Lamplight

Do you sometimes feel you are fighting alone? Do you wonder if the armor of God really works? In this talk, given last summer at Camp 1833, Charis Murrey dives deep into the spiritual discipline of using the Word of God to combat the enemy's attacks, both external and internal. Charis courageously shares about highly personal struggles, and how her inability to control her circumstances led to the realization that she could, however, control what she believes. She stresses that knowing scripture in its proper context, and deliberately meditating on truth will help us see that we are never called to fight alone.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

When fear, shame, or failure happen to you, what is your response? Bill Woodson shares his story of feeling discouraged and worthless. He realized that feeling restored and renewed would come when he spent some time with God - alone. This practice of spending time with God has become an essential source of spiritual strength and direction for him. Using the story of Elijah, Bill explores how spiritual complacency and fear can leave us vulnerable to discouragement. This talk was recorded in February 2025 at the CFO Virginia Retreat.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give.Production crew: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Kristi Thompson lost her parents at an early age and struggled for decades with the grief. She shares a moving account of a moment at a CFO retreat when she finally grieved the loss of her parents after 35 years. It was through the safety of the CFO community that she was able to process this long-held grief and begin to heal. Kristi learned that a loving Christian community can act as family, and provide the support we need when our earthly family is no longer present. This talk was recorded in July 2025 at Singing Hills CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Jenni Piatt has participated in many communion services. In this talk, she shares some personal, often humorous stories about the ritual of Communion. Jenni helps us see how the process of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving very much mirrors our spiritual journey as Christians. We are reminded that this process isn't perfect or sterile, but a real, sometimes messy experience. This talk was recorded in February 2025 at the North Florida CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

What does the word martyrdom mean to you? In today’s Lamplight story, Alex and Ashley Crane talk about martyrdom in everyday life. Might our "daily cross" be as simple as obeying God in the present moment? It is when we lay aside our own will and pride in loving obedience to God and what He’s asked us to do. Alex and Ashley remind us that God provides sufficient grace for the present moment - for the moments when we are laying down what we want so others get what God wants them to have right then. We are invited to be gentle with ourselves and gentle with others as together we learn to follow Jesus.This talk was recorded in June 2025 at Black Hills CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here.Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Have you been challenged with unwanted thoughts? With fears that prevent you from moving ahead with your life? Nate Riley shares a candid testimony about his journey from being a "casual Christian" to deeply embracing his faith. He recounts his lifelong struggle with social connections, personal sins, and later, severe intrusive thoughts that significantly impaired his life. This talk was recorded in June 2025 at Black Hills CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here. Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Chel Finn shares a humorous and personal account of her experiences from this past year. From the whirlwind weddings of three of her children in just five months, and her personal support of her friend battling leukemia and a fall on black ice sets her up to face unexpected challenges in everyday decisions. This talk was given in June 2025 at Shrine Mont CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Alex Crane shares a deeply personal reflection on the concepts of glory and homecoming through the lens of his own life experiences. Alex learned that true glory lies in serving God's kingdom and that home is found wherever God is present, even in challenging circumstances. This talk was given in June 2025 at Black Hills CFO.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock

Brian and his wife had a deep desire to serve the Pine Ridge Reservation community. They extended an extraordinary invitation to a woman seeking a new life after jail. Their initial months together were a testament to faith and transformation. Their story also included the often overwhelming challenges faced by individuals with extensive histories of abuse and the significant emotional and psychological toll such situations can take on caregivers.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here: https://cfonorthamerica.org/give

Rabbi Steven Galiley felt unqualified for going into ministry. It was not what he had planned for his life. When he submitted his application to seminary, he was also hoping he would be rejected. That would solve the problem. Steve didn’t have a full understanding of what lay ahead. Yet, attending seminary and the years of ministry that followed proved to be a crucible for living through numerous challenges. They changed how he viewed himself, and his purpose. Most importantly, these life experiences taught him the value of prioritizing obedience to God over everything else.Lamplight is a podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and personal growth courses. Please consider supporting this podcast by donating here.Contributors: Ayden Carpenter, Michelle DeChant, and Adam Maddock