Lifestyle A4 - Spark Media Ventures

SPARK MEDIAPODCAST MAGAZINE

PREMIERISSUE

www.SparkMedia.Ventures

SPARK MEDIA MAGAZINE- 2 -


CONTENT

01Spark MediaConfernece

Details and insiderinformation about thesecond Spark MediaPodcast Conference…

PAGE 6

03Publishing toPodcasting

Lee Ann Mancini shares herjourney from publishing tocreating an animatedchildren’s series tolaunching a podcast.

PAGE 12

02Listen in WhenGod Redirects

Rebecca George shareshelpful strategies to pivot towhen God redirects.

PAGE 10

04Cover StoryLucas Miles

Lucas Miles path to ministryhas the Lord’s fingerprintsof faithfulness all over it asa Pastor, Missionary,Influencer, Christian Mediaprofessional and podcasthost.

PAGE 16

The Collective

The Spark Collective is aprivate membershipcommunity designed toinstruct Christian podcasterson the best practices of theindustry and the latestadvances in podcasting.

OvercomersUnite

05

How ChristianCommunicators CanOvercome Fear and Hurdlesand Just Start Podcasting

PAGE 26

What EquipmentDoes Spark Use?

07

Get a behind-the-mic lookat what equipment we useat Spark, from microphonesto software and all the kitin-between.

PAGE 38

Spark MediaAwards

06

Read about ElizabethJohnston opened the SparkMedia Podcast Awards, andall of the winners across 14catagories including thenew fan based PeoplesChoice Award.

PAGE 34

What If?

08 09

What if George Mueller hada podcast in todays world?How would he approachpodcasting and what thingsmight he do differently?

PAGE 40

00From the Editor

Misty Phillip shares theSpark Media journey andthe heart behind the SparkMedia Podcast Magazine.

PAGE 4 PAGE 21



From theEditorWRITTER: MISTY PHILLIP

PH: KELLY BUCKNER

Spark's growth has sky-rocketed in 2021through our strategic partnerships andalliances. Joing the movement today!

Hey Friends,Welcome to the Premier issue of

the Spark Media podcast magazine! Iam Misty Phillip, Founder of SparkMedia, host of the By His Gracepodcast, and author of The Struggle isReal: But so is God Bible Study. I amthrilled you are here! A few years ago,I answered the Lord’s call to ministryand leadership in the Christianpodcasting space. Christianity is thelargest podcast category on ApplePodcasts, but it is also the leastrepresented in the industry. When Idiscovered there were no eventsspecifically designed to cater to theunique needs of Christian podcasters.I felt God’s call to bring the best ofwhat is happening in the podcastindustry to the Christian podcastcommunity.

The mission of Spark Media andall of our ventures is to gatherKingdom-minded women and mentogether who share a desire to serveGod and others through podcasting.At Spark Media, we equip podcastersthrough live and virtual events,training from industry leaders, and athriving community.

The Spark Story Spark began asan answer to prayer when I askedGod where my gifting and calling linedup in this season of my life. A fewmonths later, I hosted the inauguralSpark Christian Podcast Conference inFebruary 2020 and the rest washistory. A few short weeks later, ourworld was rocked by the globalpandemic. God prepared and

equipped attendees, ignited anenormous amount connections,sparked new voices and podcaststhrough the Spark Community.

Spark ConferenceAt the Spark Concerence connectionswere made, hearts encouraged,podcasters equipped, and friendshipsformed. Podcasters left Spark with thetools needed to launch their podcastand grow their existing shows. Next,God put a membership community onmy heart as means to help podcastersstay connected, stay on mission, andcontinue to learn and grow throughthe pandemic and beyond.

The Spark CollectiveThe inner circle of the Sparkcommunity is the collective. Membershave access to exclusive growth andmonetization opportunities with withstrategic partnerships with companiessuch as Notion Digital, Pray.com, andGlory Stone. Member benefits include:being a part of the Spark Network,expert trainings, extensive videolibrary, bi-weekly Mastermindmeetings with the Spark team, one onone consultations, and networkingand connection with others whodesire to glorify the Lord whilespreading the message of the gospel.

Expansion & GrowthIn 2020, we held two additional virtualevents. The first event was acollaboration with Podfest. We hostedtheir first faith-based track and helpedset the Guinness book of worldrecords for the largest virtual podcastevent. We then hosted our first virtual

event in the fall, the Spark NOWSummit, to encourage podcasters tostand firm through 2020, whichgarnered praise for being the bestvirtual event people had attended allyear.

Strategic PartnershipsSpark's growth has sky-rocketed in2021 through our strategicpartnerships and alliances. It was anhonor to partner with the prestigiousNational Religious Broadcasters for the2021 Spark Media Conference. At theSpark Media Award Ceremony welaunched the Spark Network, as ameans of highlighting the work ofpodcasters with a Biblical worldview.

The Spark NetworkSpark Media is thrilled to partner withGlorystone to bring the Spark Networkto fruition. The network is anexclusive offering for members of theSpark Collective. The Spark Networkbrings collaboration to the forefront ofChristian podcasting by acting as aseamless directory of creatives and asearchable and listener-friendlyplatform with customizable features.

Spark Media MagazineWe created the Spark Media magazineas a quarterly publication for Christianpodcasters and podcast fans to beinformed, educated, and inspired.Enjoy!

Much Love,~ Misty Phillip



WRITTER: YVETTEWALKERPH: KELLY BUCKNER

Spark MediaConference01Grapevine, tx: Nick Ruffin’s mellowbaritone voice is perfect for apodcaster. The Broken Arrow, Okla.native, hosts Vantage Point, apodcast that brings insight andintrospection to daily living throughthe lens of God.

It was no accident that he won theSpark Media Best Male Podcast Hostduring a two-day conferencededicated to Christian media.The Spark Media PodcastingConference, which ran alongside theveteran NRB Christian Mediaconvention, drew passionate Christiancommunicators in late June.

Ruffin said he came becausecommunity is essential. “For me, it’simportant to get around Christiansthat have a passion for reachingpeople through the Gospel of JesusChrist, whether that’s TV film,podcasting, radio, or creative arts,” hesaid. Today’s Christian media is morethan the veteran and beloved TrinityBroadcasting Network or K-LoveRadio. Today, podcasts, streamingvideo, and digital marketing havejoined this space to shout out theGospel and Christian values.

Assembled at the Gaylord TexasConvention Center, NRB is the oldestand largest gathering of ChristianCommunicators and ministryprofessionals. Newcomer Spark isuniting the next group of thesecommunicators in the podcastingspace.

The Spark Media Podcasting Conference, whichran alongside the veteran NRB Christian Mediaconvention, drew passionate Christiancommunicators in late June.

Spark Media Conference Day One, held at the GaylordTexan Hotel in Grapvine TX.

Organized by Misty Phillip, thefounder of Spark Media, podcastersfrom across the country returned tothe second in-person conference. Formany, it was important to be here.

