In Good Faith - Season 2

At a certain point in her life, Jennifer Ristine found herself drawn to Mary Magdalene, and asking to have a heart like Mary's; faithful even to the foot of the cross. Years later she received an unexpected answer to that prayer when she found herself at the excavation of ancient Magdala. Join us as Jennifer shares her faith journey and beautiful insights from the life of a unique disciple of Jesus--Mary Magdalene.

"When the picket lines went up [to boycott stores who wouldn’t serve black people], there were white priests and nuns on the picket line and I remember seeing that and thinking that there's another way to be Christian, this is the real deal." From his origins in Mississippi, writer and teacher Danny Duncan Collum has always wanted to change the world for the better, through activism and his writing, but more than anything, through seeking the presence of God in his life.

"..If we want true friendship with God, we can't run away from the requirement that God--in kindness, in an effort to become our friend...allows us to be pushed by the vicissitudes of mortality to the extremities of experience." After twenty-plus moves, most of them international, author and activist Melissa Dalton-Bradford says that home is a concept more than a place, and that we connect to each other--whatever our religion--in the deepest places; our sorrows and our faith.

"One of the wonderful things about being a Rabbi is you get to be a part of people's stories...the joy and the sorrow." Rabbi Sam Spector speaks on learning to "see holiness" in other people, whatever their backgrounds, as fellow children of the creator. He speaks personally about visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and what he asks people who state a disbelief in God and in prayer.

Is Buddhism a life path, a philosophy, or a religion? The short answer is, "Yes." The longer answer is, "It depends." Joshua Hill, from the Tiep Hien Zen order shares his own path, and how he helps prisoners, addicts, and mental health patients to detach from the turmoil of a troubled mind and find peace in observing experiences, including suffering, from a quieter place. It's information and a practice we can all use, whatever our beliefs.

After all she's experienced, chaplain and counselor Emily Christensen still finds meaning in choosing faith over bitterness. She shares how she prepares to be with people under stress, and how her earliest communion with God while sitting on a swing set as a child laid the foundation for her mature belief.

Dr. Oliver Crisp is from the UK originally, but teaches at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. In this episode he explores being both a theologian and a believer, how he's seen the hand of God in his and his family's life, and touches on the connection between the arts and religion.

“I realized that God sometimes tells us to do something, but then it doesn’t really pan out the way we think it’s going to, but then it drives us to do something else, and then it works out.” Daniel Stone's earliest experiences with God were as simple as asking to be made well from a cold, but they laid the foundation for a trust that has allowed him to be led through uncertain paths to the destination he felt drawn to all along.

Dr. Darin Davis may be the Vice President of Mission at Baylor University, but much of his spiritual energy comes from being the pastor at Blue Ridge Baptist Church near Waco, TX. He shares the moments that changed the course of his life, and tells of the "real deal Christians," like his "Grandma" Grace, who helped make them happen.

Dr. Jean Kelly, of Otterbein Unversity, calls herself a "cradle Catholic," yet it was experiences in her adult life that lead her to increased devotion. She explains finding peace through "lectio divina," or sacred reading, and tells her students who go out in the world to serve, that "if they feel a little uncomfortable, they're probably in the right place."

“Every day there are more and more kids that come to this world, and that feel enveloped by a sense of darkness, and I feel that my calling is to break through this cloud, with the light of their inner connection with God.” - Rabbi Benny Zippel Whether leading Chabad Lubavitch of Utah for over 25 years, or tending to troubled youth with Project Heart, Rabbi Benny Zippel has a sense of mission for connecting people to God and helping each person discover their inherent meaning and purpose.

More than once, Dr. Mary Lou Shea has had the rug pulled out from under her life plan, but she also knows what it's like to have God lead you to a new path; one that unexpectedly fits you to a "T."

Tami Harris' first memory of attending church was in the Utah State prison where her father was the chaplain. Becoming the first female LDS chaplain was never her plan, but it seems to have been God's plan. Hear her amazing story and some hard-won wisdom gained from serving in the trenches with youth at residential treatment centers.

