Embracing Brokenness Ministries

In Part 2 of our Reclamation series, Steve and Colleen Adams explore what it looks like to reclaim the parts of our story that were shaped by failure, shame, and consequences.In this deeply personal episode, Steve shares the part of his story he rarely tells publicly — the collapse of a successful real estate business in the 1980s, federal fraud charges, and the prison sentence that followed.For years, the weight of that chapter lingered quietly in the background of his life.Then, decades later, God prompted him to do something unexpected.Go back.Together, Steve and Colleen returned to the federal prison camp where he served his sentence — not as an inmate this time, but as a man who had experienced redemption.What happened there became a powerful moment of reclamation — a reconciling of past, present, and purpose.This conversation explores:How God redeems even the most painful chapters of our storyThe difference between shame and redemptionWhy consequences can become part of God’s restoration processHow woun

What does it mean to reclaim the parts of yourself that trauma, shame, and pain taught you to hide?In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Reclamation, Steve and Colleen explore how Jesus restores what was lost through wounds, false beliefs, and spiritual fragmentation. Colleen shares deeply from her own story of abuse, abandonment, healing, and the reclaiming of the true self through Christ.This is a conversation about more than pain from the past. It’s about the renewing work of God in the present—and the hope of restoration for the future.Chapters:00:00 Trauma, the true self, and the cost to our relationship with God00:44 Welcome + introducing the Reclamation series (Embracing the Way)01:59 War, current events, and the unseen reality of spiritual warfare03:18 Defining reclamation: reclaiming what was lost in God, self, others, purpose04:29 Reclaiming the Imago Dei + Joel 2:25 (“years the locusts have eaten”)08:28 “Altar moments” + how healing unfolds over time10:13 Fragmentation and “orphan parts” (IFS)

Jesus promises a white stone, hidden manna, and a new name known only to the one who receives it. In this episode, Steve & Colleen Adams explore identity, healing, and what it means to “conquer” when competing voices are loud. Colleen shares her story of hearing God call her “Delightful” through trauma and reintegration; Steve shares how God restored his identity as a Warrior in a season of loss. A deeply practical invitation to ask God what He calls you—and to live from it.Chapters00:00 – Why identity matters in marriage & community synergy01:10 – Podcast intro + Episode context (Episode 27 throwback)02:30 – Anchor Scripture: Revelation 2:17 (new name on a white stone)03:10 – “The one who conquers” = resisting false identities05:03 – Colleen’s checklist (and why the “new name” mattered)07:45 – Colleen’s “Delightful” story begins11:49 – Trauma, the false self, and burying the “little girl”14:03 – Redeeming “Delightful” + how God uses our wounds in service15:35 – Steve’s crisis season + Wild at Heart B

In this annual conversation, Steve Adams, Colleen Adams, and Michael Kurtz invite listeners to begin the year through consecration, not pressure or performance. Rather than goal-setting, the focus is surrender—offering the year back to God as an act of union with Christ.They explore listening for a word or phrase for the year as an invitation into formation, why God’s work is often cumulative over time, and how an eternal perspective reshapes how we live and suffer today. Eternity is reframed not as escape, but as restoration—returning to God’s “very good” design.This episode serves as a formation anchor for the year ahead, calling listeners to resist striving, stop self-saving, and trust the God who holds both now and forever.Resources mentioned:The Royal in You — Jordan Raynor Video IntroHeaven — Randy AlcornAll Things New — John EldredgeScripture references:Matthew 6:34 • Genesis 1–3 • Matthew 24:36 • Genesis 1:26–28 • Matthew 25:14–30 • John 15Chapters:00:00 Cold open — “Don’t add pressure… I have a month

Spiritual formation doesn’t happen in isolation—but it also doesn’t happen in unsafe spaces.In this episode, Steve and Colleen explore what makes a community truly safe and why safety is foundational to healing, trust, and transformation. This honest conversation parallels themes from their upcoming book Embracing the Way, inviting listeners into a slower, relational vision of walking with Jesus and one another.If you’ve longed for community but felt guarded, this episode offers language, clarity, and hope.

In this powerful start to a new year, Steve sits down with longtime friend Rich Timmons—creative visionary, gallery owner, teacher, and author of Come… meet Jesus—for an honest conversation about faith, loss, and redemption.Rich shares how a Good Friday business collapse became the moment he finally cried out to God, and how a “Joseph and Mary” divine appointment helped lead him to Christ. He reflects on rebuilding his life with Jesus at the center, teaching art history through the life of Christ, and turning 67 masterworks into a devotional tool that blends Scripture and beauty.The conversation takes a profound turn as Rich opens up about losing his son to glioblastoma, and the strength of staying “yoked” to Jesus through grief. He also shares a deeply personal testimony of decades-long struggle with alcohol—and the moment God brought freedom through Psalm 9:6.If you’re walking through brokenness, grief, or a hidden struggle, this episode is a reminder: brokenness isn’t a barrier—it can become a bridge to he

