The Unfolding

Throughout scripture God tells us, "Do not be afraid," and yet we face a lot of fearful situations in life.  How do you live without fear?  Paul and Hannah McClure are worship leaders and songwriters who have experienced fear and anxiety just like many of us.  But during COVID, they had a scary experience, triggering fears that shook them to the core.  But this encounter taught them something new...

When Lana Vasquez met Jesus at 19, she knew she had been rescued to rescue others. Within a few short years, she was a full-time missionary with Life Impact International rescuing kids from trafficking in Thailand. It was a daunting mission, far beyond what she could do in her own strength. In fact, the work often seemed impossible. But when God asks us to do the impossible and we're willing to sa...

Growing up in Southern California, Lana Vasquez found herself looking for love in all the wrong places. By the time she was a teenager, she was trapped in an abusive relationship, addicted to alcohol and drugs, and spent her nights as a dancer in the clubs of Hollywood. She was living a fast life, but even the glitz and glamour of Hollywood couldn't hide the fact that she felt desperately empty. A...

Jordan St. Cyr had always believed the way to your dreams was through grit and hard work. He knew God had called him to be a songwriter, so he was determined to make it happen. But what if the way to your dreams isn't through determination, but through surrender? Jordan is the co-writer of the song "Fires," – a song that has become their family's anthem as they walk through their daughter's diagno...

In a post-pandemic world, more and more people are dealing with issues related to mental health. Mandisa is a singer and songwriter who has authentically shared her journey with anxiety and depression. When her friend was diagnosed with cancer, Mandisa was confident God would heal her. When He didn't, she struggled with sadness and deepening disappointment with God. In this interview, Mandisa shar...

Mark Schultz had always felt a drive to succeed. As the only adopted child in his family, it seemed to be a way to guarantee his adoptive parents would know they had picked the right kid. If he was the starting quarterback, the pitcher on the state championship team, the singer and songwriter who got standing ovations – that surely meant he was special. He is known for songs like "He's My Son," "R...

Ben Fuller is a singer and songwriter who is just beginning his career in Christian music. His song "Who I Am" is being played on stations around the country. His story began growing up on a dairy farm in Vermont. He was a well-liked kid and on the outside, seemed like he had it all together. But he always struggled to earn his father's approval. On the inside he felt an emptiness that left Ben se...

When our story takes a tragic turn, it often feels like God is a million miles away. But Psalm 34:18 says "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Katelyn James' heart was crushed with the news that the baby she was carrying would not survive. When she pictured the life God had for her, this was nothing like what she had imagined. But rather than guard her heart, Go...

When life goes according to our plan, it's a lot easier to believe in a good God. But when our prayers aren't answered and we're left with disappointment, it can be a struggle to trust Him. Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith not only didn't understand God, she was angry with Him. Today Dr. Dalton-Smith uses her experience to help women live happier, healthier and more productive lives. She's an author, spea...

Melissa Mork was a college student when her mother tragically passed away. At the time Melissa's father made a request. He asked her to study grief because it seemed few people really understood what it was like to walk through devastating loss. That charge turned out to be providential. As a professor of psychology at the University of Northwestern St. Paul, Dr. Mork is a resource to thousands de...

If you or someone you love has struggled with anxiety or depression, you know how crippling that can be. For Kati Pessin, depression was something she first grappled with as a middle schooler and it's been a part of her life since. The struggle has taken her to the lowest moments of her life, but it's also been a place where God has revealed her need for him and his love for her in a very powerful...

Brandon Richardson, known professionally as RICHLIN, was in junior high the first time he met Ryan Stevenson. Over the years, their interaction at a summer camp forged friendship, respect, and an awareness of the gifts God had placed in each other. Both of these guys are talented singers, songwriters and musicians. While Brandon Richardson is a newcomer, Ryan Stevenson is known for songs like "Eye...

