First Person with Wayne Shepherd
Once a week 24 minute radio interviews focusing on personal Christian faith stories and spiritual calling. FIRST PERSON is produced by Wayne Shepherd Communications, LLC. 1717 Park St., Suite 300, Naperville, IL 60563. Email: Wayne@wayneshepherd.net
Episodes
Anita Deyneka has a long history of ministry to the people of Soviet and post-Soviet cultures, including children. She talks with Wayne Shepherd. (click for more)
Websites: missioneurasia.org Read about giving a gift of hope at Christmas
Anita Deyneka is a longtime missionary, author, and advocate for vulnerable children, whose life and ministry have spanned the Soviet era, the collapse of communism, and t...
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Bill Thrasher joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about the spiritual discipline of prayer and thanks. (click for more)
Website: https://victoriouspraying.com
Dr. Bill Thrasher reflects on the meaning and discipline of Thanksgiving, tracing its American roots to Bradford and Lincoln while emphasizing its deep biblical foundation. He explains that gratitude cures pride, restores pe...
The Founder of The Timothy Initiative, David Nelms, talks with Wayne Shepherd about this extensive disciple-making ministry. (click for more...)
Website: https://ttiglobal.org
The interview with Pastor David Nelms, founder of The Timothy Initiative (TTI), centers on his mission to plant churches among unreached people groups worldwide. Nelms explains that TTI focuses on areas with few or no churches—primarily Muslim, Hindu, Buddhi...
Retired USAF Chaplain Thomas Westall, now President of Operation Military Blessings, talks with Wayne Shepherd about assisting military personnel. (click for more...)
Website: http://operationmilitaryblessings.org
Retired Air Force Chaplain Thomas Westall, president and CEO of Operation Military Blessings (OMB), highlights his ministry’s mission to assist active-duty military families facing financial crises. Founded 30 years ag...
With an upsurge in college campus faith activity, Dr. Bob Bakke joins Wayne Shepherd and reports on what he sees happening. (click for more...)
Websites: https://www.onecry.com https://ttiglobal.org https://collegiatedayofprayer.org
Dr. Bob Bakke, interviewed by Wayne Shepherd on First Person, describes an extraordinary spiritual awakening taking place among college students across the U.S. and internationally. After years in ...
Dr. John Munro, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and host of The Verdict radio program, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his journey from law to ministry. (click for more...)
Website: www.calvarychurch.com
The Verdict Radio Program: https://theverdict.org
Originally from Scotland, Pastor Munro was raised in a Christian home and came to faith at age 12. After a successful career as a prosecutor and at...
Host Wayne Shepherd interviews Sergey Rakhuba, President of Mission Eurasia, who shares his journey from growing up in a Christian family in Soviet Ukraine to leading a ministry serving the former Soviet Union. (click for more...)
Website: MissionEurasia.org
Gift catalog: https://missioneurasia.org/your-gifts-change-lives/
Sergey recalls his struggles with faith during his youth under Soviet pressure, his spiritual turning point af...
Professor Emeritus at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Winfred Neely talks with Wayne Shepherd about his life of preaching and teaching. (click for more...)
Dr. Neely shares his remarkable journey of faith and his lifelong calling to preach and teach the Word of God. Introduced to prayer by his mother as a child, Neely came to personal faith in Christ at age 19 while serving in the U.S. Army through the witness of a humble dishwasher...
Ken Isaacs of Samaritan's Purse talks with Wayne Shepherd about his calling to meeting humanitarian needs around the world in the name of Christ. (click for more...)
Ken is Vice-President of Programs and Government Relations at Samaritan's Purse, and the author of Running to the Fire, Helping in Jesus' Name.
Interview Notes:
Former water well driller, went as a volunteer to West Africa (1985).
- Felt called by God...
Wayne Shepherd talks with Jonathon Seidl about his alcohol addiction and the transforming power of Jesus to deliver him daily from his addictive behavior. (click for more...)
