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by Allies in Youth Development
Awaken purpose & use your life to create meaningful impact in the lives of others. Powered by @alliesyouth
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Every one of us needs a redemption story, and Amy Ryan’s is proof that God can rewrite even the most difficult beginnings. In this powerful episode of The Empowered Life Podcast, Meredith Murray sits down with Amy Ryan, founder of Flying Squirrel Coffee Company in Mansfield, Texas. Born into tragic circumstances and removed from her birth home into foster care, Amy’s life is a story of complete redemption, from being adopted and finding her birth family as an adult, to walking through spiritual warfare and witnessing her pilot father’s salvation late in life. Her journey directly mirrors the heart of Allies in Youth Development: once a vulnerable child who was chosen, loved, and redeemed, Amy now uses Flying Squirrel Coffee as a kingdom business to pour back into others and support vulnerable children across the world. ☕ Special Give-Back Day: On December 22nd, Flying Squirrel Coffee is hosting a special Give-Back Day where 50% of all proceeds from BOTH coffee shop locations will be donated directly to Allies in Youth Development to help support orphans and vulnerable children globally! No matter where your story started, this conversation will remind you that with God, no circumstance is beyond redemption, and your story can become a light for someone else. ⏱️ Key Topics & Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to the Show2:30 Amy Joins the Conversation3:06 Born in Philadelphia & Removed from Her Birth Home5:52 Entering Foster Care & The Adoption Journey7:31 Searching for Her Birth Mother10:25 The Phone Call & Emotional Reunion11:52 Meeting Her Birth Dad & The Swing Photo18:00 "Picked Me Out of a Book": What Adoption Taught Her22:42 The People God Placed in Her Life24:00 Coming to Know the Lord at Age 1025:27 Meeting Her Husband & Willie the Pastor27:38 A Night in Hawaii: Spiritual Warfare & The Power of Prayer34:29 Lessons from Job: Finding Hope in Hard Seasons36:39 Her Birth Mother's Advice: "Love Jesus"37:51 Her Adoptive Dad: A Pilot's Journey to Salvation at 6946:40 The Dream Behind Flying Squirrel Coffee48:38 Building a Kingdom Business & Giving Back50:39 Why It's Called "Flying Squirrel"51:21 Being a Light in the Shop & Community52:53 The Fruit of a Stepmom's Prayers53:57 Looking Back: "With Him, You Can Change What You Think Should Have Been"55:16 Advice: Don't Battle Alone & Follow What God Puts on Your Heart57:13 Allies Impact Moment58:10 Flying Squirrel's Dec 22 Give-Back Day (50% of Sales to Allies!)59:03 The Power of Mentors & Allies01:01:01 Allies Impact Moment💙 The Mission of AlliesThe Empowered Life Podcast is powered by Allies in Youth Development. Amy’s life shows what happens when a vulnerable child is given hope and a future. Allies mentors are men and women who live in-country, know the language, and walk alongside orphans and vulnerable children as a consistent presence in their lives. Today, Allies is working with 27,000+ children in 93 countries, ensuring every child knows they are not forgotten and that redemption is possible for them, too.🔗 Resources & Links☕ Flying Squirrel Coffee: flyingsquirrelcoffeeco.com 👉 Be Part of the Mission: alliesyouth.org🌐 Explore More Episodes: empoweredlifepodcast.org📺 Watch the Full Conversation: https://youtu.be/pM8LItU7mMM#empoweredlifepodcast #redemption #adoptionstory #fostercare #spiritualwarfare #kingdombusiness #flyingsquirrelcoffee #alliesinyouthdevelopment #christianpodcast
Was it all just a coincidence?Mansfield City Councilman Todd Simmons doesn’t think so. In a powerful conversation on the Empowered Life Podcast, Todd sits down with Meredith Murray to look back at a 60-year miracle filled with undeniable details of God's hand at work. From meeting his wife through a Louisiana Tech dorm hallway and selling a home in a week to move to Mansfield, Texas, to surviving a terrifying 2020 heart diagnosis, Todd shares how what once felt random became a profound testimony of faith, stewardship, and resilience.Discover how trials become testimonies, why a life of service matters, and how one garage idea grew into a global mission transforming tens of thousands of children's lives through Allies in Youth Development.In this episode, Todd and Meredith discuss:How Todd’s parents, and later Todd and Rona, metSelling a house in a week and moving to Mansfield, TexasThe 2020 heart diagnosis and a powerful physical peaceLosing a