God can use our greatest pain as a launching pad to our greatest calling. That's what Jonathan Gonzalez believes. But in the beginning, his story seemed hopeless. He was a challenging kid who was making horrible choices. By the time he was 12 he was getting arrested. If something didn't happen to change his path, he was headed for hardship and a life of pain inflicted on himself and those around h...

Andy Carr was the epitome of the self-made man. From a young age, he knew what he wanted and he worked hard to get it. His work paid off as he quickly moved up the corporate ladder. But the pressures of the life he had built began to close in on him, and he found himself in a hospital with his life hanging in the balance. For the first time, Andy thought to ask God what He wanted for his life. Tod...

Olivia Lane had always felt a pressure to be successful. From moving to Los Angeles at 16 to pursue an acting career, to appearing on NBC's "Songland" as she launched her country music career, no amount of success seemed to be enough. In 2017, the anxiety and stress finally caught up with her, leading to burn out, losing her voice, and feeling like a failure. That's when a supernatural encounter w...

When Toni Collier was young, her family experienced a traumatic event that forced her to grow up fast. She had to take control in order to ensure the survival of the people around her. It was a heavy burden and by the time she was a teen, that weight was too much. She set out on a path of destruction that included drinking, drugs, and toxic relationships. Even meeting Jesus didn't really change he...

On the 24th of February, Maia Mikhaluk woke to the sound of explosions. It was confirmation of what they had feared. Russia had launched an attack on Ukraine and war had begun. Air raid sirens and rocket explosions have become a daily occurrence. Nearly 4 million refugees have left Ukraine. For many including Maia, the decision to stay or leave is gut-wrenching. Maia is the co-founder and leader o...

What happens to your faith when life doesn't follow your plan? Kellie Penn has always been a planner. She had a vision for what her life would be like, and she was confident God would be on board. But, beginning in her childhood, life took a detour. What unfolded was a story that she would never have chosen–an unexpected journey through heartache to joy.

How does a kid from southern California end up in the Mafia? Kenji Gallo soon realized that "the life" wasn't the glitz, money and glamour he had imagined and there seemed to be no way out. When the FBI offered him a fresh start, he thought that would change his life. But it wasn't until he encountered Jesus that he experienced real freedom. Kenji's story has been told on the Discovery Channel, Sp...

Stubborn, selfish, atheist, adulterer. All words that Darren Mulligan uses to describe who he was as a young adult. And not surprisingly, he was also miserable. So when his girlfriend announced she had met Jesus, and found hope and healing, Darren wasn't happy for her, he was actually angry. It's hard to believe this was the man who would one day share the Gospel with thousands through his music....

When Leah Kadwell was a young newlywed, she and her husband heard a clear call from God to move to India. They had dreams of serving and making a real difference in the lives of the people they had grown to love. After 20 years in the country, Leah and her family were forced to leave. The circumstances could have crushed her spirit, but God used her time there not only to bless the people she work...

When Carissa Carroll's son Jack was born with special needs, it was nothing like what she had planned for their family. She felt totally unprepared and wondered how his Down syndrome diagnosis would change their lives. But God showed her Jack is a gift worth celebrating and his life has led to the celebration of thousands of babies through Jack's Basket, an organization with a mission to celebrate...

Author, speaker, and radio host Susie Larson has a wealth of wisdom to share. That wisdom has come through very challenging life experiences. The trauma she faced as a child left her feeling afraid, bracing for the next bad thing. But God had a plan for healing her wounds and equipping her to share her story and her wisdom, helping thousands of people along the way.

When Christa DiEmidio was growing up, she often felt alone. It seemed God was either nonexistent or He simply didn't care. Christa had the freedom to do what she wanted. So she set out in search of something to fill the emptiness. That search let to an addiction that nearly destroyed her life. But an encounter with God helped her know she was never alone.

From the time Michelle Lewis was a little girl she had a dream. Her greatest desire in life was to be a wife and a mother. She wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and do the thing she was passionate about- having and nurturing children. But health issues made pregnancy impossible. Letting go of that dream led to depression and grief. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you...