Death to Life podcast

Summary: Michelle Morrison always wanted to be Great. Inspired by major Bible characters like Joseph and Daniel, Michelle desired God above all things and yearned for a spiritual home and family. But her road was not smooth. For over 20 years, Michelle’s journey was speckled with marriage trouble, family illness, spiritual warfare, and deception. There were moments of darkness — yet even in darkne...

Summary : Wayne Morrison loved to be liked. He was the ultimate “people person” and could not stand if someone didn’t like him. This constant pursuit of affirmation threw hurdles up in his marriage, in parenthood, and in his walk with God. But Wayne was not intended to live as a slave to sin, shame, and condemnation. As he learned more about walking by faith and the righteousness God promises, bot...

Summary : If you talk to Drew Mekelberg, you may hear a few quotes from The Office. Similar to Michael Scott, Drew found identity in how others felt about him. Especially in sports and friendships, he had a drive to be liked and respected, which often fueled his actions. Drew’s walk with God grew deeper when he started exploring the Bible on his own. Through a network of spiritually-minded friends...

Summary : Things were not always easy for Lindsay VanDenburgh. Through a life of hard knocks, she was given constant reasons to feel like a victim. There was incredibly real trauma that dovetailed into pills and other ways to numb her experience. But Lindsay had an open heart. In unpredictable moments, God spoke to her through song and love. In the quiet, God reminded Lindsay that she was free fro...

Summary : In this bonus episode, prepare for a whole bunch of gospel fire. Death to Life hosts its inaugural Bible Verse Draft in true fantasy sports league fashion. The theme? Most Commonly Misunderstood Verses in Scripture.  Five Bible fanatics take turns selecting the hottest verses across a range of categories, explaining false interpretations, and sharing the true power behind the punch.  Joi...

Summary : Michael Beans was a sports guy. Throughout adolescence, he marked his success and value through his performance. While he knew God existed, it was a case of “out of sight, out of mind.” God was real — but not REAL. But Michael had no idea just how real God was about to get in his lived experience. Comfort zones were shattered, and career trajectories were reformed. Praise the Lord that t...

Summary : God is the master of love stories. Two guests return in this episode to share theirs: Jonathan ( S01, Ep39 ) and Serena ( S01, Ep11 )! The gospel is rich in this story with JB and Serena speaking the truth over common relationship lies. Have you ever felt that being single is a problem? Have you said you need to work on yourself before getting into a relationship? After being transformed...

Summary : Camerine Collingsworth had a problem with how she looked. From an early age, she experienced poor self-image and struggled to see her value. This resulted in a tug-of-war with control and resentment that bubbled up almost without cause. Fast forward to a few years into marriage and motherhood and Camerine realized she had a choice: keep believing what she had believed for over a decade —...

Summary : Chris Mindanao has spent his whole life looking for the truth. His search led to some dead ends — bad relationships with his parents, drug habits, depression. But after a traumatic drug experience, Chris was drawn to the wisdom of the Bible. God revealed in scripture that what Chris thought was freedom to do whatever he wanted was actually slavery to sin and worldly whims. What follows i...

Summary : We love to bring back familiar faces — and this episode has TWO Jesus super fans returning to the DTL podcast. Listen in as Elias ( S01, Ep10 ) and Gabby ( S01, Ep23 ) share how freedom has transformed their marriage in Jesus’ name. This episode is rich with blessings and examples of how the Holy Spirit actively works in us and through us. Whether you’re married, dating, or living a sing...

Summary : Casey Williams was no stranger to loss. While her life had moments of joy and positivity, Casey’s secret life involved low self-esteem and the heavy weight of depression. This manifested in an on-again, off-again relationship with self-harm that lasted for years, impacting her hope, her outlook, and her value. In the powerful climax of the story, Casey found herself in the grip of spirit...

Summary : Embark on a captivating journey in our podcast episode, "Death to Life," where we unravel the incredible tale of Eddie's redemption. Amidst the universal struggles of guilt and shame, Eddie's narrative becomes a remarkable testament to the liberating embrace of God's love and the gospel. From grappling with infidelity's aftermath to understanding the vital r...

