Pastor Shawn Boonstra joins the Let's Pray program to share his personal journey from a rebellious youth to a television evangelist, tracing how prayer shaped every turning point in his life. He discusses the importance of building a genuine relationship with God rather than treating prayer as a wish list, drawing on Matthew 6 and his own experiences in public evangelism. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer for anyone hesitant to take a step of faith toward Jesus.
In this episode of Let's Pray, Season welcomes Pastor Shawn Boonstra, a veteran of It Is Written, Voice of Prophecy, and the Adventist Review, for a candid conversation about prayer, faith, and the long road home to God.
Shawn recounts growing up in a Dutch Calvinist immigrant home, walking away from faith in his teens, and spending years pursuing a hedonistic lifestyle before a series of providential moments, including a stranger's prophetic word at a Baptist church, a grandmother's Bible appearing on his bed, and a late-night reading of Revelation, drew him back. His grandfather's lifelong prayers for him, revealed only after ordination, serve as a powerful testimony to the enduring impact of intercession across generations.
The conversation turns to the theology and practice of prayer. Shawn argues, drawing on Matthew 6:31-33, that the foundational key to answered prayer is prioritizing relationship with God over requests. He describes his personal discipline of journaling prayers and praying through Scripture in the early morning hours, treating the Bible as "evergreen content" that speaks across time and culture. He also shares a striking account from his evangelism ministry in which praying for a resistant man, whom he calls Frank, led to that man waking at 2:30 a.m. under conviction and coming to faith, illustrating that God desires people's salvation even more than we do.
The episode concludes with Shawn addressing the cultural erosion of fatherhood as a barrier to understanding God's love, offering gentle reassurance to those with painful family histories. He closes in prayer, inviting viewers who are uncertain, doubting, or afraid to trust God one step at a time, anchored in the promise of Hebrews 1 that angels minister to the heirs of salvation.
Pastor Shawn Boonstra joins the Let's Pray program to share his personal journey from a rebellious youth to a television evangelist, tracing how prayer shaped every turning point in his life. He discusses the importance of building a genuine relationship with God rather than treating prayer as a wish list, drawing on Matthew 6 and his own experiences in public evangelism. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer for anyone hesitant to take a step of faith toward Jesus.
In this heartfelt conversation on Let's Pray, Season and guest Tom Luttrell, a psychologist and educator, share candid reflections on their personal prayer journeys. Tom recalls early skepticism, transformative answered prayers, and the grief of unanswered ones, while both explore what it means to pray authentically rather than perfectly. The episode closes with two warm, sincere prayers for listeners who feel disconnected from or uncertain about prayer.
Ivan Omania sits down with Season to discuss the nature and power of prayer. Drawing from his experience as a pastor's kid, a young pastor, and a hospital chaplain, Ivan shares how prayer evolved from a childhood checklist into a vital lifeline. The episode closes with a heartfelt bilingual prayer for Venezuela following the recent earthquakes.
Rico Hill, Senior Producer for Hope Channel International, shares his journey from a successful Hollywood career at MTV, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network to Christian media ministry. He reflects on how God used dark seasons, answered prayer, and called him to be a light in difficult workplaces. The conversation closes with an encouragement for believers still in the marketplace.
Gladys Guerrero, joins Season to share her ongoing journey with a brain tumor diagnosed in 2013 and surgically treated in 2018. She speaks candidly about fear, faith, and the "even if" outlook of the three Hebrew boys from the book of Daniel. The episode closes with heartfelt prayer for Gladys, her upcoming medical appointment, and all viewers facing uncertain diagnoses.
So often we pray for our desire, but what about God’s? We will tackle this question and more, as we bring you another episode of Let’s Pray.
Is it strange to think that pain has a purpose? We will talk about this during our program tonight. Join us with your prayer requests and praise reports, we are here for you.
Are we looking to other things to satisfy our needs? If that is the case, we are heading for a big disappointment. Let us all put our trust in Him, the only source of true fulfillment.
On this new episode of Let’s Pray Live, we will ponder a difficult question: Do struggles come from God? Let’s find the answer, and let’s pray together.
We’ve heard it said, let faith have its work. Let’s unfold this idea on this episode of Let’s Pray.
Can we be assured of our deliverance? Let’s take a look at how the Lord has delivered His chosen ones in the past, and we can learn from those experiences and trust that He will do the same for us when we need it.
There are times when our deepest need is to be seen and heard by our God! And what comfort brings to our heart to know that the Lord is near to those who call upon His name. Join us tonight for another night of prayer. Bring your petitions and your praise reports to the Lord.
Transformed
While God knows the path our lives will take, we are free to make our own choices. We can decide to let difficult experiences doubt His love for us or we can focus on God through the darkest of times. We can trust Him to place us where He wants us to be.
Transformed
There comes a time when enough is enough. This usually comes after hitting rock bottom in whatever circumstance one finds themselves. Thankfully, God is everywhere - at the top, the middle, and the bottom.
Transformed
The people in your neighborhood share similar struggles and community concerns. Yet many of us do not know a most basic fact - our neighbors' names. Friendship has the power to transform.
Bible HelpDesk
Why trials? Worship God, not Jesus? Jesus' baptism-why? Self-defense killing? Daniel during fiery furnace. Evil mens' families killed-why? Does God use dreams?