Shows
Witnessing ChristConversations with Former Mormon Authors: Damien TracyWhat happens when the Mormon shelf finally breaks—and Jesus is the one standing in the rubble?In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, we welcome Damien Tracy, author of The Shelf Breaker: How Jesus Drew Our Family Out of Mormonism.Damien vulnerably shares his journey from moral collapse and spiritual exhaustion to the freeing grace of the true gospel. Through legal and personal struggles, Damien attempted to regain worthiness, but the weight of perfectionism ultimately crushed him.What broke Damien’s shelf wasn’t scandal or bitterness. It was the overwhelming love o...
2025-07-1850 minWitnessing ChristEvangelist Intern Year in Review Pt. 1In this special episode of the Witnessing Christ podcast, we sit down with our 2024–2025 intern team—Jon, Charlie, Calvin, and Grace—as they reflect on a transformative year of evangelism, discipleship, and growth. From online conversations to temple visits and late-night theology papers, these young missionaries share how God shaped their hearts, sharpened their witness, and deepened their understanding of the sufficiency of Christ.What to Expect:Spiritual Insights: Hear how each intern grappled with the suffocating burden of self-made righteousness in Mormonism and came to cherish the full sufficiency of Christ’s righte...
2025-06-2047 min
Gird Up! Podcast1034 - JonAlden Pedersen | Artificial Intelligence and the ChurchSummaryIn this episode of the Gird Up Podcast, host Charlie Ungemach interviews JonAlden Pedersen about the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in ministry and society. They discuss the definition of AI, its principles of use, and how it can serve as a tool for enhancing church work. The conversation also addresses concerns about AI replacing jobs, the fears surrounding its impact, and the importance of using AI responsibly within a Christian context. Ultimately, they emphasize that while AI can be a powerful tool, it should not overshadow the human element in ministry and community building...
2025-05-251h 02Witnessing ChristOverview and Observations: "The Shelf Breaker" by Damien TracyIn this episode of Witnessing Christ, Mark and Jon delve into The Shelf Breaker: How Jesus Drew Our Family Out of Mormonism by Damien Tracy. This powerful memoir begins with Damien’s traumatic upbringing marked by abuse, leading him into cycles of sin and despair. Despite his earnest efforts to achieve worthiness through Mormon teachings, Damien found himself trapped in guilt, fear, and unworthiness.Join us as we explore Damien's journey—from confronting his deep-seated struggles to his transformative encounter with grace. We discuss key stress points such as the burden of worthiness, the inconsistencies between LDS teac...
2025-05-1638 minWitnessing ChristWitnessing Christ at the Door and at Temples in ArizonaIn this episode, our evangelist interns, Calvin, Charlie, Jon, and Grace, join Pastor Mark to share their experiences from the "At the Door" mission trip to Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona. Focusing on relational evangelism rather than confrontational debates, the team discusses their preparation, individual experiences, and profound interactions with Latter-Day Saints and people of other faiths.The team explored the nuances of using the parable of the prodigal son as a conversation starter. This approach contrasts with previous mission trips that focused on more doctrinal discussions around Matthew 5:48. It allowed for deeper, more personal exchanges about faith...
2025-01-311h 16Witnessing ChristWitnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 4/4 WorksIn this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, we conclude our four-part series on the interconnected biblical concepts of sin, grace, faith, and works. Pastor Mark, Calvin, Charlie, and Jon explore the proper place of good works in the Christian life, contrasting the biblical teaching with the Latter-day Saint (LDS) perspective.The team examines how LDS doctrine distinguishes between "salvation" (universal resurrection) and "exaltation" (eternal life with God), presenting works as a requirement for the latter. They delve into fundamental LDS teachings, such as President Russell Nelson’s differentiation between conditional and unconditional gifts and Gerald Lund's "po...
2024-11-2945 minWitnessing ChristWitnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 3/4 FaithIn this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Calvin, Charlie, and Jon explore the concept of faith, contrasting its meaning in biblical Christianity with Latter-day Saint (LDS) teachings. They highlight how, in Scripture, faith is a gift from God—an instrument through which we receive grace by trusting in Christ's finished work. In contrast, LDS doctrine often views faith as an “action word” closely tied to obedience, where faith is something to be demonstrated through works to access divine blessings or power.The team unpacks key biblical passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3, and James 2, explaining that faith, biblic...
2024-11-2244 minWitnessing ChristWitnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 1/4 SinIn this episode of Witnessing Christ, Mark Parsons is joined by our three evangelist interns, Calvin, Charlie, and Jon. We begin a four-part series unpacking four interconnected foundational biblical concepts: sin, grace, faith, and works. This discussion starts by exploring sin, highlighting key differences between the Christian and Mormon perspectives. While many Latter-day Saints view sin as occasional mistakes or a checklist of behaviors to avoid, we look to the Bible to reveal its more profound nature as something inherent in humanity and requiring a Savior. We also discuss practical ways to engage Latter-day Saints...
2024-11-0749 minWitnessing ChristWitnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 2/4 GraceIn this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mark and the evangelist interns—Charlie, Calvin, and Jon—continue their series on the four foundational concepts of sin, grace, faith, and works, focusing this time on grace. The discussion explores the stark contrast between the biblical and LDS understandings of grace. In Latter-day Saint theology, grace is often seen as an “enabling power” that boosts human effort rather than the complete, unmerited gift Scripture describes.The team shares illustrations from the Bible, including the story of David and Mephibosheth, the parable of the prodigal son, and Paul’s conversion...
2024-11-0742 minWitnessing ChristWitnessing Christ from General Conference: October 2024In this episode, Mark, Calvin, Jon, and Charlie share their reactions to the October 2024 General Conference of the LDS Church. They explore the conference's production quality, its impact on viewers, and the content of key talks. The group reflects on the importance of personal experiences in faith development and how these often carry more weight than scriptural teachings for many LDS members.The team digs deeper into specific talks, starting with Elder Quentin L. Cook's address "Sacred Scriptures the Foundation of Faith," where Calvin points out the importance of distinguishing between scripture and non-scripture. They also analyze...
2024-10-111h 22Witnessing ChristWitnessing Christ from the Liahona: October 2024In this podcast episode, Pastor Mark Parsons and evangelist interns Jon, Calvin, and Charlie discuss six articles from the October 2024 edition of Liahona. They focus on themes of unity, obedience, and personal testimony in the LDS faith, contrasting them with Christian teachings that emphasize shared faith in Christ. The conversation explores empathy, agency, and covenants, examining how the LDS emphasis on moral improvement and ordinances can lead to feelings of inadequacy. The team critically analyzes the role of free will and grace, while also considering how subtle differences in LDS theology open doors for meaningful conversations with LDS friends.
2024-10-041h 22Witnessing ChristEvangelist Intern Conversations: How To Talk About Salvation and ExaltationIn this week's episode, Mark Parsons and the evangelist interns discuss the differences between salvation and exaltation in Mormon theology.Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!If you have not yet registered for the Truth in Love Online Community, enroll now to gain access to all of our courses, resources, and more.Support Truth in Love Ministry here.
2024-08-3043 minWitnessing ChristEvangelist Intern Conversations: Intro and the Fall Into SinIn this episode of Witnessing Christ, Mark Parsons welcomes three new evangelist interns to the team.Jon, Calvin, and Charlie introduce themselves, share some of their witnessing experiences, and ask questions about the Mormon view of the fall and sin. Listen as they discuss how to use their understanding of Mormonism in witnessing conversations. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!If you have not yet registered for the Truth in Love Online C...
2024-08-1651 min