Dwelling Conversations

Dr. Ingrid Skop brings over three decades of experience as an OB/GYN, researcher, and medical leader to the conversation on life. Serving as Vice President and Medical Director at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, she has spent her career at the intersection of clinical care, research, and advocacy, equipping the Church with both clarity and conviction on issues surrounding life. In this episode, Dr. Skop helps us navigate what it means to live faithfully in a post-Dobbs America following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As the cultural and legal landscape has shifted, the front lines of the pro-life movement have moved from the national stage into local communities... into neighborhoods, cities, and churches. This conversation presses into a critical question: What is the role of the Church, and what is the responsibility of every Christian, in this moment? With courage, compassion, and medical insight, Dr. Skop challenges us to think beyond abstract conviction and toward embodied action. From supporting women in crisis to cultivating a culture of life within our congregations, she calls believers to a unified, thoughtful, and compassionate response. This episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap, inviting every listener to prayerfully discern their place in the work of standing for life in their own community.

This episode serves as an audio companion to our Richly Dwelling meditation on Genesis 22, a passage where we behold both the costly obedience of Abraham and the faithful provision of the Lord. The music was composed by Callan Brown in 2021, weaving fresh melody around the timeless words written by John Newton in 1775. Callan’s arrangement carries a depth and tenderness that helps us not only think about the text but feel its weight and wonder. I am deeply grateful for Callan, both for his friendship and for the joy of collaborating with him in ministry. His musical instincts consistently serve the Word, and it is a gift to partner together in helping Scripture dwell richly among God’s people. In this episode, Callan’s song gently frames a brief two-minute meditation on Genesis 22, preceding and following the reflection. I hope that the music and meditation together will draw you more deeply into the heart of the Father who provides.

In this episode of Dwelling Conversations, Stephen Crockett tells the story of his family's mission work in one of the most remote parts of the world.  Stephen shares about Bible translation work that is placing God’s Word into the heart language of a community, and how Scripture, once heard and understood, begins to reshape lives, families, and even the trajectory of an entire people. We discuss the slow, patient work of translation, the joy of seeing the gospel take root, and the eternal hope that sustains the long obedience necessary for decades of service. This conversation reminds us that eternity is not abstract theology. It is the driving force behind global mission and the reason we labor until every tribe and tongue encounters the living Word of God.

What does it mean to engage a secular society with the gospel when Western culture insists it has moved beyond Christianity? Dr. Gray Sutanto joins us to explore cultural apologetics, drawing from Romans 1 to show why no one is ever truly neutral toward God. Though we suppress the truth, every human heart remains deeply religious, marked by eternity itself. This episode invites believers to see cultural engagement, and evangelism in particular, not as combat to be feared but as a gracious commission entrusted to every Christian. You can discover Gray's work on The Gospel Coalition website HERE. Have a question or an idea for a conversation? email Mitchell @ [email protected]

In this timely episode of Dwelling Conversations, Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi offers insight into the present suffering and struggle of the Iranian people, while also reflecting on what God may be birthing through the pain... and the vital role the Church and her leaders are called to play in such a time as this. Dr. Fatehi was born in Iran and came to faith as a young man, eventually serving as a pastor and Bible teacher during the turbulent years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As pressure on Christians intensified, especially for those involved in leadership and theological training, he was forced into exile, leaving Iran in the late 1980s. Settling in the United Kingdom, Dr. Fatehi pursued formal theological education, completing advanced studies in New Testament while carrying with him a deep pastoral burden for the church he had left behind. Exile, for him, was not an escape from ministry but a re-location of it. From outside Iran, Dr. Fatehi discerned a calling to serve the growing underground church in Iran through deeply rooted theological formation. PARS Theological Centre was launched in 2010 to train pastors and church leaders inside Iran and throughout the global diaspora. Through distance learning, mentorship, and contextual theological education, PARS has become a lifeline for house church leaders in Iran and the Iranian diaspora who shepherd and serve under constant pressure. Dr. Fatehi’s story is one of calling birthed from suffering, exiled turned vocation, a life shaped by loss of homeland, yet marked by faithfulness to Christ’s church. His work reflects a conviction forged through suffering: that when the church is persecuted, it does not merely need courage, but clarity; not just zeal, but deep theology capable of sustaining hope, endurance, and love in the face of fear.   For more on PARS Theological Center: https://parstheology.org/   Thank you, Callan Brown, for the theme song for this episode: Only For A Time https://doorofhopepdx.org/media/6m2b4jq/only-for-a-time-callan-brown-8-10-25   Questions for Mitchell or an idea for a story to share on Dwelling Conversations? [email protected]   More Episodes of Dwelling Conversations: https://www.richlydwelling.com/weekslinks

