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  • Raising Expectations, September 7, 2026

    Raising Expectations, September 7, 2026
    2026/09/08
    Dr. Gloria Romero “is a historic reformer, education leader and first woman in California history to serve as State Senate Majority leader! She built a reputation as one of the legislatures most effective and independent voices”. Dr. Romero “has spent her career fighting to expand opportunity, improve education and challenge the political status quo when it fails California families. Throughout her public service she has worked to ensure that working families, students and small businesses have a stronger voice in government!” She is a woman of great Faith in God and the call He has given her in the past and now to run for Republican Lt. Governor and bring back reform, accountability and opportunity to California! She is a conservative with a message and we need to know, pray and tell Californians and the nation about her!
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    1 時間 2 分
  • Raising Expectations, September 14, 2026

    Raising Expectations, September 14, 2026
    2026/09/15
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield Championship Comebacks, Coaching Your Own Kids, and Faith That Wins with Stephen Greek Texas high school football coach and author Stephen Greek joins Pastor Joe Schofield and the Raising Expectations team to talk about championship comebacks, coaching his own three sons, and what it truly means to win in faith, marriage, and business. Team Roll Call and the Gospel Message Pastor Joe Schofield opens the Monday broadcast the way he always does, thanking listeners around the world and promising that God has raised their expectations through answered prayer over the past week. He notes a couple of the regular panel are away on business but introduces those present: his wife Melba Schofield, a Southwestern Seminary graduate; Dr. Paul Hall, a retired pastor and theologian calling in from Lompoc, California; and Dr. Craig Thayer, nicknamed Tank, a surgeon, former Olympic water polo coach, and author of Saved, joining late from Dalton, Georgia. Schofield also introduces, without him joining tonight, Ron Greer of McKinney, Texas, a former pastor who once ran for Congress and now counsels men through Man in the Mirror. Before the guest arrives, Schofield restates the ministry's core message, that Jesus Christ died and rose so believers can spend eternity in Heaven, and previews a recent guest he describes as a former lieutenant governor of California running again alongside conservative candidate Steve Hilton, plus an upcoming interview with the state comptroller. Meet Coach Stephen Greek Schofield introduces the night's guest, Stephen Greek, a Texas state champion football coach, athletic director, speaker, and author of the Building of Champions leadership platform found at goscore.life. He describes Greek's philosophy of translating coaching principles into everyday leadership, and introduces his wife Daisy and their three sons, Daniel, Nathan, and Joshua. Greek joins warmly, saying his grandfather pastored a South Texas farming community for more than fifty-five years and used to say he was "in high cotton," surrounded by good people, a line he borrows to thank the panel for having him on. Schofield recalls following Greek's coaching career and his sons for years, describing hallway hugs after church and letters from listeners thanking God for the family. With introductions done, the panel turns to Greek's six state championship appearances and four championship wins, setting up a conversation about faith, leadership, fatherhood, and what it really means to win. Comeback Wins and Championship Nerves Asked what the locker room feels like in the final two minutes of a title game, Greek says three of his four championship wins came from behind on nearly the last play. He recalls a 2009 interception in the end zone to seal his first title, a tight district win the following season, and a 2015 game requiring an eighty-yard drive in under two minutes, after which he had to stop his players from celebrating before the clock hit zero. He also describes trailing forty-one to seventeen in 2017 and telling his team only to give their all, then rallying to win forty-two to forty-one. Greek says the final seconds of a win feel exhilarating as players storm the field, but insists coaching, marriage, and business all run on the same fuel: belief without faith is impossible, he says, tying the phrase directly to the show's title as he tells the panel that "you raise expectations" every time you aim for a goal and keep believing despite setbacks. Faith on the Field, Public and Private Craig Thayer asks how Greek brought Christianity into coaching across more than two decades split between public and private Texas schools. Greek says Christian academies expect open faith, comparing the freedom to a preacher's amen corner, while public schools call for a quieter approach he likens to "black ops," believers letting their light shine covertly. He credits leadership author John Maxwell, whom he met through Zig Ziglar's circle in Plano, with the phrase "earn the right to share your faith," meaning excellence in the work itself opens the door to conversation. Greek also praises first responders and the military, invoking the recent anniversary of September eleventh to describe people who run toward tragedy as evidence of good in the world. He tells the panel that whether in a locker room or a classroom, the goal is the same, to be respectful and strategic until people are ready to hear a message of hope, at which point he says he tries simply to point them toward Jesus. Winning What Matters Most Paul Hall asks Greek what troubles him most about how high achievers define winning. Greek says many leaders he mentors, corporate executives and coaches alike, hit every professional target while their marriages quietly fall apart, their spouses grow lonely, or their children struggle unnoticed. He says he has not always gotten the balance right himself, quoting a Michael W. Smith lyric about...
