Ken Isaacs of Samaritan's Purse talks with Wayne Shepherd about his calling to meeting humanitarian needs around the world in the name of Christ. (click for more...)

Ken is Vice-President of Programs and Government Relations at Samaritan's Purse, and the author of Running to the Fire, Helping in Jesus' Name.

Interview Notes:

Former water well driller, went as a volunteer to West Africa (1985).

• Felt called by God to serve internationally.
• Connection with Franklin Graham led to work in Ethiopia with his family under difficult conditions (communist govt., war).
• Experience deepened faith and reliance on God.
• At 73, still actively serving—“Moses never retired.”
• Loves the work, considers it God’s calling.
• Finds purpose and energy in “running to the fire”—meeting needs in crises.
• Samaritan’s Purse Ministry:
  • 17–18 international offices, ~4,000 staff.Focus on war zones, famine areas, disaster zones (Israel, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Niger, Liberia, Colombia, etc.).
  • Staff chosen for faith commitment and skills (body of Christ with diverse roles).
  • All service explicitly in Jesus’ name—aid is unconditional.
  • Philosophy:
  • Meeting urgent needs (food, water, shelter, medicine) creates a platform for witness.
  • Work must be done with excellence; poor quality undermines witness.
  • Reputation sought: compassionate, loving, present in people’s greatest need
  • Partnerships:
  • Works with local churches and Christian organizations.
  • Example: Mission Eurasia in Ukraine; 1,600 churches partnered there.
  • Seeks partners passionate about proclaiming Christ.
  • Global Needs & Focus:
  • Sudan: Severe civil war, famine, displacement (12 million displaced, 150,000 killed).
  • Gaza: Food distribution, partnerships with local groups despite conflict.
  • Syria: Healthcare, new opportunities with emerging governance.
  • Emphasis: most crises are politically driven, not natural disasters.
  • Funding & Resources:
  • Less than 5% of support from US govt.
  • $530B in US private giving vs. $43B government aid (2023).
  • Independence from government allows freedom and faith-based work.
  • Scriptural Foundation:
  • Luke 10 (Good Samaritan) – “Go and do likewise.”
  • Matthew 24 – signs of the end times: wars, famines, earthquakes; Isaacs sees Samaritan’s Purse as positioned for these times.
  • Encouragement to Listeners:
  • Stay generous; pray for leaders worldwide.
  • Follow updates at samaritanspurse.org.
  • Remember ultimate goal: share Christ’s love through compassionate action.

NEXT WEEK: Winfred Neely

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Jonathon Seidl talks with Wayne Shepherd about his alcohol addiction and the transforming power of Jesus to deliver him daily from his addictive behavior. (click for more...)

Website and book: https://www.jonseidl.com

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic

Key Themes
God only uses sinners: Jonathon emphasizes that aside from Jesus, everyone God uses is imperfect.
Shame and vulnerability: He initially resisted going public with his alcoholism due to fear of judgment in Christian circles.
Sobriety journey: Now over two years sober; life is richer, though not easier. Alcohol wasn’t the problem but the solution he used to escape deeper issues.
Root Issues & Turning Point
Alcoholism tied to childhood wounds of rejection and abandonment.
Turning point came on an anniversary trip where his wife confronted him—she wanted him to address why he drank, not just stop drinking.
Four Steps to Break Free
Abiding in Christ – Developing an experiential, daily walk with Jesus (scripture, journaling, stillness).
Finding true identity – Seeing oneself in Christ, not in addiction or failure.
Radical vulnerability – Going beyond surface-level honesty, sharing deeply with trusted biblical community.
Obedience – Trusting and following God’s direction, even when it feels small or uncomfortable.
Supports & Safeguards
Weekly Christian therapy (counselor Gina) helped uncover root causes.
Biblical community and small group provided accountability and openness.
Close sobriety group (texts/emails) for immediate honesty when tempted.
Practices radical vulnerability—naming struggles before they escalate.
Broader Lessons
Addiction often stems from escapism, not just the substance.
Messy sanctification: the Christian journey involves ongoing struggles, not just “minor sins.”
Scripture shows God working through deeply flawed people (David, Abraham, etc.).
Encouragement: there is room in the church for imperfect stories and God’s redemption.
Aims to help others struggling with addiction, break stigma, and point to biblical hope.

