Author Hadassah Treu discusses her faith journey and new book.

Key Takeaways

– Hadassah found faith at 17 in communist Bulgaria, overcoming depression through an encounter with evangelical Christianity
– She wrote “Drawn Near” about finding blessings in painful experiences, drawing from personal struggles including widowhood
– Hadassah emphasizes Bible study, prayer, and faithfulness in suffering as key pillars for spiritual growth
– She has an active ministry through blogging, writing, and speaking, primarily in English

Topics

Hadassah’s Faith Journey

– Grew up in communist Bulgaria with little exposure to religion
– Struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager
– Prayed for 6 months for God to reveal Himself
– Classmates brought her to an evangelical church where she first heard the gospel
– Immediately responded in faith at age 17

Spiritual Growth Practices

– Bible study: Progressed from memorizing verses to in-depth study and journaling
– Prayer: Developed a more transparent prayer life over time
– Faithfulness in suffering: Views struggles as catalysts for spiritual growth
– Daily routine: Starts day with Bible reading, study, journaling, and prayer

Book: “Drawn Near”

– Subtitle: “How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings”
– Explores 13 painful experiences (e.g., betrayal, rejection, grief, loneliness, depression)
– Shares personal stories and biblical theology on suffering
– Aims to change perspective on suffering, highlighting potential for growth and blessings

Personal Experiences with Suffering

– Struggled with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks
– Dealt with infertility and unfulfilled desire for motherhood
– Lost her husband Thomas unexpectedly 4.5 years ago
– Moved back to Bulgaria from Austria after husband’s passing
– Decided to use her pain to help others, bringing measure of peace and joy

Ministry and Writing Career

– Started officially in 2017, before husband’s passing
– Husband was instrumental in supporting and helping launch her blog
– Initially wrote in Bulgarian and English, now focuses primarily on English
– Contributes to various Christian websites and publications
– Received a literature award from her municipality for poetry

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Author Hadassah Treu discusses her faith journey and new book.

Key Takeaways

– Hadassah found faith at 17 in communist Bulgaria, overcoming depression through an encounter with evangelical Christianity
– She wrote “Drawn Near” about finding blessings in painful experiences, drawing from personal struggles including widowhood
– Hadassah emphasizes Bible study, prayer, and faithfulness in suffering as key pillars for spiritual growth
– She has an active ministry through blogging, writing, and speaking, primarily in English

Topics

Hadassah’s Faith Journey

– Grew up in communist Bulgaria with little exposure to religion
– Struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager
– Prayed for 6 months for God to reveal Himself
– Classmates brought her to an evangelical church where she first heard the gospel
– Immediately responded in faith at age 17

Spiritual Growth Practices

– Bible study: Progressed from memorizing verses to in-depth study and journaling
– Prayer: Developed a more transparent prayer life over time
– Faithfulness in suffering: Views struggles as catalysts for spiritual growth
– Daily routine: Starts day with Bible reading, study, journaling, and prayer

Book: “Drawn Near”

– Subtitle: “How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings”
– Explores 13 painful experiences (e.g., betrayal, rejection, grief, loneliness, depression)
– Shares personal stories and biblical theology on suffering
– Aims to change perspective on suffering, highlighting potential for growth and blessings

Personal Experiences with Suffering

– Struggled with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks
– Dealt with infertility and unfulfilled desire for motherhood
– Lost her husband Thomas unexpectedly 4.5 years ago
– Moved back to Bulgaria from Austria after husband’s passing
– Decided to use her pain to help others, bringing measure of peace and joy

Ministry and Writing Career

– Started officially in 2017, before husband’s passing
– Husband was instrumental in supporting and helping launch her blog
– Initially wrote in Bulgarian and English, now focuses primarily on English
– Contributes to various Christian websites and publications
– Received a literature award from her municipality for poetry

