Today on Anchored By the Sword Podcast, I’m honored to welcome my friend Nikita Koloff—and y’all, this conversation is powerful, redemptive, and deeply encouraging.

I first met Nikita back in 2022 at the NRB Convention in Nashville, and it feels wild how fast the years fly by. What hasn’t changed is the impact of his testimony and the way God has completely transformed his life.

Nikita grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raised by a single mom after his father left when he was just three years old. He went on to become a standout football player, earning academic All-American honors, before stepping into the world of professional wrestling—where many know him as “The Russian Nightmare.” He had a wildly successful career, retiring early at just 33 years old… but success didn’t equal fulfillment.

In this episode, Nikita shares:

• How fame and success still left him empty
• The divine appointment that led him to church on October 17, 1993
• Surrendering his life to Christ at the altar—and never being the same
• Learning to serve through missions and discipleship
• Launching Koloff for Christ Ministries and preaching in over 1,500 churches
• Ministering in 36 countries and to crowds of over 70,000 people
• His heart for men’s ministry, discipleship, and calling men higher

One of the most moving parts of this conversation is Nikita’s story of redemption and reconciliation with his father. After decades of distance, God restored their relationship—to the point where his father eventually said, “I love you, son,” for the first time at age 84. Nikita was with him when he went home to be with the Lord, and his father’s final words to him were once again, “I love you, son.” Only God can write stories like that.

Nikita also shares the verse that continues to anchor his life and ministry:

Colossians 1:10 — a prayer to live a life worthy of the Lord, please Him in every way, bear fruit, and grow in the knowledge of God.

This episode is a reminder that:

• Success without Christ will always fall short
• God is working behind the scenes long before we say “yes”
• Redemption is never too late
• Saying yes to Jesus can change generations

Whether you’re a wrestling fan, a leader, a parent, or someone searching for purpose—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

🎧 Don’t miss this one.

Bio:

Nikita Koloff known to the wrestling world as "The Russian Nightmare" is an eight-time wrestling champion and has thrilled fans around the world as one of the top stars in the ring winning numerous regional, national, and world titles including the World Tv, World TagTeam, World 6-Man, United States and National Heavyweight Championships.

He is a best-selling author, international speaker and host of the radio show/podcasts “It’s Time…To Man Up” & Q&A w/Koloff on Truth Radio Network.

Through Koloff for Christ Ministries, Nikita has currently traveled to 36 countries, all 50 states, preached in over 1500 churches touching the hearts of all ages through his preaching as he brings the message of faith and salvation to those looking for hope and peace in their lives.

In addition, for the last 20 years he has been focused on ministering to the hearts of men of all ages through ManUp breakfasts, dinners, conferences and ManCamps.

Anchor Verses:

Colossians 1:10

Connect with Nikita and ManCamp

Website: https://www.koloff.net

ManCamp: https://mancamp.info

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikitakoloff1

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Today I’m resharing Season 4, Episode 34, which is in the top 10 downloaded podcast episodes ever, is a conversation that feels just as important now as it did when it first aired—maybe even more so.

This episode is a reminder for anyone who has ever believed the lie that they need to clean themselves up before coming to God.

In this conversation, Gail Schaar shares her story with honesty, humor, and so much grace. She’s a barista at Starbucks who believes coffee is often the doorway to deeper conversations and real relationships. She’s a wife, a mom of two little girls, and a woman who came to faith later in life after years of what she calls a “bob-and-weave” relationship with God—aware of Him, but not fully surrendered.

We talk about:

• ​Feeling “too messy” for church
• ​How God meets us right in the middle of our junk
• ​Addiction, unhealthy coping, and surrendering control
• ​Why God does the cleaning—not us
• ​The beauty of authentic church community
• ​Letting God peel back layers one at a time

One of the most powerful moments in this episode is when she shares how she finally told God the truth: “I don’t want to change this. If You want it gone, You’re going to have to do it.” And God did—changing her desires in a way only He can.

This episode carries a message I never get tired of saying:

You are not too dirty for God.You are not too broken for church.And you don’t have to fix yourself before coming to Him.

🤍 A 2025 Update

Since this episode first aired, this sweet friend is now walking through a breast cancer battle in 2025. And once again, her life is a testimony—not of perfection, but of deep trust.

