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Followed By Mercy

Author: W. Austin Gardner

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The Followed By Mercy Podcast


Real Grace, Honest Hope


You might notice a new name and a fresh look, but the heart behind this podcast is the same. After years as the World Evangelism Podcast, I sensed God leading me to a deeper, more personal path centered on His relentless mercy and the kind of honest hope that can reach into every hurting place. That’s why this show is now called Followed By Mercy Podcast. The format may shift, and the tone may be a bit more personal, but my mission hasn’t changed: I still believe the world desperately needs to hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. You are welcome here if you’ve been with me from the beginning or just found us now.

What if God’s love is more personal, stubborn, and relentless than you ever imagined?


Welcome to The Followed By Mercy Podcast, where we get honest about pain, hope, and the kind of grace that finds you right where you are, five days a week. This isn’t about religious performance or church routines. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt worn out, unseen, or unsure if they belong in the story of God’s love. Every conversation is rooted in this reality: God loves you right now, just as you are, and He isn’t giving up on you.


Here’s what you’ll find in every episode:


Experience God’s Relentless Love

 Every show starts by reminding you that the Shepherd knows your name, cares about your story, and isn’t offended by your failures or questions. This is personal—it’s about God’s unwavering affection for you.


Find Your Place in His Heart

 Once you grasp how fiercely you’re loved, sharing that love with others doesn’t feel forced. It becomes the most natural thing in the world. Real grace overflows.


Prayer That Changes You

 We pray together—not just for the world “out there,” but for the battles and hopes you’re carrying right now. These prayers are honest, rooted in Scripture, and meant for hearts that need a gentle touch from the Shepherd.


Discover Your Unique Role

 Whether you’re called to go, give, serve, or show kindness in your corner of the world, God’s mercy meets you where you are. You’re not just a bystander. You are His beloved, invited into the story He’s writing.


When life knocks the wind out of you, this is a place to catch your breath. You’ll hear the encouragement that meets you on your hardest days, and your honest questions will be welcomed. No pretending, no heavy-handed advice—just the reminder that your Shepherd is right there with you, walking every step with you, even when you feel like giving up.


Why does this matter? Because some days, it feels like nobody sees you or cares what you’re going through. But the truth is, you have a Shepherd who never takes His eyes off you, lets you slip through the cracks, and never gives up on you. That kind of love can put you back on your feet, and it might be the hope someone else is waiting to see in you, too.


If you’re longing for more than just religious talk—if you want to know you’re not alone and that God’s mercy is following you all the way home, you’re in the right place. Whether you listen in the car, on a walk, or in a quiet moment, let every episode remind you: God’s mercy is after you right now, ready to bring real grace and honest hope.


Subscribe today and join a community to discover what happens when loved people become loving people. The journey’s just beginning, and there’s a place for you here.


208 Episodes
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Send us a text What if spreading the gospel to nations like Iraq could change lives in ways you never imagined? Join me, Austin Gardner, as I passionately explore the biblical foundation for global evangelism and break down misconceptions about who is called to spread God's message. By drawing on scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, and John 3:16, we uncover God's desire for all people to be saved and challenge the idea that only special individuals are meant for missionary w...
Send us a text Thanks for listening. Find us on YouTube, Substack, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Send us a text What if the way you think about worldliness is completely wrong? In this episode, we promise to transform your understanding with insights from Robert Dean Jr. and Thomas Ice's book, "What the Bible Teaches About Spiritual Warfare." This episode challenges the conventional notion that worldliness is about actions and instead reveals it as a mindset or worldview that conflicts with divine teachings. Get ready to uncover how this pervasive philosophy can rationalize sin and inter...
Beyond Your Failures

Beyond Your Failures

2025-06-1509:04

Send us a text Do you ever feel like your past owns you? Like your mistakes follow you everywhere and define who you are? This message will change that. When God the Father looks at you, He doesn’t see your failures. He sees His child, fully forgiven and deeply loved. Take Rahab, for example—the woman called a harlot in the Old Testament. Yet later, she’s in Jesus’ family line without mentioning her past. That shows us something amazing: God completely separates who we are from what we’ve don...
Send us a text What if everything you thought about God as Father has been shaped more by human pain than by who He really is? This Father’s Day, let’s break free from the tired religious stereotype of God as a distant, strict judge. Instead, we’ll explore the heart of our Heavenly Father—the One who loves deeper and wider than we can imagine. Maybe your view of God has been clouded by a harsh or absent earthly dad. Maybe you’ve heard that Jesus is kind and gentle, but God the Father is the s...
Send us a text Have you ever wondered how the simple act of being present can transform someone's spiritual journey? On today's episode, we explore the profound distinction between "with-ness" and "witness" in discipleship, inspired by Mark 3:14. Jesus didn’t just send the apostles to preach; he chose them to be with him. We unpack how this principle of being genuinely present with those we mentor can create lasting spiritual growth and meaningful relationships. From hiking trips to heartfelt...
Send us a text How can we redefine mentoring to make a deeper, lasting impact on those we guide? This episode explores the transformative journey of "life on life" discipleship, inspired by the example of Jesus Christ. We dive into the heart of real mentorship, which goes beyond lectures and sermons to encompass every aspect of life. From spiritual maturation and Bible study to practical day-to-day living, we discuss how true mentorship involves sharing life experiences and investing time in ...
Send us a text Unlock the secrets to fostering genuine spiritual growth and mentorship in our latest episode. Imagine helping someone catch the vision of what they can achieve through their faith, guiding them with love and kindness, and providing them with the resources they need to flourish. We promise you’ll walk away with actionable insights on how to teach others to pray, make wise decisions, and grow closer to God by sharing the paths you've already traveled. Expect authentic stories an...
Send us a text What does true mentorship look like in practice? Learn how incidental yet purposeful interactions can unlock leadership potential, as we explore the mentoring approaches of Jesus and Paul. Through everyday moments and shared experiences, we demonstrate how meaningful growth often happens outside traditional curriculums. By reflecting on biblical stories such as the parable of the sower, we reveal how these ancient lessons apply to modern mentoring practices. This episode isn't ...
The Lifter of My Head

