Christian Fellowship Community Podcast

My Healing After Being Told "You Can't Be a Christian Unless..."

In this powerful conversation, Tonya Russo shares her journey of healing after being told as a fifth grader, “You can’t be a Christian unless…”—a moment that shaped years of confusion, anger, and distance from God. Tonya opens up about how that early misunderstanding of faith led her on a long path of rediscovering who God truly is, eventually igniting a deep passion for Scripture, discipleship, and helping others know Him as He says He is.

You Gotta Let It Go

In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Brian Lester shares his remarkable journey from a turbulent childhood in small-town Missouri to finding stability, purpose, and ultimately a deeper understanding of God’s grace. He opens up about the painful experiences that shaped him—parental divorce, seasons of neglect, fear, and a lifelong pursuit of acceptance—and the pivotal moments that quietly began steering his life toward hope.
Brian reflects on how God was pursuing him long before he ever realized it. His transparent look at faith, forgiveness, and transformation offers a moving reminder that no story is too fractured for redemption.

A Conversation with Walter Putnam

In this powerful CFC Forum session, Walter Putnam shares his extraordinary life journey—a story marked by relentless perseverance, personal tragedy, and unwavering faith. From his early days growing up to becoming a top producer with Northwestern Mutual, Walter reflects on the hard work and discipline that shaped his career. He opens up about profound moments of hardship, including the heartbreaking loss of his daughter Elizabeth, a life-threatening accident, and facing overwhelming legal and health battles.
Through each trial, Walter reveals how God’s presence sustained him and deepened his trust. This candid conversation is a moving testimony of resilience, faith, and the power of surrendering control to God—even in the darkest valleys.

A Story of Brokenness, Repentance, Grace, & Restoration

In this compelling episode, Harry and Harriet Jones share their remarkable story of faith, struggle, and transformation. The Joneses open up about the challenges of success, financial strain, and personal failures that nearly tore their marriage apart.
Through seasons of addiction, anger, and betrayal, God met them with grace. He brought mentors, hard truths, and moments of surrender that reshaped their lives. Today, Harry and Harriet speak candidly about what it means to let Christ be Lord, the daily practice of walking in the Spirit, and how to move from blame and self-reliance to confession, forgiveness, and peace.
Whether you’re facing relational challenges, struggling with fear or anger, or longing for deeper intimacy with God, their testimony offers both hope and practical wisdom.

From Center Stage to Surrender: Finding the True Light

In this powerful episode, Lynne Streety shares her remarkable story—from a childhood marked by relentless performance pressure in a conservative Jewish home, to living her dream on Broadway, to the depths of an eating disorder that nearly took her life. Lynne shares how God placed people in her path who gently “dripped Jesus” into her life, leading her from a life built on perfectionism and proving herself to one grounded in grace, forgiveness, and the love of her Heavenly Father. With honesty and vulnerability, she recounts moments of despair, rescue, and redemption—ultimately finding her true identity not in the applause of the world, but in Christ.

Mike & Suzanne Mayernick - 2025 Milwaukee Christian Fellowship Community Luncheon

In this powerful episode, Mike and Suzanne Mayernick share how faith has shaped every step of their journey. From raising a family of eight to founding Love One, a ministry serving malnourished children in Uganda, their story is a compelling portrait of radical obedience and trust. With honesty and grace, they reflect on what it means to follow God’s call—even when it leads into the unknown. Mike also opens up about his ALS diagnosis and how it has deepened their dependence on Christ, redefining their view of success, purpose, and surrender.

A Raccoon, a Revival and Redemption: Part 2

We welcome back Abby Tuttle for the powerful conclusion of her story—the first-ever Part 2 in Christian Fellowship Community Forum history. Abby, a Forbes-recognized wealth advisor with Northwestern Mutual, shares how God’s faithfulness has sustained her through seasons of deep grief, hard decisions, and quiet transformation. In this follow-up conversation, Abby opens up about choosing life for her son, stepping into leadership after the unexpected loss of her mentor, and reflects on the spiritual disciplines that have grounded her.
Abby’s story is one of steady obedience, deep trust, and the unmistakable hand of God’s provision. Whether you’re in a season of searching, leading, or simply holding on, her journey will encourage you to remain faithful and open to God’s transforming work.

Tough Times to Learn Faith and Surrender

We welcome John M. White, a top advisor with Northwestern Mutual and former managing director, as he shares a deeply honest and compelling journey of faith, identity, and surrender.
From growing up in the Bible Belt surrounded by performance-based faith, to early career success that left him spiritually restless, John opens up about the moments that brought him to his knees—literally and spiritually. He reflects on a pivotal season of professional pressure, personal misalignment, and a lawsuit that threatened to unravel his career. But through it all, John discovered what it truly means to follow Christ: to let go, reorient his priorities, and lead from a place of humility and peace.
In this powerful episode, John discusses the cost of misplaced identity, the refining nature of trials, and the unexpected freedom that comes when we stop striving and start surrendering. His story is one of transformation—from chasing titles to choosing obedience, from building a platform to becoming a servant leader.
This is a timely reminder that our calling isn’t just about success—it’s about becoming who God created us to be.

A Raccoon, a Revival, and Redemption

From living in an abandoned house at 13 to becoming a successful professional at Northwestern Mutual, Abigail Tuttle’s story is one of relentless resilience, unexpected grace, and undeniable transformation. In this powerful episode, Abigail shares how a childhood marked by instability, poverty, and abandonment collided with the love of Christ—and changed everything. With raw honesty, she walks us through moments of fear, fight, and faith, including a life-altering encounter at a revival, her path through college against all odds, and a courageous stand for life and identity. Her testimony will challenge you to consider: How big is your God?

One in a Million

In this candid and engaging conversation hosted by Mark Kull, Nate Kinzinger shares personal stories, spiritual insights, and his journey of faith within and beyond the workplace.
Raised in a home shaped by ministry and service, Nate reflects on how his family’s legacy, early commitment to Christ, and key mentors have guided him through seasons of growth, leadership, and spiritual renewal. From his start at Northwestern Mutual to leading one of the company’s top-performing firms, Nate discusses the heart behind his work, the importance of community, and the power of shifting from a “me” mindset to a “we” mission.
This episode offers a refreshing look at what it means to lead with humility, live with purpose, and influence others through Gospel-centered relationships.