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Joining us for this episode is a new guest with a familiar name!  Following in the missionary footsteps of her mother, Jemima Thompson shares her story of praying for a recently departed soul.  This simple act of mercy radiates out and moves the hearts of others in unexpected ways.  It is a great reminder of how grace pours into the hearts of many when we open ourselves up to being God's channel.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Our beloved Michele, for all of her virtues and accomplishments, does NOT have a PhD (or any other degree or even any interest) in Mathematics. So when she meets a young man who is working on his third degree in Math, she naturally felt a bit taken aback.  While he was able to share what he is an expert in, the Lord soon opened the door for her to share what she is an expert in. And so unfolded an encounter that revealed family wounds, strained friendships, and longings of the soul. It is a testament to the capacity of the Gospel to transform both mind and heart. 

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

There is something new happening on The Encounters Podcast today.  We are joined by not one, but two new guests!  Julia and Tristan (you'll soon meet them both) share their experience with Mission Made Possible and their time spent with Fr. Jon and Michele at the Mission House.  

Once the conversation turns to encounters, you'll get double the goods with one which falls flat and one which takes off!  Get ready for a wonderful episode with two great Catholics who love Christ and love sharing their faith.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Although the conversation started with a dismissive, "I don't really have anything to say," that turned out to not exactly be true.  Given the chance to be really listened to, an older gentleman shares with Fr. Jon things he had never spoken of before.  Listen in on their moving conversation and see how God can work in all hearts.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Not every encounter is with someone who is sweet and kind.  As Fr. Jon discovered over tea one day, there are people in the world who are gruff and difficult.  But he did not write off just such a man and instead kept invoking the Holy Spirit.  By persevering in the conversation, Father was able to speak about the freedom God has given us and the love He has for us.  It is a testament to hanging in, even when the conversation is difficult.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Although she was hoping for an afternoon walk by herself near the seashore, Michele's missionary vigilance sensed an opportunity that could have easily been missed.  It led to an "extraordinary encounter " (in her new friends words) at a crucial time in this woman's life.  Although the story is brief, it covers many of the most poignant dimensions of the human experience: suffering, illness, death, loss, and regret.  But in His mercy, God transformed these into a new occasion for faith and love.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Michele was out cruising through "second-hand" stores when an innocuous question about a red hat opened up  much deeper questions about loss, love, and faith.  Realizing that there was no better time than the present, Michele engaged in a beautiful way with a lady who needed to be reconnected with her faith more than ever.  Their time together shows how we can pray with anyone anywhere.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

We take a bit of a detour in this episode.  Rather than Michele sharing one particular encounter, she recounts some of the highlights of this past summer.  From time on mission to an engaging conference to a conversation with an exorcist to some mischievous behaviour in Rome (Michele really should've known better)  to some thoughtful reflections on the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.  We cover a lot of (unexpected) ground.   Join us for a fun trip down memory lane.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

While Father Jon was just trying to get a few days rest at a B&B, the Lord had other plans.  Sure, he had time to do a bit of extra reading, praying, and resting, but each day the Lord brought him together with the proprietor for an extended conversation about many of the greatest questions of life. 

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Father Jon and Michele are off on a mission trip where they equip others  to share the Good News and bring them into the city to have their own encounters.  One of the most amazing of these encounters begins on the street but ends somewhere else entirely.

If you've ever wondered what concrete spiritual fruit can be born from an encounter, check out this episode to see how a conversation one morning led to a return to the life of the Church that same evening.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Even Michele gets nervous before evangelizing!

We continue the start of  Season 2 with a bang as Michele shows us the best possible thing we can do when we are anxious about an encounter.  In this episode, not only will you learn from her courage, but you will be dazzled by how God was preparing the soil for this encounter through the work of another missionary disciple.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

While she thought she was just making a quick trip to the shop to buy bacon, the Lord had different plans for Michele!

Welcome back to Season 2 of The Encounters Podcast.  As we kick off the new season, Michele shares an unplanned encounter where prayer's power to work instantly is on full display.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

If you are mourning the loss of a loved one, and carrying the weight of guilt and regret, there is no better place to wander than in front of a Catholic Church where Michele Thompson is eagerly waiting to meet someone sent by the Lord.

