Jesus Loves Addicts

In this powerful episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, hosts sit down with David and Sarah, high school sweethearts whose early romance spiraled into years of substance use, deception, and family strain. David recounts how baseball was his life until meth and other drugs took over, while Sarah shares how falling in love pulled her into the scene. They discuss parental influences, peer pressure, the slow...

In this powerful episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, Brittany Meeks shares her raw and honest testimony — from childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and years lost to addiction, to the life-changing encounter with Christ that led her to sobriety in 2008. Guest-hosted by the podcast team, Brittany recounts the struggle of growing up with a father addicted to crack, the secrets she carried, multiple rehab att...

Part two of Jesus Loves Addicts features Nicole, a 47-year-old from Gulfport, who shares a brutally honest account of addiction, relapse, grief, and the power of Christ in recovery. She recounts losing custody of her son, arrests and jail time, the chaos of the drug world, and the deep darkness she faced after the deaths of both parents and the loss of her husband. Topics include the mechanics of...

Guest Nicole Dutruch shares a candid God story of childhood trauma, early sexual abuse, dissociation, and decades-long addiction. She walks listeners through exposure to adult worlds as a child, gang encounters, a moment when a gun was held to her head, struggles with alcohol, cocaine, meth and prescription misuse, pregnancies and motherhood, multiple detox attempts, and the turning point toward f...

Guest Sabrina Garth shares a raw, honest testimony of over 20 years in active addiction — from childhood trauma, early morphine exposure, sexual exploitation, and drug use to arrests, prison, an overdose, and the heartbreaking loss of her infant to SIDS. She describes the spiral of relapse, escorting, fentanyl use, and moments that forced her to confront life and faith. The episode covers her turn...

In this episode we hear David's raw testimony—grown in gangs, surviving violent prison attacks, falling into opioid addiction after a workplace injury, and losing a son—then finding a life-changing encounter with Jesus. David shares the miracle that led to his parole, the role of his aunt and the Home of Grace, and how faith and accountability helped him denounce gang life and rebuild his future....

In this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts co-hosted by Paul and Kathryn (who celebrates her birthday on-air), guest David White shares a raw, honest testimony of growing up in a broken home, early exposure to alcohol, childhood abuse, juvenile detention, gang involvement, and more than 25 years trapped in addiction. He recounts the fatal crash on I‑110 that injured Ronald Brown, the manslaughter char...

In this episode Lauren McDonald joins the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast to tell a candid, hope-filled account of a decade-long fall into meth addiction, homelessness, and an abusive relationship — and the moment she cried out to God behind closed doors. Hosts and guests discuss scripture (including Psalm 55 and 2 Kings 6), the power of persistent prayer, and the role of tough love from family in rec...

In this episode, Lauren McDonald and her mother join the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast to tell a raw, two-perspective account of addiction, family, and faith. Lauren recounts a decade-long slide from social drinking and experimentation in high school to homelessness and meth addiction, the role of peer pressure and compromises, and the moment God met her in a jail cell. Topics include early warning...

In this episode Pastor Bryan and Angela Jones share their raw, honest testimony about childhood trauma, family alcoholism, and long careers of self‑medicating through drugs and alcohol before encountering Christ. They describe painful early experiences—including molestation and neglect—how shame and secrecy fueled addiction, and the turning points that led them back to faith. The conversation cove...

Guest James Rutledge shares an unflinching account of 20+ years trapped in addiction to marijuana, alcohol, meth, crack, bath salts, prescription pills and pornography, and how those habits destroyed his marriage, trust, and peace despite outward success. The episode covers Jamie’s childhood struggles with shame and isolation, early exposure to porn, escalating substance use, relapse cycles, multi...

Guest Tiffany Clayton shares a raw, hopeful memoir of addiction beginning in seventh grade and spanning two decades — from prescription pills and Xanax to IV meth, homelessness, jail, and losing custody of her children. The episode covers childhood trauma, family addiction, domestic abuse, the death of her mother, and the moment she hit rock bottom. Tiffany describes entering long-term treatment a...

