Fuel For The Harvest: The Forge Podcast Network

Charlie and Nathan
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Fuel For The Harvest podcast hosts, Charlie and Nathan are coming to you from all around the world (here, there, and everywhere) with wild testimonies, tips, and talks. The mission: equipping "ordinary" Christians around the globe to become everyday Kingdom laborers in their harvest fields (Matthew 9:35-38). It's all about living with hearts on fire and lives on purpose! Check Out Our Podcast Page: FuelForTheHarvest.com Contact us at: FuelForTheHarvest@gmail.com Check out more of what we do at: ForgeForward.org

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 310: John Mark - The Deserter Who Became A Gospel Writer

    He abandoned Paul and Barnabas mid-mission trip. Decades later, Paul's dying wish was to see him one more time. This is the story of John Mark.In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with Bible teacher and Forge speaker Santiago Fuentes for a deep character study on John Mark — the young assistant who deserted Paul's first missionary journey, caused a rift so sharp it split Paul and Barnabas apart, and yet went on to become a trusted coworker, a source of comfort to Paul in prison, and the author of the Gospel of Mark.Tracing John Mark's story from Acts 12 all the way through 2 Timothy and 1 Peter, Santiago and Nathan unpack:✅ The fascinating theory linking John Mark's mother's house to the Upper Room of the Last Supper✅ What it meant for John Mark to serve as a "hyperetes" (assistant) — and why humble, behind-the-scenes service matters in the Kingdom✅ The real story behind why John Mark deserted the mission trip in Pamphylia✅ The heated disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over giving him a second chance✅ Why Barnabas, the "son of encouragement," is one of the most Christ-like figures in Scripture✅ How John Mark's reputation transformed from "deserter" to a man Paul called "useful to me in the ministry"✅ What this 2,000-year-old story teaches us about restoration, patience, and not writing people offThis conversation is a powerful reminder that Bible characters weren't superheroes — they were ordinary people navigating failure, conflict, and grace, just like us. And it shows that no failure is final when God is writing the story.🔔 Subscribe to Fuel for the Harvest for more in-depth Bible character studies and conversations on following Jesus in the real world.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro1:17 – Meet John Mark: the character study begins3:03 – Acts 12: Peter's rescue and the house of Mary5:56 – Was this the house of the Last Supper?11:00 – John Mark's name meaning: mercy and "hammer"13:31 – A mother's sacrifice: her house, then her son15:00 – Serving as an "assistant" (hyperetes) on the mission field21:22 – Chapter 13: John Mark deserts the mission27:24 – Why did he really turn back?30:00 – The heated dispute between Paul and Barnabas37:51 – Barnabas: the "son of encouragement"47:33 – Was the relationship really broken forever?52:33 – Colossians 4:10 — Mark, a "comfort" to Paul58:43 – Philemon and 2 Timothy: "Bring Mark, for he is useful"1:02:00 – 1 Peter 5:13 — "Mark, my son"1:04:03 – Closing thoughts: it's not about being like John Mark, but like Jesus#FuelForTheHarvest #BibleStudy #JohnMark #BookOfActs #ApostlePaul #Barnabas #ChristianPodcast #BibleCharacterStudy #Redemption #GospelOfMark

    Episode 310: John Mark - The Deserter Who Became A Gospel Writer

  2. Oct 6

    Episode 309: A Survivor's Story of Hope After Tragedy - Finding God In Hardship

    Where is God when life falls apart? What do you do in the middle of the "little while" — that unbearable waiting between the pain and the promise?In this deeply moving episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with his friend and Forge teammate Justin Davis — filmmaker, storyteller, and survivor of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado theater shooting — to wrestle honestly with suffering, waiting, and where God actually is in the midst of it.Walking through John 16 and the story of Job, Justin and Nathan unpack why Scripture is so consistent about God's presence in pain, even when it doesn't make sense in the moment. Then Justin shares his own raw, personal story: surviving the Aurora shooting at 16 years old, the years of depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts that followed — and the exact moment Jesus met him in the darkest place of his life.You'll hear:✅ What Jesus meant by "a little while" — and why every believer eventually lives in that in-between space✅ How Job's suffering became the very thing that brought him face-to-face with God✅ Justin's testimony of surviving the Aurora theater shooting and the still, small voice that changed everything✅ How his own pain later became the exact comfort another young survivor needed✅ Practical, honest encouragement for anyone in the middle of a hard season right now✅ Why "the only way through suffering is to go through it" — and how God delivers us through our affliction, not around itThis conversation doesn't offer easy answers — it offers something better: the truth that Jesus is present, near, and at work even when everything feels uncertain.🔔 Subscribe to Fuel for the Harvest for more honest conversations about faith, mission, and following Jesus in the real world.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro1:24 – Today's question: where is God in our suffering?1:54 – Meet Justin Davis: storytelling, film, and Forge4:33 – John 16 and the disciples' confusion about "a little while"6:59 – Job's suffering and his questions to God10:59 – Getting "tunnel vision" in pain14:00 – Job 9:33 — the cry for a mediator16:26 – Jesus as the mediator Job was longing for18:01 – Justin's testimony: surviving the Aurora theater shooting21:00 – Meeting Colton: comforting others with the comfort we've received23:01 – 2 Corinthians 1: suffering that becomes ministry to others24:33 – Encouragement for those in the middle of the pain29:56 – Knowing about God vs. actually knowing Him33:59 – Job 36:15 — delivered through our affliction36:47 – Closing encouragement#FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Suffering #JohnGospel #BookOfJob #AuroraTheaterShooting #Testimony #FaithAndTrauma #ChristianEncouragement #PTSDRecovery⚠️ Sensitive content note: This episode includes discussion of suicidal thoughts and gun violence.

    Episode 309: A Survivor's Story of Hope After Tragedy - Finding God In Hardship

  3. Sep 29

    Episode 308: Inside The Horn - The Stories of Christians in the World's 2nd Most Dangerous Country

    What does it actually cost to follow Jesus in the world's second most dangerous country to be a Christian?In this powerful and rare episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with Warfa, FORGE's ambassador in Somalia (face concealed for his protection), for an unfiltered look at what life and ministry look like on the ground in one of the most hostile places on earth for believers.Warfa shares the real history behind Somalia's decades of civil war, the rise of Al-Shabaab, and how the country's identity became inseparable from Islam — plus astonishing evidence that Christianity may have existed there long before Islam ever arrived.But this episode isn't just about danger — it's about hope. You'll hear:✅ Why Somalia ranks #2 on the world's most dangerous countries to be a Christian (just behind North Korea)✅ The incredible story of a widow who now leads multiple underground fellowships despite immense loss✅ How "rehabilitation centers" are used to torture young believers back into Islam — and a current, ongoing story of a brother in that exact situation✅ How a simple act of listening saved one man from suicide and another from joining a terrorist group✅ Creative, Spirit-led ways believers are gathering safely to worship and grow✅ Practical ways YOU can pray for and support the underground church in SomaliaThis is a raw, real, and deeply moving conversation about what it means to follow Jesus when it could cost you everything — and why the light of the gospel shines brightest in the darkest places.🙏 How you can help:Pray for protection, provision, and open doors for the gospel in SomaliaGive directly to support believers on the ground at forgeforward.org → Give Now → Support a Ministry Initiative → Ambassador Somalia Fund (100% goes directly to the mission)🔔 Subscribe to Fuel for the Harvest for more stories of what God is doing around the world.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro & meeting Warfa1:18 – Life and ministry in Somalia3:37 – Somalia's civil war, Al-Shabaab, and political chaos9:09 – Why the international community is pulling out10:26 – Somalia: the #2 most dangerous country to be a Christian12:02 – Ancient evidence of Christianity in Somali history16:49 – Stories of transformation among widows and outcasts23:02 – Rehabilitation centers: torture for turning to Christ28:10 – A life saved from suicide through one act of listening31:41 – A life saved from joining a terrorist organization38:00 – How to pray and give#FuelForTheHarvest #Somalia #Persecution #ChristianPodcast #Missions #OpenDoors #WorldWatchList #FORGE #FaithUnderFire #GreatCommission

    Episode 308: Inside The Horn - The Stories of Christians in the World's 2nd Most Dangerous Country

  4. Sep 22

    Episode 307: The Language of Heaven - Why Encouragement & Exhortation Change Everything

    What is the "language of heaven," and how do we speak it fluently in our everyday lives?In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with pastor, speaker, and Forge team member Paul Epperson to unpack the biblical practice of encouragement and exhortation — straight from Hebrews 3. Paul shares why he believes this is not just a "nice to have," but the actual need of the hour for the church in a culture saturated with negativity.Together they dig into:✅ The real biblical difference between encouragement and exhortation✅ Why true encouragement is more than "seeing the gold" in someone — it can also mean a loving, hard truth✅ How to encourage the people closest to you (spouse, kids, best friends) when it feels hardest✅ The "30-second rule" — a simple, practical habit to build daily encouragement into your life✅ Why staying rooted in Jesus is the only way this becomes sustainable, not performative✅ A powerful illustration about a 100K race that shows the power of the right words at the right timeWhether you're a parent, a leader, a friend, or just someone who wants to grow in speaking life over others, this conversation will equip you to become a vessel of the Holy Spirit's encouragement — starting today.🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Fuel for the Harvest, where we equip everyday believers to live on mission for Jesus.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro1:16 – What is the language of heaven?2:07 – Hebrews 3 and the need of the hour3:23 – Encouragement vs. correction — where's the line?5:14 – More than "seeing gold": encouragement as loving rebuke9:34 – Encouraging the people closest to you13:14 – Removing the log before the splinter18:32 – Practical habits: prayer, scripture, and the 30-second rule22:35 – Staying connected to the root: why fake fruit doesn't last25:38 – The 100K race illustration#FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Encouragement #Hebrews3 #Exhortation #ChristianLiving #Discipleship #BiblicalEncouragement #FaithPodcast #PaulEpperson

