What happens when faith collides with life? Pastor Emma Nickel of First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak shares her thoughts on the conversations that comprised the first season of the Forging Faith podcast.

When your day job consistently exposes you to the worst side of humanity, how does it impact your faith? Mike, a law enforcement officer who was estranged from the church, was having difficulty sleeping. His mind was constantly racing as he tried to balance his work duties with the rest of his life. In this episode, he talks about how his insomnia led him down a path to Buddhism and eventually back to the Christian church.

In an instant, a person you trust can turn your entire life upside-down. When Amy discovered that her husband had been living a double-life, an unexpected divorce left her struggling to support herself and her kids. As she struggled to rebuild her life from scratch, her relationship with God was strained. In this episode, she shares her story of loss and rebirth.

How can the owner of a company share the rewards with its employees? Kevin searched for a way, but the answer he found didn’t fit the traditional narrative of for-profit businesses. But with his faith leading the way, he is moving ahead to creating an employee-owned company.

When a member of your family endures a debilitating ordeal, your faith gets tested. But those moments can also be a source of strength. Reverend MaryAnn KcKibben Dana, author of Hope: A User’s Manual, talks about how her daughter’s battle with depression affected her spirituality, but also about how it equipped her with the tools to address this challenge.

How does it impact your faith when you uproot your entire life and move to a new continent where you don’t know anybody? Decades ago, Benny immigrated to the United States to forge a fresh start. Along the way, his relationship with God evolved. In this episode, he shares his journey.

Few things will test your faith like being diagnosed with a life-changing illness. When Sharon learned she had cancer, it not only changed her relationship with the people around her, but also with God. In this episode, she shares her story.

What happens when spirituality collides with life? In this podcast, Pastor Emma Nickel of First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Michigan talks with folks who have experienced a variety of challenges -- from cancer to divorce to adoption -- and hears how their faith has been stretched and shaped by these experiences.