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    56 分
  • Raising Expectations, September 21, 2026

    Raising Expectations, September 21, 2026
    2026/09/22
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield Prayer Life, Family Time, and Leading Teams That Win with Stephen Greek Texas high school football coach Stephen Greek returns to Raising Expectations for a second week, walking Pastor Joe Schofield, Melva Schofield, and Ron Greer through his daily prayer life, keeping a marriage strong during football season, and what actually makes a team, a family, or a business win. Team Roll Call and Opening Prayer Pastor Joe Schofield opens the Monday broadcast the way he always does, thanking listeners around the world and reminding them that Jesus Christ died and rose so that anyone who confesses their sins and asks him in can know their eternity is settled, with expectations rising as God works in their lives. He moves quickly through his team, greeting Dr. Paul Hall on the West Coast in Lompoc, California, noting that Dr. Craig and Stephanie Thayer are away celebrating an anniversary this week, and welcoming Pastor Ron Greer, calling in from McKinney, Texas, who works with the ministry Men in the Mirror out of Florida. He introduces his wife Melva, seated beside him at the desk. Before bringing the guest on, Schofield points listeners to bbsradio.com/RaisingExpectations for team biographies, donation information, and his own book, Raising Legitimate Faith Producing Authentic Hope, alongside Dr. Craig Thayer's book, Saved, Finding God in the Ordinary, and previews the evening's returning guest, coach Stephen Greek, back for a second week in a row. Introducing Coach Stephen Greek and Family Schofield brings on Stephen Greek, the Texas high school football coach, teacher, and author behind the ministry goscore.life, reminding listeners that Greek's grandfather pastored for Christ and that his parents have spent decades in gospel ministry to the elderly. He shows a family photo, pointing out Greek's wife, Daisy, and their three sons, all of whom played quarterback in high school like their father did growing up near Branson, Missouri. Greek thanks the panel warmly for having him back, joking that he worried Schofield might text to say the invitation had been a mistake, and says he considers it an honor to share again after how much fun the group had the previous week. Schofield explains the plan for the night, handing the first round of questions to his wife Melva, who addressed faith with Greek in the earlier broadcast, before the rest of the team follows up. He again points listeners to the show's website and to Greek's own site, stevengreek.com, for more information. Scripture and a Daily Prayer Rhythm Melva Schofield asks Greek what verses beyond Colossians 3:23, the one she says a pastor once wrote inside her own New Testament at eighteen, have carried him through life. Greek recalls the book Hind's Feet on High Places and a pastor's line that God can never use a man greatly until he hurts him deeply, then turns to Romans 8:28 and its promise that all things work together for good for those who love God. Asked what daily prayer looks like now, he describes early morning walks and workouts with his wife reciting Bible promises aloud, then explains the acronym ACTS, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, quoting Galatians 2:20 about being crucified with Christ during the confession portion. He remembers singing the hymn Count Your Blessings as a boy in his grandfather's church and testifying afterward, and says naming what he is thankful for still redirects his focus away from a heavy heart. Melva says the exchange reflects the blessings and challenges of her own life's stage. Protecting Marriage During Football Season Ron Greer asks how Greek keeps his marriage a priority through a grueling football season, noting how many coaching families he and his wife have mentored through years of near-widowhood during the season. Greek says he watched other coaches' marriages unravel early in his career and resolved to build in intentional time, like driving ten minutes to Braum's for a three-dollar-and-fifteen-cent yogurt cone with his wife the night before the broadcast, and credits his father with the phrase that love is spelled T-I-M-E. He describes protecting Sundays for church and, when the budget allows, family lunch, plus a tradition of homemade pizza and kitchen dance parties to decades of music. At the high school level, Greek says his staff worked no Sundays through four state championships, and recalls an NFL coach who threatened to fire any assistant who missed a child's soccer game for the office. He notes college coaches often build staff Bible studies and chaplain-led devotions instead, since travel schedules there are harder to control. Leading Teams in Business and Sports Ron Greer poses a business scenario, a leader whose talented team will not gel, and asks Greek where to start. Greek says leadership always begins with hearing a person's heartbeat, the John Maxwell-style questions about what makes someone cry, sing, or dream, so a ...
