Open Doors: Conversations with Heart of the Father

Got cabin fever? Meet Aaron Richards of Damascus Camps, whose serious case of cabin fervor ignites his mission to train and disciple year-round missionaries.Aaron and his wife, Monica, met as teens during their first summer of camp ministry and their five children have grown up spending every summer at camp. “A true encounter with Jesus leads us to a life of mission and a life of mission leads us back to a true encounter with Jesus,” states Aaron, who says his kids have a 470-acre back yard. He describes his family once sleeping in a cabin basement, with dripping water and crawling bugs. Hear how his young son reacted, and better yet - his wife!!Having grown up in Ohio, Aaron talks of his faithful parents, church involvement, and the power of an invitation. As a teen, he was invited to be a camp counselor, “Stepping into that awkward place, I had an encounter with Jesus.” That experience spurred Aaron towards a life of youth ministry.We hear how Damascus Camps grew to include quality worship now found on all major music platforms, and about their two-year formation program, which includes Unbound concepts, for young adults. “From the walls of our dining hall we want to show our kids that life with Christ is a wonderful adventure,” says Aaron.Listen now for s’more of Aaron’s stories!Learn more about Damascus Camps, Missions, the podcast, and more!See our upcoming eventsRelease: May 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

Neal hosts the Open Doors podcast and shares a first for Unbound – prison ministry!Joining Neal are Dan Gahagan of Unbound Maryland and Jakob Kerlin, a pastor at Victory Church. Both were part of the Unbound team that recently ministered inside a Pennsylvania maximum-security prison.Invited there by the prison chaplain, it “felt like it was a divine appointment,” said Neal. “It had a profound effect on each of us.”Neal, Dan and Jakob describe their experiences and offer their personal take-aways from within the prison walls.A core team of inmates, well- trusted men who had studied Unbound materials in preparation, were dubbed “The Magnificent Seven.” They felt excited to shed their bondage through Unbound prayer on day one of the team’s visit. On the second day, twenty more prisoners received prayer.After Unbound prayer, one inmate declared, “I got my identity back – now I know who I am.” Another prisoner ditched his negative nickname and assumed a new, more accurate name for himself.Dan, Jakob, and Neal all testify of inmates who found freedom and hope through Unbound ministry most beautifully expressed by the one who said, “I’m freer now than I ever was on the other side!”“There was no holding back of forgiveness,” stated Dan.You won’t want to miss this riveting episode of Unbound unbarred!See our upcoming eventsRelease: May 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

“This is where the real stuff happens,” says longtime Unbound partner and Polish interpreter, Gosia Wojcik. Gosia joins Matt in this informative episode that covers exciting ministry developments in United Arab Emirates and Ukraine! Hear Gosia’s Unbound story beginning with the “First-ever Unbound conference,” in Poland and how she interpreted for Neal and Janet as they returned year after year. “All that I learned from Neal and Janet has really shaped me – who I am as a follower in Christ. They introduced me to the Holy Spirit and how he works in people and what he does for them.” Gosia describes ministering with Matt in United Arab Emirates, an experience quite different from Poland. Struck by their humility and openness, she described conference attendees like “an army destined to change the country they come from and maybe the region.” Gosia tells of exciting developments in a peaceful region of Ukraine where a Bishop, who learned Unbound directly from Neal, dreams of establishing Houses of Mercy – permanent sites of Unbound ministry – such as are found in Poland. “Neal planted the first seeds and now we are helping to make them grow,” says Gosia. Can Unbound prayer work in a hurry? Find out from Gosia in this chock-full episode!See our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: April 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

Author Matt Lozano talks with Lisa Livezey and host Jacqueline Harper.Tempted to jump out a window when it comes to holiness? In this final episode of our Free to Be Holy book study, the author himself speaks!We discuss Chapter Seven where Matt invites us to learn from his own mistakes. He shares his personal backstory of realizing he had believed the enemy’s lie. We learn what led Matt to write this book which he calls, “One of the graces of the pandemic.”Chapter Seven is an informal introduction to Unbound ministry – helping people expose deceptions that keep them in bondage, to practice the Five Keys, and to walk in freedom.If you’ve hit a wall while pursuing a lifestyle of holiness, ask the Holy Spirit, “Show me what I’m not seeing,” suggests Matt. The Holy Spirit can help us identify internal struggles, patterns of thinking and behaviors which reflect ways we aren’t free.Hear a “Cliff-notes version” of Common Lies of the Enemy and know that God can take what the devil intended for destruction and turn it into great blessing,Our Free to Be Holy series ends with Matt speaking the last lines of his book as a prayer. Join us!Find Matt's book Free to Be HolySee our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: April 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

