Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Tiffany Brearton was the bright light in every room until childhood sexual abuse began rewriting her story.

By eighteen she was walking into a strip club, believing her body was her worth. Years of broken relationships, divorce, and the death of her second husband followed, and then Jesus met her in the middle of it all.

In this honest conversation, Tiffany shares the healing steps that helped her (a church trauma group, therapy, EMDR, and prayer),

why testimony breaks shame,

how to choose a safe person to tell,

and why the church should be a safe place for the sick. Her message: no one is too far gone for God to redeem.

Content note: this episode discusses sexual abuse and trafficking and may not be suitable for young listeners. Support: RAINN 1-800-656-4673 | National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.

Chapter Markers

00:00 Content Note and Welcome

01:20 The Mission: Helping the Church See Beyond the Mess

02:53 Churches Should Be Hospitals for the Sick

05:40 Tiffany's Story: A Bright Light Begins to Dim

06:47 Eighteen, Money, and the Lie That My Body Was My Worth

08:16 Looking for Safety in the Wrong Place

09:47 Pregnant at 19, Divorced by 20

11:38 Cycles, Protection Orders, and Choosing to Stop

12:09 Meeting Jesus, Losing My Husband, and Leaning on the Lord

14:47 A Second Marriage, Three More Babies, and Trauma Resurfacing

16:28 Family Reactions and Seeing What Comes Before the Addiction

18:26 Never Telling: Shame, Silence, and Talking With Our Kids

19:28 Jan's Story and the Vision That Healed Shame

20:50 Revelation 12:11: Testimony and the Holy Moment of "Me Too"

22:34 Choosing a Safe Person to Tell

25:01 The Healing Steps: Church Group, Talk Therapy, and EMDR

27:07 Rebuilding Trust With People and With God

29:55 How Trauma Changed My Parenting

31:42 Resources: Finding a Christian Counselor Who Specializes in Trauma

33:45 Tiffany's Books: From Stilettos to Grace and From a Mess to His Message

35:00 No One Is Too Far Gone: One Step at a Time

36:19 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect

Tiffany's website

Music from #Uppbeat

Music: 'Essence Of Light' by Aaron Paul Low on

#Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/c/aaron-paul-low

License code: ZML1ML0ELF5JH4VJ

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Wendy Terry grew up knowing Jesus loved her, yet spent decades hiding her real feelings and building an identity of always having it all together.

In her forties, a miscarriage, four growing children, and a major depressive episode brought it all crashing down.

Wendy shares how God met her through safe community, a prayer room, and a simple instruction to "just show up," and how she learned to ask her Creator what He says about her.

She also opens up about parenting adult children who have declared themselves nonbinary and how she holds grace, truth, and trust together.

Wendy serves with Outpost Ministries and the Twin Cities Justice House of Prayer.

Chapter markers

00:00 – Welcome and Introductions

00:49 – "I Don't Remember a Time I Didn't Know Jesus Loved Me"

02:05 – The Fraud Within: Hiding Feelings Behind a Perfect Identity

03:17 – Until It Didn't: When Everything Fell Apart

04:06 – Miscarriage, Shame, and Finding the Words to Tell

05:58 – The Core Belief That Adults Don't Have Negative Emotions

07:00 – Spring 2013: The Kitchen Window and the Major Depressive Episode

07:44 – Safe Community and the Breaking of the False Identity

08:49 – "All You Need to Do Is Show Up"

10:03 – The House of Prayer: God Reveals the Core Falsehoods

11:19 – Head Knowledge vs. Heart Belief

12:19 – Matthew 11 and the Yoke We Were Never Meant to Carry

13:02 – The Freedom of Knowing What God Says About You

14:05 – The Question We All Face: Who Gets to Say Who I Am?

16:06 – Parenting Adult Children Who Aren't Walking With Jesus

19:09 – Identity Struggles in Our Family: Loving Without Losing Truth

22:07 – Seeing Past the Struggle to the Heart of a Child

23:12 – Grace and Truth: Light and Love Without Giving Offense

25:27 – "Keep My Eyes on My Own Paper"

26:54 – Outpost Ministries and the Twin Cities Justice House of Prayer

29:41 – Progressive Sanctification and Walking With Others

29:57 – Closing Thoughts: Vulnerability and Going Out to Do as Jesus Did

Bensound- November (music)

Music from #Uppbeat

Music: 'Essence Of Light' by Aaron Paul Low on

#Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/c/aaron-paul-low

License code: ZML1ML0ELF5JH4VJ

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Engineer, painter, entrepreneur, and author Ian Reilly joins Jan to talk about growing up on a sheep farm, building a tech startup at 52, and the two cyclones that shaped his years teaching in Samoa.

Along the way, Ian shares what he learned about cultural Christianity, connecting across language barriers, and the quiet influence of a life lived faithfully. His memoir Encounter recently won the New York City Big Book Award.

https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/hope-and-wonder

License code: XXAPHVLRL1JYTHLD

00:00 Welcome and sheep farming in common

00:49 Why every pastor should visit a sheep farm

01:07 Creativity: flute, fiber arts, watercolor, and pastel

01:53 The pastel portrait of Ian’s father

02:44 Engineering as art in a different medium

03:09 Building a livestock virtual fence startup at 52

05:12 Melbourne and the pull of the farm

06:37 The smell of lanolin and home

06:53 Volunteering in Samoa

07:57 Lost passports and a sweltering arrival

09:02 The first cyclone

10:16 Crisis as normal life

11:13 Farm skills and engineering in Samoa

13:17 Heather’s gifts as a teacher

15:01 Language barriers

17:01 Samoan food: sea cucumbers, umu, and mutton flaps

19:22 Faith in Samoa and cultural Christianity

21:52 Bible studies and being an example

22:57 Connecting without a shared language

23:57 The second cyclone and leaving Samoa

25:04 What lasted: students and relationships

26:29 Mentoring and the weight of influence

27:21 Where to find Encounter

28:10 Visiting Oregon and wrap-up

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Stefania Leao came to the United States from Brazil for a one-week visit and stayed almost ten years. As a single mom who didn't speak English, she began each morning reading the Bible and writing a prayer.

