CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends

About CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends

Welcome to CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends, where you'll hear comfortable conversations about faith, family, and real life. Most episodes feature a guest: real, everyday people with extraordinary stories of faith. Every so often, your host Maggie brings you a personal message of her own. One of seven siblings raised in a family of storytellers, Maggie spent 23 years on a Christian youth camp in East Texas, raised two kids, and went back to school in her 40s to become a nurse. She believes every ordinary life holds an extraordinary story when it's rooted in Christ, and she wants to help other women find their identity there too. Subscribe and follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any new episodes, and share it with a friend who could use some encouragement this week.

Publisher

Maggie Raines

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Aug 2026

Latest episode

9 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Nov 2026

   08: Military Family Struggles and Faith: Christy's Story of Moving, Waiting, and Starting Over

   Have you ever moved somewhere new where you didn't know a single soul? Christy Burkhalter did it many times as an Air Force wife. She joins Maggie on CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends to talk about what kept her family steady through it all. Maggie has known Spencer since they were campers together at Frontier Camp in Grapeland, Texas, and has been close with Christy for many years. After Spencer's 23 years in the Air Force, Christy knows what it means to pack up a house, say goodbye to friends, and begin again somewhere unfamiliar. You don't need a military connection to get something out of this one, though. All of us know someone who serves or has a family member who does and Christy's story is a good picture of what that life actually looks like. Don't miss her closing words, as they are a reminder that real community and a love for God's Word can travel with you wherever you land. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation. If you have a comment, feedback, or idea for a future episode, reach out to us at campfirefaithpod@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: How a Christmas wedding in the middle of pilot training led to a move away from family, friends, and everything familiar [5:25] Why life as an Air Force wife changed overnight after 9-11 and what it was like for Christy only seeing her husband for a fraction of the year [6:54] What happened to so many of the marriages around Christy during those years and the key relationship that sustained her [8:20] The first mission Christy and Spencer gave themselves at every new assignment and why she calls it their "lifeline" [9:12] What it was like to live in a capital city of half a million people with only one English-speaking church to choose from [13:15] How Christy ended up starting a Bible study overseas when she couldn't find one [13:54] The one thing she credits for keeping her kids grounded through years of moving and changing schools [16:22] Why coming home to civilian life turned out to be harder than anything Christy faced overseas [21:42] The surprising thing Christy and Spencer did first when they didn't feel at home themselves [24:01] The Psalm that turned her Bible reading from duty into delight and her advice for anyone searching for their place [26:50] LINKS: Frontier Camp, Grapeland, TX   (https://frontiercamp.org) Mighty Oaks Foundation (https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org/) Officers' Christian Fellowship (https://www.ocfusa.org/) Verses Mentioned: Psalm 1

2. 

   26 Oct 2026

   07: A Father's Faith: How My Dad Met Jesus in the Book of John

   Today's episode is a look at a lifetime of faithfulness that started in the middle of chaos. In this special conversation on CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends, Maggie pulls up a seat on the porch with the original storyteller in her life, her dad Tom McMinn. Tom grew up moving from state to state and found steadiness in a Boy Scout troop and in his mother's quiet strength. He opens up about the tenth grade moment in a Catholic school classroom when the story of Jesus became personal, the hardships that shaped his work ethic and the promises he made as a young man about the kind of husband and father he wanted to be. He also shares how he met his wife of 56 years, what he has learned about a marriage that lasts and why he believes no one should ever retire from serving the Lord. And as a special treat, he tells one of the adventure stories that kept his children and grandchildren on the edge of their seats at bedtime: the day Gramps got lost in the swamp. This conversation is a reminder that a hard beginning does not have to define the story and that a life lived faithfully leaves a legacy that echoes through generations. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0QNyiBRrqpLJ1g4Sl6M6b4), or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation. If you have a comment, feedback, or idea for a future episode, reach out to us at campfirefaithpod@gmail.com (mailto:campfirefaithpod@gmail.com). We'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: How a childhood of constant moving, from Michigan to the Smoky Mountains to Baton Rouge, shaped the man Maggie calls Dad [1:10] Why a Boy Scout master became more of a father to him than his own father was [3:46] What life was really like for Tom inside an unpredictable home and the quiet strength of his mother who held it together [4:34] How a tenth grade religion class, the book of John, and an unexpected vision changed his understanding of Jesus forever [7:54] Why he still gives the Catholic Church credit for his character, even though his path eventually led him somewhere else [9:11] The promise Tom made to himself about the kind of father he would be [10:50] How a homecoming football game led to meeting the woman who has been his wife for 56 years, and the church community that kick-started his spiritual life [13:37] Why he refuses to retire from ministry, even in his late seventies, and the advice a friend gave him decades ago [16:27] The day Gramps got lost in the swamp: a 36-hour adventure involving a dead motor, a broom for a paddle, and an abandoned deer camp [20:10] What he has learned after 56 years of marriage, and the one piece of advice he says is for everyone, married or not [27:01] LINKS: Frontier Camp, Grapeland, TX   (https://frontiercamp.org) AWANA   (https://www.awana.org/) Tomball Bible Church (https://tomballbible.church/) Fourth Presbyterian Church (Bethesda, MD) (https://4thpres.org/) Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) (https://www.cru.org/) John 3 (the story of Nicodemus) Verses Mentioned: 1 Corinthians 16:13

3. 

