Kelci Rayl

“God loved me so deeply to save my depraved heart unconditionally. I had a good sense of hope that it was going to be ok. Sometimes we’ll take the biological part really far or the spiritual part really far. Nate was really good about reminding me that while you are learning all these things that are going on with you hormonally, remember the spiritual side. As a person you are spiritual, emotional, and physical. And it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, ah ha! Now I’m better!’ It was a very drawn out, messy time. Having a foundation in Christ, I very much believed there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That is salvation. If that is not true, what is the point?” -Kelci Rayl  Kelci gets real in today’s episode, sharing the depths of her experience of becoming a mom and teaching us what it took years for her to understand about Postpartum Anxiety and Depression. If her story resonates with you and you would like to talk to someone about your own experience, please reach out to us at bath@graceohio.org.

“God loved me so deeply to save my depraved heart unconditionally. I had a good sense of hope that it was going to be ok. Sometimes we’ll take the biological part really far or the spiritual part really far. Nate was really good about reminding me that while you are learning all these things that are going on with you hormonally, remember the spiritual side. As a person you are spiritual, emotional, and physical. And it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, ah ha! Now I’m better!’ It was a very drawn out, messy time. Having a foundation in Christ, I very much believed there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That is salvation. If that is not true, what is the point?” -Kelci Rayl  Kelci gets real in today’s episode, sharing the depths of her experience of becoming a mom and teaching us what it took years for her to understand about Postpartum Anxiety and Depression. If her story resonates with you and you would like to talk to someone about your own experience, please reach out to us at <a href="mailto:bath@graceohio.org">bath@graceohio.org</a>.

Ari Smith

“I don’t want a relationship with God just because I don’t want to go to hell. I want a relationship with God because I want to know this man. He is my father. I love him so much. He loves me so much. It fills all those voids and answers all those questions that people, especially women and girls, ask, ‘Am I worthy? Am I loved? Why did this happen to me?’ God fills all those voids.” -Ari Smith This week’s episode is one about the discovery of and the recovery from addiction and how Ari’s faith in her loving, heavenly Father pulled her through. 

“I don’t want a relationship with God just because I don’t want to go to hell. I want a relationship with God because I want to know this man. He is my father. I love him so much. He loves me so much. It fills all those voids and answers all those questions that people, especially women and girls, ask, ‘Am I worthy? Am I loved? Why did this happen to me?’ God fills all those voids.” -Ari Smith This week’s episode is one about the discovery of and the recovery from addiction and how Ari’s faith in her loving, heavenly Father pulled her through.

“When I first came to Grace, I said and I meant, ‘I hate people.’ And my shift is so opposite of that now; it is an absolute upside down kingdom. It’s an answer to prayer because I literally prayed for months for God to show me people the way He saw them, not the way I saw them. I know my heart and where it leads me. So it has been abandon. God, you tell me where I am going, and I am right behind you.” – Bob Ball Today’s guest, Bob Ball, used to take pride in being a man’s man. Now, through the heart change that he experience through Jesus, He is a God’s man and is humbly leading the men around him toward Christ, too. We hope you enjoy this episode which is full of miracles and stuff only God can do.

“When I first came to Grace, I said and I meant, ‘I hate people.’ And my shift is so opposite of that now; it is an absolute upside down kingdom. It’s an answer to prayer because I literally prayed for months for God to show me people the way He saw them, not the way I saw them. I know my heart and where it leads me. So it has been abandon. God, you tell me where I am going, and I am right behind you.” – Bob Ball Today’s guest, Bob Ball, used to take pride in being a man’s man. Now, through the heart change that he experience through Jesus, He is a God’s man and is humbly leading the men around him toward Christ, too. We hope you enjoy this episode which is full of miracles and stuff only God can do.

Bob Ball

Jason Catlett

“For the very first time in my life I saw God not as the wagging finger or the fist about to pound me. I saw the hand reaching out to rescue me and save me. Still to this day when someone asks, ‘What is God to you?’ I say, ‘He is the God of the outstretched hand.’ He was reaching down because he was choosing me. I felt chosen. I felt loved. And that was life change for me.” – Jason Catlett That is what love is and that is what Jason experienced when he gave his life to Jesus. Listen to today’s episode of Grace Unscripted to hear how he got to this moment and how his life was changed from this moment on! If Jason’s story impacts you and you would like to talk with someone about it, please reach out to bath@graceohio.org. We would love to connect with you!

“For the very first time in my life I saw God not as the wagging finger or the fist about to pound me. I saw the hand reaching out to rescue me and save me. Still to this day when someone asks, ‘What is God to you?’ I say, ‘He is the God of the outstretched hand.’ He was reaching down because he was choosing me. I felt chosen. I felt loved. And that was life change for me.” – Jason Catlett That is what love is and that is what Jason experienced when he gave his life to Jesus. Listen to today’s episode of Grace Unscripted to hear how he got to this moment and how his life was changed from this moment on! If Jason’s story impacts you and you would like to talk with someone about it, please reach out to bath@graceohio.org. We would love to connect with you!

Melissa Schmitz

“I am super excited for Feed My Starving Children this year. I think it’s ironic that I started volunteering with that in the middle of struggling with anorexia. Since then I’ve been part of it every year. One year, our slogan on the t-shirt was ‘Hope Starts With Food.’ It just hit me- that’s my story. Hope starts with being physically fed, and as I was physically fed I became spiritually fed as well.” This brave, vulnerable, and beautiful story from Melissa Schmitz is a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness, healing, and hope. If you relate to this story and would like to talk to someone at Grace or to Melissa, please email us at Bath@graceohio.org

“I am super excited for Feed My Starving Children this year. I think it’s ironic that I started volunteering with that in the middle of struggling with anorexia. Since then I’ve been part of it every year. One year, our slogan on the t-shirt was ‘Hope Starts With Food.’ It just hit me- that’s my story. Hope starts with being physically fed, and as I was physically fed I became spiritually fed as well.” This brave, vulnerable, and beautiful story from Melissa Schmitz is a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness, healing, and hope. If you relate to this story and would like to talk to someone at Grace or to Melissa, please email us at Bath@graceohio.org

Eric Miller

“I’m a product of everything this organization has done. I’m convinced that God has used all these ministries that I’ve been a part of, both as a student and as a youth pastor. Now it’s incredible to see the impact that these ministries have, to get to lead the organization, and help churches see the value in what this adds. I love being able to put wind into people’s sails and help them reach their maximum impact for what God wants to do through the local church.” -Eric Miller In todays episode, we hear the journey of how Eric Miller went from being a student of Momentum Ministry Partners (formerly CE National) to now being Executive Director of Ministry. 

“I’m a product of everything this organization has done. I’m convinced that God has used all these ministries that I’ve been a part of, both as a student and as a youth pastor. Now it’s incredible to see the impact that these ministries have, to get to lead the organization, and help churches see the value in what this adds. I love being able to put wind into people’s sails and help them reach their maximum impact for what God wants to do through the local church.” -Eric Miller In todays episode, we hear the journey of how Eric Miller went from being a student of Momentum Ministry Partners (formerly CE National) to now being Executive Director of Ministry.

Shanda Gobeli

“I have the abilities God has given me… I can read the bible. I can memorize. I can study. I can pray. I can love. I can reach out to people and not always wait for them to reach out to me. It is common in the disability community to collapse inward and to not reach out because they might not reach back. I never got that memo.” -Shanda Gobeli

“I have the abilities God has given me… I can read the bible. I can memorize. I can study. I can pray. I can love. I can reach out to people and not always wait for them to reach out to me. It is common in the disability community to collapse inward and to not reach out because they might not reach back. I never got that memo.” -Shanda Gobeli

Isaac Bogue

“It’s not hard to have a day camp. To have a quality day camp centered on the gospel – that’s hard. And it’s only able to be centered on the gospel if you have enough volunteers to take care of the absolute essentials and even more to double down on the gospel. The thing I’m most excited about is how we can use sports with kids, high school, and college to develop leaders who then train the next kids who jump into middle school then high school and then college and to make that cycle healthy and the best it con be.” -Isaac Bogue He didn’t plan on working towards being a pastor, or working at his dad’s church when he grew up, but as he followed God’s call, that’s exactly where he found himself. And our church family and community are blessed by Isaac’s (and Barry Basketball’s) energy, commitment, and impact. 