Those simple notes became a devotional book now available in five languages, reaching a church in Malawi, the Brazilian national team, and people on the streets of San Francisco.

Stefania and host Jan Johnson talk about prayer, humility, obedience, and how God uses ordinary people. If you've ever wondered how to start praying, this episode will encourage you to begin with just five minutes. Links to Stefania's book and projects are below.

Official links:
Website: https://stefanialeao.com
The Prayer: https://readtheprayer.com
Mission & Impact: https://stefanialeao.com/impact
Malawi / Chichewa mission: https://readtheprayer.com/malawi
Press, media and official author photo:
https://stefanialeao.com/media/press-coverage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanialeaoofficial/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stefanialeao

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Pastor and author Dustin Kleinschmidt joins host Jan Johnson to talk candidly about church hurt, ministry burnout, and the process of grieving and healing after stepping away from full-time pastoral leadership.

Dustin shares how he was called back to lead a church in crisis, the "trifecta" of events that nearly destroyed it, the breaking point that led him to resign, and the panic attacks and anger at God that followed.

Together they explore identity, boundaries, lament, and what it looks like to keep loving Jesus and the church even after being wounded by it.

Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Lamentations 3:22–23 — "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Revelation 21:4 — "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/a-movement

License code: JF75OPN6HGFTNGNG

Chapter Markers

| 00:00 | Welcome & Introduction
| 00:49 | Dustin's Unexpected Path to Faith
| 02:00 | The Moment Faith Became Real
| 03:38 | Worship, College Ministry, and Discovering His Gifts
| 04:57 | Walking Away from a Music Career
| 06:55 | A New Chapter in Dallas
| 07:21 | Planting a Church, Then COVID Hit
| 08:01 | Called Back to Lead a Church in Crisis
| 09:05 | The "Trifecta" That Breaks Churches
| 10:19 | The Breaking Point: Stepping Out of Ministry
| 13:17 | Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
| 17:03 | Values, Identity, and What Really Broke
| 19:42 | Panic Attacks and Finding the Right Counselor
| 21:23 | Anger, Grief, and Getting Honest with God
| 26:14 | Living in the Wilderness: Already but Not Yet
| 29:00 | Learning to Name and Grieve Small Losses
| 33:19 | Rebuilding Friendships and Setting Boundaries
| 36:01 | Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dustin

DustinKleinschmidt.com

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Before he was a pastor, church planter, and missionary, Ariel Aguilar ran with gangs.

In this conversation with host Jan Johnson, Ariel shares how a medical crisis —

his wife's cancer diagnosis during pregnancy —

became the turning point that led him to give his life to Christ.

From there, his story takes us through freezing mission trips in Mongolia, a young man named Togi who came to faith weeks before he passed away, and Ariel's current ministry, Door Knocker Apologetics, where he trades ten minutes of listening to a sales pitch for fifteen minutes to talk about Jesus with whoever shows up at his front door.

Practical, funny, and deeply rooted in scripture, this episode will change how you think about the next conversation you have with a stranger.

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/brighter-days

License code: KTTDO32WFSGDAR5H

Chapter Markers

00:00 Welcome & Introduction
01:01 From Gang Life to Giving His Life to Christ
02:00 Pastor, Church Planter, and Missionary
02:50 The "But God" Moment: Jessica's Cancer Diagnosis
04:02 Making a Deal with God
06:04 The Birth of Micah and Marrying Jessica
06:46 The Miracle of Johnny Glenn's Word
09:38 Micah Today
10:48 What Drew Him to Missions
11:32 Mongolia and the Cold That Had to Be God
12:09 Hospitality Among the Mongolian and Chinese People
13:31 The Story of Togi
16:41 Togi's Passing and Eternal Hope
17:44 Getting a Mongolian Name: Dala
18:37 Door Knocker Apologetics Begins
20:03 The Ten-Minutes-for-Fifteen-Minutes Deal
23:40 Starting the Conversation: "Are You Spiritual?"
24:24 The Columbo Tactic
24:38 Role-Playing a Door Knocker Conversation
28:25 The Four Questions: Creation, Purpose, Morality, Eternity
30:24 "It's the Same God" — Addressing a Common Objection
33:08 Why Christianity Is Different from Other Religions
35:37 The Dentist Bill Illustration
36:28 Final Word: Go Love More

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!

Erin Zandstra grew up knowing of God but not knowing Him — and spent decades filling that gap with alcohol, broken relationships, and a desperate search for identity.

In this raw conversation, Erin shares her road from a DUI and jail time to radical surrender, and what it really means to find your worth in Christ instead of what you do or what you've survived.

A powerful testimony on faith, sobriety, and grace.

Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.

I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.

Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.

Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now.

Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

https://jan-johnson.com/

https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/

https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus

Thanks for listening!

If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.

I'd love to connect with you!

No, really.... hit me up!