Shows
Followed By MercyPrayer is a Relationship, Not a ReportSend a textEver felt a little "weird" asking God for something He already knows you need? You’re not alone.In this episode, W. Austin Gardner dives into a question that hits every believer: If God knows our thoughts before we speak (Psalm 139), why bother praying out loud?Discover why prayer isn't about giving God information—it's about intimacy. From the "movement toward God" in the Greek language to Jesus’ own prayers, Austin explains how prayer is the natural expression of a Father who simply wants to share life with you.K...
2026-03-1610 min
Followed By MercyShame, Failure, and the Shield of God: A Study of Psalm 3:3Send a text"But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." — Psalm 3:3What do you do when you’ve lost it all? When your family, your reputation, and your sense of worth are gone? Today, Austin Gardner takes us to the wilderness where King David was running for his life. David wasn't just a victim; he was a man who knew his own failures intimately. Yet, in the middle of the shame, he found a God who refuses to let us grovel.In this...
2026-03-1506 minFollowed By MercyDoes God Even Like Me? (Ephesians 3:14-19)Send a textEver feel like God loves you because He has to, but you’re not sure He actually likes you?In this episode, Austin Gardner breaks down Ephesians 3 in plain language—or what he calls "Tennessee hillbilly." We dive into why it’s so hard to believe we’re truly loved, especially when life gets messy or we feel like we haven't performed well enough.Austin explores the two big words Paul uses: Rooted and Grounded.Rooted: Like a tree that doesn't "work" to get nutr...
2026-03-1429 minFollowed By MercyEP 05: Purpose in the Pain – The Canfield FinaleSend a text"There’s not a moment I’m not aware I have Pompe." Kelly Canfield joins Austin Gardner one last time to share the raw reality of living with a terminal, progressive disease. From the "stack of books" feeling on her chest to the mental weight Robert carries as a husband and father, this episode is a masterclass in finding purpose when life doesn't look like you planned.If you are a patient dealing with cancer, a rare disease, or chronic pain—or if you are the one holding the hand of someone who is...
2026-03-1324 min
Followed By MercyEpisode 4: Parenting in the Valley — Living as a Victor, Not a VictimSend a textWhat is it like to be a parent when your body is failing and your children are facing the same diagnosis? Robert and Kelly Canfield join Austin Gardner for a powerful discussion on parenting through Pompe Disease.Highlights:The Struggle of a Mama: Kelly shares the vulnerability of being unable to hold her babies like a "regular" mom and the mobility issues that changed her parenting style.The Duty of a Daddy: Robert discusses the "hot and heavy" moments of crisis and how he learned...
2026-03-1215 minFollowed By MercyEpisode 3: Grace in the Pit — When Chronic Illness Hits Your ChildrenSend a textWhat do you do when your greatest fear becomes your daily reality? Robert and Kelly Canfield return to the podcast to share the next chapter of their journey with Pompe disease—the moment they realized their daughters would also face this lifelong battle.In this episode, Austin Gardner talks with the Canfields about:The Physical Toll: The reality of muscle biopsies and ongoing infusions.The Emotional Struggle: Dealing with envy and "why them and not me?" when seeing others on the mission field.The Redirected Path:...
2026-03-1128 minFollowed By MercyChronic Illness and the Grace of Today: Finding Hope in a Pompe Disease DiagnosisSend a textThe future can feel like a storm you can’t outdrive. We explore how daily trust carries us through diagnoses, deferred dreams, and the quiet griefs that come with chronic illness. Robert and Kelly share practical ways to fight self-pity, see grace in limits, and find good days in a world that is not yet whole.We open a window into their world as they face Pompe disease, recalibrate long-held dreams about missions, and learn to live with a kind of courage that looks ordinary from the outside an...
2026-03-1021 minFollowed By MercyThe Weight of a Name: Robert & Kelli Canfield on Pompe Disease, Lost Dreams, and Finding MercySend a textA slow climb up the stairs can tell a bigger story. When Kelli Canfield began struggling with simple movements after childbirth, the signs pointed to something more than fatigue. What followed was years of being dismissed by doctors, self-doubt, and a search for answers that finally led to a diagnosis: Pompe disease.In this episode, Robert and Kelli sit down with W. Austin Gardner to open up about the moments most people don’t see—the embarrassment of public falls, the grief of surrendering a dream to serve overseas, and the surprising way...
