Advertise on podcast: Courage & Faith Podcast

In this compelling Courage Conference interview, Chloe Cole shares an update on her pursuit of justice for children harmed by gender-related medical interventions, and statistics surrounding detransition. Drawing from her own experience, Chloe challenges us to look beneath the surface of gender confusion and understand the deeper struggles individuals may be facing. Chloe also challenges parents to take an active role in shaping their children’s influences. She emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, healthy relationships, and creating environments where children can discover purpose and belonging. Reflecting on her own journey, Chloe shares how God has awakened her to His presence, and how meaningful it was to have people speak life over her rather than define her by her pain. Truth without compassion can wound. Compassion without truth can leave people lost. The Church must be willing to do both: speak life, stand for children, and point people toward the purpose God has for them.

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Proverbs 24:11 In this powerful Courage Conference excerpt, Sarah Tarnowski of Love Life addresses the ongoing fight to protect the unborn in a post-Roe America. She highlights the sobering realities surrounding abortion in our nation and the growing challenges facing those who stand for life. But this is not a moment for the Church to retreat. God is using the prayers and actions of His people to bring change. Sarah challenges believers to take seriously the biblical call to rescue those facing death and to recognize that love must be accompanied by truth if people are going to experience freedom. Never underestimate what God can do through a Church that refuses to stay silent.

Revival is here, but will it lead to reformation? At Courage Conference, Tim Barton takes us through pivotal moments in America’s history, revealing how great moves of God shaped our nation even amid opposition from within the Church and resistance from the culture. From George Whitefield’s influence on the Founding Fathers during the First Great Awakening to Charles Finney’s call for Christians to engage in the public square during the Second Great Awakening, Barton challenges us to recognize that revival is about more than personal renewal. God never intended for our faith to impact only our own lives. He calls us to live it out in the world around us. And while we may long for God to move in ways that feel comfortable, genuine spiritual awakening brings moral clarity—and often opposition. The question isn’t just whether revival is happening. It’s whether we’ll have the courage to turn revival into reformation. Take this revival and make it an awakening!

How should Christians navigate a world of political division, rising antisemitism, and competing ideologies? In this Courage Conference panel, Pastor Sam Masteller leads a timely discussion with pastors Mykal Smith, Stephen Martin, and Austin Hamrick on the differences between the “Woke Right” and the “Woke Left,” the relationship between radical leftist movements and Islam, and the importance of understanding God’s ongoing plan for the Jewish people. The panel challenges believers not to confuse political conservatism with biblical Christianity or build their theology on immature or untested perspectives. The conversation also highlights the importance of local politics, civic engagement, and the responsibility of Christians to bring their faith and convictions into the public square. Your influence matters. What happens in our communities today sets the course of our nation tomorrow. From local government to the ballot box, Christians have opportunities to shape their communities and the future. The panel calls believers to remain grounded in Scripture, discerning about the ideologies shaping our world, and courageous in putting their faith into action.

What does it take to stand for your faith when the cost is high and the outcome is uncertain? In this Profiles of Courage segment from Courage Conference, hear two powerful stories of local believers whose convictions made national headlines. Gerald Groff shares how his fight for the right to observe the Sabbath led to a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victory that strengthened religious freedom protections for employees nationwide. Pastor Greg Lloyd recounts the controversy surrounding the York Revolution’s Pride Night, when baseball players chose their Christian convictions over wearing promotional jerseys, despite the professional and competitive consequences. Kurt Weaver of the Pennsylvania Family Institute also adds perspective on the cultural impact of these moments and challenges each of us to be willing to make a difference. These stories remind us that courage is being willing to stand for it when it costs something. One person’s conviction can make a difference far beyond what they ever imagined.

What does Israel reveal about the character of God? In this Courage Conference session, Kirby Calhoun of Christians United for Israel (CUFI) reminds us that Israel is evidence of God’s faithfulness to His Word and His people. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not change His mind—and His promises concerning Israel still matter because God is sovereign and His Word can be trusted. Kirby addresses the growing hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people, the spread of historical deception and antisemitism, and the confusion taking root among students on college campuses. As Jewish students increasingly fear openly expressing their heritage, Christians must have the courage to know the truth, speak up, and reject the lies that fuel division. The battle for truth begins with the next generation. Our children must be equipped with biblical truth, a Christian worldview, and the courage to engage the conversations shaping their world. Because if we want the next generation to stand for truth tomorrow, we must have the courage to speak up today.

Are you paying attention? In this Courage Conference session, Austin Hamrick challenges the Church to wake up to what is happening around the world, and understand the biblical significance of global events and the times in which we live. Austin reminds us that Jesus is coming back, and His return should create urgency in how we live today. Rather than hanging our heads in fear or discouragement, we're called to lift our eyes and fix them on Jesus. His return is not a reason to retreat, but it is a reason to live ready, live faithfully, and live with purpose. Wake up. Look up. Get ready. Jesus is coming.