Ruffin said the convention is all aboutthe connections made here. “Just tosee the amount of connections, notjust business cards and phonenumbers, but relationships. That hasbeen the biggest joy of coming here.”

Michelle and Shea Watson, a marriedcouple who co-host the PantryPodcast, drove from Maryland to theconference.

“We serve up spiritual nutrition foryour eternal storehouse,” saidMichelle, who gave a presentation onSEO and social media.

Elizabeth Meyers hosts the ResilientLife Hacks podcast, based inPittsburg, Texas. Meyers described herpodcast as a discussion aboutovercoming adversity, “so you can dothe thing God created you to do.”

Meyers is a new podcaster and saidshe came to learn. “I’m reallyenjoying what I’m doing, but I wantto learn how to do it better and reallyproduce something that’s of value tothe listeners.”

Digital Church outreach

Over at NRB, Church leaders yearnedto know more about their presence indigital media. At the Church MediaLunch on Tuesday, one questionloomed over many traditionalministries: why are we doing churchthe way we’ve always done it?

We don’t have to, said Phil Cooke,CEO of Cooke Media Group and theauthor of “Maximize your Influence:How to Make Digital Media Work foryour Church, Your Ministry, and You.”



WE SERVE UP SPIRITUALNUTRITION FOR YOUR ETERNAL

STOREHOUSE

Cooke shared examples of churcheswho tried live streams and then putthose streams on broadcast TV todrive more people to the church. Healso talked about how “stunned” he isat the influence you can have justusing an iPhone to capture video.

“For us to not use digital media toshare the Gospel is just …” he shookhis head, trailing off and telling thecrowd about the lost opportunities forchurches not fully utilizing the digitalspace.

Cooke offered some commonmistakes by churches who are tryingto jump into digital media, especiallylive-streaming:

• Understand how people arewatching and on what platform.• Coach the pastor, who may not beused to this new media• And make the live stream easy tofind on your website.

“People will take no more than fourseconds (to find the live-stream of a

“ “SPARKMEDIA 2021 CONFERENCE

“The Spark Media Conference has sparked the flame of anointed voicesthat have purposeful podcasts. This flame is spreading globally toencourage, equip, and entertain others with God’s truth and love. Thankyou for gathering us together so we can sharpen our skills and to linkarms with one another. It was a conference worth attending and I lookforward to it again next year. “

Wendie Pett, The Visibly Fit Podcast

MISTY PHILLIP INTERVIEWS RACHAEL FLICK FOR THE BY HISGRACE PODCAST - PH PETER PHILLIP

When I chose to attend Spark it wasbecause I needed to learn the techparts of podcasting better. The tech isconfusing to me, and I heard thatSpark has a great way of making thetech seem less overwhelming. What Iwas not expecting was to be inspiredto not only make my show better butto make my voice louder and toembrace a part of my calling I had setdown.Spark made me realize that I wascensoring my own message and mycalling. I left inspired. I immediatelymade changes to my show, I amrelaunching it with my full uncensored

message and I picked up that part ofmy calling I had set down.Spark is aptly named. This conferenceignited something in me that I cannotfully explain without taking upsignificantly more space, but I will saythis: this conference has the ability tochange more than your show- beopen to the process, show up, do thework, pray, and He will show up. Howcan he not? You are literally sitting ina room filled with people who have allembraced their calling, He was in thatroom the moment you crossed thethreshold.~ Trina Rothman

service). If you can’t deliver in thatamount of time, you’ve failed,” hesaid.

Yvette Walker is the award-winninghost of the Positively Joy podcast onfinding real joy in God in all seasonsof life. Find it at PositivelyJoy.com andall podcast platforms.

“

“

“



WRITTER: Rebecca GeorgePH: LINDSAY OTT

Listen InWhen GodRedirects

02

Isat in my swivel desk chair, andmy heart started beating faster.God was telling me it was time. It

was time to begin the journey ofpodcasting. I was a newly marriedpastors' wife, working remotely fromour home. I was struggling to findnew friendships in my new season oflife, and the idea of connecting withauthors, speakers, and other voicesthat encourage me to createconversations that mattered soundedjust like what I needed. Also, I knewit was the medium that seemed to bemaking the most significant impact atsuch a rapid rate. I wanted to be apart of what God was doing in the lifeof His Church!

My first few interviews were mymeager offering to God of all I had inleading a conversation, crafting greatquestions, and handling important

“I've had the opportunity to interview someof my heroes, favorite authors, and otherswith amazing stories only God could write.”

Rebecca George - Radical Raidence

subjects with care. He takes our fishesand loaves and multiplies them when wesurrender our best to Him, doesn't He?As my podcasting journey has continuedto unfold, I've had the opportunity tointerview some of my heroes, favoriteauthors, and others with amazing storiesonly God could write.

As I've continued taking the nextsteps of obedience, God has continuedlighting my path forward. Little by little.Last year during the COVID-19pandemic, I began sensing a shift as Iprayed about the future of my show. Theshow was growing rapidly, and Godcontinued opening doors only He couldopen. He kept bringing me back to theword "radiant" and the idea ofencouraging the Church to look to Christand follow Him boldly. When we do that,as we see in Psalm 34:5, we are radiantto those around us.

I stirred on it, and God continued, asHe does, to confirm this directionthrough His word as I read through theBible chronologically. Moses's face shonewith the glory of God after descendingfrom Mount Sinai after spending fortydays and forty nights in the presence ofGod. We see that the Church is the lightof the world, a city on a hill that cannotbe hidden in Matthew 5. Jesus is theradiance of the glory of God and an exactimprint of His nature (Hebrews 1).

I'm thrilled to share about what Godhas done and where we've landed with anew brand for our podcast community –Radical Radiance™, with a goal of

helping women blend what they lovewith the Jesus who makes them shine!So, what do we do when we sense a shiftin the direction of our work? Here are afew ideas I would share to encourageyou on the other side of a rebrand:1. Continue creating withexcellence. Don't stop creating!Continue walking through the doors Godopens and look for confirmation in Hisword. Ask Him for it, and He is faithful togive it to you! Pursue excellence in yourinterviews, your production quality, andyour systems to create an amazingpodcast.2. Listen in. Share with safe people inyour life what God is speaking to you andask for accountability. Some of the bestdecisions I've ever made resulted fromsharing a thought with some friends whohad a different perspective than me.They helped me take my idea a stepfurther!3. Create a project plan. If you dodecide that a rebrand is necessary, createa project plan for yourself. I use Trello toorganize my podcast calendar as well asother in-depth projects. Make a list ofevery task you foresee having to tackleas a part of the process. The project planwill help determine your timeline andwho/what you need to be involved.4. Set a deadline. Last but certainly notleast, give yourself a deadline! It's easyto look at a task list and get incrediblyoverwhelmed by all that is involved inexecuting a rebrand. Still, when you havea detailed path forward that includesdeadlines and direction, you will be onthe way to an amazing new journey!

