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Music connects us to God in ways words alone sometimes can’t. But what makes worship music... worship? In this episode of The Days Before You podcast, worship pastor Daniel Bondaczuk joins the conversation to talk about the purpose and emotional depth of music in the church. Music hits differently for everyone. Daniel shares how worship isn’t about the style or volume, but about intention and connection.

Talking about money and church can be uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve grown up hearing “give 10%” but never really understood why. Or maybe you’ve felt the tension of wanting to give but barely making ends meet. If that’s you, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Days Before You podcast, we sit down with George Crumley, a man who’s spent over 40 years working in church finance. Together, we talk about the heart behind giving, the struggles that come with it, and the quiet ways God shows up when we step out in faith.

Grief doesn't follow a script. It’s messy, heavy, and can shake even the strongest faith. In this powerful episode of The Days Before You, pastors Brook and Jeremy Wong share their heartbreaking experience of losing their seven-year-old daughter, JJ, just 17 days after a sudden cancer diagnosis. With raw honesty, they open up about pain, doubt, and the deep darkness of grief, but also about hope, healing, and the gentle ways God carried them through.

There’s a line between supporting ministry and being consumed by it — a line that can be hard to see when you’re the spouse, child, or close relative of someone in church leadership. In this episode of The Days Before You, Chelsea Sutherland, a nurse and pastor’s wife, opens up about navigating expectations, setting healthy boundaries, and learning how to serve from a place of joy rather than obligation. This conversation explores the often unseen tension between public roles and personal faith, and how finding that balance can lead to a more authentic spiritual life.

Prayer doesn’t always come easily. For some, it can feel dry, uncomfortable, or confusing, especially when it seems like nothing is happening. In this episode of The Days Before You, the conversation turns toward the heart of what prayer truly is: a growing relationship with God. Guest Gail McKenzie shares stories, struggles, and insights on how to pray when it’s hard, how to listen when it’s quiet, and how to keep showing up even when the answers don’t come right away.

How do we share our faith in a world full of noise? In this episode of The Days Before You, we explore how communication can be used to connect others with Christ. Whether it's through face-to-face conversations or a 15-second video on social media, sharing the gospel is about understanding your story, your audience, and your purpose. With Communication Professor Pablo Fernandez, we talk about building common ground, being intentional, and why if you’re alive and breathing, you already have something worth sharing.

Why Christianity—and why this version of it? In this episode of The Days Before You, we ask some of the biggest, most personal questions in faith: Why do we follow Jesus? What makes Christianity different? And when there are so many denominations, why does any of it matter? Pastor Benjie Maxson joins us for a deep and honest conversation about the roots of belief, the beauty of the gospel, and the challenges of interpreting scripture through our personal “lenses.”

Finding your calling can feel overwhelming. For some, it comes early—a clear path forward, perfectly aligned with their gifts. For others, it feels like wandering through fog, trying to make sense of where they belong. And when calling gets mixed up with career, the pressure to “figure it out” can weigh even heavier. What if you’re passionate about something but not great at it? What if you’ve chosen a career and it still doesn’t feel right? How do you know when you’ve found your purpose, and what happens when it takes years to get there? If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or afraid you’re getting it wrong, this episode is for you. Take heart—God works through the journey, not just the destination.

Modern society offers comfort, distraction, and an endless stream of competing voices that pull us away from a relationship with God. So, how do we stay rooted in our faith? What does it mean to balance grace with action, and how do we avoid getting caught up in the noise of tradition, secularism, or our own guilt? If you’ve ever wrestled with where faith fits in a world that feels too loud, too modern, or too far removed from God, this episode of The Days Before You podcast will help you refocus.

Being a Christian might feel simple enough when we’re within the walls of a church. But what happens when faith requires us to step outside and act? The call to serve others can feel daunting—especially when we’re unsure where to start or if we’re equipped for the task. How do we move beyond just belief and let our faith come alive through action? And how do we make service about reflecting God’s love, rather than seeking recognition for ourselves? In this episode of The Days Before You, we dive into what it means to truly live as the hands and feet of Jesus. Whether in big moments of crisis or small, quiet acts of kindness, every step of service brings us closer to Him.

Learning about faith might seem straightforward, but what happens when the usual methods—like sitting down to study—don’t seem to work for you? Or when doubts start creeping in, leaving you wondering if you’re doing it “right”? Faith can feel complex, but maybe it doesn’t have to be. God doesn’t require us to fit into a one-size-fits-all approach to learning and growing spiritually. In this episode of "The Days Before You," we sit together with Heidi Ruckle, Assistant Education Coordinator of the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference, to uncover how God designed us to learn and connect in unique ways— weather it is through doing, questioning, and experiencing.

We can't deny it: Sometimes churches hurt people. For many, the pain caused by well-meaning or misguided church members can lead to deep wounds that challenge faith and leave lasting scars. So how can we, as followers of Christ, be a source of healing instead of harm? Join us as we navigate the complexities of reconciliation, the power of intentionality, and the importance of checking our own hearts to be sure we are acting from a place of selflessness and love.

Being a Christian in a secular world might be an easy thing to do - on the inside. But when it comes to standing in your faith and presenting it to the world, fear takes over and even the claim of being a Christian might fade away. As Christians, we are called to make disciples, but how is that done in a world that does not want to listen? How do we share the Gospel without overstepping on other’s rights? And how do we say no to fear? In this episode of The Days Before You, we explore the idea that God calls each of us differently, giving us the strength and tools we need to be His witnesses.

Living as a Christian today might feel simple enough in private, but what happens when our faith feels like it doesn’t measure up to those around us?Questions about doubt, purpose, and identity can start to cloud the journey. What do we do when even the core of what it means to be a Christian can feel ambiguous? In this first episode of The Days Before You, we explore how to live out faith with honesty and humility. Join us as we find comfort in shared struggles and unpack what it means to be a Christian in a complex world.

How do we balance sharing the joy and peace we’ve found in Christ with genuinely loving our neighbors without hidden motives? Let us dive into the heart of what it means to love as Jesus loves. Join us for the launch of The Days Before You podcast, coming November 6.