Death to Life podcast

A raw journey from fear-based religion and authority wounds to healing, recovery, and identity as a beloved son. Tracy shares hard stories—addiction, grief, and legalism—and how Jesus redefined his name, his marriage, and his mission. • Early farm life shaping fear and attachment wounds • Boarding school legalism fueling secrecy and rebellion • College drift, contempt for authority, objectifying w...

We trace Matthew’s journey through a house fire, church leadership conflict, and a deeper surrender to sonship, contentment, and the “unattached life.” Loss becomes seed as he releases bitterness, receives love, and watches new freedom take root in others. • moving from legalism to identity and sonship • the evacuation, radical peace, and living unattached • humility in receiving help and generosi...

We trace James’s journey from premature birth and the loss of his twin to years of school struggles, bullying, hidden shame, and a relentless search for identity that finally lands in secure sonship and freedom in Christ. The story holds nothing back—confession, dismissal from a camp, suicidal lows, and the moment the voice of truth replaced a lifetime of lies. • early trauma, survival in NICU, fa...

We trace Byron’s journey through a powerful week of prayer, the quiet drift of friends, and the choice to let God defend him. Restoration shows up in a song, a beach, and a courage to move forward without bitterness. • recap of the week of prayer and early fruit • misunderstandings about theology and labels that stick • fractured friendships and limits of “giving space” • burnout, Sabbath rest and...

We share Amy’s journey from childhood fear and OCD to a settled trust in Jesus that carried her through a false accusation against her dad and a sudden move. The story traces how legalism fell away, belief took root, and peace held under pressure. • early love for Jesus and seven years of undiagnosed strep • OCD patterns, nightly fear and the pull of control • legalism as safety, perfectionism in...

We follow Shannon from a fearful, unstable childhood into years of illness, allergy, and anxiety, and then into a grounded life of identity, trust, and practical freedom. Scripture, confession, and a new view of God’s goodness move her from control to peace, from scarcity to sufficiency. • childhood turmoil, early faith, and fear shaped by trauma • murder of her mother, adoption by grandparents, p...

We trace Webster’s journey from a conservative Tongan Adventist home through rebellion, jail, and a degree no one would hire to a simple gospel that healed his identity and marriage. The turning point arrives when sonship replaces striving and Sabbath shifts from fear to joy. • growing up Tongan Adventist with strict norms • pastor’s kid pressure and hidden rebellion • drugs, drinking, and becomin...

We celebrate five years by returning to the first story that set our tone: Tyler’s journey from approval addiction and hidden porn use to a settled identity rooted in God’s love. The shift from behavior management to new life changes his marriage, his peace, and his idea of repentance. • why testimonies became our core format • family faith roots and an early shame script • porn at eleven and tran...

We trace Danilo’s journey from fear and performance to a living trust in Jesus only, moving from legalism to grace and from isolation to a wider family of faith. A child’s question, a fresh reading of Ephesians and Romans, and the courage to post the gospel changed his life. • growing up Adventist under fear and performance • panic, shame and identity as “sinner always” • a child’s question that s...

We trace Hollie's journey from fear-based faith and purity culture to a lived identity in Christ that quieted years of anxious loops. Sensitivity turns from burden to gift as she learns to want intimacy without making it her identity and to teach, create, and love from fullness, not lack. • reframing sensitivity as strength rooted in identity in Christ • naming purity culture myths and their...

Carl Syvertson shares his journey from understanding salvation intellectually to experiencing the transformative revelation that God has already freed him from sin and given him a new identity. • Carl's spiritual journey began with a family legacy of seeking closeness to Jesus • His great-great-grandfather was a Quaker missionary who became an Adventist after a dream showing others closer to...

Arnold returns to share his journey of theological transformation and the unexpected challenges he faced after embracing the gospel message. • Reflects on his previous understanding that salvation was a "group project" between humans and God • Describes how reading Romans 6 as a historical fact rather than instructions completely changed his perspective • Explains the resistance he encou...

