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The CrossCounsel Podcast

CrossCounsel International Ministries

183 episodes

3 weeks ago

This episode offers another glimpse into the heart of our training community. You’ll hear from Susan Hulet, founder of Mercy House, as she shares a deeply significant moment with Jesus while MELTing through the tragic loss of her father more than 50 years ago. She also recalls her first MELT session—an experience that may encourage many who are just beginning their own journey. You’ll also hear from Terris Tamashiro Harris—author, publisher, Mercy House partner, and long-time CrossCounsel sup...

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Religion & Spirituality

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This episode offers another glimpse into the heart of our training community. You’ll hear from Susan Hulet, founder of Mercy House, as she shares a deeply significant moment with Jesus while MELTing through the tragic loss of her father more than 50 years ago. She also recalls her first MELT session—an experience that may encourage many who are just beginning their own journey. You’ll also hear from Terris Tamashiro Harris—author, publisher, Mercy House partner, and long-time CrossCounsel sup...

Show more...

Religion & Spirituality

Episodes (20/183)

The CrossCounsel Podcast

183 | Grief Gratitude Migraines

This episode offers another glimpse into the heart of our training community. You’ll hear from Susan Hulet, founder of Mercy House, as she shares a deeply significant moment with Jesus while MELTing through the tragic loss of her father more than 50 years ago. She also recalls her first MELT session—an experience that may encourage many who are just beginning their own journey. You’ll also hear from Terris Tamashiro Harris—author, publisher, Mercy House partner, and long-time CrossCounsel sup...

2 weeks ago

22 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

182 | Continue to be Transformed

Steve and Mary conclude their discussion on the history of CrossCounsel. If you haven’t listened to Episode 181, we encourage you to start there—it sets the stage for everything they cover here. They highlight how easily we make excuses when life doesn’t go our way and how quickly that can distort our understanding of God’s character. They share how, even as CrossCounsel has remained anchored to its core principles, modern advances in neuroscience and psychology have continued to validate the...

1 month ago

22 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

181 | Our Ongoing Origin Story

Mary Carlton returns to the podcast as we revisit Our Ongoing Origin Story—the foundations of what makes CrossCounsel different. We share how our separate journeys led us into this ministry approach and how it transformed everything for us—and for those we serve. Together, we explore the authority of Scripture, the true meaning of transformation, and how The MELT Process helps uncover the protective layers that keep us from freedom. This conversation dives into wisdom, healing, and the gentle...

1 month ago

30 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

180 | Have You Heard of Plato, Aristotle… Sōma?

You’ve heard of Plato and Aristotle—two philosophers who shaped how we think about truth, reality, and the soul. But Scripture offers something richer: sōma—the whole person, body and spirit, mind and heart, all woven together in transformation. In this episode, we take a short but meaningful detour into Steve's college days—yes, including that dreaded philosophy class—and connect the dots between ancient thought, modern faith, and what it really means to be continually transformed. From the ...

1 month ago

15 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

179 | In Which Chair Are You Sitting?

While visiting Seacoast Grace Church in Cypress, California, Steve sat in on a message from Lead Pastor Cody Surratt that caught him off guard—in the best way. What began as a simple object lesson with a kitchen table, a high chair, a bench, and a few family seats became a vivid picture of spiritual growth. Cody’s illustration echoed the very heartbeat of CrossCounsel: that following Jesus isn’t about managing behavior or staying inspired—it’s about maturing, being transformed, and learning t...

1 month ago

13 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

178 | Conclusion: From Striving & Suicidal to Hopeful & Helping

A late-night call, one of Hannah's brothers in crisis, and a heart heavy with guilt—Hannah’s story could have stayed there. But later, God used the quiet image of a monarch chrysalis as a crucial part of seeing both transformation and dying—something He was also working within her. Through the MELT Process, Hannah came to see how long she’d been trying to carry and control what was never hers to hold. That journey brought her back to an early memory of her own baptism—once marked by loss and...

2 months ago

28 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

177 | From Striving & Suicidal to Hopeful & Helping

In this moving conversation, Hannah shares how her life shifted from striving—not only as a high-level student-athlete, but in nearly every area of her life. When she first walked through the doors at CrossCounsel, she was battling suicidal thoughts. Since then, her journey has been nothing short of remarkable—moving from despair to living hopeful and helping others find freedom. Her story is honest, raw, and full of grace—a reminder that God meets us in our brokenness and begins rewriting th...

2 months ago

30 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

176 | Truth Independent of Reactions w/ Shane Buol > Why Offense Doesn’t Define Reality

In a world where disagreement is often labeled as hatred and offense is treated as evidence of harm, Steve Freitag and Shane Buol explore how the MELT Process offers a radically different path. When emotions flare in response to truth—whether from Scripture, a friend, or a news headline—those reactions reveal more about our hearts than about reality itself. Through transformation, God refines not only what we believe in our heads but what we know in our hearts. The goal isn’t to silence emoti...