Summary : Jaela Cornejo has always been sensitive to God and His voice. Despite the early impact of divorce and struggles with school, Jaela had deep-rooted confidence in who she was and how God felt about her. She knew she was loved without a doubt. That heavenly love inspired a strong and beautiful faith that carried Jaela through many trials. But in faith, what is a trial but an opportunity for...

Summary : Life was a performance for Eddie Cornejo. With a little charm and working the system, young Eddie dodged consequences and played the part of whatever was needed to be “perfect.” He maintained the facade by leveraging his talents —music, women, ministry — which temporarily kept the insecurities at bay. But consequences reared their head. The expectations of others carried too much weight....

Summary: Aiden goes from being bullied to walking in the knowledge and revelation of who he is in Christ, free from and dead to sin. Keywords: Legalism / Lust / Bullying / Insecurity / Worth / Music / Christian Hip Hop / Freedom / Identity External Resources: Facebook Group: Love Reality | Gospel Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/3768526659826520 Join us for the best gathering on the inter...

Summary : Unseen. Unknown. Unloved. Jania Ashlynn used to believe her value came only from what she could do for others. She took on the burdens around her, playing the part of the caretaker or 3 a.m. phone call friend. Jania did the most because if she didn’t, she worried her world would see her as nothing. Through music and a slow, loving persistence, Jesus started wooing her heart, quietly decl...

Summary : Settle in for a love story and listen as Layla Green describes how God won her heart and set her free from a life of co-dependency. With perfect clarity, Layla outlines the abandonment she experienced from a very early age. Over and over, she faced rejection and a consistent message — you are not worthy. One abusive marriage and countless betrayals later, Layla felt depressed and alone....

Summary : Nathan Hoffman is a big softie with a heart from God. But growing up, he didn’t have guidance on how to handle his emotions. This left him scrambling on the soccer field, stifling self-doubt and burying years of insecurity. He tried everything he could to manage his confidence, including a stint with the Army. Nathan met his future wife (shoutout to Michaela from Season 2, Episode 26 !)...

Summary: Michaela Hoffman has grown up going to church to check the religion box but behind the facade was a girl hiding a pile of fear, depression, and coping mechanisms. She measured her value against how she looked and how men treated her. Her relationship with God mimicked this transactional nature. Michaela also harbored a deep secret — she lived in fear that she wasn’t good enough for heaven...

Summary : Jonathan DeWeber has felt called many times over his life — the calling to ministry, to Southern Adventist University, to student mission work. But from a young age, Jonathan struggled with fear. He tried to follow the call but his confidence was attacked. Jonathan’s double-mindedness and depression translated into a mental fogginess. The threat of burnout was REAL. Finally, in the middl...

Summary : Misha said it best — in this episode, we hear a lot about God's transforming power. From early childhood tragedy on, Misha was always drawn to God and desired to know Him more. But she was angry at the world and hated herself — even though she considered herself "on top," her self-worth was tapped out. Misha had glimmers of revelation — freedom from lust, a personal journe...

Summary : Joel was what we might call a “Young Pharisee”. He was a slave to the hard works of religion, always working from a deficit in regards to his standing with God because of an addiction to lust. Naturally, his hard work left him feeling shame when he’d stumble, or arrogantly judgmental towards others when he didn’t.  Praise the Lord that he ended up completely exhausted. Jesus said, “Come...

Summary : There are two sides to every story — and what a blessing when both sides share the common thread of redemption. This week, we hear Kenia Cano tell her death life story. Kenia is now married to Leif Cano ( Season 2, Episode 18 ), and as you’ll listen to, their relationship was not perfect. But first, Kenia shares about her early relationship with intimacy, the pressures of purity culture,...

Summary : Living in freedom doesn’t mean there won’t be any hardship. But it does mean that the things that used to shake you no longer rule your life. This episode takes Richard Young from host to the hot seat as he shares how God has been a rock through his spiritual growth and surprise trials. We also get the origin story of the Death to Life podcast and go behind the scenes as a night-shift wa...

Summary : Michael Simpson was a Christian from birth — but wouldn’t consider his Christian experience personal until he found freedom in Christ in adulthood. The pressure to “be a good Christian” was heavy. Shame gripped Michael for over a decade as temptation and the need for affirmation ran rampant but living as a lukewarm Christian allowed Michael to avoid accountability. In a beautiful reveal,...