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    55 分
  • Raising Expectations, September 28, 2026

    Raising Expectations, September 28, 2026
    2026/09/29
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield California Primary Sabotage, Party Betrayal, and the Fight for Common Sense with Elizabeth and Ron Ahlers Pastor Joe Schofield welcomes back California legislative candidates Elizabeth and Ron Ahlers, joined by co-hosts Pastor Ron Greer and Dr. Paul Hall, for a frank look at primary election sabotage inside their own Republican Party and what it will take to wake up the church. Team Roll Call and the Gospel Message Pastor Joe Schofield opens the Monday night broadcast the way he always does, thanking listeners and restating that Jesus Christ died on the cross for sins and rose again, so that anyone who trusts him can know their eternity is settled while expectations rise for what God is doing now. He notes that two regulars, referred to as Steph and Tank, are away in Dalton, Georgia celebrating an anniversary, then works his way across the country introducing his team: Dr. Paul Hall, a pastor, counselor, and writer calling in from Lompoc on the West Coast, whom Schofield says has been part of his life for fifty-five years, and Pastor Ron Greer in McKinney, Texas, who works as a counselor with the ministry Men in the Mirror. He introduces his wife Melba, a Southwestern Baptist Seminary graduate who works with children and counseling, and points listeners to bbsradio.com/raisingexpectations for more on the program and the team. Introducing Elizabeth and Ron Ahlers Schofield welcomes back Elizabeth and Ron Ahlers, a Southern California couple he says grew up in the same place he did, describing them as an outstanding couple whose faith, family values, and wisdom have made them game changers for the problems facing the nation, the states, and families today. He explains that many listeners have asked about them since their last appearance and shows family photographs before Elizabeth thanks the panel for having them back, saying that in the family of God people remain together forever rather than being discarded once they are no longer useful. She explains that the California primary took place on June second and that candidates needed to finish in the top two to reach the November ballot, but the couple came in third, so they have spent recent months resting and spending time with family while Elizabeth prepares to explain what happened in the race and how she believes God was at work in exposing the truth. Primary Election Sabotage and Party Betrayal Ron Ahlers explains that two candidates who had only recently switched their registration from Democrat or independent to Republican entered the race, one of whom did not even realize the job required moving to Sacramento and filed his paperwork the day the deadline closed, yet received financial backing from established Republicans opposed to Elizabeth. Elizabeth adds that both parties knew she could win and preferred to hand the seat to the Democratic incumbent rather than let a candidate with her values take it. She describes how their local Republican Central Committee, whose job is recruiting winning candidates, wrote letters protesting the county and state party's interference, which exposed to grassroots Republicans how leadership favored personal power over principle. Ron describes mailers from a group called Reform California, led by an assemblyman named Carl DeMaio, falsely claiming an opposing candidate had won an endorsement Elizabeth had actually won, calling it deceit and lying, while Elizabeth notes the fragile, closely contested state party platform and an internal Log Cabin Republican caucus pushing the party away from its pro-family positions. Common Sense, History, and the Church's Role Pastor Ron Greer presses Elizabeth and Ron on what the party establishment is really trying to prevent and protect, and Elizabeth answers bluntly that personal ambition and power matter more to party leaders than winning elections or defending families. Ron Greer cites his own research that California has roughly eight to nine million evangelical Protestant Christians, among the highest concentrations in the country, and argues there is not a single election at any level Christians could not decide if they simply voted, laying the failure at the feet of pastors who preach that politics will not save the country. Schofield agrees, noting that pastors and pulpits led the American Revolution and the Civil War and asking what changed, while Elizabeth describes her work through Salt and Light Council, a national key-turn ministry founded by Diane Reeves that places biblical citizenship materials in churches, and warns that California's new statewide Islamic holiday curriculum may be the shock that finally wakes congregations up. Paul Hall's Common Sense History Lesson Dr. Paul Hall recalls a July statement from a White House official warning that American institutions have grown too soft to defend themselves, then reminds Elizabeth of her own words from March, that she is running to save California for the children ...