He’s Right Here!!Jenn hosts Neal and Lisa for a distinctive discussion during Week Three of our Free to Be Holy book study.Free to Be Holy means being “free to walk in holiness,” says Neal and “free to grow in holiness,” adds Lisa.One reason we fail is because we aren’t free. Hear Neal’s story about a prayer recipient exclaiming at The Father’s Blessing, “He’s right here! He was always right here!”Even when we mess up, Jesus is with us. He respects our free will, but is always there with the hope and the knowledge that we will yield. We discuss Matt’s list of what God will do and won’t do, followed by a beautiful story surrounding the one question God may ask at life’s end: “Did you learn how to love?”Growth in holiness looks different for each individual, like spring flower bulbs that push up through dirt towards the light, each one displaying unique beauty.Trivia Quiz from this episode:1. What was Neal’s original title for his book Unbound?2. What theological thought does Neal first remember having at age four?3. What four-year-old in Lisa’s life exemplified discipleship?Find these answers and more inside this podcast. We’ll meet you there!Find Matt's book Free to Be HolySee our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: April 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

“The J’s are in the house” this week as Jenn and Janet Lozano along with Jacqueline Harper sum up Chapters Three and Four of Matt Lozano’s book Free to Be Holy.“Reading Chapter 3 was like going into the throne room. I just encountered the Lord,” said Jenn.God is totally other – completely unique and excellent in every way. And yet He’s excellently accessible to us!Jesus carried the world’s sin on the cross, but it didn’t change Him. He emanated perfect excellent love.Listen to Janet describe an Unbound conference in Poland where she profoundly experienced God’s presence, giving her courage to intercept security guards and minister to someone in desperate need.Learn what we can do to see God with the eyes of our heart, plus three aspects of God’s grace. Discover the difference between guilt and shame.Picture Matt seeing the stars unhindered while on a camping trip to West Virginia. Compare that to Unbound ministry, where a filter is removed allowing someone to see God’s love, presence, his activity in their lives.If you haven’t yet read Free to Be Holy, check it out. Go somewhere quiet, sit down, and expect an encounter with God. At the very least, listen to this podcast! “There is always more to see,” writes Matt.Find Matt's book Free to Be HolySee our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: April 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

On this Holy Thursday, we begin studying Matt Lozano’s book Free to Be Holy.  What is Holiness? The Hebrew word kadosh translates as “set apart, sacred, holy.”  This applied to items used in the temple vessels and nothing made holy could be returned to ordinary service. Proper ritual allowed outward participation, but not interior restoration. Through Jesus, God removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh.There are fascinating parallels between the purposes of blood in the human body and the work of Jesus’ blood upon our soul. Blood animates, heals, and reproduces. Holiness is a lifestyle of making oneself available to God. We limit holiness by continuing to earn God’s favor yet“We can’t be holy without Jesus,” writes Matt.What isn’t holiness? False approaches to holiness include: performance, out-of-reach holiness, and having false standards. When we put something above Jesus, we inevitably fail and can fall prey to the enemy’s traps of shame, self-hatred, or pride. Escaping our sense of inferiority means putting off self-justification and pressing into Jesus. Our relationship with Christ is what we need to rely on. The Pharisees were so focused on Jesus actions that they missed Him – the Savior right in front of them.Deepening our walk in holiness means being available to Jesus. It’s not just about what we avoid but what and Whom we embrace.Find Matt's book Free to Be HolyUse code FREE2B for 20% off of Free to Be Holy  through the remainder of Holy Thursday, March 28.See our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: March 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Jacqueline Harper

As we approach Palm Sunday, Matt and Lisa discuss the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem from Mark 11: 1-10.See parallels to the crowning of King Solomon, who was placed on David’s mule and cloaks laid down. What was symbolized by laying down cloaks before Jesus?Zechariah 9 prophecies about the king entering on a colt. What might have been the hidden meaning behind the unridden colt?Matt continues offering intriguing, thought-provoking questions:Why were the people so excited?Why did Jesus suddenly allow a dramatic display of his kingship?Where do we picture ourselves in the triumphal entry scene and why?What might Jesus have been thinking as he was riding through Jerusalem?Why does the story close in an anticlimactic way?Enjoy Matt and Lisa’s answers to these questions and discover where in the story they picture themselves. Where do you place yourself in this sacred scene from Mark 11?In closure, we pray together the Prayer of Abandonment by Charles de Foucauld.You won’t want to miss this final episode in our 2024 Lenten Reflection Series.Find Matt's book Free to Be HolyUse code FREE2B for 20% off of Free to Be Holy  through Holy Thursday, March 28.See our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: March 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by  Henry Aquino

