Welcome to another conversation where we step away from the noise to focus on genuine storytelling and authentic connection.

Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Virginia Heslinga, a writer whose worldview has been profoundly shaped by life far beyond the margins of a typical writing desk. From teaching in remote corners of China to navigating deep personal resilience in her memoirs and historical fiction—including Grace Interlaced and Wounded Dove—Virginia brings a rare, hard-earned depth to her work.

She is also a creator who deliberately pushes back against the tide of modern digital media. In an era where so many are driven by algorithmic approval, unfair gatekeepers, and the constant push for monetization, Virginia has purposefully carved out a quiet, sunlit space on Substack.

She writes not to build an empire, but to prioritize what actually matters: cross-cultural empathy, thoughtful reflection, and the simple joy of sharing life alongside others.

Let’s dive right into her journey.

Byron: Take us back to the moment you decided to start this publication. What specific conviction or quiet nudge made you finally say, "I need to write about this"?

Virginia: Since I love reading stories and reflections on life, as I moved more into part-time teaching, I looked for a group to join that would offer me a spot to be a reader and contributor of stories and reflections. During COVID, I noted and read many posts on Medium. I posted there, but over time learned about Substack and saw some differences in approaches and expectations. I appreciated that Substack bypassed traditional ad-driven and algorithm-dominated media, so I switched from Medium to Substack in November 2024.

The nudge to move to Substack included still wanting a place to learn and enjoy the writing of others while disciplining myself to post at least once a month. I maintain a goal better when it involves a set period of time and sharing with others. Substack also gives writers their own subscriber email lists that can be exported and allows for contact with followers. I also like that Substack posts go to the subscriber’s inbox. Medium had too many shifts in algorithms, like unfair gatekeepers. Substack seemed more open to meet needs of writers and subscribers.

It seems like I am one of few who do not seek paying subscribers, and I know that this is changing too. Substack wants writers to have subscribers in their strict paid-tier minimums. However with posts and notes people can still discover new writers. I check out the writers recommended by people I read regularly and expect to stay on Substack to share broadly until it absolutely requires all participants to be or have paying subscribers.

Byron: Every writer has a different ecosystem for their creative genius. What does your actual writing environment look like?

Virginia: My writing environment used to be a dining room. It has 3 big windows, so I have views of the outdoors and usually lots of sunlight. We have a kitchen table and chairs and a back porch table and chairs, so I took over the dining room to be an office, library, sitting and exercise room. It’s crowded with books, memorabilia, technology tools, a couple of chairs and small sofa, but the space, daytime light, nighttime quiet make this space one I am glad to enter and stay in for hours. Because my days are full of many different activities, I am glad to go into my work environment any time I have time to write.

Byron: What quiet hobby, habit, or passion do you have outside of writing that surprisingly influences how you view the world and construct your sentences?

Virginia: Living and teaching in other countries, especially in remote areas where most tourists do not visit has taught me a lot and changed my daily and long-term outlooks on needs, events, and people. Communication and everyday encounters with cultural differences bring insight and value to a person’s own culture.

I think the change in views on needs started as anyone can see in my first memoir, Grace Interlaced, when a nighttime fire took everything but the clothes on our backs, including my youngest brother’s life.

In writing a historical novel, all true but with some names and timeline changes, Wounded Dove, the main character, a Danish immigrant in Worcester, MA contracted polio at an early age and had to overcome negativity and prejudice from family members, schoolmates, and employers. When she thought she found love, a shocking betrayal occurred. Learning about people who cope with daily difficulties does change a person’s outlook.

My latest project, a five-book series based on my non-consecutive years of teaching in China, 2004 through 2017, changed my life from personal relationships to faith to appreciating differences.

The first year I was a team member and did not know much about the other people on my team until we were in China. The following years I was a team leader so had the experience of preparing for the work and in teambuilding before we left the USA.

China under Hu Jintao (2003-2013) was very different than it is under the current president, Xi Jinping, but people from the most remote areas to the largest cities share a desire to learn, hospitality, hopes and goals.

Byron: If a new reader landed on your page today and only had time to read one piece from your archive to truly understand your heart and your message, which post would you point them to and why?

Virginia: If a new reader landed on my Substack page today and could just read one piece to understand my heart and message, I’d point them to “Very superstitious writings on the wall.”

This was published March 13, 2026. Here are the first few sentences. “I’ve enjoyed Stevie Wonder songs since the 70s. Even when I didn’t agree with all the lyrics, they’d stick in my mind with his tunes. Superstitions are like that, too, aren’t they? In his song, Superstitions, Stevie also wrote, “When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer.”

Virginia, thank you so much for taking the time to share your heart and your story with us today. Your journey—from that sunlit, book-filled dining room to the remote classrooms of China—is a powerful reminder of how much our worldview expands when we intentionally step outside our comfort zones and engage with different cultures.

In a digital landscape that constantly pressures creators to monetize, optimize, and build massive platforms, your quiet commitment to genuine, relational storytelling is exactly the kind of refreshing authenticity we need more of. You are a testament to the fact that writing doesn’t have to be an industry; it can simply be a shared space for empathy and connection.

For everyone reading, I highly encourage you to seek out Virginia’s work on Substack and experience her unique perspective for yourself. A perfect place to start is her piece, “Very superstitious writings on the wall.”

Virginia, thank you again for your wisdom, your resilience, and for simply walking alongside us today.

If you would like to be highlighted on The Equipping Station, send me a message here on Substack, and we’ll connect.

If you have a moment, check out my books at BysBooks.com.

People ask me who creates the video for my piano/music. Our friend and fellow board member of our ministry Erin Cockroft. People have said often, how connected in the Spirit the video and piano are. It's a God thing for sure!

This is 48 minutes for you to enjoy. If you know someone who needs this, pass it along.

The Quiet ReSonance (One): Piano Only

​Channel: ReSonance

​Duration: ~48 minutes

​Description:

A peaceful, 48-minute ambient music session featuring gentle, solo piano melodies paired with slow-motion nature scenes. The visual backdrop transitions smoothly between calming scenery—such as sunlit grassy fields [00:01], a beachside hammock [03:04], flowing waves, seaside sunsets [17:32], a burning candle [34:04], and sunlight filtering through forest canopies [46:19].

I am so glad you’ve joined me today, because I get to introduce you to a truly beautiful soul and a vital voice in our growing neighborhood - Natalie Winters of Radiant War Flower.

Whenever we talk about the importance of building deep, relational connections instead of shouting at the masses, people like Natalie immediately come to mind.

She is a mother, an artist, and a fellow traveler who has navigated some incredibly tough wilderness seasons, only to discover that creativity, honesty, and a profound reliance on God’s love can build bridges where ordinary words often fail.

In our conversation below, we explore the courage it takes to finally un-stifle your voice, the healing power of authentic engagement, and why she believes we are stepping into a hopeful new era where every single person holds an essential piece of the puzzle.

I walked away from this chat feeling deeply encouraged, and I know her story will feel like a breath of fresh air for anyone who has ever longed for a safe place to simply be themselves. Let’s dive right into it.

Byron: Welcome, Natalie. Take us back to the moment you decided to start this publication. What specific conviction or quiet nudge made you finally say, “I need to write about this”?

Natalie: I don’t quite remember what led me to Substack at first, but I do remember the awe of stumbling onto what felt like social media for writers. I’ve felt a passion in my heart for over a decade to get my words out, but I couldn’t quite make out what specifically my message was. I have a lot to say, especially since my voice has been stifled most of my life.

I am a 47-year-old single mom of 4 beautiful children with neurodivergent and mental health challenges. Last year, I learned that I'm on the spectrum. I have struggled with mental health challenges most of my life. I’ve had a tough life. I’ve always used art as a means to express myself. For me, painting, poetry, photography, music, or dance speak when simple expression fails to communicate. It’s the language of the heart.

That’s what God is like. He speaks to our hearts, not our minds. He is perfect love. I can express myself creatively, more real and unmasked than ever before. It’s refreshing. My hope is to appeal to others like myself who have been through or are going through the same struggles and let them know they’re not alone.

Byron: Substack is unique because it’s less about shouting at the masses and more about building a deep, relational neighborhood. How do you intentionally cultivate connection with your readers rather than just trying to build a massive platform?

