Pursuing Faith Network helps young men follow Jesus with clarity and conviction in today’s culture. Hosted by Pastor Mike Pileggi and former professional rugby player Ignacio “Iggy” Saenz-Lancuba, each episode brings honest conversations about faith, culture, relationships, masculinity, theology, and the challenges Christians face in the public square. Expect thoughtful discussions, challenging questions, practical application, and biblical truth grounded in sound doctrine. Our goal is to help you understand what Scripture teaches, recognize where your life may need to change, and pursue holiness wherever God has placed you. Pursue faith. Live with conviction.
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August 27, 202628 min
Why Some People Bring Out the Worst in You
Send us Fan Mail There’s probably someone in your life who just gets under your skin. Maybe you expect the worst from them. Maybe you feel like you always have to be on guard. Maybe you have legitimate reasons for being frustrated with them. But what if the way you respond to that person is also revealing something about your own heart? In this episode, Iggy gets vulnerable about difficult family relationships and the tension between wanting to protect his family and wanting to represent Christ well. That opens up a conversation about control, unforgiveness, broken trust, boundaries, unrealistic expectations, and what it actually means to see another person as someone made in the image of God. We also wrestle with questions like: Can you forgive someone without trusting them again? Does forgiveness mean pretending nothing happened? When does a good desire become a ruling desire? How should Christians respond when someone repeatedly disappoints them? What do you do when the hurt comes back after you thought you had forgiven? Why does the gospel change the way we look at people who have hurt us? Ultimately, forgiveness begins with perspective. Christians forgive because we have first been forgiven by Christ. As Iggy puts it near the end of the conversation, we never graduate from the gospel. Pursuing Faith Network exists to help people pursue holiness in today’s culture with clarity and conviction without compromising sound doctrine.
July 30, 20261 hr 11 min
What the Headlines Aren’t Telling You About Christians in Iran
Send us Fan Mail When most of us hear the word Iran, we think about war, missiles, political conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz. But there is another story unfolding inside Iran. There are men and women trying to follow Jesus, sometimes without a church they can safely attend, Christian friends they can trust, or open access to biblical teaching. For some, becoming a Christian can cost them their family, their employment, their freedom, or even their life. In this episode, Mike Pileggi and Iggy sit down with John Cerniglia, President of SAT-7 USA, to discuss what Christians inside Iran are actually experiencing. John explains how Christian programming reaches Iran through satellite television, how viewers safely contact SAT-7 with questions about Jesus, and what happens when someone says, “I believe.” We also discuss: • Why John describes life for Iranian Christians as “a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell” • What following Jesus can cost someone from a Muslim background • How isolated Christians receive biblical teaching and discipleship • How SAT-7 protects viewers and believers inside restricted countries • Why some Iranian Christians gather secretly in homes • What comfortable Western Christians can learn from believers under pressure • How Christians can pray for Iran, Lebanon, and the wider Middle East This is not primarily a conversation about geopolitics. This is a conversation about ordinary people, the cost of discipleship, and the work of Christ in places many of us only encounter through the news. GUEST John Cerniglia President, SAT-7 USA LEARN MORE AND PRAY WITH SAT-7 USA https://sat7usa.org John encourages viewers to begin with SAT-7’s prayer resources and learn how to pray specifically for believers and civilians throughout the Middle East and North Africa. FOLLOW PURSUING FAITH NETWORK YouTube: @pursuingfaith PFN Clips: @PFNClips Instagram: @pursuingfaith__ TikTok: @pursuingfaith__ CHAPTERS 00:00 What the Headlines Miss About Iran 03:28 “A Little Bit of Heaven and Hell” 07:58 How SAT-7 Reaches Christians Inside Iran 10:38 Stories From Inside Iran 17:11 How Iranian Christians Gather and Worship 20:28 What Happens After Someone Says, “I Believe”? 