Life Is A Gift & Love Is The Point: Ryan & Michelle Meeks' Story скачать в хорошем качестве

Life Is A Gift & Love Is The Point: Ryan & Michelle Meeks' Story

What is left of your life when the community you built and the faith you preached both disappear in an instant? In this deeply honest episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with former pastor Ryan Meeks and his wife, Michelle. Ryan shares the raw reality of what happened when his evangelical church, Eastlake Community Church, imploded after he announced they would fully affirm the LGBTQIA+ community. The fallout was immediate and devastating—a wave of backlash, the loss of his livelihood, and the painful unraveling of a faith system that no longer felt like home. Just as Ryan was beginning to navigate the debris of his deconstruction, life delivered another blow: a lymphoma cancer diagnosis. Facing his own mortality while still healing from spiritual trauma forced Ryan to look past religious doctrine and search for a deeper meaning. Together, Ryan and Michelle discuss the difficult journey of spiritual reconstruction, moving from the rigid certainty of the church to a more inclusive, fragile, and beautiful understanding of what it means to be alive. This conversation is a powerful exploration of church hurt, LGBTQIA+ affirmation, and the search for hope after a religious "death." Ryan’s journey proves that even when the buildings fall and the old beliefs fade, love can remain the steady foundation for a new life. Whether you are questioning your own faith or facing an unexpected life crisis, this story is a reminder that while certainty may disappear, love is the point. PURCHASE RYAN'S BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/40d50FT Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Early Doubts About Faith 01:22 - Formative Years: Faith, Youth Group, and Purity Culture 02:22 - The Growing 'Doubt Basket' and Questioning Core Beliefs 03:35 - Building East Lake Community Church: Growth and Radical Inclusion 05:22 - Personal Crisis: Cancer, Burnout, and Final Deconstruction 06:17 - Embracing Embodiment, Nature, and a Life Message of Love Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstor... 🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com #IntrepidStorytelling #RyanMeeks #FaithDeconstruction #LGBTQIAAffirmation #ReligiousTrauma #InclusiveChristianity #CancerSurvivor #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast