The Overcomers with Matt Chandler

Join Colleen Searcy, a dedicated Women's director at The Village Church, and Ryan Wester, a heartfelt Groups home director, as they share their contrasting journeys into ministry. Colleen’s upbringing in a faith-filled family shaped her calling, while Ryan found redemption from a turbulent past. They discuss the unique challenges women face in ministry, the importance of mentorship, and the transformative power of community. Their inspiring conversation advocates for recognizing and empowering women's gifts in the church, highlighting that when women thrive, the whole body flourishes.

In this episode of The Overcomers, I sit down with Danny Spencer, a long-time member of The Village Church, as he shares his powerful story of healing and hope. Raised in a home marked by addiction and loss, Danny carried deep wounds into adulthood—even as he built a successful banking career. Behind the scenes, alcohol was quietly undoing everything.At his lowest point, Danny found his way into a 12-step meeting and soon after, into the community at Highland Village First Baptist Church. It was there that God began a radical work of redemption. Through the support of people like Ida Stump and a faithful home group, Danny’s life began to change—his sobriety took hold, and his faith deepened.In this conversation, we explore the healing power of Gospel community, the beauty of restored relationships, and the truth that no one is ever too far gone. If you or someone you love is struggling, Danny’s story will point you to hope, healing, and the One who breaks every chain.TOPICS DISCUSSEDFrom Rock Bottom to RedemptionGod’s Faithfulness in the MessBreaking Chains in CommunityHealing That Only Jesus BringsFOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsCovenant EyesVictory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.CommunioCommunio is not another program. It’s a non-profit organization that comes alongside churches, training and equipping them to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. Family structure is key for passing on faith to children, yet 72 percent of churches lack significant relationship ministry. That’s where Communio comes in. Communio has worked with hundreds of churches across the country. These churches have seen divorce rates drop – attendance rise – weekly generosity increase – and marriage and family bonds restored. Visit: communio.org/overcomers to learn more about the Communio impact and how Communio can come alongside your church. Air DoctorAirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code OVERCOMERS and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using my promo code OVERCOMERS at checkout!–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Pastors Leonce Crump and Joby Martin share their journeys through the pressures of leadership, discussing resilience in the face of burnout and doubt. Leonce reflects on his heartbreak and how nature rejuvenated his spirit, while Joby recalls a moment he nearly quit ministry, nudged back by his wife. They explore the delicate balance of public life and family, advocating for authenticity in leadership and protecting their children from public scrutiny. Together, they emphasize leaning on faith during tough times and the value of community support.

Family life is messy—loud, exhausting, and often overwhelming. But the everyday moments—car rides, meals, bedtime—can be sacred opportunities to point our kids to Jesus.This week on the Overcomers Podcast, I sit down with Adam Griffin, author and host of the Family Discipleship Podcast, to talk about leading our families in grace, not perfection. Adam shares his struggles with impatience and how embracing our weaknesses can deepen our parenting.We unpack simple but powerful practices—like the driveway prayer to reset before stepping inside, the sacredness of family meals, and the importance of consistency in shaping faith. And in a world where screens are discipling our kids faster than we are, Adam offers wisdom on keeping them engaged, guarding their hearts, and staying united as parents.You don’t have to be a perfect parent—just present, humble, and faithful.TOPICS DISCUSSEDParenting Challenges and Cultivating HumilityServing and Loving ImperfectlyHome Formation Through Routines and MilestonesFostering Family Connection Through CommunicationNavigating Different Parenting PhilosophiesNavigating Technological Challenges in ParentingParenting with CommunityGUEST RESOURCESFamily Discipleship PodcastFamily Discipleship BookAdam's Forthcoming BookFollow AdamFollow Family Discipleship PodcastFOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsCommunioCommunio is not another program. It’s a non-profit organization that comes alongside churches, training and equipping them to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. Family structure is key for passing on faith to children, yet 72 percent of churches lack significant relationship ministry. That’s where Communio comes in. Communio has worked with hundreds of churches across the country. These churches have seen divorce rates drop – attendance rise – weekly generosity increase – and marriage and family bonds restored. Visit communio.org/overcomers to learn more about the Communio impact and how Communio can come alongside your church. Aqua TruHaving safe, clean water is the last thing you want to worry about, but unfortunately, According to extensive research by the Environmental Working Group, virtually every home in America has harmful contaminants in its tap water. That's why we love our AquaTru water filter. AquaTru purifiers use a 4-stage reverse osmosis purification process, and their countertop purifiers work with NO installation or plumbing.The Overcomers listeners can receive 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier! Just go to AquaTru.com and enter code “OVERCOMERS“ at checkout. AquaTru comes with a 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of The Overcomers. In this episode, I’m joined by Kim Zember, whose journey with Jesus shows the messy, beautiful reality of sanctification. Growing up in a Christian home in Southern California, Kim had some transformative encounters with Jesus, but her path hasn’t always been straightforward.We dive into the challenges Kim faced growing up—especially her early view of God as this authoritative figure, which led to a legalistic way of thinking. There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to understanding who we are in Christ, and for Kim, the journey wasn’t a straight line. We talk about the moments that shook her understanding of herself, her faith, and her sexuality—especially navigating feelings and desires she had that seemed counter to who she believed she truly was.This episode is a reminder that God’s love and grace are bigger than our struggles, and no matter where we are, we can always turn toward Him. Join us for an honest, powerful conversation about faith, identity, and transformation.TOPICS DISCUSSEDNavigating Gender Identity and RelationshipsThe Struggle With Self-Identity and FaithEncountering God's Healing and LoveEmbracing Imperfection and God’s Grace Through Relational FaithFinding Grace and GrowthGUEST RESOURCESKim Zember’s WebsiteFollow KimBuy Kim’s BookFOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsAmericans take about 20,000 breaths a day and spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. The indoor air that we breathe can be up to 100 times MORE polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. AirDoctor is the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to.AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code OVERCOMERS and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using my promo code OVERCOMERS at checkout!–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In a heartfelt conversation, Lauren Chandler, co-host and wife of Matt Chandler, discusses Matt's transformative healing journey. They delve into his realization of needing help in 2015 and the pivotal counseling experience with Jack that helped him confront inner struggles. Matt shares how humor masked his emotional challenges and the shift from problem-solving to fostering genuine connections. This episode emphasizes embracing vulnerability, personal growth, and the importance of deep relationships in one’s healing and ministry.

