Kevin Manning is on the show today. Kevin is a pastor of over 30 years. He’s been married to Christy for 32 years. Kevin and Christy have four adult children. He currently serves as a Campus Pastor at The Well Community Church in Clovis, Ca. When he’s not hanging with his family or serving The Well Community Church, he owns and operates a non-profit called FMSWAKE. The wake surfing organization charters time out on the lake for private groups, while also serving local foster and inner-city teens by giving them time out on the water and teaching them wake surfing.

In this episode, Kevin shares how he came to know Jesus and a pastor. He also talks about his life in ministry, the good and the hard. We talk about his experiences overseas and the goodness of God, even when things are difficult and hard.

Here's a memorable quote by Kevin during this conversation, “In the midst of hard, I’m going to praise the Lord.”

Connect with Kevin here: @kevinmanning

FMSWAKE: @fmswake

If you’d like to support the work Kevin does through FMSWAKE: https://venmo.com/u/FMSWAKE

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Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Ty Scott King is an award-winning, Billboard charting, GRAMMY® Award-considered artist who—for nearly three decades—has fine-tuned a unique balance between poetry and hip hop. Referred to by many as “the Maya Angelou of this generation,” Ty has shared stages with industry greats, awed international audiences, and performed at the United States Pentagon.

Her ability to remind others of their worth and purpose through her words has made her a sought-after artist and speaker across the globe. The featured poetic voice in national radio ads for corporate giants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut (for which she won the prestigious Silver Mic Award), and Aveeno, Ty has also appeared on major television networks such as BET and TV One, and had multiple long-running successes on the Billboard Music Charts.

Ty’s eclectic list of accomplishments includes ranking among the top U.S. poets at the National Poetry Slam level, hosting both an internationally broadcasted television and radio show, and breaking ground in the legendary, award-winning group, Platinum Souls.

These days, the once shy Jamaican born, U.S.-raised girl who began writing when she was just eight years old and refined her talents early while attending an arts school is also a bestselling author and an accomplished speaker who is spreading healing, hope, and love through her words.

Memorable quote by Ty during this episode: “I don’t want success without him because it’s just empty.”

Check out Ty’s Website, where you can find all her music and books: tyscottking.com

Connect with Ty on social media: @iamtyscottking

Share this episode with a friend and sign up to receive a newsletter reminder when new episodes are released.

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

We made it! The end of this first season of That’s For Sure is here and I’m super grateful for all of you who have jumped in on this adventure. It’s been a great start to the show and I couldn’t be more grateful and appreciative of all the guests of this very first season and the many of you who have joined in on our conversations.

As I mentioned during this finale episode, I’d love your input as I consider season 2 and continue to shape this podcast.

Thanks for taking just a few minutes to provide your thoughts and input! Your support means so much to me. Here’s the link to a short form: https://forms.gle/vhybbgqUzKQFSw7e7

Did you catch that final word of wisdom from my youngest son? “We are the hot dog; Jesus is the bun because he holds us.”

May it be so today and everyday.

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Let’s stay in touch. Sign up for my newsletter here. Pick up your copy of That’s For Sure and be encouraged today.

Harmony Brown, Executive Director of Africa New Day is on the show today. The mission statement of Africa New Day is:

Transforming Congo from within through education, advocacy, and economic development.

Fighting violence, poverty, and inequality in the Congo through education, advocacy, and economic development.

Africa New Day is a non-profit determined to end the cycles of violence, poverty, and inequality fostered by lack of knowledge, bad governance, and the absence of opportunities through sustainable and long-term solutions.

Congo is a complex place with a long history, much difficult to face.

The slave trade, colonization, exploitation of resources, wars and political unrest have ravaged the DR Congo for centuries. The people and the land have suffered greatly over the past 500 years.

Despite centuries of exploitation and suffering, there is hope for the people of the DR Congo. From within, the majority of people are eager for peace and stability. There are foreign and domestic efforts to invest in economic development, improved education and healthcare, and environmental advocacy–resulting in transformation across the Congo.

Get connected with Africa New Day and stay informed by checking out their website, signing up to receive their newsletter and following them on social media.

Website: https://africanewday.org/

To get our newsletter, give monthly, or connect Africa New Day to a podcast, school, or church: https://africanewday.org/africanewdaylinks

Instagram: @africanewday

Facebook

Linkedin

TikTok: @africanewday

Harmony graciously offered us a couple ways to get involved, right now and right where we are. Here are some more examples. If something stirred in you, during today’s episode and you want to explore further opportunities to be involved in this wonderful organization, consider these ideas as well:

Host a fundraising or awareness event in your community, invite our US team to speak at your school, conference, church, or podcast, or become a volunteer.

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Let’s stay in touch. Sign up for my newsletter here. Pick up your copy of That’s For Sure and be encouraged today.

Ashley Neff is on the show today. Ashley is a world traveler, a fabulous photographer, a cancer survivor and friend to many. Ashley was so kind to come on the show today and share some of her life and wisdom through her experiences with unmet expectations such as singleness, buying a home and cancer.