It’s the week of December 29, 2025—and Steve & Colleen Adams take time to look back with gratitude on what God has done through Embracing Brokenness Ministries this year, while also sharing a glimpse of what’s ahead in 2026.A central theme rises above everything: learning to wait on the Lord—to live from presence, intimacy, and obedience, not outcomes. Along the way, they share a few powerful ministry stories (including moments of real-time provision), reflect on meaningful guest conversations from 2025, and close by thanking the prayer team and ministry partners who make it all possible.If you’ve been weary, discouraged, or wondering whether your calling matters—this conversation will encourage you to keep following the Shepherd’s voice.Website: https://embracingbrokenness.org/Chapters:00:00 Feeling dry? Ask God for a glimpse (opening encouragement)00:33 Podcast intro01:20 Welcome + “How is it already Dec 29?”02:45 Recap purpose + heading into Year 704:20 Theme of 2025: waiting on the Lord + John 10:2706

When life teaches you to hide, Jesus invites you to heal. Author Clinton Parker joins Steve to share the story behind his new book, Beauty in the Dandelion: Shame Shattered by Grace and Love—from chaotic beginnings and early exposure to darkness, to the slow rescue of grace, safe people, and a Father who delights.We talk practicals: naming shame vs. guilt, breaking isolation, finding “safe” community, parenting through pain, and why putting your story on paper can become the first step toward freedom.

What does true freedom look like?At age 15, Warner Batty was sentenced to life without parole for taking a life. Fifty years later, he walked out of a Pennsylvania prison—free not just in body, but in spirit.In this raw and redemptive conversation, Steve sits down with Warner to talk about his journey from hopelessness and self-hatred to forgiveness and freedom in Christ. Hear how one man—“the hound from heaven”—persisted in sharing Jesus behind bars until the Holy Spirit broke through.Warner shares the pivotal moment of his salvation, his decades-long walk with Christ while incarcerated, and his eventual release under the Miller v. Alabama Supreme Court ruling. This episode is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond redemption, and that freedom begins within.Topics include:Growing up in poverty and racism in the 1960sLife without parole as a 15-year-oldA divine encounter with “the hound from heaven”Meeting the family of his victim to offer forgivenessRevival and ministry behind prison wallsFinding peace an

What happens when a pastor’s life falls apart—and God writes a better story?In this raw and redemptive conversation, Steve sits down with Greg Lindsey, author of The Rest of Your Story: The Path to the Christian Life You Want, to talk about failure, forgiveness, and the long road to freedom. Greg shares openly about the affair that nearly ended his marriage and ministry—and how Jesus met him in the rubble to begin a rescue that changed everything.Together, Steve and Greg unpack what it means to live from your story instead of running from it: how God redeems even our deepest failures, why the Church must learn to restore the fallen, and why intimacy with Jesus—not performance—is the true measure of success.

Steve and Colleen talk with Tom and Karen Friedrichs of Broom Tree Landing, a ministry that offers no-cost retreat, coaching, and spiritual direction to pastors and ministry leaders who are tired, hurting, or on the edge of burnout. They share their own story of pastoral exhaustion, how God accelerated their “retirement dream” into a right now calling, and several powerful provision stories — including God funding someone’s retreat from another country.You’ll hear:Why healthy churches need healthy leadersSigns of burnout pastors often ignoreWhy availability is the real ministryHow God provides when you finally say “yes”Connect with Broom Tree Landing: https://www.broomtreelanding.org/Chapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome06:58 The Importance of Healthy Ministries13:52 Personal Journeys and Call to Ministry20:56 Provision and Trust in God27:37 Creating a Safe Space for Leaders29:19 Understanding Burnout in Ministry33:43 The Importance of Rest and Retreat38:33 Provision Stories: Miracles in Ministry43:23 The Po

Steve sits down with author and leadership coach Preston Poore to discuss his new book How Is Greater Than What. Together they unpack the overlooked “how” of leadership—why character, integrity, and faith matter more than performance.Hear Preston’s vulnerable stories from his years at Coca-Cola, how he learned to lead with heart, and why our identity in Christ defines every “how” in life and leadership.

“Helper” in Genesis 2:18 isn’t a downgrade—it’s ezer kenegdo: a powerful ally corresponding to. Steve & Colleen explore God’s original design, how sin distorted it, and how Jesus restores mutuality (Gal 3:28). Practical for marriage, ministry, friendships, and singles—plus a Zechariah 2:5 prayer of protection and presence.Chapters0:00 – Opening: generational context & show intro1:42 – Welcome back; why Genesis; episode title set-up3:52 – Prayer of protection (Zechariah 2:5)5:19 – Why pray aloud; prison context; PDF mention7:26 – Genesis 2:18 read; intro to ezer kenegdo9:45 – “Helper” and identity: Colleen’s story12:03 – God as ezer (rescuer/ally)13:07 – Psalm 33:20 (ESV) — “he is our help and our shield”14:30 – Kenegdo = corresponding/face-to-face; headship/submission clarified15:17 – Misuse of “submission”; weight of responsibility on the head17:11 – The Fall’s fracture (Genesis 3:16)18:44 – Consequences vs “curse” explained22:28 – Passivity & cultural misuse (lighthearted “15:1 words” moment)23:

