In this podcast episode, Mark Turman discusses the importance of serving in the Christian faith, highlighting the work of Mercy Ships, an international ministry that provides surgical care to the world's forgotten poor. Raeanne Newquist shares her personal journey with Mercy Ships, detailing the transformative impact of their work on patients and the community. The conversation emphasizes the significance of restoring dignity and humanity to those in need, as well as the personal growth experienced by volunteers and their families.The discussion explores the various roles available for volunteers, the unique family dynamics aboard the ships, and the spiritual impact of serving in diverse communities. Raeanne emphasizes the importance of prayer, the need for various skill sets, and the profound experiences that come from working in a global mission context.Topics(00:00): The Call to Serve: Understanding Christian Service(06:02): Introducing Mercy Ships: A Unique Ministry(12:06): The Impact of Mercy Ships: Transformative Patient Stories(17:57): Personal Connections: How Mercy Ships Changed Lives(26:25): Transformative Journey with Mercy Ships(31:40): The Broad Scope of Service Opportunities(35:43): Family Life Aboard Mercy Ships(39:55): Commitment Levels and Volunteer Roles(44:00): Navigating Complexities of Service(48:29): Spiritual Impact and Community on BoardResourcesMercy ShipsFacebookInstagramXYouTubeAbout Raeanne NewquistRaeanne, her husband, and 3 children joined Mercy Ships in 2019. After leaving everything behind in Southern California, they boarded the Africa Mercy in Las Palmas and made their first sail down to Dakar, Senegal for their first field service. On board, Raeanne volunteered in the communications department and later in chaplaincy. Currently, Raeanne works in the Mercy Ships U.S. Marketing department. Raeanne is the host of the New Mercies podcast, is the voice of the Mercy Minute daily radio broadcast and serves as a staff writer.About Mercy ShipsMercy Ships, founded in 1978, operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. Mercy Ships bases its work from its two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy®, which went into service in 2007, and the Global Mercy® — the world’s first purpose-built civilian hospital ship—which began serving African nations in 2022.Direct Medical - Mercy Ships provides safe, free surgeries on board its hospital ships, focusing on seven specialties: maxillofacial/head and neck surgery; reconstructive plastic surgery; pediatric orthopedic surgery; specialized pediatric surgery; general surgery; opthalmic; and women’s health. Education, Training, and Advocacy - Mercy Ships focuses on long-term, sustainable education and training across the surgical ecosystem, working to create lasting impact by increasing surgical capacity in host nations.Since 1978 Mercy Ships has provided:117,000+ Life-Saving Surgeries541,000+ Dental Procedures54,300+ Professionals trained in their area of expertise2.87 million+ direct beneficiariesAbout Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Join Dr. Mark Turman, executive director of Denison Forum, as he interviews Pedro Reyes about his extraordinary journey from Cuba to the United States, his battle with sexual addiction, and his ultimate redemption through faith. Pedro shares his heartfelt story of dealing with childhood abuse, the struggles of addiction, and how he found freedom and healing. Learn about the transformative power of grace, the importance of accountability, and how Pedro now ministers as a chaplain for the Texas Rangers. This episode offers hope and resources for those battling similar struggles and emphasizes the enduring love and commitment of Pedro's wife, Susi.Topics(00:43): Meet Pedro Reyes: A Journey from Cuba to the US(03:07): Pedro's Early Life and Family Challenges(06:49): Hopes for Cuba and Ministry Efforts(09:51): Pedro's Struggles with Sexual Addiction(13:50): The Turning Point: Seeking Help and Recovery(16:48): Rebuilding Marriage and Family(22:28): Advice for Others and Church Involvement(35:57): Becoming a Chaplain for the Texas Rangers(40:28): Conclusion and Final ThoughtsResourcesEpisode Transcript (PDF)Covenant EyesProclaim CubaWhat does the Bible say about pornography? Can you break free from sexual temptation?Fighting pornography and sexual sin: A conversation with Matt JacobsonFreedom CourseFight the New DrugAbout Pedro ReyesPedro was born in Havana, Cuba. His family moved to the US in January 1960. He lived in Delaware, not knowing how to speak English as a young boy. In September 1965, his family moved to Texas. He went to high school in Dallas and attended the University of Texas in Arlington. He gave his life to Christ in college in March 1971 and graduated from college in 1974. After graduating, he joined the Campus Crusade for Christ staff, now known as CRU, and was assigned to a Junior College in Phoenix, AZ, where he met his wife. They married in May 1976 and moved to Dallas. He has 4 grown, married children and 10 grandchildren. He owns a Construction company and volunteers as a chaplain for the Texas Rangers.