In Episode 146, Lauren sits down with Jennifer Wenningkamp, a woman whose life has been profoundly shaped by divine encounters, courageous obedience, and a deep passion for loving people across cultures.

Jennifer shares how, at just ten years old, she heard the audible voice of God calling her into missions, a moment that set the trajectory for her entire life. That calling eventually led her to Mozambique, where she served with Iris Ministries for more than a decade, met her husband, raised her son, and discovered what it means to love both the poorest of the poor and the people right beside her.

In this powerful conversation, Lauren and Jennifer explore:

• The childhood encounter that launched a lifetime of mission
• Growing a heart for orphans, widows, and vulnerable communities
• Meeting her husband in Mozambique and building a cross-cultural family
• Raising a child on the mission field and discovering her identity as a mother
• The humility, challenges, and transformation of missionary life
• How oral histories, generational stories, and listening deeply shaped her worldview
• Returning to the U.S. with a new understanding of love, compassion, and God’s heart for people

Jennifer’s journey is rich with faith, wisdom, and authenticity. Her story invites listeners to trust God’s leading, recognize the divine appointments around them, and lean into the unexpected places where God writes the best stories.

🎧 Listen now to Episode 146 and be inspired by a life marked by mission, love, and extraordinary encounters with God.

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Continue the journey with Jennifer by picking up her book Mama & Papa Bear's International Toilet Tales by visiting https://a.co/d/aTb8gGG

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The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strangers across the world. Be inspired through her stories to create new stories of your own.

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.

In Episode 145, Lauren interviews Julie Yoder, one of the Senior Pastors at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois, where she leads alongside her husband, Mike. Together, they also serve as Regional Leaders for Vineyard USA in the Midwest Central Region. Raised in the Vineyard, Julie is a gifted communicator, passionate leader, and developer of others. She leads the preaching team and is deeply committed to helping people encounter Jesus in their everyday lives.

In this episode, Julie shares how she leads and develops her church’s preaching team, offers wisdom for young women who feel called to teach and preach, and talks about how she balances family, ministry, and leadership. She and Lauren also discuss what God is doing at The Vineyard of Central Illinois — where nearly 400 baptisms have taken place since April — and explore practical ways to read the Bible, stay connected to God, and remain a lifelong learner.

Before stepping into full-time ministry, Julie earned a degree in Elementary Education from Olivet Nazarene University and worked as a public school reading teacher. She is a graduate of Vineyard Leadership Institute and brings a heart for equipping the church and cultivating a culture where everyone gets to play and Jesus stays at the center. Julie and Mike have four children — Ty, Tate, Maggie, and Molly — and love serving in ministry together. In her free time, Julie enjoys long walks, sweets, beach trips, and getting lost in a good book.

Tune in to be encouraged, equipped, and reminded of the beauty of saying “yes” to Jesus in every season.

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The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strangers across the world. Be inspired through her stories to create new stories of your own.

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.

Support the show

Lauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.

As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and the creator of the Wholeness Journal series.

Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive in every connection. In her free time, you’ll find her hosting spontaneous living room dance parties with her large extended family in Chicago.

Learn more at laurenhansencreative.com.