“It’s not hard to have a day camp. To have a quality day camp centered on the gospel – that’s hard. And it’s only able to be centered on the gospel if you have enough volunteers to take care of the absolute essentials and even more to double down on the gospel. The thing I’m most excited about is how we can use sports with kids, high school, and college to develop leaders who then train the next kids who jump into middle school then high school and then college and to make that cycle healthy and the best it con be.” -Isaac Bogue He didn’t plan on working towards being a pastor, or working at his dad’s church when he grew up, but as he followed God’s call, that’s exactly where he found himself. And our church family and community are blessed by Isaac’s (and Barry Basketball’s) energy, commitment, and impact.

Ann Hradil

“When we found ourselves desperate to save our family, it just felt natural to turn to church. We needed community, we didn’t know that then, but I know now that’s what we needed.  Community was everything we didn’t know we needed when our marriage was all but dead. And it became everything that we needed to be who we are today.” -Leigh Ann Hradil

“When we found ourselves desperate to save our family, it just felt natural to turn to church. We needed community, we didn’t know that then, but I know now that’s what we needed. Community was everything we didn’t know we needed when our marriage was all but dead. And it became everything that we needed to be who we are today.” -Leigh Ann Hradil

Leigh Ann Hradil

Ray Dunkle

“Success really drove me. Then in my mid- 30’s I came to Grace and I started committing my life to Christ and I thought, ‘Huh, which master am I going to serve?’… My life priorities were shifting because I knew the Lord, but I came to love him and be defined by Him.” -Ray Dunkle

“Success really drove me. Then in my mid- 30’s I came to Grace and I started committing my life to Christ and I thought, ‘Huh, which master am I going to serve?’… My life priorities were shifting because I knew the Lord, but I came to love him and be defined by Him.” -Ray Dunkle

Stories of people in and around Grace Church

What is the God Dream of Sports Ministry at Grace? Mark Stellar, the new Director of Sports Ministry Integration at Grace, tells us his own story and within it we see why and how connecting with our community through sports has an eternal impact.

What is the God Dream of Sports Ministry at Grace? Mark Stellar, the new Director of Sports Ministry Integration at Grace, tells us his own story and within it we see why and how connecting with our community through sports has an eternal impact.

Mark Steller

Bethany Miller

Ministry bombs. Moving mid-pandemic. Marriage crisis. Miraculous redemption. “Now the biggest question that I’ve been asking God is, ‘How are we going to use this story?’” More hard questions and more giggles as we conclude episode 2 of 2 with Bethany Miller.

Ministry bombs. Moving mid-pandemic. Marriage crisis. Miraculous redemption. “Now the biggest question that I’ve been asking God is, ‘How are we going to use this story?’” More hard questions and more giggles as we conclude episode 2 of 2 with Bethany Miller.

Bethany Miller Part 2

“In my junior year, I experienced my first bout of very serious depression… I can recall very clearly moments lying in bed as an angsty teenager going, ‘God I gave my life to you and this is what you gave me?’” -Bethany Miller 

“In my junior year, I experienced my first bout of very serious depression… I can recall very clearly moments lying in bed as an angsty teenager going, ‘God I gave my life to you and this is what you gave me?’” -Bethany Miller

Bethany Miller Part 1

John Gressock

“I started to fall apart in middle school… I realized nobody actually cares. If this is what Christians are like I don’t want any part of it. My biggest fear is that happens to kids today in our own ministry.” -John Gressock This week’s Unscripted conversation goes deep into the story of Grace’s Student Ministries Middle School Pastor, John. Hear how the desperation and loneliness he experienced as a teen now inspires him to show the love of Jesus to our current middle school students so they feel seen and known.