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    56 分
  • Raising Expectations, October 13, 2026

    Raising Expectations, October 13, 2026
    2026/10/14
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield California's Fraud Epidemic, Broken Education Spending, and the Race for State Controller with Herb Morgan Pastor Joe Schofield, with co-hosts Stephanie Thayer and Ron Greer, welcomes Herb Morgan, a finance executive running for California State Controller, for a deep dive into fraud, wasted spending, and broken promises in Sacramento, and what accountability could look like if voters choose him. Opening Prayer and Team Introductions Pastor Joe Schofield opens the Monday broadcast of Raising Expectations by thanking listeners for tuning in and restating that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for sins, so that expectations can rise in daily life. He introduces his team across the country: Dr. Paul Hall in Lompoc, California; his wife Melva, a graduate of Southwestern Seminary; Stephanie and Craig Thayer, newly returned from their anniversary trip in Dalton, Georgia; and Ron Greer in McKinney, Texas. Schofield tells listeners the program has been hearing from people in many states who are watching California's upcoming election closely. He then introduces the evening's guest, Herb Morgan, a candidate for California State Controller, describing him as phenomenal and quoting Morgan's own words that a controller should expect proof, show work, and respect the taxpayers who fund government. Schofield welcomes Morgan with applause and asks him to introduce himself before turning to questions on fraud, unclaimed property, and federal taxes. Herb Morgan's Path to California and Finance Career Herb Morgan tells the story of arriving in California on his first birthday in 1967, when his family drove across the country from the East Coast and stopped for a small birthday party at a rest stop before settling in Orange County. He describes attending public schools when California's system was ranked number one in the country, then graduating from the state's public university system before building a career in finance. Morgan says he founded and grew several companies, eventually selling his last one to a major Wall Street firm and serving nine years as its chief investment officer. He also volunteered twice to chair the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, helping turn around a pension plan that had fallen into financial disarray. On a personal note, Morgan jokes that he has barely seen his wife, Mary, during the campaign as they approach their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Now retired from finance, he says it is his time to give back, asking Californians to put him in as controller. The Scale of California's Budget and Affordability Crisis Morgan lays out the scale of California's government, noting the state has 40 million people and 23 million voters, and that its economy would rank as the world's fourth largest if it were a nation. He says the state budget has nearly doubled in ten years, from about 180 billion to 352 billion dollars, a sum he illustrates by noting that 352 billion seconds would equal more than 11,000 years. Despite that wealth, Morgan says California ranks near the bottom of all states in affordability, citing gasoline near seven dollars a gallon, diesel approaching nine dollars, electricity double the national average, and homeowners' and health insurance costing more than anywhere else. Stephanie Thayer adds that her friends with ranches now have to choose whether they can afford to drive their diesel trucks. Morgan says new homes carry roughly two hundred thousand dollars in litigation, permit, and impact fees, and that the state ranks fiftieth in places to retire, start a career, public safety, and pollution, despite spending more per person than any other state. Fraud, the Homeless-Industrial Complex, and Controller Powers Morgan argues that California's rising spending has not produced results because of widespread fraud, describing research he conducted for gubernatorial running mate Steve Hilton that found 425 billion dollars wasted or lost over five years, based on the state auditor's own agency reports. He points to the homelessness programs as the clearest example, explaining that the state funds nonprofit agencies without requiring fund control or follow-up audits, and notes that the current state controller's own deputy was recorded admitting fraud is widespread and that politicians do not want it found. Morgan explains that the controller's constitutional duties include pre-auditing all state spending, post-auditing programs for performance, managing unclaimed property, and sitting on roughly seventy boards and commissions, including the Franchise Tax Board, the Coastal Commission, CalPERS, and CalSTRS. He contrasts his finance background with that of current controller Malia Cohen, a former mayoral aide and county supervisor whom he calls kind but inexperienced in audit and accounting work needed to protect the treasury from fraud. Education Spending, the Corey Jackson Grants, and Jobless Numbers Morgan turns to ...