25:59 Why Converts Face the Greatest Danger 32:27 How Discipleship Works Without a Church Building 37:56 Why Iranians Teach Iranians 41:51 The Chosen, Christian Media, and Finding Jesus 46:01 Dreams of Jesus in the Middle East 51:06 Why Petty Church Fights Disappear 54:17 The Ministry Ethos That Guides SAT-7 57:54 Reaching Young People Through Creative Programming 1:01:45 What Western Christians Must Learn 1:03:24 How to Pray and Support SAT-7 1:08:59 Final Challenge to the Western Church Subscribe to Pursuing Faith Network for conversations about Scripture, faith, culture, sound doctrine, and following Jesus in the public square. What part of this conversation challenged you most? Share your response in the comments. Please pray for Christians inside Iran, share this episode with someone who needs to hear their story, and help bring attention to the Church the headlines rarely show us. #Iran #IranianChristians #PersecutedChurch #SAT7 #PursuingFaith LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item ================================================= This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revocable basis as part of one specific project to create an End Product. Item Title: Dark Retro Synthwave Intro Trailer Item URL: https://app.envato.com/item/dbc83da1-393f-4852-bd2c-b322e378e005 Item ID: dbc83da1-393f-4852-bd2c-b322e378e005 Author Username: AntonShilo Licensee: Mike Pileggi License Name: Envato License Date: July 28th, 2026 Item License Code: 2Q9EYL4TKP LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item ================================================= This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revocable basis as part of one specific project to create an End Product. Item Title: Minimal Background Item URL: https://app.envato.com/item/8bec576f-3037-4fc2-ada0-de8195970200 Item ID: 8bec576f-3037-4fc2-ada0-de8195970200 Author Username: Fugu_Vibes Licensee: Mike Pileggi License Name: Envato License Date: July 28th, 2026 Item License Code: PUZ5BXDTR7
May 28, 20261 hr 14 min
When Church Becomes Therapy: Baptisms, Megachurches, and Real Healing
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Heather to have one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast about grief, trauma, therapy, suffering, and mental health through a Christian lens. Heather shares her story of losing her husband suddenly, wrestling with God through pain, and learning how lament, community, and biblical truth helped her navigate devastating loss. We also dive deep into the differences between secular therapy, Christian therapy, and biblical counseling — including the dangers of over-diagnosis, trauma culture, emotional repression, and why many Christians avoid getting help. Whether you’re walking through grief, struggling mentally, supporting someone in pain, or simply trying to think biblically about mental health, we pray this episode encourages you. New conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ Check out Jacobs video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-m4VBrQvGM&t=1s Heathers information: Living Sideways Therapy and Coaching | Living Sideways https://share.google/uFKDDaZI5MNCPCyBq IG for collab on posts: https://www.instagram.com/heatherlivingsideways Direct email: Heather@livingsideways.net
May 21, 202651 min
The West wants Christianity back but not Christ
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Pursuing Faith , we unpack three major conversations happening in culture right now: the crisis of masculinity, the West’s growing interest in Christian symbols without true submission to Christ, and the danger of allowing outrage against evil to turn into hatred. We react to Dana White’s comments on manhood and mental health, discuss the growing anti-Islam movement in the UK and what it reveals about cultural fear, and respond to the tragic shooting at an Islamic center in San Diego. Throughout the episode, we wrestle with one central question: does the culture actually want Christ, or just the benefits of Christianity without surrendering to Him? This conversation challenges believers to think biblically about masculinity, fear, truth, obedience, and how Christians should respond to a changing world without losing sight of the gospel. New conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__
May 14, 20261 hr 1 min
When Pastors Fall, Celebrities Convert, and War Breaks Out
Send us Fan Mail This week we’re unpacking some of the biggest conversations happening right now — from celebrity conversions and pastors stepping down, to war in the Middle East and the growing tension between faith and politics. How should Christians respond when headlines feel overwhelming and emotions run high? In this episode, we talk about discernment, misplaced trust, spiritual distractions, and how to stay grounded in Jesus when culture feels chaotic. If you’ve been feeling confused, frustrated, or unsure how to think through everything happening in the world, this conversation is for you. New conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__
May 7, 202657 min
Pastor couldn’t win debate against atheist | What happens when your faith gets challenged?
