Chosen Friends: Finding Identity in Community | The Born Again Identity by EWTN
Can we ever truly know who we are apart from other people?
In the sixth episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea and Fr. Gregory Pine are joined by Deacon Charlie Echeverry to examine the deeply relational side of identity: how marriage, family, and community shape who we become in Christ.
In an individualistic, comparison-driven culture, it is easy to compartmentalize our lives, chase unrealistic relationship ideals, or fall into envy and exhaustion. But Scripture reveals that we are created for communion—first as beloved children of God, and then in the sacred bonds we share with others. From the mystery of “two becoming one flesh” to the role parents play in reflecting the Father’s unconditional love, this conversation explores how authentic community doesn’t strip away who we are; it reveals the fullness of our calling.
Whether you are married, discerning your vocation, navigating comparison, or simply longing to build deeper relationships, this episode offers an honest and encouraging reflection on loving the people God has placed right in front of you.
Watch Episode 6 of The Born Again Identity and discover the power of finding your identity in community.
Timestamps:
0:00 | Why aren’t you married? Identity, community, and marriage
3:25 | Introducing Deacon Charlie & what a deacon is
6:05 | Marriage, dual vocation, and “discovering the fullness” of who you are
7:04 | What does “the two become one flesh” actually mean?
14:10 | Ordering identity: creature, child of God, then vocations and roles
16:25 | Should you get married to find your identity? Discernment and timing
23:24 | Cultural identity, what’s chosen vs. given, and owning your story
25:36 | Professional identity, overwork, and compartmentalization
28:47 | Comparison, jealousy, and envy in light of St. Thomas Aquinas
35:09 | Spiritual direction for envy: hearing “you’re precious” and discerning spirits
38:03 | How to choose a spouse: can this person help me get to heaven?
43:16 | Role of parents and spiritual parents in identity: “It’s good that you exist”
47:13 | Final encouragement: love the community you’re actually in
Read to Remember | The Born Again Identity by EWTN
How does an ancient, complex library of books reveal who you are today?
In the fifth episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine to dive into sacred Scripture: what this book actually is, why it can feel so strange and challenging to read, and how God uses it to speak our true identity over us.
From bizarre Old Testament narratives to genealogical lists and poetry, the Bible often bewilders modern readers. Yet Scripture is God’s living word accommodated to the complexity of human life—a divine love letter designed not for passive consumption, but to anchor us in who the Father says we are. Rather than trying to manufacture our own purpose in an anxious, consumer-driven world, opening the sacred page offers a reliable bedrock of truth to confront lies, wage spiritual warfare, and discern God’s voice.
Whether you find the Bible intimidating, struggle to stay consistent in reading it, or want to understand how Scripture and tradition work together to guide the Christian walk, this conversation offers an honest, approachable foundation for encountering God in His Word.
Watch Episode 5 of The Born Again Identity and discover the bedrock of your identity in sacred Scripture.
Timestamps:
0:00 | “The Bible is weird”: she‑bears, bald prophets, and wedding readings
4:30 | What is this book? Scripture, the Word of God, and inspired authors
10:32 | Why the Bible is so strange: genres, our complexity, and God’s “condescension”
14:22 | Why revelation is ancient and “finished”: Israel and preparing for Christ
18:10 | Does anything happen when I read this? Hearing God versus just reading a book
22:45 | Why open a Bible in an anxious, identity‑confused world
24:27 | How to pray with scripture: lectio divina in real life
30:20 | Community and scripture: Bible alone vs Bible in Church and studies
32:00 | Reagan, closed doors, and the first time Ryan felt God speak
43:06 | Which Bible? Canon, deuterocanon, and why some books differ
49:48 | “It is written”: Jesus, spiritual warfare, and scripture as bedrock identity
52:20 | Go‑to “voice memo” verses: John 1 and shameless persistence in prayer
Pray it Forward | The Born Again Identity by EWTN
What is prayer, really?
In the fourth episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea and Fr. Gregory Pine dive into the heart of Christian prayer: moving beyond treating God like a celestial vending machine and learning what it truly means to raise our minds and hearts to Him.
Many of us struggle with prayer because it feels transactional, dry, or full of unanswered requests. If God already knows everything we need, why are we commanded to ask, seek, and knock? Grounded in Scripture and the classic A.C.T.S. framework (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), this conversation unpacks how prayer is less about changing God’s mind and more about allowing His providence and love to reshape our hearts.
Whether you are wrestling with unanswered prayers, curious about what it looks like to “pray without ceasing,” or simply seeking deeper intimacy with God in the quiet of daily life, this episode offers a refreshing and practical guide to communion with the Father.
Watch Episode 4 of The Born Again Identity and discover the true purpose of prayer.
Timestamps:
00:00 | What is Prayer? (Mind and Heart vs. Voice)
02:58 | The A.C.T.S. Framework for Prayer
03:28 | Adoration: Approaching God Beyond the “Celestial Sugar Daddy”
06:50 | Contrition & Thanksgiving: Recognizing God’s Grace in Your Past
10:52 | Supplication: Recognizing Our Spiritual Poverty
12:06 | What Does It Mean to “Pray Without Ceasing”?