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    55 分
  • Raising Expectations, October 6, 2026

    Raising Expectations, October 6, 2026
    2026/10/07
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield Golden Ticket Candidates, California Voter Guides, and Prayer for the State with Janet Price Pastor Joe Schofield, joined by co-hosts Dr. Paul Hall and Melba Schofield, welcomes longtime friend Janet Price of the Golden State Republican Women for a report on her recent travels, the Golden Ticket candidates she is following, and a discussion of how Christians can push past discouragement and take part in elections. Opening Roll Call and Introductions Pastor Joe Schofield opens the Monday broadcast by thanking listeners and reminding them that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for sins, so that expectations can rise as God works in their lives. He explains that team members Dr. Craig Thayer and Stephanie Thayer are back from an anniversary trip too late to join the program, and that Pastor Ron Greer is working in Florida this week, though all three want listeners to know they are glad to be with them. Schofield welcomes Dr. Paul Hall from Lompoc, California, whom he calls a retired pastor and a great man of God, and introduces his wife, Melba Schofield, a graduate of Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. He notes that the three of them attended Hardin-Simmons University together. Then he introduces the evening's guest, Janet Price, a longtime friend from high school and a founder of the Golden State Republican Women, and brings her onto the program to warm applause. Janet Price's Travels from Dallas to California Price describes a whirlwind month that began in September, and she says she unpacked that very morning from her latest trip. She starts with the Republican National Convention in Dallas, which she calls the first midterm convention the party has ever held, and says the press played down its energy even though about 30,000 people filled the city's hotels. Price was a delegate there, and she praises the caliber of candidates and the Christian, patriot conservatives she met. She contrasts that spirit with a planned campaign of discouragement that tells Californians their votes do not count. The women of her Chico club plan to walk like billboards with the message that California should wake up. She also recalls visiting the JFK Museum in Dallas, where two chalk marks in the street show where he was struck, and a moment when Senator Ted Cruz waited to thank her after everyone else had met him. Her short stories, she admits, could go on for a thousand, but she feels blessed to witness this point in history. The Gold Rush Painting and Golden Ticket Candidates Price returns to the painting Joe Schofield asked about, a picture of the Lion of Judah with the California flag beneath its paws, titled She's Mine. She explains that an artist drew it while Henry Fulani spoke at a conference, and that Pastor Grace Fulani gave the original to state Senator Shannon Grove, who keeps it in her Sacramento office and later gave Price a copy. Price connects the image to the book God, Gold, and Glory, which argues that California matters greatly to God and that a new gold rush and revival may be coming. Schofield then describes Golden Ticket month, a focus on candidates running together as a full ticket, and previews upcoming guests: Herb Morgan on the 12th, Denise Gary Pandol, and Dr. Gloria Romero on the 26th. Price praises Romero, a former lieutenant governor, as a professor and a powerful speaker who spoke three times in one day, and she describes Morgan as a funny man from the world of finance who still knows his stuff well. Reaching Discouraged Voters with Trustworthy Guides Paul Hall asks Price how she speaks to people who feel worn out by politics, suspicious of government, and unconvinced that elections are not rigged. Price answers that Christians who actively walk out their faith gain eyes of discernment that help them tell who is authentic, and she says she never gets hopeless because she is filled with purpose. For people without faith, she offers voter guides and tells them about people she knows personally. Hall asks where listeners can find a trustworthy guide, and Price says her former first vice president sent her a Christian voter guide that includes information on judges, which are hard to find. She recalls Martha House, a former CFRW president of California who once held a judges symposium, and mentions an Orange County guide covering judges and propositions. Price also warns that some proposition language has been rewritten to sound deceptive, using voter ID as an example, and she says exposing fraud fuels her fire. Pulpits, Citizenship, and the Call to Stand Up Paul Hall mentions a statement from Willy Rice, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, that pastors should engage in politics because political issues are also theological and moral. Hall recalls the Black Robe Regiment, preachers who pounded the pulpit then took up muskets, and says Christians have moved back into a support position. Price answers that there is no support on the ...
