism from Louisiana Tech, has been a radio announcer for professional baseball and basketball teams and was the sports editor for his college newspaper. Before coming to New Life in 2007, he served Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas for almost seven years.Notes & Quotes: “I’ll look back on this part of my life and I’ll say, the church is more resilient than we think. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church. That what Jesus said about the church is true. That we can overcome anything if we will stay faithful and stay steady and believe in Him and trust Him.” “The kingdom of heaven is not an independent work. It’s interdependent. It’s built around community. It’s built around trust. It’s built around self-sacrifice.” “We need Jesus. We need His kingdom. We need His power. We are not enough. Jesus is still enough and we still need Him.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Check out Brady’s new Life-Minded book and Bible study with Our Daily Bread Publishing.  Brady Boyd’s Instagram Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 Revelation 22:20 Ephesians 4:3 2 Corinthians 12:10 Matthew 22:37-39 Matthew 28:18-20 Psalm 22 Psalm 23 Psalm 91 Psalm 51 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine being wrongly accused of something you never did, spending the prime years of your life in a cold, cramped jail cell. This is happening all while you’re fighting an uphill battle to prove your innocence to people who seem to put up hurdle after hurdle. Jonathan Irons doesn’t have to imagine it. That was his reality—for more than two decades. Join us as we hear Jonathan’s courageous fight for freedom and justice, while considering what we might be able to do for those who are still on the long path toward freedom.Guest Bio:Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons’ story has all the makings of a modern fairytale: full of faith, friendship, a fight for justice, and ultimately the triumph of love. Maya is a basketball icon—a two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, and WNBA MVP. Jonathan was just 18 years old when he was wrongly convicted by an all-white jury for a crime that occurred when he was 16. With no physical evidence tying him to the crime, Jonathan was handed a 50-year prison sentence, of which he served 23 years. Their lives juxtaposed, it might seem unlikely that their paths would cross.Yet, it was right before her freshman year at UCONN that Maya was introduced to Jonathan by her family involved with prison ministry. She heard his story, and over the next decade, as Maya graduates from UCONN and is drafted into the WNBA, Jonathan pours himself into earning first his GED, then develops a deep understanding of law. The two forged a close friendship, grounded in their shared faith and cultivated through their dedication to finding his freedom. Then, in 2019, at the peak of her career, Maya shocked the world when she decided to step away from basketball to focus solely on Jonathan’s case. After a winding, yearlong effort, Jonathan was finally released. The next day, Jonathan proposed to Maya, and weeks later, they were married. Maya was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2021 ESPYS, and the story of her fight for Jonathan’s freedom was told in the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Breakaway.” In 2023, Maya and Jonathan welcomed their first child, Jonathan, Jr. (“JJ”), and published their joint memoir, Love and Justice.Together, they are dedicated to using their now shared platform and social action nonprofit Win With Justice to raise awareness and advocate for issues surrounding criminal justice reform, the important role district attorneys play in the judicial system and the power of each individual to live out their purpose and impact change.Notes & Quotes: “But faith has to become your own. You have to have your own personal relationship with God. I would feel His presence, and just things would line up in a way where I’m like, that can’t be nothing but God, talking to me and looking out for me.”  “When you’re in a situation where you feel dehumanized, the only way that you can feel human is if people treat you like you’re a human being. And when you treat someone like they’re a human being, they care about life, and they care about what happens to other people. That inspires them to change and have a lasting change and to strive for the stars and to have hope and to have vision and to have dreams.”  Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT  Learn more about Jonathan’s work with Win with Justice. Check out Jonathan and Maya’s book, Love and Justice. Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experiencevoices/ Verses Mentioned: Proverbs 22:6 Habakkuk 1:2-4 1 Kings 19:1-9 Matthew 25:40-45 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maya Moore Irons’ career speaks for itself. As a multi-time champion and all-star for the NCAA, WNBA, and an Olympic Gold Medalist, she achieved almost every success possible in the sport. Yet she shocked the sports world when she left the court at the height of her game—leaving one kind of court for another. Years earlier she met Jonathan Irons, a man sitting in a jail cell hundreds of miles away who didn’t deserve to be there in the first place. God planted the seed of justice within her after that first encounter with Johnathan. And the way God unfolded that story is truly one for the record books. Join us as we hear how Maya’s faith remained her constant strength throughout her career and while fighting for social justice reform within the criminal prosecution system.Guest Bio:Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons’ story has all the makings of a modern fairytale: full of faith, friendship, a fight for justice, and ultimately the triumph of love. Maya is a basketball icon—a two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, and WNBA MVP. Jonathan was just 18 years old when he was wrongly convicted by an all-white jury for a crime that occurred when he was 16. With no physical evidence tying him to the crime, Jonathan was handed a 50-year prison sentence, of which he served 23 years. Their lives juxtaposed, it might seem unlikely that their paths would cross.Yet, it was right before her freshman year at UCONN that Maya was introduced to Jonathan by her family involved with prison