In this heart-opening episode of Rooted, Christian recording artist and storyteller Jason Gray joins Josie and Symone for a deeply personal conversation about vulnerability, forgiveness, and how God uses our brokenness. Jason shares about his childhood, the absence of his father, the painful journey through divorce, and how these experiences shaped his relationship with God—and his music. We talk about how his speech impediment became one of the most powerful tools of his ministry, the healing power of language, and how “bringing it all” to Jesus changes everything. This episode is packed with rich insights about grief, joy, songwriting, and learning to listen to the Holy Spirit in the present moment. Jason also gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book and children’s project—and throws in a few laughs (prosthetic leg air violin, anyone?). Don’t miss this one!

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[00:00] — Intro to Jason Gray and connection with Josie and Symone

[03:00] — Devotional story: worship through our actions

[07:00] — Relationship with his earthly father

[15:00] — Learning to forgive through suffering and failure

[20:00] — Writing songs from pain, compassion, and healing

[27:00] — Healing language & learning to speak kindly to ourselves

[31:00] — Backstory of “Bring It All” and using weaknesses in ministry

[35:00] — Overcoming insecurity in early performances

[38:00] — Why people connect more with our weaknesses than our strengths

[41:00] — Writing music for every door: joy, grief, vulnerability

[50:00] — Lightning Round: favorite song, weirdest concert moment, hidden talent

[54:00] — Final encouragement: the Holy Spirit speaks in the now

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• “God doesn’t use me in spite of my weakness. He uses me because of it.”
• “The Holy Spirit only speaks in real time. You have to be present to hear Him.”
• “Wisdom is healed pain.”
• “Our worship has more to do with how we treat people than the songs we sing.”
• “If you bring your brokenness to God, He will make something beautiful out of it.”
• “Our language matters—what we say to ourselves shapes how we see God and others.”
• “Clichés become clichés because they are so true they can’t be ignored.”
• “People admire your strengths, but they connect to your weaknesses.”
• “Be rooted in the Holy Now—that’s where the Spirit speaks.”

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• Jason's SongsSongs Referenced: “The Wound is Where the Light Gets In” | “Bring It All” | “Celebrate” | “Good to Be Alive” | “Laugh Out Loud” | “Glory Days”
• Jason's Devotional Book-in-Progress
• Jason's Children’s Book: Sparrows
• People Mentioned: Frederick Buechner | Elizabeth Kübler-Ross | Craig Groeschel

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootedtoprosper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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In this powerful episode of Rooted, we sit down with Jill Koopman, a woman of unwavering faith who has walked through addiction, deep grief, and illness—only to emerge with an unshakable joy in Jesus. Jill shares her 16-year sobriety journey, how she found Christ through a friend’s worship, and how Celebrate Recovery played a crucial role in her transformation. She also opens up about the devastating loss of her brother to suicide, her battle with breast cancer, and how God’s comfort sustained her through it all. Jill reminds us that forgiveness leads to freedom, that joy in Christ is not circumstantial, and that God truly is faithful in every season. Whether you're struggling with addiction, grief, or just need encouragement in your faith walk, Jill’s testimony will inspire you to keep trusting in God’s faithfulness. Don’t miss this life-changing conversation!

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[00:00] - Introduction to Jill Koopman

[02:00] - Jill’s passion for art and creativity

[04:00] - Her journey through alcoholism & finding Christ

[08:00] - Identity in Christ vs. addiction labels

[10:00] - How she protects herself from temptation

[12:00] - The tragic loss of her brother to suicide

[14:00] - Navigating deep grief and seeking therapy

[16:00] - God’s quiet presence during suffering

[18:00] - Being diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after losing her brother

[20:00] - Running a 10K after cancer & a powerful divine appointment

[23:00] - Forgiveness as the key to healing

[26:00] - The difference between temporary happiness & unshakable joy in Jesus

[30:00] - Jill’s advice: Make the Bible your best friend

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1. "I used to think alcohol was fun, but freedom in Christ is true joy."
2. "God wasn’t absent in my suffering—He was holding me the entire time."
3. "Forgiveness isn’t for them—it’s for you. It sets you free."
4. "God answered every one of my prayers—just not in the way I expected."
5. "Satan will use anything to pull you back into addiction, which is why we must stay on guard."
6. "Celebrate Recovery pointed me back to God. Every. Single. Day."
7. "Jesus didn’t take away my pain—He walked me through it."
8. "Joy in Christ is unshakable. It’s not about circumstances, it’s about knowing Jesus."
9. "Make the Bible your best friend. There is a verse for everything you’re going through."

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• Celebrate Recovery – Christ-centered recovery program: celebraterecovery.com
• Alcoholics Annonymous - www.aa.org

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootedtoprosper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Rooted, we sit down with Temi Agbaje, the Associate Director of Salt Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, to talk about faith, evangelism, and how to live out the gospel daily. Temi shares his journey from growing up in a Nigerian household to his calling in ministry, the impact of his mother’s unwavering faith, and the lessons he's learned about self-righteousness, humility, and trusting in God’s faithfulness.

He also shares personal stories—including a stage dive gone wrong—and offers practical advice on staying rooted in God’s Word, deepening your prayer life, and overcoming insecurity when stepping into leadership. Whether you're new to faith or looking for encouragement in your walk with Jesus, this conversation is filled with wisdom, humor, and powerful insights.

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[00:00] - Introduction to the episode and guest, Temi Agbaje

[01:00] - What is Salt Company? The mission behind this college ministry

[03:00] - Temi’s journey from Nigeria to Iowa to Minnesota

[05:00] - How Temi came to faith as a child & the role his mother played

[07:00] - Learning faith through hardship: Losing his father at a young age

[09:00] - The importance of knowing and reminding yourself of the gospel daily

[12:00] - How to practically live a life rooted in faith

[14:00] - The discipline of spending time with God (prayer, scripture, community)

[18:00] - The difference between listening to Christian content & engaging with scripture

[20:00] - Personal faith lessons from the book of Job

[21:00] - Fighting self-righteousness and the lessons from the Prodigal Son

[25:00] - Why we must understand God’s love before we can truly love others

[27:00] - Temi’s early struggles with preaching & overcoming insecurity

[29:00] - The infamous stage dive story & how God’s comfort shows up in trials

[32:00] - Final words of encouragement: Trusting in God’s faithfulness

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1. "God is faithful. He never leaves you nor forsakes you."
2. "You can't love others if you don’t first understand that you are loved by God."
3. "We need the gospel every single day—not just once when we get saved."
4. "If you want to grow in faith, spend time with Jesus. You can’t love what you don’t know."
5. "Christianity isn't about performance. It's about knowing God and being transformed by Him."
6. "Self-righteousness sneaks in when we start comparing ourselves to others instead of looking at Jesus."
7. "Fear of man and insecurity can hold you back from stepping into your calling—trust that God has equipped you."
8. "The gospel isn’t just about getting to heaven—it’s about being set free in this life, too."
9. "God comforts us in our suffering so that we can comfort others in theirs."

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• Salt Company - https://www.salttc.com/
• Book of John - Recommended as a starting point for anyone new to reading the Bible - https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.1.NIV
• Job 38 - The passage where God reminds Job of His power and sovereignty - https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JOB.38.NIV

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