Natalie: I’ve only just begun to write on this platform; however, I am used to really engaging on other platforms. I’ve been a part of other small online communities. The key to me is engagement. I’ve seen it modeled, and I’ve modeled it too. Kindness and encouragement are the hallmarks of good communication.

When someone leaves a comment, it’s important to respond, not just like the comment. Engage in a conversation and ask questions as well. Everyone’s perspective is important, and everyone brings a piece of the puzzle. We all see in part, right?

I learned through some really difficult situations that quality is definitely better than quantity. I’ve never been the popular girl, but I have been bold enough to ask the tough questions. I keep my circle of friends small, and I stay true to who I am. I believe honesty and open-mindedness are a rare commodity. They are values I choose to live by. I may not always get it right, but I allow God to search my heart and correct me when I’m wrong. When conviction comes, it’s like a soothing balm, and I am taken to a whole new trajectory of loving people well.

Byron: When you look at the landscape of independent writing right now, what encourages you the most about the era we are stepping into as creators?

Natalie: Authenticity. This one word sums up what I feel most people are craving. I know that is what has driven me my entire life, although I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I’ve come to realize I want what most people want: honest conversations, encouragement, and support. In this new era, we all have a piece of the puzzle, everyone gets to play, and every voice matters.

I’ve always been a very passionate person. I didn’t always manage my emotions well, and it definitely wasn’t modeled for me. It’s been a long road, journeying through difficult wellness avenues and some lonely wilderness experiences to finally find solid footing. Music has been a lifeline, painting has been therapy, and dance has been not only healing but a way to share with the world without words what the Lord has done to set me free.

Art eludes time, language, and culture. It makes a way and builds bridges beyond what we can think or even imagine. We were created in God’s image, so I believe we are all creatives in our own ways. You don’t have to be a painter to be a creative. Even the flowers are intricate math representations seamlessly flowing.

When I look to the future and what God’s up to, I hear the signs of hope everywhere. I see the dawn of a new day rising. There’s so much untapped potential waiting to be explored. Maybe you were born for such a time as this. What are you waiting for?

Thanks, Natalie, for taking the time to respond and be here with us on Substack!

I don’t know about you, but Natalie’s perspective leaves me with such a profound sense of hope for this new era we are stepping into.

Her reminder that art builds bridges and that authenticity is what we are all truly craving feels incredibly grounding.

It’s exactly why we gather here in this space—not just to broadcast our ideas, but to walk alongside one another, share our unique pieces of the puzzle, and learn to love people well.

I would love to hear what resonated most with you from our conversation today. Have you been feeling your own quiet nudge to share your voice or lean into your creativity?

Drop a comment below, and let’s keep this honest, encouraging conversation going —just like Natalie does best.

If you would like to be highlighted on The Equipping Station, send me a message here on Substack, and we’ll connect.

Stop by Natalie’s page and see if you connect, too.

One of the best ways to grow is to listen to the people who are out there doing the work, which is why I’m thrilled to introduce a new interview series to The Equipping Station.

I’m sitting down with fellow Substackers to get behind the scenes of their creative process and discover how they are investing in their readers. This isn't about chasing algorithms; it’s about sharing the wisdom, the struggles, and the quiet victories of authentic communication.

I’m starting these conversations because I believe we equip each other best when we share our stories honestly. Today, I’m excited to welcome Miguel Zayas to share what he is cultivating in his own corner of the internet.

Discover how navigating profound endings and preaching what might have been his final sermon taught Miguel to stop chasing a platform and start building a deeply authentic neighborhood from inside life's unanswered questions.

Byron: Welcome, Miguel. Thanks for taking the time to be on The Equipping Station. Would you take us back to the moment you decided to start this publication? What specific conviction or quiet nudge made you finally say, “I need to write about this”?

Miguel: I had already been working on a manuscript about endings and transitions, and as I began trying to find an agent, one of the things I heard, in essence, was that I was not really a known figure. That was fair. I had spent most of my life leading, pastoring, speaking, and working with people, but I had not spent much time building a public writing voice or audience.

That became part of the reason I started the Substack. I wanted to become a better writer, but I also wanted to begin introducing some of the ideas behind the manuscript in ways that were connected to the book without simply repeating it. The book has its own structure and purpose, while Substack gives me room to explore some of the same themes through personal stories, leadership experiences, questions I am still working through, and things I am noticing in real time.

I think the real shift came when I stopped thinking only about getting a book published and started thinking more about becoming a writer. I needed a place to practice, find my voice, and see whether some of the things I have lived through and wrestled with might connect with other people too.

Byron: Substack is unique because it’s less about shouting at the masses and more about building a deep, relational neighborhood. How do you intentionally cultivate connection with your readers rather than just trying to build a massive platform?

Miguel: I am still learning this, so I do not want to make it sound like I have some big strategy figured out. What I do know is that I do not want to write at people. Most of what I write begins with something I have actually lived, a church closing, sitting in a hospital room and not knowing what to say, a leadership mistake, a conversation with a friend, or a moment that catches me off guard and makes me stop and think.

From there, I try to ask what might be in that experience that someone else recognizes in their own life. I think what I want most is for someone to read something and think, I have felt that too. I just did not know how to put words around it. That is probably why I resist wrapping everything up too neatly. Life is not that neat, and faith is not always that neat either. Sometimes there is an answer, and sometimes there is simply a question you learn to live with for a while.

For me, connection happens when people feel like they are part of the reflection, not just receiving my conclusions. I want the writing to feel more like sitting across the table from someone and talking honestly than standing in front of a room giving a talk.

Byron: If a new reader landed on your page today and only had time to read one piece from your archive to truly understand your heart and your message, which post would you point them to and why?

Miguel: I would probably send them to “What If That Was My Last Sermon?” In December 2022, I preached the final sermon at a church I had pastored for five and a half years. I knew the church was closing, but what I did not know was whether I might also be preaching my last sermon as the pastor of a local church.

It has been almost four years, and I still do not know. I am still in Christian ministry, and I get to speak, teach, travel, and serve people in ways I genuinely enjoy. At the same time, there is something about the rhythm of local church life and people calling you their pastor that is hard to explain if you have lived in it for a long time.

That article probably sounds most like what I am trying to do with my writing because I am not writing from a place where everything has been resolved. I am writing from inside some of the questions, and I think that is where a lot of us actually live. We know some things, we trust some things, and there are still parts of our story that remain unfinished.

Miguel A. Zayas Jr.

What If That Was My Last Sermon?

Photo by Matt Ridley on Unsplash…

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2 months ago · 5 likes · Miguel A. Zayas Jr.

Byron: When you look at the landscape of independent writing right now, what encourages you the most about the era we are stepping into as creators?

Miguel: I like that we can simply write and find out if people want to read it. For a long time it felt like there were so many gates between having something to say and finding people who might want to hear it. You needed a publisher, a platform, a large following, or someone to decide your voice was worth putting in front of people. Some of those things still matter, but they are no longer the only way to begin.

I also like that there seems to be room again for longer thoughts. So much of what we consume now is quick: a clip, a headline, a reaction, a few seconds of someone talking before we move on to the next thing. I think a lot of us are tired of that and are looking for places where we can sit with an idea for a few minutes, think about it, and maybe even return to it later.

I really do not know where all of this leads for me. I have a book I hope to publish, and I would love for writing to open doors for conversations around leadership, faith, endings, curiosity, and some of the things I have spent years living through. For now, I am enjoying becoming a better writer, learning my own voice, and discovering that there are people who want to think about some of these things with me. That feels like enough reason to keep going.

Byron: Thanks again, Miguel, for taking the time to dig deeper and go further with your writing and expressing your heartbeat for the Father.

Miguel’s journey is a beautiful reminder that we don’t need to have everything neatly wrapped up to step out and share our stories. Sometimes, just being honest about the questions is exactly what someone else needs to hear.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments: what is one transition or unanswered question you are learning to live with right now?

Stop by Miguel’s Substack page and discover more of his writing, stories, and heart!

If you would like to be highlighted on The Equipping Station, send me a message here on Substack, and we’ll connect.

