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John’s story of sobriety is more than a recovery journey—it’s a powerful example of what happens when faith, honesty, and community collide. In this candid episode of Midweek Motivation, John and his sponsor Steve talk with Jess about the reality of addiction, the strength of surrender, and the miracle of God's healing grace.

Discover:
- John’s turning point and how one vulnerable conversation changed everything.
- The role of community and confession in recovery.
- Why having the right sponsor and accountability partner matters.
- The spiritual tools that helped John stay sober for a full year.
- Steve’s powerful insight on mentorship and how healing travels full circle.

You’ll walk away inspired by the transformation and reminded that you're never alone in your struggle. Whether you're facing addiction or walking with someone who is, this episode brings hope and next steps.

📘 Want to grow in your faith and go deeper?
Check out Westside Plus – our self-paced training platform to help you grow in your faith anytime, anywhere: westsidecommunitychurch.com/westsideplus

🎯 Key Takeaways:
- Lasting sobriety starts with honesty, readiness, and support.
- God-centered recovery builds strength from the inside out.
- Confession breaks shame and brings freedom.
- Miracles often start with one small, brave step.
- Accountability and community are powerful tools for healing.

💬 Question for You:
What’s one brave step you could take this week to start healing or support someone who needs help?

📢 New here? Subscribe and join us weekly for practical wisdom to fuel your faith, relationships, and growth.

🔗 Connect with us:
📍 Westside Community Church – westsidecommunitychurch.com
📱 Follow on Instagram – instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch
🎧 More Midweek Motivation – youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1

#midweekmotivation #sobrietyjourney #faithandrecovery #christianpodcast #recoverytestimony #westsidecommunitychurch

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Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about how God is Greater Than My Failures.

#Godisgreater #highsandlows #hope #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2025sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

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Fear often sneaks in just as God is calling us into something greater. In this episode of Midweek Motivation, Pastor Jess sits down with psychologist and coach Nancy Casteel for a powerful conversation on fear, calling, and how to move forward when everything in you wants to freeze or run. They explore what fear actually is, how it operates in the brain and body, and how to face it with faith, wisdom, and the support of others.

Discover:

• Why fear is more than a feeling—and how it affects your brain and body
• The truth behind limiting beliefs and confirmation bias
• Practical steps to break free from fear and take bold action
• How to spiritually and physically regulate your response to anxiety
• Ways to support yourself and others in stepping into God’s calling

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Fear is a natural part of life, but it shouldn’t drive your decisions
• The amygdala controls fight-or-flight—but you can retrain your response
• Your thoughts shape your identity; challenge negative confirmation bias
• Taking small steps helps rewire your brain to embrace courage
• Connecting with safe, trusted people gives you strength to move forward

This is a must-listen for anyone feeling paralyzed by self-doubt, fear of failure, or imposter syndrome. Let God stretch you beyond the limits fear has set.

❓Question for You to Think About
What’s one brave step you can take this week in response to something God is calling you into—despite fear?

We’ve got groups for every stage of life and schedule. Don’t do this alone — find your people and grow together. Head to westsidecommunitychurch.com/groups and get plugged in today.

📢 New here? Subscribe and join us every week for honest, practical encouragement to fuel your faith, relationships, and personal growth.

🔗 Connect with us:
Westside Community Church – westsidecommunitychurch.com
Instagram – @westsidecommunitychurch
Subscribe for more Midweek Motivation episodes! – youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1

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Join us as Valerie Bellamy brings us a message about The Story of Mary.

#Godisgreater #highsandlows #hope #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2025sermon #churchonline #valeriebellamy

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts, or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

Send us a text

What do you do when life feels uncertain, your faith is tested, and the answers just haven’t come yet? In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Gabe sits down with Greg and Amy Lang to explore what it looks like to stay faithful through unemployment, financial hardship, and the emotional toll of a long season of waiting.

Discover:

• How Greg and Amy have held onto hope during over two years of underemployment
• The emotional and spiritual challenges men face when identity is tied to work
• The power of community, vulnerability, and showing up faithfully even in hard times
• Encouragement for marriages under stress and how to grow closer in the storm
• How faith, giving, and persistence opened unexpected doors

🙌 Get your FREE Copy of Sticky Faith
Feeling stuck in your faith or unsure how to move forward spiritually? There’s a powerful resource for you called Sticky Faith in a Slippery World—a book designed to help you grow stronger and stand firm in a shifting world. Click here to grab you FREE copy: http://mailchi.mp/westsidemail/35m2xtiv1r

This episode is a beautiful reminder: your valley doesn’t define you, and God sees you even when the path ahead feels hidden. Whether you’re in a waiting season or walking with someone who is, you’ll walk away encouraged.

Key Takeaways:

• Your worth is not defined by your job title or paycheck—God sees deeper.
• Community is a lifeline during difficulty. Let others walk with you.
• Generosity and service are possible even in scarcity—and they strengthen your spirit.
• God’s timing is different than ours, but He never stops providing.
• Marriage can grow stronger in trials when it’s built on mutual encouragement and trust.

Question for you to think about:
What’s one area of your life where you need to be reminded that God still sees you?

📢 New here? Subscribe and join us every week for honest, practical encouragement to fuel your faith, relationships, and personal growth.

🔗 Connect with us:
Westside Community Church – westsidecommunitychurch.com
Instagram – @westsidecommunitychurch
Subscribe for more Midweek Motivation episodes! – youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1

#midweekmotivation #faithinuncertainty #christianencouragement #marriageincrisis #godseesyou #resilience #stickyfaith #westsidecommunitychurch

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Join us as Pastor Gabe Kolstad and Ken Wooten bring us a message about how God Can Keep You Strong.

#Godisgreater #highsandlows #hope #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2025sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts, or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

Send us a text

In this episode of Midweek Motivation, Jess opens up about her own journey with doubt, sharing how an unmet expectation at age 13 caused her to walk away from faith—and how she found her way back. Whether you’re wrestling with questions yourself or walking alongside someone who is, this conversation will bring insight, comfort, and practical tools for engaging your doubts with faith and courage.

💬 Got questions or wrestling with doubt? Join Alpha.
Alpha is a safe, welcoming space at Westside where you can ask big questions, explore faith, and connect with others. If you’re ready to take that next step, check out the group at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/groups.

Discover:

• The impact of unchecked doubt: how it affects your confidence, relationships, and peace.
• Jess’s personal story of walking away from God—and what brought her back.
• Four practical steps for handling doubt in a healthy, faith-filled way.
• Why facing doubt head-on builds a stronger foundation for your future.
• How the Alpha Course at Westside can provide a safe place for honest questions.

You’re not alone in your questions—and doubt doesn’t disqualify your faith. It can be the starting point of a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

• Doubt is common—but if ignored, it can erode peace and stability.
• Your perspective matters: ask God to reveal what’s going on in your heart.
• Don’t settle for surface answers—seek truth through prayer, study, and wise community.
• You can’t wait for perfect answers to take a step of faith. Faith grows through action.
• Creating space for your questions is one of the most powerful ways to grow in faith.

Question for you to think about:
What doubts have you been holding onto—and what’s one step you can take to face them with God this week?

📢 New here? Subscribe and join us every week for practical wisdom to fuel your faith, relationships, and personal growth.

🔗 Connect with us:
📍 Westside Community Church – https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com
📱 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch
🎧 Subscribe for more Midweek Motivation episodes! – https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1

Send us a text

Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources

Join us as Pastor Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about When Faith Meets Doubt.

#Godisgreater #highsandlows #hope #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2025sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/