The Door to Peace

From Dischord to Divinity: Music's Escape to God's Peace

Growing up in South Central Los Angeles during the turbulent 1960s and ’70s meant living through riots, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the rise of gang violence. It was a time of confusion and hardship for many. For Damon Kendrix, those years were shaped by unseen grace. As a young boy, God was already leading him—quietly and consistently—toward peace. Music became the unexpected lifeline, a divine escape route from the noise of the world to the stillness of God’s presence. In this episode, Damon shares how music transformed his journey and how he now lives with unshakable peace, no matter the chaos around him. You can find that same peace too.

Rooted in Hope: Testimony with Bishop Huggins

What is hope?  "Hope is a rope.  Hope is the rope that God gives us when we are falling off of the cliffs of life.  Despite how far down you fall into the depths of despair, there is always a sense of knowing that God will rescue us and there will be a better day."                                                                        - Bishop Broderick Huggins In this heartfelt conversation, Bishop Huggins shares how enduring hope carried him through life’s deepest valleys—from childhood struggles to unimaginable loss. Through biblical wisdom and personal testimony, this episode offers a powerful reminder that no matter how dark the path, hope in Christ endures.  Bishop Broderick Huggins serves as pastor of the Simply Church House of Prayer.  Simply Church has two locations: Port Hueneme and Bakersfield.  He also speaks around the country with B.A. Huggins Ministries.   Hosted by Tom Stephen.

Life After a Mass Shooting: A Father’s Story of Grief and Grace

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." (Philippians 3:13). Paul isn’t asking us to erase the past. He’s showing us how to live with hope, even when the past carries deep pain.    In today’s episode, you’ll hear a father share his story after the loss of his daughter in a mass shooting.    On November 7, 2018 Kristina Morisette, along with eleven others, were killed in a mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Ca.    Michael's journey isn’t about forgetting. It’s about finding a path forward in the middle of unimaginable grief—about leaning into faith and moving forward with love and courage. It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest act of faith is simply taking the next step, even when the road ahead feels uncertain. While this podcast focuses on Michael's story, the podcast was created to honor all those who have lost loved ones in mass shootings and to explore how families move forward from these tragic events.  Others who lost their lives at Borderline are Sean Adler, Cody (Gifford) Coffman, Blake Dingman, Jake Dunham, Sgt. Ron Helus, Alaina Housley, Daniel Manrique, Justin Meek, Marky Meza Jr., Tel Orfanos, and Noel Sparks

God's Longterm Work in Community Disaster - Part 2, Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe

God meets us in all seasons of life.  Recovery from human-made community trauma (ex. mass shootings or sudden political changes) to natural disasters that impact entire communities (ex. fires, floods, hurricanes) follow patterns or phases the five phases include: 1) Hero Phase 2) Disillusionment Phase 3) Rebuilding and Restoration Phase 4) Wisdom Phase The gift of Jesus' presence meets us differently in each of these phases and brings you what you need as crisis moves to wisdom.    In this podcast you'll first learn about these different phases of community trauma and then discover how God is working through each phase to bring you peace and hope.     If you'd like to know more about these phases, check out this link from the Institute of Collective Trauma and Growth: Learning Phases of Collective Trauma - ICTG - Getting Leaders Restorative Strategies to Grow after Loss [http://www.ictg.org/community-blog/learning-phases-of-collective-trauma]

Community Devastation and God's Presence - LA Wildfires Recovery 2025, Dr Kate Wiebe

Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe and our host, Rev. Tom Stephen, dive into collective trauma related to recent wildfires in Southern California. Kate contextualizes the fires through the lens of losing senses of community and examines how people can come together even after times of devastation.  Kate clarifies what the ‘hero phase’ can look like at the start of a disaster response and how helpers can extend a supportive hand  in the face of extreme loss. She and Tom talk about the importance of identifying needs in the face of overwhelming decisions. They touch on the question of why traumas happen and how to start to answers questions from ‘a cherry picked’ theology.  Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe finishes with practical advice of how we can help people in need: “listen to the need, don’t try to guess what someone needs.” She discusses Psalm 46, including how it references natural disasters, human-caused disasters, and God's actions that we may experience as challenging, as well as an important first step for us to take when faced with catastrophe. Dr. Kate Wiebe is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and PsyD Program Chair, Licensed Psychologist (PSY35006), Pastor, and Consultant.