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.
Episodes
297 episodes
Radical Mercy: Why Protecting the Vulnerable is a Spiritual MandateUntitled Episode
"What does a suicide bombing in Tal Afar, Iraq, have to do with the safety of your grandchildren in Georgia? Everything.Join Austin Gardner and special guest Stephen Underwood (Black Flag Innocence Foundation) for a raw look at the reali...
Guardians of the Innocent: The Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking with Alyssa Deltorre
Podcast Show Notes:"Freedom is hard. Freedom is heavy. It is the essence of 'you eat what you kill.'" — Alyssa Deltorre.Today on "Followed by Mercy," we are joined by Stephen Underwood and special guest Alyssa Deltorre, Secret...
The Front Lines of Grace: Fighting Child Trafficking and Veteran Suicide
What happens when a missionary kid becomes a Special Operations soldier—and then uses those skills to rescue children from the darkest places on earth?In this powerful episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner is joined by lo...
Chewing the Fat: Austin Gardner & Rickey Howard on Seeing God’s Goodness
In this episode, Austin Gardner welcomes Pastor Rickey Howard to "chew the fat" and share a story that will change your perspective on what God can do. Rickey is the pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in St. George, Utah, but his life hasn't a...
Why Human Love Fails (And How to Live from God’s Fullness)
Have you ever been surrounded by people and still felt completely alone? Have you ever been loved by others, yet still felt unlovable?In this deep-dive session, Austin Gardner (50+ years of pastoral experience) tackles the root cause of ...
Why You’re Exhausted: The Secret to Resting in Your Identity in Christ
Are you tired of trying to "become" a better Christian? What if the biggest struggle in your life isn't your lack of discipline or your battle with sin, but your effort to achieve an identity you already have?In this final session of ou...
Made Righteous: Why Your Identity is a Gift, Not an Achievement | W. Austin Gardner
"Jesus became what you were, so you could become what He is."Are you tired of waking up and feeling like you need to "fix" yourself before God can accept you? In this episode, Austin Gardner tackles the deepest trap in the Christi...
Abiding in the Vine: Why Your Christian Life is Not an Achievement | W. Austin Gardner
"Have you ever seen a branch sweating?"In this incredibly personal message, Austin Gardner confesses how he spent years turning "abiding" into just another rule to follow. Now, after 50+ years of ministry and a battle with Stage 4...
The One Includes the Many: Why Your Spiritual Location Matters Most | Austin Gardner
"What if the message of being 'In Christ' has been there the whole time?"In this session, Austin Gardner (with 50+ years of ministry experience) walks us through the "One Includes the Many" principle. From the loins of Abraham to ...
Thou Art With Me: Why You Never Walk Alone (Even in the Valley)
Have you ever felt like you’re walking the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," entirely on your own?In this session, Austin Gardner dives deep into one of the most beautiful truths in Scripture: Psalm 23:4—"Thou art with me."Draw...
Christ In You: The Life You’re Living FromUntitled Episode
Have you ever felt like the Christian life is a treadmill you can’t keep up with? Like if you just tried a little harder, you’d finally "get it"?In this episode, I’m sharing why your effort isn't the problem—it’s your starting point. Mos...
Identity Termination: Why God Didn't Fix the Old You
Stop trying to improve something that God has already ended.Most people think salvation is just a second chance or a clean slate. But in this episode, Austin Gardner reveals a much deeper, more shocking truth: You were included in Christ...
Two Humanities: Understanding Your Location in Christ
Have you ever felt like something about you was broken before you even chose anything?In this powerful teaching, Austin Gardner explores the two "planes" of humanity: Being In Adam and being In Christ. Drawing from his pers...
The Airplane Principle: Why Your Effort Doesn't Move the Plane
Have you ever paid for something you didn't even know you were paying for?In this episode, Austin Gardner dives into one of the "strangest" passages in the Bible—Hebrews 7—to reveal a life-changing truth: In Christ, you were there.
Stop Trying to Be the Hero: Understanding Representative Warfare
We spend our whole lives trying to be David—trying to be the hero of our own stories. But after 50 years of ministry and a battle with Stage 4 cancer, Austin Gardner has realized that the pressure is off.In this episode of the DNA of Gra...
Moving from Doing to Done: A Casual Chat on Our New Identity
In this "unplugged" episode, Austin Gardner invites you into his home during a quiet Easter break to discuss the heart of the New Covenant. If you’ve felt like you’re clocking in as an employee rather than resting as a child, this episode is yo...
Finding Home in the Cities of Refuge
Names reveal nature, purpose, and function. Today, Austin Gardner explores the six cities of refuge to show that they aren't just geography—they are a promise. From "Shechem" (the shoulder that carries your burden) to "Golan" (the place where t...
The Map of Mercy: What 6 Ancient Cities Reveal About Your Identity
In the Hebrew language, names are never random. They reveal nature, purpose, and function. Today, Austin Gardner invites you to "flee for refuge" as we explore the six ancient cities established in Israel.If you’ve been walking through l...
Untitled EpisodeWalk Worthy: Shifting from Victim to Victory in Christ | Ephesians 4:1-6
Are you a prisoner of your circumstances or a prisoner of Jesus Christ? In this study of Ephesians 4:1-6, W. Austin Gardner explores the "Therefore" of the Christian life. Learn why "walking worthy" isn't about earning your salvation, but l...
From Panic to Peace: Discovering the "Daddy" Heart of God
What do you do when the doctor uses the word "palliative" and your nights are filled with panic instead of peace? For W. Austin Gardner, the answer wasn't found in a performance-based religion, but in the first two words of a familiar Psalm.
The Shoney’s Intervention: MRIs, Mercy Seats, and a 52-Year Masterclass in Grace
What happens when your best friends stage an intervention at a Shoney’s to tell you that you’re being too mean to your fiancée? For W. Austin Gardner, that conversation 52 years ago was the start of a lifetime spent learning that "man-ing up" h...
No Scorecards: 52 Years of Marriage, Grace, and "Johnson Grass"
Description:Most people think a good marriage is about being "fair," but Austin Gardner says fairness is the enemy of a great one. After 52 years of marriage, four kids, and a lifetime of ministry, Austin shares why the best marriage...
Learning Christ: From Performance to Participation
In today’s episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner explores the profound mystery of Ephesians 4:20: "But ye have not so learned Christ."Most of us have learned doctrine, behavior, and religion, but have we "learned Christ"?...
