In Light of the Gospel with Dan Blatz

Chapter tells begins with a great motivation, telling us that Jesus despised going through the shame of the cross yet did it anyway because He saw the joy it would produce...and it ends with the admonition that our God is a consuming fire! Take these warnings to hear folks!

In this episode, I sit down with Frank Neufeld, who was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico in the Old Colony Mennonite church. His wife grew up in the Kleine Gemeinde tradition, where children were raised with a more intentional approach to life and faith. While Frank avoided much of the typical Old Colony youth culture of partying, smoking, and drinking, he still didn’t truly understand the gospel of Jesus Christ until much later in life.He went through baptism and marriage within the Old Colony church, it wasn’t until leaving that community years later that the saving work of Christ became clear to him. Today, Frank preaches that only Jesus saves. He has served for years as a pastor/preacher in the Kleine Gemeinde church and now carries a burden to see more Mennonites come to a genuine, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.👉 Watch this conversation and be encouraged by Frank’s testimony of grace and truth!Keywords: Mennonite testimony, Old Colony Mennonites, Kleine Gemeinde, Mennonites in Mexico, Mennonite pastor, Mennonite preaching, Jesus saves, gospel testimony, Mennonite culture, Christian interview, faith in Christ.Hashtags:#MennoniteTestimony #OldColony #KleineGemeinde #MexicoMennonites #JesusSaves #FaithInChrist #GospelTruth #ChristianPodcast #TestimonyOfFaith

In this episode I talk with John Guenther, who grew up in Durango, Mexico as the oldest child in his family. From a young age, he felt the heavy reality of God and the fear of hell. He was bullied in school, battled depression, and even struggled with suicidal thoughts throughout his teen years. Medication gave him a temporary lift, and whiskey became his escape—but alcohol soon threatened to destroy his life.Several years ago, John’s world was shaken when his mother passed away suddenly from cancer. She had spent years praying for her sons to give their lives to the Lord, and God used her death as a turning point. John finally surrendered in faith to Christ. Immediately, he was delivered from depression medication, and though it took time, God also freed him from alcohol and cigarettes.What changed everything was the simple truth that he no longer stood condemned, because Christ had borne God’s judgment on his behalf. That realization gave him peace, and today John has a deep love for studying God’s Word. His story is a testimony of God’s mercy, power, and faithfulness to answer prayer.Hashtags:#Testimony #ChristianTestimony #FreedomInChrist #Delivered #Gospel #JesusChrist #FromDepressionToJoy #AddictionRecovery #BornAgain

In this episode, I sit down with Calvin Smith, the director and face of Answers in Genesis Canada. Calvin shares his journey from being a committed evolutionary atheist to becoming a passionate defender of biblical creation and the gospel of Jesus Christ.We talk about:His background in evolution and what caused him to walk away from itHow he came to faith in ChristThe work he's doing through AiG Canada in apologetics and creation scienceHow he's used Ai to show the validity of creation scienceHis growing YouTube channel and his travels across the country speaking at conferences and churchesIf you've ever wrestled with questions about science, origins, or the reliability of the Bible — or if you’re trying to help someone else who is — this conversation will be a huge encouragement.🔔 Check out Calvin’s ministry here: https://www.youtube.com/@AnswersCanadaHashtags:#CalvinSmith #AnswersInGenesis #CreationScience #Apologetics #FromAtheistToChristian #BiblicalCreation #DefendingTheFaith #YoungEarthCreation #OriginOfLife #GospelTruth

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Wall, one of the hosts of the Plautdietsch podcast The Ben and Lisa Wall Podcast. Ben shares his powerful story of growing up in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, in a very unstable environment—his dad was involved in drugs and the cartel, his mom was tormented by devil possession, and he was bullied in school. With so much temptation and chaos around him, it seemed like he was destined to follow in the same path—but somehow, by God's grace, he avoided many of the sins of his parents.Ben's story doesn't smooth out right away. After moving to Ontario as a teenager, the instability continued into his early twenties. He was badly burned in a house fire, got his girlfriend (now wife) pregnant out of wedlock, and had to leave Ontario to get married. But it was in that low point that God caught up to him. Ben surrendered his life to the Lord, became a Christian, and everything changed.Since then, he's been passionate about reaching others with the gospel, and it shows in his desire to see people liberating and walking faithfully!