In this episode of Dwelling Conversations we enjoy a message by Dawson Trotman, originally delivered in 1955, that has recently refreshed my own heart and ministry.  Born to Reproduce is a classic message telling the story of Trotman's burden to make disciples that gave birth to The Navigators movement.  This episode is not about doing more for God, adding another agenda item to your Christian "to do" list. More than a strategic initiative, this is a substantive and passionate call to return to Jesus and recover a basic vision for what it means to follow Him.   "Where is your man? Where is your woman? Who are you walking with toward maturity in Christ?" As Trotman reminded us, disciple making is not about what we know but Who we know, and how deeply we enjoy Jesus and long for others to know Him, enjoy Him, and follow Him, too.   Story to share or questions to ask? Contact Mitchell: [email protected] PDF of Trotman's talk: https://www.navigators.org/resource/born-to-reproduce/   “Soulwinners are not soulwinners because of what they know, but because of the Person they know, how well they know Him, and how much they long for others to know Him.” Dawson Trotman

What happens when the eternal Christ breaks through religious control and reveals Himself through His Word? In this episode of Dwelling Conversations, we hear the remarkable and costly story of a man who grew up as a fourth-generation Jehovah’s Witness... and lost nearly everything when he encountered the true Jesus of Scripture. When Tyrin Kuhl met Christ he was born again, his worldview was overturned, and his life was forever redirected. The cost was severe, but as you will hear, Jesus was worth it. Jehovah’s Witness teaching denies the full deity of Christ and replaces the gospel of grace with a system of control. But Tyrin’s story reminds us that no institution, ideology, or deception can withstand the living Word of God. Through faithful witness, Scripture, and the quiet but relentless pursuit of the Holy Spirit, eternity invaded Tyrin’s life... and everything changed. In this conversation, we explore: Tyrin’s conversion and encounter with the living Christ The man God used to speak truth into Tyrin's life How Scripture exposed deception and awakened true hope The cost of following Jesus when it means losing everything And his ongoing burden to love his family who has cut him off This episode is a powerful testimony of grace, truth, and the unstoppable work of God. If you’ve ever wondered whether the gospel is strong enough to break through religious systems, fear, loss- or wondered if the gospel is worth the cost- this conversation will encourage your faith and direct you to the eternal Christ who saves.   Do you have a story to share and question to ask? email Mitchell at [email protected] Want to contact Tyrin? email him at [email protected]  

What we believe about eternity profoundly shapes how we understand Christian discipleship, leadership, the authority of Scripture, the character of God, and our participation in God’s work of redemptive restoration. In this brief episode of Dwelling Conversations, we thoughtfully engage Kirk Cameron’s recent public shift toward annihilationism in his understanding of hell, and contrast it with the biblical and historic orthodox Christian doctrine. We examine Scripture’s revelation of eternity and consider its practical implications for Christian discipleship and leadership, asking how an eternal perspective reshapes the way we live, lead, and proclaim the gospel. This conversation is not about winning arguments, but about submitting to the authority of Scripture and recovering the essential importance of seeing the world through the lens of eternity. Questions or a story to share? Email Mitchell at [email protected]

Trevor Bird and his wife Catie own and operate the Harley-Davidson dealership in Durango, Colorado. Their Harley Davidson dealership is a place known not only for motorcycles and mountain-road adventure, but for a culture shaped by the kind of freedom that only the gospel provides. Trevor’s faith in Jesus is central to who he is, an identity that has reshaped every aspect of his life and leadership. His journey includes the honest and transformative path of recovery and the hope of  Jesus reframing everything for him. In this episode, we explore how motorcycles themselves, symbols of adventure, freedom, and dreams, have become a platform to love and a doorway for conversations about purpose, meaning, and what we’re ultimately made for. Trevor shares how eternity shapes his daily steps as he leads his team, loves his community, and invests as a husband and father for a legacy that will outlast his life. Durango Harley-Davidson: https://www.durangoharley.com/ To connect with a local AA group: https://www.aa.org/find-aa To share a story or ask questions about stories you have heard, you can reach Mitchell:  [email protected]  