job the week before Christmas Biblical stewardship and the lesson of the widow’s coins Watching Allies grow from a garage idea into a global missionEpisode Chapters / Timestamps:00:00 — Welcome and a “60-year miracle”01:01 — Proverbs 16:9: a man plans his course 02:15 — How Todd’s parents met 05:48 — Louisiana Tech, Rico, and meeting Rona 07:34 — Selling the house and moving to Mansfield 10:09 — “There’s no way it’s a coincidence” 11:19 — Kiwanis and a life of service 13:11 — Where Todd’s trust in God came from 15:41 — The power of mentoring and Allies 18:11 — 2020: the heart diagnosis 22:40 — The warm oil prayer (Philippians 4:4-7) 26:19 — Methodist Mansfield and facing fear 28:02 — The boat, the storm, and why Todd tells this story 29:36 — When trials become a testimony 30:21 — Meredith shares her breast cancer story 32:09 — Losing a job the week before Christmas 33:57 — Stewardship: what we do with what God gives us 35:00 — The widow’s coins and Deuteronomy 8:17 37:29 — Giving it all: the pearl illustration 39:35 — Chris Bergen and the start of Allies 44:11 — What breaks Todd’s heart: marriage and Reengage 48:31 — Todd’s message to listeners 50:23 — The God of the mountains and the valleys Support the Mission:What Todd and his Rotary Club do for three kids is happening right now for 27,000+ children across 93 countries through Allies in Youth Development. Mentors are standing in the gap every single day. 🌍 Allies in Youth Development: https://alliesyouth.org🌐 Explore more: https://www.empoweredlifepodcast.org📲 More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweredLifePodcastThe Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlifepodcast #faith #providence #proverbs16 #testimony #alliesinyouthdevelopment #orphancare #christianpodcast
What does it truly mean to lay down your life and follow God when life takes an unexpected, life-altering turn?In this powerful episode of the Empowered Life Podcast, Meredith sits down with author and worship leader Shannon Alford to discuss what it takes to move our faith from a routine to a daily reality. When Shannon and her husband Simon suddenly lost her brother and sister-in-law, they went from a family of five to a family of ten overnight, stepping up to take in their five nieces and nephews.Powered by Allies (alliesyouth.org), this conversation dives deep into three vital pillars of the Christian walk:- Knowing God: Moving past knowing about God to truly knowing Him in the middle of trauma and trial.- Orphan Care: Navigating the raw reality of grief, breaking the "orphan mentality," and stepping into the gap for children who have experienced immense loss.- True Worship: Discovering that worship isn't just something you do on a Sunday morning, it is a lifestyle of surrender.Whether you are facing your own crossroads or looking to deepen your walk with God, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.📖 Get Shannon's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1621363228?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback🌍 Learn more about Allies and support children in need: www.empoweredlifepodcast.orgThe Mission of AlliesWhat Shannon did for five kids in one home is happening right now for 27,000+ children across 92 countries through Allies in Youth Development. Mentors are walking in, standing in the gap, and pouring into lives every single day. Be part of that: alliesyouth.org🎗️ Join us at the Color Their World Annual Banquet featuring Shane & Shane! Use code PODCAST for 50% off: https://alliesyouth.org/banquet🌍 Allies in Youth Development: https://alliesyouth.org🌐 Explore more: https://www.empoweredlifepodcast.org📺 More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweredLifePodcastThe Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlifepodcast #shannonalford #faith #worship #layingdownyourlife #knowinggod #alliesinyouthdevelopment #orphancare #christianpodcast #northtexasgivingday
