# 8-20-23 - Good News Weekend: Taylor Swift’s Generosity, Pray.com’s Award, & Mental Health Breakthroughs

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 20 Aug 2023, 14 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/0aeef6d1-f4df-4d4a-bccc-b4d7001e1399/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s Good News at a Glance: • Taylor Swift’s tour has left a wake of generosity behind. • Pray.com is humbled and honored as the number 1 faith-based media company on Inc.'s 5000 list. • We revisit our favorite good news story of the week. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
[0:03] Speaker 1: Philippians 4, 13. Dear Lord, with an incredible promise like this,
[0:09] Speaker 1: it's in our moments of doubt, fatigue, and fear that
[0:11] Speaker 1: we are reminded that our strength does not come from ourselves,
[0:15] Speaker 1: but from you, our ever-present help and sustainer. Whether facing
[0:19] Speaker 1: challenges at work in our relationships or personal struggles, may
[0:23] Speaker 1: we lean into you, knowing that with your strength we
[0:26] Speaker 1: can overcome anything, we can endure, and we can triumph
[0:29] Speaker 1: in you. We declare trust in you today, not trust
[0:33] Speaker 1: in our own abilities or success, but in your unending grace.
[0:37] Speaker 1: When we become arrogant or boast in our own strength,
[0:40] Speaker 1: remind us that your spirit is what truly breaks down barriers.
[0:44] Speaker 1: Thank you, Lord, for this assurance and for the constant
[0:47] Speaker 1: presence of your Son, our source of strength, hope, and victory, Jesus.
[0:52] Speaker 1: It is in his name that we pray. Amen. Welcome
[0:57] Speaker 1: to Prey News, where hope is our only bias. Today's
[1:00] Speaker 1: good news at a glance, Taylor Swift's tour has left
[1:03] Speaker 1: a wake of generosity behind it. Prey.com is humbled and
[1:06] Speaker 1: honored as the number one faith-based media company in Inc.
[1:09] Speaker 1: 's 5,000 list. And we revisit our favorite good news
[1:13] Speaker 1: story of the week. Right now you're listening to Good
[1:15] Speaker 1: News Weekend, time to focus on the positive and reorient
[1:19] Speaker 1: ourselves for the week ahead. We believe news shouldn't just
[1:22] Speaker 1: be a constant stream of bad news, depressing stories, and fear-mongering.
[1:26] Speaker 1: This world is definitely chaotic. There's beauty everywhere and small
[1:30] Speaker 1: moments for us to see the simplicity of God's grace
[1:32] Speaker 1: and love. We're glad you're here and we pray this
[1:35] Speaker 1: take on the news leaves you informed and transformed. If
[1:39] Speaker 1: you felt impacted at all by Pray News, we would
[1:42] Speaker 1: love it if you left us a review and a rating.
[1:44] Speaker 1: Doing so will help others discover us and we would
[1:47] Speaker 1: genuinely love to hear your thoughts. Our first story of
[1:51] Speaker 1: today is for all the Taylor Swift fans out there.
[1:54] Speaker 1: The beloved pop icon Taylor Swift is not just serenading
[1:57] Speaker 1: fans with her music. She's now hitting a high note
[1:59] Speaker 1: of generosity. With the beat of her heiress tour, Swift
[2:02] Speaker 1: is making stops not only to perform, but to give
[2:05] Speaker 1: back to food banks across the United States. Economists have
[2:08] Speaker 1: hailed Swift's heiress tour as a massive phenomenon impacting the U.S. economy.