She is being carried by the same God who met her in addiction, in shame, in surrender—and now meets her in treatment, fear, courage, and hope. Please join me in praying for healing, strength, peace, and overwhelming reminders of God’s nearness.

This reshare is for the one who feels disqualified.It’s for the one who thinks they’ve gone too far.It’s for the one who needs to hear—again—that God is not afraid of your mess.

🎧 Listen with an open heart.

Original Notes:

Two weeks ago, I had Zach Schaar on the podcast and this week, his beautiful wife, Gail is joining me! I have been anxiously awaiting to have this conversation with her! She is a powerhouse with a soft side towards dolphins:)

Bio:

Gail Schaar is a wife and mother of two girls. She enjoys her job serving coffee as a barista. Gail became a Christian at 28 years old at a church near Nashville, TN. She loves watching God use her unsavory past as way to relate to and reach people in her daily life. She currently lives in Canton, OH with her husband, little girls, and Cockapoo. Her loves are coffee, Pilates, bargains, reading the Old Testament, and delicious food. You can follow her ministry at YAHWEH’s Trainwreck on Facebook.

Gail's Anchor Verses:

Jeremiah 29:11; 32:17

Revelation 22

Support Now: https://www.supportnow.org/gail-schaar

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode of Anchored By the Sword Podcast, I’m joined by actress, producer, and storyteller Ginger Cressman—and y’all, this conversation is powerful, honest, and so timely.

Ginger grew up in a Christian home in Tennessee, the daughter of a pastor, deeply rooted in faith from a young age. But like so many of us, her story didn’t stay neat and tidy. When her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Ginger began to wrestle with grief, anxiety, depression, and eventually walked away from God—while still talking to Him the entire time.

She shares vulnerably about:

• Walking away from her faith and hitting rock bottom
• Anxiety, depression, and not wanting to be alive anymore
• A loving father who prayed her out of the pit
• Rediscovering God’s goodness in the middle of brokenness
• Learning that God never let go—even when she tried to run

Ginger also shares the verse that continues to anchor her, written in her mother’s handwriting:

Deuteronomy 31:8 — “The Lord goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

From teaching to acting, Ginger’s journey into film unfolded step by step—often with fear, doubt, and a lot of prayer. And now, she’s stepping into one of the most challenging roles of her life as the lead in an upcoming film called The Hidden. The Hidden is a raw, honest, documentary-style film centered around women trapped in prostitution, addiction, and exploitation—and the ministries reaching into those dark places with hope, dignity, and truth. The heart behind this project is simple but bold: shine light into places most people would rather ignore.

This film isn’t meant to be soft or comfortable—it’s meant to be real. It’s designed as a tool for outreach, healing, and conversation. Ginger and her team plan to make the film widely accessible, including releasing it for free, so it can be used by ministries, churches, and individuals who want to help.

This episode is about:

• God meeting us in the pit
• Using our gifts for Kingdom purpose
• Loving people in hard places without condemnation
• Being the hands and feet of Jesus

Ginger closes with this encouragement:
“Don’t give up. Don’t let others—or yourself—get in your way. Forgive yourself. Let go. Keep going.”

🎧 You don’t want to miss this one.

Bio:

Ginger Cressman is a professional actress and model located in the United States. She has been cast in lead and supporting roles in the film industry as well as commercials. She has also has experience in producing and casting feature films. She has a heart for helping others on their journey into acting.

Anchor Verse:

Deuteronomy 31:8

Connect with Ginger:

Website: www.imdb.me/gingercressman

FB: www.facebook.com/therealgingercressman

IG: www.instagram.com/gingercressman

Crowdfunding for The Hidden:

https://www.givesendgo.com/thehidden?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPXT35leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeah_p3LkE8-k4qSaJRHWxh6VLb_okZlxoidYa2Zv0GgA_iPpcMXZiIul8WHQ_aem_gwLv6KpPtkElhFj6Wqna6w

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

This week, I’m resharing one of the most powerful and necessary conversations we’ve ever had on Anchored By the Sword Podcast.

When I met Kelly Lester at the NRB Convention in March of 2022, I knew immediately I wanted her on the show—but I had no idea just how deep, painful, and redemptive her story truly was.

Kelly shares her journey with incredible honesty: growing up in the church while carrying deep shame, being sexually abused as a child, raped as a teenager, experiencing multiple abortions, and eventually working inside the very abortion clinic where she had her first abortion at just 15 years old.

