Learn to Reach Your World - Episode 4

The podcast episode titled Learning to Reach Your World focuses on encouraging Christians to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around them—family, friends, and the larger community. Hosted by Josh Combs, the episode features Mark Pittenger, who shares his personal story of faith, struggle, and transformation, illustrating how our life's journey can become a powerful tool for evangelism.

Defining the Gospel
Josh opens by grounding the discussion in the biblical definition of the gospel. The "good news" is the message that Jesus Christ came into the world, died on the cross to pay for humanity's sin, was buried, and rose from the dead. He cites Romans 10:9—“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” He emphasizes the gospel requires a response of repentance and belief.

Using Your Story to Share the Gospel
The primary topic of the episode is how personal testimonies can serve as effective tools for sharing the gospel. Mark’s story illustrates this, as he walks listeners through his journey of faith, detours, and eventual recommitment to Christ.

Mark’s Testimony:
Childhood and Early Faith Formation:
Mark grew up attending a small Baptist church in Fenton with his grandparents, who played a significant role in shaping his spiritual foundation.

His grandfather, a deacon, and his constantly singing grandmother modeled a life of faith. At age eight, Mark approached his grandmother asking about Jesus, leading to his salvation and baptism shortly thereafter.
Church life (Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday meetings) and music—particularly hymns like "The Old Rugged Cross"—were central to his early spiritual life.

Adolescence and Departure from Faith:
As a teenager, Mark discovered hip-hop and developed a passion for poetry and creative writing. This became an outlet for self-expression but began to pull him away from actively living out his Christian faith.
Mark experimented with a brief "country music" phase in his youth but later embraced rap as his medium of choice. Initially inspired by mainstream hip-hop artists, he began crafting music that emulated the prevailing themes of the genre, such as party culture and gang-related subjects—not authentic to his own life.
His music career took off modestly; he was recording songs, forming a group called Midwest Guys, and performing in Detroit’s hip-hop scene. However, his faith was sidelined during this period.

Grandma’s Warning and Hitting a Low Point:
Mark’s grandmother persistently warned him that he was not using the talents God had given him for God’s purposes. She predicted he would lose his ability to write music if he continued to neglect this calling.
Around 2012, Mark experienced a three-year period of writer’s block and general dissatisfaction with his music career. Despite achieving some milestones, like opening for a well-known artist (Obie Trice), he felt unfulfilled and disconnected from his purpose.

Turning Point: The Legacy of His Grandfather:
The passing of Mark's beloved grandfather in 2016 was a key moment in his spiritual journey. Feeling the weight of his loss, he began reflecting on the legacy his grandfather left behind. What made his grandfather special, he realized, was his unwavering faith in Jesus.

Mark and his wife decided it was time to recommit to following Christ sincerely. In November 2016, just months after his grandfather’s passing, Mark, his wife, and their children were all baptized, marking a fresh start in their faith journey.

Post-Commitment Life and Sharing the Gospel:
Since returning to his faith, Mark has sought to use his testimony to share the gospel with others. He reflects on how his story—though not dramatic like a "Damascus road" conversion—is relatable and uniquely impactful.

The central takeaways from his story are that fulfillment comes only through Christ, and God graciously uses even our detours to lead us back to the truth.

Challenges of Sharing Your Story:
Josh and Mark discuss how people might feel their stories are “too plain” or “not exciting enough” to be worth sharing. However, the hosts affirm that every story is a testimony to God’s grace, and even "basic" stories have profound value as they're part of God’s larger plan. Importantly:

Stories don’t need to emphasize dramatic details to be effective.
Authenticity, humility, and pointing others to Christ as the center of the story are what make a testimony impactful.
Using our God-gifted talents and sharing relatable struggles can open doors for gospel conversations with others.

Key Bible References:
Romans 10:9 (ESV): "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Luke 15: The parable of the prodigal son emphasizes God's willingness to welcome those who turn back to Him.
Matthew 16:25 (ESV): "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Exodus 3-4: The story of Moses and God’s assurance that He equips those He calls.

Call to Action:
The podcast concludes with Josh urging listeners to embrace their story as part of God’s bigger story, trust God to use their testimonies for His glory, and take the step to share the gospel with someone today.