The Overcomers with Matt Chandler

Matt Chandler
  • 4.9 (319)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The Overcomers podcast is stories of men and women who have endured unimaginable hardships—have clung to Jesus during the dark night of the soul, yet their faith has remained intact and often more vibrant than before.Most of these stories are not clean and do not have a neat bow at the end. Many are still in the middle of battling to believe Jesus is better, come what may.

  1. Faith in the Workplace

    6D AGO

    Faith in the Workplace

    In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and restaurateur Marty Bryan—founder of Marty B’s Restaurant—and Eric Loper, a former tech executive turned faith-driven consultant. Together, we dive into what it really looks like to integrate your faith into your business—whether you’re the CEO or just starting out. Marty shares the story behind Marty B’s, a now nine-restaurant enterprise built on Christian values and radical hospitality. Eric opens up about leaving a high-powered tech role to launch companies that give 100% of their profits to ministry. We talk ambition, humility, leadership, and why bold faith in the workplace might cost you—but is worth it every time. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager in a Fortune 500 company, or just trying to live out your faith at work, this conversation is for you. In This Episode Why Faith and Business Don’t Need to Be SeparateMarty’s Journey: From Learning the Industry to Owning 9 RestaurantsEric’s Story: Leaving Big Tech to Build Kingdom-Focused VenturesIntegrating Faith in a Hospitality BusinessMen’s and Women’s Bible Breakfasts at Marty B’sStarting Worship Nights and Staying BoldAmbition, Ego, and Kingdom ImpactBuilding Team and Culture Through HospitalityHandling Pushback, Staying FaithfulBeing Salt and Light in Secular WorkplacesPrayer as a Witness in the WorkplaceCulture Building: Alignment and DriftSystems, Structure, and Knowing Your StrengthsTruth Telling as a Cultural Foundation Resources Mentioned First Liberty Institute – Legal help for religious freedom casesMarty B’s Restaurants FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. Moody Publishers Find Grace Beyond Salvation and I Choose Joy wherever you get your books or at Moodypublishers.com Acts 29 This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1. – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    1h 12m
  2. Caring Well for Others

    AUG 12

    Caring Well for Others

    This is a sobering yet hope-filled episode. I sit down with Summer Vinson Berger and Adam Paa to discuss the pain, complexity, and redemptive potential of shepherding care in the local church. From owning massive failures in 2015 to building a robust, gospel-centered care framework at The Village Church, we discuss stories, strategies, and heartfelt convictions about what real, redemptive care looks like when the church chooses humility over image. Whether you’re walking through trauma, burnout, addiction, or just longing for your church to care better—you’ll find wisdom and honesty here. This episode is a call to take the mess seriously, to listen better, and to believe that Jesus still heals through His body. In This Episode The Weight of Shepherding2015: Owning the Failures of CareIntroducing Summer Berger and Adam PaaBuilding a Comprehensive Care MinistryWhat Is Redemptive Care?Why Recovery Must Stay MessyThe Three Buckets of RecoveryMinistry through Recovery: A Front Door to the ChurchIntegrating Gospel and TherapyPsychology Catching Up to ScriptureGratitude, Paul, and NeuroscienceCommon Grace and CounselingWhen Churches Resist Therapeutic ToolsWhy Shepherding Is So ComplexTrust, Time, and Trauma RecoveryThe Risk of Mislabeling ProblemsThe Weight and Cost of Church HurtTraining Churches to Respond BetterA Call to Action for Pastors and the Broken FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. Moody Publishers Find Grace Beyond Salvation and I Choose Joy wherever you get your books or at Moodypublishers.com Acts 29 This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1. – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    54 min
  3. A Word for Tired Church Planters

    JUN 17

    A Word for Tired Church Planters

    Today I unpack the gritty, grace-filled realities of planting churches with three faithful men—Ronnie, Travis, and Spencer—who are living it right now. We talk about the surprising slowness of fruit, the wounds of unmet expectations, and the refining power of suffering. We also celebrate the deep friendships, family sacrifices, and the sacred calling of building from scratch. Whether you’re dreaming of planting, deep in the trenches, or a church member wondering how to help—this one will stir your heart and steady your hands. In This Episode Why Church Planting Still MattersFirst-Year Surprises: Slow Growth, Big WorkVision Matters More Than You ThinkHeart Maintenance in the HustleQuestioning the Call: When Doubt Creeps InFamily and Friendship on the FrontlinesWhen Kids Feel the CostPaper Cuts and PerseveranceGod's Provision in ScarcityThe Power of Sending ChurchesPreaching and Leading from the TrenchesA Word for the Weary PlanterA Call to the Comfortable: Join the Work Resources Mentioned Book: Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer - https://a.co/d/dij4kT2  Organizations & Networks: NAMB (North American Mission Board) – namb.netSend Network – sendnetwork.comActs 29 Church Planting Network – acts29.com FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    52 min
  4. Finishing Well with Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts

    JUN 3

    Finishing Well with Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts

    This episode is special to me. I sit down with two of my heroes in the faith—Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts. These men have been anchors for me in moments of doubt and discouragement, and I wanted to ask them the questions that most pastors eventually ask themselves: How do you stay faithful for the long haul? How do you finish well when so many don't? We talk about the rhythms that sustained them over decades, the call of ministry that’s far more than a career, and what it looks like to fight pride and pursue humility every single day. We also dive deep into marriage, legacy, and the sacredness of being a pastor. If you're in the trenches—especially in your 20s to 40s—this one's for you. I want to finish well, and I know you do too. In This Episode [02:00] Rhythms That Sustain the Soul[05:00] The Call of God vs. a Career in Ministry[08:00] Shepherding, Not Hiring: A Vision for Pastoral Ministry[13:00] The Crisis of Calling in a Careerist Culture[16:00] The Tragedy of Falling Away[20:00] Discerning the Dangers in Different Seasons[25:00] Kill the Lion: Confronting Sin Early[30:00] The Deception of Success[33:00] The Call to Vulnerability and Brotherhood[36:00] Marriage, Legacy, and Intimacy[40:00] Cultivating Lifelong Love with Your Spouse[45:00] Final Encouragement: Stay Low, Stay Faithful Resources Finishing Strong by Steve FarrarDangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    40 min
  5. Warrior Wounds and Gospel Hope

    MAY 20

    Warrior Wounds and Gospel Hope

    In this episode, I sat down with three close friends—Zack Brown, Kasey Brown, and PJ Kratohvil—all veterans who served overseas in the Army and Marines. We unpack what life in the military gave them, what it took, and how faith became the thread that started to stitch them back together. From life growing up to the trauma of combat, and from isolation to post-traumatic growth, this conversation is raw, redemptive, and real. If you’ve ever wondered how to care well for the veterans in your life—or if you're a veteran yourself looking for hope—this one’s for you. In This Episode [00:00] Meet Zach, Casey, and PJ: Army and Marine Corps Vets[03:00] Church Kids with No Relationship: How Faith Rekindled in Combat[07:00] Not Called to Be Good Men: Deconstructing Religious Misconceptions[10:00] Gold and Shadow: What Military Life Taught Them[16:00] Isolation After Return: Why Veterans Struggle in Civilian Life[22:00] Surface-Level Friendships and the Mission That’s Missing[26:00] War, Guilt, and God’s Grace: Wrestling with Moral Injury[31:00] Misconceptions About Vets and What They Really Need[36:00] “You're Not Special”: The Lie of Isolation and the Need for Brotherhood[41:00] Welcome Home, Not Just Thank You: Honoring Veterans Well[44:00] Jobs, Purpose, and the Path to Healing[47:00] Faith and Freedom: How Jesus Heals the Warrior’s Heart[54:00] Organizations on the Frontlines of Veteran Healing Resources Books On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman On Spiritual Combat by Lt. Col. Dave GrossmanTribe by Sebastian Junger Veteran Support Organizations TRG (Therapeutic Recreation Group) Website  InstagramDenton County MVPN (Military Veteran Peer Network) WebsiteVictory Therapy Center WebsiteGallantFew (provides free counseling for veterans) WebsiteCasualties of War (Founded by Zack Brown) Website FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. Communio Communio is not another program. It’s a non-profit organization that comes alongside churches, training and equipping them to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. Family structure is key for passing on faith to children, yet 72 percent of churches lack significant relationship ministry. That’s where Communio comes in. Communio has worked with hundreds of churches across the country. These churches have seen divorce rates drop – attendance rise – weekly generosity increase – and marriage and family bonds restored.  Visit: communio.org/overcomers to learn more about the Communio impact and how Communio can come alongside your church.  – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    1h 12m
  6. Why Elders Matter

    MAY 6

    Why Elders Matter

    In this episode, I sat down with Mason King and Nick Crawford—two of my fellow elders at The Village—to talk about plurality. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s biblical, and because it has been a safeguard in my ministry. Early on, I had all the power, all the control—and I knew it. It was efficient, it was fast, and it was dangerous. So we talk about why one-man leadership is a bad idea, what true elder plurality actually looks like, and how it’s protected us, humbled us, and served the body over the years. If you’re planting a church, rethinking leadership, or just wondering how to build something that lasts—this one’s for you. In This Episode [03:00] The Biblical Case for Plurality[06:00] Why We Avoid Plurality[12:00] What Plurality Has Given Us[16:00] Shield-to-Shield Leadership[21:00] How We Choose Elders[30:00] When Plurality Prevents Church Hurt[38:00] Signs of Fake Plurality[43:00] First Steps Toward Plurality[49:00] Final Encouragements to Young Leaders FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. Communio Communio is not another program. It’s a non-profit organization that comes alongside churches, training and equipping them to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. Family structure is key for passing on faith to children, yet 72 percent of churches lack significant relationship ministry. That’s where Communio comes in. Communio has worked with hundreds of churches across the country. These churches have seen divorce rates drop – attendance rise – weekly generosity increase – and marriage and family bonds restored.  Visit: communio.org/overcomers to learn more about the Communio impact and how Communio can come alongside your church.  – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    53 min
  7. The Beauty of Belonging