This episode doesn’t shy away from hard truths. Kelly walks us through:

• Her personal abortion story and the trauma that followed

• What really happens behind the scenes inside abortion clinics

• The manipulation and silence women experience during and after abortions

• How shame kept her trapped—and how God met her there

• Why abortion is never just a “simple choice”

• How God can redeem even the most broken stories

Kelly now serves as a client advocate with LoveLine Ministries, Director of Outreach for And Then There Were None and Pro-Love Ministries, helping women who are coming out of abortion clinics and walking them toward healing, freedom, and hope. Her story is a living testimony that no one is too far gone for God.

This reshare feels especially important right now. These conversations matter—because they lead to conversations we have to be willing to have.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode covers sensitive topics including abortion, sexual abuse, violence, and trauma. Please listen with care.

🎧 This is a hard episode—but it’s a hope-filled one.

Bio:Kelly’s story is one that covers so many difficult and painful topics in our world today. Child molestation, raped as a teen, several abortions, drug dealing, eating disorders, homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, and even working in the clinic where she had her first abortion. But beauty triumphs from the ashes, and Kelly is a testament to how God can clean all the dirty parts of a painful life story and make it brand new.Now a wife and mother of six children, Kelly loves to share her story to give hope to the most desperate situations proving that God can save anybody. She is currently a client advocate for LoveLine Ministries, Director of Outreach for And Then There Were None and Pro-Love Ministries, and a board member for Village Ansanm: Living Stones Ministries.Anchor Verse:Isaiah 61Esther 4:14Connect with Kelly:Email: kelly@prolove.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/kellylesterforlife/Speaker Page: https://www.ambassadorspeakers.com/speakers/unique/kelly-lesterAnd Then There Were None: https://abortionworker.comPro-Life Ministries: https://loveline.comWe Discussed:Unplanned Movie: https://www.unplannedfilm.com****This podcast is a proud member of the Spark Network! It is a network of Christian podcasts that cover so many different topics! Head over to: https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/spark-network#/ to find more amazing podcasts!!****

Today on Anchored By the Podcast, I’m joined by Mary Bowden—dance educator, advocate, and the Executive Director and Founder of Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited.

Mary is also the founder of Soul to Sole Choreography and the author of Dance is Prayer in Motion, and this conversation is one every parent, caregiver, aunt, uncle, grandparent, and educator needs to hear.

We talk honestly about the growing trend of hyper sexualized children’s dance—why it’s not just a “dance issue,” but a mental health and public health issue. Mary explains how exposing children to adult sexuality before their brains and psychology are developmentally ready causes real trauma, confusion, and long-term harm.

As someone who danced as a child, I deeply resonated with Mary’s heart for healthy, age-appropriate movement—dance that integrates mind, body, and spirit and allows children to remain children.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between healthy dance vs. harmful dance
• How culture, media, and competition have normalized inappropriate movement for kids
• Why adults must reclaim their role as the protective factor for children
• The connection between hyper sexualization and pornography culture
• Practical steps caregivers can take right now to protect and advocate for children
• Free tools, resources, and action steps available through Dance Awareness

Mary also shares the powerful moment that confirmed why this work matters—hearing from a young woman who didn’t realize the harm she experienced as a child until adulthood, and how it impacted her mental health and sense of self.

This episode is about awareness—but also hope. There are healthy dance studios. There are better options. And there are ways we can speak up respectfully, educate others, and protect the innocence and dignity of children.

Bio:

Dance educator and author Mary Bawden received a BA in modern dance from the University of California Riverside, a MA in worship (emphasis in dance) from Hope International University in Fullerton CA, and a California secondary teaching credential. Mary began choreographing dance within church services in 1994. In 2003, she founded Soul to Sole Choreography and released a book, Dance is Prayer in Motion, in 2016. Several years ago, Mary began to notice the culture around children’s dance moving toward an unhealthy trend: sexualizing children in adult-style costumes, sexually provocative choreography, and music with sexual content and/or themes. Many in the public arena have been slow to recognize this harmful form of child exploitation.

In 2016, she founded DA:NCE (Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited), a non-partisan organization, to create awareness through the collaboration of credible experts with excellent research to provide free evidence-based educational materials for dance educators, parents, and concerned adults, inside and outside the dance studio.