What would you say if someone handed you a microphone and asked you to defend your faith in the middle of a college campus? Brittany Leboeuf begins her Courage Conference session by doing just that—tackling common cultural questions with truth, clarity, and courage. She then shares her personal journey from being a liberal-minded college student to discovering the truth of God's Word and the life-changing reality of a relationship with Jesus. Brittany challenges believers to do more than win arguments. Through her TRUTH acronym, she offers a practical framework for sharing our faith and the hope of Jesus while caring more about the person than the issue, listening well, and keeping the door open for meaningful dialogue, even with those who see the world differently. Because courage isn't just about speaking truth. It's about speaking truth in a way that keeps people listening.

We live in a world marked by dissonance—division, conflict, hostility, and turmoil. But true harmony with God requires reconciliation, and reconciliation comes at a cost. In this powerful Courage Conference session, Pastor Rob McCoy connects the gospel to the division we see in our nation and around the world, challenging the Church to pursue reconciliation and remain focused on truth rather than being consumed by misplaced conflict and division. He closes with four powerful songs, the hymns of unity and the harmony of courage, calling us to remember that the answer to a world in dissonance is found in the One who gave His blood to reconcile us to God.

One year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I’m looking back at what happened after the bullet was fired: the gospel reached millions, a generation witnessed remarkable courage and forgiveness, and the attempt to silence one voice created something no assassin could control. But this isn’t just about remembering Charlie. It’s about us. Have Christians become so afraid of controversy, criticism and being called names that we’ve stopped confronting lies with truth? Charlie’s microphone may be silent, but the responsibility to speak isn’t. It’s time to pick up the mic.

At Courage Conference, Chloe Cole shares her deeply personal story of growing up as a tomboy and finding what she believed were safe communities online—only to be introduced to the idea that she was born in the wrong body. With encouragement from medical professionals, Chloe underwent hormone treatment and gender-transition surgery, becoming, in her words, a medical experiment. The physical consequences left permanent scars, but they could not change the reality of her biological identity. Chloe openly shares the grief of losing her femininity, the courage it took to detransition, and the difficult journey of walking away from the community that had once embraced her. But her story didn't end there. Today, Chloe is an outspoken advocate for children, biological reality, and the belief that we are created intentionally by God. She challenges a culture that encourages young people to question their God-given identity and calls the Church to help the next generation embrace who God created them to be and discover the purpose He has for their lives.

What happens when the Church stops watching? In this Courage Conference presentation, Pastor Stephen Martin examines the growth of Islam in the United States, using Texas as a case study in what he describes as the increasing Islamification of American culture. Drawing from Islamic doctrine and history, Martin explores the ideological and political forces he believes threaten the Judeo-Christian foundations of the West—including what he calls the red-green alliance. Martin issues a challenge to Christian leaders: be watchmen. Understand the ideologies shaping our culture, recognize the threats to religious liberty and biblical values, and refuse to remain silent while the future of the next generation is being determined.

What happens when a generation learns to criticize America before it ever learns to appreciate her story? In this powerful Courage Conference presentation, Tim Barton reminds us of American history marked by remarkable freedom, stability, prosperity, and benevolence—an extraordinary legacy worth celebrating. Barton exposes how division and distorted history can undermine a nation, reminding us that the battle over America's story is ultimately a battle over worldview. And at the heart of America's unique story is something that cannot be ignored: our nation was founded by men who feared God and believed our rights came from our Creator. As the enemy works to divide, Christians must be willing to know the story, tell the story, and pass it on to the next generation. America is not perfect—but her story is worth knowing, her freedoms are worth defending, and the biblical principles that shaped her founding are worth remembering and celebrating.

Ideas have consequences, and the future of our culture will be shaped by what we believe, teach, and pass on to the next generation. In this episode, Pastor Sam Masteller welcomes author, mathematician, and cultural critic Dr. James Lindsay for a wide-ranging conversation examining the ideas behind today's cultural upheaval. They explore the rise of Western Marxism, critical theory, the "woke Right," antisemitism, and the influence of prominent cultural voices. If you want to better understand the forces shaping our world and how the Church can faithfully respond, this conversation offers a timely framework for thinking clearly, engaging wisely, and standing firmly on God's Word.

What if the first eleven chapters of Genesis are more than the beginning of the Bible—they're the foundation for understanding every major doctrine of the Christian faith? In this episode of Courage + Faith, Pastor Sam Masteller welcomes creation apologist Eric Hovind, President of Creation Today, for a compelling conversation about the importance of a biblical worldview rooted in Genesis. Together, they discuss why Genesis 1–11 is essential for understanding God's character, humanity's purpose, the origin of sin, and the need for redemption. They also explore the significance of Eric's Jesus on Genesis teaching series and how Jesus Himself affirmed Genesis as historical truth. As our culture increasingly questions objective truth and biblical authority, this conversation equips believers to think critically, stand confidently on Scripture, and recognize that Christianity doesn't begin with the cross—it begins with, "In the beginning." If you're wrestling with questions about creation, this episode will encourage you to build your life on the unchanging truth of God's Word.