DO GOOD, Y'ALL! AND STOP WAITING TO BE READY!You don’t need to clean your whole life up before God can use you to make a real impact.In this special episode, Kristy Serfass, Volunteer Coordinator and Warehouse Manager at Allies in Youth Development, an organization dedicated to rescuing orphans and vulnerable youth around the world through life-giving mentorship and humanitarian aid, shares her powerful story of how God met her in the middle of the bar and party scene, drew her deeper into faith, and used her willingness to take action to create an incredible ripple effect.Kristy and Meredith unpack what it truly means to put "faith with feet", the truth that God meets us right in the middle of taking action. Action isn't what you do after you've figured it all out; it's often the very place where transformation begins.Kristy also takes us on a tour of the Allies warehouse to see how this local hub empowers everyday people, families, and communities to serve with purpose, sending humanitarian aid to vulnerable youth and orphans all around the world.Whether you're stepping out in faith for the first time or looking to serve your community this @northtexasgivingday, Kristy’s journey is proof that God can use you right now, right where you are.📌 CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Intro: What if obedience comes before transformation?03:38 — Welcome Kristy Serfass04:54 — What is Christian Action? Faith with feet07:51 — Action is the fruit, not the root: The three-legged stool10:29 — Being the person through whom others meet Jesus12:07 — The ultimate goal: An encounter with Jesus14:52 — Kristy's story: The bar, the invitation, and church17:21 — Baptism and returning to the bar job18:49 — The moment she knew: "You're done here"22:26 — What God was teaching her in the dark23:36 — Who Kristy is today and the warehouse story24:03 — The teen who started a bracelet club33:06 — Behind the scenes at the Allies warehouse🤠 DO GOOD Y'ALL THIS NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY! Our Allies mentors show up for over 27,000 children every month across 92 countries. You don't have to have it all together to make a difference, partner with Allies in Youth Development today: 👉 https://alliesyouth.org 🤝 GET INVOLVED WITH ALLIES IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:📦 Restock the Allies Warehouse: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3L1PIIF0IB4JH/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?🙋♀️ Volunteer & Get Involved: https://alliesyouth.org/volunteer.aspx 🎟 JOIN US AT THE ALLIES BANQUETCelebrate the mission in person with special guest worship by @ShaneAndShaneMusic Get your tickets here and use coupon code PODCAST for 50% off your ticket! https://alliesyouth.org/banquet🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay connected with the Empowered Life Podcast! Learn more about how you can LIVE empowered and join the movement, visit https://www.empoweredlifepodcast.org/☕ Episode Sip: Shoutout to 7 Brew Coffee for keeping Kristy fueled for international impact! Kristy’s go-to order is the Sweet & Salty (salted caramel + white chocolate breve). @7BrewCoffee The Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlifepodcast #kristyserfass #christianaction #faithwithfeet #alliesinyouthdevelopment #orphancare #mentorship #redemption #actionbeforetransformation #christianpodcast #empoweredpeopleempowerpeople #NorthTexasGivingDay #NTXGivingDay #7brew
What if the pressure you’re carrying was never yours to carry?So many of us are striving to do everything perfectly: trying to control outcomes, carry every burden, and make everything work. But what if God never asked us to carry that weight in the first place?In this episode of The Empowered Life Podcast, I sit down with speaker, entrepreneur, and business coach Jenn Kleiber to explore what it truly means to faithfully steward what God has placed in our hands while trusting Him with the results.Together we talk about:How to exchange pressure for peaceWhy surrender leads to freedom, not passivityRedefining success through God’s KingdomTrusting God through setbacks and uncertaintyLiving open-handed with your time, gifts, and resourcesHow generosity becomes an act of worshipJenn also shares the heart behind the Faith Filled Experience, a one-day gathering for women designed to encourage, equip, and inspire them to walk confidently in God’s calling.🎉 Join Jenn at the Faith Filled Entrepreneur ExperienceIf this conversation encouraged you, we’d love to invite you to continue it in person.📅 August 7📍 Mansfield, Texas100% of the proceeds from this event will benefit Allies in Youth Development, helping train and equip local mentors who are bringing hope and transformation to vulnerable children around the world.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a mom, a leader, or simply someone longing to live with greater peace and purpose, this event is for you.