[2:12] Speaker 1: It seems everyone's benefiting, not just stadium venues, record labels,
[2:15] Speaker 1: and ticket vendors, but all of these businesses that are
[2:18] Speaker 1: surrounding the areas in which she's touring. And there's this
[2:21] Speaker 1: twist of a beneficiary that nobody expected. Food banks. They're
[2:26] Speaker 1: joining in this chorus of beneficiaries. The tour kicked off
[2:29] Speaker 1: with a bang in Arizona where Swift presented a check
[2:32] Speaker 1: to the Arizona Food Bank Network. This generous donation will
[2:35] Speaker 1: fill tractor trailers with 40,000 pounds of fresh produce. Based
[2:39] Speaker 1: on the needs in Washington state, Seattle's food lifeline is
[2:42] Speaker 1: likely to receive a similar bountiful gift from Swift. Though
[2:46] Speaker 1: they've chosen to play coy on the exact amount, they
[2:48] Speaker 1: did confirm the funds would be used for fresh produce
[2:50] Speaker 1: for families everywhere. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Three Square
[2:55] Speaker 1: Food Bank, and Food Bank of the Rockies are among
[2:57] Speaker 1: the other lucky recipients of Swift's charity. Beth Martino, CEO
[3:01] Speaker 1: of Three Square, mustered an encore of praise, stating, It
[3:05] Speaker 1: is really meaningful to get a gift from someone who
[3:07] Speaker 1: has the ability to bring such attention to our cause.
[3:11] Speaker 1: And let's face it, when Taylor Swift gives you a
[3:13] Speaker 1: shout out, you know you're in the big leagues. Swift's
[3:17] Speaker 1: generosity doesn't just end at food banks. She also surprised
[3:20] Speaker 1: her 50-member strong trucking team with a $ 100, 000 life-changing bonus.
[3:26] Speaker 1: Now that's a way to keep the band together for sure.
[3:28] Speaker 1: As the tour continues through Florida, Louisiana, and Indiana, the
[3:31] Speaker 1: whispers backstage hint that more charity may be in store.
[3:35] Speaker 1: Taylor Swift's generous contributions are a beautiful illustration of the
[3:39] Speaker 1: Christian principle of giving. In Matthew 25, 35, Jesus teaches
[3:43] Speaker 1: us that to give unto the hungry, the needy, the
[3:46] Speaker 1: poor and dispossessed is a way to give on to
[3:48] Speaker 1: Jesus and worship him. He says, for I was hungry
[3:51] Speaker 1: and you gave me something to eat. Swift's selfless acts
[3:54] Speaker 1: not only resonate with the message of compassion and generosity,
[3:57] Speaker 1: but also inspire many to look beyond themselves and care
[4:00] Speaker 1: for the less fortunate. Swift's generosity serves as a harmonious
[4:04] Speaker 1: reminder that the gift of giving is a melody we
[4:06] Speaker 1: can all sing along to. It doesn't matter if you
[4:09] Speaker 1: have $ 1 to give or $ 100, 000 to give. To give
[4:12] Speaker 1: generously and without expectation of anything in return brings us
[4:16] Speaker 1: joy and our Lord glory. So, we're going to give
[4:19] Speaker 1: a hand to Taylor Swift. Encore, Taylor. Encore. Lord, we
[4:23] Speaker 1: praise you for the generosity of people like Taylor Swift.
[4:27] Speaker 1: Those who don't just use their influence and their wealth
[4:29] Speaker 1: for their own personal gain, but share in their resources
[4:33] Speaker 1: without expectation of getting anything in return. May we all
[4:36] Speaker 1: be generous with what you have given us, not seeing
[4:39] Speaker 1: our wealth or our resources as something to hoard for ourselves,
[4:42] Speaker 1: but rather as opportunities to show generosity to those who
[4:46] Speaker 1: are in need. Lord, we pray for these food banks.
[4:48] Speaker 1: Would you bless them? Would you multiply their efforts so
[4:51] Speaker 1: that no one would have to go hungry? We pray
[4:54] Speaker 1: for the families that need to use food banks as resources.
[4:57] Speaker 1: Would you bless them? Would you meet them where they are?
[5:00] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Our second good news story of
[5:03] Speaker 1: the day hits close to home. We wanted to take
[5:05] Speaker 1: this moment to recognize our company, Pray.com, and all the
[5:08] Speaker 1: dedicated employees that work tirelessly to bring hope, love, and
[5:12] Speaker 1: compassion to the world. We are honored to celebrate that
[5:15] Speaker 1: Pray.com has hit the number one faith-based media company on Inc.
