"I see you." with Naomi Zacharias, Part 1
Episode 52 - In this special One-Year anniversary episode, Stephanie welcomes Naomi Zacharias, director of Wellspring International.
Celebrate the first birthday of the Gospel Spice Podcast with our incredibly inspiring guest, her vision and stories, and her heart for the one no one sees.
Naomi Zacharias is an author, speaker, and director of the humanitarian arm of RZIM. Naomi was graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in business/economics. After working in sales for Coca-Cola, she joined the staff of RZIM. She accepted a fulltime internship in the Office of Public Liaison at The White House and returned to RZIM to help launch Wellspring International, an initiative devoted to providing financial grants to international efforts working with vulnerable communities.
Naomi has visited with women in red-light districts across Europe and Asia; foster homes for children affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Asia and Africa; displacement camps in areas of the Middle East offering aid to Iraqi refugees; areas devastated by natural disaster; and international shelters for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
UPDATE: Wellspring International closed its ministry on March 26, 2021.
Did you enjoy this episode? Then you will LOVE our Gospel Spice series! Click to listen to the first episode of each season:
The Gospel of Matthew: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/
The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/
The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/
The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/
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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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