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Alexandra Radford’s discusses her faith journey, focusing on three key life experiences and their impact on her spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

– Alex’s faith journey spans three major life events: teenage pregnancy, divorce, and entrepreneurship
– Transparency and vulnerability with her children are crucial in passing on faith
– Small, consistent acts of faith (like daily journaling) can lead to significant spiritual growth
– Embracing life’s “winter” seasons is vital for deep spiritual root development

Topics

Teenage Pregnancy and Faith Decision

– At 17, Alex faced an unexpected pregnancy and chose to keep the baby
– Experienced support from her mother and guidance through prayer at church
– Decision strengthened her faith and taught her to trust God in difficult situations
– Now uses her experience to mentor others at Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Divorce and Personal Growth

– Married at 21 to her first child’s father, later divorced after having a second child
– Went through extensive counseling and self-reflection post-divorce
– Created a “Christian dating guide” as a spiritual marker for her healing journey
– Learned to prioritize self-love and identify unhealthy relationship patterns

Entrepreneurial Journey and Faith

– Founded The Edge Agency, a marketing firm, now in its 8th year
– Views the business as a “green light” from God to pursue a new adventure
– Relies on faith for provision in all aspects: finances, clients, employees, wisdom
– Uses the business as a platform to live out and share her faith

Parenting and Faith Transmission

– Encourages her sons (17 and 9) to develop their own relationship with God
– Uses age-appropriate devotionals and encourages them to lead prayers
– Demonstrates faith practices like journaling and prayer in front of her children
– Believes in the importance of putting children in faith-nurturing environments

Personal Faith Practices

– Daily journaling using a “joy strategy” template
– Incorporates gratitude, prayer requests, scripture reading, and silent listening
– Seeks mentorship from older, wiser individuals for spiritual and personal growth
– Recently exploring the concept of spiritual seasons, especially valuing “winter” periods

Helpful Links: https://www.theedgeagency.net/

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Alexandra Radford’s discusses her faith journey, focusing on three key life experiences and their impact on her spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

– Alex’s faith journey spans three major life events: teenage pregnancy, divorce, and entrepreneurship
– Transparency and vulnerability with her children are crucial in passing on faith
– Small, consistent acts of faith (like daily journaling) can lead to significant spiritual growth
– Embracing life’s “winter” seasons is vital for deep spiritual root development

Topics

Teenage Pregnancy and Faith Decision

– At 17, Alex faced an unexpected pregnancy and chose to keep the baby
– Experienced support from her mother and guidance through prayer at church
– Decision strengthened her faith and taught her to trust God in difficult situations
– Now uses her experience to mentor others at Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Divorce and Personal Growth

– Married at 21 to her first child’s father, later divorced after having a second child
– Went through extensive counseling and self-reflection post-divorce
– Created a “Christian dating guide” as a spiritual marker for her healing journey
– Learned to prioritize self-love and identify unhealthy relationship patterns

Entrepreneurial Journey and Faith

– Founded The Edge Agency, a marketing firm, now in its 8th year
– Views the business as a “green light” from God to pursue a new adventure
– Relies on faith for provision in all aspects: finances, clients, employees, wisdom
– Uses the business as a platform to live out and share her faith

Parenting and Faith Transmission

– Encourages her sons (17 and 9) to develop their own relationship with God
– Uses age-appropriate devotionals and encourages them to lead prayers
– Demonstrates faith practices like journaling and prayer in front of her children
– Believes in the importance of putting children in faith-nurturing environments

Personal Faith Practices

– Daily journaling using a “joy strategy” template
– Incorporates gratitude, prayer requests, scripture reading, and silent listening
– Seeks mentorship from older, wiser individuals for spiritual and personal growth
– Recently exploring the concept of spiritual seasons, especially valuing “winter” periods

Helpful Links: https://www.theedgeagency.net/

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Alexandra Radford’s discusses her faith journey, focusing on three key life experiences and their impact on her spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

– Alex’s faith journey spans three major life events: teenage pregnancy, divorce, and entrepreneurship
– Transparency and vulnerability with her children are crucial in passing on faith
– Small, consistent acts of faith (like daily journaling) can lead to significant spiritual growth
– Embracing life’s “winter” seasons is vital for deep spiritual root development

Topics

Teenage Pregnancy and Faith Decision

– At 17, Alex faced an unexpected pregnancy and chose to keep the baby
– Experienced support from her mother and guidance through prayer at church
– Decision strengthened her faith and taught her to trust God in difficult situations
– Now uses her experience to mentor others at Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Divorce and Personal Growth

– Married at 21 to her first child’s father, later divorced after having a second child
– Went through extensive counseling and self-reflection post-divorce
– Created a “Christian dating guide” as a spiritual marker for her healing journey
– Learned to prioritize self-love and identify unhealthy relationship patterns

Entrepreneurial Journey and Faith

– Founded The Edge Agency, a marketing firm, now in its 8th year
– Views the business as a “green light” from God to pursue a new adventure
– Relies on faith for provision in all aspects: finances, clients, employees, wisdom
– Uses the business as a platform to live out and share her faith

Parenting and Faith Transmission

– Encourages her sons (17 and 9) to develop their own relationship with God
– Uses age-appropriate devotionals and encourages them to lead prayers
– Demonstrates faith practices like journaling and prayer in front of her children
– Believes in the importance of putting children in faith-nurturing environments

Personal Faith Practices

– Daily journaling using a “joy strategy” template
– Incorporates gratitude, prayer requests, scripture reading, and silent listening
– Seeks mentorship from older, wiser individuals for spiritual and personal growth
– Recently exploring the concept of spiritual seasons, especially valuing “winter” periods

Helpful Links: https://www.theedgeagency.net/

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Patrick Krier shares about his faith journey and experiences as a Christian business owner.

Key Takeaways

– Patrick grew up Catholic but came to evangelical faith about 3 years ago after hearing the gospel from a pastor
– He emphasizes the importance of reading scripture, understanding church history/doctrine, and fearing the Lord
– Patrick and his wife recently moved to Georgia, guided by feeling “at home” and finding a Reformed Baptist church
– He advocates for sharing faith lovingly but truthfully, even with family members of different beliefs

Topics

Patrick’s Faith Journey

– Grew up Catholic in Wisconsin, focused on “fearing the Lord” but little understanding of Jesus
– Started asking deeper questions about faith in college
– Truly understood the gospel and became a Christian about 3 years ago in grad school
– Got married quickly after conversion to align with biblical teaching
– Has been growing in doctrine, church history, and Bible reading since then

Bible Reading and Spiritual Growth

– Patrick and his wife started reading through the Bible in a year, finding it transformative
– Emphasizes importance of reading Old Testament to see God’s consistency and human nature
– Recommends resources like YouVersion app for accessible Bible reading plans
– Stresses viewing scripture as truly God’s inspired word, not just an old book

Church History and Doctrine

– Patrick identifies as Reformed Baptist
– Recommends studying church history, creeds, and confessions like the Second London Baptist Confession
– Believes it’s important to understand what Christians have believed throughout centuries

Sharing Faith with Family

– Navigates sharing faith with Catholic parents and more secular in-laws
– Emphasizes need to balance truth and grace, recognizing spiritual deadness apart from Christ
– Acknowledges challenge of holidays/traditions when family doesn’t share same beliefs

Fear of the Lord

– Patrick wishes he understood “fearing the Lord” better 10 years ago
– Sees it as crucial for truly living out faith and avoiding sin

Practical Faith Application

– Encourages working out assurance of salvation
– Stresses importance of living out faith consistently, not just cultural Christianity
– Values wrestling with hard questions and growing in understanding

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Patrick Krier shares about his faith journey and experiences as a Christian business owner.