In this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, Shane and Lindy Cowart share their raw, unflinching story of long-term addiction, violence, and the difficult path to recovery through faith. The hosts walk through Shane’s 24 years of active addiction and Lindy’s 20 years of struggles, the trauma of broken families, early exposure to drugs and crime, and multiple stints in treatment. Listeners will hear abo...

On the 100th episode and two-year anniversary of Jesus Loves Addicts, hosts Kathryn and Ross sit down with Austin and Clay Barton for a candid roundtable on surrender. This episode explores what surrender really looks like—beyond drugs and alcohol—why everyone struggles with some form of addiction, and how Christ’s love meets us in our weakest moments. Guests share raw testimonies about rock botto...

Guest Amber shares a raw, honest account of growing up with parental addiction, 25 years of substance abuse, a painful abortion, violent relationships, jail, homelessness, and the suicide of her adoptive father. She describes a powerful encounter with Christ while incarcerated, the decision to enter long-term faith-based recovery, and the slow work of sanctification afterward. This episode covers...

In this powerful episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, Amber Mitchell shares her raw, honest testimony of a childhood marked by addiction, abuse, and instability. Listeners will hear about her early memories of being removed from her biological parents, the trauma of foster placements, and the emotional scars that led to years of substance use, self-harm, and destructive relationships. Host Paul and Amb...

On this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, guests Jimmy Bourn and Sabrina share raw, unfiltered testimonies of long-term addiction, trauma, and the moments that changed their lives. They describe kidnappings, sexual abuse, prison time, prescription dependence, and the suicides of loved ones that marked their darkest seasons. Jimmy recounts a violent 26‑day abduction, years on meth, criminal involveme...

Guest Justin Scott Smith, an active duty Air Force major, shares his powerful testimony of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and the eating disorder that began at age eight and peaked at 13—when he dropped to 63 pounds and was hospitalized. The episode explores the parallels between eating disorders and addiction, the role of control and attention-seeking in recovery behaviors, and the me...

In this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, Joey Rogers explores a powerful story of pride, public humiliation, and spiritual awakening. The conversation traces Joey’s life from a Catholic upbringing and collegiate athletics to a successful chiropractic career, marriage, and the pride that accompanied his professional identity. After marital breakdown, a decade of hidden drug use culminated in a highl...

In this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, hosts Kathryn and Ross speak with guest Amanda Smith about her 15‑year struggle with addiction and the turning points that led her to recovery. Amanda shares childhood trauma, her father’s suicide, early exposure to prescription drugs, doctor‑shopping, multiple overdoses, prison time, and experiences in treatment including Whitfield and residential programs....

In this episode of Jesus Loves Addicts Amber and Blake Blackmon share their raw, "perfectly imperfect" journey from childhoods wrapped in drug culture to adult addiction, relapse, and eventual recovery. They recount early memories of family using, the breakdown of relationships, legal consequences, and the painful fallout that cost Blake his marriage and time with his children. The conversation co...

In this episode hosts interview Jon and Hayley Klover about their painful childhoods in homes marked by addiction, violence and secrecy, the personal addictions they battled, and the turning points that led them to faith and recovery. They share vivid stories — from witnessing domestic violence and a firearm incident to early substance use, arrests, and the long work of inner healing. The Klovers...

In this episode host Zach Buckalew sits with his wife Ashley to tell her raw, unflinching story: childhood trauma, decades of addiction, violent relationships, prostitution and multiple arrests, and the moment a SWAT bust and jail time turned into a doorway to recovery. They discuss the realities of recovery—relapses, shame, court-ordered programs, the Mission of Hope and Bridget & Friends tra...

In this episode hosts talk with Zach Buckalew and his wife Ashley Buckalew about surviving childhood trauma, parental addiction, and sexual abuse, and how those experiences led to long battles with substances (OxyContin, meth, Subutex and more). Both share candid memories of growing up in chaotic homes, the consequences of addiction, and the moment faith and community began to change their lives....

In this episode Justin Edwards from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, tells his 20+ year story of addiction — starting with teenage drinking and weed, escalating through college cocaine and prescription opioids, shooting drugs, multiple treatment attempts, an overdose and ICU stay, and the devastating loss of his girlfriend to fentanyl. He candidly describes hitting rock bottom (including a terrifying m...