Aaron Keeton was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky in the Church of Christ denomination—a movement that taught a five-step plan of salvation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Be Baptized. Though Jesus was mentioned, the finished work of Christ—His death for our sins and resurrection—was never the focus.Aaron became a preacher within this system, travelling and teaching wherever doors opened. But everything changed when he encountered the doctrine of Imputed Righteousness—the truth that our standing before God is based on Christ’s righteousness credited to us by faith alone.This realization shook his world and radically transformed his preaching. He began proclaiming the true Gospel: that Christ alone saves, and that believers can have assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus.His new convictions led to his removal from the Church of Christ, but Aaron hasn't looked back. He continues to boldly preach and teach the Bible with clarity, passion, and a deep love for the Gospel of grace.📖 Watch this powerful testimony of transformation, and be encouraged by the truth that sets us free.👇 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs to hear it!#Gospel #Testimony #ChurchOfChrist #ImputedRighteousness #GraceAlone #SalvationInChrist #ExChurchOfChrist #FaithAlone #TrueGospel #BibleTeaching #InLightOfTheGospel #ChristianTestimony #FreedomInChrist

In this powerful and honest interview, I sit down with Paul Speed from Whatever It Takes Ministries to talk about his personal journey—from secret sin and internal torment to healing, freedom, and ministry.Paul opens up about the double life he lived for years, hiding behind the image of a faithful husband while battling addiction to pornography and masturbation. When he reached the breaking point, Paul made a radical decision: to confess everything to his wife. What followed was a painful but redemptive process of truth, forgiveness, and transformation.Today, Paul and his wife Jenny started Whatever It Takes Ministries, helping couples confront hidden sin, walk in the light, and experience true intimacy through Christ. Sadly for Paul, Jenny went to be with the Lord in 2019 and a few years later Paul married his lovely wife Niki. Their story is a living testimony that God can redeem even the darkest chapters of our lives for His glory.🔗 Learn more or attend a marriage intensive at:👉 https://www.witministries.com💬 If you’ve struggled with hidden sin or know someone who has, this conversation is for you.🙏 May it point you to the freedom found only in Christ.#WITMinistries #MarriageRestoration #PaulSpeed #PornAddiction #FreedomInChrist #HiddenSin #Confession #ChristianMarriage #InLightOfTheGospelPodcast

I've known Dave for nearly two decades but haven't seen him for about 17 years! I finally had the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss his testimony and his work in this translation project. Dave has been faithfully serving as a gospel preacher, a Bible teacher, and a church planter across Manitoba, Alberta, and even Bolivia.For the past 10 years, his life has been deeply devoted to a monumental task: translating the entire Bible into the Plautdietsch (Low German) language. A first draft of the New Testament is already printed, and they are now about two-thirds of the way through the Old Testament. As you can imagine, this is no small undertaking!In this conversation, we discuss the vision behind the translation, the challenges and breakthroughs of the work, and how you can be part of it. Whether through prayer, reading the new translation, or financial support, there's a place for you in this important mission to bring God’s Word to Plautdietsch-speaking communities.The Website is just barely live yet and will be getting updated as soon as we can get to it. https://plautdietschbibel.com

In this episode, I sit down with Riley Wall... (son of Tony Wall, who many of you will know and who I had the pleasure of working with for many years!) Riley was raised in a stable, godly home, yet he still wrestled with surrendering to Christ until the age of 16. When he finally embraced the Lordship of Jesus he was filled with a profound joy. He and his wife Natalie navigated a unique "hands-off courtship," leading to their marriage during the height of the Covid pandemic—a time that introduced significant strain on both family and church relationships. Riley opens up about the challenges of those years, the bitterness that crept in, and the healing he found through Christ, forgiveness, and community.

