In this thought-provoking episode of Outside the Sanctuary, hosts Katrina McDonald, Keeley Smith, Lisa Merkh, and Bill Merkh take an honest look at the negative effects that can impact us as human beings in today's fast-paced and often overwhelming world. From stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion to the ways unhealthy habits and negative influences shape our thoughts and behaviors, the hosts explore the challenges many people face but rarely discuss openly.

Through engaging conversation, personal insights, and practical perspectives, the panel examines how these struggles affect our relationships, faith, mental well-being, and sense of purpose. Listeners will be encouraged to reflect on their own experiences while discovering healthy ways to recognize, address, and overcome the negative forces that can hold us back. Don't miss this meaningful discussion on Outside the Sanctuary, where real conversations inspire growth, understanding, and hope.

In this inspiring episode of Outside the Sanctuary, hosts Katrina McDonald and Bill Merkh sit down with special guest Kathryn McDonald to explore her life-changing experiences serving overseas with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Through engaging conversation and personal reflection, Kathryn shares how her journey into missions challenged her faith, expanded her worldview, and opened her eyes to the ways God is at work across cultures and communities around the globe.

Listeners will be encouraged by Kathryn’s stories of service, spiritual growth, and the meaningful relationships she built while living and ministering abroad. From unexpected challenges to unforgettable moments of faith, this episode offers a candid look at what it means to step outside your comfort zone and follow a calling. Whether you're curious about missions, considering a faith-based service opportunity, or simply looking for an uplifting story, this conversation is sure to inspire and encourage.

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Outside the Sanctuary takes a lively turn as Marc McCleary and Bill Merkh dig into why some people get offended so quickly. They keep the tone light, the humor sharp, and the conversation grounded in real church culture without spelling out every detail. Christians may say they value unity, but this episode nudges listeners to think about what happens when emotions flare and assumptions take over.

It’s an easy, engaging listen that never lectures or gives away the specifics. Marc and Bill bring warmth, honesty, and a bit of playful tension as they explore how small moments can turn into big reactions. The result is a thoughtful, inviting episode that feels familiar to anyone who’s seen offense ripple through a community.

Kelsey Kulik joins Steve Entwistle, Katrina McDonald and Bill Merkh for an episode that moves with tenderness, honesty and the quiet strength of someone who has lived through deep questions of identity. As a gifted singer, she reflects on the beauty and vulnerability of discovering in her teen years that she was adopted, a revelation that reshaped her understanding of family and belonging. She opens up about the difficult seasons that followed, sharing memories marked by confusion, sadness and the slow work of piecing together her own story while learning to trust the people around her again.

The conversation grows richer as Kelsey describes how her faith in God became the anchor she needed when emotions felt too heavy to carry alone. Steve, Katrina and Bill create space for her to speak with clarity and courage, guiding listeners toward the hope that rises from perseverance and grace. Her testimony becomes a reminder that even in the most painful chapters, God continues to write something redemptive and beautiful.

This episode of Outside the Sanctuary takes listeners straight into one of the most defining questions in the conversation around recovery today: is addiction truly a disease, or have we been framing it in a way that limits understanding and healing? Dr. Marc McCleary and Bill Merkh open the door to a conversation that’s thoughtful, challenging, and deeply relevant for anyone touched by addiction personally, professionally, or through someone they love. The episode invites listeners to rethink long held assumptions and consider how language, science, and lived experience shape the way communities respond to those who struggle.

As the discussion unfolds, the show leans into its signature blend of clarity, curiosity, and grounded honesty. The conversation doesn’t chase controversy; it chases truth, compassion, and the possibility of seeing addiction in a way that leads to better care and deeper connection. It’s an episode designed to spark reflection, open dialogue, and leave listeners with a richer, more nuanced understanding of a topic that affects millions.

Steve Entwistle and Bill Merkh sit down with widow Jennifer Sands, whose life was forever changed when her husband, Jim, was killed in the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers—an act of terrorism carried out by Al‑Qaeda, a violent extremist organization responsible for immense loss of life and suffering. In this episode of Outside the Sanctuary, Jennifer shares her journey with a clarity and gentleness that immediately draws listeners in. She talks about the shock of that morning, the surreal days that followed, and the long, uneven road of grief that reshaped her understanding of faith. Steve and Bill guide the conversation with their trademark warmth, giving Jennifer space to describe how her heartbreak slowly became a testimony of God's presence in the darkest places. Her reflections on wrestling with anger, searching for meaning, and learning to trust again offer a deeply human portrait of loss and restoration.

As the conversation deepens, Jennifer explains how her husband's death became the turning point that led her into a more grounded, personal relationship with Christ. She describes moments when Scripture felt like a lifeline, when community carried her, and when she realized that hope wasn't something she had to manufacture—it was something God kept placing in front of her. Bill and Steve ask thoughtful questions that help her unpack the difference between surviving tragedy and being transformed by it. By the end of the episode, Jennifer's testimony stands as both a remembrance and an invitation: a reminder that even in devastation, God is still at work, still speaking, still healing. Her story becomes a powerful encouragement for anyone navigating grief, doubt, or the slow work of rebuilding a life.

Outside the Sanctuary kicks up the curiosity factor in this episode as Katrina McDonald and Bill Merkh sit down with John McCleary—college student, sports fanatic, and full‑blown elevator enthusiast. John's passion for the mechanics, history, and quirks of elevators shines through as he shares stories from his growing YouTube channel, where he documents everything from rare lift models to unexpected rides he's captured on camera. His mix of technical fascination and genuine joy makes the conversation feel both surprisingly educational and irresistibly fun.

The episode also dives into John's life at Liberty University, where balancing coursework, campus life, and his elevator adventures has become its own unique journey. Katrina and Bill draw out his love for sports, his infectious enthusiasm, and the way his niche hobby has connected him with people all over the world. It's a warm, energetic conversation that celebrates curiosity, community, and the delight of loving something wholeheartedly—no matter how unexpected.