The Art of Walking Alongside: A Discipleship Guide for the New Era. Formulas don’t change lives. Relationships do.

Pick Up Your Copy

Scripture is clear and gives us the knowledge we need in Ecclesiastes 1:9: "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is  nothing  new  under the  sun."

From time past, we have heard similar words.

Luke 21:25–26

²⁵ “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶ people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

From the beginning, violence and corruption have been with us. Truly, nothing is new under the sun.

Genesis 6:11–13

¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹² And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. ¹³ And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Why, then, do we turn ourselves so intently toward fear? Why isn’t our faith challenged in these times to realize that God will work mightily in these times? I believe R.T. Kendall’s insight may help us.

J. John asked R.T. Kendall, “What would you say to the young R.T. Kendall?” Here’s the short response: https://fb.watch/v/7DwImi4MX/ (2 Minutes).

If you don’t have time to watch now, Mr. Kendall says he would have skipped seminary and spent more time in the Bible and in prayer.

This is my thought: isn’t it truly amazing that, with 5 minutes a day, the Father does so much with our prayers? What would happen if it went to 6 minutes per day?

What, Prayer Ministry?

Not long after meeting Crystal, I decided to leave the church where I was youth pastor and apply for a staff position with CRU (then Campus Crusade for Christ). After a long series of interviews, they finally accepted me and assigned me to a ministry. Believing I would be joining the High School ministry, I went confidently to my mailbox to check my ‘calling.’

There, by confirmation, was my assignment: You are assigned to Vonette Bright and the Prayer Ministry.

“WHAT! No way. Prayer ministry?” I proclaimed outloud. I immediately became downtrodden. Thinking to myself, what have I done? I left a perfectly good position with a growing youth ministry to join CRU's prayer ministry?

I never finished raising my support for that CRU position. Several years later, after we married, we returned to staff with their music ministry. I never saw the purpose in applying my life to a prayer ministry, yet everything God-centered in my life has been because of prayer.

The Deterrent

Why do we see prayer as a deterrent in our daily schedule rather than the beginning?

I believe it is because we truly don’t know how to pray, and we don’t spend the needed time to develop a prayer life that is inspirational. We have based our prayer life on two or three individuals who have made prayer a labor-intensive discipline. Woe is me!

Answering the Deterrent

In reality, there are many ways to apply prayer in our lives.

Let’s look at Lectio Divina. Here’s what Google’s definition suggests:

Lectio Divina is a Latin phrase that means “divine reading” or “sacred reading,” referring to an ancient Christian practice of slow, prayerful scripture reading aimed at communion with God rather than academic study.

Most users agree that it is a personal dialogue with God through the Bible, shifting the focus from gathering theological information to being transformed by the living word.

Google Link: https://share.google/aimode/Ub1jMIQRJGj2AD3YL

I add that Lectio Divina is meant to be a stepping stone into prayer. It's a way to connect with the Father through the Word and prayer.

What about meditation? Lectio Divina is also considered a form of meditation. But how is meditation prayer? With meditation, we turn our hearts toward the divine, cultivating inward stillness. From these moments of meditation on God, I often find myself expressing prayers outwardly.

In Closing

However you choose to enter prayer, remember that it comes from the core of our being, the heart of the matter, the truth of our spirit, that the Father hears and responds.

I assume that is why 5 minutes a day with pastors makes a difference to those they lead. I ask again, what would one more minute of prayer do to our world?

What is on your heart today? Make that a prayer.

If you’re looking for a way to encourage your community into a season of prayer and open the door to focused prayer, check out A Royal Invitation: 40 Days of Prayer.

Hello everyone, and welcome.

Before we jump into today’s conversation, I want to share a quick thought on why I chose to build this community on Substack. Honestly, I didn’t want anything to do with the platform initially. It wasn’t until the Father spoke to me about why I should be here that my perspective changed. It is amazing to see how many incredible creatives are on this platform, and I realized this is exactly where this community is meant to be.

Today, I have the privilege of speaking with one of those amazing creatives: Christina Kopaczewski, the voice behind Poured in Purpose. We first met in the Phoenix area in the early 2000s, and it’s a special moment to reconnect and hear her story.

Here are three key moments from our conversation:

Byron: Can you tell me a little bit about Poured in Purpose?

Christina: Poured in Purpose came out of what I’ve walked through in my life, particularly my 33-year marriage. I’m in a place where I want to empower women going through the same thing, or even different life transitions like career changes or empty nesting. We’re all in this together. My mission is to empower women in their transitions of life to reclaim self-worth, rediscover identity, and redefine destiny. And we do that one woman, one mug, one sip at a time. It’s not really about the coffee, but coffee is what brings us together and grounds us in our experience. There is always a seat for you at my table.

Byron: What is the transformative aspect of Poured in Purpose—what is the ultimate goal when you sit down and connect with these women?

Christina: When I walked through this journey of divorce after a 33-year marriage to a pastor, it was treated like a hot potato in the church. People close to me in leadership roles were hands-off and didn’t know what to do. My role in Poured in Purpose is to walk beside a woman making this decision and give her the encouragement that she is not disqualified. She is called in and through this situation, and God is going to use it for His kingdom purposes. It’s the beginning of a new chapter. I didn’t have handles to walk through the hardest moment of my life, and the church wasn’t offering them to me. I want to empower women to embrace that this season, and their divorce, does not define them.

Byron: I always like to ask: who is Christina? What are the words that define you?

Christina: There are three words that define me: centered, optimistic, and resilient. I’m centered in Christ. I’m optimistic because my life is always getting better—my cup is always getting fuller, never less full. And I’m resilient because God always allows fresh starts, turnarounds, and repentance. I am so blessed; I wasn’t even supposed to survive a severe car accident I was in at 17 where I coded blue three times on the way to the hospital. But God is a gracious Father, and He always allows fresh starts.

Thank you so much, Christina, for joining me and sharing such a powerful, resilient story. I highly encourage everyone to head over to Poured in Purpose and check out her page. It’s all about finding who we connect with.

This platform really is full of incredible, hidden creatives, and I’m already looking forward to introducing you to another amazing Substacker next week. Thanks for joining us today. Share this if it encouraged you, and we’ll see you soon!

Next Sunday’s Post,we venture into Miguel’s world. Highlighting a new Substacker with some heartfelt discoveries.

If you would like to be highlighted on The Equipping Station, send me a message here on Substack, and we’ll connect.

For months, I fought the idea of Substack. When I felt the Lord prompting me to focus my efforts here, I immediately felt reluctant: Really? Another social media platform? I didn’t understand how it worked, and it took me quite a while to embrace the format. But as I spent time navigating it, my perspective shifted. Unlike other platforms built to keep you mindlessly scrolling, Substack is designed for people to stick around and connect.

I began discovering amazing writers and creative minds, which led me to ask: Who are these Substackers? That curiosity is exactly what brought me here to The Equipping Station. I want to meet, understand, and share the creative geniuses behind these publications.

To kick things off, I sat down with Jan Johnson, the creator of Just Talkin About Jesus, to discover the what, why, and who behind her work.

Byron: Everybody carries a creative genius—something inside them they just need to get out. When you look at the passion or conviction behind what you do, what drives you?

Jan: It really goes back to the title of my publication: Just Talkin About Jesus. Everything I’ve written, including my seven books, has been a “God drop.” It’s always Him saying, “I want you to write this,” and me responding, “Okay, I don’t know anything about that, but we’ll see.”

Before this, I started a podcast called Women of the Northwest. After over a hundred episodes, God told me He wanted me to do a faith-based podcast. At the time, I was writing two books and doing a Bible study, so I felt way too busy. But He just stands back and smiles. My very next guest was a trafficked woman from a communist country with no churches and no support system, and God just reached in and pulled her out. Hearing stories like hers made me realize the universal story we all share: God is right there. He is watching you, right up close. You just have to say yes.

Byron: I had my own struggles adopting this platform. What was the draw for you, and what transformational experience do you want people to walk away with when they subscribe to your publication?

Jan: A friend in my writing group actually suggested it as a good avenue for a free newsletter. On places like Facebook or Instagram, you’re usually just clicking past things you don’t want to see, or you’re getting a quick “like” without any real interaction. But on Substack, I found this massive community of Christians who actually want to have real conversations.

The transformational part is simply what the title of my page says. Think about it: outside of a small group or a Bible study, how often in your life do you actually go deep talking about Jesus? People are hungry for that. We get raw, heartfelt stories where people lay their hearts bare. It builds a deeper understanding of who God is. To help build that community, I make sure to send a personal note every single time someone subscribes.

Byron: I always love to end these conversations by focusing on the who. People connect with the why and the what, but they really resonate with who we are—those hidden talents and quirks that shape how we create. What is something in your life that hardly anybody knows about?

Jan: Well, there are no secrets here! I play the flute. I played for worship for many years, but just a year ago, I joined our local symphony—the Columbia River Symphony. I haven’t played in that kind of classical setting in a long time, and I'm loving it. I resonate so much with music. I love the teamwork of the sounds coming together, and our conductor is incredibly good at explaining the depths of how a piece should go. I feel very fortunate to still have that active in my life.

Thanks, Jan, for sharing your heart and intent behind it as a fellow Substacker.

Make sure to stop by Jan’s page at Just Talkin About Jesus to see if her community is one you connect with.

Next week, I’m sitting down with Christina Kopaczewski from Poured in Purpose—she is doing some truly encouraging writing and connecting that you won’t want to miss.

As always, I love discovering the real people and stories behind the publications here. If you are a Substacker and would like to share your journey and be highlighted on The Equipping Station, send me a DM. Let’s connect!

She joined me from her new home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to talk about her Substack community, Poured In Purpose. I was deeply moved listening to her explain how the project was born out of her painful journey through a divorce after thirty-three years of marriage to a pastor.

She shared how she uses her platform to empower women—and surprisingly, many men—navigating major life transitions, helping them reclaim their self-worth and realize they aren’t disqualified from God’s calling.

We bonded over the idea of gathering around the table to share our stories over a cup of coffee, and how Substack perfectly fosters that kind of genuine community rather than just chasing numbers.

SUBSCRIBE TO POURED IN PURPOSE

What truly struck me during our conversation was her immense resilience. Despite the lack of support she initially felt from the church during her divorce, she remains centered in Christ and is currently editing her first devotional book, From Pain to Pour.

She beautifully expressed that she wouldn’t change her past because it gave her four wonderful children—miracles she was once told she’d never have after surviving a near-fatal car accident at seventeen, where she flatlined three times.

Hearing her describe herself as centered, optimistic, and resilient reminded me exactly why God called me to Substack to highlight amazing creatives like her, and I left the interview urging all my listeners to go subscribe to her inspiring work.

Thanks, Christina, for your time.

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Jan explains that her current faith-based project emerged as a direct calling from God, after she wrote seven books and produced over 125 episodes for a previous, broader podcast called “Women of the Northwest.”

She praises Substack as a more meaningful, personable alternative to traditional social media, allowing her to connect deeply with an unexpectedly large audience hungry for authentic conversations about faith.

Driven by a desire to build real community, Jan messages each new subscriber personally.

Beyond her writing and podcasting, Jan shares a personal passion to highlight the “who” behind her work: she is an avid flutist who recently joined her local Columbia River Symphony.

The broadcast concludes with Byron encouraging his audience to explore and subscribe to Jan’s deeply personal platform.

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It’s funny how life works out. Sometimes the most significant things happen when you’re not even trying. When I was 18, I was a music student in Miami who found more success on the piano than in the classroom.

Each morning, I walked to school with a habit my mother taught me: smiling at people as they passed. I just wanted to get to where I was going, but one day, that simple habit led to a moment that I’ll never forget and would only come to understand years later.

The Story

Living large in Miami

Proverbs 17:22 - A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.

I was 18, a music and jazz piano student at the University of Miami in Florida. My daily routine involved a half-mile walk from my dorm to the music school. I’ll be honest, my first year wasn’t exactly a showcase of academic excellence, but I was proud of one thing: I was the most improved piano player. There’s a whole story behind why I never went back to Miami after that, but that’s a tale for another time.

On my morning walk, I’d see fellow students hustling to class. I had a habit, something my mom taught me, of smiling and saying hello to people as they passed.

“A simple smile can encourage someone in their day,” she would always say.

I used to think it was a little weird, but I did it anyway, offering a friendly salutation. This wasn’t an easy exercise for me.

A Simple Salutation

Near the end of the school year, a young woman stopped me on campus. Part of me wondered, Where were you six or seven months ago?

She said, “I don’t know your name. I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you study. I don’t know anything about you. But I want to thank you because almost every day I walk across campus and we pass each other; you always smile and say hi. It was such a joy and so helpful in my day.”

I was simply doing what my mom taught me, but her words made me realize the impact of a small gesture. It reminded me of that verse from Proverbs. It doesn’t take much to look up from your day and offer someone a little hope. I never got her name, and she never got mine. I never saw her again, but wherever she is, I hope that simple smile changed something in her life.

The Power of Joy

Reading that verse from Proverbs all these years later brought this memory back to life. “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing.” The small bit of refreshing I offered to someone is something we can all offer to others.

Your smile and your hello can change somebody’s life.

Bring joy. Bring the cheer that someone’s heart may be refreshed and healed today.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the simple wisdom found in the Proverbs that a joyful heart brings healing. I remember a time in my life, a younger, more unsure version of myself walking across a college campus, just trying to get to where I was going. You used a simple habit my mom taught me—a smile and a hello—to touch someone else’s life.

Lord, it’s amazing how a small act of kindness, something that didn’t take much effort at all, can be so impactful. I pray for that young woman I met on campus, and for everyone who needs a little refreshment in their day. Help me to remember that I can be an instrument of your love and cheer.

Help me to look up from my own hurried day and see the people around me. Remind me that a joyful heart is not just for my own benefit, but a gift I can offer to others.

May my smiles and hellos bring healing and hope to someone who needs it. Let my heart be a wellspring of joy that refreshes others, and in doing so, may my own heart be refreshed and healed today.

Amen

Key Takeaway

Based on my time in Miami, I learned that even a small, simple act of kindness—like a smile and a friendly hello—can bring joy and refreshment to someone else’s day. I was just following my mom’s advice, but I’ll never forget the impact it had on that young woman. It taught me that a joyful heart truly can bring healing to others.

FROM THE BOOK CURIOUS TALES OF A COMMON MAN

Every book sale helps build safe, secure homes for widows and single mothers in Nicaragua.

Questions for Spiritual Growth

• Think about the last time you were just going about your day, maybe walking to class or getting coffee. Did you look up from what you were doing and offer a simple smile or a friendly hello to a stranger? How did that small gesture feel to you, and what do you think it might have meant to them?

• A simple smile can encourage someone. What’s a small, almost insignificant thing that someone has done for you that had a surprisingly big impact on your day? How can you pay that forward this week and offer that same kind of unexpected grace to someone else?

• The verse in Proverbs says a joyful heart brings healing. When was the last time you felt truly joyful and cheerful, and what were you doing? Did you hold onto that joy, or did you share it with others?

• Consider your daily path—the people you see but don’t know. What small, intentional act could you start doing to bring a little light into their day, even if you never learn their story?

• My little gesture came from something my mom taught me. Who has influenced your faith and actions the most? What’s one specific thing they taught you about living a life of love and joy, and how can you live that out today?

Call to Action

You know, it’s easy to get so caught up in our own heads and our own day that we forget about the people around us. I know I did. I was just trying to get to where I was going, focused on my classes and my own life. But that encounter on campus taught me that even the smallest gesture can have a huge impact. It’s about giving a piece of yourself, a moment of joy, to someone else.

So, how can we make that a habit? Here is a simple plan for living large with a joyful heart every single day.

The Daily Challenge: A Plan for Joyful Connection

1. Look Up:

• First, be intentional. Put your phone away for a moment. Look up from your day, from your thoughts, from your troubles.

• Make eye contact with the person walking toward you. Acknowledge them as a person, not just a passing face.

2. Offer a Simple Smile:

• Think about the verse from Proverbs: “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing.”

• A smile is a free gift you can give to anyone. It’s an outward sign of the cheerful heart that God wants to give you.