2 months ago

44 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

175 | Unscripted Testimonies: Behind the Scenes of a Monday Night

In this episode, you’ll hear firsthand stories of how the Lord has been at work—taken directly from a weekly Zoom gathering. You’ll also hear Mary’s heart and her unwavering commitment to ensuring that when people receive truth, it is genuine and authentic. We believe you’ll be encouraged and stirred to press in more deeply to what God wants to do in your own life. CrossCounsel Website CrossCounsel on Facebook

2 months ago

25 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

174 | O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

In this episode of the CrossCounsel Podcast, we sit down with Byron Guerra, youth pastor at Thirst Church (https://www.thirstchurch.org) in Oconomowoc, WI, and his longtime friend, mentor, and CrossCounsel facilitator, Chuck Schroeter. Byron didn’t begin in ministry — his early years were spent as a land surveyor and doing tree work. The conversation kicks off with a funny, forgotten story from Chuck, and a powerful moment where he shares how Byron’s grandfather led him to Christ. A few mon...

8 months ago

50 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

173 | Hillary's Anger Breakthrough

In this episode, we dive into what AJ & Hillary have been learning, especially an eye-opening anger exercise that led to real freedom. We don’t just tell people to “let go of anger.” Instead, we explore why we hold onto it in the first place. Many believe anger protects them or gives them control, but true transformation happens when we replace false beliefs with God’s truth. Anger may drive action, but love sustains and transforms. Even Jesus, when confronting injustice, was motivated by...

9 months ago

34 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

172 | What Am I Hiding Behind?

Episode 172 begs the question, are we truly being transformed, or just wearing the costume of faith? In this episode, we explore the danger of spiritual performance—appearing strong while hiding deep brokenness. AJ and Hillary share their journey through The MELT Process, revealing how unresolved pain once fueled their need for approval but is now an invitation into real freedom. We also discuss the deeper healing work after Madison’s tragedy and invite you to partner with us through the 100 ...

9 months ago

27 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

171 | Can We See MELT in the Scriptures?

On this podcast, Steve and Hillary finish up their long discussion exploring biblical stories that indirectly reflect the principles of the MELT Process. We’ll look at the bleeding woman in Mark 5, who was told she was unclean and how that label shaped her identity until she encountered Jesus. We’ll consider the story often called The Prodigal Son, though it could be better named The Compassionate Father, highlighting the deep transformation that comes through being truly seen and embraced. S...

9 months ago

29 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

170 | Knowing Jesus Has You in Mind

Hi everyone, and welcome! In this podcast, we’re joined by Justine Roberts. This recording follows a recent session she had with Steve, where they ran out of time before fully resolving a particular memory. In the days that followed, Justine took time to sit with the unresolved part, creating space to explore the barriers that still needed to be confronted. In that moment, Jesus met her with a beautiful word and picture—one that continues to work its way through her heart and mind. This is ...

10 months ago

21 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

169 | Two Special Women with Jesus

Hi Everyone! On this episode, Steve and Hillary explore how Jesus broke societal norms in His transformative encounters with two women: the Samaritan woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery. They discuss how Jesus, by engaging with the Samaritan woman, defies cultural barriers, offering her living water and revealing profound truths about identity and faith. Steve and Hillary emphasize that His experiential truth, wrapped in love, creates a space for genuine transformation wh...

10 months ago

22 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

168 | Scripture and F-35s

Hi Everyone, This episode kicks off with some light banter between Steve and Hillary, including his morning at Truax Field in Madison, home of the F-35. It's a cutting-edge, stealthy multirole fighter with advanced avionics and supersonic speed, capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and intelligence missions—a game-changer for modern air forces. But that’s not why you tuned in... We dive into how the MELT Process aligns with Scripture, even if not explicitly stated. We also tackle big quest...

11 months ago

25 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

167 | Our Soul's Soundtracks

Hello Everyone! Music has touched all of our lives in ways we may not even realize. In this episode, Steve is joined by guests Jenni Freitag, Shane Buol, and Jason Hoffman—three talented musicians with a deep commitment to the truth and beauty of the MELT Process. Together, they explore how music can be a powerful tool for transformation, discovering in real time how the Lord can use it to deepen our healing and lead us closer to Jesus. Join the conversation and find new insights into how mus...

11 months ago

48 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

166 | WITH Jesus Everyday

Hi Everybody. This episode features the return of Mary Carlton for a special appearance. The topic was inspired by Mary's words soon after the school shooting in Madison. As simplistic as it may sound, we truly believe that the inner turmoil that we feel from both historical wounding and present day pain can be authentically and genuinely address by posturing our hearts to receive experiential Truth from Jesus. Everyone listening has undoubtedly heard Jesus' promise to never leave us o...

11 months ago

37 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

165 | School Shooting / Declaration of Hope

We’re coming to you today with heavy hearts in light of the recent tragedies in Madison, Wisconsin, and the heartbreaking school shooting that occurred on Monday, December 16. These events have shaken our community and reminded us, once again, of the brokenness in the world. As we head into 2025, we’re creating and building the 100 Club—a community of partners giving $100 monthly to support CrossCounsel’s mission. Whether you’re a new supporter or already give monthly, consider joining this ...

1 year ago

19 minutes

The CrossCounsel Podcast

164 | Love Bonds and Fear Bonds

Our discussion on this episode gets into an unexpected and very brief overview of Love Bonds and Fear Bonds from the book Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You. In summary, love bonds are secure connections built on mutual care, trust, and the ability to return to joy together, fostering healthy relationships. In contrast, fear bonds are formed out of control, obligation, or avoidance of pain, often leading to dysfunction and disconnection. For more detailed infor...

1 year ago

29 minutes