In this powerful interview, Renelle Stewart shares her remarkable journey of awakening to the words of Jesus: “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). For years she lived dancing with darkness, disordered and directionless in her life... feeling out of place, chasing the next high, and searching for God in all the wrong places. It wasn’t until she was born again that everything finally came into focus: she wasn’t made for the world that was shaping her. She was made for relationship with Jesus. Renelle recounts how the Lord removed lifelong burdens of depression, anger, sexual brokenness, identity confusion, and the pressure to perform and replaced them with clarity, peace, and a renewed mind.  With conviction and compassion, Renelle exposes the deceptive spiritualities that once entangled her, specifically the New Age movement, ayahuasca ceremonies, shamanic practices, and “serpent medicine” that promises enlightenment but delivers bondage. She also speaks with honesty about the confusion surrounding sexuality, broken family patterns, and the lies of cultural ideologies that distort God’s design. Through every chapter of her story, Renelle points to the One who healed her, opened her eyes, and set her free. Her burning desire is simple and urgent: to proclaim the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ, the only Savior who breaks chains, forgives sin, and calls His people out of this world and into His unshakable Kingdom. Do you have a story to tell or questions to ask? Email Mitchell : [email protected] The book mentioned in this episode: Openness Unhindered, Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Butterfield (Found HERE on Amazon). The "Through the Bible" website mentioned by Mitchell is RichlyDwelling.com 

In this episode, we explore how the eternal realities of God and His Word restore a deep sense of awe in the hearts of believers. An audio version of the Richly Dwelling blog, this meditation weaves together research insights from the John Templeton Foundation study on the “science of awe” with the far greater, soul-stirring awe that comes from encountering the living God. The conversation is sparked by a breathtaking moment: witnessing the northern lights from our property, The Dwelling, in southwest Colorado (pictured on the RichlyDwelling blog). That display of majesty becomes a window into the greater glory revealed in Scripture, specifically John’s vision of the resurrected and ascended Christ while exiled on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:4–8). As we reflect on God’s majesty in creation and His glory revealed in His word and redemptive works, we consider how awe transforms our Christian life and leadership by producing humility, deepening worship, expanding generosity, and reminding us that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. Join us as we celebrate the awe-inspiring God who renews His people through His grace, His Word, and His presence.

Kujtim Haxihia and his wife, Marjana, serve with CRU in Albania, a country once known as the world’s first officially atheist state. Kujtim’s story offers a remarkable window into how God’s eternal grace is transforming hearts across the globe. From spiritual darkness to the light of Jesus Christ, Kujtim's story reveals the quiet but powerful ways God is drawing people to Himself in places once closed to the gospel. Join us as we glimpse the movement of God in Albania and hear how the Lord continues to awaken faith where it was once forbidden.   To learn more about their ministry (and to partner with them in prayer or financial support): https://sites.google.com/ijr.al/kujtim-marjana-haxhia?usp=sharing   Do you have a question or story to share? Contact Mitchell: [email protected]  

Today’s Dwelling Conversation opens a sobering yet hope-filled window into eternity, a reality we seldom reflect on: hell. In this episode, Raquel Gage shares her extraordinary story of dying, experiencing the horror of separation from God, and being brought back to life with a message that confronts the deepest hunger of the human heart. Together, we explore the uncomfortable truth that we all try to fill the void in our souls, sometimes through religion, sometimes through rebellion, yet only relationship with Jesus Christ, the living and eternal God, can truly satisfy. As you listen, consider: Where do you seek satisfaction apart from Jesus Christ? Do you understand the gospel in a way that bears genuine fruit? If you know Jesus personally, what does it mean to truly enjoy Him, to seek His face and find contentment in His presence alone? This conversation invites you to take an honest look at your heart and to rediscover the only One who can fill it forever. Questions for Raquel: [email protected] Questions about being a new creation in Christ, CLICK HERE. Questions about being a child of God, CLICK HERE.   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this podcast. Please reach out with questions, a story to tell, or an idea for an episode: [email protected]

Tony is a director with Campus Outreach, pioneer of Funding Tribe, author, speaker husband, father, and friend. You can learn more about Tony and contact him here: https://www.fundingtribe.org/founder