Many of us were taught a gospel that’s true—but incomplete. It became a “ticket to heaven,” divorced from daily life, intimacy, and our purpose in God’s larger story. In this candid conversation, Steve and Colleen unpack how post-Enlightenment thinking, cultural striving, and a transactional faith left them exhausted and spiritually dry—and how Jesus invited them into union, abiding, and the wholeness of Shalom (“nothing missing, nothing broken”).They trace the story from Genesis 1:26–28 (the cultural mandate) to John 14:6, John 5:19, John 17:20–21, and John 10:10, showing how the “whole gospel” restores us to partnership with God—now. Expect practical honesty (including Colleen’s “contract with God” moment and Steve’s Monday-through-Friday faith challenge), a re-centering on intimacy over information, and a hopeful vision of life with God that integrates heaven and earth.Chapters00:00 The Desire for Intimacy with God02:53 The Incomplete Gospel and Its Impact05:44 Understanding God: Beyond Knowledge09:00 The

What if your struggles aren’t just problems to manage—but invitations from God to heal?In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness Podcast, Steve and Colleen dive deep into the difference between sin management and true spiritual healing. Through honest stories—including a boat named Revelation that literally went down in flames—they reveal how wounds, lies, and false identities shape our lives.Too often, we silence the “smoke alarm” of sin without dealing with the fire beneath it. Addiction, workaholism, or even seemingly harmless obsessions are symptoms of unhealed wounds. Real transformation comes not from filters, checklists, or self-help, but from surrender—allowing Jesus to meet us in our stories and replace the lies we believe with His truth.This conversation will challenge you to go beyond surface fixes and embrace the deeper healing God longs to bring.

So many of us spend our lives hiding our brokenness—pretending everything’s fine while we carry deep wounds that keep us from true freedom. In this honest conversation, Steve and Colleen share their personal journeys of pain, healing, and restoration. They tackle why most people resist admitting they’re broken, what happens if we ignore it, and how Jesus transforms our deepest wounds into places of life and freedom.From coffee-spilled meltdowns to the image of a Lamborghini built to reflect glory, they unpack what it really means to embrace your brokenness—and why it’s the essential first step toward living the abundant life God intended.If you’ve ever wrestled with shame, performance, or simply the ache of “not enough,” this episode will remind you: your brokenness isn’t the end of your story—it’s the place where God begins His healing work.Link to Upcoming Book: Embracing the Wayhttps://www.embracingtheway.com/Chapters00:00 The Coffee Incident: A Lesson in Healing02:52 Embracing Brokenness: The Journey Begi

A dark battlefield. Countless dead. One man runs tirelessly, reviving the fallen. The rescued learn to revive others. Hope spreads. But then, someone builds a shelter. Others join. Before long, a castle stands where the battle once raged. From its balcony, people laugh, feast, and celebrate… blind to the dying just beyond the walls.In this robust conversation, Colleen shares a vivid vision that the Lord impressed on her heart—an image for the Church to ponder today. Steve and Michael join her to unpack what it means for discipleship, spiritual formation, and our tendency to trade mission for comfort.We’ll explore:Why revival must lead to discipleship, not complacencyHow “castles” in our lives pull us away from God’s callWarning signs that we’ve drifted from the battlefieldThe difference between cultural Christianity and kingdom livingHow to return to our first love and re-engage in the mission of JesusWhether you’re new to faith or decades in, this episode will challenge you to examine your heart, your focus,

What do you do when evil shows up—and no one’s talking about it?In this honest and Spirit-led debrief, Steve and Colleen Adams reflect on their unforgettable interview with former FBI agent Scott Payne. From neo-Nazi cult rituals to the chilling refusal of a Bible to burn in a satanic bonfire, Scott’s story exposed real spiritual darkness. But it also revealed something else—how far the Church has drifted from affirming biblical masculinity and spiritual authority.Colleen shares how the Holy Spirit prompted her to speak boldly, challenging a culture that vilifies strength and a Church that’s gone silent.

Former undercover FBI agent and bestselling author Scott Payne returns in Part 2 of this jaw-dropping conversation with Steve and Colleen. In this episode, Scott recounts the harrowing details of infiltrating neo-Nazi accelerationist groups—including disturbing pagan rituals, foiled murder plots, and spiritual warfare in the darkest places imaginable. But through it all, his faith remained the anchor.Colleen joins the conversation with powerful reflections on biblical masculinity, the battle between good and evil, and the call to be both lion and lamb in today’s culture.

What happens when an undercover FBI agent faces down hate groups, cartels, and spiritual darkness—and still holds fast to his faith?In this gripping Part 1 interview, Scott Payne, former FBI agent and New York Times bestselling author of Codename: Pale Horse, joins Steve to share his incredible journey. From growing up in a Christian home to infiltrating America's most violent criminal networks, Scott opens up about the challenges of living for Jesus in the darkest places on earth.