Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. Today we visit with two guests who know firsthand what

it's like to help people they care about face circumstances that are too tough for

them to face alone.

Author and speaker Kay Warren and UFC Fighter Cody Garbrandt.

First up, Kay Warren is the co-founder of Saddleback Church with her husband Rick. She is an

international speaker, best-selling author, and Bible teacher who has a passion for

inspiring and motivating others to make a difference with their lives.

She is best known for more than 10 years as a tireless advocate for those living with mental illness.

Today she shares about growing up in the church, how she and her husband Rick met, and the beginnings of Saddleback Church.

Plus, her fight for her son's life as he dealt with mental illness, which first started when he was very young.

I'm Kay Warren, and my husband, Rick and I... which first started when he was very young.

I'm Kay Warren and my husband Rick and I founded Saddleback Church in our living room

in 1980 and so we've been serving at Saddleback for about 38 years. Currently I'm an advocate for people living

with mental illness and for those affected by suicide. I was born in San Diego, California.

My dad was a pastor of small Southern Baptist churches, very conservative

little churches where I think one of the things I remember about growing up was not being able to play cards, not going to movies, not going to

dances, not being able to wear a two-piece swimsuit. I mean really super conservative childhood.

But it was good.

I loved what my dad did.

My mom and dad were people of integrity

and they lived the same life at home

that they did at church.

...