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Turman sits down with Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison to explore topics ranging from biblical leadership principles, modern temptations, faith, and rationality to the geopolitical implications of Islamic eschatology. They discuss how to balance shepherding and equipping within the church, the importance of rational faith, and how temptation works in our lives today. Listen as they provide thought-provoking insights on how to foster a flourishing community rooted in biblical values.Topics(00:27): Introducing Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison(02:20): Discussing Leadership and Integrity(08:31): Biblical Principles of Shared Power(11:43): Understanding Temptation and Sin(18:22): The Craftiness of the Devil(26:45): Understanding Temptation and Resistance(29:06): The Rationality of Faith(34:51): Metaphors in the Bible and Church Dynamics(44:27): The Mahdi and Geopolitical ImplicationsResourcesEpisode Transcript (PDF)Reflecting on the funeral of Jimmy CarterWhat does the Bible say about pornography? Can you break free from sexual temptation?Defeating temptation before it becomes sinIran is “closer than ever” to a nuclear bomb: Why this is a global threat, and how Christians should respondWhy does God value integrity?The Coming Tsunami About Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Ryan DenisonRyan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, host Mark Turman kicks off 2025 by introducing listeners to the new Culture Brief podcast. Joined by Connor Jones and Micah Tomasella, the discussion covers the objectives and format of Culture Brief, highlighting its focus on news, sports, entertainment, and technology from a biblical perspective. The trio dives into current topics like the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the tragic murder of a healthcare CEO, and the excitement surrounding NFL and college football playoffs. They examine these events' cultural and spiritual implications, offering listeners a taste of what's to come with Culture Brief.Topics(00:28): Introducing the New Podcast: Culture Brief(01:24): Meet the Hosts: Connor and Micah(03:07): What to Expect from Culture Brief(05:13): The Format and Audience of Culture Brief(12:16): Diving into the First Stories(18:07): The Tragic Story of Brian Thompson(28:10): Mental Health and Spiritual Influences(29:33): Syria's Political Upheaval(31:30): Impact on the Middle East(35:46): Prayers and Humanitarian Efforts(41:12): Football Season Highlights(50:54): Faith in Sports(53:57): Conclusion and Call to ActionResourcesCulture Brief Podcast Luigi Mangione charged with murder in death of insurance CEOThe Health Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Fix It.Boise State’s faith-driven journey to the College Football PlayoffsWhat Travis Hunter’s Heisman win says about our cultureCivil war in Syria escalates as rebels take HamaWhat does the Syrian conflict mean for the world?About Micah TomasellaMicah Tomasella is the Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.About Conner JonesConner is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman explore how Christians have lived faithfully in their cultural moment for thousands of years, how we must break free from the Sunday/Monday heresy, the importance of a personal relationship with Christ, how Christianity is a bad religion without such a personal relationship, and how the culture has created a new religion of humanism and self-affirming authenticity.Mark discusses how we often don’t see the results of our faithfulness in our lifetime, and we must leave the results to God’s providence. Faithfulness takes patience, and, as Jim has written, “You can’t measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness.” They delve into the Protestant Reformation, how it began, and some of the key believers in the movement.They then address the “Sunday/Monday heresy,” which refers to the view of many Christians who live as Christians on Sunday morning but have their own lives every other day of the week. Christ calls us to give every minute of our lives over to him. This leads them to discuss the essential part of Christianity as being in the relationship with Christ, not the religion. While religion is important, i.e., going to church, singing hymns, liturgy, etc., without the relationship, religion is an empty shell. Jim reveals a time when, as a pastor, God convicted him that while Jim loved Jesus, he wasn’t in love with Jesus. They then delve into what has become the overarching ideology or creed of our culture: personal authenticity. They discuss the evolution of this creed over time: how Christianity was at first important and culturally encouraged, then it became a personal hobby, then irrelevant, and now it’s considered dangerous. The culture has almost fully bought into humanism. They consider the implications of this creed, how nowadays everything is centered around feelings and our experience. Sometimes, true repentance is harder than religion. Often, having a relationship with Christ is more difficult than following an empty creed. Many issues in our culture stem from the transference of responsibility to anything and everyone but ourselves. There’s a sense in the culture now that “I” cannot be at fault; it must be the system or other people. While there are complex issues here, the gospel ultimately relies on the submission of oneself to Christ, no matter our circumstances. Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert E. Coleman To Change the World, James Davison Hunter “The Third Great Awakening,” Christianity Today About Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode, Mark and Jim begin by giving a personal biography of their lives and testimonies. In this, Jim explores how several key people who were faithful with their gifts helped bring him to trust in Jesus as his savior.Jim discusses how the term theological middleman began to define his ministry calling, with a clear, strong conviction from the Lord. A large part of Denison Ministries’ niche is equipping believers to love God with all of their minds. We often encounter a resistance to intellectual thinking in Christianity. A common Christian sentiment in the ’60s and ’70s was: Don’t let college ruin you. Thankfully, in recent years, evangelicals have shown that we are not antagonistic to reason. John Lennox and Russell Moore are two prime examples. Then, Mark and Jim discuss the merits and flaws in Karl Marx’s philosophy. Many of Marx’s criticisms were accurate. Seeing the world through the lens of “class” is helpful, but only to a point, and it cannot provide a solid worldview. Later, certain philosophers in the Frankfurt School developed Critical Theory out of Marxism. This plays out in our era through Critical Race Theory, for example.The philosophy behind Critical Theory is that if you are a part of a group that has benefited from oppression, you are also culpable to the oppression. The spread of this kind of thinking is evident, even in Texas public schools. Many, like Ibram Kendi, have now said that if we maintain the status quo, we are complicit in racism. Instead, we must be antiracist.Mark and Jim then delve into why Critical Theory doesn’t take sin nature into account. If the oppressed become powerful, they will be just as likely to oppress others, which is exactly what happened in the Soviet Union.All of that said, Jim then argues that systemic racism continues to exist in modern-day America and gives several, well-attested facts that point to that truth. As believers, our first questions should be of self-examination: “How am I prejudiced? How can I amend where I have hurt others?” This means personally engaging with people who aren’t like us and listening to their pains.Resources and further readingJim Denison, The Coming Tsunami Russell Moore, website Jon Lennox, website William Barclay, Commentary on the New Testament “Theological middleman.” Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist Richard Delgado, Jean Stefanic, Critical Race Theory: An Introduction Karl Marx, The Communist ManifestoAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the sexual revolution and its implications for today’s culture. They discuss how the church’s witness is hurt by its bad example, how biblical morality is going to be persecuted, the implications of the Equality Act, how US laws should legislate certain moral judgments and not others, and how the world’s understanding of sex ultimately leads to harm.First, Mark and Jim show why it’s important to have historical context for cultural ideas today. Much of the LGBTQ movement in today’s world is a symptom, not the cause, of the cultural tsunami. To address the root causes, however, the church must start within our own doors and hearts. Since the church abuse scandals, comparable levels of divorce rates, and the acceptance of cohabitation, the church has lost credibility in the eyes of the culture. In the case of the new sexual morality, biblical Christians are becoming more ostracized and considered even dangerous for our beliefs. Indeed, while all laws legislate morality in some way, we must get clear on religious freedom and what the State can legislate. They unpack how this played out in the legalization of abortion. Jim then elaborates on how civil rights laws protecting minorities are categorically different from those protecting based on sexual orientation, both biblically and under secular arguments, and how the Equality Act poses a serious threat to biblical Christian institutions. Finally, they discuss how Christians can respond to today’s sexual revolution following Paul’s model from Corinthians. Jim argues that we shouldn’t take the easy route, but rather we must let our light shine. We have the heroes of Hebrews 11 to inspire us. (Correction: Cardinal Francis George first said, “I expect my successor to die in prison . . . .”) not Archbishop Collins.)Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Dr. Jim Denison The Benedict Option, Rod Dreher  “The Equality Act: What Christians need to know,” Dr. Jim Denison “Religious Liberty Isn’t Enough,” Ryan T. AndersonAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the foundation for Denison Forum by first unpacking apologetics ("to make a defense"), which has its roots in the book of Acts. Cultural apologetics refers to giving a defense of biblical truth in the context of cultural issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, or euthanasia. They discuss starting points for those conversations, which need to begin outside of the Bible and with varying assumptions, depending on the audience. Next, they discuss the origins of Protestants’ split from Roman Catholicism and its further divisions. Evangelicalism is a relatively recent movement, however, beginning in the 20s and 30s, and gaining prominence after WWII. Evangelicalism, in some ways, rose in reaction against a perceived liberal drift of mainline denominations. But, from the start, with people like Billy Graham, the main point was to spread the simple gospel. Nowadays, the word evangelical has become associated with the political right more than its core biblical beliefs, from the well-intentioned “we want a nation God can bless” acting as part of the Moral Majority, and activism, to its disparaged status in culture. Culture tends to view evangelicals as a political action movement, especially with some preachers endorsing Donald Trump. Finally, Mark and Jim discuss the earthquakes that Jim outlines in The Coming Tsunami. Denial of biblical truth, the first earthquake, is in many ways the one which starts the fall of dominoes. Many Christians are trying to address these problems by tackling the symptoms of the cultural tsunami. That leaves us blind to the actual, invisible causes of the cultural decline we see today.Each person deals with their own unique presuppositions, so the best way to change the tide is to influence the people where you are as best you can. In the midst of this discussion, Mark and Jim begin to unpack further cultural earthquakes. Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim DenisonGood Faith, David French, Curtis ChangLeadership is an art, Max DupreeAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

On The Denison Forum Podcast, host Dr. Mark Turman interviews knowledgeable guests on timely news and relevant spiritual topics.Each week an author, commentator, pastor, theologian, or a topical expert joins the show to bring biblical insight and practical applications to help Christians further develop a biblical worldview on current events.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman talk about the origins of Jim’s book, The Coming Tsunami, and God’s calling on Jim’s life to cultural apologetics. In this first episode, they cover:how Christians should engage the culturenewfound unity between denominationsrising atheismhow to turn the cultural tideand hope for a new awakening In part 1, Jim and Mark delve into Jim’s life and upbringing. Jim’s father experienced the horrors of World War II and couldn’t reconcile them with Christianity. So, Jim grew up in a “loving, wonderful home but no spiritual life and all my father’s questions.” Eventually, after following Christ in his teens, God called him to ministry. Fast-forward to two or three years ago. The Holy Spirit pressed on him the “urgency of the moment” in our culture, which eventually led to the writing of The Coming Tsunami. The analogy runs like this: unseen forces (earthquakes) can lead to cultural symptoms that make Christianity a danger in the eyes of the culture (the tsunami).In part 2, Jim and Mark discuss: the sociology of how to change the cultureand the best strategies for Christians to accomplish it in AmericaThe election of conservative Christians to the presidency seems to have led to passivity among many Christians; political officials cannot change the culture. The way to change culture is to practice what you preach and exercise your influence wherever you are.In part 3, they talk about encouraging ways God is moving. For instance, they discuss the growing unity in the church between denominations, the miraculous awakenings in Islam, and the explosive growth of Christianity in Asian countries. Next, they cover the influx of atheist, secular thinkers into mainstream Western culture. Many are brilliant scientists but overstep into philosophy and theology, places where they make frequent errors but still hold massive influence. This and subjects like the church abuse scandals have broken the church’s image in the modern eye. Philosophy has consequences, and you can trace the ideas of today back generations to people like Kant. Finally, Jim shares his pastoral insight into how the Lord moves. While we may feel desperate now, God works awakenings when a culture is on the brink of despair. The Spirit has worked like that before in America, and he can do it again.Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim DenisonWrestling With God, Jim DenisonHow to Change the World, James Davidson HunterThe Screwtape Letters, C.S. LewisThe God Delusion, Richard Dawkinsgod is not Great, Christopher HitchensThe CEO Forum: “Created to support and minister to Christian CEOs and Senior Executives, CEO Forum exists to provide a unique approach to The Great Commission.”"How dreams and visions of “Isa” are awakening the Islamic world," Mark LeggAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.