Followed By Mercy

The Followed By Mercy Podcast

Real Grace, Honest Hope

You might notice a new name and a fresh look, but the heart behind this podcast is the same. After years as the World Evangelism Podcast, I sensed God leading me to a deeper, more personal path centered on His relentless mercy and the kind of honest hope that can reach into every hurting place. That’s why this show is now called Followed By Mercy Podcast. The format may shift, and the tone may be a bit more personal, but my mission hasn’t changed: I still believe the world desperately needs to hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. You are welcome here if you’ve been with me from the beginning or just found us now.

What if God’s love is more personal, stubborn, and relentless than you ever imagined?

Welcome to The Followed By Mercy Podcast, where we get honest about pain, hope, and the kind of grace that finds you right where you are, five days a week. This isn’t about religious performance or church routines. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt worn out, unseen, or unsure if they belong in the story of God’s love. Every conversation is rooted in this reality: God loves you right now, just as you are, and He isn’t giving up on you.

Here’s what you’ll find in every episode:

Experience God’s Relentless Love

Every show starts by reminding you that the Shepherd knows your name, cares about your story, and isn’t offended by your failures or questions. This is personal—it’s about God’s unwavering affection for you.

Find Your Place in His Heart

Once you grasp how fiercely you’re loved, sharing that love with others doesn’t feel forced. It becomes the most natural thing in the world. Real grace overflows.

Prayer That Changes You

We pray together—not just for the world “out there,” but for the battles and hopes you’re carrying right now. These prayers are honest, rooted in Scripture, and meant for hearts that need a gentle touch from the Shepherd.

Discover Your Unique Role

Whether you’re called to go, give, serve, or show kindness in your corner of the world, God’s mercy meets you where you are. You’re not just a bystander. You are His beloved, invited into the story He’s writing.

When life knocks the wind out of you, this is a place to catch your breath. You’ll hear the encouragement that meets you on your hardest days, and your honest questions will be welcomed. No pretending, no heavy-handed advice—just the reminder that your Shepherd is right there with you, walking every step with you, even when you feel like giving up.

Why does this matter? Because some days, it feels like nobody sees you or cares what you’re going through. But the truth is, you have a Shepherd who never takes His eyes off you, lets you slip through the cracks, and never gives up on you. That kind of love can put you back on your feet, and it might be the hope someone else is waiting to see in you, too.

If you’re longing for more than just religious talk—if you want to know you’re not alone and that God’s mercy is following you all the way home, you’re in the right place. Whether you listen in the car, on a walk, or in a quiet moment, let every episode remind you: God’s mercy is after you right now, ready to bring real grace and honest hope.

Subscribe today and join a community to discover what happens when loved people become loving people. The journey’s just beginning, and there’s a place for you here.

Contributors

Host

Austin Gardner

Austin Gardner knows what it’s like to be wounded and to wonder if God’s love reaches the bottom of the pit. Decades as a pastor, missionary, and leader brought him storms he never expected: cancer, betrayal, loss, false accusations, and heartbreak that shook everything he believed. But even in the darkest nights, he’s found that God’s grace runs deeper than pain.

Here, Austin isn’t your expert or your judge. He’s a fellow traveler. He shares the kind of honest stories and struggles that you don’t often hear in church: the kind that come from living real life with all its mess and mercy. If you’re worn out, hurt, or need a reminder that you still matter to God, you’ll find a place at the table. You are not forgotten. You’re not disqualified. God’s love is bigger than your pain, and it’s not too late for hope.

Guests

Guest

Robert Canfield

Robert's Testimony
I grew up in a small town in North Central Ohio. I was extremely blessed to be born into a first-generation Christian home. I attended small, Bible-believing churches as a child and was able to hear the Gospel throughout my life. I was told from as early as I can remember that I was an answer to prayer and God had me here on this earth to serve the Lord.

Even though I heard the Gospel and I was told I was created to serve the Lord, I didn’t get saved until I was 14 years old. When I was told that my righteousness was as filthy rags, in my heart, I knew that I was on my way to hell and put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His work alone.

https://www.takingthelight.com/