   12 Oct 2026

   06: Cierra's Story: From Foster Care to Faith in Christ

   Have you ever wondered what it looks like when God rewrites a child's story from the inside out? In this special episode of CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends, Maggie sits down with her dear friend Cierra for a conversation about restoration, faith, and what it means to be truly seen. Maggie first met Cierra when Cierra was a third grader in her AWANA class in Grapeland, Texas. What Maggie didn't know then was the difficult story Cierra was carrying underneath that photographic memory for Bible verses, which you'll hear about today. Cierra opens up about the exact day she came to faith in Christ, the mentors who took her in as their own, and how she went from a hurting little girl to Grapeland's valedictorian, a Texas A&M graduate, and now a woman with her master's in theological studies while working at the very camp that once helped change her life. This conversation is a powerful reminder that no story is too broken for God to redeem, and that sometimes the people who show up for a child matter more than they will ever know. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0QNyiBRrqpLJ1g4Sl6M6b4), or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation. If you have a comment, feedback, or idea for a future episode, reach out to us at campfirefaithpod@gmail.com (mailto:campfirefaithpod@gmail.com). We'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: What Cierra's childhood in Houston was actually like before Grapeland ever came into the picture [4:04] The day a car showed up in the driveway that changed everything for her [5:19] How Cierra describes her spiritual life while bouncing through foster care, and the small gifts along the way she now recognizes as God pursuing her [6:16] The two conversations, hours apart on the very same day, that led Cierra to trust Christ for the first time [8:08] Why Cierra still calls her youth leaders "mom and dad" to this very day [13:03] What college at Texas A&M actually looked like for Cierra, including the unusual project that turned shipping containers into mobile medical clinics overseas [17:28] The specific prayer test she used to know whether the Lord wanted her to leave A&M, and what happened next [18:22] Why Cierra turned down a job offer in Australia, and the surprising way she tested whether God wanted her at Frontier Camp instead [22:59] How she ended up finishing a master's degree in seminary while also stepping into her role at Frontier Camp [26:34] The verse Cierra calls her life verse, and her advice for anyone who knows a child who needs to feel seen [27:28] LINKS: Frontier Camp, Grapeland, TX   (https://frontiercamp.org) AWANA (https://www.awana.org/) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary   (https://swbts.edu/) Grace Bible Church, College Station, TX (Anderson & Creekside campuses) (https://www.grace-bible.org/) TAMU BUILD / Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (the mobile medical container project) (https://www.buildtamu.org/tamcs) Hilltop Café, Crockett, TX The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/) Verses Mentioned: Romans 8:18

4. 

   28 Sept 2026

   05: Behind the Badge: A Police Wife's Honest Story of Fear, Faith and Marriage

   Have you ever wondered what it really looks like behind the scenes as the spouse of a first responder or law enforcement professional? In this episode of CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends, Maggie sits down with her older sister (and lifelong best friend), Melissa, for a heart-to-heart on what it really means to be a law enforcement wife. Melissa is the author of "A Police Wife Bible Study: Finding Answers in the Bible for the Unique Issues Law Enforcement Wives Face," written specifically for women navigating life alongside a law enforcement spouse, and a great resource for individual or small group Bible study. Her husband, Andrew, became a College Station police officer at 37, a career change that came with a mix of excitement and real fear. Melissa opens up about the moment she wondered if the job would change the man she married, and how she and Andrew leaned on their faith, and each other, to build a stronger marriage instead of losing themselves to the stress of the badge. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0QNyiBRrqpLJ1g4Sl6M6b4), or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation. If you have a comment, feedback, or idea for a future episode, reach out to us at campfirefaithpod@gmail.com (mailto:campfirefaithpod@gmail.com). We'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: Meet Melissa and her family: a marriage of 31 years, 8 daughters, and what it has meant to spend 16 of those years as a law enforcement wife [1:53] Why Andrew waited until 37 to become a police officer, and the simple prayer that decided which department he joined [6:02] The one book Melissa found on being a police wife when Andrew was starting out, and why it left her more scared than prepared [6:26] How Melissa feared the job would change the man she married, and the peace that carried her through it anyway [6:49] The hidden side of Andrew's job that never makes a headline, and why it means more to her than any award he's won [9:46] How walking through trauma together changed their marriage, and why Melissa says it was not the kind of change she feared [12:03] The two books she calls required reading for every law enforcement family, and why she rereads one of them every few years [13:35] The way Melissa and Andrew rebuilt their marriage through retreats made specifically for law enforcement couples [14:18] What actually happens at a critical incident training seminar, and why Melissa says every officer's family should go at least once [15:01] How Melissa and Andrew's eight daughters have processed growing up with a police officer dad [20:22] Why staying rooted in God's word is the powerful habit Melissa always comes back to, and the Bible verse that became her anchor [25:15] What you should never ask an officer about, and what to do instead if you want to support his family [29:24] LINKS: Melissa's Book, A Police Wife Bible Study: Finding Answers in the Bible for the Unique Issues Law Enforcement Wives Face Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Familiesby Kevin Gilmartin I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know (https://ellenkirschman.com/non-fiction/) by Ellen Kirschman Billy Graham National Law Enforcement Ministry FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember Post Critical Incident Seminar Verses Mentioned: Psalms 18:30