In a heartfelt discussion, friends Josh Patterson and Trevor Joy share captivating insights on the importance of deep male friendships. They draw from a 90-year Harvard study, emphasizing how vulnerability transforms surface-level connections into profound relationships. Exploring themes of shame, pain, and the necessity for intentionality, they highlight the need for '3 am friends' in overcoming loneliness. Their personal stories encourage men to embrace emotional honesty, fostering communities that thrive on authentic connections and shared adventures.

As I wrap up this season, I want to neatly summarize what this season was about. Whether it was walking through the four Horseman of the apocalypse, interviews, question and answers, the whole point was to highlight how true overcoming is not tied to mere personal effort or any treasure of this world, but arises from deep, heartfelt worship, rooted in the confidence of Jesus' reign and rule. This worship brings strength, courage, and gratitude, that can transform our responses to adversity, infusing our hearts with gratitude and confidence.My prayer has been and will continue to be that you are reminded that God has called you, specifically you, within the grand narrative of God's story to walk in the confidence that Jesus has come and will come again. And when you fully surrender to His rule and reign in your life, you have the power to overcome life's challenges.FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsCovenant EyesVictory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free lifeAnyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com and using my promo code OVERCOMERS for 30 days free.LogosLogos is a powerful Bible study platform that allows you to study Scripture and consult commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, and more—all from your computer, tablet, or phone., and for a limited time listeners of The Overcomers podcasts can get an exclusive discount plus additional free books, just visit Logos.com/overcomers to learn more.–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

On this episode of The Overcomers I tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about suffering and God's love. Questions like why bad things happen to good people, why doesn't God answer prayer, and others. All with the aim of confronting the lies that will lead people to dark spaces with the truths of scripture.My prayer is that through this series you will discover and be reminded of the hope and courage available to overcome life's challenges through the finished work of Christ. FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsCovenant EyesVictory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free lifeAnyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com and using my promo code OVERCOMERS for 30 days free.LogosLogos is a powerful Bible study platform that allows you to study Scripture and consult commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, and more—all from your computer, tablet, or phone., and for a limited time listeners of The Overcomers podcasts can get an exclusive discount plus additional free books, just visit Logos.com/overcomers to learn more.–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

It's possible to have everything this world has to offer and be starving — maybe not physically, but spiritually. In this episode of The Overcomers, I want to help you gain a deeper understanding of the profound symbolism of the black horse from Revelation 6 and its connection to spiritual famine. Gary and Sandi Stevenson's marriage was built on shaky grounds from the start, marred by infidelity and addiction, which led to a perfect facade hiding internal turmoil. Through their candid sharing, we explore how their relationship almost disintegrated under the weight of shame and sin — even while attending and being involved in their local church. It was only through the acts of confession, repentance and walking in the light with community that they were able to combat the lies of the Black Rider. Their testimony is a moving example of how bringing darkness into the light can lead to profound healing and a restored, abundant life through Jesus.FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | NewsletterIf you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!Thank you to our SponsorsCovenant EyesVictory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free lifeAnyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com and using my promo code OVERCOMERS for 30 days free.LogosLogos is a powerful Bible study platform that allows you to study Scripture and consult commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, and more—all from your computer, tablet, or phone., and for a limited time listeners of The Overcomers podcasts can get an exclusive discount plus additional free books, just visit Logos.com/overcomers to learn more.–Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co