In Episode 151, Lauren sits down with Denvil Lee, Campus Pastor at The Chapel Lake Zurich. Denvil shares his incredible journey from working at McDonald’s, to retail leadership, to serving as a police officer, investigator, and detective, before eventually stepping into church leadership and pastoral ministry. One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation is how Denvil approaches each role with a heart to serve and invest in people - often spending only a short time at the top before returning to walk alongside others, mentor them, and help raise them up.

Together, Lauren and Denvil explore why true leadership is more about faithfulness to the process than chasing outcomes, how God’s Kingdom often begins with small seeds, and why being entrusted with small things matters deeply.

Denvil also opens up about his personal faith journey from atheism and agnosticism to encountering God while cleaning the back of a church. Through moving stories and honest reflection, he reminds listeners that it is a joy to be found by God and that God is more than we can dream or imagine.

This episode is a powerful encouragement for anyone searching for purpose, learning to trust God in small beginnings, or wondering if they can still be found by Him.

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The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strangers across the world. Be inspired through her stories to create new stories of your own.

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.

In Episode 150, Lauren sits down with Lynne Marian, a leader who has spent more than three decades working at the intersection of faith, ministry, and mission-driven marketing. Throughout her career, Lynne has helped amplify the impact of some of the most influential Christian organizations in the world, including World Vision, Zondervan, World Concern, Our Daily Bread Ministries, and Outreach, Inc.. While at Outreach, she founded Outreach Magazine, known for publishing the influential Top 100 list of America’s largest and fastest-growing churches.

Today, Lynne serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for Plant With Purpose, a global Christian organization that has planted more than 80 million trees across nine countries while helping vulnerable communities cut poverty in half. Lynne lives in Southern California, where she also serves as a life and executive coach, helping leaders discover their calling and maximize their impact.

In this conversation, Lynne shares powerful stories of resilience from communities around the world including the remarkable story of Francine, a young woman in Burundi whose life was transformed through the work of Plant With Purpose. Lynne also reflects on how her work with Plant With Purpose has transformed her own spiritual journey, helping her see that creation care is deeply rooted in the Gospel itself. From the opening chapters of Book of Genesis, where God declares creation “very good,” humans are called to participate in stewarding and caring for the world God made.

Lynne also introduces a new church discipleship and outreach initiative called Tend, a program designed to help churches reconnect faith with creation care and discipleship. This episode is an inspiring reminder that when compassion and action come together, ordinary people can help restore both communities and creation.

To learn more about Plant with Purpose, visit http://plantwithpurpose.org and to learn about Tend, visit https://tendlife.org.

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The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strang

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.

In Episode 149, Lauren sits down with Marcy Bursac, adoptive mom, author, national advocate, and founder of The Forgotten Adoption Option, to talk about what happens when adoption isn’t Plan B…but Plan A.

Marcy shares how a visit to Moldova changed the trajectory of her life and led her to the desire to adopt. But when she stepped into the U.S. foster care system to adopt a sibling pair, she encountered something she didn’t expect: confusion, delays, misdirection, and a lack of clear guidance. Like many prospective adoptive parents, she found that while adoption from foster care is publicly encouraged, the pathway toward actually adopting can feel unclear.

Out of that frustration and deep love for children waiting for families The Forgotten Adoption Option was born. As a national 501(c)(3), the organization exists to close the gap between awareness and action. Marcy explains how thousands of adults raise their hands to adopt, only to be rerouted into foster licensing processes without clear communication about what adoption specifically requires. That disconnect leaves families discouraged and children, especially sibling groups, waiting longer for permanency.

In our conversation, Marcy shares:

• Why foster care adoption is often misunderstood
• The biggest barriers prospective adoptive parents face
• How culture change is needed
• The emotional realities of adopting siblings
• How clarity and education can reduce friction in the system

Through books for adults and children, a free adoption planning app, a nationally distributed reading program, research, coaching, and her own podcast, Marcy has supported more than 12,000 prospective adoptive parents across the United States.

If you’ve ever wondered whether adoption might be part of your story or you simply want to understand the reality behind foster care adoption, this conversation will move you from awareness to action.

Because sometimes the stranger you’re meant to meet becomes family.

Learn more: The Forgotten Adoption Option

Get Marcy's books: https://forgottenadoptionoption.org/books

Check out the podcast: https://pod.link/1542072701

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.