May 15, 2025
From Church Hurt to Healing & The Birth of a Bold Ministry: Julie Earlewine’s Vulnerable Testimony
/
RSS Feed
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Karina sits down with Julie Earlewine, a wife, mother of three boys, developmental therapist, and ministry leader, who opens up about her deeply personal journey through heartbreak, church hurt, and rediscovering her relationship with Jesus.
Julie shares her story of growing up in a loving Christian home, finding her identity in ministry, and experiencing the unraveling of that identity when her husband was unexpectedly removed from the pulpit. What followed was a season of grief, confusion, and ultimately, profound spiritual renewal.
This episode explores the complex dynamics of religious systems, personal conviction, grace, and the beauty of finding faith outside the traditional walls of the church. Julie’s story is one of redemption, rebuilding, and cultivating a real relationship with Jesus—and it’s one so many can relate to.
Episode Highlights:
- Growing up in a small, tight-knit church community in North Carolina
- Journaling her heartbreak—and God prophetically telling her she’d meet her husband in six months
- Marrying her best friend, Daron, and entering full-time ministry
- The shock and pain of being removed from their denomination
- Losing not just a job, but an entire church community overnight
- Rebuilding her faith apart from titles, pulpits, and expectations
- Launching a nontraditional ministry—Blackbird Mission—focused on reaching people where they are
- What it means to be “approachable” as a believer and lead from authenticity
Time-Stamps:
- [00:01:13] Meet Julie Earlewine: wife, mom, therapist, and ministry partner
- [00:05:10] God spoke through her journal: “You’ll meet your husband in 6 months”
- [00:11:11] From heartbreak to healing: how Daron and Julie’s marriage began
- [00:17:00] Building a life in ministry
- [00:22:00] The moment everything changed: Daron is removed from the pulpit
- [00:25:04] Losing a spiritual home—and discovering a new relationship with Jesus
- [00:29:26] Launching church in bars, on the radio, and beyond with Blackbird Mission
- [00:35:00] Why the church is more than a building—and every season has its place
- [00:36:28] Raising ministry-minded kids and staying rooted in authenticity
About the Guest:
Julie Earlewine is a wife, mom of three, developmental therapist, and co-leader of Blackbird Mission—a nomadic ministry she supports alongside her husband Daron. After walking through the loss of a church and community, Julie discovered the freedom of authentic faith and now encourages others to pursue a real relationship with Jesus that goes beyond church walls.
Connect with Blackbird Mission:
Learn more about Blackbird Mission Church here.
Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram, and also subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