So, what do we do when we sense a shift inthe direction of our work?



WRITTER: LEE ANNMANCINIPH: LENAMANCINI

FROM PUBLISHINGTO PODCASTING

Are you a podcaster or want tobecome one? Read on!

Honestly, podcasting wasn’tsomething I was actively thinkingabout; I had never listed to a podcast,let alone thought about starting one.Apparently, God was thinking about

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it—no, he had a plan. I love surprises,don’t you? And this surprise calling ledme to an excellent opportunity toglorify the Lord. I have to admit;podcasting became a blessing to me!

My calling started when myhusband and our two kids drove to

Michigan to see the family. We did thisevery summer, but this one was a bitdifferent because I struggled to findbooks that would help my childrenactively live out biblical principles. Iwanted something that would pairwith what I was teaching them, whichwould help them deal with real-lifesituations.

So, when we arrived at ourfamily’s home, I grabbed a pen andspent a lot of time writing my firststory. I wanted to test it, so I read thestory to all the children who werethere. They all loved it. And when wewent back to our home, I tested againfrom my friends’ children. Eventhough it had no pictures, the childrenwanted more!

Writing the stories made me feelgood, but what was the next step?Maybe I would end up reading themto my grandchildren one day.

Years went by, and the promptingof the Holy Spirit became stronger andmore urgent. He wanted me to get thestories out to families who would needthem. So, I prayed and came to adecision—get them illustrated.

It took me one year to find theperfect illustrator. Dan Sharp, a giftedChristian artist who worked for Disney,Warner Brothers, and Americangreeting cards, liked the premise ofthe books and agreed to give themillustrations. My newly formedpublishing company, GLM PublishingLLC (God Loves Me Publishing), was

on track to something I would neverhave dreamed.

When the first book wasformatted and illustrated, I sent thefirst galley to teachers who worked ina local Christian elementary school. Ialso included a questionnaire so theycould share some feedback.Overwhelmingly, they said I shouldwrite more books like the first onebecause the children were delighted.

I was both thrilled and worried.“Okay, Lord, if you want me to domove forward with more books,please give me a sign before I investin the hardcopy printing, which isexpensive.”

The sign came when I receivedsecond place in the Benjamin Franklin

I KNOW THIS SERIES GLORIFIES THELORD, AND IS SHAPING THE HEARTSAND MINDS OF LITTLE CHILDREN.AND, AS WRITTEN IN PSALM 115:1, IGIVE TO GOD ALL THE CREDIT AND

GLORY.

“

“



Awards from the Independent BooksPublishers. Second place, in a secularcontest with hundreds of entries, wassuch an exciting surprise.

Fast forward: My seven Christianchildren’s books have collectively won26 awards. I never dreamed theywould be made into an animationseries. But they did! I am blessed tosay they have been made into 26 SeaKids episodes!

As part of marketing the booksand the animation series, I sat inmany booths at many conventions.One day, at the National ReligiousBroadcasting Convention, I sat in mybooth and watched the crowd ofpeople walking around in a sea ofgray and brown booths wereeverywhere. They housed radios,televisions, professional broadcasters,and other materials. My booth stoodout as it was brightly colored and theonly booth with Christian children’sbooks. “Why am I here?” I silentlyasked God.

Then I heard him say, “Becausethis is where I want you to be.”Before I knew it, people were oo-ingover my books. I sold every one ofthose—AND I took orders. Jesus oncesaid, “Blessed rather are those whohear the word of God and obey it”(Luke 11:28 NIV).

While selling every book and thensome, to my surprise Cliff McDowell,from P23 Entertainment, walked up tomy table, looked at the books, andasked me if I ever thought abouthaving my series made into ananimation series.

I replied, “I wished I had a nickelevery time a parent asked me if therewere DVDs.”

Cliff McDowell, a talented, godlyman, to say the least, created “PawsIn Tales,” “Bible Man,” “BoogaboogaLand,” “Men of Might,” “The MaskedSaint,” and now “Sea Kids!” It feels sohumble yet excited when I read how

P23 Entertainment introduced us:

Sea Kids, the newest underwateranimation series! Freddy, David,Melissa, and their friends findthemselves navigating the roughwaters of peer pressure, temptation,fear, forgiving others, listening toparents, dealing with bullies, lack ofself-esteem, and so much more.Children can relate to these adorablecharacters and their problematicsituations. Each action-packed,beautifully animated episode showsthe characters praying to Jesus,asking Him for guidance and wisdom.

Sea Kids reaches thousands ofchildren daily. The series is featuredon Right Now Media, Pure Flix, andTrinity Broadcasting Network andstreamed on other media platforms.Sea Kids has become a favoriteamong children, parents, andeducators. It is a blessing to hear,“Sea Kids has helped my son tounderstand what it means to live likeChrist and how to show love to otherswho may be mean to him.” Or, “Mykids love Sea Kids. They pray everyday and every night just like the SeaKids do in the show.”

I know this series glorifies theLord and is shaping the hearts andminds of little children. And, as writtenin Psalm 115:1, I give to God all thecredit and glory.

Not only do I write for children, Ialso teach seminary students andeven parents. As an adjunct professorat South Florida Bible College andTheological Seminary, I enjoywitnessing the blessing the series hasbrought to the parents as well as thechildren. God has created a desirewithin me to take scripture seriously.He has called me to research andteach. I must say that I love toresearch. It’s my hobby. I felt called toresearch, and I did. I ventured towrite a book, and I did that one and

many more. And now God has nudgedme to start a podcast!

My first thought: “You want meto what? Lord!”

Just as I knew nothing aboutpublishing or animation production, Iknew nothing about podcasting andhad to learn. I wanted to name mypodcast “Raising Christian Kids.” So,more research on the internet. Andvoila! It had not been taken. Iassumed this was a sign from the Lordto proceed.

By God’s grace and direction, Ifound the Rocket Podcast Community,now known as Spark Media Ventures.Its founder, Misty Phillip, and theSpark Media family have beeninvaluable in guiding me through mypodcasting venture. Other podcasters,in the mastermind sessions, sharedwhat they did right and what they didwrong. They are like-mindedChristians who do not see me as acompetitor but as a family member inthe body of Christ. I learned thepodcasting ropes through the supportof these godly people.

It was not easy. It was scary butrewarding. After each episode, I foundmy podcast voice. I knew theinformation I would share wouldbenefit parents, grandparents,teachers, ministry leaders, and anyoneraising the next generation. After twoand half years of researching thebrightest minds in children’sspirituality, in addition to mycontinued research, my podcast is upand running. My vision is to educateand empower people worldwide—people who want to teach the nextgeneration. It’s about the salvation ofthe children and the preservation ofChristianity.

What do Samuel, Jeremiah,David, Paul, and Timothy have incommon? They were taught from the

womb! From infancy, they had a solidfoundation before they became adults.I share how we can help our childrenbuild a strong foundation in Christ viamy podcast Raising Christian Kids.