• This isn’t about a forced grin. It’s about a genuine, simple expression of kindness that can brighten someone’s day.

3. Add a Simple Salutation:

• Say “hello,” “good morning,” or “how are you?”

• You don’t need to stop for a long conversation. My mom was right: it’s a simple salutation that can go a long way.

4. Don’t Expect Anything in Return:

• The young woman on campus didn’t owe me anything. I wasn’t doing it for her thank you, and that’s the point.

• Your act of kindness is a gift, not a transaction. Give it freely and move on with your day.

That’s it. Four simple steps. It’s not about making a huge speech or starting a big project. It’s about remembering that the small bit of refreshment you can offer someone else can change their whole day. Your smile and your “hello” can bring joy, and in doing so, your own heart may be refreshed and healed.

Going Deeper

It’s funny how a simple habit from your mom can turn into a lifelong lesson. My walk across campus was just about getting from point A to point B, but that one encounter made me realize that it was about so much more. It’s about bringing the joy that’s inside you to the people around you.

Going deeper isn’t just about smiling more; it’s about what that smile represents. It’s about living from a truly joyful and cheerful heart. Here’s how you can make that a deeper part of your daily life.

• Begin with Your Heart: The Proverb says a joyful heart brings healing. The first step isn’t about what you do for others; it’s about what you cultivate inside yourself. Take a moment each morning to be still. Find something to be grateful for, no matter how small. A cheerful heart isn’t an accident—it’s a choice. Choose joy before you walk out your door.

• Practice Being Present: To go deeper, don’t just smile as you’re passing by. Be present in the moment. When you’re standing in line at the coffee shop or waiting for a bus, truly look at the people around you. See them as people, not just as obstacles or strangers. Acknowledging someone’s presence is the first step to connecting.

• Offer More Than a Hello: A simple hi can make a difference, but what if you took it a little further? This doesn’t mean you have to start a long conversation with everyone you meet. It might be a small, genuine compliment or a brief word of encouragement. It could be saying, “That’s a nice scarf,” or “I hope you have a great day.” A brief, sincere word can powerfully extend your cheerful heart.

• Don’t Look for a Thank You: Living large with a joyful heart isn’t about getting praise or recognition. When you give freely, without expectation, the act itself becomes a reward. Let go of the need for thanks and just give. Your action is a gift, and the impact is a beautiful mystery.

• Reflect on the Joy You Bring: At the end of your day, take a minute to think about your interactions. Did you make an effort to smile at the cashier? Did you offer someone a kind word? Reflecting on the joy you’ve given others can fill your heart with purpose and refreshment. It’s a way to show that a joyful heart truly brings healing. Let the joy you share with others fill your own soul.

Does anyone actually love confrontation? Is it a natural state for anyone?

I’d have to ask those individuals a lot of questions to understand why they enjoy it. I don’t find confrontation exceptionally enjoyable, although I do recognize it is necessary at times. In my younger years, I probably confronted others too often. Today, however, I see the positive impact a proper, nonshaming confrontation can have.

That was exactly what happened one Friday evening in the Missouri Ozarks.

I was there presenting a conference called The Worshipper's Heart. I had recently been a regular speaker and musician for Integrity Music’s conference series, and this church had invited me to come do a conference of my own.

It was a beautiful evening of worship, followed by a message on the Father’s heart. When I closed that portion and began a time of ministry, the Lord was moving. I deeply enjoyed God's presence and saw His hand at work in people’s lives.

We finished around ten o'clock. I don’t remember the exact time, but the pastor approached me and asked if I could take a minute to chat in his office.

Hmm. I don’t have great memories of being called to the principal's office. I wasn’t always attentive in school and often found myself visiting the principal or staying after class to write “I will not talk” or “I will not throw paper wads” five hundred times on the chalkboard. (It wasn’t my fault. Greg made me do it!)

We strolled back to his office, conversing about the evening. He seemed happy with how it went. Then, he shut the door—never a good sign—and said, “Byron, let your yes be yes and your no be no.”

I didn't feel belittled. Obviously, his heart was first and foremost for those he pastored. I also felt no shame; I did sense conviction.

“Have a seat,” he continued. “Earlier in the evening, you said you were going to have a time of healing. But you never did.”

Looking back, I realized he was right. I hadn't thought much about it because the Lord was moving so powerfully in other ways.

“Did you know there were a number of people counting on that healing time?” he asked.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied.

“When you say something like that, you need to follow through. I know the Lord moved tonight, but you need to let your yes be yes. Your word may not be sacred, but it must be honoring.”

I was faced with a choice. Would my pride take over and rebut with something like, Yeah, well, the Lord was moving, so I went with that? Or would I humble myself, apologize, and promise to make good on my word?

I decided it would be wise to honor my word. I apologized to the pastor and promised to hold a time of healing. The next morning, I apologized to the conference attendees as well, and after worship, we moved into a time of healing.

The lesson I learned about letting my yes be yes, and my no be no, is the main intent of this article, but I’d like to share what happened during that healing session. First of all, the Father was kind, generous, and faithful as always—in spite of me.

BLOW THE SHOFAR

I had a shofar that was given to me during my season with John Paul Jackson. A worship leader named Jeff McCleod had just returned from Israel with this large ram's horn and presented it to me at one of John Paul’s conferences. I often traveled with this shofar because it had proven to be a catalyst for healing. I don’t claim to know how it works; I just know that when I played a certain low tone on the horn, people experienced healing.

And so it was that Saturday morning in the Ozarks.

As I blew this low tone—what in music is called a pedal tone—the Father released healing for deafness, a heart issue, and an intestinal disease.

How do I know? First, the deaf person could hear. Second, the people with heart and intestinal issues later set appointments with their physicians and were medically cleared. Their doctors could only describe it as a miracle—something I’ve often heard from medical professionals.

Let me finish this Sunday Post by saying that confrontation, especially when delivered lovingly, opened my heart to a scriptural principle that created a truer heart in me. It showed me that confrontation doesn’t have to be angry—it can simply be an invitation to grow.

Looking back on my life, I’ve found this statement to be incredibly true. Life is simply better when we do things together—whether we’re collaborating on a project or traveling the world. My most memorable moments have always involved sharing experiences with others.

How, then, does this apply to today’s world and the art of discipling others?

Discipleship is on the rise in the Kingdom. For several decades, I believe it had become a negative word; when people heard it, they often turned away in awkward silence.

Of course, the practice never stopped—it just took on new labels, like mentoring or coaching. These terms gave fresh legitimacy to the art of discipling. While the concept itself didn’t need legitimizing (discipleship will always be with us), words can sometimes take on negative connotations. (Read ‘When Discipleship Became a Curse Word’)

Now, for whatever reason, the word discipleship is making a comeback. What goes around comes around (hey, even mullets made a minor comeback!). But this got me wondering: Why is this word returning now?

To answer that, let’s step back to 1913, when William Seymour delivered what was later called the 100-year prophecy. He foretold that a great, global move of God—greater than the Azusa Street Revival—would occur roughly 100 years after his death in 1922.

If you aren’t following what’s happening in the East and the Middle East, know that this global movement is already well underway—even more so than in the West right now. But we are awakening to it.

Fast-forwarding to this moment: what do you think would be the wisest thing to focus on if a billion people around the globe were about to meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus?

Discipleship.

While there is a growing desire to connect with the spiritually hungry people in our lives, we have largely lost the art of genuine connection in discipleship. The very heart of discipleship—relationship—was excised. It was replaced by a rigid program of questions and answers, where people filled in workbook blanks to gain spiritual understanding.

Yuck!

The next wave of individuals meeting Jesus will be hungry for deep, personal connection. They won’t settle for a fill-in-the-blank spirituality.

They want you!

They want your friendship first, so they can learn to trust the people providing spiritual insight on their new journey of freedom.

I developed The Art of Walking Alongside for exactly this purpose: to help people discover how to disciple with the Father’s heart. It is designed to equip you to become a relational discipler to those God brings into your life through divine encounters.

This is the joy of this move of God—we all get to play! But you can see why we need to be prepared. With this in mind…

How to Discover More

Join me live on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Pacific Time to discover more about The Art of Walking Alongside.