[5:18] Speaker 1: 's 5,000 list from 2023. With a ranking of number
[5:22] Speaker 1: three in media, number 27 in the state, and number
[5:25] Speaker 1: 116 overall, Pray.com has achieved a milestone that goes beyond statistics.
[5:31] Speaker 1: Our company has emerged as a beacon of hope that
[5:33] Speaker 1: transcends profit and reaches into the hearts of millions. Praise
[5:37] Speaker 1: CEO and founder Steve Gatina considers the success a reflection
[5:40] Speaker 1: of the passion of our customers and the diligence of
[5:43] Speaker 1: our team. He also says that this speaks to the
[5:45] Speaker 1: power of our mission to grow faith, cultivate community, and
[5:49] Speaker 1: leave a legacy of helping others. Our growth tells a
[5:52] Speaker 1: story of passion and purpose. Co-founders Steve Gatina, Mike Lynn,
[5:56] Speaker 1: Ryan Beck, and Matthew Potter have built a platform that
[5:59] Speaker 1: reaches more than 12 million people worldwide every single day.
[6:03] Speaker 1: With awards like Best in Business Award of 2022 and
[6:07] Speaker 1: Best Workplaces in 2023, Prey.com has become synonymous with innovation
[6:12] Speaker 1: and trust. Michael Lynn, our co-founder and CFO, says that
[6:16] Speaker 1: our growth is not just about numbers, but passion, drive
[6:20] Speaker 1: to make a difference, and a relentless pursuit of greater milestones.
[6:24] Speaker 1: In the words of Ryan Beck, our co-founder and CTO,
[6:27] Speaker 1: we have been able to make an impact not just economically,
[6:29] Speaker 1: but spiritually in people's lives. God has opened doors for
[6:33] Speaker 1: Pray.com to impact the world. We were the first company
[6:36] Speaker 1: in history to work with the President of the United
[6:38] Speaker 1: States to promote prayer on the National Day of Prayer.
[6:41] Speaker 1: We became the only mental and spiritual health company to
[6:43] Speaker 1: work with the U.S. Surgeon General to improve health outcomes
[6:46] Speaker 1: for the faith community. And with a passion for eradicating
[6:49] Speaker 1: the mental health epidemic, we were the first app ever
[6:52] Speaker 1: invited to the Vatican. to support spiritual and mental health,
[6:55] Speaker 1: to equip churches with technology worldwide. These connections have opened
[7:00] Speaker 1: doors to work with respected leaders like Drew Brees, T.D. Jakes,
[7:03] Speaker 1: and Dr. Phil to create clinically studied prayer therapy for
[7:07] Speaker 1: people of all ages. Matthew Potter, co-founder and the head
[7:10] Speaker 1: of Strategic Partnerships, emphasizes the company's vision for innovating, uplifting,
[7:15] Speaker 1: and transforming one prayerful moment at a time. Pray.com has
[7:19] Speaker 1: embraced technology as a medium to foster faith. We have
[7:22] Speaker 1: sought to prove that faith and technology can blend seamlessly,
[7:25] Speaker 1: creating a space where hope finds its voice and reaches
[7:28] Speaker 1: the ears of millions of people. Because we believe so
[7:31] Speaker 1: strongly that technology and faith don't need to be at
[7:34] Speaker 1: odds with each other, we were the first company to
[7:36] Speaker 1: create AI tools for technologies that can help pastors, evangelize,
[7:40] Speaker 1: and disciple at scale. We want churches to be blessed,
[7:44] Speaker 1: and we want the voice of Jesus and the gospel
[7:46] Speaker 1: to be heard by millions and millions more. At the
[7:49] Speaker 1: crossroads of innovation and providence, we have joyfully witnessed millions
[7:53] Speaker 1: of lives change through prayers, meditations, and podcasts like this
[7:58] Speaker 1: one that you're listening to now and Bible in a
[8:00] Speaker 1: Year with Jack Graham, the fastest growing podcast of 2022.
[8:04] Speaker 1: Pray.com's success serves as a poignant reminder of what can
[8:07] Speaker 1: be achieved when faith is at the core of our endeavors.