I am doing the work God hascalled me to do. And what blesses memost here on earth are hearingparents say, “My children love yourSea Kids books and the animationseries” and “I love your podcast!Thank you for sharing your wisdom!”And another blessing, which justhappened, was Raising Christian Kidsbeing chosen as “Best Solo Podcast2021. I am humbled and grateful.

So, if you’re thinking about starting apodcast, don’t be fearful of theunknown. Remember, Peter did stepout of the boat in faith. Look to thosewho desire to walk beside you andhelp you truly. And the greatestreward will come as you enter heavenand hear, “Well done, good andfaithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23).

PODCASTS PROVIDE AN

EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY

TO HONE YOUR SPEAKING

VOICE AND DELIVER

YOUR MESSAGE FAR AND

WIDE. IT IS ALSO A

GREAT WAY TO BUILD

BRAND AUTHORITY AND

SET YOURSELF UP AS A

THOUGHT LEADER IN

YOUR INDUSTRY.

Podcasting Tip:Just a few of themany Sea Kids products. Make sure to checkthem out at www.SeaKidsTV.com

Sea Kids helps transform children'shearts and minds to have a deeperrelationship with Christ as they seethese characters living out biblicalprinciples in each story.



FORTHLUCAS MILES

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WRITTER: BAYLEE DUNNPH: GRACE THOMAS

In America today, startling statisticshave demonstrated that Christians aretaking their faith far less seriouslythan in past decades. According toBarna’s 2020 State of the Churchreport, “one in three practicingChristians has stopped attendingchurch during COVID-19.” The writerof the book of Hebrews cautionsprofessing Christians, saying, “And letus consider how to stir up oneanother to love and good works, notneglecting to meet together, as is thehabit of some, but encouraging oneanother, and all the more as you seethe Day drawing near.” (Hebrews04

10:13-14) The world, our nation, andour cities are in turmoil - thegovernment is continually takingcontrol of institutions such aschurches and silencing those whotake a stance on sound Biblicaldoctrine. With relativistic truths takinghold rapidly, Christians must continueto proclaim and defend the truthfound in scripture. With the moraldecline of society happening beforeour eyes, our boldness is more criticalthan ever. Just ask pastor and mediaprofessional Lucas Miles.Lucas’s path to ministry might seemordinary from the outside looking in,

Lucas’s path to ministry might seem ordinaryfrom the outside looking in, but the Lord’sfingerprint of faithfulness is indeed evident fromthe start.

EXCELLENCE, FOR CHRISTIANPODCASTERS, IS A

WORTHWHILE GOAL

“

“



but the Lord’s fingerprint offaithfulness is indeed evident from thestart.

By God’s providence, Lucas wasborn and raised in a Christian home inSouth Bend, Indiana, where he spentmany of his waking hours within thefour walls of his denominationalchurch. Whether he wasfellowshipping with the pastors orbreaking into the church to playbasketball with his friends, Lucasmade it a priority to be in attendance.He made an effort to listen attentivelyand soak up his mentor’s insight, anassociate pastor, whom he credits forthe opportunity to step into His firstministerial position as a youth pastorat age seventeen. He met his wife,Crissy, in this season, as well.

Simultaneously, his passion formedia began to flourish. When askedabout the origins of his career inmedia, Lucas recalled being gifted aVHS camcorder by his parents duringelementary school. He let his creativityrun wild, shooting short videos andyelling, “quiet on the set!” in thedirection of all who would listen. Lucasutilized his gift of persuasive

Bill Dallas CEO of Liftable and LucasMilesPH: Grace Thomas

Nick Vujicic and LucasMilesPH: Grace Thomas

LucasMiles on the run.PH: Krissy Miles

communication to convince his sixth-grade teacher to allow him to replacean essay with a video assignment, andhe was instantaneously hooked!

As he grew in his gifts, Lucasbegan to explore his passion furtherthrough the creation andimplementation of the “Luc AnnualCoffee House,” a variety show that hedirected and produced on his schoolgrounds. At the time, the Lord waspreparing him for the calling that heplaced on his life to serve peoplewithin the media industry.

As a young professional, hebegan managing the careers of up-and-coming musical artists and actors.Through his coaching, mentorship,and management work with a youngactress, Sophie Bolen, he branchedout into the media industry and beganleaving his mark. During the filming ofthe movie “Rodeo Girls,” Lucas foundhimself on set. He was asked by amember of the production team tostep in for one of the producers whocould not fulfill the role for the film.With a motto of “how hard can thisbe?” Lucas jumped into the role withenthusiasm and curiosity.

He then began wondering how hecould continue to leverage the mediafor Christian principles and made aneffort to establish His identity in thefield. Giving glory and honor to Godalong the way, he found himselfbecoming increasingly successful atthe craft of media production. Hedeveloped what he describes as a“mindset of influence,” recognizing theimportance of leveraging hisknowledge, experience, and skills forthe Kingdom.

After the release of his first book,Lucas found himself at the NRBChristian Media Convention, where hispublicist set upwards of fortyinterviews in which he was to discusshis work. The first of these interviewswas with Billy Hallowell, who, at the

“Stay in proximity, resist the urge to forceit, and advance on all fronts.”



time, was working with the Blaze.Lucas, though he was newly minted inthe field, recognized this as a pivotalmoment in his career. Godorchestrated connections for Lucas insuch a way that His presence wasundeniable. The Lord allowed for himto cross paths with Matthew Faraci, aswell, with whom he would later go onto co-host the renowned podcast “TheChurch Boys.”

When asked about the mostimpactful lesson that he would passon to others, without hesitation, Lucascautioned future podcasters to “fight

the perfection vibe.” That is, just getstarted. He echoed the reminder thatas podcasters, we can resist the urgeto do everything perfectly, while stillstriving to do everything with acertain level of excellence.

Excellence, for Christianpodcasters, is a worthwhile goal. Toobtain it, there are three principlesthat Lucas urges podcasters toembrace: stay in proximity, resist theurge to force it, and advance on allfronts.

When addressing the issue ofproximity, one must be knowledgeable

Lucas & Krissy MilesPH: LucasMiles

of the impact that he or she desires tomake and the people that he or shemust be continually surrounded withto take steps in a new direction. Inother words, surround yourself withthe people that you would most desireto emulate.

When it comes to the secondprinciple, Lucas reminds podcastersnot to force things or relationshipsthat are not meant to be. Letrelationships form naturally, and theLord will do the rest.

Lastly, Lucas makes a powerfulpoint when he challenges readers toadvance on all fronts. “Do not wait foreverything to fall into place before youdo anything,” he states. “Move whatyou can move today.” Using theimpactful visual example of acheckerboard, Lucas illustrated thatthere will eventually be abreakthrough when we move onepiece forward diligently. Forpodcasters, consistency can often leadto this outcome.