In this episode, I sit down with Peter Thiessen from Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico—a pioneer in the real estate industry among the Mennonite colonies. Peter shares the story of his childhood, shaped by a hardworking entrepreneurial father and a loving, supportive mother. At the age of 15, he came to faith in Christ, a decision that would become foundational in his life.We talk about the ups and downs of his journey—how he launched a gym business after getting married, only to lose everything due to severe economic challenges. Undeterred, Peter shifted gears and stepped into the world of real estate, where he has since found great success.What sets Peter apart is not just his accomplishments, but the heart behind them. We explore how his perspective has matured—from chasing financial gain to pursuing human flourishing through his work. His story is one of resilience, faith, and the redemptive power of re-centering our motivations.

From Old Order Mennonite to Freedom in Christ | Melvin Martin's StoryMelvin Martin grew up in an Old Order Mennonite community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, living the horse-and-buggy lifestyle. Though raised in a religious environment, he never truly understood the meaning of Christ’s work on the cross—until he reached a breaking point at the age of 33. That’s when everything changed.In this episode, Melvin shares how the gospel transformed his life, setting him on a new path for his family and business. Now, he works alongside his sons in the construction industry, encouraging other families to build strong relationships through hands-on work together.Follow Melvin on Instagram: @martinfamilycraftsmen📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more testimonies of God’s transforming power!

Pedro Neufeld, pastor at Lighthouse Gospel Church in Milverton, shares his powerful testimony of redemption. Born and raised in Zacatecas, Mexico, Pedro moved to Canada as a young man and was led to Christ at age 18 by a Plautdietsche pastor named Peter Wiebe. Though he experienced an initial transformation, he later fell back into sin, spending years as a prodigal. Even as he married and started a family, he struggled until God mercifully restored his confidence in Christ, breaking the chains that held him captive. Now, as an unlikely pastor, Pedro has had the privilege of witnessing and serving in a great move of God in Milverton. His story is a testament to God’s grace and faithfulness.

In this episode, I sit down with Rene Friesen, a successful businessman from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. Raised in poverty, Rene once believed financial success was the ultimate goal. But over the years, he discovered that true success isn’t measured by wealth—it’s defined by the willingness to endure pain and stay faithful to God’s calling.Rene shares his journey of coming to faith in Christ and then building multiple businesses. He strong encourages to keep priorities in order: never put business above God and family. He explains why happiness doesn’t come from financial gain but from pursuing excellence in what God has called you to do.Beyond business, Rene is a co-host on the Benny and Rene show, he runs and organizes the annual Eleva Conference, an event designed to challenge and inspire others to elevate their lives and faith.🔹 What does success truly mean?🔹 How do you balance business, faith, and family?🔹 Why is pain a necessary part of growth?Listen in as Rene shares hard-earned wisdom on faith, business, and redefining success.📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!Find the Benny and Rene show here on Spotify as wellhttps://www.youtube.com/@Bennyandreneshow

In this episode, I talk with Isaac Dyck from Durango, Mexico, about the growing need for Low German literature among the Plautdietsche Mennonite people. No Greater Joy’s comic book Good and Evil has recently been translated into Low German, called Goot and Bees. We discuss the challenges and importance of making gospel-centered resources accessible in our mother tongue, as well as the process of translating and printing this powerful book.

