Candid Conversations

We cannot have a healthy, vibrant relationship with the Lord if we are neglecting the church. It is through the local church that we experience Christ, meet with our heavenly family, and grow in love and faith as we are stretched by one another. That is why, throughout the New Testament, early Christians were exhorted to gather together and that exhortation remains true for today. In this episode of Candid, Jonathan shares four things to look for when you are finding a church home.  If you know someone who is having a hard time knowing if they’ve found the right church, share this episode with them! To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

Ash grew up in a loving Islamic family. He was chosen to be the future leader of his tribe of over 800 family members. He was mentored by his grandfather for years. But everything changed when Ash began to question his faith and his future. Join Jonathan Youssef on a dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity as he welcomes Ash, a former Muslim and one of Leading The Way’s follow up coordinators, to the Candid podcast. In Part 1 of this two-part interview, you will learn why Ash began questioning his faith and how he came to faith in Christ. In Part 2, Ash will recount the danger he faced as he shared his new faith with his family and you will discover how God uses our most difficult circumstances to answer our most fervent prayers. To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

Ash grew up in a loving Islamic family. He was chosen to be the future leader of his tribe of over 800 family members. He was mentored by his grandfather for years. But everything changed when Ash began to question his faith and his future. Join Jonathan Youssef on a dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity as he welcomes Ash, a former Muslim and one of Leading The Way’s follow up coordinators, to the Candid podcast. In Part 1 of this two part interview, you will learn why Ash began questioning his faith and how he came to faith in Christ. In Part 2, Ash will recount the danger he faced as he shared his new faith with his family and you will discover how God uses our most difficult circumstances to answer our most fervent prayers. To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod   [...]

Are you struggling to find direction? Do you have a vision for your life? Do you know how to align your vision with God’s plan? Join Jonathan Youssef and his father, Dr. Michael Youssef, as they discuss the importance of having a God-focused vision for life and provide insight to help you align your vision with God’s plan. To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

Are you looking for a way to study God’s Word consistently? Do you need a new Bible reading plan? Join Jonathan as he shares his favorite plan, as well as the potential pitfalls and rewards of a Bible reading plan by  Robert Murray M’Cheyne: Daily Bread. We pray that this episode encourages you in the general reading of God’s Word and that choosing a reading plan will help you grow in your relationship with Christ. To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

What comes to mind when someone mentions church? For some, it’s a positive thought full of love, warmth, and community. For others, it immediately sparks feelings of judgment and rejection. Through the local church, we should experience Christ, meet our heavenly family, and grow in faith and love as we are stretched by one another, but is this happening?   In this episode, Jonathan Youssef unpacks God’s purpose and design for the church.  He shares why going to a Biblical church can help you build a healthy and vibrant relationship with the Lord. He also provides valuable insight into finding a body of believers rooted in the Word of God.  To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod   [...]

Let’s celebrate the real reason for Christmas and hear how Christ’s saving work continues around the world today.  Join Jonathan for this episode of Candid Conversations as he shares incredible testimonies of lives that have been transformed by the Gospel. A great episode to lift your spirits and remind you of the real joy of the season.  Listen and then share it with a friend!  To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

Christ’s birth is worthy of our time and attention, but it can be difficult to stay centered on Christ with all of the activities designed to celebrate the season.   Join Jonathan this week as he shares seven simple ways to center our hearts and minds on Jesus this season.  Choose one or a few that resonate with you and focus on Christ in this season of celebration of the incarnation of Christ. We also want to share the following helpful seasonal resources with you. We hope they are a blessing to you. Advent Resources from Leading the Way  Enjoy Christmas Worship on Candid with Jonathan Youssef Download Your FREE Verse Memorization Guide To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

How do we truly count our suffering as joy and draw near to God in our trials? Today’s guest, Julie Chapman offers insight into the incredible power of worshiping God in the midst of difficult times.    Julie is a three-time cancer and brain tumor survivor. She’s also the friend you would call if you got bad news or needed your spirits lifted. Her optimism, determination to point others to the light and Truth of Jesus, and unwavering faith will inspire you to dive deeper into your relationship with Christ—especially in difficult times.  To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod [...]

When it comes to ensuring the spiritual well-being of our children, how do we go beyond just “raising them in church”? As the next generation navigates unprecedented issues surrounding gender identity, doubt, and resistance to the Christian faith—it won’t be enough for them to simply have the faith of their parents. How do we equip them to become disciples of Jesus Christ in a hostile world? According to Barna and USA today, nearly 59% of youth leave the church after they graduate, and only17% maintain a Biblical worldview. According to a Lifeway survey, the most common catalysts for leaving the church are moving to college, witnessing hypocrisy within the church, and no longer feeling connected to the body of Christ. This week, Jonathan welcomes Hillary Morgan Ferrer to Candid Conversations. Her passion is to help equip parents to answer the questions their children will inevitably ask and teach them how to “demolish arguments raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5). She is the founder and Mama-Bear-in-Chief of Mama Bear Apologetics, and she has a burden to help provide accessible apologetics resources for busy parents.  Together, Jonathan and Hillary discuss how we can better equip families with resources and critical thinking skills, including her own methodology called “ROAR,” to help recognize unbiblical ideas and develop discernment. Hillary is the chief author and editor of the bestselling book, Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies and Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out [...]