What a treat to hear Matt and Jenn Lozano together for Week Four of our Lenten series as they cover the story in John 9 about Jesus’ healing a man born blind!Jesus makes room in His day to heal this man and he does the same for us!During Lent, we consider the darkness and undergo self-reflection. Why is there so much brokenness in the world? We join the disciples in asking Jesus why bad things happen.In the Scriptures, the Torah conveys the idea of divine retribution, but then we see righteous Job questioning God about suffering. God’s answer to Job, coupled with Jesus’ reply to the disciples in John 9 shows that suffering allows the works God to be made visible. “That’s the why,” says Matt. We all are blind and Jesus is doing something in time that gives us sight.God created light on the first day but brings salvation on the seventh day – the day of rest. Jesus proclaims His kingdom on the Sabbath by doing things like restoring sight to the blind and casting out demons.Just as the blind man received mud on his eyes and obediently went to the pool of Siloam, we each can be touched by Jesus and we too can participate in our own healing. Learn what the word “Siloam” means and how that applies to each of us!At Lent we live in the darkness, knowing that sight is coming. The answer is Jesus – He is the Light of the World!Find Matt's book Free to Be HolyUse code FREE2B for 20% off of Free to Be Holy  through Holy Thursday, March 28.See our upcoming eventsJoin us for our April Freedom in Christ Conference near PhiladelphiaRelease: March 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Henry Aquino

Amidst the cold of winter, enjoy warm conversation and memories shared by Janet and Lisa as they discuss Romans 5:1-2, 5-8.God poured out His Word into our hearts. Pouring relates to our baptism and God himself infuses the virtues of faith, hope, and love into us when we are open to receive them.Through our faith, we rejoice in hope. Janet explains the difference between hope and optimism.We hear of an early Unbound session when a deeply painful story brought about weeping by all participating. God’s love was spoken, poured out and the recipient experienced freedom to forgive, saying, “Thank you. Now I have hope!”Tissues are kept handy in an Unbound session because tears of both sorrow and joy often spring forth. These tears help water the seeds of the gospel.Listen with us to these deeper examples of hope, love, and faith, and also a lighter story of how Lisa found hope in a gift shop!Find Matt's book Free to Be HolyUse code FREE2B for 20% off of Free to Be Holy through Holy Thursday, March 28.See our upcoming eventsRelease: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Henry Aquino

Are you going deeper this Lent?Join Neal and Jacqueline as they reflect on the liturgical readings for this coming Sunday.You'll be blessed as they discuss many beautiful themes, beginning with a word on testing. The first reading is from Genesis chapter 22.  Sometimes we complain about the testing we are going through.  Yet, here Abraham is asked to do what God the Father would do.Such an amazing story of faith. Neal and Jacqueline converse about Abraham and more including life's purpose,  the uniqueness of our destiny, and knowing who we are as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. You will want to listen over and over again.Find Matt's book Free to Be HolyUse code FREE2B for 20% off of Free to Be Holy through Holy Thursday, March 28.See our upcoming eventsRelease: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Jacqueline Harper

Jenn and Lisa kick off our Lenten series!Join us as Lent begins, talking about God’s covenant in Genesis 9: 8-15.We start with the theme of light in the Scriptures. Light bursts from darkness in creation, the post-flood prism of light is the rainbow, and Jesus comes as the Light of the World.A covenant offers three aspects: a promise, a family, and a sign and each relates to these “light” moments in Scripture.PROMISE: At Creation, consequences are promised if eating the forbidden fruit. After the flood, God promises never to flood to world again. Jesus offered promises such as eternal life, the Holy Spirit, and the sharing in His sufferings.FAMILY: The Creation family was Adam and Eve. Noah’s family was saved at the flood. With Jesus, we have the family of Christ. Jenn reminds us that Jesus’ invitation is for all people.SIGN: A sign is the Holy Spirit being present at each event. The Spirit of God hovered over the waters at Creation, the dove of the Holy Spirit brought an olive branch to Noah, and the descent of the Dove at Jesus’ baptism.Don’t miss Lisa’s story about seeing a literal “sign from God.”This episode is a treasure – a spiritual pot of gold surrounding God’s rainbow of hope.Find Matt's book Free to Be HolySee our upcoming eventsRelease: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Henry Aquino

