How Faith, Entrepreneurship, and Partnership are Changing Lives
What happens when hope and practical help collide? In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza Cunningham sits down with Missions Pastor Ellen Dawson to unpack her recent trip to Guatemala, walking the streets of San Pablo and Patzún, partnering with ministries.
From motorcycle repair shops and crepe cafés to clean water projects and scholarships, Ellen shares how God is using local leaders to transform their communities and why short-term missions are about being before doing. You’ll hear:
•Vivid stories of young entrepreneurs building hope where they live
•How healthy mission partnerships grow through presence, not projects
•The joy and resilience of Guatemalan communities
•Why generosity isn’t just about money—it’s about time, prayer, and skills
•How returning home changes how we see migration, news, and our neighbors
Whether you’ve been on a mission trip or are curious about what real partnership looks like, this conversation will challenge your perspective and invite you to pray, give, or go in a way that honors God and others.
✅ Pray for one mission partner by name this week
✅ Look for a way to give—time, skill, or finances—to Kingdom work
✅ Learn the stories of the people behind the headlines

One Woman’s Creative Way to Break Down the Generational Divide and Build Gospel-Centered Relationships

What if a simple dinner and a movie could change the culture of a church?

In this episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza Cunningham sits down with Junior McGarrahan, teacher, mentor, and host of one of the most joy-filled gatherings you’ve never heard of. What started with a screening of Frozen for a few moms and daughters has become a vibrant tradition where cadets, teens, parents, and grandparents share a meal, watch a film, and spark meaningful faith conversations.

Junior shares:

• How themed dinners open the door to deeper connection
• Why intergenerational friendships are essential for the Body of Christ
• Creative ways to use your home for Kingdom impact
• What teens are teaching her about faith, feelings, and courage
• How movies have led to gospel conversations about listening to God, living boldly, and what happens after death

This episode is a call to step across age divides, invite someone to the table, and watch God work in relationships that might never have formed otherwise.

✅ Invite someone outside your generation for a meal or coffee
✅ Watch a movie together and use it as a conversation starter
✅ Look for opportunities to “call in” others with grace instead of staying in your comfort zone

Because the Kingdom grows when we sit down, share stories, and live the gospel together.

We’ve made it to Episode 60! And what better way to mark the moment than to talk about something everybody faces—failure. Whether it’s a missed deadline, broken relationship, or spiritual faceplant, failure can feel like the end. But in the hands of God, it’s never final.

In this milestone episode of the Light + Life Podcast, Liza and Pastor Tim reflect on what it means to fail, how to bounce back with faith, and why grace—not perfection—is the foundation of the Christian life.

In this episode:

• Why resilience is more about softness than strength
• How failure and faith form our spiritual muscles
• Why “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is a myth
• The power of community to hold you up when you can’t stand
• How Jesus’ apparent “failure” on the cross was actually the world’s greatest triumph
• How spiritual practices like church attendance, confession, and prayer anchor us in crisis
• Why the question isn’t “Why me?” but “What is this for, God?”

You’ll also hear about rubber bands, arrow tattoos, Incredibles villains, and Winston Churchill’s kite metaphor—plus a powerful reminder: Jesus has already been lower than your lowest point, and He’s with you now.

📍 This week’s invitation:
✅ Redefine what success means in your life
✅ Share one failure with someone you trust
✅ Let your community carry you through
✅ Ask God not “why,” but “what for?”

You’re not disqualified. You’re not alone. And God’s not finished with you yet.