What do you do when you find yourself in the middle of an earthquake, far from home, with no guarantee of what happens next?

For Matthew Taylor, a season working on a commercial fishing boat in remote Alaska became one of the unexpected moments in a much bigger story—one that eventually led him toward faith, church, and a new chapter of life with his wife, Becky.

In this episode of 2414, Shane sits down with Matthew and Becky to talk about the experiences, questions, and relationships that have shaped their lives. From robotics and life in the Pacific Northwest to discovering a church community and preparing to welcome their daughter, Jane, their story is full of unexpected turns and meaningful firsts.

Matthew’s journey raises a question worth considering: What happens when faith moves from something you’re curious about to something that shapes how you live?

Their conversation also explores what it means to grow together in marriage, make room for prayer in everyday life, and think intentionally about passing on the faith. Sometimes that growth starts with asking questions. Sometimes it starts with showing up. And often, God works through the people who welcome us along the way.

At St. Luke’s, our mission is simple: Real people sharing the Good News of Jesus. We gather in worship and life together, grow in God’s Word and our baptismal identity, and go to love well and speak the Gospel. Matthew and Becky’s story is a reminder that these things aren’t just church language—they take shape in our homes, our relationships, and the ordinary rhythms of life.

Whether you’re exploring Christianity, finding your place in a church community, or thinking about how faith will shape the next generation, we hope this conversation encourages you.

Want to share your own faith story on 2414?

We love hearing how God has been at work in the lives of real people. Your story doesn't have to be extraordinary—it just has to be yours.

Schedule a time to share your story:
https://outlook.office.com/book/Ge29a5d453add4d478471a0c1bf208af9@stlukes-church.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Learn more about the St. Luke’s 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share a step of faith so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

2414 is a podcast from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church featuring real conversations about faith, life, ministry, and the people in our church community.

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What happens when you’re pretty sure you know what you believe… but you still have questions?

In this episode of 2414, Shane Welter and Youth Director Jonah Kaufmann sit down with Madeline Cliffe for a conversation about growing up between Saudi Arabia and the Pacific Northwest, navigating different Christian traditions, asking hard questions about baptism and the Sacraments, and discovering that faith can keep growing long after you think you’ve figured it out.

Madeline’s story takes some unexpected turns—from an international childhood and a deeply involved non-denominational church upbringing, to college, Bible school in England, and eventually Lutheranism. Along the way, she wrestles with Scripture, tradition, liturgy, theology, and what it actually means to believe that something is true.

But the conversation eventually gets even more personal.

What happens when you know what you believe, but you don't always feel like you want to believe it? What do you do when prayer feels difficult, silence feels uncomfortable, and faith starts to feel more like a checklist than a relationship with God?

It's a wide-ranging, funny, honest conversation about faith, questions, tradition, and the ongoing work of being renewed by God.

And yes… there’s Outburst.

In this episode:
00:00 – Show intro: finding hope and common ground through conversation
00:47 – Madeline joins the conversation
02:49 – Highs and lows
13:37 – Outburst begins
22:13 – Madeline’s life story
23:18 – Growing up in Saudi Arabia
34:18 – Growing up in church and Christian community
43:27 – Choosing kinesiology and a career in fitness
51:52 – Bible school in England
55:02 – How Lutheranism entered the picture
62:11 – Baptism, Scripture, and the theological rabbit hole
69:49 – Conversations that helped shape her faith
74:19 – From resisting liturgy to loving it
79:03 – Spiritual dryness, prayer, silence, and renewal
83:04 – Why testimonies matter
84:56 – Outro

2414 is a podcast from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church featuring real conversations about faith, life, ministry, and the people in our church community.

Want to share your own faith story on 2414? We’d love to hear it.

Schedule a time to share your story:
https://outlook.office.com/book/Ge29a5d453add4d478471a0c1bf208af9@stlukes-church.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Learn more about the St. Luke’s 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share a step of faith so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

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What do video games, computer engineering, Amazon, a move across the country, and finding your way back to church have in common?

Maybe more than you’d expect.

In this episode of 2414, Shane Welter and Brenda sit down with Ian Rosenbery for a conversation about the road that brought him from Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest—and some of the unexpected turns along the way.

Ian shares stories about growing up, work, friendship, technology, faith, and the things that can quietly shape the direction of a life. Along the way, they wrestle with some bigger questions: What happens when independence isn't quite enough? How do our relationships change us? And what does it look like to recognize God's work when it doesn't necessarily happen the way we expected?

It's funny in places, honest in others, and ultimately a conversation about paying attention to where God may be leading—even when you didn't realize you were being led.

Want to share your own faith story on 2414? We'd love to hear it.

Schedule a time to share your story:
https://outlook.office.com/book/Ge29a5d453add4d478471a0c1bf208af9@stlukes-church.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Learn more about the St. Luke's 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share a step of faith so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

2414 is a podcast from St. Luke's Lutheran Church featuring real conversations about faith, life, ministry, and the people in our church community.

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show