Lauren Via shares her powerful testimony of walking through church conflict and finding healing after being forced to leave her beloved Oklahoma church community due to gospel misunderstandings. • Experiencing the difficult transition when church leadership began pushing back against gospel freedom • Suppressing her own emotions while supporting her husband and children through the conflict • Watc...

Jonathan Leonardo returns to share his journey through the challenges of pastoring while maintaining gospel integrity, revealing how institutional pressure led to personal compromise before finding freedom in uncompromised truth. • Transitioning from evangelist to pastor created tension between preaching clear gospel freedom and meeting denominational expectations • The Seventh-day Adventist relat...

Ange shares her powerful journey from growing up with a transactional view of God to discovering the freedom that comes through understanding her true identity in Christ. She opens up about childhood trauma, religious performance, and how gospel truth transformed her life. • Grew up in an Adventist family in Rwanda believing God's love was conditional on her behavior • Experienced childhood t...

Doug Wilson shares his journey from legalistic striving to gospel freedom, revealing how discovering his identity in Christ transformed his understanding of salvation and relationship with God. The conversation explores the damaging effects of a "Jesus plus" mentality and the liberation that comes from resting in Christ's finished work. • Born and raised in Oklahoma with minimal chu...

Michaela returns to share how the gospel has transformed her life from depression and suicidal thoughts to freedom and purpose over the past four years. • First freed through Romans 6:7 - "you are free from sin" • Initially struggled with "firehosing" people with the gospel, expecting everyone to receive it as enthusiastically as she did • Found that people outside church setti...

Audree shares her powerful journey from carrying overwhelming guilt and shame over past mistakes to finding complete freedom in Christ and learning that God's love transcends our darkest moments. • Growing up under a controlling father who ruled the family with a strict, dictatorial approach • Running away from home at 17 and facing an unplanned pregnancy without support • Choosing abortion a...

Josh Newbegin shares his powerful journey from living a party lifestyle to becoming a burned-out church worker to finally discovering true freedom in the gospel of grace. His testimony reveals how the most significant transformation in his life wasn't leaving his partying days behind, but escaping the performance-based Christianity that kept him in a spiritual cage. • Grew up in church but le...

Diana shares her transformative journey from rigid religious legalism to experiencing God's unconditional love and freedom in Christ. Her story reveals how understanding grace completely changed her life, healing her from addiction and anxiety. • Growing up without a father, Diana was taught from childhood that God was her father • Began experimenting with alcohol at age 10 while living as a...

The gospel brings freedom from sin and transforms lives, yet preaching this message often comes with unexpected costs and opposition from established religious systems. • Wes Vi discusses his complicated relationship with the church as an institution • Understanding the "dark night of the soul" as a spiritual experience where God feels distant yet remains present • Finding confidence in...

Micah Modrell shares his powerful journey from rigid religious legalism to discovering the transformative grace of the gospel that completely changed his understanding of God and his approach to ministry. • Born and raised in an Adventist home with legalistic tendencies • Parents divorced when he was eight, creating a split between "church house" and "fun house" • Developed wha...

Stephanie shares her powerful journey from seeking love and validation in relationships to finding her true identity and freedom in Christ. • Growing up in a Christian home with loving parents who demonstrated real faith daily • Developing a destructive relationship framework in eighth grade after being cheated on • Believing the lie that physical intimacy was required currency to gain and maintai...

Nancy Dodson shares her transformative journey from a legalistic faith upbringing to discovering God's true nature through devastating grief after her son's suicide. She vulnerably explores how trauma reshaped her understanding of God and why churches often fail those experiencing profound loss. • Growing up in a performance-based religious environment where salvation depended on a five-...

Kirsti shares her powerful journey from viewing God as distant to discovering His intimate love and presence within her. Her transformation reveals how understanding our identity in Christ brings freedom from both our own sins and the sins committed against us. • Growing up with divorced parents in an unconventional household filled with exotic animals • Feeling different from peers as the only Ad...