5. 

   14 Sept 2026

   04: Trading My Plans for His: How Sarah Surrendered Her Identity

   Sarah Starnes once had her whole life mapped out: get certified as a missionary pilot, fly deep into the jungle to support frontline missionaries, and never marry or have children. Then God had other plans. In this episode, Maggie brings her younger sister, Sarah, on the podcast for a warm, funny, and deeply honest conversation, opening with shared childhood memories from Frontier Camp (including the summer a 12-year-old Sarah somehow became her big sister's "junior counselor") before turning to the real topic: what it means to find identity in Christ rather than in the roles we play. You'll hear, in Sarah's words, the pivotal moment when a passage in Philippians reshaped everything she thought she knew about identity. Sarah closes with a challenge for anyone who feels like their role, whether it's mother, career, or dream, has become their whole identity: lay it down, and walk in obedience one moment at a time. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to Camp Fire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation, and if you have a comment, feedback or idea for a future episode, our email address campfirefaithpod@gmail.com – we'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: The summer a 12-year-old Sarah became her big sister's "junior counselor" at Frontier Camp [1:42] A look back to Sarah's rebellious, restless pre-teen years and the concerns Maggie had at that time that turned out to be unfounded [10:54] The way that an early missions trip with Teen Missions International planted a lasting seed of faith inside of Sarah [12:10] The pivotal prayer she made at 14, asking God to not to let her be "normal" [14:14] Some of the big dreams Sarah was chasing, including becoming a missionary jungle pilot and what she says happened when she met her husband [19:25] The pivotal Bible verse that completely reshaped her understanding of identity as "the mind of Christ" [24:16] Sarah looks back fondly on finding unexpected peace in the exhausting, ordinary seasons of motherhood [26:36] Sarah's closing challenge for listeners of the podcast [29:37] LINKS: Teen Missions International (https://teenmissions.org/) JAARS (https://www.jaars.org/) Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) (https://maf.org/) Frontier Camp (Grapeland, Texas) (https://www.frontiercamp.org/)01: Finding Your Identity in Christ: Why I Started This Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/campfire-faith-with-maggie-friends/id6805713742?i=1000786507523) Verses Mentioned: Philippians 2:5-8

6. 

   31 Aug 2026

   03: A Conversation at the Coffin: How My Mom Truly Found Jesus

   Some testimonies start in a Sunday school classroom. For Maggie's own mother, Dianne, hers starts beside a casket, which you'll hear all about today in this very special guest episode. In this deeply personal conversation, Maggie invites her mom to the table to finally tell, in full, the story Maggie first heard as a little girl and never forgot: the story of how her mother came to know the Lord. Dianne opens up about the deeply personal events that changed everything for her: a plane crash that took the life of someone she loved, a funeral, and a key moment kneeling at a casket in the depths of grief. What Dianne heard that day, and what happened in her bedroom that very same night, is the kind of story you don't forget. The conversation doesn't stop there. Dianne also opens up about a fear she carried into her marriage, and the Bible verse that finally set her free of it for good, along with so much more. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to Camp Fire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation, and if you have a comment, feedback or idea for a future episode, our email address campfirefaithpod@gmail.com – we'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: Maggie introduces her mom, Dianne, and why she wanted to share her testimony with you today [1:45] Dianne's childhood in a religious home in New Orleans and the impact her   grandmother's faith had on her as a child [3:02] The story of meeting Alan, and how their relationship blossomed into something very real [4:39] The middle-of-the-night phone call bringing news of the pivotal event that changed Dianne's life forever [8:31] A single conversation at a funeral that set Dianne on a path to not just knowing about Jesus, but truly knowing him [11:16] How she was comforted by Jesus's presence in her bedroom that fateful night and the realization that came over her from him being with her at that time [17:45] Fears the enemy brought her around the safety of her husband Tom one weekend years ago, and how Jesus brought her peace through that experience [24:32] The specific Bible verse that has given her ongoing peace and Dianne's closing advice she would give to someone who is trying to follow the Lord in their life  [29:32] LINKS: The Four Spiritual Laws (Cru) (https://knowgod.com/en/fourlaws) Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) (https://www.cru.org/) Verses Mentioned: John 11:35 Psalm 46:10

7. 