“I started to fall apart in middle school… I realized nobody actually cares. If this is what Christians are like I don’t want any part of it. My biggest fear is that happens to kids today in our own ministry.” -John Gressock This week’s Unscripted conversation goes deep into the story of Grace’s Student Ministries Middle School Pastor, John. Hear how the desperation and loneliness he experienced as a teen now inspires him to show the love of Jesus to our current middle school students so they feel seen and known.

“I think I’m going to ask my neighbor if she wants to follow Jesus tomorrow.” -Sunni Gressock If you want to hear the story of a woman who relentlessly pursues people for Jesus and be inspired to live boldly, too – don’t miss today’s Unscripted conversation!

“I think I’m going to ask my neighbor if she wants to follow Jesus tomorrow.” -Sunni Gressock If you want to hear the story of a woman who relentlessly pursues people for Jesus and be inspired to live boldly, too – don’t miss today’s Unscripted conversation!

Sunni Gressock

Bryan Hoffman

“My brother-in-law just kept inviting me to go to church… I went in looking for anything and everything I could find wrong so that I would never ever go back to church… I realized how hard of a wall I had built up and God busted through that thing and I allowed myself to stand up and accept prayer… I was so happy that I finally saw Him again and I couldn’t stop crying… That was the moment where my faith and everything shifted and I felt called into ministry.” Bryan Hoffman

“My brother-in-law just kept inviting me to go to church… I went in looking for anything and everything I could find wrong so that I would never ever go back to church… I realized how hard of a wall I had built up and God busted through that thing and I allowed myself to stand up and accept prayer… I was so happy that I finally saw Him again and I couldn’t stop crying… That was the moment where my faith and everything shifted and I felt called into ministry.” Bryan Hoffman

Paul Basone

“After the funeral at the church we were married in… I stood at the same spot that we said our vows. I remember telling God,through a lot of tears, ‘I get it. Your Fathership trumps my husbandship… She is yours first and like her dad gave her away here, I am giving her away to you.’” -Paul Basone Here is the Unscripted story of Paul’s journey through the privilege and pain of losing his wife and how God has used it in ways he never could have asked or imagined.

“After the funeral at the church we were married in… I stood at the same spot that we said our vows. I remember telling God,through a lot of tears, ‘I get it. Your Fathership trumps my husbandship… She is yours first and like her dad gave her away here, I am giving her away to you.’” -Paul Basone Here is the Unscripted story of Paul’s journey through the privilege and pain of losing his wife and how God has used it in ways he never could have asked or imagined.

Zoe Oseni

“When you take a minute to look back at God’s faithfulness, I think that is where rest comes, and confidence comes, and peace in the Lord’s plan for your life.” – Zoe Jamison Between grief and healing, anger and joy, singleness and marriage, Zoe shares the highs and lows in her story on the next episode of grace unscripted.

“When you take a minute to look back at God’s faithfulness, I think that is where rest comes, and confidence comes, and peace in the Lord’s plan for your life.” – Zoe Jamison Between grief and healing, anger and joy, singleness and marriage, Zoe shares the highs and lows in her story on the next episode of grace unscripted.

Ben Falkenberg

Joe Caruso

Grace Unscripted

Jesse Dolan

Jesse Dolan is a small group leader at Grace. Hear him describe how he and his wife have intentionally chosen to focus their time and energy on family and making Christ the center of their home.

Jesse Dolan is a small group leader at Grace. Hear him describe how he and his wife have intentionally chosen to focus their time and energy on family and making Christ the center of their home.

Todd Shoemaker

Todd Shoemaker is the head pastor of Student Ministries at Grace. He took the time to share how his life brought him to Akron, and what he envisions for the teenagers of Grace Church.

Todd Shoemaker is the head pastor of Student Ministries at Grace. He took the time to share how his life brought him to Akron, and what he envisions for the teenagers of Grace Church.