[8:10] Speaker 1: In the words of Philippians 4.13, I can do all
[8:13] Speaker 1: things through Christ who strengthens me. This milestone that Pray.com
[8:17] Speaker 1: has been given is a living embodiment of this truth,
[8:21] Speaker 1: a reminder that anything is possible with faith, dedication, and encouragement.
[8:25] Speaker 1: That being said, let's lift our company up in prayer.
[8:28] Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the success and the
[8:30] Speaker 1: impact of Pray.com. May this achievement not just be a
[8:33] Speaker 1: milestone for the company, but also a beacon of hope, faith,
[8:36] Speaker 1: and compassion for any company or individual around the world
[8:39] Speaker 1: that wants to truly make a difference. Continue to guide
[8:42] Speaker 1: and inspire those who seek to make a positive difference
[8:45] Speaker 1: through innovation, dedication, and faith. Lord, we pray that we
[8:49] Speaker 1: would continually be dedicated to your gospel and the fulfillment
[8:52] Speaker 1: of your great commission to make disciples. In Jesus' name, amen.
[8:57] Speaker 1: Our last story of today might seem obvious to those
[8:59] Speaker 1: who have been following after Jesus their whole lives, trying
[9:03] Speaker 1: to bless the people around them. A new study finds
[9:06] Speaker 1: that performing acts of kindness improves mental health symptoms. Who
[9:10] Speaker 1: would have thought? In a world that often seems rife
[9:12] Speaker 1: with division and despair, a recent study offers a joyful
[9:15] Speaker 1: ray of hope. Researchers have discovered that the simple act
[9:19] Speaker 1: of performing acts of kindness towards others is not just
[9:22] Speaker 1: a moral good, but brings tangible improvements to mental health symptoms.
[9:26] Speaker 1: We would all preach to each other that acts of
[9:29] Speaker 1: kindness and altruism give you joy, but this study goes
[9:32] Speaker 1: beyond the abstract and goes into the concrete, showing that
[9:35] Speaker 1: these simple gestures of goodwill can be more effective in
[9:38] Speaker 1: reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study sought to
[9:42] Speaker 1: test methods of cognitive behavioral therapy, a non-pharmaceutical treatment for
[9:46] Speaker 1: depression and anxiety. It focused on random acts of kindness,
[9:50] Speaker 1: fun activities, and cognitive repraisal techniques. The random acts of
[9:54] Speaker 1: kindness group stood out, leaving a much bigger impact on
[9:57] Speaker 1: positive cognition and emotions early on. on, fostering social connection
[10:01] Speaker 1: and often outperforming other strategies. Jennifer Chevens, Ohio State University
[10:07] Speaker 1: co-author of the study, expressed surprise at how easy it
[10:11] Speaker 1: was for the participants to perform these kind acts once
[10:14] Speaker 1: they saw that it was good for their mental health.
[10:16] Speaker 1: The study went further to argue that this kindness therapy
[10:19] Speaker 1: could be a significant add-on therapy to most mental health disorders.
[10:24] Speaker 1: The concept of loving one's neighbor and performing acts of
[10:27] Speaker 1: kindness is not a new revelation. It's rooted in the
[10:30] Speaker 1: fabric of our faith. In 1 John, we are told
[10:33] Speaker 1: that sharing the gospel brings joy. This is not just
[10:36] Speaker 1: in preaching, but in deed as well. In Galatians 5.22,
[10:40] Speaker 1: the Bible teaches us that the fruit of the Spirit
[10:42] Speaker 1: is love, joy, peace. Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
[10:48] Speaker 1: These virtues reflect the very nature of God. When we
[10:51] Speaker 1: have His Spirit dwelling within us, and that Spirit is
[10:54] Speaker 1: actively moving through us to action, we experience joy. We
[10:58] Speaker 1: are encouraged in 2 Corinthians 9-7 to give out of joy,
[11:01] Speaker 1: not religious compulsion or guilt. The essence of Christlike giving
[11:05] Speaker 1: is not pious or joyless. Rather, it's self-sacrificial and joyful.
[11:09] Speaker 1: To be selfless and joyful may seem paradoxical to the world.
[11:14] Speaker 1: But to us believers, it's foundational. Jesus said in Mark
[11:17] Speaker 1: 9 that whoever wants to be first in his kingdom
[11:19] Speaker 1: must be a servant of all. So if you want
[11:22] Speaker 1: to be great, if you want to have a life
[11:24] Speaker 1: that is fulfilling and filled with purpose, you serve the
[11:26] Speaker 1: people around you. We know that in order to get
[11:29] Speaker 1: ahead in God's kingdom, we serve the people around us
[11:31] Speaker 1: with joy and without expectation of anything in return. This
[11:35] Speaker 1: brings us joy. It brings us happiness. And it's cool
[11:38] Speaker 1: to see these cognitive studies reflect that biblical truth. The
[11:42] Speaker 1: significance of kindness in the study also emphasizes the importance
[11:45] Speaker 1: of connection with other people. In a time when social
[11:48] Speaker 1: isolation poses a real threat to well-being, the act of
[11:51] Speaker 1: reaching out with kind gestures becomes not just a normal act,
[11:54] Speaker 1: but a life-affirming one. Shevens has tapped into a profound truth.
[11:59] Speaker 1: Getting out of your own heads through acts of kindness
[12:02] Speaker 1: seems to benefit our well-being. The connections we make through
[12:05] Speaker 1: kindness help us grow as individuals and as a community.
[12:08] Speaker 1: we experience a fulfilling, joyful life, even in the midst
[12:12] Speaker 1: of hardship, even in the midst of struggles. The study's
[12:15] Speaker 1: findings present a golden opportunity for us as believers to
[12:18] Speaker 1: be lightbearers in a world that needs healing. Mental health
[12:22] Speaker 1: issues abound, and we are called to the simplicity of
[12:25] Speaker 1: the gospel, where loving our neighbors is not just a command,
[12:29] Speaker 1: but a pathway to joy, mental well-being, and clarity. Indeed,
[12:33] Speaker 1: the world may be a much better place if more
[12:35] Speaker 1: of us took this research to heart. the world would
[12:38] Speaker 1: be a better place if we took the Christ-centered attributes
[12:41] Speaker 1: that we are called to to heart. The actions may
[12:43] Speaker 1: be small, but their impact is profound. The next time
[12:47] Speaker 1: you reach out with a kind gesture, remember it's not
[12:49] Speaker 1: just good for others, but it's good for you too.
[12:52] Speaker 1: As it says in 1 John 3.18, Let us not
[12:54] Speaker 1: love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.
[12:58] Speaker 1: May these words inspire us to become ambassadors of kindness,
[13:01] Speaker 1: spreading love, joy, and healing in a world that dearly
[13:05] Speaker 1: needs it. So, With all that being said, let's close
[13:08] Speaker 1: our time together in prayer. Heavenly Father, inspire us to
[13:12] Speaker 1: embrace the simple yet profound acts of kindness, recognizing its
[13:16] Speaker 1: power to heal and bring joy to ourselves and others.
[13:20] Speaker 1: May we become ambassadors of your love, reflecting the virtues
[13:23] Speaker 1: of selflessness, compassion, and connection. Guide us to act not
[13:27] Speaker 1: just with our words but with deeds, spreading healing and
[13:30] Speaker 1: hope in a world that needs your touch. Amen. Thank
[13:34] Speaker 1: you for joining us today on Pray News. It is
[13:36] Speaker 1: our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today
[13:39] Speaker 1: you would proceed with hope, love, and determination to be
[13:42] Speaker 1: a force for good. If you've enjoyed this take on
[13:44] Speaker 1: the news, consider writing us a review and share your experience.
[13:47] Speaker 1: We would love to hear from you. You can sign
[13:49] Speaker 1: up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com, and there you will
[13:51] Speaker 1: find sources to all of our reporting. Be sure to
[13:54] Speaker 1: download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in
[13:57] Speaker 1: your life and experience the Bible in new and exciting ways.

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