• I’ll share a short thought from the book along with…

• Connecting with you through questions and discussion

• Purchase your copy here.

I’m looking forward to seeing you live this Wednesday!

— Byron

We did our best to create alternative words to lessen the negative impact, yet nothing seemed to work. To truly alter the feeling of the word itself, we began to remove it from our vocabulary.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED

We spent days, weeks, and months going through boring study guides on how to become a better Christian. Fill in the blanks. Entire conferences and seminars were created from these workbooks.

They weren’t on how to disciple, but how to be a good and faithful disciple. It became a program, not a relationship.

Discipleship was always meant to be a personal experience, not a dry, boring fill-in-the-blank endeavor that leaves a bad taste in our mouth.

It became one of those moments we’ve all experienced. We expect one thing and discover something so foul we have no desire to be involved. It became a curse word. You didn’t bring it up in public or private.

Something has shifted.

The word discipleship is taking on new life. Hope is rising that it can be relational again. An encounter to grow and discover God and purpose.

I find this encouraging as I believe that discipleship is vital to the body of Christ. But over several decades of seeing discipleship as a curse, not a blessing, we’ve lost the art of discipling.

When I first traveled to Nicaragua, I discovered that families’ farmlands had grown fallow due to a lack of attention, which led to a lack of training, and the small farm, for all intents and purposes, disappeared. After several decades, hundreds of thousands of acres were left fallow throughout the nation. Good land, good people, hard workers without the skill or funds to produce a crop.

Discipleship has come to a place where we have lost the knowledge of discipling. It has become fallow ground. We have little understanding of how to connect with someone, when to connect with them, and then what to offer once we do connect.

WHY NOW?

What is the Father doing on the earth that is heaven-sent? What is his purpose behind opening our hearts and minds to rescuing discipleship from the trash bin?

We have entered what I believe is the front edge of a mighty kingdom storm that will ultimately bring a billion people globally into the kingdom of God. They will meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus.

But then what? Where will they go, and who will they connect with? They will connect with you. They will want face-to-face interaction on what just happened and who is this Jesus.

Before this occurs, you may be the person the Father connects them to on their journey into his presence. Into the kingdom. The divine connection.

HOW WILL WE BE PREPPED?

I have created a simple study guide called The Art of Walking Alongside: A Discipleship Guide for the New Era. It is to help us learn how to disciple others. The introductory steps.

Formulas don’t change lives. Relationships do.

Most of us genuinely want to help others, but we often get stuck in the gap between meeting someone and actually discipling them. We fear that without a 10-step manual or a perfectly polished, superhuman version of ourselves, we have nothing to give. The Art of Walking Alongside is designed to help you close that gap.

In this interactive workbook, I explore what it means to mentor with the “Father’s heart”. Guiding you through a critical paradigm shift: moving away from a transactional “my bus” mentality, which treats people like projects to be managed, toward an “our bus” mindset that prioritizes the relationship over the agenda.

Instead of relying on easy answers, it teaches you how to become a steady, patient presence. Through this guide, you will discover:

• The Relational Shift: How to transition your mindset from managing a project to mentoring a person.

• The Art of Extraction: How to stop giving advice and start asking piercing questions that draw out the wisdom God has already placed inside your mentee.

• The Power of Vulnerability: Why people don’t want a flawless guru, but rather a real guide who is willing to share their own messy journey.

• Challenge Without Shame: How to offer grace-filled accountability by separating a person’s behavior from their core identity.

• Practical Activation: The tools to help mentees break massive visions down into immediate, actionable 48-hour steps.

Designed for both quiet reflection and group dialogue, each of the seven chapters features core teachings, focused objectives, deep-dive discussion questions, and immediate application exercises.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to make a massive impact. You just have to be willing to walk alongside.

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There was humor. There was some anger. There were frustrations. But then again, we had traveled thousands of miles together, often playing in the heat and dust of Turkey.

When we got off the plane, my wife Crystal, our daughter Kate, and I were greeted by the national media, which was a big surprise. I guess we were sort of rock stars. The government, of course, was promoting this, so they needed a lot of footage.

We did a few events beginning in the southern portion of the country, moving north into the different regions of Turkey where the Apostle Paul's journeys took him.

A Shadow in Ishmet

The story I'm focusing on took place, I believe, in the town of Ishmet. We had been told what happened there the year before.

"...a man had come to an event and thrown a grenade into a tent where they were distributing Christian materials. A mother and child were killed."

Now, that tends to get your attention. At least, it got mine.

As the leader of this band, my purpose was to connect relationally with Jesus and to offer that relationship to those who were present. We were a jazz-based group, and amazingly enough, jazz was very popular in Turkey. We had good audiences wherever we performed.

The Concert Begins

As we began the concert in Ishmet, the crowd was good-sized. The venue was indoors, and once we got set up, had sound checks, and were rolling, I didn't think about the grenade anymore. I was enjoying the concert and the audience.

But a short while into my gospel presentation—into presenting my life in Christ—two young men walked into the back of the room. This wasn't unusual in itself, but these two young men were wearing floor-length coats, like the dusters cowboys wear in rainy or dusty weather.

It was August in Turkey. It was very hot and very dry. There was no need for any coats whatsoever. We were all wishing we could wear shorts and T-shirts.

The Men in Long Coats

And here are these two young men, wearing floor-length coats. I was probably a quarter of the way into my presentation when, all of a sudden, the thought of a grenade and a mother and child dying came rushing back into my memory.

"Why in August are two men wearing floor-length coats? Why are they standing at the back of the room? And why did they come in right as I was beginning the gospel presentation?"

As I continued, one of them reached slowly inside his coat.

A Moment of Truth

I have to admit, I began to question what I should do. Do I continue? Do I put this crowd at risk? Do I put my own life, my wife's and daughter's lives, and the band at risk?

I had a choice to make. Do I walk in fear of what will come, or do I continue with the message of my heart?

I was watching them closely, cautiously. But I decided in that moment that if this was going to be my last moment—if something was going to happen that would radically take me out of this world—then I might as well go out telling my heart's story of how Jesus changed my life.

An Unexplained Exit

It was interesting. After I made that decision, the young man took his hand out of his coat. The two men looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and walked out of the room.

I've often wondered what was going through their minds to shrug their shoulders and leave. Did they see something that we didn't see? Was there angelic activity that we weren't aware of? Did something strike them in their spirits? I don't know.

I only knew that day that it was feasible our lives were saved.

It's also feasible that he just had an itch.

Final Thoughts

We all have our moments in life when we have to make radical changes or decisions. I'll never forget that hot August day when two Turkish cowboys showed up.

How about you? Have you had a story similar to mine?

A Prayer 

Father, 

Thank you for the gift of another day and the chance to share the message of Jesus, even amid fear. We stand here today, much like that hot August day in Turkey, faced with the unknown and the choices we must make. We pray for the courage to live out our faith boldly and share our heart's story, no matter the circumstances. We ask for protection from hidden dangers and unexpected threats that lurk in the shadows. Let our lives be a testament to your power and grace, a beacon of hope for those who need it most. We don't know what the future holds, but we trust that you are with us, guiding us, and protecting us every step of the way. We thank you for the angels you send, the small miracles, and the peace that comes from knowing you are in control. May we always choose faith over fear, and may our lives bring glory to your name. 

Amen

Key Takeaway

You know, looking back at that day in Turkey, and really looking at all the hot August days we face, the real message isn't just about what happened with those two guys in the coats. It's deeper than that. It's about those moments when fear tries to grab hold, when everything in you screams to back down, to play it safe. 

But then, you have to ask yourself: What do I truly believe? What's the story of my heart that needs to be told, no matter the cost? For me, it was about sharing Jesus. And in that choice, in that moment of stepping out, something shifted. Was it angels? Was it just a random itch? I don't know for sure, but I do know this: when you lean into your conviction, when you decide to live out your faith even when the path isn't clear, that's when you see the unseen. That's when you realize that courage isn't the absence of fear, but the decision to keep going anyway. And that, my friends, is a story worth living, and a story worth sharing.

Questions for Discussion

The Nature of Courage: In moments of intense fear or perceived danger, what factors do you believe enable someone to choose courage and conviction over self-preservation?