Angel Dague is on staff with RAHAB Ministries. RAHAB serves the women of Akron, Ohio who are enslaved by trafficking  by putting truth and love into action. Grace Church has been an active supporter of RAHAB Ministries for many years. Angel met Jesus through the efforts of Becky Moreland (RAHAB Ministries Founder), and now Angel lives to serve Jesus and the trapped women of Akron.

Angel Dague is on staff with RAHAB Ministries. RAHAB serves the women of Akron, Ohio who are enslaved by trafficking  by putting truth and love into action. Grace Church has been an active supporter of RAHAB Ministries for many years. Angel met Jesus through the efforts of Becky Moreland (RAHAB Ministries Founder), and now Angel lives to serve Jesus and the trapped women of Akron.

Angel Dague

Liz Miller

Liz Miller is a pretty recognizable face at Grace. She can be seen on stage singing with the band, and hosting the Weekend Extra. Liz is also a single mother of four who survived the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband Ricky. Listen as she tells us how Jesus and the Church gave her the strength to deal with tragedy.

Liz Miller is a pretty recognizable face at Grace. She can be seen on stage singing with the band, and hosting the Weekend Extra. Liz is also a single mother of four who survived the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband Ricky. Listen as she tells us how Jesus and the Church gave her the strength to deal with tragedy.

Joe Tucker

Joe Tucker is the Executive Director of South Street Ministries. South Street Ministries focuses on renewing community for the sake of Jesus in parts of Akron.

Joe Tucker is the Executive Director of South Street Ministries. South Street Ministries focuses on renewing community for the sake of Jesus in parts of Akron.

Paul Vespoli

Paul Vespoli is an active member of Grace Church who serves in many capacities, including men’s ministry, Bible teaching, and our service efforts to Haiti. Hear Paul discuss God’s never-tiring patience and love as he helped pull him through the struggles of life, and into a life of new found hope and purpose.

Paul Vespoli is an active member of Grace Church who serves in many capacities, including men’s ministry, Bible teaching, and our service efforts to Haiti. Hear Paul discuss God’s never-tiring patience and love as he helped pull him through the struggles of life, and into a life of new found hope and purpose.

Ezra Wimberly

Ezra is one of the most recognizable faces at Grace because he leads worship at the weekend services. While music has always been an important part of his life, there is much more to Ezra than just a guitar and microphone.

Ezra is one of the most recognizable faces at Grace because he leads worship at the weekend services. While music has always been an important part of his life, there is much more to Ezra than just a guitar and microphone.

Josiah Bogue

Josiah Bogue is a student in the Grace Bible College extension and an intern in the Collective Ministry. Through the years, he has also grown into a bigger role on stage, and now he frequently helps lead music at the Bath Campus.

Josiah Bogue is a student in the Grace Bible College extension and an intern in the Collective Ministry. Through the years, he has also grown into a bigger role on stage, and now he frequently helps lead music at the Bath Campus.

Richard Fisher

After many years on staff at Moody Bible Institute, Richard Fisher served Grace Church for seven years as the head pastor of adult education. He is a brilliant Biblical mind and a joy to be around. He is now retired and living with his family in Warner Robbins, Georgia. I so enjoyed learning from him that I brought him back one more time before he left for Georgia. Enjoy part 2 of our conversation.

After many years on staff at Moody Bible Institute, Richard Fisher served Grace Church for seven years as the head pastor of adult education. He is a brilliant Biblical mind and a joy to be around. He is now retired and living with his family in Warner Robbins, Georgia. I so enjoyed learning from him that I brought him back one more time before he left for Georgia. Enjoy part 2 of our conversation.

Richard Fisher Part 2

After many years on staff at Moody Bible Institute, Richard Fisher served Grace Church for seven years as the head pastor of adult education. He is a brilliant Biblical mind and a joy to be around. He is now retired and living with his family in Warner Robbins, Georgia.

After many years on staff at Moody Bible Institute, Richard Fisher served Grace Church for seven years as the head pastor of adult education. He is a brilliant Biblical mind and a joy to be around. He is now retired and living with his family in Warner Robbins, Georgia.

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!