What Are YOU Longing For? - Series 10

God cares about your deepest desires.

Our new series, What Are You Longing For?, gives us a chance to examine the deepest longings that drive our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For a lot of people these longings don’t often get talked about, and if and when they do, they’re hard to put into words.

When we look closely at our longings, it leads to greater levels of understanding not only of our own lives, but about the God who created us and gave them to us. When this happens, we can continue to grow not just in our cognitive knowledge of Him, but in our love and desire for Him.

The way we’re going learn about what people long for at every stage of life is to interview leaders, directors, and pastors of different ministries at The Crossing, which is the local church in Columbia, MO, where WYITW is based. We’ll hear from leaders who work with teens, students, 20s, mid-lifers, women, and men.

After listening to these episodes, we hope that your knowledge of God and your capacity to manage the struggles of everyday life, will increase. Not everything can be solved or fixed, but instead we can endure and grow in the midst of life’s longings.

Listen in: What Are Teens Longing For?

If you’ve been trying to read the mind of a teenager and are still perplexed, this episode is for you! The teenage years are full of rapid changes, growth, and identity formation. Many parents find the teen years to be humbling and challenging. Listen in as Austin interviews the co-directors of Crossing Students, Jeff Parrett and Anna West, and discusses how to help teens meet their deepest longings, find connection, and strengthen their faith. You’ll learn that teens are asking deep questions about identity, belonging, and purpose that can be a catalyst for great conversations. This episode is full of wisdom and resources from two talented people who work with teens every day, so we know you’ll be encouraged as you listen!

Listen in: What is NFL Cheerleader Caroline Sundvold Longing For?

If you’ve browsed Netflix recently, you might have noticed a docuseries called “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” at the top of the most-watched list. Featured in the documentary is Missouri’s own Caroline Sundvold, a DCC veteran who has since retired from the squad after five years. Lynn talks with Caroline about her life during and after her cheerleading days, including overcoming health challenges, navigating the pressures of competition, and the letting go of the burden to be ‘perfect’. You’ll be encouraged by Caroline’s honesty and authenticity as she shares how she pursues her deepest longing: peace.

Listen in: What Are College Students Longing For?

College is an exciting time for most young people, but it can also be a time of loneliness and anxiety, as well as questioning of personal faith, identity, and purpose. Listen in as Austin talks with Kyle Richter and Emilee McEnery, leaders of The Crossing college ministry, Veritas, about what is on the mind of college students, and how the obstacles they face are opportunities for helping them find where they belong and how they can make a difference in the world. After listening, you will be encouraged by what God is doing in the lives of college students, and you’ll understand why Kyle and Emilee believe: “Don’t sleep on Gen Z!”

Listen in: What Are 20’s Longing For?

Young people in their 20’s, also part of Gen Z, are ‘digital natives’, which makes them very comfortable with technology but often leaves them isolated and unable to conceive of life outside of social media and reality TV. When their attempt to seek a life free of suffering, conflict, and obligation fails, they often face disillusionment and despair.

Listen in as Lynn talks to Crossing Twenties staff, Nathan Tiemeyer and Colleen Luley, about 20’s and their deepest needs: to encounter Jesus, connect with others authentically, and be able to share and understand their own story.

Listen in: What Are Mid-Lifers Longing For?

Mid-life can bring many challenges: parenting young adults, caring for aging parents, and feeling caught between desires and responsibilities. This ‘crunch’ puts pressure on marriages, relationships, parenting, and personal pursuits.

Listen in as John talks with Ryan and Kelley Wampler about helping mid-lifers recognize and heal from childhood wounds, develop healthy and meaningful attachments, and find safe places to open up and be vulnerable with others.

Listen in: What Are Women Longing For?

Many women feel exhausted, alone, and pressured to maintain the façade that they have it all together. The reality is that all women have longings that aren’t being met, hurts that haven’t healed, and disappointments with life. So how do we have those unmet longings, and still find joy, peace and hope?

Listen in as Lynn talks with Crossing Women Director, Jeannette Cover, to find out how women can “normalize” each other by honestly naming their longings, and encouraging each other to faithfully walk with God. You’ll also hear about the 30-day Encouragement Challenge (with free download) that could transform your relationships!

Listen in: What Are Men Longing For?

The state of men in our culture is worse than ever in terms of loneliness, shame, and the “purpose void.” How did we get here? And why do so many men hate church? Listen in as Shay talks with Crossing Men ministry director Kermit Summerall about the state of men’s hearts. Despite the bad news, there are surprising signs of God’s good and faithful work in the lives of men.

Studies show that when Christian men are actively involved in church and small groups, they are the best husbands, the best fathers, and experience the highest levels of happiness. This conversation with Shay and Kermit speaks to the fact that following Jesus together makes for a better man.