Be persistent in the actions thatyou take and continue to walk in thepurpose that the Lord has given you.Lucas Miles is a remarkable exampleof the power of persistence andperseverance when partnered with astrong faith. The Lord will open doorswhen His timing, our giftings, and Hispurposes align. Our only duty asChristians is to show up, consistentlyproclaim truth, and point others to thelove of the Father.

If you have enjoyed Lucas’ story,be sure to check out his company,Miles Media, and his newest book,“The Christian Left: How LiberalThought Has Hĳacked the Church.”We encourage you to take a stand onthe truths found within scripture andto boldly proclaim the gospel, taking itto the nations, as the Lord graciouslyallows you to do through yourpodcast.Lucas Miles, https://lucasmiles.org.

- OVERCOMERS -

UNITEWhen I was fourteen years old, Ipreferred pens to microphones.Though I was born with a burningdesire to express my emotionsthrough writing, I never envisionedmyself speaking. I certainly could notimagine podcasting since it did notexist. As a teen, armed with a smallhandheld journal, I spent manyafternoons in a wooded thicket behindmy house composing poems riddledwith teen angst.

I was suspended on a pipe over acreek teeming with slithering watermoccasins, poem after poem flowed

Overcomers Unite:How Christian CommunicatorsCan Overcome Fear and Hurdles

and Just Start Podcasting

05WRITTER: CINDY LAFAVRE YORKS

PH: KELLY BUCKNER



out of me like cascading falls off of arushing river. I wasn’t sure what I wasmore afraid of – the dangerous snakesor daring to write with no holdsbarred. I had so much to say. And I’mstill continually discovering there weremany ways to express myself andachieve a nirvana of catharsis and somuch more!

So I began trying all the things.Journalism piqued my interest, andthat led to an array of prestigious,high-profile newspaper positions. Ifound working glamor detail, myselfwriting about the glitterati. I jettedabout covering celebrity-studdedfashion shows and finally ended up onthe red carpet. I applied for New Yorkpublishing house gigs only to concludeearly that unless you’re JackieOnassis, your chances of landing a joblike that are slim to none!

Twenty years of special needparenting interrupted my writingjourney - until Jesus met me in thatdetour. He upheld me with His righthand. And when I finally found the

Spark Conference 2020PH: Sara Jane Photography

Create high-value shownotes to improve your

podcasts discoverability,growth and SEO.

For more tips visitSparkMedia.Ventures/blog

emotional and literal bandwidth totake up the pen again after twodecades, three devotion books pouredout of me. At last, I was ready to usethe gifts He’s given me for His gloryand not mine. But there were stillmany new genres to explore.

Suddenly a new frontier openedup before me, namely, podcasting.This wild west of an industryprompted me to lay down my featherpens and tackle technological titansI’d spent most of my life sidesteppingand ignoring. (This was no easy featsince, in college, I’d dropped out ofbasic audio because I was toointimidated to go the distance.) Andas a DJ in college (yes, I did that too),I learned precisely what I needed toget by, no more or no less.

I’m embarrassed to say that ittook me five more months in thesummer of 2020 to overcome all myfears and dive into the pool once Imade up my mind to podcast. And ifthe pandemic hadn’t hit, I might stillbe twiddling my thumbs. Right before

Covid hit, I’d attended a podcastingconference, bought a couple of how-to books, and aligned myself withmentors and podcasting pioneers.Soon I was off and running.

Fast forward to the summer of2021. My podcast, His GPS For YourSOS, is one year old this month. Itwas recently ranked in the top 10percent of all podcasts globally,according to Listen Notes. If you havea podcasting dream, I don’t want youto waste valuable time like I did andremain stuck.

Stuck accurately describes wherenow veteran podcaster Jerry Duganfound himself six years ago. Hispodcast team, which launchedBeyond the Rut, tested their programfor nine months before finally doing asoft launch of the show with his twopartners at the time.“We argued, doubted ourselves, ourmessage, our ability to carry it outand (even whether) we were worthyto share it in the first place,” herecalls. With 262 episodes under his

belt to date, Dugan has managed toretain his audience and is glad he andhis team finally took the plunge.

Perhaps you are wondering how youcan overcome similar obstacles totaking your dream of podcasting andturning it into a reality.

Here are a few of the basichurdles standing between wanna-bepodcasters and the fruition of theirdreams.

“I can’t compete with big-namepodcasters!”

One of the things I love about thepodcasting arena is the fact that thecontent is so richly varied. And if youare a Christian communicator, you willbe happy to know that Christianpodcasts make up the largest overallsegment of the podcastingcommunity. Don’t worry about thecompetition. God has called you topodcast, and there is room and anaudience for your content. Focus onyour content, and the people will findyou.“I don’t have any designatedspace or equipment or even aclue on how to operate what Icould order on Amazon.”

I hear you! When I finallystopped sitting on my hands and gotbusy, I decided to take my scripts to arecording studio and go for it! I thenhired someone to design the graphicand yet another person to edit andupload them. This is a great way toget your feet wet with the processbefore investing in a full-time staff or

The Spark Media Overcomers atthe Spark Media 2021 Conference.Left to right: Cindy Yorks, MarySnyder, Misty Phillip, Jodi Howe

Podcasting Tip



equipment or even remodeling aroom. (I’ve been working like that forabout a year. But I know severalpeople who podcast from theirbathrooms, so don’t let real estatehurdles stop you either!)

“I’m not a trained speaker andhate the sound of my voice.”

Everyone pretty much feels thisway when they are first starting out.“Don’t overthink it,” advises SanFrancisco-based communicationsexpert and keynote speaker KarenLaos. “Speak with projection,authority, and clearly articulate. Try tobe conversational and speak at anatural pace. Practice before youactually record. “You may also want toinvestigate the many online coursesavailable to help improve speakingskills at any level.

“I don’t have enough money tostart a podcast”While it’s true you will incur some

start-up costs if you decide to podcastin a home studio, they aren’t asprohibitive as you might think. Youcan buy a starter microphone onAmazon for as little as $60 and recordyour podcast on Garage Band. You willindeed want to decide how much of ityou undertake on your own and howmuch you might want to outsource asyour podcast matures. You can alsohire virtual assistants to teach youwhat you need to know if you need abit more hand-holding than booksprovide.

“What if nobody listens?”Honestly, this may be one of the

most difficult fears to overcome.Patience is required to go the distanceas you continue to build your audienceand your overall platform. It takestime. But unlike an article or book thatis complete and non-evolving,

podcasters can adapt and tweak theircontent, alter their approaches,format, intro music, and much moreas they educate themselves aboutwhat their listeners want most.Remember also as you launch yourpodcast to mobilize friends andcontacts to listen, rate, and reviewyour podcast. Encourage them toshare your program info on socialmedia. And then rest knowing that“He who began a good work in youwill complete it until the day of JesusChrist” as Paul reminds us inPhilippians 1:6. The same is true ofthe work done through you.“I’m so glad I went for it, “ saysJennifer Dawn Eikenhorst, host of theAccidental Hope podcast. “I realizednothing of God was holding me back,”she recalls.