🎟️ Register here: https://www.jennkleiber.com/faithfilled00:00 — Intro: Meredith sets the stage, exchanging pressure for peace03:48 — Jenn Kleiber joins: stewardship, calling, and the one primary calling we all share09:33 — How your calling can become your idol17:55 — We can have doubt and faith at the same time, and that's okay22:26 — Trusting God through setbacks: what holds us back from stewarding well25:34 — She had $4 in her account. God had a plan.29:57 — What are "God touches" and how do you recognize them?38:38 — Praise is a weapon, and here's the method45:27 — Living open-handed doesn't have to be a big event50:24 — Who invested in Jenn: grandmother June and the favor of God55:36 — The Faith Filled Entrepreneur Experience: what it is and why 100% goes to Allies59:33 — Why she chose to give every dollar to Allies in Youth Development01:04:31 — The journey of surrender is exciting. But it's really hard.01:09:15 — Impact Moment: Natalia, South Africa🌍 Allies in Youth Development: https://alliesyouth.org🌐 Explore more: https://www.empoweredlifepodcast.org📲 More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweredLifePodcastThe Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlifepodcast #jennkleiber #faithfilledentrepreneur #stewardship #faith #entrepreneurship #christianpodcast #alliesinyouthdevelopment #orphancare #mentorship #empoweredpeopleempowerpeople
What happens when a single yes turns into a movement?In this special anniversary episode of the Empowered Life Podcast, Meredith Murray sits down with Chris Burgin, Founder and CEO of Allies in Youth Development, to celebrate one full year of the show: 1.7 million views, over 1,000 hours of watch time, and listeners in 26 states and more than a dozen countries.Together, Meredith and Chris revisit the moments that defined the year: pastors going after "the one," a sheriff fighting trafficking before it starts, a financial advisor who learned to give without keeping score, a teacher whose question reached 2,000 people at a graduation, a mentor who found that consistency changes everything, and a survivor who is now the trusted adult she once needed.Chris also opens up about the leaps of faith that built Allies from nothing, and closes the episode with a message about what one yes, said 15 years ago in a Russian orphanage, has become.The Mission of AlliesAllies in Youth Development exists to put a consistent, trusted adult in the life of every vulnerable child who doesn't have one. Right now, that means mentors showing up month after month for more than 27,000 children across 92 countries.✨ JOIN THE MOVEMENT ✨Learn more about how you can empower orphans and vulnerable children globally:👉 Visit alliesyouth.org👉 New landing page: empoweredlifepodcast.org🕒 Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 - Celebrating one year of the Empowered Life Podcast04:15 - Chris Burgin joins: "It's the power of the yes"07:40 - Desi & Mychal Henk on going to "the ends of the earth"19:20 - Sheriff Waybourn on early intervention & prevention31:55 - Shannon Harris on generosity without an agenda36:40 - Chris on faith, provision, and the founding of Allies45:48 - Sam Riley: "What's in your palm?"1:00:11 - Shawn Serfass on the power of consistency1:12:13 - Angela Rose Thorne: "You are that person"1:32:22 - Chris's closing message: One yes can change everything📲 More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweredLifePodcastThe Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlifepodcast #oneyearanniversary #chrisbergen #alliesinyouthdevelopment #orphancare #mentorship #nextgeneration #faithjourney #liveempowered #empoweredpeopleempowerpeople
What happens when you stop keeping score and start living fully surrendered to God’s plan?In this episode of the Empowered Life Podcast, host Meredith Murray sits down with Chip Roop, the President and CEO of the Roop Family Foundation, songwriter, and musician.Chip shares his incredible journey from a small coal town in eastern Kentucky to seminary, and how God took his dream of being a youth pastor and multiplied it into a global impact spanning 52 organizations.Meredith and Chip dive deep into what true, unconditional generosity and empowerment look like: shifting our focus outward rather than inward, getting our hands dirty alongside the organizations we support, and empowering the next generation to be game-changers today, not just "one day" in the future.Central to the foundation's global reach is its deep partnership with Allies in Youth Development. Chip shares the emotional story of being surprised with the "Allies Roop Library" in Peru, a community impact center where mentors pour into vulnerable children daily. It’s a beautiful testament to how partnering with Allies has allowed his foundation to expand its mission across the globe, now reaching children in 92 countries.If you are ready to be inspired to live an obedient, generous, and truly empowered life, this conversation is for you!