Pauline Collier has always followed God’s call for her, whether it was teaching people with severe learning disabilities, or singing with a Jewish Choir in Jerusalem where she’s the assistant to the Anglican Archbishop of the Holy Lands. She also believes that God is always there, and always ready to take you back with a warm welcome if you’ve been wandering.

Michael Heil got his second chance at life during a ski accident on a mountainside; "I had shattered my femur and I was crying--I was screaming. Finally I said, 'Lord, I know that you can save me, but if you don't, then thank you.'" Hear from Pastor Michael Heil and his wife Denise about their story and the life of ministry they've partnered to form.

From his beginnings in Martin's Ferry, Ohio, to serving congregations world-wide, Pastor Blair White from The Community of Christ has seen the importance of "desert moments" that bring you closer to God, and he's learned that God can accomplish his purposes even when we think everything is going wrong.

As a shy child in communist Yugoslavia, Amir Salihovic never pictured himself leading prayers as an Imam, but as civil war broke out, he found himself driven by persecution to study more deeply the religion he was being persecuted for being a part of. Now he leads an Islamic Society of Bosniaks, where he appreciates religious freedom and teaches his community to treasure their past while becoming proud, productive Americans.

Caru Das shares his journey of enlightenment through Krishna Consciousness

Born in Britain on the eve of WWII, Josie Stone has had a life filled with faith, curiosity, family, and service in her career in nursing as well as her current position as chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Council. She is a woman who is comfortable with mystery and talking about the big questions in life.

"You can know--without a shadow of a doubt--you can know whether you know you know you are going to heaven." That's Walter Raber, he was born to an Amish family and later became Mennonite. He'll inspire you with his infectious happy nature and his heart for serving other people.

"Sometimes the thing we resist the most is maybe the thing that we're meant to do." Pastor Scott McKinney of CenterPoint Church shares his spiritual journey and talks about the importance of community and the benefits of simply "showing up."

It was a moment of mid-life crisis, a question, and a vision for a new kind of religious work that set Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein on his current path of promoting interfaith understanding. He is the founder of the Elijah Interfaith Institute and a prolific author. In this interview he shares his thoughts and experiences, and advice for those taking their first steps into understanding others and their differing traditions and beliefs.

Harry and Debra Bonner were each mentored by people of faith, from parents and priests to parishioners, and they've followed that faith wherever it led them; as a young missionary couple in Liberia, to directing a gospel choir in the Rocky Mountains. In the second half, you'll hear Debra soloing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

From her earliest memories of the Baha'i prayer book her mother gave her, Jan Saeed has sought and found comfort and peace in prayer. She talks about the oneness of humanity and being open to listen to others with differing beliefs.

Pastor Logan Wolf from CrossPoint Church Utah talks about following God when he is leading you to do something. And what if you don’t do it? Or, what if you follow that inspiration and things don’t turn out the way you expected? And does "love your neighbor" mean, like, the actual person next door? I think you'll enjoy getting to know Pastor Logan Wolf.

Looking up at the sky on starry nights was Rev. Molly Cameron's first intimation of something mysterious, big, powerful, and spiritual. She talks about "burning bush" moments that define your life, and how faith in God is actually good for you.

Rev. Deacon Sandra Jones shares a life-long faith that blossomed into ministry in her later years, when she stopped fighting a call she'd always felt. She tells how adding a little "Mary to her Martha" added meaning to her life and let her know she was always connected to God.

Nationally-acclaimed storyteller Kim Weitkamp shares stories of her faith, spiritual gifts, and how she's learned to find the good in just about anyone.

Dr. Rodger Sorensen has spent his life in the church and in the theater. He talks about ritual--both sacred and secular--and how it can ground us and move us, dealing with friends who believe differently, and having faith to wait for the things we don't yet understand.

A Trappist monk since age 19, the Right Reverend Casimir Bernas reflects on a life of study and devotion mixed with physical labor.