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    53 分
  • Raising Expectations, August 10, 2026

    Raising Expectations, August 10, 2026
    2026/08/11
    Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Melba Schofield, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Dr. Paul Hall, and Ron Greer Limitless Faith: Speaking Grace to the Mountains in Your Life Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman joins Pastor Joe Schofield and the Raising Expectations team for a faith-centered conversation about mustard-seed faith, spiritual mountains, grace as “undeserved divine deliverance,” prayer, repentance, healing after painful choices, hearing God’s voice, practicing His presence, and trusting His limitless power in every circumstance. Friends, We join our wonderful Audience with great anticipation as we welcome Sheila Schuller Coleman back on the show this week! She has Gods call on her life to share deep thought- provoking truths from God’s Word… just like her wonderful father, Dr. Robert Schuller did each week from the pulpit of The “Crystal Cathedral” in Southern California! She worked closely with him and loves people as he always did! We are blessed by her heart, thoughts and life changing insights from God’s Word. Friends, here is a special word from Dr. Sheila just for you and tonight’s “Raising Expectations “show! “If little faith can move mountains, what can limitless faith do?” There is a thought that should make us all stop and think! The power of Faith is beyond words as we experience Gods Love and walk with Him each day! It’s going to be a great , informative and encouraging night together , so tune in watch and listen Guest Spotlight: Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman is introduced as a minister, author, speaker, and daughter of Dr. Robert Schuller. She reflects on her father’s legacy of possibility thinking and mountain-moving faith while sharing how her own faith has deepened over time. The episode centers on a question she says God placed on her heart: “If little faith can move mountains, what can limitless faith do?” Raising Expectations Through Faith and Hope Pastor Joe opens by welcoming listeners, celebrating the program’s new theme song, and reaffirming the show’s Christian foundation. He speaks about salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s plan for each person, and the importance of knowing Christ personally rather than only publicly. He also introduces the panel and explains how listeners can find previous episodes, books, biographies, and program information online. What Can Limitless Faith Do? Sheila explains that people often focus on the size of their problems instead of the power of God. Drawing from Jesus’ teaching about mustard-seed faith, she says the question of limitless faith challenges believers to stop placing limits on God’s deliverance, healing, and power. She connects growing faith with growing hope and says that looking toward God rather than the mountain changes how people understand what is possible. Speaking Grace to the Mountain Sheila connects mustard-seed faith with Zechariah 4 and the declaration, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” She defines grace as “undeserved divine deliverance” and teaches that a mountain may be leveled, removed, transformed, or turned into something beautiful through God’s action. Rather than attacking every obstacle through personal force, she encourages listeners to speak grace both to their circumstances and to themselves. Prayer, Repentance, Children, and Restoration Sheila describes prayer teams conducting strategic prayer walks in Orange County and says they begin with humility and repentance. She and the panel discuss children, abortion, transgender medical services, restoration after painful decisions, and the responsibility of Christians to combine moral conviction with compassion. Stefanie emphasizes that the church should not stop at identifying sin, but should also help people find healing, accountability, forgiveness, and freedom. These sensitive medical, legal, and social claims are presented as statements made by the speakers and were not independently verified in the transcript. Grace After Failure, Shame, and Regret Dr. Paul Hall asks how the church should respond when people are defined by their worst moments, including failure, addiction, divorce, imprisonment, abortion, or regret. Sheila answers that grace is not a one-time experience but an ongoing daily need. She describes deliverance as movement not only from guilt, fear, anxiety, and shame, but also into mercy, joy, restoration, and new life. Hearing God’s Voice and Practicing His Presence Sheila says discerning God’s voice begins with knowing His character and Word. She uses her experience as her father’s ghostwriter to explain how familiarity makes a voice recognizable. She recommends testing impressions against Scripture and God’s nature, seeking confirmation, and cultivating habits such as prayer walks, worship, journaling, memorized Scripture, and writing prayers to God as “Abba.” She also discusses Practicing the Presence of God by Brother ...
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    1 時間 15 分
  • Raising Expectations, August 17, 2026

    Raising Expectations, August 17, 2026
    2026/08/17
    Guest, Teri Werner, COVID Angels, Courage, and Conviction: Finding Faith Through Trauma and Speaking Up in Uncertain Times A Testimony of Isolation and Faith Terry Warner centers the episode on what she calls her “COVID angels,” recounting a severe hospitalization in which she was isolated from her husband and feared she might die. She describes the emotional impact of being alone, the medical staff who cared for her, and multiple encounters she interpreted as signs of God’s presence. Terry says nurses, a pastor who worked as a night nurse, a janitor, medical technicians, and doctors repeatedly encouraged her and told her she would live. Her primary purpose in sharing the story is to comfort families who could not be physically present with loved ones during COVID hospitalizations. Medical Crisis, Prayer, and Meaning Terry describes needing substantial oxygen, having very low blood pressure, developing kidney problems, and experiencing a severe medication reaction. She recounts lying in her hospital room with gospel music playing and praying when doctors said they did not know what else to do. She says she heard what she experienced as the voice of God telling her, “I am the answer,” and that her condition began to improve afterward. Throughout this section, Terry frames her recovery as a spiritual testimony rather than simply a medical story, emphasizing that people may never know all the acts of care, prayer, and compassion that surrounded their loved ones. Shared Memories of the Pandemic Ron Greer, Paul Hall, and Melba Hernandez add their own experiences of COVID and pandemic restrictions. Ron describes anger over hospital visitation rules and recounts trying to advocate for his mother-in-law, who had dementia, while friends watched loved ones die in nursing homes from outside windows. Paul discusses his wife’s prolonged illness and lingering effects, while Melba recalls having a milder case and relying on a “faith over fear” mindset. The discussion repeatedly returns to grief, isolation, unanswered questions, and the belief that God remained present even when families could not be. Trauma, Forgiveness, and Lessons Learned The conversation broadens from personal COVID stories into a discussion of trauma, patterns, forgiveness, and how people process what happened. Terry argues that traumatic experiences can produce long-lasting accommodations and habits that need to be examined rather than simply carried forward. She and the co-hosts discuss learning from the past while attempting to release resentment, become more discerning, and help others recover. The speakers also express strong political opinions about pandemic policy, censorship, government decision-making, and church responses, presenting those views as part of their interpretation of the period. Christian Leadership and Cultural Concerns The latter part of the episode moves heavily into Christian leadership, courage, Islam, national identity, and what the speakers believe churches should do in a changing culture. Ron says the pandemic exposed weakness and complacency in parts of the church and calls Christians to “wake up and strengthen what remains.” Terry and the others argue that believers should be more active in sharing their faith, engaging their communities, and resisting distraction within the church. They also make broad and strongly critical claims about Islam and cultural change, framing the issue as both a political and spiritual concern from their Christian perspective. Courage, Mission, and Moving Forward The program closes with repeated calls for courage, action, discernment, and evangelism. Terry emphasizes keeping “the big thing the big thing,” avoiding internal distractions, and seeing people of other faiths as a mission field rather than merely as political opponents. Ron urges believers to get out of the pews, strengthen their faith, and actively serve their neighbors. Paul adds that Christians should pay attention to actions rather than words and remain alert to what he sees as spiritual and cultural dangers. Pastor Joe closes by thanking Terry and the team, praying for listeners’ safety and faith, and encouraging the audience to move forward together. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases COVID trauma recovery, faith over fear, Christian leadership, pandemic isolation, spiritual resilience, trauma and forgiveness, courage in faith, church leadership, religious freedom, Christian evangelism
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    1 時間 9 分