2026-03-0918 minFollowed By MercyThe Gospel of the Two Birds: From Outcast to Radical GraceSend a text"Ever feel like an outsider? In this morning’s devotional, Austin Gardner dives into the surprising beauty of Leviticus 14.Most people skip the rituals of the Old Testament, but the story of the 'Two Birds' reveals a profound truth about God's heart: He doesn't wait for the 'unclean' to come to Him—He moves toward the excluded. Austin breaks down how this ancient ritual is a perfect picture of Jesus, the sacrifice that brings total restoration, and the freedom that allows us to fly again.In this episode:Th...
2026-03-0806 minFollowed By MercyFrom Performance to Peace: Finding God’s Love in the PitSend a text"I didn't realize how much I had fallen into performance-driven Christianity—doing things to earn God's favor when He already favored me."In this episode, Austin Gardner takes us through the most "horrific" time of his life—recovering from a near-fatal bout of COVID only to be met with five new tumors and the abandonment of friends. Yet, in the middle of the chaos, he discovered a truth that changed everything: the absolute, unconditional love of Jesus Christ.Key Themes:The Physical Battle: Moving from a wa...
2026-03-0609 minFollowed By MercyDoes God Cause Suffering? (Plus a Special Series Announcement)Send a text"I want to challenge you to think about how much God loves you today."Before we begin our 5-day series on Monday, Austin Gardner shares a heart-to-heart message on the theology of suffering and the power of God's unconditional love. If you’ve ever felt broken by your circumstances or wondered if God has "accidents," this episode is for you.Highlights:The Series Reveal: Everything you need to know about the Robert and Kelly Canfield story launching Monday, March 9.Affection vs. Attachment: Learning fr...
2026-03-0507 minFollowed By MercySon or Servant? Ending the Performance-Based Faith TrapSend a textAre you on a spiritual treadmill? For years, Austin Gardner has taught and led, yet he’s found himself struggling with the same question many of us face: Am I a son or a servant?In this episode, Austin dives into the identity crisis that keeps many Christians in a state of burnout and resentment. Using the stories of Martha and Mary, the Prodigal Son’s older brother, and David’s peace in Psalm 23, Austin explains why God isn't looking for employees—He’s looking for children.Learn how to shift your...
2026-02-2809 minFollowed By MercyFrom COVID Ventilator to Cancer Tumors: Finding God in the AlonenessSend a textWhat happens when you survive one miracle, only to be hit by a second disaster?W. Austin Gardner shares the second chapter of his survival story. After the "rough" process of learning to stand and walk again following COVID-19, he was hit with a diagnosis of five tumors in his abdomen.Austin doesn't hold back on the "TMI" details—the physical exhaustion, the side effects of immunotherapy, and the struggle to not "play the victim." If you’ve ever griped against God or felt like you were at the end of y...
2026-02-2609 minFollowed By MercyThe Humiliation of Healing: W. Austin Gardner’s Raw COVID Recovery StorySend a text"I hadn’t had a bath in 30 days. I stank to high heaven. I couldn't even stand up in the shower."In this incredibly raw and unfiltered episode, W. Austin Gardner shares the "messy" side of his miraculous recovery from a medically induced coma and a 30-day hospital battle with COVID-19.From his son’s emergency flight out of a locked-down Peru to the humbling moment he had to be physically lifted by his son-in-law, Austin doesn't hold back on the realities of physical brokenness. But this isn't a pi...
2026-02-2509 minFollowed By MercyComing Home: The W. Austin Gardner COVID Story & Finding Rest in JesusSend a textW. Austin Gardner shares the raw, unfiltered story of his COVID recovery—from a medically induced coma to the realization that "Home" isn't a place, but a person."Peace is not a place; it's a Person. Home is not a place; it's a Person."In this raw and deeply personal episode, W. Austin Gardner shares the final chapter of his harrowing battle with COVID-19—a journey that included nearly a month in a medically induced coma. With his characteristic honesty and wit, Austin recounts the "humiliating but heal...