ministry. She heard his story, and over the next decade, as Maya graduates from UCONN and is drafted into the WNBA, Jonathan pours himself into earning first his GED, then develops a deep understanding of law. The two forged a close friendship, grounded in their shared faith and cultivated through their dedication to finding his freedom. Then, in 2019, at the peak of her career, Maya shocked the world when she decided to step away from basketball to focus solely on Jonathan’s case. After a winding, yearlong effort, Jonathan was finally released. The next day, Jonathan proposed to Maya, and weeks later, they were married. Maya was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2021 ESPYS, and the story of her fight for Jonathan’s freedom was told in the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Breakaway.” In 2023, Maya and Jonathan welcomed their first child, Jonathan, Jr. (“JJ”), and published their joint memoir, Love and Justice.Notes & Quotes: “I was like, ‘Oh, this is. . . I’m more like Jesus than I’ve ever been in my life.’ And I wasn’t just like, I’m going to be Jesus in this picture. Like we’re all helping each other, but I’m getting a chance to relate to the gospels and relate to some of these things I’m seeing in Scripture because I need [Jesus]. Because I am seeing this oppression.”  “I don’t know what’s going to happen necessarily, what’s next to do, but I know [God] is going to provide. He’s going to show up every season, every year. You get heartbreak, but then He’d show us something, and then hold on nothing’s happening, and then something, and then He would just keep us going. He’d show himself really undeniably in different ways where it was like, we’re on the right track.”  “The goodness of God and the goodness of this story is what’s going to win.” God’s heart is about justice, and mercy, and dignity, and caring for the vulnerable. . . this is what the Kingdom of God looks like at its purest. Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Learn more about Maya’s work with Win with Justice. Check out Maya and Jonathan’s book, Love and Justice. Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: Colossians 3:23 Esther 4:14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Orsika Fejer-Baas will be the first to tell you that she never thought she would be the person who became a victim of abuse. But the hurtful behaviors of her second husband reached the point where they could no longer be ignored. Yes, as Orsika proudly proclaims, it was only by God’s grace continuing to work in and through her that she made it out of the quicksand.Guest Bio:Orsika Fejer-Baas’ childhood was magical. As an adult, her choices were less than amazing. She moved from one failed relationship to another, had three children, and lost direction in life. She felt as though she let everyone down. Having experienced domestic violence, Orsika knew something had to change. She hit rock bottom and clearly understood the years of abuse were going to drastically transform her life for the better. Her healing journey began well after escaping the abuse. Orsika lived through the pain, the shame, and the guilt of making decisions, which brought sorrow and potential unforgiveness. She understands, firsthand, the feelings of loneliness and desperation. Yet Orsika also knows the journey to healing is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus.Notes & Quotes: I just knew I wasn’t alone. I looked back in the sand and it was the one set of footprints, and it’s God carrying me through it. So it wasn’t ever, “Oh lord, why have you forsaken me?” You know, it was like, “Thank you Lord for carrying me.” “It was truly just by the grace of God that we made it through. God made sure that we were as safe in each situation as possible. And God protected me from, and us, the kids and I, from the free will of those who chose differently than maybe they should have.” “It’s important to share, to give people the hope that there can be a better life and escaping is the best option. You just have to be determined to not go back. And it is important to be able to tell God’s story in all of it, realistically, because that’s how I made it through.” “I found a peace through forgiveness, and that happened only through Christ, and that happened only through God.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT National Domestic Abuse Hotline Learn more about Orsika’s work with Out of the Quicksand at her website. Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The problems of exploitation and injustice that many women in Lily Meschi’s home country of Iran are living through are close to Lily’s heart because they were once her problems—even when she was thousands of miles away in the United States. In her early adult years, Lily found herself in an overwhelming darkness of abuse and manipulation from which she found no possible escape. Yet, once she came to Jesus through the comforting words of John 1, a new type of life instantly started.Guest Bio:Driven by a passion for intentional living, Lily Meschi dedicates herself to serving in ministry for Iran Alive as the director of partner relations. Born and raised in a Muslim family in Tehran, Iran, Lily’s life took a transformative turn when her family relocated to the US at the age of 18. Amidst struggles and hardships related to her identity as an Iranian woman, Lily discovered Christianity, finding solace and freedom in her newfound faith in Jesus Christ. This experience ignited her compassion for Iranian women who have faced similar oppression, abuse, and isolation. By drawing from her personal journey as an Iranian woman, Lily provides profound insights into the challenges surrounding women’s rights in Iran. She has become a vocal advocate against practices such as arranged marriages of young women to older men in the Middle East, shedding light on societal norms that perpetuate injustice.Introduced to Iran Alive Ministries through a satellite TV program, Lily’s faith journey was further nurtured by the Gospel message presented by an Iranian woman, leading her to pursue education in Bible college to deepen her understanding of Christianity’s teachings and history. Additionally, Lily has shared her story and insights in various media outlets like CBN News, Today’s Christian Living, The Christian Post, and others.Notes & Quotes: “Growing up, I always