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Showing episodes and shows of
JonAlden Pedersen
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Witnessing Christ
Conversations with Former Mormon Authors: Damien Tracy
What 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...
2025-07-18
50 min
Witnessing Christ
Evangelist Intern Year in Review Pt. 1
In 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...
2025-06-20
47 min
Gird Up! Podcast
1034 - JonAlden Pedersen
SummaryIn 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...
2025-05-25
1h 02
Witnessing Christ
Overview and Observations: "The Shelf Breaker" by Damien Tracy
In 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...
2025-05-16
38 min
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ at the Door and at Temples in Arizona
In 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...
2025-01-31
1h 16
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 4/4 Works
In 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...
2024-11-29
45 min
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 3/4 Faith
In 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...
2024-11-22
44 min
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 1/4 Sin
In 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...
2024-11-07
49 min
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ with the Four Key Biblical Concepts: Pt. 2/4 Grace
In 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...
2024-11-07
42 min
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ from General Conference: October 2024
In 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...
2024-10-11
1h 22
Witnessing Christ
Witnessing Christ from the Liahona: October 2024
In 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.
2024-10-04
1h 22
Witnessing Christ
Evangelist Intern Conversations: How To Talk About Salvation and Exaltation
In 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.
2024-08-30
43 min
Witnessing Christ
Evangelist Intern Conversations: Intro and the Fall Into Sin
In 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...
2024-08-16
51 min