Welcome to the God is Good Podcast! Host Carol O’Brien speaks with Karen, an inspiring storyteller on a mission to unite Christians and reignite faith. In “Take My Hand,” Karen shares her personal journey from her Salvation Army roots, through moments of wandering and rediscovery, to embracing Catholicism and becoming a passionate advocate for Christian unity.
Episode Highlights
- Meet Karen: Karen, a convert to Catholicism, reflects on how her Salvation Army upbringing first introduced her to the joy of faith and community, and how her experiences shaped her commitment to helping others find Jesus.
- Childhood & Salvationist Roots: From a Lutheran baptism to a transformative encounter at a Salvation Army vacation Bible school, Karen tells of her early faith foundation and the impact of feeling truly seen and loved by God.
- Adolescent Challenges: Karen candidly discusses her college years, when she drifted from her faith, wrestled with shame, and eventually learned to accept God’s forgiveness and grace—discovering anew the power of self-forgiveness.
- Family Transformation: Through her faith journey, Karen’s rekindled relationship with God inspires her family—including her father and even her extended family—to return to church and rediscover their own faith.
- Spiritual Transitions: Karen and her husband’s search for a faith community leads them through Methodist and Catholic experiences, culminating in their joyful welcome into the Catholic Church during the 2022 Easter Vigil.
- Living a Faith-Filled Life: Today, Karen teaches at a Catholic high school, writes for CatholicMom.com and Living Faith Kids, and hosts her own podcast, “Stand. Kneel. Now What?” helping others stay on fire for Christ and encouraging young people to remain rooted in faith.
- Psalm 73—A Guiding Light: Karen’s favorite psalm reminds her (and listeners) that God is always present, even when life feels unfair or overwhelming—He holds our hands and guides us through every trial.
Memorable Quotes
- “I realized that I could either carry God’s love for me, or I could carry my shame for the rest of my life. But I couldn’t carry them both at the same time.” – Karen
- “If we put our division aside, we could come together and just be this beautiful Christian family…sometimes cousins at the dining table that sometimes get along and sometimes fight.” – Karen
- "Look at all these other beautiful things that are all pointing to Jesus." – Carol
- “You can’t light fires if you are not lighting your fire too.” – Karen
- “God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever.” – Psalm 73
Karen's Links
- Podcast: : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-kneel-now-what/id1700467911
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stand_kneel_now_what/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Stand-Kneel-Now-What-Podcast/100094002187472/
- Catholic Mom website: https://www.catholicmom.com/
Our goal with this episode is to move at least one heart toward God -- is it yours? Let us know! And if you'd like to get involved by becoming a storyteller or donating to the movement, please visit:
Web: godisgoodpodcast.com
Social: www.facebook.com/groups/godisgoodpodcast/
Some of our episodes mention the ACTS Retreat, which is an evangelization retreat from ACTS Missions in San Antonio, TX: www.actsmissions.org.
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