Website and book: https://www.jonseidl.com
Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Key Themes
God only uses sinners: Jonathon emphasizes that aside from Jesus, everyone God uses is imperfect.
Shame and vulnerability: He initially resisted going public wi...
Wayne Shepherd talks with Jenny Waltman, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Grace Klein Community in Birmingham, Alabama. (click for more)
- A ministry dedicated to serving underprivileged and disadvantaged people, rooted in biblical principles.
- Website: https://gracekleincommunity.com
- Jenny's Book: God Chose the Wrong Person can be found here.
- Jenny and her husband lost their construction business (approx. $400,000).
- Moved into...
The grandson of the late Dr. Warren Wiersbe, Dan Jacobsen, talks with Wayne Shepherd about the publication of one of his grandfather's unpublished manuscripts. (Click for more)
Years ago an unpublished Wiersbe manuscript tucked in a dusty manila folder was unearthed by the Jacobsen family. Wiersbe grandson Dan Jacobsen, a young pastor himself, spent two years preserving his grandfather's original writing and completed t...
Businessman John Wieland, author of Uncommon Threads, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his story of faith and the lessons he's learned about faith, family, and business. (click for more)
You'll find the book Uncommon Threads here.
John Wieland Program Notes:
Background & Business
- CEO of MH Equipment (material handling/forklift company in Illinois).
- President of His First Foundation.
- Took over MH Equipment in 1994 when ...
Hal Habecker of Finishing Well Ministries, joins Wayne Shepherd to talk about encouraging seniors to actively pursue and fulfill God's calling. (click for more)
Website: https://www.finishingwellministries.org
Interview notes:
Background & Faith Journey
- Born in Hershey, PA, one of six children in a farming family.
- Came to Christ at age 6 in an independent Bible church.
- Early fascination with older people, shaped by the dea...
Pastor and author George Koch joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about his life experiences and his book, Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves. (click for more)
More about George's book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bullies+parasites+and+slaves&crid=3HRAB41FIEJ9R&sprefix=Bullies%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_3_7
Interview Summary:
George Koch’s Background
Career began in tech: co-founded a software co...
A beloved professor at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Bill Thrasher, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his own faith story and teaching on prayer. (click for more)
For more about prayer: www.VictoriousPraying.com
Interview Notes – Dr. Bill Thrasher
Theme: Spiritual formation, prayer, and the Christian life
Background:
- Dr. Bill Thrasher is a longtime professor at Moody Bible Institute.
- Passionate about prayer and the spiritual disciplines...
Former NBA star Mike Newlin talks with Wayne Shepherd about his basketball career and his long commitment to his relationship with Jesus Christ. (click for more)
Background & Basketball Career
- Mike Newlin was a standout NBA guard, scoring over 12,000 points.
- Drafted by the San Diego Rockets, who became the Houston Rockets one week later.
- Known for his discipline—trained 6–8 hours a day in high school.
- Believes time, not talent,...
Colby Barrett, Executive Producer of the documentary, A Faith Under Siege, talks with Wayne Shepherd about Russian forces persecuting Ukrainian Christians. (click for more)
A Faith Under Siege can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E4gJWdsyAA&ab_channel=AFaithUnderSiege
The film is endorsed by Mission Eurasia. To read Faith Under Fire: Understanding and Responding to Religious Persecution, click here.
🎙️ In...
Mike Joens put his faith in Jesus Christ while in the Marines. He went on to become a successful animator and has now created a series for children. (click for more)
Mike's dream all along was to create an animated series for children that would teach God's Word. That happened with the production of Theo Presents, available on DVD here.
Key Interview Highlights
- Spiritual Transformation:
Mike accepted Christ in 1972 ...
The CEO of the large and successful Correct Craft company, Bill Yeargin, joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation his personal faith journey and how it has helped him lead over 2,000 employees and distributors in over 70 countries.
NEXT WEEK: Mike Joens
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