NEXT WEEK: Ken Isaacs, Samaritan's Purse

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Wayne Shepherd talks with Jenny Waltman, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Grace Klein Community in Birmingham, Alabama. (click for more)

• A ministry dedicated to serving underprivileged and disadvantaged people, rooted in biblical principles.
• Website: https://gracekleincommunity.com
• Jenny's Book: God Chose the Wrong Person can be found here.
• Jenny and her husband lost their construction business (approx. $400,000).
• Moved into a high-value house zoned for an inner-city school.
• Their daughter attended, exposing them to stark poverty.
• A birthday party experience highlighted contrasts in wealth and living conditions, deeply impacting them.
• Convicted of being “frauds” for not living out their faith in service.
• Within 24 hours, others confirmed God’s call to begin feeding food-insecure families.
• 2009 launch: started serving 58 families.
• Today: 20,000 people served weekly.

Mission & Ministry

• Grace Klein = “little gift from God”; community = koinonia (deep fellowship).
• Primary work: food support.
• Broader care: Bible studies, diapers, school supplies, Christmas outreach, community gatherings.
• Operates in 32 of 67 Alabama counties; goal: statewide, replicable model.
• Collaborative approach: businesses, churches, nonprofits, schools, municipalities.

Scale & Growth

• Budget in 2010: $14,000.
• Budget in 2025: $34 million (cash + in-kind).
• 1,013 partner organizations (Jan–July 2025).
• ~40 staff, thousands of volunteers (saving ~$3M in wage dollars annually).
• Facilities: 10 locations, 300+ distribution partners, 7 drive-throughs. Food turns over within 24 hours.

Approach

• Collaboration: everyone brings something to the table.
• Recipients are also contributors, reflecting biblical sharing (Acts, Corinthians).
• Theme 2025: “It’s not about us.” Focus on Jesus, love, forgiveness, unity.
• Works to shift Birmingham’s global reputation from hate (civil rights era) to love.

Global Connection

• Partnering with Beats and Books in South Africa.
• Building unity across races and cultures, learning from each other.
• Exchange of teams between South Africa and Alabama.
• Birmingham’s “Stronger Award” extended internationally.

Replication & Education

• Uses Food Rescue US app: mobilizes volunteers for daily food pickup (6 a.m.–11 p.m.).
• Donors protected under the Emerson Act (Good Samaritan law).
• U.S. food waste (40%) can be redirected to food-insecure (1 in 4 Alabamians).
• Teaches others how to replicate the model in their communities.

Impact Story

• Woman from Colombia, initially angry and facing custody issues.
• Grace Klein invested in her spiritually and practically.
• Over five years, she softened, grew in intimacy with Christ, and now impacts her community.

Jenny’s Perspective

• Wrote book: God Chose the Wrong Person.
• Believes God uses the “wrong” people to fulfill His purposes.
• Emphasizes surrender and reliance on Jesus.

Prayer Requests

• For staff and volunteers to remain focused on Jesus.
• To not “grow weary in doing good.”

NEXT WEEK: Jonathon Seidl, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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The grandson of the late Dr. Warren Wiersbe, Dan Jacobsen, talks with Wayne Shepherd about the publication of one of his grandfather's unpublished manuscripts. (Click for more)

Years ago an unpublished Wiersbe manuscript tucked in a dusty manila folder was unearthed by the Jacobsen family. Wiersbe grandson Dan Jacobsen, a young pastor himself, spent two years preserving his grandfather's original writing and completed the work titled, Becoming New, A 100 Day Journey of Transformation Through God's Word. It's a powerful continuation of Warren Wiersbe's legacy.

In this FIRST PERSON interview, Dan mentions a podcast furthering the legacy of Warren Wiersbe-- it can be found at Apple podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/warren-wiersbe-sermons/id494964859. They can also be found on YouTube and Spotify.

And to hear a previous FIRST PERSON interview with Dr. Wiersbe, please click here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/121603/episodes/10962795-warren-wiersbe

NEXT WEEK: Jenny Waltman

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Albert Lea, MN 56007

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Businessman John Wieland, author of Uncommon Threads, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his story of faith and the lessons he's learned about faith, family, and business. (click for more)

You'll find the book Uncommon Threads here.

John Wieland Program Notes:

Background & Business

• CEO of MH Equipment (material handling/forklift company in Illinois).
• President of His First Foundation.
• Took over MH Equipment in 1994 when it was nearly bankrupt; no entrepreneurial or mechanical background.
• Business grew during a strong economy; attributes success to God’s grace, not personal ability.
• Rejects the idea of “self-made men” – too many factors are beyond human control.

Faith Journey

• Grew up in church in Jerseyville, Illinois, but not a believer; thought attending church was “doing God a favor.”
• Encountered Scripture in college (Matthew 7 – narrow vs. wide gate) and realized he was outside God’s kingdom.
• Surrendered to Christ as a sophomore in college, influenced by Navigators ministry (discipleship & scripture memorization).

Family Story

• Married to Julie.
• Together they adopted four children (three daughters, one son).
  
  • Adoptions came through providential circumstances, often through a doctor friend.
• Son Josiah is biracial, blind in one eye, and struggled with asthma as a child. Became a standout athlete in soccer and basketball.
• Lesson: God’s blessings shouldn’t be limited by our fears or expectations.

Abortion Experience

• In high school, got a girl pregnant and encouraged an abortion.
• Years later, reconnected for his book Uncommon Threads.
  • She recalled the trauma vividly: pain, emptiness, regret, counting the lost child as her oldest.
• Wieland was convicted of his selfishness.
• Story included in the book became a powerful pro-life testimony.
• Impact: one reader chose not to abort after reading his story; another reconciled with a former partner after decades.

Parenting Lessons

• Key principle: “Prepare the child for the road, don’t prepare the road for the child.”
• Don’t shield children from hardship; let challenges build character.
• Emphasize character over happiness (happiness = temporary “happenings”).
• When disciplining, do it for the child’s benefit, not as punishment or out of anger.
• His own failures as a youth made him more patient with his kids’ mistakes.

Book: Uncommon Threads

• Divided into themes of family, business, and faith.
• Transparent and vulnerable, sharing both failures and successes.
• Written to encourage reflection, movement, and growth in readers’ spiritual, family, and professional lives.

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Hal Habecker of Finishing Well Ministries, joins Wayne Shepherd to talk about encouraging seniors to actively pursue and fulfill God's calling. (click for more)

Website: https://www.finishingwellministries.org

Interview notes:

Background & Faith Journey

• Born in Hershey, PA, one of six children in a farming family.
• Came to Christ at age 6 in an independent Bible church.
• Early fascination with older people, shaped by the death of his childhood pastor.
• Active Christian leader in youth (campus life, Bible study).
• Studied at Taylor University; initially interested in politics inspired by Mark Hatfield.
• Mission trip to Haiti → encouraged to attend Dallas Theological Seminary.
• Married while in seminary; mentored by Howard Hendricks, who redirected him from politics to pastoral ministry.

Ministry Career

• Ordained at First Baptist Dallas under W.A. Criswell.
• Worked with physicians/dentists, leading to involvement with the Christian Medical Society (served as national director for 15 years).
• Pastored a Dallas church for 21 years.
• Founded Finishing Well Ministries about 10 years ago to encourage seniors to live purposefully for Christ.

Calling & Focus on Aging

• In his 50s became aware of how seniors often feel alienated or insignificant in culture and church.
• Passion to affirm the value of aging people in God’s plan.
• Inspired by Psalm 90:12 (“teach us to number our days”) and Robert Browning’s poem “Grow Old Along with Me.”
• Believes every decade can be the most influential, especially the later years.
• Emphasis: last words are lasting words – the legacy of one’s final years matters deeply.

