In this episode, Jedd talks with Gary Ringger, who shares how God led him from the desperation and depression of a crumbling business … to harnessing a thriving business enterprise to fuel Kingdom mission.
In this episode, we'll explore:
How experiences of “wilderness,” including depression, can forge character and a new vision for life.
How surrender to God’s will shifts your paradigm from ownership to service.
How an intentional prayer life can remake your definition of success.
How to receive good gifts God has for you by leaning into your own brokenness.
“I see in me many times where I’ve had to be broken to really…understand how much I need Him.”
Gary Ringger
“I used to not like being broken – and I still don’t really like it – but that is the way God pursues many of us…And then that relationship gets rich.”
Gary Ringger
“It is not just the situations themselves that are transformative, but how we choose respond to them…and the habits we develop along the way.”
Jedd Medefind
Resources and Guests
Gary Ringger
Gary Ringger is a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Along with his wife, Marla, Gary is the co-Founder and President of Lifesong for Orphans, which serves more than 16,000 children and families around the globe through education, mentoring, discipleship, job training and other relationship-based programs. Lifesong also helps US churches provide grants to support families in adoption. Gary is the author of Radical Business: From Ownership to Stewardship.
Jedd Medefind, Host
Jedd Medefind loves journeying life with his wife, Rachel. He relishes wrestling matches with his five children—Siena, Marin, Eden, Lincoln, and Phoebe. Most of all, he desires to reflect the heart of Jesus Christ in all of life.
Jedd has seen (and experienced!) that lives are turned upside-down when Christians begin to reflect God’s heart through adoption, foster care and service to orphans worldwide. This kind of love transforms not only vulnerable children, but also those who open hearts and homes to them. Churches begin to look different, too, as the entire community pulls together for children who’ve known great hurt. Finally, the change touches even onlookers, who encounter the Gospel not only in words, but made visible before their eyes.
Desiring to spur this kind of transformation through the Church, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives, along with a wide network of churches. CAFO’s membership works in tandem to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.
Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”
Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He also helped establish the California Community Renewal Project, which strengthens nonprofits in some of the state’s most challenged communities. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.
Books written by Jedd include Upended and Four Souls. He also writes articles and op-eds for publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine, and engages radio interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, offers a brief-yet-rich exploration of how families and communities can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.