When she finally set aside pride,fear, and comparison and embracedher trust in God, the fortitude thatcomes with that, she began to findmentors and like-minded people in theministry and entered into truecommunity.

At the end of the day, going for itand trusting God along your podcastjourney sets your dream into motionto become a reality. Michelle Neitert,host of the Raising Mentally HealthyKids podcast, summed up her podcast“dive” in a nutshell.

“Don’t worry if you don’t have all theanswers off the bat, get your 1.0version out, and the others will come.“Sometimes it takes that refiningthrough faith for it all to work as wellas more time passes.”

Cindy LaFavre Yorks is a journalist,author of three devotion books,blogger, and podcast host of His GPSFor Your SOS. You can find herencouragement-based written contentand Amazon book links on herwebsite. Her podcast is available thereas well and can also be found onmajor hosting sites.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOINGFOR IT AND TRUSTING GOD ALONG

YOUR PODCAST JOURNEY SETSYOUR DREAM INTO MOTION TO

BECOME A REALITY.

“

“After attending the inaugural SparkMedia conference in 2020, I knew Ineeded to return in 2021. As ironsharpens iron, this conference offersan atmosphere of learning, sharing,and growing together.

One of the things I love aboutthe Spark Media Conference, is thatno matter the level of experience orexpertise, there is a place foreveryone at the podcasting table. Thespeakers are phenomenal andaccessible, always ready and willing toanswer questions and share whatthey know.

The Spark Media Conferencegathers us together under one rooffor valuable training, networking andfellowshiping opportunities, learningabout new resources, andstreamlining processes, all to the

glory of God.I am so thankful that conference

founder, Misty Philip, answered thecall of God to step boldly out in faithto plan and produce a stellarconference. She and her husband,Peter Philip, make a dynamic team. Iappreciate the sweat equity andsacrifices made by them and theirfamily to further the Kingdom of God.

The Spark Media Conference hashelped me hone my craft, become abetter podcaster, and learn what ittakes to keep going even when thegoing gets tough.

Out of all the many amazingconferences out there, the SparkMedia Conference will always be amainstay on my calendar. It's thatgood.

~ Doris Swift, Fierce Calling Podcast

SPARK STORY

TESTIM

ONY



THE SPARKCOLLECTIVEWRITTER: Baylee Dunn

The Collective is the inner circle of the Spark community.

06

The Spark Collective is aninnovative and creative group ofworld-changers igniting the SPARKwithin and fueling the podcasting fire.These professionals come fromvarious backgrounds, but they all havea common focus. In the SparkCollective, our sole purpose is toglorify the Lord and to make His nameknown among the nations. We exist toempower and equip Christianpodcasters, ministry leaders, andentrepreneurs to walk in the giftingsand callings that the Lord has giventhem.

The Collective is the inner circleof the Spark community. Membershave access to exclusive growth andmonetization opportunities, such asthe Spark network, and strategicpartnerships with Notion Digital,Pray.com, and Glory Stone, and experttraining, bi-weekly Mastermindmeetings with the Spark founders andteam, one on one consultations, andthe chance to network and connectwith others who desire to glorify theLord while spreading the message ofthe gospel.

Extensive Resource LibraryNo matter where you are in thepodcast journey we can help youlaunch and grow your podcast withthe help of the extensive resourcetraining.Learn best practices in recording,editing, choosing equipment, hostingservices, transcriptions, show notes,podcast advertising, and monetization.

Mastermind MeetingsWe gather twice a month formastermind meetings to discuss thelatest in industry trends, askquestions, and share ideas to help youmove forward with your podcastgoals.

Supportive CommunityThe Spark collective fosters asupportive, encouraging, andengaging community of podcastersthat want to see you succeed.

Training Sessions with IndustryExpertsIn the Spark Collective, you willreceive access to podcast industryexperts to equip you with the toolsyou need to expand your network,grow your show, and gain morelisteners.




The Spark Collective Members / Spark Network Podcasts The Spark Collective Members / Spark Network Podcasts

The Spark Podcast Network acts as a podcaster’s directory, a promotional opportunity, and

a method to market creative content for discoverability. if you dream of walking in your

purpose and being mentored by industry-leading professionals.

The Spark Network is a benefit of being a member of the Spark Collective.

We can help you ignite your passion and fuel your fire.



The Spark Collective Members / Spark Network Podcasts The Spark Collective Members / Spark Network Podcasts

Nothing could have prepared us for all the richness of Spark's Christian Podcast Conference

at NRB 2021. We were surrounded by creative minds who love the Lord and passionately

live out the Great Commission with unique flair. Inspirational voices within Kingdom

Culture was around every corner, humble and willing to chat and pray. ~ The Watsons

I chose to attend Spark it was because I needed to learn the tech parts of podcasting better.

The tech is confusing to me, and I heard that Spark has a great way of making the tech less

overwhelming. What I was not expecting was to be inspired to not only make my show

better but to make my voice louder and to embrace my calling ~ Trina Rothman



The Spark Collective Members / Spark Network PodcastsThe Spark Collective Members / Spark Network Podcasts

Join us for our free virtual quarterly Spark Social Meetups. Visit SparkMedia.Ventures to

sign up and stay informed of our next gathering and other exciting Spark events.

Podcast is Fun, but podcasting in community is even better.

Don’t podcast alone.

Join us today!



THESPARK MEDIAAWARDS

WRITTER: Baylee Dunn PH: Kelly Buckner 07

The 2021 Spark Media Awards Ceremony at theGaylord Texan in Grapevine Texas.



As the Spark Media team prepared forthis year’s Spark Media Conference,we knew that one element wasinherently necessary - the secondannual Spark Media Podcast Awards.After receiving such positive feedbackfollowing last year’s event, we knewthat the award show must go on!

The awards featured a specialannouncement, (the launch of theSpark Network), as well as aninspirational message by ElizabethJohnston.

This year, Spark Media wasthrilled to honor the work of Christianpodcasters from across the mediaindustry. These talented professionalshad experience that spanned acrossgenres. Still, they all had one thing incommon - an ardent desire to glorifythe Lord and to make His nameknown to those both in and outside ofthe podcasting space. This year’saward winners and nominees includedmany world-changing shows that aresure to leave a lasting impact on thefuture of Christian podcasting.

Congratulations to our winners!

Best Business Podcast - Mary R.Snyder - Take the Stage

Best Interview Podcast - Carl Barnhill -The Making Sunday Happen Podcast

Best Lifestyle Podcast - Wendie Pett -Visibly Fit with Wendie Pett

Best New Podcast of 2021 - SharonTedford - God in the Ordinary

Best Podcast Graphic -The PantryPodcast -Shea & Michelle Watson

Best Podcast Co-Hosted - Lucas Milesand Billy Hallowell

Best Female Podcast - Athena DeanHoltz - The All Things Podcast

LucasMiles and Billy Hallowellaccept their award

Misty Phillip presenting the awardfor Best Co-Hosted Podcast to

Lucas Miles and Billy Hallowell.