knew Jesus was one of the greatest prophets who performed many miracles. I had great honor for Him, but he was nothing but a prophet. . . when she read to me that in the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, it was resolved for me. Jesus was God because He was from the beginning, was God, and was with God.” “I needed to understand that there's a loving Father that wants His children to live in complete peace and tranquility with Him, partnering with Him on this earth. And there's a purpose for everyone that is definitely not trauma. His purpose and plan for us is not to harm us, but to bless us, and to give us a hope and a future.” “It all boils down to our intimate walk with our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit and the work of Jesus Christ; to really become intimate with Him and learn about our purpose, our destiny, our assignment. So that on the day when we are taken up to heaven, we can say that I did faithfully what you have and the assignment that you have put before me.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT National Domestic Abuse Hotline Find out more about Lily’s work with Iran Alive Ministries Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: John 1:1 John 1:14 John 15:5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich knows what it feels like to be an outlier. Starting a personal relationship with Jesus in his late teens, Rich’s curious mind was drawn to the diverse tapestry of Christian traditions—both past and present. But that curiosity was a necessary foundation for his faith. In fact, it’s that passion that continues to define and shape his ministry.Guest Bio:Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with over seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching, and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He’s been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan. His books, The Deeply Formed Life and Good and Beautiful and Kind, are available wherever books are sold.Notes & Quotes: “I came to Jesus not because I believe that He rose from the dead. I came to Jesus because [the preacher] said to me that there is hope. There is life if you put your trust in Him. In that moment, all he said was “God can put you back together,” and that’s all I needed to hear.” “We have global historic theology and expressions of faith within Christianity, and lots of folks just want their tradition. There’s a feast before us, but there’s something missing here.” “I think I learned a lot from my failures in 2016 and 2017 with how I alienated a group of people in our church unwittingly, that I changed course in 2020. I was able to be faithful to what I believe are gospel values, but in a way, do my best pastorally to remain emotionally connected to people.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Check out Rich’s books, The Deeply Formed Life, Good and Beautiful and Kind, and The Narrow Path. Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned: Ezekiel 37 Matthew 17:1-13 Malachai 4:5-6 Micah 6:8 Luke 4:1-28 Isaiah 61:1-3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a self-described “recovering perfectionist,” Jeanne wanted to be the one doing it all; breaking barriers and making space for everyone at the table. That desire was the foundation for many of the successes she’s achieved in academics, leadership, and ministry over the years. Yet it was through her personal loss that she fully understood that her superpower wasn’t the ability to juggle it all by herself. Her true strength came from leaning on God and those He brought into her life.Guest Bio:Dr. Jeanne Porter King is called to lead and make a difference in the lives of others. Through the ministry of the spoken and written word, Dr J, as she is affectionately called by her congregation, is a preacher, teacher, author, and business owner. Her messages have been called transformative, helping listeners unlock issues of identity, purpose, and destiny.Dr. Jeanne Porter King currently serves as the executive pastor at Christ Community Church, along with her husband, Dr. Carl E. King, Sr., the senior pastor. Additionally, she is the founder and principal consultant of the TransPorter Group Inc., with over 30 years of consulting and training experience in a variety of industries as well as with community groups, governmental agencies, churches, and other faith-based institutions. Through TransPorter, she has been blessed to travel across the world, training seasoned and aspiring leaders.In addition to her other work, Dr. Jeanne Porter King has authored numerous books and articles on leadership and is committed to developing and coaching leaders for the kingdom. Her books include Leading Well: A Black Woman’s Guide to Wholistic, Barrier-Breaking Leadership and Caring Well: 90 Self-Care Devotions for the African American Caregiver. Dr. Jeanne Porter King received both her bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She has also received her master of arts in theological studies from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and a doctor of philosophy in communication with an emphasis in cultural studies from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.Notes & Quotes: “We can care for others, but we have to do it in a way that we also care for ourselves and we don’t harm ourselves.” “If Jesus found [the women at the well], He could find us as Black women. And what we bring to the table are gifts that, through spending that time with the Lord, we bring out and can lead out of.” “We don’t have to mask up and be more than we’re supposed to be. We can draw from this inner strength that comes from that well of the Holy Spirit and from the cultural traditions that are given to us.” “I try to work toward excellence, but the notion of trying to be perfect came out . . . . I had to give myself permission to step away from that.” Links Mentioned: FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Learn more about Jeanne’s leadership work here. Check out Jeanne’s newest book with Our Daily Bread Publishing, Caring Well: 90 Self-Care Devotions for the African American Caregiver. Get your copy of Jeanne’s book, Leading Well. Jeanne’s Instagram Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Follow VOICES on Instagram. Verses Mentioned:John 4:1-26 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices