Shows
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverKeeping your Sanity Intact at ChristmasLori Wiebe joined Toni for the podcast this week. It's always fun to catch up with Lori, and today we chatted about Christmas. Christmases Past. Christmas Present. What we wished someone would have told us a long time ago but we're thankful to be realizing it now.Join us for a some laughter mixed with lots of wisdom as we talk about making it through the Christmas season with joy, peace, and our sanity intact.
2025-12-1340 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverTraditions, recipes, & the joys and struggles when the season changesIt's that time of year again! Decorating, fa-la-la-ing, Christmas traditions and all the things. Today Toni, Tammy, Sue and Alli talk about traditions, recipes and how to navigate changing traditions when the seasons change with or without your permission. I laughed and cried and laughed again. Grab a hot cup of tea and join us for this episode to kick off the Christmas season.
2025-11-2853 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverWhat if they're doing it WAY differently than you?This is a hot topic these days, and not just in the church. Topics we disagree on can range from light to heavy. From whether or not you make your kids make their beds to homeschooling vs. public schooling, SAHM vs. working moms, and trick-or-treat and santa. We are joined this week by Pastor Christine, Krystal, Alli, and Toni in this timely conversation delving into how to have holy disagreements without judging, what does a healthy conversation look like, and finding out it's okay to have a conversation and not land in the same place when it's a...
2025-10-2841 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBetween Sisters Retreat Edition: Saturday am - Don’t Let Anything Take What God has AwakenedBetween Sisters Retreat Edition continues with Pastor Toni during our final session. The title of this session was Don’t Let Anything Take What God has Awakened. It was a powerful word about guarding the deposits God made in us over the weekend and staying awake. Staying alert. And recognizing the lies of the enemy when he comes so we can walk confidently in what God has created us for. The retreat is over. God has come and awakened things in us, just as we asked Him to. Now we get to walk in it. What did He...
2025-10-171h 19
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBetween Sisters Retreat Edition: Friday am Part 2 - Awaken the WonderWelcome back to between Sisters Retreat edition. Are you ready for part 2 of our Friday morning panel session, Awaken the Wonder: Finding God in Your Everyday Life?We’re back with Auntie, Kelly and Toni as we jump back into the middle of the conversation. Okay, we’ve been awakened. Now what? What does it look like to walk that out?When God awakens us, it’s fresh and new and exciting. But it doesn’t take long for what was exciting to become mundane. At times it can even feel lik...
2025-10-1346 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBetween Sisters Retreat Edition: Friday am Part 1 Awaken the WonderWelcome to Between Sisters Retreat Edition. There’s nothing like being present in the room during retreat, but we know that isn’t always possible for everyone. So we are thrilled to be able to share the audio from the sessions on the podcast, and we are starting with our Friday morning panel session, Awaken the Wonder: Finding God in Your Everyday Life.Joining us on our panel were Auntie Cyndie Quinn, Kelly Lagaras, and me, Toni Lagaras. Since we are family, we are talking to each other like we’re sitting around the kitche...
2025-10-1158 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverWe're Back with Between SistersWelcome to Between Sisters, part of the Sisterhood Collective at The River Church Warren. There are some things you can only share with your sisters. This is a space where we girls can talk about all the things. We'll have deep, meaningful chats as well as fun and lighthearted conversations that will help us connect to God and thrive in life. Sisterhood is where you can find your people and find your purpose.Get ready to laugh with Toni, Sue, Lindsay, and Andrea in this fun conversation about what Sisterhood is and the importance of community in...
2025-10-0635 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverMinimalizing Your Life to Find God (with toni lagaras, vickie thigpen, & lindsay coulter)We started this conversation at our Vision Night in January and wanted to dive deeper into it, so we brought it to the podcast. Join Toni, Vickie & Lindsay as they talk about minimalizing your life to find God. It's powerful.
2025-03-1843 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverGrieving Through the HolidaysMerry Christmas! Or is it? Christmas isn't always a season of joy for everyone, and we live in the tension of the promise of abundant life here on earth while life feels more like a dark abyss. How do we carry grief with us through a season of joy? When grief is real and raw and pressing and heavy, how do we celebrate the holidays?How do you celebrate a season of joy when all you feel is sadness?How do we honor the history of what we've lost while living in...
2024-12-1955 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBeing in a Grieving Season Part 1 - Cyndie Quinn, Barb Lagaras, Toni LagarasWe started a conversation today about what to do when you find yourself in a grieving season. In this life, pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. Take a listen as we dive into what to do with the pain, how to know when you need help, how to come alongside someone who is grieving, and what to do when you feel stuck. Come back next time for part 2 as we dive deeper into processing change and finding identity after loss.
2024-11-211h 03
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverSisterhood Worship Night: Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!God put a word on Pastor Toni's heart for our Sisterhood Worship night and we wanted to share it here too. Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. This is a good reminder as we head into the chaotic holiday season. Let us help you take some of the pressure off yourself. Take a listen as we talk about social media, pinterest, Mary & Martha and what Pastor Toni learned the Christmas she lost her mom.
2024-11-1319 min
Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBeing in a Caregiving Season with Cyndie Quinn, Barb Lagaras & Toni LagarasAre you in a caregiving season or do you know someone who is? This podcast will help! Join Cyndie Quinn, Barb Lagaras, and Toni Lagaras as we dive into this topic. Caregiving is a tremendously difficult season for so many reasons. In this podcast we talk about the challenges and struggles of being a caregiver. We dive into exhaustion and rest, pouring yourself out without losing yourself, and finding joy in a difficult season. If you are the caregiver, we pray you find hope and strength and refreshing in this episode. If you aren't living this, we pr...
2024-10-311h 05Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverAdvent Introduction Through the Eyes of a World ChangerThe words "World Changer" have been buzz words around the church for the last several years, but what do they really mean? Do you have to be a Christian "super star" like Billy Graham to be considered a world changer? For the month of December we invite you to walk with us through Luke chapter 2 to see what advent, the Christmas story and being a world changer all have in common and to see how you can change your world in whatever season of life you are in. Do you have questions about advent? The Ch...
2023-11-2212 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverEgypt, community, and a quick catch up with ToniHey girls! We are going to EGYPT! Take a listen to find out when and how! Also, details on the next house party and why we do them. And don't miss Toni being vulnerable and transparent sharing a moment she had this morning about body image. We know you will relate.
2023-03-2918 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS: 51 - Hagar and the God who sees MEWelcome back! It's been a hot second since we did a podcast. It's just me (Toni) today with an encouraging word from Hagar. I know she's not the go-to old testament woman we look at for encouragement, but she has a word for us today. Grab your coffee and sit with me (or drive with me) for a few minutes while we talk about the God who sees us.
2023-02-0815 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 45: Don't Keep Christ in Christmas (Toni & Anne)Hey girls! We're back and we missed you. Today was just a catch up session of all things life and food and all things Christmas. How to manage the stress. Is it possible to relax during this season? What it looks like to read the Bible and be with Him when life is so chaotic. All the things. What do you think it means to not keep Christ in Christmas? Let us know what you think! We'd love to hear from you.
2021-12-1432 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 44: How to Pray When Your Heart is BrokenYou can't look at the news or the world around you and not have your heart broken over one thing or another. I had a woman approach me in church to share something with me that's breaking her heart (sex trafficking in another part of the world). She ended the conversation by saying, "I see it. It breaks my heart. But I just don't even know how to pray."Let your broken heart lead you to the throne. Don't run from it. Don't hide from it. Don't distract yourself from it. Let it lead you to your...
2021-08-2534 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 43: Finding a Self to Live With (with Daphne Delay and Toni Lagaras)Life isn't perfect. Can anyone agree? I'll be the first one to raise my hand and say I've made so many mistakes. And no one will ever be harder on me than I am on myself. But the truth is no matter what we've done, God can redeem it and turn it around for good. Thank you Daphne Delay for coming on this episode, willing to be open and vulnerable about your mistakes and how God redeemed them and will redeem yours too. Daphne has written three books that will help change and shape your life in God. Check...
2021-06-2447 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 42: Trial by Fire (Toni & Pastor Deidra Rivera)Girls! I cannot wait for you to hear this one! Pastor Deidra from the Coitsville Campus, and it's straight fire. Literally. We talked about a class she recently taught at Coitsville called Tried by Fire. We talk about her journey in the fire, what it looks like, what it means, what she learned of herself and of God through it all and why it's so important for each of us to hear this. At some point, every Christian will go through the fire. You have to know this, God isn't afraid of your mess, and you shouldn't be either...
2021-05-2536 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 41: Living the Dream (with Kelly Lagaras)I cannot wait for you to hear this episode! My sister-in-law, Kelly Lagaras, who was with us in December is BACK! And it was a God-filled, inspired, sweet, fun talk about the reality of what it looks like to live the dream. We talk about obeying the little promptings and how those can lead to big things. What it looks like walking out your dream in the midst of real life raising a family and all the things! We pray this inspires and encourages you and challenges you to find a dream if you don't have one yet and...
2021-05-131h 02Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 39: You can be free too! (Mikel & Toni with the Wakefields)This one! You don't want to miss this one! We're talking with the Wakefields all things freedom. Financial freedom to start, as we are getting ready to launch a Financial Peace University here at Warren Campus, but the foundations of freedom are true whether its finances or anything else in our lives. Meet the Wakefields:Dan and Val met during high school in 1981 and are natives of this area. Dan graduated from Reserve and Valerie from Niles. They were married in August of 1986 and celebrate 35 years this year! Dan works for the McIntosh Group, which manufactures...
2021-03-2344 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 36: Seasons, snow, and not getting frustrated (Mikel & Toni)We're smack in the middle of winter, and in Ohio that means we still have a few months of cold and snow ahead of us. Frustrations come from unrealistic expectations and uncomfortable situations. We are so excited for you to join this conversation on seasons, snow and not getting frustrated. Share it with a friend who could use some encouragement. Thanks for listening, and don't forget - WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
2021-02-1636 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 34: Finding Your Confidence (Toni & Shannon Morrall)My friend Shannon Morrall joined us on the podcast today. She was inspired by our podcast with Rachel on Embracing Who You Are and wanted to come talk about growing up insecure, finding God, and her journey to growing confident. Her story is inspiring and will encourage you in your walk with God. Shannon's the best! You're going to love her!Remember - it's okay to love yourself right where you are on the way to who you are becoming!Her book recommendation:24/6 by Dr. Matthew Sleeth (Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/24-Prescription-Healthier-Happier-Life...
2020-12-2342 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 33: What can happen when you just take a step (Toni & Kelly Lagaras)My sister-in-law joined us today for an amazing conversation about what can happen when you just take a step. We talk about all the things and I pray the story of her journey will inspire you to walk away from shame and intimidation and walk into a brand new season of finding and fulfilling your dream all while living the busy life we all live. Website: www.kellylagaras.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellylagaras/Book Recommendation: The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson (amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Shame-Retelling-Stories-Ourselves/dp/0830844333/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3...
2020-12-151h 01Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 32: Embrace Who You Are (Toni & Rachel Vince)Girls! You are going to love this conversation I had with Rachel Vince. I had an epiphany last night about embracing who I am right now (even the parts I don't like) and Rachel Vince and I sat down and talked about what we deal with and how we're rising above! We can let them hold us captive and keep us in bondage forever! It's time to overcome! Will you join us?
2020-12-0739 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 31: We survived COVID and a catch-up session (Mikel, Toni & Anne)Thanks for hanging out with us today. We really miss everyone and just wanted to connect. You may have heard that some of us had COVID last month. We just wanted to take a minute and talk about our experiences, what it was like, what we learned, some bright spots and how God walked us through.
2020-12-0343 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 31: We survived COVID and a catch up session (Mikel, Toni & Anne)We miss you and wanted to take a moment to connect in the midst of this crazy last few weeks. Many of you heard that some of us had COVID, so we sat down for a few minutes to connect, catch up, and talk about our experiences and how God brought us through, what we learned and some bright spots. Thanks for hanging out with us today!
2020-12-0300 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 30: Walking Through the Holidays Without Depression or Anxiety (Mikel & Toni)For some, the most wonderful time of the year can be the bluest time of the year. No matter what you do, depression and anxiety seem to plague your days and fill your nights. Join Mikel & Toni as they talk from experience about practical ways to walk through the holidays without depression or anxiety.
2020-11-2436 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 29: Content in the Waiting with Jennifer Harper (singleness and all the things)By listener request, we are talking today about being content in singleness and all the things. Whether you're waiting on a husband, a baby, that dream job or just waiting to burn these crazy masks, there's something for you in this episode. My friend of 24+ years joined me today to talk about how she walked through her long season of singleness, what she learned, what she felt, reaching her breaking point and how God brought her through. We talk about not compromising, not settling, and how to be content without losing hope. You'll want to listen this one a...
2020-11-1046 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 26: What Love Looks Like in Today's CultureJoin Mikel, Toni and Anne as they talk about their biggest pet peeves and what it looks like to live a life of love in today's charged culture.
2020-09-1635 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 25: She Does Not Fear Bad NewsI sat down with my friends Anne Bacorn and Tammy Bateman today. We talked worship and all things fall and our book study coming up. And - a favorite verse of mine - 112:7 "They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them." We shared times we received bad news and how God walked us through. You're going to make it through whatever you're facing because God is on your side!Sisterhood Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/sisterhoodvccwarrenSisterhood Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/sisterhood.victory/The b...
2020-09-0144 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 24: All the things we hate about COVIDWe started by talking about musicals and old movies and ended by sharing all the things we hate about COVID. And I mean ALL the things. But in the midst of it all, there is still hope and encouragement and something good that is coming out of this season. AND...listen to the end and hear about something fun and new we're going to start next month!!!!Sisterhood Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/sisterhoodvccwarrenSisterhood Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/sisterhood.victory/
2020-08-2550 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 23: Inviting someone for dinner can change everything!I wake up every day with the thought that somehow my life will count for God's kingdom and eternity. We think in order to do that it will require some BIG action or some super spiritual thing. But that's not always the case. Sometimes something as simple as inviting someone for dinner can impact eternity in a powerful way. There are so many things in our lives God can use. He can use our obedience. He can even redeem and use our messes and mistakes. But He cannot use our nothing. No matter how small it seems, don't be...
2020-08-1836 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 22: A B I D E - Anne BosmanThis episode! The Holy Spirit came into the room as we were recording it. And I pray that same refreshing invades your space as you listen. This is a Word in season for us, girls, from Miss Anne Bosman. It's what she is sensing in her heart for this season, and it will rekindle a fire in you to live close to God. Let Him captivate your heart as you listen today.Retreat Information:Dates: September 17-19Location: Beulah Beach https://www.beulahbeach.org/One night (Thursday-Friday) $105One night (Friday-Saturday) $105Two nights...
2020-08-1148 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 21: B R E A T H E - Toni LagarasGirls! Let's all take a minute and just take a deep breath! I don't know about you, but my life has been crazy lately. And I can't believe the retreat is coming so soon! It's September 17-19 and I can hardly stand the wait. I just wanted to take a few minutes today to share a Word God put on my heart for this year - B R E A T H E. That word is part of the theme for the retreat. Next week we will be talking with Miss Anne Bosman as she shares her vision for...
2020-08-0424 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 20: Shame Off You with Toni LagarasThere's something creeping into the church right now, and it's called shame, and we may be giving it away and not even knowing it. Jesus came to take shame off of us! We want to partner with Him to make sure we're not living in it or giving it away.
2020-07-2824 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 19: Giving God Your Yes (Serving Through Social Anxiety)Anne sat down with her husband Ron for a conversation about living with social anxiety and discovering that you can still give God your YES! Ron has learned over the years that Aspergers is not a limitation but an opportunity and shares with us his success in both business as well as serving in the local church.
2020-07-2139 min
Let's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Patsy Cameneti - All Things PrayerTrust me. You need this podcast in your life. It’s like CPR for the soul. I cannot contain my excitement about this episode with my friend, Patsy Cameneti. I've known Patsy for just a few years (since 1991). She started as one of my Bible School instructors, became my employer and moved on to being a mentor and lifelong dear friend. She walks so closely with God and has always been an inspiration to me to want to do the same. In this podcast we get to catch up with, hear about a new book she's writing, and ta...
2020-07-141h 04Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 18: Patsy CamenetiTrust me, girls. You need this podcast in your life. It’s like CPR for the soul. I cannot contain my excitement about this week's episode with my friend, Patsy Cameneti. I've known Patsy for just a few years (since 1991). She started as one of my Bible School instructors, became my employer and moved on to being a mentor and lifelong dear friend. She walks so closely with God and has always been an inspiration to me to want to do the same. In this podcast we get to catch up with, hear about a new book she's wr...
2020-07-071h 04Between Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS: 17 - The Other Side of QuarantineWe made it! Quarantine is over. Things are pretty much open in the state of Ohio. We're taking precautions, but we're out and about and safely reconnecting! I was excited to be back in person with my podcast buddy, talking about all the things about our covid experience. What we read. What we ate. What God showed us and some exciting things that are yet to come, including the retreat. And - we want to hear about your experience! Connect with us on the Sisterhood Facebook page and let us know how your Covid time was on...
2020-06-3049 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 16: We are better together!We've got some quick updates for you. Retreats. Fireside chats. What's next. Take a listen as Mikel and Toni give us all the updates about all the things.
2020-06-2309 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 15: Mikel & Toni Anniversary Edition - Life, Marriage and Never Stop LaughingWe invite you in to take a peek at our life through the lens of our anniversary musings. It's been 24 glorious years. Well, not all of them were glorious, but here we are, still married and in love all these years later. We talk all things marriage, life, the importance of laughing, the dangers of predictable, and the secret to a marriage that lasts. Oh, and get ready to laugh. There's lots of laughter. #bettertogether
2020-06-1642 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 14: When You Give God Your YesJoin Pastors Mikel & Toni as they talk with Evangelist Richard and Carol Meredith, missionaries to Uganda. If you've ever wanted to know what it takes to see miracles, signs and wonders, stop right here. We talk about that and so much more. This one is packed full of faith-filled nuggets and it will challenge you to give God your all. If you give Him your full yes, there's no limit to what He will do in you, through you and for you. You can check out their website here: http://evangelistrichardmeredith.com/Evangelist Richard K...
2020-06-0934 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 13: Noelle Custer Part 2 - Thriving Through the StruggleWe're back with Noelle Custer for part 2 and boy does she get raw in this one. From miracles to struggles, to high highs and dark times, through fighting for her marriage and how God walked her through all of it. It's not good enough to just get by or just survive. God wants us to thrive, and the key is staying faithful to what you know to do even when it gets hard. It's not about what you do as much as who you are becoming. Check out her website for pictures and Information: http://www.bigoakmeadows...
2020-06-0237 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 12: Following God's Plan for Your Life When It Doesn't Make Sense Part 1Meet Noelle Custer. She and her husband, Nate, own and operate Big Oak Meadows, which is a retreat center and the coolest new wedding venue In Northeast Ohio. I've gotten to know Noelle from retreats we've held on her property, and you are going to love her. Her story of following God even when it didn't make any sense to her is an amazing example of God giving us the desires of our hearts. I pray this encourages you to hold on to God and keep moving towards your dream. He will bring it to pass. Check...
2020-05-2733 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 11: Mikel & Toni - Everything's opening back up...now what?Everything's opening back up all around us, at least in Ohio. The mall has opened. Hair salons and barbers have opened. Church is opening soon. Can everyone say praise the Lord? Restaurants and gyms and more public places are soon to follow. With all of this opening, we've seen some concern and confusion going on all around us, so we took a few minutes to talk about it. To mask or not to mask? If I wear one, am I In fear? If I don't wear one, do I hate people? What If I'm not ready to head back...
2020-05-1933 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS: 10 - Pastor Lock P. Beachum Jr. - Trusting God in the MysteryWe got to sit down with Pastor Lock P. Beachum Jr. from the VCC Liberty Campus, and my goodness it was rich! He talked about his journey, about the place sports held in preparing him to pastor, and about balancing business and ministry and family. The crux of the entire conversation can be wrapped up in this - the need to trust God in the mystery. I think we can all relate to that right now. Get ready to glean some incredible truths from our conversation with Pastor Lock.Bio:Lock Patterson Beachum Jr....
2020-05-0640 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 09: Andre van Zyl - Living the Faith LifeFrom Brother Andre's journey of living by faith and not by sight to a global awakening and revival, we packed a lot into this episode. He dropped so many nuggets on what the faith life looks like for the believer in this season as well as speaking prophetically about what God is doing in and through the church now and what He is preparing us for as we move forward after quarantine. Get your pen and journal ready. Trust me. You'll want to take notes. Here's just one quote to whet your appetite: "When you have a salary, you...
2020-04-2836 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 08: Tony Cooke - Walking Well Through AdversityTony Cooke was one of our Bible School Instructors as well as a staff pastor at the church we attended while in school. We were so honored to get to interview Tony for the podcast today on Walking Well Through Adversity. It's such a timely message in light of what we're experiencing in our nation at this time. "People who do well through adversity are those that understand that life has adversity." We talk about expectations, being realistic AND faith-filled, faith and wisdom, and is God behind all this? We pray this will flood you with life and hope.
2020-04-2140 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 07: A Conversation of Faith with Mikel & ToniWe sat down this week and just talked. We talked about good news. About what God is doing in the midst of this epidemic all around us. If you need a boost to your faith today, grab a cup of coffee and listen on our conversation of faith. And join us on a faith challenge and help us spread the word of what God is doing all over the Internet. #wearebettertogether
2020-04-1437 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)A Conversation of Faith with JudiJo Adams: God is on the Move!Are you ready for some good news from across the globe? My long-time friend from Bible School days, JudiJo Adams, joins us on the podcast with some good news. They have 45 Bible School campuses on 5 different continents, so she has a unique perspective from many different countries. And let me tell you, God is on the move! I know you're going to fall in love with JudiJo's heart and passion as she gives us her bird's eye view of what God is doing in spite of this pandemic all across the world.You can connect with JudiJo...
2020-04-0837 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 06: JudiJo Adams - God is on the Move!Are you ready for some good news from across the globe? My long-time friend from Bible School days, JudiJo Adams, joins us on the podcast with some good news. They have 45 Bible School campuses on 5 different continents, so she has a unique perspective from many different countries. And let me tell you, God is on the move! I know you're going to fall in love with JudiJo's heart and passion as she gives us her bird's eye view of what God is doing in spite of this pandemic all across the world.You can connect with JudiJo...
2020-04-0737 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS Bonus 04: Day 13 of Love the LostIt's day 13 of our prayer Initiative, Love the Lost! Join Mikel and Toni as they go through the devotional for today and share some powerful insight on prayer that they've experienced in doing this. Things happen when you pray that don't happen when you don't pray.
2020-04-0311 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Surviving the Quarantine: From the Perspective of a High SchoolerWe are knee deep in this stay-at-home (shelter-in-place) directive in Ohio, and it's hitting us all a little differently. Today my daughter, Alli, and I had a great conversation about the quarantine from the perspective of a high school student. We chat about surviving, togetherness in a small house, taking things for granted, boredom and pressing in to God as well as what it's like to be a PK (aka pastor's kid). Grab a cup of coffee or tea and hang out with us for a bit!
2020-03-3130 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 04: Kathie Thomas - Encounter Changes EverythingWe had the privilege of talking with Pastor Kathie Thomas on the podcast today. We talked everything from Handel's ice cream to her first encounter with God to what it's like to walk intimately with the Lord. Get ready to have all the feels. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy getting to know my spiritual mama. I know you're going to love her like I do. DISCLAIMER: This was recorded before COVID-19, so some of the information is outdated, such as when we speak of the River Services. The River Service scheduled for April 3r...
2020-03-3140 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS Bonus 03: Mikel & Toni - Day 6 Love the Lost Prayer InitiativeJoin Mikel & Toni as they go through Day 6 of the Love the Lost Prayer Initiative. Things happen when we pray that don't happen when we don't pray. God's heart is for the lost. It always has been. It always will be. And we can partner with Him to win them through prayer. If you want to join in on the fun of praying for the lost with us, you can visit www.vcconechurch.com and download the 21-day prayer initiative.
2020-03-2712 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 04: Tia Ciferno - Navigating the SeasonsTia Ciferno is our guest today, and I think Tia is the absolute best! Every single time I spend time with her, I walk away refreshed, smiling and full of peace. I’m a better person for knowing her and my life is so much better with her in it. Her story is amazing. Get ready to love her as much as I do while we talk about Jesus, seasons, managing our expectations, and how to walk gracefully through life even when it takes an unexpected turn.Tia is the granddaughter of European immigrants and grew up in...
2020-03-2433 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS Bonus 02: Prayer and Peace with Mikel & ToniJoin Mikel & Toni as they encourage us into peace and talk about the prayer initiative we are launching March 22nd and we need your help! The Bible has a lot to say about peace, from Romans 16:20 where we see the God of Peace crushing Satan under our feet to the sweet words of Jesus, "Peace I leave you, My peace I give...for I have overcome the world." Even in uncertain times we can have peace. We pray your faith Is encouraged and your atmosphere becomes even more saturated with peace as you listen.
2020-03-2026 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS Bonus 01: David Nekrutman on Psalm 91During this season of uncertainty in this world, we're pleased to have David Nekrutman on the pod with us today. He joins us from Israel today with a word of encouragement and hope, bringing us a fuller understanding of Psalm 91. He's the Executive Director of the CJCUC in Israel (the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation). In 2018, he became the first orthodox Jewish person in history to graduate from a Spirit-filled university. He graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Masters in Biblical Literature. We pray that you'll be filled with peace, hope, and purpose as you listen to...
2020-03-1841 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 03: Mikel & Toni: Peace Be StillIn these uncertain times as we watch what's unfolding all around us, Mikel & Toni wanted to take a moment and share their thoughts on faith, fear, peace and what's going on. With all of the unknowns everywhere we look, we need to rest In what we do know. God Is good. He Is faithful. And He won't leave us. We are praying for you that His peace will saturate your heart and mind.
2020-03-1733 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 02: Bishop David & Pastor Kathie ThomasWe loved connecting with Bishop David and Pastor Kathie Thomas, our spiritual Dad and Mom. We talk about all the things (well maybe not ALL the things - this podcast Is only 30 minutes long). "We've found since we were birthed in a move of God, birthed in revival, we've never been able to be satisfied with just plain church." They have so much to share. They've been the leaders of Victory Christian Center for over 40 years (we're one church with eight locations) and they've been married for 48 years, there's so much wisdom packed into these 44 minutes. They s...
2020-03-1044 minBetween Sisters with Sisterhood.RiverBTS 01: Toni LagarasWelcome to the Better Together Sisterhood podcast! We're so excited for you to meet Toni Lagaras today, the heart behind the podcast. She's a pastor’s wife, mom to 3 kiddos, director to our ladies group Sisterhood, and writer at her blog tea with toni (teawithtoni.com). We had so much fun talking today about all the things - her story, her thoughts on prayer and walking with God, and her thoughts on what this year could hold. Thanks for hanging out with us today, and don't forget - we are better together!
2020-03-0324 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Here in the MiddleThe middle. It's no one's favorite place. You're not at the beginning. You may not even have sight of the end yet. It's a place where discouragement can settle in and bring with it a sense of feeling stuck. In this message, Toni shares with us not only how to survive The Middle but how to thrive there.
2019-12-1242 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)What Are You Doing With Your Rescued Life?We've been rescued! What a miracle! But we haven't only been rescued from something, we've been rescued FOR something. So what are you doing with your rescued life?
2019-01-2358 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Lean InGod can speak over the chaos of our lives, but He only tells secrets in a whisper. And in order to hear a whisper, we have to lean in. In this message, Toni shares simple truths about intimacy with God and hearing His whisper.
2018-08-0344 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Faith Part 1: Don't Let Anything Talk You Into Quitting (1st Service)Toni shares a testimony that's "hot off the press." It's not something that happened years and years ago, but something fresh that God did for her and she walks us through the process of what it looks like to use your faith to receive an answer from God. (From first service)
2018-07-0650 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Faith Part 1: Don't Let Anything Talk You Into Quitting (2nd Service)Toni shares a testimony that's "hot off the press." It's not something that happened years and years ago, but something fresh that God did for her and she walks us through the process of what it looks like to use your faith to receive an answer from God. (From second service)
2018-07-061h 05Let's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Faith Part 2: The Purpose for Faith (1st Service)In the previous episode, Toni walked us through the process of what it looks like to use your faith to receive an answer from God. This week we look at the importance of faith in our lives, not just to receive from God but what it means to the world around us. (From first service)
2018-07-0649 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Faith Part 2: The Purpose for Faith (2nd Service)In the previous episode, Toni walked us through the process of what it looks like to use your faith to receive an answer from God. This week we look at the importance of faith in our lives, not just to receive from God but what it means to the world around us. (From second service)
2018-07-0651 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)This is OUR CityHow's your city? Is it prosperous or poor? Godly or wicked? God has a plan for our cities to be full of His power, and it all starts with prayer. Culture can only reign when the church does not. Listen as Toni shares how to take our cities back for God through the authority He's given us in the Word and prayer. God wants to use you to change your city through prayer. Are you willing to rise up to the challenge?
2017-12-0248 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)What Difference Does it Make?What difference does it make? It's a question we usually ask when we're frustrated. When what we're doing isn't working or when we're thinking of making and change and trying to see if it'll be worth it. Will it make a difference?
It's also a question the people around us are asking about God in our lives. Has God made a difference in their lives since they've come to know Him or are they just the same?
Knowing God is supposed to make a difference in what we think and say and do. Listen as Toni shares how to ensure...
2017-12-0244 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)#wearebettertogetherWe are better together. It's more than a cool hashtag. It's a way of life. We were never meant to walk this life alone. Isolated. We'll never fully fulfill our destiny that way. In this podcast we look inside why we are better together and how to get there.
2017-09-2115 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Be Like Mary - Called to CarryMary Did You Know? It's one of my favorite Christmas songs, but it's a question that begs an answer. She carried the Son of God for 9 months. Did she really know who she was carrying? Do we? We, like Mary, are carriers of the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, the Power of God. What would life look like if we REALLY knew who/what we carried inside of us?
2017-06-0742 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Stay Connected to the Power SourceAs I look around, I see so many falling short of what God has called them to be - miracle workers. Overcomers in Him. More than conquerors. Carriers of His glory. Why? Because we don't stay connected to the power source. In this message, you will be inspired to stay connected to power, why we need to, and practical ways to make it happen.
2017-05-0437 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Living for the Well Done (part 2) - Are you paralyzed by fear?Once we find out what it means to be a disciple of Christ, we need to ask ourselves, "What's holding me back?" Most of the time, it's fear. In this message, we tackle the 4 main fears that try to paralyze us and keep us from reaching our potential and how to overcome them.
2017-02-2353 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Living for the Well Done (part 1) - What's Your Goal?What does a disciple's life really look like? What does it mean to "live for the well done?" What's the goal of the Christian life? Christian or disciple? Savior or Lord? Find the answers to all these questions and more in this podcast, part 1 of the series Living for the Well Done
2017-02-1646 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Add To Your Faith Part 12 Peter 1 are Peter's final words. What he most wants his followers to remember and think about and do. Add to your faith. In these 3 messages, we take an in-depth look at what we need to add to our faith, why we need to add it, and what it will do for our lives and those around us. He lives in us. He's given us all the power we need to add these things to our everyday lives. It's our job to walk it out, and in this particular lesson we focus on moral excellence and knowledge.
2016-10-1950 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Add To Your Faith Part 22 Peter 1 are Peter's final words. What he most wants his followers to remember and think about and do. Add to your faith. In these 3 messages, we take an in-depth look at what we need to add to our faith, why we need to add it, and what it will do for our lives and those around us. He lives in us. He's given us all the power we need to add these things to our everyday lives. It's our job to walk it out. In this lesson we learn about patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone.
2016-10-1957 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Add To Your Faith Part 32 Peter 1 are Peter's final words. What he most wants his followers to remember and think about and do. Add to your faith. In these 3 messages, we take an in-depth look at what we need to add to our faith, why we need to add it, and what it will do for our lives and those around us. He lives in us. He's given us all the power we need to add these things to our everyday lives. It's our job to walk it out. Today we look in detail at self-control.
2016-10-191h 05Let's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Send the Rain Session #3 - Praying Your FutureMost of the time when we say, "I will pray," we're referring to praying for something after the fact. Praying for a tragedy that happened. Praying for something we heard on the news. Praying for comfort and grace for something that happened in the past. What if we could pray out into the future? Well....there is good news. We can! And in this session we go over exactly how to do that. Are you ready to pray into your future? Let's do it.
2016-09-2053 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Send the Rain Session #1 - Spirit Fed PrayerCulture can only reign when the church does not. God has given authority to the church to pray. To speak. To declare His will on this earth, and in this seminar we take an in depth look at what it looks like to reign in this life through prayer. Jesus said if we are thirsty to come to Him and drink and THEN rivers of living water would flow from us. Before we can give anything out, we must first take Him in. And that is what Spirit Fed Prayer is all about. Let's take a drink, shall we, of...
2016-09-201h 01Let's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Send the Rain Session #2 - Praying in the Last DaysWe are living in the last days, and we need to pray. Pray for our leaders and governments. Pray for world events. Pray for the will and plan of God to prevail on this earth. How do we know exactly what to pray? We'll look at all this and more in session #2, Praying in the Last Days. Culture can only reign when the church does not. Let's take our place to influence culture through prayer.
2016-09-201h 11Let's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Send the Rain Session #4 - Our Position in Prayer and Q&AThe position from which we pray matters. We don't want to pray prayers from the perspective that the problem looks bigger than our God does. No. God is always bigger. In session #4, we take a look at what our position in prayer needs be to be the most effective and open the mic up for a Q&A time.
2016-09-2057 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)You Will Always Be My GodJoin Toni as she walks through the life of Abraham and focuses on the thread that holds it all together - the promises, the faith walk, the fulfillment, the happily ever after......no matter what we're facing, this is the most important thing - You Will Always Be My God.
2016-09-2049 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)It's a Generation ThingGenerations. Generation X. Millenials. Baby Boomers. So many generations. Which is the most important generation? The answer is - all of them. There wasn't a generation missing in the first coming of Christ. Every generation played a vital role the first time around. Well, I have some news for all of us. Jesus is coming again, and it's time for every generation to take its place to help usher His presence into this earth again. What part are you supposed to play?
2016-09-2052 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)A Conversation of FaithJoin Pastors Mikel and Toni for this conversation about life and faith and God and trust.
2016-07-0136 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Why? Thoughts on JosephWhy? Why did this happen to me? That is a thought we all think at one point or another. It's a thought I'm sure Joseph had. In this message Toni shares a few thoughts to help us look at the life of Joseph (and our own lives) with a little different perspective.
2016-07-0145 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Make a WhipI love the story of when Jesus sat down, gathered His materials, and on purpose made a whip to drive out of the temple what didn't belong there. We are now the temple of God, and there are things in our lives that don't belong there. Only now we use our words to drive them out. Learn how to use your words as a whip to drive things out of your life what doesn't belong.
2016-07-0137 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)What If We Really Knew God?What If? We play the what if game to the negative all the time. What if I fall? What if I fail? But what if we think bigger? Think in God proportions? What would our life of faith in God look like if we really knew and trusted God? What would it be like to pray and see Him answer? What would it look like to lay hands on the sick and watch them recover? What does really knowing God have to do with all of this? Check out this podcast to find out.
2016-07-0137 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)When God's Not in a HurryWhen God when? What's taking so long? Will this ever happen? Have you ever asked those questions? If you have, you're in good company. More times than not God's timing is no where close to ours. What do we do when our timetables don't match? Take a listen and find out.
2016-07-0142 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Jesus Our Example: StressStress. Yuck. It's a real peace killer. It can keep us up at night. It can make us sick. It steals our joy for life. In this message, we take a look at how Jesus handled stress and stressful situations to see how we can walk free of it too.
2015-08-2443 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Can These Bones Live?Hope drives prayer. And much of the church has lost hope where it comes to praying for our nation. We can't see HOW it can change, so instead of praying in faith we shrink back in fear. In Can These Bones Live? we look at fear, faith and what God has called the church to do in these last days.
2015-08-1938 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Jesus Our Example: InsecuritiesWalk with Me. Work with Me. Watch how I do it. That's how Jesus told us we would find real rest for our souls. In my quest for rest, I've noticed something that was missing in Jesus' life but very present and causing unrest in ours. Insecurity. In this message we'll see how we can walk free from the unrest causing insecurities that try to plague our lives and find real rest for our souls.
2015-08-1951 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Jesus our Example: HumilityWalk with Me. Work with Me. Watch how I do it. Jesus wanted us to follow Him. To watch Him. To be like Him. And humility was one of the key things that marked His life. Walk with me through the gospels and let's take a look at humility...what it is and what it should look like in our lives.
2015-08-1245 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Walk Work WatchI love Matthew 11:28-30. Come to me if you're weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The Message says, "Walk with Me, work with Me, watch how I do it." So, since I've been on a quest for rest, I took that to heart. In Walk Work Watch, we take a look at this and see what that means for our lives, for our rest, for our peace. Jesus was an amazing example.
2015-07-2343 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Calgon Take Me Away - What to do When You Feel OverwhelmedWe are busy these days, aren't we? And stress is never far behind. It lurks. What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? I share my story of being overwhelmed, depressed,and STRESSED! And when I cried out to God, I got the answer nobody wants to hear. Take a listen to see what to do when you're overwhelmed.
2015-04-2144 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Prayer Life - Spirit Led Prayer (Part 6)It's good to pray. To pray in the midst of crisis. To pray for current events. For things going on all around us. We need to release God's power into these situations. But in Genesis 18, we see another way. God says, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do." God revealed to him what was about to happen, and Abraham interceded. And He still wants to do this today. In this lesson we see how we can also be used in prayer to pray out ahead of situations. God knows what's about to happen, and He is looking...
2015-03-0248 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Prayer Life - Contend (Part 5)God gave us His Word so we have something to look at when everything else in our lives looks opposite to it. In this lesson, we learn about how to contend for what God said between asking and receiving. When faith isn't immediately made sight, we need to learn how to contend. To stand. To fight for it. He is faithful. It will come to pass.
2015-02-1259 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Prayer Life - The Word (Part 4)In part 4 of Prayer Life, we take a look at another layer in the foundation of a successful prayer life - The Word. His Word is the basis of our faith, it's what our prayers are founded on, and it carries power when we speak it. We also check out a few things outside of the prayer room that can hinder our prayers from being answered
2015-02-0556 minLet's Go Deeper! (with toni lagaras)Prayer Life - Covenant (Part 3)Covenant is not usually a subject taught in conjunction with having a successful prayer life, but part 3 we'll see what covenant is, why we need one, and what in the world that has to do with answered prayer.
2015-01-2943 min