    Episode 307: The Language of Heaven - Why Encouragement & Exhortation Change Everything

  5. Sep 15

    Episode 306: Christ-Haunted, Not Christ-Hungry - How Familiarity Kills Faith

    Why does living in a "Christian" culture sometimes make it HARDER to actually hunger for Jesus?In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, host Nathan sits down with pastor and Forge speaker Chris Prather to unpack a phrase from writer Flannery O'Connor: the South (and much of American culture) isn't "Christ-centered" — it's "Christ-haunted." Jesus is everywhere — on billboards, in hotel drawers, woven into politics and small talk — but that overexposure can leave us inoculated against ever truly encountering Him.Chris shares the conversation that changed how he pastors, the story of the woman who touched Jesus's garment in a crowd of people all "touching" Him but not seeking Him, and three practical postures — fasting, denial, and community — for cultivating real desperation for God in a culture that's overfamiliar with Him.🔑 In this episode:0:00 – Intro2:01 – Growing up in the "buckle of the Bible Belt"5:04 – Why planting a church in LA is "a dumb thing to do" (and why that's the point)9:06 – Is Denver more like LA or Mississippi?12:03 – Flannery O'Connor's idea of a "Christ-haunted" culture15:01 – The woman who touched Jesus's garment: touching vs. reaching for healing21:02 – Trading intimacy with God for sermons, podcasts, and social gatherings25:25 – Building hunger for Jesus: fasting, denial, and community26:00 – The "snack before supper" analogy34:00 – Denying yourself: Dallas Willard's challenge to the church37:44 – Acts 1:8 and what it really means to be a "witness" (martys)41:21 – Closing thoughtsWhether you grew up in a place where "everyone" goes to church or in a post-Christian city where almost no one does, this episode will challenge you to move from familiarity with Jesus to real hunger for Him.🎙️ Guest: Chris Prather, pastor and Forge speaker🎧 Host: Nathan👉 Subscribe for more episodes of Fuel for the Harvest, where we equip everyday believers to become laborers in God's harvest.#FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Discipleship #Fasting #SpiritualHunger #ChrisPrather #BibleBelt #FlanneryOConnor #Acts1_8 #ChurchCulture #Christianity #FaithPodcast

    Episode 306: Christ-Haunted, Not Christ-Hungry - How Familiarity Kills Faith

  6. Sep 8

    Episode 305: Thirty-Three Unreached People Groups - Reports of Reaching South Asia’s Hidden Villages

    What does it look like when the book of Acts happens again, right now, in 2026? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan talks with Kashif (not his real name, for his protection), a ministry leader working to reach unreached people groups across South Asia, about what God is doing in some of the most spiritually dark and physically dangerous regions on earth.Since 2018, Kashif's team has grown from reaching just one unreached people group to thirty-three, planting organic house churches, baptizing new believers in ponds and plastic swimming pools, and raising up local kingdom laborers who disciple their own communities. Kashif shares real, documented stories of persecution, arrest, and violence faced by his team, alongside powerful testimonies of Muslim and Hindu background believers publicly renouncing protective amulets and false idols after putting their faith in Jesus.Nathan and Kashif also talk about the scale of impact: over 30,000 Bibles distributed in partnership with Voice of the Martyrs, and how a single audio Bible given to one woman can ripple out to reach an entire family and community.In this episode you'll discover:-How one unreached people group in 2018 grew into thirty-three today-What house churches and baptisms look like in remote, unreached regions-Real stories of persecution, arrest, and God's protection over local believers-Why Muslim and Hindu background believers are publicly removing protective threads and idols after coming to Christ-How Bible distribution multiplies far beyond the number of physical Bibles given out-Specific ways to pray for and financially support this workWhether you want a front-row seat to what God is doing in one of the hardest places to be a Christian, or you're looking for a way to practically support persecuted believers and unreached communities, this conversation will move you.📖 Scripture: Matthew 9:37 | Acts (the early church)👇 If this episode gave you a front-row seat to what God is doing in Pakistan, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#FuelForTheHarvest #Persecution #ChristianPodcast #Missions #GlobalChurch #Evangelism #BookOfActs