Key Takeaways

– Patrick grew up Catholic but came to evangelical faith about 3 years ago after hearing the gospel from a pastor
– He emphasizes the importance of reading scripture, understanding church history/doctrine, and fearing the Lord
– Patrick and his wife recently moved to Georgia, guided by feeling “at home” and finding a Reformed Baptist church
– He advocates for sharing faith lovingly but truthfully, even with family members of different beliefs

Topics

Patrick’s Faith Journey

– Grew up Catholic in Wisconsin, focused on “fearing the Lord” but little understanding of Jesus
– Started asking deeper questions about faith in college
– Truly understood the gospel and became a Christian about 3 years ago in grad school
– Got married quickly after conversion to align with biblical teaching
– Has been growing in doctrine, church history, and Bible reading since then

Bible Reading and Spiritual Growth

– Patrick and his wife started reading through the Bible in a year, finding it transformative
– Emphasizes importance of reading Old Testament to see God’s consistency and human nature
– Recommends resources like YouVersion app for accessible Bible reading plans
– Stresses viewing scripture as truly God’s inspired word, not just an old book

Church History and Doctrine

– Patrick identifies as Reformed Baptist
– Recommends studying church history, creeds, and confessions like the Second London Baptist Confession
– Believes it’s important to understand what Christians have believed throughout centuries

Sharing Faith with Family

– Navigates sharing faith with Catholic parents and more secular in-laws
– Emphasizes need to balance truth and grace, recognizing spiritual deadness apart from Christ
– Acknowledges challenge of holidays/traditions when family doesn’t share same beliefs

Fear of the Lord

– Patrick wishes he understood “fearing the Lord” better 10 years ago
– Sees it as crucial for truly living out faith and avoiding sin

Practical Faith Application

– Encourages working out assurance of salvation
– Stresses importance of living out faith consistently, not just cultural Christianity
– Values wrestling with hard questions and growing in understanding

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Patrick Krier shares about his faith journey and experiences as a Christian business owner.

Key Takeaways

– Patrick grew up Catholic but came to evangelical faith about 3 years ago after hearing the gospel from a pastor
– He emphasizes the importance of reading scripture, understanding church history/doctrine, and fearing the Lord
– Patrick and his wife recently moved to Georgia, guided by feeling “at home” and finding a Reformed Baptist church
– He advocates for sharing faith lovingly but truthfully, even with family members of different beliefs

Topics

Patrick’s Faith Journey

– Grew up Catholic in Wisconsin, focused on “fearing the Lord” but little understanding of Jesus
– Started asking deeper questions about faith in college
– Truly understood the gospel and became a Christian about 3 years ago in grad school
– Got married quickly after conversion to align with biblical teaching
– Has been growing in doctrine, church history, and Bible reading since then

Bible Reading and Spiritual Growth

– Patrick and his wife started reading through the Bible in a year, finding it transformative
– Emphasizes importance of reading Old Testament to see God’s consistency and human nature
– Recommends resources like YouVersion app for accessible Bible reading plans
– Stresses viewing scripture as truly God’s inspired word, not just an old book

Church History and Doctrine

– Patrick identifies as Reformed Baptist
– Recommends studying church history, creeds, and confessions like the Second London Baptist Confession
– Believes it’s important to understand what Christians have believed throughout centuries

Sharing Faith with Family

– Navigates sharing faith with Catholic parents and more secular in-laws
– Emphasizes need to balance truth and grace, recognizing spiritual deadness apart from Christ
– Acknowledges challenge of holidays/traditions when family doesn’t share same beliefs

Fear of the Lord

– Patrick wishes he understood “fearing the Lord” better 10 years ago
– Sees it as crucial for truly living out faith and avoiding sin

Practical Faith Application

– Encourages working out assurance of salvation
– Stresses importance of living out faith consistently, not just cultural Christianity
– Values wrestling with hard questions and growing in understanding

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com