The Spark Awards receipents(somewinners not present)

Best Male Host - Lucas Miles - TheLucas Miles Show

Best Podcast Interview - YvetteWalker - Positively Joy

Best Solo Podcast - Lee Ann Mancini-Raising Christian Kids

Best Solo Podcaster - Jan L Burt theBurt (Not Ernie) Show

Favorite Podcast - Paul Hastings -Compelled Podcast

Favorite Podcast Host All Around -Summer Shepherd - No Seriously,How Do I Do This?

Most Original Podcast Concept - LoriMorrison - The Unlovely Truth

People’s Choice Fan Awards

Best Male Podcast - Nicholas Ruffin -Vantage Point

Best Female Podcast - Jennifer Hand -Coming Alive Conversations

Most Binge Worthy - Rosie McKinney -Fight for Love

Best Co-Hosted Dianne and SarahLeJeune - The CollaborationConversation

For more information regardingthe Spark Media Awards, the firstaward show of its kind, be sure to visitwww.sparkmedia.ventures/awards

The winners of the Spark Media2021 Podcast awards. Somewinners were not present andwere excited to receive theirawards a week later in the mail.Fun Fact: Spark Media has almost 3,000 votes cast

in 7 days for the 2021 Peoples Choice Awards..



08

WHATEQUIPMENTDOESSPARK USE?

This is a question we get a lot, andpodcasters are naturally curious about theequipment and technology that otherpodcasters are using. We pulle back thecovers and share what we use at Spark.

WRITTER: PETER PHILLIPPH: KELLY BUCKNER

Here is our equipment in no specialorder.

MicrophonesThis is where we saw significantimprovement and quality in ourpodcasts. Using a purpose-builtpodcasting microphone had the effectof improving our recordings, but italso reduced our post-productionwork.Rode Podmic - An amazingmicrophone made just for podcastingand at a fantastic price. This is an XLRmic, but Rode does make USBpodcasting mics as well.From RØDE:The PodMic is a broadcast-qualitydynamic microphone optimized forpodcasting. It has a rich, balancedsound, with an internal pop filter tominimize plosives and internal shock-mounting to reduce vibration.The PodMic is optimized for use withthe RØDECaster™ Pro Podcast

90° swiveling ear-cups for easy, one-ear monitoring.Collapsible for space-saving portability.Detachable cables.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H6 -These are typically used for personalmusic listening or studio use. Theyhave amazing sound reproduction andhigh-end style, design, and materials.They are pricey, but podcasting andpersonal listening are a solid option ifyou want dual use.A premium over-ear headphone withinline remote and microphone.Hand-tuned by Bang & Olufsen soundengineers for an authentic and well-balanced sound experience.Crafted in luxurious lambskin leatherand lightweight aluminum.Adjustable and ergonomic, BeoPlay H6is comfortable enough to wear all daylong.

Audio InterfaceAt Spark, we use an audio interface toget the best recordings of ourpodcasts that we can. Theimprovements over just using acomputer to record are profound.There is a lot to cover on this specificpiece of equipment, reach out to us tounderstand how this can help takeyour podcast to the next level.RØDECaster Pro - We can’t sayenough good things about this device.It changed the game for us at Spark.The RØDECaster Pro produces studio-quality recordings. The ability to playrecorded intros, outros, and soundeffects. Bringing in callers, recordingZoom calls, and more is an incredibledevice for podcasters.Easy-to-use podcast productionstudio.8 faders to control audio levels.4 high-quality XLR mic inputs.Instant jingle playback viaprogrammable pads.Echo Free Phone connectivity viaeither TRRS or Bluetooth™ with

automatic mix-minus.Aphex Big Bottom™ and AuralExciter™ processing onboard.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)The DAW is the audio-productionenvironment, and many audioworkstations serve a dual function.The recording application and thepost-production application. This ishow the podcast is edited andexported.Hindenburg Journalist Pro - Forpodcasting, this DAW is hard to beatfor us. With many helpful automationand podcast specific functions builtright in, when we adoptedHindenburg, we cut our productiontime in half.Cross Platform - Windows & AppleMultitrack recording - Record onmultiple tracks from multiple inputs.Non destructive - No modifications tooriginal audio files.Clipboard - Organizing audio material.Publish PRO - Upload your podcastwith a single click.Chapters & Images - Add chapter andimages to your showExport - WAV, MP3, AAC, Apple andmore.Auto Update - Recovery file createdonce every minute.Auto Level - Levels set on importedaudio.Loudness - Export at -24, -23, -18, -16 or -14 LUFS.Loudness Meter - Measure Loudness.Voice Profiler PRO - Learn and applypersonal EQ.

This is the current setup for the SparkMedia team, but check back with us.We are constantly testing out newequipment and love to pass it on.


Production Studio, and offersexceptional results with any high-quality microphone interface.Broadcast-quality dynamic capsuleOptimized for speech applicationsInternal pop filter to minimize plosivesRobust, all metal constructionDesigned for use with RØDECaster™Pro Podcast Production StudioXLR connection onlyShure MV 51 - This is our travelingmic, it is all metal construction,supports USB and Lighting for usewith an iPhone it has a kickstand orcan be mounted.Digital large-diaphragm condensermicrophone for Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod,iPad and Android devicesReal-time monitoringFive DSP presets.24-bit/48kHz digital recordingVintage styling and the durability ofall-metal constructionTouch panel for gain, mute andheadphone volume on front of mic

HeadphonesThe wearing of headphones for anextended period can be frustratingand even painful experience. Comfortis a primary consideration, along withthe sound reproduction, clarity, andoverall durability, these are the factorswe look for in our headphones.Audio-Technica ATH-M50x - This isthe go to over-the-ear headphones,and is very highly regarded in thepodcasting world. We love them, theease of wearing them, the rich soundand tone they produce, and thedetachable cables that can bereplaced or switched out. For the priceyou will be hard pressed to find abetter set of headphones.Exceptional clarity throughout anextended frequency range, with deep,accurate bass response.Circumaural design contours aroundthe ears for excellent sound isolationin loud environments.



WHAT IFGEORGEMUELLERHAD APODCASTImagine with me if George had a podcast:He would not impulsively start podcasting.Instead, he would commit to praying aboutstarting a podcast before taking any otheractions.

WRITTER: SARAH KEELING

George Muller was a German pastor ina small church in Bristol, England, inthe 1800s. He seemed like a simpleman, but he made extraordinarychoices that required him to beradically dependent on God.

He chose not to take a salary from hischurch. He didn't go door to door

Reference: Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. George Muller: The

Guardian of Bristol's Orphans. YWAM Pub., 2014.

asking for money or engage in anyfundraising activities. Instead, herelied on God to provide voluntaryofferings from his community. All hedid was pray—a lot. After heprayed, he waited to see what Godwould do. Sometimes he waitedawhile. In those times, he prayedeven more.