Key Teachings – Seven Essentials for Living & Finishing Well

1. Never stop growing in knowledge of Christ.
2. Never stop building friendships—combat isolation.
3. Never stop loving others as Christ commands.
4. Never stop pouring into younger generations (multi-generational discipleship).
5. Never stop being available & eager for God’s next assignment.
6. Plan ahead for when you’re gone (legal, family, spiritual legacy).
7. Anticipate eternity with Christ; keep heaven in view.

Books/resources:

• What Does the Bible Teach About Growing Older
• Seven Essentials for Living Well and Finishing Well
• Aging with Purpose

Biblical Examples of Finishing Well (or Not)

• Joseph, Joshua, Daniel – faithful through hardship into old age.
• Hezekiah – strong early life but did not finish well after God extended his years.

Insights for Seniors & Churches

• Boomers = fastest-growing aging population; church must address their value.
• Current church culture often silos age groups, limiting multi-generational life.
• Seniors should dream, envision, and engage rather than assume they’re “done.”
• Legacy begins with personal growth and example, especially to children & grandchildren.
• Psalm 71:17–18 – call to declare God’s power to the next generations.
• Distance from family can be bridged through technology, but the example of life lived for Christ is the greatest gift to pass on.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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Far East Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 6020
Albert Lea, MN 56007

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Pastor and author George Koch joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about his life experiences and his book, Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves. (click for more)

More about George's book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bullies+parasites+and+slaves&crid=3HRAB41FIEJ9R&sprefix=Bullies%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_3_7

Interview Summary:

George Koch’s Background
Career began in tech: co-founded a software company in the early 1980s to manage corporate investment portfolios.
Developed what may have been the first English-language query application on a relational database; early connection with Oracle when it was a small company.
Faith Journey
Childhood: raised in a fundamentalist church, strongly impacted by the song Jesus Loves the Little Children.
Struggled with the church but held onto the truth that Jesus loves everyone.
Civil rights era shaped his views—volunteered in Chicago inner-city project, gained firsthand experience of cultural differences and shared humanity.
Adult years: left faith for a period.
Re-engaged when he and his wife sought a community for raising moral children—had a powerful Holy Spirit encounter in church and became believers.
Later called into full-time ministry (his mother and wife had anticipated this long before).
Ministry & Writing
Books include Healing Prayer, What We Believe and Why, and Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves.
Writing blends theology with practical application.
Latest Book – Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves
Goal: present biblical truth in language accessible to non-believers, atheists, or those of other faiths.
Uses cultural parallels like a missionary learning local language.
Key themes drawn from Jesus’ teaching, especially the Golden Rule and the Good Samaritan.
Message: Replace exploitation with mutual care; treat others as you would want to be treated.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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P.O. Box 6020
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A beloved professor at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Bill Thrasher, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his own faith story and teaching on prayer. (click for more)

For more about prayer: www.VictoriousPraying.com

Interview Notes – Dr. Bill Thrasher

Theme: Spiritual formation, prayer, and the Christian life

Background:

• Dr. Bill Thrasher is a longtime professor at Moody Bible Institute.
• Passionate about prayer and the spiritual disciplines.
• Emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God over mere religious activity.

Key Topics:

1. Spiritual Formation:
   • Formation is more than just head knowledge; it’s about transformation into Christlikeness.
2. Spiritual formation includes both the inward and outward life.
3. Prayer: Prayer is central to Thrasher’s teaching and personal life.
4. Encourages believers to see prayer not as a duty but a delight.
5. Advocates for honest, heart-level conversations with God.
6. The Role of Weakness:
   • Emphasizes that God uses weakness to shape dependence on Him.
7. Weakness is not a disqualifier but a platform for experiencing God’s grace.
8. Practical Advice for Believers:
   • Cultivate a rhythm of prayer and time in the Word.
9. Use journals, prayer lists, and Scripture meditation to stay engaged.
10. Be patient with spiritual growth—it’s a lifelong journey.
11. God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness:
    God's faithfulness is a constant theme.
12. Encourages trust in God even when prayers seem unanswered.
13. Encouragement to Ministry Leaders:
14. Ministry must flow from one’s personal walk with God.
15. Avoid burnout by remaining anchored in prayer and spiritual disciplines.

Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:
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