Formation with John Ortberg

What does it take to do hard things for a long time without being broken by them? Gary Haugen is the founder and CEO of International Justice Mission, a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. He joins John for a conversation about evil, the human capacity for violence, and why the people most serious about changing the world may be the ones most in need of spiritual formation.AMA Opportunity:Leave us a review ahead of our launch for a chance to ask John a question on an upcoming episode. Follow the podcast, leave a review, take a screenshot, and email it with your question to connect@becomenew.com. One question per person; screenshot required.About Gary Haugen:Gary Haugen is the founder and CEO of International Justice Mission, which has secured the release of nearly 50,000 people from violence and forced labor across more than 30 countries. Before founding IJM, he directed the United Nations' genocide investigation in Rwanda in 1994. He is the author of The Locust Effect and Good News About Injustice.What this Conversation Explores:What Gary witnessed in Rwanda and what it revealed about the human capacity for evil and the reality of a fallen natureThe four conditions that open ordinary people to violence, and what this means for how we understand sin and formationHow IJM became a community of spiritual formation and what that looks like in an organization of 1,500 peopleThe practice Gary calls "prayerless striving" and the daily rhythms IJM built to resist itWhat Dallas Willard's work on humility and careful reflection has meant for Gary's own formationResources Mentioned:The Locust Effect — Gary HaugenGood News About Injustice — Gary HaugenRenovation of the Heart — Dallas WillardOrdinary Men — Christopher BrowningExplaining Hitler — Ron RosenbaumInternational Justice Mission — ijm.orgAbout Formation:Formation is a podcast that explores the science and soul of spiritual formation. Each episode brings together the ancient wisdom of the contemplative tradition and the best of modern research. John Ortberg sits down with some of the most rigorous and honest thinkers working at the intersection of faith and human flourishing for extended, unhurried conversations about how we are being shaped. New episodes every other week, wherever you listen to podcasts.Connect with Formation:Website: formationpodcast.comNewsletter: formationpodcast.com/subscribeSocials: @formationjohnIf this conversation gave you something to think about, we'd be grateful if you shared it with someone else who thinks intentionally about the things that matter most.The conversation doesn't have to stop here.Formation is produced by Become New, a community dedicated to helping you grow spiritually, one day at a time. Subscribe for daily teaching from John Ortberg at becomenew.com/subscribe.

Tremper Longman III, Distinguished Old Testament scholar and professor emeritus, walks through reading the Old Testament without losing faith. He discusses why the Old is essential for the New, how genre shapes Genesis, tensions around divine violence and Joshua, and Psalms and wisdom for spiritual formation. The conversation leans into honest questions and figurative backstory rather than easy answers.

Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church and author known for teaching on prayer and spiritual formation, brings an unhurried conversation about how the Holy Spirit forms us. They explore prayer as attention, finding God in ordinary chaos, Dallas Willard’s triangle of practices, Spirit, and suffering, and discernment versus miracle-chasing.

Leave us a review ahead of our launch for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode. Do you want a chance to ask John a question? Four easy steps.Follow the podcastLeave a reviewTake a screenshotEmail it to usEmail proof of your review to us along with your question for John — ⁠connect@becomenew.com⁠We’ll answer selected* questions in an upcoming episode of the podcast.(Your screenshot must be attached. Submissions without proof of review will not be considered. Entries are limited to one question per person.)* Submitting a question does not guarantee selection. Our team will choose from the pool of verified listeners.The conversation doesn't have to stop here. Formation is produced by Become New, a community dedicated to helping you grow spiritually... one day at a time. Subscribe for daily teaching from John Ortberg at becomenew.com/subscribe.