God expanded his ministry toinclude housing orphans. Over hislifetime, he provided for anestimated 10,000 children andreceived over half a million poundsfor his ministries and to supportforeign missions.

One of his answered prayersoccurred in the Orphan House Onebefore breakfast. Three hundredchildren sat at their breakfast tableswith empty plates. George prayedand thanked God for the food Hewould supply them.Immediately after George prayed,someone knocked on the door. Itwas the baker. He told George hehad been unable to sleep theprevious night because he felt hewas supposed to get up and makebread for the orphans. He hopedthey could use the abundantamount of bread that he hadbrought them.

While the children enjoyed theirfreshly baked bread, the milkmanknocked on the door. His wagonwas broken, and he asked George ifthe children could take all his milkso he could work on the wagon.

Throughout George's life, Godrepeatedly answered his prayersand demonstrated His provision forGeorge's ministries. I wonder whatit would look like today for GeorgeMuller to have a podcast?

Is that kind of faith possible for usin modern times? I'm not saying hisway is the only right way, but Ihope it can help us pause and thinkabout how we might learn aboutpraying and waiting for God.

Imagine with me if George had apodcast: He would not impulsivelystart podcasting. Instead, he wouldcommit to praying about starting apodcast before taking any otheractions. He faithfully sought God'swill, and at the right time, hemoved forward with confidence.

He would not obsessively searchthe internet for the cheapestRodecaster Pro. He would prayspecifically that God would providethe equipment he needed to doGod's will and glorify Him.

He would not tell everyone he knewthat he desperately needed moneyto keep podcasting. He would wakeup early, get down on his knees,and trust God for the resourcesnecessary to continue obeying God.He would not take out a loan tocover his costs. (Ouch!) He hateddebt, and he sold most of hisworldly possessions to avoid debt.

He would not spend his time andmoney on social media campaigns.He would pray and ask God to growhis podcast so that more peoplecould be encouraged and Godwould be glorified. He would not

keep extra profits as savings for thefuture. George discovered that Godwould not answer His prayers if Hekept any savings for himself.Instead, He sent extra money toforeign missions.

George might say, "Lord, thispodcast is helping people connectwith you. You love these people andwant them to know you deeply.Therefore, I believe it is your will toprovide the funds for this podcast."He might also say, "Lord, you havecalled me to this podcast, and Iknow you are here with me. Guideme with this technology, andprovide someone to help me furtherthis ministry.

He prayed clear, specific prayers,and he waited expectantly for Godto answer. More than anything else,George wanted God to be glorified.All his prayers focused on God, nothimself. How would your podcastlook different if you approached itmore like George Muller approachedhis ministries? Is there somethingGod is asking you to do to help youdepend on Him more for yourpodcast needs?

Lord, please help us to depend on Youfor our podcast needs and use ourpodcasts for Your glory.

In Jesus' name,Amen

09



Final Thoughts

Use Your Gifts: How Speaking, Writing, andPodcasting Make an Eternal Difference

WRITTER: Baylee DunnPH: Sarah Jane Photography

The Lord endows every believer withunique gifts designed to serve, buildup, and strengthen the church. Thesegifts are not for us to take pride in orfor us to keep to ourselves. A healthyalternative to both of these extremesis to allow God to search the heart, towillingly move our feet in the directionof His call for our lives,’ and ultimately,to utilize the beautiful gifts that theLord has granted us, both individuallyand collectively. A stunning exampleof a servant who had innateconfidence in his call as a Christiansoldier is the apostle Paul. A formerpersecutor of the church, Paul wasblinded on the road to Damascuswhen he encountered the glory of theLord. He immediately repented of hissin, completely walked in a differentdirection, and allowed the Lord tosoften his heart for people, strengthenhis convictions, and transform hisheart, mind, and perspective.

Paul progressed from an ardentenemy of the church to a powerfulvessel, used by God to shape andshift the culture of the church. Asevidenced by Paul's life, his gifts werepoured out before the Lord each day.His heart was refreshed, and his mind

renewed. He walked in Spirit and intruth and empowered and encouragedthose in his company and those offuture generations to take in and holdtightly to the truths taught by Jesus.

What impact might our influence haveon our nation and on the world if we,as Christians carrying the message ofthe gospel, did so unashamedly?

The gospel is the only antidote for asociety marred by sin and lackingspiritual discernment and conviction.Christians now is the time to raise ourvoices. Now, we must stand withconfidence on every word that flowsfrom the mouth of the Lord. Thisopportunity is both our greatest giftand our most significant responsibility.Let’s not take it lightly.

As Christians, we must be bold in theproclamation and tactful in thedelivery of the message of the gospel.The message is not always popular,but the road to salvation is narrow,and it must be walked purposely andpurposefully. With every step downthis path, we must be bold yet kind,using the gifts provided by the HolySpirit to further the reach that theLord has intended for His word.

Speaking, writing, and podcasting arethree methods by which to deliver thesaving message of the gospel to a lostand hurting world. Though thesemethods differ a bit, there are moresimilarities than one may think. Theyall require one thing of each of us:radical obedience. Those of us whohave come into a saving relationshipwith the Lord have been foreverentrusted to show up with themessage. Not once, but every singleday, until we are called home.

We are bearers of hope - beacons oflight in a dark, corrupt, and confusedsociety. It is up to you and me toshine brightly and to encourage thenext generation to walk with the Lordclosely. When considering the giftsthat the Lord has provided to you,walk with urgency. As renownedpastor John McArthur phrases thissentiment, “you are the only Bible thatsome unbelievers will ever read.”

I pray that today you would embracethe call of God on your life to speakthe truth with boldness, treat otherswith kindness, and point each personwith whom you come in contact to thelove of Christ. This world sodesperately needs to hear about thehope that we possess as believers. Letus take the initiative to walk othersdown the road of repentance andforgiveness that leads to freedom.

PodcastingSpeaking - Writingare the perfect

trifecta

Doing these threethings consistantlywill help you grow

across all areas, eachone strengthening

the other.

Podcasting Tip

As Christians, we must be bold in theproclamation and tactful in thedelivery of the message of the gospel.

Paul Hastings speaking at Spark 2020

© SPARK MEDIA, LLC

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the inaugural issueof the Spark Media Podcast Magazine. We are thrilled at God's workwith faith-based podcasters to spread the gospel message. It is anhonor to walk beside, encourage, and support Christian podcastersmaking a global kingdom impact. Our goal is to publish a quarterlydigital magazine highlighting stories of Christian podcasters and theirshows. We will also feature happenings in the Spark community anddeliver informative and educational tips to bring your podcast to thenext level. Join us in spreading the word about Spark Media Magazine.

If you want to amplify your voice and contribute to the magazine, let usknow at [email protected], we are seeking contributors forour next issue.

In Closing…

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Lifestyle A4 - Spark Media Ventures