Stay ConnectedWelcome to “Straight to the Heart,” a podcast from New Growth Press hosted by Rush Witt. Each episode includes thought-provoking conversations with leading Christian writers and thinkers. We hear who they are, what they believe, how they approach their work and ministry, and the moments and people who have changed their lives. In “Straight to the Heart,” we go beyond the books to connect with the remarkable people behind them.
Learn more about the podcast here.
Copyright: © 2023 New Growth Press. All rights reserved.
In this episode, Rush talks with author and mother Jackie Gibson. Jackie and her husband Jonnie have four children. She serves alongside him at Westminster Seminary and most recently published her book “You Are Still A Mother.” In this episode Jackie shares her journey through the still birth death of her daughter Leila. And they talk about the unique challenges of grief in the loss of a child, how caring friends can comfort and help, and the precious ways in which God meets us in our darkest grief and loss.
JACKIE GIBSON ONLINE
Instagram
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
You Are Still A Mother by Jackie Gibson
The Moon Is Always Round by Jonathan Gibson
Helping a Hurting Friend by Garrett Higbee
Someone I Know Is Grieving by Edward T. Welch
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
1:20 - Intro
1:39 - Moving from Australia
3:37 - Life and Ministry Now
6:08 - The Story Behind the Book "The Moon is Always Round"
16:37 - The Commonality of Loss
17:35 - What voices of friends and Scripture shined lights of hope?
24:40 - The Comfort of Psalm 139
17:49 - Advice for Helping Those Who Grieve
31:56 - Thinking About Leila Now
34:34 - Farewell
Season Two continues as our host, Rush Witt, sits down with author and Pastor Jerome Gay. Rush and Jerome talk about the challenges of ministry in our current culture, the important art of being winsome in conversation, and how pastors and Christians can productively engage others in discussion about difficult social topics like race.
JEROME GAY ONLINE
Jerome's Website
Facebook
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Instagram
The Urban Perspective (Youtube)
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
African Heroes
Talking to Your Children about Race
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
0:20 - Intro
1:25 - There are many good things keeping Jerome busy in life and ministry.
3:50 - Jerome founded a ministry called the Urban Perspective.
6:25 - What has been your point of view on keeping the gospel central in our highly charged societal issues.
9:10 - How to be winsome in conversation with others
17:00 - What are some ways individuals and churches can wisely engage in social issues?
25:55 - Jerome shares two helpful books he agreed with and two he disagreed with
28:00 - What would Jerome do with a $10 million inheritance?
31:05 - Farewell
We kick off the anticipated second season of "Straight to the Heart," as Rush Witt meets with counselor and author Ed Welch.
Rush asks Ed about the early years of Ed's life and faith in Christ, what it means to make counseling beautiful, and how to help people in the midst of grief and suffering. Join us for this wonderfully insightful start to Season 2.
CONNECT ONLINE
CCEF's Website
Facebook
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Instagram
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Someone I Know Is Grieving: Responding with Humility and Compassion
The Small Book Devotions Bundle
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
0:38 - Intro
2:52 - Ed's Conversion and College Story
8:33 - Ed's Introduction to Biblical Counseling
10:51 - What big shifts most impacted your work with people?
15:37 - How do you make counseling beautiful?
24:49 - Tell us more about your new book, Someone I Know is Grieving.
34:00 - What have you learned most about humility and compassion?
41:28 - Has there been a central theme to your over 40 years of counseling?
44:29 - Farewell
Preview of the second season of "Straight to the Heart," a podcast from New Growth Press, hosted by Rush Witt.
Each episode includes thought-provoking conversations with leading Christian writers and thinkers. We hear who they are, what they believe, how they approach their work and ministry, and the moments and people who have changed their lives. In "Straight to the Heart," we go beyond the books to connect with the remarkable people behind them.
Learn more about season 2 of the podcast here.
Rush Witt meets with Daniel Henderson, Vice-President of Strategy for Publications Chrétiennes, a French publishing house based in Quebec, Canada.
In this bonus episode, they talk about the importance of book translation around the world and how churches and Christians can make a missional impact by supporting the translation of great Christian resources through publishing ministries like Publications Chrétiennes.
DANIEL HENDERSON ONLINE
Daniel's Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Publications Chrétiennes
New Releases at New Growth Press
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
0:15 - Intro
1:25 - Daniel travels the world
5:35 - How do books become translated to reach the world?
16:15 - How did you and the publishing company become focused on biblical counseling?
