Peter shares important updates about Old Paths New Steps, including Josh Lott's decision to step back from regular hosting to focus on family, and our move to bi-monthly episodes. We honor Josh's incredible contributions while looking ahead with excitement to continue meaningful conversations about faith and life. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Pastor and former police officer Lonnie Arnold shares his journey from black church upbringing through interracial marriage and law enforcement to founding the Racial Reconciliation Network. Drawing from personal experiences and scripture, Lonnie explains why racial reconciliation isn't just a social issue but a gospel issue, arguing that while the church excels at vertical reconciliation with God, it struggles with the horizontal reconciliation between people that Ephesians 2 demands. He offers practical wisdom on crossing racial lines, creating safe spaces for difficult conversations, and moving toward the multi-ethnic expression of God's kingdom that reflects heaven's diversity.

In this episode, Peter and Malissa chat with biblical scholar Hakeem Bradley about his journey from the Five Percent Nation to New Testament PhD studies and his recent work at Bible Project. Hakeem shares his passion for reading Genesis through ancient eyes, explaining how biblical authors "sampled" creation stories like hip-hop artists sample classic tracks. He also discusses his leap of faith in launching Sacred Patterns, a new organization creating biblical literacy resources for families and children. The conversation explores the power of community discernment, authentic relationships, and helping the next generation engage Scripture as both sacred text and beautiful literature, offering listeners scholarly insight and practical wisdom for their faith journeys.

In this powerful episode, host Peter Voorhees and co-host Malissa Bertella sit down with Cameron Horner, who shares his remarkable journey of faith following a life-altering spinal cord injury at age 18. With striking honesty and grace, Cameron recounts how God met him underwater during the accident that left him paralyzed, and how this moment of crisis became a catalyst for profound ministry. The conversation explores the beautiful tension between sorrow and joy, the evolution of Cameron's theology of suffering, and the vital role community played in his healing process. Whether you're facing your own struggles or simply seeking wisdom on navigating life's unexpected turns, Cameron's story offers a compelling reminder that our deepest pain can become a pathway to our most meaningful purpose—all viewed through the lens of authentic faith and genuine hope.

What does it really take to build authentic community where people actually belong? In this honest conversation, Peter, Josh, and Malissa explore the beautiful mess of real relationships—from opening your gate to neighbors who don't look like you, to sharing Red Bull spritzers with guarded teenagers, to navigating church hurt and disagreements without losing each other. They get real about why community is both essential and terrifying, why trauma makes us burn bridges for safety, and what it looks like to create spaces where broken hearts can heal. Sometimes the most profound connections happen not in church buildings, but around kitchen tables and convenience store counters, one vulnerable conversation at a time.

Join us for a compelling conversation with Annie Horner, a counseling associate who reveals how understanding our personal stories can transform leadership and relationships. Annie shares powerful insights on breaking free from isolation, bridging the gap between biblical wisdom and mental health, and finding authentic connection in a performance-driven world. Discover practical strategies for shrinking the "integrity gap" between what we preach and how we live, as Annie unpacks how our past experiences shape not only our leadership styles but even our view of God. Whether you're carrying leadership responsibilities or simply seeking deeper connections, this episode offers a refreshing path toward wholeness through story work.

In this vulnerable and heartfelt conversation, Peter Voorhees sits down with Father Rob Steinbach, who shares his journey from Acts 29 church planter to founding Shalom Anglican in Silverdale, WA. Father Rob opens up about his spiritual dissatisfaction that led to more contemplative practices, his disconnect with personality-driven ministry, and the challenging process of following God's call into Anglicanism - offering valuable insights for anyone navigating transitions in their faith journey.

In this episode, hosts Peter, Josh, and Malissa discuss their conversation with Dr. Chan Hellman about the science of hope. They explore how hope requires goals, agency, and willpower—elements that can be shared within community. The hosts emphasize that the church is uniquely positioned to foster hope, especially for those in survival mode. They highlight that true hope isn't just believing things will improve, but actively participating in that improvement while supporting others. The conversation illustrates how intergenerational relationships allow people to "borrow hope" from others when they have none of their own, reinforcing the podcast's theme that while our journeys are individual, we walk paths that others have traveled before gleaning knowledge and hope from their experiences.