The Hebrew word “shalom” appears 237 times in the Old Testament. The usual translation is “peace,” but the word also means completeness or wholeness.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament make it clear that true peace — true wholeness — comes only from God.

In the second part of our two-part interview with Joel Hanson, he draws from the Bible and from his own experiences to explain how each of us can enjoy the wholeness that God offers.

Joel is a singer, songwriter, and musician who has won a Dove Award and been nominated for a Grammy. His years fronting the band PFR brought much critical acclaim, and after three decades he is back in the studio with that band. He also has recorded several solo records and produced and assisted with records for other bands and artists. For nearly two decades Joel was the worship pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota; in summer 2022 he left that role to begin the next chapter of his life.

Joel and Kathy have been married for 34 years and have two adult daughters. Connect with Joel on Instagram and Patreon.