Rescuers radio show

Teen Challenge gave David Dobkins his life back as a young man; and now his given his life to the organization in gratitude. Growing up in Phoenix, David had a good family, was involved in church, and enjoyed using his talents as a musician, artist and athlete. As a teenager, David faced serious challenges in his life, as a series of bad choices led him into deep drug addiction, trouble with the l...

Kit Danley was still in college when she felt called by God to serve the poor in urban communities. In 1982, she helped launch Neighborhood Ministries in Phoenix, an organization to be the presence of Jesus Christ, sharing his life-transforming hope, love, and power among distressed families of urban Phoenix to ignite their passion for God and His Kingdom. Neighborhood Ministries is a hub of commu...

Ben Sanders grew up on the ASU campus where his father was a professor. After working as an accountant and financial analyst, he joined Community Ministries International in 1997 and returned to ASU to do full-time campus ministry with Christian faculty members and campus ministry leaders. He and his wife Sarah met at a prayer meeting on campus in 1980, and together they started the Campus Christi...

When a BMX accident left Ryan Pinney paralyzed from the waist down, it slowed him down. Briefly. Nine years later, he was in the international spotlight as a Paralympics medal winner. He figures that everyone has barriers in life, and it’s our choice if we let those challenges stop us from doing the things we love. Riding a bike led to his injury, but riding a bike also led to his greatest v...

Rick Johnson likes to say his business is really a ministry created by God, working undercover as a fastener company. And that’s not far from the truth – the way he has integrated his faith into the workplace makes him a role model for many businesses. It hasn’t been an easy road – his story talks about failure and success, adversity and ultimately, miracles. Click here to...

No two children have the same gifts or the same learning styles. That’s why the nonprofit Edkey Inc. doesn’t have any schools with the same mission or identity. Mark Plitzuweit has found a way to help kids find out what makes them special, whether they are gifted in academics, wonderful artists, or need special help in learning English, accommodations or distance learning. Learn how he...

When Kim Perea was a young girl, her father had an accident that left him physically and mentally impaired. The community came together and blessed their family by bringing food, and helping with childcare, transportation and loving care. Then when she was 10, her brother fell into the pool and she was able to save him. Helping others became a calling, and she says “I wanted to serve from th...

“I was no longer consumed by fire. I was consumed by gratitude.” Growing up, Jason Schechterle had one dream - to serve as a Phoenix Police Officer.  Inspired by the tragic loss of a local law enforcement hero, Jason worked persistently towards his dream. After serving four years in the Air Force, at the age 26, Jason achieved his goal to work on the streets of Phoenix as a rookie...

It’s obvious that Donna Kafer is a woman of many talents. Her bio lists experience as an actor author, screenwriter and producer. She’s written two books – “Women of Courage” and “Women of Faith.” She’s passionate about prison ministry. But it’s her 23 years serving the Arizona State Legislature and staff through her nonprofit, The Arizona Legi...

“Unconditional love.” “Resilience.” Rev. Sanghoon Yoo led ministries and social services in the Valley of the Sun for 20 years, when he was introduced to an idea that inspired him to merge mental health and faith in his work. He was delighted to discover that current neuroscience developments support what scripture and his faith teaches. From there he formed the Arizona Tra...

David Zook’s first career was in sales and marketing. He didn’t know how well he was being prepared for his true calling: helping churches and pastors impact their communities. After being called as a pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, it became clear that he had a gift for developing leadership to help build the church spiritually, and ultimately in attendance. His creativ...

Doug Brooks spent the first 20 of years of his professional life in sales management; then he answered a holy calling that led to seminary, and ultimately back to the workplace in a totally different capacity. As a regional director for Corporate Chaplains of America, he helps bring care and compassion to hurting employees, meeting them where they are. No one can predict when life is going to have...

Randy Spencer has represented Grammy Award-winning recording artists. He’s written for Billboard Magazine. For the past 30 years he’s been involved with the music business. Now he’s working with the most promising artists of all at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, where they allow teens to build confidence and discover their passion through music, dance, self-express...

When her grandfather died of Alzheimer’s, Tiffany Ramirez’s heart was broken. That loss fueled her passion to bring the healing properties of art and imagination to lives of people living with dementia. Tiffany is committed to raising awareness of the value of creativity and faith for people living with cognitive challenges among memory care communities, care partners, support groups,...

Darien Bennett had dreams of being a professional athlete until serious knee injuries sidelined him permanently. He worked for IBM for 23 years before retiring to focus on coaching. His life, however, had become one of regret and destruction. Divorced, depressed, and discouraged, he felt lost and alienated. But then a man of faith came alongside him and he was forever changed. Today, his goal...

For years, Chey Castro’s life centered around success and focused on his profession. Then something happened – he found Christ. Now his focus is on giving hope to other, mentoring and talking about his faith. Original air date: July 1, 2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He likes to say his life has taken him from the suburbs of L.A. to Siberia. Jonathan Sanborn always knew he was destined to work globally. For more than a decade, he traveled the world, equipping churches to practically serve the poor in their own communities. But God kept changing what was important to him. Today, he is the Area Director (Arizona, California, Utah and Hawaii) for CarePortal, a no...

To know that Chuck Fitzgerald currently serves as the Sergeant at Arms for the Arizona House of Representatives is to know only a tiny piece of the man. He has been instrumental in causes ranging from foster care to human trafficking, and most recently promoting peace. He has served on the board for Neighborhood Ministries, 2-1-1 Arizona, CityServe Arizona, Communities in Schools, Leadership West,...

As the mom of seven, Kathleen Winn holds a special distaste for human trafficking. As the executive director of Project 25, she’s able to do something about it. Her career includes stints as a news reporter, real estate and Community Outreach and Education Director for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Click here learn more about Project 25: https://www.project25.net/ See omnystud...

Bryan & Erica Lamca have dedicated their lives to helping others around the globe. From short-term missions in Peru to working with college students and their current assignment in Ecuador. Erica is partnering with Casa Elizabeth, a crisis pregnancy center and home for teenage girls. More than 16 percent of teenage girls in Ecuador get pregnant, and 80 percent of those are unwanted. Bryan is w...

Forty years ago, Mark Napier accepted a position as a police officer in Iowa, and he’s been in law enforcement ever since. Most of that time has been in Southern Arizona, and he has become an expert in many areas, from border issues to drug trafficking. His stories about the changes in the past couple of decades of law enforcement will give you insight to the challenges our first responders...

Angela Harrolle’s world came to a stop the day her husband lost his life in the line of duty as a DPS officer/paramedic, leaving her a widow with two young children. The 100 Club of Arizona was there to help her, and today as the organization’s CEO/President she is helping to extend comfort, hope and advocate for safety programs for Arizona’s public safety members and their famil...

For 20 years, Jeff Boles’ expertise was corporate IT. He had a knack for cutting edge technology and solving problems. Then he took those skills a totally different direction, and now changes lives as director of the Creighton Community Foundation. The foundation was established to support Creighton School District and the surrounding neighborhood to bring resources to some of the most impov...

The image of a 15-year-old girl jammed into a dog crate so small her knees were forced against her chest and then was forced into prostitution was pivotal in Peggy Bilsten’s fight against sex trafficking. She was a teacher before being elected to the Phoenix City Council, and three years later elected vice mayor. She used that cultural capital to fight against domestic violence in Arizona an...

When Tammy Abernethy was raising her kids as a single mom, she had first-hand experience with the fears, insecurities, and hopelessness that parenting in a crisis brings. She was fortunate to be supported by a community of friends, family, and faith, but her heart was burdened for the women who were doing it alone, without a community or an understanding of resources available to help. Now as the...