    Episode 305: Thirty-Three Unreached People Groups - Reports of Reaching South Asia’s Hidden Villages

  7. Sep 1

    Episode 304: Crisis as an Open Door - A Nigerian Missionary's Noteworthy Perspective on Persecution

    -What does it actually cost to follow Jesus in Nigeria right now? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan talks with Walter Egbe, a field missionary in Nigeria and leader with Perfect Edifiers, about the two major threats facing the Nigerian church today: violent persecution from Islamic extremism in the north, and the erosion of biblical truth by the prosperity gospel in the south.Walter shares sobering numbers, an estimated 500,000 Christians displaced from their homes, and describes a reality where believers risk their lives, families, and communities simply for changing their faith. But rather than framing this as only tragedy, Walter offers a striking perspective: he sees the current crisis as a divine open door for the gospel to advance in places it's never reached before.Nathan and Walter also dig into the practical, on-the-ground strategy Walter's ministry uses: translating gospel and discipleship materials into local languages, disguising them so they can reach restricted regions, training and sending back believers to disciple their own people, and running free Sunday school and leadership training resources to counter prosperity gospel teaching that has taken root in many churches.In this episode you'll discover:-The scale of Christian persecution happening in Nigeria right now-How Walter's ministry gets gospel materials into regions hostile to Christianity-Why prosperity gospel teaching has become one of the biggest threats to the church in southern Nigeria-The training and discipleship pipeline that equips local believers to reach their own communities-Practical, specific ways listeners outside Nigeria can actually help-Why Walter sees this moment of crisis as a divine opportunity, not just a threatWhether you want to pray more specifically for persecuted believers or you're looking for a real, on-the-ground ministry to support, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what's happening and how to respond.📖 Scripture: (no specific verses cited in this episode)👇 If this episode opened your eyes to what the church in Nigeria is facing, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#Nigeria #Persecution #ProsperityGospel #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #Missions #GlobalChurch #Evangelism #Discipleship #PrayForNigeria

    Episode 304: Crisis as an Open Door - A Nigerian Missionary's Noteworthy Perspective on Persecution

  8. Aug 25

    Episode 303: The Holy Spirit Is Not Simply a Force - This is Who He Really Is

    In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Jonathan Sherwin to tackle a subject many Christians either love or quietly fear talking about: the Holy Spirit.Jonathan and Nathan trace the Holy Spirit's work through the book of Acts, from Pentecost to Peter's vision of the sheet full of animals to Cornelius the Roman centurion, showing how the Spirit gave the early church boldness, discernment, and unity, and how that same Spirit is at work in believers today. They also dig into the tension a lot of Christians feel around this topic: how to embrace the Holy Spirit's work without either fearing it or reducing it to emotionalism and manipulation.Jonathan describes himself as "charismatic with a seatbelt," and this conversation lives right in that tension, affirming that the Holy Spirit is real, personal, and active, while also insisting he always leads in truth and order, never chaos.In this episode you'll discover:-Why the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force, and what that actually means-What the book of Acts reveals about the Spirit's role in the early church's growth-The difference between true conviction and emotional manipulation disguised as "the Spirit"-How to recognize false spiritual practices without dismissing the Spirit's real work-What 1 Corinthians teaches about spiritual gifts and why love outranks all of them-Practical ways to grow in dependence on the Holy Spirit in ordinary, everyday lifeWhether you grew up wary of this topic or you've wondered how to tell the real thing from a counterfeit, this conversation offers a grounded, scripture-first way to think about the Holy Spirit.📖 Scripture: Acts 1:8 | Acts 2 | Acts 6-9 | Acts 10-11 | Acts 13 | Ephesians | 2 Corinthians 3:17 | 1 Corinthians 13-14👇 If this episode helped you understand the Holy Spirit more clearly, like, share, and leave a comment. It helps more people find this content.#HolySpirit #BookOfActs #FuelForTheHarvest #ChristianPodcast #SpiritualGifts #Pentecost #Discernment #FaithTeaching #Sanctification #CharismaticWithASeatbelt

    Episode 303: The Holy Spirit Is Not Simply a Force - This is Who He Really Is
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Fuel For The Harvest podcast hosts, Charlie and Nathan are coming to you from all around the world (here, there, and everywhere) with wild testimonies, tips, and talks. The mission: equipping "ordinary" Christians around the globe to become everyday Kingdom laborers in their harvest fields (Matthew 9:35-38). It's all about living with hearts on fire and lives on purpose! Check Out Our Podcast Page: FuelForTheHarvest.com Contact us at: FuelForTheHarvest@gmail.com Check out more of what we do at: ForgeForward.org

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