Episode 130 – Get ready for a vulnerable, powerful conversation today with Raleigh Sadler, author, activist and global influencer against human trafficking. Raleigh shares his personal journey away from the comforts of an expected faith, and into the unexpected world of serving “the least of these” in the Name of Jesus. He tells Stephanie about facing his fears and how daring to be vulnerable with God and with others is the key to embracing weakness as Paul does, and to live the life that God created for us. It is not easy—it will actually require everything you have, and then some—but it is modeled after what our Lord has done for us. Today, we invite you to dare to take a small step towards embracing Stephanie’s favorite verse, Philippians 3:10: For my determined purpose is that I may KNOW Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.

As you discover practical ways to serve the orphan, the widow, the vulnerable and the least of these in your own communities, you will taste fresh flavors of fellowship with the One who left everything behind and made Himself vulnerable in the ultimate sense, so that in Him we may learn to be weak so that He may be strong.

GOSPELSPICE GIVEAWAY: "VULNERABLE" BY RALEIGH SADLER

Raleigh Sadler is giving away copies of his inspiring book, "Vulnerable." Go to gospelspice.com/giveaway to enter for a chance to win.

MEET RALEIGH SADLER

Human trafficking can affect as many as 40.3 million people globally. The problem is that most often those who are trafficked are hidden in plain sight. Victims are often hidden behind our assumptions. In other words, human trafficking is the exploitation of vulnerabilities for commercial gain. Exploiters are looking for those who are marginalized and stigmatized. They are looking for the people who won't be noticed by society at large.

For this reason, human trafficking can happen anywhere because there are vulnerable people everywhere. But what would happen if the local church began to take notice of those who are most at risk of exploitation in their communities? Having served in Christian ministry since 2001, Raleigh Sadler believes that the local church is God's answer to those most vulnerable. Currently, he is the founder and executive director of Let My People Go. His passion is to see the local church fight global injustices, like human trafficking, by loving those whom traffickers most often target. His passion is to see the local church fight global injustices, like human trafficking, by loving those most vulnerable. He believes that the church should be leading the way in the fight against human trafficking because the Gospel frees us to pursue justice and mercy in our communities. With this message, he has worked with churches, universities, and other collaborative organizations around the country. He believes it is the responsibility of the church to love those who are at risk of exploitation. His most recent book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking (Broadman and Holman) is available now.

Discover more at https://www.lmpg.org/

Let My People Go is dedicated to building a network of well-equipped churches capable of loving those most vulnerable in their churches and communities. Practically, this "love" is evidenced throughout the congregation as the church identifies, empowers, protects, and includes those who traffickers would normally target. While any church can begin a ministry to the vulnerable, not every church can actually sustain this ministry overtime.  For this reason, Let My People Go paces with each church as they aim to empower their congregation to care for the hurting in their respective communities.

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Membership gives you access to all sorts of members-only bonus content, such as workbooks, listening guides, questions to go deeper in your GospelSpice experience, quiet time and group study, as well as Bible references and more. We are also committed to keep on adding new content, so there will always be fresh spices here to experience the fullness of life with Christ!

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SHADES OF RED is a new original series by GospelSpice Ministries. We ponder humanity as loved, created, fallen and, in Christ, redeemed.

SHADES OF RED brings you a simple theological perspective to understand the consequences of the curse of sin on humanity, followed by a practical approach to step up against the evils of our day, rooted in unity between man and woman. Weaving real-life Bible stories, this series will help you get informed, keep interceding, get involved, and keep influencing our generation. We will also occasionally welcome special guests who share our passion to fight against oppression in all its forms, for example through the fight against human trafficking, or through racial reconciliation, and more.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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