The Lifter of My Head

2025-06-3031:30

Send us a text Have you ever felt so ashamed you couldn’t look anyone in the eye? Have you ever been so beaten down or so lost that you wondered if God even noticed you anymore? I want to talk to you about something most of us overlook—six words from Psalm 23:5: “Thou anointest my head with oil.” There’s healing and hope packed into that little phrase for anyone who’s ever felt worthless, wounded, or forgotten. David wasn’t writing from a palace when he put those words down. He was hiding in ...
Send us a text How can you discern if God has genuinely called you? This episode promises to answer that pressing question with insights from spiritual leaders like William Booth and Charles Spurgeon. We start by reflecting on Booth’s compelling invitation to listen for God’s call through the Bible and the cries of humanity. Then, we delve into Spurgeon’s wisdom on the importance of being fit to lead, prepared to endure, and the crucial act of counting the cost before embarking on a divine mi...
Send us a text What if understanding God's call on your life could transform your daily existence? Join us as we embark on a heartfelt journey of discovering divine purpose, drawing from personal experiences and the timeless wisdom of figures like Spurgeon. Listen to inspiring stories of early callings, such as feeling a mission to Peru, and learn how a consistent relationship with God is crucial for discerning His will. We'll explore the significance of daily obedience, trust, and aligning y...
Send us a text What does it truly mean to heed the call of God in your life? In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the depths of 1 Corinthians 9, drawing inspiration from the apostle Paul's relentless drive to preach the gospel despite overwhelming personal challenges and fears. We explore the compelling necessity Paul felt to fulfill his calling—a burden so intense that it was inescapable. By sharing personal stories, such as the daunting journey to Peru, we illustrate how answeri...
Send us a text Can true discipleship transform the way we mentor future church leaders? Discover the profound impact of life-on-life discipleship as we unpack what it means to genuinely mentor and disciple within the church. By emulating Jesus' methods and fostering deep, loving relationships, we shed light on moving beyond basic doctrine and engaging in ministry training that is personal and impactful. This episode promises to challenge conventional discipleship approaches and inspire you to...
Thou Art With Me

Thou Art With Me

2025-07-1431:11

Send us a text There’s a phrase in Psalm 23 that can turn the whole world right-side up again: “You are with me.” David didn’t write those words from a place of safety or comfort. He was running for his life, feeling the sting of betrayal, with every reason to think God had left him behind. But in the darkest valley, David makes a quiet turn. He stops talking about God and starts talking to Him. That’s not just a grammatical shift. It’s the heart waking up to the truth that changes everything...
Send us a text Ever felt like God's love is something you have to earn? In today's episode, Austin Gardner sits down with Robert Canfield for a conversation that might breathe fresh hope into your weary soul. Together, they pull back the curtain on the exhausting cycle of performance-based religion—a cycle that leaves so many believers tired, ashamed, and feeling like God's love is always just out of reach. Robert shares powerful stories from his ministry, "Taking the Light," where radio broa...
Send us a text What if the secret to peace isn't gaining more control, but surrendering it? Do you ever feel like the world is spinning out of control, and it's up to you to hold everything together? In this episode, host Austin Gardner welcomes Robert Canfield, president of Taking the Light Ministries, for an honest conversation about a different way to find peace, one that doesn't depend on having all the answers. Drawing from the ancient wisdom of Psalm 131, Robert and Austin explore David...
Send us a text What if everything you believed about your spiritual worth was built on a misunderstanding? That inner critic telling you “you’re not enough” isn’t just mistaken, it’s denying the truth Christ has already spoken. In this deeply personal episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner sits down with his son, David, a missionary who has spent twenty years in Peru, to discuss the surprising and relentless mercy of God. David shares powerful stories of God’s provision from unexpected ...
Send us a text Could eating only meat really change your life? For missionary mom Katie Gardner, the answer was a surprising yes. After years of feeling unwell, exhausted, battling hormonal chaos, and hearing the phrase “your tests look normal” from doctors who had no real answers, Katie stumbled across a radical idea online: the carnivore diet. At first, it sounded ridiculous. But with nothing left to lose, she took the leap. Those first three weeks weren’t easy. Doubts and withdrawal sympto...
Send us a text “Sugar is delicious. You’re lying if you say it’s not,” Katie laughs, and she means it. But for two years now, she hasn’t touched the stuff. Not because of iron willpower, but because life on the carnivore diet has changed her from the inside out emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. For years, mood swings and low moments just felt like her “normal.” Irritability and emotional crashes were part of daily life. It wasn’t until her husband looked her in the eyes and said, “I don...
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