✨ JOIN THE MOVEMENT ✨Want to link arms with people changing the world? Learn more about how you can empower orphans and vulnerable children globally through Allies in Youth Development:👉 Visit https://alliesyouth.org🎵 LISTEN TO CHIP'S MUSIC 🎵Stream "Beautiful Outlaw" and Chip's full album on Apple Music and Spotify by searching: Chip Roop.🕒 Suggested Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Intro: What does it mean to live an empowered life?01:45 - Meet Chip Roop & The Roop Family Foundation03:20 - Shifting from "Check-Writers" to Active Partners04:55 - The Power of Collaboration: Group Coffee Gatherings06:40 - The Surprise Allies Library in Peru: God as the Ultimate Multiplier09:30 - What True Generosity Actually Means (Stop Keeping Score)12:15 - How the Foundation Shaped Chip’s Faith14:10 - Heartbreak & Hope for the Next Generation16:45 - Eyewitness to the Asbury Revival21:30 - Passing the Legacy to the Next Generation24:00 - The Story Behind the Song "Beautiful Outlaw"29:00 - Outro: Go Live Empowered!The Empowered Life Podcast | Powered by Allies in Youth Development#empoweredlife #generosity #nextgeneration #faithjourney #beautifuloutlaw #youthministry #liveempowered
What does it look like when someone who spent decades furious at God finally lets Him in? In this powerful episode of The Empowered Life Podcast, we sit down with Lisa "Sunshine" Jennett, an unconventional, unapologetic, and radically authentic author and entrepreneur. Her life is living proof that where you start does not define where you finish. Born into a violent home in West Texas, Sunshine learned early that the only way out was to outwork her surroundings. By age eight, she had a paper route. By her twenties, she had endured the devastating loss of twin daughters and survived homelessness in London. She went on to build a landscaping empire from scratch, but through it all, she kept God at a very deliberate distance. Then, alone in a field, everything broke open. Tune in to hear Lisa's raw testimony of what happened next at that retreat, at her father's deathbed, and how an encounter with God completely transformed her fury into an unbreakable faith. 🤝 SUPPORT OUR MISSIONThis episode of The Empowered Life Podcast is proudly powered by Allies in Youth Development. Just as Lisa overcame a childhood of trauma and instability, millions of vulnerable children are looking for hope today. Allies in Youth Development works tirelessly to rescue orphaned and abandoned children from a future of despair. Through dedicated in-country mentors, Allies provides critical human connection, life skills, and education pathways to children in over 92 countries every single day. You can be the turning point in a child's story. ➡️ Be part of the movement: https://alliesyouth.org 📖 GET LISA’S BOOK Grab your copy of Lisa "Sunshine" Jennett's incredible book, When Last I Saw Me: ➡️ Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Last-Saw-... ⏱️ CHAPTERS [00:23] - Introduction: Welcoming Lisa "Sunshine" Jennett to the podcast.[02:27]- Her story mirrors the mission of those Allies serves.[03:13] - Early Life in Texas: Growing up in West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, finding safety in hard work, and early dreams of adoption.[06:46] - Meeting Her First Husband & Moving to Scotland: Her unexpected engagement and life in Glasgow managing a unique Sunday school.[13:02] - Tragedy & Returning to Texas: Facing the heartbreaking loss of her twins, returning home to start over, and establishing her landscape business.[17:08] - The Turning Point: A personal crisis leading to a journey of self-reflection back through her childhood towns.[26:19] - From Fury to Faith: Attending "Quest" camp, confronting her anger toward God, and experiencing an unexpected encounter of love.[35:44] - Reconnecting with Her Father: A 20-month journey of visiting her abusive father, Raymond, leading to a profound lesson in borrowing divine love to forgive.[49:34] - Relationships with Her Mother & Mentors: Caring for her mother later in life and honoring the key people who poured into her throughout her journey.[59:11] - Three Favorite Words: Unpacking the philosophy behind her favorite concepts: "Yes", "Monday", and "Fail".[01:09:07] - Allies in Youth Development: Her "why" behind helping orphans, restoring family units, and finding what you are brilliant at to serve others.[01:23:47] - Conclusion & Final Thoughts: Host wrap-up on living an empowered "10X" life.[<a href="https://www.youtube.com
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