    APR 22

    The Beauty of Belonging

    Man, today’s episode is rich. I’m sitting down with Dr. Michelle Bowman—an educator, leader, and sister in Christ who has walked through the fire and come out on the other side with her joy still. Her story? It’s not the cleaned-up version. It’s real. Ten years of struggle, a marriage that ended in heartbreak, and a journey back into the family of faith, not with shame but with strength. What you’ll hear in Michelle is the kind of resilience that only comes from walking with Jesus through deep pain. From idolizing marriage to embracing her calling as a spiritual mother, she’s living proof that you can lose everything the world calls secure and still gain something far better—belonging, joy, and purpose in Christ. If you've ever felt like your story disqualifies you, let this be a holy disruption. There’s healing here, and it starts by stepping into the light. Keep your eyes up. In This Episode [02:00] - Walking Through Divorce & Letting Go of Identity[04:30] - Coming Home to TVC: A Story of Community & Welcome[08:00] - Serving in Singleness: From Family Legacy to Faithful Presence[10:45] - Can You Love Jesus and Not the Church?[14:30] - The Cost and Freedom of Being a Single Woman in the Church[17:45] - Seeing God's Goodness in Unexpected Seasons[21:30] - Spiritual Motherhood & Nurturing the Body of Christ[25:45] - Lifelong Encouragers: Family, Faithful Friends & SSR Sisters[28:15] - A Heart for Missions: Finding Purpose on the Field[30:00] - Rhythms That Keep Her Anchored: Serving, Studying, and Scripture[33:00] - To the One Feeling Shame: What Michelle Wants You to Hear[40:00] - A Final Word on Grace, Courage, and Coming Home AgainFOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. Communio Communio is not another program. It’s a non-profit organization that comes alongside churches, training and equipping them to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. Family structure is key for passing on faith to children, yet 72 percent of churches lack significant relationship ministry. That’s where Communio comes in. Communio has worked with hundreds of churches across the country. These churches have seen divorce rates drop – attendance rise – weekly generosity increase – and marriage and family bonds restored.  Visit: communio.org/overcomers to learn more about the Communio impact and how Communio can come alongside your church.  – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    43 min
  8. Women in Ministry

    APR 8

    Women in Ministry

    In this episode of The Overcomers, I sit down with Colleen Searcy and Ryan Wester for a really honest, meaningful conversation about calling, faith, and what it looks like to lead in the local church as a woman. Colleen grew up in a home shaped by deep faith. Her grandfather didn’t just teach her the Apostles' Creed—he lived it. From early on, she was being discipled, not just taught. Her story is one of steady formation in the gospel. Ryan’s journey, on the other hand, is very different. She came from a background marked by pain and dysfunction, and yet God broke in with redeeming grace, drawing her out of darkness and into life and ministry. Their stories are so different, but both are powerful testimonies of God’s faithfulness—and of how He calls women into ministry through all kinds of paths. We dig into some of the challenges women face in ministry—especially in places where their gifts haven’t always been recognized or encouraged. Colleen and Ryan talk about how discipleship and spiritual friendship helped them navigate that space and step into their calling with clarity and courage. I want the Church to be a place that sees the gifts God’s given His daughters and cheers them on as they lead, teach, disciple, and serve the church. Because when women walk in their Spirit-given calling, the whole body flourishes. This conversation reminded me—again—that the Spirit of God is doing something beautiful in and through the lives of women at The Village and beyond. And I’m grateful I get to witness it. TOPICS DISCUSSED(00:14) – How Jesus Found Us and Called Us In(09:13) – When Ministry Finds You in the Most Unexpected Places(12:53) – Discipled Into a Calling(26:03) – Doing Ministry Side by Side Without the Weirdness(37:03) – Cheering Her On(41:21) – Let Her Teach, Lead, and Build the Church Resources MentionedWomen in Ministry (Condensed)Women in Ministry (Full Version) FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE: Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors Covenant Eyes Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change. The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life. Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free. – Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.  For sponsorship inquiries, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

    44 min
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4.9
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The Overcomers podcast is stories of men and women who have endured unimaginable hardships—have clung to Jesus during the dark night of the soul, yet their faith has remained intact and often more vibrant than before.Most of these stories are not clean and do not have a neat bow at the end. Many are still in the middle of battling to believe Jesus is better, come what may.

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