   28 Aug 2026

   02: Faith Over Fear: Trusting God When You're Scared to Move Forward

   What do you do when God seems to be nudging you toward something that scares you? In this episode of Campfire Faith with Maggie & Friends, your host Maggie shares one of the biggest leaps of faith in her own life: the decision, in her mid-40s, to go back to school and become a nurse. It's a story with real fear in it, including some awkward situations for Maggie that she had to overcome, a few tears in the parking lot after an overwhelming first day of class, and even fainting during her very first hospital clinical. Maggie walks through the practical steps she leaned on to discern God's will and the scripture that carried her through, all while reminding listeners that God's strength shows up most clearly in our weakness, not our confidence. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to Camp Fire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation, and if you have a comment, feedback or idea for a future episode, our email address campfirefaithpod@gmail.com – we'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: The one key question to ask that frames the whole episode [0:03] The vulnerable conversation Maggie had with her husband, Matt, on a walk that started it all [2:39] Something profound a missionary shared at a campfire years before this decision, and why it stuck with her so much [5:31] The Bible verse that became Maggie's anchor for stepping into something she felt completely unqualified for [9:11] An embarrassing mix-up at the community college library on Maggie's very first day of class and the way she reframed this situation [10:46] The surprising way her teenage son encouraged her and helped Maggie get through a tough first day of going back to school after many years [15:29] Fainting during her very first hospital clinical, and how God used that humbling moment anyway [21:45] LINKS: Take Heart (Psalm 27) - Live (https://open.spotify.com/track/083kG3BHK3LGxZXgaTqIBD?si=ad3faf6cdd8b455a&nd=1&dlsi=620ed12e3c694899) Verses Mentioned: 2 Corinthians 12:9 Psalm 27, 55:22, 96, 118:13 & 142:8

8. 

   28 Aug 2026

   01: Finding Your Identity in Christ: Why I Started This Podcast

   Some invitations aren't planned out in a studio,  they're born mid-air, somewhere over Texas on a long flight home. In this first full episode of Camp Fire Faith with Maggie & Friends, host Maggie Raines shares the surprisingly simple moment that turned years of listening to other people's podcasts into the courage to start her own. Equal parts personal and hopeful, this solo episode weaves together Maggie's family of 7 siblings, her years living on a Christian youth camp in East Texas, her second career as a nurse, and a heart to make sure nobody listening ever feels like they're on the outside looking in. As you'll hear, Maggie already has a long list of future guests in mind: her sisters, her parents, friends navigating everything from law enforcement marriages to mission work overseas, and she'd love for this to grow into a family you're part of too. To make sure you never miss a conversation, subscribe to Camp Fire Faith with Maggie & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And if this episode encouraged you, consider leaving a rating and review, as it helps others looking for a place to belong find their way to the fire. Thank you for joining in today. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember where our true hope is found, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Until next time, keep looking to Him. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation, and if you have a comment, feedback or idea for a future episode, our email address campfirefaithpod@gmail.com – we'd love to hear from you. Highlights From This Episode: How a long plane ride turned into the spark for this podcast, and the moment all the episode ideas came pouring out of Maggie [2:07] What it's like growing up as one of 7 siblings, and Maggie's invitation for you to be part of her family too [2:32] The verse in Colossians that shapes everything about this show, and what it means for you as a listener [3:21] A first look at future topics, from homeschooling versus public school to raising a child with a chronic health condition [7:20] Why Maggie believes your identity was never meant to be found in your job, your marriage, or even motherhood [9:57] What happens when a family isn't perfect (spoiler alert: none of them are), and how God can redeem the hard seasons [12:31] LINKS: Unashamed with the Robertsons (https://www.unashamedtruth.com/) Verses Mentioned: Colossians 1:27

9. 

   26 Aug 2026

   Pull Up a Seat (New Episodes Coming Very Soon)

   Pull up a seat, CampFire Faith with Maggie & Friends is coming soon! Get a sneak peek at comfortable conversations about faith, family, and real life with your host Maggie. New episodes will drop soon, so hit subscribe now and be the first to know when the first full episode goes live. Before you go, make sure to join us at the campfire on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/campfirefaithpod/) and Facebook to continue the conversation, and if you have a comment, feedback or idea for a future episode, our email address campfirefaithpod@gmail.com – we'd love to hear from you.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

29 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.