17:16 | Daily Prayer Habits & Asking for Specific Virtues
21:26 | Persistence in Prayer & Unanswered Requests
24:28 | Praying for God’s Will and Salvation
25:25 | The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer
27:30 | Community, Intercession, and Praying for Others
30:58 | Relational Authority in Prayer (Praying for Family)
32:15 | Fr. Gregory’s Miracle Story on the Swiss Mountain
34:10 | The Ultimate Purpose of Prayer: Experiencing God’s Providence
The Battle Begins | The Born Again Identity by EWTN
Why does discovering your true identity feel like a battle?
In the third episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea sits down once again with Fr. Gregory Pine to confront a sobering reality of the spiritual life: why opposition, temptation, and spiritual warfare inevitably arise the moment we pursue who God called us to be.
We often assume that following Christ will bring immediate comfort, only to face resistance from the world, the flesh, and the devil. From subtle lies that we’ve ruined God’s plan or are unworthy of love, to the paralyzing trap of settling for lower goods, the enemy constantly works to derail our purpose. But Scripture reminds us that Christ has already won the definitive victory—and our trials are not proof that we are disqualified, but an invitation to share in His triumph.
Whether you are battling discouragement, wrestling with persistent temptations, or searching for practical tools to stand firm in the light of the Gospel, this conversation provides a realistic, hope-filled guide for navigating the spiritual battlefield.
Watch Episode 3 of The Born Again Identity and learn how to stand firm in who Christ created you to be.
Timestamps:
0:00 | Spiritual warfare and identity: setting up the “battle royale”
2:30 | The world, the flesh, and the devil: where opposition comes from
7:10 | What temptation actually is (and isn’t) and how it works
10:02 | The enemy’s playbook today: “you can’t really know or love God”
14:28 | Why God allows a serpent in the garden and brings good out of evil
17:10 | Core lies about vocation, relationships, and “missing your chance”
21:39 | “God can’t steward this better than me”: Ryan’s take on sin and lies
25:19 | Exposing lies to the light: confession, accountability, and reconciliation
30:52 | How to wage spiritual war: best defense is a good offense
32:47 | When opposition is a sign you’re trusted with something hard
33:37 | Why fight? Sharing in Christ’s victory and learning to “win” in Him
The First Step | The Born Again Identity by EWTN
How do we actually discover our God-given identity?
In the second episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea and Fr. Gregory Pine tackle the practical side of discernment: if God is entirely sovereign, do our choices still matter, and how do we discern where He is leading us?
Many of us wonder whether we’ve missed our window, or we assume our weaknesses, wounds, and past failures disqualify us from God’s plan. But Scripture and tradition show that grace builds on nature—working not just in rare, dramatic moments, but through the ordinary unfolding of our lives. Far from being an obstacle, our limits and imperfections can become the exact places where we learn to depend on God.
Whether you feel stuck in your discernment, burdened by shame, or simply searching for clear next steps, this conversation delivers a grounded, five-part roadmap for uncovering who God made you to be.
Watch Episode 2 of The Born Again Identity and take the next step in discovering your calling.
Timestamps:
0:00 | God’s will vs our freedom: “100% God and 100% us”
2:30 | If God directs our steps, do my choices about identity really matter?
4:02 | Ordinary vs extraordinary vocations: Cana, “accelerated” miracles, and slow grace
7:19 | How Father Gregory discerned priesthood and layered identity
9:19 | Desire, higher loves, and discovering what your heart really wants
13:30 | Being honest about wounds, fear, and letting desires come into the light
16:18 | A basic discernment framework: desires, gifts, and what breaks your heart
17:25 | When God works through weakness so we depend on Him
21:31 | Imperfections by age and state of life: sexual sin, shame, and women’s lies
28:12 | “This is your real life”: not missing out, but receiving your actual mission
29:30 | Is it ever too late? God’s banquet at every stage of life
30:09 | Five concrete steps to find your identity in Christ
32:01 | Closing reflections: everything about you is intentional, even your weakness
Finding Your Identity | Who are you, really?
In the first episode of The Born Again Identity, Ryan Bethea sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine to explore one of the most important questions in the Christian life: where do we find our true identity?
So many of us try to define ourselves by success, failure, relationships, politics, personality, wounds, reputation, career, or the opinions of others. But Scripture reveals something far deeper: our identity begins with God. We are made in His image, loved by Him, redeemed in Christ, and called to become who we were created to be.
Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, new to Christianity, returning to faith, or simply wrestling with who God says you are, this conversation offers a clear and practical foundation for understanding Christian identity.
Watch Episode 1 of The Born Again Identity and begin the journey of discovering who you are in Christ.
Timestamps:
0:00 | True or false: does God really have a specific plan for your life?
2:20 | What is “identity” actually? God’s unique word spoken over each person
5:11 | Why identity matters: courage to live vs drifting through “soup of existence”
7:05 | God’s plan, your choices, and why the point isn’t the plan but the Planner
11:22 | Why did God make you at all? Glory, joy, and sharing in His own life
15:16 | What it means to “find your identity in Christ” (who I am and what I’m for)
19:20 | How the world defines identity (wealth, fame, power) vs Christian belonging
24:26 | Mission statements, saying no, and living where you’re actually planted
29:50 | Made in God’s image: mind to know, heart to love, and capacity for God