She has spoken at numerous conferences from NDEO (National Dance Educator’s Organization) to CESE(Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation) Summits in Washington DC. Mary has also been interviewed and written for a wide range of TV, podcast, and radio hosts. In 2019 one article she wrote received over 250,000 views (Read Article). Her organization offers many resources that have researched the damaging consequences of hyper-sexualizing children in dance.

Anchor Verses:

Romans 12:21

Ephesians 5:11

Connect with Mary:

Website: https://www.soultosolechoreography.org

DA:NCE Awareness: https://www.danceawareness.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dance_awareness/

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode of the Anchored By the Sword podcast, I’m joined by author, content creator, and all-around kind soul Hillary Phillips, to talk about her devotional My Brain While Reading the Bible—and let me tell you, I have never felt more seen.

If you’ve ever opened your Bible with the best intentions… only for your thoughts to immediately go everywhere else, this conversation is for you.

Hillary shares her powerful freedom journey—growing up in a home marked by alcoholism and abuse, navigating trauma, depression, grief, and eventually discovering healing through therapy, faith, and learning how to practically apply Scripture to real life. We talk openly about CPTSD, mental strongholds, and what it really means to “take our thoughts captive” without shame.

This episode is a reminder that two things can be true at once:
👉 You can love God deeply and still struggle
👉 You can be healing and joyful
👉 You can be faithful and human

We also dive into:

• Why comparison (especially on social media) steals our joy and calling

• Learning to stay in your God-given lane

• Walking with God through grief, including the loss of a loved one

• Hillary’s work with young women coming out of human trafficking and how God meets us in the hardest places

• How curiosity, imagination, and humor can help us engage Scripture in a life-giving way

Hillary’s devotional invites readers to see the people of the Bible as real humans—full of doubt, personality, fear, courage, and questions—while pointing us back to a faithful God who meets us right where we are.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Am I doing something wrong in my faith?”

• “Why does my brain work like this when I read the Bible?”

• “Is there freedom for someone like me?”

This episode is for you.

Bio:

Hillary Caitlyn Phillips is a social media influencer, content creator, actress, writer, and woman after God’s heart! She loves to uplift and encourage others through entertainment and prays that everything she creates brings joy and healing to others. She has voiced in animated projects, including The Big Blue Book and A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever!

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 25:5

Psalm 33:18

Connect with Hillary:

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/whatsuphill

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Itshillarycaitlyn

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hillsofhope/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itshillarycaitlyn

📖 Get the book: My Brain While Reading the Bible is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (select locations or online), and ChristianBook.com.

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this episode of Anchored by the Sword, I’m joined by author and pastor’s wife Whitney Lowe to talk about what it means to be pursued by God, even in the wilderness, even in the middle of pain, and even when we feel unworthy of being chosen.

Whitney’s new book, Called Back to Who You Are: Finding Yourself in the Wild Pursuing Love of God, releases next week, and it is deeply rooted in her own story—one that includes growing up in the church, quietly believing lies about her worth, walking through an eating disorder, and being met by God in a powerful way through the book of Hosea while on a mission trip in Turkey.

We talk about:

• What it looks like to be called back instead of cast away
• How God is gentle with us but ruthless with the things that hold us captive
• Why feeling unwanted is often an invitation to encounter God’s pursuit
• How revival begins when we understand we are deeply loved
• What it means to live like people who have been truly found

Whitney reminds us that the wilderness isn’t where God abandons us—it’s where He speaks tenderly and calls us back to Himself.

Bio:

Whitney Lowe is a Christian influencer who wants to see young women excited about God’s work: in the Bible, in history, in the world and in themselves. She writes and creates on Instagram at @whitneypiersonlowe, an account born from the realization that young women simply do not interact with the Bible enough to be changed by its truth. Whitney is passionate about disrupting the toxic scroll of social media with hope, peace, and light straight from Scripture.

She released her first devotional, Set Your Eyes Higher: A 40-Day Reset to Slow Your Anxiety and Fix Your Focus on God, in September 24. Her newest book, Called Back to Who You Are: Finding Yourself in the Wild, Pursuing Love of God, releases from Zondervan in January 2026.

Whitney grew up in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Westmont College with a degree Religious Studies. She now lives in Colorado with her husband Tanner – who is a pastor and their three young children.

Anchor Verses:

Hosea 2:14

Hosea 5

John 10:10

Connect with Whitney:

Author Website: www.scribbledevos.com

Instagram: @whitneypiersonlowe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribbledevos

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***