In this episode, Ashley offers us all so many little nuggets of wisdom as we all try to navigate when things just don’t go our way. We think we know what we want and what’s best for us and so when curveball comes our way, it’s so easy to find ourselves lost, confused, maybe frustrated and angry. And at the same time, there’s so much beauty found in the story God is writing throughout the journey of our lives.

Some of the things mentioned on this episode can be further investigated using the links below:

EGM Every Generation Ministries

The Oaks

National Cancer Institute

Ashley reminded us of God’s faithfulness. May you know in the depth of your soul, his faithfulness in your life today.

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Let’s stay in touch. Sign up for my newsletter here. Pick up your copy of That’s For Sure and be encouraged today.

Stephen Mason is on the show today. Stephen has a very cool job. He serves as the Field Project Manager - Anglophone West Africa (the English speaking part of Africa) for The Seed Company.

The Seed Company accelerates the work of Bible translation by connecting local field partners around the world with investors, resources, and training. Through these global partnerships, God’s people are being equipped to reach communities still waiting for Scripture in the languages they understand best.

Here’s The Seed Company so you can check them out and learn more about what they do and why they do it.

Stephen mentioned a video that provides more history of Bible translation. It’s really fascinating and I think you’ll enjoy checking it here: History of Bible Translation Video.

I hope you enjoyed this conversation about The Seed Company. If you’d like to discover ways to support them, be sure and check out the Pray and Give pages on their website. Stephen also provided this link to sign up to receive a prayer journal featuring the part of the world where he serves.

Anglophone West Africa Prayer Journal

I’m so grateful Stephen took the time to have this conversation with me. I was encouraged by him and the work he’s doing with The Seed Company and I hope you are too!

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Did you know Carrie Ellen has a newsletter? You can⁠⁠⁠ sign up today⁠⁠⁠ to connect more with Carrie and keep up with her adventures living as a Californian in Texas and surviving wild weather and critters.

I am so thrilled to have Kimberly Stuart on the show today. Kim is an Iowa girl, a writer, a speaker, a podcaster, and a dark chocolate obsessive. She is the author of eight novels with a forthcoming nonfiction debut set to release in early 2024. Stuart's books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Huff Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times. She and New York Times-bestselling author Bob Goff have coached hundreds of aspiring authors through their executive coaching, online courses, and live events in the San Diego area. Stuart has made her home in Minneapolis, Houston, Chicago, Costa Rica, Nebraska, and Iowa, where she now lives with her brave husband and three wily children.

Head to Kim’s website to see a full list of the books she’s written, to check her podcast, For Real with Kim Stuart and to learn more about what coaching with Kim looks like via the Writer’s Workshops that she and Bob Goff host.

If you missed the episode with Bob, check back to episode 7 and listen in as we talk about baby giraffes and Hyland Cows.

Be sure and pre-order Kim’s latest book, Star for Jesus (And other Jobs I Quit). It releases in April and I cannot wait! 

Kim shared a bit about the Hope Heals camp run by Jay and Katherine Wolf. They are incredible and this camp Kim mentioned, looks and sounds a bit like heaven. 

I loved that Kim also shared that God has a stubborn, bottomless love for us and that he is good and 100% trustworthy. I hope you know this to be true in your life today dear listener.

I think I’ll put on The Goodness of God song Kim mentioned and I hope you do too.

Thanks for listening!

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Did you know Carrie Ellen has a newsletter? You can⁠⁠ sign up today⁠⁠ to connect more with Carrie and keep up with her adventures living as a Californian in Texas and surviving wild weather and critters.

Bob Goff is on the show today. Wowzers! I loved this conversation with Bob. 

Bob Goff is the author of the New York Times bestselling books Love Does, Everybody Always, Dream Big, and Undistracted. He is the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda, an attorney, and the founder of Love Does—a nonprofit human rights organization operating in India, Uganda, Nepal, Somalia, Afghanistan, USA, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Israel, and Burkina Faso. He’s a lover of balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams. Bob continues to be inspired by friendships he’s developed with others around the world who live their lives pursuing strategic ways to help others. You can typically find Bob writing and taking calls from his boat, welcoming people to The Oaks—his Southern California retreat center, or at an event speaking. Bob’s greatest ambitions in life are to love others, do stuff, and, most importantly, to hold hands with his wife, Sweet Maria Goff, and spend time with their amazing kids and grandkids.

Thanks for listening.

Grateful,

Carrie Ellen

Connect with Bob

Bobgoff.com

Lovedoes.org

The Oaks

IG: @bobgoff

Grab a copy – or two – of Bob’s books: Love Does, Everybody Always, Dream Big, Undistracted

Did you know Carrie Ellen has a newsletter? You can⁠ sign up today⁠ to connect more with Carrie and keep up with her adventures living as a Californian in Texas and surviving wild weather and critters.