In this special episode of In Light of the Gospel, I sit down with John Loewen from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. John is a pastor at Steinreich Mennoniten Gemeinde. He passionately shares the gospel in the Plautdietsch and Spanish. This entire conversation is in Plautdietsch, so my apologies to those who may not understand—but for our Low German-speaking audience, this is one you won’t want to miss!John has dedicated his life to reaching Mennonite people with the message of Christ while also being deeply involved in a ministry serving underprivileged Spanish-speaking children in Cuauhtémoc. This ministry provides education – Teaching children to read and write, providing Food and care, showing hope for the future – Helping keep kids off the streets, and most importantly the Gospel – Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ!John’s vision goes beyond the Mennonite community—he dreams of a cultural shift in Mexico, where families stay together and children grow up in stable, loving homes.🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Gospel-centered content!Check out their church website or YouTube channelhttps://steinreichcmm.org/https://www.youtube.com/@UCLFwa2jW4ejoyvgLQ0OnLLA Also, here is the website to the Spanish ministry John is involved with. https://unsuenorealizado.org/#Plautdietsch #Mennonite #Gospel #InLightOfTheGospel #JohnLoewen #ChristianMinistry #Mexico #Faith #JesusSaves #ChristianPodcast

In this episode I talk with Jake Hildebrandt, who has an incredible story of transformation. Jake grew up in Durango, Mexico, where he was often picked on and left out, which led him down a path of anger and sin. Over time, this opened the door to severe spiritual attacks and even possession. For years, he lived under heavy oppression, much of it caused by his own choices and actions. But two years ago, everything changed. Through the power of God in Christ, Jake was completely set free from the Devil’s grip. His story is raw, honest, and a powerful reminder of the freedom we can find in Jesus.

In our third conversation together, John Fehr shares his incredible journey of transformation after being set free from meth addiction through simple faith in Christ. At his lowest point, when his life was unraveling, he found hope and restoration in a rehab (Joshua House) center in British Columbia. Since then, John has repaired broken relationships with his wife and children, launched a business, and developed a deep passion for helping others overcome addiction. John’s current mission is to establish a new rehab center in northern Ontario called Born Again Ministries. Through this center, he hopes to offer the same hope and healing that changed his life. To make this vision a reality, he’s using GiveSendGo and GoFundMe for crowd-funding, alongside an active Facebook page to connect with supporters. Join us in this conversation as John shares his story of redemption, his vision for Born Again Ministries, and how you can support this life-changing initiative. https://givesendgo.com/GE1QF?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=GE1QF https://gofund.me/3551ef75 You can also give directly to John by e-transferring money here Johnnytorch52@gmail.com Follow on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569351944614&mibextid=ZbWKwL

In this episode, I sit down with JP (John Peters) to hear his story of faith and personal growth. JP grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to Canada at the age of 11 without knowing any English. Being shy made it even harder for him to make friends, and he didn’t really connect with others until much later in his teen years. We also talk about how JP got married in his early twenties through courtship rather than dating, and how he got involved in youth ministry at a young age. Eventually, he was put into a church Elder role—a position he took on because he felt it was his duty. After many years, JP finally found freedom from that sense of obligation and experienced peace in serving God in new ways. JP shares openly about his family as well, including how his father left the family when JP was a teenager, and the struggles of dealing with infertility in his marriage. It’s a story of challenges, growth, and God’s faithfulness that I know will encourage you.

In this conversation, Jonathan Bradford shared his inspiring journey and dedication to memorizing the entire New Testament! Over the last few years, he has developed a unique memorization technique, refined through both personal trial and error and extensive study. His approach combines practical strategies with a deep, spiritual commitment, making Scripture memorization accessible and meaningful. Jonathan's primary motivation is to encourage others to fulfill the command in Colossians 3:16, "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." By internalizing Scripture, he believes people can be better prepared to face temptation and to walk faithfully. His vision is to guide others in adopting some of these practices so they can experience the transformative power of Scripture in their own lives.

Jake and I had a great chat about his story. As a kid, he moved from Mexico to Canada, speaking only Low German, and the transition was tough. He struggled to learn English and got bullied, which made reading and writing even more difficult. After he was born again, he had an unquenchable hunger to read—he couldn't get enough of it! And now, here he is, pastoring a young church plant in Niagara. You’d never have guessed, given where he started, but it’s a powerful example of how God rewrites our stories in ways we couldn’t imagine.