Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Wendy Terry grew up knowing Jesus loved her, yet spent decades hiding her real feelings and building an identity of always having it all together.

In her forties, a miscarriage, four growing children, and a major depressive episode brought it all crashing down.

Wendy shares how God met her through safe community, a prayer room, and a simple instruction to "just show up," and how she learned to ask her Creator what He says about her.

She also opens up about parenting adult children who have declared themselves nonbinary and how she holds grace, truth, and trust together.

Wendy serves with Outpost Ministries and the Twin Cities Justice House of Prayer.

Chapter markers

00:00 – Welcome and Introductions

00:49 – "I Don't Remember a Time I Didn't Know Jesus Loved Me"

02:05 – The Fraud Within: Hiding Feelings Behind a Perfect Identity

03:17 – Until It Didn't: When Everything Fell Apart

04:06 – Miscarriage, Shame, and Finding the Words to Tell

05:58 – The Core Belief That Adults Don't Have Negative Emotions

07:00 – Spring 2013: The Kitchen Window and the Major Depressive Episode

07:44 – Safe Community and the Breaking of the False Identity

08:49 – "All You Need to Do Is Show Up"

10:03 – The House of Prayer: God Reveals the Core Falsehoods

11:19 – Head Knowledge vs. Heart Belief

12:19 – Matthew 11 and the Yoke We Were Never Meant to Carry

13:02 – The Freedom of Knowing What God Says About You

14:05 – The Question We All Face: Who Gets to Say Who I Am?

16:06 – Parenting Adult Children Who Aren't Walking With Jesus

19:09 – Identity Struggles in Our Family: Loving Without Losing Truth

22:07 – Seeing Past the Struggle to the Heart of a Child

23:12 – Grace and Truth: Light and Love Without Giving Offense

25:27 – "Keep My Eyes on My Own Paper"

26:54 – Outpost Ministries and the Twin Cities Justice House of Prayer

29:41 – Progressive Sanctification and Walking With Others

29:57 – Closing Thoughts: Vulnerability and Going Out to Do as Jesus Did

Bensound- November (music)

Music from #Uppbeat

Music: 'Essence Of Light' by Aaron Paul Low on

#Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/c/aaron-paul-low

License code: ZML1ML0ELF5JH4VJ

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Engineer, painter, entrepreneur, and author Ian Reilly joins Jan to talk about growing up on a sheep farm, building a tech startup at 52, and the two cyclones that shaped his years teaching in Samoa.

Along the way, Ian shares what he learned about cultural Christianity, connecting across language barriers, and the quiet influence of a life lived faithfully. His memoir Encounter recently won the New York City Big Book Award.

https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/hope-and-wonder

License code: XXAPHVLRL1JYTHLD

00:00 Welcome and sheep farming in common

00:49 Why every pastor should visit a sheep farm

01:07 Creativity: flute, fiber arts, watercolor, and pastel

01:53 The pastel portrait of Ian’s father

02:44 Engineering as art in a different medium

03:09 Building a livestock virtual fence startup at 52

05:12 Melbourne and the pull of the farm

06:37 The smell of lanolin and home

06:53 Volunteering in Samoa

07:57 Lost passports and a sweltering arrival

09:02 The first cyclone

10:16 Crisis as normal life

11:13 Farm skills and engineering in Samoa

13:17 Heather’s gifts as a teacher

15:01 Language barriers

17:01 Samoan food: sea cucumbers, umu, and mutton flaps

19:22 Faith in Samoa and cultural Christianity

21:52 Bible studies and being an example

22:57 Connecting without a shared language

23:57 The second cyclone and leaving Samoa

25:04 What lasted: students and relationships

26:29 Mentoring and the weight of influence

27:21 Where to find Encounter

28:10 Visiting Oregon and wrap-up

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Stefania Leao came to the United States from Brazil for a one-week visit and stayed almost ten years. As a single mom who didn't speak English, she began each morning reading the Bible and writing a prayer.

Those simple notes became a devotional book now available in five languages, reaching a church in Malawi, the Brazilian national team, and people on the streets of San Francisco.

Stefania and host Jan Johnson talk about prayer, humility, obedience, and how God uses ordinary people. If you've ever wondered how to start praying, this episode will encourage you to begin with just five minutes. Links to Stefania's book and projects are below.

Official links:
Website: https://stefanialeao.com
The Prayer: https://readtheprayer.com
Mission & Impact: https://stefanialeao.com/impact
Malawi / Chichewa mission: https://readtheprayer.com/malawi
Press, media and official author photo:
https://stefanialeao.com/media/press-coverage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanialeaoofficial/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stefanialeao

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Pastor and author Dustin Kleinschmidt joins host Jan Johnson to talk candidly about church hurt, ministry burnout, and the process of grieving and healing after stepping away from full-time pastoral leadership.

Dustin shares how he was called back to lead a church in crisis, the "trifecta" of events that nearly destroyed it, the breaking point that led him to resign, and the panic attacks and anger at God that followed.

Together they explore identity, boundaries, lament, and what it looks like to keep loving Jesus and the church even after being wounded by it.

Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Lamentations 3:22–23 — "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Revelation 21:4 — "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/a-movement

License code: JF75OPN6HGFTNGNG

Chapter Markers

| 00:00 | Welcome & Introduction
| 00:49 | Dustin's Unexpected Path to Faith
| 02:00 | The Moment Faith Became Real
| 03:38 | Worship, College Ministry, and Discovering His Gifts
| 04:57 | Walking Away from a Music Career
| 06:55 | A New Chapter in Dallas
| 07:21 | Planting a Church, Then COVID Hit
| 08:01 | Called Back to Lead a Church in Crisis
| 09:05 | The "Trifecta" That Breaks Churches
| 10:19 | The Breaking Point: Stepping Out of Ministry
| 13:17 | Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
| 17:03 | Values, Identity, and What Really Broke
| 19:42 | Panic Attacks and Finding the Right Counselor
| 21:23 | Anger, Grief, and Getting Honest with God
| 26:14 | Living in the Wilderness: Already but Not Yet
| 29:00 | Learning to Name and Grieve Small Losses
| 33:19 | Rebuilding Friendships and Setting Boundaries
| 36:01 | Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dustin

DustinKleinschmidt.com

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Before he was a pastor, church planter, and missionary, Ariel Aguilar ran with gangs.

In this conversation with host Jan Johnson, Ariel shares how a medical crisis —

his wife's cancer diagnosis during pregnancy —

became the turning point that led him to give his life to Christ.

From there, his story takes us through freezing mission trips in Mongolia, a young man named Togi who came to faith weeks before he passed away, and Ariel's current ministry, Door Knocker Apologetics, where he trades ten minutes of listening to a sales pitch for fifteen minutes to talk about Jesus with whoever shows up at his front door.

Practical, funny, and deeply rooted in scripture, this episode will change how you think about the next conversation you have with a stranger.

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/brighter-days

License code: KTTDO32WFSGDAR5H

Chapter Markers

00:00 Welcome & Introduction
01:01 From Gang Life to Giving His Life to Christ
02:00 Pastor, Church Planter, and Missionary
02:50 The "But God" Moment: Jessica's Cancer Diagnosis
04:02 Making a Deal with God
06:04 The Birth of Micah and Marrying Jessica
06:46 The Miracle of Johnny Glenn's Word
09:38 Micah Today
10:48 What Drew Him to Missions
11:32 Mongolia and the Cold That Had to Be God
12:09 Hospitality Among the Mongolian and Chinese People
13:31 The Story of Togi
16:41 Togi's Passing and Eternal Hope
17:44 Getting a Mongolian Name: Dala
18:37 Door Knocker Apologetics Begins
20:03 The Ten-Minutes-for-Fifteen-Minutes Deal
23:40 Starting the Conversation: "Are You Spiritual?"
24:24 The Columbo Tactic
24:38 Role-Playing a Door Knocker Conversation
28:25 The Four Questions: Creation, Purpose, Morality, Eternity
30:24 "It's the Same God" — Addressing a Common Objection
33:08 Why Christianity Is Different from Other Religions
35:37 The Dentist Bill Illustration
36:28 Final Word: Go Love More

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Erin Zandstra grew up knowing of God but not knowing Him — and spent decades filling that gap with alcohol, broken relationships, and a desperate search for identity.

In this raw conversation, Erin shares her road from a DUI and jail time to radical surrender, and what it really means to find your worth in Christ instead of what you do or what you've survived.

A powerful testimony on faith, sobriety, and grace.

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

At 78, retired pastor Jerry Heslinga walked 160 miles of the Camino de Santiago with his son-in-law — and came home with more than sore feet. Jan Johnson talks with Jerry about faith conversations on the trail, a stranger's story of reconciliation, and the lifelong lesson of repentance that met him somewhere between Portugal and Spain.

A conversation about journeys — the ones in Scripture, and the ones we're still walking.

Psalm 92. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord. They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age

Hebrews 12 — let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

📖 Scriptures referenced: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 92:12–15, Hebrews 12:1–2, Psalms 121–134

https://uppbeat.io/t/kurtz-martin/divine-fate

License code: BFHW6GEPXJNX866H

| 00:00 | Introduction: Meet Jerry Heslinga |

| 00:36 | Why Jerry decided to walk the Camino |

| 02:14 | Training, blisters, and getting ready to walk |

| 04:05 | Starting the walk in Porto, Portugal |

| 04:39 | The pilgrim's passport and how the Camino works |

| 05:22 | Walking 160 miles from Porto to Santiago de Compostela |

| 05:43 | Conversations on the road and meeting fellow pilgrims |

| 06:22 | Faith conversations with his son-in-law Matt |

| 07:21 | Journeys throughout the Bible |

| 09:21 | Connecting to Jan's Bible study, "Discovering Your Journey" |

| 11:00 | A 50-year-old memory resurfaces on the trail |

| 12:13 | Reflecting on mission trips to Mongolia, China, and beyond |

| 12:48 | Teaching conversational English in Mongolia |

| 13:25 | Singing Isaiah 40:31 on the walk |

| 13:50 | Matt carries Jerry's pack up a difficult climb |

| 14:21 | A stranger's story of reconciliation with his daughter |

| 15:42 | What that story reveals about hidden pain |

| 15:46 | Daily mileage and the route across two countries |

| 16:12 | Where they stayed and what they packed |

| 17:27 | The Spirit of the Camino and the Pilgrim's Prayer |

| 19:12 | Decompressing after the walk |

| 19:44 | Comparing the Camino to other Christian pilgrimages |

| 20:20 | The 12th-century Pilgrim Prayer, in full |

| 21:28 | The lifestyle of repentance Jerry rediscovered |

| 22:33 | Jerry's guiding verse: Psalm 92 |

| 23:31 | Hebrews 12 and running with perseverance |

| 24:03 | Did Jerry ever imagine doing this when he was young? |

| 24:26 | Closing thoughts and thank-you |

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!