Walking by Faith in the Chaos of Life | A Conversation with Samantha Barnard

Here are the show notes for this episode:The Church We Dream Of — Episode Show NotesEpisode Title: Walking by Faith in the Chaos of Life | A Conversation with Samantha BarnardEpisode SummaryIn this episode, host Kia Gutiérrez sits down with Samantha Barnard — chaos coordinator, children's ministry leader, wife, mom, and lifelong woman of faith — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it looks like to walk out your faith one step at a time. Sam shares stories from her childhood, her marriage, the losses she's carried, and the moments where God showed up in the most unexpected ways. This is a testimony episode, and it's a good one.Topics CoveredGrowing up Lutheran in a military family and finding her own faith identityWhy she was always drawn to church — even when her parents weren'tMeeting her husband Chris in freshman English class and the long, winding road back to each otherLosing a pregnancy while navigating a complicated family seasonDonating 63% of her liver to her brother — and what faith looked like in that hospital roomHer resistance to structured programs and what "walk by faith" actually means to herWhy community and people's stories are the heart of her faith lifeWhat she'd say to her younger self: "Patience, grasshopper."Key Quotes"God is where we are — whether it's in this book or getting my feet in the grass and just feeling His presence.""If you want to live, then let's go. Let's go live.""I don't need to know this. I just need to be the voice that the Lord needs heard. I just need to be the action He needs executed.""One minute turns into one hour turns into one day turns into a lifetime.""Walk by faith." (tattooed on her foot — she means it)Scripture ReferenceThe story of the widow and the oil jars — 2 Kings 4:1–7. Sam connects this to her own life: showing up with what little you have and watching God overflow it into abundance.Resources MentionedEmotionally Healthy Spirituality (EHS) — a curriculum the church uses; Sam shares her honest take on itAlpha Course — a foundational course she and Chris took together early in their faith journeyLiving Water Church — where Sam and Chris have attended since Easter 2002 (approximately)About SamSamantha Barnard is a wife to Fire Chief Chris Barnard, a mom, and a children's ministry coordinator at her local church. She also coordinates weddings and is deeply invested in building community. Her mother-in-law calls her Saint Sam. Her family just wishes she'd simmer down a little. She won't.ConnectFind The Church We Dream Of on Substack for more episodes and reflections.