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we dive into one of the biggest problems facing Christianity today: believers who aren’t prepared when their faith is challenged. From the crisis young men are facing in today’s culture, to the rise of deconstruction content online, to Pastor Mike’s personal experience debating an atheist live, this conversation explores what happens when Christians are confronted with difficult questions about God, morality, suffering, and truth. We talk about discipleship, apologetics, social media voices shaping the next generation, and why the Church must do a better job equipping believers to stand firm in their faith. Whether you’re wrestling with doubts yourself or trying to understand how to defend your faith with wisdom and grace, this episode is for you. New conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ To help Weston Christian Academy reach their goal click here: https://mywca.org/support/settosoar/
April 30, 202647 min
Why I Felt Unworthy of God's Love | A Pastor & an Entrepreneur Talk Faith, Fear & Current Events
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Pursuing Faith, we look at a world that feels increasingly unstable — from global conflict and political tension to personal struggles that shake our confidence in God. But in the middle of chaos, Ephesians 1:13–14 reminds us of a deeper truth: in Christ, we are sealed, secured, and guaranteed. This conversation moves from headlines to heart level as we talk about faith, doubt, identity, and what it really means to be held by God when everything around us feels uncertain. New conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ To help Weston Christian Academy reach their goal click here: https://mywca.org/support/settosoar/
April 23, 202658 min
What The Pope, Tucker & Logan Paul Reveal About Christianity
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest issues facing the Church right now: confusion. From viral headlines and social media voices to religious leaders and political commentators, the noise is getting louder—and clarity is getting harder to find. We react to recent comments about Islam, discuss the growing confusion surrounding the exclusivity of the Gospel, and talk about how Christians can hold truth and love at the same time in a world that demands compromise. This episode is not about hate. It’s about clarity. It’s about discernment. And it’s about going back to the one source that never changes: Scripture. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate faith in a world full of competing voices, this conversation is for you. We release new conversations every Thursday at 12:00 PM EST 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ To help Weston Christian Academy reach their goal click here: https://mywca.org/support/settosoar/
April 16, 202650 min
Are Republicans Really Christian or Are Christian’s Really Republicans
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive straight into the tension many believers are feeling in today’s political and cultural climate. We talk about Christians and politics, loyalty to parties vs loyalty to Christ, the viral Trump controversy, Franklin Graham’s comments, and why so many believers feel pressure to defend everything or condemn everything. We wrestle with questions most Christians are afraid to ask: Can you support a party and still call out its leaders? Why do Christians disagree so deeply on politics if we share the same Bible? Are pastors being too quiet… or too loud? And are believers starting with emotion instead of God’s Word? We also discuss the growing confusion between the role of the church and the role of the state, the danger of political tribalism, and how Christians should approach difficult conversations without losing their witness. With so much noise, outrage, and division online, how should followers of Jesus think, speak, and respond? We talk about what it really looks like to stay grounded in Scripture, pursue holiness, and keep Christ above politics in a world constantly demanding your allegiance. We release new conversations every Thursday 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ To help Weston Christian Academy reach their goal click here: https://mywca.org/support/settosoar/
April 9, 202643 min
UFOs, Church Culture & Pride (We Didn’t Expect This Conversation)
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we wrestle with a conversation most Christians quietly think about but rarely talk through out loud. Should church services be focused on believers or non-believers? Are big Easter events helping or hurting the church? And why does the topic of aliens make so many believers uncomfortable? We talk honestly about pride in church culture, the pressure we put on pastors, and the danger of speculation pulling us away from the truth of Scripture. If aliens were real… would that actually change anything about Christianity? With so much noise online and endless speculation in the news cycle, how should Christians think clearly and stay grounded in the Gospel? We release new conversations every Thursday 👉 Subscribe and explore more episodes on faith, culture, and biblical truth here on the Pursuing Faith Network. Socials: @pursuingfaith__ To help Weston Christian Academy reach their goal click here: https://mywca.org/support/settosoar/
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