2026-02-2409 min
Followed By MercyAbba Father: Stop Groveling and Start Resting in God’s LoveSend a textAre you tired of performance-based religion? Austin Gardner explores Ephesians 3, revealing how we have bold access to God as "Daddy." Learn how to stop trusting your own faith and start trusting the "faith of Him" to carry you across the street.In this session, international keynote speaker Austin Gardner breaks down the revolutionary truth of Ephesians 3:12. Moving beyond performance-based religion, Austin discusses the "Pharaoh Principle" of being a prisoner to your circumstances versus a prisoner of Jesus Christ.Whether you are a ministry leader facing "church hurt," or an individual...
2026-02-2234 minFollowed By MercyLove Like You’re Loved: 52 Years of Marriage and the End of the ScorecardSend a textAfter 52 years of marriage, Austin Gardner has learned one thing: you can't truly love your spouse until you understand how God loves you. In this episode, Austin breaks down why marriage isn't a contract, how to pull the "Johnson grass" of bitterness out of your home, and why God's love is never transactional."You don't know how to love until you know how you're loved."In this candid talk, Austin Gardner shares lessons from five decades of marriage with his wife, Betty. He challenges the common "transactional" view of marriage...
2026-02-2230 min
Followed By MercyFinding Mercy in the Middle of HumiliationSend a text"Austin Gardner shares a deeply personal account of his battle with COVID-19. It wasn’t just a battle for breath; it was a battle with his own mind and a crushing loss of dignity.Austin recounts the 'humiliating' moments of hospital life—needing help with the simplest tasks and feeling the weight of total vulnerability. But in that weakness, he found a profound truth: God doesn't love us because we are strong; He loves us because we are His.Tune in for a reminder that no matter how 'messy' your life...
2026-02-2009 minFollowed By MercyThe Austin Gardner Story: Hallucinations, Healing, and HopeSend a text"Why in the world is this happening?"That was the question Austin Gardner was asking from a hospital bed after waking up from a three-week coma. Having lost 70 pounds and his sense of reality, Austin found himself in a battle not just for his physical health, but for his faith.In this episode, Austin shares the raw details of his recovery from COVID and cancer. From the "funny" therapists who had to teach him how to think again to the surreal dreams of floating under continents, Austin describes the mental...
2026-02-1909 min
Followed By MercyThe Austin Gardner Story (Ep 3): 21 Days on a Ventilator — The COVID Coma & Waking Up in FearSend a textIn Episode 3 of The Austin Gardner Story, Austin shares the most intense part of his journey: being put on a ventilator, placed into a medically induced coma, and losing time he can’t remember. For 21 days, his family feared the worst, while Betty battled COVID at home.Austin describes the terrifying delirium and nightmares, the confusion of waking up to masked faces and unfamiliar voices, and the physical cost of critical illness—losing strength, losing muscle, and having to rebuild from almost nothing.This episode carries a simple mess...
2026-02-1808 min
Ballet Help DeskHow Ballet Austin Built a Post-Grad Program That Actually WorksWe sit down with Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Austin, for a refreshingly honest conversation about their complete training pipeline: the tuition-free Butler Fellowship program, Ballet Austin TWO, and the path into the main company. Michelle doesn't sugarcoat anything. She talks about why Ballet Austin kept their academy as an after-school program instead of going the full-time route, how the rise of post-grad programs has changed the industry, and what families need to know when they're researching trainee programs. Spoiler: not all programs are created equal, and some are designed more as revenue drivers than...
