Stephanie sits down with Pam Farrel to discuss a harrowing yet faith-affirming journey through unexpected medical emergencies, profound spiritual experiences in Christ, and the indomitable power of joy. Pam's story is not just one of survival but of thriving through adversity, guided by God’s presence, Pam’s steadfast faith, and the prayers of many.

Heaven’s Glimpse and Joy’s Power

During a medical emergency, Pam felt God's peace envelop her as she transitioned into a medically induced coma. In this state of near-death, she was ushered into heaven, welcomed by angels of various ethnicities, and enveloped in a sacred dance above the gates of glory. Experiencing deep peace and engaging in a mental conversation with God, she saw visions of her loved ones benefiting from her prayers. Her profound spiritual encounter with Christ reaffirmed her mission on earth and underscored the miraculous elements of her faith journey.

A Family Visit Turned Medical Emergency

What started as a joyful family gathering in Salt Lake City for Mother's Day turned into a harrowing experience for Pam Farrel. In the middle of the night, severe pain led Pam to the emergency room.. The diagnosis was clear: the chilling reality of stage 1 ovarian cancer. Always seeing the bright side of her circumstances, Pam reminds us of the blessing that pain can be, in the crucial role pain played in alerting her to the severity of her condition. Pain allowed for an early diagnosis that is rare with ovarian cancer, which is often not detected until it reaches stage 4.

Pam was transferred to a main hospital where a divine coincidence awaited—a Christian oncologist familiar with her book, "Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti." Pam’s journey through six rounds of chemotherapy three weeks apart, her struggle with hair loss, and her graceful acceptance of these side effects paint a portrait of resilience. Throughout, Pam continued to contribute to her ministry and even received a Life Impact Award at the Golden Scrolls.

Rebuilding and Cultivating Joy

Pam’s recovery period with her son’s family demonstrated the importance of a supportive community. Despite undergoing rigorous treatments, Pam persisted in her work, mentoring others, and presenting at conferences. She emphasizes the key importance of joy, especially during adversity. Pam shares her methods for cultivating joy, including:

·         Proactive Joy : Create a list of simple, joy-inducing activities and commit to one daily.

·         Reflective Joy : Maintain a gratitude journal to note everyday blessings.

·         Rejoice in the Lord : See joy as a proactive choice, focusing on calming actions during stressful times.

·         Creative Joy : Engage in creative activities like Bible art doodling to shift focus away from problems.

·         Interactive Joy : Use joy to enhance relationships, making interactions more positive.

ENTER TO WIN!

Win a copy of each of Pam's latest books - all you need to do is subscribe to our newsletter to enter for a chance to win! Sign up here: https://www.gospelspice.com/signup

CONNECT WITH PAM:

Pam says, "We live a rather unconventional life. We spend about 200 days per year traveling to conferences for men, women and couples. We meet fascinating people, eat at interesting places and experience every climate imaginable. And, when we are home, we live on a boat in Southern California. Through our videos and blogs, we would like to take you with us."

Bill and Pam are prolific conference and church communicators. They speak together at marriage and parenting conferences with a unique ability to “speak as one” in all their presentations. Bill helps people gain strength and real-world wisdom through messages at men’s retreats and church services. Pam equips and encourages women to be courageous, influential and strong in faith at women’s gatherings around the world.

With seamless transitions, natural timing and contagious energy, Bill and Pam inspire audiences around the world to live better, laugh often and love skillfully. It has often been said, “More is caught than taught,” and this is the secret to Bill and Pam’s effectiveness. They are a real couple helping real couples. As couples watch Bill and Pam present, they see a couple in action, experience the kind of support that builds trust in relationships and can visualize their own success. Bill and Pam don’t just teach about marriage, they demonstrate it for their audiences.

People who hear them speak say:

“They made it simple to be in love again.”

“After hearing them, I know what to do next!”

“I was nervous about coming because I thought I would hear about what I was doing wrong but boy am I glad I came.”

“This was awesome.”

“They didn’t just tell us what to do, they showed us how.”

“We rediscovered each other this weekend.”

“We haven’t laughed together this much in years.”

Find Pam and Bill at https://www.love-wise.com/ 

Receive Pam's Infectious Joy 30 day e-book by subscribing to her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/love-wise.com/infectiousjoy 

 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

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

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/

Shades of Red | Against human oppression

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/

God's glory, our delight 

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/

 

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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