In this powerful and inspiring episode of Sermons on the Side, Brad and Richard sit down with missionary and ministry leader Jacques Van Bommel, founder and CEO of Reaching a Generation.

What started as a vision in South Africa has grown into a global movement - impacting more than 28 million children over the past 16+ years through public school outreach, AIDS prevention education, and strategic partnerships with local churches to ensure the gospel takes deep root.

Jacques shares his personal story of faith - how he first came to know the Lord, the calling that led him into missions, and the goodness and faithfulness God demonstrated in those first few months of building a ministry that is now transforming communities around the world.

We also dive into what God is doing today through Reaching a Generation, including exciting new initiatives like church planting and the development of a community family center.

Jacques, along with his wife Lizzie and their family, embody what it looks like to say “yes” to God’s calling and follow Him wholeheartedly.

This conversation is filled with encouragement, faith, and a reminder that God can use ordinary obedience to accomplish extraordinary things.

You don’t want to miss this one!

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On construction sites, there’s a simple safety rule: always maintain three points of contact. Whether climbing a ladder or stepping onto heavy equipment, the idea is straightforward - stay anchored in three places so you remain stable and secure.

Recently, while serving as chaplain on a construction job site, Richard sat in on a safety briefing led by a friend responsible for the well-being of hundreds of workers. During the talk, the director of safety emphasized the importance of this rule, and it sparked a meaningful conversation between Richard and Brad about how the same principle might apply to our spiritual lives.

In this episode, we explore three important points of contact for a healthy life of faith: our connection with the Lord, our connection with community, and our connection with ourselves. When those anchors are strong, we’re far more stable - no matter what life throws our way.

Sometimes the most meaningful spiritual lessons show up in the most unexpected places… even in a construction site safety talk.

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Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!

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Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

After spending a weekend in Birmingham with his father, who is currently battling dementia, Richard had the opportunity to sit down for a simple Saturday morning breakfast with his dad and his cousin - someone they’ve always just called Uncle Damar. Around that table came story after story. Some were ones Richard had heard many times before. Others he hadn’t heard in years, and a few may have even been new. But in that moment, it was a beautiful reminder of just how powerful stories really are - how they carry memories, identity, and meaning across generations.

That conversation led us to one of the more poignant moments in Scripture. After John the Baptist is arrested and imprisoned, he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus a question that feels almost unthinkable: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” It’s a difficult passage to sit with, because John has spent his entire life proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah. Yet when circumstances become confusing and painful, even the most faithful among us can find doubt creeping in.

Jesus’ response is simple but profound: “Go back and report to John what you have seen and what you have heard.” In other words, tell the story. Tell the truth of what God is doing.

In this episode, we reflect on the power of stories - both the ones passed down around a breakfast table and the ones God is still writing in our lives today. Because the story of Christ’s redemptive work in us may be one of the most powerful testimonies we ever share!

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Sermons on the Side Bible Readings

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page

Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast

Check out our website HERE

Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!

Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside

Thank you for being part of the journey with us!