In this serious and profound encounter, Michele speaks to one such fortunate man and witnesses the Holy Spirit transform him from sorrow and grief to hope and comfort.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Fr. Jon could have enjoyed a cup of fresh coffee with some of his parishioners, but a nudge from the Holy Spirit and the willingness to seek an encounter led him to a different table at the local cafe.  And there he found a man deeply immersed in Freemasonry who carried with him the one great (and almost universal) fear.

Listen as Fr. Jon navigates through their conversation and hones in on what really matters.  It's a masterclass in patience and careful listening, and shows how to continue the encounter beyond the actual meeting.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Fr. Jon takes us through a story of broken relationships, domestic abuse, and family tragedy.  But the Holy Spirit remains ever faithful, and the young lady with whom he engages soon encounters God in prayer after having pushed Him out of her life.

Reflecting on the importance of soul listening, Fr. Jon shares how much he learned from this encounter while celebrating the striking way God worked powerfully in the life of someone who had lost confidence in His goodness.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

It was supposed to be a 3 minute errand to sort out some paperwork; it ended up as a 75 minute conversation about film, faith, the nature of goodness, the existence of the soul, the nature of truth, the personal revelation of God, and much more.

Fr. Jon shares with us a wide-ranging and rich encounter with a young man who identified as an agnostic but who had an authentic openness to God.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Sitting on a bench overlooking the ocean, Michele engages in a casual conversation with a stranger about travel, COVID, and future plans.  After two hours, however, the content of their discussion turns suddenly serious as her interlocutor reveals two regrettable decisions that have left his conscience and soul wounded.

In the conversation that ensues, learn how Michele navigates the challenge of communicating the mercy of God while calling forth repentance and faith. 

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Are there people around you who almost slip under the radar?  They are quiet, lacking in confidence, and perhaps a bit beaten down by the trials of this life.  They carry on with their day-to-day activities but can remain almost unnoticed by others. 

Enticed by a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich, one such fellow sat down for a long and deep conversation with Fr. Jon.  Their time together reveals the power of beauty and truth to bring new life into a soul.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Fr. Jon Bielawski joins us on The Encounters Podcast for the first time!

Have you ever struggled with speaking to someone whose world view is informed by the new age?  They credit karma for events, speak of God as an impersonal force, or think we can be happy just by choosing to be so.

Fr. Jon had an informative encounter with one such person that led him to give a lot of thought to how to converse with people who think this way.  Listen today to learn a simple but immensely helpful and insightful tool he created for moving these encounters forward.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Michele is out again with her coffee and sausage rolls, and as always, her kind invitations to have a snack and a chat lead to a remarkable conversation.

If you have ever struggled deeply with anger towards others or the difficulty of forgiving yourself, then be ready for an encouraging story that will speak to your heart.

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

What do a man uncertain of God's presence, a girl on a bench with a skateboard, and a lady crying near an underpass all have in common?  They're all primed for an encounter with God's grace.  Listen now to hear Michele share three beautiful stories of encounters.
 

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Welcome to The Encounters Podcast.

Michele reminds us to take full advantage of all opportunities God gives us as she shares the story of a man deeply moved by meditating upon a crèche.
 
Enjoy the show and please leave us a rating!

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Welcome to The Encounters Podcast.

Today Michele reflects on a missed opportunity and how it prepared her for an unexpected encounter with a storied young man.  It's a tale of tragedy, healing, and the silent work of grace which can bring hope to us all.

May God bless you today!

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Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.

Welcome to The Encounters Podcast!

The Encounters Podcast shares stories of one-on-one evangelization that will inspire, equip, and form you!  Join us as we hear how God the Father  is at work in drawing people closer to His Son Jesus.

Brought to you by Mission of the Redeemer Ministries and Genesis Mission, The Encounters Podcast is a must-listen for all missionary disciples.

Support the show

Please remember to subscribe and pass this episode on to someone who will be blessed by it.

To learn more about us or to be in touch, please visit:

Genesis Mission

Mission of the Redeemer Ministries

Note: This podcast has been edited for length and clarity, and some identifying details may have been changed.