2026-02-181h 30
Followed By MercyEp 2: The Ambulance Trip I Don't RememberSend a textRecovery is rarely a straight line. After beating cancer, Austin Gardner found himself in a new valley: COVID-19. Austin talks about the dangers of pride, the physical toll of low oxygen, and why even in our most "difficult" moments, God’s goodness never leaves our side. A must-listen for anyone struggling with a health crisis or family tension during hard times. Thanks for listening. Find us on YouTube, Substack, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
2026-02-1710 minFollowed By MercyThe Austin Gardner Story: My First Cancer Diagnosis and the Mercy that FollowedSend a text"I woke up at a youth camp in Tennessee, and my life changed in a single moment."In this first installment of a special series, W. Austin Gardner shares the raw, honest truth behind his first cancer diagnosis nearly 14 years ago. From the shock of the initial symptoms to the robotic surgery that saved his life, Austin reflects on the fear, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming mercy of God that has pursued him every step of the way.If you have ever received a diagnosis that scared you to death...
2026-02-1608 minFollowed By MercyAustin Gardner: From 50 Years of Performance to the Rest of GraceSend a textAfter 50 years in ministry, traveling to 50 countries, and planting churches on nearly every continent, Austin Gardner realized something profound: It is possible to serve God for decades and still completely misunderstand His heart towards you.In this episode, Austin Gardner shares his personal journey from the "treadmill of faith" to the stillness of grace. For years, he lived under the crushing pressure of performance, driven by a fear of losing God's favor. It took a battle with stage four cancer and a ventilator during a severe COVID infection to finally hear the...
2026-02-1108 minFollowed By MercyThe Most Dangerous Word in Ministry: Why "Mine" Destroys What God BuildsSend a textHey, it's Austin Gardner. In over 50 years of global ministry and training leaders, I’ve discovered that the most dangerous person I face isn’t an enemy across the world, it’s the man I see in the mirror every morning.In this episode, we’re looking at Ruth chapter 4 to uncover a word that destroys more leaders and ministries than any scandal: "Mine."We often protect our resources, our reputations, and our legacies, but the story of the Kinsman Redeemer shows us a different path. While "Mr. So-a...
2026-02-1008 minFollowed By MercyPeace is a Person: Finding Real Hope in Life’s Hardest Moments | W. Austin GardnerSend a textW. Austin Gardner shares a raw, personal look at facing cancer surgery and the discovery that true peace isn’t a feeling—it’s a Person.When life knocks you down, and you’re struggling to catch your breath, where do you turn? In this episode, Austin walks through the "theatre of surgery" and the powerful truth found in Ephesians 2. We often treat peace like a contract or a destination, but the Gospel tells us that Jesus Himself is our peace. If you are feeling worn out, unseen, or unsure of how t...
2026-02-0933 minFollowed By MercyW. Austin Gardner: Stop Earning God’s Love (Ephesians 3 & Grace)Send a textAre you tired of performing for a God who already loves you?In this episode, W. Austin Gardner shares a raw and transformative look at Ephesians 3. If you have ever felt like your relationship with God depends on your performance, your prayer life, or your "good behavior," this message will change your perspective.W. Austin Gardner—international speaker, author, and mentor with over 50 years of ministry experience—breaks down the "paycheck mentality" that keeps believers stuck in spiritual exhaustion. Discover what it truly means to be "root...
2026-02-0709 min
Followed By MercyThe Pharisee in the Mirror: Breaking Free from LegalismSend a textWe all know the "Pharisee" characters in the Bible—the ones who stood on street corners and judged others. But the "Pharisee spirit" is more subtle than we think. It’s the inner voice that prioritizes rules over relationships and performance over presence.In this episode, Austin Gardner dives into the mirror of his own 50-year journey in leadership and missions. He discusses how legalism often starts as a desire for excellence but can end up as a shield that prevents us from being truly vulnerable with God and others.In this epis...
2026-01-2809 min
Followed By MercyThe God Who Sees: Finding Hope When You Feel InvisibleSend a textThere are moments in life when we feel completely alone, as if no one truly understands the depth of our pain or the weight of our burdens. But Scripture reminds us of a powerful name for God: El Roi—The God Who Sees.In this second episode of our podcast, Austin Gardner shares from his own journey of overcoming health battles and deep personal loss to show how God’s presence is most real in the places we think are hidden.In this episode, we discuss:The story of Haga...
2026-01-2708 min