Join Matt Lozano and Gilbert Rodriguez as they share details from the Freedom In Christ conference held in San Juan, Mexico, last summer.Gilbert is Associate Director of Adult Faith Formation in the New York Archdiocese and has extensive ministry experience. He helps run Freedom in Christ conferences in Spanish. Gilbert tells of first benefitting from Unbound ministry in 2012 and how he was set free from fear. He continued on to make major life decisions, including a marriage proposal!We hear Matt extol the hospitality of the Mexican people and the goodness of heart he witnessed there, saying, “The Father’s blessing is imbedded in them.”Stories are shared about individuals set free through Unbound prayer with joy, even to the point of abounding laughter! Gilbert relates a funny memory involving caramel at a Cathedral and Matt follows up with a tale about a stolen Rolex watch. We even learn of a skeptical priest who was won over, saying the Unbound session he witnessed was “like heart surgery!”This encouraging episode reminds us that Unbound ministry is growing amidst our southern neighbors in Mexico. Listen and enjoy!Release: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Jacqueline Harper

“We want to be saints, not celebrities!”In this meaty episode, we hear from popular author and theologian Dr. ScottHahn, founder and president of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology.Dr. Hahn chronicles his personal understanding of holiness beginning with hisearliest experiences as a juvenile delinquent and how he discoveredscripture and encountered Christ on a Young Life retreat. Hear then how Dr.Hahn’s presence at Dr. R.C. Sproul’s Bible studies shaped his approachtowards God.Holiness became a topic of primary interest culminating in Dr. Hahn’s book,Holy is His Name: The Transforming Power of God’s Holiness in Scripturewhich represents years of research and biblical study, but also draws one tothe cross. “We are free to be holy, and we are only truly fully holy when weare freed,” he states.Learn what Dr. Hahn considers to be the job description of a theologian andhear his comparison between holiness and righteousness.This deep discussion mentions Greek words like “caritas agape” andindividuals like Augustine, Aquinas, King Uzziah, and the prophet Isaiah. You’ll find out why Dr. Hahn considers his book, Holy is His Name, and Matt’sbook, Free to Be Holy a “one-two combination.”The episode concludes with Dr. Hahn sharing what he believes to be a sliceof Heaven on Earth.You won’t want to miss this deep discussion on a topic relevant to allChristians.Release: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Henry Aquino

Do you ever think about angels or just wonder about divine mysteries? In this fascinating episode, we hear from Msgr. Brian Bransfield who served as the General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2015 to 2020.  He's a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has his doctorate in moral theology,  and is the author of many books including his recent Angels: OurGuardians in Spiritual Battle, which he describes as “a user-friendly, easy toread map” that can help us see where the angels lead us.Msgr. Bransfield tells of first meeting angels as a child and continues with anexploration of the role angels play in our lives, their power, and what theirinvisibility suggests to us.We learn what angels aren’t - ghosts, phantoms, fiction - and what they are- real, personal beings, created by God who are present to assist us.“The holy angels always begin something in us and they beckon us farther andthey serve as our guardian,” states Msgr. Bransfield. He lists the threecommon misconceptions regarding angels and how misguided expectationscan place a burden upon us.Jesus was ministered to by angels when he hit rock bottom and we can besure that God has given us these special helpers as well to challenge, coach,protect and help us to follow the light of Jesus.Don’t wing it in your assumptions about angels. Listen and understand thethe reality of these unseen beings.Find Msgr. Bransfield's book  Angels: Our Guardians in Spiritual BattleMeet us in AustinJoin us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: January 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Henry Aquino

“And then the beginnings of Unbound began!!”Get ready for this exciting second part of Neal and Janet’s story about the beginnings of Unbound. Hear how God used a prophetic word spoken over Neal to help him find someone’s name in his Rolodex!Neal shares of the exciting 30-Day Renewal and Reconciliation event that brought people from various ethnicities, cultures, and denominations together. Janet expounds, saying, “This is what the church is supposed to be!”Hearing more teachings on deliverance helps Neal refine the pattern of prayer he had already been developing when ministering to people.From there, we go to Poland where Neal leads a conference and sees extraordinary results when applying this specific prayer pattern. Neal receives prophetic words about being a father to people, even to the soles of his sandals!Upon return to the States, Neal hears the same question from two different sources, “When are you going to write your book?” Neal describes what he pictured as he wrote and prayed.You won’t want to miss this second episode celebrating the Platinum Anniversary of Unbound!Meet us in Austin Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: January 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm

In this sweet episode, Neal and Janet describe their individual spiritual journeys in the early years leading up to Unbound. They tell of specific people and places where they experienced God’s call on each of their lives.Neal reveals what event caused him to begin searching for spiritual answers and how the prayer of his cousin Fr. Mike Scanlan was later followed by his own sincere prayer and how he experienced God’s loving presence.Janet shares her story of being invited to a prayer group in college, responding to God, and finding Christian community in the process.Neal and Janet continue their story together, sharing what inspired them to begin living in community with other Christians. After some years, Neal sought God amidst the ups-and-downs and shared the moment when God melted his heart allowing him to identify unexpectedly with the prodigal son’s older brother.Hear how Janet received a surprising prophetic word that seemed strange and random but has indeed proven true.In the end, we discover who the mystery person was who invited Janet to her first prayer group meeting!Join us in the first of two episodes with our beloved Neal and Janet Lozano hosted by Jenn Lozano.Meet us in Austin  Join us at one of our other Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: January 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm

To kick off the New Year, we thought it would be a great time to discuss hope. Since the beginning of a New Year often is a time filled with hope,  joining Jenn today is a friend who is infectious in her hope and her fervor for the Lord. With the grace of God and inspired by the love of Christ, Terry Riggins has been on evangelistic trips all around the world, most notably to the underground church in China.  She worked with the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia as coordinator of Deliverance Ministry, bringing Unbound Ministry to the diocese, as well as served as liaison for the Charismatic Renewal for 10 years until her recent retirement.Some of the highlights of this episode:"If God wants me to do it, He's going to equip me. So that was the trajectory that Unbound just completely changed. Because then, here I became the person who received every phone call from everybody in the diocese that wanted deliverance. And I had to evangelize them, catechize them, love them, talk to them, just be there for them, as well as present their case to the team and figure out what approach we were going to take with those individuals.And 90 percent of the time it was Unbound prayer. And we prayed with folks and we trained teams. Heart of the Father came down to help me train teams and  I would train teams on my own. We prayed with thousands of people and we never got a complaint to the Bishop about unbound prayer ever. That's awesome. Isn't that amazing?Yes. It's amazing when we open ourselves up to God and allow Him to come in and remove those obstacles. That's what He can set us up to do! "Listen to more wonderful stories as Terry shares about her mission trips to the underground church in China, walking through cancer,  and more. Guaranteed, you will not be the same after this episode!Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: January 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm

Amid your Advent busyness, take some time for joy and reflection with Heart of the Father Ministries!Jenn hosts Matt and Jacqueline in this final podcast of our Advent series. Scripture Luke 1:26-38In this episode, Matt reflects on how God shows up and delivers Israel at a very low point. We learn how Miriam and Leah in the Old Testament relate to Mary and Elisabeth in the New Testament.In barrenness we say to ourselves, “I dreamed my life would be this and now it’s this.” And yet the barrenness can turn into conception because nothing is impossible with God.The legacy of sin is shown in Rachel weeping for her children because they are no more. We cry out, “How long oh Lord, how long?” We wait for the tears to be overtaken with joy. We long for that great reversal, that our mouths will be filled with laughter again. There is a profound connection between Eve and the Virgin Mary—how Eve’s disobedience brought death and Mary’s obedience brought life.We may not know how our barrenness will be taken away, but we can give God our ‘yes’ and our obedience as we wait for God and look with eyes of faith as Mary did.Listen and have hope that whatever barrenness you’re experiencing, the promise of Jesus is an overflowing cup and His promises will be fulfilled. Support our mission and donate today to our annual appeal- Dream and ExpectJoin us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: December 2023Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

Looking for a way to find joy amid the hustle and bustle of the Advent season? Meet Heart of the Father’s newest servant team member, Lisa Livezey as Jacqueline hosts this second episode in our Advent series. Jacqueline references Gaudete Sunday, from the liturgical calendar, meaning joy and signified by the Advent wreath’s pink candle.We read I Thessalonians 5:16-24, which begins with “Rejoice always” and ends with “The one who calls you is faithful and He will also accomplish it.”The work of God can be compared to the life cycles of a garden, encouraging us that even in the dormant season God is active. As we draw near to God, He meets us and initiates growth.The Lord prepared a way for us to draw near to Him. We can rest, knowing the work was done by Jesus on the cross and we can trust Him with the plan. He is faithful, even when we don’t understand what He is doing.Be challenged to approach Christ this season while awaiting the celebration of His coming at Christmas.Support our mission and donate today to our annual appeal- Dream and ExpectJoin us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferences in 2024Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: December 2023Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S