Unseen Forces: When considering the possibility of angelic activity or spiritual intervention, how do you reconcile such occurrences with your own understanding of faith, providence, or the unknown?

The Power of Testimony: If the goal is to "present the life of Christ, a life in Christ, and a relational connection with Jesus," how important is personal testimony in conveying that message, especially in potentially hostile or unfamiliar environments?

Defining "Radical Change": We all have our moments in life when we have to make radical changes or decisions. Can you identify a "hot August day" moment in your own life where you faced a significant choice that tested your beliefs or resolve?

Responding to the Unknown: When faced with an ambiguous threat, where the outcome is uncertain (like the men shrugging and leaving), how do you process the experience afterward? What lessons can be drawn from situations where you don't get a clear explanation for what happened?

Call to Action

1. Identify Your Moment of Truth:

Recognize the "Men in Long Coats": What are the sources of fear, doubt, or opposition in your own life? Are they internal (self-doubt, past failures)? Or are they external (criticism from others, challenging circumstances)?

Pinpoint the Decision Point: When are you most confronted by these fears? Is it when you are about to share your beliefs? Or is it when you are pursuing a goal or passion?

2. Choose Your Response:

Ask the Core Question: In that moment, which path will you choose? Will you walk in fear of what might happen? Will you continue with the message of your heart?

Make a Conscious Commitment: Decide that your purpose is more important than your fear. - If this were your last opportunity, what would you want to be known for doing?

3. Share Your Story:

Reflect on Your Experience: Think about a time you had to make a radical decision in the face of fear.

Connect with Others: Share your story with someone who needs encouragement. Engage in conversations about faith, fear, and purpose.

4. Engage Further

Answer the Author's Question: Do you have a story similar to this one?

Seek Understanding: Do you have questions about the events in Turkey or the decisions made?

5 Steps to Go Deeper: From Fear to Conviction

This exercise is designed to help you apply the lesson from the "Cowboys in Turkey" story to your own life.

Identify Your “Men in Long Coats”: What are the "long coats" in your life? What situations, fears, or internal voices appear when you are about to step into your purpose or share your "heart's story"? Is it the fear of failure, public rejection, financial insecurity, or disappointing others? Be honest about what truly stops you.

Articulate Your “Heart’s Story”: What is your core message? If you had to distill your most profound beliefs, values, and passions into a single story, what would it be? This isn't just a career goal; it is the truth you feel compelled to live and share. In one or two sentences, write down your "heart's story." Make it so clear and concise that you could call it to mind in a moment of intense pressure.

Face the Moment of Truth: Visualize one of your fears from Step 1 appearing at the exact moment you try to live out your story from Step 2. Feel the tension of that choice. Acknowledge the powerful arguments for playing it safe and retreating. Ask yourself: "Do I walk in fear of [your fear from Step 1] or do I continue with [your heart's story from Step 2]?" Speak the question out loud to make it tangible.

Make the “Last Moment” Decision: How does your perspective change when you treat the moment of decision as if it were your last opportunity? What becomes most important? Make a conscious, deliberate choice right now. Declare to yourself using your own words: "Even if I'm afraid, and even if the outcome is uncertain, I will choose my heart's story. If this is my moment, I will go out on my terms, true to my convictions."

Act Without Needing to Know Why They "Shrugged": The story ends with ambiguity—the men shrug and leave. Are you waiting for a sign that it's safe before you act? Are you waiting for your fear to "shrug and walk away" before you move forward? Identify one small, tangible step you can take this week to act on your "heart's story." Do it with the understanding that the fear may not vanish. Your job is not to control the outcome, but to take the step. Send the email, make the call, write the first page, and have the conversation. Act.

Language is a necessary part of our existence. We need it in some form or fashion to communicate, but its true power lies much deeper. Language creates understanding for the things we only feel or vaguely conceptualize. Those internal senses—that undeniable tension in the atmosphere between what was and what is coming—arrive long before we have the vocabulary to define them.

For years, Crystal and I discussed the idea of a new kingdom culture, yet we lacked the language for it. We used many different words trying to express the heart of God in this cultural shift, but we hadn't quite discovered a vocabulary that communicated it clearly to our community.

Then, around 2008, as I began discovering and documenting the different spiritual aspects at work in our world—observations and data that would eventually fill the pages of my notebooks—we found the language we needed. Words like New Era emerged in our daily conversations long before the phrase became popular in the wider church.

I believe the words we use to express our ideas ultimately help people understand the divine shifts they are sensing but haven't been able to intentionally grasp. With language, these internal feelings and quiet revelations can be externally spoken. It gives more people a way to move from merely sensing the transition to actively participating in it.

This brings me to a pivotal question: Does language become the external spark of our internal concepts that lead us into a move of God?

If this is true, then what language are you creating around the internal ideas and concepts of the Kingdom that will spark a move of God for those in your life?

This move of God is deeply personal. It is not a top-down broadcast; it is a one-to-one, face-to-face groundswell that you play a vital part in. It operates on the mathematics of transformation—where pouring authentic love into a few friends replicates dynamically through the multiplication principle, multiplying outward into the culture rather than just adding to a crowd.

A Final Challenge

What is your language, and who will be drawn to that authentic voice so they can finally meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus?

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A creative center and a center for creatives!

That’s a good tagline, isn’t it? It speaks to the heart of what we often desire to be or do because I believe we are all creative and carry within us the ability to create.

You may be shaking your head right now, “I don’t believe I’m creative. That’s for the special few who are creative geniuses.”

I want you to meet Joel Hundley. Joel is originally from Southern California, met his amazing bride, and now lives in Vacaville. I met Joel and Jamie the first time we lived in Vacaville. Joel and I hit it off right away.

As you know, I’m a walker. I guess that’s why golf was a favorite to play. I never liked riding in carts. It took the joy out of being on the course and replaced it with speed as the scenery flew by.

Joel, yes, okay. We would take long walks and share life’s ups and downs. He is a singer/songwriter and an entrepreneur, and in both he has always been creative.

His most recent endeavor stems from his sons, who are long-distance runners. Joel chose not only to encourage his sons' love for running but also to get involved, which led to the very first Kaiser Permanente Village Run.

The Village Run began as a thought. A simple thought that was then attached to an action. Joel took action and talked with local business leaders who connected the dots.

What was an idea became reality. I call this creativity. I call Joel a creative.

Do you see yourself as a creative, or are you shaking your head in disbelief?

How many times have I had a thought that I considered unworthy or unwarranted? “Don’t waste my time, Byron. That’s just a silly idea.”

Have you ever had a moment like this?

What’s strange about these ideas is that I almost always discover someone else had a similar idea and chose to believe it, whereas I decided it was nonsense.

Here in Vacaville, creatives are everywhere. They aren’t always seen at first glance, but they are there. Yes, artists, musicians, writers, performers, but also creatives in all aspects of life.

I believe Vacaville is a creative center and a center for creatives.

I also believe that wherever you may live, your town is brimming over with creatives of all types.

Let’s set the captives free. Let’s set our imaginations free to step out of muddleness into trust, risk, and expectancy.

But let’s do this together! So we can encourage, build up, and promote one another.

I’m super proud of Joel Hundley for taking a simple thought and taking simple action, which has now led to an expansion of the original registration numbers for the Kaiser Permanente Village Run.

Byron

P.S. I’m looking forward to following up with Joel after the event to hear how it went and what he learned. Does this sound like a good idea?

I rarely do. I sit down, I write what’s in front of me that week, and I don’t go looking for a thread. Then I read the month back and there it is, running underneath everything like a wire I didn’t know I’d laid.

Here it is: God moved the action off the stage.

Off the platform. Off the program. Out of the building and into the hands of ordinary people having ordinary conversations in ordinary places. That’s the whole month, in one line.

Tag, you’re it.

Below is July, post by post, with a question from each one. Not rhetorical questions. Real ones, the kind I want answered out loud on the 4th.

July 5 — You’re It! The New Grassroots Move of God

I opened the month with a question I’ve been chewing on for a while. Are we standing at the edge of the greatest move of God in history?

I think we are. But it won’t look like the ones we’ve read about.