18:35 - Foreign publishing impacts thousands of people
20:40 - What are the biggest needs in your work?
32:35 - Farewell
Rush talks to Jared Kennedy who is the co-founder of “Gospel-Centered Family,” and an editor with The Gospel Coalition.
Jared and Rush talk about his ministry Gospel-Centered Family, his important work with The Gospel Coalition, and some of the key challenges every family faces to become disciple-makers at home. Jared shares helpful tools for your family, and what raising chickens in suburban Louisville taught him about parenting.
JARED KENNEDY ONLINE
Jared's Website
Instagram
Twitter
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Faith Builder Catechism
Show Them Jesus
The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible
God Made Me for Worship
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
0:20 - Intro
1:43 - Tell us about Gospel-Centered Family and TGC
5:00 - How did you get into family ministry?
12:09 - What are two or three central issues with which every family needs help?
20:16 - What tools have been most helpful to your family?
28:10 - What’s going on with all these chickens you raise?
31:25 - How is God working in your life now?
34:01 - Farewell
Rush spends a rewarding time with author and counselor Kristen Hatton. Kristen has written a number of great books for teenagers, and has recently shifted focus to helping parents through her book, Parenting Ahead: Preparing for the Teen Years. Parents of teenagers will be helped by Kristen’s calm and focused approach to parenting teens. They talk about the difference between fixing our teens and parenting with grace, interesting ways to keep family life fun, and how to patiently walk through the pressures both parents and teenagers face today.
KRISTEN HATTON ONLINE
Kristen's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Parenting Ahead
Social Media Pressure
Alongside Jesus
Get Your Story Straight
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
0:30 - Intro
2:15 - Empty Nesting
7:30 - Time for Writing and Counseling
11:30 - How have you shifted to writing for a new audience?
15:00 - What are the biggest needs express by parents of teens?
17:10 - Teen Pressures
23:00 - Helping Teens Navigate the Big Pressures
27:20 - Kristen Help Parents Know How to Help Teens
33:30 - Why Should Teens “Get Their Story Straight?”
37:00 - Farewell
Rush enjoys a helpful conversation with Darby Strickland to learn more about her family and ministry in trauma and abuse care. They discuss important questions about the challenges of abuse ministry, how her own story has brought to her to this place of valuable ministry, and how God has grown her through it all, as well as how any Christian can learn to care for troubled souls.
DARBY STRICKLAND ONLINE
Darby's Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Something Scary Happened
When Children Experience Trauma
Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse
Life Counsel Bible
Learn more about the podcast here.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:30 - Intro
1:30 - Welcome and Recent Conference Update
4:38 - The Psalms Were Not Written In A Day
6:40 - How do you help parents talk to kids about abuse?
9:18 - Learning to Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
15:14 - When We Feel Inadequate for Ministry
21:20 - Maintaining Compassion for Abusers
28:55 - How does Darby keep up with so much ministry?
33:42 - New Books on Abuse
35:58 - Farewell
Rush spends a fun and freeing time with Jared C. Wilson. They talk about how owning up to our imperfection as Christians is both frightening and immensely comforting. And yet it is the only way we can overcome the fear and enjoy the comfort is by daily embracing the gospel in deep, fresh ways.
JARED C. WILSON ONLINE
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Timestamps:
1:41 - Intro
3:03 - Jared’s Story of Ministry
16:52 - Why Do You Feel Like An Alien?
25:54 - Understanding Gospel Wakefulness
33:07 - The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification
37:01 - Farewell
Rush sits down with Irene Sun, author of God Counts and Taste and See. Irene is an intentional and thoughtful mother, and she shares invaluable keys for making the most of reading to our children. Irene and Rush talk about why kids’ books are effective to change the way they think, and how to know if certain books are too scary or sad or mature for young readers.
IRENE SUN ONLINE
Irene’s Church
Facebook
Instagram
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World
Taste and See: All About God’s Goodness
The Acrostic of Salvation
Learn more about the podcast here.
Timestamps:
1:26 - Irene shares about her family and church in Pittsburgh.
3:45 - What are some of the best habits you’ve cultivated in your family?
5:37 - Irene and Rush discuss the value of reading aloud with kids.
10:12 - How are kids books powerful to shape their hearts and minds?
19:30 - What about balancing spiritual depth and pure enjoyment of reading in the lives of our kids?
28:39 - Irene explores the instrumental role of reading with children in the most intentional ways.
32:17 - What books have your sons enjoyed most over the years?
37:30 - Farewell
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