The revivals we tell stories about had names attached. A handful of people, a tent, a stadium, a stage. This one works differently. This one is a groundswell. The invitation went out wider this time, and it came all the way down to you.

I talked about multiplication instead of addition. Mentor five people well, and the math gets away from you in the best possible way. I brought out the umbrella — what is yours actually covering? What’s the message you’re carrying into everyday conversation, whether you’ve ever named it or not?

And I said what I’ve been saying for years. Put down the ten-step program. Lean into the divine appointments at the coffee shop, the grocery store, the school pickup line. Ephesians 4. Everyone gets to play.

For the Zoom: Who are your five? And if you can’t name them yet — what’s actually stopping you? Time, fear, or not feeling qualified?

July 12 — Unexpected Intersections: Cultivating Spiritual Awareness

I leaned on the phrase “divine appointment” hard in Episode 2. So I went back and unpacked it.

These aren’t coincidences. They’re arranged. And the traffic runs both directions — you are not the only one being used in that moment.

I took us out to the desert road with Philip and the Ethiopian official, because that story is the whole pattern. No program. No building. No calendar invite. One man made available and one man with a question.

I’m convinced the next great awakening gets carried on exactly that. One road crossing another road.

Which means the skill to develop isn’t boldness. It’s awareness. Introvert, extrovert — doesn’t matter. The question is whether you’re paying enough attention to notice.

For the Zoom: Tell us about a divine appointment you almost missed. What nearly made you walk past it?

July 19 — This Is Taking Shape!

This one was personal, and I’ll say it plain. I was lying awake on a Wednesday night telling the Father I didn’t have a burning purpose for being on Substack.

I’d started the page out of simple obedience. One step at a time. But I wasn’t about to fake a passionless project.

Thursday morning, a friend told me out of nowhere that he’d seen me in front of a screen with hundreds of people asking questions about my journey in the prophetic.

I sat with that. Then I heard it, inside: So you ask last night and receive an answer today. Is that not soon enough?

I took a walk. That’s what I do. And on that walk I heard the name — The Equipping Station. A conversation that afternoon confirmed how it lined up with who I actually am.

That’s why this page has a new name. Forty-five years of global ministry, handed over in conversation instead of lecture.

For the Zoom: How long do you normally wait between asking God something and expecting the answer? And what does that gap say about what you believe about Him?

July 26 — Finding 3D Connection in a 1D World

I closed the month by looking up a word.

One-dimensional: defined by a single coordinate point; lacking both width and depth.

Lacking width and depth. That’s how the digital spaces feel to me most days, and I said so.

I also said I have zero interest in being That Guy — the one who tells you it was better back in his day. I’m not anti-social media. I’m sitting here writing on it.

But for forty-plus years, connection came built in. People drifted to the front after every event. There was the seatmate on the flight. The local leaders hosting me in a city I’d never seen.

Now I’m a 71-year-old ambivert relearning how to make a friend.

So I asked you, and I’m still asking. How are you actually meeting people these days?

For the Zoom: Where in your week does real, three-dimensional connection already happen? And could that ordinary place be the road God plans to send somebody down?

So here’s what I’m asking of you

If July said one thing, it’s this. The shift is to the grassroots, and grassroots means you.

Not a bigger platform. Not a better program. Not waiting on somebody more qualified to get sent.

Just you. Awake, available, in the ordinary places you already go.

That’s not a small ask, because you can’t do it from behind a screen. It takes width and depth. It takes being in a room with somebody.

So this week, do one thing. Pick one person and move it one dimension deeper. Turn the comment into a phone call. Turn the phone call into coffee.

Don’t bring a formula. Don’t polish yourself up first. Don’t wait until you feel ready.

Then come tell us what happened.

The Equipping Station — Prophetic Q&A
Tuesday, August 4 · 4:30 PM Pacific · Zoom
Paid subscribers — your link comes by email the morning of the call.

Bring the question you didn’t want to put in a comment section. That’s the one I want.

See you there,
Byron

P.S. If you would like to join us, you can subscribe for free and receive a link for this months Zoom call.

Don’t forget! Tuesday, August 4 @ 4:30 pm PDT. Zoom in and take a seat for a time of prophetic encouragement and Q&A.

For over forty years, I traveled this incredible globe. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the digital spaces we hang out in feel completely one-dimensional to me. I actually looked up the mathematical definition of one-dimensional recently, and it said:

“Defined by a single coordinate point; lacking both width and depth.”

Lacking width and depth. That perfectly describes how I feel about social media most days.

Yet, here I am, showing up in your feed, hoping to catch your attention. My actual prayer—and yes, I do pray about this—is that these digital notes might somehow open the door to real, thoughtful conversations with some actual depth.

Escaping the “Back in My Day” Trap

Let me be clear: I have zero desire to be “That Guy.” You know the one—the guy who constantly complains that *back in his day*, things were better, or that my generation had it so much harder. I know there is nothing new under the sun, and I am genuinely all for positive progress. I’m certainly not anti-social media, or I wouldn’t be sitting here writing today.

But it does leave me wrestling with a very real question: **How do we actually connect face-to-face anymore?**

The Loss of Built-In Community

I spoke, ministered, and led worship in churches, at conferences, and on countless stages. The beauty of that life was that connection was practically built-in.

After every event, people would naturally drift up to the front to say hello.

“Hi, I’m Bob, thanks for your time...”

“Hey Bob, it’s great to meet you.”

Sometimes it turned into a deep conversation, sometimes it was just a passing handshake. But either way, I was standing in front of a real, breathing human being. We were sharing the same physical space, reading each other’s body language, and communicating in real-time.

Does anyone else miss that organic, three-dimensional interaction? Or is it just me? Am I just feeling the friction of transitioning off the road, or is it fair to admit that a screen is never going to fully satisfy our very human need to connect?

The Introvert/Extrovert Dilemma

When I was traveling, my social outlets were handed to me on a silver platter: the guy sitting next to me on a flight, the attendees at an event, the local leaders hosting me in their city.

Now? I feel like a 71-year-old man trying to relearn how to make friends. And the funny thing is, I’m not even a hardcore introvert. I’m more of an ambivert—I need my quiet time, but I also enjoy engaging with others.

So, I’m turning the floor over to you. **Honestly, how are you meeting people these days?**

Between remote work, busy schedules, and the digital noise, how do you find your people? Help this floundering—but highly willing—older guy discover some new paths to grow in the modern art of connecting.

That was, at least, until Wednesday night when I found myself lying awake in conversation with the Father. I had been feeling like I was lacking a genuine, burning purpose for being on Substack. I originally started this page a couple of months ago out of simple obedience to the Lord—taking it one step at a time, knowing slow growth builds a strong platform. But I definitely didn’t want to just go through the motions or fake a passionless project. I was searching for a clear focus.

Then, Thursday morning happened.

I was meeting with my friend Mark Snider (atthetableworship.com), and out of nowhere he said, “I just had a vision of you in front of your screen. There were hundreds of people online asking you questions about your journey in the prophetic.”

After our call, I was sitting there contemplating Mark’s revelation, wondering what I was supposed to do with it. Suddenly, in my spirit, I heard: So you ask last night and receive an answer today. Is that not soon enough?

When things like this happen, the best thing for me to do is take a walk, clear my head, and seek the Father’s intent.

On that walk, I heard the words clearly: The Equipping Station.

Then a second wave of insight hit that afternoon when talking with another friend (it's cool to have great friends), Cathy Atkins, revealed truth about myself and how this lines up with who I am.

Suddenly, it all clicked. This is exactly what I’ve been wanting to do—create a space where I can share 45 years of global ministry with you. I truly enjoy a Socratic, conversational approach to training: we bring an idea to light, and then we let the questions flow and watch how the Father works.

So, I am thrilled to welcome you to my new and improved Substack page: The Equipping Station!

To kick off this new chapter, we are launching our very first prophetic equipping flight with a brand-new Zoom call, The Equipping Station.

Here are the details for our first gathering:

• What: Prophetic Q & A

• When: Tuesday, August 4th

• Time: 4:30 PM Pacific Time

• Where: Zoom (Exclusive to paid subscribers—you will receive the link the day of the gathering!)

I can’t wait to see you face-to-face, share this story, and let your questions flow.

See you there,

Byron

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